Way tooooo long!

It's been way to long since I've blogged.  I have lots of excuses ready to give you.  But, I'll spare you.

Truth is, I really honestly am NOT good with time management, business management, anything that includes organization.  I try...but let's face it, why pretend?  I'm simply not good at it. 

Let me just try to start fresh, begin from here to try and blog more, be more informative, at least act like I have it all together! 

Now that I have that out of the way, if you know of someone who is expecting, spread the word about newborn photos - these have simply become my favorite!  If I had to pick, I would always to Newborns and Seniors...that's most where my passion lies, where I feel most passionate and gifted.  So, if you're expecting, or know someone who is...send them my way.  In the same respect, know of some 2012 Seniors?  Spread the word!

Until next time (sooner than later!)

Isn't this little one just too cute precious for words???

High Expectations

I'm finding that for this coming year, although I do not make resolutions, I have very high expectations for myself.  I am slowly marking things off of a life long to do list.  The life long "to-do" list has also become amazingly shorter as I've come to find out where my passions lie...and what is really important to me.   I'm no longer going to do things that aren't "me".  Here's what my list looks like today.

1.  Know more scripture so I can know my God more.

2.  Learn, Learn, Learn

3.  Create, Create, Create

4.  Become healthier - physically, mentally, emotional, spiritually.

5.  Quick to listen - SLOW to anger.

6.  [Be] Christ to others around me.

I used to have several other things I'd like to accomplish - travel, buy, do, become...but, truth is...God has already given me all the tools I need to accomplish what He has set out for me to do.  He's allowed me to see His beauty in the things around me, I don't have to travel someplace exotic to find it.  I don't need to become someone I'm not meant to be...I am me.

I have a PASSION to learn more about the creativity of what can be done with the click of a camera.  I have a PASSION to create what I see in my mind and what God sees in every person.  I have a PASSION for Photography.  I will see big flames coming from that passion as it's ignited by the things I do this year.  

I'm so excited to share it with all of you.

And the Winner is...

Cindy Costley!!!  (I'll be emailing you soon!)

Thanks to all of you who entered!

Who doesn't love FREE????

Yes, I know!  I've slacked on my blogging and one of my resolutions is to blog more!  I always have exciting things to share...but once my busy season picks up, it's hard.  YOU can hold me accountable! :)

It's a NEW year!  And I am so excited.  Excited to learn new things, try new things and create new things.  I'm pumped for Spring to come.  Super pumped about the children, families and seniors I'll encounter. 

It. can't. come. soon. enough!

To celebrate the new year, I am giving away a FREE Children's Photo Session!!! 

By this Sunday, January 9th at 8:00, leave a comment on this blog how you can pay it forward.  Here's what I mean:  How can you serve someone else?  What hobbies or talents do you have?  What are you willing to give away to someone else?  Everyone has something they can share with someone else.  Let me know what you can pay forward, and the winner will be chosen randomly.  In the same comment, please state which children you are nominating.  Yours, or other children that you know.

Happy New Year my friends!  I look forward to a fantastic year!!!

Lisa

Why do I spend so much time editing???

I wanted to share with you some of the things I do when I edit.  I throw the word 'edit' around all the time...my kids even know that, "Mama is editing pictures today".  There are several reasons why a picture coming SOOC (straight out of camera) might need edited.  For this example that I posted here is what I did.  Cropped, Removed Redness from face/eyes (it was a chilly November morning), lifted eyes, brightened eyes, enhanced the coloration of the background and body features (hair, clothes...)  Brightened the overall picture.  Here's the SOOC and Final:

I don't always have to do so much...but sometimes with the weather conditions and what my overall preferences are I might spend 5-10 min. on a picture. 

So, THIS is what I'm doing when I say I'm editing - and why my shoulders constantly hurt from sitting at the computer!  :)  I love it!

sure could use a gift certificate for Christmas for a nice massage.

Busyness & Blessings

Wow!  It has been SO long...too long...that I have blogged.  Here are the reasons why:

1.  I've been SO busy.

2.  I've been SO busy.

3.  I. have. been. so. BUSY!

I feel COMPLETELY blessed through this last season - I have taken pictures of so many wonderful families and amazingly beautiful people.  I LOVE my job.

I'm going to try and blog more - to make it more of a priority!  Why not when I have so many beautiful faces to show off?

I absolutely have to make this blog post about my newest cousin.  As many of you who know me have already seen & heard, Ava Katherine Houghtaling has entered our lives from China.  John & Sara brought Ava HOME on November 5th and what a blessing she has been to our family!  I won't apologize for taking too many pictures of her - I can't resist!

Here's one of my favorites...

Love her!

Attitude with a Capital A!!!

This little girl is a TREAT!  I love her to pieces!  She is confident, all-knowing, filled with life and fun stories!  You don't have to tell her how to pose, she just has it in her!  I LOVE that!

If you have any more of these charmers...send them my way!