Kristian Ogden Photography: Captured Moments

NEW BLOG!

2009-08-07T12:34:00.000-07:00

Well folks, I have a new blog. I decided to switch to better facilitate images for your viewing pleasure. :-) I will no longer be posting to this blog, so please check out my new one HERE. However, this blog will remain open for you to view my archived posts.

The Wood Family Session Preview- Columbus, GA Portrait Photographer

2009-08-02T20:08:00.000-07:00

I have know the Wood family for quite a long while. Carol Ann worked with my father in education, and they also used to be my customers at N. Columbus Pharmacy before I got rich and famous as a photographer. The rich and famous part is a joke people! Anyhoo, I was really excited to take the Woods' family portraits. It's always nice to take pictures of people you've known for a while... there isn't the need for introductions and stuff. A friend of mine, John Helms assisted me with the shoot, which was sort of ironic because Carol Ann was his first grade teacher. She had a really interesting story to share about John and pencil erasers, but I will leave that one for John to tell. ;-) Needless to say, we had a pretty fun time taking pictures, sharing stories, sweating... you know fun stuff. Wood family, I hope you enjoy your preview!

Casual Shoot with Annie- Columbus GA Portrait Photographer

2009-08-01T16:37:00.000-07:00

Last week a couple of local photographer friends of mine and I got together for a casual photo shoot. Annie was our model and she held up very well in the humid heat. Thanks John for letting us use your house for the shoot. Here are four of my favorites from the shoot.

The Rollings- Columbus GA Portrait Photographer

2009-08-01T14:34:00.000-07:00

Skeet and Kathy held a family session with me earlier in the summer, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them. They haven't had portraits made of just the two of them in a long while, so one morning while it was still warm and not quite HOT yet, we did a session with just them. Skeet said that he had been looking forward to the session all week because he knew I would make them kiss! Haha! It was such a gorgeous day, and I really loved shooting these two love birds. Skeet and Kathy, enjoy your sneak peek... the rest are only a day or so behind. :-)

Brayden and John Paul Session Preview- Columbus GA Children's Photographer

2009-07-22T17:50:00.000-07:00

I did a session of my friend's little boys a couple of Saturdays ago. Brayden (Not my Brayden) is 9 months, and his brother John Paul is 3. My Brayden and John Paul are buddies, and we try to have a play date with them every week or so. Both boys are absolutely precious. I love Brayden's little fat rolls... my babies were never chunky. Here are some of the pictures from our session.

Isn't he cute? Boys will be boys! I just had to post this one! lol

UPDATE: Please Read

2009-07-16T09:14:00.000-07:00

Life never follows the course we plan ourselves, but the one that is laid out for us by God our Father. In that, I am very thankful, because if it were left up to me, I am confident that I would mess things up. With that said, I wanted to let you know of some changes I feel the Lord is leading me into regarding my photography business.

As you may know, I had our second son, Asher, about 3 months ago. I had an extremely rough pregnancy, and was limited in my activeness with our eldest son, Brayden. Right after giving birth, I jumped back into my photography business full force with portrait sessions and weddings. Although I love what I do, I feel like this was not healthy for myself or my family. It’s not fair to my boys (Lance included) to spend the majority of my day editing pictures on the computer. God has blessed me with a wonderful family, and I don’t want to neglect them in any way. Although my talent was given to me from above, if I do not balance my life and my priorities, my God given talent does not honor God or my family. Being stretched too thin also effects the quality I am able to give my clients, and I don’t want to sacrifice quality for quantity.

Therefore, I have decided to do what is best for my family and myself. For the foreseeable future, I will no longer be photographing weddings (with the exception of the weddings I have booked for the rest of the year), and I will be limiting my portrait sessions to a maximum of 2 per week. I will still do bridal sessions and engagement sessions. I appreciate all of you who have helped me grow my business by referring your friends and family, and I would still appreciate you passing my name along to those you know who need any type of portraits, with weddings being the only exception.

Thank you for all your support in the past and present. I thank God for all of you, and pray that God will bless you and your family.

With Love,
Kristian Ogden

M and J's Wedding Sneak Peek

2009-07-02T13:23:00.000-07:00

M and J tied the knot a couple of weeks ago at Holy Family Church in Columbus. Their reception was at the new Infantry Museum that just opened the day before their wedding. M and J put a lot of work into their wedding and J even made a lot of the special little details. She even made the groomsmens cufflinks! I just loved how special and unique everything was. The couple had a very vintage theme, so you will notice some of the shots have been etited a bit vintage too. M and J, it was a pleasure, and I hope you enjoy your little preview.

S and K Plus Fifteen!

2009-06-23T12:24:00.000-07:00

KR contacted me a few weeks ago about taking pictures of her family. She wanted to know if I was up for the challenge of photographing such a large bunch, and of course I was. The real question should have been if I was up for the challenge of taking pictures in 100 degree weather! I had the pleasure of photographing several members of this lovely family already in the past, so it was a joy to work with them again and also to meet the rest of the crew. I hope you guys enjoy your preview...

"Sneak Peek" Sneak Peek

2009-06-22T11:57:00.000-07:00

... say that 10 times fast. On Saturday, I shot M and J's wedding, and although I don't have their sneak peek done yet, I just had to post this one. I love it!

Brandon and Christy's Engagement Session

2009-06-18T08:09:00.000-07:00

Brandon and Christy are really good friends of mine. Lance, my husband, and Brandon have been friends since the first grade. We are so excited that Brandon and Christy will be exchanging vows in November. I had the option of either being in the wedding or photographing it, and well I chose the latter. So first things first, we did their engagement session. Here are some of their favorites from the session:

A week at the beach...

2009-06-16T08:32:00.001-07:00

Last week, we spent the entire week with my family at the beach. We were celebrating my parents 30th wedding anniversary. While we were there they renewed their wedding vows on the beach. The whole week was great! The weather was absolutely beautiful and despite the 3 hours it took to actually get down to the beach, I had fun. I got a few shots on the beach of our family (not all together mind you) and some of another family who are friends with my parents. I had some camera "issues" so I have some more to come including some I shot using my friend's Canon and ones I shot throughout the trip with my little Coolpix. Enjoy...

Here are some of our family...

These are some of the ones I took of the other family...

E's first panel

2009-06-15T17:13:00.000-07:00

Little miss E had her first panel session. I just love those chunky cheeks and legs!

Daniel and Hope's Wedding

2009-06-15T09:43:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, I shot Daniel and Hope's wedding in Auburn at the Greystone Mansion. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful wedding. Due to not getting anything edited while I was at the beach, this preview is a little late, but better late than never. Daniel and Hope, thank you for allowing me to capture the special moments of your wedding. I really enjoyed it and look forward to showing you the rest. Enjoy your sneak peak!

Vacation!

2009-06-03T08:06:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to inform everyone that I will be going to the beach this Saturday, June 6th for a week long vacation with my family. Although I will be working on editing at the beach, I will not be taking phone calls or responding to e-mails. All messages and e-mails will be returned when I get back.

A Memorial Day Tribute

2009-05-25T07:44:00.000-07:00

A small tribute to those who have given their lives to protect the freedom we hold so dear. Thank you to all of our men and women who serve in the armed forces. We are grateful for your sacrifice. Happy Memorial Day.

My Lovely June Bride

2009-05-23T07:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I shot my June bride's bridal session. Our plan had been to go to Callaway Gardens, but when we got up there, we found out there was an event going on that required an additional fee for each person entering the gardens. So, since the clouds above us were threatening to pour down on us at any moment, we didn't feel like that was a wise investment, so we went to one of my favorite shoot locations, "the field" and then headed downtown for some fun urban shots. JS and her mom were very patient with me as I got them in and out of the car a zillion times. Somehow we managed to keep JS's beautiful dress pretty clean ( I always get nervous about that) and we got some really great shots despite the sprinkles. JS, thank you so much for choosing me as your photographer. I had a blast yesterday, and I cannot wait to shoot your wedding next month! Enjoy your sneak peak!

Newborn and Panels

2009-05-18T11:41:00.001-07:00

Last weekend, I took pictures of one of my best friend's little girl, Jillian Grace. She was born the day after Asher. Pip, as her mother calls her, didn't like us messing with her all that much, but she did pretty good, and we were still able to get some cute shots. Here are some of my favorites

The same weekend, I also shoot Hensly's six month panels. Here are some of my favorites from that session as well.

A few from today...

2009-05-02T14:59:00.000-07:00

I snuck in a few shots of Asher down by the lake while we were out at my in-laws. Here are some of my favorites.

Asher Elias Ogden

2009-04-21T11:25:00.000-07:00

I am proud to announce that baby Asher was born at 1:59 AM Saturday, April 18th... Lance's birthday! He weighed 6 lbs 14 oz and was 20 inches long. He was absolutely perfect with no complications! The surgery was a little rough for me, but my recovery is going very well, so I can't complain too much. We got home yesterday afternoon, and everyone is still getting settled and used to the idea of having a newborn around the house. Here are a few snap shots of our little bundle of joy:

In Memory...

2009-04-13T06:21:00.000-07:00

...of my grandmother, Betty Shouppe. Mawmaw passed away this past thursday in her home in Asheville, NC. She loved the Gaithers, so this video is for her. Because of Mt. Calvary, I know she is better off than any of us here. However, she will be greatly missed.

Personal Update

2009-03-25T07:38:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted anything since I went on bed rest over 5 weeks ago, so I wanted to post an update of what's been going on with me pregnancy wise.

I have 1 1/2 weeks left of bed rest and meds to control my contractions, and I am super excited about being free for a little bit. I have been a very bad bed rest patient the last 4 days or so. My nesting urges were uncontainable, so we spent the past weekend getting Asher's nursery ready. I had some wonderful friends come over to help paint the walls (I sat and watched) and my mom has come over several days to help me get things organized. Our house looks like we have moved. There is stuff everywhere since Asher's room used to be my office. It feels really good to have a cute little nursery for my little one to come home to... even though there isn't a whole lot other than furniture to fill it.

Health wise, I have been doing ok. I went to the hospital a couple of weeks ago because I was having some contractions that wouldn't go away. They hooked me up to an IV and gave me some medication that knocked me out, and finally, after a double dose of the medication I take everyday, the contractions slowed way down. That was my last episode of stubborn contractions. Now, I have been dealing with elevated blood pressure. My normal blood pressure (bp) is usually 100-110/50-55, but since February it's been on the rise. The last few weeks when they check my bp at my doctors appointment, it's been 125-138/65-80. Last night, it was 139/91 and this morning shortly after waking up, it was 136/88. My doctors don't seem too worried since I don't have any of the other symptoms of preeclampsia but it really bothers me that my bp is almost 30 points higher than normal. Good news is, I don't have that much longer to worry about it.

Not being able to work is driving me nuts. This gorgeous weather has really been making it hard. I'm really looking forward to the sessions and weddings I have scheduled for when I return from maternity leave. Of course I'm also really looking forward to all the newborn practice I'm going to get. Hopefully in a few weeks, I will be able to post some pictures of my sweet little Asher for you to see.

Until next time....

The end of the road... for now.

2009-02-17T11:52:00.000-08:00

Well, I knew it would come sooner or later, and its seems to have come sooner. By "it" I mean the point where I can no longer work until after the baby is born. I went into the hospital Sunday night with some pretty stubborn contractions, and although I am back at home and things are a little bit better I am still not off the hook. Since I am only 29wks, the doctor wants me to take it VERY easy, so that means no photo sessions. So unless something changes for the better, which I doubt will happen, I will not be available for any photo sessions until June (depending on when Asher comes). However, if this puts a damper on your picture plans, I can refer you to one of my good photography friends Holly Tye. Holly does wonderful family and children portraiture, so you would be in good hands with her. Here is her site:

http://www.hollytyephotography.com/index2.php

Please feel free to call me or e-mail me if you have any questions. I will be back at it as soon as I can be.

Hensley's 3 Month Panel Preview

2009-02-02T14:24:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I did a 3 month panel session for Lance's cousin's little girl, Hensley. She is such a little cutie pie, and looks JUST like her mommy! I love taking pictures of babies and kids, but it's always fun when it's family. Brandon and Lane, thanks for letting me do Hensley's portraits. She has grown so much from the first session!

Here is one from my first session with Hensley:

...And this is now!

Precious Times Two!

2009-01-20T19:42:00.001-08:00

This past Saturday I did something I have never done before. I held a newborn session with TWINS! Mom and Dad waited a very long time for CJ and PJ to arrive, and so I was so touched when AJ asked me to take their pictures. I honestly had had a very bad day before the session, and just the couple of hours I spent with these precious little boys and their sweet parents lifted my spirits. It really reminded me how much I LOVE what I do. It also made me a little more excited about meeting my own newborn in April. Babies are always a challenge because... well they're babies. However, I must say that both CJ and PJ were very patient with me... even toward the end when they were hungry. I cannot wait to finish the rest of the images, but for now here is a little preview of some of my favorites. B&A, enjoy your sneak peek, and again, thank you for letting me do those sweet angels' portraits.

New Website Has LAUNCHED!

2009-01-14T18:52:00.001-08:00

My new website has officially launched! There are a couple of kinks I have to work out, but it is about 97% done and is up and running for all the world to view. You can give me feedback on here if you would like. I would love to hear what people think.

WOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO! It's done! :-)

New Year... New everything!

2009-01-10T08:12:00.000-08:00

I am so excited because hopefully by Wednesday I will have launched my brand spankin new web site! With my current website there are some issues with the galleries for users of certain web browsers (ie Firefox and Safari), so I have been itching to get a super sleek user friendly site for a while. My new site will have my updated portfolio with bigger pictures, updated prices and information, hopefully a better picture of me, music and one very special perk. My customers will now have the ability to view their session proofs directly on my site! You just don't know how excited I am about that! I am very extremely over the top excited... now you know. :-) I know I have not posted a session blog in a little bit, and so I am hoping to redeem myself with the new website. So, those of you who keep up with my going ons, and those of you who don't, go check out my new website next week. You will know its new because there will be a picture on the Splash page instead of just my name. Well, it is time for my hourly giddy dance, so I need to run.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-02T09:03:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone has had a wonderful holiday season, and I pray that the new year brings an abundance of blessing to you and your families!

I had a wonderful Christmas, and a very uneventful New Year. We took a trip to NC and had a very relaxing time with family. I am so glad that I actually slowed down and took time to enjoy my friends and family. It was a much needed break for sure, but now I am back to work!

There are a couple of matters of business that I wanted to address in this blog, and the first is to remind everyone that I am going to be having a baby the end of April. I am not taking anymore weddings until July (I'm booked for May and June) but I am taking all types of photo sessions through the end of March. If you are wanting any type of session for the Spring, I highly recommend booking it early. I will be limiting myself on how many sessions I do per month because I really don't care to go into the hospital with pre-term labor. :-)

The other point of business is one that I really dislike, but really can't avoid. If you keep up with my blog, you will remember me posting a tentative pricing schedule for the new year. Those prices have gone into effect as of January 1st, and will be updated shortly on my website. Again, I really don't enjoy raising prices, but due to the rising costs on my end, I really have no choice. I value the business of my customers, and I hope you realize that when you invest in prints and albums from Kristian Ogden Photography you will receive the finest products that I can offer. Thank you for your understanding and your continued support of my business.

Here is a basic price list for the new year:

Session Fees:

Family/Individual Session $75
Senior Portrait Session $100
Engagement Session $75
Bridal Session $120
Maternity Session $75
Newborn Session $100

Prints Ala Carte:
8 wallets $12
3.5x5/4x5/5x5 $8
4x6 $10
5x7 $12
8x10 $20
11x14 $55
16x20 $80
20x24 $130

Mounting on Mat Board $20-$40

Package Prices
Package A $85 ($100 value)
-5 4x5 or 3.5x5
-5 5x7

Package B $120 ($136 value)
-8 wallets
-10 4x5 or 3.5x5
-2 5x7
-1 8x10

Package C $235 ($272 value)
-16 wallets
-20 4x5 or 3.5x5
-4 5x7
-2 8x10

Package D $310 ($355 value)
-24 wallets
-20 4x5 or 3.5x5
-6 5x7
-4 8x10
-1 11x14

Package E $350 (Unlimited value)
-1 CD of all edited proofs

Referral Program
For every customer that is referred by you and books/holds any type of session, you will receive two free 5x7 prints from any session (past or future) or $25 credit toward your next session fee.

For every order over $50 placed by a customer you referred, you will receive an additional free 5x7 print or $12 credit toward your next session fee.

Referral credits can be banked for up to one year.

If you have any questions or are ready to schedule a spring session, please feel contact me via e-mail: krisogden@hotmail.com.

Baby Noah...a few favorites

2008-12-16T10:10:00.000-08:00

Five weeks ago, one of my best friends in the whole wide world, Brandy, gave birth to her first child, Noah. Brandy was the first to get married out of our "group of friends" so we have been waiting for this for some time. :-) Noah is absolutely a gorgeous baby, so I just couldn't help going ahead and editing a few of my favorites from our session. This little man was definitely a wiggle worm, and he paid me back a couple of times for making him pose naked. But I guess that's just what makes baby portraits fun. Brandy and Denny, I am so proud of you guys! I know you are such great parents, and you could not have made a cuter bundle of joy! I love you and I hope you enjoy this little sneak peak. :-)

"D" and "L" Tied the Knot and I have the preview to proove it!

2008-12-08T19:22:00.000-08:00

Saturday, D&L said "I do"s at Evangel Temple in Columbus, and I had the honor of photographing their special day. We got things off to a very early start at 7am! It was cold outside, but both the boys and girls hung with me and we got some pretty good shots. The wedding party were all great sports, and I truly enjoyed myself. Its always nice to laugh on the job. This was my last wedding until the summer, and I thought it was a good one to end the year with. D&L, thank you for allowing me the pleasure of being your photographer. Enjoy your preview!

The "C" Family Session Preview

2008-12-07T20:12:00.000-08:00

I attend CrossPointe Church with "R", "D" and their two boys "B&B." I admire their family a great deal, so I really enjoyed taking their family portraits. "B&B" are some of the best boys that I have photographed. They were still boys, but they were definitely a pleasure. R and D, your portraits are almost complete, and I hope you enjoy your preview.

Triple Family Session

2008-12-03T11:12:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday I had a triple family session. My friend AC called set things up, and we decided to do the session inside since so many babies were involved. Good thing we did, because it poured down rain. We held the session at AC's aunts house, which was gorgeous inside and out. Oh how I wish we could have gone out in the yard. :( After getting off to a bit of a rough start because of my prego brain, I think the session went rather well considering we had 6 kids to keep happy. I hope you guys like your preview. I wish I could post more, but I will leave you with just a taste for now. Thanks for your patience and flexibility!

"T-H" Family Session Preview

2008-11-19T12:45:00.000-08:00

Sunday, I had a session with the "T-H" family. We actually went out to the Ogden Compound (my term for the family land in Ellerslie) and shot around the lake because little cool man, Mr. LH, loves the water. I think there are now more rocks in the lake than there are out (hehe), but we had fun despite the cold weather and that's what counts. :-) "T-H" family, thanks for giving me the opportunity to capture your memories. I hope you enjoy your preview. The rest will be done soon.

"H" Family Session Preview

2008-11-18T07:10:00.000-08:00

Saturday, I had session with the "H" family. B and S have two adorable boys, and I enjoyed our session very much. Unfortunately, the weather was working against us. It was very cold with the gusty winds, so we didn't spend as much time as I usually like to spend in a session. B and S, enjoy your preview. I will talk to you soon.

"D" and "A" session preview

2008-11-15T18:30:00.000-08:00

"D" and "A" were referred to me by one of D's co-workers (Thanks "KM") and wanted to get some portraits done for the holidays. We chose to do their session in Callaway Gardens. I always love to do portrait sessions there. No matter what time of year, you can be assured it will be gorgeous! I definitely enjoyed getting to know D and A. They were lots of fun to be around. Here are some of my favorites from the session. D and A, enjoy your preview.

Callie's Catch

2008-11-14T08:36:00.000-08:00

This morning I was doing my wifely duty of washing laundry, and since our laundry room is in our carport, I could hear a high pitched squawking sound. At first I thought Brayden was making some strange noise inside, but I quickly realized that it was the sound of a bird. I stuck my head out the door and saw our sweet cat Callie torturing a beautiful little bird. I didn't see any blood or feathers, so I figured it was still early in the process, so I grabbed Callie by the neck and pried her jaws off of this poor birds neck. She was not too happy about me intervening but I'm sure the bird was grateful. He just sat there and looked around. I think his leg was broken. I called Lance outside to come "take care of it" but before he took it away I wanted to take some pictures. The bird was so pretty and kind of looked like it should be somebody's pet, so I looked it up on the internet, and sure enough it is a Blue Parakeet. I really wanted to put it in a box on the front porch to see if it got any better, but Lance wouldn't let me. I'm such a sucker for animals. :-(

Evangelista Family Preview

2008-11-13T08:58:00.000-08:00

Tuesday I had a portrait session with the Evangelista's. Brad is our pastor at CrossPointe Church, and Jennifer is Brayden and Asher's pediatrician. They have three boys and one girl, so we had our hands full. We went out to a friend's farm near Pine Mt. and it was beautiful! What a great place for pictures. Unfortunately the farm came with a pair of attention hungry dogs that gained plenty of attention from the boys. I think that was our biggest challenge, even topping "A"s skinned up knee :-( but overall, I was pleased with the amount of good shots that we got. Evangelista family, thanks for kicking off my holiday madness. I had a lot of fun with you all!

"M" Family Preview

2008-10-29T12:33:00.001-07:00

The "M" family was actually referred to me by another photographer so we had never met, but I thoroughly enjoyed our session. "K" and "S" have FOUR boys! Two of which are identical twins. We had so much fun, and we even got a little wet... myself included. I always try to make sessions fun for kids and adults. I want kids to enjoy the experience so they don't dread the next one. Needless to say, I think the "M" boys had a little fun. Thanks "M" family for letting me spend a couple of hours with you. I hope your preview brings a smile to your face.

Baby "O" Preview

2008-10-29T12:22:00.000-07:00

I photographed "D" and "J"'s wedding and last week I got to photograph their new little addition, "O". "O" has been having a pretty tough time the last few weeks, so we actually had to do two sessions, but I think they were well worth it. He is such a little cutie, and just taking his portraits made me even more excited about the little boy we have on the way. "D" and "J", I hope you enjoy this little sneak peak, and I look forward to showing you the rest.

"K" and "L"'s Wedding Preview

2008-10-22T13:56:00.000-07:00

"K" and "L" tied the knot on October 11th at the Piedmont Room at Park Tavern in Atlanta, GA. "L"s family and my family have been good friends for many, many years, so I was honored to shoot "K" and "L"s beautiful wedding. Everything and everyone looked absolutely GORGEOUS! Enjoy your preview, and your photos will be available very soon!

"W(on)" Family Preview

2008-10-21T13:47:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, I went with one of my favorite people in the whole world and her family to Callaway Gardens for a photo session. It was a very pretty day, and apparently everyone else thought so too. The gardens were pretty busy, but we worked around the people and had fun. If you ever need a good laugh, go hand out with the "W" family. They are sure to put a smile on your face with their constant kidding and goofy faces (dad). I really enjoyed our time together. Here are some of my favorites from the session:

2 years have flown by!

2008-09-26T06:41:00.000-07:00

Today is my little man, Brayden's birthday! He is 2 years old! I can't hardly believe that 2 years have come and gone so fast. We are going to eat with Grammy and PopPop for lunch and then we are going to Hollywood Connection to play (woohoo!...not). After all that fun, he is going to get his hair cut. Then finally, Nanna, Granddaddy, Raleigh, Grammy, PopPop, Eric, Mandee, Tatum and Taylor are going to come over to the house for cupcakes and ice cream. YUM! So we have a pretty busy day. Brayden, even though you will probably never read this, I love you and am so proud that you are my son! I can't wait to see what God has planned for your life. I will never forget the first time that I looked into your sweet little eyes and you melted my heart. Happy Birthday baby boy. Mommy loves you!
***Yes, those are shorts on his head.***

Pictures of Columbus

2008-09-23T12:35:00.000-07:00

I am working on taking pictures for our church's (CrossPointe) website. I have to admit that I am a little more used to people than landscapes and cityscapes, but here are a few that I thought turned out well.

"C" and "K" Session Preview

2008-09-18T18:48:00.000-07:00

This afternoon I had a session with "C" and "K" at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain. "K" found me online and asked me to take some pictures of her and her husband, "C". They have been married for just over a year, and "C", a soldier, is about to go back to Iraq. I had so much fun with these two, and it turns out that I went to school with both of them at some point along the line. It's crazy how small the world is.

"C" and "K", it was an honor to photograph you guys, and I'm glad we found our connections. I wish you both the best, and you will be in my prayers. I know this time apart has to be tough. "C" thank you for serving our country and protecting our freedom. Enjoy your preview, and I will be in touch with you about the rest.

Get your sessions in before I get huge!

2008-09-15T14:18:00.000-07:00

Ok, I know this is a really confusing blog title, so I will go ahead and explain. I am pregnant! What does this mean for my photography business? First off, it means that sometime in March I will become so huge and uncomfortable that I can barely move...much less get on my hands and knees for that perfect shot of your sweet family. Then, somewhere toward the end of April I will have a c-section that will put me out of commission for about 6 weeks. However, I will get extremely good at newborn pictures since I will have a constant model. If this news throws a kink in anyone's portrait/wedding plans, I am so sorry. Well.....Surprise!

Baby "HSH"

2008-09-15T09:40:00.001-07:00

Sunday, I went out to Lance's cousin's house to do a session with their one week old baby girl. HSH was so adorable and overall did pretty well. She wasn't a big fan of being naked, so I couldn't get any good shots of that sweet little toosh. She really liked being wrapped in a blanket, so that is what I did get. She also L-O-V-E-D the sunshine. I think she would have been quite content if we let her stay out there for hours. Mommy was not feeling well, so Daddy helped me get all these shots. Thanks "B"! I will have to come back and take some more with big sis and the whole family. Hope you enjoy the preview of my favorites from the session.

Announcements

2008-09-05T16:23:00.000-07:00

Well, since I was working on some Christmas card samples, I figured I would go ahead and do a couple of announcement samples as well. So here they are. You would never believe what the hardest part of designing these are...making up fake names. ;-)

Christmas Sessions and Greeting Cards

2008-09-03T11:28:00.001-07:00

The Holidays are just around the corner! It is hard to believe that we are finishing up yet another year. My calendar will be filling up quickly with fall/holiday portrait sessions. If you want your family's picture taken in time for Holiday cards and gifts, you need to go ahead and schedule a session soon. Prints from sessions after November 30th will NOT be ready before Christmas. That means if you want anything done for Christmas, your session MUST be done before the end of November. If I have recently done a session with your family, and you want to order prints or cards, you must submit your request no later than November 15th. I custom make my greeting cards. They are one sided 5x7 or 5x5 cards. Below are a few samples. Pricing is available upon request.

3 AM

2008-08-28T00:07:00.000-07:00

Yes, that is the actual time! For the third night in a row, I can't sleep at all and I'm really tired. I HATE tossing and turning in bed for hours only to just get settled and then have to go to the bathroom! I used to be a sleeping queen before I got pregnant with Brayden. Now, I sleep very light, and do not really get deep sleep until about 6-7 am. And what do you know? That is right when Lance's alarm goes off and he starts getting ready and then after he leaves, Brayden wakes up screaming for the Wiggles and milk. I know my body is really craving rest right now, but for some reason it is fighting it. Maybe, just maybe if my back and shoulders didn't hurt, Lance wouldn't snore, the temperature would stay comfortable, the dogs next door would go mute, my mind and bladder would be completely empty, AND I took a sleeping pill, I might be able to get a good nights sleep. However, it's not looking too hopeful! So I will just sit here and cry at 3am!

Back in the game

2008-08-17T17:45:00.000-07:00

Well ladies and gentlemen, I am back in the game and have actually posted something new in less than a week. Some of these pictures are from a Bridal Shower that I went to in Hotlanta (aka Atlanta for those of you who don't live in GA). It was a brunch at Einsteins. LB is getting married in October, and I have the honor of being her photographer. It was nice to meet some of my subjects before the actual big day and get a feel for their personality. I think we will have fun. :o) The other pictures are some snapshots I took of Lance and Brayden this past week. Brayden is getting so big, and it makes me sad to think that before I can blink twice he will be all grown up. He loves his Daddy, and his Daddy's guitars. I think we have another musician in the house, and I had nothing to do with it. Well, I will stop rambling and let you look at these pictures.

I'm a slacker

2008-08-14T07:53:00.000-07:00

Sorry that I haven't posted anything in a LONG while. I have some bridal shower pics that I will be working on soon enough. But to fill the void, here are some pictures from my trip to Dallas, Tx for Mary Kay Seminar. I didn't take my big Nikon, I only took the Coolpix. I have a love/hate relationship with my Coolpix. I hate it because it is not my DSLR (it's very hard to go back) and I love it because it fits into small places and doesn't have the weight of a sack of potatoes. I hate it because the flash is so harsh and the delay is horrible, and I love it because it has a video camera built in. Since I use the Coolpix for random shots and stuff like that, I tend not to Photoshop so much. It would kind of be like framing a puzzle; it will make it look better, but its still just a puzzle. I promise I will post some new pics soon!

Dallas skyline from my hotel room. We had to get up before the crack of dawn to get ready for the day.
Waiting to hear my ranking in sales. Turns out I was #5 out of 6000 consultants.

Just walked across Seminar stage to get my 8ct Citrine/Topaz ring for Queen's Court of Sales. I was a little excited if you can't tell.
This is Mary Kay Ash's personal office on the 13th floor of the Mary Kay Headquarters. They wouldn't let us go in :-(
Our hotel, The Hyatt Regency
My future car!
The general dining room. Everything was SO organized
Opening session. The Friends of Tyme dancers were really great.

The "W" Family Preview

2008-07-17T09:42:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I spent the afternoon with the "W" family. BW is heading off to Lee University to finish her studies, and TW wanted to have some family portraits taken before she left. We had a great time. Thank the Lord there was a breeze blowing, because otherwise it would have been VERY hot! I love the urban shots! BW I hope you had a great time at your surprise B-day party after the session. I hope you guys love your preview!

The "A" Family Preview

2008-07-15T11:42:00.000-07:00

These are some preview pictures from my session with the "A" Family. I had a ball with AA, HA and AA#2. They are a beautiful young family full of love and joy. They were so sweet to put up with my pathetic hand gestures and waving. Thanks S for all your help. The session would not have been so smooth without you! Oh, and by the way, this was my first wet session! It rain on us at the end, but we had fun and got good pictures. That's what matters!

A few more from R & M's wedding

2008-07-14T07:41:00.000-07:00

These are some more pictures from R & M's wedding. I was kind of experimenting with combining images in Photoshop. I LOVE that program. It is by best friend when it comes to photography.

R and MG Wedding Preview

2008-07-03T13:21:00.000-07:00

I know some of you have been waiting to see this preview, and here it is. There are tons of good pictures, but you can only put so many on a slide. Once again I apologize for using Slide.com. I still haven't figured out how to make a better one. Apparently nobody else know how either or if they do, they are being stingy with the tips. ;-) Anyways, enjoy the preview R and MG, and I look forward to showing you the rest.

Just a few oldies...

2008-06-27T14:19:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures from older weddings and sessions that came before the existence of this blog and have yet to make it to my website. You just might recognize a couple of faces. ;-)

Engagement Sessions

Weddings

Portraits

A Beautiful Bride!

2008-06-21T13:15:00.000-07:00

Today I photographed the R and MG's wedding. I had a very busy but fun day that started at 8am at the hair salon. Last month, I shot MG's bridal session at Calloway Gardens, and I mentioned in a former post that she was glowing that day. Well, she was glowing just as much if not more today. You can really see how in love R and MG are. They wouldn't stop kissing! ;-) I was very excited about the wedding today, and one reason was this very post. I have waited a month to post the pictures of MG's bridal since nobody could see her dress until today. So here are some of the long awaited pictures. I think this was one of my favorite sessions ever!

MG...gorgeous does not even begin to describe how you looked last month and today! Thank you for giving me the honor of being your photographer. I wish you guys the best!

C & E Wedding Preview

2008-06-20T06:51:00.000-07:00

I photographed C and E's wedding two weeks ago today. I really had fun "working" that night. Their wedding and reception was at the River Mill Center, and I have to say, that is a really pretty venue. I did a photo session there early last year, and I enjoyed it then. C and E were so laid back and fun to work with. They were open to every pose we tried. They made a very good looking couple which of course makes the photos all that much better.

I decided to try out a slide show since I have so many pictures to share, but I have had a lot of "technical" difficulty...and that probably just means that I have NO clue what I am doing! I had made a really awesome slide, but for some crazy reason I can't get it to post. So, just to get something up here, I went with cheesy Slide.com. I am sorry for the lack of quality. The pictures looked so much better in my original slide. If anybody has any tips for posting/making slides, you are more than welcome to share.

My Personality

2008-06-18T19:46:00.001-07:00

I love figuring out my own personality. I don't know why, but I enjoy seeing the results of a personality test and then analyzing the accuracy of them. I just found this one on another blog I read, and figured I would give it a shot. Here are my results:

"They can't bear to miss out on what is going on around them; they must experience, first hand, all the significant social events that affect our lives."

- The Portrait of the Champion Idealist (Keirsey)

"ENFPs are warm, enthusiastic people, typically very bright and full of potential. They live in the world of possibilities, and can become very passionate and excited about things. Their enthusiasm lends them the ability to inspire and motivate others, more so than we see in other types. They can talk their way in or out of anything. They love life, seeing it as a special gift, and strive to make the most out of it."

- Portrait of an ENFP (The Personality Page)

"Friends are what life is about to ENFPs, moreso even than the other NFs. They hold up their end of the relationship, sometimes being victimized by less caring individuals. ENFPs are energized by being around people. Some have real difficulty being alone, especially on a regular basis."
"outgoing, social, disorganized, easily talked into doing silly things, spontaneous, wild and crazy, acts without thinking..."

- ENFP Jung Type Descriptions (similarminds.com)

"ENFPs are energetic and enthusiastic leaders who are likely to take charge when a new endeavor needs a visionary spokesperson. ENFPs are values-oriented people who become champions of causes and services relating to human needs and dreams. Their leadership style is one of soliciting and recognizing others' contributions and of evaluating the personal needs of their followers. ENFPs are often charismatic leaders who are able to help people see the possibilities beyond themselves and their current realities. They function as catalysts."

- ENFP - The Visionary (Lifexplore)

"Ranked 1st of all 16 types in using social and emotional coping resources and 2nd in using cognitive resources. "

- ENFP Facts (discoveryourpersonality.com)

A Wonderful Father!

2008-06-15T17:12:00.000-07:00

First off, Happy Fathers Day to any dads who read my blog. I actually started this blog on Fathers Day, but I am finishing it today because last night Lance wanted to watch movie. But regardless of what day it is or isn't, I just wanted to share some thoughts about my father, Dr. Gary Shouppe.

I am richly blessed with two wonderful parents. They are both godly, above all things, they are in love with each other (which is rare these days), they are hard working people of their word (another rare thing), and I KNOW they love me. My father is to me the model father. He has always been firm but loving, fun and outgoing, encouraging, engaged in my life, and supportive. Although we clashed at times when I was teen, I never doubted his motives were love. I can honestly say that I am proud of my father. He just retired this summer, and to hear so many fellow educators proclaim how wonderful he was to work with or work for was amazing. I realized that he not only has guided and molded my life, but the lives of countless others. My father is a hero with a legacy. A legacy that will live on in every child, teacher, parent, friend that he has impacted. Dad, even though you probably will never read this, I love you and admire you more than you know. You are a hero to me, and I am so proud to be the daughter of Dr. Gary A. Shouppe. I wouldn't have it any other way. Happy Fathers day!

A picture of my father with his mother, Betty Shouppe. Two of my favorite people in the world!

Bella Boo

2008-06-12T06:37:00.000-07:00

Last night, Lance and I were trying to watch a movie, but Brayden would NOT go to bed. Trust me we tried at least 4 times to lay him down. I was seriously ready to put some wine in his apple juice or something. He was just wide awake. Since we have moved back to Pinebrook, we have been letting Bella (Our 3yr old German Shepherd) come in the house quite a bit now that we got all the ticks and fleas off of her from living in the woods for 8 months. . . but that is a whole other story. Anyways, she was inside laying on the rug in the living room, and Brayden had just gotten up again and was running in circles around the leather chair. Lance and I were on the couch straining our ears to hear what the heck was going on in the movie. By the way it is very hard to watch a movie when you have to pause it every 2 minutes. As we were sitting there, Brayden went over to Bella and started petting (aka hitting) her and sticking his finger in her face. I warned him to be gentle and continued watching the movie. Then he straightened up, started backing up over her head and proceeded to sit on the side of her face! I fussed at Brayden to get up, and Bella just laid there hardly phased at all. I realized at that moment what a good dog we have for Brayden to grow up with. She never barks or snaps at Brayden. She simply just takes the abusive love. Its kind of ironic, because the movie we were trying to watch was "The Good Shepherd". And totally off subject, if anyone wants a Great Dane puppy, there are 10 next door that I will gladly give away to a good home. ;-)

Finally! A new post!

2008-06-10T20:23:00.000-07:00

FINALLY! I'm back! Wow have things been crazy since we got back from the beach! Last week we decided to move back to our house in Columbus. We had been planning on doing some remodeling and then selling the house, but the market is so bad right now we chose to just sit it out and move back in. If feels good to be back in my own home! It feels VERY good to have Internet again!

Since I am back to "normal", I was finally able to edit the pictures from the beach. K and H are probably ready to kill me because of how long I have made them wait. Sorry! :-( Mandee and Eric are used to waiting for pictures because they are family, so this is nothing new for them. And I could have kept waiting for the edit of our family pictures! I think I need to blow one up and put it in the kitchen as a snack deterrent!

While we were at the beach, it stormed. It always does and I love it! I took several pictures of the storm coming in. It happened to be right at sunset, so I got some pretty awesome shots! Here are some of the pictures from the weekend. You are lucky there is even one of me in there!

A Very Crazy Day

2008-05-28T05:32:00.000-07:00

So yesterday I started taking a vitamin supplement. I guess God knew that I was going to have a super busy day and so he predestined Mandee to give me those vitamins at just the right time! Oh how I needed that B-12! Here is a little synopsis of my day:

8:00am - Got up ate breakfast with Brayden and took my vitamin.
8:30am - Checked e-mail and wrote a few responses.
9:00am - Started organizing my Mary Kay stuff for my Skin Care Class at 4pm
10:00am - Got in the shower, dried my hair, did my own skin care.
10:30am - Put Brayden down for a nap and researched some info for my Success Meeting
11:00am - Started putting on my face.
11:15am - Got a call from random girl who found me on the MK website and needs a consultant.
11:30am - Freaked out b/c I had hardly any makeup on yet and I was supposed to be at my dad's retirement luncheon in 30 minutes.
12:00am - Finished getting dressed, and woke brayden up and got him dressed.
12:20pm - Finally arrive at the luncheon.
2:00pm - Left Brayden with my mom and went all the way back home to get my inventory.
2:45pm - Headed back to the school to set up for the skin care class.
4:00pm - Started skin care class with 3 ladies
4:15pm - Was informed that because school is now out, the custodians no longer stay until midnight, but now they leave and set the alarm at 4:30pm!
4:20pm - Was told that if we didn't get out of the building right then we would be locked in. Threw everything for the skin care class in my bags and raced out the door.
4:30pm - Finished my skin care class in the parking lot!
5:30pm - Went to my parent's house to see Brayden and get some Diet Coke.
6:00pm - Headed for Macon Rd, stopped off at McDonald's and got a snack wrap and a sweet tea.
6:15pm - Ate my meal and went in to my Success Meeting.
7:00pm - Taught at my Success Meeting.
7:30pm - Left, got gas and went back to my parent's house to visit with my grandmother and aunt from North Carolina.
10:00pm - Drove home and put Brayden back to bed.
10:30pm - Paid 3 bills and then crashed.

Now you are probably in need of a vitamin yourself just from reading that!

The Beach

2008-05-21T06:04:00.000-07:00

The last time Lance, me and Brayden went to the beach, Brayden was only 5 months old...and by 5 months old, I mean I was 5 months pregnant. Brayden has never really been to the beach, but he will go tomorrow! I am so excited to see how he reacts to the sand and the waves! We are going to the beach for some simple relaxation and fun, but I know that I will be attached to one of my cameras the whole trip. I'm not sure a photographer can ever quit "working". I actually have a couple of sessions planned while I am down there. The tough part is going to be the fact that there is no Photoshop down there and I will have to wait till I get home to edit anything. Maybe that is a good thing. How did I ever live without Photoshop? ;-) Below is a picture of Lance with his dad and brother looking for shells.

I figured I would leave you with an interesting story from the last time we all went to the beach...

Like I said, I was 5 months along with Brayden. We laid out on the beach the first day, and I put an SPF 15 everywhere. I figured that was plenty. After getting in the water and sweating I decided to reapply. Unfortunately, I thought my legs (which usually tan pretty well) would be fine without a second slather. WOW was I WRONG! I guess when you are pregnant, your body reacts totally differently to things you have done a zillion times. My legs got fried...crisp! About the only thing I could wear was a skirt, and even that was torture. Sleep went out the window because I constantly felt like my legs were on fire. If I could have sat in a tub full of ice I would have in a heartbeat! I even tried to pour vinegar on my legs to see if that would take out some of the sting. It didn't but it did make my legs smell like a hockey game. When we got home, it got even worse! My ankles and feet swelled up and looked like clubs! Needless to say, I learned my lesson! Wear lots of sunscreen and reapply when you are pregnant and even when you are un-pregnant! I am taking 15 and 30 with me this time. If I come back a lobster somebody slap me...after the burn is gone of course. ;-)

Since this will be my last post until I get back, HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY. May we never forget those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom!

Tatum's 4yr Pictures

2008-05-19T14:16:00.000-07:00

Lance's brother has two little girls, Tatum and Taylor. Tatum turned 4 in March and my sister-in-law wanted to get her pictures taken in a particular dress. I would love to have taken these pictures outside, but the day we decided to do it, was very windy and the ground was wet. So we just chose to keep everything inside. Earlier that day, Tatum told me that she didn't want me to take her picture, so I a little weary about how well she would cooperate. You never know with kids. However, she must have changed her mind, because she hamed it up. I should be doing a session with Taylor fairly soon, but here are some of my favorites from the session. She is such a pretty little girl.

Brayden's 18 month pictures

2008-05-18T11:58:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I took Brayden along with his friend, Bennett, to some retired railroad tracks, the woods and the backyard for a photo session. We got so many cute pictures of them both. Brayden and Bennett were born a month apart, and it is so hard to believe they are soon going to be turning TWO!!! This was probably one of my favorite sessions of Brayden so far. I just adore the pictures of him on the tracks. Here are a couple of the pictures from the session:

Tomorrow I will post some pictures of my sweet niece, Tatum. I am enjoying this blogging thing already! Have a wonderful Sunday!!

First Blog

2008-05-17T19:39:00.000-07:00

Hello...to nobody right now probably. ;-) I am setting up this blog so that I can share some of my latest work easily and quickly with some my clients as well as friends and family. Hopefully, as my business grows, this will be a frequented blog.

Just for a quick update...I had a B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L bridal session with Mary today at Calloway Gardens. The weather was perfect, and even though it was not her actual wedding day, Mary was glowing! Her mother, Miss Donna, was a HUGE help to me and I thoroughly enjoyed the time we spent together. Mary thank you for humoring me as I tried new things. I have already edited a few of the ones I was itching to get my hands on, and they really turned out good. I can't wait for you to see them. I want to post some so bad, but that is against the rules. Nobody can see that dress for 5 more weeks!

I guess I will give a more in depth update tomorrow, but for now, I am out!