New life and New Hope

 Hope springs eternal...a thing that stirs the soul and keeps you positive in the most dreary of times. Being in the photography business, I am truly blessed in the fact that I get to "work" in the most positive experiences that life gives you. Even if for a few hours I get to be apart of the happy energy  of  loving families, excited Seniors, beautiful weddings, and the brand new beginnings of babies.

Recently, I photographed a beautiful baby boy, that was two months old. Such a good little boy surrounded  with love.
 It made me realize how lucky I am to be apart of so many people's happiness, and hope of good things to come.  And really, if we are honest, isn't that what we are all looking for, a little bit of hope to keep on going. The hope of happiness.
I hope to spread a bit of happiness, in the reflections of what I see.

B.Y.O.P. ?

B.Y.O.P. ?  What does that mean, photographer talk for bring your own prop. There are a couple elements that really "make" a picture or break it.
In  all the  years I have been in the photog. business I have learned that props can really make that great picture go to a fabulous portrait in a snap!  So, what kind of props can make or break a picture?  Your props, your personal items.  
I can frame up that perfect picture, with beautiful lighting, and wonderful composition, but if it doesn't reflect who you are, it doesn't touch you, capturing that moment in time.  And that is what we are after, I want that Mom to remember when her little daughter was a ballet star, or that Senior with that beautiful horse that she loved so much, or that football player who spent all those hours practicing. I want to capture that. Then and only then do you add thee number one element, feeling, because it becomes personal, with "your" style.

A couple of our great clients with their props!
Special thanks to Kassie Schaffer, Marylynn Henderson, and Jason Frain for contributing to our gallery!

To everything there is a season.

 Seasons come and go, that's life, it goes on, so do ideas... I remember when I was in High School I knew I wanted to be a photographer (you know this from previous blogs) what I didn't say is I also intended to work for National Geographic, traveling the world.  Then the season changed, and in college, I wanted  to be a rodeo photographer, traveling the country. It seemed like a "safe" thing to do-also wanting to get in the arena, while the action was going on, perhaps I was a little naive?
In college, I met my hubby Jim, and the seasons changed again. Making me rethink all I really wanted as a "photographer", did I want adventure, and traveling, and never staying in one place. It suddenly didn't sound so exciting, just lonely. I stayed in that season for awhile.
Then in 2003, a wonderful thing happened, my daughter Cheyenne was born, I suddenly had a passion for portrait photography! By this time, Jim and I had been married for two years and he was done being photographed, in college he was my subject a lot, so I moved on to my beautiful daughter, she didn't seem to mind, especially since she slept most of the time.

 So, the seasons continue to change, some we choose, others choose us. I chose photography, but portrait photography chose me, and in the end, I would rather have it that way.


One of the "early" photos of Cheyenne.

Older, and still Loving Photography

 I remember the early days of taking pictures, everything was simple, I pointed the camera and shot at what looked fun , interesting, or beautiful. Later, in college, I found out it's a lot different and not as simple. You have to think about lighting, composition, aperture, shutter speed and if you have a subject you have to keep them entertained. It's a lot to think about, eventually I caught on, I had a lot of help.
 When I was a Sophomore In High School, I actively sought out a job working for a photographer, after months of looking I finally found thee job! An assistant position working for one of the top photographers in Nebraska, MDP, also one of the first to go digital, in 1997! I learned all about the business, posing, clients, pricing, and he taught me how to use a camera! When I say camera I don't just mean a "point and shoot " (which is basically like the name, it thinks for you) but a real focusing camera, that you could change lenses. A new idea for me at that time. So exciting. I still refer back to his marketing techniques, and some poses.
 After High School I went on to college, receiving my degree in my favorite area of interest...Photography of course!
  Fast forward a bit in 2005 I started my studio in Carson, Iowa. Shooting a few weddings and Seniors here and there, but it wasn't until 2007 when we opened the new studio that things really took root, and began living my dream. Now blessed with lots of support from my family and loyal customers. Who could ask for more?

How does one become a photographer?

 I think I was seven-ish I received a hot pink 35mm point and shoot camera, of course I thought it was the best thing in the world, my first "electronic". Now how to use it....
 Most of the time I just shot the world around me, which happened to be a beautiful farmstead in a rolling country side, picturesque to say the least. However I remember one shot, that I still have, that started it all.  I was going for a walk in the woods with my dog and as he was walking across a log he stopped and sat, tall grass around him shimmering from the last light of the day. I think it was at that moment I really caught the "bug". I could have fun, and capture all the beauty and love, that is life...