A Modern Day Knight

So, it's not often that you find young men like Jackson Carter. Even his name has a certain ring to it. The seniors that I have photographed have all been great, but I knew something was unique about Jackson. I've never seen manners come so naturally, even in an adult. Not only do I see an amazing future for Jackson, but it's comforting knowing that he's living life in the fullest now with a bright smile and positive outlook.

Jackson, thank you for being you and congratulations on your senior year!

Contest Ending Soon!

All my photographer friends enter this now! It's about to be over in about 3 hours. http://laurawinslowphotography.com/blog/2011/11/21/10000-holiday-bloggie-bash-laura-winslow-photography/

KIR!

I haven't blogged in a while, but this shall be short & sweet. I feel different. Not different from when I first started photography, but different in another way. Maybe it's just the fact that I've learned who I am as a shooter. I've learned the hard way that there are some super duper cut throat photographers out there. There are also super nice, super helpful one's that have become friends and I'm ever so thankful for them. It's nice to have a community of supporters, and not haters. "A rising tide raises all ships." That basically, in a nutshell, means a community should SUPPORT their brothers and sisters.

Here's where I am today: I LOVE photography, LOVE it to pieces...but I don't see it as a "business". I've said it before and I'll say it again...I would do it for free IF possible. Is it hard work? Oh my gosh, yes...I always end up sweating like a pig EVEN in 45 degree weather and it seems to work out gas out of places I didn't know existed. I'm often reminded of marching band actually...we wore "shako's", the ugly hats that marching bands are notorious for. When I would remove mine, steam would rise. Seriously y'all...STEAM. From.my.hot.fat.head. LOL.

I live for the "moments", not so much the "photos"...but when you get a PHOTO out of a MOMENT, that's where the magical unicorns live. Seriously. I love meeting new people and spending more time with the people that I already know too. So, I see it as a very personal thing...

Every photo can't be the perfect photo and a photographer has to learn that. If you're working with children, not every shot is going to work out. So, you learn to take more photos to compensate for the booger pickin', etc. AND, it's GREAT! I love it. Working with children has become one of my favorite things.

I'm not cutthroat. I'm not. I'm not assertive, aggressive, secretive, prone to lie, or any of those other things and perhaps that makes me a bad business woman. However, if that's the case, that's the case. I do this because I LOVE it. If I ever STOP loving it, I'll know it's time to back away from the camera. BUT, because I do love it, I'm always in my head, thinking of ideas, thinking of things I can do better...thinking of equipment. Which, alas, leads me to my other brain fart.

EQUIPMENT...I had a client call me not too long ago to ask what I shot with...it's just like one of my mentors, Jasmine Star has said on not having the best camera equipment: "I can do more on my M-mode than you can do on your P-mode." MMMkay? It's all about LEARNING and ABSORBING what you can, when you can, and being honest with yourself about your style, your business, etc. I'm in the BEGINNING stages of being a photographer. Sometimes I feel my ideas far outweigh my technical skills, but then there are days when I feel that OH WOW, I JUST OWNED THAT BOKEH! (Bokeh, btw, is the pretty fuzzy stuff you can do to Christmas lights, street lights, etc).

So, I'm learning to let go of the stigma that is often associated with a photographer and BE WHO I AM, and no one else. God make me unique and I attend on doing that. I DO like different things and guess what? THAT just makes me ME! Amen? Can I get an amennnnnnnnn? I don't want what other's have...I want what I'm meant to have. To quote Jasmine, KIR! (Keep it real).

Peace birdies,
Crystal

Check out this giveaway!

We love pretty things and this etsy shop and blog are right up our alleys!

Enter to win:

http://www.surpriseaholic.com/2011/07/lovely-clutch-giveaway.html#0_undefined,0_

Check out the etsy shop:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/theonutmegotree

Happy Humpday Birdies!

Eye candy!

The Savvy Photographer

We're all about giveaways! And, we follow the amazingly talented "The Savvy Photographer".

Stay tuned with us birdies as well for more contests like Valentine's!

Be Blessed!

Got eye candy? We do! A shot from one of our latest sessions!

A Mother's Love

Happy New Year birdies!!!!

Our first blog of 2011!

I've wanted to be a mother for as long as I can remember. Some days, I believe God allows me, honestly I know this will sound crazy, but I believe He allows me to numb that desire so that I can DEAL!

But, in the meantime, He allows me to see the sparks that are parental love. The kind of love that can be splattered with all sorts of things as that child grows, but what lovely splatters it is when you look back on things!

I remember moving out of the house on Mother's day from my Mom's. I needed a change. I was frustrated. I was torn. I was.a.confused.teenager. But, through that move, I realized that absense does make the heart fonder. My Mom and I are now, praise be to God, back to where we should be, where it's comfortable, beautiful, lovely, and sparkly.

I love my Mama. I know she loves me. I thank God for growing her in seasons that she couldn't even fathom being possible even a few weeks ago. God truly does work in mysterious ways. He truly does have people in our lives for seasons, but our parents-they should never be seasonal.



Sure there are different scenarios...adoptions, long distance relationships, grandparents stepping up into missing spots, but through these variances spring forth amazing formations. I thank God for placing the right people in my life at the right time.

My friend and "kinfolk" Amy is getting her baby back after he's been in Florida for a while. BOAW was blessed to be able to spend time and take photos of the sweet family.

Amy, I truly saw the love in your eyes for Kody. While I know it will absolutely stink for his dad, siblings, and stepmom, I know that you've gained a tangible creation that you are praising God for each moment...and...that you've missed crazily.



Nothing can break the bonds of love. Not distance. Not other's. Not jealousy. Not bad weather. Not death.

Even if Kody decides to go back to Florida in the future, your love will not die...it carries on like a sweet mama bird flying the miles to take her babies nourishment.

I love you Amy. I love you Mama.

Snow in Bethlehem

birds on a wire would like to wish you a blessed Christmas. Thank you for making our life a lot brighter.

Snow in Bethlehem
By Maya Angelou

Thunder rumbles in the mountain passes
And lightning rattles the eaves of our houses.
Flood waters await us in our avenues.

Snow falls upon snow, falls upon snow to avalanche
Over unprotected villages.
The sky slips low and grey and threatening.

We question ourselves.
What have we done to so affront nature?
We worry God.
Are you there? Are you there really?
Does the covenant you made with us still hold?

Into this climate of fear and apprehension, Christmas enters,
Streaming lights of joy, ringing bells of hope
And singing carols of forgiveness high up in the bright air.
The world is encouraged to come away from rancor,
Come the way of friendship.

It is the Glad Season.
Thunder ebbs to silence and lightning sleeps quietly in the corner.
Flood waters recede into memory.
Snow becomes a yielding cushion to aid us
As we make our way to higher ground.

Hope is born again in the faces of children
It rides on the shoulders of our aged as they walk into their sunsets.
Hope spreads around the earth. Brightening all things,
Even hate which crouches breeding in dark corridors.

In our joy, we think we hear a whisper.
At first it is too soft. Then only half heard.
We listen carefully as it gathers strength.
We hear a sweetness.
The word is Peace.
It is loud now. It is louder.
Louder than the explosion of bombs.

We tremble at the sound. We are thrilled by its presence.
It is what we have hungered for.
Not just the absence of war. But, true Peace.
A harmony of spirit, a comfort of courtesies.
Security for our beloveds and their beloveds.

We clap hands and welcome the Peace of Christmas.
We beckon this good season to wait a while with us.
We, Baptist and Buddhist, Methodist and Muslim, say come.
Peace.

Come and fill us and our world with your majesty.
We, the Jew and the Jainist, the Catholic and the Confucian,
implore you to stay awhile with us
so we may learn by your shimmering light
how to look beyond complexion and see community.

It is Christmas time, a halting of hate time.
On this platform of peace, we can create a language
to translate ourselves to ourselves and to each other.
At this Holy Instant, we celebrate the Birth of Jesus Christ

Into the great religions of the world.
We jubilate the precious advent of trust.
We shout with glorious tongues the coming of hope.
All the earth’s tribes loosen their voices to celebrate the promise of
Peace.

We, Angels and Mortals, Believers and Nonbelievers,
Look heavenward and speak the word aloud.
Peace.

We look at our world and speak the word aloud.
Peace.

We look at each other, then into ourselves,
And we say without shyness or apology or hesitation:

Peace, My Brother.
Peace, My Sister.
Peace, My Soul