digital detours photography

Adults are always asking little kids what they want to be when they grow up because they're looking for ideas

2012-01-08T23:06:00.000-06:00

I have to admit, I miss being a child. What better reason is there to wear a tutu just because you want to without anyone thinking twice about it?! Miss Josie certainly rocked it too! I just adore all 3 of these little ones and I had a blast with them again, of course :)

Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.

2012-01-03T21:13:00.002-06:00

I just adore Miss Britni, so it was quite a pleasure to meet some more members of her sweet family! We had the challenge of finding an inside location since her little people were in tow and it was a bit chilly for the normal places. Interestingly enough, we wound up shooting inside the Bass Pro Shop! I think the images will have a very warm lodge-y feel and I can't wait to see how they all turn out!

[P]atriotism... is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime

2011-12-08T19:06:00.001-06:00

The phrase "frenzied outbursts of emotion"doesn't even begin to explain what it's like for those of us on this side of deployment. A whole year worth of birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, special events and everything in between that are missed. It goes without saying that when the day comes when Dad comes home, "excitement" is an understatement! I have to say, it's just as exciting for me. Even when the soldier coming home isn't mine, but one from my husband's unit that didn't get to come home with everyone else because of medical issues.

boy (boi) n. a male child, lad, youth, not yet a man, often a magnet to dirt, toys and adventure.

2011-12-02T21:44:00.001-06:00

I think this one came out pretty cute, in spite of not being able to talk Nate into turning more toward the camera. He just didn't understand why he couldn't watch Mommy and Daddy kiss! I had a blast playing with Nicole and her family, even though it was quite windy and a bit chilly that day :)

Man's feelings are always purest and most glowing in the hour of meeting and of farewell

2011-11-30T23:07:00.001-06:00

Being an OpLove photographer is more than capturing images of Soldiers in their uniforms, more than taking a photo of the stars and stripes, more than snapping a cute shot of a baby wearing their daddy's hat. It's capturing all the emotions that go into deployment. "D day" is obviously the hardest and homecoming is by far the best. Especially when a little one is leading the way to daddy's concourse with her sign :)

The advantage of growing up with siblings is that you become very good at fractions.

2011-11-28T22:52:00.001-06:00

I had so much fun with Laura's family! We teased the kids about boyfriends and girlfriends and wandered around train tracks and a random open field. Both were probably places we shouldn't have been but where else do you come up with some great family photos?!

Little girls have a magic all their own.

2011-11-21T18:48:00.001-06:00

Little Miss Olivia is just about the spunkiest little girl I've ever met! I'm not entirely sure if she's been teaching her little brother everything she knows or vice versa. Regardless, they were so much fun to hang out with and I'm lucky enough to be friends with their mom so I get to watch them grow up into the Diva and Prince Charming that they are destined to be :)

The difference between perseverance and obstinacy is that one comes from a strong will, and the other from a strong won't.

2011-11-20T11:30:00.001-06:00

Photographing babies can often be somewhat challenging. They really aren't sure of what's going on, who that crazy person is behind the camera or where in the world they are. I have basically adopted Dori's (from Finding Nemo) theory and modified it to fit my business.... "Just keep shooting!" Because if you do, your'e bound to wind up with a fun shot. Especially while playing "Where's the baby" with a little one to try to get them to look at the camera for one split second :)

Photo Copyright Information

2011-11-19T21:39:00.001-06:00

We often don’t consider copyright when we look at our own family photos -- I mean, the pictures are of our family, so that means the pictures themselves are ours... right?? Well, yes and no. The prints and/or disc you purchased from your photographer are yours, but the images themselves are the work--and therefore the property--of the photographer. But what does that mean, exactly? Read on to learn all about copyright and your photos!

via digital detours photography

Copyright is the rights given to the creator for his/her artistic work. This means that copyright owners (the creators of a particular work) have the exclusive rights to:

-Make copies of the work or allow copies to be made

-Prepare other works based on the original (make prints, books, etc)

-Distribute copies of the work to the public by sales (sell the prints to you, the client)

-Publicly display the work or allow the work to be displayed

In a nutshell, this is what copyright means to you, the photography client:

1) Any prints you purchase can be displayed however you want in your own home. They cannot be displayed publicly (in a business or a public area) or sold without permission from the photographer.

3) Most photographers earn the bulk of their money by selling prints, so if you're making copies and giving them out to friends and family, you're basically stealing from the photographer. Yes, that means you'll need to purchase additional prints if you plan on handing some out to the grandparents.

4) Even small levels of infringement can have a devastating impact on a photographer’s ability to make a living. Also, any type of infringement can result in civil and criminal penalties--usually with heavy fines attached.

5) It's considered copyright infringement if you edit your photos in any way (change the colors, crop something out, use photo editing software on any part of the photo). It's also considered infringement if you crop off or hide the photographer's watermark (the text on the photo stating the photographer's name and/or business name: "X Photography".

6) If you receive the digital files and a copyright release from your photographer, you have all the same displaying rights as if you ordered prints, and most likely you also have the permission to download the photos to your computer, display them online (social networking sites, blogs, etc), and share them with your family. Make sure you carefully read the copyright release so you understand exactly what he/she is allowing you to do with your photos.

7) Most photographers will happily grant you permission to publicly display your photos (as long as they're properly cited) or give you the opportunity to buy more prints... all you have to do is ask! :)

8) It's your responsibility to honor the photographer and the business he/she is trying to run by using your photographs in the correct way.

9) When sharing photos online:

-You should cite the photographer so there's no mistake about who took the photographs. Example: "Photo taken by X Photography" or "copyright X Photography, 2011".

-It's also nice to include a link to the photographer's website and/or tag him/her in the photos so your audience can see more of his/her work. Example: "X Photography, www.xphotography.com" or use the "tag photos" feature on Facebook.

This information was found here at the Professional Photographers of America, and here at the US Copyright Office.

A mother's happiness is like a beacon, lighting up the future but reflected also on the past in the guise of fond memories

2011-11-19T20:49:00.001-06:00

This shot took some convincing on the boys' part. They really weren't down with the whole "kiss Mom on the cheek" business. I think it's probably because it's the only shot Mom may get of them doing this and she can use it against them later when they begin dating! At least, that's exactly what I would do if I were her :D

The family is one of nature's masterpieces.

2011-11-18T23:54:00.001-06:00

It was a pleasure to meet Misty's family last time I was in Ft Riley. They were enjoying a few weeks of their favorite soldier being home and they were all troopers for enduring some cool, windy weather the day of our shoot! Luckily, we got some good shots before everyone turned into popsicles :)

In the eyes of a child...there is joy, there is laughter... there is hope, there is trust, a chance to shape the future...

2011-11-18T00:14:00.001-06:00

I visit the Ft Riley area quite a bit. I've got some pretty spectacular clients there. Lately, I've been making the 5 hour drive (each way) once a month. You would think that there wouldn't be very many changes in anyone within a 4 to 6 week time period, but that certainly isn't the case with Baby Chayse. Babies change so rapidly, it's amazing! He's such a handsome little guy and he's growing like crazy, of course!

You don't raise heroes, you raise sons. And if you treat them like sons, they'll turn out to be heroes, even if it's just in your own eyes.

2011-11-16T00:05:00.001-06:00

Gavin is one of my favorite lil guys. He's so incredibly sweet and he's a big help to his mom while Dad is deployed. He helps take care of his little sisters and make sure they have everything they need! He's going to grow up to be a pretty great guy, if you ask me :)

Family faces are magic mirrors. Looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present, and future.

2011-11-14T08:41:00.001-06:00

Alicia's family was so much fun, her kiddos were so adorable and full of energy (as most little people are)! We had a blast playing and snapping a few shots here and there. I am looking forward to finishing them up so we can see what we came up with! :)

It is not flesh and blood but the heart which makes us fathers and sons.

2011-11-12T21:24:00.001-06:00

Appropriately enough, November is National Adoption Month and Jenifer's family is a blended adopted and biological family. I was very excited to book their session, especially because Jenifer and I have a mutual friend that is also keeping up with an adoptive/biological family. Only there are a few more kiddos in that family....8 to be exact!

We had so much fun playing during our photo shoot. The kids skipped, did cart wheels and jumped all over the place! They made me wish I had half as much energy as they did! I can't wait to post all of their fun photos :)

If you would like more information on fostering or adoption, you may want to visit:
Child Welfare Information Gateway

Boys are beyond the range of anyone's sure understanding, at least when they are between the ages of 18 months and 90 years.

2011-11-08T23:05:00.001-06:00

Oh how I love the little people! Asher is no exception to that rule, either. He was SO sweet! He wasn't really sure about this whole photo session thing yet and he tried to hide those great big smiles from me. I think I managed to sneak a few shots of him doing it without him knowing though :)

Childhood is a short season.

2011-11-07T00:12:00.001-06:00

I am such a sucker for an adorable little man with gorgeous eyes. Throw in that hat and I'm gone...hook, line and sinker! That's really about all it takes for me :D I had so much fun with Amanda and her boys and I can't wait to see how the rest of their images come out!

A daughter may outgrow your lap, but she will never outgrow your heart.

2011-11-03T23:06:00.001-05:00

Being a photographer means that I get to meet some pretty amazing people. The little people always steal my heart, especially when they actually open to having their photos taken! Melissa's kids were no exception, they were great about telling me which spot and pose they wanted to try next and their ideas were great! I sure hope I get to see them next time they come to spend some time with their family in the Tulsa area :)

A three year old child is a being who gets almost as much fun out of a fifty-six dollar set of swings as it does out of finding a small green worm.

2011-11-01T12:25:00.001-05:00

One of the best compliments I could ever receive is to be someone's personal photographer. I can say we are probably getting there with little Rose and Donovan. I met them when they weren't quite ready or trained for the whole photo session experience about a year and a half ago. I can now happily say that they actually ENJOY our time together. It's taken some time and patience on both my and Mom's part but I think it's been well worth the wait :)

What greater thing is there for human souls than to feel that they are joined for life - to be with each other in silent unspeakable memories.

2011-10-29T23:26:00.002-05:00

I finally got to meet Miss Mia's daddy while he was home on R&R recently. She hadn't seen him since she was just itty bitty but I could definitely tell that she's in love with him. I sure can't wait to do their homecoming photos!!

You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance.

2011-10-28T23:31:00.002-05:00

It's taken us several months to get little miss Maddie to cooperate with our photo shoots. She's finally coming around some though! I had a blast with the girls, as always and look forward to their daddy's homecoming :)

A good snapshot stops a moment from running away.

2011-10-25T10:50:00.003-05:00

I'm not at all a believer in the perfectly posed photograph. Really, when do you strike the poses that some photographers put you in? My favorite photos are the ones that are caught accidentally, rather. They showcase people as they really are. Especially when we're talking about kids who want no part of the whole photo session experience. This session was no exception for Brandy's boys! I think we came up with some great shots, in spite of their attempts of hiding from me :D

The bonds of matrimony are like any other bonds - they mature slowly.

2011-10-18T19:28:00.000-05:00

I don't know that you'll find many brides that will plank on an alligator BEFORE their ceremony! Or another one that comes up with this idea on their very own, even. This is one of the many reasons I love Beth, she knows there is no point to taking life too seriously! It's probably a good thing we didn't have the wedding at the Zoo instead of the aquarium :D

What's the point if you can't have fun?

2011-09-27T00:32:00.002-05:00

Miss Mia was in rare form the day of our shoot. It's been so fun to watch her personality grow with her tiny body. I couldn't resist posting a teaser of the bubbles I caught her blowing! She's just so stinkin' cute!! I sure can't wait for her daddy to come home for R&R to see her :)

A child can ask questions that a wise man cannot answer.

2011-09-26T18:03:00.002-05:00

Jeremiah is seriously one of my favorite little people ever. Even when he really wants no part of the whole photo session thing. Which, he really wants later when I'm 5 hours away from him at home :D He's so much fun and is always on the move. I have no idea how I've been lucky enough to get some fun shots of him with as much as he's movin' & groovin'!

In the eyes of a child...there is joy, there is laughter... there is hope, there is trust, a chance to shape the future...

2011-09-25T23:00:00.000-05:00

Baby Chayse wasn't exactly sure about this whole photo shoot business. He really thought it got in the way of his cuddle time and/or feeding times with Mom. I'm not worried though, I'm certain she's been working on getting him very accustomed to the camera :)

The family - that dear octopus from whose tentacles we never quite escape, nor, in our inmost hearts, ever quite wish to.

2011-09-24T00:19:00.001-05:00

Cecillia's boys weren't quite as excited about our photoshoot as Katie was. That's ok though because they were troopers and went along with us. It was adorable to watch them look after their little sister. No matter how tough boys are, they always make sure the baby girl has her needs met :)

Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love.

2011-09-22T23:49:00.002-05:00

I wish I could put into words the difference I saw in Tia and her kids during our session this time. We always have fun and we always wind up with some amazing shots but when the family had their hero home with them for R&R, you could see the love and joy in their faces! Though their visit was short, Tia's husband will be home from deployment sooner rather than later and I can't wait for them to be together as a family again!

As we struggle to make sense of things, life looks on in repose.

2011-09-20T19:29:00.001-05:00

An anniversary is generally thought of as a happy time. A time of celebration. In this case, it's a reminder of the hardest day of my entire life.

It's very difficult to believe that it's been 2 years. Two. Years. I miss my dad more today than I did yesterday. I still dream about him. And I still stop to wonder what advice he'd give me. He was the best at that. Mainly because he would stand behind whatever decision I had made, regardless of what anyone else thought or said.

I sure do miss you, Dad. I celebrate you too. Today and every day.

<3

The bonds of matrimony are like any other bonds - they mature slowly.

2011-09-13T11:49:00.001-05:00

To say that I was excited about Ashley and Josh's wedding would be an understatement. They dated for quite some time (6 years, I believe?!) and have the most addable little girl. It was high time they tie the knot! And their wedding couldn't have been more perfect. It was small and simple, yet so elegant. I fell in love with Ashley's broach bouquet. She even made a tiny version for their daughter Lilly :)

The family is a haven in a heartless world.

2011-09-06T23:55:00.002-05:00

I had so much fun with Silvia and her family. Including their newest addition, Rocko. He had twice as much energy as both kids, combined! The park was the perfect place for all 3 to run around and expend some of that energy too!

Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family.

2011-09-06T00:52:00.002-05:00

Miss Kenedi was as elusive as ever during our session. She's not quite ready to give into me and she kept me on my toes. I wish I had even an ounce of her energy! I had a blast following her around though and trying to catch her off guard, even if for one single second :D

Sometimes, when one person is missing, the whole world seems depopulated.

2011-09-04T14:07:00.002-05:00

I always have a blast with Tia's kiddos. They don't know a stranger and they are active enough for me to get some fun photos. I think this is one of my favorites so far though. Until next time, of course. That's when I'll hopefully get to meet the guy that these boots belong to while he's home for R&R.

Deployments are the only time when you sleep to dream, just so you don't forget what it's like to feel them near you.

2011-08-30T23:52:00.002-05:00

The last few times I took photos for Tiffany, we focused on her sweet baby girl Mia. This time, we snuck a few shots of her in before Mia got her camera time. I'm sure her other half is going to be a happy guy when he gets to see the newest batch of photos of his girls! :)

JP Morgan Chase

2011-08-30T13:00:00.003-05:00

I had never really been inside the tower that JP Morgan Chase is located in. They have some great conference rooms with old photo murals of downtown Tulsa from the way back machine. I thought it was the perfect place to get a few shots of their newest banker, Dylan!

Distance does to love what wind does to fire; it extinguishes the weak and feeds the strong.

2011-08-28T18:27:00.002-05:00

You simply cannot understand how hard going thru deployment is unless you've undergone one. I'd say it's probably even harder for Miss Joanna. She is a Veteran herself and has been on the other side of the phone before. On the day of our shoot, she hadn't heard from her honey in a few days. Luckily, a message from him popped up right after we began. In situations like this, we go with it..... ;)

A daughter is a treasure - and a cause of sleeplessness.

2011-08-22T22:22:00.003-05:00

Britni and Tre are going to be quite rich. And quite sleepy as soon as their new little one makes her debut! I, for one, sure can't wait for her to get her. I'm sure Noel will teach her everything she knows about being adorable (and energetic)!

Childhood is the most beautiful of all life's seasons.

2011-08-15T22:01:00.002-05:00

Ok, seriously....how can you get much cuter than this?! I was so excited to meet the newest addition to Cathy's family finally. I had so much fun with them last summer during our first shoot and now I get to have double the fun during our shoots :)

The only rock I know that stays steady, the only institution I know that works is the family.

2011-08-09T21:15:00.002-05:00

I was very honored when Kathy asked me to do their family photos. Not just because they are such a great family, but because they are MY family. I acquired them almost a year ago when that soldier of mine and I said our "I do's". I hate to say they are getting ready to move soon and we won't get to see them for a while. What better reason to take a road trip after my other half comes home though, right?! I've always wanted to explore the New England area anyway :)

Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family.

2011-08-08T23:42:00.002-05:00

I just love doing surprise shoots for people! Especially for my friend Kay. We got her kids and grandkids together while they were in town for a visit so we can surprise her husband with photos. I can't wait to get thru them all so she can share them with him :)

Family faces are magic mirrors. Looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present, and future

2011-08-04T20:45:00.003-05:00

This was probably the easiest pose for us to get Zane to do during the whole session. He, being a typical boy, wanted no part of this whole family surprise pic for Dad business. He was totally cool with climbing a tree later on but everything else was a little "iffy". I'm pretty accustomed to people not really being very comfortable with the whole portrait session thing though and we had a good time when it came down to it :D

The Johnsons

2011-08-02T00:24:00.003-05:00

One of the fun things about being a photographer is observing family dynamics, watching children grow, and even watching families grow in number. In Sam and Sarah's case, their family grew in size much more than most! They first added Caige to their family a few years ago. This year, they added 5 more to their clan! I couldn't resist a "before and after" teaser for them.

Needles to say, our session was very quick since it's hard enough to keep even a small family's focus for very long. Everyone did great and they all survived the park and white shirts. Maybe we'll do it again soon so that I can keep up with our modern day Brady Bunch (ya know, after Mom and Dad decide they can handle it again)!

OpLove: Lonnetta (take 2)

2011-07-31T20:53:00.003-05:00

I cannot begin to explain to you how freaking adorable little Mr Jeremiah is. He has the most infectious personality of any little person I've ever met. His imagination is out of this world. Our session this time was just as entertaining as the first! I sure hope I get to continue to watch him grow up :)

OpLove: Cecilia

2011-07-30T22:25:00.003-05:00

Cecilia and Katie have had a lot of time to practice their model skills since they've been sending photos to Katie's daddy overseas for quite some time. She is such a little diva in training! It was so much easier to photograph her than little Kenedi before her :D

OpLove: Marci

2011-07-29T00:28:00.003-05:00

Little people are often very intimidated by the whole photography thing. I can't say that I blame them. They have a stranger pointing some scary black thing at them and they try to get you to do things that you don't want to. I mean, being the center of attention is only fun when you deem it necessary right?! Marci's little Miss was no exception to that rule. She really wanted no part of us when it was her turn to be in the spotlight. I think we managed to get some cute shots, without her knowing, at least :)

OpLove: Tiffany (take 2)

2011-07-26T00:12:00.004-05:00

Ok, this is definitely one of my favorite images so far. I just love little Miss Mia and was so excited to see her again. She's growing up fast and still isn't quite sure of me. We (or I, rather) had a blast shooting, regardless. She's got some big shoes to fill but I'm sure her daddy would say she's doing a great job ;)

OpLove: Jennifer

2011-07-24T22:37:00.002-05:00

I am SUCH a sucker for a sweet little smile from flirtatious little guys! You simply cannot get Jennifer's little man to stop smiling. He grinned from ear to ear as soon as he saw me and didn't stop (almost) during our whole session. We did wear him out pretty quick and it didn't help that it was about a million degrees outside. He was such a trooper though and so was Mom!

OpLove: Jess

2011-07-19T21:07:00.002-05:00

Jess told me that she wanted a very "country' location for her OpLove session. I'm so glad she introduced me to the Konza Prairie in Manhattan, KS! I think it suited her just perfectly. We hiked up the prairie just a little bit in the middle of the 1000 degree day and got some great shots. I can't wait to get thru them all :)

He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.

2011-06-19T00:57:00.002-05:00

It's hard to believe that it's almost been 2 years since I had to say goodbye to my dad. The last lucid moment sticks with me as if it just happened 2 seconds ago.

There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about him. Some of those days, it's a little easier and I can laugh at the memories of him being silly. After all, he was a natural born entertainer. Other days, especially close to major events, it's almost unbearable.

What I wouldn't give to see him again. Until that day, I'll be content with him showing up in my dreams randomly to let me know that he's watching over me.

Let your love be like the misty rains, coming softly, but flooding the river.

2011-06-09T21:19:00.003-05:00

Love is a symbol of eternity. It wipes out all sense of time, destroying all memory of a beginning and all fear of an end. ~Author Unknown

I'm really looking forward to getting thru all of Haley's wedding images. She was such a beautiful bride! She's probably the most relaxed bride I've ever seen too, she just goes with the flow and I admire her for that.

There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million.

2011-06-05T21:09:00.003-05:00

The innocence of children just amazes me. They melt my heart every time. There are no limitations in their eyes and everything is a new adventure. Especially when their tiny toes run thru the grass and they're allowed to run free. The world is so big and the possibilities are endless. If only we could go back there....

You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them.

2011-06-02T12:03:00.002-05:00

I've known Miss Erica for several years now. We've always had a work relationship and it was so nice to spend a few hours seeing her in Mom Mode! Her kiddos are so sweet and they were very excited to run around the park with me. I sure hope I get to spend some more time with Erica and her family in the future so I can watch them continue to grow :)

Ashley & the gang

2011-05-27T22:07:00.002-05:00

Ashley and her family were so sweet! It took a bit to get the little people to cooperate. They are always easily intimidated by the camera and I'm accustomed to that. We eventually got it all worked out though :)

Miss Joanna

2011-05-26T18:34:00.002-05:00

I first met Miss Joanna about 3 months ago, just before her husband deployed. I was excited when she recruited some of her Army wife friends and asked me to come back to Ft Riley to take more photos! She is so sweet, quite possibly my most enthusiastic cheerleader and she has an awesome personality! I am so lucky to get to meet such great people like Joanna :)

Joanna, I hope your husband enjoys the new pics and I can't wait for him to come home so that I can do another shoot for you guys. In the mean time, I'm looking forward to our next shoot. I'm sure it will be lots of fun, as always!

OpLove: Tia

2011-05-17T07:59:00.004-05:00

Ok, seriously! Can these two be any cuter?! I had so much fun with Tia and her kiddos! They all had their Daddy Dolls and at one point, her middle daughter tried to collect them all and run off with them :D I can't wait to get thru the rest of their images because we got some great ones!

OpLove: Tiffany

2011-05-16T00:27:00.003-05:00

The innocence of children just warms my heart, especially when they are as adorable as little Miss Mia. She and her mommy, Tiffany were so very sweet and I had such a blast shooting with them! I sure hope that Mia's daddy likes their photos :)

Babies are such a nice way to start people.

2011-05-14T08:27:00.002-05:00

I just love baby bumps! The preparation for a new baby is so fun. Well, for me at least since I'm on the other side of the bump ;)

Miss Anna is expecting a baby boy in the very near future. I'm afraid her friend Lonnetta's son, Jeremiah, will be teaching her little one how to master the attitude in no time though :)

OpLove: Lonnetta

2011-05-13T21:48:00.004-05:00

I had the pleasure of meeting some really sweet Army wives in Ft Riley recently. Their husbands are all currently deployed. Lonnetta and her little boy were so adorable! And you could absolutely NOT pack any more attitude into that little man if you tried! He kept me laughing the whole time we were shooting. I think she's got her hands full with him :)

Patience is the companion of wisdom.

2011-05-13T18:49:00.003-05:00

I had the pleasure of meeting Miss Shannan just over 218 days ago. How do I know the specific amount of days? Well, our other halves are deployed together. I married my love 261 days ago and Shannan will be marrying hers in just a handful of days!

She wanted to surprise her honey with some photos. I can't give the public much of a sneak peek but we did take a few non-boudiour shots too so this is all you guys get!

I wish you and your love all the happiness in the world, Shannan! And enjoy the little bit of time you guys have together before he goes back to the sandbox ;)

(Only a few more months to go!)

OpLove: Breesy

2011-04-02T12:10:00.003-05:00

Being an On Location photographer means being flexible and being very optimistic about Oklahoma weather! Miss Breesy needed an OpLove shoot very quickly and we had lots of rain in the forecast. Luckily, it cleared up just in time and we wound up with a gorgeous afternoon. We also found a bag of trail mix on our way down to the spot we wanted to do the photos at, so her sweet little people got to feed the squirrels! By the time we emptied the bag, there were about a dozen little furry guys around!

OpLove: Jazmine

2011-03-28T21:06:00.002-05:00

I was so looking forward to a gorgeous sunny 70 something degree day for Jazmine and Travis' OpLove shoot. In true Oklahoma fashion though, we were dealt a very chilly 30 something degree, very overcast morning. We busted a move though and worked it out so that this sweet couple could have a couple images together, pre deployment!

Childhood is a short season.

2011-03-22T23:21:00.003-05:00

Srsly, do little boys get any cuter than this? I just love little Donovan, he's becoming such a little man! I can't believe how fast he's growing. He's already 9 months old. I'm definitely looking forward to capturing him (and his sister, who's taught him how to hide from the camera) as they continue to grow :)

Love is patient; Love is kind....

2011-03-17T21:07:00.002-05:00

I was excited to get a message from Shawn about doing engagement photos. We went to school together and I hadn't seen him (outside of good ol' Facebook) in quite some time. He's found the sweetest girl to call his own and I am so happy for them! Congratulations, guys!!

Little children, headache; big children, heartache.

2011-03-01T20:44:00.001-06:00

It's hard to believe that my "niece" is technically a teenager. She just turned 13 and I think my heart broke a tiny bit. I've known her mom since we were her age. It's scary to think of all that we did when we were her age and now it's her turn! *sigh*

OpLove: Melissa

2011-02-22T19:26:00.002-06:00

I had so much fun with Melissa and her boys in Oklahoma City last weekend! It was nice to be taken out of my element for my last few shoots. I love shooting around Tulsa but it's nice to have a change of scenery and fresh ideas from time to time. The little ones kept me on my toes too!

Photoshop fun

2011-02-20T19:45:00.007-06:00

I've been downloading new textures today. As if the 200 I already have aren't enough! Sometimes the right ones just make the pic though. The after image is what I saw in my head when I took the shot. It's very satisfying when I can get the edited image to match what I saw when I took it. Hopefully my client feels the same way!

OpLove: Joanna

2011-02-18T11:39:00.004-06:00

I thought this was the perfect teaser for Joanna's OpLove shoot! I had a blast with them in Ft Riley! I really do get to meet some really amazing people thru photography and now thru OpLove shoots. I wish the best for this fun couple during their second deployment together!

OpLove: Stephanie

2011-02-14T20:44:00.003-06:00

I just adore Stephanie and Ryan! We had originally planned on doing our shoot just before Oklahoma turned into Snowklahoma. I'm honestly kind of glad that it worked out the way it did because we were still able to play in the snow but without freezing to death! I can't wait to get thru all of the images to see what we came up with.

If you think being a soldier is tough, try loving one.

2011-01-27T20:44:00.002-06:00

I recently did a boudoir shoot for the girlfriend of a soldier that is deployed with my husband to surprise him for Valentine's day. I can't exactly post any of the other pics but I'm sure this one speaks volumes anyway ;)

OpLove: Candace

2011-01-17T19:31:00.003-06:00

Candace told me that most people assume it's her husband that is in the military, preparing for deployment. I have to say, there are quite a few female soldiers in my husband's unit so I wasn't at all caught by surprise.

Miss Candace and her sweet husband were so great to work with! They remind me a lot of me and my husband. Our guys both come off as the strong, silent type and we are the ones to take charge! I wish you guys all the best and hopefully we'll be able to set up a maternity shoot next year after your tour, Candace!

OpLove: Kayleen

2011-01-10T21:35:00.004-06:00

OpLove shoots can be a very emotional experience to begin with. Preparing for deployment, especially the first one, can be very challenging.

Miss Kayleen and her fiancee Anthony will be getting married very soon. And not too long after, Anthony will deploy. They've faced other challenges in their lives too and I wish them all the best!

OpLove: Amber

2011-01-09T19:09:00.002-06:00

Not long ago, I became an Army wife. And a few months after that, my husband deployed for a full year. I am now lucky enough to meet some amazing families that are getting ready to go thru some of the same things that I have been experiencing. The Vance family has been thru this before, but that doesn't make it any easier.

The Army National Guard will be deploying thousands of soldiers this Spring. My contribution to these families is being an OpLove photographer and volunteering to do free and/or discounted shoots for them so they have something to help them make it thru the rough days ahead.

It was such a pleasure meeting Amber and her sweet family! I'm proud to call them my extended military family.

Princess Breanna's First Birthday

2011-01-03T17:58:00.003-06:00

I first met little Miss Breanna this summer. She wasn't quite ready to sit up by herself and now she's trying to run off from Mom & Dad! She celebrated her very first birthday and even held up her tiny finger to show everybody how old she is when asked! I can't wait to watch her continue to grow and become the princess that she is.

The fabulous Miss Alyssa

2010-12-28T22:05:00.003-06:00

I just love Miss Alyssa and her little ones are just the cutest ever! We had lots of fun doing the kid's shoot not too long ago. We had so much fun that Alyssa decided she wanted some pics of her own! The kids were great assistants, helping me get Mom to flash a few real smiles for us. I can't wait until we can do a full shoot when it's not freezing outside :)

Santa Claus has the right idea. Visit people once a year.

2010-12-22T20:53:00.003-06:00

I quoted 3 year old Aeryck on my Facebook page as saying "I am smiling, man!" after telling him to smile for me. I couldn't resist using his natural progression as my teaser for Cindy and her family!

The family is one of nature's masterpieces.

2010-12-19T17:05:00.003-06:00

Shanette and her sweet daughters were SOOOOO awesome for enduring a very cold shoot!! The North winds snuck up on us just before our shoot and they were brave enough to get thru it! I had a blast with them. Shanette is so funny and made the chilly afternoon lots of fun! Thank you guys!!!

My childhood may be over, but that doesn't mean playtime is.

2010-12-14T18:31:00.002-06:00

I had so much fun with Stephanie and her family last weekend in Edmond. The country club we shot at was very nice. Though, I think we had much more fun outside playing in the leaves than inside where it was warm. The girls really enjoyed throwing piles of leaves at Mom and Dad!

The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.

2010-12-07T20:04:00.003-06:00

I had a great time shooting the Three Little Lams! We had a very quick Mini Shoot since it was about 26 degrees outside!!! The kids were sooooo sweet and lots of fun though! While Mom and I were finalizing our business, the girls watched their brother, who snuck in the abandoned garage to check it out. I couldn't resist snapping one quick shot of their curiosity!

An ounce of blood is worth more than a pound of friendship.

2010-12-01T18:17:00.002-06:00

Large family portraits can often require quite a bit of patience, coordination and a really great "director". Joy's family was so easy to work with! We didn't have to worry about any of that. The lodge they picked out was gorgeous and I think we came out with a few great shots by the fireplace!

Kristi, Boogers & their boys....

2010-11-28T11:02:00.003-06:00

Kristi and her boys were so great to work with! I had a hard time keeping a straight face when we were doing serious poses because their dog's name is Boogers! I think we came up with some great shots though :)

You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance.

2010-11-24T22:05:00.003-06:00

I asked little miss Rose where her best friend Zoe was. This may have been the only time I got an actual response from her when I had the camera pointed in her general direction! We may have wound up with a few great shots on accident but I'm hoping we get her a little more comfortable with that scary black thing with the shiny glass sometime soon :D

you came to me in my dreams and you spoke of everything sweeter than the days that I was breathing..

2010-11-22T18:30:00.007-06:00

As a photographer, I capture a small freeze frame of people's lives. The process that goes into creating memories is often a hassle for those on the other side of the lens. Sure, it's kind of a process for me too but I don't have to worry about looking perfect and choosing clothes. I don't have to make sure my makeup is just so. Nor do I have to choose the location. I cater to my clients requests so that they can share these images with friends and family. I'm sure at no point in time when they are making all these decisions about their personalized photo shoot do they stop and think to themselves that these may be the only things their loved ones have to remember them by one day. I can't say that is ever a thought in my head when I'm scheduling their shoot either.

As a photographer, I also fail to wind up on the other side of the lens very often. I'm the one capturing those memories, uploading them to Facebook or printing them as special gifts for the loved ones in my own family.

As I mourn the loss of such an amazing friend, I find that I only have a few photos of us together. We shared so many things together and I have some great stories to tell about our adventures in friendship. For that, I am incredibly grateful. The only regret I have is not capturing a few more of those moments to reflect upon in the future.

Marcus,

Thank you so much for being such an awesome friend and person. Wine won't taste quite as sweet without you to share wine dates with, nor will White Out Emergencies be quite as funny. I will miss you terribly. Always.

"Beckay"

Impact Clinic

2010-11-17T06:41:00.002-06:00

I'm still working on the photos for Impact Clinic and I love this one of Karli and her sweet husband that was nice enough to be a model for us!

The ladies of Impact Clinic

2010-11-13T19:53:00.002-06:00

I had a great time with the girls at Impact Clinic last week! They are all so gorgeous and were so sweet! If you need a chiropractor in the Tulsa area, they will take great care of you and so will Dr Tim. We all know the staff is the heart of the clinic though :)

Properly trained, a [wo]man can be dog's best friend.

2010-10-27T23:04:00.003-05:00

I'm still working on Karli's photos, but I thought she could use another sneak peek at what's in store for her....

Karli & Peyton

2010-10-25T20:16:00.003-05:00

I had a great shoot with Karli and her Great Dane Peyton on Saturday. I can't wait to shoot with her other Dane and her smaller dogs!

Karli's husband has been out of town for a few months and she's looking forward to surprising him with photos from our shoot :)

Bright, shiny and new!

2010-10-23T14:38:00.002-05:00

With the new website design, I've decided the blog needs a bit of a face lift too. I'm going to try and post at least a few teaser photos with each of my shoots.

I'll have some free time over the next year with my other half being deployed. What better way to keep myself distracted than to focus on photography?!