merry christmas! • best of 09 contest update

BIG NEWS- I've decided to end the contest one day earlier. That's right, voting will end at midnight on Dec. 23rd. I know this gives you al one less day to vote, but by Christmas Eve we should all be spending time with family instead of on the internet. :)

So, just in case you didn't read the above statement,

VOTING FOR THE BEST OF 09 CONTEST WILL END AT MIDNIGHT ON DECEMBER 23RD. Thanks!

I think against all my efforts, Christmas has snuck up on me! I'm so excited for a little time off- but I've had such a great time photographing holiday sessions, so I'm going to share a few of my faves here. You've probably already seen some sneak peeks if you've been following the contest. :)

How picture-perfect is this crew? Even Toby the dog has a red bow!

Sweet Micah has been in the hospital just a few days before his session, but you would have never known! Thank goodness he back to his happy, playful self!

This one's going over their fireplace. Love it!

The Cortez Family worked it out in 25 Degree weather! I was so, so impressed with them and little Chloie!

This is Sunny the Scottie Dog- he is one of my dogs' puppies!

Could NOT get enough of these blue eyes!

help-portrait • lubbock, tx

I've always loved the work of photographer Jeremy Cowart (in fact, I'm going to his workshop next month- yippee!). When he launched the Help-Portrait project, I knew it would be huge.

The basics of the project:

1. Find someone in need.

2. Take their portrait.

3. Print their portrait.

4. Deliver the prints.

For a quick overview of the project, please watch the video on their website:

HELP-PORTRAIT

(I couldn't embed it here.)

After I saw the video, "inspired" would have been a mild way to describe me. I was just plain overwhelmed by the potential of it all. After a while, I wrote it off, thinking it was a mountain I didn't have the time or energy to climb this year.

Then God and I had a conversation. We got my priorities straight...and I decided that it was okay to start small.

I was able to get in contact with Lubbock Impact and photograph some kids and their families last Sunday. It was perfect. It felt right. And I can't wait to deliver the images. 

Here are a few of my favorites. I already can't wait to do it again...even bigger! I know there are so many wonderful photographers in this area that could really have a huge impact on our community. 

A few behind-the-scenes images from Shanna:

All my helpers. THANK YOU! You guys are wonderful and your support means so much to me!

And another huge thank you to L'Anna Jones and everyone at Family Church for being so open and easy to work with. God is doing incredible things with you!

Best of 2009 Contest • Families + Families-To-Be

I had to take Sunday off- it's getting crazier and crazier around here and that rest was invaluable. But I'm excited to announce the last category for the contest- FAMILIES!

I am so, so encouraged by all the voting that's been going on- some of you have built up legitimate campaigns, haha! Don't forget to KEEP VOTING through December 24 at midnight!

Here are the other categories:

BRIDE + GROOM

SENIORS

WEDDING PARTY

ENGAGEMENT

KIDS + BABIES

BRIDES

Here are the fun families I've had the pleasure of photographing this year! I consider most of my family photoshoots "playtime"...and I love getting to watch how they all interact. It's really about the relationships for me. Enjoy!

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pollcode.com free polls

EDIT:: Dec. 14, 2009 11:28 pm

I realized I had forgotten one of my most recent sessions in the lineup! I didn't feel right about leaving it out- this is such a beautiful family and they deserve a chance to win too! So, to be fair, I am tallying the already-placed votes from the first day and resetting the poll. The point totals below will be added to the final count. Thanks everyone for understanding!

1. 38

2. 2

3. 13

4. 2

5. 25

6. 4

7. 1

8. 6

9. 17

10. 4

11. 3

12. 5

13. 14

14. 2

15. 0

16. 3

17. 2

18. 6

19. 7

20. 1

21. 0

Best of 2009 Contest • Brides

You guys have totally blown me away with the votes! It's been a tough race for every category so far...can't wait to see who takes home the final prize!

Here are the other categories so you can vote for them as well today:

BRIDE + GROOM

SENIORS

WEDDING PARTY

ENGAGEMENT

KIDS + BABIES

...only one more category after today! Can you guess what it is? :) Here are my stunning brides:

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Brides Category
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pollcode.com free polls

 

Best of 2009 Contest • Kids + Babies

Today's category is devoted to Kids + Babies! It never fails that I fall in love with each one of those little faces....and I'm sure you will too!

Keep on voting for the other categories each day:

BRIDE + GROOM

SENIORS

WEDDING PARTY

ENGAGEMENT

There are only two categories left! Here are some of the sweetest faces I've seen this year...

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Kids and Babies Category
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pollcode.com free polls

Best of 2009 Contest • Engagement

Looks like all of you have enjoyed voting so far....we've had exactly 666 votes so far. That's not my favorite number in the world, so let's get to voting!

Today's category is ENGAGEMENT! (This also includes already married couples).

Engagement shoots are some of my favorite by far. I treat them as "get to know you" time and I really love to find out what makes a couple who they are. Most of the time I finish an Engagement Shoot totally pumped for the wedding.

If you haven't voted for the other categories yet today, here they are:

BRIDE + GROOM

SENIORS

WEDDING PARTY (Wedding Party has the fewest votes so far...if you got everyone in the image to vote, you might just have a chance of winning!)

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Engagement Category
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pollcode.com free polls

Best of 2009 Contest • Wedding Party

New Category for today: WEDDING PARTY!!!!!!

Wedding Party shots are some of my favorite to shoot. It never fails that each bride and groom have chosen a super fun and unique group of people to surround them...which usually makes for some great images!

If you haven't voted for the other categories today, here they are:

BRIDE + GROOM

SENIORS

Annnnnd...here are our top Wedding Party images of 2009...

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Wedding Party Category
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pollcode.com free polls

Best of 2009 Contest • Seniors

Here is the second category in the Best of 09 Contest- Seniors! Some of these are technically seniors in college...not just high school, but this is where they fit best! This is one of the larger categories, so get ready...

Click here to vote for other categories, if you haven't today:

BRIDE + GROOM CATEGORY

Remember, you can vote once a day till Dec. 24!

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Seniors Category
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pollcode.com free polls

Best of 2009 Contest • Bride + Groom

I am SO excited to announce the biggest contest I've ever had! This one is dedicated to all the wonderful people I got to work with in 2009. You have all inspired and encouraged me so much, and I want to give something back to you! 

As you can read above, I've selected some of my favorite images from this past year. They are not necessarily the most perfect or the most crazy-dramatic...they are the images that stick out in my mind when I remember that shoot. I'll have 7 different categories, and there's a chance you may be in more than one! (Just a note: the images that qualified for this contest had to be shot in 2009...that means if you did Engagement in 08 and Wedding in 09, only the wedding images qualify.)

The winner will receive a FREE 16x20 of their image!

You can vote for your favorites in each category @ the poll underneath the images. You may vote once per day, which means you'll want to get your friends and family voting as well! Voting will end December 24, 2009 at midnight.

A new category will be announced each day for a week. The first category is Bride + Groom. Go!

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pollcode.com free polls

oh, letterpress, how i love you...

I got in my brand new letterpress business cards, and they were totally worth the splurge. I may not want to give them away at all! 

I worked with Invited Ink, who I found on etsy. They were very easy to work with and I just love what they produced! Not to mention I'm a sucker for good packaging. 

One day I'd like to learn how letterpress works. I think if I weren't a photographer, I'd be heavily pursuing the graphic design/paperie field.

ALSO: I forgot to mention that I will be announcing my BIGGEST contest of the year VERY SOON! (As in check back later today.)