We're on the Road Again!

We're off to the cool country tomorrow and "girl" are we excited.  Years ago we vowed to plan and follow through on a "Sister's Weekend" at least once a year.  A weekend where all five of us could leave jobs, kids, spouses and the ties of our home lives to frolic, laugh, shop, eat, drink, and be merry- uninterrupted.  Forty years ago that would have been the LAST thing we would have wanted to do is spend a weekend with "those sisters" that we shared everything from a bedroom to the hot rollers with! But with much of our lives behind us we have come to cherish our relationships with each other and I think I speak for all of us when I say that our relationships with each other are one of life's greatest blessings.  Our mom used to accompany us on our weekends and her absence has made making time for these get-togethers seem even more critical.  In fact, it's only been 9 months since our last trip and we were all feeling the need for a "sister fix"!   This year we are so happy that two of our "Gen Y" offspring are accompanying us (girls only)!  They are either going to be completely flabbergasted by our antics, totally embarrassed, or sorry they haven't joined us sooner.  I'm guessing it will be the latter.  So...down the road we go!  We hope to have some classic pictures to share.  Don't forget to record life's best moments by freezing them in time with photographic images...they'll be good for some heartwarming smiles later on!

At the "Shady Del"~November 2011

Until next time~ 

Tina

"Our roots say we're sisters, our hearts say we're friends."  

 ~Author Unknown

About Perfect Timing

This sentiment just seems to go naturally with the last post about the {D} family.  There's more to the story about the timing of all of it, but suffice it to say...

Blessings to you and yours,

Karen and Tina



 In Memory of Baby {B}

January 13, 2012-June 11, 2012

A couple of weeks ago I received a call from a stranger who introduced herself as an older sister to a new mommy of a terminally ill baby boy who was just 4 months old.  On behalf of her sister she was desperately seeking someone to take professional photos of him before he passed away.  For a couple of weeks she had been frantically trying to contact photographers who have volunteered their services for just this purpose with no luck.  She told me she had contacted 10 photographers and not one had called her back.  

We normally photograph happy occasions and milestones so this blindsided us.  Additionally we were swamped with other jobs and timelines and not sure how we could commit to this endeavor since the window of time was potentially very small.  But a little voice in my head told me this challenge was placed in our path for a reason and God would help us find a way.  And He did.

We knew going into this that it may be a difficult session but we were prepared to provide a service that was very important to them. What we didn’t think about was how it would change us.  They opened their hearts and shared the story of their beautiful baby with us, and we instantly felt a connection with this adorable family of five.  Often we as humans find ourselves asking how or why things like this happen but I sensed after spending time with them that their baby touched the lives of not only those that loved him, but those they had never even met until this time in their lives. Photographing this family in the face of a tragedy allowed us to witness first hand how God has given them strength, courage, grace, humility and love to deal with His plan for Baby {B}.

We have been in contact with them since then getting some things ready for the time when they will want to share his beautiful images with their loved ones at his funeral services.  We were just a sprinkle in his timeline on earth, but he and his family have left their footprints on our hearts forever.  

Yesterday we received the call that Baby {B} had passed from this life and is now resting in peace in the arms of God. With heavy hearts we are thinking of his beautiful family in their time of sorrow and wish to extend our deepest sympathy to them. 

Go in Peace,

Tina

 

"Have courage for the great sorrows of life, and patience for the small ones.  And when you have laboriously accomplished your daily tasks, go to sleep in Peace.  God is awake."  ~Victor Hugo

{A} is for A…dorable, Amiable, Athletic and All Around AWESOME!!!

Last week we had the distinct pleasure of taking senior photos of the beautiful and photogenic Miss {A}.   Let me just say, we’ve had some beautiful seniors before and we are not comparing but this whole session rocked!!! 

We shot in downtown Chandler and we got there a little early just to get set up and be ready.  Uh-oh…there’s a jazz festival going on right where we want to shoot…AND a wedding!  I was immediately worried about how Amy would feel having crowds around her as she posed for her photos.  Not to worry though.  She was a pro from the word “go” and we found lots of great spots to showcase some urban photos of this beautiful senior.

Usually we shoot a lot of photos because we will have a lot to delete.  I can honestly say the only ones we had to delete were our fault…blurry, cut off hand, etc.  We had so many to choose from that it was nearly impossible to narrow them down!  What a fun session to edit, spending time looking at her beautiful blue eyes, perfect skin, white teeth and amazing smile!  She definitely has a sparkle that our camera likes!

We hope you’ll like this little sampling as much as we do.  And…the good news is that {A} is having another session with us in a different setting, different clothes and different hairstyle.  We are over the moon happy about that!

Do you know someone who needs senior photos taken?  We’re here and waiting.  We would absolutely LOVE to specialize in seniors.  They are SO much fun!!!

Blessings to you and yours,

Karen

“A smile is the light in your window that tells others that there is a caring, sharing person inside.”  ~Denis Waitley

It's Christmas Time...Our Wish for You!

Our wish for friends, family and those we don't yet know...

PEACE

HOPE

LOVE

JOY...

And on that note, here's our card for you...

Love,

"The Sisters"



Are You Taking Time to Enjoy the Little Things?

The Christmas rush is definitely on and we're right in the middle of it with the rest of you!!!   Every year I say I'm going to take time to enjoy the season with all its meaning and in all it's glory!   I succeed in small ways but still manage to get behind on the other things I "need" to get done!

One thing we're both taking time to do this season is a little daily photo project called "Picture the Holidays".   Each day we get a prompt with a note about something we should focus on that day and try to capture with all of our creativity and imagination in a photo that is meaningful to us.   It goes until the end of the month and each day I look forward with anticipation to the day's assignment.   For the most part, I'm getting things done on time but sometimes I have to work on two or three at a time.   At the end, we'll be able to print a book and I can't wait for that! I  also can't wait to compare our photos for each theme of the day since we sometimes see things with such a different eye!

Today's theme is "Wrapped With Love" and since I haven't wrapped a single thing yet, I'm thinking I'd better get busy on that part first.   Here are some of my other favorites though, along with their theme.   I won't bore you will all 19 of them but if there's a way to do it, I'll share my book at the end!

Merry Christmas everyone!   Take a few moments to stop and breathe and look around you and take in the beauty of the season and of your surroundings.  Spend some time with people who matter.  Don't let yourself get so caught up in what you have to get done that you miss it all!

Day ONE...So thankful for yet another birthday...
and for being able to spend it with ALL my kids and grandkids!

A well-worn page and something I need to be reminded of often...

Perhaps you should start here...TODAY!

And since I can't imagine Christmas without my adorable granddaughers in it, here they are...

So what is it you need to be focused on today?  I hope you'll take a few minutes and enjoy some of the splendor and the beauty that surrounds you, whatever that may be.  For myself, I'm going to get my gifts wrapped so I can take a photo or two of them and remember how beautiful they are and how special the people are they are wrapped for!

Since our posts seem to be few and far between right now, let us take this opportunity to wish you a Christmas that is full of love, joy, peace and many blessings!

Love,

May you have the gladness of Christmas which is hope;
The spirit of Christmas which is peace;
The heart of Christmas which is love.
~Ada V. Hendricks



The {V}ery beautiful {V} family....

Planning ahead for family portraits when all family members will be together is a great idea.  This smart Mom and Dad knew both boys would be visiting at the same time and seized the opportunity to schedule some family photos.  The results of a lovely late October afternoon session are as beautiful as they are and should provide them with memories of their time together forever!

There's plenty more for them to choose from where these came from and there's not a bad photo in the bunch!  Have you scheduled your family session?  What are you waiting for?

"You don't choose your family: 

they are God's gift to you 

as you are to them."

                             ~Desmond Tutu

                           

                 Tina