Traditions--some like it wierd.

We have a fun, yet slightly odd, tradition in my family at Christmas. It's so much fun that people from outside of our family have taken time to join us on Christmas afternoon in order to participate. It costs nothing, yet everyone goes home with a gift.

What is this, you ask? Well....it's Yard Sale Christmas. The game is played a little like Dirty Santa with one major difference. You're not allowed to buy a gift. You must "go shopping" within your own house for some item you would put in a yard sale. Anything goes, and boy, do I mean anything.

Some real doozies that have never been forgotten include a lovely wagon wheel chandelier that came with my sisters new house. Oh, did I forget to mention that one of the rules is that you must remove your gift from the hostesses house upon your departure? Another memorable "gift" was a retainer, yep, the kind you wear on your teeth. It returned year after year wearing a new disguise each year. My personal favorite was the time someone painted it gold, and hung it from a red ribbon to create a unique tree ornament. ;-)

There was the box that contained tightly packed clothes from a recently cleaned out closet, and let's not forget the chalk parrot statue, that one made it back for several repeat performances.

Wonder what we'll have this year? Good times.

Now, I gotta go do a little "shopping," see ya'll later!

Christmas Shopping...fa,la,la,la,laaaa...HELP!

Do you feel the same way about gift shopping that I do? Of course I enjoy shopping, hey, I’m a girl, it’s part of my genetic makeup. And I certainly enjoy making the people I love feel special and valued. Spending money, that's a mixed emotions kinda thing for me. Enjoy the spending, hate the counting up the totals afterward, he-he-he.

But (you knew there was gonna be a “but” in there, didn’t you?) I face the same challenge every year, finding thoughtful gifts that the folks on my list will enjoy and appreciate. Some years I feel like I do pretty good, others leave me feeling less confident. The real winners are gifts that get used, talked about or enjoyed long after the Christmas season is over.

That’s one of the reasons we started offering Gift Certificates at Memory Lane Portraits. Everyone knows how precious a great portrait is. It’s a wonderful memory that starts with the session and lasts for a lifetime. (You know something is valuable if folks are still hanging on to it years later.)Every year we get calls from folks saying their mother told them all she really wanted this year was a great family portrait for her wall.

Keep an eye out, tomorrow we’re starting a Limited Time Special on our Gift Certificates from Memory Lane Portraits by Rhonda Lester. If you’re one of the smart folks who signed up for our mailing list, you’ll get an email with details.

Also, if you're wondering, yes, we're gonna be taking sessions the week between Christmas and New Years--so get the gang together and let's plan a new family portrait for you. Growing, changing families often need new portraits every year, and everyone else about every 4 or 5 years. How long has it been?

Fallin' in Love: Wedding Photos from the Mountains

This was a new twist on wedding day photography for me, and a LOT of fun! David and Kacey had a small chapel wedding in Blowing Rock, NC. Most of the time I'm hired to start photographing before the ceremony starts. This time was different, their chapel provided a photographer for the ceremony.

But this family ought to win a "Fan of the Year Award" because they wanted something more creative and fun to celebrate the day. I arrived at the end of their reception, and I'll admit that felt kinda odd, you know, like I was late. I had a bad dream one night kinda like that, but that's another story. Then we headed out for a real adventure as we spent a few hours be-bopping around and taking photos of them.

We found a beautiful abandoned barn, a little covered bridge, and lots of surrounding areas where the trees were just awesome. Beautiful people, beautiful place, beautiful day--can't ask for more than that. Well....a little warmer weather would have been lovely, but we managed.

Welcome to the family, Brooklyn

Ok, I'm gonna sound like a grandma, but honest, I'm her auntie. Miss Brooklyn is just the cutest thing, don't you think? These are some quick photos taken at my brothers house a couple of weeks ago when I got to meet her for the first time.

It's been a while since we added a little girl to the family tree, that puts the count up to 7 nephews and 3 nieces (plus a goddaughter and two godsons, don't forget them.) Gonna be fun buying some little girl stuff for Christmas-woo-hoo!

I'm gonna marry the boy next door.

Last weekends wedding was so much fun! It was a fairytale love story if ever there was one.

Ashley and Brandon literally grew up next door to each other, and have been sweethearts for years. When I was putting together their childhood memories slide show for the reception, there were lots of photos of the two of them together even as little kids. There were prom photos together, and even the two of them in their high school graduation cap and gowns together.

Thanks, Ashley and Brandon, for taking time to create something really special to remember your day. After the wedding, we went to the road where they grew up, and where their families still live. These photos were taken in a shed on her great grandpa's farm where they used to play when they were kids. I could have spent hours photographing on the farm, but I had a hunch Brandon wouldn't be as enthusiastic about that idea as I was. ;-)

What great stories they're going to have to tell their kids someday! Congratulations you two, and thanks for including me in such a special and utterly fun day.

Happy Birthday Mom! Wish you were here....

Today would have been my Mamma's birthday. She was an amazing woman, and I was blessed beyond measure to have her to nurture my life.

Yesterday, I was talking to someone about the importance of having portraits taken of each of your children with each parent separately, because of the lasting value it has. I speak from experience, I have four siblings, and I'm so grateful I have beautiful portraits of Mom and myself taken by my friend and mentor Karen Goforth several years ago.

I almost didn't have these portraits made. I felt heavy (I was a lot heavier than I am now, in fact) and we were on vacation so it seemed like a lot of trouble. Boy, am I ever glad we took this time. These prints, and the others in that session are truly a treasure of great value to me now. I can enjoy our moments together again as I see these photos on my desk every day.

If I can share a gift with you, dear reader, as a token birthday present for my mom, it is the encouragement to take time to have portraits made with the people you love. See yourself through their eyes, not your own. You're a beautiful part of their lives!

Lilly's Pearls

This is a photo taken during a 4 generation session--4 beautiful women, 1 beautiful family. Lilly and Mom live in Chicago and came home to Thomasville to surprise Grandma and Great-Grandma for Mother's Day. While they were together was the perfect time to create a new family heirloom.

The pearls in the back belong to Great-Grandma, the baby bracelet is Lilly's, and the pearls in her hand are Grandma's but were worn during the session by Mommy. I can envision that someday she'll be photographed in her wedding gown with these same pearls.

Quote

Here's an interesting quote I read today: Creative people rarely need to be motivated. They have their own inner drive that refuses to be bored. They refuse to be complacent. They live on the edge, which is precisely what is needed to be successful and remain successful. --Donald Trump in "How to Get Rich"

Be Patient With Me...

I know, I know....I'm way behind on posting my Photos of the Day. But I promise, I've been taking them. Really. Scouts honor.

I'll try to do better about sharing, and over the next few days I hope to get two or three posted every day until I'm all caught up. I'll go ahead and warn you, for a little while it's gonna be a flower fest. Spring is glorious and it seems like there are new blooms somewhere every day, and they all beg me to photograph them. I'm happy to oblige, because I love beauty in all it's many intricate forms.

Wrascaly Wrabbits!

We've had a blast this year photograping our bunnies! Just had to share a little sneak peak.

January 22, 2010 Photo of the Day-Guess What?

Can you guess what this is? I'll announce the winner tomorrow. To post your guess to the blog, go to http://rhondaswebsite.blogspot.com/2010/01/january-22-2010-photo-of-day-guess-what.html.

January 21, 2010 Photo of the Day - Freshly Roasted

Ummmmm....can you smell these? Fresh roasted coffee beans I found at a great little place near the studio called The Wet Whistle (http://www.thewetwhistleco.com/). I can't tell you how wonderful they smelled when Carol took the lid off so I could photograph them. I'd never seen coffee beans so fresh they still glistened. Too bad I don't like the taste of it, but I surely enjoy the smell.

January 19, 2010 Photo of the Day - Branches

This image was taken a little while after sunset.  I like the contrasting colors of the deep cool blue sky of early night against the branches reflections of the warm tungsten street lights.

January 9, 2010 Photo of the Day

Thanks in part to my friend Kari's shot earlier this week (she's also doing a Photo of the Day project); I was inspired when I saw this cool car parked at a restaurant in High Point on my way to the studio today. Sorry guys, I don't have any clue what make or model, but it was sleek and shining like a brand new cubic zirconium. Yes, that's my reflection in the lower right corner. No, that wasn't on purpose, just a fun coincidence.

The couple sitting in the car next to it were surely wondering why the crazy chick with the camera came running across the road to snap a few photos and then vanished just as quickly. Fotobugg strikes again!

If you're getting these via my Facebook feed, and are a photo snob like me, they look better (seems like the color is richer) on the blog. Just thought you would like to know.

January 8, 2010 Photo of the Day

Two photos today, because I couldn't pick. I love texture, so the hole in the tree couldn't be resisted, and the old wrought iron gateposts had a regal sense of history. Look closely and you will see the hole in the tree in the gatepost photo as well. Taken in a cemetery in Asheboro, N.C.

January 5, 2010 Photo of the Day

Beautiful frost patterns on my windshield this morning.

January 4, 2010 Photo of the Day

Can anyone guess what this is?

January 3, 2010 Photo of the Day

Air bubbles trapped under ice in a puddle beside my house.

Welcome to the world, Little Miss Olivia

Sometimes I just love my job. Ok, most of the time I love my job, but some days are particularly wonderful. Like the day I got to create beautiful newborn photos of Olivia.

This is Little Miss Olivia, she's perfect and beautiful, and I just have to tell you, when I heard she was expected my heart sang. Not only because I thought I would have another sweet little one to photograph, (she is sweet, and I do get excited about new babies to photograph) but because of the history I have with her parents.

You see, I'm a volunteer photographer for an international organization called Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep (NILMDTS.) We provide infant bereavement photography free for families suffering the loss of a baby. Karen and Travis were my very first session for NILMDTS, and they hold a special place in my heart. Their first child, a beautiful little angel named Travis Jr., was lost due to a birth defect, and I photographed this precious family in the hospital shortly after his birth and passing.

I've done a number of sessions for Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep since then, but none are as strong in my memory as Travis Jr.'s. His family are powerful role models for grace in difficult times, and my experience with them made a huge impact on me. I've prayed for them often over the past couple of years, and hoped they would have their hearts desire of more children.

So YEAH! When I met Olivia my heart melted. She's not only an answer to prayer, she's also one lucky little girl to have a loving home and two strong, faith-filled people for parents. Plus she has the cutest little toes! I'm going to enjoy watching her grow up. Yes, I am.