New Year's Resolution

OK, I usually don't make resolutions. January first just isn't prime time for me to make big changes in my life. I think it's just too cold and the days are too short. Seems like Spring is a better time to think about a fresh start.

This year I did make a New Year's Decision. Here's the story. Those of you who know me best know that although I would be lost at work without my camera, I rarely take snapshots or create images just for me. I actually have gone on vacation or home for Christmas and forgotten to take a camera. Really, I have. Sometimes I'm driving down the road and see something I'd love to have a picture of, and alas, no camera.

My big New Year's Decision therefore, is to take at least one photo every day during 2010 for no good reason. My plan is to post them here to share. I think this will make me more creative, and at the same time remind me to take a camera with me more often on everyday excursions.

If you follow this, I think you'll find out pretty quickly that I'm attracted to texture and facinated by light. And perhaps I have a unique (translated wierd) way of seeing the world I live in. I hope we enjoy this adventure together.

Now that I think about it, maybe part of this idea came from dragging my husband to the "Julie and Julia" movie. At least I can't gain weight from taking photos, can I? Here's my photo from January 1, 2010. The view out my kitchen window.

Adventures in Flowers

Some of you know that my Mom was a florist. So....having helped out during busy seasons (I will refrain from talking about Mother's Day at a flower shop) I have a heartfelt appreciation for florists and the talent, hard work, and mess it takes to make something beautiful come to life out of a tangle of plants in five gallon buckets.

Thus, when John Herron of Herron House commissioned me to create a new image of him to be used in his ad for Triad Weddings magazine, I was excited. John's an amazing wedding floral designer. His resumee reads like a "Who's Who" in the floral and design industry. He has both a creative mind and an awareness of what photographs well, which makes me happy. I've always admired his work, and love his outgoing, spunky attitude. If you ever need a smile, John Herron has one ready for ya!

I'll admit, it was bittersweet to enter his place. It's been three years since I've set foot in my Mom's shop, and the scent was unmistakable. I had time to wander around and reminisce before we took off on our adventure.

What adventure? Well, if you want flowers in December, what do you do? You go to a floral wholesalers warehouse, of course. Now I've been around little shops, but this place was amazing! With coolers the size of my house, and live greenery and flowers of every shape, size, color and texture, I was in sensory overload. The owner was gracious and gave us the run of the place, and I could have stayed all day-if it had been warmer, burrr!

We spent a couple of hours, and created a number of images to be used both now and later. The one selected for his ad was taken in "the big cooler" with shelves full of buckets of greenery for our background. to make him and the pink flowers stand out.

The Triad Wedding magazine will be out in January, and yours truly will have an ad in there as well. If you know anyone planning a wedding in the Triad area, let me know and I'll send them a copy of the magazine. And if they haven't found a photographer yet, I'd love to talk to them. ;-)

http://www.rhondaswebsite.com/

A Wedding Photographers Dream

Check out this beautiful couple! I had planned to have a few photos up last week to share with everyone, but with Christmas just around the corner life is crazy at the studio. (Sorry guys!)

Cydni and Patrick had perfect weather for their outdoor fall wedding at Walnut Lane Bed & Breakfast in Pleasant Garden, NC. Let me assure you, just in case you're wondering, days like that bring joy to a wedding photographers heart. I had been watching the weather forecast with a prayer in my heart, particularly since it rained endlessly for days leading up to the big event.

I loved their idea of a morning wedding with brunch for the reception. They even had an omelet bar! They made sure every detail was perfect, all the way down to the charming leaf shaped bottles of maple syrup that they gave as favors. Now I got a few hundred more images to get

ready….and maybe some pancakes to make.

Halloween Fun

We had a great time celebrating Halloween here at the studio!

For starters, he Northwestern Randolph Arts Council held their Faces of Fall workshop here featuring pumpkin painting for kids. Let me just tell you, we have some talented little people in our area.

At the same time, we were photographing kids in costume for our charity fund raiser "Boo for Two." Thanks to all of you who came and participated! The Community Outreach of Archdale Trinity (COAT) and The Mother Baby Foundation need all the help they can get.

We (translated I) decided it would be fun to build a scarecrow for the set. Well...it WAS interesting. Ever build a scarecrow? I hadn't. My intern/helper from Trinity High School, Kaylan Provence, hadn't either. Good thing she's such a good sport. Finally, with some added help from the Nelson brothers, we got him put together and the boys dubbed him "Bob." Next time maybe I'll go online to find some suggestions on scarecrow construction methods. Maybe. And maybe there won't be a next time.

I think Bob and I made a cute couple for Saturday. It's been a long time since I dressed up for Halloween, and it was a real hoot.

If you missed being here for Halloween, Bob's still hanging around to meet you. He's been greeting guests outside the front door for a few days now. Don't know how long he'll wait, it's kinda cold out there at night lately.

Pumpkin' Season

I love Fall! The cooler temperatures, the vibrant colors of the trees, the renewed focus on family and relationships. It's just a beautiful time.

I dropped by Wal-Mart about 7:00 yesterday morning on my way to work (yes, I often go to work that early--long hours is one of the joys of self-employment) and picked up some beautiful potted mums and a big pumpkin and a lot of little baby sized ones. And you know how I am, I just couldn't resist capturing a few shots of the props--nothing better than fresh flowers! Anyhow, back to my story. The cashier wasn't very busy in the garden department, and she actually came over and helped me dig through the humongous box of pumpkins because she was sure there were some bigger ones in the bottom. She was right, and I was reminded of the joy of giving and receiving.

I've been reading a book that is talking about that same thing, so I guess that's why I noticed it. By helping me she added a big smile to her face, and another one to mine. Isn't it nice how God designed us to take pleasure in helping one another?

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.

Back from Texas

OK, you know how folks say you don't appreciate what you've got until you don't have it anymore? And that little diddy about not seeing the forest for the trees--that's basically the same thing. Well....I certainly have a new appreciation for the lush green landscape that surrounds our little part of the world called North Carolina.

I enjoyed my trip to Texas, learned a lot and made some great new friends. But I had a little eye opener. I sat beside an 8 year old Texan on the plane trip down, and she was quite the little traveler. She's been to Hawaii and oodles of other places. I asked where her favorite place was, and she surprised me by saying North Carolina. I asked why, thinking she had a favorite family member there or something, and she surprised me again by saying "Because it's so green."

Turns out they don't get as much rain as we do, so things don't grow as well. Also turns out that the hotels try to compensate for the fact that it's blazing hot outside by trying to freeze you to death inside. Now some of you are saying, "Wait a minute. I know how you are, and you freeze all the time." OK, that's true. But everyone in my workshop was saying the same thing. And my roommates and I would back off the AC, then the cleaning lady would crank it all the way to high when she came. Burrrrr.

Anyhow, I learned some great stuff, and you'll be seeing some new things at the studio soon. Very soon. Until then, let's take a moment to enjoy the smell of the grass. Ummm, good.