Baby Passion!

So many good things to write about! Let me combine two exciting and motivating updates. First of all my daughter, Kristen, gave us some exciting news Thanksgiving. Her husband, Sam, and our son, Curt, share late November birthdays and we were gathered together in Dallas to celebrate. Sam suggested that we all gather around the table and snap a quick pic, as he often says. We were all smiling at the camera set on a timer on the staircase. As we were watching the blinking light, Sam said “Everybody say ‘Kristen’s pregnant!’” Smiles turned to screams with mouths wide open. Not a good look for the family picture but great for capturing joy. I immediately cried and jumped up and down. He had set the camera on burst and he captured all the joy in a series of several pictures. I’m afraid my chins are going to need some retouching since my mouth was the widest of all. We are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Baby McGee in June. Any extra prayers that you have time to offer will be greatly appreciated.

Following this big announcement, I have been in baby mode in full gear. Gary and I just spent a week in Phoenix, Arizona at the Professional Photographer’s Convention with two days in Sedona. I took a day long class with a husband and wife team. It is so good to stay current with all the up and coming ideas. The convention and trade show are brimming with new ideas and exciting products. We have some wonderful new products that we will be implementing in the next month along with a new session called Rise and Shine, a new maternity/newborn plan and a baby plan. The convention was topped off with a two hour presentation by Anne Geddes. I wasn’t exactly a huge fan of babies in flower pots; however, she spoke of her passion to be herself and develop her own style, despite criticism to do something else—basically, to follow her instincts – and she inspired me! What we do have in common is her passion for children and the sense to follow our instincts. She absolutely is passionate about infants. She ended her presentation with a video of babies and songs sung by Celine Dion. Now I am a fan of Anne Geddes and Celine Dion. Such passion, gentleness and kindness! Since I have babies on the brain, I am passionately planning all the images of Baby McGee. I might even pull out a flower pot or two. Stay tuned for how I can let Anne influence me without being a copy cat. I have always believed “to thine own self be true” was a great motto. We shall see how these images emerge. Ride the wave with us with your baby if you are so inclined. I promise you some priceless images.

Happy Birthday, Mother

Wow, it is January 15, 2009 and I have had so much to write about that I have written nothing. I couldn’t decide what I wanted to say or talk fast enough about all the good things that have been happening. Let me start with a few today and continue with more in the NEAR future. First of all, today is my Mother’s birthday. Ilma Beryldine Broaddus Lynn is 92 years young today. My heart is full of love for this Godly woman. She is the most unselfish woman that you will ever meet and I am honored to be her daughter. She grew up in the Depression and lived on a farm out in the country. She talked about how she couldn’t participate in after-school activities because she didn’t have a way to get home from them. As a consequence she was shy. As I was growing up, she used to say to me repeatedly, “I want you to go out and learn how to be with people…..all kinds of people.” I was even grounded one time for about 10 minutes until my friend Carol came by and honked the horn in her Metallic Blue Mustang convertible and wanted me to go get a Coke at the Ranger drive-in in Amarillo (Sometimes we went to Stanley’s, too). Mother stuck her head in the door of my room and said, “Carol’s here and wants you to go get a Coke.” I thought “She doesn’t know how this grounding thing works.” Looking back, I think she just had so much love in her heart that she couldn’t stand for me to miss out. Miss out on all the things that she had missed out on. She said she always thought that I would have a bunch of children. I had two and two amazing ones, at that. But I think one reason, I love my business so much is that I consider all the wonderful people that walk through my studio door to be family. Family that I love and take an interest in their lives, love to watch grow from little scamps (another word that my mom uses a lot) into beautiful young adults with families of their own. Anyway, my Mom moved down to Houston after my Dad died, almost 20 years ago. She was the minister’s secretary at First Christian Church in Amarillo. She typed more sermons than I can imagine and always had a listening ear for the people that came in to see Dr. Robinson and Dr. Bridwell and a few others. By the time the minister could see them, they had forgotten what they were upset about. She was a great listener. When she moved to Houston, she was not interested in retiring. That woman loves to work! She helped me number negatives for many years until I “went digital” and there were no more negatives to number. She always greeted people at the door when I worked out of my house and many of you to this day, ask about her. Now she lives at a memory loss center and the people out there tell me she is one of the sweetest ladies they have. One told me that she is appreciative for even the smallest thing they do for her. I am so grateful for her example to be grateful and for encouraging me to go out and be with people….all kinds of people….people just like all of you. Happy New Year and I am so grateful that YOU are in my life.

Little People 2008

“Moments of happiness take us by surprise…..it is not that we seize them…..they seize us.”

I love this quote. Isn’t this just what we are looking for when we photograph the ones we love, especially those little people that we are watching develop their own personalities? Those images that make us say, “This is so my daughter or so my son.” I love those unexpected, unplanned surprises when they do something “so them”. Even years later, the image can transport us back in time and make us “feel” their presence.

I started photographing all these precious little ones at a store called Little People. Ironically, it was two doors down from my studio where Shear Attitude lives now. I absolutely fell in love with all the little people that paraded in front of my camera. I only had 10 minutes to capture something wonderful ( I later changed it to 15—I couldn’t stop in 10), but I found that I got “on a roll” (no pun intended since I was using film back then) and captured some of the most precious creative images. (I still have two hanging in my studio that I consider timeless.) Here they came; all dressed in their holiday party clothes. One little girl that still comes every year, was dressed to the nines (and she still is a fashion plate). She was shy, quiet and elegant, all at the same time. She is now quite a beautiful young lady and I am even invited to her mom’s wedding in March. Denise said she had a place of honor for me. Can you imagine, me having a place of honor? I guess that is what happens when we share lives, invest in each other and keep in touch. Kyle (I told you about him earlier) had on a vest that made him look so grown up. But behind the grown up clothes, Laura, his mom, and I could see this precious baby boy. Little did we know that each year we would have a record to watch him grow into a handsome young man attending Harvard? Laura has already e-mailed me to say she cried when she read the e-mail blast. She said she forwarded it to Kyle. Kyle, if you are home, I’d be thrilled to put you in front of the camera once again. Do you remember the time that the background fell over on me and only my feet were sticking out? I looked like the Wicked Witch of the East. You were being all cool and macho, but you started laughing so hard that I got some wonderful images. Whatever it takes to get a good image!!!!

Evelyn and Alice have brought their kiddos each year. Each year Evelyn comes and every other year, Alice comes with her. They are good friends and take pictures of their children together. One year, Peter kept shouting “Who…whoa.” about the time that I would snap the shutter. Evelyn and I still laugh about it. Sandy and Ken come every year with their sweet children, Taylor Jay and Casey. Talk about good manners. And Sandy, she is a fashion plate. Ken and my husband, Gary always have to talk a little football and make Nebraska/ UT comparisons. Go Corn Huskers and really GO HORNS. But that is football and I’m talking about Little People. I just love how our lives overlap if we take the time to get to know each other. What sweet memories of life happening right in front of my camera.

But back to the history. Little People moved to Town and Country Mall and then out to the Dairy Ashford area. Eventually, Teresa closed the store and moved out of town. I couldn’t stand to stop so I continued holding the “Little People” event every year out of my house. How crazy it was, but how fun. My mom, Beryldine, would open the door and greet them only like my mom could greet someone. She loved seeing everyone every year, loved being apart of the workflow and most of all loved helping me. I just moved her to a memory loss center a month ago. Can you see tear drops on the computer screen? She finally needed to stop helping, but each year she would ask about “YOU” and “YOU” would ask about her. The same comment was said over and over. “She was so sweet.” So that fills you in on my sweet helper and lets you know how she is doing.

When I moved to my studio in May, 2007 I was so excited about Little People having more room. This year will be the second CCP studio event and I can’t wait to see how you have grown. I guess blogs don’t have a given amount of space and the author can do just about whatever she pleases. Bottom line, I just love being apart of your life and I love the yearly updates that make up your life. See you on the 9th and the 16th. We will catch up with each other at that time. I’ll look forward to hearing all about your kids and telling you all about my grandchildren.

Spring 2008

We are driving back to Houston after a wonderful weekend visiting our son, Curt, daughter in law, Margo, and grandchildren Jack and Sarah. This weekend makes me aware that the spring time is a time of rebirth and new beginnings. The tulips, pansies and other spring time flowers were ablaze; a reminder that there is life beneath the barren ground. I just need to wait and watch so that I can see the newness of life. It also makes me remember all the wonderful family gatherings and egg hunts that went on 25 years or so ago with my children or for that matter, the Easter egg hunts with my cousin, Mollie. I could start to be sad that time is passing by so fast. But this Easter I am more aware of how blessed I am or more determined to be aware of how blessed I am. Looking over the past week, I had several sessions. The first one was with someone new with a 4 week old baby. How beautiful new life is! I hope to watch Madison grow, change and mature into a beautiful young lady. The next session was a beautiful young mom named Merritt and her family. Merritt used to babysit my daughter, Kristen, and her brother is one of Curt’s good friends. I photographed Merritt’s wedding and have not seen her in many years. She has a wonderful husband, Lorenzo and I loved getting to know him a little better. He is a delight. And her children…..Sophia and Rocco. They are precious.

That afternoon I photographed one of my best friend in the world, Sue’s pregnant daughter in law and her son Matt. I can’t even begin to describe the joy that brought me. The baby is due in 4 weeks. I can’t wait to take some newborn images and see the creation so visible to God now. I can imagine laying baby Bennett on the outside of Katie. We had so much fun and Matt and Katie were such good sports. The camera allows you to be apart of something incredible. Pregnant bodies are beautiful! Thursday I photographed a fabulous family. Cheryl and Jim lived in Houston and I photographed her two girls before they moved to Midland. They now have another girl and a boy. The oldest, Frances, is a senior and going to UT next year (hook um) She is planning to live in Hardin House where my daughter, Kristen, lived. How lucky I am to be apart of people’s lives as they start a new beginning in their life and remind me of where I have been. To wrap up the week, I photographed another friend of Curt’s,Jeff. He and his dad had some pictures made together. They were so at ease together. I was struck at how apparent it was that Jeff admired his Dad. It made me so happy and sparked the idea of photographing my son, grandson and husband all together I think I’ll wait to see what baby number three might be…..when number three is announced. Until then,I’ll be content counting my blessings and soaking up the joy that is abundant in being apart of people’s lives. Relationships—that is what it’s all about.

February 16, 2008

Happy 50^th anniversary to Agnes and  .  They are such a cute couple and such a great family.  Julie, their daughter, was my daughter’s music teacher at Frostwood Elementary School.  That makes it even more fun to get to know Julie’s mom, dad and brother.  They were absolutely delightful and so sweet to each other.  The way that they acted as a family impressed me.  I thought you would enjoy seeing their slide show.  Hit pause and let it fully load so that it won’t skip.  They were day brighteners.  I hope you are equally uplifted.