My blog has a new home!

Finally! I have a spiffy new blog! Click here to head that way and be sure to update your bookmark!(if I'm lucky enough to have a bookmark on your computer!)

Be sure and leave a comment on the new blog and let me know what you think!!

Before you leave, here's a cute pic of my new sweet baby Mason....I'm now a GodMother to three!!

Baby Estep

I've been meaning to post pictures of this precious little boy, but somehow it hadn't been done...but here he is! Allen and I got to know Nathan last year when he was on our team that went to China for 2 weeks, just before we were married. Over the last year, I've gotten to know his beautiful wife, Joanna, and now they have an adorable little boy named Elijah! I just wanted to squeeze him the whole time--he's so cute! Those big eyes would just stare at you and he was so good through all the outfit changes and messing around with him that we did....here's some of my faves...

His room is all decorated with sailboats, so Joanna brought along some fun props!

His hat was just too cute!!

Brides!

I know, I know! I have totally fallen behind on blogging...but I'm back! It's just been an insane few weeks getting the year going, but it's been great! I was browsing a fellow photog's blog and it triggered in my mind that I had several brides that I haven't posted! I get sooo excited about the images and want to post them sooo bad...but I have to wait until after the wedding...and by then I've told myself "no" so many times that I've forgotten...but no more! I've got a better workflow now...
Anyway...this is the beautiful Cassie...I have to say that this was one of the windiest days that I have ever shot and she was such a trooper! Her mom became an expert veil-in-the-wind catcher by the end of our time together. Cassie and her mom have such a sweet relationship and it was an afternoon full of laughs! We shot until all the light was gone and then some. Congrats Cassie!

It was right after this that Cassie's veil flew high into a tree as her mom ran after it...luckily the wind shifted and the veil blew back down!!

I was too tired to decide which of these three in front of the church was my favorite...which one is yours?

Seriously, if this doesn't show you how windy it was...

Harpers & Grays!

Ok, so part of my goals this year is to keep my blog and website updated, so I AM going to do it...
I had held off on posting these because Renee wanted to surprise her family with their cards so I didn't want them to see the pics on my blog beforehand! But now, here they are!

Meet the Harpers...Mark, Renee, and their precious little man, Ty. I've known Mark as long as I can remember...we grew up going to the same church camp, along with all his brothers and sisters...Anyway, Mark and his little family just recently moved up here to the dfw area and I was so thrilled when they called and wanted me to take their pics! We had soooo much fun out at the park---we were mostly laughing at all the silly faces Ty was making at us. I had just gotten back from the farm after Thanksgiving and it was SUPER windy...so much that we wondered if we should bother shooting...but God smiled on us and it was barely windy in the park! Here's some of my faves...

Renee and Ty were having fun rolling around in all the leaves!

Meet Nic & Amy Gray....Amy lived right next to me in the dorm my freshman year at Tech...oh what fun times we had! I took their pics last year for Christmas and I must have done something right because Amy called me again this year for more pics...we went to the park and played in the leaves(Amy's ring flew off as they were throwing leaves...but luckily we found it after only about 10 minutes of looking!)...Amy and Nic are just so cute and there's no doubting the love they have for one another when you see them...love you guys!

New Year to new things!

Well, I was reading another photographers post this morning, and it inspired me to make a list of goals for 2009...not so much New Year's Resolutions, but a list of goals that is there for me to be aware of and to reach for...

As I look back on 2008, it really does make me smile! What can I say--it has been the best year of my life so far and I can't wait to see what 2009 brings! I started 2008 off in China - spent New Year's Eve eating noodles from a little street corner cafe with my fiance and then hopped a little plane in the morning to a town we'll call TR. China was an amazing start to the year...two weeks seeing the Lord work through people who have followed his call to spread the gospel to the nations...hiking in the mountains to bring gifts to students in need and listening to others share the Good News with those who have NEVER heard. Simply amazing.
Then back to Fort Worth to finish planning my wedding...and 4 weeks later...
On February 9th, I married the man of my dreams! There is no one on earth I love more and who could possibly be more perfect for me! God blessed me beyond what I could have ever imagined by giving me Allen...
Then a couple weeks later my sister had a baby boy!! And how precious he is! Corbin makes us smile over and over! I love that little man!
Not only has God blessed my personal life, but my business has grown so much!
Each month seemed to out-do the one before and I have just gotten busier and busier! I have worked with such beautiful and amazing couples for some fabulous weddings! It's kinda funny--I was thinking the other day about when I decided to stop shooting weddings like YEARS ago because they were so stressful and pretty much terrified me...well, that's because I shot my first wedding at the age of 19!! Can you believe it?! I look back and I'm like, what was I thinking!? But miraculously they all turned out well(and this was back in the day when we shot with film--there was no checking to see how your pics were turning out--you just had to know how to expose to every lighting situation!)....Man, I must have been brave or naive back then--not sure which! BUT, after learning SO MUCH MORE,(and moving into the digital age) I'm glad I finally got comfortable shooting weddings again because I absolutely LOVE it! And even more so this last year. I absolutely love my job! Have I mentioned that?
So yes, a year full of new clients and beautiful faces that have just amazed me.
Another big event. Allen and I bought a house this summer! WOW! It was totally a God thing and things just fell into place for us to get such a great deal on an amazing house. I do still need to post some updated pics!
We spent Thanksgiving with the Schovajsas and Christmas with the Iveys...what joy our families have brought to our lives! I look forward to what 2009 has in store!

These are my goals for 2009...both big and small...business and personal...

• Shoot twice as many weddings as I did in 2008
• Get an organized system going in my office and keep it up!
• Move my business structure to LLC
• Get the canvases I want printed and hang them in the office and studio
• Learn more about studio lighting and using flash on location different effects
• Revamp my blog
• Attend a photography workshop
• Hold at least one more workshop
  
• Finish MY wedding album
• Submit images for a contest
• Have a more firm grasp on my financials, taxes, etc...keep organized!
• Read the Bible all the way through
• Spend more time with my Creator
• Get to my goal weight
• Make time for other creative outlets--sewing, knitting, scrapbooking, etc.
• Start AND Finish my wedding scrapbook!
• Get my coffee table books from China and Africa printed
• Develop a faster turnaround time for weddings
• Bless a couple in need with free wedding photos
• Go to a Tech football game!
• Keep my website updated
• Design/order new business cards(this will be very soon!)
• Frame our diplomas
• Simplify. Not sure what all it might entail, but it's still a goal!
• Set up/decorate/organize our "hobby room"
• Get fit!
  

I may add to this list as I think of new goals, but for now, these are the things I know I want to accomplish!

peas and juice,
Ginger

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

So Allen and I are off to Lubbock until Sunday!!! Poor Allen has been working like 20 hrs a day again this past week, so it will be so nice to just relax and hang out with the family. I'm sooo excited to be spending Christmas with my new family--it's the first Christmas I haven't been home at my parents, and while I'll miss seeing them, I'm pumped about the Ivey Christmas!! I sure do love being married and I could not have asked for a more wonderful family to marry into--they are the absolute best! Love them all just as much as my own blood...

Anyway, I doubt we'll have much internet while we're there, so just call the cell if you need something...I'll be "back in business" again next Monday! Have a very very Merry Christmas!!

We love you!

The Hicks

Ok, so Brooke was the winner of the contest that I made up for my bday and she called me up Sunday afternoon and since it was such a nice day out, we decided it'd be the best day...and it was! We had such fun playing with the boys...they are too cute! Blake and Brooke, you are so blessed with such precious little boys! Anyway, it seems that almost every family I've shot lately has at some point in the shoot ended up playing in the leaves, and this time was no different. Hudson loved to throw them, and Haddon loved to eat them! ;) Here's some faves...

i love Haddon sitting in the background eating leaves on this one as Blake and Hudson have a sword fight...too fun!