Farmgirl in Flipflops | Lifestyle & Portrait Photography

Announcement

2011-03-21T07:49:00.000-07:00

Dear blog,

You've been awesome, you know that? I've really enjoyed learning on you, trying you out, and making you a sucess. I've enjoyed designing and re-designing you... several times!! It's been so much fun, using you to help share the million and one ways the Lord has blessed my life.

I can't believe that we've been through together.
.

I bought a camera, and then I used it... I became a "real" photographer. I shot a wedding. I graduated from high school. I did family photographs and senior portraits. And then I went to Texas, and everything changed.

I've don't know what to say except that I've loved blogging, that I hope I've been a blessing, and that I'll never forget this.

Yours truly,
Hannah

Dearest readers,

Two years ago, I started a blog.

150 posts, 84 followers, and 1302 comments later, I'm doing it again!!

I'm not a huge fan of great, big, emoitional speeches. Part of my new brand is "simple..." and so I'm going to be just that right now.

Ladies and gentlemen...

farmgirlinflipflops.com!

A few more things...

Don't worry - this faithful old blog will stay up. =) I couldn't possible delete two years of my life, now could I?

I just purchased the new domain name, and blogger says it may take up to three days to get everything straight. So in the meantime, you can follow me by putting "http://farmgirlinflipflopsphotography.blogspot.com" into wherever you follow blog updates. =)

Please update your feed readers and also follow the new blog in order to keep getting updates from me.

If you have any questions, concerns, or you just want to tell me how awesome you think my new blog and I are... feel free to shoot me an email! You know where to find me... hannah(at)farmgirlinflipflops(dot)com

If I think of anything else... well, I know where to find you.

Hugs!!
♥

Planning

2011-03-17T09:03:00.000-07:00

A laptop. A starbucks frappuccino.

Quiet afternoons in a coffee shop with two dear girls.

Stay tuned for updates on my blog and business anniversary celebration!!!

♥

Globe Trotting | Part Two

2011-03-14T14:47:00.000-07:00

Let me see... where was I?

Oh, yes! Driving through Atlanta.

WHOLE FOODS!!! Okay, I may seem a little excited... but you'll understand when I explain to you that my nearest Whole Foods is exactly 199 miles away. And I think it's in Canada. A lot of good that does, huh? =)

The traditional "in the hotel mirror" picture!

It's spring... somewhere... Like South Carolina.

We returned to my aunt and uncle's house for a few days before flying back. I thought I'd brush up on my night photography skills! You may remember this pier from last October.

The next morning, before our flight out, Mom and I hopped down to Flagler Pier again so I could grab a few pictures. I thought it would be interesting to "collect" pictures of the pier in different lighting and weather circumstances, and this was the perfect "gray" day!

Hmmm... all that was missing was some rain. =)

But the slight overcast made for some interesting lighting, as the sun tried to peek through!

Okay, call me weird... but I thought these little weeds were just toooo cute! But that's not unusual. I really enjoy finding things like that... little wildflowers, creatures, tiny moments... =)

(you see what I mean about the wildflowers?)

We didn't realize (well, until we got down there...) how chilly it was! Which is rare, considering we come from Washington. But with that sea breeze blowing... and getting salt all over your camera... it's hard to stay warm. =)

Awww....

Onnneee last perspective.

Okay. That's all with the pier pictures, I promise!!!

But I couldn't finish this Florida post without a picture of my awesome family!! Thank you all so much for the fun visit - it was truly fabulous!! I love you all so much! =)

Hugs!
♥

ps... and then we went home.

Globe Trotting | Part One

2011-03-09T10:55:00.000-08:00

Like all great travelers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen.

-- Benjamin Disraeli

Mine was one of those typical airport stories. Mom and I got up at 2:00 that morning, and Dad drove us the hour and a half through a snowstorm to the airport. We checked in and, as usual, and got through security with... umm... minimal issues.

I won't bore you with the rest of our story... I will, however, hint about an hour and a half sitting on an icy taxiway, a bouncy ride through a blizzard, a missed connection, a plane with technical difficulties, the process of finding a new plane for a whole load of delayed people, annnnddd, finally, a two hour drive on a highway peppered with construction sites!

Soooo... you can guess I was very glad to get here, to the...

BEACH!!!

Having relatives in Florida is the most splendid excuse to visit more often than not. =)

The sun on your hair is a glorious feeling... ahhh...

It was really windy, and the Floridians were practically wearing parkas, but to us snowbirds from Washington state, it felt amazing.

These little visitors are so cute! Pesky... (they try to steal your precious chocolate-covered boston crème doughnuts) but cute.

Me and my Mama, two little beach bums! Aren't we cute? (yes, I still call my Mom "Mama"... I was raised by a Southerner, why do you ask?)

Re-creating memories...

This house is simply adorable. I would take it today, if I could.

My aunt and my cousin thought we were crazy for swimming! Well, it is February after all. But I said there is no way you could come to Florida and not swim.

After spending a few days visiting with family and recovering from stressful travel and such, Mom and I hopped in our rental car (a Chevy Malibu!) and headed west.

For those of you who don't know... Mom and I were in Florida for a good reason. As if simply going to Florida is not a good reason enough!! That's subject to opinion however... we were on a scouting mission. I'm planning on attending college in the fall, so we were taking a look at the colleges I was considering - one in Florida and the other in South Carolina. Both were equal distances from my aunt's house, conveniently located in northern Florida, so we were able to drop in for a visit, as well as fly in and out of the same airport. Handy, huh?

We drove... and drove... and drove...

And drove... Atlanta's pretty cool at night, you know?

Since it's time for lunch, and I'm tired of uploading pictures on this rreeaaaallly slow connection, I will end part one here. I will promise that part two is coming soon, but only time will tell how soon that really is! haha!!

much love!

♥

Eighteen

2011-03-06T18:21:00.000-08:00

"...And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."

-- Abraham Lincoln

I'm eighteen.

Oh, my word! You can't be serious. Did I really, truly just turn eighteen?!

Yes, I did. =)

(No, really, I don't wear that shirt all the time. Seriously. I guess that it's a good self-portrait shirt or something, because it sure shows up in my pictures a lot, haha!)

Celebrating your birthday away from home is definitely different than celebrating at home. And celebrating around your relatives certainly draws out the ceremonies as long as possible! I'm loving it... =)

But after a tiny personal cake from Whole Foods, a homemade organic cake from my cousin, plenty of presents from my family, and four voicemail recordings of "happy birthday," it's still hard to believe that I'm eighteen!

It does help me feel eighteen when I glance in the mirror and see my new earrings. Daddy lets us peirce our ears when we turn eighteen, and I've been looking forward to that for a while! Soooo... maybe my liscense will help. That is, if I can pass that parallel parking test, haha!

You know, I love that quote by Abraham Lincoln. I love it so much I'm posting it again. "...And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."

So true. Why isn't this my motto?

One more thing. I love Psalm 139. These are only excerpts, but I want to post them because the Lord has done so much in my life and I want to give Him all the glory. He's everything to me. I wouldn't be who I am and where I am without Him. I want my whole life to bring glory and honor to Him. I want to live completely for Him.

I love these verses because they remind us of His amazing love for us. They remind us that we are His precious children, and that He only has the best in mind for us.

♥

O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.

Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

...I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

How

precious

also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how

great

is the sum of them!

If I should count them, they are

more in number than the sand:

when I awake, I am still with thee... Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and

lead me in the way everlasting.

In My Bag

2011-02-21T14:25:00.000-08:00

Recently, I've got some questions on what I use to shoot my photos. So here's a little peek inside my camera bag - just for you, my fellow photogs!

I shoot with a Canon Rebel XTi, and it's my darling partner in crime. I love it to death... and I'm hoping that aforementioned death doesn't come too soon!! I've learned so much on this camera, so I would highly, highly, highly recommend it to any beginning photogs. I'm beginning to feel it's limits, however, so it may not be too far in the future when I have in my hands a shiny new dSLR... a Canon EOS 7D, possibly. Because as we all know... Canon rules! =)

Well... that's subject to opinion. Actually, I've only ever had the good fortune to shoot with a Nikon once, and that was my first dSLR experience. I was terrified I would break something, but when I heard that reassuring click and felt that camera in my hands, I knew I was on to something. And I haven't gotten off it yet. *wink*

So I might buy a Nikon one day... but if I stick with Canon, look out, Nikon, the feud continues! (I'm the daughter of a retired lawyer, so I've mastered the art of switching sides of an argument and leaving you feeling dizzy. Maybe you'll even question why we argued in the first place.).(

I have some wonderful lenses, too - these two zooms pictured - an 18-55mm (the kit lens) and a 28-135mm - in addition to a prime 50mm 1.4. That awesome 50mm is on my camera at least 90% of the time, but I also use my 28-135mm pretty often. I haven't shot much with the kit lens since my fabulous parents bought me the other two as a graduation gift last spring, but I like the wide angle that I get with that 18mm.

I feel so blessed to be able to use these amazing tools to create the memories that God sends my way! It's been nearly two years, and I'm still in love with photography.

And there's one more thing I probably should mention. I name my stuff. I don't talk to it, okay? I just... name my... stuff. It sounds weird, but it's not. Oh, so you want to know their names? I shouldn't tell you because I know I'll be embarrassed by this later. But I guess that you deserve to know, now that I've gone and made ya'll curious. *wink*

Fine. Here's the worst of it - I call my kit lens (the 18-55mm) Catherine. I was going to call it Kitty, but I thought that wasn't creative enough. Whatever. I call my 28-135mm Dan. Don't ask me why... it just came out. Moving on... my 50mm 1.4 is Pep.

And I call my camera (*insert nervous chuckle*)... Darcy. Just plain old Darcy. My sister came up with that. I don't like it at all, but I can't seem to change it's name, no matter how hard I try... it always just looks like a Darcy! Many of my dear friends and family have been subjected to Darcy's obnoxious click at least a hundred times, but I tend to think that he has a good personality.

Sooo... who - er, er, I mean - what do you shoot with?

much love!!
♥

February is For...

2011-02-17T11:02:00.000-08:00

Silly sisters...

A special (rare!) orange soda...

(or cream soda, if you prefer)

Reflections in your little sister's birthday balloons...

What's been going on in your February?

Senior Portraits 2011 | Washington Lifestyle & Portrait Photography

2011-02-15T13:20:00.000-08:00

Seniors, it's that time of year! These prices will last through May 15, and my "refer a friend" special will be going until April 15. If you're interested, and in my area, shoot me an email and I can fill you in on all the details. =)

much love!

Hannah

A Little Bit of Love | Personal

2011-02-12T12:22:00.000-08:00

"I'd rather have roses on my

table than diamonds on my neck."
Emma Goldman

I am a summer person. Now, ya'll are probably really tired of me saying that. But it's true! I can't stand being cold, I don't like to wear socks, and I'm a relatively terrible skier. (I have yet to try breaking my neck snowboarding...) I like my tea iced, snow down the neck is the most painful experience I've ever had, and driving on ice is... tricky.

So I try to keep summer in the house year round. I just went out and bought a new pair of flipflops (haha!). I get out the tanning lotion every once in a while just to get a whiff of the sunshine. I'm about to make another pair of cutoffs from some torn-up "farm" jeans.

And I bought myself some roses.

Now, don't go laughing, okay? This has nothing to do with Valentine's Day or anything. (well... it kind of does, seeing as I was in the grocery store and saw all their lovely bouquets that were on sale for the weekend...) My Mom was in the store with me and we decided that we needed a little bit of summer to take home with us.

I was reading 1 Corinthians 13 yesterday morning, and when I saw those roses sitting in their lovely vase (begging to be photographed) I thought of what a beautiful picture they would make when paired with that chapter on love. God's dainty, sweet creation - a beautiful example of one of the many tiny, little ways He loves us - and the blessing of His everlasting Word.

Flowers are simple. Yet we rarely take the time to appreciate God's creativity in the small things. In our lifetimes, we see millions of examples of His little gifts, as well as the bigger ones. Yes, roses are one of the smaller gifts, but they're important because they're just one of the ways God shows us that He loves us.

So as I was taking these pictures... my mind started going on the Valentine's Day thing... and I went for a few art-sy, pretty, loveish shots.... *sly grin*

Plus a few stereotypical, definitely girlish... and possibly a little goofy... and very, very, very "roseish" shots.

And I lived happily ever after... with my beautiful reminder of summer on my table, God's precious words in my heart, and the blessing of one of His many tiny gifts.

much love!!
♥

Brownies & God | Personal

2011-02-06T09:36:00.000-08:00

I like cookbooks. I love their thick, glossy pages of mouth-watering pictures and the instructions that are like a language only some can understand. I like taking what’s on that page and creating something that makes people gravitate towards the kitchen. I love having a busy kitchen. I guess that’ll come in handy when I’m a mom!!

Yesterday I made a batch of brownies. It was my first experience baking with baker’s chocolate, so that was a thrilling experience to say the least!! I had no idea how to chop the chocolate up into “fine pieces…” so I mostly just sawed away at it with a knife. Some of the chocolate flew off onto the floor or got beneath my fingernails. Eventually, I got everything shaved into little bits and melted in with the butter. =)

It was hard work, but it was more than well worth it. Those brownies. Oh, they are heavenly. I’m pretty picky about my chocolate, but you have to know it - these are just completely amazing. The difference between these brownies and brownies you make from a box is like the difference between night and day. Once you’ve tried these, you’ll never want to eat another “box brownie” again.

Never.

As I sat at the kitchen table, enjoying my warm, homemade brownie with fresh milk, I was reminded of a similarity between this brownie experience and our experience with God. If you think that sounds far fetched, hang on a minute!

Box brownies are quick, easy, and accessible. You don’t need to know how to mince baker’s chocolate or even mix flour, baking soda, and salt. It’s easy. And come to think of it, it’s not a bad result. They taste pretty close to good, as a matter of fact.

It’s not until you’ve had the real thing that you notice a difference. Once you experience the flavor and taste of an honest-to-goodness, made from scratch, rich, chocolaty brownie, you can easily see which is the better of the two. But it’s a whole lot harder to actually get that special treat. It takes effort and time. It’s not instant gratification any more, it’s actually work.

That’s the way it is with our relationship with the Lord. Many of us are content to live with half-hearted, quick, easy contact with Him. We don’t want to invest time and effort in something we can’t see or touch. It’s hard to work on something so intangible when there’s so much more to distract us in this busy, crazy world, so we settle for less than His best. It still “tastes” pretty good. We live like Christians most of the time, but there’s still a trace of the world in our behavior. It looks great on the outside, but inside there’s something fake about it. We can tell that there could be more, but we’re not willing to try.

When we finally realize that there’s more to this “God thing” than a boxed relationship, it’s the first step in drawing closer to him. So we open the Book. We read the instructions. We spend time in the kitchen, preparing our hearts for the experience with Him. It’s frustrating sometimes. It’s hard to get the time to stand in the kitchen and work at it, and it’s really hard to get all the ingredients together.

But when we finally do, it’s amazing. When we get that batch through the oven and we finally sit down with God to enjoy a moment of just living in Him, we have a joy like never before!! It’s a genuine peace, an authentic happiness, and we can’t get it anywhere else. Only in His presence do we fully realize how great He is, and what He can do through us. We get a taste of what our lives can be like if we only listen to Him.

When we finally experience the honest-to-goodness, made from scratch glory that comes with a life fully devoted to Him, we never want to go back.

Who can weigh the value of knowing you?
Who can judge the worth of who you are?
Who can count the blessings of loving you?
Who can say just how great you are?

Lord, you are more precious than silver.
Lord, you are more costly than gold.
Lord, you are more beautiful than diamonds,
And nothing I desire compares with you.
.

-- Lynn DeShazo, More Precious Than Silver

What I Like... | Personal

2011-02-02T12:21:00.000-08:00

“Enthusiasm is excitement with inspiration, motivation, and a pinch of creativity.” -- Bo Bennett

I recently put up my very own "inspiration board." Basically all it is is a pile of pictures, quotes, magazine clippings, words, verses, colors, fabrics, textures, and... other stuff... that inspires me. I really want to get my photography business going this year. What's up on that inspiration board is what I admire in other people's photography. Styles I like. It's the things that I want to see in my own work.

Sunlight. Love. Clean white. Laughter. The beach. The wide open country. Things that are pretty. Stylish. Classy, yet modern. Casual.

I'm working on my branding this year. (for all of you who haven't got an idea of what branding is... like I didn't till a few months ago... it's basically what your business is. Your very own distinctive style.)

So here's a sneak peak at my inspiration board for you to enjoy!
.

I really, really, really, really like white. It is so a color.

Sunsets always take my breath away. God is awesome, don't you think?

Chocolate.

Fred and Ginger were the only real dancers. Ever.

Couples in love are the cutest thing to photograph!

Tennis & volleyball = fabulous. (yes, sports do inspire my photography. especially sports I can play!)

I dream about living on the beach again. Waves are my favorite sound in the whole wide world.

Friends.

But I love the clean air of the country.

Do I really have to say it? Flipflops.

Oh, and one more thing.

I love photography.

ps... check out some of my favorite things - some of the creators of the artwork featured on my board. Amanda Suanne. Harwell Photography. The Wedding Chicks. Katie Daisy. Clark Little. Aeropostale. Lands End. Kristen Leigh. Country Living.

One more tiny thing. If your name is not on the above list and you see your work on my inspiration board and don't want it to be there, just drop me an email. I'll respect your wishes and tear up your picture into tiny little bits. Either that or I'll add your name to my list so you get proper credit. Basically, I want you to know that I'm definitely not stealing your work. Definitely. I've had that happen to me. Not good.

Little Girl

2011-01-27T14:34:00.000-08:00

"This is the story of a girl.
I absolutely love her... and when she smiles."
nine days
.

She's going to be nine years old.
.

And I can't believe it.
.

Just one day ago she was a baby. A tiny precious little thing with huge brown eyes and a deep chuckle and round little toes.
.

Now she's nearly a big girl! It's hard for me to believe. She has tea with the queen, she sits in the throne room of her pink, sparkling castle. She rides the bucking bronco at the rodeo. She lets her shining hair down from her tall tower. She rides in the Pony Express.
.

I don't want to let any time go by without enjoying her as a little girl. She's only small for today... I know that in the blink of an eye, she'll grow again, and I'll miss the little lady she was before.
.

So I want her imagination to run wild. I want her to love to live every minute of this life! I want her to be pink, sweet, tough, and ready for anything.
.

I want to be the best big sister this big girl could ever want.

A Girl & Her Camera

2011-01-15T12:06:00.000-08:00

"When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence."
-- Ansel Adams
.

"A great photograph is a full expression of what one feels about what is being photographed in the deepest sense, and is, thereby, a true expression of what one feels about life in its entirety."
-- Ansel Adams
.

"You don't take a photograph. You ask, quietly, to borrow it."
--Author Unknown
.

"There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer."
-- Ansel Adams

Photography is a journey. It's special. There's nothing in the world quite like it.
.

I don't have a real business (yet!). Oh, I've worked photography jobs before and I've been paid to click that shutter button. And I loved every second!!
.

I take pictures just for fun. For the thrill of it.

And so I can bore you with more self-portraits here on the blog. Really, there have been a superfluity of self-portraits on here... tons of me... but it's my face, and it's always there... so that's what I take pictures of!
.

Why? Because I love it!

But I can't tell you why I love it.

I love it somewhere inside the joy of capturing people in love. The magic of a genuine smile. The solid click of the button that means you're catching a moment in time and preserving it forever.
.

I love it because I don't know why I like taking pictures. It's a mystery...

But what's no mystery is that it's the weekend... so happy Saturday from your totally makeup-less, messy haired, goofy faced photographer friend.

much love!
♥

Fresh... Again.

2011-01-09T22:03:00.000-08:00

Not again. It can't be.

Oh, yes. It's true.

Seriously?

Yup. I did it again.

Redesigned the blog. AGAIN!?

If I had a penny for every time I redesigned this blog, would I be a millionaire yet? Check the accounts. Oh. Only $999,999.99, you say? Not quite.

Let's just attribute it to the fact that I'm a Navy kid. I like to move, okay? I like change. (usually.) I love the smell of clean paint. I love floor maps. I like the sound of cardboard boxes as they slide on top of each other. New places are awesome. I like sitting on the bare floor of an empty house, eating pizza - tired and dusty after a day of packing tape and rustling paper. I love road trips. Airports thrill me.

And I like the word fresh. And the word new.

And yes I am trying to change the subject. The fact is that I just redesigned my blog... again. Even though I'm not really, physically moving from Washington any time soon. I'm just kicking out the old blog design... a fresh one for the new year!!

Sooooo... what do you think?!

Okay, so even though some of you are rolling your eyes at my fickle attitude towards the design of this blog... (even though it is mine, and the only Farmgirl in Flipflops on the world wide web... *insert pathetic sniff*...) I will dare to wish you good night!! And I will even dare... to say...

much love!
♥
.

52 Weeks | A Challenge

2011-01-08T10:33:00.000-08:00

Stereotypical? Maybe.

But I'm one of those people who loves a challenge. So (stereotypical or not) here it is. Focus 52 is a project that inspires photographers to take at least one picture each week. Then, each weekend, we'll upload our projects onto Flickr.

Or... onto a blog. Or both!

Follow the blog. Or the flickr.

I hope that I'll be able to keep them both going all year. Like I said... this is a challenge, right? So maybe I'll have to make it work. Life is going to get complicated (very complicated!) this year. Which is why I picked a 52 project instead of a 365. Or a 730. Or a 100. Or whatever.

Trust me, I'll take thousands of pictures. But I don't want to spend such a huge chunk of time worrying about my daily picture and chewing my nails over not getting it uploaded before midnight. I want to do really important things this year, things that matter. Don't get me wrong, photography matters to me. A lot. But personally, I think that a 365 isn't the best use of my time or skills. Besides, I want to glorify the Lord in everything I do, and, for me? I think a 365 would draw more attention to me than it would to Him. And... there are only so many hours in a day.

SO!! Here's my picture for the first week!

much love!
♥

"Time is free, but it's priceless. You can't own it, but you can use it. You can't keep it, but you can spend it. Once you've lost it you can never get it back.”
-- Harvery McKay

One Word

2010-12-31T10:19:00.000-08:00

.
“For last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice.”
T. S. Eliot

New Year's resolutions can get people down easily. Many people think that if you don't have a list of 50 things you're going to do or not do that year, you're not intellectual or whatever. Yet six weeks later, we've forgotten what the list even says, let alone done anything. I do this year after year, and although sometimes I'm successful with some of my resolutions, there are, without doubt, more than half left undone.

This year, I'm looking for a solution. And I think I've found it. It wasn't my idea... I heard about it from another photog. But I'm going to jump on in with everyone else who's doing this! Why don't you try, too?

It's called One Word.

That's all. Just one word that you're going to live by in 2011. Prayerfully consider which word the Lord may be showing you for this year. Though it may in fact be tougher than point-by-point, practical to-do lists, I'm ready for the challenge. Maybe I'll share my word with you... maybe I won't! =)

But one thing I will share is this. A friend posted something on Facebook that I want to share here. "Describe your 2010 in one word."

Mine?

New.

I graduated from high school. A new chapter of life. I got some photography jobs. A new business. I started teaching piano lessons. I made some new decisions. Although I'm finishing a season of life, I feel more like I'm starting.

With that in mind as the clock turns over this evening, here's to a fabulous celebration of another season of life! Happy new year!!

♥ I Love Light!

2010-12-30T16:33:00.000-08:00

I'm a sunshine kind of person. I can't stand when it's rainy for days and days and days on end. I think that's one reason I became a photographer. We photogs have such an obsession with light. How many times have I wished that I had my camera with me so I could get that "perfect light" moment? Why do I squeal when I see a rainbow sunflare? Why do sunsets thrill me to my heart and soul?
.

So, naturally, I had to go outside and take some pictures of that gorgeous light while it lasted. So I bundled up (very well) and headed outside to brave the cold. I'm a huge chicken about cold weather. If it's below thirty... I'm inside at all costs.
.

But I had to get that light - sunshine is so precious this time of year!
.

So I did.
.

Do you know what the temperature was? Eleven.

And when I finally couldn't feel my fingers pressing the shutter button anymore, I headed inside. But the ache that my fingers got when they finally started to thaw was well worth it. It made me feel even better when a friend told me one of the pictures looked like a Gap ad!

..,..

However, I attribute her compliment more to the totally sweet friend that she is than to the fact that I look like a Gap model, haha!!

. ...

I wonder what the people thought when they drove by and saw me standing (knee deep) in our meadow smiling at myself. But the crazy looks and the frozen fingers were all well worth it for that bit of sunshine.
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So there's a little bit of me. I like sunshine. I don't like the cold. I'm so glad I'm a photographer, despite people and weather. It's a chance to get that perfect light... take a moment, forever capture it inside a hunk of metal and plastic, and transform it into something that will last. That's why I love my job.
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And now you know.

Rainbow flare! *squeal*

This is Christmas

2010-12-23T15:55:00.000-08:00

Hundreds of little tiny lights. The tangy taste of peppermint. Sharp pine needles and soft snowflakes. Familiar Christmas songs. Laughter. The rustle of wrapping paper and the giggles that always accompany a whisper or two. This is Christmas.
.

And for many people, that's all Christmas is. A bunch of family traditions, a hectic shopping trip or two, a whirlwind of a white Christmas, a tangle of ribbon and tape. In this crazy world, it's a rare person who stops to think about why we're doing this. Why we try share joy this time of year. Why we can go around with smiles on our faces. Why can some people have peace in the middle of an "over-commercialized" holiday season? They don't know.
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But I know.
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It's not solely in the light of the Christmas tree that I find peace. It isn't just the Christmas music. It's not in the decorations that my family pulls out year after year that I see the reason.
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It's in a manger.
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It's in the joy of giving of myself, like God did two thousand years ago, when the greatest Gift was given. He gave us a Savior - the most precious gift ever. No one could give any more than God did - His only Son - or any more than His Son gave for us. His life.
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It's our turn.
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Like the Wise Men who came to honor the birth of our Savior, it's time we gave our whole lives to Christ - surrendered our entire hearts to Him. It's the highest thing on His Christmas wish list. He wants us to return to Him - to the one who made us and gives us the gift our every breath. Every day is a gift. Every smile. Every precious moment.
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He gave it all to us because He loves us. No one can take that away from us. No one can make Him stop loving us - stop caring, trying, knocking on the door of our hearts. The true "magic" of Christmas is revealed when we stop and listen to Him. When we quit worrying about the presents or the traditions. When we turn our gaze away from whatever this crazy world is doing to make this important holiday season "politically correct."

When we return to the most humblest of beginnings we find nothing but a manger in a stable. The Child. A cold night in Bethlehem. A chorus of angels, a beautiful star. A virgin and a carpenter. Several emotional, enthusiastic shepherds. A weary donkey.

In other words... we find the greatest Gift ever. The most truly awesome thing ever done for all of us was a Baby. "The Son of the Most High." Jesus.

It's love.

Merry Christmas!!!!

Hannah
♥

Florida {Part Three}

2010-12-17T17:34:00.000-08:00

{part one} :: {part two}

The final post of Florida pictures is up for ya'll to enjoy!! I hope they bring a bit of summer

and sunshine to your wintery day. much love! ♥
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On one of our last days in Florida, we drove to the quaint inland town of Mount Dora.

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My southerness is showing... I love that awesome moss.

We stopped at an awesome bakery there - they had the most delicious treats!!

I thought the old cash register was SO cute.

Looks like a scene from the Andy Griffith Show or a Fred and Ginger movie!!

I love colors - so all the colors in Mount Dora were simply calling my name.

We have a very large sweet tooth in our family - (who knows, maybe there's more than one tooth in each of our heads) - anyway, we also had to stop by this cute little cupcake store that Keri simply loves!! She's hoping to start her own cupcake business one day. I told her I'd be more than willing to do all her promotional photography!! (she's a great cook by the way... something else that runs in the family. yes, we have strong family traits, why do you ask?)

And since we spent so much time with this cute guy, he deserves his own place on the internet! This is Miles.

And he's just the sweetest, cutest dog! I think we wore him out, haha!!

And these are also some very important feathered friends - Kelli... and... wait a minute. That's Sarah. (last time I checked Sarah wasn't a feathered friend.)

That's Charlie.

Charlie and Kelli. Awww.....

And this is the famous pool at which we spent countless hours (and plan to spend more in the future!!)

And by the end of our visit, we all had the most splendid Florida tans!

One last visit to the beach... =)

One last self-portrait on the beach...

I didn't even notice until after I'd uploaded these pictures that I had a bandaid on my toe. Whoops. That was because I wore shoes to small for myself and the toenails on my big toes turned purple. Then black, then blue. Then one of them got all red and... okay, I'll stop the medical description. =)

And I'll close with a picture of my awesome Mom (left) and Aunt Judy (right) - God has blessed me with an fabulous family!!! It's so nice to have an excuse to visit Florida - but my aunt, uncle, and cousins are far more than an excuse. They're the BEST!! Love ya!!

Florida {Part Two}

2010-12-11T09:15:00.000-08:00

{part one} :: {part three}.
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have a great weekend, enjoy the pictures... much love!
♥
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Flagler Beach is so beautiful! I could have spent hours shooting this bridge. We don't have colors like these all in one place out in Washington - brilliant blue, deep green, white, aqua, sandy brown... Well, maybe on the coast. IF it's sunny.

It's so awesome... mile after mile of this coastline is so beautiful!

While I was taking pictures of the bridge, my brother, Joe, found this starfish! It was so amazing. The last time I've touched a real starfish was when we lived on Guam eight years ago. I used to collect the blue sea creatures and then throw them all back into the water one by one. (starfish in Guam are sometimes blue - and they're amazing!!)

As I was taking pictures of the starfish, a lady walked up and asked to see it. She was impressed that we were able to find a live one - she said she'd lived in the area for nearly twenty years and hadn't ever seen one!

As you can see... we really had fun playing with the starfish! =)

The next day, we drove down to Cocoa Beach to go to the famous Ron Jon Surf Shop! Definitely a Florida tradition for our family.

I wonder what the people inside thought.... =)

I wish I could surf!! I'd get a brilliant kelley green longboard with a bright fuschia stripe. Just to be different.

After we'd enjoyed Ron Jon's for quite a bit, we headed over to Cocoa Beach... the technically "beach" part of it, anyway.

You should have seen all the seagulls! (heard them, too...)

That evening, we scouted out a UF store filled to the brim with blue and orange. Mom went to UF (University of Florida) so we're all fierce Gators.

And then we took an "explore," since it was dark... and warm... and breezy... and the idea of an oceanside stroll at midnight just seemed so right. I live for moments like that.

So much stuff in Florida is outside. Way awesome!! I practically live outside when the weather is good - and, as everyone knows - weather is always good in Florida!

And that concludes part two! Part three coming up!

Christmas Memories

2010-12-07T14:10:00.000-08:00

"Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home!"
-- Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers, 1836

Sparkling lights, Christmas music, the scent of the pine tree, cinnamon, and gingerbread; laughter, joy, cheerfully colored ornaments, rustling tissue paper, sweet holiday punch.

My family, gathered in our small living room, making more memories that will last beyond this holiday season.

Each year, we have a "Christmas Tree decorating party." It's one of those traditions families have... you know the kind. When the kids would mutiny if the tradition were discontinued (and we would).
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It's such a special time.
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It's definitely among our favorite days during the Christmas season!
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There's nothing quite like being home with everyone, having fun and enjoying an evening of Christmas tree decorating, carols, and food that we only get this time of year.

You want to know another tradition in my family?
.

Each of us children buys an ornament each year. It's something my Mom invented, so that when we go out on our own, we have something to start our holiday decoration collection. It's interesting looking at the ornaments we picked out over the years.
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The small teddy bear from my first Christmas. My Cinderella's castle, the ornament I picked out when I was eight. The brilliant blue star I got when I was eleven, because it looked like the American Girl star. From when I was thirteen, the blown-glass ice skate, commemorative of all the hours I spent on the pond in Newport. And last year's - a sparkly fiddle that I just couldn't resist.
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(besides, I play fiddle. so it really does make sense.)
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Yes, Christmas is a time to be home. Where you can relive the memories. Make new memories. Be a kid again. My family has always made the holidays about other people, and we continue to laugh, love, share, and enjoy the season. I don't think I could live without Christmas! It's so awesome to be able to share the love of Christ during this special time of year.

I hope you have a fabulous Christmas season - filled with love, cheer, sparkles, gingerbread, music, laughter, and family.

Hugs!
♥

Florida {Part One}

2010-12-05T13:28:00.001-08:00

{part two} :: {part three}

It really is one and a half months afterwards. I'm back in Washington. And now it's the depths of winter. BUT. I am posting the Florida pictures!! Finally.

My aunt and uncle are the awesomest ever! My siblings, Mom, and I enjoyed over a week of Florida fun at their house - and we definitely can't wait to visit again! My uncle even let us ride on his motorcycle with him (probably one of the highlights of Sarah's vacation!).

The definite highlight of my vacation was being by the ocean again. I didn't realize how much I missed it until I was back again! Just the taste of the salt, the sound of the waves, the feel of the breeze, the warmth of the sand... I would have been content to sit on the beach every single hour of every single day we were there.

Through no fault of my own, saltwater runs in my veins. Seriously..

And the same can be said for all my siblings!

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I love the pull of the tide... the tickle of the sand under my feet... the sun on my face.

Ahhh...

The colors are SO beautiful. God made so many gorgeous shades and tones... and all my favorites are found in the ocean.

We brought home about two tons of shells!

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My Mama and me. Florida girls.

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And complementing the gorgeous colors are the millions of textures. Smooth, gritty, ridged, cool, slippery... I love them all. =)

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Sandcastles are a staple of beach vacations.

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Sandy toes... You didn't seriously think that I could get through Florida pictures without at least one picture of my feet? Seriously? Oh, if you thought that, you obviously don't know me.

Stand by. More to come.

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Just to prove I was there...

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And as the shadows would grow longer each afternoon...

We would head home to the pool to relax and have dinner!!

See what I said about my feet, see, see?

.

One night we went to the most adorable little ice cream shop. What a dream that would be - owning a tiny ice cream shop in a tiny beach town in Florida! Wow.

Afterwards, we walked down by Flagler Peir. It's a simply beautiful spot!

I'd recently heard how to make those lights really sparkle in scenic pictures - use a smaller aperature! I shot this at only f/10.0, shutter 30.0s, ISO800. You can see how the noise is kinda bad... just wait until I get that Canon 7d one day!

Annnddd... I believe I'll stop there. Part two will come in a few days.

I hope.

♥

My Thanksgiving

2010-11-27T15:20:00.000-08:00

I hope ya'll had a happy, happy, happy Thanksgiving Day! This year brought back many great memories, some of which I share with great friends who read this blog! I've enjoyed Thanksgiving celebrations all over the world - and all 17 of my Thanksgivings have been different. But each have been so special.

My family always makes it special. No matter where we were or what the weather was like, it was always Thanksgiving. Always some of the same traditions.

This Thanksgiving may have been the last that we'll share as just a family. I might be off at college next year on the other side of the country... and then two years later, my younger sister will leave for college also. By the time we're done, who knows? There may be some in-laws and even nieces and nephews to join us at our table.

It's a bittersweet thought - that this is perhaps the "last" Thanksgiving. Kids grow up. I guess that's what my family is doing now! It's kind of sad... But it's also a very exciting and joyous time for our family! New things, changes... they have to come sometime. And we're all young. So they're coming now.

And gathered around our table, we looked at each other and realized just how special everyone there was. I love my family so much. And I'm so grateful they're in my life! God gave me the perfect family.

Well..... not perfect. But perfect for me. =)

We know how to have fun... this is a typical "P family" party.

Oh, I am going to be SO dead for putting these pictures on the internet.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T09:36:00.000-08:00

"Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men; but be careful that you do not take the day, and leave out the gratitude."
-- E.P. Powell

"Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds. "
-- Theodore Roosevelt
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Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope ya'll have a marvellous day. Lots of good food, laughter, a football game... But more than that - I hope you enjoy a memorable time of family, friends, and thankfulness to the Lord who gave it all to you!

Thou hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more, - a grateful heart;
Not thankful when it pleaseth me,
As if Thy blessings had spare days,
But such a heart whose pulse may be Thy praise.
--George Herbert

p.s. - yes, that picture is old... it's not your imagination. I did just post pictures of our snow-covered "winter wonderland!" But I thought fall leaves were more applicable to Thanksgiving than snowflakes.
♥

First Snow

2010-11-21T19:12:00.000-08:00

The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of a world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found?
--J.B. Priestley
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I'm actually glad to see the snow.

It was late this year.

I love the sunshine and warm weather. And I love the snow.

It's that time in between that I dislike... when it's not fall and it's not winter. It's just gray. And brown.
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But then it snows.
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And instead of brown, the world is clean... and fresh...
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And magical. All over again.

Happy Veteran's Day

2010-11-11T20:40:00.000-08:00

"We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude."
Cynthia Ozick

This is for my family - Dad, Mom, Grandpa, Pop-pop - and for all of you who have served our country. Growing up a military child, I took it for granted that I was raised to appreciate your service to our country. Now that I'm older, I'm able to realize the depth of the meaning behind those two words. Thank you!!

Keri & George | Just Married | Ormond Beach, FL

2010-11-09T07:56:00.000-08:00

And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times
It's you, it's you, you make me sing.
You're every line, you're every word, you're everything.
You're every song, and I sing along.
'Cause you're my everything.
Yeah, yeah.
Michael Buble, Everything

A few days after Keri & George's reception, Keri, George, and I (and a handy assistant, my brother Joe) headed down to a little park by the Intercoastal for some "just-married" portraits.
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Keri and George are so cute together. And so perfect for each other.
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And they were so brave to book me! Me, their 17-year-old, amateur photographer cousin!
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Keri thought it would be fun if they got in the fountain for a few pictures! Anything Keri says goes, so of course I agreed! I'm really glad my cousins are such good sports (not to mention natural models!) because the pictures overflowed with cuteness and turned out really well!!
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Joe and George were looking at each other in total bewilderment... what are these crazy girls thinking of? But being the well-brough-up gentlemen that they are, they didn't say anything. Just let Keri and me have our way.
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Seriously - I wish every one of you could meet them. You know, if I ever need to host a photography workshop or whatever? I'm going to ask them to come out and be my models. They're that fabulous to have as relatives!

And I was in heaven with the lovely sunset lighting.
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George will do anything for Keri. Anything at all. So when she asked him to climb a tree, he did! I thought it was awesome.

It was a good thing I brought Joe along, since there was a hedge that was slightly too tall right in the way. And I'm not short! At 5' 9", I'm the tallest of all my sisters. But it's a good thing that my farm-boy, football-playing, Southern gentleman brother is tall and strong - since that tall hedge was just too tall for this tall girl! So he put me on his shoulders so I could see over that hedge and capture Keri and George's sweet smiles on the other side!

I think I'll just pack him into my camera bag and lug him around to all my shooting engagements in case I need to see over any more hedges. You never know.
.

And we finished up the evening by meeting the rest of the family at Outback for dinner! Perfection.

Hugs!
♥

Keri & George | Wedding Reception | Flagler Beach, FL

2010-11-02T09:33:00.000-07:00

"With sweet love and devotion deeply touching my emotion
I want to stop and thank you baby; I just want to stop and thank you baby
How sweet it is to be loved by you; How sweet it is to be loved by you."
James Taylor, How Sweet it Is
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Sometimes, I like being volunteered to do things. (I dislike being harangued into predicaments. That's a different story.) But when someone thinks highly enough of your abilities to even think about telling someone else about your work... it's awesome.

Of course, it doesn't reeeeaaallllyyy count when it's your own mom. And aunt. And cousin.

So it wound up that I'd photograph my cousin's wedding reception in Florida. Sheeeessshhh. You don't have to ask me. No questions. I'll do it!! Not only do I love working... love my job... love my cousin... love Florida... I also love doing things for people. Perfect opportunity to do all five!
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Besides, my family is the most wonderful ever. They made it well worth it. Thank you, everyone!! (George, you married into the right family...)

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Let's get this show on the road!

Keri did all the decorations herself. They were fabulous!!

Keri and George were married in a small, quiet ceremony on October 10 - yep, that's right! 10-10-10! How cool is that? Since only their family members were there for the ceremony, they threw a big "partay" (to use my cousin Kurt's famous word) at their home a few weeks later!

I loved the colors - red and black! How perfect! How awesome! How Keri! Her whole party was SO Keri. And it was great. I'm all about a couple's big day being all about them - and this was Keri and George, all over.

Keri & George's adorable puppy, PacMan, was dressed in - get this - a tuxedo. It may sound weird, but it was actually so. cute. I love his faces!!

Spoiled? A little...

Good looks run in the family. Haha!!

By the way, those are my good-looking relations - my cousins, Kurt and Keri, my Aunt Judy (doesn't she look like Mom?), and my Uncle Mike.

I did a few portraits with Keri and George during the party - aren't they cute?!

This one is preeeeetttttyyy close to my favorite...

But I have to say this is my definite fave!!!
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Keri was so funny about how "un-traditional" her wedding reception was going to be. She said the only two traditional things she was going to do was cut the cake and throw the bouquet.

Okay, now that I've let you know how un-traditional Keri and George's party was... you're prepared, right? Instead of dancing, their guests played Wii. Even their photographer tried her hand at it!! (sad to say... she wasn't very good.)

I'm serious! It was actually really cool - and made for some fun memories!
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Thanks for the awesome evening Keri and George!! You guys are awesome. =) Your cd is leaving Washington today or tomorrow!!

.
Hugs!
♥

Important Things

2010-10-31T17:31:00.000-07:00

"Everything changed the day she figured out there was exactly enough time for the important things in her life."
-- Story People

I'm sorry, little neglected blog. (not really) I just spent ten of the most awesome kind of days at the beach. Walking on the sand, laying in the sun, playing in the waves, feeling the wind, smelling the sun tan oil. It was like summer... revisited.
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To be more exact, it was ten days with relatives in Florida. Having family in Florida is the most awesome excuse to visit one of the most fabulous places on earth! I *love* Florida. I love vacations... I LOVE the beach.

Am I being freehanded with the "I loves?" I think not.

Saltwater runs in my veins.

How did I end up in eastern Washington again?

However, I did more than play - this was a productive trip too! Two photography jobs... not to mention a billion photographic oportunities... which I wholeheartedly went ahead and took. So you all should know that means several upcoming posts!

It was really hard coming back to rainy Washington state after those sunny, warm, and balmy days in Florida - so posting these pictures will be like a breath of fresh air for me!

I could have blogged from Florida. But I spent every waking moment breathing the beach, enjoying my family, resting from life - figuring out the important things. And making the most of the gifts God's given to me! (such as vacations in Florida....)

The afternoons spent by the pool... the mornings we walked on the beach... the evenings of laugher, friendship, and family.

The sun... the salt... the breeze... the sound of the waves.

I live for things like that.

Isn't God good!?

Oooohhh....

♥

The B Family | WA Family Photography

2010-10-17T15:09:00.000-07:00

-
The rain finally cleared, and on a gorgeous, sunny Friday afternoon, I enjoyed shooting a session with the awesome B family! My second family session was a ton of fun - the Bs are such a nice, laid-back, smiling family whom my family met at church. Not to mention practically natural models!! But I'll let the pictures speak for me.

Of course, we started out with the traditional family portraits...

Then we got good and creative!! Oh, yes, did I mention that they play music, too?

Mrs. Blain had the fantastic idea of a picture with all the animals! It turned out really cute, I think.

Dolly was a little puzzled...

Then we started on some individual portraits... I'll introduce the kids in age order, starting with the "baby..."

This is Peyton. Or PJ, if you prefer. She's quite the little monkey... and a sweetheart with a huge smile!! If she realizes that there's a nice face behind that camera and maybe the photographer isn't so strange after all! (ps - kittens help a GREAT deal!!)

This is Brayden - the only boy with a family of five sisters!! He's a cute little dude... don't tell him I said that!! He wanted to take his picture in a tree - his mom said he's been talking about it all day! =)

This is Kaitlyn. She's such a sweetie, too - in fact, the whole family is!

She loves her cats... and they love her!

This is Savnnah - the banjo player of the family band!

I think Mr. B officially declared me crazy when he saw his daughters laying on the lawn with their instruments and me taking pictures of them!! I think he'll be pleased when he sees the results, though... =)

Savannah is so natural in front of the camera - she did everything I told her to do so wonderfully!!!

Oh... the light was amazing!!

This is Dakota... or Cody, if you prefer. Oh, yes - and Paisley. Cody is such an animal person - so compassionate and caring - but spunky enough to be a horse trainer!

And she plays the fiddle. I like people who do what I do. =)

And here's Lacey - the oldest. She's a natural in front of the camera, too - are you tired of me saying that yet? But it's so true!!!

And she's the family band's guitarist - I had fun "playing" with the girl's different instruments... only in a totally different way than they do!!!

Sisters... =)
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Such silly, sweet, funny, awesome, gorgeous, adorable girls!!!

Mr. and Mrs. B are so cute together!! I love couples!!

Hope you enjoyed the pictures... sorry it was such a long post!! When I went through the pictures and starred them in Picasa to decide which ones to post, there were 94!!! So I cut down a bit... =)

Hugs!

Hannah
♥

I Simply Love Travelling...

2010-10-12T12:20:00.001-07:00

-
"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page."
-- Saint Augstine
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♥

Any guesses as to where I'm going...?

I'm really excited about this trip - because what originally started out as just a vacation has ended up in my possibly booking a few shoots with family and/or friends!! So I'm going to make this a "constructive vacation..." =)

I'll post when I get home! And maybe before I leave... depends on if this weather let hold up for an awesome family shoot we're trying to schedule!

oh yes. this was front-page explored on flickr! happiness!

Hello, Autumn...

2010-09-30T13:51:00.000-07:00

Hearing crisp leaves crunching under your feet. A gentle wind in the treetops. Splashing rain. Kids laughing as they play in big piles of leaves on the lawn.

The cozy feeling of soft, warm sweaters. A cold breeze in your hair. The late afternoon sun on your face. Prickly, golden straw.

The mysterious, exciting smell of new books. Clear country air. Wet leaves.

Tasting a fresh, crisp apple. Spicy cinnamon. Warm homemade pie with melting vanilla ice cream.

The brilliant blue sky reflecting in the bluer water. Gorgeously colored the leaves of all shapes and sizes. Autumn flowers. A huge, full moon and a cloudless sky full of bright stars.
~

HELLO, AUTUMN!!
♥

Northeast Washington Fair 2010

2010-09-27T11:47:00.000-07:00

Another sadly overdue set of pictures - fair weekend! The Northeast Washington Fair is among the biggest evens in the area. My mom and sister and I had the opportunity to volunteer again this year, which was pretty awesome. This year I didn't do performing arts, which meant that we didn't have to be at the fair all weekend long! (though I'm not denying I actually enjoyed performing...)

Here in Stevens County, we have a variety of exhibits - from baking, canning, photography, and quilting to chickens, cows, horses, and even tractors! You name it, you can probably show it in our fair. =)

I don't want to sound vain, but that's my picture! Judge's Choice... *shy grin*

The dairy barn has the cutest calves ever!! I wanted to steal this Jersey girl and take her home with me... even though I'm not all that partial to cows to begin with!!

And even our fair queen shows cows. In her tiara. How awesome is that?

The little kids with their prizes - so cute and so proud of themselves!!

And, for the third year running, Sarah has brought home the Grand Champion ribbon for her egg entry! Way to go, sis!!

What's a Steven's County event without horses?

This little one was so stinkin' cute - she knew I was taking picture of her and another girl warming up, and so every time she went by, she'd smile and wave. She knew what she was doing - because I submitted this picture to the newspaper and they published it!!

Another Stevens County tradition - the Engell Family! Aleah and Adam came up with a new trick - two kids on one fiddle. They were awesome!!

What's a P family adventure without ice cream?!

And they all lived happily ever after....
~

Hugs!
Hannah
♥

Learning New Things

2010-09-24T18:04:00.000-07:00

Today I had a revelation, so to speak. You know what? Raw is not the Loch Ness Monster, after all!! Before I got Lightroom 3 (this is a looonnnggg time ago) I tried shooting in Raw. It was a pain, seriously - since I had to manually convert every. single. file. into jpeg before I could even edit it.

Then this week I was reading Scott Kelby's photography books. I try to learn new things all the time, with the theory that, even if it takes a few tries, I will get this photography thing down one day!! I was getting bored with my camera... almost. I wanted to try something drastically new - like when I first learned how to set shutter speed and aperature by myself, and when I first got the hang of ISO.
~

Or when I figured out that you have to take the lens cap off before you shoot.

I kid, I kid.

So you know what? I looked for something somewhere on my camera where I had no. clue. what was going on, and I stumbled across the raw setting. I knew it was there, of course, so it didn't exactly fit the criteria of "no clue." But I was like, "hmmm... what can I do with this?"

I shot a bunch of self-portraits into my Mom's mirror in Raw, and opened them up in Lightroom. You know how you feel ecstatic when you realize some magic is at your fingertips? Oh, it was awesome!!

To make a long story short... I'll be hard pressed to find a good reason to shoot jpeg again.

Much love!!
Hannah
♥

Church Softball

2010-09-19T15:38:00.000-07:00

I was looking through these pictures this afternoon, starring the ones I wanted to post, when I happened to look down at the date I took them. August 8? You've got to be kidding! Summer was in full swing then, and today it's gray and rainy outside my window - the kind of chilly day when you know fall is right around the corner. (September 22!) Summer is my favorite season - hands down. All the good stuff happens in the summer. Softball, sunshine, flipflops, ice cream.

But don't get me wrong - I love the other seasons too!! With fall comes cozy rainy days, colored leaves, fun sweaters, and harvest time. And during the winter - the holidays! So today was kind of a "summer's over, but it's okay" moment for me. God created each season, and I'm determined to enjoy them all to the fullest!

Much love!
Hannah
♥

Our church gets together once in a while for sports. Though we have a small church, we've all got plenty of family and friends to bring to our games, which makes for a lot of fun - as well as a lot of good, plain "who are you related to, again?" questions.

Oh, and some of us are better than others at certain sports... ahem, ahem. Hence the practice, practice, practice thing comes into play again.

And everyone, from the grandparents down to the littles, loves a good game of softball!

Yes, some of us do wear flipflops to play softball. Meaning myself. =)

(however, I did see Sarah out there with no shoes on at all...)

Lacey, Rebekah, and Amy - gorgeous girls and such fabulous players!

Bottom of the ninth, and the pressure's on... =)

Two outfielders who didn't mind having their picture taken... (you know, I like people like that. wonder if that's why it's my job...)

And we played until the sun set - then we lived happily ever after. =) With very few minor injuries...

My Brother | Anytime

2010-09-14T10:30:00.000-07:00

I don't think I've introduced Joe to you yet. He's popped up in various posts, and you've seen his face in some family pictures - but he's one guy that deserves his own place on my blog. I've done photoshoots of all my sisters, and so it was high time I did one of Joe. Besides, I needed pictures of a guy to expand my portfolio!

He's 21, an EMT working for the sheriff's ambulance service, and drives a lovely red pickup truck. He's currently getting a degree from a distance college. He plays the piano and sings marvellously. And he's a pretty handsome dude. Good looks run in the family, you know.

Joe, are you glad that I'm putting your entire biography on here? =)

Working with a guy was so much different than working with girls - even if he is my brother and I can yell at him if he's being difficult. Just kidding. But, seriously - I enjoyed it.

And I'm pretty sure he did, too... considering how we laughed and giggled and I tried to focus the camera on his constantly moving self - hyperactive, you can call him.

Chip would NOT cooperate. At all. Really, I think he looked everywhere except at the camera. I don't think I have a single picture of that dog looking directly at the camera!

And even though he's still not looking, I posted it anyway. =)

And you should know by now that my family can be pretty crazy. My Mom is not the only one that believe that Joe looks just like he did at five when he makes those goofy faces. I can't help but grin! And it might have been cruel of me to put them on here... but I think I know how to make it up. Chocolate chip cookies, anyone?
~
Thanks for letting me practice on you, Joe!! You're so much fun - I really enjoy all the time we spend together. You're my absolute favorite brother ever - I couldn't ask for a better one! I think you're one cool guy. Don't go off and leave us for some girl anytime soon, okay? Cuz I'd miss you. Really. =)
♥

The K Family | NE Family Photography

2010-09-09T10:48:00.000-07:00

Here it is - my first family shoot ever!! I feel really amateur, saying that.... =) I couldn't have asked for a better family, though. They are all so marvellous! I was absolutely thrilled to pieces when Mrs. K asked me to take some family pictures for them. Ummm... yes!!

And I knew that at least I would have fun, playing with this beautiful light!!

The older two children and my trusty assistant and I arrived earlier than Mr. and Mrs. K and the little boys. So I decided to start testing the light out on Lindsay and Chris! Chris, though, would have none of it, so I just took pictures of Lindsay. =) Which I was more than willing to do!

Oh, I wish you all could meet her!! She's just the most sweet, Godly, fun, awesome girl ever. I love you, Linds!!

And here's the rest of the family!! Lindsay is the oldest, then comes Chris, her "little" brother... ha ha ha... then Matt, and then Timothy, the baby-who's-not-such-a-baby any more.

They were so sweet and so patient with me! =)

I love my job - keeping little guys giggling the whole time is so. much. fun!!!!!! They're really the most adorable things on earth... I wanted to pack them both into my suitcase and take them home with me.

I try not to post two similar pictures like this... but I honestly could not decide which one Timothy looked cuter in!!

Mr. and Mrs. K.... they are so special! They put up with a ton of girly giggles, whispering, nail polish, and chocolate. But of course Mrs. K had to join us for the chocolate. (by the way, she makes the most d.e.l.i.c.i.o.u.s chocolate cake. Ever. Oooohhhhh....

The gorgeous ladies...

And the handsome gentlemen!

Such a guy thing. =)

You all don't know just how much fun I had being able to do this session with you! I'm so glad that you all were my first family shoot - my future clients will have to try really hard to outdo you guys. Thanks for everything!!

ps. I mailed your cd today! I hope you enjoy the rest of the pictures as much as you liked the preview I sent!! =)

Girlfriend Time!

2010-09-06T11:51:00.000-07:00

This will be a looonnnng post. Just so you know. =) But it sure was one fun, fun, fun week! Filled with giggles, pictures, girl fun, adventures, bible reading, music, pink, chick flicks, and late nights. And chocolate!!
~

I met Lindsay five years ago, when both our families lived in Newport, Rhode Island. Lindsay is totally fun, kind, gracious, and oh-so-sweet. Little 12-year-old me was just fascinated by big, grown-up Lindsay. Who was only two years older than me. =) In the five years I've known her, that wonderful friendship has only grown better!! Her family came to see us last summer, and, since we'd all had so much fun, Lindsay invited me and my older sister, Roberta, out to see her this summer.

Not much changed between last summer and a few weeks ago. I grew up a little, in between being barely 16 to 17 and a half. =) Just a little, though. I'm pretty much as tall as Lindsay - and a good two inches taller than Roberta! (okay, fine. an inch and a half.) But our friendship has stayed the same - only more fabulous, if that were possible! I came home afterwards, and there's no denying that I was saying, "That was one of the most fun weeks I've ever had!"

The K family and my family are practically related now that we've shared all those great moments... as well as goofy moments... embarrassing moments... bad hair moments... But you know what? I think that made it SO much more real! It's one thing to email and write someone for four years. It takes your friendship to a whole new level when they let you share their life for a week! So that week really was the "funnest" ever. I loved the whole thing. Thank you so much for the awesome time, Lindsay!! I love you so much!!

Lindsay and Roberta were the ones that got me hooked on big sunglasses in the first place. Evidenced by this picture.

We went looking/shopping at Village Pointe, a lovely little kind-of outdoor mall, if you will. We did actually buy a few things...

Yeah, I know that I'm posting a picture of the gorgeous flowers. No, I'm not crazy, I'm just a photographer.

One evening we went to "Jazz on the Green," a lovely concert given in a small park downtown. A really nice guy sitting behind us saw me trying to set up the camera on our cooler (since I neglected my tripod and left it stranded in Washington), and offered to take our picture. Needless to say, I was relieved. The cooler thing wouldn't have worked, anyway.

Izze and flipflops... how much better can you get? =)

Pink toes on the green lawn - it's a good thing that this city is pretty populated with photographers and artists. Otherwise I would have gotten some strange looks like I get at home. ~

Even big girls like the zoo! =) And Omaha's is really cool.

We wanted a picture on this bench, so I went up to a lady who had just finished taking her daughter's picture on said bench and asked, very politely, if she would take ours. She said sure, so I handed her my camera. I think the thing freaked her out! She said, "Whoa, are you sure you want me to use this thing?" (haha, what's a camera for?) I guess she'd never laid eyes on a dslr before, since mine is of the smaller sort and she thought it was big. Thank you, anyway, ma'am... whoever you are!

The zoo is such a marvellous place to see a lot of God's creation - and I think we saw it all! Except snakes. Right, Lindsay?

Oh, and they had a lovely aquarium. The penguins are SO cute!!

I think this picture is out of order... well, anyway. The escalator at the mall had a nice mirror on the side... prime for a self-portrait including all of us.

The Joslyn Art Museum was a lot of fun! Bummer that they wouldn't let you take pictures inside the exhibits, because I especially loved their gallery of "Landscapes from the Age of Impressionism." It was awesome. What was really funny was that all of us girls were drawn to the same sort of landscape - the ones that included the ocean! There's a beach girl in all of us....

I enjoyed playing with the light in this courtyard... and the girls were patient enough to wait for me!! =) Thank you!

They did let you take pictures in the hall. How nice of them, hum?

One of our picnic locations.

Linds said that Omaha was famous for their balls, so I had to take a picture of one. It's actually a pretty neat idea. The balls, I mean - not the picture.

I'm definitely not a star geography student, as I didn't realize that Omaha, Nebraska, was so close to Iowa! Right across the Missouri, in fact. I didn't recall ever being to Iowa (and it's my goal to one day go to every state) so Linds took us across the footbridge to Iowa - now I can saw I've been! Haha...

And here is real proof... =)

Afterwards, since we were so hot and sticky, Linds took us to this adorable little old-fashioned soda fountain. It was SO cute!! Not to mention delicious... and straight out of an old movie.

Until I'd been to Nebraska, I didn't realize that it was true - they grow a lot of corn there!

Okay, I'm going to throw a random self-portrait in here. I've been feeling left out, cuz I haven't posted many pictures of me. Mostly the ones I've taken... which would be of Lindsay and Roberta. And cornfields.

It was so much fun, playing the piano with Lindsay!! We played some duets... she practiced for church (she's a church pianist, like me! fun...)... and I played some Pirates of the Caribbean for her. The Ks, the Ps, and music go waaayyy back.

One evening, as we were sitting out on the porch painting our nails, this faint double rainbow appeared! It was sooo pretty... I didn't quite capture it as gorgeous as it was.

And while we were there, Lindsay got a new computer!! It was so much fun watching her open the box, squeal in excitement, name the computer, set it up, plug it in, and pick the new settings. Oh, and by the way... Dells are the best!! (Speaking from experience, here.)

Whenever girls get together, they have to paint something. (fingernails and toenails are the usual) Hot pink? What could be better?

And they have to play with each other's hair.

Which is lots of fun.

Oh, and this homemade pizza was just divine!!! I think I'm totally converted - I'll never eat frozen pizza. Again.

Lindsay, thanks for the marvellous week you gave us! It was so much fun, spending that precious time with you.

You are such a wonderful girl - I'm so thankful that God has placed you in my life! You've been such a blessing to me. I love you!! Hugs!!

And Mr. and Mrs. K, Chris, Matt, and Timothy... thanks for sharing your Lindsay with us! Thank you for letting us spend so much time with your sister and with you all - being friends with your family has been so much fun!! I love you guys!!

What's Important?

2010-08-27T10:41:00.000-07:00

Thursday started out as an ordinary work day. I got up early - we had to pick up six tons of hay before afternoon. Haying is a dirty, busy time. Alfalfa leaves, wind, dirt, and hair flying in your face, sweat dripping as you heft bales that weigh as much as 90 pounds into a trailer; only to unload it so you can stack it in the barn loft. It's good, hard work - frustrating at times, but still good. =) There's something satisfying about a loft filled with hay for the winter and something awesome about being tired, hot, and dirty because you worked hard to be that way.

We'd just arrived home with our second load and started to stack it in the loft when my brother (who's on the volunteer fire department) got a call on his pager. As fond as all twenty-one-year-olds are of excitement and catastrophe, he roared off in his new Ford pickup to a four-acre wildfire about five miles north of our home.

My 14-year-old sister Sarah, eight-year-old sister Abby, and I were left standing in the driveway with a trailer filled with 82 bales of hay, wondering how we were supposed to get all that stacked and put away by ourselves! But Sarah and I started right into it. Abby couldn't lift bales heavier than her, so she galloped around on her stick horse, hat askew, and shot at imaginary bandits with her plastic cowboy pistol (a result of watching The Magnificent Seven a few evenings before).

Mom and Roberta, my older sister, arrived home about 15 minutes later from an appointment in town (oh, good, more workers!). Mom asked if we had seen "the fire" while bringing the load of hay back. We said no, we'd missed it, but that's where Joe was at the moment. They couldn't believe we'd missed it! Apparently, there was a bunch of smoke and you could practically see the flames from the roadside (about a quarter mile from the actual fire).

About that time, we got a text from Joe - "Are you all ready to evacuate if you have to?" You can just imagine what questions flew!! "Will we really have to leave?" "What about the animals?" "What do you mean, 'If the wind changes'?" "Where's Dad?" "Where's Joe?" "I thought it was five miles away." "Where will we go?"

Mom was finally able to get a word in edgewise and convince us all to first empty the borrowed trailer of our hay and then drive and take a look at the fire. The wind was blowing towards the northeast - away from our farm. If it kept blowing that way, we'd be safe. The wind would have to totally change direction (head to the southwest) and hop the interstate in order to get to us. With gusts up to 40 miles per hour, the wind could easily blow that fire in our direction, and fast. A cold front was moving in, bringing with it the slight possibility of a wind change. We were praying like crazy!

After finishing the hay in record time, we hopped into the car to take a look at the fire. As we rounded a curve about three quarters of a mile away from our house, this is what we saw. You can see the source of the smoke in the center of the picture. The whole valley was filled with smoke, dust, and dirt kicked up by the strong winds. It didn't look too good, at this point!

We headed down the road a few more miles until we got to the highway. Down the highway a little ways you could see the billowing smoke more clearly. Several roads were blocked off and people were anxiously waiting to get back to their homes.

The fire was burning over a small ridge, so you couldn't actually see the flames - but there was plenty of smoke!! Helicopters flew back and forth to the river for water, and soon one of two fire planes in the whole state appeared.

To make a long, long, long story short - the Lord protected us. He kept the wind turned away from our home, and overnight, the fire was calmed slightly. The Department of Natural Resources had earlier called out every fire department in the county to help, but by the next morning, the fire had crossed the county line and all the fire departments were sent home again.

God protected my family and our home - but as of last night, we'd heard that 700 acres had burned. In a small town, news travels fast, but it can also get complicated - so far we've heard reports of anywhere from 2 to 4 to 20 homes burned. I guess we'll have to wait till the weekly newspaper comes out to get the real story!!

The fire was still going this morning, and so I don't know how much damage has been done yet. But you can keep those families in your prayers - as well as all the firefighters and relief workers here to help.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

But it makes you wonder - what would you take if you had to leave your home? What would happen if you weren't home when the evacuation warning came? What if you returned and your house was a total wreck, all your things gone?

I thought of all that on Thursday... and I am so thankful that the Lord was faithful to me and my family and kept us all safe!! He always provides... and you know what? He would even take care of us if our house burned down. If our things were lost. If we never had quite the life we had before. If we had to start all over.

Not one sparrow... =)

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work."

2 Corinthians 9:8

"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:19

My Latest...

2010-08-24T10:12:00.000-07:00

Guess what's sitting on my new white desk this very moment? And you can also guess what I'm typing, emailing, editing pictures, blogging, and playing on? And seriously enjoying right now?

That's right - a brand new (all mine!) Dell Inspiron 15 laptop computer!! Sweet.

I've been looking into getting a laptop for several months now. I've been praying, hoping, and researching. Finally, after a long time of waiting and crossing my fingers, the Lord provided this wonderful computer for me - everything I hoped for and more! 15-inch screen? Yep. 500gb harddrive? You know it. 4gb RAM? Of course!

So it's my my new, nameless friend - does anyone have a good name for it? Yes... I name my important things - such as my camera (Darcy - with no mr. Plain old Darcy is good enough for me.), my favorite lens (Pep), my fiddle (Carl Alexander).

A few posts I have to catch up on are.... the church softball game pictures, my vacation to Nebraska stuff, aaaaaand my first family photoshoot ever! But unfortunately, the old family computer caught a virus while everyone was away on vacation last week, and it had the softball pictures on it. Ahhhhhh!! So I'm praying those will be rescued... and since I hate posting things out of order, the Nebraska pictures and the first family shoot (both of which are safe and sound on my new computer) will have to wait until I've posted softball pictures.

Yes, there is such a thing as being tooooo perfectionist. =)

much love!

Hannah

At Lake Ellen

2010-08-03T10:29:00.000-07:00

On Sunday afternoon we decided to take an adventure and go out to Lake Ellen, which we had heard about but never seen. People told us, "Yeah, it's just across the river and up a little ways..." But everywhere is a long way from everywhere else in the country. So it was a long but beautiful drive down a winding dirt road one August afternoon. And the lake is lovely...

It's small, warm, quiet, and very blue... tucked away into the mountains and surrounded by green forest. And the perfect location for an impromptu photoshoot...

...complete with gorgeous light for portraits and several handy siblings for models!

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Okay, I might as well tell you right now - this first one is my absolute favorite from the whole shoot. Though of course she looked amazing the whole time.

Although Roberta was the only one who was willing.

So I took advantage of that, and had a lot of fun ordering her around.

☺

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With great results! Hey, I should order my older sister around more often!

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I couldn't decide which one I liked better...
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Roberta's the only girl in our family with those clear, green eyes. The rest of us girls have eyes that are warm brown, kind of like hot fudge. That's the way I like to think of it, anyhow...

And I think they're definitely her color, don't you? (by the way, I think you look like Daddy in this picture, Berta...)

Ah, now there are two!

Sarah lent us her adorable self for these pictures.
☺

And I started feeling left out, being on the other side of the lens and all...

Can two sister's feet look alike? Cuz I think ours do. Mine are the dark toes with the light pink, hers are the light toes with the dark pink.
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Thanks for being such a great sport, Roberta! I hope the pictures pass your inspection, because I sure enjoyed the awesome time we had together! And I'm rather pleased with the results, if I may say so myself.

♥

Cherry on Top

2010-07-31T20:36:00.000-07:00

It's those little things in life that make life so meaningful. The smiles. The stars and the butterflies. The hugs and the kisses. The seaglass collections. The cherries on top of a sundae... and the blogs of fabulous people. "That little bit extra..."

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Like Stephanie, the awesome photographer and blogger at Home on North Fillmore Street. She found me on flickr, and has had nothing but lovely things to say about my photography! Thank you so much for this thoughtful award, Stephanie; I really don't deserve all the things you said about me and my blog! Hugs!

The rules... of course we must abide by the rules!

1. Thank the person who awarded you. *check*

2. Post the award. *check*

3. List three things about yourself.

Before I'm 40, I want to start my own photography business, teach piano, and open a bookstore in our relatively small and totally classic American farm town. Which does not have a bookstore. And needs one. And which also could use a few more photographers and music teachers.
I love walking on the beach at sunset. It's so beautiful...
Yes, I wear purple nail polish sometimes, and I have a tan line where my flipflops go. ☺

4. Post a photo that you love... (there it is...)

Okay, finally, I must award five spectacular bloggers. Blogs that are just toooooo sweet. That have that "extra something." And they are as follows...

Lindsay -- who is just to sweet to believe.

Paige -- because she lives to be fabulous and inspire me with every picture and every sentence, and she also happens to be one of my best friends.

Sarah -- she's my sister, and is awesome, even though she threatens to close her blog and keeps her huge saddle in our small bedroom.

Hannah -- she's one awesome photographer and I love her name.

and that other Hannah -- who is sweetly, randomly fantastic. Oh, and I love her name, too.

much love, ya'll!!
♥

Chataqua 2010

2010-07-15T08:34:00.000-07:00

Sunshine, fun rides, cotton candy, family time, and good music. Bright colors, friends, picnic dinners, and big grins. Yes, this sounds like a summer evening at Chataqua! For one weekend in July, a town near us seems to double in size as people come from miles around for great entertainment, a small (but fun) carnival, that sugary summertime food, huckleberry lemonade, and local arts and crafts.

ps... you may remember this from last year. And, once again... I didn't know anything that I know now. About photography, that is.
But you know what? I realized it doesn't really matter! Even though those pictures aren't the best quality or whatever, they remind me of a fun afternoon I spent and the memories that were made.
However, I do hope my skills have improved. A *tiny* bit.

And, this year, I took advice from Jessica Shae and pulled out my camera just to click. The result was a bunch of fun pictures that will remind me of an awesome evening spent with family and friends. Not every picture was perfect. But it's capturing the memories that really counts, so who cares? I didn't!

My wonderfully awesome family! (minus Joe... but he joined us later)

Don't we look like we have fun?!

Well. We do.

And you know what? We know how to have fun with friends, too!

Once again, you may remember them (and the stage!) from last year. They were just as fabulous as ever. And more so.

You may realize that some of them in the picture aren't mine.

Aha, there they are. Those are Adam and Aleah. Practically family. =) And as cute as can be! Don't tell Adam I said that.

Aha. Those are mine. Joe and Sarah - you never know what they're up to!

And you all know who this is. And she wants to know if you like her ridiculously awesome new header?! Many thanks to the fabulous Paige for the HTML script... which I lost. Again.

♥

Fourth of July | Personal

2010-07-11T21:07:00.000-07:00

Sparklers, fireworks, hamburgers, apple pie, races, games, singing, pledges, babies and puppies... and red, white, and blue. I had a fabulous Fourth celebration, and I hope you did, too!!! What did ya'll do to celebrate the 234th birthday of our awesome nation?

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Whatever you did, I sure hope it was bright, joyful, and loud!!

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much love!

♥

ps... see last years pictures... and shudder about how I didn't know how to shoot in Manual back then. Or how to edit pictures, for that matter.

Friends and neighbors from near and far... (but mostly near) With the exception of some people from across the river and some visiting people from Africa!
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Yes.... that is my Dad!

Watermelon, potato salad, coleslaw, and a hamburger... get more American classic if you can!

This is Penny, our friend Luke's dog. Too cute to resist. I had to post a picture of her.

Or two... or... four. Can you believe that she was found by the side of the road? Who on earth would abandon such an adorable face?!

I was trying to get that cool thing with the heart drawn with a sparkler... I think I needed to do... something differently... anyway. This was the best one!

I was pretty awful at photographing the fireworks when we started the show...

Hopefully, I was a litttttle bit better by the end! (slightly...)

I originally wasn't going to post this picture, but I couldn't resist. Just so you know, I have written a last will and testament for after Joe discovers this picture of himself on the internet.

Goodbye, cuz this might be the last you hear out of me!!!!

•

...ever.

The Cowgirl Way | Anytime

2010-07-07T17:48:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the most impromptu photoshoots are the best, don't you think? It was a beautiful day... Sarah was out doing cowgirl stuff, loving her cow, riding her horse. And she looked gorgeous. As usual.

"Sarah, can I please take a picture of you? Real quick?" Doesn't she have the most gorgeous big brown eyes...

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"Oh, Hannnnuuuh. Not again."

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"Yes... just ONE! I promise.." (yeah, right)

"Okay, fine. One."

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*Click. Click. Click.*
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"That's not one, Hannah."

And it was a good thing.

Happy Fourth!! | Personal

2010-07-02T16:09:00.000-07:00

"Those who won our independence believed liberty to be the secret of happiness and courage to be the secret of liberty."
--Louis D. Brandeis

The Fourth of July always brings to mind classic all-American scenes like watching the small town parade of old cars and a high school marching band. Like the smell of a grill and hot dogs, smothered in mustard and ketchup and accompanied by lots of iced Coke. Like the sparkle of fireworks in the night sky, and kids rushing around in the dim town park chasing fireflies.

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Sunscreen, lemonade, speeches, freedom, sticky ice cream cones, patriotic songs, sundresses, bike rides, history lessons, Sousa's marches, baseball caps, apple pie, lawn chairs, liberty, hamburgers, glow in the dark bracelets, reading the Declaration, and the laughter of tons of family and friends have made for fun memories at every one of my Fourth celebrations.

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So, all you Americans - here's to a bright, patriotic, fantastic, delicious day of fireworks, lemonade, friends, history, songs, ice cream, and old cars. Happy Independence Day!!!
♥

^^here's a sneak peek of my photoshoot with Sarah - the real post is coming up!!^^

Class of 2010!

2010-06-28T18:06:00.000-07:00

“Her mind was in a state of flutter and wonder, which made it impossible for her to be collected. She was in dancing, singing, exclaiming spirits; and till she had moved about, and talked to herself, and laughed and reflected, she could be fit for nothing rational.”
-- Jane Austen’s Emma

Yes, that's a high school diploma. And yes, as of June 13, 2010 - it's MINE! I'm so excited!!

class of 2010 -- age 17.

I don't even know where to start.

Maybe back in 1997, at my first day of school. Home school, that is.

me and Roberta in 1999.

Homeschooling was fabulous. It gave me and my four siblings the chance to travel on many field trips... =) And it also fit our military life very well. Considering we moved almost every two years!

family Christmas picture, 2000, far left.

Homeschooling was the perfect opportunity for my parents to train us for the furthering of God's kingdom, a course you'll never be allowed to take in a public school.

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up."

Deuteronomy 6:4-7

Australia, Summer 2003, second from the right.

I guess you could say I'm a well-travelled person... of sorts. By the time I was eleven, I'd visited over half of the United States and seen all kinds of national parks and historic landmarks. My Dad's job gave us the ability to visit foreign countries, as well - before 2004, I'd visited Mexico, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand!

Roberta and I in Hawaii, 2004. (that's Dad in the background!)

I've always loved the beach!

During my school years, I had the fun opportunities for several fun jobs, including babysitting, (above, 2006) a bakery business, lawn mowing, pet care, piano lessons, and, earlier this year, wedding photography.
(far right, the one in the glasses.)

In 2007, Dad retired from the Navy after 30 years of service, and we made our way to Northeast Washington, where we still live today. (me -- the goofy one on the far left.)

me and Roberta in my sophomore year, March 2009.
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I finished high school in three years, mainly because I did a lot of school at the same time as my older sister, Roberta. In graduating at 17, I kept up a family tradition... kind of. Both my Mom and my grandmother (her mother) did, too! So that was kind of cool. I'll have to have a daughter who will do the same!

----

I don’t know what my future holds. But I trust the Lord Jesus Christ, who does!! I was saved at the age of three and rededicated my life to the Lord at 15. God's been so amazing throughout my entire life, and it is my greatest ambition to walk in the light of His way for the rest of my life!!

"He has put a new song in my mouth, praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the LORD. Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his trust, and does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done; and Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.... Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; let such as love Your salvation say continually, 'The LORD be magnified!'"
Psalm 40:3-5 & 16

first day of school, 1997 -- class of 2010!

Roberta.... I'd like to thank you for doing school with me all those years... even from the time when we were too little to appreciate each other!! You've been the most wonderful big sister, and, even though I've grown a few inches and shoe sizes past you, I want you to know that I still look up to you, and I love you!

Dad, you've been the best Dad and leader ever. I really appreciate all you've done for me over the years, and you've really worked hard for the needs of our family. Following you around the world during your Navy years was fabulous! I've often thanked God for your example of integrity and fatherhood, and today I want to thank you for being my Dad. I love you so much!!

Mom, I can't even begin to say thank you for all the things I should. You're the best mom I could have asked for. I'm so grateful for everything you've done over the years. Being your daughter has been one fantastic adventure!! You've been the most awesome example of a mom and of a woman, and I love you to the moon and back. Thank you for giving it all up for me. You're the best!!

I'd never be here without you both.

And to the rest of my siblings - Joe, Sarah, and Abby - I love you all so much!! I wouldn't be who I am without you. Being your sister and sharing your adventures is so much fun!! Thank you for everything.

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end."
Ecclesiastes 3:11

♥

Rodeo Time

2010-06-20T12:45:00.000-07:00

It's rodeo time again! Yippie!! Every June, the Pro-West Rodeo shows up in town for one fun weekend! The town comes alive for the annual rodeo parade and awesome events. Bull riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, barrel racing, team roping, bronc riding, wild cow milking... they do it all. It's like a scene from a classic western... cute, small town America nearly overrun with horse trailers, cowgirls in sequins, dusty pickups trucks, horses in show saddles, and cowboys with their faithful collies and heelers.

And one girl in flipflops. Yes, even beach girls go to rodeos!

But the rodeo mostly consists of girls in cowgirl hats, western blouses, and leather boots.

Some of these horses are amazing. Seriously. Not to mention being so beautiful and graceful! Really, I don't know how they do it. Holly, you'd just die if you could see them!!

The rodeo queen and princess, two of the best riders in the county.

The barrel racing is amazing!! One day I'm gonna... well...

Bull riding!! Or... not. As the case may be.

Some of the things these cowgirls and guys do! WOW! (from the top left corner...) Barrel racing, bull riding, team roping, more bull riding, more barrel racing, steer wrestling, racing, and more steer wrestling.

This was awesome!! Okay, now you try - catch a wild calf without a rope. eeeek. The cowboy who won had it down in like six seconds.

The Tough Enough girls. It's like synchronized swimming or ice skating... on horses. They were fabulous! Riding one-handed, too... yikes.

So that's all for now, folks!! Maybe next year you'll join me at the rodeo!!

Learning & Growing

2010-06-11T13:10:00.000-07:00

"My philosophy is that life is all about learning and growing, and that life can be a real adventure of learning, growing, compassion, and joyfulness."
-- John Mackey

Happy Weekend, ya'll!!!
♥

p.s. this photo made it all the way to the front page of flickr's explore!! all you flickr photogs know what I'm talking about - and it's pretty cool! I was so excited!! Here's the link to the flickr picture... and proof I know what I'm talking about... and my photostream.

Creativity Boot Camp

2010-06-07T18:37:00.000-07:00

If you haven't already, you have to check out the Creativity Boot Camp! It's an awesome inspirational way to get your creative juices flowing and put a extra trimmings on your life as an artist. I for one am certainly a far ways from being a great photographer, and I hope that this journey will help me out a bit!

It started yesterday, which means I should have posted earlier. I'm sorry I didn't, because I don't think anyone should miss this!! Even the most talented and creative of you out there should give it a go... you only have to catch up one day if you start today! And I highly recommend that you do.

Enough said, so why don't you head over to Maegen's blog and have a look around? While you're at it, why don't you check out my flickr stream and CBC photos and let me know what you think?

This was today's... the word was Picnic.

So!! Hope you have a happy evening!!

Hugs!

♥

Summer Afternoon | Anytime

2010-05-31T09:05:00.000-07:00

-
It was a splendid summer morning and it seemed as if nothing could go wrong.
-- John Cheever

Okay, it wasn't the morning. It was the afternoon. But anyway. Me and my sisters and Mom had a small sort of adventure a few weeks ago. We took lunch to a gorgeous state park bordered by two rivers. It was a marvellous day - peaceful, warm, and breezy - like a summer afternoon out of a book. The dock was the perfect place for a photoshoot, and so Sarah and I had fun with Roberta's aviator glasses, new flipflops, and the blue-green water. Thanks for stopping by! Loves!!

♥

Though it doesn't look like it, that water was c*o*l*d!! No, we didn't go swimming. We'll save that for the sweltering 100's of August, when we're desperate.

Just in case you worried... she's not actually jumping in. Even if she did want to, I wouldn't let her. Not only is it frigid and she'd get hypothermic since we didn't bring any towels to dry off... she was holding my lens cap in her pocket.

It's when I see things like this... little details... that I miss the ocean and beach life. What I wouldn't give to live on the beach again - the warm, salty air, the crash of the waves, the gentle sea breezes, the colors of the beach, the shorts and flipflops, the endless reminders of summer. Mmmmmm....

A sort of self-portrait.

Laughs and smiles!

Mom, who neeeeevvverrrr lets met take her picture. =) Love you, Mom!

In which I try a self-portrait including two... I guess you could say it kind of worked!

The yummy, fun things of a summer picnic! Relaxing, sisterly fun, adorable flipflops, yummy, fudge-y chocolate cookies, and super reflections in cool sunglasses.

All of us! Just ignore my kind-of goofy face, please! =)

The Best of Friends | Anytime

2010-05-16T19:11:00.000-07:00

♥

you're my best friend
and there are no accidents
God has a plan for everyone
and He brought you in my life
to show me what a true friend was.
Simon Birch, You Were There

Fabulous doesn't even begin to describe the amazing week that Paige was visiting!! Girls sure know how to have fun!

Our friendship began just over 8 years ago on the tiny tropical island of Guam, where both our Navy dads were stationed. Both our families homeschooled, and we attended the same church as Paige's family before they moved back to the States. What fun we had during those days!!! There were five of us - Me, my sisters Roberta and Sarah, Paige, and her sister Holly. I have got so many fun memories from that time!

It's been 7 years since I've seen Paige, but what's truly fantastic is that we kept up a friendship over these years through email, letter, and phone chats. During that time, none of our plans to meet up worked out, but we remained good friends the whole time. We've been through a lot together and kind of grown up together - even though, at times, we have been many miles apart. When we finally met again after 7 years, it was like we'd always been together - we all just picked up right where we left off, and it was fantastic!!!

Our friendship has been absolutely fabulous. That's the only word I can use to describe it! It is a totally God thing. I'm so grateful that God brought Paige and her family into my life, and she has been such a blessing to me during my great times and my not-so-great times. She's shown me what a true friend was. We have so many fun memories from before, and it was great to be able to make some more during the week you were here. I love ya, girlie!! Here's to many more years of friendship!
♥

pssst... you can view Paige's art of this fun photoshoot on her blog - here!

Paige is a phenomenal photographer and friend. Not to mention gorgeous, don't you think!!

What's really cool is that we both kind of got interested in photography at the same time and have been able to share insights and fun stuff as we learn together. She came out to shoot my first wedding on April 24 with me - and being able to do that together was such a blessing!

"Paige will be Paige!"

Ooops... I kind of ruined that shot with a goofy face. =)

We ran to and from our tripods about a million times before we finally got a shot when we were all in the air! Paige scored this one. Way to go, girl! (did I mention that it happened to be the very last shot we took?)

Our cool new shirts - yes, even farmgirls shop at Aero!! Both Paige and I took these shots... though I'm not sure which is her and which is mine... okay, obviously the one of me is her and the one of her is mine.
☺

Paige, we had so much fun!! It's been so long, but it seems like just yesterday. It was so wonderful to see you again. Thanks for everything - you're the best!!
Love ya!
♥

A Few Reasons and Seven Interesting Things

2010-05-13T17:51:00.000-07:00

Heyyyyy!!

Just wanted to let ya'll know that I'm hoping to post real soon... I've kind of been slacking off lately!! It's soooo easy to do when you're *this* close to being done with high school for good! It's easy to do when the sun comes out and you just want to be outside all the time... when you're busy reading, doing piano things, gardening, enjoying the first weeks of summer weather, and living life. That's okay... I'm okay with it, you're okay with it - right? - so we're even.

That being said, I will be posting some pictures soon - delicious things like the first gorgeous flowers, the first summer adventures, and the first time I've spent with Paige in seven years! Lots of fun stuff... you come across lots of fun stuff while you're living. Love it!

Oooh, yes, before we close this post, I'd love to thank Joanna for this sweet blog award!! You really shouldn't have. =) I'll list the required seven interesting things about myself (Would that be that I find interesting or that others find interesting? Um.) and then I'll let whoever wants an award take one. I'm kind of on the run, so I don't have time to post the 15 blogs I love like the rules say... so I hope 15 of you will take an award home to your own blog, pretty pleeeease?

interesting thing number one ♥ I have lived in seven states, plus Guam, a territory of the US, and I love sand on my feet, wind in my hair, my camera in my hands, and tons of family, friends, and memories to love. I enjoy ice skating and love a good tan. I love to run through open meadows and swim through blue waves. I love the exhilaration of travel and the cozy feeling of being home. I listen to Vivaldi and the bluegrass of the hills. I love my summer skirts and my denim jackets. Growing up in the military then moving to a farm at age 15, I've had to adapt quickly, be ready for anything, and make good friends. In other words, I'm diversified! I love a myriad of wonderful things, and I'm thankful that God gave me the life I have!

Okay, that was waaayyyyy more than one interesting thing!! Shall we continue?

interesting thing number two ♥ I have an amazing weakness for mint chocolate chip ice cream... seriously. It amazes me.

interesting thing number three ♥ I play the guitar, piano, fiddle and kind-of play the mandolin and flute. You'd better believe it, ladies and gentlemen... I am simply oozing with talent! Just kidding... I really am just kidding!!

interesting thing number four ♥ I can spell my name backwards. Ya'll probably knew that... I just thought it was interesting, so I put it anyway.

interesting thing number five ♥ Lilacs are my favorite flower. No, wait. Maybe it's delphiniums (the blue flowers in the above picture). Maybe it's dahlias... maybe lavender (does that count?). Oh, dear. I guess I'll switch that... I love flowers!!

interesting thing number six ♥ I'm about to graduate from high school!! Yippeeeeee!!

interesting thing number seven ♥ I had eight wisdom teeth!! Yep, twice as many as a normal person. (that's what they said, anyhow. As long as the teeth are gone now, I could care less!!)

My, my, I'm not a very good blogger!! Most of those things weren't the most interesting thing in the world. So maybe I'll just quit posting and relax for the evening. Oh, dear. I forgot about doing that... and that. And that. Ahh - got to run!

Hope ya'll enjoy your day as much as I have mine! Hugs!

Hannah

♥

Josh & Hannah | Married | Ford, WA

2010-05-05T15:10:00.000-07:00

I will be here...
When you feel like bein' quiet
When you need to speak your mind
I will listen
And I will be here
When the laughter turns to cryin'
Through the winnin' and losin' and tryin'
We'll be together
'Cause I will be here.
--Steven Curtis Chapman, I Will Be Here

Josh and Hannah's wedding was was awesome. They were both so amazing, especially considering I'd never shot a wedding before and had no. clue. what I was doing!! Thanks a million for Paige, who did always did just the right thing at just the right time! It was SO wonderful being able to shoot with her. I just hope that I'll be as fantastic a photographer as she is one day!! Love ya, girl! =)

•

Hannah was the most fabulously laid-back bride you'll ever see. Period. I was amazed! She was just great with everything, and a dream for a first-time wedding photographer, too. Thank you for it all, Hannah!

•

Oh, did I mention that I'm in love with my 50mm lens? I am. I love it. With aperture as low as 1.4, it's simply aaaamazing. I'm about to make all you photographers who don't have one die of jealousy. Just kidding. Paige loved it, too... and so I called it Paige Elizabeth in her honor... affectionately known to all as Pep. Haha!

I loved being able to shoot the girls as they got ready. It was so much fun!

Rebekah, the bride's younger sister, is one amazing, sweet girl. She did Hannah's makeup and hair as well as her own, and still found time to let me take pictures!! You can tell she and her sister are oh-so-close. It's great.

The details, the details! I love details!!

The 49 cent wedding dress. Let me tell you, that is one amazing story!! When's the last time you heard of a dress as gorgeous as that one being bought for 49 cents and getting a complete makeover? It's true as you live. The dress was strapless, a pinch too big and a few miles too long. No, seriously... just a little bit. But Mrs. McGuire, Hannah's mom, worked wonders on the dress, and I loved it!!

•

The bride wore Sketchers. Isn't she a genius? Why sacrifice comfort for fashion on your big day? Then again, why ask me?

Gorgeous. End of story. Look at those eyes! I have a weakness for blue eyes, being a brownie myself. =)

These sisters are wonderful girls, I wish you all could know them.

I love all the expressions captured on wedding days. The ceremony was beautiful. But I'm ready to get on to the formals!!

Oops... before we do... signing the marriage covenant. It was so sweet.

I didn't have time to slip on a macro, but I'm rather glad I didn't... my 50mm is just my favorite thing ever!!!

Hannah, you are fabulous!!! Got to love that excited face.

•

We had a ton of fun!! (Paige and I did, at any rate!) I didn't post a picture, but I shot the biggest group ever in my life... 12 girls, 10 guys, 11 kids, and 3 babies. I counted afterwards.

It was so cute.

I love this shot Paige got of the handsome fellows. She did a fantastic job with all the guys. You go, girl!!

Uh... at least most of them are looking at me, okay? I did the best I could, under the circumstances! They were so sweet! Little people aren't as easy to work with, but oh. so. cute. I love 'em!!

Hannah, Rebekah, Caitie (Hannah's sister in law), and Sunny. The beautiful ladies.

Sometimes I think the pictures between the pictures are the best. You know what I mean?

The reception was amazing, the cake was delicious, the first dance was sweet. But as I'll be running out of room on this blog soon, I'll leave it to your imagination. =)

Hannah and Josh, thank you so much for letting me be such a huge part of your amazing day! I love you guys - you're fabulous. Here's to a FANTASTIC new life. =)

Paige, you are phenomenal. I NEVER could have done it without you. I love you tons, girl - you are such a blessing to have as a friend!! Thank you... one million, eight hundred and fifty-two thousand, four hundred and seventeen times over. You're the BEST!!!!!!

Josh & Hannah | Preview

2010-04-26T07:48:00.000-07:00

This past week, Paige and I got the opportunity to shoot Josh and Hannah's wedding! We had so much fun, and the wedding was simply beautiful. The week has been filled with wedding preparations and fun as Paige and I catch up after not seeing each other in seven years! God really worked through everything and everyone to make Josh and Hannah's day as beautiful as possible. I'm so grateful to Him for His awesome attention to every last detail.

To make a long story short, Hannah, whose family goes to church with mine, found out that I'm into photography and want to have a business someday. She originally hired me as second photographer for her day. Through a rather confusing series of events, I became the one and only photographer. I'd never even been to a wedding before, let alone photographed one! Thankfully, we were able to work it out so that Paige, who I met eight years ago, could come up and help me. I think we pretty much got their day covered... ☺ and I'm sure that Hannah will be pleased with at least some of the pictures!

Just so you know, Paige, I think you are a phenomenal photographer and friend! I've loved every minute of working and visiting together. I am so grateful that you came to help me out! I could never have done it without you. Thank you so much, you're the best!

We had so. much. fun!!! The rest of the pictures will be up soon!! Loves!

♥

Journey to the Heart

2010-04-08T20:44:00.000-07:00

Okay, here they finally are - my Journey pictures!! I'm sorry it took so long... but I had to sort through nearly 600 pictures and then edit the ones I chose! It was hard. =) If you want to see a few more pictures, check out Living the Journey - Journey to the Heart's blog/web page.

I learned so much at Journey to the Heart. I want to share it with all ya'll... but I don't think it will all fit! So, over a period of time, I'm going to use my space in the world wide web to encourage you all by sharing what I learned in ten days with God. So this will become a combination photography/devotional blog... at least for a few weeks!!

Until then, love ya'll!!
♥ Hannah

The crack of dawn... literally.

Roberta in the airport.

So... for all you ATI kids that have never been to headquarters, this is it!! IBLP owns practically a whole neighborhood just outside of Chicago, Illinois. It is amazing how God has always come through for them in every which way. Anyways, this is the Staff Center, where a lot of the administration for IBLP happens.

And this is inside!! We ate dinner here each night we were at headquarters.

And this is one of the many meeting rooms!

Okay, enough of IBLP headquarters...

Okay, fine. Not enough of headquarters... One last shot of outside. =)

Roberta!

After two days at headquarters, our team and three others from another team piled into a 15 passenger van for the 8-hour trip to the Northwoods Conference Center in Michigan!! It was so fun, being in the car together!

From left to right... Mary, Abigail, Laura, Me, Hannah, Madeyln, Abigail, Kelli, and Roberta.

The Northwoods are beautiful!!!

See what I mean?

Each morning, we walked around a lake they have on the Northwoods (I didn't get any satisfactory pictures of it, unfortunately. I did get a picture of the road!!). It takes about an hour to get around, and believe me... an hour alone with God is one of the most amazing experiences ever! If you've never done it, you have to. I didn't think I could possibly talk to God for one solid hour, but those morning walks were one of the highlights of my trip. He drew me so close to Him during our talks, and I learned so much from meditating on His Word during that hour.

One day, we took a trip to Bond Falls, a short distance from the campus.

From left to right... Kelli, Hannah, Madison, and Victoria.

Madison, our team leader, is one of the most amazing people you'll ever meet! I wish you all could know her.

Some of these girls, in addition to being the most Godly young ladies ever, are simply great fun!!! I loved being with all of ya'll... I wish I had room to post a short biography of your stories - they're all so unique and amazing!

Bond Falls was just SO beautiful.

Plus, it was the perfect day for waterfall shots - overcast, but not too dark... cool, but not cold. We had a great time!

And... here we all are!! Mary, Roberta, Kelli, Hannah, Victoria, Jackie, and Me! (our team is minus Abigail and Ashley... and Madison, who took the picture.)

Old friends!!

Girls. They have WAY too much fun.

One great advantage to having the conference start in Chicago was that my grandparents live just up a little ways in Milwaukee!! So we got to visit with them for a little bit afterwards. (Roberta, Grammie, and Me.)

Parents and son - Grammie, Dad, and Pop-pop. I love you both SO much!!

And... so I sum up that HUGE post with a picture to prove that I spent way too much time around Jackie... =) ... Starbucks coffee!! I only drink it cold, with plenty of sugar. No hot, black coffee for me, thanks!

Thank you SO much for staying with me during that long, rambling post! I'll try to collect my thoughts as I hope to soon post about one of the things God taught me during my Journey!!!
♥

In Christ Alone | Happy Resurrection Sunday!!

2010-04-03T19:43:00.000-07:00

-
In Christ alone, who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe;
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay;
Light of the world by darkness slain.
Then bursting forth in glorious Day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine,
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death;
This is the power of Christ in me.
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man;
Can ever pluck me from His hand!
‘til He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand!
Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
• •
h•

I hope every last one of you knows how much Christ loves you. He died to pay the penalty for all your sins; He rose again, victorious over the grave, to give you eternal life. "In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4:9-10, NKJV)
•)

Don't forget what Easter is. It's not just plastic eggs filled with candy for your little siblings, it's not just ham for Sunday dinner, it's not just a new dress for the only church service you'll attend this year.

•

It's a celebration of God's love... it's a celebration of LIFE!! He gave His life for you so you could have a life with Him. Forever!! Now that's what I call a reason to celebrate. ☺
•

HE IS STILL ALIVE!!

♥

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
(Romans 8:38-39, KJV)

p.s. I'm running out of room on this blog, so I'm going to go back and delete a few needless posts. I'm really sorry for any inconvenience this may cause!!

I'm Home!! | Personal

2010-04-01T10:24:00.000-07:00

Hiya, readers! I didn't fall off the face of the earth... I was at a Journey to the Heart, which is the most amazing conference you'll ever attend. I have never experienced God in such a way before!! If you ever get a chance to go... go! Definately. You will be challenged in every which way, and you will come home with more friends than you know what to do with! =)

So... what's up next? Vacation and conference pictures! I'll hopefully have those posted real soon... till then, have a wonderful week!

Loves ♥
Hannah

Thanks to my wonderful team leader, Madison, for taking this picture of me at Bond Falls!

Birthday Candles | Personal

2010-03-12T18:56:00.000-08:00

Isn't it fabulous when you are just totally charmed by something tiny or ordinary? Like adorable birthday candles. One of those little things in life.

I thought it was high time to post a few photos from my birthday celebration. =) As I really, really, really don't like getting pictures of myself taken, I didn't post any! Just a few shots of the adorable birthday candles! Yes, I am a totally random person. So, here you go, and have a fantastic day.

It was delicious... a chocolate ice cream pie with oreo crust, fudge sauce, chocolate whipped cream, swirls of caramel and chocolate. Ooooh.

I wish you all were there to share it with me!!

love ♥

Hannah

My Seventeenth Birthday! | Personal

2010-03-04T08:53:00.000-08:00

"I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written: the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You."
Psalm 139:14-18 (NKJV)

Today is my 17th birthday!! I don't know about you, but I love birthdays! No matter how old you are turning. ☺

I want to thank my amazing family for putting up with me for these 16 years. You all are SO special to me, I wouldn't trade you for anything! I love you all so much!! I want to thank all of my lovely blog readers, too, for your nice comments over this past year (my blog birthday is coming up on March 27!!). You are all fantastic!!

And lastly, I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for giving me these 16 years of life on God's beautiful earth. His creation never ceases to amaze me, and His love and plans for my life are just phenomenal. He's been there every step of the way, and I am so grateful for everything He has done in my life!! He is everything to me.

much love, ♥
Hannah

Coloring | Personal

2010-03-02T20:26:00.000-08:00

Colors are one of my favoritest things ever. (I think I just made that world up... favoritest. I like it.) Crayons are another. I love going through our huge box of crayons, sorting them by color, standing them all up on end then knocking them over like dominoes. I'm going to be 17 on Thursday, but give me a box of colorful crayons, and I feel like a kid again!

So when I learned from Lindsay's blog that Hannah Paige was having a photo contest on color, what immediately popped into my head? I ran down to the basement and dug out the crayon box.

I must have looked pretty strange on that afternoon, sitting at the kitchen table, a camera in one hand and a bunch of crayons in the other. After taking several pictures with the crayons posed in different ways - in my hand, in a jar, strewn all over the table, standing in straight lines - I fell to doodling. I rarely have time to just doodle these days. I think I'll make more time for it.

♥

So here are the two pictures I'm entering... and if I don't win, who cares? I had so much fun shooting the crayons. Try it - you will, too!!

much love ♥
(make some time for crayons, too!)

Hannah

spring - in february

2010-02-20T19:53:00.000-08:00

•
Unusual as it may seem, we have grass coming up. Hello, weatherman, did you forget to tell us about this? We barely had any snow this year (but enough for skiing!). So I guess spring will be early!

Don't let my amazing macro skills fool you - green as it is, the grass is only about an inch and a half tall!! (just kidding about the amazing.)

Millie, our five-month-old Jersey, loves the weather. =)

And I had to do a few pics of "cowgirl leather," while I was out and about this afternoon. :D

As always, much love ♥,

Hannah

p.s. feeling springish.
is it spring fever? anyway, how about the brighter blog look? Like the pink? That is me, by the way, in the header. My fabulous little sis, Abby, took the picture. She's a great photographer, for being eight years old! Also check out the new about me page.

happy happy

2010-02-18T17:21:00.000-08:00

I had a happy day today. Don't you just love having happy days? Oh, yes. My camera returned! You can't imagine how glad I was to get home and see the box sitting on my porch. The shutter button was clicking almost as soon as I unpacked the camera!

And I didn't bother to edit the picture enough, I guess I was too excited! I took it on the wrong white balance setting. Duh.

Another reason I loved my day was I love words!!! If you love words, too, check out Wordle. You will not be dissapointed, thanks to my dear friend Paige, who posted about wordle on her blog. And I quote: "And for an extra bit of fun - post it on your blog, then leave a comment with your blog name. I bet we could get some pretty fun "word clouds"!

much love ♥
Hannah

♥ Happy Valentine's Day! | Personal

2010-02-15T19:45:00.000-08:00

“If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you.”
A. A. Milne, better known to most people as Winnie the Pooh.

I'm sorry about the late "happy" to you all... I've been getting busier and busier as the year progresses. My 17th birthday and graduation from high school are in the near future. Coming up in March is my and my sister's trip to Michigan for a girl's conference called Journey to the Heart, which is about discovering more about God's heart and learning to follow him with all of yours. My life is really getting exciting!

As for my baby, (my camera) he'll be home on February 18th! I've been checking the UPS site with the tracking number several times a day, and I can't wait to have my precious camera back in my hands. I PROMISE there will be pictures soon!! Speaking of pictures, what's a post without a picture? Below is a shot of a rose that I took over a year ago. I sure hope my photography skills have improved a little bit since then!

A few last thoughts on God's love for us this Valentine's Day...

"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not." 1 John 3:1

"And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him."
1 John 4:16

much love ♥ to you all
Hannah

i ♥ my camera | Personal

2010-01-30T09:44:00.000-08:00

I know I'm not the only photographer who loves her camera! I'm also not the only photographer who misses her camera when it goes away. :-( My buddy is in for repairs right now, so I'm missing him!! He'll be home soon, though, so look for more pictures in about a week!!

love ♥
Hannah

p.s. I also know some photogs name their cameras... what do you think, should I name mine? I've had it for about seven months, but I haven't named it yet. As you can see from the previous paragraph, I've always thought of it as a "him," but tell me what you think! Should a Canon Rebel XTi be a him or a her? Any good name ideas?