ashley thompson photography

robinson {family} sneakpeak

2009-10-29T22:14:00.004-05:00

warning: this little girls eyes will take your breath away.

isnt she beautiful? this is MY FAVORITE image. something about the pink's and greens with her blue eyes. i LOVE it.

and just to ease mom's fears. here is proof that your kids did a fabulous job. look how cute they are :)

there she goes...looking OH-SO adorable.

not all family portraits have to be the same :)

brother having FUN.

can you think of anything better? a real laugh. cool wall and handsome little guy :)

thanks for being so patient malissa to view your session. i know it was killing you :)
your gallery will be up shortly.

xoxo
ashley

Justin & Lauren's sneakpeak

2009-10-13T00:45:00.002-05:00

each wedding is special and unique. the couple's story. the details. but regardless the emotions are real...

and its true. when two people love each other- the world knows it.

and the best part?! aiden will always be the bean and cheese :)
i have to thank Jenny Collier for being the best second shooter, EVER! i appreciate all your help and you seriously rock.

fall fashion inspiration

2009-08-31T17:43:00.002-05:00

howdy, fall! i'm glad you're here:)

so, everyone always asks, "what should i wear?" well, i'm glad you asked!!

i can not take any credit for these cool outfits - i found it on another photographers blog and wish i could remember whose it was because i want to give her the full credit.

i loved the idea of sharing different fall clothing ideas for your sessions starting in september, so i decided to let you guys in on the fun:)

super cool, just remember to keep those kiddos comfy so they enjoy their time in front of the camera!

how stinkin' cute are leggings?!! i love it when little girls get super girly and totally rock out in those outfits that showcase their little personalities.

fun prints and yummy colors will look awesome in photos!

casual but absolutely adorable! your tweens will love these outfits...i'd wear them:)

absolutely adorable! this is such a snuggly sweater:)

just remember no matter what you put your kiddos in that they are comfy and loving it! get them excited about that new outfit and show up to the session ready to rock the camera!

chanley {two months}

2009-08-27T14:41:00.008-05:00

hello world!!! here's chanley!

brandi and christion were so excited to get pictures of their newest bundle of joy. we met at the park early in the morning to take advantage of beautiful morning light and enjoy some time in the perfect weather :)

big brother is so proud of his little sister:)

brandi requested the cocoon shot and chandley totally rocked it out for us, snoozing the whole time! how precious is this little girl??!

so sweet. it's hard to resist a sleeping baby:)

happy little girl!

this is the cutest cry face i have ever seen!

ohhhh my gosh! i just love this picture...it's the epitome of frilly little girl:)

ten little toes...

even brother got a chance to work the camera.

McQueen Family

2009-08-25T10:56:00.005-05:00

Foster, Hilary and baby Cole!

Cole was welcomed into the McQueen family four months ago and is the first addition to their sweet, little family:)

Having fun with Mommie and Daddy:)

I absolutely love this picture...such a sweet, sweet moment with their new baby.

Watch out ladies!

How cute is this little guy??!? I feel like he's saying, "I'm a stud!"

Mama's boy:)

Precious little family!

"My Daddy's silly!" This picture makes me smile:)

And a baby makes three...

adam {broken arrow senior}

2009-08-25T10:48:00.007-05:00

Adam, a 2010 senior football player at Broken Arrow, wasn't all too excited about taking his senior pictures. I wonder if he'll change his mind once the girls get a hold of these...

I had an absolute BLAST with Adam and his mom. She is hilarious and I spent the entire session laughing! It was an all around fabulous day:)

Adam is a very laid back guy...we're still working on "smiling with your eyes" Haa!

I love this picture! It definitely showcases his cool and calm personality AND he's got a great smile goin' on in this one!!

I love it when I capture a real laugh. This is a real moment that can't be posed:)

Smiling with his eyes:)

Adam doesn't own one pair of flip flops and doesn't have any color of shoes other than black. I love learning little quirks about the people I work with:)

I wish Adam the best of luck in all his life endeavours! I had such a great time photographing him:)

julie {one year}

2009-08-25T10:33:00.009-05:00

Happy Birthday Julie!!!

I love the opportunity to watch a child grow and capture their lives. Julie's mom, Jackie, and I were in cosmetology school together back in my high school days. It's just nothing short of awesome to watch her and Justin's family grow.

They came to visit me in Muskogee and we did a few downtown locations followed by some inside studio shots.

How stinkin' cute is this little girl?!?!!

I just love this one! Look at those little teeth:)

Ohh my gosh, this picture just makes me smile:)

Julie's brother, Jaxon is 4, so I thought it would be fun to have him find a 4. He was bored with us yucky ol' girls, so I decided to put the little man in front of the camera with his sister:)

How sweet is this? Lovin' on his little sister:)

I love Julie's little bandana dress! It's almost as cute as she is:)

"What's goin' on over there, guys?"

This is the truest laugh, ever! I love it!!!

brad+jenny=forever

2009-08-09T18:26:00.015-05:00

how sweet it is:)

brad and jenny tied the knot on july 18th. i just love both of them so much and i am so honored that they let me be a part of their big day!!

here's a sneak peek of mr. and mrs. davis!

sweet, sweet simplicity.

bridal bliss:)

"this very moment is a seed from which the flowers of tomorrow's happiness grow."

- margaret lindsay

this little guy was one tough cookie!

you can always count on a child to bring a little "unexpected surprise" to every occasion:)

vibrant dresses, beautiful flowers. all reflections of the beautiful bride and her soon to be husband.

the entourage.

i loved that brad and jenny opted for a "sneak peek" with each other before the ceremony. this gave them some time to get away from the hustle and bustle of the day, and savor a few special moments before they would unite as one.

having some time to themselves definitely calmed the mood and nerves and offered a few quiet moments together.

one of the most precious times a father will have with his daughter.

here comes the bride!

the kiss that seals the deal!!

i just love this picture...they're both glowing!

Heading off to happily ever after...in Dad's mustang:)

date: july 18th, 2009

location: tulsa, oklahoma

church: holy family cathedral

reception: mcbirney mansion

dress: facchiano's

florist: mary murray's flowers

will {8 months}

2009-07-22T18:01:00.008-05:00

Watch out ladies...here comes Will!

This little boy is such a charmer- those little girls dont stand a chance against these BEAUTIFUL blue eyes!

Will is such a cutie patootie and is the happiest baby I have ever met! Will definitely has a special place in my heart...he's the first newborn I ever photographed! It's so neat to watch this little man grow up:)

His little personality is just awesome:)

he loves his mom, alot!

Mommie and Daddy do good work:)

I'm so happy for John and Jordan...Baby number TWO is on the way!

This little guys just melts me! I can't wait for Will's little brother or sister to arrive:)

Meet Kristen!

2009-07-22T11:55:00.012-05:00

If you've been following me for a while, this is a face you've seen before!

I had lunch with Kristen last week, and decided she would write for my blog! I'm really excited because I don't write...I take pictures. That's what I do:) So, without further adieu, meet Kristen!

I met Ashley at her wedding in 2006 and IMMEDIATELY fell in love with her. I mean let's face it, you can't not fall in love with the girl:)

Welp, about me: I married my high school sweetheart on our 7th anniversary this past March (yes, Ashley was there the whole way!) and we live in Fort Worth. I'm working on my master's degree in deaf education...I love deaf kiddos!! I'm also the proud mama of our two pups: Moose (Great Dane) and Diva (Shih Tzu) who are definitely characters in their own right!

Okay, that's great and all, but WHO am I? Well, I love Jesus. I love my family and my friends. I am loud and I talk too much...waaaaaaaay too much. I spend most of my time living in my own little la-la land, but hey, I like it there!!I try not to take anything too seriously (although I am a type-A personality to the T) and my husband has a fully-loaded arsenal of ditzy things I say and do, usually on a daily basis. Oh and sometimes I swear our life is worthy of a reality tv show...read our blog and you'll see why (bryceandkristenthompson.blogspot.com)

I have recently (by recently, I mean last week!) decided to follow my dream of making stationary, monograms and things of that nature. I became passionate about this after I started planning our wedding. I couldn't find what I wanted that wasn't a bajillion dollars, so I figure that I'll just do it myself! BUT, I am leaving the photography up to Ashley...at least at this point in my life:) I love all things girly: polka dots, ruffles, and anything vintage that has a story behind it. Cliche? Maybe...but I like it and that's all that matters:)

So, in a nutshell, that's me. If you'd like to email me, I'd love to hear from you! Our email is bryceandkristen@gmail.com

I'm so happy Ashley is letting me be a part of her dream. I just love that girl:)

Jenny and Brad {e session}

2009-07-22T11:43:00.013-05:00

Aaah, another set of love birds:)

Jenny is Nathan's cousin and I was so pumped when I was asked to photograph their big day! This engagement session was super fun!! Jenny was totally comfortable in front of the camera and she was so easy to work with. Brad took a little longer to warm up to the camera, but hey, let's face it...guys always need a little more coaching, right? :) The session flowed beautifully and the love they have for each other is beautiful, just like the two of them.

To start the day, we headed to downtown Muskogee, one of my favorite spots for a funky, architectural backdrop. After our jaunt through downtown, we headed south to the family ranch in Warner.

Jenny and Brad are such a colorful pair, and their bubbly personalities totally shine through in their photos. I think that red hair of Jenny's is definitely an outward expression of her vibrant spirit!! It is so obvious how happy these two are, which made the session even more enjoyable for me:)

Stay tuned for photos of their July 18th nuptials!

Meet Emma

2009-05-20T15:56:00.002-05:00

13 days old:

precious little family:
and a baby makes three:

love this one we got with dad:
just look at all this hair...

Dan and Ashley

2009-05-20T15:22:00.007-05:00

date: 04.25.09
church: First Baptist Church, Muskogee OK
reception: Muskogee Country Club
flowers: Jodi from Black Velvet (website coming soon)
event coordination & design: Ceremonial Blessings
cake: mallory's mud pies- Tulsa
catering: Cowboys BBQ
hair: Ko @ Salon Secrets Muskogee
makeup: all about hair Muskogee

details:

the day started with brunch with a few lovely ladies:

then hair:

always on the go
and my favorite picture of ashley :)

getting dressed:

beautiful church:

the guests arrive:

they say I DO!
and they lived happily ever after...

sneakpeak...

2009-05-11T18:33:00.004-05:00

Meet Mysha & Jonathan. They are perfect for each other. Just take a look and you'll see...

brylee's first birthday!

2009-04-30T10:44:00.006-05:00

i can not believe how fast life passes us by. a year ago this month sweet little brylee was born. here she is on her first daynow look at what a difference a year makes....

here are some of my favorites from my first studio session with brylee. OH what A day :)

and here are her super duper cute birthday party invites.....

front:
back:

meet owen. 5 days old

2009-04-08T17:23:00.003-05:00

Congrats to Ginny and Donny. This little guy is an angel. He was so calm and slept almost the whole time. I am looking forward to watching this guy grow up.

here is my favorite so far. he is so perfect it took my breath away. so fresh :)

kristen + bryce= one

2009-03-17T16:56:00.005-05:00

well after 7 years together....its official

Mr. & Mrs. Thompson

their day was absolutely beautiful and im so thankful to kristen for being my biggest fan. she has been so supportive of me taking this leap of faith and ill always think back to us meeting at my wedding almost 3 years ago. my favorite thing is that not only is she beautiful but she isnt afraid to give away compliments {which i believe is what makes you MORE beautiful}. she doesnt hold back. and i love her for that.

while kristen and bryce are on their honeymoon i thought id give family and friends a little sneakpeak.

more to come soon!!

kristen's bridals.

2009-03-16T13:43:00.003-05:00

Kristen & Bryce are married!!
Ill be posting a sneak peak soon :)

ive been super excited to post these BUT had to wait till it was official!

Kristen was a stunning bride.
this was a real mink- passed on from a great-family member. she rocked it well!
so cool, calm, and collected!!!

this one is a favorite! shows her true simple beauty.

2009-03-05T10:20:00.002-06:00

stumbled onto this information and thought it might help someone

link:

What Is Custom Photography?

February 27th, 2008 by admin

The photographic art you choose to place on your wall is ultimately the result of the vision of the photographer. This vision, coupled with what you wear to your session, the environment, the lighting, even the mood the subjects are in at the time of photographing creates the work that you will want to proudly display on your walls forevermore.

Your first step in the process is more about determining who you are, who your family is and then seeking a photographer that reflects your style. For instance let’s say your family is extremely outdoorsy and loves playing on the beach. You start determining what style you like, browse through photography website portfolios and determine if any of the styles exhibited there would be a good fit with your life and family style. You have already determined that you should probably seek out a beach type photographer (that is if you live near a beach) and then begin narrowing the field down a bit.

Finally after a bit of internet research, you have narrowed it down to two photographers who do what seems like solid work, the sort of outdoor beach look you desire. It is now time to ask yourself: Do you like photographer A’s style over photographer B’s style? Is it because the people in the images of A’s style are having a great time and it seems very caught up in the moment vs. B photographer more posed, looking in the camera images? If this is a case, you probably like LIFESTYLE photography or perhaps even take it a step further and define your desired style as a PHOTOJOURNALISTIC photography style. The photographer you probably should choose is photographer A because their style is very similar to the style you desire.

What custom photography ultimately is all about is choice and experience (as in THE experience). Custom photography is about finding someone who will photograph your family, give you devoted 1:1 attention without worry of the next ‘in line’ or the feeling of a crowded portrait studio. A custom photographer will typically show you a fairly extensive gallery culled to only show the good images that meet the photographers’ creative sensibilities. Often the images are fully edited images-color corrected with blemishes and undereye circles removed. Custom photographers are also known as boutique studios, offering a range of products and unparalleled service. Think Lexus vs. Hyundai, think Nordstrom vs. WalMart.

Custom photography should have you, the client and your experience in mind.

Posted in What is Custom Photography | Comments Off

Why Does Custom Photography Cost More?

February 27th, 2008 by admin

Digital technology is brilliant. The digital revolution has brought amazing flexibility and amazing amounts of control for the photographer, the hobbyist, the professional, the amateur. With flexibility comes a price though. Camera equipment is still considerably more expensive when you factor in its’ lifespan, the need for additional resources for processing those images, the time it takes to get a usable image and the effort that goes into all of this.

Even though you pay $1.99 for a print at your local drugstore and paying for film is pretty much a thing of the past (although you still pay for memory) you may be wondering why you may pay upwards of $40, 50, 70, 90 for a custom photography print. Some photographers hear this statement every once in awhile:

"How in the world can you charge $60 for an 8×10 if it costs me less than $2 to print at the local drug store?"

The answer is multifaceted and has a lot to do with the time, aforementioned equipment costs, artistic vision and reputation of the photographer, expertise and the usual costs of running a legitimate business.

TIME of the CUSTOM PHOTOGRAPHER:

Approaching it from a time standpoint, for instance let’s imagine if you will that you have hired a photographer who has work that you love and that is travelling an hour to your on location session. TIme break down:

session prep time (30 mins - 1 hour, includes equipment and back up equipment checks + vehicle checks)
one hour travel time TO session
15-30 minutes prep time at client’s home
90 minutes-2 hours with client photographing subject
one hour travel time FROM session
30-45 minutes uploading time from digital cards from camera to computer
30-45 minutes time spent backing up the original images
2-5 hours editing time to present you with a diverse gallery of edited images
1 hour prep time getting ready for ordering
2-3 hours time with client for ordering images
1 hour sorting through and checking order
30 minutes-1 hour prep time for delivery
30 minutes-1 hour getting order shipped
any additional phone time or time needed for add on ordering, shipment issues, quality issues

As you can see, average client time for a session ranges from just under 13 hours to 19 hours dependent on the photographer’s level of service. This is time dedicated only to your session. When the photographer charges $150-$300 for the photo shoot you are not just paying for the two hours of session time, you are paying the photographer for 12-19 hours complete time for your session.

COSTS of the CUSTOM PHOTOGRAPHER:

Regarding equipment costs, a good quality professional camera with a selection of good optical quality lenses and digital storage mediums and computer set up can run from $10,000-$30,000 costs dependent on the photographer. Even though you can purchase a really good quality digital SLR for about $2100 there are still other costs related to photography. A good lens for portrait photography can run up $900 to $2500. A dependable computer system with software loaded for business and creative usage can run $2500 to $8000 dependent on the photographer.

Then come lab costs for specialty products. A good photographer knows the lab is integral to their success. Photography labs dedicated to the professional photographer often cost more and offer a range of products that allows the custom photographer to continually offer new, innovative products for you, the discerning client.

Discussion other costs of running a photography business could take awhile so we’ll skip the intricate details. There is of course much more: including costs of running the business, taxes, studio rental/mortgage if the photographer has ownership of a dedicated studio, vehicular costs, costs of advertising/marketing, costs of sample pieces that the photographer will likely bring to your session, etc.

APPLES to ORANGES:

Often times clients will mention to their photographer that X studio in the mall/department store only charges $25 for an 8×10 or they may mention other things related to discount photography chains. The fact is those discount chains make their money on volume, not on customized 1:1 service. According to several articles at the time, did you know that in February 2007 a rather well known discount department store that started in Arkansas closed down 500 of their portrait studios across the nation? The reason is simple, you cannot make money on 99¢ "professional" prints if you do not sell enough of them. Interestingly enough - those same studios that offer the loss leader packages often charge much much more for their a la carte pricing (as high as $40-50 for an 8×10). The whole reason the big department stores began offering portrait studios in the first place was to get you, the savvy consumer, in through their door so that you could spend more money with them in other departments. Your "PORTRAITS" are considered the true "loss leader".

Going to a chain studio, as a consumer, you don’t have the benefit of 1:1 attention for 2 hours at your home where your child is allowed to explore, play and be comfortable in their home environment, nor do you get the experience that many custom photographers are known for or the lovely captures of natural expressions. You simply get a bare bones, "SAY CHEESE" experience. Keep this in mind when selecting a photographer.

REPUTATION/EXPERTISE of the PHOTOGRAPHER:

Being in demand, being well known for quality work, having a good reputation often costs time on the photographer’s part. Their expertise comes at a cost, their time learning their craft and learning the intricacies of lighting and the commitment put forth on their end to create a persona about their business that oozes professionalism. A great number of photographers go a very long time from the time that they purchase their first good camera to making money at the business of photography. Many photographers, when first starting out, rush in thinking that the business will be easily profitable in no time, how expensive could it be to get a camera and use it to create their dream? They often neglect to factor in the cost of business, the cost of equipment, software, back ups, etc..

Being of sound reputation, a better professional photographer knows that they must always reinvest in their business to create the reputation of being top notch. To create good work good equipment, reliable equipment, back up equipment is a necessity. The photographer who desires to be known as better/best/unparalelled reputation-wise knows that the most important thing they can do for their business is reliability and dependability. This is how reputations get built. Good work often is a wonderful side product of building that good reputation.

I hope this (lengthy) article helps shed some light on WHY a custom photographer is a better choice for your family’s memories. The photographs that are produced as a result of the professionalism and dedication that your photographer has will be cherished for a lifetime (or more) and great thought and consideration should be placed into hiring who is right for your family’s most precious investment.

content is inspired by discussions with other photographers, my own personal experiences as well as a well an outline based on an article by San Diego Photographers Caught On Film Photography

Posted in Custom Photography Costs | Comments Off

Why Choose Custom Photography

February 26th, 2008 by admin

Custom Photography as something "special"

Custom photography is more of a luxury than your entry level cookie cutter chain experience. Custom photography truly is not for everyone, it requires a level of commitment, investment in time and money, forethought and planning on the part of the subject/client and requires a larger time commitment for the photographer as well.

Clients who enjoy taking a more active role in the creation of their families’ memories have the desire to have portrait art that is truly personalized. These more discerning clients have been known to budget and allot time for a custom photography session. Many clients opt for it to be a once a year special experience, some opt to have custom photography sessions done to record their child’s stages in life. Having said this, it is clear that custom photography is not in everyone’s budget, it is something that most families save for to splurge on from time to time to memorialize their children as they really are (not posed and primped in the cookie cutter studio setting).

There is a great deal of time involved in creating high end custom photography sessions for a client. The luxury of great service, better choices and a supberb end product. The result of all this are heirloom quality images. The time invested at the session is only a small portion of time involved in this process.

Custom photography has been likened to purchasing a fine vehicle. To get to point B from A let’s face it, even a bus ride would suffice. If you want to luxuriate in a finely appointed vehicle, customizing your own experience by listening to smooth jazz while sitting in a climate controlled setting adjusted purely for your comfort in a body hugging leather interior, perhaps that Lexus you so desire is your cup of tea. Custom photography is much the same cup of tea. It is the Lexus of the photography world. It is where the intangibles make the experience truly wonderful and the images themselves make the investment of money and time truly worthwhile.

Custom photography can be broken down into even more levels. There are on location, studio, mixed studio/on location, specialty location and destination type photographers. The beauty of custom photography is in the choices and in the luxury of thoses options. The customized service level you are sure to experience will be amazing. The knowledge that your final images are the result of someone caring about those moments so much that they take extra time ensuring that the artwork you receive is good enough to stand by with their name on it. That level of quality and commitment is all but lost in the age of "mass produced," "mass marketed," corporate "everyone is a number". Custom photography is based on being unique to you. How great an experience would be, to be able to sit back and allow a photographer to do this highly custom work for images that you will most likely cherish for a lifetime?

Keep in mind more than anything that the Lexus will never appreciate in value the way your portraits will. The portrait art you become invested in from your custom photographer will no doubt increase in value and become more priceless as the years pass.

OMG!

2009-03-03T10:44:00.003-06:00

someone by this!

im in love. but trying to be good.

find it here

awww!

2009-03-02T18:50:00.003-06:00

arnt these two adorable?! we had our session yesterday and well it was FREEZING. somewhere around 40something degrees. burr. BUT youd never know, RIGHT?

i am so excited for their wedding in june. brandy is an up and coming event planner and is pulling out all kinds of fabulous details. i am seriously soooooo excited. really its all about the details!

more to come later this week......

look who came to visit me!

2009-02-24T17:14:00.001-06:00

i seriously love this little man. you might remember him from here

2009-02-21T15:44:00.003-06:00

just doing my daily blog reading and found this video and im thankful. its something i needed to see

created by zack arias

a family who laughs together- stays together :)

2009-02-20T16:56:00.001-06:00

a family who laughs together- stays together :), originally uploaded by ashleyTHOMPSON.

how fun is this?!

love affair

2009-02-20T11:05:00.003-06:00

something i really really really really want to do is......

the super cool/talented/adorable girls just announced the new workshop July 28th-30th. and id love to go. everyone cross their little fingers. im hoping to go this year :)

here is some link love for you: LOVE

all you need is love

2009-02-19T12:44:00.010-06:00

im not sure anyone is reading this HOWEVER if there is someone fabulous- i would LOVE to share this amazing blog with you.

besides having a extra cool name- like ashley- she is so talented. she is a photographer, designer, wife, and mother.
meet ashley

her stuff always inspires me...

jenn's whole branding: WOW! talk about powerful. its so simple and fresh. love love

i love her honesty. and i can relate at times :)

and watch her opie grow....
i LOVE his cute expressions...

isnt he adorable?!

dont you LOVE her work?

its true. i do smile even in my sleep.

2009-02-18T09:27:00.004-06:00

its easy to get lost but when i received this email it just reminded me of how good life is...

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile.
It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
Buy a lock if you have to.

3. Buy a Tivo (DVR), tape your late night shows and get more sleep.

4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement,
"My purpose is to ___________ today."

5. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, Empathy.

6. Watch more movies, play more games and read more books than you did
in 2007.

7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, tai chi, qigong and prayer.
They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.

8. Spend more time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of
6.

9. Dream more while you are awake.

10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less foods
that are manufactured in plants.

11. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan
salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

13. Clear your clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new
flowing energy into your life.

14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues
of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead
invest your energy in the positive present moment.

15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems
are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra
class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a
college kid with a maxed out charge card.

17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.

18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

22. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their
journey is all about.

24. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, and wear the fancy lingerie.
Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years,
will this matter?"

27. Forgive everyone everything.

28. What other people think of you is none of your business.

29. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

30. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick.
Your friends will. Stay in touch.

32. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

33. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

34. The best is yet to come.

35. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

36. Do the right thing!

37. Call your mother and father often.

38. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements:
"I am thankful for __________." Today I accomplished _________.

39. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

40. Enjoy the ride. you only have one ride so remember to make the most of it.

and because every post is better with a photo...
this is me and nathan on our flight home from gernada. the island was beautiful and i hope we get to go back soon.
meet my snuggle bug. its ture. i do smile even in my sleep.

day one

2009-02-17T09:42:00.003-06:00

sung as a bug in a rug :) i have my mac, coffee and pandora- im set! there is still lots to do to get this place perfect but i love guests and want you to come see me. im downtown on 3rd- call if you need help finding the place. im a tiny bit hidden!

my new goal is to blog every morning.
so here is my first one from the new place

newbie

2009-02-07T13:37:00.002-06:00

im now a member of professional photographers of america. :)
happy saturday!

san diego

2009-01-30T23:00:00.002-06:00

tonight i tried out the imovie on my mac. wow! it was so easy to create this. i think it took me longer to upload to vimeo than to make this video BUT i hope you enjoy. this is from our girls trip this summer to san diego. {we loved it and want to go back soon!}

summer in san diego from ashley thompson on Vimeo.

love

something cool

2009-01-28T17:47:00.004-06:00

just found something very cool from photojojo

i can see these being very useful in a small modern space. and there are endless options!

now i just have to decide how many to buy :)

happy wednesday!!

my favorite image, ever.

2009-01-04T00:45:00.001-06:00

my favorite image, ever., originally uploaded by ashleyTHOMPSON.

i almost cried. i want to get this in the biggest canvas they make :)

hope you like it too!

i love starbucks {at home}

2008-12-28T22:47:00.001-06:00

i love starbucks {at home}, originally uploaded by ashleyTHOMPSON.

do you think its bad to get so excited about making coffee at home? is this a sign of the early stages of addiction?

my favorite photo, yet.

2008-12-28T22:26:00.001-06:00

the last photo, originally uploaded by ashleyTHOMPSON.

it was over 100 degrees outside and it was the last photo i took from a two hour session. when i got home and uploaded the images- this photo made me smile.

happiness

2008-12-27T11:37:00.003-06:00

happiness , originally uploaded by ashleyTHOMPSON.

Albert Camus:

You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life.

this reminds me of beckers theme motto. just [b]

zade

2008-12-27T11:06:00.003-06:00

here are a few favorites from zade's first session. he did perfect. he ate, slept and used his diapers. he is such a handsome little guy, so it was a great session. congratulations to brette & joey- he is so sweet.

IMG_0148, originally uploaded by ashleyTHOMPSON.

now, i can introduce you to zade's big sister, zoe. she loves the camera so it was a blast to run around the house and let her pose. isnt she adorable?

yes, i am alive!

2008-11-12T21:04:00.002-06:00

1. Ashley Olsen, 2. CHINESS HEART, 3. Jenks High School, Oklahoma, 4. rainbow, 5. Jack Johnson 8, 6. Signature Diet Coke, 7. Somewhere far beyond, 8. ice cream diptych.jpg, 9. My life: mama, wife & photographer, 10. Closer than close, 11. 20/365- All You Need Is LOVE, 12. Westvaco Inspirations 210 : Design by Bradbury Thompson

1. what is your first name? ashley

2. what is your favorite food? chinese

3. what high school did you go to? jenks

4. what is your favorite color? spring green, pink, baby blue...the list goes on

5. who is your celebrity crush? jack johnson

6. favorite drink? diet coke. coffee too!

7. dream vacation? Switzerland

8. favorite dessert? ice cream and espresso

9. what you want to be when you grow up? the best mother, wife and photographer i can be :)

10. what do you love most in life? snuggling with little miss ellie

11. one word to describe you. LOVE love LOVE

12. your flickr name (or your blog name or handle or whatever): thompson

to make your own:

type your answer to each of the questions above into flickr search.

using only the first page, pick an image

copy and paste each of the url's for the images into mosaic maker

when finished, save to your computer to upload to your post.

need a new pair of shoes?

2008-10-21T22:42:00.003-05:00

you should check out toms .... besides being comfortable they have an amazing cause!

For each shoe purchased they donate one to a child in africa. they have already donated over 10,000 shoes so far since 2006 and the goal for 08 is to donate over 200,000 with their ONE for ONE movement. isnt that awesome?! i think we should all help out!

check out my favorites and tell me me which one to buy :)

which one will you get?

{green ones}
{polka dots}
{be the change}

busy

2008-10-15T21:26:00.010-05:00

Main Entry:: ¹busy
Pronunciation:: \ˈbi-zē\
Function:: adjective
Inflected Form(s):: busi·er; busi·est
Etymology:: Middle English bisy, from Old English bisig; akin to Middle Dutch & Middle Low German besich busy
Date:: before 12th century

1 a: engaged in action : occupied b: being in use busy>

however, im still disappointed. i want to blog every day. so here i go.

thoughts of christmas shopping are already running around my head. so ive been on the look out for unique gifts {because a thoughtful gift is the best kind} and here are some thoughts....

from paper source: the coolest wall ART calendar EVER.

for the planners in your life. this is the sexiest planner i have ever seen. this one is from mom agenda

its seems like the smaller something is the cuter! check out these baby shoes on kuttin up @ etsy

how do you like my second baby announcement?
isnt she precious?!

josh+ shelby = one

2008-09-24T23:00:00.003-05:00

9.20.08
here is my first wedding, EVER! wow what an experience...seriously the next day i felt like i had been hit by a train but after a quick edit im completely blown away with these. hope josh and shelby agrees :)

dont bows make everything pretty?
deep thoughts...
a little tear.
wow. i love this one
mr. and mrs. andrews
my assistant
ok this is my favorite! two seconds is all it takes.
first dance

which is your favorite?

quote of the day

2008-09-21T22:26:00.004-05:00

during my normal blog reading i came across this quote from simplicity photography and was quiet impressed. i love quotes.

“Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” - Steve Jobs

isnt michelle adorable?! i missed her bridal shower today but was thinking about her and how much fun we had in austin. good times. here is her last fling photo :)

favorite wedding hair EVER!

2008-09-15T22:13:00.003-05:00

so i know on my wedding day- the hair was a BIG deal :)

im sure i cant be alone on this one, so i wanted to post a few photos i found (from a fabulous photographer by the way) named drewb she is from orange county and ive been a blog stalker ever since i found her on jessica' s blog. they are both huge inspirations!!

this link will take you to blog entry but here are my favorites....

dont forget to go check out her blog!! its FABULOUS :)

krew {sneakpeak}

2008-09-12T22:05:00.005-05:00

ladies get ready! krew is going to steal your heart...

this little heart throb is only 14 months and he can already run!! me and his parents had fun trying to keep up with him during our session but no worries we still had a blast!

kelly- hope you love these images. here are a few of my favorite from the session... and the proofbook will be here early next week!

love

ashley

photo of the day

2008-09-10T21:27:00.003-05:00

i found this on beckers blog and think its the truest statement EVER. holla if you agree :)

i believe

2008-09-09T22:17:00.002-05:00

A Birth Certificate shows that we were born.

A Death Certificate shows that we died.

Pictures show that we lived!

Have a seat . . . Relax . . . And read this slowly.

I Believe...

That just because two people argue,

Doesn't mean they don't love each other.

And just because they don't argue,

Doesn't mean they do love each other.

I Believe...

That we don't have to change friends if

We understand that friends change.

I Believe...

That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every

once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I Believe...

That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance.

Same goes for true love.

I Believe...

That you can do something in an instant

That will give you heartache for life.

I Believe...

That it's taking me a long time

To become the person I want to be.

I Believe...

That you should always leave loved ones with

Loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I Believe...

That you can keep going long after you think you can't.

I Believe...

That we are responsible for what

We do, no matter how we feel.

I Believe...

That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I Believe...

That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to

be done, regardless of the consequences.

I Believe...

That money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I Believe...

That my best friend and I can do anything, or nothing, and have the best
time.

I Believe...

That sometimes the people you expect to kick you When you're down,

will be the ones to help you get back up.

I Believe...

That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry,

But that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I Believe...

That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've

had, And what you've learned from them.....and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

I Believe...

That it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others.

Sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I Believe...

That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I Believe...

That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are,

But we are responsible for who we become.

I Believe...

That you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life Forever.

I Believe...

Two people can look at the exact same thing and

see something totally different.

I Believe...

That your life can be changed in a matter of

Hours by people who don't even know you.

I Believe...

That even when you think you have no more to give, if

A friend cries out to you........you will find the strength to help.

I Believe...

That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I Believe...

That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of

everything; They just make the most of everything.

whoa!

2008-09-04T00:02:00.002-05:00

bad day turns amazing....

my husband has been trying to find me a wii fit since ohhhhhh june i think. well he finally found one and surprized me today. and i needed it :)

also, if you do know about the website you are seriously missing out. save it. share it.

presents heaven

2008-09-01T22:19:00.003-05:00

for those of you who use lightroom i thought id share an amazing website heather shared on her blog today...this is where you can find amazing- free and fabulous presents!!!

happy labor day!

jordan

2008-08-17T23:36:00.003-05:00

its late sunday night and i should be going to bed but i have to post this sneak peak for jordan! our session was so much fun- and im in love with all photos.

relaxing in the hammock...

isnt she gorgeous?!

hands down my favorite photo EVER!! i hope they pick this one (hint hint) i think it would look amazing as a huge canvas on the wall by the stairs :)

and she told herself not hearts....love to will

the proud parents!!

jordan and john! thanks for trusting me with your photos and i hope you like your sneakpeak- you should get your proofbook next week!

kelsey & mikey

2008-08-17T21:03:00.003-05:00

this song completely reminds me of these two love birds...so feel free to press play, enjoy the sneak peak and leave some blog love!

its easy to see these two adore each other. kelsey is loud and her laugh is completely contagious and mikey is the nicest, most polite, rock star i have ever met!
our session was a blast- i didnt want to stop shooting :)

no worries kelsey, i will post the storyboard soon!

family sunday

2008-08-17T20:37:00.004-05:00

look who brightened my day today...

lots of personality :)

allie

2008-08-12T20:18:00.007-05:00

hello world!
meet allie hine

she is outgoing, charming and freakin adorable. she is 6 and enjoying every second. she has great style and already knows what she wants at starbucks!! thats my girl :)

hope you enjoy her sneakpeak...more to come soon!

she loves her bike and her animals (even the virtual ones!!)

here are her proud parents :)
this is going to look awesome in their new house- dont you think?

and as a side note.....

i have to pass on any great finds.
during our shoot a million mosquitoes!!! well ashley (allie's mom) had the best secret. she sent me home with this little box and as soon as i got home i took a bath....and im in love!

its only $2.99 from walgreens and is seriously the best product! its good for aches, sprains, stings....im sure the list goes on. but i have to warn you - one bath and you'll be hooked :)

ryker

2008-08-07T17:38:00.003-05:00

he is only 2 1/2 months and is already melting hearts :)

i used the new totally rad action set....which you should buy right now. i LOVE LOVE LOVE the actions and they make photos more fun (i promise)

i have 2-3 sessions scheduled a week for the next few months so come back and visit soon to see all the sneak peaks and leave some LOVE

Brenli

2008-08-04T13:43:00.003-05:00

this little girl can't take a bad picture! it would be impossible :)

we had her session last saturday and although it was supper hot (over 100 degrees!!) she looks ADORABLE in every single picture. check out the very last one from the session...

thank you candi and april for being awesome help during the session. i cant wait to show you the rest!!

its never to early...

2008-08-02T15:29:00.002-05:00

i know it seems crazy to think about christmas cards right now (its 104 degress today by the way) BUT decemeber will be here before we know it. and besides custom cards are SOOOO cool!

here are two samples from a session i just completed last week. i just LOVE how they turned out.

p.s. my next session available is OCT 4 so be sure to contact me asap to schedule your session.

new products coming your way....

2008-07-30T20:58:00.003-05:00

a sorority sister asked me to create this for a friends wedding and i completely LOVED searching for letters out of nature....anyways if your interested send me a message or an email @ adtphoto@gmail.com

10x20......mounted $65
10x30......mounted $96
12x24......mounted $99

you know your fun when you laugh at this...

2008-07-30T20:56:00.001-05:00

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

i found this at blog wreckless- be sure to check her out!!

jacob & april

2008-07-28T21:13:00.003-05:00

sneak peak!!

this session was so much fun and i know april is dying to see the proof book but to hold her over i made a storyboard. arnt these are the coolest - best idea in the WHOLE world!?

THANK YOU april and jacob for letting me get hot and sweaty with you and capturing all the excitement and love that is between you two. you two are hilarious together and i hope you smile everytime you look at these photos. although i dont want jacob to go back to iraq i cant wait for april to come back to work!!
ill be looking forward to jacob coming home for good

happy monday

:)

2008-07-23T22:44:00.004-05:00

i have never been so excited to see a little brown box before in my life. my flash arrived today!!! due to sonic cameras lame backorder for 6-8 weeks i choose to use Abe's of Maine instead and im super happy with my choice! their website is super easy, they process the order quick...and best of all no silly surprises! i plan on reading the manual as i fall asleep tonight but thought i should at least post ONE picture. so here is it...the first thing that caught my attention- a mini ellie! go figure :)

my first photo with my 580...

is that soft light beautiful?! just kidding. not exactly sure about the settings but im going to practice with april and jacob tomorrow. i can not wait for their session. april works with me at dr. hine's office as a hygienist and her husband just got back from iraq monday. since they have never had wedding or engagement photos- we decided tomorrow would be a perfect day for a LOVE session. ill be excited to see what a difference it makes with my flash.

before i go to bed i have to show you my favorites from noah's session. he should be a model for baby gap with those eyes, those curls and that perfect pout!

precious little family
always safe in daddy's arms

LOVE this expression...

curious little boys are so adorable :)

which one is your favorite?

dont worry if you cant pick one...

2008-07-22T22:50:00.003-05:00

i love storyboards....not only because you get to pick your favorite photos and put them all together but because they are so much FUN! check out my first session back from last fall of my best friend megan and her husband chris. this could be favorite session of all time....and im so excited to let all of you know they are expecting their first child due christmas day- you will be seeing megan's prego session soon :)

either way this is a 8x10 storyboard i bought from pinkink and it was on SALE! so go check it out...i would love to see what you create from your favorite session (melinda!)

how was everyones tuesday? i had a fabulous day. went to work early (hard to get up but so worth getting off early @4) picked up miss ellie from the vet ( she has to get dipped every so offen due to a little mite that she was born with...aka red mange. sounds scary but thats why you should always get your puppies from a breeder who is qualified but thats another story) and then got my nails done. ill post a picture tomorrow- they are so cute

can you guess......

two words :)

polka dots!

happy sunday

2008-07-20T20:26:00.009-05:00

yesterday was a busy day- it was filled with a few photography sessions, a baby shower, even a little time to shop and visit with my family.

the first session was with Jackie- who is due in august with her and justin's second child. Julie will be here in less than 6 weeks and I cant wait to meet her! Anyways, we started the session in a field (filled with cigars)
although you cant see her belly here you can see the glow. this girl ROCKS at being prego!
then we went back to get the boys and went fishing...

then a baby shower!!

and i even made jackie pose after for a little belly action...

then i met up with melinda, jared & noah at mohaw park for a mini session
it was late in the afternoon and noah had a rough day. on top of not getting his nap- he also got stung by a bee AND bit his tongue! even though it was a tough day....we did manage to get a smile....

happy sunday!
love
love
love
ashley

are you serious?!

2008-07-16T17:50:00.001-05:00

Dear ashley thompson,

Unfortunately we are currently oversold on the item you have ordered, and it is currently on a backorder for 6-8 weeks. Therefore, your order has been canceled. Please note, your credit card has not been charged.

Your cancellation number is: _____The email address that you provided to us has been added to our "Notify List" and we will notify you as soon as the product becomes available.

How Does Our "Notify List" Work? Once the product you ordered comes back in stock, we will email you to notify you that your item is back in stock. If you which to re-place your order you may do so by clicking on the link which will be in the email.

Please accept our personal and sincere apology for any inconvenience you experienced with this order.

We know that you have many options for your camera/photo needs. We appreciate that you selected Sonic Cameras.com, which prides itself on superior products and services, and we are sorry that we were not able to meet your needs in this instance.
If there is any additional assistance we can provide, please feel free to email us.

Sincerely,
Shipping Department.

marvelous monday

2008-07-14T23:03:00.003-05:00

i just bought my flash! i am so excited :)
i seriously have had dreams about this little guy and hope it arrives before saturday....
everyone cross your fingers please?!

by the way is ANYONE reading this? there have been O comments...where is the love?

natalia

2008-07-13T03:09:00.006-05:00

meet natalia! she is one of my sorority sisters and favorite friends. i love her and her amazing laugh. we always seem to find trouble but i wouldnt change any of those crazy moments we have shared together. she is exactly what i need and its true....i love her like a fat kid loves cake.
did someone say angela jolie?

wordle

2008-07-13T00:43:00.001-05:00

create something fun @ wordle.net

a new look.....

2008-07-07T21:49:00.006-05:00

so its been a LONG time since ive posted....anything. boo!

but its monday and im feeling a little inspired after checking out this cool template by madeline
it is just what i needed after a long beautiful vacation. check back sometime this week because i will be posting fun pictures from san diego with my 4 favorite girlfriends.

id love to hear about everyones 4th of july and see photos.
check out this awesome blog....MCP actions if amazing and you are bound to learn something cool everyday :)

for the 4th she gave away a FREE template...check it out

here is my favorite shots from the weekend and my handy point and shoot...

just a little housekeeping...

2008-04-10T22:28:00.003-05:00

the good news:

ive been giving out cards like their candy and im ready to upgrade to UV coated business cards :)

which is such a luxury!! Just sent in my order to white house- cant wait to see them in real life but here is an idea.

front

back
im hoping this is moving me closer to getting my "image" together :)

Jacob

2008-04-09T22:52:00.004-05:00

this was my second senior session....EVER! and i had a blast! jacob is my cousin so there was NO PRESSURE or anything but he is super laid back and extremely easy to photograph. So honestly i had a blast doing this session and cant wait to see which picture is his favorite.

here are my favs:

he loves his cows
LOVE this one. his shirt. the yellow building. and that little smirk :)
look at those eyes
his front yard view
isnt every senior on top of the world?
hay + barbwire = last hurrah ranch
the fence to his house- another favorite
jacob is very good with guns- extremely good. so it only made sense to get a picture with his favorite. and i want you all to know there were NO bullets inside the gun while taking these :)

its crazy. i am not a risk taker but for that photograph i have in my mind- i will do just about anything!

hope you enjoyed those. i would love to hear critiques, comments or compliments!!!

happy HUMP day

meet ellie

2008-04-05T13:22:00.007-05:00

“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.” -Josh Billings

my love bug. snuggle buddy. best friend. makes me laugh out loud. loves to go.

reminds me that life doesnt have to be so serious.

what a wonderful day

2008-03-11T22:41:00.003-05:00

tonight i won my first photo contest! i am beyond stoked!

it was my first contest to enter and it was a photograph that i loved the second i looked at it. although...megan and chris thought i was nuts it turned out fabulous.

what do you think?

editing

2008-03-09T22:40:00.006-05:00

today was beautiful. 70 degrees and sunny!!!

it was a perfect day for some photos with jackie, justin and jaxon. it was awesome to spend some time with this adorable family.

this one made me laugh. isnt he precious?!

more to come tomorrow...

project yellow

2008-03-08T22:30:00.008-06:00

today was great!

i woke up

ate breakfast

showered

and

grabbed my camera and drove around this little town looking for anything yellow.

however, there were some sad moments today. i found lots of animals who shouldnt be living where i found them. horrible living conditions to say the least. which makes me wonder why in the world someone would want a pet if they couldnt give them the kinda of life they deserve. how do these people sleep at night?!

not sure if its a boy or girl

but

either way completely stole my heart.

these little goats were adorable. i found myself laughing out loud at their funny sounds

so besides the sad stuff...

it was fun to drive around (in circles) discovering this town

i found beauty in strange places and it was fun. refreshing really.

can everyone to tell me their 2 favorites?

i will be entering them in muskogee's shutterbug photo contest on tuesday (and cant pick)

hope everyone had a refreshing saturday, enjoy!

there is a country song about this...

number one

number two

number three

number four

number five

number six

number seven

number eight

number nine

number ten

pretty blues...

2008-02-07T00:55:00.000-06:00

tonight i played with some messy brushes (in the background) i also did some dodging and burning and sharping the eyes. this little picture doesnt show much- it looks amazing on my 24 in imac monitor but i hope you can at least see some quality!

after getting my iphone ive decided to upload some photography podcasts to learn while im stuck somewhere...and my favorite so far is photoshop killer tips by matt kloskowski. they are the fastest, coolest, best tricks everyone can learn and use. this site will lead you to the freebies but goodies...

hope this helps at least one person...

wishful thinking :)

thanks to holly!!!

2008-02-05T23:22:00.000-06:00

holly from pink ink studios is amazing!

if you havn't checked out that fabulous shoppe your missing out and here is the link to her blog

which you should check out NOW!

here is the madness of my fun * my first storyboard *

these are my besties from the wedding this last weekend. it completely does an awesome job of showing our personalities (which is the point i suppose)

hope you like.

Congrats to Keli and Matt!!!

2008-02-04T22:38:00.002-06:00

the rehearsal dinner spot

precious little baby

my favorite from the entire weekend. they are so happy in love and it shows :)

thanks again keli for my fabulous bag!! i LOVE it

i love keli. words are not coming right now to describe our friendship but organic. (weird i know) but its real. i trust her with my heart and soul. she accepts me and even on my cranky days she makes me smile. i would do anything for this girl and was honored she asked me to be apart of her special day. i know matt makes her feel like the most important woman in the world because of how she radiates- its almost magical and i am so happy for her to have found that someone.

i could go on and on but im going to post my favorite and the rest will be my myspace.

BFF for LIFE...

little MRS. personality

the guys

tango?!

fun fun fun

Happy Birthday!!!

2008-01-31T20:22:00.000-06:00

little late but hey its cool.

here are the favorites from nathan and bert's bday

gifts

nathan's pirate

the funny cake his uncle made. it was hilarious. this cake was a girl with cupcakes as the ta-ta's and had a peppermint bikini bottom. very creative :)

my favorite. bert making her wish

WRINKLES (the queen of the house)

bert assembling the veggie sticks

dont they look yummy?! they were

you have no idea how rare a smile like this comes along. id say :once in a blue moon:

this is more like a :normal: face for charlie

birthdays are great. even better when spent with family (i believe)
so cheers! heres to another year

catching up...

2008-01-31T19:54:00.001-06:00

today was a beautiful day. i had this AMAZING sense of peace that felt like an incredible high

ill give you the highlights:

had a really good interview this morning and was called back (an hour later) for another next week. which means they like me, i hope

it snowed. not just any snow. picture perfect HUGE fluffy flakes (sorry no pictures)

went to lunch with my husband today. which was a nice surprise.

went tanning and got a pedi. which was even more of a surprise

recieved a gift. something that made my heart smile

made up with my mother. sometimes we are so much alike it kills me

got off work early

and the thing im most excited about....leaving tomorrow for houston for my best friends wedding!!!!! words cant describe how much im looking forward to seeing my favorite sorority sisters (whom live in denver, wichita, tulsa, and of course houston) so im praying for our flights to be on time and everyone to travel safely and make sure to check back to see some of my favorites!

i love photoshop

2008-01-31T00:12:00.001-06:00

i do realize that i only know a small speck of knowledge when it comes to photoshop - but geez i am having so much fun learning and playing. this should be wrong :)

here is my piece for tonight

if you havnt already meet brittany and ellie, here is your chance. Brittany is my fabulous sister-in-law who got me the awesome canvas of ellie for christmas.

isnt it adorable?! i know if your an animal lover you will want one for yourself!

check out rebecca's amazing talent at www.artpaw.com

wedding fun...

2008-01-30T23:24:00.000-06:00

here are a few (late) pictures from my husbands best friend wedding in kansas city january 20th. it was a beautiful wedding - and it was a blast to enjoy!
although the food, wine, music and cake were fabulous i think this wedding shows that...

what comes from the heart, touches the heart

i think he was a little nervous

he eyes lit up when he saw her

thousands of pictures where being taken at this exact moment...

first dance

always a momma boy

the tiny details that are priceless...

love*love*love

fun with new brushes...

2008-01-29T22:49:00.000-06:00

i owe donna a BIG thank you! her blog is always an inspiration!!! if you havnt already you should check it out (right now)

donnadowney.typepad.com/simply_me/2008/01/digikit---snaps.html

i love the whimsey look of flourishes- and after reading her blog i decided to give it a whirl.....i used this FREE brush from brusheezy (which is my new favorite web site)

www.brusheezy.com/brush/341-Floral-Swirl

and here is my first project (at almost 11 listening to my new cd by sara bareilles when i should be sleeping)

wish me luck...i have an interview tomorrow :)

i couldnt get the link to show up when i posted the blog (any suggestions would be awesome!) so i just left it old school

playin at work....

2008-01-18T16:38:00.000-06:00

today was super fun! since i work at a medical spa i often indulge in little things called CHEMICAL PEELS :)

everyone freaks when i tell them this but really my face never feels so good. it just glows...and glows!!

so here is a little picture from my iphone that me and jayden took today while i was waiting to take the peel off- have a good laugh, we did!

i have to share the little words of wisdom my calander shared with me today. this is what inspired me today. it says "give thanks for those generous spirits who take ordinary moments and make them shine. " a few photographers come to mind :)

wine + hair color = FUN!!!

2008-01-17T21:33:00.000-06:00

i got my cosmetology license back in high school and have been doing my friends and family ever since.
well tonight, megan and i decided it would be fun to have a few glasses of wine after a stressful day at work and fix these little gray hairs sneekin up on her :)

who knows if there are words to describe how good red wine can be....and yes that is pizza!!

getting the creative juice flowin....

thanks to megan for helping me unwind after a horribly LONG week at work and reminding me how thankful i am for a friend like her. LIOB

its late and i should be sleeping...

2008-01-11T00:25:00.001-06:00

but i had to tell you about my crazy day!

this afternoon i asked for a raise at my day job and was gracefully declined. my boss has been avoiding this conversation for about 6 months so although im disappointed- its everything i expected! so im off to look another job since photography isn't paying our bills (yet!) and i know this sounds like a bummer-but really i feel so good about it. its not on bad terms-its just im over qualified for the job really. ive meet some amazing people and i know that ill still keep the friends ive made so its really just a great opportunity for me to move on to bigger and better!

so after work i managed to get my SUV out of the shop, returned my rental car AND get pulled over (going 50ish in a 35) all within ONE hour today. the good news is the cop said it was MY LUCKY DAY! it truly it was, there is no way i could afford a speeding ticket. which means i shouldnt be speeding but you know easy it is to do...when your late right?

i have no idea what picture to post because i havnt touched my camera today....so ill pick one that makes me happy. its my husband, nathan. im missing him at the moment and cant wait for him to get back :)

everyone has a first...

2008-01-09T20:32:00.000-06:00

hello everyone!!! hope everyone had a great day! my wednesdays are always long because its my late day at the medical spa. although it was a long day i was still productive- i updated all my links on the side under "my inspiration" so check those out and show them some LOVE :)

today i wanted to show you my FIRST favorite picture. this is sophia (the boxer i had in college) and she was very photogenic so it was super easy to get an awesome picture of her. i might be biased but i thought this one could of been the cover to any dog magazine! im not giving up hope, i think it could still be!

welcome...

2008-01-08T21:16:00.000-06:00

to my first blog! im very excited that you came to check out my new blog! i hope you will come back often. this will be somewhat of a personal journal and photo blog to document my growth not only as a person but also as a photographer.

i would love to hear comments from everyone who visits! so please dont be shy...

laughter, smiles and love are my FAVORITE things in life and really the whole reason im choosing to a career in photography. a picture is really boring without any of those emotions involved so thats why to start out my blog i have to pick this one.

everytime i see this picture i just cant help but get giddy!