Amanda came in from Dallas this week for me to take her senior pictures (wow, what a great compliment, thank you) and we went to Kickapoo Airport to take them!  Her and her mom had it all planned out and I loved all their ideas.  Amanda isn’t anything like I was when I was 17…she flies planes and is graduating in November in an accelerated program!  She is beautiful, so fun to be around, and has such great reflexes…she didn’t even hurt herself when she fell off the plane!…oh, to be 17 again!  We had a great time, even in the wind.  Hope you like them.

I always enjoy my time with these two.  They are so stinkin’ cute, so FUNNY and so SWEET to each other.  I am pretty sure I would take them home and keep them if their parents would allow it.  Thanks for another enjoyable hour together Villa family.  Can’t wait until next time!

I’ve got all kinds of fun appts. this week.  This one was the first on Monday…

On my way out the door to the next one and I even have some pictures of the Photo[e]motion Bandits!  They are 8 and 1 this season!  Way to go boys!

Brady’s mom brought everything including something from the kitchen sink for his one-year birthday pictures.  She brought warm water and a swimming pool to clean him up in after he had his cake!  Brilliant!  Of course Brady was adorable and we played with his cars (I loved cars when I was little) and all his other fun stuff he brought.

Michael and Jody are brothers, Jessica and Rachael are best friends, and now Gavin and Arie are cousins!  How awesome are their holiday gatherings!  I am finally getting these blogged from the weekend.  I would write more, but Arie just left and my arm is a little tired from holding her for the last hour! 

Lots of changes going to be happening around here.  Since Rachael has been out on maternity leave I am noticing some ways we can be more efficient in the office.  Prices are going up (sitting fees and prints).  The changes have been made to print prices and those will be effective May 1.  If you have an appt. scheduled, don’t worry, you get the old prices.  If you have been meaning to order some pictures from your wedding and your contract has expired, place those orders before May 1 or you will get the new prices also.  On May 1, we will also start posting proofs for only 2 weeks.  Orders are due during or at the end of those two weeks or there will be a reposting fee to get your proofs back online for viewing. 

Another important change that is effective immediately is that no one will be taking photos at weddings when I am taking portraits.  I have been pretty nice about this, but it has come to a point where when I am trying to take pictures there is a line of people behind me doing the same thing.  Then I edit the photos and notice everybody in the photo is looking somewhere different.  So, no more.  Sorry, but seriously no more.  Brides and Grooms I ask that you inform your friends and family of this for me and help me avoid any problems or hurt feelings at the wedding.  It has been in my contract for 11 years, and I have chosen to be a little leniant on it, but I just can’t do it anymore.  Your photos are suffering and I can’t allow it any longer. 

Old files…I’m just tired of keeping them and not getting orders on a lot of them.  Please don’t waste my time.  When I am with you at a photo session, I am away from my family.  I take photos to sell photos not to be your photo storage.  I have been advised by other photographers to stop blogging until orders are placed, and thought about it, but will try other things first.  Old files are now on sale, but not for long.  I will be deleting them soon, so I don’t have to think about all my wasted hours away from my family anymore and start fresh.  If you are not comfortable viewing your proofs online, please let me know and we can schedule a time to view your photos and place your order together. 

Please also remember wedding retainers are non-refundable no matter what the circumstance.

Those are the major things of importance.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Our first wedding at Coyote Ranch Resort was last weekend…

the colors that Blair and Hayden chose made me a happy photographer… 

the flowergirl made me happy when she put her sweet little hands on this sign right as I was about to take this picture… 

again, me smiling, Sincerely yours was there to make everything beautiful… 

So, you may remember the engagement pictures in Ft. Worth.  They met on a blind date at 8.0.  I picked this stuff up then and it has been waiting patiently in my camera bag for their big day.  Yes, I lit the matches. 

a shirt she made for her daddy when she was little…

I’m sorry guys, but it is just a fact, colors make photographs for fun…

do I need to even talk about him?  I don’t want his head to get any bigger.  He is pretty fabulous, but I will say I didn’t say that if you tell him or he asks. 

Wind, hate it.  It’s really making me mad right now as I write this and hear it howling outside (yes, we have another outdoor wedding tomorrow).  Anyway, as much as I love to be outside, sometimes Mother Nature has other plans.  So we did the first sight and couple’s first portraits in the honeymoon suite/cabin instead of outside where we had planned… 

here’s one time you can see what a difference a second photographer at your wedding makes.  Amy’s picture is on the left and mine is on the right…love them both… 

he really likes her a lot… 

They are gorgeous and I miss them already…

My favorite…

sometimes you have to leave the reception for a minute, postpone the toasts, and take a few more pictures once the light is nice…but only if you want to 

sorry these are a little out of order….

same picture three different ways…

my view left, Amy’s view right… 

Congratulations friends.  May you be Blessed in all that you do. 

Sorry, no live bunnies over here.  Tried that once; we spent more time chasing the bunny than we did taking pictures.  Good times boys.  Anyway, I have two mornings next week wide open.  Just enough good light to have 2 mini-sessions each morning.  Sessions are 30 minutes (8am and 8:30am, Thursday and Friday) and are $25.  Email me if you would like to book one fotobydeedra@aol.com.