Cottonwood Classic

Just wrapped up a new circuit of Quarter Horse shows, The Cottonwood Classic, held in Wichita, Kansas. The attendance was good, the facilities awesome, the show well run, and the atmosphere relaxed. On Saturday, the show staff offered a non-accredited walk trot class, just for fun. It included horses other than Quarter Horses, moms and daughters riding double, and little cowboys decked out in their coolest cowboy gear. The arena was ringed with parents and grandparents and fans, all smiling and watching the young exhibitors enjoying their horses. Make a note of it: March 2013, take your Quarter Horse to the Cottonwood Classic. You won't regret it!

Tricky Chicky

Quite the catchy name, huh? The talented young woman behind that title is Valerie of Caldwell, Kansas. She and her amazing horse, Flax, were wowing crowds at the recent EquiFest of Kansas. I enjoy riding my horse the traditional way, with one leg on each side of the saddle, but Valerie thinks outside the box!

Babies!

Is there anything more beautiful that the tiny fingers of a newborn baby? The perfectly sculpted eyelashes? Miniature toes?

I had the great fun of photographing two newly adopted baby boys last week. Their proud parents reveled in every moment.

Babies-what blessings!

Catching up

This is a bittersweet time of the year for me. Since not many brides get married in the frigid month of January, high school seniors are waiting for warm weather, and families have completed their holiday get-togethers, this is not a busy time for photography. It is, however, that delightful time of the year to organize files and info from last year, get information ready for filing taxes, and try to "unclutter" my life, by cleaning closets, sorting through clothes, and making several donations to Goodwill

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This is also the month when brides from last year finally have time to select their favorite images from their wedding so I can, at last, work on designing their wedding album.

All in all, I enjoy January. Both my birthday and our daughter's fall in this month, so it is a month of preparing for the year ahead, and celebrating!

Pets and other family members

As you know, I photograph a lot of horses and horse shows, but I photograph all kinds of other animals too.
Clients are sometimes surprised that I enjoy including their pets in the family photo. Aren't they part of the family? Of course!

There is a family that I have photographed for about 9 years, starting with the parent's wedding, now them with their children. For several years in a row, I asked if they would like their small dog to be in the portrait. Each year the answer was no-the dog needed groomed, they didn't want her to shed on their outfits, etc. Last time that I photographed the family, the parents confided that they were so sorry that they didn't add their dog to their portrait the previous year, as the little dog died over the summer. How sad!
In October I set a personal record for the number of dogs, five, in a portrait--all cooperating and with ears perked up. Thought I would share a few recent family portraits-furry family members included!

Christmas time is family time

What do people try to save on their way out of a house fire? After making sure family members get out, they want family portraits. What are people thrilled to find in the wreckage after a tornado? Family portraits. Why do we treasure those pictures? They remind us of shared love-memories evoked when we see that wedding photo of our grandparents, or we smile seeing ourselves in that young, awkward stage.

When all of your loved ones are gathered in your home, or you in theirs this holiday season, make sure to take photos. They are proof of moments shared in the company of those we treasure, to remind us of that bond when we are later separated-by distance, by death.

(On a practical note: when you are taking down the Christmas decorations, take an extra few minutes to download those photos from your camera. Email them to family members, print your favorites and put them in an album, burn them to a CD and then store the CD in your safe deposit box, or upload the images to your Cloud account, or somewhere else to ensure that you have an off-site copy.)

My vocation as a professional photographer gives me the wonderful blessing of photographing many families this time of year. I take this responsibility seriously, as I photograph not only for those here today, but for those yet to come.

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Thank you notes

It seems each day is busier than the one before. That's why I try to take the time to thank friends and family who go the extra mile, with a handwritten note-so they can slow down for a moment and know that they are appreciated.

When I get a thank you note from someone, I treasure it. Recently I received the following from clients. I share these, not to give myself a "pat on the back", but to let you know how seriously I take my job as a professional wedding photographer.

Edye, I wanted to let you know how much I appreciated your work at the wedding of Lindsay and Ronnie. You helped make everything run on schedule and you did it so effortlessly. You were so behind the scenes that it was like you weren't there, but all the while you were documenting all that went on. As I look at the pictures, I feel as if you are walking me through the wedding all over again. I am so glad we chose you as our photographer. You did a wonderful job. Thank you again. Carolyn S. (mother of the bride)

Edye, Thanks so much for doing such a good job for us. The pictures were all fantastic!

You did a wonderful job, and we are very happy with your work. Again, thank you so much!

John and Marcy (bride and groom)