lissa anglin • studio blue blog

GO TO MY NEW BLOG!

2009-02-06T14:29:00.000-08:00

This post is just for everyone who might still have the wrong link to my blog. I've stopped posting here, but you can check out LOTS of new stuff HERE------>

www.lissaanglin.com/blog

PLEASE reset your links and your RSS feeds so you can stay on track with Studio Blue! Thanks!

sad to say I'm moving...

2009-01-02T10:26:00.000-08:00

my blog, that is!

I apologize for the pain of resetting your RSS feeds/Favorites Lists, but you'll definitely want to follow me over to my new blog, which is also my new website!

I've put a lot of thought and time into this new blog- making it more user friendly and update-able...and I'd love to hear what you think! Please leave a comment for me on the new site.

New Year = New Website!

CLICK HERE TO GO TO MY NEW BLOG + WEBSITE!

merry christmas everyone!

2008-12-24T12:36:00.001-08:00

contest winner!

2008-12-12T12:51:00.000-08:00

The winner for the "Caption This Image" contest is Amy!

"Avoid eye contact. Avoid eye contact."

I'll be sending Amy her copy of the soundtrack to Charlie Brown's Christmas! Thanks to all who came up with captions- they were all pretty funny!

matt, mindy, mike + aiden

2008-12-12T12:05:00.000-08:00

I'm combining these two mini shoots into one post! (They're family, so it makes sense!) Here are Matt + Mindy- super cute couple who entertained all of my weird ideas! Thanks guys!

This one is totally technicolor!

Then it was time for Mike and his son, Aiden. This little boy is ALL BOY. He's a real cutie, too!

Love this one!

Right after this, Aiden took a hard tumble down the hill, and needless to say it was time for the session to be over! I think this was the shortest session ever (maybe 20 minutes!), but we got some great images anyway.

Nobody makes things better like Daddy!

taylor • senior

2008-12-12T08:36:00.000-08:00

Shawn and I met up with Taylor and his Mom for some senior pictures while we were home for Thanksgiving. We had a good time exploring some new places in our small town, and Taylor's laid-back attitude was awesome to work with.

We started off in some alleys, and then when I saw Taylor's orange shirt I knew we had to visit this building:

Then we went to a cool place my Dad had shown me...

And finally made our way over to the soccer field house, since Taylor plays soccer. I don't know if you can see the patch on his letter jacket, but it says "State Co-Champions"! Pretty awesome!

We played around with some action shots as the sun was setting...and I wanted to test my animated .gif skills...so here you go!

the thomas family

2008-12-10T15:32:00.000-08:00

Jennifer and Matt took me up on the mini-sessions I was offering for Christmas. I'm sure glad they did! From the moment they stepped out of the car I was pretty much enamored with little Ethan. He's such a precious little guy!

We had a great time, and I really love some of the images we captured! Check it out-

Wow! Good genes!

Gotta love those chubby fingers...

DROOL!

When I was sorting thru the images, this one really caught my eye. Not sure why I like it so much- maybe Ethan's expression and the candid feeling.

OK, CONTEST TIME!!!

Please leave your caption for this image in the comments section:

The best caption will win the soundtrack from "A Charlie Brown Christmas". I love Christmas music!

Winner will be announced tomorrow or Friday, so get creative!

britany + bethany • sisters

2008-12-10T09:07:00.000-08:00

Britany and Bethany, like myself, grew up in Borger and then migrated down here to the Lubbock area. When they contacted me about doing a shoot for their parents as a Christmas gift, I was so excited- I love suprises!

We had a beautiful afternoon to shoot- I was dressed up in a sweater and ended up in the tank top I happened to be wearing underneath it. I think it got to 60 degrees that day!

Anyhow, gorgeous afternoon + gorgeous girls = this:

I must have a shoe obsession...I always love these shots...

I love snagging those little pockets of sunlight!

ashley • senior

2008-12-08T17:27:00.000-08:00

I met up with Ashley and her Mom and sis while I was in Borger a few weeks ago. This girl has some STUNNING eyes! I was so excited to take them to some new places that my Dad had shown me. It was a little chilly outside, but the morning light was beautiful.

Check her out!

This shot took a little while to set up, but it was totally worth it!

This is my favorite.

this made me laugh today!

2008-12-08T14:48:00.000-08:00

I found THIS POST while making my daily internet rounds. Here are a few of my faves- go to the original entry to see more.

You'd think Pearle Vision would throw in another two pairs for free.
The Library might be more believable if the shelves weren't sloping downhill. Is that a book on teen pregnancy?

Olan Mills Backdrop #11: The Library, one of their most popular themes, as seen in this photo of the young Unibomber and his wife.

Dawn and her recently exhumed sister, Gorgotha, pose with Scraps.

The Purvis family made several stops along the Oregon Trail to document their six-month journey. This photo was taken just two weeks before the dysentery took Momma to Jesus.
That dude wore a tie for nothing.

kristen, kay and teresa

2008-12-08T08:39:00.000-08:00

This photoshoot was especially unique for me. My good friend, Kristen, contacted me a while back asking if I was up for a shoot with herself and her two mothers- her adopted Mom, Kay, and her biological Mom, Teresa. Of course, I was excited about the concept and getting to see them as well!

These three have such unique relationships and amazing stories between them- when Kristen was in college, she decided it was time to seek out her biological mother. Kay was encouraging and helpful, and after a long process, they discovered that Teresa was living only about an hour away from where Kristen grew up! They've developed a close relationship, and watching them all together was pretty incredible.

There were so many of my favorites, but here are the first few I snagged for the blog:

Now we know where Kristen got her height!

Kristen gets total credit for this one- she spotted some awesome light on a colorful wall and we had to do it!

I spy a little mischief in those eyes!

More posts to come today!

the rousseau family

2008-12-03T16:46:00.000-08:00

Oh, how I LOVE this family. I lived with Laci (in the red jacket) for 3 years during college- and she, along with her family, is so special to me. There were many times The Rousseau's house was our weekend retreat that offered yummy home-cooked food and free laundry!

It was such a treasure to photograph them this year for their Christmas cards. Laci and her husband, Nate, drove up from Denton to Tulia just in time to hop back in the car to meet me in Lubbock. I know they were exhausted! Thanks so much you guys- it was so wonderful getting to see you!

We went for a dramatic shot...

And then laughing right after!

john + victoria

2008-12-03T09:37:00.000-08:00

This was my first shoot do do with my new D700! I love, love this camera- it's fabulous.

Victoria and John live in CA, so I was glad to meet up with them while they were here for a little wedding planning. I cheered with Victoria in college- and John played baseball at WBU.

These two had such a fun, casual attitude the whole shoot- their love for each other just brought everything together. How about some pictures?

Who could resist that big blue sky?

When I saw Victoria's dress, I knew we had to get this shot. They totally nailed it!

Love the closeness of this one:

toy packaging • sara groves

2008-12-02T16:17:00.000-08:00

I've always been a big fan of Sara Groves, so I wasn't suprised when I heard this song on the radio and found out she'd written it.

"Toy Packaging" is Sara's Seinfeld-esque rant on "Wrap Rage", or the frustration many parents feel just after their child has opened the perfect toy on Christmas morning. It's pretty hilarious- you must take a listen!

Here are the lyrics:

Toy Packaging
Sara Groves and Ben Shive
© 2008 Sara Groves Music (ASCAP) admin by Music Services / ????

Nothing makes me lose my cool like
Toy packaging
Ask the kids to leave the room for
Toy packaging
I have no choice the money’s spent
I’ve worked for hours to make a dent
I guess it’s anger management
Toy packaging

Nothing makes me lose my cool like
Toy packaging
Ask the kids please leave the room it’s time for
Toy packaging
I’m drawing up a battle plan
to extricate this robot man
My self-esteem is in the can
Toy packaging

In the old days you could hold a box and shake it
And hear the pieces rattling around
My eyes tear up with these grommets, tape and twisty ties
Remembering their beautiful sound

Nothing makes me lose my cool like toy packaging
Kids you need to leave the room, mom’s opening toy packaging
I’m sorry you have to see this sight
You must be brave, no please don’t cry
I promise it will be alright
I hope to have it by tonight
Nevermind this dynamite
Toy packaging

Apparently toy packaging has become a big issue this year. Amazon.com has even created a new packaging solution to the problem, along with a webpage that is devoted to the subject.

emily • senior

2008-12-02T09:58:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I didn't get 3 posts up yesterday. Miss Emily has been so patient! Your pictures will be ready today!

Emily's a senior at Borger High School, and has a sweet AND sassy spirit. We had a lot of fun driving around downtown Lubbock with her entourage and found some gorgeous light on the way!

Beautiful!

Steven + Danielle

2008-12-01T14:56:00.000-08:00

More beautiful people!

I was so excited to get to see Steven and Danielle, who are expecting in April! They came in for a Christmas mini-session and of course we had to emphasize the belly.

This is my favorite belly shot to date! You guys are so cute- I know that little one will be so loved.

leif + jennifer (and their doggies!)

2008-12-01T09:00:00.000-08:00

Wow, these last few weeks have been a whirlwind! I apologize for not posting more frequently. I've been shooting a lot and eating a lot (yummy Thanksgiving dinner)...and today, dear blog readers, I will attempt to catch you all up-to-date.

I have three, yes, THREE posts planned today, so stay tuned. Leif + Jennifer are the first!

These two are originally from Washington State but have moved down to little 'ol Pampa Texas. (I can say that because I'm from an even smaller town!) They drove down to Lubbock very early one morning accompanied by their three English Springer Spaniels and a very helpful assistant (thanks Bandi!).

I had so much fun with this group- I'm a dog lover and so it was a treat to incorporate them into the shots.

My fave!

This is Bandi's Weimaraner. She's gorgeous!

Leif + Jenn are super-cool people. Don't believe me? Look below!

danlee • senior

2008-11-21T09:52:00.000-08:00

What a beautiful girl! I had a great time with Danlee and her Mom. Connecting with people is one of the best parts about my job. The morning of our photoshoot was just perfect- big blue sky and not too cold.

If you can't tell, this girl likes pink. And black. And she's a total natural.

She'll be graduating this year from Seminole High School- congratulations, Danlee!

'
'

sarah = gorgeous

2008-11-19T13:28:00.000-08:00

We met up on what has got to be one of the windiest days this year (and there are many in Lubbock). Sarah did such a great job. So patient with those wind gusts that were likely to take her down to the ground...and she looked great all the while!

I've known Sarah ever since I can remember- and she has always been so full of laughter. This time I found myself more drawn to some of the more serious images- Sarah, you are totally ANTM material!

Sarah's graduating from Texas Tech in a few short weeks- congratulations!

christmas sessions: update

2008-11-14T08:14:00.000-08:00

As the Christmas cards and magnets are rolling through my office, I'm getting more and more excited for the Christmas season to be here!

I just wanted to give everyone an update on my schedule for those who still may be interested in doing Christmas cards.

I will be available for mini-sessions until December 10.

About mini-sessions:
Approximately 30 minutes to an hour in length
1 location, 1 outfit
Geared toward your Christmas card design, although you will be able to order prints
$60 plus the cost of your cards

If you'd like to book a mini-session, you'll need to have picked your template out beforehand. Check them out here!

I will be in Borger the weekend of December 5-6, and can accept a few mini-sessions at that time as well, although there will be a small travel fee.

To see pricing on my Christmas cards and magnets, CLICK HERE!

Please feel free to email me with any questions at lissa.anglin@gmail.com.

james + janna

2008-11-13T13:57:00.001-08:00

I got to photograph James and Janna's wedding last Friday. These two have a really true, genuine love for each other, and it shows.

When I first met with them, they said, "All that matters is that we're married at the end of the day". I love it! So often these days it seems like a wedding becomes more about all the stuff...and we become distracted.

We had a great time with them- here are a few of my favorite images from their day:

Love this shot Shanna snagged:

They decided to see each other before the ceremony, which is always a very special time. They were both so excited to see each other!

Married!

They took a break from their guests at the reception to allow us to capture some really moody images. I love getting to be creative!

I have a feeling they are still finding birdseed places. :)

You guys are wonderful! I hope you've had a great time sipping world-class coffee in Seattle!

session albums

2008-11-11T10:25:00.000-08:00

where is my husband?

2008-11-10T08:35:00.001-08:00

Sadly, that's the best title I could think of this Monday morning.

The answer is a good one- he's in Chicago! Shawn and his band, A Road Less Traveled, are on the Rock What You Got Tour this week with Superchick, Stellar Kart, and Article One.

They'll be playing their last show in West Palm Beach, FL with TobyMac.

If you happen to be in any of the cities they're playing, you must go! It's a great show.

Side note: I'm getting more and more accustomed to this on-the-road thing, thanks to the genius of Skype.

kenny paul harris

2008-11-06T16:02:00.000-08:00

I had a promotional shoot with Kenny this last week. This would be the second time I've shot with him and we certainly had a good time.

I love it when I can just tell a person to jump off a ladder and "try to look peaceful". He killed it, though!

Kenny is an excellent musician here in Lubbock, and if you have an opportunity to hear him play, you should definitely go listen. In fact, go listen HERE, at his myspace.

I'd love it if you'd leave me a comment and tell me how these images make you FEEL- I had a specific feeling in mind while shooting them.

Lola's Blue Paws

2008-11-06T07:26:00.000-08:00

Lola's Blue Paws from Lissabeth Anglin on Vimeo.

ashlee again!

2008-11-04T09:04:00.000-08:00

Here are a few more from my shoot with Ashlee. We switched modes at the end for more of a high fashion look.

I loved the shoes!

Thanks Ash! Love ya!

ashlee

2008-11-03T17:24:00.000-08:00

This post is going to have to be in two parts- I have too many favorites, and I've run out of time for the day!

This is Ashlee- we lived together in college, and now she is graduating! So, of course, we had to get some shots to celebrate that.

Kirby Raschke came to assist me and she did an excellent job! I'm pretty sure I wore her out!

She's so stinkin' beautiful! Here are the first few favorites:

lauren • senior

2008-10-30T17:10:00.000-07:00

Lauren is a high school senior from Ralls. She and her mom came to Lubbock last Saturday, and we had a really fun shoot! The light was beautiful and the company was so good.

Lauren made a wonderful model and we captured a lot of great color in her shoot!

I had to get this blue wall- it is my favorite color! (How would anyone guess that?)

and a blue sky!

This is definitely someone's home- but I couldn't miss out on that vibrant yellow...so we did a ninja-fast pose in front since we didn't *quite* have permission. :)

This one has a really peaceful feeling about it.

Thanks so much Lauren! Congrats on your graudation!

album time

2008-10-30T12:27:00.000-07:00

Gosh, it seems like the most popular word to come out of my mouth lately is "album"!

As I sit here at my desk, I am surrounded by 4 Guestbooks & 2 Senior Books. I'm also uploading 3 albums and building one. On my to-do list is another Guestbook and a Coffee Table Album...that's not to mention the album orders I've yet to receive from weddings this summer!

It can be a little crazy at times, but receiving an album is very rewarding. I always feel a sense of completion when I get to see my work displayed in a beautiful format.

I just finished Kaury and Ashley's album and thought I would share some of my favorite spreads. When it came time for them to tell me their selections for their book, they said, "You pick! We trust you! Just be creative." (Which they've said since the beginning, and has always resulted in some of my favorite images.)

So, I ended up with a very streamlined look- lots of horizontal lines that would lead the eye to the next image or page, and told their story at the same time.

Some of the spreads have white border on the top and bottom of the images that's hard to see on my blog.

callye • 6 months

2008-10-28T09:26:00.000-07:00

I can't believe this little one is already 6 months old! She has already grown so much since our last shoot. New expressions, more smiles.

I had a great time photographing Callye, as always. She is a Cabbage Patch kid!

This was her mommy's rocking chair, so it is extra special.

so now i knit

2008-10-22T13:09:00.001-07:00

Yes!

One of my personal goals this year was to learn how to knit. So when I knew I'd be off with the boys this weekend, I figured it was the perfect time to learn!

I am now proud to say that I have finished my first project, a scarflette with buttons.

Forgive me, it is a no-make up day- but I wanted to share!

clay + bandi

2008-10-20T12:23:00.000-07:00

My conversation with Bandi on Friday, the day before their engagement session, went something like this:

Bandi: "We’ve got a possible problem. RAIN! The weather forecast (as of right now) is predicting rain tomorrow afternoon. Do we need to come up with an “if-its-raining-at-4:00” back up plan?"

Me: "I was afraid of that. We will just have to play it by ear, and IF it is raining at 4:00, we can have a backup date to shoot. Do you have any dates in mind, just in case? We may also just need to bring an umbrella and have some fun rain images!"

And this is how she responded: "I say we plan on Saturday no matter what. If it starts raining, some rain pictures will be fun!"

This is why she and her fiance Clay are AWESOME!

We literally shot this session IN. THE. RAIN.

I wish I would have taken a picture of my camera set-up...I had an uber-fancy rain guard for my camera that consisted of a plastic Wal-Mart sack and a rubber band! Ha!

And there's no way I would have been able to shoot were it not for my wonderful assistant/husband, Shawn.

Just wanted to give you a little background on the images to follow. We really enjoyed getting to hang out with Bandi and Clay and they were such troopers!

We pulled up to the first location, which is near Wonderland Park in Amarillo, and realized the gate to the park was open! Who can resist an empty theme park? Not us!

Originally Bandi and I had talked about capturing those rich fall colors, so we had to head out and grab them!

Possibly my favorite.

10 Points to whoever can guess where this is!

the armes family

2008-10-16T10:33:00.000-07:00

Fall is quickly becoming my favorite time of the year to shoot. It's cool outside, the air is crisp, and the colors are beautiful.

This family was so much fun. They came with a laid back attitude and it felt like we played the entire time!

This is one good-looking bunch!

A little brother-to-brother bonding...

Oh, I love those dimples!

He was quite proud of his hand-painted pumpkin.

christmas cards

2008-10-14T14:44:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it, but it's already time to start thinking about Christmas!

I'm very excited to be offering some fresh new designs for holiday cards this year. Here are a few examples of what is available!

(Of course, my website will NOT be on your cards!)

These cards are just lush in person. They are full-color, press printed cards that come in one of four papers- high gloss, watercolor, linen, or pearl.

I'm also offering Photo Magnets as well. These can still be used with the templates. Most Christmas cards end up on the fridge anyway, so why not guarantee it? :)

A few things I'd like to note about Christmas Cards:

• If your online gallery has expired and you are wanting to order Christmas cards, I will be more than happy to upload it again for you for one week, at no extra cost.

• I will be offering a few mini-sessions just for Christmas cards. These sessions will be around 30 minutes long with the goal being to get 1-3 images to use on a Christmas card. These sessions will be at a discounted rate, and you'll be able to order prints from it if you wish. If you're interested in setting up one of these sessions, please contact me through my website.

• Deadline to order these is December 10, 2008.

Please CLICK HERE to view more of the lovely templates I am offering, and HERE to view the pricing on Christmas Cards and Magnets.

trae sweatt band

2008-10-13T13:08:00.000-07:00

Just finished up some images I shot for the Trae Sweatt Band. These guys were a lot of fun and totally willing to go with my crazy ideas and (yet again) endure the swarming mosquitoes that have plagued Lubbock as of late.

I enjoy shooting for bands, because it gives me a chance to help them create an identity and a brand...plus I just love music!

These guys will soon have a fancy new MySpace layout by my friend Chris Brown, with abrowndude design. Go check out their music by clicking here!

something FUN = photofetti!

2008-10-12T20:42:00.001-07:00

Hey guys, I just had to share this fun little discovery of a product-

It's called Photofetti, and it is literally confetti with your photos on it! Such a fun way to decorate tables at an event. You guests would be taking tiny favors with them, for sure!

So many possibilities- and who doesn't love confetti?!? (Other than the people who have to clean it up!)

hazen • 1 year

2008-10-11T09:55:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday morning was really gorgeous, and I was excited because I got to shoot a session at the Crutch Ranch near Borger. I met little Hazen, who just recently turned one, and had a great time hanging out with him and his Mommy and Daddy.

It was a little windy, but I hardly noticed because there were so many great spots to shoot.

I love this shot.

Check out those baby blues!

I love how he's got his little feet crossed!

Daddy's hat.

Like I said, beautiful day! Thanks so much you guys for having me out!

courtney • senior

2008-10-09T15:21:00.000-07:00

Courtney's senior shoot was a lot of fun for me. Not only did I get to explore the hallways of my high school once more, but I got to see a LOT of familiar faces.

I had Courtney's mom for homeroom when I was in Middle School. Although I was mostly asleep during that first hour, I always enjoyed coming back for English later in the day. :) Shooting at the high school made me look at it in a completely different light. When they first requested that we shoot there, I wasn't sure about how the images would turn out- but we found so many corners and niches that I loved, I could have shot there all day!

On to the images- this girl is just beautiful. Check out those eyes!

Loved this window light. Which one do you like better? The closer or the farther?

Courtney LOVES books, so we couldn't miss a stop by the library!

Pretty much the ONLY time I'm going to get excited about green carpet!

Borger High, we love you, we will stand by you to-day...sing it with me!

My FAVORITE place in the whole school- Mrs. Kerr's art room! Just had to feature a little artwork by my friend, Kristen Bailey.

We snagged a few shots in her softball uniform- which, by the way, is WAY cooler than the one I had to wear! She looks pretty tough, huh?

Thanks so much Courtney! Congrats on your senior year!

dan + megan

2008-10-06T15:04:00.000-07:00

Dan plays football for WTA&M, so I am amazed that these two found time to come see me! They are getting married in December, and I'm pretty excited because I love winter weddings!

I really had a great time capturing the natural chemistry between these two- is it just me or am I always getting to shoot beautiful people?

I love the dramatic lens flare on this image, and how it frames their faces.

Playing a little with the shadows...

shane + emily

2008-10-02T22:30:00.001-07:00

I met Shane and Emily on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon to shoot their engagement session. Emily has such a fun, cool style and so I couldn't wait to see what she had planned! We meandered around downtown Lubbock and I love the casual feel of these images.

Emily mentioned to me that she'd like an image of them sitting on a patio, sipping drinks...so we headed to Gardski's. I don't think she realized I would ask them to actually sit ON the patio! But they were great sports, and it was worth it!

And here they are through the lattice:

Emily also reminded me that she has a dog named Lola, too. I must have stored that in the back of my mind, because I could never say where the inspiration to name MY dog Lola came from- but it must have come from Emily! Thanks for lending the name!

What am I excited about today?

2008-10-02T13:33:00.000-07:00

Magnets, of all things!

I am REALLY excited, in fact.

Here is yet another NEW PRODUCT for Studio Blue- Save the Date Magnets!

I'm not talking about those cheaply-printed flimsy things you've seen before. These are thick, glossy, custom-designed 4x6 magnets. 4x6! That's a pretty nice size!

Since I got Brittany's in, I'm in love. Now I'm starting to imagine Christmas Cards and Birth Announcements as well...even Seniors could give them to their friends.

Here are a couple quick pictures of them:

Can't wait to start offering these to my brides, and all of my clients for that matter!

joshua + anja

2008-10-01T16:43:00.000-07:00

In high school I would anxiously await my Tuesday lunches, where I would meet with Anja and a few other girls at a local coffee shop to have great conversation and a yummy sun-dried tomato bagel.

That was quite a few years back, but I'm lucky to still get to see wonderful people like Anja and her new fiance, Josh.

We had a great engagement session last Saturday and I am even more excited to be a part of their wedding festivities! It is so special for me to get to photograph people I have a bit of history with.

They swore to me that they were awkward in front of the camera, but I'm not believing that for one second!

As complicated as I like to make it sometimes, there's just nothing like a pretty picture.

This is actually the shop that replaced my radiator not to long ago, haha.

Of course, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to get some ice cream! Here they are practicing for the toasts on their big day...who made up that arm-twisty thing anyway?

They've got it down now.

Thanks so much you guys! Can't wait till the wedding!

belinda • senior

2008-09-29T20:03:00.000-07:00

Belinda is my first official senior this year and I was so excited to begin! I had a great time chatting with her about music and Europe and life after high school, and in the meantime, I think we made some pretty cool pictures.

When this is one of the first images shot, you know it's going to be a great session.

Love this view, too-

American Eagle, Gap? Here's your next model!

Don't you think Belinda looks a little like Leelee Sobieski?

This one's a little Anthropologie...

Belinda courageously fought the crazy amount of mosquitoes that were out to get us! Such a trooper!

Thanks so much, Belinda- more to come!

FYI- I've got quite a few sessions to blog this week, so be sure to check back everyday!

maximus decimus meridius

2008-09-22T15:58:00.000-07:00

Or Max, if you happen to know him.

Last night Shawn and I went over to our friends' Chris and Bethany's house to watch the Cowboys game, and I brought my camera so I could snag a few pictures of Max, their new English Bulldog. Chris accompanied us to pick up Max at the same time we were picking up Lola. He is too, too adorable for me not to post some images of him as well!

What a tough guy!

Getting ready to pounce...

This is a common view of Max. Once he's rolled over, he knows it's going to take some effort to get back up, so he usually just hangs out on his back for a while.

Even his toosh is cute!

Although he is named after this film, I think about this one:

Were my sisters and I the only ones watching Betty Boop when we were little?

chloie • 1 year

2008-09-18T13:03:00.000-07:00

Little Miss Chloie recently turned 1 year old, and so we were due for some new images of this cutie. I got to photograph Chloie and her parents when she was 6 months old, which is great- because the more comfortable kids get with me the better the images.

Chloie's mommy is Jessica, my hairstylist, and she is AWESOME! She always makes me look cool, haha. If you're looking for someone, give her a call at Kadiza.

There were so many images I loved- the hard work Jessica did to find the perfect outfit was well worth it! I know that the parents (and our helpers, Holly & Gina) worked just as hard as I did that day- so thanks you guys!

Check out those teeth!

She is getting some serious air!

Now that's a family portrait!

chris + kelli

2008-09-17T17:03:00.000-07:00

Chris and Kelli were married September 6th at Las Tiendas in Amarillo. It was a gorgeous affair, and I was glad to be a part of it- these two have been wonderful to work with from the very beginning.

I've got lots of images to show you, so be ready!

There's something I love about the motion blur in this image:

Kelli just has such an elegant profile-

but she's gorgeous from this angle too!

Here are the guys:

We took advantage of some pretty light in the dressing area before the ceremony.

A most effective sweat-prevention tactic on a warm September day-

Waiting so intensely...

Before he walked her down the aisle, Kelli handed her Dad a 3x3 print from her Bridal shoot. Such a cool idea!

There were so many beautiful flowers to add a punch of color.

The ceremony was bathed in that lovely evening light.

The sunlight was almost as yummy as the cake! I LOVE wedding cake. It's actually written into my contract that I get a piece!

Las Tiendas looked great. It's the perfect place to have a beautiful intimate wedding.

This is just ONE of the many cool details that Kelli had made. These little packets contain my favorite food group- jelly beans!

The exit!

Ok, so we went a little overboard on the ring shots. I had a lot that I liked so I thought I'd post them all and you can tell me your favorite in the comments. Enjoy!

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Seniors! Book now & win a super cool album!

2008-09-16T13:26:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! Remember when I introduced my new Hardcover Session Albums? I promised I'd be offering them in a special portrait package, and that time has come. I'm feeling the fun and excitement of fall and so...

This one's for 2009 Seniors only!
I'm offering only 3 exclusive sessions that will include:

1. The most fun photoshoot you've ever been to
2. Some totally unique images
3. A 30 image Hardcover Session Album

Be one of the 3 to book this package (first come, first served) and you'll get it for 350.00. That's over 100.00 in savings!

But here's the really sweet part-
one of those 3 seniors will be randomly selected to win their album FREE
and receive 250.00 in print credit!

So, if you knew you were wanting an album from your senior session, here's your chance to get it at a discount. I'll still be offering these super-cool books from my regular pricing, but this is the ONLY time this year I'll be giving one away!

Please email me at lissa.anglin@gmail.com to book your session.

Woo-hoo! 10,000 visits to my blog!

2008-09-14T21:48:00.001-07:00

I just saw that I've had over 10,000 visits to my blog- that is a LOT!

I typed in "10012" into Google and came up with this. Pretty interesting- maybe there's a trip to NY in my future. :) There's also a cool advertising and branding company with the name "onezerozeroonetwo".

Thanks so much to all who have visited, I hope you keep coming back!

lola

2008-09-13T08:22:00.000-07:00

We have a new little addition to our family! Her name is Lola, and she is a 10 week old wheaten Scottish Terrier. We love dogs around here, and our other Scottie, Willy, is very excited to have some dog-company.

She has been so sweet already, and has her own little Scottie personality that we absolutely love. We had her first photoshoot yesterday- here she is in my new Ikea chairs.

logan & daryl-ann • family

2008-09-12T15:26:00.000-07:00

Last week was a good one- a couple reasons being got to see my friends Logan and Daryl-Ann, AND I got to meet Daryl-Ann's wonderful family!

They were a fun bunch to photograph, and the light that evening was just perfect. I totally enjoyed getting to hang out with them and getting up-to-date. Here are just a few of my favorites-

I'm pretty sure they were laughing at my directions to "just talk and laugh" here. Hey, at least they are laughing, even if it was at me!

jay + jennifer

2008-09-08T15:24:00.001-07:00

It's not often that I get to have a casual session with a couple that's already married. Jay and Jennifer are still very much newlyweds (but only a week or two, I think?), and I really enjoyed wandering around with them.

Jay's in the Air Force and left the day after our shoot for Turkey, so these images will be Jennifer's best company for the next few months while they're apart. Won't be long, though, till she meets up with him in Germany! I have such a respect for couples that don't let time and distance get in the way- and of course, meeting up in a foreign country to begin your life together sounds pretty romantic to me.

We had a great time heading down 34th street in Lubbock- I seem to have an obsession with diners lately-

No, we are not in a tropical rainforest, but in a dirty alley behind a restaurant!

Doesn't make it any less beautiful, though.

Speaking of beautiful...

This image will always remind me of that last bit of summer that I hate to see go away...

They are big Houston Astros fans, so we had to hit up a local baseball field. We even interrupted a game to get the last shot.

Thanks so much you guys, and congratulations!

P.S. For any photogs out there, this was my first session to shoot entirely in RAW. It took a little longer, but I think it might be worth it! Let me know if you can see any difference in the images.

kent + carla

2008-09-05T12:40:00.001-07:00

Kent and Carla were married at Hillside Christian Church in Amarillo on a gorgeous day. They had a lovely afternoon wedding, which delighted me because that guarantees some pretty light!

These two are so precious and their love for each other was so evident. We felt so welcome and really enjoyed ALL the family they had around them!

Kent was quite relaxed in the guys' dressing room when we arrived:

But then he got busy!

Here's a little detail Shanna snagged and I just loved it!

This flower girl was so much fun- she loved the camera.

The chapel at the church had some beautiful stained glass.

And the reception boasted some yummy details- like Roasters coffee!

and cookies from Belmar Bakery! I was in heaven.

There were a ton of cute kids around- I'm pretty sure all cousins of the bride and groom.

But I did notice I had some competition. :)

During the reception Kent came up and asked if we'd like to go take some pictures outside- um, YES! And I'm so glad we did, the light was yummy.

I love this shot of their exit! It really captures the whole attitude of the day.

Here's another fun one I just had to include.

brittany + jason

2008-09-02T12:40:00.000-07:00

Brittany had always wanted a picture with her future husband under the archways at Texas Tech. It must have been a little sentimental last week when we walked into the arched hallway to take that very image!

These two are getting married in January, and we couldn't have chosen a better day for their engagement photoshoot. Lots of beautiful light, and beautiful people of course!

I couldn't decide which view I liked better...

Breathtaking!

...and here's the handsome groom.

Love Addict- Tres!

2008-09-01T10:58:00.001-07:00

So, it may be two weeks later, but that doesn't mean I am behind!

Haha, ok- so maybe I'm a little behind.

The third day of the workshop I got to work with Molly and Peter, a couple who has been married just about as long as Shawn and I have. They were great- and really let us do whatever we pleased- including lying on the floor of a grubby diner!

My partner Amanda and I had a great time with these two- it had been raining all week and the weather cleared up just in time for our shoot. All of the locations are in the Garden Arts District in Dallas. We ended our shoot at Tillman's Roadhouse- so yummy I have vowed to take all my family and friends!

Here's Amanda getting the shot! Check out her amazing photography.

Here are all the models (brides) from that day:

So much fun!

Molly, if you happen to see this, please email me so I can get you these images! you guys were so awesome- thanks so much!

seeing with my heart

2008-08-29T18:02:00.000-07:00

I know that regardless of my circumstances, I will always be found in God's hands and His loving care, and that He has already overcome any obstacles I may face- big or small.

One of my biggest fears has always been going blind. I saw this video today and it broke my heart. I closed my eyes for a few minutes and just sat and thought.

What would be different about my life if I could not see?
Would I know the beauty of people and nature and all the things God created?
Would I actually trust God more, knowing that He is my sight?
And furthermore, why isn't He already my sight?

I've always believed that part of my calling was to capture and reflect the beauty that God created in our world. That translates quite literally into my profession as a photographer.

But now I'm challenged to move past my fears and see with my heart, not just my eyes. It's all about perspective- to see things the way God sees.

I encourage you to take a minute to just watch this and see how you react. I didn't expect to feel unusually challenged by it- but that's just the way God likes to work!

Love Addict- Day Uno, Part Dos

2008-08-29T17:23:00.000-07:00

Ok, so my Spanish isn't that great...how do I say "part two"? I've got the "two" down, just not the "part"...

Anyway, thought I'd share a few of the lovely Jourdan. Number one, "Jourdan" is the coolest spelling of this name I've ever seen, and number two, this girl can SING! Check out her myspace and listen to that beautiful voice.

I just got to spend about ten minutes with Jourdan at the workshop but we had a great time- here are a few of my faves.

Love Addict- Day Uno

2008-08-27T13:37:00.000-07:00

Whew! I've finally had a chance to take a look at the images I shot at Kelly Moore's Love Addict workshop last week. It was very refreshing and I enjoyed the others that attended. The workshop was hosted at The Apartment Dallas. Such a cool venue.

The first day we experimented with all types of off-camera lighting. We had all the right ingredients: a killer location, supa-hot models, and a variety of flashes and spotlights. I was paired with Jamey and Melissa, who were so great to let me have free reign. Here are some of the images that resulted:

This was the result of throwing my flash under a clear plastic box.

Did I mention that Jamey is a pretty awesome musician? Go check out his band! They'll be in Lubbock September 27- and I plan on going!

karen + blake

2008-08-26T10:37:00.000-07:00

Karen and Blake were married at the beautiful Three Falls Cove by Lake Meredith. I'd never shot there before, but it turned out to be a wonderfully intimate place and they have an excellent staff. Feldman's in Canyon catered the dinner and it was so good! The cakes were created by Belmar Bakery out of Amarillo.

Shanna and I had a great time hanging out with Karen, Blake, and their family and friends. Three Falls Cove is expertly designed for weddings, allowing adequate space for every type of activity involved in a wedding.

Couldn't get enough of the lovely details:

I loved this cake!

This is such a fun couple! They were surrounded by some fun folks as well.

Hello, gorgeous!

It had rained all morning, but cleared up just in time.
Here are the bride's mother and grandmothers just before the ceremony.

The ceremony was beautifully simple. Her grandfather married them.

I love this candid shot.

A different view of the ceremony.

Married!

Shanna captured this image during the bride and groom's first dance. Priceless!

Congratulations Blake and Karen! Thanks for your trust and the opportunity to take part in such a beautiful day.

editor's note: misprint!

2008-08-26T08:55:00.000-07:00

In my last post I showed you a few pictures of Stefanie and her adorable boys. Well, I just found out that instead of Jackson, it's spelled Jaxon, which is WAAAY cooler than my version!

Sorry, Stefanie, that's a huge pet peeve of mine- it seems no one is ever able to spell my name correctly either!

stefanie, mason & jackson

2008-08-22T12:21:00.000-07:00

I've got a lot to update since last week, but here's a sneak peek at a session I did with Stefanie, Mason and Jackson. Stefanie is 8 months pregnant and handles these two sweet boys so gracefully.

To be honest, I wasn't expecting to get them to sit together for more than two seconds, so I was suprised when the boys had no problem smiling for me! Speaking of suprises, this photoshoot is a suprise for Daddy, so no telling!

Beautiful boys!

And here's where they get it-

famecast- once again, we need your vote!

2008-08-17T10:15:00.000-07:00

My husband's band, A Road Less Traveled, just got notified that they're in the runnings for an independent artist competition called Famecast.

Pretty cool, especially since the grand prize could possibly fund their next album fully. What a huge blessing that would be!

If you wouldn't mind visiting this website, registering your email address, and sending a vote their way we would absolutely love it! You can vote once everyday.

The video below show you how to vote.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR A ROAD LESS TRAVELED!

Also, could any of you bloggers out there help us out by speading the word and posting about the contest as well? Thanks!

a fun one

2008-08-15T14:50:00.000-07:00

I came across this image while I was working on Chris and BB's wedding (Yes, they will ALL be up very soon!). I have tried to get this shot before, only I didn't have my lovely sista to help. Thank you, Layne. :)

Next week's going to be a busy one! Wedding at Lake Meredith tomorrow, workshop in Dallas, ARLT show in Crane, then a wedding in Amarillo. I'm going to do my very best to keep up with things as normal, but if service runs out on my iPhone I might lose all sense of organization!

beautiful books

2008-08-13T13:37:00.000-07:00

Introducing my NEW Hardcover Session Albums!

These books are a response to many requests for an album created specifically for portrait sessions. I can't even BEGIN to tell you how much I love these books- vivid images printed on a selection of fine press papers and mounted so that the pages feel substantial...haha, I really get into it!

These books are 5x7 inches in size and can feature 30+ images from your session. The covers are completely custom designed so the possibilities are endless!

In celebration of my favorite new product, I'm going to feature it AT A DISCOUNT in an upcoming portrait package- stay tuned for details!

the miller family

2008-08-12T10:22:00.000-07:00

I was so excited to see my friend and old roomate Ashlee this weekend. Even better, I was going to get to see her sister, Brandi, and her family, whom I hadn't seen in a few years. They flew in from Pennsylvania so we squeezed in a session while they were here.

Photographing this bunch was so much fun- I LOVED all the colors they wore (thank you stylist Ashlee)...and playing with the kids was fun as always.

This is Tyler. He is 8 now and into baseball:

And Miss Brynlee, such a cutie!

I love these relaxed family portraits:

And Dana- watch out world, she's not even 16 yet!

Here's Ashlee and Brynlee:

Sisters! Never would have guessed, huh?

Thanks so much you guys! Enjoy your time in Texas!

bethany + chris

2008-08-07T15:17:00.000-07:00

This is a very personal post for me, as I was very close to almost everyone involved in Chris and Bethany's wedding. I grew up across the street from Bethany and her family was (and still is) like my 2nd family. Chris, of course, is in Shawn's band and I've enjoyed actually getting to know him since we graduated high school together.

I never would have imagined that these two would be married one day, but it was so awesome to get to experience God shaping their relationship up until this day. Shanna second shot for me, and we had a great time capturing everything.

There are quite a few images in this post, but they're worth it! Enjoy!

Yes I know, she is absolutely gorgeous...

When I saw this giraffe, I couldn't help myself! Haha. Check out Chris's white ceramic ring- pretty cool!

One of my faves of Shanna's shots:

They chose to see each other before the ceremony, which was so neat. Not only did it allow a whole lot more time (and therefore creativity) for portraits, they were able to have a moment alone together, something which is important on the day you marry someone!

He cried, and it was precious.

We took the bridal party over to this old white house nearby the church, and although I loved the color image, I just couldn't get over this old vintage style.

I don't always get to shoot images like this! Here's my tribute to everything 80's, including the Vans that the guys are wearing:

Beautiful ladies!

Maybe my favorite portrait of the two of them:

Lisa (BB's mom) praying over her right before the ceremony.

Some ceremony details:

After the ceremony, Chris and Bethany had a suprise for her mom. In this image she's reading a note from her husband asking her to renew their wedding vows. BB handed her mom the bouquet and sent her down the aisle!

How cool is this?!?

The reception had so many neat and personal touches to it-

Check out the candy bar!

Father/Daughter dance:

And the Mother/Son was not your traditional dance- very Chris!

Mariana caught the bouquet- we call her our Brazilian sister. Mari has lived with my parents off and on over the past few years and she is one awesome volleyball player!

Chris and BB- you guys are awesome, and I am so blessed to have both of you in my life! I can't wait to see where God takes you. Have fun in Jamaica!

a road less traveled

2008-08-07T08:01:00.000-07:00

It has been (choke) over a year since I've photographed these boys, and this was a pretty impromptu shoot.

We headed out to the airport for a James Bond feel, since they all had tuxes for the weekend. It was a very quick shoot with plenty of technical difficulties :), but they were very patient with me and I'm pleased with the results.

Take a look at their myspace page- there's been a lot going on with ARLT this summer and more coming up!

the rice family

2008-08-05T13:16:00.000-07:00

The Rice family met me for a session in Amarillo last weekend and it was such a pleasure to photograph them. Their love for each other is evident in the way they interact and I loved getting to capture that! I feel like we came out with some images that really represent everything good about family. Check them out!

Hello?!? Does someone need to get this child a modeling contract or what?

Such a special bond between father and daughter...

and mother and daughter...

Thanks so much you guys! I hope I get to photograph you guys again!

cameron + trey

2008-08-05T09:38:00.000-07:00

This post is so overdue! Shanna and I shot a fun wedding here in Lubbock a couple of weeks ago. Cameron and Trey were surrounded by a great group of family and friends, and I was excited to get to be a part of their day.

One of my favorites from the day:

His:
Hers:

Like I said, Cameron had a great group of girls to help her get ready...haha, no brides were harmed in the making of this photograph!

The groomsmen were quite serviceable as well...

Right before their stroll down the aisle:

A few shots after the ceremony:

This is one of my faves as well. Last dance of the night...

Cameron and Trey, thanks so much for putting your trust in me and allowing me to follow you through such a special day! You two are so good together- congratulations!

which images catch your eye?

2008-07-29T09:14:00.000-07:00

It's time for me to get new business cards, and I'd like your input!

Each of my new cards will feature a different image on the back, so I've created a Flickr Set with some of my favorite images from the past year.

I need you to take a look and let me know which images are your favorite! Leave a comment on the images you like to vote for them. I'll be sending the TOP 25 images to print.

Go take a look! You might just be on my next business card!

swampin'

2008-07-24T21:23:00.000-07:00

Just a little post before we head out tomorrow- but I thought I'd show you guys what we've been up to...

Today we took a swamp tour with Cajun Pride tours- and it was so much fun! The whole thing lasted a few hours- and we didn't expect to get such an up-close experience. It rained during the middle of the tour, but it was actually nice- cooled us off a bit!

Here's the swamp:

We got to hold a baby alligator! I think I was about to freak right here...(just fyi, these images are from my point and shoot- no fancy stuff here!)

Shawn feeding about 5 of the 15 alligators surrounding our boat:

A couple of short videos, if you're curious- I apologize in advance for the shaky camera business:

Hopefully tomorrow I'll post some of the other images from the trip. We really had a great time and have quite a few stories to bring back with us! Thank you, my wonderful clients, for being so patient while we've been gone. I'm now rejuvenated and am really excited to get back to work!

we needed a little spontaneity...

2008-07-21T14:49:00.000-07:00

...and a little break, so Shawn and I are headed to New Orleans! So, if you find that I am not responding as quickly as usual to your calls and emails, this is why. I'll be back, hard at work, on Monday, July 28.

jared + jenifer's wedding

2008-07-18T12:40:00.000-07:00

Jared + Jenifer were married this last weekend here in Lubbock. These two have a great love story. They began dating when Jared had just come to college at Texas Tech and Jenifer was still in high school. Once Jared moved to pursue his career, they broke up because of the distance. After a while, they found each other again and decided to make it permanent! The love these two have for each other is evident in the way they speak, talk, and touch. This was such a fun wedding to shoot because I knew many of the people involved and their families are so much fun!

Now for a few (haha) pictures- Jenifer was a gorgeous bride in so many ways.

The recessed lighting in the sanctuary resembled stars on camera.

The reception was held at a relative's home, and it looked so beautiful!

Time for a little champagne!

It was so good to see these girls.

This is the first time I've ever seen the groom bustle the bride's dress, and I thought it was so sweet.

A few moments alone...

Little did they know that "Thriller" had come on downstairs!

Towards the end of the reception Jared made a point to recognize some very important people in his life and admonish them publicly. It was very touching and so special.

The exit!
Congratulations you guys!

business card design

2008-07-17T10:53:00.000-07:00

My cousin Landon called me this weekend to say he needed some new business cards- quick. So I collaborated with Chris to create this design. We wanted something urban, upscale, and a little edgy. Pretty cool!

By the way, if you live in Amarillo, I would highly recommend Landon! He has a natural knack for what he does.

callye

2008-07-15T15:03:00.000-07:00

Meet Miss Callye! Callye is the daughter of my long time friends Casye and Gabriel, and it was so much fun just to get to hang out and see how their lives have changed because of this precious little one.

Gotta love the tiny baby hands as feet.

Callye had quite a few faces for us during the shoot, but this one just may be the most unique...so cute!

And now for a few family shots...

Wow, this girl has some very intense eyes! Gorgeous!

Towards the end of the shoot I caught her in her car seat giving us so many different expressions!
Casye and Gabriel- thanks so much for having me document something so special! I can't wait to see her grow!

an update + a bride

2008-07-08T12:40:00.000-07:00

Wow- it's time for an update! Shawn and I have moved into our new house and have spent a lot of time unpacking (with a lot of help from family and friends). I'll have to make a post with some pictures soon.

I spent about two weeks without internet and made regular trips to the closest coffee shop just to upload new galleries and answer emails. Guess I never realized how attached I was! I set up a n entire wireless network in our house and it is more streamlined than ever- so nice. I know, I am a nerd.

I've been shooting a lot, but I can't post many of the images, because they are all brides! Here's one that I can post- this is Ashley from my previous entry. We had the best time at her bridal photoshoot. I couldn't wait to take her to this new spot- can you believe this is in Lubbock?

Here's the image she chose for her Canvas Gallery Wrap. It was displayed at the reception and looked so great! Excellent choice!

Of course, it was windy that day, but we took advantage of it! I love the radiance in her face.

mr. + mrs. edwards

2008-06-21T10:10:00.000-07:00

Kaury and Ashley's wedding was one I won't soon forget. It was a wonderful day filled with lots of love and good friends. I went to college with these two and Kaury and I cheered together. Their day was extremely well-planned thanks to Ashley and everything ran so smoothly. It really was a pleasure the entire time. I did my best to narrow down my favorites for this post, but it was tough! So stay tuned, there are quite a few in this one...

The dress:
And Miss Ashley (not Miss for long, though...)

I LOVED these flowers. So unique and funky and elegant at the same time:

A cheerful groom:
The guys got ready in the library of the church, which turned out to be a nice backdrop...

I love the flood of light in this image (not to mention the gorgeous bride!):

Their minister is a well-respected Bible professor at WBU, and I really love this shot of him before the ceremony.

So in love!

Like I told them, not everyone gets to visit the Villa on their wedding day! I love that this couple were up for anything and everything- it made all the difference. :)

I can't resist that blue!

This was possibly the most devoted flower girl I've ever seen!

Forget formal portraits- this is what I love! Haha.

My lovely assistant (Shanna) captured this private moment- I love it.

The church was gorgeous, and I loved the natural light coming from the stained glass window.

Lots of laughter at the reception.

Maui-bound!
As we were leaving I noticed how beautiful the sunset was on the church steeple. It was such a pretty day.

Thanks so much Kaury and Ashley for being a great couple work with and good friends as well. You guys ministered to me in so many ways during the process and I know that God has huge plans for your marriage. Congratulations!

Chris + Kelli

2008-06-12T13:31:00.000-07:00

This is Chris and Kelli, a cool couple I got to photograph in Amarillo last weekend. We met up near the building where Kelli works downtown and they really made my job a fun one! I don't know that I would mind going to work in their shoes for a day either- she works for an architecture firm and says she basically shops all day for flooring, fixtures, and furniture for the firm's projects and he is a conductor for the BNSF railroad. Pretty exciting either way, I think! Thanks so much you guys for a great shoot- can't wait for the wedding!

This is probably my favorite image from the session- got to love that dramatic light!

contest winner prize!

2008-06-12T11:29:00.001-07:00

Ember, our box contest winner, asked for a surprise prize- so this is it! These are 2x3 glossy stickers with an image of her sweet boys on them. Ember is a very creative lady so I'm also hoping to see how she uses them. I've been dying to have a good excuse to order some, so thanks Ember!

Studio Blue's got a Brand New Proofing Site!

2008-06-11T14:50:00.000-07:00

This is just a quick note to let everyone know that all active online galleries have been moved to our super-fresh Proofing Website!

You can still access the images through the main "Proofing" link on my website. Once you're there, just follow the on-screen instructions to view your gallery. Please be patient, it may take a second to load!

Your gallery password should remain the same, however, if you are unable to access your gallery please send us an email and we'll get it right to you.

In celebration of our BRAND NEW PROOFING SITE, we're offering 15% off your next order from now until the end of the month.

In your shopping cart, simply enter the coupon code "NEWSITE" and your 15% off will be reflected when you checkout.

*If your gallery has already expired, but you'd like to take advantage of this offer, please let us know and we will reactivate your gallery for the rest of the month FREE. We treasure our clients and would love your feedback on this new proofing system. Thanks!

bethany + chris

2008-06-11T09:22:00.000-07:00

Chris and Bethany are some of my very good friends and it was so much fun to do their engagement session last week. I felt so spoiled because I got to help them hand pick their outfits and we did a lot of talking about their shoot beforehand. We really had a good time playing with some different themes and I think it came out in the images.

This image was Chris's idea- he's really good with machines and fixing things so it fit to have him working on the car!

This is Jack, and his cat. We met Jack during the photoshoot, because he is the owner of all of these cool old cars. He was so nice to let us borrow his yard for a while, and he also introduced us to his cat, who "likes to be pet but not carried".

I wanted to experiment a little with some night shooting, so we shot at a nearby tennis court. I really love the drama and contrast in these images, and I may begin to offer exclusive night shoots as a package soon!

Here's a little slideshow of the rest of their images!

S.O.T.D.

2008-06-09T14:59:00.000-07:00

As in Song Of The Day! This one came on at just the right time and seemed too appropriate not to deem it today's official song for me:

total number of boxes = 26!

2008-06-08T13:57:00.000-07:00

You guys were all pretty close- but the closest was Ember Sherman, who happens to have a pretty cool blog herself!

Congratulations, Ember! Please let me know in what form you would like your prize! Thanks for playing everyone- I will try to do this monthly.

Every Sunday PostSecret posts a new batch of secrets sent in by anonymous people on their blog. I saw this one this morning, and it confirmed some thoughts I've been having about photography and how the ease of digital cameras have created a lot of room for people to take pictures but never actually know what they are doing.

Yikes! I'm always an advocate for any photographer who purposes to educate themselves and truly learn the foundations of this craft. There are so many new ideas out there, it's an exciting time in photography, but it's also important to know the basics.

contest!

2008-06-05T07:12:00.000-07:00

Since I haven't had a contest on my blog in at least a year, here goes!

Shawn and I are in the process of packing and moving (yes, we're sooo excited- more info to come)- and I'd like you to guess how many boxes we have crowding up our space! This would be the current number at 9:12 a.m. on Thursday (hopefully a lot more than that by tonight- I've got my work cut out for me).

The winner will receive your choice of a free 8x10 from a past session, a 10% discount on a future session, or a super-cool surprise gift I'll send you in the mail. :)

Leave me a comment with your guess before midnight tonight, and I'll post the winner this weekend. Happy guessing!

the long-awaited motorcycle pics

2008-06-03T13:42:00.000-07:00

My husband Shawn has been begging me to shoot some images of his motorcycle ever since he got it. Finally, the weather has warmed up and we found a little bit of time to go experiment with lighting and get some pretty cool stuff.

Shawn also took a few images of me, and I think he did a really great job!

I'm working on the NEW Client Proofing Site!

2008-05-28T12:21:00.000-07:00

Which means that you may find your gallery is down, or inaccessible. This should only affect wedding galleries and a few older portrait galleries. Please be patient- I should have them back up within a day or two, however if you need to view your gallery before that time, please email me and I can get you a new temporary link.

Thanks for being so patient! I am VERY excited about this new site! It's going to make viewing and ordering your images a snap. Thanks everyone!

lyndal's dress images

2008-05-23T11:49:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd share a few images of Lyndal in her prom dress that I didn't post earlier. Doesn't she look gorgeous? We found this hug tree that had been uprooted and it was the perfect compliment to her black lace dress. I loved these:

happy friday!

2008-05-23T07:00:00.001-07:00

Thought you all might enjoy this clever little video I saw this morning. I wish I could have been a part! We've tried to pull off stuff like this before but somehow 10 people don't make a huge impact :).

senior slideshows

2008-05-21T11:04:00.001-07:00

Just thought I'd post a Senior Slideshow from one of my recent sessions with Sam. Everyone who participated in the Senior Special got a FREE slideshow with their package. The special was so successful, I'm sure I'll feature it again next year. Thanks so much to all those who took advantage of it!

the last prom ever!

2008-05-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

At least for our family...my little sister & sister-in-law went to prom for the last time this weekend...and being from a small town you have to realize that it's a pretty big deal. I was excited that Shawn and I were able to be there and hang out for the festivities. The day began with a trip to our cousin Landon in Amarillo, who did a beautiful job on Layne's hair:

All ready to go! These shots were taken in the entry at my parent's house:

And it's off to the park to take some pictures. Talk about a fun date!

Here's Emily with her date, Josh- they looked great!

Emily did her own hair! (Those skillz must run in the family.) It's a good thing she's going to Toni & Guy!

Here's the scene at the entrance of the prom. Yes, those are bleachers, and pretty much the whole town shows up to watch the seniors enter. They are also announced on a loudspeaker!

The theme this year was Moulin Rouge- and it was so neat inside!

Probably the largest vehicle someone arrived in...there was also an RV, several very nice cars, and a pontoon boat which Layne arrived in.

My Mom and Chrystal make great door greeters!

I took A LOT of pictures that day, so if you would like to see the rest of them, just email me and I can send you the link. The images are free to download!

the cano family

2008-05-20T12:58:00.000-07:00

Time for a little more catch-up!

I was honored to photograph my friends the Canos last week. I've known Abbie all my life, and have gotten to know Michael better over the years. They are a very special family to me because I feel like I have gotten to be there for so many of their life experiences. Abbie just had her second sweet child, Brooklyn, and this was our first time to meet! She is so precious-

And Miss Briley is such a good big sister.

A fun family pic:

Check out that bow!

Abbie's cousin Nicole brought her dog Keenah (spelling?) to the shoot, and I had to get one that would show just how big she is!

I love this image! In the large version, you can see the spit dripping off her whiskers, haha!

Thank you so much guys- I had the best time!

bethany • senior

2008-05-19T17:05:00.000-07:00

I have known Bethany for quite a while, and I was excited for her session because I knew it would be packed with energy! We wandered around downtown Lubbock and out to some new spots for her shoot.

Who doesn't love a little drama?

I loved the emerald green of her prom dress, so I wanted to emphasize it with the landscape. Her Dad did a great job with the reflector! Thanks Ron!

They also wanted some family images, and I had been thinking about the next shot for a long time, so I was pretty pumped when it worked out!

This one is oh-so-Maxwell, haha!

They requested I take this image because they had an older one like it- I think it is such a neat idea and really like the way it turned out!

jeannie • senior

2008-05-19T16:48:00.000-07:00

It's crazy how behind I am on my blog-postings! I have had so much fun the past couple weeks being immersed in senior-world. This is my best attempt to let you all in on the fun I've been having. Here is Jeannie, a senior from Borger, who had a great personal style and a great smile to match!

She literally laid down in an alley for me- but I was pleased with the shots we got!

And the prom dress- gotta love the Converse!

trey • senior

2008-05-05T09:52:00.000-07:00

Trey is a senior at Lubbock Christian and the brother of one of my wonderful friends, Bonnie. I was so excited to do Trey's photoshoot because I just knew he would keep me entertained, and that he did! We went to the only place I knew of that we could explore and get some awesome pictures. I really love feel of the images that resulted...

Here's Trey showing off some of his climbing skills...

While we were exploring, we found a fox! I almost didn't believe it, but it just sat there, totally not threatened by us.

Of course, I couldn't resist a little air time:

kagan • senior

2008-05-05T08:46:00.000-07:00

Is Kagan not the coolest name ever? When she first called I knew this would be a fun session- and it really was! We found some cool spots and although it was windy (typical for West Texas), Kagan hung in there :). Congrats on your graduation Kagan!

seth • senior

2008-05-03T10:10:00.000-07:00

Seth is another senior from Borger, who towered over me- he has got to be at least a foot taller than me! He's going to play college ball so he came equipped with his uniform and his favorite prop :). We spent some time playing around inside a parking garage- and on top of it too!

The next couple shots are some of my favorites:

About this time during our photoshoot we met an interesting character who was arguing with someone (we're not sure who), while flapping around the bath towel tied onto his head. Fortunately Seth makes friends easily so I didn't get too scared!

Thanks so much Seth (and Anna who made a wonderful assistant)!

sam • senior

2008-05-02T08:01:00.000-07:00

I have been so blessed to get to photograph some gorgeous seniors this year! Here is Sam, a senior from Borger. I really enjoyed her laid-back attitude during our shoot- I don't know how many times I changed my mind, but I'm glad she went along with it! I really love the bold colors in these next two:

Jumping is a perfect picture of freedom to me- perfect for graduation!

Check out these eyelashes- wow!

lyndal • senior

2008-05-01T16:03:00.000-07:00

Lyndal is a senior from Borger whom I have known for a very long time! She and her mom made the trip down last week and we had the best time wandering around town. It was tough to choose my favorites from this gorgeous girl's shoot, but here they are!

hunter • senior

2008-04-30T14:12:00.000-07:00

Hunter and his family drove in from Seminole last week to meet me for his senior photoshoot. I really enjoyed getting to hear about his family and their travels to all sorts of places- plus Hunter was up for whatever crazy thing I might ask him to do. We wandered around one of my favorite spots, and I really love the images we got. Here are some of my faves:

Don't you think he looks a little bit like Josh Hartnett?

racquel

2008-04-25T14:05:00.000-07:00

The other night I went out with super-awesome photographer Shan Renee to experiment with lighting. My friend Racquel was so nice to model for us- I don't know how many times we made her run and jump and twirl! I had so much fun playing with that lighting that I think it might become a habit- so more to come soon. Thanks so much girls for a great time!

I really loved both of these. Couldn't decide which was my favorite...