Confidence

my nephew, David was gracious enough to be my subject
for a self assignment idea. "what do you want me to do" he said
"Shoot some hoops" I told him, knowing that would give me that intense confidence
that I wanted from him. One thing about David is that he has heart and gives %100 most of the time
and when it's basketball %100 all the time. My boys have quite a role model in him.
So David, "cast not away your confidence for it brings much reward".
Onward and upward young man.

Timeless

What I love about photography is it’s ability convey a time, place and an emotional connection; a historical narrative, one second describing many. But then there are photographic opportunities that don’t immediately connect to a time, where there is a magical displacement that occurs and an entire new world is seemingly created. The shoot with Megan and Peter was one of those times. They invited me into their world and give me the tour. We talked and photographed and laughed. They shared with me their stories and steps to marriage, their relationship to each other and how it’s rooted in God and the love of Jesus Christ. It was a fulfilling experience that I will not soon forget.
Thank you Peter and Megan for all the beauty, it was a gift to be able to record it.

Volkswagen baby!

I am a huge Volkswagen fan. So when my friend told me that Volkswagen came out with a mini-van, my response was, "We have to have another child so I can get one!" Turns out they did a whole marketing campaign based on that premise.

Well, these baby announcements are going to do the same thing to some of you. Since, April is Baby month at Keels Photography we have been creating and launching some priceless new Baby products. Candis has designed some beautiful baby announcements that you will not only want to send to friends and family, but also frame I suspect. They display your baby's first photo shoot at Keels Photography and provide room to put some heartfelt words to this beautiful moment in your lives. So if you are pregnant (or know someone who is) come to us. If you're not pregnant, think about getting pregnant. You could get these awesome announcement AND a Volkswagen mini-van.

And yes, I think Candis is now the front runner for employee of the year 2009.

Long Black Limousine

That was my entrance song today. It’s by Patti Griffin (yes, I am a fan). It can seem a bit serious or heavy for an entrance song. But it’s excellent. Especially loud in the car.

I see a lot of limousines at weddings. They are always grand and unlike the one in the song they can be a bit untraditional. You’ve all seen the Hummer limousines right? For a girl born on Earth Day, those are a bit hard on the spirit. Either way, they carry wonderfully joyous people from church to … well usually somewhere to take beautiful portraits with Chris … and then to the reception. When you see them on the street alone, you know it’s for something fun. When you see them in a procession, you know it is for something sad.

The limousine in this song is for the other end of marriage. When the couple parts because of the circle of life (yes, we have been reading the Lion King). And although her words are about how she feels now that her husband is gone, I find words that remind me how to live while my husband and I are still here. Lyrics like …

“There’s nothing left at the end of being proud.”

or

“Forty years go by with someone laying in your bed. Forty years of saying things you wish you never said. How hard would it have been to say some kinder words instead? I wonder as I stare at the sky turning red.”

Not to hit you super hard with the “life is short” message on a Monday ... but it is. Download this song and you will be catapulted into the precious moment that is today. Say some kinder words if you can. I should probably go and get on the phone!