New Faster Turnaround Time!

Hey Gang! One of the policies of the studio has been that it takes us about 5-7 days to prepare your images before you can come in and view them, and then once you place your order it takes about 4-6 weeks for the finished portraits to arrive.

But now we have a new graphic artist on staff and that's all changing! Our proofing time will be the same, but the good news is that our turn around time is changing to 2-3 weeks! Thats twice as fast!

Many of our clients don't mind waiting, as they say "QUALITY TAKES TIME & The Proof is in the PUDDING."

but now that I've spent a few weeks training the girls things are going to speed up here in that department. You'll still get the great quality you are used to, only a bit faster.

Just one more thing were doing here to give our clients the best service we can! Our watercolor Giclees will still take 6 weeks, but the rest of our orders will be 2-3. Now for real estate agent head shots, and business portraits the time is going to be 7 days. And we can also offer RUSH Services in less time for everyone by paying a 10% Rush fee.

Thanks again for your patronage!

Kendalyn

How to leave comments on the BLOG.

A lot of you have been asking how to leave a comment on my Blog. My blog designer is still trying to find out from Blogger why comments aren't working, but Blogger told her to double click on the Title of the Post at the top of the post and then it will open the post into a new window. Then you can type in your comments.

Thanks Dawn from Chicago for alerting me that it doesnt work. She tried to leave a comment and it wouldnt go through. Check out their beautiful new Blog and photography. http://bobanddawndavis.info/

Quote of the Day

"Whatever I have tried to do in life, I have tried with all my heart to do it well; whatever I have devoted myself to, I have devoted myself completely; in great aims and in small I have always thoroughly been in earnest." - Charles Dickens

a special family

This family is so dear. The dad George or also known as Brother George used to be the Youth pastor and our son adores him! He has been such a great influence on our son. George really cares about the youth at Liberty and he gives so much of himself to these kiddos. They are a special family and Wichita Falls is lucky to have great folks like them living here! The boys are beautiful and it was so great to get to spend some time with them!

HAPPY MONDAY YALL!

Just wanted to say HAPPY MONDAY to you all. What? You re groaning that its Monday? If you love your job the way I do, then you don't groan, well not often that is. haha. (I do like my beauty sleep.)
I always receive emails from the Bishop Realtor Group from Mr. Ashton Gustafson Monday mornings on various things going on with them and in the real estate business and I love their positive outlook. http://www.bishoprealtors.com/
Im proud to say that Ive photographed them and they are a great bunch of folks!

Times are hard in various parts of the country, but we are lucky to live in Texoma where life is really good!

Just wanted to let you guys know that we've got various things in the works. Right now is kicking off our Senior Portrait Season. The Class of 2010 is coming in for portraits and we've got a few weddings in the works. Of course Families and Children are always coming in year round.
Currently we are not offering any specials except for our Class of 2010. Give us a call for more info on that!

In the mean time I hope you get a chance to enjoy some time off, take the boat out to the lake, or just take a dip in your pool, or head up to Lake Texoma.

There is so much going on in the summer in Texoma and we are so proud to live in this area with all you fine folks. It will be 15 years this September that we flew in from Okinawa Japan and you've all made us feel welcome. Of course Texas is our home, I'm from the Odessa/ Midland area and my husband grew up in Irving Texas.

Ive got to go pour myself some Iced Tea and fresh lemon and get back to work now.
Have a great Monday YALL!

Bridals after Dark

>

Summer breeze makes me feel fine...

Another beautiful day, Hope you all enjoy it. As for me, Ill be floating in my pool lounger day dreaming and staring at the clouds because I have a busy week next week.

Mardis Gras in July?

25 Things I hate about Facebook.

Hollands Birthday

Just look at beautiful Holland! Shes one now and so adorable! I'm working on her first year album and its so cute! It was so great to document her first year and see her grow every month. I'm actually sad now that shes one, but her mom said she'll still come in for family portraits and special things.

Words cant express how much Ive enjoyed getting to know this family, they are super people and Its been a joy. Thanks Leah and Kirk, I hope to see you soon and thanks again for the memories!

Fun at the Lake this 4th of July weekend.

This weekend we took our boat out to the lake and went tubing and knee boarding. This is a shot of me and our sons girlfriend Amy right before my son tried to kill us by taking off super fast (the boat has a new fast engine put in this spring!)

We had so much fun! I say it all the time that summer is my favorite time of the year, I hope you guys take time and enjoy the summer before its over.
Here's a video of our son tubing, and I was driving the boat and Amy was filming it. You can see I was trying my best to get even with him!
And the last video is me tubing while they pull me, If you listen you can hear me screaming!The first time I ever went tubing I was about 23 and we went to Lake Nasworthy in San Angelo, my sister and some friends and I loved it. We laughed and screamed our heads off.

My favorite saying is "Do we stop playing because we grow old?... or do we grow old because we stop Playing?" I will always play even when Im 95!

I love this!

I read this a few years back and have always loved it. I never knew who wrote it. I heard it was George Carlin once and another time I heard it was Andy Rooney. i dont know, but regardless it is so true.

I hope you print it out and keep it. And try to remember the lessons in this. I escpially think younger people should read it. I find the communication part to be the best quote in it. Hugs all! Have a blessed Tuesday!

We have more... but less....

We have taller buildings, but shorter tempers;

wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints;

we spend more, but have less;

we buy more, but enjoy less.
We have bigger houses and smaller families,

more conveniences, but less time;

we have more degrees, but less common sense;

more knowledge, but less judgment;

more experts, but more problems;

more medicine, but less wellness.

We spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, become too angry too quickly, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too seldom, watch too much television, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.

We talk too much, love too seldom, and lie too often.

We have learned how to make a living, but not a life;

we have added years to our life, but not life to our years.

We have been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor.

We have conquered outer space, but not conquered inner space;

we have done larger things, but not better things;

we have cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul;

we have split the atom, but not the prejudice;

we write more, but learn less;

we plan more but accomplish less.
We have learned to rush, but not to wait;

we have higher incomes, but lower morals;

more food, but less appeasement;

more acquaintances, but fewer friends;

more effort, but less success.

We have built more computers to hold more information, more cell phones, text messaging, internet sites, twitter, facebook, myspace, instant messaging, emails, blogs etc...than ever before, but have less real communication;

we have become long on quantity, but short on quality.

These are the times for fast foods and slow digestion;

tall men and short character,

steep profits and shallow relationships.

These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare,

more leisure and less fun;

more kinds of food, but less nutrition.

These are the days of two incomes, but more divorce;

of fancier houses, but broken homes.

These are the days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one-night stands, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.

It is a time when there is too much in the Shop window, but not enough in the Stockroom.

Sorry havent been around much!

Hey Guys, Sorry I ha vent been blogging much lately. A LOT GOING ON HERE! Keep checking back for more info. Our Day with Dixie has been very popular and trying to set up days for everyone who inquired.
We may open up a whole week in August due to the demand! If you are interested, just scroll down and read about it.
This is a whole day with a Certified Master Craftsman photographer, MOI, and you can ask me anything for 9 hours that you heart desires. Email to Pdixie@sw.rr.com

Elizabeth

I really liked Elizabeths spirit! Shes very positive and outgoing and funny. Shes definetly not shy and was fun to photograph. Thanks Elizabeth for choosing us for your Senior Portraits!

A Day with a Master Photographer!

I've got 3 days in July that you can book me for "SPEND A DAY WITH DIXIE" for photographers. This is where you get me for one whole entire day! (Lunch Included) to pick my brain, we will do a photo shoot of a real Senior, or engaged couple and i will teach you my editing tips and tricks!

You can come to my studio, or I can come to yours! You can ask me anything! Business, Studio Design, Equipment, Pricing, Shooting, Photoshop, etc...you name it!

My regular price is $1500.00 a day (to close my studio down and to spend a day training someone, but I'm doing it for half price the month of July!)
To come to your studio is an even $1000.00 plus hotel!

This is a great way to learn from a Master, Craftsman, Certified Professional Photographer. I don't know about August dates right now. Email me for availability!

SORRY Not open to studios within 75 miles of my studio. (Half down required when booking ($375.) and the other half within 7 days of the day, is all that is needed.) Email for more info! PDixie@sw.rr.com

Loving this rainy day sleepy weather...

I woke up this morning to hearing thunder crackling and then the rain began. Ahh... I absolutely love it when it rains at night. (Unless I'm camping in a tent!) I knew the heat wave we've been having would temporarily break and it would be a nice day.

I'm having trouble getting work done today because of the overcast clouds and dark weather. It makes you want to stay in bed and doze.
Wichita Falls definitely could use a break from the heat and I know the farmers appreciate the rain. Hope you guys have a great Monday. I'm sending orders to the lab and taking a break ever couple of hours to stretch out, lie on the floor and stare out the window at the clouds. Then up and back to work!

Thanks Steve!

Thanks to Steve for sending this photo of me at the Awards Banquet. This is my friend Christy from New Mexico! Shes a sweetheart! Often people take my picture, but rarely do they ever send it to me! Thanks Steve G.!

PS I'm guilty too of taking peoples pics and not sending them a copy!) I'm working on that! :-(

PS the reason my eyes look so goofy is because Im blind without my glasses! Im having a consultation with Dr. Suggs for LASIK soon! (He is a client of mine.) And he does awesome work. My sister went to a Dr. in Dallas and hers didnt turn out so good, but Ive heard nothing but good things about Mark.

http://www.suggseyecenter.com/

More of Holland coming soon!

Im reserving this space for more of baby Holland to go here! She just turned one and we got some cute birthday cake photos! Happy Saturday all!

Hayln

This little precious baby came over 100 miles to have her portraits taken! Shes a beautie! She has the most angelic eyes and never gets fussy. Her mother told me this and I wasnt sure I believed her, until I saw that during the whole photo shoot and while we changed her clothes multiple times she never once cried! Unusual to say the least! She is super tiny! I got to hold her and she was like a little doll!

Thanks Guys, for coming so far, it means a lot to me! Heres 3 images of her that I thought were sweet!

Hailey and Landry

I'm really honored when I have wonderful clients that love coming back to us over and over. It really warms my heart to get to know these people and to watch their beautiful children grow up. As Ive said many times, this career is about relationships and I'm a warm fuzzy and cant imagine doing anything else. So here's two precious little girls that Ive been watching grow up. Hailey just turned 4 and shes turning into a beautiful young lady! Shes funny and energetic and talkative. You cant outsmart her! Shes very tender with her little sister and doesn't mind sharing with her! We had a wonderful day, and the weather was beautiful outside that day.

Our amazing graphic artist/photographer Lauren created this slideshow while I was on vacation and I just got to see it today. (I shot the images and she created the show).
Thank you Lauren, its adorable! And thank You Melody for bringing your baby girls in!

TGIF!

We had a great week here at the studio, photo sessions will be posted soon!
Just wanted to tell you all to have a great weekend and try to stay cool this weekend. This heat wave is something else. Drink lots of fluids and avoid the heat during the hottest part of the day.

We might take our boat out this weekend, and try to cool off at the Lake.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Unusual day today

Unless you've been under a rock today, you may have heard two famous celebrities passed away! The first was no surprise, but very sad, Farrah Faucet lost her battle to cancer.
She was a very brave woman and fought hard, but the 2nd person blew my mind, 50 year old Michael Jackson was declared dead today in a Los Angeles hospital today apparently of a heart attack! I heard he was about to go on a 50 city tour next month! Someone found him in his home and called paramedics. Both are really sad to hear. So strange.

I dont normally post things like things like this.

Jackson http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b131173_Michael_Jackson__Pop_s_Thrilling_King__Dead_at_50.html

Farrah

http://www.examiner.com/x-3145-Miami-Relationships-Examiner~y2009m6d25-The-Love-Story-Ends--Farrah-Fawcett-Passed-Away

Who am I?

Ive run this before, but thought it was worthy of posting again. Here ya go!

"I am your constant companion.

I am your greatest helper or your heaviest burden.

I will push you onward or drag you down to failure.

I am completely at your command.

Half the things you do, you might just as well turn
over to me, and I will be able to do them quickly and
correctly.

I am easily managed; you must merely be firm with
me.

Show me exactly how you want something done, and
after a few lessons I will do it automatically.

I am the servant of all great men.
And, alas, of all failures as well.

Those who are great, I have made great.

I am not a machine, though I work with all the precision
of a machine.

Plus, the intelligence of man.

You may run me for profit, or run me for ruin; it makes
no difference to me.

Take me, train me, be firm with me and I will put the
world at your feet.

Be easy with me, and I will destroy you.
Who am I?

I am HABIT."

Its summertime and the Livin' is easy.

In between our trip to the event in the Hill Country that I was a Judge and Chicago, we went down to Padre Island (as we do almost every year since 1980!)To me summer hasn't begun until we go to the sea shore. Here are just a few of the images I took while we there in Port A. My advice to you guys is when you go on vacation, take your camera, and be on the lookout for details, like buildings, plant life, unusual looking people. Don't just snap the kids playing, or the typical whole family together and ask a stranger to take it (those are good though)but get the details of the area. Get the details of the town, or beach, or lake, or whatever. Take a photo of your lunch! Take a photo of the birds, take a photo of anything you find interesting.Then when you are scrap booking or putting the photos into albums, you'll remember the "FLAVOR" of the area. The details are important! And now with digital you can shoot extra images and it doesn't cost any more, except for the ones you print!Here's to SUMMER!I had a Margarita at Virginias on the Bay http://virginiasportaransas.com/Sunsets.htmwhile watching the sunset over the harbor. What could be better? This is a great "OPEN AIR" restaurant, we always go too! If you are in Port Aransas definetly go there for dinner!

Art is Life.

When we were in Chicago this weekend, we used public transportation to get around, Buses and the Chicago transit authority trains. I was on a flat escalator in the train terminal at O'Hare and they had a beautiful mural that was about 75 feet long, of different cultures of people working in fields, landscapes and various scenes all over the world, so I decided to take a photo of it, and drag my shutter to blur the details as I rode on the escalator. I think it was about a 10 second exposure at F/22 .The resulting image is what I got. I love the colors! I guess I made abstract art out of art!

The Two Wolves

TWO WOLVES
One evening an old Cherokee Indian told his grandson a story about a battle that goes on inside of people.

He said, ' My son, the battle is between "Two Wolves" inside us all.

One Wolf is Evil. - It is anger, hatred, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is Good. - It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith. '

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: ' Which wolf wins? 'The old Cherokee simply replied, ' The one you feed. '

Holland Turns One!

Little Precious Holland turned one last week and I'm so excited to take her one year portraits today! She has been coming to our studio since before she was born each and every single month, and we've got some beautiful images. She is in our "Watch me Grow" plan and we have some beautiful photos of her! Here is one from today.
I'm fresh from vacation and it was so great to have her in today!
She is so delicate and sweet and her baby talk is so sweet. She has the cutest little voice. Ill post more later,but Lauren (my asst. photo and graphic artist) and I right now are so excited at the images we got of her today! Thanks Leah and Kirk for bringing her in!

More Chicago

Were home from vacation. Wow, what a day, we got up at 4:15 am this morning. Funny thing is it is light at 5:00 a.m. that time of day in Chicago. I thought my watch was wrong. We had a great time, but there's no place like home.
Here's more pictures of the Windy City. (which was pleasantly not windy, but lightly breezy. And wonderful.) We loved the Chicago style pizza which is Stuffed and deep! We went to Giordano's, which i learned that they will actually ship their Pizza Nationwide! http://www.giordanos.com/

CHICAGO

Chicago is beautiful! I shot this today from the 94th floor of the John Hancock Building. It was swaying back and forth, and breathtaking. Wow, what a romantic Trip my husband has shown me the past few days! Its beautiful here! I saw the Building where Oprah Lives too! Chanel, The Cheesecake Factory, Ralph Lauren, Bloomingdale's, Saks, Burberry, Chicago has it all. More pics to come later. We saw the Cubs game too, The Cubs won! Wrigley field is amazing. I cant believe my husband has worked here for 10 years and he just now took the time to take me on a trip here. The weather couldn't be better. Warm but not hot, and the breeze off the lake is so nice.

Happy Fathers Day

Its Fathers Day weekend! Remember to tell your dad you love him! My dear ole dadsy is 80 and still my strong, handsome, fearless daddy! And Happy Fathers Day to my 2nd father, My father in law Jerry. What would we do without our daddies? He was/is one cool dude!

Happy Fathers Day all!

Happy Summer yall!

As some of you may know, my husband has two jobs, He works out of Chicago Ill. for a major airline, and the other job is at SAFB. He has gotten some tickets to the Chicago Cubs game, so my son and I will be going there soon! Ive never been to a Cubs game, only to the the Texas Rangers games. Should be fun!

The Color of Love

On vacation be back soon!

A Big Hello to everyone! My family and I drove down to the Hill country where I was judging professional photographic prints. It was a great time, I enjoyed seeing so many beautiful photographs and was very excited that my image "Allure of the Sea" did so well!

It won the Trophy for "Best Electronic Imaging by a Master Photographer" at the awards banquet! It also won a blue distinguished print ribbon. Another image of mine, titled "Shaken, not stirred" of a blue gin Martini also won a Judges choice blue ribbon! A Portfolio of 8 images, of Burkburnett Senior Tommy Dalke also won a merit and was awarded the Honor of Exhibition during the event as well as three of my other portraits! It was very exciting to win, i always feel like Julia Roberts at the Oscars when they call my name! It just never gets old. I was also very honored to award my Judges choice ribbon to a beautiful image taken by Brigham Mayfield of Waco. Wow, he and his wife Jenna are so talented! http://www.brighammayfield.com/index2a.php

We will be back on Tuesday, and trying to have some family time. The girls are taking care of the studio and are booking me up for the next few weeks! I'm hoping to get rest because they say they have me pretty busy starting Tuesday. If you are wanting to get in for Senior Portraits call early, our special wont last long! (940) 761-5111. Ill post images soon! A big hello to all my photographer friends, Christy, Angi, Steve, Mark, Glen, Jenna, Brigham, Walter, Stephanie, Cindy, John, Dewayne, Heather, Don, Lavella, Doug, Elena, etc etc etc! I love you guys! PS I wasnt able to check my email all week until today, so ill get back with you when i can, sorry! HAVE A HAPPY FATHERS DAY WEEKEND EVERYONE!

PS-Here is a photo I snapped at a Ranch of a great guy! I love the character in his face and he was so nice!

Allure of the Sea

I dreamed this image the other night and I just had to create it. Thank you Belinda and Lauren for helping me! I am hoping it wins something at a competition I'm sending it to. Ill let you guys know. Thanks Bill for the help with a title. I love " Allure of the Sea." These are from our line called "Watercolor Giclee images" I actually wrote a book about how I do this and I'm working on a 2nd book and a DVD for photographers to create their own. They take about 4-8 hours to do, but they are breathtaking in person!