Carve a Pumpkin!

Hey Yall!
Heres a really cute website in which you can carve a pumpkin and avoid the sticky mess!
And you can do it over and over and over again.
Check out the site below and carve one of your own!
Heres one I made here. I prefer my pumpkins to be cheerful and happy. Not scary and mean.
So have fun and you wont even have to roll up your sleeves.
http://www.cubpack81.com/images/carve_pumpkin.swf

Weddings full for 2007!

Well I must say, there are lots of weddings happening in 2007! I think one good thing which has come from the war in Iraq is that people dont hesitate to declare their love for each other!
My own sweetie proposed to me right before he was deployed to Japan!
So I understand the need to hurry up and get married before your military man goes off to defend the country.
However, for some reason a lot of the weddings Im doing these days are people from the metroplex, who arnt in the miltary. What is in the water in McKinney and Plano?
I'm spending more and more time there these days.

Heres the list of lucky brides to be who have booked their weddings for 2007!
Congratulations to you all! Im excited that this year I will be going to Hawaii, and a cruise in the Carribean and to Florida! (oh and a cold one in January in Breckenridge! BRRRR!!


January 2007
Amber Faning & Josh McGraw (Plano)
Cyndie Prothro & Michael Morath (wedding to be held in Brekenridge Colorado)

February 2007
Ashley Allen & Mike Jameson

March
Kimberly Cunningham & Eric Hodges (McKinney)
Samantha Seegers & Timothy Whitaker (McKinney)
Hailey Simms & Dr. Paul Judd

April
Olivia Simpson & Owen Stahler (Plano)
Madison Moore & Michael Peters (McKinney)

May
Bobbie Bounds & Mr. Streit (Wichita Falls)
Rebecca Berend & Doug Hayes (Windthorst)
Stacy French & Ken Dunkleman (Plano)
Drs. Alicia Everson & Dr. Todd Gold (Jamaica-Sandalls Resort)

June
Capt. Lisa Ewing & Capt. Mark Masters (McKinney)
Michelle Stone & Vic Johnson (Wichita Falls)
Stephanie Wright & Jordan Robbins (Wichita Falls)
Debra Goldberg & Dr. M.L. Speilberg (Plano)

July
Tracy Booth & Sam Fisher (Dallas)
Angela Richards & Rick West (Boston Mass.)
Katie Davis & David Howard (Lubbock Winery)

August
Gina Hodges & Roger Lambert (McKinney)
Shelley Riodgers & Matthew Pitts (Plano)
Kaeli Holt & John Reese (Dallas)

September
Heather Marsh & Travis Taylor (Coppell)
Molly McGraw & Andy Gates (Cruise in the Carribean)
Tish Kennedy & Michael Rodman (Orlando Florida)

October
Maggie Richter & Brad Smith (Frisco)

November
Denise O'brien & Robert Wilson (Hawaii!)

December
No weddings

Dr. Seegers

When I went to Dr. Seegers home to photograph his family today, I was so honored to see all the beautiful portraits on his walls that Ive created throughout the years/

As a photographer, it's a wonderful sight and so rewarding to see my work, so proudly displayed and framed hanging in places of honor in a fine home.

It's like your children (my work is like my babies to me!) and to see the lovely wall portraits in his home was so touching to me.

Of all the possessions I have, I treasure my photographs the most. I can tell that Dr. Seegers feels the same way as I do.
Thank you for entrusting me to create a new family portrait for your family.
I am proud of the work I did today for you guys.

The Green Family

Well Its been quite a week! Im sorry I havent posted everyones images that I photographed this week. We were very busy.
Thanks to all of you who sent me sweet emails about my oral surgery! You are truly too kind to me!
I wanted to show a few images from a wonderful family portrait session I did.
This is Dr. Green and his family. Dr. Green is the awesome dentist in town who owns the Texoma Smile Design on Brook Ave. He does a fantastic job on veneers and teeth whitening and other denistry. He's got a fantastic staff as well.
Check out their web site at http://www.texomasmile.com

I tell you what, there is not a more kind and wonderful family as these folks. I first met the Greens earlier this year and just think the world of them. His lovely wife Sara is such a warm and wonderful beautiful lady!

I really like these 2 images from their session. I hope they treasure their family portraits for many many years to come. By the way, I loved their Pets! They have 2 Westies and a poodle, Jazz, Lolly and Smokey. They made me laugh, and were so much fun.

Choosing a Lens

Back when I taught Photography classes(in the late 80s) One of the first topics I covered what on LENSES.

There are many types of lenses on the market from regular to telephoto to wide angle lenses. Depending upon what type of photography you are doing, you will need different lenses to complete the job.
For example police and forensic photographers use a lot of macro lenses to get images up close to show fine detail in images. Hairs, scratches, etc...
In Sports photography longer lenses are needed, espically in football or basketball. When I am at a wedding, I may use everything from a super wide- fish eye lens to a telephoto of 300-600 mms to capture the various images that occur during a wedding.
The examples above were taken during a photo shoot I did recently. The only difference is the choice of lens that I used while photographing the young lady. Note what a difference it makes in the finished images.
I see a lot of amatuer photographers using the wrong lenses while shooting portrait work.
Nothing else was changed in the shot except the lens. What a difference it makes.
Another reason to hire a professional to do your portraits. They are skilled to know which lenses work best in what situation.

Kute Karter!

Hey yall, This is Karter!

What a unique name for a unique girl! She goes to Iowa Park HS. She stays busy with cheerleading, running track and playing Basketball!

It was a lot of fun getting to know her and her mother. I feel really honored to get to know these young people and their parents. I know that the world is in good hands in the future with smart, bright on the ball kids like Karter. I wish her luck in whatever she chooses to do with her future.

Rose!

Just wanted to share this adorable image of ROSE! Shes a precious little girl! I first photographed her at a few days old with her dad and mom.
Now she's toddling around and such a delight!
I think shes got the most beautiful big brown eyes and adorable smile!

To help a Dear Lady

Some of you may remember Michelle, our office manager up until this spring. We really loved her and was sorry to see her leave, however she had a job offer she couldnt refuse and her heart was really in the medical field, so she left for a new job at the end of March this year.

She's the most vivacious and spirited woman I think I've ever known!
I'm sorry to say that I've learned that recently she was diagonosed with 2 different types of cancer. What is so ironic, is that Michelle has been involved with Relay for Life and has done so much work for people affected by cancer.
So now it is our turn to help her!

She is such a fantastic, loving, and giving person!

There will be a benefit fundraiser Sunday, October 29th 1pm-3pm at the Knights of Columbus Hall located at 22250 Turtle Creek Road.

There will be a BBQ Meal $8. for adults and $4 for children. Also Bugscuffle Praise Band & Comet.
Plus a slient Auction.! Donations can be made at Citibank on Fairway For more Information contact Glenda Briscoe at 692-0964 or Tim Sawyer at 636-5536.

Michelle is a sweetheart and could also use our prayers.

I Need that Kind of Legacy

Love this song, by Nichole Nordeman .
From the first time I heard it, it really struck a chord with me.
The lyrics are amazing!
From everything from where she says
"Everyone needs an Atta Girl, and I want to leave a mark on things. I NEED THAT KIND OF LEGACY."
And love seeing her taking pictures.
All the things that i love and hope to be.
Good stuff!
As a photographer, I hope that Im helping to leave a legacy for others.
Click here to see the video!
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=753190091

Kimberly

Hello,

Dixie will be out of the studio this week, she had some oral surgery done and is recuperating. She wont be in the studio until Tuesday next week.

But I wanted to put up these photos of Kimberly.

She attends IOWA PARK HS and is a natural beauty! She plays the drums and is into lots of different activities. She has a wonderful cat that she brought along and we all had a great time.

Dixie has created a new product called the Senior Storyboard. It's a very unique item. Check out the one she did for Kimberly here.

These are already very popular and of course, our studio was the first to come up with this!
First Dixie takes multiple images from the photo session, and then creates a unique background. She uses all sorts of designs and colors, textures for the background. Then combines the images with the background and does special effects to some of the images.
No two ever come out alike and you have something that is a-one-of-a-kind image!
(JUST LIKE YOU!) It is is rectangular in size and comes already framed and under glass!

The buzz so far has been very positive! One of Dixie's was featured in a professional photography magazine already this month!
We always try to offer unique products than the other studios.

We wish you the best in your future Kimberly and enjoy your Senior year, it will be over before you know it!-
Warm regards,

Diane (Studio manager)

Another Magazine write up

Dixie was featured yet again in another professional photography magazine.

At this point, we have stopped cutting out the articles and framing them. Although Dixie's parents like to receive copies, it's old hat to Dixie.

I still think its pretty cool that someone would want to write about her! She tells us that her favorite thing is to "write her own articles" about photography to help other photographers.
You go Girlfriend!

Cool Covers for your ipods!

ifrogz!
Now there is a company who has come out with a great idea. IFROGZ makes silicone covers for your ipods all the way from the small mini to the nano to the 60/80 gig Video ipod!

You can custom choose your colors and button! Prices vary from $29. for the wrap,band and screen!
Check out the iFrogz site at http://ifrogz.com/categories.php

Here are 3 that I designed. And the great part is it only takes 7-10 days to receive it!

Check out their site or contact them at ifrogz™ Inc. 953 West 700 North Suite 107 Logan , UT 84321
Toll Free: 1-877-443-7641Fax: 435-753-2332

Paige

Hey Guys, This is Paige! She is a Senior and recently was photographed at our studio.

She has such a laid back personality and was so much fun to interact with. I really enjoyed getting to know her. Ive said it a million times, but we really do photograph the Best and the Brightest!

We got lots of gorgeous images of her in and out of the studio. Paige plays Softball and Basketball and has quite a few accomplishments to her name!

Best of Luck to you Paige!

Our Presentation Room

I just wanted to show you guys, our Presentation Room. For our Clients who have been to our studio since March, then you already know what it looks like! But for those who are our past clients (from 1994-till recently) then you need to come see our new studio!

One thing that's always been important to me is that my clients feel very comfortable while they are in our studio. Ive been instrumental in designing 3 studios of my own and helped others with their new studio layouts.

Colors are very important as are textures, placement of computers, lights and tables.
We've created one where both ladies and men are comfortable. The guys can play a game of pool while the ladies select the images (men seem to have shorter attention spans! LOL!)

I personally designed this space and worked with my contractor on every detail of the studio.
Hope you get to see it sometime soon!
We've always believed in Nothing-But-The-Best for our clients!
Here is a photo taken back while our new studio was under construction earlier this year.
This is the same corner where the fireplace and LARGE MONITOR are as in the image above.

Tuscany DVD

For a great DVD about Tuscany, click on the link. This shows the real Tuscany and the people of the area.
Ive been to Italy once and intend to return over and over. I went in September and I will tell you that the weather is so wonderful this time of the year! I wish I was there now.....
http://www.travelvideostore.com/product_info.php?cPath=1396&products_id=4288

Tuscany by Luigi Barbano

My good friend and photographer Luigi in Italy http://www.barbano.com

e-mailed me some of the most beautiful photographs he took in Tuscany a couple of weeks ago. This was a workshop that I was going to attend, but due to some personal issues, I had to back out of.

I really wanted to go, but am making plans to go sometime soon.
This is an image he took in Tuscany! Breathtaking! Luigi is a fantastic photographer and I consider him one of the best commercial photographers in the world!
Enjoy these images.
Thank you Luigi for sending them to me today and making me feel as if I were there!
Thank you LUIGI!

CIAO!

Digital Artwork "Makeup"

We wanted to show this example of our Digital Artwork.

This young lady does not usually wear makeup, however in this sample I applied "digital makeup".

It was all done in a special computer program by hand.
id say it took me about half an hour, but the results are fantastic!
Ask to see samples when you are in the studio. The wall portrait samples we have are STUNNING!

Another professional service we offer our wonderful clients!

Friday the 13th!

Well Today is Friday the 13th! I know a lot of people who think this is a day thats unlucky, but Personally Ive never believed in luck.
I believe in being prepared, planning, and working hard. Then you will have good luck.
In fact, Ive had several really good things happen to me on Fridays including winning $250. once on a lotto ticket!
Have a good day!


Heres some OLD WIVES TALES about Fridays and Friday the 13th.

A bed changed on Friday will bring bad dreams.

Any ship that sails on Friday will have bad luck.

You should never start a trip on Friday or you will meet misfortune.

Never start to make a garment on Friday unless you can finish it the same day.
FRIDAY THE 13TH - how did Friday the thirteenth become such an unlucky day?

fear of Friday the 13th is rooted in ancient, separate bad-luck associations with the number 13 and the day Friday. The two unlucky entities combine to make one super unlucky day.

There is a Norse myth about 12 gods having a dinner party at Valhalla, their heaven. In walked the uninvited 13th guest, the mischievous Loki. Once there, Loki arranged for Hoder, the blind god of darkness, to shoot Balder the Beautiful, the god of joy and gladness, with a mistletoe-tipped arrow. Balder died and the Earth got dark. The whole Earth mourned.

There is a Biblical reference to the unlucky number 13. Judas, the apostle who betrayed Jesus, was the 13th guest to the Last Supper.

A particularly bad Friday the 13th occurred in the middle ages. On a Friday the 13th in 1306, King Philip of France arrested the revered Knights Templar and began torturing them, marking the occasion as a day of evil.

In ancient Rome, witches reportedly gathered in groups of 12. The 13th was believed to be the devil.

Both Friday and the number 13 were once closely associated with capital punishment. In British tradition, Friday was the conventional day for public hangings, and there were supposedly 13 steps leading up to the noose.

It is traditionally believed that Eve tempted Adam with the apple on a Friday. Tradition also has it that the Flood in the Bible, the confusion at the Tower of Babel, and the death of Jesus Christ all took place on Friday.

Numerologists consider 12 a "complete" number. There are 12 months in a year, 12 signs of the zodiac, 12 gods of Olympus, 12 labors of Hercules, 12 tribes of Israel, and 12 apostles of Jesus. In exceeding 12 by 1, 13's association with bad luck has to do with just being a little beyond completeness.
FRIDAY THE 13TH - how is fear of the number thirteen demonstarted?

More than 80 percent of high-rises lack a 13th floor.

Many airports skip the 13th gate.

Airplanes have no 13th aisle.

Hospitals and hotels regularly have no room number 13.

Italians omit the number 13 from their national lottery.

On streets in Florence, Italy, the house between number 12 and 14 is addressed as 12 and a half.

Many cities do not have a 13th Street or a 13th Avenue

In France, socialites known as the quatorziens (fourteeners) once made themselves available as 14th guests to keep a dinner party from an unlucky fate.

Many triskaidekaphobes, as those who fear the unlucky integer are known, point to the ill-fated mission to the moon, Apollo 13.

If you have 13 letters in your name, you will have the devil's luck .
Jack the Ripper, Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer, Theodore Bundy and Albert De Salvo all have 13 letters in their names.
FROG

GOOD FRIDAY (The Friday before Easter)
A child born on Good Friday and baptized on Easter Sunday has a gift of healing.
If a boy, he should go into the ministry.

Locks of Love

Well guys, Since i turned the big 4-0 Ive been thinking of cutting my hair. I watched ANN CURRY on the Today Show grow her hair out and cut it off back a few months ago.
Ive been thinking about it for a while.

I have always been blessed with thick long hair, except for the age of birth-3.
It was snow white and just wouldnt grow at all. Actually my mother said it would grow, but it was so fine, it would break easily.

I remember my mother (who had a cosmotologist degree) would put real mayonaise on my head, work it into a lather and make me sit there for what seemed like eternity! The heat of my head would melt it and it would run down into my ears and it would itch like crazy!

I think this is where I learned PATIENCE (i really do have a lot of patience! and also where I developed my high threshold for pain! I really do have a high pain threshold too! I had a broken jaw for 2 days and hardly complained at all. It was broken in 2 places and no one believed it until they X rayed it. I was even smiling when the Dr. took the x-rays.)

Ive been thinking about it. I think it would be a very generous thing to do.

People who have cancer, or have diseases where their hair falls out, really would appreciate it. I measure my hair and from the crown it is 21 inches long.
I have so much empathy for cancer patients.
My friend Becky Smith died of Breast cancer at the age of 41, after a brave fight with cancer for almost 5 years on and off.
She was a really wondeful person. I miss her.

Heres the link for Locks of Love... http://www.locksoflove.org

What real beauty is....

A lot of people think that I only photograph Children, High School Seniors and families, but thats not true! I also photograph Aerial images (have done this since 1988) and commercial products, architecture and pets!
But one of my very favorite subjects to photograph are grandparents.
This is Mr. Paul Weiss. He just celebrated his 91st birthday. Mr. Weiss was a grocery store owner. He ran a general store for years. He is now retired and lives near Seymour. What a character! He had me in stiches laughing. I just LOVE LOVE LOVE people like him! He really knows whats important. His eyes have seen so much. My husbands grandmother is also 92 and shes a fantastic lady. Im going to photograph her soon. She lost her husband a couple of years ago. He was a wonderful man as well.
These folks are jewels! They've seen man go from literally horse and buggy to man on the moon.
Woodrow Wilson was the president. World War 1 had just begun. A gallon of gas cost .25 cents and a gallon of milk was just .36 cents. To mail a letter cost only .02 cents.
The model T is invented in this year and Silent Movies are all the rage!
This is also the year that the milk carton was invented.
What is sad is that the lifespan for a person to live was only 54 years! It is now 77 years of age! (So much improvement in medical expertise!)

Back then only 13% of the people actually had a high school diploma! Compared to 85% now. (which is still too low!) and the price of a brand new home back then was only $3,200.00


They remember life when there was no indoor plumbing. Before electic lights, before air conditioning, before refrigerators, before television. They know what is really important.

They know that treating your neighbor is key. To respect others. To never take anything for granted. They really know whats important. He was so nice and friendly. He was grateful and kind to me. I was the one who was honored that he and his wife choose to allow me the privledge of photographing him.

I would love to sit next to this man for a week and listen to his tales of his life. Maybe I'll get that chance sometime again.

My own father will be 78 on Monday. He's a character too.

Amazing Makeup!

I always like to share things with my clients, and this is really an amazing product.
As a photographer, I love it when my clients have fantastic makeup. It makes my job so much easier and my saves my clients money on retouching. Our portraits do not come with free retouching, this is an additonal fee.

So here is a beauty product that is worth every penny. Professional makeup artists and pagent people use Airbrush tools to spray on even makeup, and now there is a smaller version available for the public. It really works too. Our skin has a negative charge and the small machine gives the makeup a positive charge so when it is sprayed on the face it sticks very evenly. This is Science and Art married together! Its available from SAKS and its called SK II Airtouch. The battery powered airbrush and makeup is $150. and then to refill the makeup later is $80. per refill. Im sure the makeup lasts a long time because it only sprays a very light mist.

I've seen airbrush tools that cost about $2,000. at beauty pagents, etc. this is a great deal.
The brand of SK-II makeup was invented in Japan, and here is a link to the company.
http://www.sk2.com

Its available from Saks Fifth Avenue or call 1-877-551-7257.

Stacie!

Hey Guys! This is Stacie from Iowa Park HS. She is really awesome. I met her 4 years ago when I photographed her sister Stephanie. Shes really amazing! She just won the All American national Mascot award, and a Cheerleader as well, she has been dancing since she was 3 years old!
She is very active in school, she's the editor of the Iowa Park School Newspaper ! Talk about busy! And she works on top of all this too!
I love these 3 images of her. The one with the orange glow, was actually the real color of the sunse that was shinning on her face. The shape is a shadow of a tree in front of her. I thought it was interesting.
Best of Luck to you Stacie and good luck at SMU!
God Bless,
Dixie

more images

Nikki with her dads tractor
and Candace in the
the studio!

Senior Girls

Just wanted to post these few images. These young ladies all had their Senior Portriats done at PBD and I failed to post them on my blog, so Im adding them now!
I dont post every single session I do, it would be impossible, without hiring an additonal employee.
Im sorry if I offended you ladies! Thanks for choosing me for your portraits. Im honored that you choose me.
Best of luck to you Top to bottom- Christy, Kari, Renee, Allison, Amanda, Mai, and Tiffany

Natalie

Wanted to show you an image of Natalie that I created yesterday. Natalie is a beautiful brown eye dark haired Senior from Burkburnett high school.
She is really an interesting girl who i had a great time photographing. She is very capable of holding an intellitual conversation and I told her she should go into psychology!
However she is thinking of becomming a Pharmacist! Im sure she will do great in that field!

This is one of my favorite images or her. Sitting outdoors enjoying the peaceful weather we had yesterday right before sunset.

Best of luck to you Natalie! I will post more pictures of her later.

Weddings

I laughed so hard when I read this. I guess you would have to be a wedding photographer to get this.!
I love my brides and grooms, they are the best, But i can really relate to this.

What the Duck?

Hey Guys, Check out this new comic strip for photographers. It's really cute.
The artists name is Aaron Johnson. His stuff is really funny. Check it out at
www.whattheduck.net
You don't have to be a photographer to like his stuff. Even if you are a camera buff you'll enjoy it as well.

Cool Slideshow

God Bless Parents who Drugged Us!

I recently received this via email and being over 40, i can really relate to this.
I hope you will print it out and put it on the refrigerator.

Its called "God bless parents who drugged us."

The other day, someone at a store in our town read that a methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farmhouse in the adjoining county and he asked me a rhetorical question,

“Why didn’t we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?” I replied: I had a drug problem when I was young:

I was drug to church on Sunday morning.

I was drug to church for weddings and funerals.

I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather.

I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults.

I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher, or if I didn’t put forth my best effort in everything that was asked of me.
I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I uttered a profane four-letter word.

I was drug out to pull weeds in Dad’s garden and flowerbeds and cockleburs out of dad’s fields.
I was drug to the homes of family, friends, and neighbors to help out some poor soul, who had no one to mow the yard, repair the clothesline, or chop some firewood; and, if my mother had ever known that I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have drug me back to the woodshed.
Those drugs are still in my veins; and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say, and think.

They are stronger than cocaine, crack, or heroin;
and, if today's children had this kind of drug problem, America would be a better place.

Kelli

This is Kelli from Rider HS. She plays softball for Rider and wow is she good! We got some great photos of her in action!
We also took some at the railroad tracks and had a great time that day.WHile I have a nice studio outfitted with all the best equipment, it is fun to go outdoors sometimes as we did with Kelli. Kelli was a lot of fun and up for anything creative.
Best of luck to you Kelli!