One More of Jayna

Just wanted to add one more of Jayna with my truck "LUCILLE".

Love this one!

I love this quote!

I've always loved quotes. I drove my family crazy as a kid and teen quoting them.
There is a reason that some quotes are passed down from generation to generation.

So therefore, I'm going to start posting a quote of the Day. But today I have 2!

"The world we have created is a product of our thinking; it cannot be changed without changing our thinking."
-Albert Einstein

"They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only at night. " -Edgar Allen Poe

Blog and New Toy!

Heres some interesting stats!

I just learned tonight that I have 541 people who are regularly subscribed to my blog! Including several in Italy, 3 in Holland, 12 in Canada, and who is the person in New Deli India looking at me at 4 a.m.???

Its amazing that in 13 months Ive had over 427,825 views of my blog! Thats quite a lot I think. There are lots and lots of people in this region who are regular subscribers. Im glad of that.
There is someone in zip code 76308 who views my blog almost every single day! Wow, you are dedicated! :0)

I'm also very thankful for all of you who have ordered items from my E-store! I just added a new lens to my ARSENOL.


Its the Canon Zoom Telephoto EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS
(Image Stabilizer) USM Autofocus Lens.

This baby is gonna be fun! With the wide aperature I can go into dark weddings, or after the sun has set and still get 150th /sec or so.

Ill have it in my E store tomorrow, or if you want to see it now just go to B&H photo at http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=8454&A=details&Q=&sku=234444&is=USA&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation
FOr those of my loyal clients, who ask for advice on what cameras to buy, this lens is more for pros. I dont recommend it for consumers. Just send me an email and Ill point you in the right direction for a good lens for your camera. (I miss my days of being a Photography teacher)!
So just email and Ill help!

Gentle Jayna

Wow, sometimes you get a phone call that just makes your day.

Jaynas mother called us recently to schedule her daughters appointment. Jayna and her mother live up in the middle of Oklahoma.

They were passing through town and stopped at a local business here. (Bear in mind, they dont know a soul in Wichita falls) They asked around if anyone knew of a good photographer in town. Im not sure where they stopped, but whereever it was, sometone told them about Photography by Dixie.

They spoke to some other people that day as well, and heard the same thing! They checked out our websites and then they called.

Her mother stressed that her daughter wanted the best pictures she could get and so they made the drive of 1 hour and 27 minutes from Central Oklahoma!

I was so honored by this story. Not only is Jayna a very lovely young lady, but shes beautiful on the inside as well. Very gentle, and feminine. Just like young ladies should be. Shes originally from East Texas, just a stones throw from where my dads family is from.

I love the fact that even though she now lives in Oklahoma, she wore a I Love Texas t-shirt!

Thank you Jayna, you really made my day with your story and Im very honored you choose us!

Gods Blessings!

Dixie

Something fun to do this summer.

Hey Guys! I wanted to tell you something fun to do this summer. For the past 12 years my family have been going to the Graham Drive-in movie theatre.

I grew up in the 60s and 70s and my parents always took us to the Picture Show. I have lots of fond memories of summer time of going to a movie at the Drive-In. The cool summer night air, under the stars, the smell of popcorn, the speakers inside the car and seeing the latest Double Feature!
I even went on my first real date to a drive-in movie. (in 1979)

There arn't a lot of drive ins left but Graham still has a great place! A super nice family (The Trouts) own and operate it. It's only open seasonally, May - September on weekends only (Fri-Sat-Sun); screening single features.

The audio for the movies' soundtrack is still provided with traditional Drive-in speakers. Admission: $4 ($1 for ages 6-11); 5 & under free.

To find out what is playing at the Graham Drive -in call them at 1-940-549-8478 and listen to the recording. They should be leaving a new message sometime soon. They show current movies (although I wish they would show some older things too, it would be so fun! Like those Beach Movies with Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon or Elvis! LOL!)

So pack up the kids, grab your sweetie, get some blankets and lawn chairs and drive over to the Drive In! Its only about a 45 minute drive from Wichita Falls and the movie starts at Dusk.

The first time I took my son and his friends my son looked at me with big puppy dog eyes and said "Mom,This is the best day of my life!"

The concession area is very reasonable too. (not over priced like at the modern cinemas)

Go make a memory this summer... Heres a web site that really expresses how people who remember drive-ins feel about them. I get goose bumps listening to the people talk on this site.

http://www.americandrivein.com

Teeny Tiny Taylor

Here is Taylor, shes an adorable bundle of joy! I love her cute little toothless grin and happy personality!

She really made my day! We've got a lot of new products for babies and this is one of them.

Ive been making storyboards since 1995, and offer all types, but this is a new style I came up with the other day.

I cant wait until my own grandson is born next month and Im sure I'll use him as a model for lots of our new products! At P.B.D. we are always evolving and updating things. We like to stay different and unique from the other places.

Thanks Taylor! You and mommie were a lot of fun!

Nice letter.

Hey Guys Its me Dixie. A girl in California made an avatar of me!

I think it looks a lot like me dont you? haha..Shes even wearing her glasses and has my trademark turqoise jewelry on! (I always wear turquoise, Ive been crazy about turquoise since my dad made me my first squash blossom when i was only 9 years old.

I just wanted to share this very sweet email that I received today from a treasured client

"Dixie,I just wanted to say thank you so much for the wonderful work you did with the photos you took of Emery and Ashley. Charla brought over the DVD you made for us. I cried and cried when I watched it. The song is so beautiful. That DVD is so special to me and my husband. I just can't thank you enough.

Watching it brings me such happiness and reminds me to live in the moment. Thank you so much. -Ramona"

It really does warm my heart to hear that people cry when they see their portraits! How sweet is that? Have a good day! Im off to see my parents and daughter and grandson this weekend. It should be a nice visit.

A video you gotta see!

BE SURE AND GO BACK TO MY HOME PAGE AND MUTE THE SONG ON MY HOME PAGE at http://www.photosbydixie.com

before you watch this U Tube video.
I love the band "BLue October".

Blue October Video

http://youtube.com/watch?v=w2Tam81CIls

This is so beautiful, Love the song and the video. Romantic and surreal. The world that I like to live in. Where everything is beautiful and magical.
enjoy!

Web Site Makeover

Hey guys, We've done some updates to the Senior site to freshen it up.

We've got lots of new things coming out this summer.

Keep checking back for more changes and fun happenings.
http://www.photosbydixie.com

Beautiful Becky!

Hey Guys! This is Rebecca! Ive known her for about 10 years now, since she was about 14 or 15 years old, when she babysat for me! She also worked for me at my studio. Shes got such a sweet and outgoing personality. Ive always thought she was special!

So I was thrilled when she asked me photograph her wedding. I photographed her bridal portraits on Saturday and her wedding is coming up next month.

Thank you Becky! It was a lot of fun!

Okay, Now Who can tell me where this portrait was made? Anyone?

Our family Portrait of 2007

Well, I hate the old saying, that the shoemakers children have no shoes, and the plumbers family has leaky faucets, and the photographer has no family portaits.

So I make sure every other year, that we get a family portrait taken.

We've had Mr. Joe Rogers photograph us about 10 years ago, and we have a 24x30 print hanging in our formal dinning room, and we've hired Master photographer from Lubbock named Robert Suddarth www.robertsuddarth.com

and today we had a new one.

My advice to you all is be sure and dont let the years slip by before you have a family portait done. Its so important!

Every other year is a good time to do it. Or every 3 years. But dont procrastinate! The time will fly by and your children will be grown and gone.

Gods Blessings and have a great weekend!

Airbrushing

At Photography by Dixie, we have offered airbrushing since 1998.

Dixie has attended formal training classes all over the country to learn these techniques. Before Dixie actually learned herself, she utilized the services of professional airbrush technicians. In the early days it was called "MASK" and offered things such as blemish removal, whitening of the teeth, softening or removing tiny lines, wrinkles, etc.

Dixie also worked in a lab located in Lubbock Texas in the 1980s which had 2 professional retouch artists. She would observe the ladies scraching the negatives with tiny tools and magnifing lenses and then painting on the actual photograph to improve the image.

These ladies even painted Eyes open the old fashioned way! Now days with the advent of digital it is quite easy to swap heads, eyes, faces, remove blemishes, braces, etc.

However, it does take time, and the studio must charge fees to cover the time involved.

Dixie has studied with one of the best retouchers in this country. Master Photographer Helen Yancy of Michigan. Helen has more degrees in photography and art than any single photographer in the country.

Here is an example that Dixie did 3 years ago. Note the deep "pock mark" scars on the young lady's cheeks.

You can rest assured that you are in good hands at PBD, with over 18 years experience of darkroom, traditional airbrush and digital restoration experience.

Orders due in SOON!

Boy its been hectic, but here is a list of everyones order that Im working on. Zardain, Coleman, Streetman, Perez, Taylor, Bennett, Williams, Nabors, Muirhead, Elliott, Wynn, Banks, Leeman, Ayers, Henry, McWhirter, Garcia, McNeely, Orr, Evans, Dominguez, Picado, Terry, White, Stonecipher, Ford and Whitson. I also expect Breyen, Smith, Rayborn, Sauls Maler and Brown in by Tuesday!
Thanks!

More Rachel

Heres more of Rachel! Shes so adorable! She enjoys English riding style (100 jumpers) and has just been accepted into Texas A&M University. She is in the National Honor Society and really loves horses. I really enjoyed getting to know her and her mother.

Thank you Rachel for choosing Pics by Dix!

Create your own Garden of Eden in your backyard.

I absolutely love summer! I really love sitting on my back patio or decks and sipping some iced tea and watching the birds in the bird bath and hummingbirds feed on the flowers.

Thats why I love POTTERY BARN. They have a lot of items for enhancing your porch and backyard and bringing some of the seashore to you own yard.

Check out this nice hanging flower baskets. You get 3 and they hang on a 22 inch chain.

To find more cool stuff from Pottery Barn, go to this link at http://www.potterybarn.com

Rachel

Rachel her adorable Beagle! Ill add more photos of them later. They were a lot of fun.

ITS CRUNCH TIME!

Its officially "CRUNCH WEEK"!

Between all the Bluebonnett portraits and getting everyones orders to our Photographic Lab this week, its hectic!
I most likely wont be posting much on the "BIG PICTURE" BLOG this week or next.

Please bear with us during this hectic time. We are anxious to get everyones Easter, Bluebonnett and Senior portraits back by the end of the month!

Every year at this time, we pull all-nighters at around this time to ensure that all our work is done and at the lab and then sorted, and packaged beautifully for you to pick up by months end.

Thanks for your patience and if you've gotten our answering machine lately, we apologize! We'll get back with everyone as soon as possible.
Feel free to drop us an email at pdixie@sw.rr.com and let us know how we can help!
Wedding season is gearing up like crazy for us now and its gonna be a busy 4 months.
Thanks, we love our clients! You are all the BEST!

Chloe and Karsen

Jessica & Josh

How adorable! Two of my favorite clients, Jessica and Josh are going to their prom tonight. But first they stopped by and let me take their prom portrait! Josh got her a beautiful corsage of baby pink roses and she looked beautiful in her cream colored gown. What a precious couple they are!

Thanks guys for coming by! I hope you always remember tonight as something very special.

Beautiful Brianne

This is Brianne, she attends school at Burkburnett High School. She's a cheerleader and a very outdoing girl! I love her adorable doggie!

Thanks Brianne! Youre gorgeous!

Tuscan Fountains

The only thing I love more than photography is working in my backyard. Im always adding new things and planting flowers, building new flower beds, painting, adding decks, planting trees, etc.

We now have 4 decks in 13 years. One is cottage style and one is Hawaian and 2 are beachy.

I love fountains and have 5 (FIVE!)water features in my yard.

These fountain photos are not mine, they are ones from my favorite store, Horchow. I'd love to have them though! (Photos of my patio are scrolled down below.)

I love the Itallian fountain with the lions' heads spitting water into a basin below. Im sure the sound is beautiful. It's a little pricey at $1,599.00 but its gorgeous!

I also love the wall moziac fountain, a little more reasonable at only at $259.00 I may be adding this one to my collection very soon.

Both make me wish I was in Italy!

I'm going to announce soon, a workshop that I'm planning with friend Luigi. It will be a fotografic workshop in Tuscany in the spring of 2008. Stay posted for more info to come.

To Visit Horchow for your own relaxing water feature go to http://www.horchow.com

MY PATIO!

Here are a few photos I took of my patio. I just love eating outdoors (Dinning Al Fresco!) It was a beautiful day yesterday and I took a nap out on our outdoor Lanai, and when I woke up, i thought I was at my favorite place on the beach!


So i came inside and booked our stay at the beach in June and also confirmed our deep sea fishing trip off the Gulf coast! We still have room for 3 more people!



Today is gloomy and overcast, but it sure was nice yesterday!

I cant wait till summertime! Have a good weekend everyone.

Bluebonnett babies

Beautiful Bluebonnetts and adorable little girls. What could be cuter?

This is Emory and Ashley. They were sweet angels and braved the wind and sun. I think these little girls look like "precious moments" figurines.

Emory is the featured little girl on my childrens only site at http://www.dixiedobbins.com

She is so beautiful and photogenic! And so is baby sister Ashley.

What could be more precious? Thanks Charla and Ramona, It was fun!

Im busy as heck!

Brittany, Linda, Ali and Michelle... Too much beauty for one week!

The Secret is out!

Okay guys, Im giving you guys a sneek peek at some of my images that are being considered by a well known greeting card company. I have a friend who has had a contract for about 5 years now and most likely you've seen her cards. Well shes helped me get my foot in the door as well.

I dont want to jinx it, but its looking good. No one has seen the images yet but the company and my husband and I. This image is called Country Girl and the other is of course, The Alamo.

Ive got lots of Texas styled images of children and people. HInt Hint Cracker Barell carries this brand of greeting card. Can you believe this is a photo? I maniupulated it a lot to look like a drawing or painting.

Wish me luck!

Jessica

Hey Guys!

This is Jessica! She's such a cutie pie. Jessica is a cheerleader and plays sports as well. She was a lot of fun. She looks a lot like a girl that I know and I kept staring at her because they could be sisters! We had a great time and got so many great pictures of her.

She also drove a long way for her portraits and of course I always appreciate the fact that people hear about me and come so far.

Thanks a lot Jessica!

New Header

Hey Guys! Did you notice the new header at the top of my Blog? I designed it myslefand I could not for the life of me figure out how to post it on my blog. I found a neat guy named "STRAT" at http://wwwblogatech.blogspot.com who fixed me right up! Check out his blog, he's pretty knowledgable about those things!
Its always nice to find helpful people when it comes to writing codes and things of that nature.
Thanks Strat! I appreciate it!

Easter weekend Snow!

Im sorry we had to cancel so many of the Bluebonnett sessions due to the cold weather. We will get everyone lined out later this week.

Who would of thought it would SNOW this late in the year?Ive lived here in this city for 13 years and seen it cold on Easter , cold enough to wear a coat, but never saw it snow Easter weekend.

Heres a photo of my Doggie Ginger enjoying the big snowflakes and my Pickup Truck "Lucille". It was coming down!

Beautiful Bobbie

This is Bobbie, and her wedding is next month. Bobbie actually booked me for her wedding over 2 years in advance! Now it is here.
I seldom post images of Brides because i dont want anyone to see them before the wedding, but I had to post these.

She looks a lot like the singer Jewell. And also like the Itallian chef Giada De Laurentiis. See her photo below. Dont you think? I always see the similarities of people. Its a curse I have. haha.