Beautiful mother and baby.

This young lady is orginally from California and moved here a few years ago. Ive photographed her several times.

Shes so sweet and her baby girl is so precious.

They wanted something "different" so this is what I came up with.

Quite an achievement.

Our wonderful son just has always made us so proud. Now he's done something else, He's been inducted into the National Honor Society. Whats amazing is that he has been in pre AP classes the past couple of years and he still makes straight As.

(and He very rarely Ever brings a book home!)

He has a photographic memory. I was like that too once, until i turned 35.

We all love you Scott! Your Gram and Grandad are proud too!

Here his father pins on the Natl Honor Society pin.

Hailey

Shes all girl.

Dixie is swamped with photosshoots this week, so us girls are uploading some of her pictures for her. We made this one this morning.

Between football pictures, attorneys pics and daycare centers shes up to her neck.
Shes also going to Plano and McKinney for a big wedding this weekend. Shell be back, send her some love.

Boys of Summer

Im sitting in an internet cafe doing my work. I love to come here so I can sip iced cappacunio and nibble on scones and listen to music while working on my laptop.

Im trying to stay out of the 100 plus degrees outside...

No photo shoots today, Its production days on Mondays for me.

Just found this image on my laptop that I took this summer of my son. Hes the taller one with the yello and orange board.

Last night my baby went to sleep and this morning, woke up a High School Student!

I wish I was back on that beach listening to Fergie sing "Big Girls Dont Cry" and the sound of the waves.......feeding the seagulls.....

well Back to work.

David

Microsofts site "SURFACE"

http://www.microsoft.com/surface

500th Post-Surface Computing

This is our 500th post, in the past 2 years.

I wanted to share this with you before I have to leave.

Ive been hearing about Surface computing, (the military uses it currently) Or what they call multi touch. Ive read about it in tech magazines ( those who know me well, know I LOVE TECHNOLOGY! I am usually the FIRST to get anything Techno!) I actually read popular mechanics and all the home theatre magazines. (I take them to the Drs. office when Im done with them!)

I can't wait to get one of these! Maybe for Christmas? They come out this winter.

SURFACE by Microsoft. You can take a photo with a wireless camera, and transmit the photo to the "surface" and view it, expand it, etc...
Right now they are about $10,000.00
I usually wait a little while for the price to go down and the bugs to be worked out.
Dont be surprised when i have this in our studio very soon.


To see what Im talking about check out the video below, or the link above.

The Cliffs

Recently my husband and I had the privledge of visiting The CLiffs at P.K. (possum kingdom lake)

What a lovely place! We golfed and went to the spa. It's a very well kept secret! There is an Inn and also Condos both. You can purchase a condo, or just stay for a weekend!

If you want to get away and enjoy fine dinning, without going too far, then this is the place!

My husband and I usually will go to Grapevine to the Gaylord Resort. http://www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylordtexan/

But this one is more secluded and closer! They will let you use a boat for a few hours and get a picnic lunch too! The rooms are beautiful. The prices start around $220 per night.

Check into it, its very restful and beautiful, and only a 1 hour drive away! http://www.thecliffsresort.com/

Torey & Taylor

What beautiful sisters!

Fun Day of Football

Our day started at 5 a.m. Our son went to Denton to scrimmage with McKinney Boyd.
The stadium there was very nice.
The freshman Bulldogs played
McKinney & they had some big boys this year (last year my son was the Biggest on the team.)
My son did great! His grandparents were there too to cheer him on!

The weather was so nice and not hot at all!

He plays offensive and defensive lineman, Center and Nose guard.

He did great and even made a tackle.
He looked massive out on that field, at 5 foot 11 and 220 lbs.

Also our graphic artist Gina was there to see her son Josh play on varsity.

It was a great day, topped with a nice meal with the whole family in Denton. Right down the street from my friend Walters studio.
Our son right now is #48, but that will change next week.

Heres some pics of my son making a tackle.

Scott was tired, he plays both offense and defense and was taking a gatoraid break here.

just Jeff

Whitni

Heather

RYAN

Dixies Gone to Dallas to see her son play football, so us girls are here a-blogging. a blogging we will go... a blogging we will go... high ho the cherry o a blogging we will go.....

This is Ryan, hes a great kid, he plays football and is ranked 2nd in his class. He wants to be a Pilot in the US Air Force someday. He and Dixies husband Bruce hit it off and talked all about Fighter jets, etc.

He wants to fly the same jet as Bruce did. We think hes a pretty terrific young man. Thanks Ryan and mom for choosing us.

My father,my hero and my son,my pride and joy.

Grandfather and Grandson.

My father... where do I start....

Hes my hero, he was my first love... He is just like me, or should I say, Im just like him.

Hes the best jeweler in the world. No joke. Hands down...

His sense of humour. He doged bulletts in the Korean war on the front lines in the army. He slept in fox holes in the freezing cold. He waited till he was 34 to marry. My mom who was only 18. and had me.

He is the funniest guy, and sarcastic!

Creative, funny, smart, optimistic... Hes a rare jewell. And talented.

My God he is talented!

I love him so much.. I cant explain..

This is an image of he and my son Scott I shot very recently...

He was the strongest man in the world. He had muscles like you wouldnt believe. He wasnt very tall, but he was very strong! He was amazing.

Now he is getting older and my heart breaks for him. Because he is human, and weakening.

God how I love him.

But my son inherited his blue eyes and his wit.

2 of a kind. Smart, honest, caring loving and kind.... Im the luckiest girl in the world... To have him for a dad, and the other one for a son.

God is good.

Back to my Alma Mata

WOW! I have been invited to teach a class at the first University where I attended (Odessa College in Odessa, TX) . My first photography instructor, Steve Goff (Who is incredible and has hundreds of exhibits and honors under his belt) contacted me recently and invited me!

What an honor. I really do love teaching and so looking forward to it. I hopefully will also be hiring a student in the summer of 2008 to apprentice with me from the class.

I really do love to give back to this profession, espically to those who are appreciative.

By the way Mr. Goff is one of MENTORS. His attention to detail and love of the craft was what pushed me and kept me on the path Ive been on the past 2 decades.

Thank you Steve, Your influence changed the trajectory of my life.
D.D. :D

A note about LOYALTY.

Im so grateful for all the friendships Ive made over the past 13 years while living in Wichita Falls, Espcially my photographer friends.

One in particular is Walter from Denton. Hes a fantastic photographer and has a very successful studio there. (We get to see him Saturday!)

My husband and I really enjoy his company and he and his wife can whip up a French Gourmet meal too!
I get regular phone calls from him (hes in my speed dial) and I got an interesting call from him.
It seems a former employee of mine has been trying to get him to do something that he considers unethical. (hes not the first friend of mine shes contacted.)

I thank God for my "REAL Friends" not False friends.
That's what makes life worth living, when you can Trust people. When you are successful, there are always going to be those "ticks" who try to latch on and suck the blood from you. Im sorry to say, this particular woman has done just that.

I am glad my friend Walter knows the meaning of the word LOYALTY, as I do. Some people only know "USING PEOPLE."
Maybe SOMEDAY she will LEARN you cant treat people like that.

Not just another magazine shoot.

Very often I am published in magazines, either Im hired to do an image for a various magazine, or my photography is published or one of my articles is published in a magazine, and I never mention it to anyone excpet my parents like to receive copies in the mail from me.

However, this one I will talk about because it was really an honor. This magazine honored 31 attorneys in the state of Texas. My job was to photograph our own Charlye Farris, Atty at law.

The image was full page size and turned out great. My Itallian photographer friend Luigi, who was visiting me from Italy, went along on the shoot with me, and we set up lights and rearranged furniture etc. and got some nice images.

We had to work fast, but Im proud to have met and honored Attorney Farris. Shes one heck of a lady and has accomplished a lot in her lifetime. Id say she is "ahead of her time." Congratulations to Charlye.

Sandys Surf Shack

This is a Burger place we would eat at near the beach on our recent vacation.

It was so good. They had great burgers and shakes.! I miss it already!

Just right near the beach. Gosh i love summer vacations! This is the area we will retire to someday. We looked at property and there are 2 places we fell in love with. Got to go back and check into it deeper in September.

Thomas

More of Jeremy

Wonderful Wesley

Marvelous Miranda

This guy is a talented artist.

My mom emailed this to me, and I just love it. Reminds me of our camping trips, but much much better!
I hope you'll watch it. This guy is really good, and what a beautiful song, one of my favorites.
We had a great time and all rested and up to our neck in sessions the week before school starts back!

Jeremy

More coming of Jeremy later.

-Beckie

LEAH!

Dixie loves to Dive

Dixie asked me to post this of her feeding the fish while she was scuba diving.........so I did.....We got more coming later...... And our son too is below.

She and i got our diving licenses in 1990 when I lived in Florida back in 1990. Its something we enjoy doing together as a family, all 3 of us.

This is our son & he will stay under water till his air is almost gone. The kid practically has webbed feet.

http://www.dogthebountyhunter.com/index2.php

A PAGE TURNER!

Hello! We are enjoying our time off, it was a BEAUTIFUL DAY TODAY!
I spent the day reading. I love to read books, however... This is the first time I've read a book in one day.

321 pages. I didnt think it was possible to be sore from laying around and reading all day, but I am! I laid by the pool, then at a table, then inside in a recliner. Then back outdoors.
You ask what is this book that I couldnt put down? That was a page turner for 6 1/2 hours?

The autobiography of Duane Chapman "You can Run but you cant Hide."

If you don't know who Duane is he is also known as "DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER." His appearence is tough, but he is as soft as can be inside.

I highly recommend it! What a life hes lead!I just love this guy. Ive experienced many of the things he wrote about myself in my life. Maybe thats why I love him so much!

back to my vacation now!

Get your copy from Amazon. com at
http://www.amazon.com/You-Can-Run-Cant-Hide/dp/1401303684

Heres the review of his Memoir.

Duane "Dog" Chapman entertains and inspires millions on Dog the Bounty Hunter, his #1-rated show on A&E -- but there is more to his story. From troubled beginnings and tragedy to triumph and transformation, he reveals all for the first time in this no-holds-barred memoir.

Dog spent the first twenty-three years of his life on the wrong side of the law. In You Can Run, but You Can’t Hide, he offers an inside look at his days as a gang member; his dark years of addiction and abuse; and how serving eighteen months in prison for a murder he didn’t commit helped him recommit to his faith.

He also shares stories of some of his most dangerous bounty hunts -- including his capture of Max Factor heir and convicted rapist Andrew Luster, which made international headlines.

In You Can Run, but You Can’t Hide, Dog recounts his incredible story, chronicling his journey from his onetime criminal past to the guiding faith that has led him to become one of the most successful bounty hunters in American history.

Against all odds, Dog turned his life around and went from ex-con to American icon in the process. This is his story.

Nice to hear

Over the years I have been a mentor and helped a lot of budding photographers out. I've given them advice that cost me a fortune to attain.
I had to PAY for the advice I got, but I freely give it away. To date, Ive written over 50 articles (2 last month alone).

I love to share. The benefit of that is my little students send me cards, emails, letters, gifts and hugs when i travel around the nation.

Here's just a simple letter I got today. But It always means a lot.
The sad thing is a few of the people whom Ive helped stabbed me in the back later, but for the most part, the others have been grateful. My 2nd book will be coming out soon and I know this will be very helpful to those of you starting out.
I'm so excited, It should be out by September 14th.

Here's the one i received today. Well headed on vacation! See yall later!


"Hey Dixie!
Thanks so much, I love your site too!
:-) I know the feeling about being behind on orders too. I'm trying to get caught up myself! You are always so helpful!

I just wanted to say Thank you so much! I check your blog often, because I love to see what you are doing! I'm also going to be switching website companies, thanks to you! :-) I'm super excited about it! I can't wait! I recently got some new equipment, so things are going good!

It was great to hear from you!
Love ya! Brooke"

Lovely Lexis!

I got to meet

Lexis today.

She is gorgeous and looks a lot like Jessica Simpson!

So photogenic!

Thanks Lexis for choosing Pix by Dix!

Beautiful Becky

Just wanted to post a photograph of one of my favorite people! This bride is such a sweetheart!


I drove to Austin to create her bridal portrait.





She is an elementary teacher and is as sweet as sweet can be. She used to babysit for me about 10 years ago.


Love her to pieces!


Have a good weekend everyone! Im taking a well deserved vacation. Got my family staying and house sitting for us.

Glad Hurrican Aaron is gone!

Dixie and the gang.

My favorite quote

I said I wouldnt add any more posts but I had a minute at lunch here. This is a framed image I have on my desk at work. Ive had this since 1992 and I bought it after a friend of mine got married and then her husband died in a big earthquake in Japan. They were miltiary and it was very sad. These words spoke to me. Ive treasured this ever since.

"Do it Anyway"

People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered.
Love them Anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Do good Anyway.

If you are successful, you win false friends and enemies.
Succeed Anyway.

The good you do will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good Anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank Anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build Anyway.

People who really want help may attack you if you help them.
Help them anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you may get hurt.
Give the world your best anyway."

-Mother Theresa

Hard work and then another Vacation!

Good morning everyone!

I wanted to write a quick post here,I have a full up calendar this week (even busier than last week!)

and then Im taking a much deserved vacation.

I am spending this week working about 8 am-12 pm (16 hour days Tues-Saturday!) . So I wont be posting for 2 weeks. This is "Crunch Time" for us, and Jackie, Beckie Gina and myself will be working hard to get all this done before school starts.

Then we are taking one last trip to the beach, my husbands birthday on Sunday, and were going to fly down to my favorite beach house for 4 1/2 days of rest, and some last minute scuba diving.

(Its great to have a Pilot in the family! My sweetheart hubbie!) and then its BACK TO SCHOOL!

So since I dont like goodbyes... Ill just say "SO LONG!"
The girls will hold the studio down while were gone if you need anything.

This is our familys favorite song right now. We play it in the house up really loud and all sing it.

The song of the week is "You Alone" by Echoing Angels, formerly known as Two Bare Feet, from Atlanta, GA.

It's off of the release You Alone.

If you're not familiar with this band, this song will make you an instant fan!

Read the lyrics on Superblessed
Preorder the CD and check pricing at Pricegrabber
Learn more about the band by reading this interview from 2003

This IS a Joke...

Report: Many U.S. Parents Outsourcing Child Care Overseas

Adorable Family

Id like to introduce you all to our wonderful office manager Beckie. Shes been with us for a while this year and has been a Godsend. Her kind spirit and background as both a teacher and also a dance instructor for many many years, has been a blessing to our studio. She brings warmth and a smile to the studio every day and for that I'm very thankful!

She's also a past client and first met her a few years ago.

It was my honor to create this oh-so-special portrait of her family before her 2 daughters head off for college later this week. I know she will miss her daughters a lot. (as I miss mine too!)

I love you guys! You are all a great family! And your little white Dog Angel is precious too! PS Angel did pretty good considering she is 13 years old! Thats 91 in Dog years. hee hee)