Hey, It's Friday!!! :0)

So I was trying to figure out what my favorite shot of the week was... I think it was this one:

I just enjoyed creating that shot so much and then when I saw the finished product, I was pleased... is that ok to say about my own shot?... ;0)

This one was in a VERY close 2nd:

Truly, this is my very favorite shot from my friend Lori's Maternity session. I just love the lighting, the background, the soft warm feeling of it. It makes me happy.

 Saturday when I got to the garden to take Lori's pictures, I was so nervous and excited.  When we got right down to it, it was nerve racking, but it was so great!  I felt like I found my spot in life.  When I tell people how much I enjoy it they usually say, "Well, yeah, taking pictures is fun!"  It is a hobby, but I think it can be a lucrative one.  Maybe one day I will be able to do it full time, but for now I am happy to work at doing it part time at least.  I need a 2nd income and wouldn't it be great if Photography could be it???  

Anyhoo, I know I'm a ways off from actually making money, I mean, I just learned to use the stinkin thing! :0)

Thanks for stopping in!

Have a GREAT Friday!

It's okay if you don't like me

Ya know, I don't know about you, but I've kind of lived my whole life hoping people like me. It has always been very hard for me to know that someone doesn't. Right now I am having to deal with this and it isn't easy. What's even crazier about it is that it's someone that I've never met in person. It kills me. I don't know her and it kills me. It's mostly because she doesn't believe the same as me. She does not believe the Bible. She is not saved by the Grace of God. This makes me sad. I am just going to pray for her. I hope that she realizes her need for Jesus. I pray that the Lord would break my heart for her. I pray that the Lord would give me a heart for the lost.

So I said all that to say this. It is a hard thing to understand, but if you stand for what is right, here on earth... people will not like you. They will down right hate you. It is sad but when you uphold the truth the Bible tells us this will happen.

John 15
18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 He who hates Me hates My Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. 25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.

So it makes sense because the world hated Him then, the world hates Him now.  If He is truly in me then the world will hate me.  My need for approval is a huge barrier when it comes to telling others about Christ.  Even here on the blog, I think well, maybe I shouldn't say that because I might offend someone.  Honestly, though... I should say it because it will offend someone.  It will make someone think about their life.  It may cause someone to question their beliefs and turn to Christ.  The Word offends when you don't have Jesus, it offends when you do have Jesus, but that's a whole other post.  It tells you that you need Jesus and that you are a sinner.  It tells you that the way you live isn't pleasing to the Lord.  I know this because I have been on the receiving end of the offense. 

New life

 

When I think of a Butterfly I am reminded of our new life in Christ.  Much like the Caterpillar emerges from the cocoon as a beautiful butterfly so do we emerge from our old lives into our new lives in Christ. 

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new.

 

The Light Chose Me!

Light from the afternoon sun pours through the leaves on the tall trees.  Trickling down through the sky until it reaches the petals on the marigold.  The marigold catches the light and holds it proudly.  Seeming to say "the light chose me".

[SOOC: 1/500s f/5.0 ISO:200]

John 8:12
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

It went well. phew!

Well, the photo session is over and I am relieved. So, I prayed all morning long and the Lord came through for me. I was just so nervous. It really went well. The woman that I took pictures of is one of my old friends from my Walmart working years. I love her to death and pregnancy looks good on her! :0) She's just beautiful and happy! I just wanted to be able to give her something nice. Anyhoo, since we knew each other and she is just so sweet it was great. I was still nervous and it was a little awkward for us both, but we got through it and I guess without further ado, I will share with you some of my favorites... please remember I am still learning and these are no doubt very amateur, I welcome constructive criticism.













Hope you enjoyed these, I really can't wait to take more pictures!!! Yay! Also, baby Natalee Grace is to be born in November and I get to take hers! I'm excited about that one and glad I have time to prepare.

Thanks for stopping in tonight!

OH MY GOODNESS!!!

Am I really going to get up in the morning and drive out to my first photo session that is not for my daughter????? I am sick to my stomache... is that a good thing?

  The questions going through my brain right now are as follows:
1. What if I totally forget how to use my camera?
2. What if I don't get any good pictures?
3. What if She doesn't like any of the pictures?
4. What if it's totally awkward and I can't overcome the awkwardness?
5. What if I can't make her feel comfortable enough to look natural in the pictures?
6. What if I get sick right now while I'm thinking about this?
7. What if my camera gets broken on the way tomorrow which ruins the photo session and I'm not ever able to get it repaired so my future as a photographer is ended in that moment? 
8. What if you guys read this and realize I am absolutely nuts and stop following giving me a complex and I'm not able to get up in the morning from my depression?

(diversion tactics-must get them to look away from the innerworkings of my crazy worrying brain)

Hey guys, Look at this!

Becky the Artist - Yeah, that's right!

My favorite shot of the week was an accident.  I was trying to take a picture of Emma on Wednesday morning because she was wearing this cute outfit that her Auntie Naynay (my bff Renee) bought her for her bday.  I was trying to get a nice shot with my iphone and of course she wasn't cooperating.  She threw herself down on the floor just as I snapped.  This created a grainy shot (because it is dark in the house) with motion blur, but it looked kind of neat.  I then put it into instagram and there you have it:

I think it kind of looks like an old painting. I just love it.  It fit right into LEM's photo challenge "Soft" as well.  

Thanks SO much for stopping in! 

Texture Thursday

Today I thought I'd share another shot I took at the park on Monday.  It was out of focus, but I think it was the good kind of out of focus ;0)  I added some of Kim Klassen's texture 2 layers of Serendipity 70.0 opacity (overlay) and 1 of Love 60.0 opacity (lighten only).  I painted away some of the texture here and there.  I had this grand idea to make the picture fade in some spots to make it look like an old photo that is fading off of the paper it was printed on..., but I did not have the kind of time it would take to figure that out on my own. 

Whether or not I know what I'm doing when it comes to textures, I certainly have fun doing it!  That's what counts!! :0)

Thanks for stopping in!  Have a Happy Thursday! One more work day!! Yippee!

Wonderful Wednesday

Do you guys find that your days are filled to the brim?  I do sometimes.  It is hard to stop and smell the roses when you can't find them through the cloud of dust that is kicking up around you as you run through your day hoping to get everything done...  Yeah, I know that was a run on sentence.  :0) 

Actually sometimes it is paralyzing to think about all the plans for the weekends.  This person needs to go here, this person wants you to come there, and you just want to do what you want to do.  This month has been so ultra busy already.  I had planned to have Emma's bday party last Saturday, but she didn't feel well and the cousins were sick so we had to post pone it.  Couldn't do it this weekend because we have some plans plus I am shooting my very first maternity session!!!  (we'll talk about how ultra excited I am in a minute)  Then the next Saturday our church is having a "Fun Fest" and I am helping in that, so we had to plan for the first weekend in August... her birthday was July 14th.  I feel bad, but at least she won't know the difference. 

So, I know everyone else is busy too, but sometimes I just feel like there is no end to it. 

Anyhoo, about the photo session.  I cannot wait!  I need advice now!!! ;0)  My plan is to print off some ideas for poses so that she can see what she likes.  I don't know how I will do with posing her as I've only ever taken pictures of kids and I rarely pose them.  I know that it isn't necessarily an easy thing, so I want to be prepared. Oh, I am not getting paid for this because:

1. It is my gift to her (hopefully it will be a good gift lol)

2. I honestly just don't feel comfortable asking for money (any amount) for something I have never done before.

Plus, this will add to my portfolio. Which, may I add, is pretty bare. 

So do you guys have any tips, suggestions or anything?  We are going to my favorite place to take pictures (or the only place I know right now lol) the UT botanical gardens.  There are just so many beautiful places to take pictures there.  I'm truly very excited and VERY nervous about it.

Thought I'd share something I worked on tonight.  Here's the Clean Edit:

(which I really liked alot before I edited it)

Here's my edit:

I used 2 of Kim Klassen's textures

pourvous 60.0 opacity (divide)

believe 50.0 opacity (multiply)

I just painted the texture off of Emma and there ya have it. I don't know if I really like it. I liked it alot before I uploaded it to flicker.

Thanks for stopping in! Have a GREAT Wednesday!!!

 

Over and Over

Seems I've had a lot on my mind lately.  I keep having the same conversation with myself.  I usually ALWAYS end up in the same spot - giving it to God.  I also always end up taking it back. 

Do you ever find yourself in this position?  It is frustrating.  I just want to leave it at His feet, but I feel forced to rehash it over and over.  I realize that I am the one that causes me to feel this way.  God will gladly keep it if I would just allow him to. 

1 Peter 5:7
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
I sometimes feel like my life is in knots.


Which reminds me that God is in control.  He will get me through this, I just have to turn to Him. 

Isaiah 41:10
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

My Sweet 2 year old Emma Kay

Happy 2nd Birthday to my sweet girl! Everyday I realize you are growing so fast.  You have quickly turned from a baby into a toddler in the past year.  I can't believe it!  Soon enough you will be asking me for the keys to drive the car and not to just push the button to hear the noise it makes. 

Disclaimer - this post is picture loaded

On this day 2 years ago at approximately 5:40pm-ish you came into this world to change my life forever.

You were so swollen! You weighed 9lb 8oz and were 21 inches long

It didn't take long for the swelling to go down.

You captured every one's hearts right from the start! Nobody ever wanted to lay you down.  You were held a LOT! :0)  See that chair in the background?  It was hardly used!

Your first Christmas was such a wonderful time! It was my first Christmas as a Mommy!

You were quite the chunker!

Your first birthday was a momentous occasion!  Everyone came over to celebrate with you and you discovered your love for cake!

You are growing up so fast! Please slow down, Emma Kay!

But don't lose your goofiness! I love it!

Just for fun

Have a wonderful 2nd birthday!  I know you can't wait to have cake!

Wordless Wednesday, thoughts and fireworks

For as long as I can remember I have LOVED fireworks.  Unfortunately I can count on my hand how many times I've seen them in person.  It's kind of funny because out here in Knoxville we have a big day in September I think... or maybe it is in October... well anyhow, it's called Booms Day and they show some of the best fireworks around.  I've never gone to it because of the crowds.  We do plan to go this year though. 

So we always have plans to see the fireworks on the 4th, but it never seems to work out.   This year we went out to a small community where there was supposed to be this nice little fair and then fireworks at 9:30.  So we get there around 9 thinking we could walk around, find a spot to watch from.  We then see a big hand written sign that says "Fireworks postponed due to weather"... it had been raining earlier, but it was dry and beautiful by that time.  So we turn around and go to find other fireworks.  End up not being able to find the ones we were looking for because I thought they were at this place over here, but they were actually way over there a 1/2 hour away....

So my brother calls us and says they are headed to the fireworks in their community.  We figure we have just enough time to get there.  We meet them in a huge grocery store parking lot amidst the hoards of other people waiting for the fireworks.  It wasn't the greatest show on earth (that's the circus - duh!), but at least we got to see them this year.

Here's a shot I snapped of the kiddos watching from the top of my car... I actually merged 2 shots on this one.  I wanted to capture a firework in the shot, but none of the ones that actually had fireworks in them were in focus as much as this one... so I added it :0).  It is a firework from that evening so it still counts!!! ;0)

here's another shot I took last week:

Emma, deep in thought.

Okay, so there were a lot of words in this post lol... ;0)

Thanks for stopping in!  I'm linking up with:

     

My new toy!!

Why is it that I haven't picked up my camera in the last week?... Probably because I got an iphone!!!! Yippee Skippee!!!!  Wait, I know that the rest of the world has had them for years now, but I didn't think I'd ever get one.  Because:

1. I do not pay for cell phones! I pay enough for the service, I should get the phone for free!!

2. I figured I'd be with Sprint until the end of time.

Well, my contract with Sprint was up and I started looking for new service.  I couldn't believe that the best deals out there were with Sprint!!  Craziness!  Everything is extremely expensive and I was looking for a family plan with very little more than just talk.  Then I thought "what about at&t" so I checked them out and they have the cheapest deals.  Plus I got an iphone for $19... ok so I did pay for my phone, but it's an iphone, guys!!!  The only drawback is that they do have a cap on their data plans.  I got the lowest one, but when I am around wifi networks I don't have to use my data and that is about 80% of the time.  Yay! 

Well, I didn't mean to make this a commercial for At&t, but I am happy with my package.  The phone is refurbished, but it looks ands act brand stinkin new, so I don't mind.

I have gone app crazy!  The only one I've paid for so far is angry birds (.99) yes, I got sucked into it lol.  It's my friend Elaine's fault!  ;0)

I also love Instagram!

(this isn't the exact picture I used in ig, but you get the idea what it looked like from this one)

Instagram:

I thought they were pretty nifty :0). 

thanks for stopping in!

Becky

Talkin to myself...

Have you ever had a whole conversation with yourself in your head?...
I have them all the time.  It's pretty funny afterwards when I think "did I say that outloud?".  You see, when I am conversing with myself, the outside world fades away. When I was a child they called it "make believe" now they call it "crazy". Go figure!

Today at work I walked into the bathroom and the whole time I was in there I was having one of these conversations.  I had walked pass the mirror and it triggered the thought "my shirt looks like a tent on me" because well, I've lost 20 lbs and I need to stop wearing it.  So that thought led to how much I wanted to lose and I was just having this conversation with myself about it... (now you know the innerworkings of my twisted mind).  On my way out I hear this big bang in the first stall.  That's when I realize someone is in the bathroom with me.  I could feel my face going red as I rushed out of there and tried to remember if I had said anything out loud.  Sometimes I do accidentally say stuff out loud (yes, I realize this does make me look crazier!).  So either someone heard me talking to myself or not, but either way, I still don't know why they were banging on the side of the stall. ;0)

Chloe

Chloe is always willing to smile for the camera!
So full of energy and such a daddy's girl! I have had the pleasure of keeping nursery this week in church and I snapped this shot on Sunday.



I just love her little button nose, big beautiful eyes and that sweet dimple! She's adorable!