Sarah's Project: Pet Portraits With A Cause

It is a well known fact I am an animal lover. Just ask my husband if you don’t believe me. The bad thing for my husband is Sarah has taken my love for animals too. Reno, our lab, is definitely a big part of our family. I just love him so much, even if he just lies around all day and then gives me those sad eyes that melt my heart. Just like Sarah, he is my baby.

It hurts me to see animals mistreated or neglected. But it hurts me even more when I see someone who loves their animal and they are no longer able to take care of them. In a lot of these cases, the animal is their only companion during most days. In some of these cases the animals are giving up for adoption or even worst they are abandoned.

We are lucky to have incredibly caring individuals that try to help in such cases and try to find good homes for the animals they have under their care through our local humane societies. During May and June you can help DCP help stock the food pantry at the Burke County Friends For Animals so that they can give out this pet food to the families that need assistance in feeding some of their important members of their family.

Sarah and I are collecting donation of pet food, both dry and can to take up to the shelter for their food pantry. You can help by making a donation during May and June and in appreciation for your donation you will receive a free pet session. This session can be of just your pet or you and your pet or your whole family and that includes your pet. The session can be of any type animal, although if it is a snake - I’ll use my long lens. J

Sarah has challenged me to have to make multiple trips up there to take the food; so I need your help. Help me make sure I don’t let my little girl down or our furry friends.

It's Party Time!

Are you ready for a new profile image to use facebook and the other online social sites? Would you like to have one that truly represents the “you” that you want to show? The fun happy go-lucky person or even the business person? Maybe even with that special someone?

Here is your chance. There is a facebook profile party at the studio on Thursday, May 21st from 6-8 pm. For a $10 donation (make check out to Relay For Life), you will have a special session to create images that your friends will love when they see you online. As you may know RFL is very special to me. I am an active sponsor of the Valdese RFL and their relay is Friday, May 22nd at the Old Rock School. Please help me in donating to this great cause. Because together we can make a difference.

We are going to have lots of food. After all what is a party without food? There are lots of free goodies to be given out and some special ladies will be here to show off some incredible jewelry and make-up. Nancy Hunt, independent jewelry consultant will be here with some incredible jewelry for you to look at. It is really cool stuff; even I like it. An independent beauty consultant from Mary Kay will even be here with some of the latest make-up to try.

You do not need an appointment and you are welcomed to bring friends or send your friends. Please do RSVP so I can plan on how many people to expect. But by all means come on by. It is going to be loads of fun.
It had been a long time since I had changed my profile, so the other day I had a photographer friend create a new one for me. And I can tell you we had the best time doing this session. Join me for the profile party and as a friend on facebook.

It is going to be so much fun!!!

National Teacher Winner

I am so thrilled to send out congratulations to a long time client and now friend, Paula Tate. Paula is a teacher at Draughn High School and was recently named Teacher of the Year at Draughn and now she has been awarded the First Freedom Teaching Excellent Award. You can read more about this national teaching award and Paula here.

Paula’s students secretly recommended her for this honor and she is so deserving of it. Over the years of knowing Paula, I have seen her dedication to her students. She is a true educator and perfect for the job. As a parent, I realize how lucky we are to have such wonderful teachers like Paula molding our children.

Above is an image of Paula’s pride and joys from a recent session. She has two of the sweetest boys and they are the joy of her life. Congrats! Paula and keep up the good work!

Over The Rainbow…

“And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow.” – G.K. Chesterton

The Lord gives us some gifts some times. We just have to stop long enough to be able to see them and then to enjoy them. While helping Sarah with her homework, I glanced up and saw the most beautiful rainbow. We went out and enjoyed a double rainbow for a little while. One was very faint and one (the one here in the image) was very strong, but both very beautiful. I guess getting soaked while trying to mow grass earlier was worth it.

What other gifts of the Lord’s are we too busy to see and enjoy?

The Mountain Called And We Had To Go…

Every once in a while Sarah and I take a day and have a mommy & me day. We always have fun and it is really nice to have some fun time just me and her without worrying about housework or homework. This past week she was off for spring break from school so we took yesterday and went to one of our favorite places, Grandfather Mtn. Sarah loves to go spend time with the animals and will watch them for hours and I just love being on the mountain.

We could not have asked for better weather; well the photographer in me would have liked to have had some clouds in the sky. But otherwise it was awesome; not cold or hot, virtually no wind. Yes, my GFM photography friends; no wind. Hope that is the case in May for our weekend up there. The sky was a perfect solid Carolina Blue, no polarizer needed. I am sure that was just Hugh Morton’s way of celebrating UNCs becoming National Champs again! Yeah!!!!
One of my favorite quotes is by John Muir, “The mountains are calling and I must go.” I go to GFM (short for Grandfather Mtn) several times a year and wish I could be up there more. The mountain and the staff up there just make me feel like I am at home each time I am there. It was neat to see just how much progress has been made on the new gift shop on the top. Sarah is ready for it to open so she can go spend some money there.

I can remember the first time we took Sarah up there and she was scared to cross the bridge, but she did. Yesterday, I could not keep up with her skipping around on the rocks up there. She is really growing up and becoming more like me every day; yes a scary thing. I did beat her by finishing my ice cream sundae from the new fudge shop up there.

I am not sure where we will head for or when our next mommy & me day is, but I am sure looking forward to it. I am also sure we will be making another trip to GFM soon too. I will be heading up there to photograph a wedding, a family portrait session and for a photography weekend all in May and I can’t wait. In fact someone better hide my keys, I think I hear the mountain calling me…