Christmas at Home with the Family
Merry Christmas! We spent yesterday with family and extended family, eating until I decided not to remember what I had eaten 
We start Christmas morning by sharing in our stockings, with little goodies and fun toys stuffed inside each. Then, breakfast and setup for the day. Usually there is way too much stuff to eat and drink sitting around on every flat surface, and this day was no exception… We then settle down, share what we’re thankful for from the year and pray over the family, the day and give thanks to God for sending Jesus to the earth. Then we go around with various presents and open them, reveling in the fun and sharing the excitement together. Depending on who all is here in a given year, this can take some time as everyone tends to give something to everyone who comes; I think Leah calculated that it seems to be around 15 every year for the past few years. We pretty much fill up the family room for sure. When all is done, we clean everything up and pose everyone around the tree for a family portrait. This can be rather hurried as by this time various ones have to leave to get to other things or other family celebrations. But, in looking back over the years, I think we’ve had a portrait for most years since we started our family. It’s a cool tradition. Here is the photo from yesterday; yes, that’s a new hat I’m wearing:
We shared a wonderful day together, and I wish all of you a very blessed and Happy New Year for 2012.
Christmas Eve in Austin
It’s Christmas Eve in the beautiful Austin area today. I love this time of year! May you be blessed as you celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ with your family.
Here is a photograph of our grandson, Eli, as we get ready to head home from the tree farm with our tree. This was back the day after Thanksgiving and I was teasing him that he’d nee to ride home with the tree up on top. He wasn’t so sure about that, but he played along for a couple of minutes
Family at Home
I had the opportunity last week to photograph a neighbor’s family at their home. Her mom and dad were here for a visit and they wanted some portraits of the four of them, along with the family dogs. So we went out in their back yard to capture some moments with all of them together. There is still a little green around and we used it to frame the setting. It was great fun! It is always a blessing to be with a family as they celebrate being together. Here is one of the shots I really like; I love how the two dogs are looking in my general direction
First Baby
It was a really cool thing to be with Tim, Dee and their first baby. Noah was very cooperative and we were able to capture some great portraits for the family.
It is especially awesome to be around a brand new baby now that Hannah is pregnant again; we all have this to look forward to again! Here’s one of the portraits of Noah that I really like:
Fall Portraits
We met Doug and Cindy at the Memorial Park in Round Rock a few weeks back, just in time to catch some beautiful Fall colors! They brought their three dogs and we had a grand time photographing them around the park while the dogs enjoyed the day and running around checking everything out. Here is one of my favorites; we can see the trees in color behind and even the reflections on the surface of Brushy Creek.
Baby Elizabeth
Newborn babies are so special; they evoke a sense of awe, wonder and “huggableness” that I love to capture in a portrait. We had a fun session a little while back with baby Elizabeth, the daughter of Greg and Catherine. For me to be invited to work with this family is a double blessing since we photographed Greg and Catherine earlier this year as a part of their wedding! How cool is that? Family photographers just don’t get it any better. I’m looking forward to seeing little Elizabeth grow up.
Here are some pages from Elizabeth’s newborn baby album:
Baby in a Basket
November Art Show
I’ve got my show up at the Gallery Off the Square for the month of November. We had the most people I think I’ve seen come in at once last Friday; it was great. Our monthly show has now been listed in “The Best of Georgetown” as one of the best places to buy art! How cool is that.
November 2011 Gallery Display
October 2011 Gallery Showing
It’s that time of the month again! I have some of my artistic photography showing over at the Gallery Off the Square in Georgetown. Sadly, was not able to be there this past Friday, but my work made it! Please take a tour by and see all the great art; we’ve got an amazing set of artists and work. And once you’ve seen the art on my wall, be sure and look up above the front door; I have two pieces there as well.
I really enjoy creating photographic pieces like these; I hope you enjoy seeing them as well. If you do, be sure and sign up for my newsletter over here: imageclectic newsletter.
October imageclectic Gallery
Above the Door
Share the Passion – People Loving People
A few weeks ago I was once again blessed to participate in a fantastic event that features children and families with Down Syndrome; the Share the Passion Event. This was my third at year to participate and it always moves my heart to be a part of their efforts and experience the love given freely to the participants. The feature of the gala is the next-year calendar, which has in it a set of photographs of DS kids and adults enjoying their hobbies and interests with celebrities. The gala event brings families, friends and supporters together once a year to benefit the programs and people with Down Syndrome in the Central Texas area.
Here are a few of my photographs from that day; you can grab a full set over on the DSACT web site. It is an honor to be able to help this organization out; they really do wonderful work. (more…)
Matt & Megan – Wedding on the Lake
Well, by “on the lake” what I mean to say is that the lake could be seen from where we were The home where Matt and Megan were married, her parents’, is right on the edge of where the lake is supposed to be, but alas, the Great Texas Drought has dropped the surface of the lake so far that the water is no longer very close. But, that doesn’t matter. The wedding was beautiful, with an intimate circle of friends and family participating in the front yard. The reception was held around the pool in back, and lots of guests ended up shoeless and standing in the shallow end, sipping their drinks, talking, laughing and enjoying the evening. I love this kind of wedding, as much as any large and complicated affair, because of the focus it puts on the marriage itself and the people involved. Not too much fuss, with emphasis on the bride and groom. Pretty cool. Hannah and I spent most of our time photographing the family and friends enjoying one another as the ceremony itself was all of 10 minutes from the walk down the “aisle” (from the front door to the tree!) through the ceremony to the kiss. This is one of those weddings where it really pays to have two photographers; so much happens in so little time that a single photographer could not possibly capture all the important moments!
Here are some of our favorite pictures from the afternoon.
Excited Bride
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