Tom & Esther~~50th Anniversary

What a wonderful couple. Esther called asking me to photograph them prior to their 50th Anniversary so they would have photos for the paper and their invitations. I had so much fun with them. I asked them what the secret was to staying married for 50 years (I mean, come on...that's a long time together). Esther said lots of patience and prayer and Tom replied "remember the good times during the bad". Good advice! HAPPY 50th ANNIVERSARY ESTHER & TOM (June 14, 1958)

Unexpected Suprises...

By this time next week I will be the proud owner of this:

yes...I snagged this photo from the B&H site :D (gotta love that place!)

Anywho, I received a call that someone (who has requested to remain annonymous) wanted to buy a softbox for me. I was a bit stunned at first, I mean, its just little ole me. People don't buy me things for no reason (well, not big, expensive things anyways)..its not my birthday or Christmas. After I got over being stunned (which took all of about 5 seconds) I was sooo EXCITED!!! The light you get from using a softbox is amazing. I mean are you kidding me! It's been on my "to buy" list for a while now, but other equipment has taken precedent. I can't wait to try it out. So, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for the gift (you know who you are :D) I can't even put into words how grateful, suprised, blessed and honored I feel. Thank you for believing in me.

Look What I Found

blooming in my yard today. Oh yeah....it's my first flowers of spring.

Tiffany....

Tiffany and my photo shoot cohort Hillary:

One Light ROCKS!!!

Here's some images from the One Light Workshop

Model is Betty Jade (she was great!)

I'll be out of town and away from the computer for the next couple days. I'm headed to Detroit for the One Light workshop with Zack Arias (oh, how I pray I don't make a fool of myself in front of the lighting master :D). Check out Zack's phenomenal work.

I'm so excited about this workshop. It's all about taking your flash off the camera and improving your images. If Zack comes to your area--sign up A.S.A.P. spots fill really fast~~I almost missed out because I procrastinated on signing up.

I'm meeting up with fellow photog Kari Douma from GR, we'll be roomies for the next couple nights. We are going to have so much fun...One full day of nothing but photography...ah...the good life.....

2nd Place

Well, the votes were counted and I ended up in 2nd place in Me Ra Koh's Darkness and Light contest . Not too shabby for my first contest entry ever. The best part...all the wonderful things Me Ra said about my image.

From her blog entries:

"When Brian and I opened the image after reading her email, we gasped"

"Isn’t this image amazing?! I love the composition of how she framed their hands and centered the cupcakes. The hands and their touch is so tender."

"What an incredible example of darkness and light. Amazing job Deb!"

"I could look at this photo over and over again and never get tired of it. Wonderful image Deb!"

From her email that she sent to me:

"Your image was just breathtaking, sincerely just beautiful. Thank you so much for being who you are, seeing life the way you do and sharing it with us. I’m truly honored."

Wow!!...that alone is enough for me :D

A HUGE thank you to everyone who voted for my image. I really appreciate it!

Postcard Travel Anyone???

I was flipping through my current issue of Popular Photography and came across a neat little item. If you have the May 08 issue, flip to page 16. Here's what it says:

Travel the World
without leaving town.
Sign up at www.postcrossing.com
to send and receive
postcards from places
around the globe.

How cool is that? Well, I love, love, love to travel so I went right over and signed up. The first place I'm sending a card to is Finland! Can't wait to see where my first card is received from. If you have kids this is a great way for them to learn some geography. The plan is to frame a world map and place the postcards around the edge with a marker from card to country. Just click on the picture above and it will take you right to their site. Happy "postcard" traveling!!!

HAPPY 60th BIRTHDAY MOM!!!!!!

We celebrated my Mom's birthday last weekend at my sister's bar (Foran's Irish Pub). If you're ever in Detroit stop by and say Hi...they have great food and probably the best selection of micro brewery beers!

Are you kidding????

I had to let the dog out at 7a.m and I opened the door and seen this...

That's right...SNOW!!!! That white stuff that I can not stand. AND it's still snowing...it's like a bad dream. It is mid-April folks, we've had snow since November. I want it to go away~~~ yes, this is a morning rant--no coffee yet...

Here's another view..

I really hope that this is the last snow fall and that after this spring will truly be on its way to us.

Hope its warm wherever you are......

Butterflies.....

I met up with Nancy Armstrong (HI Nancy!) from Freeland, MI at Dow Gardens in Midland. We went to the butterfly exhibit and then to lunch. It was a lot of fun taking a couple hours and hanging out with another photographer and talking "shop"---gave the family a reprieve for a while :D

I'M A FINALIST!!!

My photo has been selected as a finalist on Me Ra Koh's darkness and light photo contest. Please visit her site and leave a message voting for my photo. It is such an honor to be choosen....
Here's the link: http://www.merakohblog.com/2008/04/07/let-the-voting-begin/
Please vote!!
Hugs~~ Deb

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep

A while back I applied to be a volunteer photographer for the Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDT) organization. Today I received an email that my application has been approved.

For those of you who are not aware of this organization we are a group of professional photographers across the U.S. that provide free infant bereavement photography. In my opinion, it is so important to capture whatever moments a parent my have with their infant and I am very honored to be a part of this organization.

For further information please visit their site at: http://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/