Proofing Made Easier

I have partnered with a new site for online proofing to make online proofing easier for everyone. Here are some of the new features:

*Portrait Sub-categories. Each gallery can be divided into sub-categories. For example, if it is a family sitting, the sub-categories would be: everyone, kids, and parents.

*Collage sub-galleries. Collages will now be included in your personal gallery, not in a separate gallery. Again, these will be listed as sub-categories.

*Product galleries. You can purchase specialty items such as albums, frames, cards, etc. through a products gallery. Stay tuned for new products.

*More power to the people. I like to allow you to select your favorite portraits for some specialty items (such as the black matte album that I recently introduced). Now you will be able to purchase these items online AND select your photos of choice without having to contact me separately.

*Black & White + Sepia. Instantly view your photo in sepia or black and white as compared to the color versions. Order your favorite!

*Discounts! Hurray! New--receive a 10% discount if you place your order within the first three days that the gallery is online. The gallery will still be active for ten full days, but the discount expries after three.

*Gift certificate options. More details to come, but there will be an option to purchase gift certificates for friends and family.

*Secure check-out. You still have the ability to check-out securely online using a credit card.

*Easier navigation. I think the site is easier to get around in than the old proofing site, but I'd love to hear your feedback on it.

So, now that you have all the details, go take a peek. You can view the new proofing site here!

Home on the Range

I'd like you to meet some good friends of mine: the Pollan family. They hail from the mighty state of Mississippi but have settled in Oklahoma where they now manage a ranch.


I grew up in Arkansas, so the Pollans and I get together to recall things we miss about the south (sweet tea, accents, strange southern words that aren't used in this part of the world) and things we don't miss (giant mosquitoes, suffocating humidity).
We've been planning a photo session for ages and we finally got the chance to get together. It was a windy day, but the light was beautiful on the ranch. In fact, I wish I had gotten there sooner because the golden light is already starting to fade quickly in the evenings.


This is what I like about on-location portraiture: I was able to take these photos at a unique location that is special to them (their home, the ranch). As an added bonus, the ranch provided lots of cool props and backgrounds. Sweet!


Enough chit-chat....let's see those pictures!

This is Miss M's "catch-me-if-you-can" stance. She was quick...

...but I caught her! How cute is she???

I love this picture. It's so cowboyesque (yes, spellcheck, I know it's not a word). The colors of the trees and the cattle with the dust in the air and the angle of the gate.....yep, it's just right.

It's a tradition in Mississippi farmers to take a picture with their crops. Cowboy G doesn't grow cotton, he grows cows!

That's a mighty fine lookin' couple!

And finally, a little fun in a John Deere tractor wheel!

Thanks for the fun, y'all!

You can see the Pollan family slideshow here.

Four Seasons Photography specializes in on-location photo sessions. Photographer Megan Franks will travel to your home or the location of your choice. On-location photography is a great choice for family portraits, senior portraits and portraits for children.

Semi-Sneak Peek

I had a fun session this week. It involved this...

...and a little bit of this...

...and a whole lot of these....

Stay tuned! :-)

Sleep Tight, Sun

Just thought I'd share a quick one:

This was my view on the way home from a portrait session last night.

So just in case you're wondering....yes, there are benefits to living in "the sticks." : )

New Treats

...and it's not even Halloween yet!

Many of you may already know that I like to include a little extra treats in with your portrait orders (the non-edible kind, although I have been known to include some edibles on occasion...). I have newer more practical goodies that I will be trying out this month. I hope you like 'em!



{Did you really think that I would spill the beans?}

Curly Q

I know that the fact that it's FRIDAY is reason enough to be happy, but I dare you to check out this little cutie and not smile!

Meet Miss Zaryn. Oh my goodness! What beautiful curls & big eyes! She is so adorable--just like a little doll.

Is that a smile I see on your face? : )

You can also check out her slideshow of images here.

My Girls

Time to participate in the annual exchanging of wallets among school pals.

Sorry, but for reasons that should be obvious, I do not purchase pictures from the official school photographer. (Wanna know one of the reasons--those pictures are BORING! Blech!)

So, I drug my kids out one Friday afternoon and demanded smiles and happiness from them. Everyone knows that photographers' kids are the world's worst about cooperating in front of a camera.

I didn't have a lot of time to pull together a cute wardrobe or scout unique locations. These were, after all, just for wallet swaps. It was also a very windy Friday, so we had to battle that....but in the end, we got several keepers! Hooray! Here's a few from the bunch...

Funny...this used to be my most uncooperative kid of the two, and now she's all about "striking a pose!"

I love the solemn look--it never goes out of style! :)

And for the big finale, we like to show off what we lovingly call "the landmine mouth" ('cause when you're eight, your mouth can start to look like someone set off a landmine inside with all the missing teeth!).

Bad News LOST Fans!

I'm sooooo sad. If you've read any of my recent posts, you'll know how much I love the television show LOST. I'm not much of a t.v. freak, but there are about three shows that I watch regularly courtesy of my DVR (thank heavens for DVRs!).

According to this website, LOST will not premiere until February of 2008! *GASP!*

I have since found a cool comedy/mystery show to watch weekly (Psych on USA), but it's just not the same.

Bring on the Doc! What's up, Freckles? Where are you, John? Can you hear me, Sawyer? Please....come back soon!!!

Just Because

Just because some little girls still dream of becoming ballerinas.

(Moment captured while my daughter danced at her grandparents' home.)

Addicted to Blogging

77%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?

Okay, I admit it...I have a blogging problem! I just can't help myself because it's so much fun!

I actually have three other blogs besides my Four Seasons Photography blog: one private family blog, University Mama (where I blog about my return to the college scene as an adult student), and Controlling the Chaos (home organization tips & tricks I find in cyberspace).

Find out if you're addicted here.

My Family Crest

This week's assignment for my Interpersonal Communications class involved creating a family crest for myself which explained a little about me and how my self-concept developed (a.k.a. "the important things that shape who I am today"). Just for fun, I thought I'd share it with you!

So, to explain....

The center of my crest is a cross & the word "faith" is written. I chose that because it's my faith in Christ that is the very foundation of anything and everything that I am and do.

On the left & right arms of the cross are the two family names that I have been blessed to be a part of: one by birth and one by marriage (note: joined in the center by a heart--love--and in faith).

The largest portion of my crest (or would have been the largest if I had been able to divide it some other way) is my family. Being a wife and a mom are the two most important positions I have, and will ever, hold.

Above the family section are places which have shaped who I am today. I have lived in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas. All are very different places from one another--culturally and physically--even though they all share common borders. In the background is an American flag. I'm very proud and fortunate to be an American, though I admit, I often take it for granted.

The upper left is the portion which--you guessed it--represents Four Seasons Photography. My business fills a very special place in my life. Not only is it a financial livelihood, but it allows me to stretch my creative muscles on a regular basis (which has always been important to me) and I get to meet so many wonderful people!

The bottom left represents my other interests: blogging (of course!), traveling, the love of British things, Devil Bites (my favorite desssert) and reading. The big palm tree represents our beloved annual family vacation to the beach!

So, that's me in a nutshell. What would your crest look like?

P.S.--This project also taught me what a technology geek I've become. Gone are the good ol' days when I would just cut & paste a crest onto a poster board. I just had to design this in photoshop and print it on photo paper!! What is wrong with me?

Tag: I'm it!

For those of you who don't frequent a lot of photography blogs, you're probably clueless to the very fun game of "tag" that's been going around lately. I've been tagged by Dejah of Dejah Quinn Photography (one of my favorite fellow photographers...and she's right here in Oklahoma!). You are supposed to share eight things about yourself & then tag eight other people. So here goes...


1. My maiden name was Wisdom. No joke! So can I claim to be a smartie-pants by birth?

2. I was the first grade spelling bee champion at Nashville Primary School in Nashville, Arkansas, but now I'm grateful for spell check!

3. My favorite dessert is chocolate, of course, but more specifically: Devil Bites. My husband calls them "glorified ding-dongs without the filling," but what does he know? :) I always make sure to pick up the wonderful little jewels from Kathy's Bakery & Deli when I'm in Iowa Park, TX. Tell 'em Megan sent ya.....they won't be surprised!

4. I love all things British. Don't know why...I just do! I'm especially fond of old stuffy castles and Renaissance literature. I got to go on my dream vacation to London in 1999, but I would love to go back to check out the British countryside (and Scotland).

5. I grew up on a small farm. We had cattle, pigs, goats, and horses but mostly chickens! Thousands of chickens! (It was a commercial chicken farm for Tyson foods) Now that I'm older and lazy, I don't think I could survive farming life! :)

6. I hate putting away laundry, but don't mind washing or folding it.

7. My favorite television shows of all time are The Cosby Show, Seinfeld and LOST. I'm (impatiently) waiting for the new season of LOST to begin!

8. Speaking of LOST, my best friend, Heather, and I have a cool tradition. We always watched LOST together when I lived in Texas; it was kind of our "girl's night." When we moved to Oklahoma, I knew watching LOST would never be the same without her. So, we began DVRing the episodes & calling each other at 9:30 p.m. each Wednesday night to watch it together. It took some practice to get our DVRing in sync, but now we are old pros! I always look forward to Wednesday nights with Heather and I'm so lucky to have such a wonderful BFF!

Now, for the latest tagees:

1. Bethany of Bella Amadis Photography

2. Robin at DePaula Photography

3. and my non-photographer but equally talented friend, H at TwiceKnit


People that I would have tagged if they had not been tagged already:

4. Rebekah at Rebekah Westover Photography

5. Jennifer from Jennifer Adams Photography

6. Carrie at Carrie Viohl Photography


And finally, people I would have tagged if they would get a blog going (what's the hold-up, ladies?):

7. Ruth at Photography by Ruth

8. Marcy at Marcy Gray Photography

Miss LHS

Meet Brandy (okay, so it's not the first time you've met her here on the blog). She was crowned Miss LHS during the last school year because she's a smart, talented, community-minded, caring and beautiful girl. Now she's off studying her heart out at Oklahoma State University. We had to sneak in time for a head shot over Labor Day weekend so her picture can adorn the hallowed halls of Leedey High for all eternity.

Snips & Snails & Puppy Dog Tails

I've had the chance to do several sessions with little boys lately, and they all have one thing in common: they are so darn cute!!!

Take Aden & Mason for example....

Cutie Pie!

I love sunflare (and choo-choo trains)!

Now meet, Mr. Mason....

Cutie Patootie!

I never get laughs like these from girls. I guess the laughs of little boys just take over their whole bodies (see Belly Laugh)!

Megan Franks at Four Seasons Photography specializes in on-location portrait sessions for children. Children tend to enjoy outdoor sessions and are more relaxed in a non-studio atmosphere. Contact Four Seasons Photography today to schedule your session at the unique location of your choice!

September Blog Special

It's September already???

This month's Blog Special is:

With any purchase of $60 or more,
get a free 8x10 of your choice.

As always, the blog special only applies to private sessions booked for the month of September and you must mention that you saw the special on the blog in order to get the goodies!