Seniors: Share Your Smile Online

Did you know that some of our newly revised senior packages include a web-ready images for online sharing? While these images aren't sized for print (if you try to print them, they will be pixelated and ugly...not to mention that would be violation of federal copyright laws, but that's another story), they are perfect for posting on myspace, facebook, using for avatars, e-mail, etc. How fun is that?

Contact me if you are interested in seeing the new senior package pricelists and all the goodies they include. (Visit the "contact" section of my website)

Megan Franks specializes in on-location photography, photography for high school seniors, in western Oklahoma. (Leedey, Elk City, Hammon, Clinton, Weatherford, Vici, Woodward, Burns Flat and beyond.)

The New "Spokesbaby" of Elk City March of Dimes

Meet the new "spokesbaby" for Elk City's chapter of the March of Dimes: Kash. You might remember seeing Kash when he was three months old....can you believe he's 7 months now? And check out those gorgeous blue eyes!! Who can resist those beautiful little peepers?

If you'd like to contribute to the campaign to help and/or prevent premature birth and or childhood disabilities, you can participate in a March for Babies near you. You can also donate to the March of Dimes.

(And, to be precise, I'm not sure his title is actually "spokesbaby" since he technically can not speak yet, but you know what I mean!)

Attention Class of 2009

Seniors!!! Guess what? It's time to book your senior sessions!!

No joking...if you don't get on the ball and set aside time on your busy, busy calendar, spring will sneak up on you. So let's get together in a green wheat field or at an old, weathered building, a barnyard or wherever!

And don't forget that if you want to split a session with a friend, you can BOGO on LOCO....2 for the price of one session fee. Things are always more fun when you bring a friend along.

Sessions are very limited this season, so give me a call!

Megan Franks of Four Seasons Photography specializes in on-location senior photography in western Oklahoma including Elk City, Hammon, Leedey, Vici, Clinton, Woodward and beyond.

Confidence

What?? TWO blog posts in one day??? I know, it's unbelievable another blogger shared a video and some thoughts that I have to share.

Anyone who knows me knows that I have little self-confidence. It's been a real struggle for me throughout my life. Without confidence, you can get easy to get bogged down by feelings of inadequacy and convince yourself that you will never be able to be successful even in areas where you possess talent or skills.

This video is of Paul Potts' audition on Britain's Got Talent. I'm no super-fan of American Idol or any of the talent shows nor am I an avid opera fan. But I dare you to watch this video and not get goosebumps or positively tear up. Paul Potts is a lot like me, but he stepped out of his comfort zone and stepped into unimaginable success. And no one expected it from him.





So, in case you missed the message of the day, it's threefold:

1) Use what God gave ya.

Paul - who's one of four children- was singing almost from the moment he could talk. "My mother recalls me listening to the theme from ET and conducting an imaginary orchestra with sticks," laughs Paul." "When I sang, that's when I felt I was myself - the real me." **

2) Be willing to step out of your comfort zone.

Although Paul has performed at amateur level, most notably with Bath Opera, his chronic lack of self esteem and fear of rejection always prevented him from trying to make it professionally. " As I saw it, if I never asked - never put myself out there - then I'd never get told "No",'says Paul. "It was safer that way." **

3) Believe in yourself even if others are skeptical.
"Though it's fair to say that when Paul strolled awkwardly - almost apologetically - onto the Cardiff stage for his first Britain’s Got Talent audition a week before that final, in his now infamous £35 Tesco suit, and announced to Simon and fellow judges Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan that he was going to sing opera, they never thought for one minute they were looking at their winner. Until he opened his mouth and started to sing. **

So, did he win? You betcha.

"All of this is like a fairy tale and I'm terrified I'm going to wake up soon and find I've dreamt it all," says Paul. "The support I've had has been incredible and I feel so touched and humbled by it. It has done so much for my confidence and I really can't thank people enough for giving me the chance to realise my dream. To be given an opportunity like this is more than I ever could have hoped for. Finally, I am going to be doing what I've always felt I was put here to do - something I love and that gives me so much joy." **

**Taken from http://www.paulpotts.com/, About Paul

Back to School...For Me, Too!

It seems like only yesterday that I was starting my first semester back at college after taking several years off (when I say "several," I mean like TEN!). It really has flown by and I should have a nice little diploma in my hand after December. Yay! Until then, I'll be hitting the books pretty hard this fall. Speaking of books, these little beauties--even with their lovely "used" stickers--cost me well over $300! You gotta love college and all its pricetags.

BFF {in Black & White}

I'm in a black & white sort of mood today, probably because it's been grey and rainy for three days!

Today I want to introduce you to someone special: my BFF--or best friend--Heather.

You've probably seen her pop up on my blog before because we've officially been best friends for five years though we've known each other for ten (oh my gosh, that makes me feel old!). So how do you transition from being casual friends to being best friends? I had talked Heather into attending our church's summer youth camp as a sponsor with me. On the drive down, she told me that her best friend had just moved away, "..so I was thinking that maybe we could be best friends now." We were just being silly of course, but from that moment on, we were officially "BFF's."

When we get together, we often transform into silly teenage girls again (much to our husbands' dismay).

Heather is the stylish, fashionable one in this friendship. She enjoys buying expensive girly things (like hundred dollar + purses!) that I would never even consider. She loves to take me shopping (something I hate) and gets joy out of the moments when she actually convinces me to buy something that I would never ordinarily purchase. But like any good partnership, I am her "voice of reason," reminding her to buy clothing that is machine-washable (why complicate life?) and that people with vein problems shouldn't be wearing three inch heels everyday.

Even though Heather is a naturally beautiful girly-girl and I'm just a simple plain-Jane, we still go together like PB&J. She doesn't criticize me when I'm having an obviously bad hair day (see above) and I just laugh about her sometimes crazy obsessions.

Heather loves my own kids as much as she loves her own.

And, when we're together, we can consume this many donuts without condemnation.

In two days.

All of them.

(They were yummy.)

We also share an affinity for cookies and devil bites, just in case you were wondering.

One of the best parts is that both of our families get along so well! We've been going on beach vacations together for four years now and we always end up counting the days until the next trip as soon as we get back home. People warned us that vacationing together could possibly ruin our friendship, but they were oh-so-wrong.

There was a time in my life when I thought I was okay on my own and that I didn't need a good girlfriend. I was wrong. Heather is my encourager, cheerleader, sunshine on a cloudy day and all the other cliches. The only bad part about our friendship: she's in Texas & I'm in Oklahoma. Thank goodness for cell phones and the internet!!!

Know Anyone Who Needs to Visit This Town?

I'm sure you do! After all, it's Monday...surely you've run into a person or two who needs a quick trip to NICEVILLE! :o)

P.S. Niceville is in Florida, just in case you were wondering.

When A Photograph Becomes A Treasure

Yesterday, I received a terribly sad phone call. This beautiful family, whom I photographed back in June, is now without a father and a husband due to a tragic accident. My heart is so heavy for their family and they have been in my thoughts and prayers throughout the past 24 hours.

In times of sorrow, photographs somehow transform from a print on paper to something so much more important. I know that when my father-in-law passed away, the portrait that we forced him to take a month before his death became a treasure. And as we browsed through photo albums and boxes of pictures, we were able to share fond memories, laugh and cry together. It was a wonderful part of the healing process.

I'm so glad that the Ford family was able to get together for a family portrait this summer. I'm sure the men were less than happy, the kids whined a bit and the women stressed over matching wardrobes, but I'm almost positive that it was worth the efforts. I'm sure their photographs have suddenly become invaluable to them.

Please remember the Ford family in your prayers.

Back To School....ALREADY!

I know...I know....we just got back from vacation and now we're starting school already?? I find it a little hard to believe myself. Even harder to believe: I'm the Mama of a fourth grader and a kindergarten student! Oh my! My house was strangely quiet today. I wasn't sure how I'd manage, but I made it. My friends suggested I watch something on television that wasn't a cartoon (we laughed, but I suddenly realized how much time my t.v. is set to Disney Channel). Instead, I opted to read a book and listen to the radio--things that I don't get to do very often in a typical day. According to the after-school reports, a good time was had by all. Yay!

The Beach Bums Are Back!

That's right...we're back from vacation!! Man, waiting until August for vacation to arrive can be brutal, but it's always SO much fun! This year, our annual trip to South Padre Island got interrupted by an annoying little hurricane named Dolly, so we scrambled around at the last minute and ended up detouring to Destin, Florida. The beaches are beautiful there (as you can see). I'll have much more to share later, but first, I have to unpack!

Summer Is...

...happy & carefree like an afternoon on a trampoline.

When you finish jumping, you realize how much work you've done and how TIRED you are...just like the end of summer. You know what that means?

It's time for a vacation!

I'll be out Aug 4-11 and back just in time for school to start (can you believe it's time already??). I will return all calls & e-mails when I return. Thanks!