Not Me...the OTHER Megan

This is Megan S., a senior from Iowa Park, Texas whom I've had the priviledge of watching grow into a great young lady.

Congrats on your upcoming graduation (it will be here before you know it)! I know you will do well wherever God leads you!

Bad, Bad Blogger!

I AM a bad blogger, I'll admit it! It's been a very hectic couple of weeks. Last week, I was back in my old Texas stompping grounds doing some photography work & I've been swamped since.

Hopefully, I'll get a chance to post some pics of the 2 beautiful seniors I photographed in TX. Plus, I've taken pics of a bunch of little fellas (& bellas!) lately that I hope to share.

Until then, here's a pic of my neice, Sophie--just because it's my blog & I can! LOL! It was actually taken back before she was even a month old. I am headed to Kansas this weekend for her 3 month pictures proving, once again, that time really does fly!!!

More Pomp & Circumstance

Meet another Senior Rep from Leedey High: Taryn. Isn't she just a natural beauty? And to top it off, she's a real sweetheart, too!

Soon-to-be Grads: don't put off those senior pics until it's too late! I know the school year can get crazy with activities, so book your senior sitting today.

What exactly can you do?

Well, I can cook a pretty good Chicken Tortilla Soup, but we're talking photography here, so....

The beauty of being a 100% digital photographer is the fun edits that can be done to a single photograph. The possiblities really are endless. Here are just a few examples: the first is straight out of the camera, then we have black & white conversion, a "color pop" example (kind of a modern "urban" look), a quad multi-color print as well as a selective coloring example. These are just a few of the many selections you can choose from. And at Four Seasons Photography, there is no additional charge for creative edits!

Wow! A Year's Worth of Free Sittings!

Congratulations to Michelle K. of Elk City who won the giveaway for 12 months worth of free portrait sessions at the Fall Festival last weekend!

Thanks to everyone who visited the booth. It was a great weekend & I look forward to seeing you all again soon for portrait sessions or portrait parties!!

Elk City Fall Festival, Sept. 16 & 17

Want to check out my work in real life rather than on the web? I will have a booth at the Elk City Fall Festival this weekend, Saturday & Sunday, Sept. 16 & 17. I will have many different sizes and styles of portraits on display as well as brochures on my photography services and samples of specialty items such as portrait purses & photo jewelry.

You will also have an opportunity to sign up & win a really great prize and I will also have exclusive "show specials" for those who drop by. There's going to be lots of great vendors & (of course) great food, so I hope to see you there!

9-11: Where Were You?

It's 9-11. Where were you on that fateful day? I was turning on the tv so my then 2-year-old could watch some Nicktoons while I did the morning chores. It's a wonder that I ever caught the news (b/c cartoons are the tv of choice in my home), but when I turned on the t.v., it was on ABC & I could tell something really bad had just happened. I kept watching and witnessed the 2nd plane crash on live tv. I was stunned. Definetely more stunned than when I watched the Challenger spacecraft go up in flames as a 3rd grader. I bribed my daughter into playing in her room or watching videos in my room for most of the day b/c I couldn't pull myself away from the tv.

So, what's your story?

Beauty in the Simple Things

Today, I took a drive to do some self-photography assignments. I'm always trying to stretch my skills & I'm completely a visual learner so I have to get out & "do" things.

Anyway, I was out tromping around the great outdoors on this beautiful not-quite-fallish day...the temperature was perfect, there was a slight breeze, & the sound of the wind rustling through the grass & trees was just soothing. When I started out on my "adventure," I had a headache & felt "blah," but there's something wonderful about being out in God's grand creation....it's always relaxing & I realize that I don't do it enough anymore. It's so easy to get wrapped up in the day-to-day "stuff" of life that (I hate to sound like a cliche' but...) we forget to "stop & smell the roses"-- the real ones. And as we're speeding by in our SUV's trying to make it to our appointments on time, it's doubtful if we ever really see the beauty that's God has laid out all around us. That's why I have always enjoyed vacationing in the mountains. I'm in awe every time I see those majestic mounds of earth....and I'm always reminded that I really am just a small fish in this big pond called earth.

But you know what? There's beauty right here in Leedey, Oklahoma. Few will pack their bags to vacation in our small town, but there's beauty nonetheless. I found some today in the weeds, the pastures, the sun peeking through the clouds....


So this is YOUR assignment: take time to look at the beauty all around you in unexpected places. And if you happen to have your camera with you, take a pic....I'll share it on my blog!

Time Flies (Just Ask Spicy the Moth)

We were reminded how brief life can be this week through a moth named "Spicy." Yes, a moth (&, no, I don't know why she named him Spicy). Big sis captured a moth for "Bobo" (little sis) and she was oh-so-happy about it. When Spicy escaped in our house before bedtime Monday night, Bobo was quite upset, but she left the parents in charge of capturing him once more (we complied--good thing moths are attracted to the glare of the tv set!).

Bobo was thrilled to find Spicy safe & sound in his bug trap home the next morning...just in time for show & tell at school! Hooray! She happily trotted off to Pre-K, bumpity-bumping Spicy all the way (I was just hoping he survived until show & tell!). Luckily, he survived, but not for long. I was working on the computer later that afternoon when Bobo brought him in. I broke the news to her--"I think Spicy may have died."--which was, of course, not acceptable at all. There were many tears & much wailing...but Spicy is now in a better place (the trash can).

It's funny how something as commonplace as a moth can be a treasured possession to a kid. I'm so glad I took a minute to snap a picture of her "treasure" before the story came & passed. If you're not careful, a childhood will come & go before you know it.

SO...here's your reminder to book portraits for your kids before time slips away!

September Special: BOGO 4 Seniors!!

Calling all high school seniors!!! During the month of September, take advantage of my great special that's just for you: Buy One Get One Free on Senior Sittings!

Here's the deal: Book a session with a buddy & you get to split the 1 1/2 hour sitting as well as the sitting fee!! There are no limits to the amount of clothing changes or locations, etc.....we've just got to be able to squeeze it into our 1 1/2 hour time period. Honestly, it's much more fun to take pics with your friends anyway! And don't worry about having the exact same poses/backgrounds....I try to make everyone's pictures completely unique to them. No "cookie-cutter" stuff here!

I have senior packages for purchase or you can order a la carte. Hey, I'm pretty laid back when it comes to ordering. Bottom line: I want you to get what you want and need!

Just in case you are not familiar with my sitting fees (which vary by location), here they are:

Leedey, Camargo, Hammon $35
Elk City, Vici, Cheyenne, Butler $50
Woodward, Sayre, Clinton, Sentinal $60
Other locations: call for a quote

Shoot me an e-mail if you have any questions: fourseasonsphotos@hotmail.com

Mr. Squirmy Wormy

Who could resist this smirk??? Not me! Mr. Squirmy Wormy is sooo adorable & he was great fun at his 6 month sitting. I love this age!

Christmas in August????

Yes, believe it or not, it's time to start thinking about CHRISTMAS!!! But you don't have to think too hard about it, just leave a spot open on your calendar for Saturday, November 4th. That's when I will be shooting mini-sessions at the Leedey Community Center (located on Main Street in Leedey).

Mini-sessions are a somewhat different from a regular session. They are only 20 minutes long and there are limited backgrounds to choose from. I will have one "traditional" type set-up & one holiday arrangement. You can choose to bring the whole family (it'd make a great Christmas card picture--hint, hint!), just the kids, just one kid...it's up to you! Surely you can talk Dad into coming by using this excuse: "It's ONLY 20 minutes!" Or how about this one for the kids: "If you will just sit still and smile pretty for a few pictures, we can all go out for dessert afterwards!" LOL--Yes, I am a mom, too!

Sessions will be $35 & will include a free 8x10 (that's a $20 savings off regular prices!). Custom Christmas cards and beautiful ornaments will be available for purchase as well as our regular line of specialty items.

Tell your friends! And keep checking the blog for more details!

Pomp & Circumstance

Meet my Senior Rep, Brandy!

Brandy is a senior at Leedey High School. She's a softball player, involved in Drama productions, plays the piano, very active in her church & an honor student. Everyone loves Brandy...she's laid back, easy to talk to & just plain "friendly!"

And, I might add, she's a cutie pie!!!

You can view all of the pictures from her session set to music at:
http://www.photodex.com/sharing/viewalbum.html?bm=104093

Ross & Jack

On my recent trip back to Texas, I was able to hang out with these 2 guys for a bit. Jack & I have met before when I did portraits for his daycare (you might recognize him from my website), but it was my first time to meet big bro Ross. These brothers are so adorable...um, I mean HANDSOME chaps! Who could resist the charm of those big, beautiful eyes? Mom & Dad...watch out! It won't be long until the girls start calling!!!

The Happy Couple

I recently had the privilege of photographing the wedding of Kevin & Kacy. One of my favorite shots is the one where Kacy is walking down the aisle toward the blazing blue stained glass windows. I know...I know....I must have a thing for backs because all of my favorites tend to be where the subjects are walking away! I don't know why I like those types of photos....maybe it's because you don't find yourself focusing on facial features, but thinking about the story or the mood the picture creates instead.

At any rate, the happy couple seemed to have a very happy wedding day & I wish them all the best!

A walk on the beach...

As promised, here is a photo from our family vacation to the beach. You'll notice the slightly horrendous sunburn on my back (yes, that's even after digitally retouching it a bit!!!!). I'm still reaping the benefits of that day in the sun (as in, all the skin is peeling off of my back! Yuck!). Moral of the day: WEAR YOUR SUNSCREEN LIKE YOUR MAMA SAID!

Good-Bye Summer.....

We said "farewell" to summer last week as we took our final trip of the season to the beach--South Padre Island, Texas. It was a wonderful trip, as always. We didn't have to endure the 12 hour trip alone--our good friends, the Coopers, and my sister, Emily, helped us make it through (as did the walkie-talkies; our entertainment during the long ride). Oh, and stops at Chick-fil-a also helped (note: I highly recommend their new hand-shaken chocolate milkshakes-yum!). The most aggravating part of the experience (for me, anyway) was the fact that my Nikon lens kept fogging up in the crazy humidity (it was high, even for the beach). So, I have very few digital pics; I mostly used my Canon film SLR since it cooperated nicely. So stay tuned...pictures to come soon!!!

A second Kansas cutie!!

Check out Miss Aspyn, cousin to Sophie (see below), who is now 3 years old! I remember when she was just a tiny babe. She's growing up to be a super-cutie (watch out, dad--she'll be dating before you know it)! =)

She's growing up fast!

Remember my neice who was born on the 4th of July? I finally made it to Kansas for a peek & also for her first photo session. Isn't it funny how quickly newborns change?

Back from "The Creek"

Falls Creek, that is! If you're an Okie, you've probably been there or at least heard of Falls Creek. It's a Christian youth camp in the Arbuckle Mountians where at least 10% of Oklahoma teens spend part of their summer. I've been numerous times (I even served there one summer as a lifeguard) but this was my first trip with our church here in Leedey & it was a great one! I had so much fun getting to know the youth & the sponsors a little better. Luckily for Tim, he managed to avoid the annual tradition of secretly dumping a water jug of ice water on the preacher's head during the group photo session....not so lucky for the poor guy who was sitting beside him & managed to get the bulk of it on him instead!

The theme of the week centered around Jeremiah's trip to the potter's house where he watched the potter make something useful from clay, even the marred clay. It was a great reminder to us all how God wants to form & shape our lives if we will just allow Him to. It also reminded us about how God still wants to use us, even if we have imperfections & flaws (Yep, that'd be all of us!). The week made me think about a lot of things in my spiritual life and I am currently praying about going on a mission trip to Cologne, Germany next summer with Oklahoma youth. Like I said: great week.

Oh--check out my DH shooting hoops at camp--he's still got it!

Check out www.fallscreekok.org if you've never been or want to learn more.