The Rogers Family

I got to journey out to Foss Lake for a session with the Rogers family last week. They had the same problem that I did with my own family session: all the autumn leaves were dropping off the trees at lightening speed, so all the location that they had scouted had changed in a matter of days. It's a good thing we didn't wait a couple of days later; I noticed this week that almost all the trees are bare now...and it's gotten very COLD!


Stay warm, everyone. Rogers family: I hope you enjoy your session images!

Amanda: Too Many Favorites

First off, Amanda wins the "funniest client of the year" award. She had called weeks in advance to schedule her appointment; she was planning ahead (good girl!). When I called the night before to confirm, she was laying out her wardrobe (good girl!). She was right on time for her session, traveling to Leedey from Elk City (a 35 minute drive) and we started discussing which locations we would visit to first:

Me: "What are you going to wear? Let's look at your clothes so I can decide which location is best for each outfit."

Amanda: "Okay, they're in the back."

(I open the back)

Me: "They're not back here. I don't see anything."

Amanda: "They are in the Dillard's bag. I thought I put them back there." (No Dillard's bag) Check under the seats...Oh my gosh. Where are they?!? Mom?? Where's my Dillard's bag?? Did you see where I put them in the car?!? Help me find them!!!! Oh my gosh...oh my gosh..."

Other expressions of panic were to follow.

Amanda is the only senior girl I have ever known who left her entire senior photo shoot wardrobe at home!! She wasn't even wearing an outfit that she planned to be photographed in!

Luckily, big sister + brother-in-law saved the day by making a mad dash to Leedey. We were afraid we were going to run out of sunlight--and we almost did--but it all worked out wonderfully. So wonderfully, in fact, that I had a very hard time choosing what to post on the blog.

A beautiful girl + perfect evening light = too many favorites!

Amanda brought her artwork with her...which I loved. These are your senior photos; let's make them personal! I encourage seniors to bring anything that is significant or unique to them & we will try to incorporate it however we can.

Since I didn't know she was bringing her artwork, I didn't have the supplies I needed for what I envisioned. Never fear--Photoshop to the rescue!

"Hey...remember the time when I left all my clothes at home for my senior photo shoot? Oh my gosh, that was so funny..."

Trying a little tint here. I think it works!

We were running on like two ounces of sunlight at this point, but I was determined to try. I really wanted the yellow leaves as a background to her hot pink shirt. But I admit, I'm a sucker for autumn leaves no matter the wardrobe...

Thanks for the laughs, Amanda! Enjoy your images and your senior year!

I Feel Your Pain (I Really Do)

I know family portrait sessions can be a little stressful sometimes. Does any of this sound familiar?

*You begin shopping for coordinating outfits two months in advance.

*You start making a mental list of places that would be great for a family portrait.

*You schedule a date...but one family member has a conflict, so you reschedule.

*The one article of clothing that you REALLY wanted has sold out, is not in the size you need or just doesn't fit right. You make do with what you already have because something is better than nothing (and there's no time for shopping).

*The day of your session arrives...and winds whipping at 95 mph (or at least it feels like it). You have to reschedule.

*A conflict arises with the reschedule date...you reschedule AGAIN.

*Two days before scheduled session, the perfect location you had in mind is no longer perfect (all the beautiful golden leaves have fallen off the trees).

*The day of session: at least one person is not feeling well (or just cranky) while another is acting like a goofball. You are worried about how your hair is holding up in the wind and whether or not your shirt makes you look fat and if your head is turned the right way and if your necklace is straight, etc. etc. etc. Mostly, you wonder if there is going to be even one decent shot after all this work!

All of the above happened for my own family portraits! I really do understand that getting your entire family together for an hour or two is no small feat. I also understand that it takes a lot of preparation and planning to take a family portrait. I understand that weather is unpredictable. I understand that not everyone gets excited about taking family pictures (especially men). I understand that family portraits are not something that happens very regularly and you want to look your best. I understand how badly you'd like to have a nice portrait to hang on your living room wall. I understand...because I've been there!

That's why I try my best with every session--family, senior, baby, whatever--to make you feel at ease and to do everything in my power to provide the best images for you!

And, speaking from experience, be grateful that you are not trying to take your own family portrait....it ain't easy, my friends. ;)

Cute Overload

I have a friend who loves the website cuteoverload.com because it is filled with pictures of cute, fuzzy animals. She claims that it's impossible not to feel better after checking out the picture of the day on that site.

This family suffers from cute overload every single day. What a fantastic-looking family! The girls are as sweet as they look, too. All I can say is that I pity poor Dad. He's going to have a hard time keeping the boys away someday!

So without further ado, your cute overload for the day compliments of Four Seasons Photography and the Thomas family:

Alex (#2)

When Alex #2's mom called to ask about taking senior pictures, I was seriously in disbelief. "Noooo...he can't be a senior. Really? He's a senior, already??" Even my husband argued with me later about it. "Ummm...I think his mom would know whether or not he's a senior," I counter-argued (conveniently failing to mention my own disbelief from earlier).

So, apparently, the old saying is true: time DOES fly!

Here's a little sneak peek from Alex (#2)'s senior photo shoot in downtown Wichita Falls, Texas.

This is one of my favorite locations to shoot at in downtown Wichita Falls. It used to be a great little hidden spot, until they tore down the building next door. Sadly, I don't think it's much of a secret, anymore. Shucks.

Funny story: So, we wanted to get a few pics on the train tracks. We drove to a spot where we wouldn't have to worry about traffic....you know, cars constantly driving over the tracks. We didn't have to worry about any cars, but we did have to worry about a train! Confession: I had a really hard time getting a good shot because I was so shaky (I tend to get like that at the end of a long day...plus, I hadn't eaten dinner yet) and because I was frantically trying to get all the shots I needed before the train got too close. Alex wisely mentioned that if we didn't get our vehicles back across the tracks, we might get stuck on the other side (with no exit route). You can't see it in this picture, but there's a big white light right behind his head from the oncoming train! (By the way, wasn't that fabulous backlighting?)

Con"grad"ulations on your senior year, Alex!

Sweet Cheeks

Meet Colbie, one of the newest kids on the block in the Leedey area with dimples to die for! I did big brother Connor's two year session a couple of weeks ago and we recently got together for a quick session with Lil' Miss Sweet Cheeks, too.

Can I tell you how happy I was to be able to break out the old antique buggy?

Can you believe those eyes?

The answer is "no"--she can not sit up on her own. She's only a little over a month old (I think...I'm quickly losing track of time these days). But she is remarkably strong, her mom was remarkably helpful and I was remarkably quick to get the shot--lol!

Megan Franks of Four Seasons Photography specializes in on-location photography for babies and children in western Oklahoma including Elk City, Hammon, Leedey, Camargo, Vici, Cheyenne, Clinton and more.

Little Miss Sunshine?

The thing with kids--especially babies--is that you just never know what kind of mood they are going to be in. They get hungry/sick/tired at the most inconveinient times for their parents....like when you've scheduled a portrait session. lol! How well do I know! My kids are the exact same way.


Lily was having an off day for some reason. She's usually pretty smiley according to Mom, but on the day of our session, it was more like...

Not even the bright colored walls could chase the blues away!

Meanwhile, big bro Toby showed us how it's done.

She looks like she's considering a smile....

Toby kept the smiles comin' (it might have been with a little bribery--mom was taking him to White Water Bay the next day) ; )

Maybe she was checking him out for some tips...




Yay! One toothy grin!

Meet Brin's Family

You remember Brin from the session I posted earlier this week....now meet her family!

We went on an "adventure" in the country...

actually it was around Camargo where Brin's dad grew up.

Awww...a mommy/daughter moment in the sunflowers.

Now meet the incredible smiling dog, Rocky! I love Corgi dogs.

They are so cute! And seriously, he really does look like he's smiling!

On a side note, how do you like our famous Oklahoma red dirt?

When foreigners visit our state, they sometimes bottle it up to take home

(just like we like to steal the white sand off of your beaches, Florida--lol!).

These guys were a photographer's dream--so photogenic!

Welcome to our neck of the woods!

When I said we went on an adventure in the country, I meant it.

This is the car from the photo I posted last night.

It had a bit of a "tree problem." It's a wonder we made it out without getting snake bitten, getting tangled in barbed wire fence or contracting tetanus (there were plenty of boards with old, rusty nails) but we managed!

Family Togetherness

Hold on to your seats because the next two images have now become two of my all-time favorites!

*Gasp!* See??? Isn't it beautiful?? Kenlee LOVES her animals...I mean she really L-O-V-E-S them, so I think this shot speaks volumes to that end. At least it does to me.







Then again...maybe this one does! A beautiful horse (that totally looked like Bandy Bo Jay--the horse I had at Kenlee's age) and a beautiful girl with killer dimples and blue eyes... I don't know if I could choose between the two if I had to!




But let's not forget little bro. I caught Tate hanging out by the pond near the end of the session. Barefoot boys sitting by a pond...if there's not a country song with those lyrics, someone needs to write one! :)






What a beautiful family and a beautiful evening! It was an overcast day, but it was cool and the wind was still (the pond was absolutely reflective). That is a rare thing in June in western Oklahoma, my friends!



The blue shirts were absolutely the perfect color choice! For those of you who struggle to break out of the "white shirts + blue jeans" box when preparing for family photos, remember: the key is not to match exact colors, but rather have everyone wear something in the same color family.

Have I ever told you how much I adore old red barns. What's not to love???




Toye & Cody were celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary this year.

Her gift request? Family portraits!

Now, that's my kind of gift!

When the Toye contacted me about family photos, she asked, "Do you have much experience photographing animals?" I admitted that I have done several photo sessions that incorporated animals though I couldn't exactly claim it as my specialty. "Good, "she said, "because we're hoping to get a picture with my family, our three horses and several dogs." We were able to contain the horses long enough for a family photo, but the dogs were running circles around us--lol!

One last sweet image--four generations of men. Gotta love that!

Thanks so much for the wonderful privilege of photographing your beautiful family!