A Love Story

It was a blessing and a priviledge to be a part of Mr. & Mrs. Lockmiller's wedding day.

The day and the marriage was bathed in prayer...

...everyone was having fun and in great spirits...

...and their love for one another was apparent to all.

Happy (one month) Anniversary, Mr. & Mrs. Lockmiller!!

This is only the beginning of a beautiful love story.

Mrs. Lockmiller!! {Ashley's Bridals}

The next time you see Mr. Lockmiller, be sure and tell him what a blessed man he is to have a bride like this:

If you think she's a beauty on the outside, you should see her heart!

I count it a true blessing that I could be a part of Ashley & Corbin's wedding day this weekend. It was absolutely wonderful: a perfect celebration of faith, hope, love and all that is best about marriage. I can't wait to share some of those images with you soon!

Paige and the Sunflowers (A Tribute to Summer)

Location: Hammon, OK

Published!

I finally received my August edition of Professional Photographer Magazine.

I wonder what could be inside?

Let's open it up to the table of contents....

Hmmm....this photo looks strangely familiar.

Is that MY NAME in bold print??? It is!

And here's my article: "Business in the Boondocks" (or how to survive as a rural photographer). It is a real honor to be featured in this magazine. It is one of the premier photography magazines in North America, and I've always wanted to be published in a "glossy" (glossy magazine)!

Oh--and many thanks to all the photographers who have sent me e-mails about the article this week. I appreciate it so much! And I really appreciate all those who have allowed me to have a business in the boondocks. Couldn't have done it without my fabulous clients!

Working Girl

I have very few photos of myself working. I guess that's because I generally work solo and whenever I do have an assistant in tow, they generally have bigger and better things to do than to photograph moi. However, my best friend, Heather, took it upon herself to capture me in action on our family vacation last week. Part of our beach vacation ritual is to always take a family photo . So, apparently, this is what I look like when I'm working...

I look pretty bossy in this one. :) "Sit here...go there..."

Scouting out a location: At home, I'm usually wearing jeans and work boots so I can climb fences and wade through mud or fields. Walking in sand is not easier, just different. Definitely out of my typical environment.

Location: South Padre Island, Texas

{Back!}

A-a-a-a-a-n-n-n-n-d-d-d-d.....we're back! I'm sitting here on this cloudy day missing the sand, sunshine and sound of the ocean waves that we left behind in South Padre Island. :(

Just wanted to let ya know that I'm now reachable by phone and e-mail again!

{Away}

I will be away July 19-26 on our annual family vacation to the beach! I will return all calls and e-mails when I return because I will be too busy working on my tan and squishing sand between my toes! :) Thanks for understanding!

The Schmidt Family

Location: Leedey, OK

{Reminder}

Just one more quick reminder for those who may not have caught my earlier announcement. I am out-of-town for the next couple of weeks and unable to schedule appointments until June 23rd. I will return all phone calls when I return. Until then, feel free to contact me via e-mail. Thanks!

More Corbin & Ashley: Engaged!

Just wanted to share a few more from Corbin & Ashley's e-session. Aren't they a cute couple? I can't wait until their wedding day...only 124 more days from today! :)

(Sometimes, photo sessions with a fiance can be hazardous to your health)

Location: Leedey, Oklahoma

{Back in a Bit}

I will be out of the office for the next two weeks. (Actually, I should have posted this earlier because I have been gone throughout this past week as well!) All phone calls will be returned when I get back. Until then, you can reach me via e-mail. Thanks!

Sneak Peek: Corbin & Ashley

Corbin & Ashley are getting hitched! They came all the way to Leedey from the great state of Texas for an e-session (engagement session). Here's just a few images to tide them over until I get the full session complete. Trust me, there are many, many more that I'll be sharing soon!

(I like to call this pose, "the happy homemaker"--lol)

Jack & Luke

I may not know much about little boys, being a Mama to two girls, but I do know one thing: these guys are ADORABLE!

Location: Elk City, OK

Preserving Family History

I'm a history buff. I'm especially a family history buff. I love hearing stories about our family's past and have even done a little genealogical digging myself. Someone once told me, "You can't know who you are unless you know where you've come from," and I believe it to be true.

That's why I was so pleased when Darla called to make an appointment for a family session with a special desire to get a special photo including herself, her mom and her grandma for a "three generations" image. For a very short time in my own life, there were five generations of women living. Now I have a better understanding of how truly unusual that is. We have a snapshot to commemorate those days, but I wish I had something more like this....

Aren't they beautiful?

Grandma + Grandkids + Great-Grands


What makes these even more special is that we were able to shoot the session on their grandparents' farm.

"You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them."

~Desmond Tutu

Location: between Cheyenne & Reydon, OK

Engaged: Slade & Jennifer

I know, I know....a "sneak peek" usually doesn't mean posting ten pictures, but it was so hard to decide! I had so many favorites from this session. Truth be told, I would have posted more, but I had to draw the line somewhere.

We met at Slade's family farm somewhere outside of Burns Flat. He didn't think there would be many good places for photographs. Little did he know...

This image, for example, was taken at an old railroad station. There actually used to be town around this station, but now it's just an empty building in the middle of a wheat field.

Slade to Megan: "We just drove by 200 hay bales and you pick these three?" What can I say....I'm a connoisseur of fine hay bales. ;)

And Jennifer doesn't even look a bit concerned about the possibility of snakes being nearby!

Wheat fields...getting closer to harvest time!

This is probably my absolute favorite because it is so natural

(& they look so happy)!

Anyone care to guess how many chiggers/mosquitoes/ticks we brought home from this lush spot? Who cares?! I love, love, LOVE the lush green; it was worth it.

I love this time of the day and its perfect, golden light.

When you marry a farm boy, you have to spend a little time on tractors. :)

I couldn't have asked for nicer weather, a nicer location or a nicer couple for this shoot. Congratulations on your engagement, Slade & Jennifer!!

Location: between Burns Flat and Cordell, OK

{More} Places I've Been

Great locations from last night's session...

Peeps

We have several new "peeps" living at our house these days. Their names are: Chirp, Chickadee and Spot.

Leedey kindergartners always hatch chicken eggs in an incubator each spring, then they beg and plead with their parents until they let them take one home. I'm thinking the other k-garten parents let me down...because I ended up with three, not one!

I actually grew up on a commercial chicken farm that housed around 24,000 chickens every eight weeks, so I have plenty of experience with these little critters. I tried to talk my youngest out of it: "they are nasty," "they chirp non-stop," "they aren't very smart," etc. etc. But it was useless. The fluffy yellowy cuteness won out and my youngest has now become a Mama Hen. She loves playing "guess which chick this is?" with me. I can't tell them apart (except for Spot who has distinguishing characteristics if you can't tell by his name), but Mama Hen can somehow.

But Mama Hen has been warned: the chicks will have to head to a farm soon! Until then, if you see a little girl "walking" her chicks in the front yard, you'll know the story! :)

Interested in a Session?

Thought I'd post a PSA (Public Service Announcement)for all those who are interested in a summer photo session.

I am currently booked until June 24th! There are actually a couple of morning session available in May (potentially), but if you are wanting to book a June or July session, please call or e-mail as soon as possible (there are limited sessions available in July).

Thanks! :)

Gone Country

I last photographed the Pollan family back in September of 2007. As you can see, a lot has changed since then. Mama's hair is shorter, Miss M is taller, they've added a new addition to the family (lil' Sugar Plum) and Daddy...well, Daddy hasn't changed much since then. :)

I posted a few of the girls in black and white on the Mother's Day post, but here's a few more....

Aren't they a beautiful family? This session was held on the ranch where they live and work. It's so nice and GREEN right now!

{One of my favorites of lil' Sugar Plum}


Now I ask you...who could resist a face like that??


Don't forget big sis, Miss M!




Aw...Daddy's girl

Sugar and spice and everything nice!

Happy Birthday to Mama Pollan who's turning 29 today (again)!! wink wink ;o)

Location: Camargo, OK

Before I was a Mom {Ode to Mothers}

Before I was a Mom,

I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.

I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.

I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,

I had never been puked on. Popped on. Chewed on. Peed on.

I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.

I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,

I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do a test.

Or give shots.

I never looked into teary eyes and cried.

I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.

I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,

I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put her down.

I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.

I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.

I never knew that I could love someone so much.

I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom.

I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.

I didn't know how special it could be to feed a hungry baby.

I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.

I didn't know something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,

I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every ten minutes to make sure all was okay.

I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much.

--author unknown

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL MOMMIES & MOMMIES-TO-BE!