Today I ventured out with my friend, Kim. She’s a photographer in the Cypress area as well and we were both needing some much needed location scouting, photo taking and friendly chit-chat. I just love networking with other photographers and helping each other grow in our businesses. But more than that, I love the friends that I make because of our common love of photography.
Here are just a few of what I saw while we were in this small Texas town. There are more on my flickr page!
I don’t know what it is about a new year that brings so much hope. I mean, why can’t we make these resolutions in the middle of the year? Why wait? Maybe it’s an “official” closing of a chapter and beginning of another. Maybe it’s just easy to “finish it out”. This year, I’m not going to wait. I’m ready to be in it to win it.
The last few days of 2009 had me thinking deep thoughts. I’m currently reading a book by Francis Chan called “Crazy Love”. Wow. What an eye-opener this book has been. I don’t know how I came across it but I am very glad I did. In it, Francis explains how deeply our God loves us, how amazing it is that He wants to love us, and what we are to do for Him, how we are to love for Him. Now, to some of you, it may seem like second nature. But growing up Catholic, I don’t think I ever really understood what it is that I am meant to do. It sounds all philosophical, but really it’s so simple. God, the creator of creation, wants me to love more. He made me to love. He made me to love Him. He didn’t make me to just go out and do good, be kind, be mediocre, or average or nice enough…He did not make me to be lukewarm. I have been struggling in a place of not knowing what to do or how to be. I have felt this whole year that I needed to do more, to be something more. If you’re in a place in your faith where you don’t know what is next, I highly recommend this book. It will help open your eyes and get you thinking more of what God’s intentions are for you.
I also have spent a few hours this week listening to podcasts by a fellow photographer. I met him briefly last spring at a workshop that he’d held here in Houston. I didn’t register for the workshop, but was sent an email that Dane Sanders was going to be in town and was holding a free talk about photography. I called my good friend Kim up to see if she wanted to go and check him out. I’d known about Dane through various online forums. One thing that drew me to him was that he is a man of faith. But not only that, he is living it. How refreshing. Dane hosts weekly video streams where he shares inspiration for photographers to move forward, grow their business. The topic of the discussion I went to was about me, not about him. I find this so refreshing because in a land of photographers marketing to photographers, it is very rare that a photographer teaches you to see your vision, to be who and what you want to be, that the client is essentially buying you. So often, photographers holding workshops are selling themselves, what they do, how they do it. More recently, one of Dane’s guest speakers(who happens to coach Christian pastors and leaders) discussed that we need to be all in. Yet, another eye-opener. There have been many times where I felt that I didn’t want to do something with my business, I would be afraid to fail or I would be lazy. I have a friend who has been sort of coaching me with business decisions. I was discussing product offerings for 2010 and I told him that I wasn’t interested in providing something because it was too much work to do…again, another situation where I was not “all in”. So, add all this to the book I’m reading…whew, talk about revelation.
I follow a photography blog that is chock full of inspiration. Artists, writers, women who love to create. There is a project they talk about called “The One Word Project”. Essentially, you choose a word that will be your mantra, a bit of a focused resolution, if you will. So in having these experiences listed above, paired with experiences from all of last year, in faith, life, business and love, my One Word for 2010 is “Discover”. I want to discover a deeper relationship with God. I want to discover His plan for my business and family. I want to discover a deep understanding of who I am. I want to discover love and new friendships. So, here’s to you, 2010. I welcome you with open arms.
January 10, 2010 - 4:38 pm - Wow Christie! I never knew you were so wise. I read you whole blog and I'm very impressed - with the photos as well as your heart.
January 3, 2010 - 9:41 am - Awe, thank you both so much! :)
January 2, 2010 - 10:49 pm - Absolutely one of the most inspiring things I have read in a very long time, Christie! Thanks for being so transparent, I really got a lot out of reading this post. I believe my word for the year is leap, as evidenced by changing the title of my blog.
January 2, 2010 - 5:43 pm - Christie, You are inspiring!! Love your word for 2010!! Love you!
I can’t believe there are only 8 days left in 2009. This year went by so fast. I never imagined that time would pass so fast when you get older. But it does. This year was a learning year for me. An amazing one. I’ve grown relationships with amazing new friends. I’ve been challenged far more than ever before. I’ve watched my children grow another year older and all the wonder that ecompasses that. There have been good times and bad times. And with all this, I finally feel like I “get it”. I understand what I am supposed to be doing.
Yesterday was Andre’s birthday. I sat for a moment and just looked at him. How could this be? How can he be six? Wasn’t he just born? Didn’t I just bring him home? Now he’s a big boy. He’s so expressive and so happy. He’s kind-hearted and caring (He gave me a gift last night. He got a few of his favorite books and put them in a gift bag for me). And he’s completely different than his brother and sister.
We decided this year that we weren’t going to have big birthday parties or a big Christmas. It’s been such a challenge to teach my children grace, humility, understanding…Especially after years of indulging them. It was my fault. I wanted them to have everything. But where I went wrong was that “everything” can’t be found in toys, games, and items that can be bought. Everything can only be found in Him. And so we spent Andre’s birthday as a family. We went to breakfast at his favorite breakfast place (IHOP), then we followed that with a free game of put-put at one of the county parks (where I was able to enjoy photographing some nature). We came home and gave him his one gift (a bike ramp he’d written on his list to Santa) and he and his older brother spent the afternoon playing on that. I asked him at the end of the day if he had fun, and he wrapped his arms around me and said that it was awesome. Afterall, what they really want is us, and spending their time with us.
I’m thank ful for having the opportunity to be her mommy. For her smile and her joy. For her emotion that she pours into everything all the time. For her snuggles, her toes, her warmth, her sweetness and tenderness. For being able to know what mommying a girl is like, for her creativeness and her make believe. I’m thankful for her.
Juliana and I went shopping this week for some new fancy clothes 
She wanted to put them on as soon as we got home and prance around. I haven’t taken real photos of her in so long that I decided that if I could get her out the door, I’d be able to shoot a little. She wanted everything to do with it for all of 5 minutes…maybe less. I’d totally forgotten that photographing your own kids can be super stressful!
I just love her sweet little personality. She makes believe and believes in everything. She makes me stop, slow down, and enjoy the moment. I recently read the book “A Million Miles in a Thousand Years” by Donald Miller. It moved me so much and has made me really concentrate and think about sharing a life with my kids and family and what I want them to remember about their childhood. I highly suggest this book!
what an ugly couple of days the weather has brought us, huh? I was able to find some beauty in it
Fall is here (though, with the muggy weather this week you really wouldn’t know it), in my heart anyway With a new season brings new life: harvests, celebrations, new blog looks.
I’m making it a goal to post here every other day (at least). Starting today. Ready. Steady. Go!
The tree, what a difficult image to edit. I shot intentionally to capture sun flare and using manual white balance it was reading very warm. But I love the warmth of it. I also love the sun, seeming as though it’s just bursting out from behind the limbs, seeming to say, “embrace me”. I feel that’s what God is doing in my life right now. Bursting out from almost everyone I talk to asking me to embrace Him. In the last few months, I’ve surrounded myself by people who are faithful. Is it coincidence that almost anyone I talk to on a daily basis now seems to have a relationship with Him? Is He surrounding me with these people so that I may come closer to him?
October 6, 2009 - 1:01 pm - Love these :) You are amazing!!!
What a dreary couple of days it’s been. But I welcome it with open arms. The windows are open, fall foods are simmering and fall candles are burning. It’s becoming my most favorite time of year!
With all the cool and crazy weather, paired with going back to school, we’ve been a bit sick over here. It’s so hard having the kids sick, but when I am too, it’s even more difficult. Add the weather to the mix and I just want to crawl in bed and snuggle.
The above image was photographed by Kris Evans and edited by me:)
Recently I find myself thinking back to the days before I owned my own business. Before the client obligations, before the endless editing, before hours spent at the computer. Back when it was just me and them. Us. Doing not much of anything except living. I miss those days.
Don’t get me wrong, friends. I love capturing moments for you. It’s in my blood to do so. It’s a passion that helps to ignite my soul and with you giving me the opportunity, I really have endless options to seek, capture and be inspired by. Afterall, my own children only let me do it to them every so often. So even when I long for the days to sit back and do just nothing, I know that it will never be again.
I have however decided to limit my sessions, allowing me to have less work and more living. I want to explore more, to learn more, to see more and to do more. The only way I see myself doing that is to cut back on the number of sessions. don’t worry, I’ll always be here and I’ll never turn you down it just might take longer to get in.
Because what matters most is them, us and Him. Doing things to help our family grow stronger, to help our faith grow stronger and to serve God.
Sometimes I feel as though I am going 100 mph, but not necessarily in the right direction. Right now is one of those times. Gearing up for Fall and all that it encompasses: Festivals, PTO duties, business marketing, kids homework. I have to remind myself that while I’m busy making a living, I need to remember to make a life.
Today on the way back from Brenham for a client shoot, the clouds separated after a long dark rain. Hoping that I might capture something, I pressed my camera to my window while driving 75 down the highway. I wonder what other beauty I might have seen had I pulled over for a minute.
© 2010 {My Life} Behind The Camera ProPhoto Blog by NetRivet
by Christie
no comments
leave a lovenote link to this post email a friend