Sprouting Dream Seeds!

I think life is worth remembering. If we do not write our experiences and feelings down, time has a way of making them vanish. I hope to encourage you with this thought. I started my blog in secret. I really didn't think anyone would be interested in anything I had to say. I blogged day after day just for me. My idea was that one day my children and family will have my simple thoughts and images to carry on. With each passing day's blog adventure, I became a bit more free. Then, little by little I began to share my blog address. Not to mention Mama shared my blog address for me too! :)

Today, I have people who signed up on my followers list! Do you know how thrilling that is for me?  I thought that there might be someone else who might be interested in writing their own blog or begin their own adventure in journaling their life.  Here was my comment of encouragement to someone special who is starting a new thing.  I wrote,  "...Blogging has somehow been theraputic for me. I think that each person has a creative voice inside just waiting to bust out. Writing, photography, or any artistic outlet is a wonderful way to acknowledge and recognize your own creative self. Sometimes our creative voices get pushed so far down inside that we can hardly hear their heartbeat. But, that heartbeat keeps pumping & waiting until the time is right for you to share the hidden heartbeat with the world. Freedom is when you drum up the courage to step out past the vulnerability, shyness and fear of exposing too much. Each step outside of your comfort zone, is a step towards knowledge and acceptance of who you are and who you will become! Isn't that exciting?"

So, maybe you don't give a hill o' beans about blogging or photography or any of my interests...! But, I bet you have a dream seed planted inside your heart that is ready to sprout. Yeah? Then, do something. Do a little something. Step a toe into the shallow end. Gain courage to wade in a little deeper...before you know it, you will dive in to your life adventure and become free!

Happy Independence Day Everyone!

*If you want to see me as a Leaping Lizard going all out and becoming free, check out this post. Notice: This post was only Day 20 of my 365 adventure! Freedom comes faster when you just jump in with both feet! http://michellesibleyphotopage.blogspot.com/2010/01/day-20-of-365-wwwjump.html.

Today's Challenge was Churches

I had my camera with me today as Terry and I were on our way to dinner and a movie. Earlier, I had mentioned to him that the photo challenge theme today was churches. We made a detour swing around the antique village in Denham Springs. I asked him why he made a block that was out of the way. He said, 'I thought you might want to get a picture of this church.' How sweet of him! He parked his truck along the street so that I could hop out and take a quick snap of the exterior of the oldest church in Denham Springs. Just about the same time, a lady pulled up and rolled her window down. She called to me and asked if I wanted to come see the inside! Perfect timing! I asked Terry to park and come in with me. She was so nice. She happened to be coming to the church to put out song books voluntarily. She gave me all the time I needed inside the church. We thanked her and went on our way after I got the shots I wanted. Of course, I could have spent a long time picking up on the small details. But, I figured I didn't want to wear out my welcome. With the few wide shots I made, I hoped that I had captured the essence of this historic traditional Methodist Church.

Pause Playlist Music. I have captioned the little bit of information that I gathered from the nice lady.

This free picture slideshow personalized with Smilebox

Slideshow of Michael & Kristin's Wedding Day!

Whew!  I just finished putting together my wedding dvd slideshow!  Then, I made a smilebox for viewing on the internet.  I hope you enjoy my "beauties" and wonderful memories of a gorgeous bride, groom and their wedding day!

This photo slideshow personalized with Smilebox

Make a photo album

Images from Last Night's Dance Recital

My daughters, both, attended Jean Leigh Academy of Dance when they were younger.  I also took an adult tap class.  I can not tell you what kind of love and passion I have had for dance ALL of my life.  I remember when I was a tiny girl, I would get up on my tippy toes and prance around with my arms over my head.  In my imagination, I was a graceful ballerina.  I do not think there were any formal dance studios close to my home when I was little.  Also, very vivid in my memory, I picture myself as a junior high girl with an infatuation for ballet.  I used to study the images of ballet poses in books and try to emulate the posture and strength of the ballerina I admired so.  But, still no formal training available.   (..I was a good bowler though ... well, that is another story for another day....)  I have loved music and dancing as long as I can remember.  My mom says that I would always make the family late to leave home.  She said she knew I was not getting ready quickly enough because all she could hear outside my bedroom door was finger snaps!   :)  I was in there dancing and not getting dressed as I was supposed to. 

So, when I had two daughters, you know I was going to offer them the opportunity to join a dance class.  Fortunately, former LSU Golden Girl and Dance Teacher Extraordinair, Diana Jones opened a dance studio in my hometown.  I signed the girls up for ballet, tap and jazz.  They enjoyed dance.  Kayla danced there for 10 years.   Whereas, Karmyn danced until she became very involved in sports.  Throughout the years, I always looked forward to the first class dance recital that Diana put together.  It was a bit of hometown Broadway for me!  Her studio has been acknowledged as a nationally award winning Dance Company.

This year, I decided I wanted to try to take some pictures of the amazing talent showcased in Jean Leigh's dance recital.  Here are a quick few that I grabbed for this short smilebox: 
Link to Jean Leigh Studio Website: http://www.jeanleighdance.com/

Pause Playlist then press play.

Customize a picture slideshow

Photo Tip for Inspiration,

Yesterday, I blogged about a meeting that I had with a couple photog friends, Melissa and Julie.  They wanted a few pointers and tips so here is one of my favorite tips.  I enjoy looking at Brides magazines and can pour over the images for hours.  There is a wealth of inspiration just in studying the lighting, angle, perspective and poses that made an image successful enough to get published in a national magazine.  As my bridal shoot with Kristin began, Norma (bride's mom) asked me how she could be helpful.  Oh, goodie I thought...there is something that I would looove for Norma to do for me.  Hold that thought...,

Before Kristin and Norma arrived, I was glancing through a couple of my bridal magazines that I found in my car.  As I noticed what I considered winning shots, I dogeared the pages throughout and stashed the magazines in my shoot sack.  Then, my bride and mom showed up and I found a glorious place for her to stand.  The backdrop was an historic plantation homesite.  My own sweet mama came along in order to assist & hold the bounce reflector for me. So, Norma asked, "How can I help?"  Here is the point where I got the idea to take Norma up on her generous offer to help.  I referred to the dogeared magazine in my shoot sack and asked her to tear out those pages.  She questioned me, "Just tear them out?"  :)  yep!,..."Just tear them out...!"  And, she did.  After we had been on location for over an hour, I turned to Norma and asked her to grab those tear sheets for me.  I showed Kristin a few of the images that I had found inspiring earlier.   I asked her if she would like to try to replicate the pose?  Sure, she said!  Seeing an example made it easy for her to understand the sort of creative expression that I was going for.  I found a wonderful backdrop and together, Kristin and I came up with a winning interpretation of the magazine image with our own twist.

I hope this photo tip helps. When you need a shot of inspiration, use a tear sheet.  My mom captured these images of me at work on a bridal photo shoot and doing what I love.  Looks like Norma is taking a break from tearing sheets to glance up and get a sneaky peak of how gorgeous her daughter is 'all in white'!  Priceless! 

                                    *Both Photos in this post taken by:  Betty Slaton

Meeting with fellow wedding photogs at Whistle Stop!

Here we are!  That is Melissa Roe on the left and Julie Pease to my right.  Aren't they beautiful?!  Before we departed, I asked a young lady that worked at the coffee shop to take this picture.  We had a joyful time of sharing and encouraging each other in our photography quest.  You might remember Melissa.  I had introduced her in an earlier post.  She was my 2nd shooter at Kristin and Michael's wedding.  I must say, she did a jam up job helping me with the wedding.  Melissa is so very attentive and instinctual about what needs to be done next.  She is a great photographer who absorbs everything like a sponge.   She had asked me if she could shadow me!  I was thrilled.  She didn't have to twist my arm.  I was very happy to have her by my side.  The images she captured were very beautiful just like her radiant personality.  I heard from Krisitin's mom who said that they loved both of us and were so very pleased that we were their family photographers at her daughter's wedding.  

Melissa set up this meeting at Whistle Stop Coffee Shop.  She and her friend Julie wanted to get together with me and 'pick my brain' about the wedding photography biz.  I don't know if there was much to pick, but, I was more than happy to meet with them.  Julie is a sweetheart and a half!  Her personality is so very kind, gentle and ladylike.  Both of these ladies are fine Christian women who have been volunteering their services at their church.  I know that their fellow congregation members have been greatly blessed by their photography.  Julie has been commissioned for future weddings and wanted to ask me some practical question such as pricing structure, etc.  She and Melissa have worked together in past weddings and family photo shoots.  It was so fun getting together with people who have a passion for photography.  In fact, I had already been thinking about starting a forum for local photographers to get together.  If you live in the Baton Rouge or Livingston Parish area and would like to join us in future meet-ups, send me an e-mail or comment.  For today's meeting, I brought along a few of my ideas to share that work well for me.  They took notes and we all  encouraged each other in the industry.  This was a great meeting of the minds and we promised each other that we were going to do it again!  

Coming soon in a later post... a few photo tips that I was able to share with them today!  I will put something together perhaps for post tomorrow.  Right now, I need to get ready to go to a dance recital that I am going to photograph!  Yay! 

Karmyn's Bday!

We celebrated Karmyn's 20th birthday a couple days late. She turned 20 the day of the Wedding that I had to photograph. She also worked that day so we decided to do her birthday cake on Monday because Father's Day was Sunday. As we were coming home Sunday night from visiting with her PawPaw, I told her it that we were making tomorrow "Karmyn day!" We went to get mani-pedi's together. I chose bright turquoise green for the toes and she chose a super neon pink for our fingernails. We got matching colors because we planned to go on a 'Girl's Day' shopping spree for her birthday. Also, she chose her favorite meal. She loves my spaghetti (Ragu Chunky...shhh! hehee...). So, I fixed a big pot of spaghetti, salad & Texas Toast. Oh, soooo easy & ordinary but if it makes her happy, her birthday dinner wish is my command! Our birthday cake tradition is homemade Funfetti Cake with Rainbow Chip frosting. It really is delicious. I started making that particular cake for the girls when they were little and it is now something they expect. They are still my little girls. I love it.

.

I have more to post but Big Daddy is waiting in the truck....Post To be continued .... uh oh, I'm in trouble if he honks again. BRB!

ok. So, I'm back home now to finish my blog post. We had to go return some Redbox flicks before the deadline. Then, he wanted to go to Sonic to get an extra long cheese coney, onion rings and oreo blast!

Did that...So, back to the B-day story. "Now, where was I?" IDK. Anyway, I have a video clip of Karmyn's bday candles. I am going to try to post it. Sometimes I have trouble with uploading directly to blogger. It was pretty funny and we sound so countryfied! haha...I'll work on it.