Spreading the Love

another from The Robin's Nest

I have been looking at my San Antonio Wedding Guide (which I plan to be in soon) and I just continue to get excited about shooting weddings. I can't wait to capture all those memories and all the love.(Giving myself a mental hug.) I can't wait to meet all the new people and get to know them and listen to all their dreams. To become apart of their lives in a special way and to be with them on such a special day. I think this occupation is odd and special because not that many people get to be there when people's live change so drastically.  The only other occupation I can think of ( I know there are more) is someone helping a woman give birth. I can tell you from experience that is a special day. Still, to be in a position where I get to not only document love but display it and give it to others to display is like multiplying love! How awesome!(I hope you can tell I am excited because if you can't I am.) The lord has truly blessed me and I am trying not to cry (I hate crying but the older I get the more it seems to happen). So even though people may give up on love or think marriage is for the birds (for the Birds? What?) I know that their are many more out their being blessed and gaining joy every day from being loved and taking the contentment to love someone for the rest of their lives. I will end this post with these famous words "all we need is love." See you Monday

Peace

Looking forward

pic of the day designs by The robin's nest

Hello Everyone, I have a  lady (the lady's name is Beth) helping me with my blog so hopeful it will reflect my style. (Which is clean uncluttered but real and in the moment.) So I haven't met her but she is really helpful and patient with me. (not that I am a drama queen or anything) The one thing I am looking forward to doing (other than getting a new look to this blog) is to be able take pictures of her and her hubby. I enjoy capturing love and to also make wonderful pictures and I think roaming around San Antonio with my camera and a couple in love is a great way to spend a day. So I guess you will get to see both of our work. Her work as a  designer/programmer (I am not sure which and I don't want to stick too many words onto what she does) and my work of her and her love. Well this post is just going to be a short and sweet one. I pray that everyone will be well until the next time we meet.

Peace

P.S. I think I put the P.S. in the wrong place the last time...Ha Ha well I got it right this time

Starting Over

random picture of the day...my wedding ring

So I think I have been going about this Blogger thing all wrong. I was watching Jasmine Star on Creative Live. (To let all of you know Jasmine Star is a super cool photographer based in LA and Creative Live is FREE...live online education. If you miss a class you can always purchase it.) So I was watching the Creative Live class for wedding photographers lead by Jasmine Star and she was speaking about blogging. She expressed the fact that you should be transparent on your blogs. Well I haven't really. I find it difficult to just lay it all out there but I will give it a go. She had some great points and if you are a wedding photographer or a photographer in general I would recommend you watching the feed. She says she is annoying but I think she is insightful and fun to watch. I have been to some presentations where you know speaking isn't that person's forte and it is really painful to watch. This isn't one of those situations. (is that a sentence? I check and computer says "yes")

I am not a super out going person but I am a lot better than I used to be. I would credit God for giving me a husband from a family of eight; his family has three boys, three girls, three dogs, one cat, one turtle, and a mom and a dad. (forgive me if I used that semicolon wrong) I come from a family of four; me, sister, mom, dad (we used to have fish). My family has hermit like tendencies (not my dad) so it was super painful to be thrown in the mix of a large family. I would run away and call my mother just for an excuse to get away. When I am in awkward situation I never know what to do with myself. I feel like my body is going to fly away. Still I am good at ACTING (as I hit my chest like Kung Fu Joe off of I Gonna Get You Sucka...If you don't know Google it)  like I am not super uncomfortable and I don't think anyone notices. I also have gotten used to social situations ( a group of teenage girls staring at you blankly helps) and it is not as difficult anymore. I don't shy away like I used to. I think it is amazing what God is making me into and what He is doing for me.  Ok enough about me for today I will see you guys tomorrow.

P.S. If you are a photographer in the San Antonio area and you aren't a crazy killer or a sane killer let me know I would love to go out a take picture together. (see what I am saying getting better!)

Peace

The Stevenson Wedding

Sometimes I go to wedding and wish I could do mine all over again and this was one of them. It was at a beautiful church in downtown San Antonio with live classical music and a gorgeous organ. But what was more beautiful was the love between the bride and groom. So enough of my squawking for right now lets look at the pictures.

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Uncorked for the Cure

Two week ago my heroic husband stood in my place as a photographer for the Uncorked for the Cure benefit for Cystic Fibrosis. I had come down (and when I say down I mean way down) with a stomach virus. Luckily my husband also has an art degree and knows how to use a camera so he went and took great picture at the Benefit being held at the Audi in San Antonio. If you want to know more about Cystic Fibrosis and how you can help please check out the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation website. Here is a small sample of some picture taken at the benefit.

Giving it away

I want to give it away! I have said on my website that I want to be more of a giver than a taker and I am taking more steps to being that kind of company. So for every paying job I receive I want to give away 15% of my revenue to christian charity or cause. I am not sure what to do so if any of you reading this have any suggestions I am happy to hear them. Well I don't believe in dragging out conversations (or in this case monologues) so you have a great week and don't be afraid to drop me a line.

Chalkboard Chic: How-To Make Your Own Wedding Chalkboard

How to make your own chalkboard?! What?! I thought you said you were some kind of awesome photographer. Yes I am (thank you for the awesome part) and guess what I know how to make stuff too. That's right I am a multifaceted individual. I got the idea of a wedding chalkboard from The Knot (a very cool site indeed). I thought the ideas was cute and then I was like "I could do that." Then I thought " I can tell people how to do that!" Now that you know how I came up with the idea lets get started.
 






You will need:

1. (4) 24" in. and (4) 36" in. floor or door molding strips of your choice
2. (2) 24X36 carpenter grade plywood pine
3. paint or spray paint (for the molding and back of the boards)
4. chalkboard paint (spray or roll on)
5. paint rollers (if you aren't using spray paint)
6. chalk
7. miter box and hand saw
8. (2) chain links (this will dictate how wide the A board will stand)
9. (2) door hings
10. finishing nails make sure they don't go through the board and molding (we want to put some sweat in this but we don't want blood, just sweat and maybe some tears)
11. short round top screws for the chain
12. screws for the door hings, number and type depends on hinges (we just want them short enugh to go threw the plywood not the molding.)

Now on to making this thing

1. Paint your molding (preferably the colors at your wedding)
2. Prime the plywood with a dark colored primer
3. Paint the 24X36 plywood with the chalkboard paint. Give it about two coats or until the board is evenly coated. Allow a good hour in between each coat if you are rolling on the paint.
4. Don't forget to paint the back side of each board with your wedding colors.
5. When the paint on the chalkboard is dry lay the two chalkboards in a line and screw the hings onto the tops of them (on the underside of the board). Make sure that the ends of the boards are matched up so that you don't have a wobbly chalkboard.
6. After the paint is dry on the molding use your miter box to cut the the ends at 45 degree angels. (make sure they look like trapezoids and not diamonds or slanted rectangles.) When they are all cut they should fit together like a frame (here is a tip you can put the molding down in a rectangle and mark which way the angles should be)
7. Then nail the molding to the chalkboards
8. Since the boards are attached close them and attached the chain about half way down the sides of the boards.
9. Allow the chalkboard to cure for three days
10. Now you can take the chalkboard to your reception and allow everyone to admire your handy work

Let me know how you used your chalkboard! Please send me pictures so I can put them on my Facebook page.