Life and Pictures

In Memorial

2011-07-10T12:59:00.002-05:00

Lost my Snowy on Friday. She was about 13 years old. She was my first dog as an adult, Andrew got her for me for a Christmas present. She was perfect! I miss her a lot, but she's not miserable anymore, struggling to breathe, struggling to get around, in pain from arthritis, kidneys, and fluid on her chest. Here are some of my favorite pictures:

Bob's Oil Well

2011-07-06T11:08:00.003-05:00

While waiting for the computer to finish it's task for Doanh's wedding so I can post a blog for her pictures, here's a preview of another future post. Shot a few things out in West Texas on the way home from Doanh's wedding. More of my usual old gas station stuff. I don't know why I like these so much, but I do, so there. Now you can love it too. :D

Doanh and Jonathan | Denton Wedding Photographer

2011-06-22T13:07:00.003-05:00

Here's a preview of my cousin Doanh and her new husband Jonathan. I got to go to west Texas for this and had a blast. Hope you like it, too!

Francis Family|Denton Portrait Photographer

2011-04-25T12:08:00.001-05:00

Went out with the Francis Family Saturday night, right before the torrent blew in. Here's a preview shot, should have a full post soon.

Mr. Frosty in Denton

2011-04-18T12:17:00.005-05:00

Grabbed a few shots of Mr. Frosty last night. Love driving by this place. The root beer is legendary, according to many, I personally don't care for root beer. Or licorice...or anything anise. Andrew got a malt. I tasted it. It was yummy. Now for pictures:

Bridal Show

2011-04-11T08:01:00.002-05:00

Jordan Ward Photography was contacted Friday morning to be a part of the Denton County Charity Bridal Show that took place yesterday afternoon at the Coliseum at UNT. They'd had some people drop out for family emergencies at the last minute and were trying to fill spots. It was trying, but I was able to pull everything together with loads of help from God, my husband, and many of my friends. It would not have happened if it was just me. Thanks to everyone who helped. Here's a few pics from my booth:

Arizona and New Mexico

2011-03-11T10:25:00.003-06:00

I really stink at this blogging thing. These are from September 2010 on my trip to Arizona. We stopped along the way. Had a great time. Oh, and I LOVE Santa Fe, NM.

Kady | Denton Senior Photographer

2011-01-04T10:40:00.004-06:00

Here's Kady! Isn't she gorgeous? I just love her unique sense of style. Enjoy!

Rhodes Family | Denton Family Photographer

2010-11-29T15:28:00.005-06:00

Finally, I'm getting around to posting these! This is my brother and his little family. Aren't they the cutest ever? And my sister-in-law is just gorgeous. Anyway, I'm really bad with this blogging thing. I'm working on it, though.

Packaging | Denton Portrait Photographer

2010-10-21T11:14:00.002-05:00

Woohoo! I finally got around to photographing the packaging for discs for Jordan Ward Photography. Don't you love it? I love it. The very awesome Blue Door Paperie brought it into reality. And I just love love love those labels! Lindsay did a great job designing them. There's another sticker, too, with a different design that we can use on our info packets. I'll have to remember to take a picture of those also. And if you didn't know already, Blue Door Paperie does all kinds of things, like wedding invitations (we offer their photo invitations in our wedding packages), Christmas cards, labels, stickers, brochures, save the date cards, note cards, etc. Check them out in the links above, and click here for the blog.

Rhodes Family|Portrait Photographer

2010-10-10T15:10:00.002-05:00

This is a preview for my brother and his beautiful family. Had a great shoot this morning and got some great family time in. Don't you just love the twins?

Laura | Denton Portrait Photographer

2010-09-16T10:58:00.004-05:00

This is my friend Laura, whom I've known forever. She's gonna be famous! I've already seen her on TV on the show "The Good Guys." I know she's got more lined up and she's full of the acting talent. We did some head shots along with our portrait shoot, but these were my faves. I might post some headshots another time. Enjoy!

Chance and Alyssa|Gainesville Wedding Photographer

2010-08-30T17:36:00.009-05:00

It was my great privilege to photograph Chance and Alyssa's wedding at the end of July. I had a great time working with them. Alyssa is just plain gorgeous and sweet as pie, and Chance was as laid back and warm as they come. Here's some images from our post-wedding shoot that I just love. Hopefully, I'll have a wedding story post to go with this tomorrow. We will see.

Route 66, Texas

2010-08-13T10:19:00.001-05:00

These are from my photo trip in April to West Texas to shoot Route 66, or rather, what's left of it. Here's the first few. There are many. I'll post a few here and there when I don't have new stuff.

Grace's Bridals

2010-08-09T14:01:00.002-05:00

Here's the full post for Grace's Bridal photos. These were my faves:

Check out Blue Door Paperie!

2010-08-02T16:32:00.002-05:00

I'm in the process of ordering some awesomely coolio paper goods for packaging prints and CDs. I've been working with Lindsay at Blue Door Paperie here in Denton and her work is fantastic! She was able to nail down what we wanted when we didn't even know what we wanted! Give her a shout for whatever, note cards, stickers, wedding invites, etc.

Chance and Alyssa Teaser

2010-07-28T09:51:00.000-05:00

I just love this.

Grace's Bridals

2010-07-27T09:21:00.003-05:00

Had an awesome bridal session recently. Here's a couple. More to come. Isn't she gorgeous?

Keeping busy

2010-07-26T11:28:00.004-05:00

Holy cow, I've been so busy! Several shoots lately, big parties, my anniversary with the hubster, birthday parties, a kink in my back...I'm pooped. Things have hopefully come to more of a halt and I can get a little more work done; also, my back is "back" to normal. Get it? See whut I did there? LOL.

It's really hard having a flexible schedule and owning your own business. On the days that I can work, it's easy for something to come up and I very quickly push business aside to go help so and so, or catchup on housework, or whatever, because I'm going to be working the next day. Then something else manages to come up or I remember I already had an appointment for X, and then have to push work off again. Sometimes, that puts me a little behind, like lately. I've been behind because of added events this month. This week, I'm resolved to say no, and not over schedule, and spend my work time actually working on more than just shooting and retouching.

I'm very excited to get to meet with someone at a paperie this week, tomorrow in fact. I'm looking at options for packaging portraits, both prints and CDs, and perhaps a few other paper-y things. There I go punning again. Anywhoo. No photo blog post is complete without a picture, here's one from the murder mystery dinner we had a couple weeks ago, the birthday girl herself, all dolled up for a 1920s murder at a speakeasy/casino:

Ian's Newborn pics

2010-07-07T09:52:00.005-05:00

Did a little shoot with my cousin's new baby. He's wonderful, no?

Look at these lips! So adorable.

Leath Family

2010-06-10T14:52:00.002-05:00

Pierce Family

2010-05-25T17:37:00.000-05:00

Smith Wedding Part 1

2010-01-10T16:00:00.003-06:00

I had a blast as the second shooter for the Smith wedding, helping my friend Eleonore, last November. Their wedding was gorgeous, and the bride was a blast to work with. Here's my faves:

Smith Wedding Part 2

2010-01-10T15:54:00.003-06:00

Smith Wedding Part 3

2010-01-10T15:35:00.004-06:00

Pierce kiddos

2010-01-10T15:31:00.003-06:00

I'm so very behind in updating my blog. I think Autumn tried to kill me a little. I'll have a few posts today.

Kelly Lynch

2009-09-09T17:34:00.002-05:00

This is my friend Kelly. We did a shoot a couple weeks ago and these were some of my faves. Isn't she so pretty?

2009-08-14T17:04:00.000-05:00

Some Black and Whites

2009-07-06T09:50:00.002-05:00

LeBlanc Wedding Sneak Peek

2009-05-25T12:31:00.002-05:00

I had a great time shooting this wedding of my friend Katie. These are some of my favorites. More to come later.

Some things I want to frame

2009-05-14T15:18:00.001-05:00

2009-03-23T10:31:00.002-05:00

Spring Special!

2009-03-12T17:33:00.003-05:00

Hey, everyone! I just wanted to let you readers know that Jordan Ward Photography is offering a great deal on portraits now until May 31, 2009. Book any portrait session by May 31, and save 50% on your session fee and receive a free 5x7! That's a savings of $90, what a bargain! Call me at 940-597-3151 or Leah at 940-368-3038 to book.

If you need more information, check out our website by clicking here.

Andrew, for Film Noir assignment

2009-03-05T21:37:00.002-06:00

Classic Portraits of Mom

2009-02-20T10:02:00.003-06:00

Environmental Portraits

2009-02-20T09:54:00.004-06:00

Random Practice Portraits

2009-01-24T09:53:00.005-06:00

Leath family, my faves

2008-12-12T14:26:00.002-06:00

Semester project, "Reflections," my best 5 of 10

2008-12-09T22:55:00.001-06:00

2008-11-25T14:18:00.000-06:00

these are old, but meh. i like them.

More from Ottawa--some of my faves.

2008-10-29T09:36:00.000-05:00

Rideau Canal that takes boats from the river you see at the farthest point, and moves them to another river.

This is the Courts building, and the walkway along the Ottawa River; the walkway runs behind Parliament Hill and goes all along the river for a long stretch...it's gorgeous.

Parliament building number 2.

Rideau canal from the opposite view. The building on the left is the Chateau Laurier, where the Queen stays when she visits Parliament, which buildings are across the canal from the Chateau.

Inside the main Parliament building, this is their Rotunda.

Francis Fam Alts

2008-10-10T10:21:00.001-05:00

2 more from ottawa

2008-09-29T11:07:00.000-05:00

More from Ottawa

2008-09-29T11:02:00.000-05:00

A shot from Hawai'i, about a year ago.

2008-09-25T10:32:00.000-05:00

When I took this, I was thinking about how the girls a few minutes prior had been running in and out of the water, screaming with delight. They were so unaware of how powerful and dangerous the ocean can be. I likened it to God. This is what He means when He talks about coming to Him as little children, I think. Sometimes, I'm thinking to hard about "what He could do to me," that I don't come to Him with trust. I'm afraid of the hard, and the painful, so I avoid Him, even when it's killing me. So, that's the significance of this photo, for me.

I was tagged

2008-09-23T10:25:00.000-05:00

A- Attached or Single? -Attached - Married
B- Best Friend(s): Andrew, my spouse.
C- Cake or Pie: cake, of the chocolate variety, with chocolate frosting...unless it's my mom's cheese pie.
D- Drink of Choice: Glass bottled Mexican cokes.
E- Essential Item: Burt's Bee's chapstick and Inhaler
F- Favorite Color: Right now, I'm so into teal. I've loved it for a long time, but it's back in clothes and such.
G- Gummi Bears or Worms: Gummi bears
H- Hometown: Duncanville, TX
I- Indulgence: yes, regularly.
J- January or February: February--dead of winter, sure to be cold for a change, and often, we get snow.
K- Kids: Would like some, but God's got His own schedule.
L- Life, for me, is incomplete without: Jesus.
M- Marriage Date: July 19, 1997
N- Number of Siblings: 1 and 1/2 brothers. (brother #2 is from Dad's marriage #2)
O- Oranges or Apples? These days, Oranges. I'm off apples having become tired of them.
P- Phobia/Fears: Snakes.
Q- Favorite Quote: "Am I bovvered?"
R- Reasons to smile: Crisp fall days, God's goodness, nieces and nephews, not in that order.
S- Season: Fall, always fall, but the kind of fall they have up north with air cold enough for jackets and sweaters, hats and scarves, and colorful leaves.
T- Tag Ten: umm, I don't think I have ten, and the few I have may have already done this, but here we go: Caroline, Leah, Josh McFall, Maggie, Emily, Ginger (who tagged me), John Piper (hahaha)....that's about all I've got.
U- Unknown fact about me: I broke into a house once.
V- Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animals: Oppress those animals, baby! Give me my steak!
W- Worst Habit: Swearing...I've been doing it since I was 2. Watch what you say around your kids, parents.
X- X-rays or Ultrasounds: Ultrasound. Quite therapeutic for injuries, and not just for looking at small babies.
Y- Your Favorite Foods: My mother's cooking of just about anything.
Z- Zodiac: Taurus. But I don't need a zodiac symbol to tell me I'm stubborn. :D

Quick read on suffering

2008-09-23T09:49:00.000-05:00

From John Piper's blog:

Recently I wrote that we seldom know the micro reasons for our sufferings, but the Bible does give us faith-sustaining macro reasons. It is good to have a way to remember some of these so that when we are suddenly afflicted, or have a chance to help others in their affliction, we can recall some of the truths God has given us to help us not lose hope.

Here is one way to remember. Five R’s (or if it helps, just pick three and try to remember them). The macro purposes of God in our sufferings include:

Repentance

Suffering is a call for us and others to turn from treasuring anything on earth above God.

Luke 13:4-5 - Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

Reliance

Suffering is a call to trust God not the life-sustaining props of the world.

2 Corinthians 1:8-9 - For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.

Righteousness

Suffering is the discipline of our loving heavenly Father so that we come to share his holiness.

Hebrews 12:6, 10-11 - The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.... He disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Reward

Suffering is working for us a great reward in heaven that will make up for every loss here a thousand-fold.

2 Corinthians 4:17 - This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.

Matthew 5:11-12 - Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.

Reminder

Suffering reminds us that God sent his Son into the world to suffer so that our suffering would not be God’s condemnation but his purification.

Philippians 3:10 - ...that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings.

Mark 10:45 - The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

okay, okay, more pics. francis fam, my faves.

2008-09-23T09:43:00.001-05:00

Blagogagogagogagogag

2008-09-17T11:21:00.000-05:00

*drools* *covets* Canon just announced this bad boy today. 21 MP, full frame DSLR, super high ISOs...*covets some more*

2008-09-15T09:34:00.000-05:00

need to post more pics. i got to do some portraits for the Francis family yesterday. we had a good time, until the ants started biting the little ones. they weren't having so much fun then. there was screaming and crying, and weeping and gnashing of teeth.

school today, andrew's going out of town to see if the hurricane damaged his parent's cabin in the woods in the middle of nowhere, near Buffalo, TX. it'll be great for him to go because he loves it down there, and he'll get some quality time with his dad; they both need time with each other. i want to go because the weather is amazing, but it'll be easier on everyone if i sit this one out. so, i'll be here, catching up on housework, et al.

this week

2008-09-08T09:57:00.000-05:00

I've got class today, work on Tuesday and Wednesday, brother's wedding on Friday/Saturday. It's gonna be a busy one.

My first run a the basil-growing failed miserably...as in the plant wilted in 12 hours. Have bought two new basil sproutlings and they're doing okay so far. It's been about 4 days. We'll see if the trend continues. Gotta run to class now.

Watson sisters (my faves, from a while ago)

2008-09-04T10:15:00.000-05:00

Last of Montreal...for now.

2008-08-27T09:52:00.000-05:00

Even more from Montreal, since blogger is being a pain.

2008-08-27T09:51:00.000-05:00

More from Montreal

2008-08-27T09:47:00.000-05:00

2008-08-26T21:51:00.001-05:00

I'm trying to grow basil and rosemary in teeny pots and i used some "living herbs" from the store and they wilted in the first, like, 24 hours. I'm kinda frustrated. This may fail.

Time to go play Rock Band.

2008-08-26T15:07:00.000-05:00

I've debated posting about my life right now. I'm in a funky place, kinda confused about a few things. I mostly want to avoid being rant-girl. I need to post more pictures....

Montreal

2008-08-20T09:20:00.000-05:00

School Project part 2

2008-08-14T09:52:00.001-05:00

School Project

2008-08-14T09:46:00.001-05:00

Selection

2008-08-12T20:11:00.000-05:00

Editing down to 10 photographs is a painful process. As long as you have plenty of photos to pick from (which I do), you can get 10 photos to turn in. I found that a challenge in the spring when I had to get 10 good prints. I didn't feel like I had a good enough variety from which to choose. This time it's different. I have too many from which I can choose! I'm down to 16, but I'm still questioning those 16. Some I picked because the prof liked them, and the rest I thought were my best. I'm just not sure what to do. I need only 10. Chucking 6 more seems impossible. I'll post the final 10 once I figure out which they are. :D

a couple from my shoot with Leah

2008-08-09T11:18:00.001-05:00

2008-08-08T11:00:00.000-05:00

i get to take more pictures at the studio today! can't wait.

had meeting with my prof about my summer project and he liked what he saw and told me i need a studio. :D if the expert says it, i must do it, right? *is smug*

let's see, what else...have brother's wedding shower tomorrow and then more family visiting. i'm hoping dad sits this one out and i only have to deal with him in a month at the wedding. i need to print a picture or two to take to my grandfather. that's about it.

2008-08-06T08:43:00.000-05:00

businessy stuffs

2008-08-04T19:01:00.000-05:00

in looking at other photography businesses online, i've discovered that i'm addicted to wedding photographers' blogs. that is all. *switches firefox tabs to a wedding blog*

2008-08-03T14:49:00.000-05:00

a business

2008-08-03T10:15:00.000-05:00

so when my profile says "i want to do photography for a living, but i'm not really "there" yet," what i really meant to say was "i'll be there in about 2 weeks."

since i've started this blog, i've now moved into the phase of starting a photography business. i have a super-cool partner and i'm ecstatic to have someone to work with. more to come on that later. it's being born right now, and many of you know that labor takes a little time. in the mean time, new pictures (see above).

2008-07-25T12:59:00.000-05:00

2008-07-24T17:26:00.000-05:00

2008-07-22T19:27:00.000-05:00

Had a studio session today. Things went way better than the first time, but that's to be expected when you're dealing with new equipment and you're nervous. Shot 200 pictures, and I need to go through and edit down to the best. I need to spend so much time on pictures this week; I'm way behind. I still owe my PaPa prints of him and his dog from early May. :O Then I need to get to work on pics for my project. I need 10 prints to turn in, and I have NO idea how many I've got. I also need to meet with my prof, who is out of town because his sister has cancer. Oh, and my mom wants prints of stuff I shot in Canada, and her birthday is Saturday...I'm thinking I'm not going to make it. We'll see. *switches back to picture stuff*

2008-07-22T10:01:00.001-05:00

2008-07-19T18:46:00.000-05:00

Welcome

2008-07-19T13:01:00.000-05:00

Welcome to my blog. We'll see how this goes. It'll probably be mostly for pictures, but I may post a few goings on.