My Favorite Toy When I Was a Boy!

You know as we walk through a adult life it truly is amazing at how caught up in our day to day that we become. I have always been someone that looks at today and looks at the future so much more than I ever look back, I just do not spend a lot of time reflecting in the future. My kids remind me of this from time to time and we stop and I start telling stories....This time while I was taking pictures early Monday morning I was just stopped dead in my tracks! I was on a shoot that included three of my favorite people in my whole world, one was one of my most favorite teachers that I would ever have, a teacher that did more shaping of my character than any other teacher ever did for me and she did it by suggestion not by command. I still love her with my whole heart... the other two were her completely gorgeous daughters one in my grade and the other in the grade above me.....lol we use to say that they were so pretty that they could make a stone statue cry! and above all they have personalities of pure gold, such great people. I say that to say was already in a nostalgic kind of mode, we were chatting and taking pictures. This was just a great time. now the oldest of the girls just had a son that was around 2 years old or less and was just so fun to be around that he really made the whole shoot fun, but I wanted to share a picture of him that I took that just totally made me stop in my tracks and think! When I was little my dad was a Fireman, and the very first Full Time Fireman that Perryton ever had. Than means that me and Mom took Dad supper every night and that meant that I had the free run of the firehouse!!!! and let me tell you that was a BLAST!!! lol I knew all the policemen, the dispatchers and other firemen and I LOVED suppertime at the firehouse!.... Perryton in those days didn't have a museum to hold all the cool old artifacts of the towns history so they were just where ever they lived in those days.....well the fire station had two. I played on those two old firetrucks like nobodies business, I would set up on that that old truck and ring the old bell with my dads hat on and just make up stories of rushing to the fire to put it out. I literally would spend hours up there just being a fireman.....And that was a great part of my childhood. :o) It still makes me smile just thinking about it and how much fun it was!!! Now we are at the museum taking these family pictures because this family has a beautiful history of this area and were of the very first families to settle this part of the country and we took pictures of their families artifacts in the background of the family pictures, they wanted to keep it casual and not formal and just playful. I wanted to get some pictures of the little guy just taking in the things at the museum and so I followed him and his dad around and then his eyes got big.... he saw those big red firetrucks! lol I understood his excitement to the extreme! his dad set him on the floor to look at it.... that didn't work for me.... his dad put him on the running board..... that still wasn't working for me.... his dad said we cant put him up on the seat there is a sign that says we can.....that didn't work for me :o) I just said I will take that sign off if it will make you feel any better... and I did and we put the little guy up on the the old fire truck and he was one happy little camper... I am still not putting up the best of the pictures because I am leaving that to the family, I will put up one that I liked and just had a lot of emotion to me. But truly what a fun thing to go to do.....I and looking forward to someday getting to take pictures of my grandchild in the very same place! to me a treasure! Be Blessed and I will talk to ya tomorrow.

Christmas

Christmas was really calm and relaxing all the way around. Haha I always get tickled when I first see Elise get up. I have teased her for years and years about looking like a Schnauzer puppy when she first gets up... and that was so fun to get to see her like that again. :) Oh my things you forget about when you children move away to college....well breakfast is a big thing in the Peak family on Christmas morning we all jump in and everyone gets their favorite breakfast....I had asked Elise what she wanted and she said what she wanted was to cook breakfast......"really!" was my reaction....and when it was all said and done... I have to tell you that I was really impressed!

We opened presents, cleaned up everything and then just enjoyed the day.....cooked ate and then set....wishing we hadn't eaten that much. lol the perfect Christmas!....well almost, we get to do it all again when Colt and Marinda get here, and with all of us together then we will have the whole family together.....Sounds Good to me!

4 little cowboys and the cutest cowgirl in Texas

Several things get to go into this day....I will start with my setting that I just had a ball with....I was pretty much to the point that I was feeling "Spent" "exhausted" "Done" I think that these were some of the words that was crossing my mind yesterday. Some people done know that I run a busy photography studio AND I run a really busy Flower Shop.... for the most part I am not in the flowershop much and I can focus on the photography.....not yesterday! we turned out over 75 arrangements yesterday in the flowershop and we were working just as hard and fast as we could.....I say all of that to show you how long I had been standing in one place and to give you al little of my attitude.... :o) it was starting to droop a little.... then the photography setting... I was thinking of postponeing it then I thought no they are going to be ready and this is a good day to get to take these pictures...... I had 4 little cowboys (cousins) ages 4,5,&6 and then the older sister.....this family just blows me away in every way....the mothers brought the kids in and I dont know when I have ever been around better kiddos! When one of the moms would say something those kids just did whatever the mother said.....now all of you people my age you say well yes... thats how it works.... but ok Get Real LOL that just doesnt happen as much now days :) it did and I was just inpressed!

Now dont take me wrong "These kids were full of it! Rowdy and full of energy and full of life, I PROMISE! they brought me back to life and just energized me...... they were just so increadible to get to work with when I was so tired that I could have fallen down! :) What a blessing!!!!! So a special Thanks to the Nicholson Family! I love you all!

I have a Reason now for a Blog!

I really am excited about my blog!!! In the past I just could not see the point in just writing about all the perfect things that happen every day... lol Live just doesn't work that way, and I didn't want to put it out there like that.... so My blog is going to have some of the fun things that happen and the "OOPS!" Photos in it. I will talk a little about the day that's going on and just kinda let the chips fall where they may.
The Collinsworth family..... first I have to say how much I truly love this whole family.... I just took 5 of their families last night and they just amaze me. I really need to break out the pictures that I took of them about 15 years ago......I have come a long way baby since that day! I was a little taken back and it made me smile a lot I didn't say anything to the family at the time but I was just having so much fun with the new kids and seeing everyone grown with families of their own, my goodness I looked at one of the babies and if I stood on a box I still couldn't look him in the eye. A grand daughter walked in the room and I had to take a double take, at this point I really think I did laugh out loud she was just a cool little kid a couple of years ago when we last took her last family pictures and when she walked in the room she looked like some kind of movie star! truly she was like all elegant and beautiful and so confident..... and truthfully I think that's what I am really wanting to say about this whole family..... It all starts with mom and dad (Grandma and Grandpa) These people love their kids so much and I am seeing the 3rd generation of class! and its just being passed down from generation to generation and it truly starts at the top! what a cool legacy to pass down to your family!

Well now here on this blog I am not going to be posting the perfect pictures..... Nope this blog is made for the bloopers the fun stuff the things that kinda let everyone see whats really going on.
Enjoy and have a fun day today!

From the Swan to the Trooper a Weekend with Colt and Marinda

I went to my son's home in Lakewood CO. and truthfully had the time of my life. My main reason for being there, other then just to get to spend time with the people I love the most was to finish up Colten and Marinda's Engagement pictures. We wanted something that really depict summer... and the thing that I came up with was a amusement park... in my mind, the cuddling you do on a Farris wheel, the fun with the carousel ...well you get the picture... and it was just great fun....Then Marinda spots the Swan Paddle boats.... LOL Oh Colt your face was priceless!!! but being the trooper that you are you got in that boat with you honey and let me take pictures... and when I scream all the way across the lake of the crowded amusement park "Kiss the GIRL!!!" and then Everyone around the lake joins in hollering and applauding.... you did the right thing you just played like everyone in the world was gone but you and Marinda....you sure made some great images guys. I am posting one that I have backed off a lot for impressionistic purposes for Marinda because all of her art in the entry room of their home to be is being done in this fashion...but then we move on....from there we get to go to Castle Rock Co. to barbecue out with Marinda's family.... and with all my heart I love these people like I have known then all my life.... we cooked in the garage because it was raining so hard that you could see the river running down their mountain home frontage street....being a Texas Panhandle boy, well I don't think I have ever seen that much rain at one time.... not to mention what would we do with that much rain.... guess thats why there are lakes in mountains...hmmmmm. lol well after cooking out and much fun Marinda and her family Colt wanted to go to the Fireworks, sounded like fun to me. I have never in my life seen (round) fireworks lol all the displays that I have seen were sideways or oval.... I live in the Texas Panhandle we have wind...its what keeps us cool, but it hinders some things a little...but really this was AMAZING!!! and there was two displays going off and they lasted for ever!!!! Good Job Castle Rock!!! so Colt is taking Marinda home I head to Colts house... and was I ever surprised! I get into what I call Denver and there were like 6 different fireworks displays still going and it was beautiful in a huge way when I topped that road where I could see all of the towns.....I am here to tall you that this country boy has never seen a site like that. Sunday I got to go to church with Colt and Marinda and that was just great, good worship good preaching.... loved it! then it was off to get some of the wedding shopping done... after that everyone was just tired so Colt and Marinada went to get a little rest and I went to another bookstore to find my Western Horseman magazine. Colt had a gig at a Jazz bar named "Dazzle" and it was a really really nice place I met the kids there, as I didn't need to go as early as Colt needed to go and it was in the middle of Down town Denver....sidenote...thank you God for Tom Tom......anyway I got there and there I was just once again for the millionth time just blown away... I have had Colt playing some kind of instrument for years and years, piano, sax every kind of guitar they make and I know he is good.... then when he want to college he even got better... that was crazy watching him in concerts and even with the traveling tours...he was then fantastic....but now my son went from being a student to a professional in my eyes.... This jazz sound was so much more than I could have ever expected and I was totally mesmerised with my love for jazz and his ability to entertain a crowd...Props to ya bud....Your awsome!!! Monday morning was hard,,,, I really don't like goodbye... it hurts my heart and I am not good at showing that kind of emotion so Colt went with me to change the oil on the mountaineer and fill it up and then we piddled around driving and then I took him home and told him bye. :( So I start my journey home, for those of you that know me, you know that I stay really busy all the time and I get restless if I am not keeping myself busy, I listen to music, Fox radio, Books on CD and lots of different things, well I was using a thing called Loopt...where all weekend I would take a picture of what I was doing and post it. Loopt has a map that pin points right where you are, and you post what your doing and I always put a picture with it. :) I stopped at the tourist stops, took pictures, flags, buffalo, rocks, snakes, cows, horses mountains my dash the clouds lol I was just board out of my mind about 8 hours into the drive.... this highway patrol was north bound, I was southbound...I saw him and hit my breaks, did a U-turn and started flashing my lights. He pulled over and I pulled in behind him. I knew after doing something that stupid to just jump out of my car would be bad so I just set there till he came back to me. He said "Sir, is there anything I can help you with?" I said yes! if you are not real busy and can spare a minute I really need a picture of ya....he said....You have got to be kidding, which led me to say Nope! and I explained how I'm a photographer and I wanted to blog something for Kansas as I went through....he just threw back his head and started laughing he mentioned that after his holiday weekend being so busy that this Monday was killing him and he would love something to keep him awake....sooooo my trooper picture is done! This was a great trip going and coming and perfect in the middle....what a success all the way around.

Well this has been a wild week for sure but has been full of lots of great tasks and challenges. I have been blessed with the great diversity of getting to shoot everything from a gentleman that is a hospice patient to a newborn this week and several ages in between. Diversity like that tends to leave you very humble...speaking of humble last night was the night I should have had my camera with me. I didnt have a setting last evening so I decieded to drive to Canadian to get some grass hay. This was the perfect night in every way, nice temp, nice breeze and life just going as it should. I stopped at a great little place to eat. I set up on the second story balconey and just enjoyed the dinner and the evening. Headed back to Perryton the sunset really was better even then normal. Then the deer ran out in front of me.... Well I was pulling a trailer full of hay and it would have been really bad to swerve so ... I did'nt and the front end of the truck is not what it use to be. I knew I had a major problem when I had smoke billowing up even before I could get shut down and pulled over... and sure enough it had put a fan through the radiator.
I knew it could not be driven so I called a wrecker and a friend... Thanks again Brad and Kim for bringing me the Mountioneer so I could pull the trailer back to Perryton... and the rest is history...Guess we find out how good insurance is today... but today is a really fun day in photography so that will keep my mind busy, starting off this morning I have 5 children at 11am this morning youngest is 3 months and oldest is 4.... lol now this might be a lot like herdin kittins, but you know its going to be fun and include a lot of laughter....Take care and watch out for that doe in the headlight look!!!!

And so the 2010 seniors begin!!!! I started the senior season of 2010 with Miss Hartsfield, we went out to Wolf Creek and just had the idea of lets go look and see what we see, we knew the flowers were everywhere and just field after field of them. Her Mom and Dad came with us and I think we all had a pretty good time. Tammy-her Mother is a great photographer of her own rite and it was fun watching her work her style on her daughter and the pictures that she got at the same time... I have always thought it was fun working with other photographers, You did a great job Tammy!!! I am ready for you to post some of yours to! I'm off to a house to take some grand baby pictures this morning, hope the day goes good for everyone and I will get back with ya tommorow morning.

Wow what a outstanding weekend for photography! This last weekend had a lot included into it in the Perryton area. First we had 2 high school graduations that included a lot of flowers and balloons for parties and for graduation its self, then it was photography time. First I started with a wedding with two families that I have known and loved for many many years. It really is a extra special blessing to me when I see two people find each other that truly love, trust, count on, need and complete each other...and these people really do all of this and more. I have been talking about the Thrasher wedding. The Thrasher had a outside wedding at their farm that has been in the family for decades and decades then moved to a reception in town. This was a fun lighthearted event that truly let me and all the guests share in this truly special time for this couple....

Sunday is usually a day that I don't usually work but being that so many families were in town for graduation and families were together I knew I had to make a exception....I ended up doing 4 setting on Sunday and I couldn't have had better weather or better people....Everything from the beginning of the day at 9am to the last setting starting at 7pm was outstanding and I really appreciated ever single one of them....wow the wild flowers at Wolf creak was just crazy great!

Hope your Monday and coming week is outstanding. I am at the studio for just a minute or two to print out statements and then I am headed home to start painting on the house.... LOL you otta come help! Don't forget to bring a Dr. Pepper!!!

Wow! Fridays are busy around here. I have two wedding ready in the flower departments, and one school graduation. The flowers turned out great so hopefully everyone will be happy on their special days...I got a lot of pictures downloaded, resized, watermarked and on cds for families to view but I have to post this one that had my attention... this was one of the coolest families that I have ever been around.... I cant think of a single relitive or friend of this family that I didnt fall in love with as I was shooting this event... This was taken during Courtney's Graduation party and wow what a Cool! party it was... the picture on the right is going to change for every family picture putting the couples picture in it that buys that peticular portrait.

Have a good weekend and I will see you again on Monday! ;o)

I have had such a Great year with the seniors of 2009. I can't think of a single person that I did not love working with... everyone has brought their own personality and their own bit of flair to the table, this has been great..... but now its on to the fun stuff of the summer, that's Weddings, babies and families.... I took pictures of Conner last night and this little guy is one of the cutest things I have ever seen in my whole life..... he has a instant smile, the biggest blue eyes I have ever seen, and you just want to pick him up and love on him instead of taking pictures....I am a little partial....he is my nephew and I love him lots!!! this image is of his last setting that I took, not last nights....he wasn't feeling very good do I went to his Grandma (Kim) and Grandpa's (David) house so I could get these taken for Kayla.... I can't wait to edit what we got to do last night outside....he is growing leaps and bounds every time I get to see him.

Dana

The beginning of something new!

Starting a blog is something I have wanted to do for years and I am very pleased with myself for getting this far with it. I have so many thing that I want to say about the images that I take and the events that I want to post. Somehow just posting the images without the comment seems to be a little empty. It really is my goal to take you on some of the shoots and events that I cover and let you know a little about the great people that I encounter in my journeys.