Senior Spotlight 2011

This Senior Spotlight is on Kirstie Goodson. She is the proud daughter of Craig Goodson. I had so much fun photographing her this week. I can remember when her and my daughter were in elementary school together. Craig and his daughter have a great relationship. They even volunteer for the local haunted house every year. Thanks Kirstie for the great photos.

Is It Worth it?

In November, I went on a cruise with my family and I had time to spend with my father. He had been sick over the past year. One afternoon, I saw my father looking out the window; he was looking at a beautiful sunset that seemed as though it was covering the entire the ocean. Instantly I thought, “I have got to get this!” I grabbed my camera and took a picture of my father and one of the most beautiful sunsets I had ever seen. In January, while at my mother’s house; I took some pictures of the newly fallen snow. My father was there. I asked him to smile and if anyone knows my father, he does not like to smile; but he did and when he did he made the funniest face I had ever seen. About a week later, my father passed away.
In the past two years, I have been really serious about photography; going to conventions, spending hours editing pictures, and taking pictures of any and everything. I had a friend to ask me, “is all of this worth it?” So I contemplated, is it? I thought, what does photography mean to me? The are a lot of people who call themselves photographers; who carry nice cameras and have every kind of equipment that makes “them” feel like a photographer, but to me photography is a whole lot more than just taking pictures and having the best camera and equipment. Seeing a father cry at his only daughter’s wedding, seeing a baby take their first step, or simply a couple smiling and laughing with one another, to me is what photography is all about. Photography is about capturing emotions, memories, and feelings for the world to see.
Photography to me is worth traveling to all the seminar’s that I’ve been to to get the experience so that I can show that experience in my pictures, it’s worth it to me to travel to the many places I’ve gone to to get new ideas, and it’s worth it for me to capture what is important in someone’s life. The reason this is important to me is because I want to give something as simple as taking a picture, a memory for someone that can last a lifetime. That picture that I took of my father looking at the sunset will last a lifetime for all of my family to enjoy.
So to answer that question, YES it is very much worth it! Pictures give you special memories that you can’t get back but you can always look at that picture and remember what you were feeling at that time. Photography is my passion; and when you have a passion for something, everything you do is worth it.

PPSC Trash the dress session

Yesterday,I had the opportunity to be a part of a PPSC Trash the dress session. This session was taught by Tammy Bevins, one of the best photographer in South Carolina. The event was taken at Atalaya Castle in Myrtle Beach. She showed us lighting and posing techniques in and around the Castle. The best part was the trashing of the dress. Shamikka Bines was the model for this event. This was her first time and she did an wonderful job.

Falcon Pride

This weekend I had an opportunity to watch the Darlington Marching Falcons under the direction of Billie Williams (Mother B). The Falcons started the day at 830am practicing. Shortly after,they preformed in the Elks Parade. After a short rest, then off to the Dillon for the Battle of the Bands. It has been many years since I have seen a band competition, but seeing the Falcons in action was great. This is Billie Williams first year with the Falcons. She is doing an awesome job. They won best in Horn,Drum Major and first overall in 3A. Falcons keep up the good work.

MS Bike a Thon 2010

This year the MS Bike-a-Thon came to Florence at FMU. It was the 25th anniversary for this event to raise money to fight MS. Every year, Ebony and I volunteer for this event. We had the FMU basketball team and several organizations helping out. The day was great for the bikers and many volunteers. We also had an opportunity to go to the finish line in Sunset Beach in NC. Thanks again to all the volunteers who took time out to help.

And let there be light

I purchased a Nikon 1.8 lens some time ago. I love this lens for the great depth of field. I want see how good it was in low light situation. So last night, I went out and grab some random shots . I love this lens even more now. These were taken Downtown Darlington SC.

Frist time for anything

Today i had a first time moment. Today I was looking at some of my daughter's senior pictures that i had photograph in the last month and realized that my daughter is not a little girl anymore. She is a senior in high school. So it made me think. You can graduate from several colleges or get married more then once. Hey you can die more than once also.LOL. But you only graduate high school one time. So this year, I planned to photograph some of my daughter's greatest moments as a Senior. You know I will be taken her prom and graduation pictures. But I want to photograph her being her also. Next year, she is planning to go to Jacksonville, Fl. to attend college. I will miss her like crazy but that is life. So if you have a senior, enjoy them while you can.