January 21, 2012: you. me. hot cocoa. and our cameras...

(photo credit: Melody Gillikin Photography)

It's a date!

After receiving several requests, I have decided to host a small gathering of folks to teach the basics of photography and encourage you with some simple ways to improve your family photos.

The class will be held in my home on January 21, 2012 at 1PM. It will last approximately 3 hours and will cover the very, very basics of photography as they best pertain to you in an amateur sense for your personal photos. We will cover other tricks like looking for light, perspective, composition and neat ways to bring out the best in your kiddos.

This class is for those who have a nicer camera, but have no idea how to use it and struggle to capture their kids as they sprint past at lightning speed. In that light, it will be informal, probably pretty darn funny and empower you to control your cameras and capture the memories you want to last for a lifetime.

The class will be $75, which includes a $30 deposit that will be due by January 7, 2012 to secure your spot in the class. The remaining $45 will be due on the day of the class. The class will be capped at 8 people so that it stays nice and small and everyone gets a voice!

You will need to bring your camera, your camera manual and a willing heart. I ask that you bring your camera manuals because what I will be teaching you will be the fundamentals of photography, not how to use YOUR camera, and I'm not a technical pro on the ins and outs of your brand, so you may need to consult your manual for where settings are and how to use them.

You can have any type of camera, as long as it has manual, shutter or aperture priority settings (settings that allow you a certain element of control). This is to help you move beyond shooting in automatic and really learn to be in charge of your images instead of relying on your camera to do all of the heavy lifting.

Email me at blevins.katy@gmail.com for more information and to secure your spot in what will surely be a rockin' day of laughter, learning and fellowship!

I have loved you for a thousand years...

Every now and then you come across two people that are so intricately woven into each other's lives, that you truly understand what God meant when He said He knew you before He formed you and set you apart (Jeremiah 1:5). And you realize, these two were made to love each other, and that fact was known before they were even born.

Nichole and Daniel are that couple. I've only known them for a short while, and they've already made me laugh, made me cry and inspired me to new levels of creativity and passion for what I do. In a few words, I love them. And I love the way they love each other.



Here is one of the first emails I got from Nichole (and when I realized I was going to adore her...aaaannnndddd that we might be long lost twins).
"If you notice, most of the pictures we love are not necessarily the photos of us smiling for the camera. We want the photos to capture the various emotions behind our relationship. To me the photos show many emotions, such as comfort, trust, support, care, love, passion, loyalty, ambition, strength, excitement, playfulness. We started this journey 7 years ago, so part of what defines Daniel and I's relationship is the growth, emotions and experiences we have shared. We started as two very different people, but we have grown to be a family. We want to capture a variety of the emotions that have got us to where we are, and get us where we are going."

I mean, seriously, their relationship rocks my world. The depth of their history, the many facets of their chemistry, and breadth of their love for each other are rooted to their cores, their very inner beings. They remind me of a strong oak tree, with deep roots, that has been there a thousand years and will be there for a thousand more.



And as if it couldn't get any better, here is what Daniel has to say about his bride-to-be.

"Nichole is a very driven woman, and when she decides she is going to do something she does it. She pushes me to be better and go after my goals in life. I love her support and the encouragement that she provides. We definitely balance each other very well. I get her to be more out going, while she keeps me from getting out of hand…I help her to live on the fly, while she keeps me focused and driven…I help her to relax and live in the moment, while she keeps me planned and organized...(just to name a few). She is by far my best friend and the love of my life. I cannot imagine my life without her, and I know there is no hurdle life will throw at us that we cannot overcome. I cannot wait until our big day where we will become one and start a new chapter in both our lives where we will grow each day in respect and love."

::swoon::



I could go on forever about how much I enjoy these two, and how overwhelmed I am to be sharing in this most treasured time in their lives. But I'll stop now, and leave you with a song, written by David Hodges & Christina Perri, that reminds me of them.

Time stands still
Beauty in all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything take away
What's standing in front of me
Every breath
Every hour has come to this
One step closer

I have died every day waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid, I have loved you
For a thousand years
I love you for a thousand more

And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I love you for a thousand more