Haley - Heritage High School Class of 2014 {McKinney, Frisco Senior Photography}

Meet Haley.  Haley has served as one of our senior models this year.  She did her senior pictures last summer and we just realized we never posted them on the blog. Haley did her own hair and makeup for the session - she amazed us with how she could just twist and pin and suddenly had a new look.  She loved the artistic look which made the session even more fun for us!  Haley will be attending the University of North Texas in the fall.  We can't wait to see where she goes in life - it will be far!

When it's time to die....

It is the season of Lent.  Growing up, I was in a denomination that not only did not practice Lent, it was never even mentioned or acknowledged.  Lent has always been the thing that other people do.  We started attending Hope Fellowship a couple of years ago.  Last year our Pastor spoke about Lent and encouraged us to participate.  I just wasn’t there.  This year, however, I am in a place in my walk with Christ that I have just been compelled to participate.  I have also added a “Devotions for Lent” to my morning quiet time. (It is available from Youversion).  Yesterday, after reading Psalm 51, the devotion was one sentence.  That sentence stopped me in my tracks with the truth and power behind it.  E.M Bounds wrote: “All God’s plans have the mark of the cross on them and all His plans have death to self in them.” 

Why have I never thought about that before?  All of God’s plans have death to self in them.  ALL of His plans!  So we spend time praying God’s will be done, that He will lead us down His paths.  However, when trials come that cause us to change and grow and trust in Him, then we cry out to Him about how difficult it is.  And yet…when we are praying for His will and to walk in His plans, we are essentially asking Him to take us into places that will cause us to stretch and grow.  Why?  Because God’s ultimate goal for us is that we will completely die to ourselves, die to our flesh, die to our wants and desires.  He wants us to die to ourselves so that we will truly live for Him.  That we will trust in Him, that we will walk His way, that we will reflect Christ in everything we say and do.  We can’t do that when we are still relying on ourselves to get through life.

Essentially, when I ask the Lord to have His way, I am asking Him to bring it on – take me through the trials so that I can die to self that He might be glorified.  That is some powerful stuff and it requires much faith and trust in Him. 

The AimeeLouise Photography that exists today was something I never would have thought or imagined.  God has blessed me abundantly.  But with that abundant blessing comes huge responsibility.  Each morning when I arrive at my studio I spend time in prayer and in God’s word.  Each morning I walk through the studio and offices and pray that God will use me and will use my staff, and use this business to glorify Him.  I pray that He will touch each person that walks through our doors.  I ask Him to bless our family of clients and keep them safe.  Above all, I pray that God will have His way here whatever that means, because ultimately I don’t want to spend my time doing anything that doesn’t ultimately glorify Christ.  Essentially, the entire time I have been asking the Lord to bring on whatever He needs to do to cause me to die to self – because that is part of His plan. 

 So the question before me is: now that I know what I am asking, do I continue to pray that God will bring His plans and purposes for AimeeLouise Photography?  Of course my answer is “yes” but now as I pray for Him to do His will in this place, I will now know that I am allowing Him to do whatever He needs to do in ME in order to accomplish His plans.  That is sobering and exciting at the same time.

Years ago my BFF and very wise friend Debbie Gatti (who also owns the best cupcake bakery in the world in the Houston area – Mrs. Gatti’s Gourmet) made a statement to me that has stayed with me always.  She said: “God is interested in your CHARACTER, not in your COMFORT.”  Essentially, God is interested in us dying to self, not having an easy life.

And so I pray: “Lord – may Your will be done in my life and in my business.  I desire that Your plans and purposes will be done with AimeeLouise Photography.  I don’t know where you plan to take my business from here, but wherever it is Lord, I only want to walk the paths that You have for me.  Your blessings only mean something if we are walking down the path that You have chosen for us.  May everything we say and everything we do bring glory to you, Lord.”

 

 

Have a blessed weekend,

Aimee

Wardrobe Wednesday - Senior Style

Let's focus on seniors for this week's style suggestions.

High school senior girls can get away with many choices - but I always encourage my senior girls to really think long term.  While trendy outfits are fun today - what will you think of them in 30 years when your kids are looking at your senior album.  What do you want hanging on your parent's wall for the next 40 years? 

It is always fun to incorporate one or two trendy styles, but classic is always in style.  Solid colors are best because attention is drawn to your face rather than your clothes.  You can always incorporate patterns into your accessories.

A couple of suggestions....

Cool Vibes - This outfit is trendy with the color choices and accessories - but is still classic enough to last forever.  The colored jeans are fun and adorable, but you can dress them up with a cute top.  Try to stay away from jersey knit tank tops or t-shirts.  While these would be adorable with the outfit, for your senior pictures, you want a classier, dressier look.  I am sure you have plenty of pictures in those tank tops taken by mom.  The grey and white striped shoes and bag add some funk and fun to round out the outfit.

Urban Cowgirl - This look will always be in style in Texas.  The combination of a beige dress with cowboy boots and a denim jacket is classic Texas. You can update the look by adding some fun to this combination with a lace dress and a distressed jacket.  The fancy boots and the lace dress have lots of texture going on, so try to stay accessories that blend rather than stand out.  If you really want to have some fun, think about a soft romantic hairstyle.  Adding flowers to a braid is unexpected and yet works with this combination.  Our stylist Nadine, can do this to your hair on the set of our photo session and make for something fun and different than everyone else. 

So what do you want to see for next week's Wardrobe Wednesday?  Senior guys?  Maternity? Kids?  Leave a comment and let us know!

Behind the Scenes - What a dog session is really like! {McKinney Photographer}

So you may have seen some of our pet images around the web.  People comment to me all the time on how adorable they are and how talented I must be to get these dogs to look so cute.  Well...some of it is skill, some of it help, and some of it is just dumb luck.  I thought I would let you see what it is like behind the scenes of some of our pet sessions.....

Do you remember Pixie and how adorable she was?

 

Well....here is what happened behind the scenes.....

 



 



 Then there was the adorable Oscar that stole so many hearts....

Lets just say that any pictures of that boy were almost a miracle.  He did not want to stay still or to be alone for that matter.  I was exhausted when this session was over.

Finally, do you remember sweet little Horus?

Well, I adopted him myself and I think he was harder to work with than any of the shelter dogs.  I was just SURE he would be obedient and sit nicely for me.  Nope...he wanted to do whatever he wanted to do.  Let's see...he would only stay in the chair if he had a treat with him, but then we got the tongue sticking out pictures and the "searching for the treat" pictures.  So then I lay down on the floor and would pop my hand up with the treat and try to snap the picture while simultaneously removing my hand before the shutter went off.  You can see how that went (although his expression kills me every time I look at it). Then there was the jumping out of the chair shots. 

But...in the end, I got a sweet picture of my baby.  And by the way...his name is now McGee (Yes...as in Timothy for all you NCIS fans out there)

So there you have it....it isn't glamorous, but it sure is fun!  Please be sure to like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter; and tune into McKinney's 97.5 KLAK every Wednesday morning at 8:05 to learn about the next sweet furry friend who needs a home!

Aimee



Learning to Fly! {McKinney Children's Photographer}

Today is Kite Day at my children’s school.  When my youngest son was in kindergarten, he had a 5^th grader assigned to him on Kite Day to help him fly his kite.  I went back and looked at the pictures from that year and I just love the joy on his face as he tries to get his kite in the air.  He was so excited that the 5^th grader had helped him and remembers it to this day.

 

 

Well, today my son is the 5^th grader and he was partnered up with a sweet little preschool girl. (Her mother and I might have manipulated that pairing since we are friends, but I will neither confirm nor deny that possibility)  I can’t help but reflect at how quickly 6 years have gone by.  He is no longer that little boy completely innocent and trusting of everyone.  He is still a boy, but he is different now – his personality has come to the surface and he knows exactly what he wants to do and how to do it. I wish I could have attended kite day today to see him interact with his partner – how he will help her and encourage her and make her laugh – just like his partner did with him 6 years ago.  Thankfully their teachers sent me some images from this morning.

*Photo credits go to Laura Clow and Lana Hamilton

 

So I got to thinking, the 5^th grade boy that helped him is now close to finishing high school.  I know his mom is wondering where the time went as well.  As much as I want to hold on to my children, I know I need to let them go and become the men God has called them to be.  So I guess that Kite Day has shown me a tangible vision of letting our children go – so that like the kites, they can fly!

 

Wardrobe Wednesday - The Color of Teal! {McKinney Wedding Photographer}

So, you are getting married and want to have fabulous engagement photos?  After you have secured that amazing photographer (hopefully us :-)), and picked the location that inspires you, the most important thing you can do is choose your outfits.  Often, couples will show up in something really cool and trendy - cute in person but sometimes not the best choice for photography.  When choosing your outfits, you don't want to wear anything that will draw attention away from you and your forever love.  Bright whites, heavy prints (especially if both of you are wearing a print), and bold color blocking will draw attention to your clothes and away from your faces and ultimately your connection. 

You can stay trendy and still keep the focus on you!  Here are a couple of suggestions for these crazy fluctuating temperatures as winter fades into spring....

Ah, teal both bright and melancholy, energetic yet relaxed. This popular color looks fabulous in front of the lens, especially set against cloudy skies and barely emerging leaves. It also looks fabulous on just about everybody, making it a wonderful choice as the star of your outfit.

 

 

 

 

Sheepskin - Warm, comfortable, subtle sheepskin evokes the best part of cooler weather. Incorporating sand tones into your wardrobe adds a calming, natural touch. Sheepskin accents like boots and slippers provide wonderful texture to your images and keep your toes toasty!

 

Congratulations on your engagement and enjoy your pictures!

 

Aimee

 

Ben - McKinney Christian Academy Class of 2014 {McKinney Senior Photographer}

It's hard to believe that Ben is already a senior.  I met his family 5 years ago when my kids began attending McKinney Christian Academy - he would have been in 8th grade - the same age my oldest son is now.  The older I get, the more quickly time passes.

Ben is a fabulous young man - gifted academically and athletically.  He is also polite, kind, and loves Jesus!  Ben made the Dallas All Star Football team this year and received a scholarship to play football next year.  I know his mom has a mix of emotions - pride in the man he has become and sadness at the fact that he will soon be leaving home.

These are just a few of the fun images we captured at his session....