Behind the scenes with Jasmine {McKinney Photographer}

So this cute little precious thing was adopted within 2 hours of our radio spot featuring her.  I just had to share some behind the scenes photos.  She is soooo adorable!  Be sure to like AimeeLouise Photography, 97.5 KLAK, and Collin County Animal Shelter on Facebook to keep up with our pets of the week!  Or you can always follow us on Twitter or Pinterest to keep up!

So enjoy these images of cutie pie Jasmine!

 

Wardrobe Wednesday...on Thursday {McKinney Senior Photography}

So yes....today is Thursday and I am just now posting Wardrobe Wednesday.  So maybe today it will be Thoroughly Late Thursday?  Anyway,  love love love this outfit I found on Polyvore.com.  The simplicity gives it such impact while the accessories add a punch of style.  This is a fun take on a Texas/California mash-up.  Can't wait to see this in action this spring!

Deep sea, deep pain.. by gul07 featuring a satin nail polish

"Let It Go" - The Three Year Old Version {McKinney Children's Photography}

When a mom of a three year old books a session with us, we never know how the session will go.  As any parent can tell you, a three year old can be joyful and full of life, or they can be grumpy and difficult.  It really doesn't depend on parenting - such is just life with a three year old.

When this little sweety came in the door, she gave me a huge smile and a big hug.  I knew it would be a great day.  She just oozed charm.  Halfway through the session, she started singing the currently popular song "Let It Go".  You really have to see this....

So now that you have seen her charming little self - here are a few images from the session....

Happy Birthday to the Best Sister EVAH!

I think so often we can get caught up in the business and the craziness of life that often we don’t take the time to really sit and be thankful for all that we have.  Today is my big sister’s birthday.  I am overwhelmed with thankfulness for her, who she is, the example she sets for me as a woman, a mother, and a sister.  She was 12 when I was born.  I remember growing up always looking up to her, always wanting to be just like her.  I was in awe of who she was and what she accomplished. 

As an adult in my 40’s, I still feel that way about my sister Beth.  I am in awe of her, who she is, all that she has accomplished, and how she lives her life.  She is beautiful, successful, tenacious, and above all, she is a shining example of a Godly woman that I can look up to. 

As a tribute to my sister, Beth, on her birthday, I want to list just a few of the things I have learned by watching her:

·        Never be afraid to step out and try

·        Don’t allow what others think or say affect how I feel about myself

·        More importantly, don’t allow what others think or say to affect how I live my life

·        When God is leading, follow – even if those around me don’t understand

·        Pick my battles carefully – if I fight the small things, I won’t have energy or influence to fight what matters

·        Find what is important to my children and join them in that – I can’t have a strong relationship with my kids if they don’t think I care about what they care about

·        As long as it isn’t against the law or harmful to my children/teenagers in some way, allow them to express themselves – even if it embarrasses me.  (Their choice of clothing (as long as it is appropriate), hairstyle, jewelry, shoes, etc is just not that big of a deal in the long run and lets them feel that I are giving them some control in their lives)

·        My children’s hearts are more important than my agenda – and what is really important to them is more important than my daily schedule

·        Never, ever, ever give up

·        Other people’s boxes are not, will not be, cannot be my prison. 

·        Most importantly – never be afraid to have fun!

  I will always love this picture of us from last summer - and I LOVE the photo bomb by your daughter in the background ;-)

 

 

This song just really filled my heart this morning and I know it is for you.  Have a wonderful birthday and please forgive me for not sending a card ;-)

 

Love,

your baby sister! 

PS:  I want to brag on her for one more moment – she was named as one of DC's Top 50 Women in Tech!  Check it out here!  Proud of you Beth Beck - NASA Twitter Innovator and Guru!

Wardrobe Wednesday - Trendy Yellow {McKinney Photographer}

Spring is here - almost!  One of the huge trends for 2014 is yellow.  Fashion blogs and magazine show color blocking with yellow from head to toe.  While this may be fun and trendy, yellow is really not the best choice for portraits - senior or family.  Yellow grabs the attention and screams "look at me".  I mean do you really want to look like Princess Belle in your pictures? 

Now, I know you want to save yourself the barrage of comments your future kids will have in store for you, but you don't want to throw out the fun yellow entirely.  As a photographer, the main thing I stress is that attention should always be drawn to your face rather than your clothes.  So...what is the well-dressed "fashionista" to do if you want to incorporate the yellow trend in your images?

Consider adding a hint of a bright and trendy color if you are insistent that you include it.  We put together a couple of outfits as suggestions on how to incorporate the yellow trend without letting it turn you into a Disney princess....

Consider adding yellow in your accessories.  You can do it with shoes, a headband, earrings, or a scarf.  By choosing the aqua as your main color, you still get the bright look of 2014 but not overdoing it with a color that will take over your portrait. 

If you want a bit more yellow than just your accessories, be sure to choose neutrals as the rest of your base.  Tones of grey, silver, or black will anchor the outfit so that you can wear a yellow sweater or top (please don't ever put it on the bottom).  We popped it with the red to keep the bright feeling.  You could always choose more understated accessories as well.

 



Comment below and let us know what other trends you would like to see incorporated into a portrait friendly outfit.  We would love to hear from you!

Aimee

All outfits were created on Polyvore.com. 
Disney princess photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/warriorpoet/8612641710/">V Threepio</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">cc</a>

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