Photoshoot {January 24, 2012}

Pictures from a photo shoot with a couple of my awesome photographer friends.

What do you treasure most?

What do you treasure most? Ask a hundred people that question and you probably won't get the same answer twice.

I recently received an invitation to a friend's party. She asked each guest to bring along something they treasure. So that got me thinking, What do I treasure most? The more I thought about it, the more I came to realize that what I treasure most isn't something I can put in my purse and take to a party. No, it's far more special than that. Let me tell you about it.

First and foremost, I treasure Jesus and my relationship with Him. He is the air in my lungs, the strength to face each day, and the joy that keeps me going. If it wasn't for Him and His love, I wouldn't be who I am.

 I treasure my family, a special and unique collection of people. 

 They are always there, always loving, even if we don't agree on everything. We have been together through the good times and the bad times. Their support and care has kept me going.

I couldn't ask for a dearer group of people to call my family.


And I treasure my friends.

 They keep me strong, offer support, and make me laugh. They listen when I need to talk (or rant) and they tell me what I need to hear, even when I don't want to hear it.

We have been together through thick and thin, caring and sharing. We walk together on this road called Life. 

Without these special people in my life, I would be lost. 


 So these are my treasures. Because when it all comes down to it, possessions are nice, but they are replaceable. But there is no way to replace the people in our lives. Love them, treasure them, make the most of every single second with them. I know I sure will. Because they are the blessings I don't deserve; they are what makes life worth living.


What do you treasure most?

Favorite Portraits: Part 1

Rather than post a bunch of portraits at one time, I decided to do several smaller posts. I hope you enjoy!

New post!

A long time ago I promised you a post of my favorite portraits. And I am here to say:

It will be posted this afternoon!!!!

Portraits

What is your favorite form of photography?

 For me, it's portraits. 

I want to capture the faces. But not only the faces. Also the living, breathing people behind those faces. I want to capture the personality that shines from them and makes them who they are.

For one of my college classes, I am making a slideshow of some of my favorite portraits that I have taken. And while I have them all together in one place, I thought, why not post them on my blog too?

 So in a couple days, when I have time, I'll be posting my favorite portraits.

Check back soon!

Need some color in your life?

It has been looking so dreary lately, with all the leaves turning brown now.

All the plants have reached the end of their lives too.

And to make it worse, it just keeps raining.

I thought we could all use a touch of springtime beauty.

So here it is, in the form of a shot from one of my senior shoots.

A Picture of the Heart

I want to share a picture with you.

But this one is going to take a little more work for you to see.

You can't just scroll down the page and look at it.

In fact, you have to close your eyes to see it.

Let me explain.

One evening this week, I went with some members of my Bible study to minister at a youth shelter. It was an experience I will never forget.

Those kids at the youth shelter--they basically have nothing. But they are some of the sweetest, dearest kids I have ever met.

We shared a devotion with them, as well as a snack. And they kept thanking us over and over again--for coming, for the cupcakes, for the juice and chocolate milk, for everything.

There was one girl who said she loved to sing. So we asked her what she liked to sing. And she offered that she would sing for us, if we wanted her to. Of course we said YES!

So later, between rounds of dominoes, she got up to sing. She stood there for a minute, kind of nervous in front of all of us watching her. And then she opened her mouth and started to sing Amazing Grace/Swing Low Sweet Chariot.

And we just sat there in awe. I have never heard a more beautiful sound in my life.

There was this young teen, dressed in shelter-issued clothes, fingernail polish partly chipped off. Her eyes closed and her face filled with the intensity of her song. The high-ceilinged, echoey gym filled with the beauty of her voice. In that moment she was the most beautiful person I have ever seen. And she held me captive, even after the last note faded away.

That is the picture I wanted to share with you.

It may not be a picture that can be viewed on a computer screen or printed and put in a frame. But it is etched on my heart. And sometimes the pictures of the heart are far more precious than the pictures of a camera.