Photography by Dena

Announcing the new LUXE COLLECTION!

2012-02-24T13:57:00.001-06:00

I get asked a lot about doing custom edits...you know, the flawless skin, the creamy dreamy colors, the striking eyes.... so I have decided to start offering a custom collection that includes the files... AND my Photoshop skills. These days it seems there at a lot of photos floating out there that are decent... or a lot of photos that are edited with the free online software where you click a button and viola your image looks like everyone else's. My Luxe Collection will certainly set your photographs apart from the rest! I have trained extensively for years on retouching... especially making rich velvety images. I offered a collection called "Urban Vogue" in which all the images were "loved" this way.. but that session was just as much about the funky clothing as it was about the Photoshop after the fact. This new Luxe Collection has a smidge to do with the style of shooting, and all the rest to do with the retouching magic after! You can wear whatever you like! Dress it up with vintage styles, or wear what you would normally wear to a photoshoot. This look works well with outdoor images of couples, children, maternity, seniors, and brides... photos with minimal or single subject matter, so that the textures and details like the eyes and skin, can really shine!
For a limited 48 hours, I am offering this collection discounted by $50! All you have to do is "Like" my facebook page... Photography by Dena and you are welcome to the introductory price on the Luxe Collection!
D

Kimberlee's Maternity {Lufkin Maternity Photography}

2012-02-02T11:12:00.000-06:00

Kimberlee and Lupe's baby Maddox is coming into the world this month! He will be one lucky baby with sweet parents like these. Kimberlee is so photogenic that I just couldn't pick a single handful of favorites... so here goes.. two handfuls!

Cory and Lexi

2012-01-10T17:49:00.001-06:00

I just finished editing Cory and Lexi's engagement photos, and WOW.. this is a great couple. Sometimes, when you are around people who have found their perfect match.. you can just feel it... and that is the way I felt with these two. Lexi's eyes!! OMG! Just wait for her bridals... I kept saying... WOW.. this is my favorite...no, THIS is my favorite! I will post them after the wedding in March!
D
My Facebook Page for 50 more of their images!

Valentine's Special!

2012-01-09T10:32:00.001-06:00

Happy New Year, and ALMOST Happy Valentine's!! I'm cleaning/redecorating the studio this morning after tearing it apart and taking everything to the bridal fair yesterday. (I even took the curtains!) I thought I would jump start the new year with a post, and a deal on this gloomy rainy Monday morning. (We haven't had rain in forever here, so I won't complain too much; the ponds at the studio completely dried up and when they are full they make lovely photo spots!)

Nothing cheers me up better than the color red! So here we go... in honor of Valentine's and my favorite color!

Misses Saxton

2011-12-27T13:23:00.002-06:00

Introducing the brand new Misses Callie Saxton! They had a fabulous wedding in Longview, Texas the weekend before Thanksgiving. I felt like I had known their families forever. Russell and I had a great evening with them in the Longview Fine Arts Museum for their reception, which was filled with candles and twinkle lights and a candy bar too!

Littlest Gift

2011-12-27T12:14:00.001-06:00

I'm super proud to say that I have photographed this family since before they were a family! I took Sarah's bridal portraits, then their wedding photos, and all of the maternity sessions and babies after that! I love seeing a family grow from the beginning! What a gift!

Negatives! Negatives! Negatives! It's a positive!

2011-12-27T12:02:00.001-06:00

I thought I would start the upcoming new year with a resolution I will keep.. unlike the past, when I promise to be a better blogger.. 2012 will be the year I actually do it!! In the next two weeks I will be launching a revamped website, and I am kicking it off with publishing an awesome digital collection! You get 30 files with print release, and the sitting fee all for $225+tax! Happy Almost New Year!
D

Jodie and Chris say I Do! {Castle on the Lake} {East Texas Wedding Photography}

2011-06-07T15:58:00.002-05:00

I LOVE Jodie's dress... it was super cool. She met me in the bridal suite with an above the knee mini dress on... and I said, 'Wow, neat dress." She said, "Oh this is just half of it!" NO KIDDING.. this dress was two in one! The girls added the bottom skirt on this mini dress, and it was stunningly cool! Then, at the reception they literally RIPPED it off of her!! Such a fun twist on a reception look!

I love shooting at the Castle on the Lake, in Jacksonville! It's perfect! Huge bridal suite, and TONS of details! One of these days when I finally get caught up, I will make myself sort through the millions of awesome details from the owner of Castle's wedding that we shot in October...and remember to post them on my blog. I am a terrible blogger! Check out my facebook page, Photography by Dena, or Dena Dent Strban, for more up to date stuff!
D

Vintage Spring Sessions {East Texas children's photographer}

2011-04-06T13:08:00.000-05:00

I have a brand new deal for Spring!! On the afternoons of April 11th and 12th I am offering a fresh deal! 30 Minute sessions, sitting fee included, and tax, one outfit, and 10 FILES of edited images presented to you on a cd, with a copyrelease so you are free to print your images wherever you would like!! Never have I offered such a low price for my image files... $125!!!! (Up to 30 pictures will be taken, and if there are more than 10 that I like, you can also purchase those as well, for $10 per extra file.)

This is a Vintage set that will include pearls, bunnies, antiques, vintage birdcages, furnishing, etc... frilly Easter clothes would be perfect for this scene.
Email me at drstrban@consolidated.net or call 936-875-5592 to setup an appointment.
D

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2011-01-03T15:02:00.001-06:00

I'm ringing in the New Year with a Whopper of a wedding special! My Diamond Collection really and truly should be the only collection I offer... it's the one couples are choosing 90% of the time lately. Why? Because it includes the negatives!!!
Here is my Diamond Collection:
Two Photographers with SIX HOURS worth of coverage, a cute custom DVD with a custom case from your wedding day photos. A wedding slideshow!!! AND THE DIGITAL WEDDING NEGATIVES! You will also have a copyrelease so that you can print your photos wherever you choose... but I HIGHLY recommend checking out http://www.mpix.com/ for professional quality prints. They are owned by a pro-lab, but open to the general public. They offer amazing quality for prices that aren't really that much above your local one hour shops. The price for my Diamond Collection is $1975+tax.
Okay what is my 2011 Special?
I am including not only a FREE engagement session, BUT... if you book my Diamond Collection, I will also include the ENGAGEMENT NEGATIVES!! (That is a $650 value!)
This is a limited time offer, through January!!!
D

Christmas Card Deal

2010-10-27T12:22:00.000-05:00

Just thought I would throw this out there... since I have been offerring digital negative packages lately, and honestly seldom deliver prints these days.... that for anyone who has purchased my entire disc of negatives during 2010, I will throw in a free custom Christmas card file for you! This offer goes for anyone planning on purchasing portrait negatives, (the entire disc collection) from now through the end of the year too!
Want an example?

I have a few remaining spots open for November... so email, call, write, send smoke signals...
D

Beach Portraits {Galveston Beach Portraits}

2010-08-23T20:19:00.000-05:00

Hey there! Wow... has it really been three months since I posted something? Bad, Bad blogger!! Okay... so here are some new things... last weekend I went to Galveston for a day of sun, shooting, and sand... did I mention sand? It's Monday night and my camera bags still have sand in them from Saturday!
It was so super duper (yeah, I said it)... hot... but I really enjoyed doing something new and different. I thrive off new and different! I haven't updated my blog in so long... and I have so many cool new additions to the studio to tell you all about.... but that will give me something else to blog! (Graffiti wall, rusty old antique truck... a chandelier in the barn... all kinda cool stuff for senior portraits and unique family pics this year!)
Anyhow... here are the first ones coming off the camera... I am breaking my cardinal rule, and working pictures out of order... well..not really... I have about three weeks worth of sessions ahead of these guys... but i was excited, so I grabbed a couple to share!
Would anyone be interested in doing a beach shoot in the Fall when it isn't 109 degrees out there?
D

Free the Dress PROM GIRLS!!!! {Trash the Dress}

2010-05-17T21:12:00.000-05:00

Oh wow.. what can I say about these sessions? I mean, how often do you wear a prom dress anyway, right? So I decided to extend my philosophy on Free the Dress, bridal.. .to prom!! And wow, are these sessions fun! I was soaking wet like the girls at the end of the day.. but am really pleased with our end results! I have a video that is pretty fun of the behind the scenes; I'm just working on the upload!!
FTD... Free the Dress, don't just tuck it away in the closet!!!
D

The Hunt Children... such beautiful faces! {Lufkin Children's Photographer}

2010-05-17T21:02:00.002-05:00

Oh my goodness... Baby Ainsely and big brother Evan are beautiful children! Ainsley was only 3 weeks old when we took these portraits! Big Brother and I went for a walk on the property and tried out my new prop that my creative thoughtful husband bought me!!!
Thank you for coming out to my place that day... Alice, you have beautiful babies and I enjoyed visiting with you!
D

Whit's Bridal Portraits! {Center, Texas Bridal Portraits}

2010-05-17T20:53:00.000-05:00

Isn't Whitnee just stunning? I couldn't wait until her and Ricky's wedding this month.. partly because I knew that their wedding would be fabulous, but mainly because I loved shooting their engagement photos a few months ago and knew how amazing these two were together!!! (And because I couldn't wait to share Whit's Bridals with y"all!)
Have a great Monday!
Best of Luck Whitnee and Ricky!! I will be posting your wedding photos later.. I promise I will remember to blog yours!

Have I not Blogged these? How have I not Blogged these?

2010-03-30T12:29:00.000-05:00

Oh my goodness! One of my most favorite sessions....Miss Emma and her very proud parents!! I just love this little bundle of cuteness... I was smiling ear to ear everytime she would do something ELSE super cute!!
Much love Miss Emma...Mwwwwwah!
D

Boudoir Baby!! (Or as I like to call'em 4HEO) For His Eyes Only!

2010-03-30T12:19:00.000-05:00

Don't worry... YES, I have permission! I have a confession to make... these sessions are one of my FAVORITES to shoot...not because I love glamour and high heels, but because they make us all feel so good! Me too! I get all giddy and silly, like a little girl playing dressup when I get a fabulous super shot, and I can't wait to show it and watch their expression when they feel B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L!! These sessions have changed by leaps and bounds in the last 20 years... no longer are they about fake plastic roses and wine glasses while laying aound in something from Fredricks of Hollywood... I have photographed them in the hubby's favorite football jersey... his military shirt and dog tags... bridal lingerie and the veil.... tons of cool things that make these sessions fun and personal to the man of your dreams!!! Here are some from a recent session!
D

Shelby is a Senior!!! Lovelady, Texas 2010

2010-03-30T12:12:00.000-05:00

Miss Shelby and her entourage came in a few weeks ago... and we laughed and giggled the whole time. They were an extremely fun group of girls!! I love photographing when we laugh so much! Shelby, you are a sweetheart and such a great model... those EYES!!
Have a great rest of the year! Congratulations lady!
D

2010-03-24T15:03:00.000-05:00

Jen and Brooke!!! Last week when it was freezing and rainy... we had a fun funky fashionable shoot planned with Jentry and Brooke.. to a "free the dress" session with their prom dresses. The weather just wasn't cooperating, so we hid out under some bridges until dark, and then hit the streets! Here is their slideshow!
D

Lisa and Josh's Wedding! {Nacogdoches Wedding}

2010-03-19T14:35:00.000-05:00

Lisa and Josh are the sweetest couple! Their family and friends were just so welcoming... it felt like we had known them forever! Josh's Dad provided the coolest car for them to leave the ceremony in... and I just drooled over it the whole day!
I have lots of favorites from this day... and am so happy to have shared it with them!!!
D

FREE THE DRESS....PROM STYLE!!!!

2010-03-17T06:48:00.000-05:00

Oh my goodness! I am sooooo excited about these sessions! Jen and Brooke came out to play yesterday afternoon, but wouldn't you know it... it was COLD and RAINY!!! We had an initial plan to "play", and do video.. but Christi could only juggle one umbrella at a time... so we nixed the video part of this session for another... warmer and drier day!
We decided to try alittle high fashion work in the middle of the street last night! I was so excited I couldn't sleep when I finally came dragging in at 9:30 last night with camera in one hand, and taco bell in the other!
These sessions are so fun! I call them FREE The DRESS! I mean.. .what else are you going to do with last year's prom dress?
($400 session fee gets you two hours of shoot time, three dresses, and THE DISC OF NEGATIVES.... which means you can print till your heart is content, and post on facebook and myspace all night long!!! Also, if you bring a friend, you get a slideshow of the images for your ipod too!!!)
D
More to come later... I so should be putting makeup on, rather than giggling at how cool these are!!!

Calendar Fundrasiser!!!

2010-02-23T16:40:00.000-06:00

I'm attempting a model contest which will benefit Haden, a 5 month old heart patient! I will post the link or login details below, and for $1 a vote, you can vote for one of the kids who came into the studio during my Urban Vogue Model search!!! The top 12 vote earners will be published in a calendar in a few weeks! These calendars will be for sale all around town, and hopefully here on my blog.
Haden is 5 months old, and has already had open heart surgery. He will need his second surgery in three weeks. He has had several heart caths, and tests already. His Mother has just had to quit her job because they had exhausted the Family Medical Leave act... and she needed to stay with her baby in Houston. The Dad works at a local muffler shop, and cannot be with them in Houston during the month long stay, (or longer).. because he needs to work and has no paid vacation. I will post a picture of Haden... the cutest little guy you will ever see! Please vote. We will use this initial vote money to publish our calendars, and sell them. All proceeds will go to this family. Hopefully we will have so many votes this go round, that we will have more than enough to publish our calendars and go ahead and make an immediate donation to this family before his next surgery.
We have so many blessings in life, and I hope we can make a difference by sharing some of what we have.
Here is the info... maybe you will know one of these little volunteers... and if not, just randomly pick a favorite!
D
The direct link is
http://www.imagequix.com/photog.php?id=29QWN9F&ec=calendar and the password is vogue.

If you want to do the long route, then go to my site, http://www.photographybydena.com/ and then click on Wedding Orders. You will need the event id, which is calendar. Then lastly, enter the password. vogue.
That's it!
Here is Haden!

URBAN VOGUE MODEL SESSIONS!

2010-01-14T06:52:00.001-06:00

Good Golly Miss Molly!
I am soooo thrilled to say that this week is completely full! I decided to offer free Urban Vogue sessions, and was thinking with the cold weather and with school being back in session, that I would be very happy with 10 or 12 models... Well.... 51 smiling faces later.. I am in shock! I sometimes don't even shoot 50 sessions in two months.... much less one week... so.... I am gonna put on my running shoes and see what happens!
I am very elated with the turnout and am going to present all of you who participated with an oppurtunity to help with a fundraiser idea I am kicking around. I think with that many kids it should be a real success. I will talk to you all about it when you come in... but my initial thoughts were to hold a kind of "Model Contest" but not one based on looks... I want to post an image of each child and have them on a website where for $1 per vote, friends and family or anyone, can vote!! Then I will take the top 12 winners and they will be published in a calendar, that hopefully we can find local businesses or even individuals to sell them for us! I am completely open to any suggestions as far as charities go... so put on your thinking caps and get back to me! IF we get enough parents to say yes to this... I would love volunteers to help find places who would be willing to sell our calendars!
For you who signed up and had a nightmare of doing so... I am going to try once again to deal with this crazy Google calendar and post it here, so you can hopefully finally be able to see it! Just so you can all see that you really do have a spot booked.. and hopefully there won't be able surprises!
See you all very soon!
Love,
D

Baby it's Cold Outside!

2010-01-08T16:02:00.000-06:00

My goodness... record temps here in Texas!! Today it's 26 degrees out there! Seems like all I do is blog about the weather huh? Too funny. My photography depends a lot on the weather, so I guess that is why I blog about it... or maybe because I am a terrible blogger with nothing profound to say. I can't come up with exciting stuff to tell you guys today.. only that I have officially moved into my new place.. over the Christmas holiday, no less! We moved between Christmas and New Year's Eve... and two days after that we were in our first Bridal Fair of three consecutive ones this month!! WHAT WAS I THINKING???!!! I tell ya what I WASN'T thinking.. that all of this work is driving my hubby into the ground. We had to see the neurologist today because I am working him so hard that his arms are going numb. SOOOOOOOO.... what does that mean? It means that although I am technically moved into the old house/ new studio; we still have tons of rennovations left to do... and the outside hasn't even begun to be touched yet. SO, just be like me and ENVISION what it will finally look like when all is said and done. I would rather work out of a place that looks like a little old lady's house, than have my best friend and hubby in the hospital. I think that is a fair trade!
WOW... I ended up having lots more the say than just, "It's Freezing outside!"
D
OH.. these are my brandnew custom wallets for seniors... so neat how things come back in style, with a twist!

Jentry's Senior Portraits {Lufkin Senior Portraits}

2009-12-16T14:40:00.001-06:00

Hi!!
OOOH, my phone is ringing... clients are driving up, and emails are blinking... and what am I doing??? BLOGGING!! I know I will misspell a few things on this quick little post, because I am typing at lightning speed, but I wanted to give you something new to look at before the holidays! I have been so busy having so much fun with Christmas babies, and families lately and I know that my blog is suffering, but what else is new right? Anyhow... maybe this will perk it up. Jentry's beautful smile should make it all better!
Love her!
D

My Family

2009-12-01T16:03:00.000-06:00

Well HELLLLOOOOOOO there! I have been so happy to be so busy lately with all of the Fall portraits, my favorite time of year... because Christmas is just around the corner!!! I am sitting here in my home office listening to Christmas carols, while a sappy cheesy holiday movie plays in the background... and smelling the spicey scent of my Holiday Spirit Circle E candle.... and of course.. .working on making Christmas cards! It's cold outside.... YAY! Love Love Love this time of year! Count your blessing today.... God is so good... and provides so many small miracles that I sometimes...okay... a lot of times... forget to notice.... but today I am making a point to notice.... the new studio is coming along... I have a wonderful husband, and barking dogs who are drowning out my Christmas carols.... but life is good... soak up this time year!
Here is my family portrait taken out beside my pond on the new studio property!!!
Merry Christmas!
D

My 2009 Christmas Card.. and Studio Update!

2009-11-17T18:34:00.002-06:00

Hi!
WOW.. I am LOVING this Fall weather!!! It's in the 60s today... and I am bundled up in my Texas Aggie sweatshirt and running my cute electric fireplace!!! :)
Update on what I have been up too....The new studio is coming along very slowly...lots more structural issues than we were aware of at first.. but, ready to hear the game plan? We are going to try to get into at least two rooms.. one for the viewing sessions, and one to shoot in, very soon!!! The main studio area with the high ceilings will have to wait for now, and so will the facelift on the outside... but we are going to TRY to be in by the first of the year! We are having a HUGE problem this week with getting the red paint to look right... (Facebook friend will know I have been posting on this for months!) I keep saying that now I know why red is the color of the devil. :)
Wanna see something funny? Russell and I have our Christmas card for 2009 ready. My sweet and talented Mother in Law, Barbara, rolled in the grass and the fields with us last week... so we could have these to send out!
What do you think? (Well... my blog won't upload photos at the moment... check back in a bit!)
D

More Pix... Lovin' the Fall!

2009-11-04T12:50:00.000-06:00

This time of year is my favorite time of year to take family portraits... which is a good thing, because at this time of year most people are thinking about family portraits for Christmas cards and presents. I have some favorite spots where the sun shines just a little more golden, and the leaves seem a touch brighter... so I think I will share some fun family pics from a recent semi-Fall session... where we all wear our winter gear, and then jump in the car and run the AC when we drive away!

I just love the holidays and love shopping for a cozy sweater and adorable hats and gloves that I can never expect to wear here in East Texas.... but a girl can dream!
Happy Fall!
D

4HEO (For His Eyes Only)

2009-10-29T13:58:00.001-05:00

I have been doing a lot of the 4HEO sessions lately, but usually don't share them... so... no posts lately..... but I have permission to share these with you... she said it's okay! I am loving these.... so fun for Christmas presents too! I'm working on her album this week... I just love the way these romantic sessions go together in a book! Very swanky! :)
Have a good day!
D

Jules

2009-10-14T19:02:00.000-05:00

This little chick-a-dee has the most expressive eyes I have ever seen! I just think she is adorable! I had the honor of photographing Timothy and Nicole's wedding a couple of years ago... and I was so excited when they came in with little Julia! I just love to see the beautiful babies that eventually come from the weddings we get to be part of! Jules is so cute, you guys! I can't wait until we get to do an Urban Vogue shoot with those eyes!!!
D

The Garner Cuties

2009-10-14T18:55:00.000-05:00

I really love the vintage look these days... or...not just these days... I have loved the vintage look for a couple of years now... just look at my website! (Which SO needs new pictures!)... These girlies are just adorable! Lisa, their Mom... also likes the vintage look.. so I got to play alittle more than usual with the old timey feel!
D

Christmas Cards

2009-10-14T18:49:00.000-05:00

I hope you are all having a good week so far. I say that all of the time.. every email I send out I close with, "Have a good week."... This week has been kinda soggy... but today was perfect and sunny... just wish it was about 20 degrees cooler! I can't wait for Fall.... we are getting there! I almost want to photoshop the green leaves of the family portraits I've done recently into bright yellows and reds! Can't wait!
Here is something I just put together of Todd and Tawnya's family....
Till next time... have a good week!
D

Have some openings for this Friday... if anyone wants them!

2009-10-12T09:44:00.000-05:00

Hey everybody! I have updated my session options, and thought you all might like to see! I think that I will start using my blog to let you all know of last minute openings! This week, I have had a couple of cancellations that I thought you all may be interested in. Just email me at drstrban@consolidated.net and let me know! I have an opening on Friday afternoon, the 16th at 4:00, and another at 6:15. So just contact me if you're interested.
D

HOT PINK BRIDES!!!

2009-10-06T09:05:00.000-05:00

Hot pink brides... what an honor! Brides, if you are looking for wedding inspiration this site is where you need to head!!! ARE THESE REALLY MY IMAGES ON HERE? HOW SUPER COOL IS THAT?????
HOT PINK BRIDES SITE

A Love that Will Last...

2009-10-05T15:27:00.000-05:00

Because I haven't posted new pictures on my website this ENTIRE YEAR... I put together a quick slideshow of a few couples from the last couple of months, that I thought I would share!
Have a great Monday!
D

Babes, Babies, and Bonnets!

2009-10-04T11:47:00.001-05:00

Well, not really bonnets... but I had to have something with a "B". My high school english teacher, Mrs. Warden, would be proud of the Alliteration there!
Just thought I would post some more of the recent baby pictures. I have had so much fun lately playing with my new hats and tutus and tons of baby props! I am really loving the vintage feel... and these pictures remind me of a picture that used to hang on my Grandmother's wall. I don't know who the artist is, but maybe someone can help me... it had the old pinkish/vintage tone and was a dreamy baby sleeping and it said something about a lullabye. My Mother had a book with that same image on the cover. Anyhow.. these baby pictures lately have been inspired from my memories of that image as a child! This is Baby Langston Airington by the way!
D

Babies, Babies, and Bunnies!

2009-10-04T11:29:00.000-05:00

I realize I am not going to win any awards for my dilligence in blogging.... because I am so bad about keeping it updated and entertaining! Hah, I just blame it on being really busy doing what I love day in and day out! That being said, I will try... for the month of October to put lots of pictures up for you to see! I am trying to find a happy medium between keeping my website updated..(last year I was great at that, and terrible at blogging).. and keeping facebook up to date....(the most up to date of the three!)... and so, this year since the epiphany of Facebook... I haven't really touched my website... and the blog is not really entertaining. So... I took a minute this weekend and changed the colors and made it more along the lines of my colors and style of the website... and I promised myself that this month I will make it better! Try to update it along with Facebook. The website, I will worry about in December.... and I will post new pics from 2009.... for the onset of 2010! At least that is the plan... let's see what happens!
Have a great day today!
D

Harley Chick!

2009-10-03T12:14:00.002-05:00

Traci is my beautiful friend who my Mother in Law calls, "Smiles and Sunshine!" And that just fits Traci's personality! She has a new love in her life for her Harley and we wanted to celebrate lots of new possibilities in her life right now, so we decided to go out to my new place that will eventually be where the new studio is, to try for some amazing images, and I think we got some!! It was the hottest day of the entire year I think, but Traci was a trooper.... Harley chicks are tuff you know!
D

Christmas Cards for 2009

2009-09-25T11:19:00.004-05:00

Hey! I just wanted to let you all see the Christmas card designs I am offering this season! I think I went overboard designing.. because it's showing I just uploaded 166 files!! The link is: http://www.2009christmas.weddingherald.com/ and anyone who has had their photos taken this past year is welcome to pick a design and get with me on the details! A set of cards includes your choice of parchment or white envelops... and your choice of papers. I offer linen, watercolor, or glossy! All of my cards will be either 5x5 square or 5x7s... depending on the design you choose. A set of 25 cards is $65.00, or two sets for $115. All cards are custom designed with your details and photos, and will be two sided... even though some of my designs on this link don't show both sides.. you will certainly have two sides!

Have a great week!

Lekeitha and James at the Castle on the Lake

2009-09-22T10:42:00.007-05:00

I LOVE THIS COUPLE. I LOVE THIS COUPLE. I LOVE THIS COUPLE!

I could just write that a thousand times and that be my blog post on this wedding! Lekeitha and James are so beautiful together... inside and out. I just cannot tell you how well we all clicked! I love my brides... I really do! I have been so blessed with the people I have gotten to know over the years.. and Lekeitha and James are no exception! THE MORNING AFTER their wedding.. she and James called Russell and I just to tell us what a great time they had, and how wonderful their day was. I was so touched, that I kept her answering machine message for over a month!

Every time we have talked we just say over and over how we feel like we have known each other all our lives, and we feel like we are sisters!!! The emotions, and love, and excitement of their day was all through the air... really and honestly.. there was NO WAY anyone at that wedding didn't KNOW this couple was the real deal!

(And... I learned a new song.. Lekeitha is gonna kill me... but now I have bought this song and ride around in my little convertible listening to it and laughing about the videographer asking... is this called STINKY LEG... or STANKY LEG?) HA HA HA HA HA!!!!

I'm back from Vacation!

2009-09-17T16:39:00.005-05:00

Russell and I had a GREAT time in Colorado!! We went over the mountains and through the snow storms, and saw such beautiful sights that have me wondering.. .why do I live here iin Texas? I saw TWO MOUNTAIN LIONS! Wow! Okay, maybe THAT's why I live in Texas!

I have been so busy shooting all the fabulous ladies doing the 4HEO (4 His Eyes Only) Sessions, but I don't share those with you all, because those are ultra romantic and for HIS Eyes ONLY!

Want to see some family pictures instead? I know.. not QUITE as exciting... but close!

FOR HIS EYES ONLY!!

2009-08-12T19:53:00.005-05:00

I finally got around to adding a section on my website for all of the boudoir sessions! Click the image above for more details!

Official Announcement of the $99 Urban Vogue Special!

2009-08-11T11:37:00.001-05:00

These sessions are regularly priced at $175.... :)
D
(click on the image to see it larger enough to read, unless you have super human eyesight and can read it like it is!... if so... YOU R SUPERMAN, CALL ME!!)

Brianna's Urban Vogue Session!

2009-08-11T11:02:00.006-05:00

I just love love love the Urban Vogue Sessions! My customers bring in loads of clothes that can be layered and mixed and matched... and then I just go through everything and we make up our own signature look! I have tons of hats, leggings, skirts, etc.... that we mix in to add some flair to what they bring in.. and it is just so much fun!

These sessions are really best to do in the Fall due to the layers of clothes.. but we can do them anytime!

We did Brianna's session as a back to school celebration, and a reason for her Mom to buy her the cute fur boots that we all loved!

In honor of Fall, and how much fun these sessions are... I am reducing the sitting fee on these sessions from now through the end of the year, to just $99!!!!

I am dreaming of Fall, and leaves, and cooler weather!!

So Busy Busy these Hot Summer Days!

2009-08-11T10:56:00.002-05:00

Hey there! Just thought I would post something new for this month... I have been very busy getting the new studio renovated (sp?)... which is a slow process... one thing leads to another and that needs to be updated before we can move on to this.... so one day I hope to be in my new place and be able to share pics with you all!

Here is something I have been working on lately... between updating my Facebook status and keeping new pics posted there, I have neglected my meager blog.... with new pics... so here are a few for you!

This is Kourtney and Angel.... I love her vintage style! The car was beautiful.. and I just thought these images needed a vintage feel!

Too Hot or Not?

2009-07-17T15:56:00.006-05:00

Are these pictures TOO HOT? I did Julie and Chad's engagement session yesterday and I was blown away with this couple.. they should seriously professionally model! My shooting style isn't "posey posey"... I am more comfortable with directing people to do what you would naturally do... LOVE ON EACH OTHER! I say that a lot! Just snuggle in close, and love on each other! haha! Anyhow.. these two lit my lens on fire I swear! WOW!

Anyhow.. here are just a few... I really did take some normal shots... and if any of you are wondering whether I take pictures that you see hanging on Mother's walls, or the kind in the newspapers, well, SURE... but we all see those all of the time.. at least I do... so I catch myself sharing all the fun ones that knock my socks off.... so I guess I really should share a Mom shot or two...okay...I'll thow one in the mix....Because the first ones certainly aren't MOM SHOTS!

My FaceBook Announcement!

2009-07-09T16:21:00.004-05:00

Hey all! I have a username for Facebook if anyone wants to find me there... it is:
www.facebook.com/photographybydena

I have an announcement on Facebook that is generating a lot of emails. I offered that for the month of September, ANYONE whom we have photographed in the past.. whether that be from a wedding, family pictures, bridals... whatever and HOWEVER LONG AGO... that you can have a free session with me in the month of September, if you book before all of the spots are taken. This is a great time to go ahead and have portraits made that you will be using for Holiday cards and gifts!!!! (Or.. if you have had a new addition to your family since the last portrait session!)

This thought came to me in the middle of the night last night... lots of our brides and grooms just think of us as wedding photographers, but we want to be around for the memories for everything... so.... email me... and lets get something setup for September!

Customer (Friend) Appreciation Month!
D

The perils of Photographing naked Babies!

2009-07-08T10:31:00.002-05:00

Look closely at this image.... it makes me laugh everytime I see it! The baby is watching it.. and the Mom and Dad have no clue what is about to happen! Do you?
HAHAHAHAHA!
I love my job!
D

Rachel and Sloan's wedding Hilights!

2009-07-07T20:14:00.001-05:00

Shalyn's Wedding Slideshow!

2009-06-30T12:01:00.002-05:00

I know I have posted pics from Shalyn and Andrew's wedding back in March, but Shalyn saw my little slideshow of Jere Lyn's wedding and liked it, so I made her one too! Here it is... just some of my faves from their fabulous wedding!
D

Castle on The Lake

2009-06-29T15:39:00.001-05:00

Kameron and Jerelyn's Love Story Session

2009-06-03T12:05:00.005-05:00

This is the kind of presentation slideshow you will see when you come in for your viewing sessions! They are soooo fun... and usually emotional to watch... so I always have plenty of kleenex!

Love this couple... aren't they just like supermodels? Their wedding will be in just over a week at the Castle in Jacksonville.... we should have some killer shots from this wedding! So excited!

I will try and post a direct link to another site where I have this show posted alittle bit larger... so here we go: http://www.photodex.com/sharing/viewshow?fl=3104491&alb=149331

He is ONE!

2009-06-03T11:47:00.003-05:00

Isn't this the cutest little guy you have ever seen? Valerie and Zack's little man... so adorable!

I love this shot!

2009-06-03T11:44:00.002-05:00

Risky business here.... trespassing into a cow pasture to get this one... but it was worth it! Love the colors... and it was Shay and her Mom's plan to climb over the barbwire for their secret spot to shoot this one!

Danielle

2009-06-03T11:38:00.001-05:00

Here are some pics that I forgot to post... I do bridals and keep those secret, so they usually never make it to the blog... but here are some from Danielle's shoot!

Helloooooo Summah!

2009-06-03T11:34:00.003-05:00

Hey everybody... I just realized that with all of my Facebooking.. I really am neglecting my lil' ole blog... so let's see... what do I have that I can post for you all? How bout some from Britian and Bryan's E-session?

Stephanie and Clint...the craziest, most AWESOME couple ever!

2009-05-13T16:12:00.004-05:00

OMG.. I LOVE THESE TWO! We had such a great time finding new delapitated places to shoot their engagement pictures.... but my most favorite of all was when we went out to the dock to do some cutsie-feet-in-the-water pics... and I halfway pleeded, halfway hoped.. that they would take me seriously... suggested that we finish their perfect session with a dive in the LAKE!!!.... here is what happened!
LOVE THEM! You guys rock!!!
D

Clint and Stephanie.... when they were still dry!

2009-05-13T16:10:00.003-05:00

Bluebonnet Babes!

2009-04-29T16:55:00.002-05:00

OH, I just can't tell you all how much I love my job! Brian and Angie were married a few years ago and we did their fabulous wedding down in Brenham at the coolest old depot and in a chapel that is every photographer's dream.... BUT... I am not posting this about how great their wedding was... but about how beautiful their two children are! It is so amazing to share in the memories of someone's wedding day, and then such an honor to be allowed to photograph the children that come from that day! I really mean it when I say it is an honor!
:)
D

Super Fun!

2009-04-29T16:48:00.003-05:00

A few weeks ago we got to shoot Andrew and Shalyn's gorgeous wedding.. and I just fell in love with this couple! The whole day was all about their love and the celebration of it! Shalyn was a super bride and ALWAYS willing to strike a pose... my kinda chick!
Have a great day!
D

Something else for a Tuesday!

2009-04-21T13:06:00.003-05:00

Since I have been so busy painting and spiffying-up my new studio space, I have barely had a chance to find time to update the blog.. .so while I am at it, I might as well show you some fun stuff I have been doing lately! Here is the beautiful Jorden's announcement, and the fabulous Kenzi's 411 card.. and of course the stunning Paige's announcement as well! I have been having lots of fun photographing these seniors lately!
D

Cutie Patootie!

2009-04-21T13:03:00.002-05:00

Hi!
It's been so long since I logged in on my blog that I didn't remember how! That is bad! (My excuse this time is FACEBOOK!) I have been updating and posting some pics there and forgot about my blog stuff. Sooooooo if you wanna be my friend on Facebook... please add me.... I am addicted!

Here is the adorable little Bekkah.... so cute with the brightest blue icing I have ever seen!
D

A picture for Paige!

2009-04-08T21:49:00.002-05:00

Hey! Sorry about not posting lots of new things... but I have been alittle bit busy lately. We have just purchased some new property which has a great little house that I will be converting into my studio space within the next few months! I am soooo excited... this has been 6 years coming! (In my previous post I mentioned having some news... and a few weeks ago when we found out that we were getting this place, I was so excited that I posted on my facebook page, "I have some exciting news" and everyone I know called my Mother and told her they thought we were having a baby... that is why the ALL CAPS statement below.)
OKAY... here is just one from Paige's senior session! Had lots of fun with this photogenic girl! Thanks for trying out the fun stuff and hiking into "forbidden" places with me! :)
D

Kelli's Senior Video

2009-04-05T16:13:00.005-05:00

Wow... the last few weeks have been a blur... I have been working on something that will be final this coming week... so I am super excited to share the news with all of you... NO I AM NOT PREGNANT! Haha! Kelli.. I had a lot of fun with you and your Mom on this shoot.. I put this together so you can remember all the fun we had behind the scenes! I will have your images ready in a week or so! D

Gretchen and Mike's Wedding Album

2009-03-19T13:56:00.005-05:00

Here's an example of Gretchen and Mike's Photo Album that I have been trying to finish for the last couple of days! I am trying to get it to upload to my facebook page, but not having a lot of luck so far! Happy Thursday! D

MKay... here's A Whopper of a Deal!

2009-03-18T17:26:00.003-05:00

Well.. I have been getting so many inquiries about the Free the Dress sessions, and I am just so excited about these! I have decided to offer something really special- since these sessions are brand new, I am going to offer an introductory special! Ready? Here is what you will get:

*A 2 hour session with me, with a couple of locations
*A killer video of the making of...like the one below... edgy style!
*Anywhere from 70 to 100 images taken, all photoshopped and "Dena-fied"
AND....
* THE DISC of the negatives.. FULL RESOLUTION....copyreleased!!!
I am going to offer all of this in a package EXCLUSIVE to the FREE THE DRESS SESSIONS, for $600.00

My market so far for these sessions seems to be for couples who want to make a statement... for brides who want to have cool artwork for their walls.. and for couples who may not have gotten to live it up and go to several locations on their wedding day to photograph the joy and spunk in their relationship!

I am going to offer this pacakge for a limited time... but I am playing with the idea of... and I will just throw this out there..and depending on the response, we will decide to set this in stone or not, but I have just had a wedding to be moved from the 6th of June... so now I have that whole weekend open.. and I was considering offering this package as a BEACH SHOOT in Galveston!! Soooooo... if any of you are interested in doing a FREE THE DRESS session on the beach... WATER SHOTS! Just zip me an email, drstrban@consolidated.net and let me know if you are interested! I would need to be able to firm up details and have enough takers to make it possible... so lets say our deadline to sign up and schedule would be May 1st!
SOOOOO excited!
D

Liscense to Wed

2009-03-05T11:43:00.003-06:00

I am working on Morgan and Josh's wedding images today, and came across this great group shot of the Boys.. and played atlittle with it... here is my take on the groomsmen shot!
D

THE VIDEO!

2009-03-04T17:54:00.003-06:00

Trash the Dress...The Making Of! from Dena Strban on Vimeo.

Is my husband talented or what? LOVING THIS VIDEO RUSSELL!!!
D

Wanna See More?

2009-03-04T09:11:00.002-06:00

I am making up for all of my non-blogging.. with one photo session here! Hah... but I am just so excited about this session... I see all of my sweet comments here today, and I noticed that CHAD wrote one about his wife Kim... and I want to send this note out there into the world... CHAD... when it gets warmer will you do the other half of this FREE THE DRESS session with your wife and us on the beach?
(I also noticed that my man wrote me the sweetest comment too! Love you, you're my best friend!)
D

Free The Dress Part Two!

2009-03-03T18:29:00.006-06:00

Another slideshow from the Free the Dress session. What are these sessions? Well, we go out after your wedding... can be right after your honeymoon.. or for an Anniversary.. and we do high fashion photos that are alittle different than the portraits you may have had made before the wedding day! I have been trying to come up with words to describe these sessions.. and I keep thinking, high fashion.. fun... edgy...out of the box...KILLER!
D

High Fashion Photo Shoot... Free the Dress..Trash the Dress. from Dena Strban on Vimeo.

FREE THE DRESS!

2009-03-03T17:39:00.005-06:00

Just another slideshow of the Free the Dress Photo shoot.. this one is larger so you can see the images better... and that IS what it is all about right? Hah! D

Trash the Dress

2009-03-03T16:13:00.011-06:00

Well.... Sortof!
I HATE the saying Trash the Dress... and if you haven't heard of Trashing The Dress, it has nothing to do with getting a divorce! Ha ha... this has become the buzz of the hip photography community, and is really a growing trend among contemporary brides. What is Trashing the Dress? Well... I call it, "FREE THE DRESS".... because it is a NEW DAY! When you think about it, you store your wedding dress, and really don't ever get it out again.... well.. why not FREE the dress now that the wedding has passed... (Yeah, that means getting to relive the feeling of being the center of attention all dolled up in the gown...AGAIN!) Take it to places you would never go before the wedding... up in a tree.... laying on a beach.... sitting on the hood of a truck.... take her out and let her LIVE.... for the sake of having Killer images that no other bride has (and for getting to wear it twice!) We don't TRASH the dress.... we celebrate it.. and if it gets a little wet.... it can be cleaned and then stored again!

Kim excitedly agreed to come along with me for a marathon shoot, and to celebrate almost two years of marriage with some super.. wait.... STUPID HOT... isn't that right Kimi? Some Stupid HOT images from her FREE THE DRESS SESSION!
Russell did some video for us, but that is being editting now..... I just couldn't wait to share these.....how bout this for a great incentive to get brave and have some fun..stay tuned for the video!
D

The Wedded Bliss Magazine!

2009-03-02T11:46:00.003-06:00

What is the Wedded Bliss? Just the greatest magazine in East Texas... for wedding announcements, vendors, wedding articles and of course photos! This is the announcement I did for Amy and Dustin's wedding this past Fall. I was cleaning off my computer for last Quarter and ran across this file.. and realized I hadn't shared it yet!

London!

2009-03-02T11:39:00.002-06:00

I just LOVE London and all her cute expressions! April and I had such a fun shoot with little 7 month old London, dressed as a teeny cupid for Valentine's!!

I am very behind in blog postings... but have some of my favorite images in a file waiting for me to share them... so stay tuned for some fun stuff to come!

Have a great week, and a Happy Monday!

My Cartoon Family!

2009-02-12T10:51:00.005-06:00

Hah... look what I found yesterday! I was ordering myself some marketing postcards and then got carried away with these little caricatures! I know I am a complete dork.... because I ordered myself a baseball cap to match the one I am wearing as my cartoon self.. .with my cartoon self on it! Hahah! (My first two dogs are names after the Ewoks.. they are shih tzus and looked like the ewok babies.. so I researched ewok names- yeah, apparently they actually have names....!) Sahara is the color of the desert, and was "deserted" under our hot tub deck.... (but you and I both know I actually named her after the movie Sahara because of Matthew McConaughey! HAVE YOU ALL HEARD HIS COMMERCIALS ON THE RADIO FOR BEEF??? I DON'T EAT BEEF BUT I TELL YA, I AM READY TO RUSH RIGHT OUT AND ORDER ME A WHOLE COW, I ALMOST RAN OFF THE ROAD WHEN I HEARD HIM SAY, "BEEF...IT'S WHAT'S FOR DINNER!") Then there is the little devil herself.... Bianca... she is a full blood Yorkshire TERROR! Russell calls her, "the Rat"... but she was actually named after the cartoon, The Rescuers.... because she looked like the dainty little mouse girl called, "Bianca". I kept telling Russell that we needed a little boy yorkie to name Bernard, but that was before we got her and she showed us her RAT side! haha!

Anyhow... if any of you are interested, the website that I found these on is http://www.vistaprint.com/ !

More Valentine's cards!

2009-01-29T17:42:00.001-06:00

Just another Valentine card.... this one is from Jackie and Andy's engagement session that we did in 32 degree weather! Nothing like some kisses to keep you from freezing...I just huddled up to my Canon!

Merry Christmas from ME!

2009-01-29T17:21:00.002-06:00

Hah... it just dawned on me that I never shared my own Christmas card with you! I thought it was pretty funny! We had Russell's Mom stand under the traffic camera as we drove through the light about 50 times.... then finally decided to get the perfect shot, we needed to come to a complete stop in the intersection.... so we took a deep breath and did it... and looked back, waved, smiled.. .then I turned around to see that the light really was turning red!!!

You all will have to click on the images to see them large enough to read it. This was a trifold card!

I told ya'll we were dorks!

Valentine Cards!

2009-01-29T12:05:00.002-06:00

I know.. I am the world's worst blogger... didn't post any of the sessions I did for Christmas... none of the Fall weddings... no engagements as of late.... so sorry guys! I don't stress about my blog anymore... and I like it! :)

Here is something fun of Emma and Callie... such cuties... I have photographed these lovely ladies all of their lives... and I think that is a pretty cool honor!

Have a Happy Thursday!

Baby Kate!

2009-01-23T10:47:00.004-06:00

Karla and Nick and baby Kate (I think she will forever be Baby Kate!)... I posted Karla's maternity pic several weeks ago, and told the story of how Nick is in Iraq and wasn't able to be here for Kate's arrival, but just last week he got to come home for a few days, and is now gone again... but I was so honored to get to photograph them last Friday while they were all together! Such a special photograph to me! Love you guys, and thanks for letting me be a part of this memory!

She told me I could!

2009-01-23T10:33:00.003-06:00

Haha!

Britian told me that I could share her Boudoir (okay.. I HAVE to come up with a better name than Boudoir... I KNOW that is what they traditionally have been called, but you girls brainstorm and come up with me something cool.... maybe I will give out a sitting fee to someone who inspires me!) Anyhow... I have been really busy with the Valentine specials lately... but I don't talk about those unless someone tells me too... and so... here is Britian! Just to give you ladies an idea of what these sessions are.... so don't be scared to feel beautiful!

Happy New Year by the Way!

Oh Loookie!

2009-01-08T19:08:00.003-06:00

Okay... this shot gave me chills when I pushed the shutter on my camera... I am totally in LOVE with this child..I wonder if Joy and John will lease her out to me for other people's maternity sessions? Haha!
D

Valentine's Day Special for the Married Ladies!

2009-01-08T18:39:00.004-06:00

For the next two weeks, I am offering this GREAT deal on a Romantic Boudior session. This session is a little more romantic than the old fashion "Glamour portraits" that we all used to have done in the mall, but don't let it scare you... by romantic, I don't mean "Nudie" hah ha! You can wear whatever you like.. I usually recommend some cute pj's.... or something with luxurious textures like satins or silks, and of course high heels!! You can even wear jeans.... (I did some really cute sessions lately with rose petals and denim jeans... so cute!) I don't even sell these proofbooks because by themselves they are $100.00,... but I want you all to have something really unique and special this Valentine's Day...so here it is... the BEST PRESENT YOU CAN GIVE YOURSELF, contrary to what you ladies may initially think about taking photographs like these, (and it's not what you think!)so far, every single lady brave enough to give it a try has told me that they never felt more beautiful... and the Man you love will second that when he sees THIS Valentine's present!
D
(Click the Image to enlarge and see the details!) Hurry Hurry... we have to have these sessions DONE before February!

I Can Only Imagine!

2008-12-22T20:45:00.018-06:00

Well... we delivered the gifts to the boy's home today, and we saw so many many smiles and happy faces! We have been blessed by this experience this Christmas and now so have 44 boys who would not have had anything this Christmas if it weren't for all of your thoughtfulness and giving hearts! We had enough money donated to get four bicycles and then had two other bikes purchased as gifts! We were able to give every child either a skateboard or a small remote control car, in addition to your individual gifts. We also had ladies bake cookies all day on Saturday, so the kids had a mini party as they opened their presents today. Thank you to all of you who wrapped with us on Saturday for hours on end, and took your time today to help deliver and make this possible. Greg, Vicky, Tosha, Josh, Jessica, Barbara, Raymond, Sherri, Russell, Grannie, Susan, and Angi... thank you for baking and wrapping!

I can't post pictures of the kids for privacy reasons... but I will leave you with this image. We watched the kids open the presents and saw their faces when they said, "Just what I wanted..." but one boy brought me to tears, and I just held up my camera and cried behind it... he stood in the middle of the room and sang this song to us...... Here are the words:

"I can only imagine what it will be like, when I walk by Your side...I can only imagine, what my eyes will see, when Your Face is before me!
I can only imagine. I can only imagine.
Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?Will I sing 'Hallelujah!'? Will I be able to speak at all?I can only imagine! I can only imagine!
I can only imagine, when that day comes, when I find myself standing in the Son!I can only imagine, when all I will do, is forever, forever worship You!I can only imagine! I can only imagine!
Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?Will I sing 'Hallelujah!'? Will I be able to speak at all?I can only imagine! Yeah! I can only imagine!
Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?Will I sing 'Hallelujah!'? Will I be able to speak at all?I can only imagine! Yeah! I can only imagine!
I can only imagine! Yeah! I can only imagine!! Only imagine!!!I can only imagine.
I can only imagine, when all I do is forever, forever worship You!I can only imagine."
Merry Christmas, and remember the simple things this Christmas; we have so many blessings to count. Dr. DeVore would be so proud.
D

THE OVERWHELMING CHRISTMAS SPIRIT!

2008-12-08T16:09:00.006-06:00

LOOK! I cannot believe that in just a few days we managed to get every name spoken for! Those of you who have pledged to send in contributions, those are sooooo appreciated! I have marked a name off every time I get enough money pledged! Once all of the shoes are purchased, and toys bought, I hope to have enough money to buy socks and stuffers for all of the stockings, and as much group toys as we can. We want to get some things that all of the children can share, and I have gotten some great suggestions about legos, puzzles, Lincoln logs, movies, games.... and a bike, since they are just sharing the one bicycle. If you still want to help, or know someone who does, no one and NOTHING will be turned away! I had lots of emails on Friday when I first sent out the note about these kids, of people wanting to help, but I didn't know the shoe sizes then... and the GREAT part is, that a lot of those people who initially emailed, haven't gotten a chance to pick a child today, and ALL THE NAMES ARE TAKEN ALREADY! haha.... But I don't want it to appear that that is a bad thing at all, we are now at the point that if you would like to be involved, and all of the names are taken... you can still give or make a contribution, that all the children can share, that would be a great thing to do! Used toys, clothes, games... whatever you want....Lots have mentioned footballs and games and the other items I keep listing... so please don't feel left out at all. I also want to extend the offer to anyone who wants to come with us on the 22nd to see the children when our "Santa" stops by!!
THANK YOU FOR OPENING YOUR HEARTS AND BEING SO THOUGHTFUL!

I thought I would show you the stockings... Russell in his work clothes taking a break and skipping lunch to put glitter names on the stockings!
D

A Christmas Favor Continued....

2008-12-05T18:56:00.029-06:00

OH MY GOSH... I am just overwhelmed at the response I have gotten to this idea! (If I can type straight with the tears in my eyes!)....

I cannot tell you how impressed, elated, touched, overwhelmed.... speechless, and emotional I am at the emails and offers to support a child! THANK YOU SO MUCH for being a Christmas Angel,
you all are you know!

Okay... I have just gotten the administrators to FINALLY give me a list... although they didn't give us wishes .... but we don't have a lot of time to get this going... so I am going to pass around the info that they DID give us..... (Cristy says these children have been through a lot of trauma in their little lives, and a lot of them are on a lower functioning level than their age predicts.) The 15 year old was interested in a Batmobile... and the 9 year old told her that he wanted, "crush" for molding a volcano.. she finally figured out he meant modeling clay!

My sister tried to talk to some of the boys yesterday to get ideas of things they would like... AND MY GOODNESS..... I can't wrap my brain around what it must be like for children NOT to have Santa come visit them...*funny story*.... she mentioned Santa and the reindeer and his sleigh, and this little boy said, "No, Santa doesn't come in a sleigh, last year he came to visit in a VAN!" I don't want to think about the years past.... just what we are going to shock them with this year! Cristy said that the only toys they know are things they have seen on TV... they know about The Hulk, and Batman, and star wars, and McDonald's, (one little guy told her he wanted Santa to bring him a Happy Meal.) ......and remote control cars.... and they know of this because of commercials because all they have comes from the Dollar Store. She said that if she brings in a new prop to teach with they ask her, "Did you get that at the Dollar Store... Dollar Tree? Family Dollar?" They have never gotten to walk down the toy aisle and see what is out there. So I really think we all have the freedom to get whatever we want....I don't know how to coordinate it so that the kids are equal though. I was thinking about maybe suggesting that all of you who want to help, maybe just pick a name, so I will know that each one is taken care of.... and if you will get them the shoes first..... I checked at Wal-Mart and they ranged from $10.00 to $20.00 for tennis shoes.......and then if you can, a toy... maybe no more than a $30 toy..... so we are keeping them equal. I would LOVE to give them tons and tons... but I don't want for one child to have a $100.00 gift and one to have less..... I have no idea what all will come in once we all start opening our hearts. When everything gets turned in, I am HOPING to have enough, to maybe give them more than just one $30.00 gift... maybe double up.....

You guys just do what you can, I know things are tight this year.... and if you can do shoes AND a toy... great... if you want to just buy toys..... I will get what we are missing once we get everything in.

I cannot tell you how excited I am about this! If some of you wanted to take a couple of kids that is fine too... just get back to me with a name when you can...... and then if we start getting lots of toys I will start doling it out so we keep them even, that is the main thing I worry about.

ANY IDEAS?

Lots of you have mentioned donating used clothing, and I think that is a great idea.... I know kids might NEED clothes, but might not dream of a new pair of socks under their tree! So I think what we will do with the used clothing we'll just donate all of that without wrapping it. Also... some have mentioned used bikes or things to donate to all of the children, and that is wonderful too! ANY WAY YOU CAN HELP!

The male director said that he dreamed of getting the kids some kind of "gaming station"....(I assume Play station or whatever).... and the lady director said, NO NO NO..... DONT LISTEN TO HIM, YOU HAVE SEEN THAT THESE KIDS NEED SHOES FIRST!!!

If you want to send a monetary contribution that is wonderful, and I will try to even out what we are missing. I can get a letterhead, I am sure, from the Youth and Family Enrichment Center, for tax purposes if you need that.
My address is 2216 S. FM 1194
Lufkin 75904

My studio room is smallish but you all can just drop off stuff in there... the office manager is there during the day from 8 -5 and then on Fridays till noon. If I need to come in one Saturday and man the studio to take drop offs I certainly will do that.... or do pickups, I can. I am located on the corner of Bledsoe and Ellis street...(you turn on Bledsoe from Frank, right across from Mom's diner.) I am inside a physical therapy office, but my sign is out front too. I think, our deadline needs to be Wednesday the 17th..... which is a little less than two weeks away. We will get whatever else we are missing and wrap everything that following weekend..... and my Santa (a.k.a. Russell or my Father in Law).... will pass out the gifts Monday the 22nd. You are all welcome to come and see! I hope to be able to take pictures of the children opening the gifts for you... but I will have to see what the Children's Home feels about that.

I knew I had great friends, and have gotten to meet so many

unforgettable people with my photography, but you all have

touched my heart and made MY Christmas this year!

Here is the list:

(Ages 15 to 17 and would be adult shoe sizes)
Deldrine M. 10 ....NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL
Travon G. 9 ....NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL
Todd B. 9 1/2 ...NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL
Mark V. 13 .....NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL
Chris W. 13 ....NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL
Doug F. 10 ....NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL
Chris B. 13 ....NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL
Marco G. 10 .....NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL

(Ages 13 to 15 and would be adult shoe sizes)
Curtis S. 9 1/2 .....NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL
Ben B. 8 ....NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL
Robert W. 10 ....NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL
Alvaro L. 7 1/2 ....NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL
Damian C. 9 1/2 ....NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL
Collin H. 10 1/2 ....NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL
Jeremy F. 8 1/2 .....NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL
Alex W. 8 1/2 .....NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL
Nick C. 8 ....NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL
Roger R. 9 1/2 ....NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL

(Ages 13 to 15 and would be adult shoe sizes)
Justin E. 15....NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL
J.R. H. 10 1/2 .....NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL
Billy R. 10 ......NAME TAKEN BY A CHRSTMAS ANGEL
Jonathan P. 10w .....NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL
Louis B. 10 1/2 .....NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL
David R. 7 ....NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL
Chay M. 11 ......NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL
Ricky M. 12 ......NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL
Angel Z. 14 or 13w ......NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL

(Ages 8 to 10 and would be kid shoe sizes)
Kris N. 3 1/2 ...NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL
Alex J. 2 ....NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL
Nathaniel M. 3 ....NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL
Donavan P. 2 .....NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL

(Ages 11 to 13 and would be adult shoe size... except for Dyquaris, he is a kid size)
Steven N. 7 .....NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL
Jordan P. 7 ......NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL
Patrick 6 ....NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL
Sabastien L. 6 ....NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL
Sean 5 ....NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL
Kelsie W. 7 1/2 ....NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL
Ethan H. 7 ....NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL
A.J. H. 9 1/2 .....NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL
Dyquaris S. 3...NAME TAKEN BY A CHRISTMAS ANGEL

WOW... I am so excited I can hardly sort Christmas cards!! (I am, I promise, for those of you waiting on yours!).... We have ALL names taken!!!!

...If I am "allowed" to ask for something else.... (I feel like I can't possibly ask because of what ALL you are doing) but here goes... .. if anyone still wants to participate, if you will send a monetary gift....whatever at all.... We have a Christmas Angel who has gotten stockings for all of the boys, and we are planning on stuffing all of them with equal little gifts.... so that is something else your money will go toward. Also....I am "hoping" with fingers crossed... to have enough money gifted to get a bicycle for each house that these kids are grouped in....!!! That is my big plan.... well.... on top of pulling this off!! We have lots more things in the works... all of the donations, and offers, and clothing and extra toys..... donate ANYTHING you want too now, because at least each child will now have a $30 toy!!!

THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO KEEP MAKING ME CRY EVERYTIME I OPEN ANOTHER EMAIL FROM YOU!

A Christmas Favor!

2008-12-05T18:55:00.001-06:00

An email I sent out yesterday....

Hey guys... I normally don't send form letters.... but I am trying to set something up.... let me know what you think if you have a second here.....

My sister is a speech therapist in Tyler... three of her clients are boys who live in the Boys Home there.... she has told me some stories that will not only break your heart, but crush it into teeny tiny pieces. Yesterday she called me and said that her 14 year old client came in with something wrapped in NEWSPAPER... and it ended up being some old garage sale books that someone had donated to the home... but they were NEW to the boys.... anyhow.. the boy came in and handed Cristy a book wrapped in this newspaper and he said, "Early Merry Christmas to you."...... He wrapped it in the newspaper because that is all he had.

OKAY.... then last week she told me this story about her other 8 year old client who came in the week after Halloween and was so sad that he couldn't do his lesson.. he asked her if she would just read him a book during their hour together.... so she did.... and he wanted to sit beside her on the couch, rather than across the table from her.... so they did. And he leaned his head on her shoulder and said, "Thank you Mommy." She corrected him and said, You know you can't call me that.... and he said, " I know."... then when they finished the book he looked up at her and said, "thank you Mommy." and she smiled back and he said, " I know..... but I like to pretend".

OKAY... HEART BREAKING YET?

I had this idea that I was going to sponsor the three children that she sees... then the more I thought about it yesterday, the guiltier I felt... what about the other kids when they see these three with new toys? Soo, I have been on the phone this morning and we are going to do a toy and shoe drive for this home..... I will have more info by noon today when they make more calls and get me numbers and suggestions. So far I have that the boys like toy cars and army men and hulk and batman.

Cristy has given them teeny "prizes" once in a while from the Dollar store and these kids CHERISH them like they were thousand dollar gifts. Another story.... last year when she first started there, she saw another child and to get to know them she asked him what he liked to do for fun... she said that his eyes lit up and he said, "OH MISS CRISTY... MISS SO AND SO'S LITTLE BOY OUTGREW HIS BIKE SO SHE LET US HAVE IT AND WHEN IT IS MY TURN TO RIDE IT THAT IS MY MOST FAVORITE THING!!

OKAY..... I really want to help with this..... so I am going to blog about this and send out an email that says this very thing to whoever I can. I will setup a place in my studio to take collections... and we will come up with a date in the next little while..... to have everything turned in by.

If I do this, would you help spread the word? This is the real deal.. these kids need shoes, but would love a toy... so I want to see what we all can do in the Spirit of Christmas and giving! I will be in touch with more info but please let me know if you are interested!

Let me know what you think!

Merry Christmas to All....

2008-11-18T15:58:00.007-06:00

I am seeing Christmas cards everywhere I look.... there are Christmas cards in piles all around me... and I just CANNOT wait, to share Russell and my Christmas card with you, but I won't...I will keep you in suspense for maybe another week.... I will show you Julie and Giff's card, because it is beautiful and matches the colors from their wedding!
D

The Video of the CRANK!

2008-11-14T12:27:00.005-06:00

I think maybe CRANK might be slang for some kinda drug...but that is not the crank I know about! haha! I have been intermingling a lot of mine and Russell's personal life in my blog.... photography is so much a part of our life together... and he knows all about you guys... so I have been sharing more about US with you all. If any of you have been keeping up with my blog, you have seen all the car stuff.. maybe read that Russell has been bulidng this kit car for forever with his friend, Dr. DeVore, who passed away almost a month ago. You also will remember, if you have been reading.. that just a few days before he passed away, Russell, after working relentlessly since July, stayed up for a few days trying to crank the car for the very first time, so Dr.DeVore could hear it. When we video taped the cobra cranking and went into DeVore's room, after showing him the tape, Russell said to him, "I wish there was something I could do for you." and Dr. DeVore found the words to say, "You already have." Maybe you can see why this silly car cranking means so much to us.

This is the video of when the Cobra finally cranked for him...I was crying, and shaking, and using my cell phone as my camera.... so just remember I am a photographer and not a videographer!
D

Lots to Look at!

2008-11-14T12:09:00.003-06:00

Joy and her beautiful children came in for a session a few weeks ago, and they are another family who has chosen to do a Memory book of their favorite images. I am just in LOVE with these books... (can ya'll tell from all the slideshows?) I never really got a chance to offer these products before I started showing my images in a presentation session.... now we can go over ideas for books.... cards, wall arrangements... right there together in our presentation sessions! It is so much fun, I will never look back to the old days of just online proofing!
D

On a Roll!

2008-11-14T11:58:00.004-06:00

Okay... I am liking the slideshows..... so I think I will just blog slideshows of albums for the rest of the day! haha! I am just doing slideshows today of the albums that I have on my computer workspace today.... lots of albums lately! Here is Josh's album... he graduated last year, but we have just finished laying out his book!
D

Claire's Album

2008-11-14T11:49:00.004-06:00

Now, I am getting the hang of this slideshow posting! I will post Claire and Joey's album... they pick the images that are their favorites, and then we work together to come up with a layout that tells their story! This album comes in my Diamond Wedding Collection by the way! It is a hard paged flushmounted wedding album... really impressive with it's black leather covers!
D

Cole William Axelson's Photo Memory Book

2008-11-14T11:29:00.003-06:00

Let's see if this works.. I am trying something that I haven't done in a really long time.. posting a slideshow!
I have been really busy lately, making these custom memory books. They are a great way to showcase all of your favorite images, in beautiful layouts, in a magazine style hardbound book! I have several options for these books.... a 20 page 10x10 photobook with hardbound custom cover is $375.00... but if you were to order 22 10x10 prints, you would spend over $800.00... so this is a great deal to have something to cherish as a keepsake forever! Makes me think I need to increase the price on those when I look at it that way! hah ha.... I do offer discounts on the books if you purchase them at the time of your presentation session!
Have a great afternoon!
D

Sunset Ceremony! (Have I already used that title?)

2008-11-12T10:50:00.004-06:00

Dustin and Amy, are married! Another Castle on the Lake wedding, what a cool place for a wedding. Every time we are there I find a new place to shoot! This couple was so much fun... willing to try whatever we came up with! They had lots of unique touches to the wedding day... instead of a unity candle they did the sand art pouring.... cool music.... hot pink accents, and my favorite of all.... instead of mint favors, they gave out koozies that were personalized and said, "Dustin and Amy got married and all I got was this koozie!"

Russell and I can't agree which one of us actually got this shot of the sun reflecting on the water... (I really know the truth!)

Beautiful Family

2008-11-12T10:38:00.003-06:00

Meet the brand new Axelson family! I really like this image... Cole was just a few DAYS old when we did this session, and he did great!

To change the subject.... Russell and I did OUR Christmas photo session this past Sunday afternoon... and we are such dorks! As I have blogged that I FINALLY have my convertible that I have waited for all my life... and Russell agreed to swallow his pride and have his photo taken in it with a Santa hat on!!!!

I PROMISE I will blog those when I get a chance...... Although a few of you saw us driving around the loop with our hats blowing in the wind... right Rhonda?! I almost fell off my chair laughing so hard when I came into the office and had a few emails from those of you who happened to witness our "unique" photo session! I won't explain it because it will be a surprise on our Christmas cards, but hopefully you all will laugh as much as we did while we were shooting it... actually my Mother in Law shot it for us... standing on the side of the loop trying to keep her sanity realizing that was her son and daughter in law acting like fools, all for a Christmas card photo!

Beautiful Stunning, Karla!

2008-11-12T10:23:00.002-06:00

My cousin Karla came into the studio last week for her maternity session and just glowed! She is due in a few weeks, and is really in need of all of your prayers and support. Her husband, Nick is serving our country and has been gone for most of her pregnancy. He is a member of the reserves (I think..... Karla, correct me if I am way off base!) Anyhow, just after they announced that they were expecting, Nick got his orders, but was expected to be back in time for the birth of their baby. Last week Karla flew to vist Nick, as he was still in the states, and he told her the news that because it had taken so long to ship him out, he was due to leave the next week to head overseas.... and wouldn't be back until the baby was several months old.

We love you Karla, and hopefully seeing how beautiful you look in this image, will lift your spirits this week!

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells...

2008-11-12T09:58:00.004-06:00

Hey!

I realize we haven't even hit Thanksgiving yet, but I have been in the Christmas spirit for a month now... I LOVE Christmas time! Having said that.... I am completely booked through the first week of December already, and so that means that I can't take anymore appointments for those of you needing prints for Christmas gifts or cards this year. Thank you to all of you who booked early and helped me get into the Christmas spirit!

I wanted to share with you a really fun and unique engagement session.... Kourtney and Angel are from Tyler and we did their session a few weeks ago... and Kourtney wanted something different... so they brought these props... the feather umbrella and vintage bike..... *which I will now be on the web looking for these things myself!!!!

Anyhow... here are just two of their images... I won't post more because they will be coming into the studio Friday night to view them in the slideshow with the music and romantic quotes!!!! I can just imagine the emotions in the air!

Honorable Mention

2008-11-06T08:47:00.007-06:00

I will type this quick... not that it matters because u guys will read it the same... but just know that I am typing quickly as not to linger and in my mind this will make it less of a "YAY ME" Post!

haha!

WAAAAY back in March I noticed an announcement in the Professional Photographer's magazine (oooh look... a link to the gallery!) that anyone could submit an image vying for the cover.... I thought, 'Hey, that would be cool." So I picked an image and sent it in. Well... in September right after we all lost power from the hurricane, I got a call that I thought was a scam... the lady said that I had won a spot in the magazine and was one of the top 18 photos selected from 50,000 entries!!! I didn't believe her so I asked to see which image I had submitted (and that I couldn't remember entering a contest!)... anyhow, she said that the magazine had tried contacting me several times over the last week, but no one answered or replied to the emails... and she didn't want me to miss out on being published in the magazine.... and when I finally believed her, I said, "OH WE JUST CAME THROUGH A HURRICANE AND I HAD NO POWER!" She said that she had never heard that excuse before and would let me submit my full resolution file! WHEW.... here it is..... my entry that I didn't remember submitting.

A Sunset Ceremony

2008-11-05T19:53:00.003-06:00

I was editting some images from recent weddings... and just couldn't quit tonight without showing a teeny bit of Matt and Crystal's Love story!

They were married at one of our favorite places to shoot... The Castle on the Lake in Jacksonville, Texas! I will get the website address for the Castle posted on here when I remember how to post links! You would never know by my inability to modify my blog, that I really did program my website from scratch! haha!

Have a great evening... and remember from this image, what romance is all about... go kiss your honey!

Now THAT's a Family Photo!

2008-11-05T19:27:00.003-06:00

Hi all!

Thanks for waiting for me to finally blog again! I thought I should post something fun and lighthearted after all of my emotional stuff lately.... and this sure says FUN to me! I am quirky enough that this was my favorite image from a really great session!

I am just about full for all of my Christmas shooting. I might have two days in mid November that I can work a session or two in... so that is just a heads up that most likely my next blog post will say that I am completely full.

Okay... here they are... the Havard family doing what they do best... having a great time and smiling ear to ear!

The Untitled Post

2008-10-20T17:30:00.004-05:00

If any of you have been reading my blog, you most likely noticed lots of pictures and entries about cars lately. You also may have read my entry a few weeks ago about how sad I was, and my mysterious postings about my heart breaking because of something we were going through. What it was, is that our close friend had been diagnosed with a brain tumor, after 4 and a half years of beating the battle against intestinal cancer.

I don't have the words today to say all that I want to say, but the man in the car pictures, Dr. Michael DeVore passed away last night. It seems unreal to type it. Russell and Dr. DeVore had a relationship stemming from the Cobra kit car.. (the pictures I posted a few weeks ago)...they met because of it, and became the best of friends over the years. The DeVore family was in Russell's life before I was, and when we started dating, I met Nancy, Kimi, Chris, Robyn, and Dr. DeVore... they immediately accepted me as part of their family, and once you are in with them... you are part of them.

We have lots of memories with Dr. DeVore...he was the best man in our wedding... we went to lots and lots of Texas A&M games because of him.... those who knew him know that he always wore red socks no matter what.... that was his signature! He wrote the most beautiful letters of recommendation for me when I applied to medical school right after college. He always made Russell laugh.... with his crazy nicknames.... one of which was "Buffalo Breath". (He once tried calling Russell's Mom, "Momma Buffalo" and that did not fly!) He rode a Harley; he loved cars; he loved animals and they loved him....he loved his family, and let us know that we were a part of that family. I never once saw him angry or aggitated with Russell, even though it was a running joke about how long it was taking Russell to finish the Cobra! (Twelve years they have been working on it.... but it is a work of art.) He was so very proud of that car, and the friendship it represented to both he and to Russell. A few weeks ago when I took those pictures that I posted of the intake, he was just glowing.. even though he felt so badly. He looked at me and said, "Make sure you get a good shot of that part right there... that is a work of art. No one will ever ever have a car like this. Russell is a genius. This is a dream come true."

Last Wednesday, Russell cranked the Cobra. He promised Dr. DeVore, when we found out just a few weeks ago, that the brain tumor was there and growing so rapidly.. that it would crank for him. In these last few days, Russell poured his heart into getting that stupid car to crank... and I hated that thing when we stayed out there all night and half the next day... finally she cranked. I have a video, but I don't want to post it right now.... it wasn't about actually cranking the car, it was about honoring his friend in the last days of his life, and I dont' want to take away from that.

Thank you to all of you who sent sweet notes telling us that you didn't know what we were going through, but that we were in your thoughts.

This will be a very hard week.

I will be out most of the week, and will do what I can to return calls and emails next week. Please keep the DeVore family in your hearts and prayers for the next few days, as well as Russell. His best friend will be missed more than I can find the words to say.
D