A visit from my Mom

Saturday after my workshop with Jerry Avenaim, Chris and I headed to San Antonio to pick up my mom. Momma and her cousin Barbara flew down to see Brenda, Barbara's sister. After meeting up with them at Brenda's apartment, we went to eat at Mamacitas Mexican restaurant.

They embarassed me by telling the staff it was my birthday so the could humiliate me by singing to me while I was wearing that stupid hat. It's a good thing that I was drinking my second margarita so I didn't feel the total humiliation! haha No, I don't have a picture of it either.

Sunday, we went riding around, showing Mom the area. We stopped at a local park and Chris wanted to show us how manly he was by wrestling a long horn bull.

I think the long horn won.

We walked around on the bed of the river where you could see the ruts made by the wagon wheels from way back when. This was a trail that was well traveled.

This the rock that Round Rock got it's name from. It was used as a way to measure how deep the river was.

We had a great time, Chris only got us lost once. Chris made his famous steaks for us that night! Personally, I think his steaks are worth the 7 hour drive to come see us!! haha

Monday, I took off work so I could spend the day with Momma. We spent the day looking at paint and carpet samples, then Chris, Mom and I headed to San Marcus where we met up with Brenda and Barbara. I'm so glad my mom got to come down and spend my birthday with me.

Between my mom coming and the amazing workshop that my wonderful husband gave to me, turning 40 was not nearly as bad as I was expecting. I'm actually proud to say that I'm 40!

Workshop with Jerry Avenaim

On Friday the 13th I had the evening workshop with Jerry Avenaim. This was the early birthday present from Chris. It was great! I learned alot at the evening seminar. He showed us some of his work, and told us how he acheived that shot. Gave away alot of his secrets. I really admire him for that. I've met some photographers that don't want to share what they know at all. I don't know all there is to know, and probably never will, but I share what I do know with others.

The saturday workshop was a "hands-on" experience. Jerry set up the lighting for the shots, told us how he would meter, what settings he would use, shot off a few shots, then gave each of us a turn shooting the models. The models were in lingerie, which made the guys that were at the workshop very happy. I wasn't embarassed by the models clothing, but I was uncomfortable telling her how to pose.

I took a few shots of the model using the settings that I would normally use so that I could compare it when using the lighting and the new settings. The difference was HUGE! I'll post some photos, but I'm warning you now about the lingerie.

Here is one using the normal settings with no light (the way I normally shoot)

This is the one using Jerry's light set up and the settings that he would use with his camera

I met a very nice guy there by the name of Duane Allen Clark. He was kind enough to take a few shots of me while I was photographing the model.

here is a photo of me with Jerry Avenaim

What the Duck

A duck photographer has one of those days.

Our first trip back home

We decided on Friday to head back to Monroe. My friend and co-worker from AFPG was getting married Saturday. Back before we moved, I had told her I would photograph her wedding for her. I wasn't going to be able to make it, and I hated disappointing her. So Friday, I asked Chris if he wanted to go to Monroe and he said yes. We got into Monroe around midnight. Chris spent Saturday with his friends and family, and I went to shoot the wedding. My friend Carolyn volunteered to help me and boy was I ever grateful!!! She does much better wedding work than I do, so I knew we'd be able to give Cherri some great shots. Carolyn is a wonderful photographer and it was so sweet of her to help me. After the wedding, we went to Carnads in West Monroe for the reception dinner. Fancy place! I'd never been there before. Cherri was beautiful in her gown, the wedding was so sweet and simple. I love it when they're that way. The more decorations, songs, attendants you have, the more I feel it takes away from the meaning of the event. I'll wait until Cherri and Brad return from their cruise to post any pictures.

The trip home was great. Think that was just what we needed. We had a great visit with his parents! His mom made us bacon, fried eggs, bisquits and some grits for breakfast Saturday morning. She put on a roast also for us to eat Sunday. She makes a great tender roast! I don't eat the carrots, but the potatoes are wonderful!

Chris' niece Kailey was there this weekend, so we got to see her. We talked to her on the phone while we were in the road. They said she konked out before we got there and her last words were "Is uncle Chris coming?" and the first thing she asked the next morning was where was uncle chris!! She loves her uncle Chris!! She's getting so big! She'll be 5 in a couple of months and she wants a pink 4 wheeler! (she'll probably get it too!!!)

Well, I'm heading to bed. Night!