Life as a photog

What a time it has been for me. This year has started on a really bad not with have a very sick dog and having to put her down. I can't really think of anything as gut wrenching as that is. Thank goodness for friends and family.

However, on a better note, i was kept very busy and had little time to think about my personal problems with my studio. I now have full studio and on location capabilities to produce some of the must beautiful portraits I have ever done.

This is a portrait of my cousin's grandson, Joseph Ruiz, (That should keep you genealogy people busy for a minute!) I offered to do a high school senior portrait for him showing his interest in sports (Baseball).

He is a talented young man and has a very bright future ahead of him. The day was fill with fun and for me getting to know him as I had not ever met him before! My cousin (his grandmother) and I were close when we were kids but have grown apart since high school.

I can see a lot of her in him and even his behavior. We had a great time connecting together and I caught up on the end of the family. I found that I really enjoy making portraits like this and look forward to doing more for the 2016 class. Have a look at this and please leave me feedback on what you think!

Don’t Forget the Flowers!

Flowers are a very important part of the wedding.  They add accents of color, sweet aroma and feelings of delicacy and intimacy to your big day.  Springtime sprouts are emerging, and beautiful blooms are adorning the landscapes.  It is the perfect time to get out and get inspired by the beauties that surround us!

Some brides put the flowers off until the last minute when planning their wedding.  You should try not to do this, for a couple reasons.  First, the flowers will be cheaper if you give the florist enough time to get the order together.  Second, picking flowers last minute will make you rush through the decision, and you might not end up with the flowers that you want.  Floral arrangements are more than just pretty plants to look at . . . they have meaning.  The flowers you choose for your special day should represent you and your sweetheart as individuals, as well as the couple you have become.  Each flower symbolizes a little part of your relationship, and your choice of flowers should express the deep and profound love that you have for each other.

If you are having trouble finding inspiration, just get outside and look around you!  The world is full of natural beauties that are right before our eyes (we just have to look!).  A wonderful place to discover many species of flowers is the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens (http://www.botanic.org/).  This is the perfect place to get in touch with the nature that surrounds us.  You will find countless flowers of every color that light up the landscape.  Take the opportunity to discover the flowers that suit you and your love the best.

Don’t forget to ask your photographer to take photos of the flora.  These photos will accentuate the intricate beauty that the flowers bring to your wedding.  They will outline the intensity of your love, and the bond that lives between you and your husband.

Details are always an import feature for all of us at iXpose Images, LLC. Check out our website and Facebook page for details

Connecting Through Photography

Photography has a way of connecting us all.  It is a unique and creative form of storytelling.  A photo can tell the story of many different things.  Even though we may not always realize it, animals have their own stories to tell, too.  I recently watched a TED Talk video by David Griffin (http://www.ted.com/talks/david_griffin_on_how_photography_connects.html), about how photography connects us.  In his presentation, he talks about how each photo has its own story, and, in many cases, is a small part of a much bigger story.  It’s a really great video that I recommend taking a few minutes to view

Griffin tells the story of Nick Nichols, a photographer who documented a very small wildlife sanctuary in Chad.  The main focus of his photography was the herd of elephants that inhabit this region.  Through photography, Nichols was able to tell the story of these beautiful creatures.  He followed the herd as it moved across the landscape.  The photographs not only reveal the personalities of these animals, but also the struggles they endure out in the wild.

Photographer Paul Nicklin is also mentioned in this video.  He ventured to Antarctica to photograph one of the most dangerous predators in the sea, the leopard seal.  Not much is known about these creatures, but, as David Griffin explains, Nicklin was able to get insight on the leopard seal.  One female seal, in particular, was very friendly and showed him her bubbly personality.  A vision into her true being is given through the photographs.

So, we can see that photography really is a portal into the stories, characteristics, and personalities of all life on earth.  Just think about your pets . . . what stories do they have to tell?  Don’t be afraid to take snapshots of your animals . . . they are part of the family, too!  Keep in mind that we specialize in pet photography and would love to capture the true nature of your beloved animals!  Pet portraits can tell a personal story and will be mementos to cherish for years to come.

Check out my web page for more exciting video and information to help you chose the right photographer for your special event!

Saturday, April 6, 2013, the Cheyenne Animal Shelter held their annual "Furball" This is a $100.00/plate silent auction and dinner where the residents of Cheyenne "Cough it up for the animals." The event was held at the exquisite Cheyenne Little America Hotel.

The service was outstanding and the updated ballrooms were perfect for the Ball. The event included the silent auction that sponsors, local and regional businesses all participated in. A Dirty Dog Casino for all ages and of course the fantastic dinner.

Attendees included Wyoming Secretary of State, State Supreme Court Justices, Mayor and Council members and Miss Wyoming just to name a few. There were individuals, family's, friend, couples and their pets and more of all ages who were invited and had a great time. Over 750 in all, even the hotel staff had fun.

The Shelter had brought several of the dogs that were up for adoption and everyone to hold, pet and love. Hopefully to find their way into someones heart which was not hard at all.

Miss Wyoming was gracious enough to pose for me with one of the pups. The pup was so enamored with the beauty queen the he decided to steal a kiss as you can see in the photos here. It must have been one hell of a kiss as it blew the crown right off the queen. Check out my Facebook page for a slide show I produced of the event and also YouTube.

I special in pet portraiture and really love to see events like this take place. Please contact me for a free consultation for your pet portrait. It is really easy and very inexpensive. You can check out my website for more information

New Name, Same Great Blog!

It is 2013 and time for a change.  So we decided to revamp the name of this blog!  It will still have the same wonderful articles about family and senior photography, along with posts about life in the Midwest.  Best of all, it is still hosted by your photographer, iXpose Images!

The new name of this blog is (drum roll please!) . . .

Family Xpressions at iXpose!

Thanks to all of our readers!!

Snapshots of Sentiment

Has he popped the big question?  Are you ready to take your relationship to the next level?  The moment at which she sees the gorgeous ring for the first time is one of the happiest times in a woman’s life.  This is an exciting, happy time for a couple as they form an unbreakable bond.

Endless possibilities exist when it comes to an engagement.  There are so many places where the engagement could take place.  Did he propose in a fancy restaurant, under the sparkling evening sky, on a walk through the woods?  Did he slip the ring on your finger at Lakeside Amusement Park, or while you were horseback riding at the Ranch Resort?

No matter where or how he proposed, this is a special moment that you will always hold in your heart.  Although you may not have been able to have a photographer there at your actual engagement, you can still capture the meaning of this moment.  Engagement photos not only make you feel like your engagement is more “official,” but are a fabulous opportunity to have fun with your spouse-to-be.  Some people are skeptical of the importance of engagement photos.  These pictures can sometimes look staged and fake.  But we believe that they are really an opportunity to showcase the true “chemistry” in your relationship.  Your engagement photo session gives you a chance to be relaxed and in love.  They are also a time for you to go back to the place you first met your fiance, where he took you on your first date, or where you got engaged.  You can relive some of the best moments in your relationship during this session.  Your decision to get engagement photos taken is a decision to make a memento of this special and unique time in your relationship.

Along with being keepsakes that you will cherish forever, engagement photos have many different uses.  One of the more common uses is for newspaper announcements, but can be used for “save-the-date” cards, wedding invitations, or even gifts for family and friends.  They are also a chance for you to get to know your wedding photographer.  Engagement photos give us a chance to work with you and establish a good relationship with you, before the wedding activities get into full swing.  They provide you with an opportunity to find out what kind of photos you like, so you can point us in a direction that will make you happiest.  After all, this is a time for you and your fiance to be happy and more in love than you have ever been.

AN EASY BUT MEANINGFUL GIFT

Autumn has just started, but have you thought about your family Christmas cards yet?  In the blink of an eye, the winter holiday season will be upon us.  Joy and love will fill the air, and it is a wonderful time to show your friends and family that you are thinking of them.  A phrase we hear all the time is, “It’s the thought that counts.”  This idea may be cliche, but there is truth behind it.  Friends and family will be overjoyed when they open the mail and find a card from you, wishing them well during the holiday season.  They will appreciate that you thought of them during this time of happiness and love.

Family portraits also make a great gift for family members.  Parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles all will be thrilled to receive a portrait of your family to keep in their home.  Show your family members that you are always there for them and always close by, no matter what distance is between you.

How do you usually spread love and joy to your friends and family during the holiday season?  Do you send Christmas cards, sing carols at their doorstep, send them some yummy decorated cookies?  Share your ideas and holiday traditions!