Love one another
Posted on September 20, 2012
I’m not sure but I may love photographing families best of all. Especially when they love each other as much as this family does.
Mom Ryan was looking for fun, updated family photos that also helped capture Kade in all his three-year-old glory.
Big sister Ashlynn tolerated it all beautifully. After all, she’s been there, done that, moved on to bigger and better milestones.
And even though it sometimes may not seem like it, Ashlynn’s had a huge role in shaping Kade already.
So have Ryan and Tommy, mom and dad extraordinaire.
It’s easy to see that these four were made for one another AND doing a great job of making one another happy!
Love one another with genuine affection,
and take delight in honoring one another.
Romans 12:10
Getting out the word
Posted on September 19, 2012
I’m blessed with three, count ’em, THREE beautiful blondes as senior reps this year! They are …
Karly, Danbury High School
Brooke, Brazoswood High School
Allison, Angleton High School
Ladies, I’m looking forward to meeting all of your friends and collaborating on lots of fun senior sessions this year. Thanks so much for your assistance!
A peaceful, easy feelin’
Posted on September 13, 2012
30 years. That’s how long Curtis and I have been married! Either we’re really old or really stubborn or really the soulmates we thought we were way back when. Maybe a little of all three.
To celebrate such a mind-boggling milestone, we did what any long-married couple would do: we forgot to plan any sort of big trip, then at the last minute decided to take off on a 24-hour mini-anniversary tour of South Central Texas. It was like stepping back in time — well beyond 30 years and closer to 100.
We started by booking a B&B in Moulton, population 884. Instead of walking around town (which we could have done but it was H-O-T-T), we drove around slowwwwwly and stopped to investigate a couple of locations that caught my eye.
The next day’s adventures began with a visit to the home of Shiner Beer, Curtis’s current favorite. The old brewery offers free tours daily, and the folks there are mighty nice. In case you’re interested, you can drop by the gift shop every week for beer and ale samples. I was a big girl and tried one just to prove to myself that I, in fact, will never like beer.
While we were in Shiner, we also stopped by the Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church because our B&B hosts told us it had been recently spiffed up. They sort of undersold it, as it turns out. This is one of Texas’ famed “painted churches” and boy, is it a sight to behold!
I love looking for details that move my spirit and finding the light and angles to best capture them.
Curtis loves resting and meditating and waiting and waiting and waiting for me to be ready to leave. See how well-matched we are?
We rounded out our Back in Time Tour with a late lunch stop in Gonzales …
… and an ice cream stop in Yoakum.
All in all this was the perfect, peaceful way to mark 30 years together. Low-key, low-stress, low-cost adventure — just the way we started out long ago when we didn’t know any better. Yep, I think we can keep this pace up for at least another 30 years. Love you for ALWAYS, shug.
The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:25-26
Beautiful light, beautiful girl
Posted on August 31, 2012
THIS is the kind of natural light I’ve always wanted to shoot with.
THIS is the kind of natural light I’ve been blessed with in my new studio.
THIS is what my studio work will look like – natural, soft, simple.
THIS makes my heart so so so glad.
Thank you, Allison, for lending your beauty to my very first studio portraits!
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
Genesis 1:3
Ta-daaaa!
Posted on August 22, 2012
The next time you come to Sunny Hearts, do me a favor — stop just before you step in the door and turn around.
Do you notice something different?
It’s me!
Open the door and stay awhile! You can have a seat in my cozy natural light mini-studio …
… or have a look around at my gallery.
Lots of loving care has been given to all sorts of details, including my handpainted desk (thanks, Kim!).
In fact, the little details help make this one of my favorite places to hang out.
The view beside my desk whispers PEACE, BE STILL, and the soft light streaming in all of the windows is absolutely heavenly.
You are welcome to visit this wonderfully made space anytime you’d like!
I love the house where You live, O Lord, the place where Your glory dwells.
Psalm 26:8
Follow the clues and come find me!
Posted on August 19, 2012
Would you like to come and see my new Wonderfully Made studio? Yes? Good! Just follow the clues below to find me.
Once you’ve figured out where I am, challenge yourself — send me an email telling specifically where each one of these details is located. Every person who gets all 19 wins a tasty treat of your choice! Fire away: laurieheath@sbcglobal.net
Can this really be happening?!
Posted on August 17, 2012
Someone would tell me if I’d died and gone to heaven, wouldn’t you?
I’m asking because I can’t believe my eyes as I look at the beauty surrounding MY NEW STUDIO OFFICE!
Before I tell you my exact location, here are some clues. If you’ve been here you may recognize some of these beautiful details. Can you identify this wonderfully made place?
And look who I found 10 steps outside my door!
If this is indeed heaven, I intend to stay awhile. Specific directions for visiting me will follow soon!
This is too much, too wonderful – I can’t take it all in!
Psalm 139:6 Message
Paula + Kent = L O V E
Posted on July 7, 2012
Why do stars fall down from the sky
Every time you walk by?
Just like me, they long to be close to you….
Oh wait, maybe this one is better:
Love, look at the two of us
Strangers in many ways
We’ve got a lifetime to share
So much to say
And as we go
From day to day
I’ll feel you close to me….
I don’t normally feel the need to burst into songs by The Carpenters (I’ll spare you We’ve only just begun), but for some reason this couple inspires me to sing a little bit.
Paula and Kent’s day began with the usual preparations.
Each one was surrounded and supported by many of their favorite people.
And each group took a little bit of time to play and try to relax.
In the last few minutes before everyone took their places, Paula tiptoed out to surprise Kent with a kiss. Best man / brother Adam provided key assistance here.
Then it was time to get this show on the road. Paula and dad Michael waited happily while the ring bearer and flower girl carefully followed instructions.
And before we knew it, the transfer and new covenant were complete.
Sweet post-ceremony hugs were exchanged …
… and treasured family portraits were captured.
Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you Kent and Paula — dashing groom and radiant bride!
I wish you a lifetime of blessings filled with only the most beautiful songs!
You’ve captured my heart, dear friend.
You looked at me, and I fell in love.
One look my way and I was hopelessly in love!
How beautiful your love, dear, dear friend.
Song of Solomon 4:10 MESSAGE
Aaaaaaah, springtime in L A (in July)
Posted on July 6, 2012
I just returned from probably my last trip to visit my parents in Los Angeles, since they’re planning to move this fall. God gave us absolutely delightful weather – temps in the 80s, cool evenings, brilliant blue skies and, best of all, no mosquitoes. Aaaaaahhhhh.
We always manage to find neat things to do while I’m there, and this visit was no exception. Our biggest outing was to Griffith Observatory on Mt. Hollywood. From the entryway …
… to the grounds …
… to the outdoor and planetarium vistas …
… and the view of the city, this is a true LA icon and well worth a visit.
An especially nice treat is tucked away just below the observatory: Fern Dell in Griffith Park. We walked through part of this lovely trail just to confirm its reputation for making visitors forget they are in the heart of the city. It definitely worked for us!
On my way back home to Texas, I had a three-hour layover in Phoenix. What to do with all that time? My longtime friend Vickie had the answer: a whirlwind driving tour of the city! We ended up at the Arizona Biltmore, I place I’d definitely like to return to for several days. Even trotting through while watching the clock so I wouldn’t miss my plane, my eyes were drawn to countless beautiful details.
I especially loved these ladies featured in several prominent spots throughout the resort. No two sprites are alike, and you can read more about them here.
I’m so thankful for opportunities to explore new places AND hang out with beloved travel partners!
From now on every road you travel will take you to God.
Follow the Covenant signs; read the charted directions.
Psalm 25:10 MESSAGE
Spring Catch-Up, Part 2
Posted on June 21, 2012
Don’t worry, guys – I didn’t forget about you! Here are the remaining Class of 2012 members I was privileged to photograph.
We’ll begin with Taylor, a young man hoping to apply his great ideas and his family’s multi-generational farming experience to designing bigger and better equipment for John Deere. I’m confident he really will make this happen.
And his cousin Darren will be only too happy to serve as chief tester for each one. Darren is comfortable pretty well anywhere outdoors, particularly when he’s behind the wheel of gigantic tractors, and he hopes to use his sharp mind to solve crimes as a law enforcement officer.
Chase’s area of expertise is the golf course … and the football field … and the books … and just life in general, it seems. He’s headed toward a teaching/coaching career and surely will bless lots of young lives.
Ryan also excels at many things, but for the past couple of years he’s been especially focused on this beloved truck. Rebuilding, customizing, tinkering and racing have not only brought him joy but have helped him prepare to soak up everything Mechanical that Texas A&M has to offer.
And finally, Nathan is better than anyone in the world at being all Nathan, all the time. He is also a drummer extraordinaire as well as a ninja, obviously.
What a fun bunch this year’s grads were! I’m glad they shared their interests with me and let me hang out with them for a while. The sky is the limit for you, guys, so get out there and go for it!
So, friends, take a firm stand, feet on the ground and head high. Keep a tight grip on what you were taught. May Jesus Himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech.
2 Thessalonians 2:15-17 MESSAGE
Laurie Heath Studio 