News 9 Story

Last Friday, I was featured on News 9 (CBS in OKC) for their 5pm newscast. The story was about a recent military scam, and my thoughts on the scam as an OpLove photographer. Surprisingly enough given my lack of prep time, I wasn't too bad! Click here for the link to the story: News 9 Story

The reporter, Lisa, called me about 1pm earlier that day asking about including me in the story. Of course, I jumped at the chance! The catch??? We had to film it in one hour, and it was a 20+ minute drive to the location. LOL...and to make matters worse: I was sitting on the couch, in comfy clothes, unshowered, processing session pics when she called. "Ummm, okay, sure, I can do that" was my verbal response. My mental response was more along the lines of, "Holy crap!! I'm gonna be on the news...again! I have less than 30 mins to shower, get dressed, pack my camera, get gas, and head out!"

We filmed the interview outside of the 45th Inf Museum in OKC. Lisa and the cameraman were both very nice and patient with me. I have to admit that it was a bit nerve-wracking to do such an opinionated piece about the military scam, plus OpLove, with such short notice. Luckily, they were kind enough to edit out my response regarding my thoughts on the people doing the scam as well as what should happen to them. LOL, I didn't say anything bad, just that I had no comment which could be shown on tv. :)

Oh, and we set a date/time for the Today Show interview. The story will air on Vet's Day, Nov 11th. Toe, the OpLove founder and my good friend, is flying into OKC to be a part of the interview and events. I cannot wait...I am soooo excited and nervous! Stay tuned for more specs on it!!!

Marines in Need...Can You Help?

I've posted several times about the Oklahoma 1st Battalion 25th Marines Weapons Company. One of the wives is an Oklahoma OpLove photographer. She has such strength to not only deal with her husband's deployment and being a single parent in his absence, but she is also photographing other military families going through the same things meanwhile!

So today, on behalf of a generous donation from Buy For Less grocery stores, I went shopping for care package items to send these guys. The items filled 4 paper sacks (so I was pleased) yet when laid it all out, it seemed so little for 17 men. Here's a pic of what I picked up today...

I am proud for my contribution, but I am asking for anyone willing and able to please donate any items or money for care packages to send these brave men. Here is a list of requested items:

boot liners/insoles
boot socks
batteries - AAA/AA/C
postage stamps in books or rolls
Zip-Lock freezer bags -assorted sizes
pre-paid phone cards
energy/protein/nutrional/power bars
cliff bars
sunflower seeds
trail mix (packaged & sealed)
coffee
tuna pouches
muscle milk
beef jerky
cans of soup
packed and sealed fruit
Dole fruit crisp
poptarts
cereal/milk & cereal/granola bars
peanuts/cashews/assorted nuts
small seasoning packs of salt & pepper
throat lozenges
drink mixes
  mio drink drops, instant coffee,
  presweetened gatorade/lemonade/koolade
Pringles (in the cardboard containers)
Dried fruit
Hormel complete meals
avon skin so soft
baby wipes-sealed packs not tubs
blistex/chapstick/carmex
Q-tips
toothpaste
eye drops
shampoo
dry shampoo
liquid body wash
hand sanitizer
deodorant
lotion
shaving cream
razors
small individual packs of kleenex tissues
aloe vera
lotrimin AF/anti-fungal creams for athletes foot
shower-to-shower powder
moleskin/Dr. Scholls pads for sore/blistered feet
band-aids / Neosporin
items to write letters home: envelopes, paper, pens, stamps; pocket-sized notebooks to write little notes while they're out on patrol

Also as of Tues, Sept 20th here is their hygiene allowance: "Today is the day that most Marines will start to take baby-wipe baths in lieu of community showers."

There is one main person cooking instant meals, over a man-made fire, for all 17-men. They have nothing to add as ingredients other than water. So, any instant mixes and meals that require nothing more than heat &/or water is also greatly appreciated (ie. pancake mixes).


If anyone has anything to donate, no matter how big or small, please let me know. I will come pick it up, if needed, to include in one of the monthly care packages. Thanks a million!  :)
- Ang

Family Time with Daddy

Courtney, Jonathan, Kain (2 yrs), and Kason (2 months) met me at the Rose Gardens for a pre-deploy OpLove session last weekend. It was supposed to be a beautiful day with 0% chance of rain (ha haa). It was cloudy & overcast when we got there. So we start taking pics around the site, even though a wedding was starting in the main garden area. Both boys had just awoke from a nap, and they were not too excited about being in pics. Kain was absolutely adorable! He was more interested in watching the other park visitors, especially the Red Hat Ladies that were at the park getting their pics taken by another photographer. Although he tried to avoid smiling or looking at me, I managed to get some good ones! :) Kason was also too cute for words! Some of his expressions reminded me of my niece, Makayla, when she was a baby. I couldn't help but just "ooh and ahhh" over him. And it was very apparent that Kain was a very proud older brother! Courtney & Jonathan were awesome! They were happy and smiley despite having to take Kason's stroller 4-wheeling on the gravel. Just as we decided that the kiddos were done with pics and it was time to wrap up the session...the sprinkles started. By the time we made it back to the cars and started loading up, it was pouring! (LOL. In all honesty, it was kinda funny to watch the wedding party and guests run to the party bus in the rain!) Thank goodness, we had just finished the session pics! Here's some of my favs...

Unfortunate Cancellaton & Session Availabilities

I posted about a week-and-a-half ago about a wonderful event called "Operation: Dam Run" that was to be held on Oct 22nd in Canton, OK to support one of our Marine units. Unfortunately due to some unforeseen and extreme circumstances, they had to cancel the event.  :(   That really sucks because I was sooooo excited about attending and snapping some pics. But, I understand that things happen. These Marines, and their families, would still appreciate any thoughts and prayers that you can send their way!

So in light of the event cancellation, I now have some availability that day for sessions. I've had to turn away several clients, OpLove and otherwise, because I was completely booked until mid-November but now have a few slots open. I'm taking appointments on a first-come, first-serve basis for that weekend, so book while you can!!

Back to Bricktown

It's been a couple years since I've really been back to Bricktown. After my snow tubing contract which took me there every day for 2 months, I just kinda lost my taste for it. I've been to the Myriad Gardens and to the Arts Festival and a couple other places, but those were more just get-in and get-out. Well, last week I had the pleasure of meeting Ashlee and Mike...in Bricktown...for his pre-deployment session. It was great! We started at the fountain in front of the Harkins Theatre. Then we walked part of the canal towards Main St. We stopped at a few places to grab some shots. Then back to the canal around to the ballpark.

Ashlee and Mike were so adorable together! She's from Virginia, and he is from Connecticut. They shared stories on where they met, future plans for kids, and their surprise at what Oklahoma was actually like. They expected nothing more than cowboys, tumbleweeds, and daily tornadoes. Luckily, none of those were present during our session.  ;)

Jacque & Her Big Belly

Jacque is my youngest cousin and is big-belly pregnant with her third child. It's another girl! She went to the doc yesterday and was told that she's likely to pop any day now. So we did a quick maternity session this afternoon, just in case. Unfortunately, her other two girls (Madysan & Kaydee) were in school and her beau Mike was at work, so we weren't able to take pics with the rest of the family. Also she was tired, as was I, and we were more interested in gossiping about our family than pics. But, I did manage to get some cute pics in between all the girl talk!

The above pic is not exactly accurate. Jacque didn't have an ultrasound pic on-hand, so we used one of my son from 18 years ago. This ultrasound pic will be swapped out when she sends me one of her baby, Renee.

Skye & "Pawsitive Pets"

One of my recent posts was about a previous wedding client (from over 4 yrs ago) that had her dog in the wedding party. Well, I got to meet up with Brandi again and their dog, Skye, at Lake Hefner on Monday morning. Brandi owns a business called "Pawsitive Pet Services" that does pet sitting, dog walking, and training. She was needing some pics of her and a 4-legged critter for her website. Yayyy, she contacted me!! She brought her hubby's dog, Skye, which is an absolutely beautiful canine! She received numerous compliments from random strangers that passed by within our 45-min session. I'm a big dog-lover, so me & Skye hit it off immediately! And I learned a tip from Brandi...string cheese does wonders for getting a dog to pay attention!   :)  Here's a few pics from our session...

For more information about Brandi's services, please visit: www.PawsitivePetsOKC.com or email her at: pawsitivepetservices@cox.net! She is awesome and certified, registered, bonded, insured...and I'm pretty sure she's had all her shots too.  ;)

Help our Marine Corps

One of my beloved clients, who is also an OpLove photographer that gives back to other military families, has a hubby that recently deployed. She is hosting a "Dam Run" to raise money to buy and send care packages, specifically food, for the 18 Marines from Oklahoma's 1st Battalion, 25th Marines Anti-Tank Training Company Broken Arrow Reserve Unit.

Details...
Name: Operation: Dam Run
Date: Saturday October 20, 2011
Time: 7:00-11:00pm  (last registration at 9:59pm on Oct 20th)
Location: Canton Lake Dam @ Sandy Cove Beach in Canton, OK
Registration/Donations: http://www.active.com/running/canton-ok/operation-dam-run-2011

Even if you cannot attend, any donation amount is greatly appreciated. 100% of all donations and proceeds go directly to this Marine Unit! My hubby and I will be attending to support them (as walkers, not runners due to medical reasons), and to snap tons of pics of the entire event. If you can attend the event, or possibly even donate a dollar or two, it is sooooo greatly appreciated! Every little thing makes a difference! This is a very special event to help a few of our proudest men in uniform. Semper Fi!!!!
- Ang

 

Brandi, Robby & Pups in Tow

I first met Brandi during our wedding consult several years ago. I photographed her marriage to Robby on March 10, 2007, which was just amazing! They met in elementary school and stayed close throughout their life. Even the groom's cake had their elementary pics & brief little note to prove their continued dedication. That alone was very unique, but they added a special twist that really hit home to me. One of their official wedding party members was Sonny, their dog. It was the first and only wedding that I have done with a dog in the wedding ceremony. It was amazing how well behaved and disciplined he was. I have two rescued dogs, and they are a mess 24/7 (one is the 105lb rescued Lab "Tucker" and the other is the less than 3lb Yorkie "Brewster"). Brandi & Robby seemed to be a perfect match from the beginning! (And Brandi is such a sweetie with a big heart for critters, like me.  :)

So the point is, I am sooo happy to have her as one of my "repeat offenders". Brandi has started a business for pet sitting & training (http://www.pawsitivepetsokc.com/) and she needs some pics. I am honored that she came back to me for her needed pics. I cannot wait to see what dog she will bring as well as how married life has treated her & Robbie over the last 4.5 years. (WOW, I can't believe its been that long!!!).

 

This first pic (above) is of the groom's cake. It is topped with their elementary pics, a little note, and their pre-wedding pic.

The above pic is on Brandi & Robby's wedding day. Sonny did such a good job during the entire ceremony! Unfortunately a couple years after the ceremony, Sonny passed away. Brandi contacted me to ask for permission to use the above photo for an article/announcement about his death. It was such a touching piece, I cried just thinking about him and my brief encounter with him. He was a good dog!!!

 

 

 This last pic is one that surprised both myself and Brandi. There were about 3 people helping to adjust her dress between the ceremony & reception (she has a dress malfunction, unlike Janet Jackson at the Super Bowl). I was snapping pics at anything & everything worthwhile, but I do not remember taking this shot and she didn't know I was taking it at the time. It was one of those priceless photos that happened at just the right time. She's absolutely beautiful!!!