Drama, Drama, Drama

Yep, it has been nothing but DRAMA lately! In case you haven't heard, we had to abruptly move out of our rent house in north Edmond. My family and I have been staying in an extended stay hotel in OKC for over a month. Every thing we own is in storage other than a few needed biz files that need urgent attention. I promise that I am working as fast as possible with what I have to get everyone taken care of, but it has proven very difficult lately. Please hang in there with me while I work through all this. We are currently house-hunting, and we put in an offer on a home around I-40 & Choctaw Rd. It has beautiful acreage, so I am super excited about making a beautiful outdoor "studio" and a fabulous office area for my clients!

So in light of that, I have had to greatly restrict my sessions. Please see below for the sessions that I am accepting:
1) OpLove - only current/previous clients for predeployment or homecomings
2) Boudoir - at your location choice only. No marathons will be planned at this time. See my other website Desired Assets
3) Maternity/Newborn
4) Real estate through my secondary company OK Photo Tours.

If you have submitted an order and received a confirmation, please be assured that I have gotten it. Everything has been delayed because 1) it was sent to my old address and never forwarded to my new temporary one, or 2) I had to wait until I had a current mailing address to order it. Either way, I promise that I haven't forgotten you!!! There were several orders sent to my old address (or lost in the mail to you from there) that I have had to re-order. The hotel does not allow package or mail delivery, so I am having to send everything to a family members house to ensure delivery. If you have not received an order confirmation, please email me asap! The internet here is horrible, at best, when there is connectivity. I will go to a local internet cafe to check your order status and email you an update. **Please do not message me through my Facebook biz page! I cannot access them from my phone or tablet, so I am only able to check them every 2 weeks or so.**

So with all the updated info I mentioned above, I guess that I am ultimately asking that you to please be patient with me during this chaotic transition period. I promise to be back on track as soon as possible! Please pray for us, keep your fingers crossed, and hope for my good karma to come back to me soon. Thanks everyone & I'll talk to you soon!!!
- Ang

Smokin' Hot Boudoir Marathon

New Updates, Additions, Specials, & Promos...
First off, today May 1st, is the beginning of the official Military Appreciation Month. This coming Friday, May 4th, is also Military Spouse Appreciation Day. Be sure to thank these heroes (and their spouses who stand by them) for their service and sacrifices! It can be something simple like paying for their coffee at the local coffee shop or something more like paying for their family's dinner at the local restaurant. A tank of gas, a soda, or just a heartfelt handshake to say "Thank You". Our men and women in uniform, as well as their spouses, deserve the recognition!!!

And with that said, ANY member of the military - active, reserves, or retired from - is getting my own version of appreciation. Any portrait session booked for a military member in the month of May will be done 100% free of charge (LOL, that was a lot of "m"s). You don't have to be deploying or coming home from a deployment, as per the OpLove guidelines. This is my own biz offering you a gift to show my appreciation. In addition, you will receive a free sheet of wallet prints (8-poses) and 25% off anything you want to order. No purchase obligations or restrictions.  :)

Next up, my Senior Rep Recruiting. I am starting to recruit my Senior Reps for 2013. If you are an upcoming senior or know anyone who is, please pass along this info! Approved Senior Reps get a free session, free prints, discounts, and credits for each referral. I'm looking for outgoing and active students. For more info and the application, please visit my Senior Rep page linked from the top or click here: http://awilkesphoto.blogspot.com/p/seniors.html

One last thing...I have TONS of sessions to get caught up on posting. Please know that I am working as fast as I can on getting them onto my blog and other social media sites. As of right now, I am running about 2 weeks behind on just processing session pics. I promise to get you updated ASAP, but if I happen to miss you, please let me know!  :)

Thanks, hugs, and much love to my loyal clients and fans!!

Love...just in time!

I recently had the honor of shooting an emergency homecoming session for one of our servicemen, Patrick. He was released from his deployment and brought home early, courtesy of the Red Cross' assistance, to be with his family during a very difficult time! His 10-month old daughter, Adalyn, was just diagnosed with a heart condition that will require surgery soon. He also has a beautiful wife, Kim, and a 4-yr old daughter named Sophia that has been holding down the fort while he was away. It was a last minute session that not only kept the family and myself on-call for weeks, but also another OpLove photographer to fill-in just in case I couldn't attend. Long story short of lots of dates & time changes, Patrick made it home safely to reunite with his loving family! The Patriot Riders were there as well as a few Tulsa news crews. It was so great to be there for this family & capture their photos.

Here is a news link from Fox in Tulsa with the wife interview before the homecoming: http://www.fox23.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=3340838
And the footage during the homecoming: http://www.fox23.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=3340915

Session Giveaways

Yes it happens very rarely, but I am giving away 8-Mini Sessions for FREE to be held on April 21, 2012. Spread the word to all your friends and family for this very limited time offer.

Details:
Date: Saturday, April 21, 2012
Times: 9:30am to 7:00pm (see registration form for specific time slots)
Location: any public location in Edmond, OK
Includes: a FREE Mini Session, online private gallery for 30 days, a $30 print credit, and up to 5 images to be posted on my Facebook biz page for you to "tag" yourself. There is no obligation or pressure to purchase anything additional.
The Catch: you must complete the Model Release form allowing me full use of your photos for my portfolio and advertising. Also, a portion of your session will be focused on certain new session ideas (see Registration From for more details).
Registration Link: www.angela-wilkes.com/machform/view.php?id=12

Now for the "Why" behind this full day of Free Sessions that I am offering. Several of my colleagues, family, and friends are questioning that very thing. Well to the you the truth, there are a couple of reasons. One is that I have been soooo swamped with bookings lately that I haven't had the chance to consider or try the many new creative ideas that keep me up at night. Another reason is that I work so much with our military (OpLove) clients that it has seemingly taken over my creative processes. Which leads to a third reason...being stuck in a rut! It happens quite often with us creative mind people. Even with different people in different locations, it's still just the same thing...point, focus, click, & repeat. I can get the "popular poses" in the "popular locations" without a single thought. It has become automatic, which is why I closed my studio in the first place. It happened when I did mostly weddings, corporate, and now mostly military (OpLove) sessions. I am very busy, and for that I am truly grateful. However, my creativeness seems to be hiding lately. I have tons of fabulous ideas but no chance to test them. So here we are...8 Free Session Giveaways on a single day. You will be my test models, and I will provide incentives for allowing me to use you as such.

It's the Easter Bunny!

Time is running out to book your Easter session. I have a few slots open for the afternoon of Saturday, March 10th. I have also opened up my schedule on Saturday, March 24th to allow for the numerous last-minute requests. This will be the last day available for Easter sessions in 2012. Space is very limited, so book your session asap!

The Easter Special is $75 and includes:
* 30-minute Mini Session at a local park or your home
* Props - big stuffed bunny, Easter eggs, Easter basket, and more (possibly a few baby chicks)
* Private online gallery for 30 days
* Custom disk of your 10 favorite digital images, fully-edited, with print rights
* 16-wallet prints with selectable photos for each
* A chance to win a FREE 5x7 ThinWrap Canvas Print (drawing held during your session)

To book your session or inquire about availability, please contact me at angela@angela-wilkes.com or call/text me at (405) 923-0290.

It's February...

...and LOVE is in the air! Here are two of my "need to get caught up" sessions that were never posted on my blog.

Allow me to introduce Lacey, Jared, and little Conner. Despite just waking up from a nap and the cold yucky weather, Conner was full of smiles and energy! Jared wasn't feeling to great, but I managed to squeeze a few smiles out of him. Especially when Connor grabbed a handful of Lacey's hair. We hung out in Jones for the session, which made a great backdrop for this family. Here are a few pics from our session.

And another client that I need to get caught up on is Tiffany, Jordan, and Zach. We went to the Rose Gardens at Will Rogers Park for our session in January. Zach was busting with energy, so he had noooo interest in the camera. But that can make for some really cute pics, so we worked with it. And if you can't tell by the photos, he definitely loves his daddy!

That's all for tonight. More to come soon. 

New Info, My Lacking, & Other Updates...

Yes, my wonderful followers...I have been MIA lately (and yes again). I have had some major health issues that have limited my ability to accept sessions & have caused a delay in processing pics. Add to that some recent issues with my pro lab about their large prints, and it's a whirlwind of "YUCK" lately!!

OpLove has recently teamed up with the Long Road Home Project in support of 3 vets riding bicycles from Seattle, WA to Washington D.C. The journey will start in July 2012 and end on about Vet's Day (Nov 2012). They will stop at every major city and base/post to interview military members and vets asking one major question..."What can we do as a nation to help our troops as they come home?" This is such a wonderful and inspiring idea!! They are still looking for vets, of any age, to apply for the journey. If you are interested or know someone who might be, the application is available on their website. Food, lodging, bicycles and all expenses related to the ride will be covered by the Long Road Home Project. They will have a film crew following them throughout the journey. It will be a webcast available weekly online, as well as turned into a full documentary. Many of our OpLove photographers will be attending their stops to grab some photos along their journey. If you know of any vet that may be interested or of any OpLove photographer that may be willing to volunteer, please let me know or send them to the Long Road Home Project's website. Here is a map of the tentative area they will be traveling through...

Another OpLove update, on a personal/business note. Because of the many of units returning home in the next 6 months or so, I am having to limit my homecoming sessions. Existing and/or previous OpLove clients coming home will take priority of scheduling a homecoming session. I will accept a new client's homecoming session as long as it does not interfere or overlap with a current client's homecoming. With that said and if I am not available, I will refer you to a couple other OpLove photographers that may be available to take your session. In addition, OpLove has recently re-defined the regions covered as a "deployment" based on the guidelines provided to the org. If you have any questions, please let me know. I am currently working on building a FAQ page for my OpLove clients about the new regs.

Boudoir updates: My www.Desired Assets.com page has not been updated since Dec of last year, when I first launched the site. Per some client requests, I have removed numerous images from the password protected gallery. The site is still up and active, but the gallery of sample images has been modified greatly. It's a privacy issue that I totally understand, so I hope you do too.  :)

Believe it or not...I had a couple other things to post about, but I cannot remember them all right now. So this is it for now. More updates and pics (I promise to get caught up) soon!!!
- Ang

Smiles in Edmond

Just before New Years, I had a mid-deployment session with Amy, Jeremy, and their 2 kiddos Kayley and Kobe. They were such a fabulous family to work with. Not only did they drive down from Enid to an Edmond Park for the session, but they also agreed to be a part of a local news story about my work with OpLove. Anyone that has had a news cameraman and reporter follow them during a photo session knows that it can be...difficult at times to focus on the task at hand rather than the people following you around. I always feel like I am looking over my shoulder to see what they are doing (no butt shots, please).   :)

Everyone was great! We took pics, did interviews, took pics, did interviews, and then took more pics. I brought a package of crackers, so I got to spend some alone time with Kayley and Kobe feeding the ducks while their parents were changing clothes. They are such sweet kids! When Amy & Jeremy were being interviewed, Kayley came over to give me a big hug and then looked up at me and smiled. I just about cried as my heart swelled with such happiness. I also got teary-eyed when Amy briefly cried during the interview. And watching the segment, that was the final straw for me. Tears were streaming down my face as I heard Jeremy & Amy talk about their appreciation of my dedication to my work with OpLove and my military families.

In case you missed the news segment, here is the link: Freedom 43 News. It originally aired on Freedom 43 on Dec 29, 2011. KFOR Channel 4 also re-aired the segment the following morning. I've posted a few of my fav pics from our session below:

To Jeremy, Amy, Kobe, & Kayley - you are all such an awesome family! I am happy that I was able to meet and photograph you all. Thank you so much for your service and dedication, not to mention your patience!!!

The "Welcome Home Tyler Ryan" event

On January 5, 2012, I was honored to be a guest at the "Welcome Home Tyler Ryan" event. It was hosted by Jay's Valet, Tyler's employer, in one of the suites at Remington Park in OKC. It was a surprise for Tyler, who suffered a tragic accident last November. He stopped to help a stranded couple change a tire, and his good works changed his life forever. As Tyler pulled a spare tire out of the trunk, an inattentive driver slammed into him. It crushed his lower body and pinned him between the two cars. Tyler underwent numerous surgeries which will forever transform his life. His lower body was so badly damaged, that it resulted in an above the knee amputation of his left leg; surgery to repair his right leg took rods in all major bones, and he also went through back surgery.

I met Tyler briefly a few years ago when taking promo photos for Jay's Valet. I remember him as being kind and a hard worker. Since the accident, Tyler has started a "movement" called Keep Moving Forward (www.keep-moving-forward.com). It is to inspire people that no matter what befalls you...to keep moving forward. They have bracelets and t-shirts that can be purchased with that logo to support his cause. Tim Tebow, the quarterback for the Denver Bronchos (my absolute fav NFL team), has been seen and photographed wearing the bracelets.

So back to the surprise event...it was fabulous! Tyler was shocked, and he sported nothing but smiles the entire evening. Of course, I brought my camera to snap pics of everything for Jay and Tyler. The country singer, Vince Gill, called during the event and spoke at length with Tyler. There was a wonderful dinner buffet of food, a cash bar, raffles, and more. It was nothing short of awesome to see such love and support! Here are a few pics from the event:

Tyler coming in to the surprise dinner.

Guests at the event.

Tyler's tattoo and several bracelets with his logo "Keep Moving Forward".

Tyler being presented a check for $22,500 that was raised for the Keep Moving Forward cause.

Tyler on speakerphone with country artist, Vince Gill. The owner of Jay's Valet, Jay Mills, is holding the phone.

  

Tyler expressing his thanks and appreciation to everyone.

For more information, please visit the following links:

Keep Moving Forward - www.keep-moving-forward.com

Jay's Valet - www.jaysvalet.com

Remington Park - www.remingtonpark.com