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.

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!!!

Playtime at the Park

I met Karen, Kaleb (3 years), and Kaden (7 months) at Will Rogers Park for our latest session. I was so surprised to see how much Kaleb had grown, and I had never seen Kaden before. Although Matt, the devoted hubby & daddy, wasn't able to attend the session because he is currently serving overseas, his spirit was there with his beautiful family. Here are a few of my fav pics from our session.

Getting Caught Up

In the process of my attempting to get caught up, I will post 2-3 sessions pics at a time on here. The first pics below are from Crystal, James, Macy & Callie. The girls were dressed up soooo absolutely adorable in their matching red & white dresses with blue belts. They were a blast to get pics of during the session. Macy would showing off, so Callie would play shy. Then they would switch and Callie was being the camera hog while Macy was being shy. They were definitely fun! Crystal and James were also awesome! They were up for anything, so we got some great pics. Such a loving and adorable family!!! Here are a few of my favs...

And the next session is with some of my fav repeat clients: Shannon, Denny, & Dawson. They were all part of the Today Show filming & interviews (be sure to watch them on Vet's Day, Nov 11th on NBC). Even though Dawson isn't even 3-yrs old yet, he was an absolute angel during all the happenings. And Shannon was just glowingly-pregnant gorgeous with a beautiful baby bump! Denny, well what's to say...he is definitely a proud daddy & hubby, and soon to be daddy two-times over. Even though there was a camera guy following us around during the session, we still managed to get some awesome pics! Here's a few of my favs:

The Today Show filming

Yesterday, I spent about 6 hours with the Today Show people, Tonee (the OpLove founder), and one of my client families. The TS people and Tonee came to OKC to film a segment on Operation: Love Reunited. We did all of the filming and my client session at the Rose Gardens in Will Rogers Park. It was an absolutely awesome day that was full of emotions! We laughed, cried, and played in the park. I got some fabulous pics of my clients, which I will post a few once they are all processed. We had another OpLove photographer, Amanda Lloyd, that came up from Ft Hood, TX to get some PR pics for our org to use. She'll be sending me her pics, so I will post a few of those when I get them. Meanwhile, here are a couple of cell phone pics we took of the interviews:

 Tonee Lawrence, the OpLove founder, being interviewed (above).

Me being interviewed (above).

My clients, Shannon & Denny, being interviewed (above).

Be sure to watch NBC's The Today Show on Veteran's Day, Nov 11th. I'll make another post a couple days before it airs to remind everyone to set their DVRs. I am soooo excited and can't wait to see it!   :)

Pics for Daddy

Last week, I met Abbie and her 18-month old son, Garritt at a local Edmond Park. Abbie brought her father along to help with Garritt because she also has a "baby-on-board". Her husband, Eli, is currently deployed overseas, so we did the OpLove session as a gift for him. Little Garritt was such a cutie! He didn't want to smile or talk or even look at me during the first part of the session. A few small American flags, some little army guys, and funny glasses in my backpack helped break the ice though.  :)   It also turns out that Garritt is ticklish and likes to play in the water, which helped get some smiles from him. And Abbie was just...glowing and beautiful, despite the hot, muggy morning. These two were so adorable together; I can't wait to see the entire family together at Eli's homecoming! And maybe, I'll have the chance to photograph her with a big belly and/or a newborn session.  :)

Oyyy!

Ok, it's been over a month since my last post. So obviously once again, I am behind on my blogging duties. But that is just a given for me, especially at this point! It is now almost 1:00am. I have to stay awake until 1:30am, which is when I can start getting ready for a 3am homecoming ceremony at Ft Sill. (Yes, I am that dedicated to our military families!) So none-the-less, I am sitting in a hotel room...alone...in the middle of the night...trying to stay awake to provide a free homecoming session for an OpLove client. I'm trying to stay busy because if I fall asleep, even the loud wake-up call via the hotel won't wake me. I did 10 sessions today, all before 4pm, so I am dragging butt!

Last Sunday, I hosted an Oklahoma OpLove Photographers Meet & Greet Party. It was at the Bob Hope Pavilion at Stars & Stripes Park on Lake Hefner. We didn't have many photogs show up, but I was grateful for those who were able to come! I was able to meet a few new photogs, which is always great. I also got to see a fellow OpLove photog, who is also one of my clients. She gave me updates on her hubby's deployment status, which I always appreciate! It is such an honor to work with so many dedicated people...I am truly grateful for each of them!

I have attached a few pics from our Meet & Greet party!

The Goodie Bags for each of my OK photogs.

Our Grill Master Mike, and helper Peyton (aka Bubba).

Two Peas in a Pod

Talia was referred to me by one of my existing OpLove clients that she had met on a flight. Talia's hubby, Jayme, was about to deploy himself. So we set up a session just two days before his actual deployment. Talia was a bit emotional, but Jayme managed to make her laugh. They were hilarious together! She watched squirrels; he chased geese. She stole his cap; he nibbled on her leg. She stuck her tongue out; he snuggled in close for a kiss. She groped his butt; he did his Captain America pose. LOL. I can't wait to see them at his homecoming! Here are a few pics from their session: