FYI - my website is completely down while my new software is installing for me to rebuild it.
Meanwhile, I'm digging through random pics to use on my new site. I ran across a photo of me at Christmas in 1978, just before my 3rd birthday. And look what I got...it's my first camera! I guess that just proves that I've always been behind the lens. :)
Yes boys & girls, I am finally back! Well, mostly anyway. :) There has been a ton of stuff going on these last several months, and I am finally getting everything squared away. I still don't have my home office unpacked or set up yet, but I am functioning. LOL. Here are some updates on what's new...
* I am on hiatus from OpLove sessions, and only accepting inquiries from previous/current clients.
* I am in the middle of switching to a new proofing software. The current software will be eliminated on March 30, 2013. More details on the new system once I get it figured out.
* I am considering getting rid of my current business website and using this blog, with modifications, as my primary site. I'll keep you updated.
* New Business Addition coming soon - Pet Photography!
* Anyone in or know some around the Junction City, Kansas area? One of my friends, Trey Allen, was recently diagnosed with Mutiple Myeloma (cancer of the blood cells). They are having a Benefit Ranch Rodeo, Calf Fry, and Silent Auction on May 26th. If you can attend, donate, or even help spread the word...any & all help is greatly appreciated! I am trying to arrange my schedule to attend also. More info here: https://www.facebook.com/events/151051648392171/
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| TreyAllen |
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| Allyson Lynn Colter |
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| Allyson Lynn Colter |
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| Me, Allyson, & my son (her daddy) Peyton. |
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| My sister, Tina, & niece, Makayla |
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| Makayla getting some mommy & baby brother love! |
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| Announcing my nephew, Eli James! |
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| Eli, deep in thought while snoozing |
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| Big sister kisses for Eli from Makayla |
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
...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.
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:
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:
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:
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...
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!!
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. ;)
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