I know I haven't posted in a while, but Happy Mothers Day to all mothers! This past Saturday's wedding was unique in that it was closer to home than I've ever been. As matter of fact, the reception was less than a mile away! It was a real treat not to have to travel twenty minutes or four hours, since gas prices are $2.93 a gallon here in this part of Mississippi.

As I arrived at the church, I just knew that this day was gonna be a good one. And my good feeling was proven as the day progressed. Here is just a sample of what I mean:

Happy Mother's Day!

How did I not post this in my last post!? There has been another jacket design, but this time it isn't for me. It seems as my two closest frat brothers and myself are in fierce competition with who's going to have the hottest design and after seeing the design today, I believe I went from first place to dead last :) Now I have to get my creative juices flowing and come up with something that will top this design.

It's been about three weeks since I have been a bachelor again and it's a daily battle for me. There were a few things I thought about that would help me to repair my life and those contained only a couple of key elements. Spiritual, mental, and physical well being. I figured if I can get these elements in order, then I have a chance at enjoying life again. I want to thank all those, again, who have kept me in their thoughts since this ordeal began and I wish you all the very best life has to offer.
My spiritual health began with me attending church and what a difference those words made. When the minister spoke those words, it was as if he was really talking to me, and I could understand it and take that into practice to help me get over this hump. Things really WILL be OK :)
My mental health is a combination of me reading and keeping myself informed about different events as they apply to me and trying to remain focused on you- my faithful and patient clients.
My physical health began with me joining a gym! Keep in mind that I have never lifted a weight(seriously) in my life! On my very first day, my trainer pushed me just to see where I was and today he pushed me to get me even further. I have very specific goals in getting this training and that is to improve my overall health(not that I'm sick or anything) and to increase strength and endurance. It has been quite a challenge for me especially since most of the guys that are members at the gym have been doing it for quite some time now and they make everything look so easy! I have given myself a specific weight training goal and a time frame in which to achieve this goal so stay tuned...
Here's day 2 at the gym with my frat brother and client.

In the business of photography, I am always meeting interesting people and interesting places. This shoot turned out to be exactly that; not typical! I just love it!! On my journey down a lonely stretch of highway, it seemed as if I would never make it to my destination because it just seemed like around every bend, there was another to replace it. Along the way, I realized how different country living is compared to living in the city with all the acres of land and homes stretched several city blocks apart. I was definitely not in "Kansas" anymore ;)
When I arrived at my destination, the happy couple seemed pretty excited to get started so we wasted no time getting to the location they had chosen. This location only put the exclamation behind, what I had already considered to be country, with acres and acres of land, a lake and cows and bulls roaming free. I was closer to cows and bulls than I had been at the zoo! You don't really appreciate the sheer size of one of these animals unless you're three feet away from them and you realize just how HUGE they are. One of these animals is easily larger than a standard sedan and can compete with any of the larger SUV's. We drove in and around cow dung to get to the exact location that was chosen, but it was well worth it because I was treated with an area that was beautiful as anyone could imagine. The waters were calm and the sun seemed to shine just a bit brighter where we were. The cows and bulls sent on their daily duties as we weren't even there and that was an awsome enough site to see in itself!
Here are just a few of the results from this great experience.

I, for one, would definitely consider myself a loner and self reliant and dependant person by nature. Like many, I left home to attend college at 18 and never returned to my "mother's den." On this trip to New Orleans, I was actually overwhelmed by the support and love I have from my family and when I reflect on it, that love is greatly missed. No more are the days that I go weeks without calling home just to see how things are going with my mother and siblings. Family can be one of the greatest support systems anyone could ever have if they just stop for a minute to see. I would encourage any of you out there who are consumed with the daily hassles of life not to get so devoured by career, home, and family, that you can't appreciate family. Mom cooked gumbo just for me. There was one of my favorite desserts waiting as well and all this to say, It's going to be OK.


I also spoke of friends earlier. Well the clients that I work with are just as important to me than anything and in this case, they proved to be just like family. Take a look at the gesture of this beautiful flower that was given to me today. It means a great deal because someone took time out to say, "hey, it's going to be OK and we care about how you're doing".

I would say that I had a surprise for a day on today. The wonderful people I had the opportunity to work with, really showed a genuine concern for my welfare. Keep in mind, that for one client, I had never even met before and the other, I had only met on one occasion, several months ago! Wow is all I can say to that.

Joy's mother Mary was full of kind words and words of encouragement as if we had known each other for years and for these words, I must publicly say, 'Thank You'. Thank you all for trying to keep me afloat since I cannot keep myself above water, even with a fully functioning life raft!

Here's a peek into wonderful people and why it is that I continue to do what I do.

You know, in the field of creating happy memories for many couples, one would think that I should have the perfect relationship. It took me a lot of time to decide to include this entry on my blog, but this is, afterall, an opportunity for you to know me for who I am.
Kimberly and I have been together for 9 years and I would say that as far as I knew, we had at least 8 great years until we moved to Jackson. We separated on this past Friday, to my disappointment and dismay. I realize that no one is perfect by any means and having a strong relationship means that both individuals MUST work at the relationship or it simply won't work. There has to be open lines of communication and absolutely no room for pride.
After begging and pleading and further committing to work on our failed relationship, there were no words I could say to help change her mind. We had failed the relationship and honestly, we failed each other.
I miss her each day that goes by and constantly wish things were different, but the fact remained, it was over.
I will try my hardest not to let this major event in my life come between my duties to you and others, but I will ask for all your thoughts and prayers as I try to make it in life as a single guy again.

It's been a while since I talked to you guys and it's amazing how I got a phone call to let me know I wasn't on the air ;) Shame on me for not posting...but here goes.

We were just getting started on, what was a beautiful day and a happy and beautifl bride when...out of nowhere came a security guard saying how we could not be on the grounds. How about that! This location is one that I had been to before and have known others to use it because of all it has to offer. The waterfall, which I was not able to capture, the bridge, and the fence, are all elements that make this place what it is. Is all just there to gaze at? What use is it to anyone if you can't actually experience and enjoy it's beauty?

This was a big disappointment to me and the bride though she didn't show it. What good spirit she had. It seemed as if nothing could ruin her day and the few images we actually had an opportunity to create before we were asked to leave.

I realize that many think they have the latest and greatest mobile devices out there -until now! I am a techno junkie when it comes to this kind of stuff and I have never seen anything like it! For all the Treo, Blackberry, and Q phone users, you can trash them all. I'm not bashing any current phones at all especially since I'm a huge fan of the Treo. It's just that this new phone tops them all!
How about an iPod, phone, and Internet all in one? This is what I'm speaking of here! With it large 3.5" screen, it's better than the iPod for video. For all the software applications that require a stylus to move about, you can trash the stylus as well since the iPhone has a touch screen!! This is all next generation stuff here, people - pay attention!

The iPhone syncs with iTunes just like the iPod, so you can download movies, TV, videos, books, Podcasts, and more. It has a built in speaker for you to listen to all your downloads without the need for headphones. One other amazing thing that makes this iPhone so neat is that it automatically knows when it's held vertically or horizontally. While watching movies, you have the option to watch in normal or wide screen versions, and again, it's all touch screen!

I'm only a few minutes into the videos Apple has online, but you can view them HERE to get all the latest.

There are so many things to do after the new year. We have been so busy around here after being "closed" for a couple of weeks during the holidays and now we're swamped! As I wait around for a delivery today, I figured what better thing to do than to get my aquarium all cleaned out and ready for new fish for a new year. It never really dawned on me the amount of time it acually takes to clean a 120 gallon aquarium from top to bottom. My hat goes off to those that work at the varius pet shops :)
Luckily, I bought, a long time ago, this apparatus that drains AND fills this aquarium, all with one tool. This is the best thing to use for any aquarium over 30 gallons or so. It's called the Python. It's approximately 20 feet long and if that's not long enough, you can buy an extension. I can remember the first time I filled my aquarium. It took me and a friend over two hours to fill it with buckets!!! It was after thiat experince that I went in search of a better way to fill this monster and I had found a real gem in the Python. I couldn't believe it; connect it to a faucet and let the water run- it's juet that simple to fill or drain! You just let the freakin water run! How awsome is that! No messy buckets. No back and forth. No wet fish hands, and no back strain.