Tidbits for Tuesday

Tidbits for Tuesday...... still working on the name..... but I have wanted to have some type of weekly post for awhile..... and I am starting it today! Every Tuesday I will post a quote (because I am kinda obsessed with quotes) and perhaps a picture from the week! Just something to think about as you go about your Tuesday. Not really crazy about calling it "Tidbits for Tuesday" so if you can think of something that sounds a little more fun/unique..... leave me a comment!! First up..... one of my favorite quotes ever.... and a couple pics of the gorgeous flowers that were on all the trees up until a couple weeks ago (I kinda think the pics and the quote go together!)

"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else."

-C. S. Lewis

Love Affair Workshop Giveaway: Final Giveaway!

I REALLY want to win a seat to Love Affair Workshop. GO read details and sign up to join in on the fun! http://www.loveaffairworkshop.com

This is it! The last giveaway..... the big giveaway!! This is for a spot at the 2010 Love Affair Workshop in Dallas, TX this September! Can't wait until they announce the winner on Wednesday!

Love Affair Workshop Giveaway: Kelly Moore Bag

Check out the LOVE AFFAIR BLOG and enter to win a Kelly Moore Bag & a seat to their upcoming workshop in Dallas!! www.loveaffairworkshop.com

Another day of the Love Affair Workshop giveaway!! Each day I get so much more excited about the workshop...... today I've even started dreaming up ways to raise the money to go........ which hopefully I won't need to do if I just win a spot in the giveaway!! Today's giveaway is a Kelly Moore Bag...... perfect for carrying your camera and lenses around and still looking fabulous!! She even has a new bag for the guys!

Love Affair Workshop Giveaway: Get it Together Kit!

I want to win the Get It Together Kit & a seat to Love Affair Workshop. GO read the details and register! http://www.loveaffairworkshop.com

Woohoo! I get so excited every time I post about this workshop!! Love Affair is a workshop put one by four AMAZING women photographers who are so talented and gracious! I really look up to and admire every single one of them. This year's workshop is in Dallas..... one of my absolute favorite town's ever (I used to live just north of Dallas!) Today's giveaway is Millie Holloman's brand new Get It Together Kit! If you have a crazy busy photography business..... and you need a little help in the organization department..... this giveaway is for you!!

Love Affair Workshop Giveaway: UNO

I want a UNO DVD and a shot at the scholarship to the Love Affair Workshop! http://www.loveaffairworkshop.com

I do believe you will be hearing about this workshop and their giveaways every day of this week!! Which I think is really great...... Love Affair is just that amazing!! Today the giveaway is Lauren Clark's photoshop tutorial UNO! It is awesome..... if you want to learn more about photoshop and how to make your colors pop in your pictures like Lauren does..... this is the dvd for you!

Love Affair Workshop Giveaway!!! Woohoo!!

Check out http://www.loveaffairworkshop.com! They’re giving away prizes & a seat to their workshop on the blog this week! Go enter to win!

Can you tell I'm excited!? Love Affair Workshop is having their week of giveaways! Today's giveaway is an Insight Kit by Davina Fear. Check out all of her insight kits here. I would love to win one of these kits (I already have my eye on a certain kit and will probably be buying it shortly if I don't win it!) At the end of the week Love Affair is giving away one seat to the workshop in Dallas this September! How awesome is that! I have entered the last two years and am entering again this year. My goal is to either win a spot...... or eventually be able to afford a spot at the workshop! For more information about the workshop click here.

UNO: My Photography Story!!!

This is my story..... how the whole photography thing got started. In this post you will find 1-One super embarrassing photo of me. 2- my story and some really old and super new pics 3- the word UNO (UNO is the spanish word for one) over and over again (keep reading to find out why!!)

I have always loved to see. When I was a little girl my family traveled in the car a lot...... and I would spend my time just staring at the passing scenery. My Dad loved nature and would always take pictures of mountains and trees and fields. I would get so frustrated looking through his pictures..... where were all the people?? I determined then and there that people were what pictures were all about! My pictures would have people in them..... at least UNO person in each picture!! In my family I was the picture taker.

Now for UNO embarrassing pic....... I clearly remember organizing and posing my family for this pic (I even made them wear coordinating outfits.) I was the UNO who would set off the camera timer and run to get in the pic...... maybe that's why I look a little psycho/stalkerish here (I especially like how my hands are posed on my brothers shoulder.....ughh!) Everyone has to start somewhere!

In college I was that person who changed their major not just UNO time.... but like ten times (I had yet to fall head over heels in love with photography!) I always had a creative bent (my minor was Drama) and after two year as a Biology major I decided to take a photography class for my art credit. It was a film class..... we shot all black and white film! It was probably my favorite, number UNO class my whole college career! My teacher was awesome..... he really loved photography and passed that love on to us. I spent hours and hours in the darkroom.... and I loved every minute of it. Shooting film really taught me the basics (exposure, light, DOF, etc.)...... and forced me to get things right the number UNO time in the camera. I remember at the end of the course as we were having our final critique my teacher asking me what I was going to do with photography after the class..... and I just kinda was like..... umm.... take pictures of my family?? Here is one of my favorite pictures from that class...... just a simple leaf. (Please excuse the quality..... I scanned it and realized I haven't taken very good care if it.... it's very scratched!)

Why didn't I want to do anything with photography (besides have it be a fun hobby I did on the side of my future career??) Well..... let me try to explain. To me if you wanted to do photography for a living you either did editorial work (took pics for magazines and newpapers), were an artist....... or worst of all...... had a local studio. I wasn't the super artsy type, didn't want to do editorial work..... and number UNO..... I didn't want to take pictures in the same studio in front of the same backgrounds for the rest of my life..... to me that just seemed a little boring! I'm a quickstart type person..... I love new..... new people new places. So I pushed photography to side as not really for me.

Then in 2007 I got engaged!!! In my search for a wedding photographer I started to realize how much I like photography..... it was soooo incredibly important for me to have an AWESOME photographer to capture our special day! I spent more than UNO hour pouring over photographers websites. In the end I found and chose the number UNO photographer in my book....... Lauren Clark. Looking through Lauren's pictures and seeing how much fun they were started to change my mind about photography. I realized that photography had evolved over the years and a new, modern photography had emerged. You didn't have to take pictures in the same studio day after day...... you could go anywhere..... new people and new places everyday...... my little heart lit up!!! I then and there decided to become a photographer!!

(Here is UNO of my favorite pics Lauren took on my wedding day...... I get so many compliments everytime people see it!!)

Not too much longer after that I decided to head out and try my hand at photography...... me and my little point and shoot. After taking these pictures I realized that if I wanted to go anywhere in the photography world my UNO little point and shoot just wasn't going to cut it!!

With lot's of encouragement from my hubby (he is still my number UNO fan), friends and family I started pursuing a photography business!! Here is my number UNO ever senior session (it's my little sister..... isn't she beautiful!) I am pretty sure these are the first pictures I took after I got my new Canon 5d!! Having an awesome camera helped tremendously.... but I still had a lot to learn!

This next picture marks a milestone in my story...... my UNO time EVER to be paid for a session. I was so unconfident and scared I would mess up..... I would never ask for money. Angie was my first REAL client. I took pictures of her and her two little boys. She wanted to pay me and I said look at the pictures first to see if you even like them. She looked at them and thankfully liked them and payed me...... thank you Angie for being soooo sweet, giving me confidence and being my number UNO REAL client!! This picture is still one of my favorites.... what a sweet moment between brothers!

At first I was super embarrassed to post all these awful old pics...... but something kind of cool happened as I worked on this post....... I got to look back and see just how far I've come..... how I've grown and improved! I still have sooooo far to go...... but I am encouraged to see that this next UNO picture looks a lot different from the last five!!!

Ok..... now I will answer your question. Why is the word UNO scattered all throughout this post?? Lauren Clark is giving away a free BRAINWASH (I would get to spend a day one on one with Lauren learning anything I like) in honour of her fabulous photoshop instructional video....... UNO!!! If you have never heard about UNO..... stop reading and head straight over to Lauren Clark's UNO website..... www.unobylaurenclark.com!! This post is my entry into that contest!! I would absolutely love to win a BRAINWASH with Lauren!! I feel like the more I do photography and build my business.... the more and more questions I have and the more things I realize I have no clue how to do. The whole business side of photography just baffles me! I feel like a BRAINWASH could really teach me how to run a successful photography business... (and offer my clients the best product I possibly can)... not just a hobby or side job!!

Thanks so much for reading this post and letting me share my heart and story behind my passion for photography!!!

Houston, TX Photographer. Lifestyle Photography. Coming to Houston/Pearland THIS Weekend!

So I know it's SUPER late notice but I am making a last minute trip to the Houston/Pearland area and have a couple afternoons open for sessions! It can be any kind of session (senior, engagement, bridal, portrait, maternity, newborn, etc.) I will be in town this weekend and have sessions available these days:

Friday March 12th at 4pm

Saturday March 13th at 4pm

Sunday March 14th at 4pm

If you are interested in scheduling a session one of these days email me at christinashippeyphotography@gmail.com and I will put you on the calendar!

P.S. The reason I am coming into town is to meet my new little nephew..... Carter Keith Shippey!! I am so excited to meet him AND get to take his newborn pics!!

Springdale, Ar Photographer. Maternity Photography. Heather

Here is the rest of Heather's maternity session! The sun was out and the light was beautiful for her session! Sadly even though the sun was out it was still pretty cold.... and there was all kinds of chilly wind! Heather was awesome and braved the wind and never once complained..... I think I complained more than she did (I'm such a wimp about cold!) We had quite the adventure..... I dragged Heather out into random, muddy fields and made her climb though branches to get some sweet shots! Thanks Heather for putting up with me and all my crazy requests.... you made my day! Funny story from our session..... I found a hotel that had turquoise doors (my fav color) so I asked Heather to pose in front of one of them for a couple of shots. Next thing we know a group of guys walk up and start talking to us (a rather gruff looking bunch of gentleman.) Then one of them actually asks if we were taking pictures in front of the hotel door because this is where the baby was conceived. He was totally serious..... who asks that??! We promptly left after that comment and I have now dubbed that hotel the "shady hotel with turquoise doors" and won't be going back there any time soon. Heather I had a blast with you and can't wait to meet your little boy!!

Springdale, Ar Photographer. Maternity Photography. Heather Sneak Peek

Here is one of my favorites from Heather's maternity session.... I'll post the rest tomorrow but I couldn't resist posting this shot! Heather is my husbands cousin..... and I was so excited when she asked if I would do some maternity shots for her. It was really fun to hang out and get to know her some!! Heather braved some crazy wind, chilly weather and mud for this shot!! Isn't this just beautiful?? Once again..... mom-to-be absolutely glows!!

Maternity Photography. Northwest, Arkansas Photographer. Rachael

Here is the rest of Rachael's maternity session. Isn't she absolutely gorgeous..... women like her and my sister-in-law Jodi make pregnancy look good! I had never thought very much about doing maternity sessions until my sister-in-law Jodi suggested it and let me do one for her. Ihave to say I have been having a lot of fun with maternity sessions..... in fact it just might be my new favorite thing! Women just absolutely glow when they are pregnant..... it makes my job super easy!! Rachael brought her sister Melissa along for the photo shoot..... in fact the writing on Rachael's belly was done by Melissa.... so cute! We had so much fun wandering around in the fields over by Pearland. Rachael was awesome..... walking through all kinds of thick underbrush and standing in mud and puddles of water when I asked! Rachael and Melissa thanks for being so much fun..... and up for absolutely anything!! Rachael is having a little girl and she is going to name her Malaya (thus the picture below).... isn't that a pretty name! Enjoy!!

Rachael Sneak Peek. Maternity Photography. Springdale, AR

Here is a little tease of my maternity session I had with Rachael yesterday. I can't wait to show you the rest..... Rachael is gorgeous and such a stylish mom-to-be!! Her sister Melissa came along and the three of us had so much fun tracking though wet, muddy fields in our rain boots to get some awesome pics!!

For the Love Workshop!!!

Wow!! Hello everyone!! Hope you had a merry Christmas!! I feel like I haven't blogged in forever.....ok .... it isn't just a feeling....I really haven't blogged in forever!! I have been everywhere and done everything this past month (visited family, family cruise.... and moving from Florida to Arkansas) but I am going to have my last blog in 2009 be about something I am crazy excited about!! A photography workshop.... and not just ANY photography workshop..... but an awesome CHRISTIAN photography workshop/retreat!! For the Love Workshop is a photography workshop specifically for Christian photographers and is designed to give them a break from all the pressures of being a photographer in the modern day market and to learn how to focus on God for their inspiration and creativity!! Wow... how cool is that! It will be at a Resort in the beautiful Tennesee Smokey mountains for five days in February!! As if that isn't enough of a reason to attend the workshop.... there is more! The workshop will be taught by some of my personnel photography heroes..... Lauren Clark, Erik Clausen and Ginny Corbitt (click on their names and check out their work.... they are all amazing photographers!!!) The cherry on top of all this goodness is that each day will begin with a devotional time and then worship led by none other than the AMAZING Meredith Andrews!!! Photography, worship, plenty of time spent Jesus..... and other people who share my passion and love for Jesus and photography!! Now you know why I am so excited.... but it gets even better...... they are having a contest and giving away a spot at the workshop... and I am entered in that contest!! I feel as if I could go on ALL day about the workshop...... but suffice to say the workshop will be wonderful.... and I am hoping... and praying that my name is drawn and that I able to go and soak up all kinds of photography knowledge from some of the best.... as well as spend time focusing myself, and my business on Christ!! For more details head to the For the Love website! Much more to come soon.... I am crazy behind blogging sessions!! Happy New Years to everyone!! God Bless!!!

Vote for Me: Give Me Moore!!!

So..... I know I already tweeted and facebooked about the contest I entered to win a spot at a photography workshop.....but..... I thought I would blog and give some details about how wonderful and amazing this workshop is.... and why I want to go so badly!! The workshop is put on by one of my favorite photographers.... Kelly Moore of Kelly Moore Photography! The workshop is a one day workshop called Give Me Moore! It is basically a day spent with Kelly learning all kinds of awesome photography knowledge like lighting, posing, workflow and photoshop! Why do I want to go sooooo bad (beside the fact that I have so much still to learn in the area of photography and would love to learn from one of the best)? The biggest reason I want to go is because Kelly is a rockstar with off camera lighting (don't believe me.... go check out her website... you will be amazed!!) ...... and I am just about as clueless as a person can get with my flash!! Honestly....... my flash and I are basically mortal enemies..... and I would love to form some kind of friendship with my flash and start creating some awesome pictures with off camera light!! How do I win a spot at this workshop? YOU!! I need your votes to win! Lots of other photographers have also entered this contest and whoever has the most votes by this Friday (Nov. 13th) will win a spot at Kelly's next workshop! So please, PLEASE..... head on over to her blog, scroll down and find my pic and vote (you can vote once from each computer, so if you have more than one computer around.....vote again!!!) Also feel free to tell all your friends to vote as well!! Thanks so much for all you support and encouragement and votes!!

Downtown With Jodi

This is my sister-in-law Jodi.... isn't she beautiful?! She has gorgeous green eyes (I love when people have super pretty eyes it just makes the whole picture pop) and the prettiest freckles and smile! Last week while I was in Houston Jodi and I headed downtown to find some fun, new picture spots. We found this fun blue wall.... then walked over to Rice University.

It was a super hot, sunny day and we soon found our way into a little snack shop to cool off! While there we found these awesome purple chairs and pure white wall... and we just snapped away. The light was so awesome!! While in the snack shop we also made a friend and were introduced to something new... gigapans!

After walking around in the heat for over two hours.... this is basically how we felt... a little bit crazy!

Tada.... my first ever gigapan!! Still not really sure what a gigapan is.... kind of like a panorama?? Apparently Jodi and I's gigapan is now one of the top 30 gigapans... cool huh?

Check out Jodi's blog to see the pictures she took of me while we were downtown!