Five years ago my oldest grandchild was born.  I wasn’t ready for it, wasn’t ready to be a grandmother.  As the big day approached and people would ask me how I felt I told them I wasn’t sure.  Then the day arrived and my life changed for ever, for the better.  I can’t even imagine now what I was ever scared of.

Being a grandmother is like the best thing in the world, it’s  one of the only things I love better than getting to photograph weddings.  I like to describe it as a sweet reward for all the sleepless nights, 3am feedings, cupcakes you bake and messess you clean up. For all the kids you played taxi for and the hormone swings when your kids were teens you receive a sweet bundle of joy one day to hold and watch grow.  Now instead of being the bad guy, I get to be the good guy having fun and adventures that I was too worried and stressed to do when my kids were young. 

All those things went through my mind last weekend at Daviona’s birthday party at Chucke E Cheese.  For those of you who don’t have children it’s an indoor wonderland for kids with food, video games, indoor playground, prizes and a big rodent named Chuck E Cheese who more often than not makes the kids cry.  It is not for the faint of heart and if you are hard of hearing so much the better because the sound levels are through the roof.  It was hard to think at all but I had to find some way to amuse myself as they young children played. 

Turning five is one of those milestone birthdays.  The one where you can put up your whole hand, be called a big girl or boy and start on that new adventure called school.  I am so glad that I am here to see my granddaughter meet this mile marker.  I remember almost fifteen years ago being told that I was sick and would die before my own children graduated high school.  They were seven, five, and three at the time. I didn’t know what to think but I know I prayed and asked God to let me live to see them make that milestone in there life.   I am so blessed by God to be here as my youngest finally graduates from school this year.  I am doubly blessed to see my grandchild turn five.   I am blessed and I pray I never forget it.

Here are a few pictures from Daviona’s party.  She is a delightful young child with a beautiful smile and a generous heart. 

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When we returned to the office after shooting one day there was a message from a young woman who said that Dean had told her to call.  I quickly returned the call because I hadn’t heard from Dean for awhile and was curious to know what he had been up to.

Dean and I met about eight years ago and formed a friendship that has stood the test of time.  He has three adorable sons and a warm generous heart.  He always said he would never give love another try.  He was happy like he was he would say, but the romantic in me didn’t believe him and was always trying to convince him otherwise.

I remember the day he first mentioned her this woman that he had met at work.  He didn’t give a lot of details or even a name but somewhere in the back of my mind I had a spark of hope. 

As I talked with Ashley that day she told me that she and Dean were getting married and he had suggested she call me to see if Iwould shoot their wedding.  I was overjoyed for them both and knew I couldn’t say anything but yes.

That chance meeting over 2yrs ago that he only casually mentioned turned out to be one of those life changing moments.  Dean didn’t know it at the time but Ashley did and she knew he was the one.  After a year and some months it seems he knew it as well because he surprised her with a beautiful diamond and asked her to be his wife.

It was so much fun doing their shoot we met at the chapel where their wedding will take place at the Bride’s request and then moved on to a nearby park.  We spent the afternoon laughing and telling stories and trying to get Dean to loosen up.  As the sun was setting and Ashley’s children arrived Dean’s face lit up as much as it does when he looks at Ashley.

I am so honored and excited to be allowed to capture this making of a new family.  The love I saw between Dean and Ashley when they were looking into each other’s eyes.  The laughter of a child it’s those moments that let me know I have the best job in the world.  I can’t wait until March when they will be married I know it will be a beautiful and laugh filled day.

This was one of my favorite shots of the day.

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One afternoon as Kyle and I strolled through Universal Studios a cast member walked up to us and wanted to know if we are interested in being in the show?  How did he know that Kyle and I are not the kinda people to turn down a chance to do something new, fun, exciting, scary, etc?  And having watched Fear Factor for years we couldn’t say no. 

 As we stood in the waiting area with the other lucky contestants I started to consider myself the luckiest of them all. Compared to what the other participants would have to endure I felt I was getting off easy.  The Mother and Daugther we talked with before sitting told us they would have to eat mystery stuff.

As we were escorted in to our special seating area the tension started to rise.  Despite the fact that we knew in one part of our minds that this was all more show than anything, and they wouldn’t let anything really happen to us. The fear of the unkown was almost enough to make us turn and run from the place.   Before I was ready it was my turn.  My heart was beating in my chest so hard I was sure people in Miami could hear it.  I sat in the chair and felt them strap me in.  You can do this I told myself.  The ear plugs, nose pincher and goggles made it hard to see and hear.  Stay perfectly still and don’t move is all I could remember at that point.  Then it was time, the moment that they were going to put the live creatures they showed me in back on my head. 

From the little I could hear I learned they were putting live scorpions in the box with me about 30 seconds before they did it and I have never been so scared in my life.   Anyone who knows me, knows I am basically a scardey cat about creepie crawlies.  I wasn’t about to move or even breathe I was so terrified.  What was only a minute or two seemed like thirty.  Then wouldn’t you know it one got stuck in my hair and they had a little trouble getting the last little guy out.  All the while I am sitting there praying that I make it out without wetting myself.  When they finally released me I could barely walk back to my seat.   Mom and Daughter were up after me, they had to eat some gross bug stuff that they said tasted as bad as it looked.

It took the rest of the show for my heartbeat to return to normal.  In fact I was shaking and crying as Kyle put his arms around me and told me I had done good.  As we exited the theatre a woman handed me a picture so I could remember my time in the show. 

 People approached me the rest of the day.  Some to tell me what a good job I did and others to question if the scorpions were even real?  They were I assured them, they actually crawled across my face and I will never forget the feel of thier bodies.  Hard with pointy things sticking out of them.  Your brave I heard over and over again.  And you know what I agree with them.

Just so you know this really happened and it not a figment of my imagination I have included the picture of me and the scorpions.

I am brave and fear is not a factor for me, I can’t afford for it to be.  I have too many things I want to accomplish, places I have yet to visit and experiences I have yet to have.

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So after considering doing my own 365 project I opted to do a 52 weeks one instead.   I opted for this option so that I would be able to post my work to be accountable.  I wanted to be able to do finish what I started so this works out better for me.  Next year I will be ready for the 365 project.

The way I have decided to approach this is this.   I have set up different themes for each month of the year.  Every week I will take pictures on that topic and pick one or two to post on that subject. 

I am hoping that through this year I will challenge myself and get my creative juices flowing.  All my life other people have always told me that I am creative.  I wasn’t always so sure about that, my Mom is an artist she can draw and paint and the best I can do is stick figures and even those are pretty bad.  I remember once when I was in the fourth grade we had to write a book, illustrate it and even bind it.  I got someone else to draw my pictures because I knew mine would look terrible.   

I hope you will enjoy the journey as much as I hope to.  I also hope that you will give me comments, encouragement, and feedback.

With that said here is my first foray into this project.  I decided that the month of January should be about Food.  I love food all kinds of food.  I have a dear friend who is a chef and she loves to cook for me. She say’s I enjoy my food so much that it is a treat to see me get pleasure out of what she has prepared.

In case you haven’t noticed this is not real food but plastic miniature food. I have always loved things in miniature dollhouses, food, movies and books about miniature people grab my attention.  So as I was thinking about what to shoot my granddaughter asked me to play tea party with her.  As I started looking at her new foods I started thinking it looks so realistic and tasty.  No wonder kids try to eat it if I was their age I would to!

Oh and just so you know that book I had help with back in the fourth grade……… I won first place.  The next year, I decided to write a sequel and illustrate it myself and got nothing.  That’s when I learned if you can’t do, hire someone who can!

Peace & Blessings

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It’s 2010 and I haven’t really posted on my blog like I would like.  While everyone else was celebrating and making resolutions (which I don’t do) I was taking care  of my youngest daughter.  She’s 19 and thinks she’s grown but sometimes she needs and wants her Mom and I am glad to have a chance to be there for her. 

Now that Jasmine is doing better I have decided that it’s time to get down to work.  Last year as Kyle and I were talking and trying to decide what the next step should be in our business  my son (17) encouraged me to write in my blog.  At the time I wasn’t sure what to say or how to say it.  I hadn’t really put myself out there since I was planning our wedding back in 2005.  I had an online journal of a sort on this wonderful site called African American Bride and I had the chance to meet, share, and learn from a great group of women.  I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do that again or if anyone would even be interested in my rambling.

Now that we have a clearer vision for our business and where we want to go I have decided that it’s time to do like my son said and blog the good, bad and ugly.  So here goes with a new year and a new focus I am going to giving you more of me and who I am.  This blog will be about the adventure of changing our entire business at the age of 40.  Our wonderful clients and the events and people we get to shoot.  Dealing with grown children who have had to move back home.  The joys of  being Grandparents.  The trips we love to take and anything else I feel like talking about. 

C &K Photography is in a sense just starting out.  Back in 2003 when Kyle and I were just dating we started a videography business.  Since then we have worked with some amazing couples and had a lot of fun making videos that moved our clients.  During that entire time I was always shooting images that we would incorporate into the final video.  There were times I was asked to be the photographer at the wedding along with doing the video.  As time went on I was finding myself less interested in the video side of our business and more interested in the photography side.  I hadn’t really taken images for pay since I worked for a major studio doing school photography.  But I was drawn to it like a moth to a flame.

Around June of 2009 the decision was made to not take on any more video clients and only do photography.  So in many ways this is going to be our offical first year of business.  Making this change has been exciting and scary, full of some real ups and downs.  As 2010 starts we are looking forward to a great year.  Hoping to meet lots of great people clients as well as other’s in the business and we hope that you will join us for the ride.

I would love to hear from my two readers if your still out there.  Sometimes it’s nice to know your not alone!  Fell free to leave me a comment, contact me here or email me at Tina@candkphotography.com.

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Give Flowers, originally uploaded by ttlocs.

When I was growing up and went to the Baptist Church with my Grandfather who was the Preacher. I would here the people get up to speak and they would always say give them their flowers while they are living.

It seems a strange saying when you are only about 11 or so. Now as I get older I understand that saying and many other ones that the grown-folks used to repeat often.

In light of that and the fact that it’s the beginning of a new year I want to just take a minute to give some flowers to a few folk while they are living.

First would be my Mother because she is always my biggest cheerleader. For my entire life it has been just the two of us and I couldn’t have asked for a better Mom. She has encouraged me, supported me and helped me in so many ways. I love you dearly Mom and just want to know that.

Second would be my Husband and Children. I know that sometimes I am hard to live with. My need for neatness and things to go my way sometimes get in the way of other things. But I am so glad and thankful that I have a family I can laugh with. We have more fun than we have fights and that means the world to me.

Third I want to say to my cast of characters that I am proud to call friend you guys are the best. I have the kind of friends that can call me any time of the day or night and I will be there for them. They also have shown me that same kind of love in these last few challenging weeks. It brings tears to my eyes when I thnk of how they have reached out to lend a hand, support, food and even a ride or two lately as my family and I have gone through a dark moment of our lives.

Lastly but for sure not the least I want to say thank you to the few but faithful readers of my little peice of the world. I would not have made it this far without each and everyone of you. When I get a comment I am so excited to know that someone is reading and the emails have given me the courage to continue.

So while I know you can’t smell these beautiful flowers or touch their sweet softness, consider them to be my way of giving you your flowers while you are living so you may know now why and how very important to me you are.

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It’s no big secret that I love food.  That fact became very apparent when at a young age my way of retelling the story for any vacation we had taken had more to do with the types, amounts, and quality of the meals eaten than anything else.  Truly that is still my way of talking about trips that we take.  I remember the sites now and take photo’s just don’t expect me to talk about them very much.  Ask me the best meal I had or where to find good chocolate or pastries and my eyes will light up and I could go on for ages.

The holidays are my favorite time of year.  I used to say it was the joy and good will people seemed to have or the shopping and wrapping of presents.  And  I can’t wait until November to start listening to my vast and ever growing collection of holiday music.  I am listening to some very nice music put out by Victoria’s Secret years ago. 

I have finally come to realize that what it is about the holidays that excite me so much apart from the music, spending thime with friends and family and the mezmerizing lights (a story for another post) is the food.  I love the pies, cakes, breads, soups, cookies, all of it.  Some of my best memories growing up were of making cookies with my Mom.  When I had kids I made sure that we made cookies every year to give to friends and family.

The kitchen the dinning room table everything would be covered in flour by the time we were done.  But the laughs and the good times we shared are priceless.  They enjoyed those nights so much that as they grew to be teenagers they invited their friends and took over the whole thing.  All I had to do was answer questions and then feast on the goods.  Who wouldn’t be in food heaven.  Christmas parties with all sorts of mouth-watering goodies, baskets full of tempting tidbits, pot-luck dinners with soups and cookies.  I am thrilled at this time of the year.   Do I need it no but that dosen’t stop me from wanting it.  And so I shall becuase I know come January and the new year I will go back to my sensible and healthy eating plan.  But until then let the good times roll…………………

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Today I am posting a letter that an officiant has written for brides.  I found it through Wedding Wire which is a great resource for wedding planning and networking with other brides and vendors. 

And yes this blog post does count for the Cans for Comments promotion so be sure to leave a comment.

Planning and budgeting for your wedding is a LOT like planning and paying for your starter home. The obvious similarities? It is a huge purchase. It is an expression, perhaps, the first, of your couple style. AND you will be spending a lot of money in a situation where you may not feel that you’re informed enough to feel totally comfortable.

So many factors can contribute to your decision, but perhaps the most important (or close) is your budget. Every couple has one, sparse or generous. While it may not be the only thing on your mind, it certainly looms large. No one wants to walk away from such an important purchase with buyers’ remorse, fearing that they have made an expensive purchase that wasn’t the right choice. In the case of your wedding, those multiple expensive purchases contribute to a day that cannot be done over; it truly is a “once in a lifetime” experience.

Decisions based solely on price can cause regrettable (and avoidable) disasters on your wedding day. Like the classic joke, “The food was terrible, and the portions were so small!”, five hours of an obnoxious DJ or an out of tune band will ruin your reception, no matter how many mirrored balls, inflatable guitars or ‘dance motivators’ they throw in for “free”. Five thousand photos that are carelessly shot, amateurishly lit or cropped and delivered late are not going to capture your wedding day in a better way than 500 artistically created pictures that really tell your story. (And there is just no way to know what great shots were missed.) A cake no one eats is well, a cake no one eats……and a ceremony everyone yawns through is a terrible way to start this precious moment in history; yours, your friends’ and your families’.

When you buy a house, a common phrase is, Location location location! Buy the most house you can afford in the best neighborhood, not the most expensive house in a less than desireable neighborhood. How does this translate to your wedding? Easily. Instead of finding the cheapest professional in any category, strive to put together a team of the people that you truly want to create your wedding, and then work with them to see just how that can happen.

“Every wedding professional who truly is that, a professional, wants to work with the couples that want to work with us. We want you to understand why we charge what we do, how we are uniquely qualified to be a part of your wedding, and how we might work together to stay within your budget. Your photographer might suggest a shorter period of coverage (maybe just before the ceremony and then part of the reception, rather than spanning the entire day, from makeup to the last crumb of cake). Your invitation artist might deliver your wedding stationary in components, ready for your bridal party to assemble. Your officiant, (that would be me!!), might offer to do a quick run through of your processional before the wedding rather than on a separate day. (I also offer a printable, decorative copy of the ceremony readings that some of my couples have used instead of favors.) All of these are invisible ways to include the vendors who will truly enhance your days.

None of us want our couples leaving their reception thinking that their day was vastly more expensive than they hoped; that is not the memory we are striving to create. Great, experienced, enthusiastic wedding partners are worth every penny that you’ll spend on them, and they’ll help you spend it wisely. That is our wedding gift to you. ”

Written by Celia Milton Celebrant

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It’s raining and it’s getting chilly out.  I actually like this kind of weather makes me wanna curl up with a good book and mug of hot tea.  Reading and napping throughout the day just seems like such an awesome way to spend the day.But I have a lot of work to do so I guess I will have to put that off until tomorrow.

Here is a picture that makes me think nice chilly thoughts as winter starts to arrive here in Florida.  I took this as ICE last year.  Haven’t decided if I am ging to go see it again this year or not.  I’ll let you know when I know.

Be sure to leave a comment to do your part for the cans for comments drive.  You can read more about that here.

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This is your chance to easily do something for a family in need.  I heard about this great program called Cans For Comments.   What is this you may be asking yourself?  Well basically it’s a way for Photographers to give back to their community.  Simple as that.

What do I do?  How do I participate?  That’s easy all you do is leave a little blog love, a comment short or long between now and Dec. 22 (My Mom’s Birthday) on any post.  We will add up all the comments and donate one can for each comment.  That’s it, easy as pie.  All donations will be made to the Second Harvest Food Bank  in Orlando Fl.

This is our first year participating but we are excited to be doing it.  You can even leave a comment on other photographer’s blogs who are also participating.  Here’s a few of them: One+One Images, Andrea Blair, Brooke Dainty, Courtney Paris, and Cortney Reece.

If you are interested in participating yourself send an eamil to cansforcomments@gmail.com for more information.  You can also follow on twitter at http://twitter.com/cansforcomments. 

Be sure to check back in for pictures of all the cans and us delivering them so you know we have really done it.  Now what are you waiting for leave some blog love and help someone out.

To cantact me click here.  To view my portfolio click here or to follow me on twitter click here.

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