Memory Box Photography

I feele like a kid on Christmas morning….except a kid who sees his presents, but cant play with them. He knows what they are, but can’t do a thing about it. Thanks to the weather and the busyness of life, I’ve been unable to go get some of the big packages I have waiting at my home in Benton.

Check back on the blog about Thursday. ESPECIALLY if you live in Arkadelphia. HOPEFULLY (barring any unforeseen events) there will be a post that you’ll be very interested in, and will pan out to be a lot of fun for any and everyone that takes part. So Thursday afternoon/morning/night/evening/sometime, check back on the blog, read the post, tweet the post, share the post.

Both of my jobs have been a little low key lately, due to different things. School? Not so much. I leave you with a Blackberry Polaroid of what I’m doing right now. Working on that Greek translating!

“You all worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, since salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming and is now, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth.”

Dear internet, I hate migraines.

Let me be frank, I love Tuesdays. They, as of now, are my favorite day of the week. Here is why: my schedule. Unless I’m forgetting something (and if I am…I’ve been forgetting it for a number of weeks…which means I’m probably in a bit of trouble), my schedule ROCKS. As far as class goes, I have a 12:30 class and a 2:00 class, and that’s it. Yes, that means usually I go till nearly 3:30 in the afternoon, BUT, so worth it.

Lately, I’ve been running, so I decided to get up a little earlier than normal and go for a run. I woke up BEFORE my alarm (which sometimes agrivates me) and grabbed myself some yogurt. Before realizing what I had done, it was gone. So I decided to wait a little while before running.

—-FLASHBACK TO MY FRESHMAN YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL——
I had started playing football, and my very first summer workout was the next day. I didnt know what I should do, but knew I wanted to do it right. So where does a guy go when he has questions about football? Pops. Of course. I asked my Dad, “Dad, I’ve got workouts at 7 A.M. tomorrow…do I want to do all of that on an empty stomach? Or should I eat before? I dont even know what I should eat!” I promise, I’m smarter than this story makes it out to be. Dad replies, “Theres a tub of yogurt just down some of that.” Not catching a single bit of the evidently heavy sarcasm, I took his grain of wisdom to heart. The next morning, I woke up extra early to make sure I would go to workouts nourished. Approximately 3 hours later, I was keeled over…”losing” the yogurt, to say the least. Thanks dad, but at least now I know the dangers of dairy before exerting yourself.
—–FLASH FORWARD TO NOW—–

Like I said…I decided to wait a little while before I ran. Fool me once, shame on you…

I ran. It went well. I came back, showered, and started talking to Drew and Jeff, and started not seeing things. You know what it’s like when you stare at a light for too long and you get those little bubbles in your vision, I guess? I started getting those, without looking at lights. Somewhat alarmed, I went to class. I now have the priveledge of taking Interpersonal Communications from Dr. Keldon Henley. About halfway through class, those blindspots morphed into a life-tormenting, massive, throbbing migraine. It came out of nowhere! I didnt know what was going on, but I realized I didnt have any coffee this morning.

I shouldn’t have gone to my next class, but I did, then took a nap! All of THAT to say, my coffee supply is running low.

First things first, I want everyone to check out GoBena. They had a booth at Passion 2010, and I bought a bag of Ethiopian. By doing that, I bought some incredible coffee…and fed a child for a month! Why was the picture of Dunkin’ Donuts? Because GoBena has been out for a while. Drank it quick. If you drink coffee, please check them out!

Second, being low, I want some recommendations for what you drink. Tweet me, fb me, txt me, comment here, let me know! I’m always trying to find another blend that I like.

On to more photo-related matters, Wedding Season 2010 is filling up. I’ll be anywhere from Dallas to Mississippi at this point, and just booked an event at Dickey-Stephens Park, which I’m fairly excited about! But, I’m not packed yet. Shoot me an email, but I just wanted to say I’m SUPER pumped to see what happens this year.

Grace and Peace.

I drive.

a lot.

At least I think it’s a lot? Usually (excluding any photography related trips) I’ll drive anywhere from 325-375 miles a week. Fortunately, sometimes I get to go on these drives with some of my best friends and great influences in my life, such as @Emma Smith, @Jake Sligh, or Wes Hymer. MOST of the driving consists of the interstate stretch between Arkadelphia and Little Rock, a long and boring stretch. But, like I said, often I’ve got great company that always leads to great conversations and fellowship.

And then….

And then there are mornings like this morning. Driving solo both ways, coffee in one hand, steering wheel in the other. Sometimes, like this morning, I wake up a good hour and a half after my alarm and dont have a peaceful morning, and other times I get away in plenty of time, but maybe not “the most awake.” The solo drives are always interesting. I take the time to catch up on podcasts primarily. When I drive with someone in the car, I often feel bad about listening to the podcasts. I dont want people I’m with to think I’m not listening to what they say…but I also DO want to hear what the podcast is saying, so usually I’ll just set it to shuffle or a radio station and keep the volume low.

Other times, I just drive. Windows up, windows down, doesn’t matter. Just no radio. I’m sure i’m not the only one, but I never have the time to just…..sit. I’ll have some time with God, meditate on some Scripture that’s given me a gut check lately, or just…be. This morning, I spent a good amount of time dwelling on the “divine tension” as Matt Chandler calls it, of sovereignty vs. “ask and you will receive,” as well as the purposes/implications of the tension.

On the way back, I listened to my new album. I definitely recommend the album, it’s the album version of the Hope for Haiti Now telethon that all the major networks broadcast. While the telethon was on, a few friends and I were eating dinner at Chili’s, surrounded by 5 televisions. On 4 of them, the Lakers’ game. On one (and fortunately the sound source) was the telethon. As John Legend went to begin his song…they changed that TV to the Lakers’ game. I guess 4 TV’s of the game wasn’t quite enough. Thankfully, you can buy the album on iTunes.

Hope for Haiti Now Album

Here’s some “Blackberry Polaroids” from the drive today.

And if you have any podcast/album recommendations, I’m ALWAYS up for more.

Hey everyone!

I just wanted to let everyone know where I’ve been the past few days, and explain the “radio silence” on twitter, my phone, fb, email, orders, etc. I’m sure some of you have been thankful I have been unreachable, but if you’re reading this now, odds are you aren’t in that group anyway. School has kicked back up full force, and this weekend I’m with my Junior High students from Fellowship Student Ministries at New Life Ranch in Oklahoma. It’s been an awesome time and God is really moving in the lives of these students! Unfortunately…when I return, I have a greek final, lots of reading, and papers to start on. Hooray classes being back…

Here’s a couple extended exposures from the weekend. Be praying for the rest of the trip!

January 12, 2007. Three years ago from today, I graduated High School. It’s strange to look back and think of how much has changed since then. I know it’s cliche, but in all seriousness, if you’d have given me a highlight real for graduation of what would go on in my life in the next 3 years, I would not have believed it, and in some ways I’d be a little afraid.

I graduated a semester early, and then on January 27th, I said farewell to my family and flew out to South Africa, where I joined in ministry with some of the most amazing (and interesting) people I’ve met, to this day. I was fortunate enough to experience lots of things, from the extravagant, such as miracles, to the simple, such as taking joy in rain. On that trip, God opened my eyes to a lot of what his calling on my life was, but I didn’t quite know (and still probably dont know) where in particular that’s taking me. But I’ll still run hard.

I’m continually thankful for everything and everyone God has put in my life since graduating, and here’s to looking back years from now, and being amazed yet again.

Talking to some friends in a squatter camp outside Johannesburg, South Africa

A squatter camp equivalent of a pre-k/daycare.

At Choir Tour in Chicago upon returning from Africa. From Left: Ryan, Matt, Stephanie, Me, Hannah

Well…the time has come. I’m all moved in at school again. Friends are trickling in with bags of clothes, new and old, trinkets, and food here and there. The semester has picked up, and there’s no turning back. However, break was great. Booked a couple more 2010 Wedding clients, which is always exciting. Arguably more importantly, I took part in Passion 2010, a conference of over 20,000 college students worshipping God and “Doing Something Now.” We cumulatively ended up raising over $1 Million, for causes ranging from Compassion International, to sending Middle Eastern men to seminary, to translating the Bible for unreached people groups, and countless other causes. It was a great way to start off 2010, and I cant wait to see how it bears fruit in the time to come.

Here’s a shot from our drive back. Good luck to everyone in 2010, I can’t wait to see where it brings us.

Mallory contacted me out of the blue late last year about maybe shooting their wedding! I was really excited, but quite confused. I had no idea how I knew her, but the world is growing more and more small every day. A friend of hers knew Drew (a photographer friend of mine), who was booked that day, who recommended me! That’s my understanding at least. So, thank you Drew, because Brian and Mallory are awesome.

I didn’t quite know what to expect when I drove up to Jonesboro for the engagement session, except “look for the toaster on wheels.” At first I thought she was joking…but she wasn’t. A little Scion Toasterish vehicle pulled up, and the roller coaster took off. The entire shoot, I hardly had to do any posing, it just came natural to them. Their wedding is June 5, 2010, and I cannot wait to be a part of that as well. Luckily, Mallory called when she did. That next week, I had 4 emails and a phone call about June 5, and several others since. However, June 5 I’ll be in Forrest City with these two, and here’s some of the shots from the engagement session.

Look. Enjoy. Comment. Share.

Jessie and Dan are two of my good friends from high school! It was a blast to drive around, catch up, and take some pictures! They started dating when we were in high school, went to separate schools, and will soon be married! A fun couple to say the very least. Here’s a handful of their photos.