Getting a little smarter this week.

It's always so much fun to go to a school or conference and learn new things about my business and more especially learn fun new ways to photograph. I always come back so refreshed and ready to try out all the new stuff I've learned and play with the new things I purchased. That is how we are able to keep the look and feel of our artwork exciting and fresh! I am on overload this week and can't wait to share all the new, fun and exciting things we will be offering soon. Please keep stopping by the studio or give us a call so we can fill you in on what is going to be the next new thing!

Don't Miss! Extreme Makeover: Home Edition+ Major Images, This Sunday, March 1st at 7:00pm

As photographers we are sometimes blessed with opportunities to use our love of photography in a way that gives back. Terry and I were recently given such an opportunity. ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition did a home makeover in Keller, TX. One our our favorite clients, Erin Kolp, works with Wall Homes which was chosen to be the builder. She asked us if we would partner with Wall Homes to document the process. We volunteered about 80 hours that week along with 100's of other people who worked tirelessly giving of their own time, talent and financial contribution. Many small business even closing for the week to give to the Augustine family instead of making a profit for themselves, just weeks before Christmas. It was an emotional experience to see the community come together in such an amazing way and for me personally photographing the family was my chance to give Amber and her family the very gift she gives to others in her photography. We were thrilled to provide the show with the images we photographed of the family on that very exciting first day, We were honored when we got news they were decorating much of the home with our portrait art. There is a 4 ft. by 7 ft. wall portrait hanging in their entry way as well as a 30x30 canvas in the main living room. Many 8x10s and 5x7s on end tables, coffee tables, and even movie style posters in the little girls room. I don't believe there is a room that does not have a portrait in it. I think that says a huge amount about the importance of family portraits, Images of your family make a house a home. Terry and I were so excited to be a part of a TV show that we believe in. The photography session itself challenged me as an artist in ways I never expected, not to mention how emotionally attached I became to the project. Even when I left the home completely exhausted my heart was still there. I could not wait to return to document the progress and all the giving people who worked so many long, cold hours that it took to complete the project.

There are no words to explain how exciting it is to use the gifts God has given us to give back to a family that has given so much. If you would like to view this episode of ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, it is scheduled to air this Sunday evening March 1st at 7:00pm.

Also, as a parent I must share with you our excitement! Our daughter River Beth was chosen to be in the "Ty opening" and will have her 5 seconds of fame in the show. She did a Birthday party scene with Ty and a family in a beautiful Wall model home. She is the Birthday girl when the show opens, Be sure to look for her blowing out her candles. Thanks to Kendra Estrada - owner of Ella Bella Arlington, for providing her with the adorable outfit she wore in the taping. Thanks to everyone who allowed us to be apart of this amazing experience!

Bobbie Jo and Terry Majors

Our "Sweet Angel" Alexandria

What a beautiful little girl Alex is. She is spunky, fun and full of energy! She has the longest hair of any four year old I know. Alex was my first angel of the day and what a way to start the day! One beautiful little angel for sure! If you haven't reserved your time for the Little Angels session yet, it's almost but not quite sold out. We only have a couple of sessions left on Monday. Call today to book your sweet little one in our amazing angel set with our new gorgeous wings.

Wow! It's been a while

I can't believe I have not blogged in so long, I am really sorry for that. I guess I was "Really" tired after Christmas. Plus, I have since discovered facebook and i guess I have pretty much been blogging on there in the place of here. Shame on me! I wanted to let you guys know about our new session coming up. We ordered new wings and they are here and beautiful... I will just let you see the card which you got in your email if you are in our system. If not please email us and we will add you.
Speaking of FACEBOOK... If you are on it, please friend us and we can keep you posted there as well. You also get specials on things for being our facebook friend if you join our groups. OK, so back to the reason for this blog... Check out the gorgeous new wings, and newly painted background and call the studio so your sweet little Angel can do this session and help
raise money for a great cause. The Little Angels Event is on February 13th and 16th.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

The interior of the home is painted. Crews are making great progress on the exterior. Flatwork was poured for the driveway. Landscaping crews are abundant and the yard is taking shape. The Texas Rangers organization was on site today. They presented a generous donation to the Community Storehouse. The anticipation is growing. We have approximately 16 hours before we turn over the keys!

I will deliver all of the b&w images to the designers tomorrow they will be used to decorate table tops for the Big day when the Augustin family comes home -Monday, Also, will be presenting the 30x30 canvas that will hang in the home. I will be back out on set tomorrow and will post new images then. I can hardly wait to see how it has changed since yesterday. Sorry guys, I am posting this update from home and the newest images I downloaded today at the studio, you will have to hold out, But, I promise you will be blown away with how far it has come in such a short time. AMAZING!!!!

Friday, December 12, 2008

Lots of folks asking how the concrete dried so fast. Thanks to Southern Star Concrete and their ingredient mix - it took approximately 5 hours for the slab to cure. That set us up to frame on time. The interior of the home moved along well on Friday. Sheetrock, foam insulation, etc. The foam insulation is phenomenal. It was explained that it is the equivalent of living inside a Styrofoam cup. And, the temperature in the attic space should not ever be more than 7 degrees different from the living space inside the home. Energy Efficiency at its best! It's hard to believe that a home is: set on a foundation, framed, sheet rocked, insulated, and partially bricked and roofed in a 48 hour time period. Again - many thanks to the amazing subs and vendors who are assuring this home is built using a vertical building schedule and the most quality materials and workmanship. Update compliments http://www.extreme.wall.com/ which is the main site for this amazing project!

I was not on set today, I was behind the scene hard at work making sure all the small prints that will be used for table tops, night stands etc. were ready to order, picking up the framing and driving to Dallas to Full color lab to pick up the beautiful wall portrait of the family that I was able to photograph the first day. Thanks to full color for printing the beautiful 30x30 B&W canvas image at rapid speed and for donating the image to the Augustin family. I am so excited for them to see it! I was also doing a couple of the last Christmas shoots for our clients in the studio. I need to say the biggest thank you to Terry, had he not worked so hard and so many hours to keep the studio up and running this week (almost by himself), I would not have been able to volunteer so many hours to this project. After all it is Christmas, our busiest time of year! But, even in the extremely long hours, tiredness, cold weather and missing my own family, Oh! yeah and my own house being a disaster with no Christmas tree or lights on the house that work yet! I can truly say this has been one of the most amazing things I have ever been a part of! Wow! What a week! I am so thankful to Wall homes and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition for allowing me to do this with you guys! Surprisingly for me, I am not even worried about the tree or lights, I will resume my normal, crazy life on Wednesday. The tree will go up, the house will get cleaned and this experience will all be over. Except for the family and all of us who gave... We will hopefully all forever be changed, not just because a new house was built, but because of the sacrifice and all the love it took from hundreds of strangers who gave away their own lives, businesses, kids, and responsibilities for one week to give all we had to make a difference for a omeone else who was in need. Isn't this the true meaning of Christmas anyway?

Wednesday December 10th, Braveheart Day!

Texas weather is unseasonably cold. But, that didn’t stop the team, leaders, and volunteers. The first group arrived around 5:15am (25 degrees). The crowd reached over 200 and included a special March of Dimes contingent. They marched with Texas pride to the existing house and rallied around the Wall Homes team. Hoorah! This was the official kick-off to our Braveheart/Demolition day. Special guests – Championship Bull Riding, complete with an amazing group of horses were filmed racing in the field across from the home and then circled the home in front of our crowds. One horse in particular, had the honor of starting the demolition by pulling the chimney off the roof. Roar! At 3:00 p.m. today, the demolition team was on standby with heavy bulldozing equipment… ready to do some demolition! At 3:45 p.m. the house was leveled.

My personal thanks again, to Wall homes and Extreme Makeover: Home edition for allowing me to be apart of this amazing project! Also, Today's demo. images were made possible huge in part to the nice Ft. Worth fire fighters who were on set. They let me climb on top of the truck to be able to get a better view of the house being leveled. Especially thanks to Les for freezing while he kept me from falling off the top of the truck. Please continue to check the official site for this project at http://www.extreme.wall.com/ and to see all the amazing people who help make all of this possible.