A Photo Challenge: Taking the Scenic Route Home

This is the perfect time of year to take a few extra minutes and go the scenic route on the way home.

Whether you use your digital camera, your phone, or simply take in the scenery the old fashioned way, it's good to seek out the beauty that can be found right where we are.

May it be countryside, sea side, mountains, big city, or small town...the scenic route is there for those who will look for it.

Mine happens to be very rural. I will share a little glimpse of it with you.

After a photo shoot this past weekend, I was driving home and decided to take some winding back roads through wheat fields, farm land and pastures. What a treasure trove of beauty to be seen along the way. It was a breath of fresh spring air, peaceful, quiet, serene, timeless.

May your journey be blessed today and your scenic route be filled with beauty.

Spring Photography is in Session

Happy Spring!

Everywhere you look things are beginning to bloom and turn green. It is a refreshing season of the year full of possibilities and new life. Spring rain storms roll through and we observe in awe. The colors of the landscape change before our eyes. The days begin to grow a little longer. Inspiration strikes for projects all around.

As it is the beginning for much, simultaneously it signifies the close of certain milestone achievements with the approach of the end of the school year and graduations. I am always honored when asked to commemorate these emotional and significant rites of passage with senior photo sessions, and family photo shoots.

If you would like to book a session soon please contact me as dates are already filling in quickly for this busy season.

For more info: Jackie Patton Designs Photography

Photo Shoots & Inspiration

Photo Shoots in the Fall and near Christmas time inspire me (but then, really, so do photo shoots in the spring and summer and well, anytime).

I'm in love with being able to see such great ideas from other people on Pinterest and then go try out variations of my own, or come up with something new. Maybe some of these images will give you a little inspiration too.

Happy Holiday Season!

Thank you to all of my lovely friends who allow me to capture these special moments.
I truly do enjoy every photo shoot.

Now if I can just make sure to get some "dressed up and posed" photos of my own family this time of year.

On with the photos....

With each of my own examples I am also including a link to a Pinterest Board that has great examples, tips, and articles from other wonderful sources.

Twinkle Lights & Reflections

Outdoor Family Photos

Fun & Playful Photo Poses

Photographing Children

Newborn Twins

Pictures from Flea in the Field

What a hidden gem right here in Anna! 

The Flea in the Field event was held at a quaint country place just a couple of miles down a picturesque winding road outside the city.

There were big open fields where vendors set up their tents to sell all sorts of things: organic beauty products, quilts, antiques, jewelry, stained glass, vintage accessories, art, and handmade products of all kinds. 

Our friends John and Robyn Beazley (Beazley Auctioneers) held an exciting auction. 

Here are the two re-purposed vintage doors that Jeremy and I turned into hall tables to sell.

I also had a booth at the event and sold a few crafty things. 

Lisa, the owner of this lovely property, has a huge old wooden greenhouse that she turned into an event area. The curved open roof structure of the old greenhouse was covered with chicken wire and she strung white lights over the whole thing. It was reserved for vendors who are also Etsy sellers. I was able to set up in this area (which was a blessing because it greatly helped in blocking some of the strong winds we had that day). 

There is so much potential for this venue! With the old white farmhouse, the red barn, the big open greenhouse, the gorgeous fields, trees, flowers, the hen house, and other old out buildings...wow! It is a perfect place for events like this and others. I am so excited to work with Lisa in the near future on designing promotional materials for her and discussing creative ideas. Can't wait!

A few pics from my booth.

Art for Missions:  I used some of the small shells that the kids helped me gather on the beach at Rabbit Island in Cambodia to make some special necklaces to sell to raise money to support missions. 

I will have these necklaces for sale in my Etsy shop very soon. (posting new items this week)

Much love and prayers for Mandi, Meredith, Shaela, and Dan!

This is a poster I designed to promote Artful Gatherings. 

I really love doing these painting parties with people and I hope that this will be a part of my business that grows this year.

* This was a card that I handed out for Artful Gatherings. I put one of my paintings on the front and all of the party information on the back with a discount offer. 

I put magnets on them so people could hang them on their refrigerator. 

If you are local and you want a card so you can get the discount on a future party just message me. :)

And I made these two postcards to promote my photography 

......they also include a discount for future photo session if anyone is interested. :)

Images of Cambodia

So, it's been a while since my last post.

Well, many of you know that I recently returned from an incredible journey to Cambodia.
It was an experience unlike any other and one I will never forget.

In the days and weeks since our team has been home I have looked back over the experiences and the things I learned. I know that the impact on all of us was profound and I am excited to see the things that may come from it all.

Here is some of my work so far.

 

 

 

From Maternity to Newborn

It is such a privilege to get to work with clients who become friends along the way. Getting to photograph milestone memories in their lives like "maternity to newborn". I just love this gorgeous family. They are kind and beautiful inside and out and such fun to work with.

Spring Photo Shoot Collage

I've had the chance to do some spring photo shoots recently and I wanted to share a collage of some of the images of the beautiful people who let me take their pictures.

(*the image sizes and quality are significantly reduced in these examples so that they would load faster, my apologies)

Happy 1st Birthday Photo Shoot

This little sweetheart was the perfect model for her 1Year Photo Shoot.
What a doll.....and so lucky because her creative mom Sandy, brought all of her adorable outfits and balloons and made matching banners, pink tutu, and glittery #1 for us to use!

Love them and love these photos....here are some favorites:

A Handcrafted Christmas.....

Now that all of these gifts have reached their beloved recipients I would like to share with you some of my favorite art and craft gift creations from the 2012 Christmas season.

 

 

Looking Back at Christmas Photo Shoots 2012

I am excited to share a few favorite pics with you from some of the photo shoots I've had the pleasure of being a part of over the past month or so.

*Please forgive the photo sizes and quality....there were quite a few and all such high resolution that I decided to put them into collage format to make them easier to upload for quick display.



I love the tangled tree branches as a photo prop in this first picture: a family portrait of grandparents, children, and grandchildren all together for the holidays.

The second row of pictures shows some fun shots of adorable cousins in their santa hats.

The third row is a gorgeous family....love the one where their little boy is up on daddy's shoulders holding mistletoe while they kiss.

The lovely photo above is of some of our best friends. We did a little "photo sharing" session one afternoon so that we could all go at the same time and take eachother's pictures for Christmas cards. It was hilarious, but we did wind up with some great pictures that we will always treasure. Love all these guys!

The pictures below are my sweet family. I think my absolute favorite is of my two girls on the couch together..... the expressions on their faces are priceless!

The last two group shots here are from one of our family gatherings during Christmas break. We had aunts and uncles and cousins from all over come together and share a special day together. We almost had everybody on that side of the family... only missing two who couldn't make it. Hopefully at our next gathering we will have every member for a total of 31! Wow!

I'm so thankful for all of the amazing people that God has allowed me to share part of my life with.

Adorable Little Guys

I hope you are all enjoying a blessed Fall Season.
I'd like to share with you a few of my favorite shots from a couple of recent photo shoots.

The first is a handsome young guy who's smile lit up the camera.

The second was a tiny bundle of joy, only a week and a half old, awwww! Melt my heart!

 

The "Fall der All" Festival

Hello everyone!
If we met this past Saturday at the Fall der All festival, I hope you had a wonderful time (and didn't get blown away by the wind, lol). I'm so glad you are visiting my blog.

Please bear with me, it has been a little crazy getting ready for the festival and now re-organizing all of my fun stuff in the studio. I will be posting some new pictures and lots of new things for sale in my Etsy shop tonight and tomorrow.

Hope to help you with your Christmas shopping ideas very soon!

Have a blessed day!
Jackie

*pics of fun stuff from the festival.... (many of these items will be in my Etsy in the next day or so)

Another Exciting Photo Shoot at the Farm

This lovely local farm is such a treat to visit at all seasons of the year. I can't wait to check out thier quaint little storefront this Fall (open November and December).

 

Loved, loved working with this precious mom and her sons.

I think it was a special surprise for her husband as they were about to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary! Oh, what a joy! Congratulations!

 

Here are just a couple of the final shots.

 

Summer 2012 in Review.....Post #2 Photo Shoots

Here's a peek at a couple of the photo shoots I've worked on just this past month.

Newborn photos are so precious to me and it is such a privilege to get to photograph these brand new little miracles and their loving familes.

We had the most fun on this family photo shoot. What an incredible family, so beautiful and full of joy!

We ventured out to Luscombe Farms nestled in the rolling hills and trees on the side of a winding country road in Anna, TX. The farm is a perfect setting for photo shoots throughout the year and I'm in love with all of the gorgeous backdrops and unique photo opportunities it provides. The farm itself is a quaint country place that local residents should certainly take advantage of visiting. They specialize in gourmet gift baskets, event hosting and their special award winning pepper jelly, salsa, honey, and pies.

Senior Photo Shoot

I had the privilege of working with this beautiful young lady on her senior portraits.

We had a great time and I just love how the photos came out.

*** I know the school year is coming to an end but it's not too late to have some great senior portraits made!

If you are local and would like to schedule a photo shoot check out my Photography page for some fantastic package deals and contact me today!