This week’s theme is Red.   At first, I thought of valentines, hearts, love…..just about everything you would associate with the month of February.   Then I figured a lot of us might go that route.  I wanted to do something different.  Red.  Hmmm.  What comes to mind?  I have a 7-year-old daughter who loves fairy tales and bedtime stories, so of course, LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD!!!

Now comes the hard part.  Will she “model” for me and actually do what I ask of her?  We tried.  She did great! Now before you all see this and say, “Wow, she looks too serious or maybe even scared. She should be a happy little girl!”  Let me tell you what I wanted from her.

Little red riding hood.

Big bad wolf.

I would be scared!! Or maybe getting my game face on trying to outsmart him.    So that’s what I asked her for.  “Serious” “scared” and “thinking hard” faces like she was trying to outsmart that wolf.  I think I might have a future model on my hands (I’m not biased in the least little bit).  Tell me what you think.

I know I posted too many. I just couldn’t narrow them down! Hope you all have a great Friday!
Kim

Now go check out the next photographer doing this project, Kayleigh with Kayleigh Ross Photography! Click HERE to see her interpretation of red.

I mean it when I say that I don’t think I’ve EVER met a little one who smiles like this one does.  The first time I met her, I was walking by the nursery at church and decided to quickly peek in.  There she was, standing in the middle of the room, with a huge smile that just drew me in… and that’s the way I’ve seen her every time since.  That sweet smile of hers is quite contagious and I know she brings joy to so many people since she gives them so freely!  There is so much I can say about this sweet family, and I haven’t even known them that long.  They are an example of selfless love to many and a blessing to those who have the honor of knowing them.   I am blessed to know them. 

I was so excited to meet up with Erica and Kiefer for their engagement session! First engagement session of the year and it couldn’t have been more fun! I’m even more excited that we only did half of their session. We are hoping/waiting for something specific to finish it up. And it’s super secret!

I think what is so unique about these two, is the fact that they have been together for so long and yet their love seems as fresh as a couple who has just fallen for each other! Just magic around them. Truly. Can’t wait for their June wedding!

Check out some of the images from the first round.

Be sure and leave these two some blog love or share with the Facebook button below!

Getting married? Contact Kim for more information on engagement, bridal, and wedding packages with Zoë Portrait Art Weddings.
email: kimboydphotography@gmail.com
phone: 501-281-6433

I got a call from a mom a few weeks ago with an urgent request. She wanted to get her daughter up to the studio for a session A.S.A.P.! There is a small window in the lives of our kids…you know that time when they are transitioning from being a child to becoming a teenager. Some call it the “tween” stage, because it’s the time in between. Lots of things change during that stage and even though some may label it as awkward, it’s one of my favorite stages of all and one that is as equally important to capture as the newborn, baby, and high school senior stages. I loved this session and want to give KUDOS to this mom for making this session a priority and for bringing big sister. I know these will be cherished! Give us a call if you’d like to schedule a special session for your “TWEEN”.

I always hated those classes at the beginning of the school year, where the teacher would make each student stand up and tell their name and something about themselves. I was never good at it, and I always ended up looking and sounding like a dork.  I remember this happening specifically the first day of fifth grade. I was new to that school system, had no friends, and hadn’t yet talked my mom into getting me contacts so was still wearing my huge Urkel glasses. You know the ones.  Except mine were pink.  {{{Ok…so maybe they weren’t that big…but you know memories from childhood and how things always seemed bigger then}}}}  Thank goodness one of the girls in class took pity on me and asked me to play at recess. We were friends from that day forward. Even though we didn’t become best friends that lasted through high school and after, I am still very thankful that she saw something in me that made her want to welcome me into her group of friends. Why am I telling you this story? I’m not really sure. My reasoning to begin with was to say that I don’t like talking about myself.  I’d rather listen and learn about you!  So with that said. I want to introduce myself in a way that maybe isn’t so dorkified…..is that a word?

Hello, my name is Kim. I was given the huge honor of being asked to join Zoë Portrat Art as their weddings division!!! I’m a wife, a mom, a children’s pastor, and a photographer. These are my main and most important jobs in my life right now. I have a crazy busy life and though sometimes I wish time would slow down just a bit, for the most part, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

If you are looking for a wedding photographer, give me a call! Let’s get together and have some coffee. I want to hear all about you, your fiance, and the fabulous wedding you are planning! I promise I won’t start the conversation with “Hello my name is.”

These are just a few photos from my wedding portfolio. So hard to choose which ones to share.  Hope you enjoy!

Maggie, Cheryl, and Kristen……thank you so much for seeing something in me that made you want to welcome me into your lives and business. I know we will all become great friends! I’m so excited to see where this adventure takes us!

Week Four:  Black & White

I’ve been staring out my window at these little cuties for several weeks!  My neighbor’s two female Old English Sheepdogs each had a litter of puppies one week apart, so there have been 17 of them running around!  The mommas are so sweet and the puppies are ADORABLE.  I’ve always loved Old English Sheepdogs but didn’t know much about them.  I promise, if we didn’t already have two big dogs, I’d be tempted to buy one!    ~Cheryl

If you’d like more information about the puppies that are still available, contact: Greg by phone at: (501) 368-0961 OR email:  larson-greg@hotmail.com

Go check out Taylor Howard Photography’s interpretation of this week’s theme HERE! 

Over the last several months, we have spent a lot of time in prayer and discussion about implementing new practices and strategies to ensure that we are offering our clients the very best!  When we first decided to join forces almost two years ago, we really thought we would be focusing more on the wedding side of our business.   As time has gone on and our business has grown, we have come to realize that our hearts lean most heavily toward portraits.  Though we LOVE weddings and all they involve, it’s very difficult to focus on both portraits and weddings.  Our greatest desire for Zoë Portrait Art is to develop relationships with our clients that continue throughout their life’s milestones, starting with their wedding and continuing on as a their family grows.   Therefore, we have come up with a FABULOUS solution that meets all of our client’s needs:  Kim Boyd!!!!  For the last two years, Kim has been the talented photographer behind KB Candids.  We are so excited to announce that she is joining us at Zoë Portrait Art, as our new WEDDING specialist!

We approached Kim about this position for so many reasons.  Her work is stellar and her style is very cohesive with ours.  When considering someone to join our team, we knew that their work had to be spot on both technically and artistically.  To find a photographer whose work meets our standards and matches our style is so exciting, but to find a person whose values, character, personality and vision match our own is truly a blessing from God!  We could not be happier about our future in the wedding industry with Kim leading the way.  Kim will be providing the Zoë custom, lifestyle experience to all of our brides and grooms, giving them the detailed attention and high level image quality that we strive to bring to all of our clients!  Kim, we are so blessed to have you join our team and can’t wait to see all that is in store!   Go check out some of Kim’s work HERE and stay tuned for blog posts featuring Kim and all things wedding in the very near future!

And because Cheryl committed to the “52 on Fridays” project with a group of photographers who are posting an image interpretation and blog post each Friday relating to a weekly theme, we’re excited this posts keeps with this week’s theme:

Week Three:  Beginning

We are so excited about the beginning of this new venture!  It was fun to meet at the studio for our first official Zoë team portrait!  Thanks to our fabulous intern Macy for taking it for us!  Head over to Patti Crump’s blog to see her interpretation and follow the links to see the others. 

Our Team!  Left to Right:  Kim Boyd – Weddings, Cheryl Weaver – Portrait Artist,

Kristen Prince – Sales Consultant, Maggie Hendrix – Portrait Artist

It’s that time people!!!  Everyone has been asking when our next mini event will be, so your wish is our command!  This time, we have TWO days for you to choose from.  A convenient Saturday for busy families and a Tuesday for those of you who want to keep your Saturday open for family time.   Please read the flier for details and scroll down for samples of our studio work.  Also, this event will have a setup with a Valentine/Love them for those who want to capture the “Loves” of their life in time for Valentines Day!  We can’t wait to see you!  Contact Kristen for booking, 501.281.8789.

Over the Christmas break, I had the pleasure of meeting up with this beautiful family at their cabin on the Little Red River.  Since they all live far apart from one another, it was the perfect time to plan a family portrait session, complete with the GRANDDOGS!  Thank you all for spending some time with me on such a beautiful day!

Just look at these little DIVAS!  : )  I’m pretty sure that they are all quite spoiled!

Several photographers in my area are joining together in a year long creative project and despite the fact that I have a less than stellar track record on things of this nature, I am going to join them and give it my best try.  Each Friday, I will post a photo that is my interpretation of a pre-chosen theme.  There are 14 other photographers who are participating, so you can follow the links at the bottom of each post and continue through each photographer’s interpretation.  I was a little late to the party and missed the entire first week, so here are weeks one and two:

Week One:  Self-Portrait

YAY.  Can you hear the sarcasm?  I’m not a big fan of self-portraits, so in order to keep myself from becoming stressed out about what to wear or where to set it up, I will literally pick up my camera that is in the bag next to me, lean over (still sitting in my desk chair and with NO make-up on) and snap my reflection in the window next to my desk.  Here ya go:

To go with the self-portrait, we were asked to answer a few questions:

What is the first thing you see in the mornings?

I really don’t see anything but light and shapes!  I’m pretty blind until I can locate my glasses!

What are three words that describe your personality?

optimistic,  passionate,  merciful

What is one thing you wish you could do, but can’t?

Talk to my parents.

First song that pops in your head…NOW!

Lover be Strong by Gavin DeGraw is playing on Pandora.

What got you in to photography?

I’ve ALWAYS been a people watcher.  People fascinate me.  Relationships fascinate me.  Photographs of personalities and relationships fascinate me.

What do you love about photography?

Truly, I love blessing people with beautiful images of themselves and the ones they love!

What do you hope to learn/accomplish from this project?

More than anything, I hope to finish this project!!!!  I do look forward to an extra creative push and am excited to get to know the others who are participating better!

Week TWO:  12

That’s right…the number “12″.  I’m wondering if the original intent of this theme was to get us thinking about 2012,  because ALL I could think of each time I looked at the theme was “a dozen”.  Since a dozen beautiful long-stemmed, red roses aren’t readily available to me right now, I chose to photograph another one of my favorite dozens, EGGS!

I eat a lot of eggs, and to make this post 2012-ish, I’ll share how this image of eggs relates to one of my 2012 resolutions.  About six months ago I started making some changes that have resulted in a much more active lifestyle.   I have been making exercise a priority and have been setting goals for myself that have me on my way to being in the best shape of my life.  Recently I’ve really been feeling the connection between the foods I eat and my performance/energy levels during my workouts and various activities throughout the day.   So, in 2012, I plan to make better choices and be more intentional about fueling my body with foods that will give me more energy to be a better mom, wife, photographer and steward of this almost 42 year old body.  I’m looking forward to a great year!    ~Cheryl

Oh, and here’s a link to one of the other 52 on Fridays Blog Posts:  Annessa’s