by Shelly | Dec 12, 2012 | event |
Well, the delinquent blogger is going to try to get back on track! There’s lots of good stuff coming if I can just sit down long enough to make it happen. Anyone want to take bets?
Celebrations are always a TON of fun, and I was so excited to recently cover a special birthday party for my dear sweet friend, Janice Havins Hamric.
I’ve been out and about in Katy with Janice, a few times, and the truth is she knows EVERYBODY! Because of her involvement in KISD and her church, I don’t think this lady can walk into any place in town without running into several people who are always thrilled to see her.
I believe that if she had her choice, the party would have filled the entire Merrell Center, but instead, she settled for playing hostess to her family and a few close friends at one of her favorite hangouts, Hasta La Pasta.
Her dad, Bill, along with musician/humorist Doc Blakely entertained ROYALLY with down-home jovial music. I could have listened to them all day long.
Even Janice’s boss boldly braved the highly female throngs to come wish her a very happy next decade.
These are just a few of Janice’s life-long friends. I would have loved to be privilege to some of their youthful antics…
and while we were at it, I had to pop into a pic with a few of my own besties… just to prove that I was there.
Happy Happy Birthday Janice… Here’s to another SEVERAL fabulous decades. You are LOVED by many!
by Shelly | Mar 18, 2011 | event, personal, SPCcreative |
So, the Hubster and I had a Date .
We spent a lovely springtime afternoon strolling the midway at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo where there was no shortage of color.
Mike’s a great sport about my camera habit. He knows that if he doesn’t keep an eye on me, I will stop and get lost or wander off in to anything that looks interesting. What I like most, though, is how he has learned to stop and stand right behind me if I suddenly squat down to the ground to get a low perspective on something. He’s wonderful about guarding for baby strollers and roving bands of pre-teens who could all run me down in a heartbeat.
For our Stock Show Afternoon, I decided to give my new 16-35 mm wide angle lens a serious test-drive. It was the only lens I carried for the day. In fact, my backpack was so light that we felt better once we purchased a couple of cokes, drank a few sips and then tossed the bottles into the pack to enjoy later.
Wide angle photography is really a new thing to me. This lens is all about the big picture. So . . . here are a few fun images from our day, starting with the midway.
Getting There: One for the Money! 
Two For the Show — and What a Show it was. We enjoyed some Mutton Bustin’, Heifer Judging and Smiling Pigs (which I learned are called Market Barrows) sleeping in their stalls.
This young lady, above, and her cow were the best of friends. They made me smile as she rubbed the cow’s head and it nuzzled her right back.
No show would be complete without tons of Fair Food. You name it . . . somebody was frying it.
And Every Young Princess Needs Pink Boots and a hat to go to the Rodeo. Somebody had a very special day! 
Of course I’m assuming the vendors meant no pictures of PEOPLE WEARING these HATS.
You KNOW I would never want to break a rule. ; D
by Shelly | Mar 8, 2011 | event, SPCcreative |
A “Big Girls Pajama Party” That’s how it’s touted, and it’s really a great way to describe the Girlfriends Giggle, held every year in Sugar Land to support the Fort Bend Women’s Center.
Where else can bunches of professional business-women run around in matching Jammies while they get manicures, pedicures, henna tattoos , massages, and more?
They shop, they eat and drink, they laugh . . . and of course they all stop by my photo booth for a group portrait.
This is one event where humor and creativity rule, and I’m so proud to be a part of it all for three years in a row.
Some of my favorite groups at Giggle included the Village People; my Lovely Charlies Angel Assistants - Susan, Heidi, and Rebecca; The Get Your Giggle On Pajama Contest Winners; and The Charming Ladies of Mardi Gras.
Coming back to GIGGLE year after year, one of the greatest rewards is hearing people say how much they enjoyed the photographs that they ordered over the last two years. But the REALLY REALLY best part is getting phone calls from these ladies afterward when they schedule their weddings, family portraits and powerful-sexy lady boudoir photography parties.
Now THAT is a RUSH!
The Bale Law Firm , acts as a major sponsor of the event, providing a nice chunk of funding to make the GIGGLE possible, and their ladies have come by my booth every year for pictures. Now they tell me that they have a whole collection of Girlfriends Giggle photographs on display in their office. How’s that for community spirit! I love these ladies enjoying milk and cookies above with bright shiny smiles, tiaras and red satin jammies. One other sponsor that was oh-so-fun to meet was Jan Loggins of J Loggins Jewelers She provided a lovely bracelet as a doorprize, and here she is above with her team and the lucky winner!
Okay . . . a few more favorite groups from the evening.
Did YOU get your Giggle On this year? If so, you’ll want to be sure to pick up your Giggle Portraits before the end of March.
Just scroll to the top of this page, go to PROOFS and then select EVENTS.
If you didn’t get to Giggle this year, there’s always 2012. Start planning NOW so that you will be in on the fun too!
by Shelly | Dec 20, 2010 | event, family |
When the Ramsey/Trapane/White family hosted a milestone birthday for their beautiful mother, Addie Mae, they invited me to document the occasion.
Since getting everyone together in good clothes is a challenge for any family, one of our priorities was to set up a backdrop for some group portraits, both traditional and fun . . . and of course, we enjoyed a little cake and punch with some of Addie Mae’s lovely friends.
After the party, we created a little hard-cover brag book for Addie Mae to carry in her bag so that she can always be ready to show off her lovely family. What a perfect gift!
. Happy Birthday Addie Mae. We wish you many happy returns.
by Shelly | Dec 12, 2010 | business, event |
Dear Santa,
Plese Helpe Peple.
Little Erik’s letter absolutely made my day so I couldn’t help but share it with you too. Erik was one of many kids across the country participating this week in Macy’s “Believe” campaign to help raise funds for Make-A-Wish.
My friends, Jennifer Evans and Susan Schmaeling, who are handling Houston area public relations for the Believe campaign asked me to come take photographs for their media activities. No way could I turn this down and miss an opportunity to hang out with Jennifer or Susan for the morning! On top of that, the twenty-plus years that I spent working in public relations for nonprofit organizations still courses pretty heavily through my veins.
I loved that some of the kids had started writing their letters the day before we arrived so we would have letters rather than blank pieces of paper in our pictures. I loved Erik’s letter. It was short, sweet, and to to the point. But above all, it was generous and all encompassing. I also loved Adrianna’s picture. She must have some understanding of the serious issues that Make-A-Wish kids face, because she drew children with thick healthy heads of hair, bottles of medicine, and magic carpets of $100 bills. I loved seeing the artistically talented young lady who offered to help the other kids embellish their letters with drawings of Christmas trees and ornaments. I loved chatting with the little girl who told me she had made spaghetti and meatballs for some people who didn’t have any food. I could have sat in that elementary school library visiting with my new friends all day long.
Do you Believe? There’s still time to write YOUR letter.
As it has for the past two years, Macy’s “Believe” campaign invites children to mail letters to Santa using Macy’s Santa Mail Letterboxes. Macy’s donates $1 for each letter received, up to $1 million, to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Make-A-Wish grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. With the help of generous donors and volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants a wish every 40 minutes and has granted more than 200,000 wishes in the United States since its inception in 1980. .
For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, discover how you can share the power of a wish.
by Shelly | Sep 20, 2010 | event, family |
You know your kids are going to be the cutest ones on the block.
After all, you’ve been planning their costumes since before the Fourth of July.
Do you really want to trust these precious memories to a telephone snapshot? Of course not.
Come on out to the park and let’s do this right.
Once you reserve your time slot, we’ll meet at a Katy area park on Sunday afternoon, October 24. The exact location depends upon who signs up and of course, weather and park conditions. Come dressed and ready to go because we’ll only have about 15-20 minutes per child. That’s long enough to relax and mug for the camera, but still quick enough to accommodate most young attention spans.
Afterward, you’ll receive your very own online password-protected photo gallery and a coupon for two five-by-seven prints per child or an equivalent value that you can use toward larger prints or gift items.
Now that’s one sweet deal!
Call 281.773.7465 or e-mail to reserve your time. We’ll have a SPOOK-Tacular time.
