Concord Park

So I haven't really gotten caught up on my blogging, as you can see.... but I'm still trying....  I had a shoot about a week ago out at Concord Park - which is beautiful. One more place to put on my list - Knoxville has some great spots to photograph at. I love shooting outdoors, here's a few from my shoot:

New Puppies at Lobo's

I've not been doing too well with my blogging! You have to excuse though, this is really new to me. I'm going to try to get caught up and post some pics from my recent shoots. BUT I'm posting this because Wendy has new pups at Lobo's! Check them out www.lobosaustraliansheperds.com they are just gorgeous and she has a lot of reds and merles! I need to post some new pics of our little girl Mikko - she is 4 months now, I can't believe it, and she's 21lbs. She really has the best temperament and we all just love her, we couldn't have made a better choice.

Jennifer and Lee's Engagement Shoot

I had never been to the Botanical Garden's here in Knoxville - it is amazing! I'm still learning my way around - after being in Nashville the past five years - finding the great places in Knoxville to shoot; and this is definitely one of them. Jenn and Lee are getting married here in the fall and I am so excited to shoot their wedding. What an amazing backdrop to get perfect pictures.

We came out here so I could check out the grounds and we could get some engagement pictures. It was a nice morning to shoot - slightly cloudy and

the temperature wasn't in the 90s! I saw a few other photographers out there that morning too - it's nice to know this place is available most days.

As for these two, what a pleasure working with them. They have such chemistry, I didn't have to work to get the right expressions - nothing seemed forced. I love to get pictures of genuine laughter - and Jennifer's is just contagious. Catching their moments of bliss, of love, joy - these two truly have a storybook romance.  I can't wait for their Wedding.  

Football Jamboree

I'm sure I don't have to tell you how hot it has been in Tennessee. Seriously, we are about to break the record for hotest summer! Think about that, more than 60 days in a row with over 90 degree heat. Now, imagine playing football.

This past weekend was the Football Jamboree at Gresham Middle School. For some of these boys it was their first time out on a field - and at 7 years old it looked like they were going to topple over by the sheer weight of their helmet and shoulder pads.  One did. Really.  But they were loving it, heat and all.

The games were cut to 20 minutes, and coaches were taking every opportunity to keep the kids cooled off, as it had to feel like 115 degrees in those uniforms. And after standing out in the sun for three days it seemed like 115 degrees to me too!

I have to tell you, I was impressed by these guys. You really wouldn't believe what a difference a year can make either. Watching the seven and then eight year olds play - wow, it was really incredible. Kids go from running the wrong way down the field to playing hardcore ball. They've got the plays memorized, attack mentality (some teams were growling out on the field), and some players had just plain speed. There were a couple boys that
no one could catch.

Here are a few highlights:

Check out all the boys that played on my website www.lgcphoto.com. 

Our New Addition....

This is our new little girl Mikko. A blue merle Australian Shepherd. She is 9 weeks old and is amazing! She can sit, shake, lay down and is *almost* potty trained.
We really weren't in the market for a new puppy... but when we lost one of our family cats we started making trips to the animal shelter. We found the perfect little puppy, she looked like an australian shepherd mix, but we put in our application 5 minutes too late.  We kept going back but couldn't find another match... and my wife had gotten attached to the aussie idea. So we started looking for australian shepherd rescues.
There were so many beautiful adult dogs, which was my first choice (since, in my mind, they are the ones that need homes) - but, we were told that with a young child, we needed a puppy.  So the search began, and the closest rescue was in WI and NY.  Too far for us.  So finally we began look at breeders.

Let me say, I am NOT one to buy dogs from breeders. I believe you should do whatever you can to rescue an animal first. Be it from a shelter, a breed rescue group, or simply another person. Buying dogs from breeders and pet stores have, in part, lead to puppy mills - which are so disgusting and inhumane that people are guilted into buying the dog when they see her/him, just to not leave the pup in that awful place.

BUT, I do believe, as so many animal books state, in not making a snap decision on a family pet. You must find the perfect fit. This will be a new family member who will be with you, hopefully, for many years to come.  You must find a puppy that has the right personality and size for your family.

I happen to be someone who brings my dogs everywhere. I not only wanted a dog to follow my children around and watch over them, but a dog that could come with me on my shoots and I could train her to help. 

Finally, after an extensive search, we found the right people to get our puppy from. Check out www.lobosaustralianshepherds.com.  We all drove out to Sparta and met Wendy and her amazing family. Her kids raise the puppies and socialize them - carry them around everywhere! It's amazing how much love all her dogs get.  Each of their dogs was wonderfully cared for and groomed. Each had very different personalities, from natural herder to laid back lap dog.
                                                                                

The puppies were 5 days old and we picked out the
smallest one. Of course we couldn't tell her personality yet, but the parents were great, all cleared on genetic tests and very social. And one more wonderful thing about the breeder - we were able to visit anytime and watch her grow online. She said we could trade her for any other available puppy at any time if she wasn't the right fit.
But, she was. She is a perfect fit. 

A Brave New World...

First I should just say hello. I am completely new to this - I've never really blogged, even on myspace.... and I've never been much of a tweeter either... but I thought it would be cool to be able to write about the different shoots that I do.... Okay, I should start by saying, a couple months ago I finally got up the courage to really start working on my own. I mean I've done my share of freelance work - but I've never had the guts to leave a pay check that I could count on, especially during this economy. But it got to the point of sink or swim... so here I am.