And the winner is...

Tahnee Harris, you got it girl!! Yea! I know you'll have a loooong drive but it'll be worth it!! Can't wait to love on the babe.

Thank you to everyone who entered. The sense of guilt realizing that only one could win prompted the executive decision that I'll hold a similar contest once a month.

Thank you so much to everyone who helped me get started on Facebook. It means a lot to me.

Dreaming Big

I spent my freshman year of high school at this secluded private school in the middle of nowhere. By the second semester I was deemed intelligent enough to be let in on a secret. If I followed a path past the soccer fields and into the woods, there was a Thoreau Hut. Built in the 60s by the students, it was a small handbuilt room, a place to come and be quiet and learn about yourself again. We all went, alone and quiet, to rediscover who we were in those crazy times of tumult.

As an adult, I've been back once or twice, and I've been startled to find that I needed the space again, to get to know myself and who I had become and wanted to become in this new season of life.

Last weekend, I found a new kind of Thoreau Hut. I gathered with strangers in a brand new place, to share our passion for photography. We heard each other and we were contemplative, trying to figure out who we were in this new passion and how we wanted to be perceived by the world.

We were timid in our talent and found that others appreciated our art, both in its similiarities and its differences. My path became a little clearer just as my passion deepened.

I was inspired in ways that shocked me. Photographers talk about things and as my experience grows, I start to understand what they're talking about. This weekend I found a young girl, too young for the depth in her eyes, that pushed me to get out of my cutesy box of photography and into realness and depth.

What a truly amazing experience. Thank you, I Heart Faces. I found my new Thoreau.











We were able to do a shoot with a professional model, which was hugely eye-opening, working with an adult who really wanted to get the best picture possible.









Then we got to do a stylized shoot, based on the new "Little Red Riding Hood" that's coming out. That was really interesting, being inspired by the costume and props.
















Finally we did a photowalk at the San Antonio Riverwalk. I got this fun shot and then spent the rest of time snapping shots of all my newfound friends. Unforgettable!

Drumroll Please!

So as an outcome of the clarification I received at the I Heart Faces, Dream Big workshop, I decided to create a business Facebook page for my photography. That way people who want to hear about my life and kids, don't also have to listen to my photography ramblings if they aren't so inclined.

So I'm having a giveaway to help encourage the "Likes". (so feels like jr high again!!)

Pretty simple, go to Facebook and "Like" Thurston Photographs

Once you've done that, leave a comment here as proof. On Tuesday, May 24, yeah tomorrow, at 9 pm, I'll randomly select a commenter for $75 towards a custom photography session. (no cash value)

So that's one whole free session for a one kid, or half price for a whole family. Has to be used by the end of June 30th, 2011.

Prize can be gifted to anyone local, as long as they use it by the end of June. Wonderful present for a new mom, end of year gift for a teacher, or for a visiting teachee you haven't seen in a few months (not that I would ever do that :)

So get your "like" on people. It's that time.

A Study of Yellow

Yellow rocks my world. It makes me smile. It makes me warm. And on cute little Brookers, it lights up a whole room.

This was the easiest shoot, picked her on a Saturday morning, drove 1 mile away. Shot for a half hour while she played, and brought her back home. Just perfect enough to get a few great photos for the wall and scrapbook, for this quickly growing, little cutie pie.

Just Sweet

This family wanted these pictures bad. From Mom who shopped till she dropped to find all the right clothes and accessories. To Dad, who really didn't feel well but toughed it out anyway because he knew how much it meant to his wife. But the kicker was the 4 year old, who was an expert on modeling by the way and knew just how to strike a pose like "America's Next Top Model". I have never seen a "pout with hand on hip" come out so quickly. Girl's got some skillz.

Snazzy!

This was one of the most entertaining and fun photo shoots I've had. Mom and Dad were up for anything! And the boys were awesome at following directions. They were pure troopers too, shooting for almost 2 hours. But hey, Mom and I had shopped for 3 hours to get everyone styled, so we had to make the most of it! And boy did it turn out right.

Livin' on the Edge

I was my own worst enemy in this shoot. I took these adorable girls to a new location for the first time. I forgot my jingle bells that are guaranteed illicit a few smiles from the toddler set. And I brought the worst prop, a set of balloons, on a very blustery day. So it went right to the edge of my skill set.

Which of course pushed my editing skills right to the edge as well, trying to make all of my mistakes look meaningful and on purpose, of course. My saving grace was my 4 year old model. And by model, I mean complete professional. She’s pretty much amazing, totally natural, totally willing, with eyes and a smile to die for.


Miss K, you have truly beautiful girls.