Thank you, Sarah Rhoads

This is why I do what I do:

"Something amazing happens when we pour ourselves out for others during the creative process... we begin to feel & see exhaustion becoming pure energy and momentum. It is an amazing feeling to pour out [my] heart into those [whom I] love for the sake of that which I feel called to create. It is a way we serve God and serve others and it feels so good."

Even before I decided to pursue photography and videography, I wanted my purpose to be, "Serving God by Serving Others". I have thought a lot about why I'm passionate about photography and here's what I've come up with (besides and including all that is quoted above).

(By the way, these are in no particular order, just the way they came out of my mind)

-I love taking pictures...always have.
-God has given me what many call a photographic "eye".
-There's something...I dunno...AWESOME...about capturing a moment that will never, ever, not-in-a-million-years, happen again the exact same way. In a photo, time stops.
-These moments...these memories...these PEOPLE...are worth capturing.
-They're worth capturing because people are worth it.
-They're worth capturing because photos help your brain remember specific details. Years later, people will look at that picture and remember SO MUCH MORE about what made that day special, and even things that were seemingly insignificant, but now take on a whole new, deeper meaning.
-I love people. I like giving them something special and doing special things for them. -Photography allows you to connect with people and learn about them.
-People are interesting.
(I also enjoy landscape photography)
-Because God's creation is absolutely beautiful.
-You can "see" God in creation.
-You can see God at work in creation.

This list is not exhaustive, but it is comprehensive. I hope after reading it, you have a better since why I'm a photographer and why photography is important to me and important in general.

Thank you all for your love, support, encouragement, and prayers.

God bless.

Save the Date!

My quasi-sister, Barbara Dawn Gosik, is getting married soon to some strange guy named Aaron. I'm not so sure about this one!

Here we are at the Art Museum during our engagement shoot wanderings.

Remember how I said he was strange? Here's proof:

And to top it all off, his last name is Bartholome, which means my sister's name is now going to be Barbara Bartholome. That just rolls off the tongue doesn't it?

In all seriousness though, I'm happy for you two. I pray the Lord will bless your life together.

LOVE YOU!

Olivia and Aiden

No need to tell this girl to pose! She did it all for me!

Isn't she adorable?

Now this guy, on the other hand...I couldn't get him to sit still, but, worse than that, to be even remotely happy to be getting his picture taken. The main picture on the left is a candid shot (I had to be sneaky), I got lucky with the one of him with grandpa, and I had to rely on him being silly with grandpa to get the last shot. All that work, but he really did absolutely love me. He wanted me to hold him as soon as I walked in the door. Then, he sat with me for a while after I put the camera away...smart kid! :)