Fall Flowers

I am so happy that our fall flowers have finally popped out! To my surprise, we have some beautiful purples in the field right now, I know these will not last long! The yellows are catching up after a rough dry summer. Here are a few images from the purple field. 
Shelby and Shannon were so very sweet to work with. Shelby is at that great age of immense imagination and honesty, with a very inteligent mind to go with it. Shannon is still a very active 18 month old that makes the cutest, and uninhibited expressions.

Lil' Heroes - Firefighters!

August 24 and 25th will be Lil' Heroes - The Firefighters edition.
This is such a cute set and always produces great images. Last year, we had twins, a boy and a girl. Let me tell you, she was just as excited to pull on the turnouts and hold the ax as her brother was.

This year has been really busy for all our volunteer firefighters in the area. Mention this blog, and the name of your favorite firefighter and get $10 off your session fee.

Africa Trip - Post 4

Ann and Talia removing molds for water filter

Water filter day. We were picked up in the morning by Ann and Todd Zeim to go out to their workshop. They are an amazing and interesting couple, the kind you could hang out with for hours and never run out of things to talk about. They started their work eight years ago in Tanzania, but have just recently moved from Dar Es Salaam to Morogoro. We were greeted by  Jacob and Esau - their two lovely dogs. Then the two affectionate cats. I know, strange that I write about the pets that people have there, but it was nice to feel that part of home. Pet ownership allows some missionaries some "American normal".  Then the crew of Tanzanian workers that build the filters.  I cannot remember all their names, but a few spoke English and talked to us quite a bit. Paul was a young man that helped us with our Swahili, and took pictures with us and of us sifting sand for the filter construction. We started out cleaning the cement from the molds after they lifted the cement filters out of them. Talia took a wrench and helped take them apart. Then we scrubbed them down till we got the okay that they were good. Another  "amazing race" experience. Very fun though.

Talia was feeling sick from her doxycycline again, so she went inside with Simon and entered data into an Excel spreadsheet for Ann. I painted filters, and took photos. Ana, the cook, was making ugali so we took more photos. Time to eat, and we had the ugali, beans, and greens - even better than the same we had at the restaurant the night before. After lunch we sat through the seminar that every filter recipient must attend to get a filter. To get a filter, they must be invested in it somewhat. They must be willing to take the time to learn about water safety, how germs are spread, and that diarrhea is not " normal" for anyone. They must pay about $15 for the filter and installation and training of how to use it. $15 dollars is a lot for most families, but over the years, Ann and Todd learned that without really wanting a filter bad enough to save a little for it, the filters would go unused after a short time. There is just something about being invested that makes you take pride in what you have. Not just a Tanzanian thing - it is a people thing. People from all over came to the workshop, and some bought and some didn't, but everyone left more educated on how to stay healthier, and techniques to use to make their water safer even if they did not get the product SON INTERNATIONAL provides. Everyone also left knowing that there are people in America that think enough of them to donate to SON so they can provide clean water. And everyone left having heard that they do it to show the love of Jesus. The participants are not required to be Christian, are nor asked to jump through any religious hoops. That impressed me.

We got home about 6:30 and decided to go out for pizza, something familiar for us. Dena invited her friend Kristin and her Masai friend, Tisho, and we had a great time. Tisho was not in his traditional cattle tending tribal clothing, just t shirt and jeans like any other University student. Some of his family owned the restaurant BLACK WHITE where we enjoyed wearing our jeans about as much as our pasta and pizza. It was a nice laid back place, friendly to westerners, but still local enough not to be a tourist spot by any means - perfect. Kristen is from Iowa and works with the Lutheran church in Morogoro. She had been a guide/translator for a medical mission team from Arkansas and Oklahoma the week we met her. Other duties and stories were told around working with children in a Sunday School type situation. I love hearing how people end up where they end up. The night ended with us exhausted, but wanting to hear more from Tisho and Kristen. We got to spend some more time with Kristen later on, but that is another post...

A Special Location Session

Such Tiny Hands

Sunday, I was invited to photograph at Arkansas Children's Hospital. I have photographed there twice before with my own beautiful neices and treasure those photos. But this time was for Brielle - not really my neice, but my neice - in - law's neice.  Brielle is finally two months old, but was born about 4 months early. She is still less than 4 pounds, but growing and gaining rapidly now.

Africa Trip, Post 3



Fresh Bananas from the yard.

When we returned from the market, *Seth was ready to cut some green bananas from the tree in Dena's yard. We took a picture of him cutting them down. *Seth was happy to be photographed. Turns out, he is a photographer too. He photographs weddings and parties, especially the coming out 15 year old parties and pre wedding send off parties that are a BIG deal. He says the families all pool their money together for the party, and they last from early Saturday till late Sunday.  We talked a long time while he peeled and boiled the green bananas to mix with boiled potatoes. What he cooked was very good, and I think it helped settle Talia's stomach some. I think it was the best meal we had there. When I return in three years, going to visit *Seth on his mountain top and eat boiled green bananas is at the top of my list...but more about that mountain top in another post.

Cooking green bananas.

Shadrack and Sospeter, carvers, came to show us their wares at Dena's home. I have to say, I truly appreciated this kind of shopping Dena had set up for us. The market experience where everyone was trying to get my attention to get me to buy THEIR goods was exhausting. I bought several things for everyone back home. Shadrack spoke very good English and knew a lot of American nuances and culture. He gave me a  hug - which is not done there, how odd that is to me. He came back the next day to bring me a bracelet, and a few more things I had Dena call him and tell him I wanted. I think he is a good business man, charismatic to the Americans and jokes around. Yes, I bought a lot from him because of it. I can appreciate the "experience" of the sell. I wear the bracelets almost every day. I like to use them to remind me of the good people I was blessed to meet, and I felt a connection to Shadrack and his ambition to learn another language, and cultural nuances to help his business.

The Carvers and their wares.

We went and had a soda at the store next door an enjoyed it under the umbrella. I think the shop keeper lady made the men sitting there move for us. An old man with a cane came by and asked us for a soda, which we bought for him. He drank it, came and said thank you many times and did the sign of the cross. He had walked from town and probably had another two hours to go up the mountain before home. That soda was his dinner for the night. I was glad we could do that for him. It can be tricky balancing a simple act of buying a man a soda, without reinforcing the belief that white residents there should do that for everyone all the time.

Ana cooking ugali.

It is hard for me to tell age in Tanzanian people. Most of the men I met were much older than they looked to me, a man of 45 looked 30 to me easily. But I think the women age quicker. They marry young usually, have children young, work so hard carrying water, caring for babies, cooking everything from scratch, tending to the garden and maybe a few farm animals, doing all the housework manually, and many times have jobs too. I have a hard time keeping my home clean with washing machine, dryer, running water, vacuum, and all the other luxuries we have readily available to us here. We eat out many times when we think we are just too tired to cook. SPOILED is what we are, and that is okay, I just appreciate it more now.

*Some names have been changed to protect the privacy of the wonderful people that welcomed me into their culture.

New for Seniors of 2013

We have decided to take a fresh new approach to Seniors this year.
So we have started every senior this year with a preconsultation before we even make the photo session appointment. I need to know what the senior and parent is really looking for in their session. If it is a certian place - that place is going to look better or worse at different times of day or year. We talk about clothing and what photographs best, what to bring, what accessories they will want to remember to bring. We talk about what is important to them - what they do, sports, family, motorcycles, music, ect. It gives me a chance to think about the session and prepare so I can deliver images that will meet expectations. So many times in the past, I have ended up scheduling a second mini session because when the senior got to his/her session, and we actually got to talking, it was not the right time of day, or conditions to set up a shot they really wanted.
We also discuss what products are available, what comes in the Senior Portrait Collections, pricing and payment plans. We have bonuses available at different purchasing points, and we go over what specials are available. We also talk about eligibility to be in the drawing for a $1000 scholarship given by Hardgrave Photography.
With all this done, we can set up the photo session appointment for the the time that is going to work best for the senior's schedule. When it is time for the session itself, all the paperwork and planning are already taken care of, and we can jump right into creating amazing images.

Check out our Youtube Channel to see more of  our senior work, then give us a call to set up a preconsult.  479-885-3835.

Africa Trip, Post 2

There is a group of women at our church that make prayer shawls, and when they found out we were going to see Dena, they got busy crocheting and praying, to give us the opportunity to deliver theses as gifts to the wonderful missionaries that have chosen to serve in Tanzania, along side Dena. They also gave me one that I drug through the airports, kept close by me on the plane, and slept with every night. It was a wonderful comfort. So our first day of life with adjusted time zones, we went to Shawna's home first and met her and Emily, the teacher of the missionary children. They loved their shawls.
Next was a tour of the Pioneer Bible Translators office where we met Lynne who works in the office, mans also maintains the library of English books and movies the missionaries can check out. Shawna showed us around and we got to peek  in on the translation teams working away in the six languages they are working on right now. Currently they are working on Hebrews. Coming back from the school to get the car, we saw baboons playing . Then onto a video tour of downtown Morogoro for Rita (Dena's mom). We saw lots of school children in proper uniforms walking home. In all the schools, they must have proper uniforms to go to school.

We stopped at Pira's, an import grocery store where American foods can be found. We spoke with the shop owner and he was saying that to own a store like Kroger is his dream, with rows and rows of products - his store had two rows. He carried  lot of the brand name foods we have here though. A box of cake  mix was about $7, and a bottle of Absolute Vodka was only about $20. We bought neither, but saltine crackers were on our list. Talia's malarial prevention treatment of doxycycline was making her queasy. I think there has to be better treatments that I will look into next time. We stopped at a carvers right outside the import store and got two little girraffs.

Then onto the market. Spices piled up, rice, beans, fruits, onions, potatoes, pineapples, everything in little stalls. It reminded me of the old flea market stalls, like on the way to Hot Springs. Vendors came up to us asking for us to buy from their stalls. Kids also worked to get us into their family's shopt, but not as young as I have seen in other places. Dena maneuvered us through the allies and shops to find all the things we went there for. We asked a couple of vendors if we could photograph their space, they were reluctant, but agreed as long as they were not included in the photo.  We kept the camera out and just shot what was allowed. It is a little odd being a photographer, but yet wanting to make sure you are not culturally offensive, nor leaving behind a bad association that will damage the missionary work and relationships that are being built. The photographer side of me wanted to capture those exotic faces and expressions. I wanted to be able to portray in photos everything my eyes were seeing. But, as I learned over and over again, it really was not about ME and my wants. Don't get me wrong, it was a great lesson that we all need from time to time, and  This was not a tourist at the zoo trip. These are real people that need and deserve respect of their wishes. I am pretty sure if someone that looked really different, acted odd, and pointed a camera at me, even when I asked them not to, I would feel pretty violated. I had plenty of opportunities later to photograph people who did want to be photographed.

But more about that later.

Popcicle Palooza at Hardgrave Photography

Summertime means sweet popcicles melting to cool off sweet kids.
This Children's Promo has special collection prices starting at $99.
Clothing reccommended for this promo would be jean shorts and plain white or other solid color tank tops for boys, or jean shorts and a simple t-shirt or bathing suit for girls.
Give us a call at 479-885-3835 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting FREE 479-885-3835 end_of_the_skype_highlighting to reserve your session time for the special session price of only $15. Availability is limited.

Essie Marcella Thomas Freeman
July 19,1914 - July 2, 2012

Essie was born in Dover, Arkansas in the home of her parents Jim and Annie Thomas. She grew up with her 4 sisters and brother, moving around a lot in search of farm work. Essie was very smart at school work, but quit school in the 8th grade because she missed so much school doing farm work to help support her family. She did not learn to cook like her older sisters because for lack of boys, the outdoor work fell on the younger sisters.

Her sister Pearl married into the Freeman family and that is where Essie met my Grandpa - Norman Lee Freeman. His older brother Guy was married to Pearl - hence the reason I have double cousins. Lee often told a story of being able to knock a dog out if you hit it with one of Essie's early attempts at making biscuits. She became a great cook later and was famous for her dumplings and pies.
Eight years after they married, they were finally blessed with a child - my Daddy- Delmer Lee. I think they were surprised after that long. Don Ray came a few years later, then Essie was pregnant again a few years later. Unfortunately, Lonnie was stillborn.

My Grandma Essie just lived about mile from my house growing up. Every Sunday was dinner at her house  - about noon, depending on how long the preacher preached. Summer days filled with playing with my cousin Karen on the old plow and the back of the truck were rewared with Kool Aid out of a glass pitcher with Scotti Dogs around it. The pitcher was a wedding gift to my Grandparents in  1930, so it had some wear on it. Boxes of Cracker Jacks with the little prizes are also in my memories. Winter days of playing on the frozen bog in front of her house were warmed up with her wood stove. When the grandkids spent the night, the girls had the middle bedroom and the boys the room at the end of the little house. All these are childhood memories I will cherish.

But I have been an adult for a long time now, so the latest memories will also be the best. The things we discussed while working on Christmas Eve dinners are priceless. We talked about Lonnie's birth, how horrible it was to have to be in labor with him for so long, and they never let her see him. I know when she got to heaven, she finally got to hold her baby. She told me stories about her own Daddy that was in constant pain and cranky with her "but I know he loved me" she would say. Stories of her "honeymoon" crossing the creek on a mule in January. She would tell me about kids that had been in her Sunday School Classes at Lee's Chapel Church. She was so proud to be able to serve the church named for my Grandpa, and so proud to be a founder of that church.

Then there was laughter at my attempts to help her cook. She was such a hard working woman, even when she would wear out so easily, SHE would have to be the one to mix up the dumplings - which we did together one week before she passed away. I'll never be able to make them exactly like she did, but I will try. She was very particular about what food went in what bowl, which frustrated me, but I came to tease her about it, and we laughed about it. I spent 43 Christmas Eves at my Grandma's house. I should have spent more random Tuesdays and many more random Fridays at her house in the past 20 years.

I will miss her dearly, but I am glad she is reunited with Our Lord, her 2 sons that went before her, and my Grandpa. When you live to be almost 98 years old, your heart gets broken so many time by your loved ones passing on before you. So I can just imagine the "Sunday Dinner" they will be having, probably a good "singin" of old hymns, and best of all, taking a look at those of us here keeping an eye out for us.

Becky Hardgrave - Grandma's "baby" of the Grandkids

Africa Trip Post 1

Since I got back from Tanzania, I have been wanting to write blog posts, but honestly, have no idea where to start sharing this amazing adventure. I don't want to write it all at once, too long of a story, and I am still digesting all the information and working on all the images from the experience. Luckily I did write a journal every night so I would not forget.  I guess I will start at the beginning, or at least when we touched down on African soil. Some names have been changed for the privacy of the people that welcomed me into their culture.

　

Arrival at the airport went so smooth it was unreal.  I now officially have a real foreign stamp in 　my passport. ALL six bags arrived in tact with nothing missing except one trunk had lost on clamp.  Dena was waiting for us just out side the door with hugs and instruction on changing money. I handed over my American dollars and got back a whole stack of red bills with elephants on them. 　



Street vendors on a main street in the largest city in Tanzania

The ride through Dar Es Salaam was crazy. There is no place in the US with that sort of driving - I hope to appreciate the OCCASIONAL cut off from now on... I tried to hold in gasps and grips of the seat as Dena made her way through people walking out in front of her, motorcycle taxis (peeki peeki) went between lanes of traffic, bicycles carrying everything - lumber, chickens, apples, etc. 　Daladalas (buses) filled with people edged their way in front of us. On the streets, people walked in between cars, in the side, and up and down the medians. Some women carried stuff on their heads, some had very heavy stuff.

One the long ride back, we passed through villages on the paved road from Dar to Morogoro. Talia tried to fight sleep but ended up sleeping most of the way home. We we're stopped three times at check points, racial profiling feels a little different when you are on the other side you are used to being on. We stopped for a soda, and a bathroom break - I had a regular toilet, Talia got the stall with the "squatty potty" trench. Then we were onward to Morogoro.

The Arc

We decided to eat first at the Arc Hotel  restaraunt. Good fried rice. Then on to Dena's home. We pulled up to the gate, and Seth opened with a big smile, introductions were made, and I learned to say "Habari yako" and response "Nzuri". And to shake hands with the right hand only. (first social faux pas)

Frank came a little while later with our first African gift of Sugar Bananas , which were the sweetest and best I have ever eaten. The peels were very thin, from lack of pesticides and being able to ripen naturally. I immediately smelled of them with a big wiff that filled my nose with the wonderful scent of fresh bananas (second social faux pas).  Frank's gift was very generous, and were straight off the tree at his home. His English was good, but I wished I was more familiar with Swahili.



A small load for this bicycle cart, some of the produce had probably already been delivered.

More to come, but I had to start somewhere.

Awards from Capture 2012

Each year, the Professional Photographers Association of Arkansas holds a print competition and continued education convention for all it's members. A lot of work goes into organizing, advertising, and just doing what all it takes to make sure it is beneficial to the members, and in the end to the clients that choose APPA members. I have been a part of APPA since before I became a photographer for the public. Mark had joined years before, and the people were so nice and caring, of course it was only natural for me to be a part of it.

Earlier this week, I was honored to have 3 prints deserve a merit. I had the highest individual score ever for me, and also the highest average for me too. I was thrilled with that as my own personal accomplishment, but when my name was announced for "First Place Portrait" in my division, I was shocked and very excited. Most of the work I do is portraits - not candids, weddings, or commercial work - but beautifully lit portraits. It was nice to get a first place and affirmation of skills.

After I sat down and started on my coffee, my name was called again. This one was even more special - the Delores Schrader award for the best Black and White image in competition. This award was set up in memory of Mrs. Delores Schrader by her husband, G.J. "Buddy" Schrader who was an APPA president from 1948-1949. There are so many photographers that have gone before us that were dedicated to education in this industry. Thank You to all of them.

My model for the winning image is Mr. Robert Larsen. I met Robert at church and not by his looks, but my our discussions of life, I knew he would be great for this project I already had in my mind. One of the print judges comment was "You can just see that he is honestly in prayer". The judges discussed and discussed it, gave it a score, and then called it back up to discuss again and raised the score again.  My chest was pounding and I could not stay seated. I thought I was going to have to leave the room. I plan to send this, and the other prints on to national competition, with the hopes of them doing as well there as they did at Capture 2012.

Hardgrave Photography Featured Senior - Shyanna Easom

One of my Ozark girls - Shyanna was the "flower child" of the group!  From her look to her easy attitude, you can tell she is just an easy person to be around. Of the four in the group that came, Shy was last because she was running cross country that morning. An athlete to the core. She was an All-Conference runner in cross-country this year.

Shyanna looks up to the older sister,  Brenna. "She's always been such a great role model for me. Unlike me she's a perfectionist!!"

What does it take to really be able to soak in information and learn? I takes a teacher like Mr. Don Highfill to make the lessons fun and to keep things interesting. That helped Shyanna through school and helped her make her way to the University of Arkansas Fort Smith. There she will running for the UAFS girls' Cross-Country team. I see a good four years ahead for that team!

Australia with best friends Ashley Grigsby, Cortnie Weseman, Laiken Wilbanks, and Kayla Grigsby would be a dream vacation for Shy. Hanging out on a beach just about anywhere with them would work too.
Prom is a big deal this year with everyone dressed up so beautiful.

Hardgrave Photography Featured Senior - Laiken Wilbanks

I often have seniors that want to bring a best friend for a couple of pictures, so I was surprised when Laiken's mom called and wanted to book 4 girls a session each, all on the same day so they could have their friend pics and senior pics.Wow - that was a really fun day! 

Laiken told me that her mom inspires her most  - "My momma is Superwoman". Another woman that has helped her prepare for the real world is her teacher Mrs. Suit. Her real world preparation will be a big help to her as she enters the University of Arkansas Fort Smith to prepare for a career as a Nurse Anesthesiologist.

Laiken was crowned the Football Homecoming Queen her senior year and notes that and her day with her friends at Hardgrave Photography as some of the highlights of this past year.

Her dream vacation would be to take Taylor, Shy, Ashley, and Anna Beth to Bora Bora and stay in floating huts in the crystal clear water.

Hardgrave Photography Featured Senior - Hannah Fraser

I remember seeing the cutest little girl about 15 years ago, with dark dark eyes and dark dark hair. I don't even remember where I met the Frasers at, we can't seem to figure that one out, but I do have a vivid memory of Hannah as a little girl.

So when her mom called me to do her senior portraits, I was pretty excited - even more so when I found out horses were involved. The session started at the Walton Fine Arts Center at Uof O, where Hannah has participated in the youth Drama program for many years. Then we went out to her parent's farm, and I was blown away. Yes the property was beautiful, tranquil. And the house was beautiful - but what struck me most was the portraits hanging on the walls. Images everywhere of family - I could just feel the love looking into those faces in family portraits from many many years.

So it was not surprising when she told me her brother Adam is a big inspiration to her. Hannah is homeschooled, so her mom has really been a great teacher. Harding University is where she will be calling home next year as she starts on her journey to a career in the Criminal Justice field.

Hannah got to spend some time in her home country of Guatemala this past year, and would also love to travel to Spain with friends and family.

If Momma's Happy....

You know the saying "If Momma aint happy - then nobody is happy"? That seems to be true in every household, but when it comes to getting family portraits done, Mom's wishes often get a grumble. We Momma's love to be able to look up on the wall as we are passing by, and see our family. Times get so very busy, and it is easy to put off little things that really do matter to the ones we love. 

Consider making a appointment for your family during our Spring Family Special - and get a huge discount of 50% OFF any portrait collection. We set the date May 5th  Multi Generational families are welcome for this event.  Gift certificates are available if you wanted  one for Mother's Day.

Call now to reserve your session time. 479-885-3835

Featured Senior - Preston South

Walter South came to see me a few months before Preston came for his senior portrait session to discuss all that we wanted to accomplish. By the time he left, ideas were spinning in my head - I knew the basketball shot I wanted to try - and I had the perfect model for it coming in!
When Preston came in for his session, his clothes were perfectly pressed, very stylish and of his own choosing - this guy likes to look good. He even knows how to pick out the right tie - impressive.  He should fit in well with the other Electrical Engineering majors at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith campus. I am proud to say that the Hardgrave Photography $500 Scholarship will be helping Preston out a little with his college expenses.
It was obvious he and his dad were close when we did his session. I asked him about this and he said "My father inspires me the most, he has taught me everything I know from basketball to school to the littlest things about life."
Another man that has taught Preston a lot is his teacher Mr. Spillers. He said " He is a great teacher and is always willing to go the extra step to make sure you now how to do it."  Every one of our students should have at least one teacher like Mr. Spillers.

This senior year has been pretty exciting for Preston. He, along with the other Clarksville Panther Basketball team won the State Championship for the second year in a row. He said " I couldn't ask for a better way to end the season and the group of guys that helped achieve this goal will always be my brothers."
When asked about traveling abroad, touring Germany  with his "brothers" Dale Peterson, Zac Stumbaugh, Trey Norris, and Dustin McKinney -would be his first pick

Down By the Creek

I was a country kid for sure. We had a creek that run through my parents farm and emptied into the pond, and then started back up again at the run off. That is the creek where my older brothers put me in a wash tub and played "Baby Moses" with me when I was much too young to be playing "Baby Moses". It was where I learned to catch crawdads, and went barefoot with my pants rolled up to my knees.

When we bought our home, I was so pleased it had a creek running through it. I was pregnant when we moved in, and knew my own kid would love playing there one day.
Now, once a year, we open the creek up for a special "Down By the Creek" portrait promotion, so lots of kids can enjoy playing in the creek, getting muddy, and I get the opportunity to capture those sweet childhood images for beautiful prints.

 This year DBTC will be April 27 and 28th. Call to reserve you session time. Dig out the denim overalls, or jeans and plain T - Shirt, and also bring a clean DRY set of clothes to change into. Yes - THERE WILL BE MUD!  479-885-3835

Featured 2012 Senior - Tayler Scott

I first met Tayler when she came in the eighth grade to job shadow me, then I got to photograph her sister for senior portraits. Tayler was full of questions - which I love!  I hate it when I have to drag a conversation out of someone, no worry about that with Tayler.
As always happens when I don't see a girl for a few years, I am a little surprised that as seniors, they really are women, not little girls anymore. I was impressed that Tayler worked so hard at getting in college classes and really making every bit of that opportunity count. She will be entering University of Arkansas - Fort Smith in the fall with college credits already toward her degree in Business Administration. She will also be serving our country - she enlisted into the Army National Gaurd, was sworn in on October 13th and will be spending her summer at Basic Training at Ft. Lenarwood, Missouri.
As I mentioned, I also photographed Megan, Tayler's older sister that is a huge inspiration for her. Tayler said " She is a great mother, a student at UAFS, and works full time at Yeager's. I can't imagine show she does it all." 
For Tayler, Mrs. Blackmon has been "that" inspiring teacher that will go out of her way to help anyone. I think Tayler has learned from that too. I asked her if she could take a trip to anywhere, where would that be? She immediately included her friends Jackie Gray, Andrea Mefford, Abby Bryant, and Tiffany Austin to go to Italy with her to see the beautiful landscapes and get a feel for the whole Tuscan way of life.
Tayler was crowned Miss. Westside High School, which added to the excitement of these last few months of her senior year.

Featured 2012 Senior - Andrea Mefford

There is nothing that gets me more excited about a portrait session than an excited model - especially if they come to visit me before the session ever happens. After Andrea Mefford and her Grandma came to the studio to visit with me about her senior session, I was looking forward to working on all the things we talked about doing.  She left me with some ideas, and I sent her home with some things to think about too.

Andrea had gone to Westside, moved away, and came back to finish her senior year, even though that meant moving away from the two people in her family that has inspired her most - her mom Penny and her step dad Jason.  It has been a three hour drive between them this senior year, but they have made it to games to watch Andrea cheer the Rebels on.

Mr. Steve Golden has been such a big help to Andrea as a teacher. She is planning on attending the Physical Therapy Assistant Program at Arkansas Tech University - Ozark Campus.

I asked Andrea about her desires to travel and she said "If I could go anywhere, it would be to Greece."