A Break for Seniors on Spring Break

A Break for Seniors on Spring Break -
30% off Portrait Collection

March 24-28 aka Spring Break  2014 Seniors will get 30% off any portrait collection with a wall portrait! Plus $10 off their session fee.
Session fees must be paid at the time of booking along with a date set for viewing and purchasing photos.

Call the studio at 479-885-3835 to book your appointment. You may pay with credit or debit card over the phone, or come by the studio to set up your session.

Kids and Dogs

A few weeks ago, thanks to some really great kids, parents, and especially the dogs....I had a great opportunity to have some fun with two things that I love - kids and dogs.
It was fun to get video clips of some of the sessions so I could share a little bit of that day with you.

Hace unas pocos semanas, gracias a algunas niños maravillosos, y padres, y los perros especialmente ....tuve un oportunidad me divirtí con dos sujetos que me encantan - niños y perros.
Lo fue divertido grabar piezas de las sesiones así yo podría compartir un poco de eso día con ustedes.

Model Call!!! Kids and Dogs

Model call:  July 11 only - Dogs with Kids - a free session and a 5x7 from the session. The kiddos must be over 2 years old, but the dogs can be any size or age.  You must call the studio on July 10 to schedule your free session. 479-885-3835.

Photography is a great job, but sometimes every photographer has to assign herself a photography project just for herself.  It is important to stay creative, to keep the mind thinking, and every once in a while, indulge in something that you really love.  For me, I love photographing dogs and kids!  Before becoming a photographer, I was a dog groomer. I trained my dogs to compete in obedience competitions (I know you wouldn't think that when you meet my dogs now), and I just love dogs...

So I am going to put together a new collection of photos for the website, and possibly for print competition.  Can you help me???

Seniors that grow up

Some of the perks of my job is getting to know my clients and forming a relationship with them.  You would think with the seniors it would be different, but I get so excited when I look at my calendar and see one of my past seniors scheduled to come in for engagement, bridal, or baby photos.
Last week, I got to reunite with Ariel, meet her wonderful new husband Willie, and their precious new baby girl Lily. It was great to see Ariel and Willie so much in love, with each other and with the new little life they have brought into this world.  And now, I will get to see Lily grow up in the next 14 months while I photograph her Baby Steps Program sessions.
- Yeah, one more perk!

Featured Senior - Hannah

Hannah has a twin, but they are very different girls. Both sweet, both beautiful, but each has a different style. Hannah's Ultimate Senior Session at Hardgrave Photography included styles from camo to business dress and all in between.

Featured 2013 Senior - Autumn

I love a challenge, and Autumn challenged me to create images that were not typical "senior pictures".


Autumn's session was very unique in that we did some moving around the county to get the images she wanted. First we made a trip out to Annie's Chapel, an old church that I was married in, and had been used only for community gatherings about once a year, for the past 50 years. This is such a neat old historical building. Then we photographed in a cemetery here in Knoxville, and finally in the studio. Autumn is such an interesting person - and into learning the Asian culture and languages. Autumn's parents Bob and Becky Anderson are proud of her graduating from the Arkansas Math, Science, and Art School in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

No More Ties Please!

No More Ties Please
Double Dollar gift certificates For DAD!
Spend $50, $75 or $100 for the gift certificate, use with any new session that Dad will also be photographed in, between now and August 31st, 2013 to receive double face value.

 Call 479-885-3835
to schedule your appointment.
Not for use with any other special, coupon, or gift card. You must pay at least 50% of your invoice at your first scheduled order appointment. In some cases a prepaid session fee may be required.
May be redeemed after August 31, 2013 for face value
http://www.hardgravephoto.com/p233849481

Lillian & Special Things

One thing I love, is when babies and children come with special props - things that are hand made just for them are the best. Lillian's Great Grandpa built her this cedar changing table top before she was even born, so we wanted to incorporate it into her photos.
Lillian is so lucky to have a big family that adores her and loves her. If every child had this much love, wouldn't we have a perfect world?

Dale & Beth's Family at Hardgrave Photography

I love photographing families when they are just starting to grow, and seeing their family grow too. I had the privilege of photographing this family when Maddie and Ethan were little, then visited their home for family photos when Kate was tiny. A few years ago, along came Lilly. I adore Lilly - she looks almost exactly like me in one of my photos when I was her age. All four kids are great and interesting, not too shy, not too wild.  It was great to see them a few weeks ago for our family spring special.

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.

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 - 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

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

Healing Water - Easter Portrait Special

It is a rare occasion that I do Easter pictures. But this year is different. We are setting up a cute outdoor tented scene in the flowers to create some beautiful images. Session fee is $30 or $20 and a box of single serve powdered drink mix.
But wait, what is different? This year, Easter portraits session fees and portrait sales will go toward buying supplies for Natalia and I to hand out when we make our journey to Tanzania, Africa in exactly two months.
Last week, I spoke with my dear friend, Dena Moore (http://denamoore.wordpress.com/), who is a missionary there. She had sent out a prayer request for her team and her staff. Many of them had been very sick from easily preventable diseases. Dena starting investigating what could be done about it.  What she found out is that although some of them were using water gaurd tablets for drinking water - they could not afford to use it for the water they used to clean their vegetables. So that is a problem we can help with! The transfoming power of clean water is life sustaining.


photo courtesy of Dena Moore



When we arrive in Africa, we will use the Easter Portrait proceeds to go buy basins to wash food in, cups for each person in a family, soap for food washing, water bottles, purification tablets, and water filters.  Each child photographed here will be asked to color a greeting card for a child we are going to meet, and will recieve a photograph from our trip.

So why the drink mixes? Simple - it makes the water taste better. We know kids are kids are kids, and when something tastes better, or "special" they like it more. Dehydration for any child is a dangerous, life threatning problem. And the best part is YOU can help provide these healing waters, and get beautiful portraits of your own healthy and precious child.