On the Wall

I know we live in a digital age. I examine image after image, after image on my computer monitor. I search the web to study photography art that I like. My phone has the latest images of my daughter, neices and nephews to show off - not to mention way too many of my dogs.
But, when I am sitting on the couch at night, I look up at the wall and see my baby being held by a much younger me - and I smile.  I look at our family pictures hanging on the wall, and remember that the dogs were acting up, and my hair was not really doing right, and other little details from the day - and I smile.  When I go to my sister's house to pick my mom up, I always take notice of my Daddy's picture hanging up looking back at me, and I smile.  I do all this smiling without opening my Ipad, searching my phone, booting my computer, or finding a web address. It is effortless, and in a passing moment reminds me of people I love. 
Take the time to make sure you have beautiful images on your wall. 
This image is a quick snapshot of the Canvas Gallery Wrapped prints above the couch in our studio. You can see that even these 36 inch art prints fit onto this wall nicely. And of course, I personally think you should have a dog to sit on the couch under your beautiful prints. Hahaha

To get some ideas about decorating with family photos go to
http://www.lhj.com/style/decorating/makeovers/decorating-with-family-photos/

Morning Run

So I am sure my runner friends will see the title of this and say "Great, Becky has started to take exercise seriously". But those friends will be disappointed, and my horse loving friends will be saying "Yay, Becky finally got to go out and photograph just for fun,  and fill her nostrils with the sweet smell of horses".

Thank you so much to Deana Ford for getting up before sun rise so I could get the right light for these two beautiful boys - Buddy and Bobby. I must say though, Bobby (the horse in front) was the true show off and just kept giving me shot after shot, from beginning to end. I think he was not quite ready for me to pack up the camera and leave.

Delta School pre jitters

I hate not being able to sleep. That is the worst part of traveling, and being away from my family and doggies. When I can't sleep at home, I can go lay on the couch with the princess's - Zeba, and the of course, Jack, the GSP had to get him a spot on the couch, and before I go to sleep watching some sitcom rerun, the cat usually plants himself close by. But now I am laying here going over conversations I had last night with a wonderful group of photographers at Delta School. All of us here to improve our craft, and all of us from different backgrounds, different experience levels, different styles, and personalities. I would say I am right in the middle. This is my twelveth year in business. At home, in my own studio, I feel confident, knowledgable, all big fishy. But when I get the opportunity to hands on learn new techniques, or perfect techniques from other talented photographers, I start feeling small, a little uncomfortable. The great thing is that after 12 years, I know that growth happens during discomfort, and these people are here to help me, if I will just be open and let them. Plus, with a small group like Delta School, you also get to know everyone, and realize we all go through these same insecurities from time to time. Hopefully, after a sleepless night, and with all the intense class work today, tonight will be filled with sweet sleep... Or I will be blogging about high speec sync...

A Photography Date

Yesterday was a great day with my husband. We had an all day photography date. We are soon to be empty nesters when our only child goes off to college later this year. Time to find out what we still have in common. Not really much of the same things as when we got married 23 years ago. We are different people now, but fortunately, still very much in love.

Mark is into biking, riding his motorcycle, and recently shooting guns. I no longer have a bicycle - rode it about about 10 miles total and quite frankly, I hated it. I won't get on the back of a motorcycle - many years of an anti-motorcycle mom in my head. The last time I shot a gun was as a teenager learning how to shoot with my brothers.

Most of my hobbies revolve around my dogs, but I honestly don't have much in the way of hobbies anymore. Mark loves my dogs, but has no interest in spending time at a dog training class.  I know that most people in my profession start out with a LOVE of carrying around a camera taking photos of everything, and have decided to make a go at turning it into a business.  I am working a little backwards...

Old Delmar Piano

Mark and I have two things in common though - our beautiful daughter and photography. Even our approach to these two subjects are different.  Mark was the original photographer here. He was the one with the LOVE of taking photos of everything, including people and nature. I was only supposed to do the business side of the business. Funny thing about turning your hobby into a job, many times it becomes less fun and more work. It takes dedication to not only performing the fun stuff, but excelling at customer service, marketing, paying bills, community work, and all the other things that make a business a business. Now Mark enjoys creating nature images that are just WOW, and gets a great feeling from that.

On the other hand, I happen love the people and business part of photography. Yes, I love learning about lighting. I love seeing how light is used to create drama, feeling, sweetness, softness, toughness, grittyness and more. I really love seeing all that on faces of people though. I want to hear the stories of the 97 year old grandfathers that come in with generations of loved ones. I want to cuddle those newborn babies and rock them to sleep before I create those sweet baby images. I especially love to hear a three year old little boy tell me all about his favorite cartoon, or what his uncle just told him. I don't mind sending out thank you cards and looking over P&L reports, or even paying sales taxes every month. That is all part of this wonderful business.

So, now I am going to try to take up, non people photography as a little hobby to do with my husband. It is not as easy as you might think. I know exactly the purpose of each portrait I take, I have a vision of how I want each newborn shot to look when I get finished with my day. I processed my images from our date yesterday, and am at a loss as to WHAT to do with them. Either way, it will probably get me some more dates with my husband, and if I will listen and learn from him, might even make me a decent photographer of non human subjects.

Scholarship Winners of 2012
Yes that is right, I know that we have advertised A $1000 Scholarship for ONE 2012 Hardgrave Photography senior, but at the last minute, we decided to share the love and award another $500 scholarship.
The winner of the 2012 Hardgrave Photography $1000 Scholarship is Zach Dossett, a senior at Lamar High School!
Our $500 Scholarship winner is Preston South, a senior at Clarskville High School!
We wish all of the 2012 seniors we have worked with a Happy New Year and good luck in your new beginnings!
Love,
Becky Hardgrave

God Given Opportunities in Disguise

God definitly has a way of humbling us, and I thank him for that acutally. Let me tell you about Derek and Missy. Every year on the first weekend of December, I load up the equipment and with the Needy Paws Animal Shelter Volunteers, we photograph hundreds of people and pets to raise money for the shelter. It is a very quick in/out with sometimes just a few shots. Somehow we manage to get wonderful pictures over and over again, year after year. For 16 hours that weekend, we shoot and then another several hours preparing and ordering images, then the sorting and such.
This year, Derek brought in his dogs for a pic, and another pic with his mom, and one more with his 21 year old cat - Missy. Missy was deaf, blind, and did not react to any movement, toys, sounds - she just wanted out of there and the only shot we got was one that Derek had to hold her head up. Okay image, not the best ever, but the best we could get that day. When Derek picked up his prints on Saturday the following week, he called me and asked if they could be redone.
Now this is the part I am not exactly proud of. It was Saturday afternoon, I had not had a day off in 14 days, and had worked through a stomach bug the week before. I was tired, cranky and frankly not in the mood to re photograph a cat from a charity event. I told him no, then he asked again and I softened a little, but was still not particurally thrilled about it, but he was on his way.

When Derek and Missy got to the studio, all we could get was cat head down, no reaction to movement or noise. I was thinking all we were going to get was the same pic we got at the shelter. So I started pulling out my bag of tricks - nothing. Then as a last ditch effort, I took some Captain Crunch that I keep for little kids out, and she became interested, the head came up, and we got the shot before she hung her head again. No matter, it was better than before and that was all that counted. During this time, I got to visit with Derek and find out a little bit about him and his love for animals and this 21 year old cat he had since she was a kitten. By the time he left, I was not feeling so much like Scrooge.

This morning, Derek called me and told me that Missy passed away last night. He apologized for being so pushy to get that done on Saturday, but it was me that owed an apology. What an opportunity I almost passed up! Yes, there are probably many photos of Missy throughout her years, but I know which one will be the most important to this man who loves his animals the way I do.

Another person that used to push me and get under my skin passed away earlier this year. I think back to all I accomplished because of him. Yes, at the time we are being aggitated and pushed it is uncomfortable, but through it, God is giving us growing opportunities.

This Christmas season, when so many of us get cranky and tired, and tired of people, look for the opportunity to grow.

Merry Christmas

Becky

A Sweet Christmas - Photos at Needy Paws Animal Shelter

I am so proud to be a part of Needy Paws Animal Shelter. I served on the board for many years and it is dear to my heart. Even though I have retired from the Board of Directors,  I am still committed to helping the homeless animals of our community to find new homes.  The great thing about Needy Paws is the care they get while waiting for someone to decide they are worthy to come home with them. We all know needs cannot be met on well wishes and good intentions alone, so Hardgrave Photography is a proud part of an annual event to raise money to meet the needs of these precious animals.

Saturday, December 3, 2011 at 9:00am until Sunday, December 4, 2011 at 4:00pm

Needy Paws Animal Shelter, 1040 E. Main, Clarksville, AR

Hardgrave Photography will be at Needy Paws Animal Shelter for the Annual Christmas Photos - happening every first weekend in December. Both Saturday and Sunday from 9-4. Packages start at only $17. No appointment needed, first come first serve. Dogs, cats, kids, Couples,... Best Friends - up to four humans- welcome. Pets must be leashed or in carriers. No proofing, photographer will pick the best image for the package. If you would like an order form in advance of the event (easier to fill out without your pup pulling at you :), just email the shelter at hhumane@centurytel.net or the studio at info@hardgravephoto.com