My First Hero

I've been back from California for a couple weeks now. I had such a blessed visit with my sweet Daddy and my family. Even though he didn't always know who I was he grinned at me a couple times like he recognized me and he shared stories about his lovely daughter Alyson and his son-in-law who live in Nashville, TN. On our last day there we had to say goodbye to him and that was probably the single most painful moment of my life. Making it out there to see him was difficult to manage financially and logistically because of our kids and jobs so we knew it would probably be the last time we'd ever see him. I will miss him so but those precious days I had with him I will cherish forever.

Love you Daddy...

Harley

Okay, everyone all at once....aaaaaaawwwe!

Introducing the newest member of the Burtnett crew, Harley. He is a 9 week old Yorkie-Poo. We finally caved into all the pressure from our kiddo's and got a puppy. He's a sweeetie and we love him!

Workshop

Zach gave us some sa-weet tips on B & W conversions...NICE!

Yesterday, I had an amazing opportunity to spend the day with two of Nashville's most incredible photographers. Zach & Jody Gray, otherwise known as Gray Photography. I have been stalking their blog for a while now and admiring their incredible images and talent. Every year they run a series of workshop's for other tog's who want to learn a bit more about capturing beautiful images and spending less time editing and more time shooting. They brought in some models for us to shoot with too!

So we trudged out into the rain, wind, cold & mud with our cameras in tow and shot away while using the information they'd taught us that afternoon.

Expo disc's and custom white balance.....HOLLA!

Thanks SO much Zach & Jody. You two were amazingly kind, helpful and generous (especially for lending me your sweatshirt!)

Here's some images I captured and spent approximately 15 minutes total editing...

Spring Portrait Day 2010

Last Saturday I did some spring portrait's for the good customers of Lizard's & Lace Children's Boutique. It was a fun day of shooting all these precious darlings for me. Here's a few of my favorites...

California....knows how to Partay!

Hey all my sweet Cali followers! I'll be out there next month and am taking a limited number of bookings. If you're interested in having some pics done or know someone who might contact me! I'd LOVE to point my camera at you and create some fun memories.

Happy St. Paddy's Day!

Here's to all my Irish friends and relatives...

May those that love us, love us.

And those that don't, let God turn their hearts.

And if He doesn't turn their hearts

May He turn their ankles

So we'll know them by their limping

Concert Shoot at Long Hollow

Last night I had the opportunity to shoot some concert footage at my church. As an exclusively outdoor photographer this was a unique challenge for me. It was for sure some difficult shooting and admittedly I was a bit in over my head. But, I persevered and ended up with a handful of what I thought were decent shots. Nothing I'm overly proud of but I'm ..... satisfied and thankful for my 1.8 lens. It was good practice. We should all do something difficult everyday otherwise we never grow.

Vulnerability...

I suck at it. I was born from good, strong, Irish stock and if you know anything about the Irish they don't embrace the notion of it. Well, I have to now. I'm going to make myself vulnerable first, because it's a good practice in humility and second because I thought you all should know what a rough time I'm having right now so you don't get your nose out of joint if I'm not Miss Aly-Sunshine as I usually am.

Two very difficult things are going on in my heart and body right now...

First, I'm sick.

I just accepted that for the first time in five months. The doctors are stumped by me. I've been to specialists and had pints of blood sucked from my body. I've been poked and prodded, scanned and x-rayed. It's more than disheartening to wake up each morning with no answers and no treatment. The worst of my symptoms is the inability to breath. I'm gasping for air most of the day and dizzy and exhausted. I've tried, unsuccessfully, to ignore these symptoms and push through, thinking that it's something I'll just get over eventually. I don't like doctors, I don't like pills and I don't want to be sick! I have a family to take care of and business to grow and friends I miss hanging out with. The walls of my house are a bit of a prison for me.

Second (and the harder problem of the two)

My Daddy is dying. I miss him. I adored him as he adored me. He has Alzheimer's, so instead of losing him all at once I lose him in pieces. He forgets who I am sometimes and I can't explain how painful it is for a self described Daddy's girl. I am bereft. I weep at strange times during the day, when a memory strikes me....the smell of his cologne that the pharmacist had on, the sound of his booming laughter, the way he would tease my mother when she would nag him, the sight of him in his beautiful business suits in the morning, his tall 6'4'' frame and how safe I felt in his arms, when he would hold me to his chest and talk to me in his deep bass voice, soothing me, encouraging me, telling me how proud he is of me. He was the first man I loved, so handsome and dignified and strong. I cling to these mind pictures now as he is reduced to a small bed in a nursing home, thin, quiet, alone. I have dreams about him almost every night. Some beautiful, us talking and walking together. Others 'warnings' he won't be on this earth for much longer. And I can't be sad about that, he needs to be released from this world. He needs to be with his Lord but, I will miss him so and be sorry that my children never got to experience the bright, joyful man that was Ray Marotte, who I was named for. I promise to continue tell my children stories of their fun, big, loud, Grandpa Ray. He loves his children and he always made sure we knew it.

Thank you Daddy,

Your Forever Princess,

Alyson Rae

Brylee & Gracin

Where's my toes?

I had the honor of photographing the darling, Brylee & Gracin this past weekend. Gracin is 4 and Brylee is almost 2, she is also a model for Baby Gap so I was working with a pro! She adores her big brother and frequently peppered him with kisses and squishy hugs. He patiently and sweetly endured all this during their session. I had almost 100 images after I flipped through them and picking my favorites is next to impossible but here are some...

HFD Training

Steve's Captain, Scotty Bush

Poor Steve, he was SO hot.

Captain Mike Holt, calling me over.

The boys decided to do some training on an old abandoned home. "How do they do that?" you may ask. Well, cover all the windows with tarps so it's pitch black, pump the house full of smoke, put on a ton of heavy, hot gear and go on in and play hide & seek until you're sweating profusely and miserable. They love it!

Thanks boys for putting up with me and my camera!

A Windy Meadow

This past Saturday we had an all too rare, warm January day. Headed over to my Aunt's property for some portraits for my cousin's kids. He is in Iraq and hasn't seen them much lately and won't return home until June. Matthew is almost 2 years old and Austin is a teenager. Great boys. While we were there I went ahead and did some of my crew as well. It was a lot of fun running around my Aunt's 10 acres with my camera. I could've stayed out there all day.