Hey guys. The new blog and site will be a work in progress, but I'll be posting all my new work there from here on out. So.....goodbye blogspot!
I know I've been a slacker lately, but it will be better on the new blog. PROMISE! :0 )
So head on over to: hannahgray.net/blog
Save it as a favorite and stop by really often to check in!!!!
Growing up, my parents would never just let me hop to whoever's house I desired; they were very protective about what enviroments and friends I spent time around. This became more of a problem as I grew into my personality, you could say that I've always loved being around all sorts of people from an early age. :) {I often got in BIG trouble for prompting my friends and their parents to have me over, seriously.} I still clearly remember, my 8-year-old friend busting out "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" for a group of us to watch. A clear, PG-13, rule breaker! -Oh no she didn't!- And...to my shame...I took part.
Tonight, I plan to watch a movie with a bunch of good friends from my small group (#1). I'm grateful for a group of friends who share my beliefs & values & love me for me. I doubt we will watch good ole' Buffy, but I'm excited none the less.
Off the subject, I'm making a cheesecake that is better than _____________ {whatever you can think of to put in the blank} :)
I promise when I get my new blog up and running, I will be all about some blogging. For now, I am way to much of a perfectionist to overlook the things that annoy me on this page. :) Once the blog arrives, you will go all Han-Qui-Qui on me, and be like "Oh Shute...." If you don't get this video, google bon-qui-qui from mad tv.
Loooove:
~My house being somewhat clean! No dishes in the sink, one load of laundry
left, no dirty diapers around, and even a clean bathroom. What, what???!!
~My new business handouts are in with my new logo stuff! :) I also have a new
gifts in the works for my new brides from a southern photographer gal! :)
~The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey. I'm pumped about my frugile future.
~My baby girl. It is so amazing to listen to her talk and watch her explore
the world around her. I could eat her up with a spork.
~Gone to Greenville! Come on people. Get on the train.
~Jesus. Praying really hard for Him to speak to me very clear about
some things. Can't wait!
Yuuuuuck:
~This stupid weather. How can I wear shorts one day and have to wear a winter
coat the next?
~This stupid cold. I'm so ready to be able to sleep w/o having to turn from
side to side in order to transfer my snot.
~The Total Money Makeover...This is going to suck and be very hard.
~Driving. Thankful for it, but I'm going to be doing a lot of it in the near
future.
~Worrying about my husband's test and next year's assignment. :/
Come and Get It!!!!!!
So in college, my roomate and I were asked to sing in chapel. (Brief: I went to a Christian college, and you had to attend a certain number for a grade. Some were good, some were not.) We were stoked and sang our little hearts out to the tune of "His Eye is On the Sparrow". My roomate, Stephanie (Holla!), has an AMAZING voice. I'm just ok. Any-who, we finished the song, the harmonies completed perfectly, and I have to say I was feeling pre--tty good about myself. That was until I got comfey in my seat and realized that my zipper had been down the entire time. I kid you not. It was like God was saying, "You think you have it all together and all figured out. Uh, NO! That would be my job!"
Scenerios like this come up quite frequently in this ole gal! And each time I thank Jesus that He has it all figured out for me. :)
Here are some more pictures from Jonathan & Melissa's wedding this past Christmas!
You know how you love a movie so much, you talk it up to all of your friends. You tell them how amazingly awesome it was. How you cried, laughed, sighed, and loved it so much you'd watch it 100 more times.... Then, you watch it with your friend. You keep glancing at their face to make sure that they are feeling the awesomeness you felt the first time you watched it. You're distracted the entire movie, because you want them to love it as much as you do. Halfway through you are wondering why in the heck aren't they melting into a puddle of tears, and they definitely must have been spacing out when they didn't laugh at the funniest scene ever put in a movie. The movie ends, and your waiting on them to get on their hands and feet and thank you and Jesus that they were allowed to experience this greatness. Instead, they say, "It was ok".
And in the back of your mind, you can't help but wonder if you built the movie up too much before they had the chance to soak it in for themselves.
This is EXACTLY how I'm feeling about my website. I'm so stinkin excited I can't stand it. I hope it is A-mazing. But I worry that as much as I've been talking about it, you're going to get there and say, "It's ok". Problem is there is no stopping me from continuing to talk about it. :)
When it comes to my family, it just doesn't get much better. I've been working on my website and my about me portion, and I realize how much my family has influenced who I am today.
I am sort of like a female version of my dad's brain. I like to analyze things and organize my thoughts before they are heard. I am VERY competitive. I like to win and be the best at whatever I'm doing. I tend to also have a very critical spirit, and do not like for people to disappoint me. (Sorry dad, it's true!) From my mom, I inherited my mom's keen eye and artistic vision. She can see things in her mind how she wants them and then sketch them out to match. My mom is easy going. I could call her at 9:30 pm and ask her to go see a movie and she would and has on many occasions. My parents together taught me to love, to have faith in the things I believe in, to put Jesus before anything, and to be head strong and have confidence in who I am.
Having so many brothers and sisters only fuels the "about me" fire. I get along with pretty much anyone, because you learn to adjust in a house with seven people who are different from you. I can sleep just about anywhere and anytime, because I was used to sleeping through crying, yelling, playing, and kids crawling over me. I learned an unselfish love at an early age because my love for my brothers and sisters is a lot like the love I feel for Gray. There's nothing they could ever do to lose it.
Just a few of the things about me.
Check out a new video project, working on some new things to get ready for my new site and blog! I think you will like it. Fun colors, a journalistic feel, and lots of images.
When I was in high school, I swear to you that I painted my toenails to match my outfit almost everyday. Then, college came along, and I tried to make sure that my legs were at least shaved every week. Then came teaching, and I made sure by spring my legs were shaved and my toenails were decent enough to wear open-toe shoes (I didn't want to feel sorry for the kids who sat at my feet!) Then, came this past year. So far, it has trumped all of my "do not care" episodes in the past. If I'm not doing one thing, it's something else. If I have a little free time, I'm using it to find a way to make something better. I'm convinced my feet have joined forces and refuse to become silky smooth until I give them the undivided attention that they oh so deserve. :) In short, I need a pedicure.
I hope you are excited as I am about my new web presence coming up. In the process of trying to figure out a way to explain my type of photography in the "about me", I keep coming back to chicken nuggets. Huh?? (I can hear your thoughts.) Let me explain.
I willingly admit that I am a sauceaholic. Whatever I am eating must be the opposite of dry. I like my cheeseburgers, tacos, and nuggets to be dripping in sauces (a variety of them). Although I order tons of sauces everywhere I go, there are some places that scream one certain sauce. Zaxby's = Zax, McDonalds = Hot Mustard, Fatz = Buffalo & Ranch, etc.
I see my photography much of the same way. Each shoot, each image screams something unique to me. Some clean and crisp. Some raw and dirty. Some in between. Some all three. It just depends on the nugget, I mean client. :)
Every photography book I read tells me that I have to find my style, what I do best, the image that screams "this is hannah gray photography". From the description above, you might now understand the difficulty of this decision.
But why can't my style scream "variety". I don't want to edit my images the exact same way every time for the rest of my photog life. So, I'm sticking with the chicken nugget principle. Variety. That is my style.
My little girl is the cutest thing in the world to me. :) She blesses me in ways that I just can't put into words, but I'll give it my best shot. I could kiss her face off, could sit all day and just watch and listen to her, and do cry when I think about how much I love her.
I try to have photo shoots around the holidays to document, and to make sure I never forget what that sweet face looked like at every age. I have to tell you the shoots get a little more difficult everytime. Partly because she does not like to sit still anymore. 
This is the new fish face. :)
You know when I took the year off, I took for granted that the year would last a lifetime. However, what you knew and what I was ignoring has reared it's ugly head. Decision time?! I've been sincerely seeking with my whole heart, and all the arteries and veins that surround it, the answer to the hardest question that I've ever had to answer?! Be at home with the best little girl in the world and sacrifice ...... or go to work and provide extra financial comfort for my family. I know when you put it like this it seems like I should be able to choose the obvious answer, but I love both. I love what I've been able to do this year, but I really do promise that I love to teach! :) At the end of the decision day, I really want to do exactly what God tells me to do. If only He still wrote on walls.
I have pictures to post, but I'm working my little booty off making sure that I can stand the sight of my house through the rest of the week! :)
I've sort of been avoiding this blog like shaking hands with someone who has the flu. Why? Because I don't like it's look, and I'm so excited for the blog to come. But I had to post some of Staci and Brandon' pics, because they rocked it out. I had this idea of a field with a guitar. I was thrilled when he said that he played. Here are some of my faves. :)
This is my fave! The light was IN-SANE!
To those faithful readers.....As you can see I've played around with how this blog looks for too, too long! In the works is a brand new blog, a brand new website, and many, many more great things to come. They are going to be awesome! :)
What am I doing? Thinking and working on my photography brand!!!! New look, old look, same look. I will not rest until I have it all figured out. WHat do you think? What has been your favorite logo, color, etc??? Help me out people! I'm open to suggestions.....
Content 1 here.
Content 2 here.
Content 3 here.
This is a mass email I sent to almost everyone in my email book. Just by chance, you don't email me a lot, I'm posting it on my blog as well. And...what post would be complete without a picture. Check the bottom for a couple of ring shots from Jonathan and Melissa's Christmas wedding! ;) On to the email:
Hey Guys!
This time last year, I was on my way back to work for the first time since having my baby girl, Gray. It wasn't long until I really felt the Lord laying on my heart that I was supposed to step away from teaching and stay at home with Gray. Kevin, thought that I had lost my mind, and I couldn't blame him nor argue the point. I didn't know how we would be able to do it, but for some reason I had such peace that we would be taken care of....
I would have never in a million years thought that Jesus would help take care of us through a photography business. I have always loved art in every form (painting, drawing, building, decorating, dressing, graphics, crafting...), but never considered it could be a career. I am so excited to see where this business takes me, and to be honest, I sit and think over it...A LOT!
2008 picture season was A-mazing, thanks to a lot of you guys. Who would have thought that in four and 1/2 months I would have shot 28 sessions and 4 weddings??? NOT ME! I look back at the pictures in the beginning and know that if I could go back and shoot them now, they'd be so much better. (It's a perfectionist's blessing and curse.) But seriously, I feel like in such a short time, I have learned SO MUCH! And I hope that never-eva stops. :)
2009 picture season is going to be great as well! I have a lot of faith that God will again use me and a camera to provide for my family. It's scary and exciting at the same time. Some things I have already changed and others are in the process.
-One biggie is that I've redone my pricing handout. The prices have changed, the look is different, and after a lot of research and thought...I feel good about it. I'm attaching it to give you guys a preview.
-Another Change: Instead of doing one shoot a weekend, I'm trying to be smarter with my time and use one Saturday where I shoot a lot! I had a lot of requests from the upstate for some shoots, so you guys will have a Saturday to abuse as well!!! Holla. :) Take a look at the fliers I have attached and send it out to anyone you might think would be interested. Hopefully, (Thanks to Adrian & Steven) I can have it ran in the Horry Independent (local newspaper) as well! Best case scenario, I'll have to schedule more than one Saturday!
There are more changes that I'm looking forward to and praying over as well. There is no way I can advertise and give everyone the best impression of my images all alone, so join with me in sharing and praying for the year ahead. I've made a commitment to pray over each person I'm allowed to photograph this year. My dream in this business would be to do so well, that I can give back like a mad-crazy woman.
Thank you again for being the best clients and friends a photographer girl can have!
Hannah Gray
I don't blame you. Check out some more H-O-T-T! Portraits!
Meet the Leach bunch. Amanda Leach Powley, was one of my lifesavers during my first three years of teaching. She is mild, kind, caring, a hard-worker, a great listener, and an even better friend. I don't see nearly enough of her. :) Amanda recommended me to her mom for some family portrait re-do's. Did I mention that she must have good taste!? ;) Anyway, I snapped the night away and could not quit laughing "with" the Leach family. I especially enjoyed editing the images where they are wearing mustaches, rubbing Grandpa's tummy, picking through Grandma's hair-do, and laughing their undies off (ha, ha!)! Amanda, Jane, and the whole Leach family....Thank you!
Here's the whole bunch. Click the title to see a few more pics.
Linda, Jane's mom, contacted me about photographing her daughter's wedding. She told me they were planning to marry in Hawaii!!! "What?! What?!" Too bad they were only looking for a photographer for the rockin' reception that awaited them back here in South Ca-ca-lac-ee (Carolina). :)
During the reception, they had the video of their Hawaii ceremony playing on the big screen for everyone to watch. After it finished, Nelson and Jane, decked out in their wedding attire, were announced as the Mr. & Mrs. for the evening and got the party started with their first dance. The night continued with dancing (good dancing), eating, and even some karaoke!
Nelson & Jane, congratulations to you both. Hope you will always be as happy as you are now!!!!
This picture was my symbolic one for the evening. Nelson is from Venezuela, and Jane is an all American girl!
Jane's dad had a cowbell, engraved, and complete with lock and key. Nelson took it like a newlywed and had it ringing all evening.
The first dance....
I can't even begin to explain the smooth moves on display that night.
I love this picture. Everybody having a blast, but notice Jane & Nelson all wrapped up in each other.
Love this one as well. Nelson and his mom were too sweet. She is such a beautiful lady.
And one of my faves. I took pictures of the screen as the video of their wedding played. Each came out with such awesomely different colors. What a cool piece of art!
Nobody got into the karaoke....siiiikke!
I'll have the slide show up before long. Something is up with the site! :) If you haven't read yesterdays post..........READ IT!
Jostens, Smotens. Boring senior pictures are a thing of the past. Of course you have to have the one for the yearbook, but those others....with the cheeky poses, um...yeah. Why not have senior portraits that scream you, instead of scream "I love me some blue-gray backdrops????" If your interested in having senior pics made with me, shoot me an e-mail or leave me a comment. I'll be booking for the next month.
My sister, Evan, now a freshman, had the "boring" senior pictures, so we took a very short trip and had a senior re-shoot. They are turning out great, of course she does have my genes, so I didn't except anything but perfection..... :) Kidding, but seriously, she rocks in these pictures!
P.S. Just because you're not a senior, doesn't mean you don't know a senior. :) You might just get yourself a little reward if you send me one.
P.S.S Just because you're not a senior, doesn't mean that you can't have an "Anytime" shoot with me. For business or just because. You like yourself that much don't you.
Ok. I'm done!
Gray's first pigtail attempt. What....what, what?
Opening some stocking stuff from the Grands.
I made Ian be the Christmas Elf. He took it off after this picture. 
My mom is hot. Showing off her magnification mirror. 
I've gotten to meet and get to know the Robertsons through our mygroup. They are such a sweet and special family, and Adrian did not pay me to say that! :) We finally got together for some quick Christmas pics. The ducks were way more intersting than me!!!
Is this just not the cutest pic, and she posed herself, go figure!
I am a sucker for red shoes! 
And....big blue eyes!
I got to go backstage with the Stokes family as they gathered to celebrate Christmas! They are a very sweet family, full of beautiful people!
When I get stressed, I'm talking about real stress, I become the world's hugest worrier. I'm talkin', like if you were to sneak in to my mind for one second during this time, you would take off, running, and screaming. There is NO escaping it! None! I pray, watch a movie, take a shower, take a nap. Nothing helps!
I usually get this way when I start to think about the future. It's not that I'm such a planner, because I do my best thinking and teaching on the fly, seriously! It's that I hate surprises. I want to be in the know. I had a few worry attacks in the past, but this year, especially lately, they are coming on me like... whoa!
One attack came during college. I'm sure everyone has been through the questions: Am I where I'm supposed to be? Majoring in the right thing? Playing the sport I'm supposed to be playing? Dating the guy I'm supposed to be dating? During this time, I prayed for a sign. Just a reminder from God that I am exactly where he wants me at this point in life. My sign would be a yellow flower. (Deep down, I knew I was guaranteed to see some in the landscaping around campus.)
Wouldn't you know that they had decided to change the landscaping the day before and plant new plants. I'm not kidding. I went to dinner that night in the cafeteria and for a good reason left by myself. I on my way back to the dorm, chewing on a straw......worrying. I stopped at an oddly placed trashcan on campus because I was tired of chewing. I opened up the lid to the trashcan and before me were all of the flowers that they had gotten rid of on campus. I kid you not. It felt amazing. I knew I was exactly where God wanted me.
That week is the week I found my life verse as well. Proverbs 3:5-6. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." It's been my prayer since. Trust Him, know that you don't have to understand what He is doing, acknowledge Him in everything you do, and He will take care of the unknown.
This year, since deciding to quit teaching, starting new adventures, and having a one-year-old along for the ride has given me enough stress to age me by 50 years. This past month especially, because I've been "thinking about the future".
Wednesday, I walked out with Gray to get the mail, and in my bush bed (I don't have any flowers), something caught me eye. It was a single yellow flower, the same as I had seen years ago in my trashcan. It's the only time I had ever seen it there, and the next day it was gone. I used it as a subtle reminder that this year I've trusted God more than EVER, haven't been able to lean on anything but Him, I've given Him credit for everything that I've been able to accomplish, and I'm exactly where He wants me to be doing exactly what I'm supposed to be doing. The rest of the unknown....well, He is taking care of that too.
Check out this A-Mazing sky. I happened to have my camera while driving downtown Conway. I saw this sky and couldn't resist a picture!
What I'm workin' on....
What do you want first? The good or the bad? OK. The good.
10 Things I'm Lovin':
1. Homemade, hot, apple cider! It is so yummy!
2. Christmas tree lights in the corner of my living room.
3. Gray walking around, rocking her baby, and giving me puckered up sugar on the lips.
4. TWILIGHT! I read it in one day. Unashamedly, I could not put it down!!!
5. My Christmas Cards!
6. Proverbs 3:5-6. It seems that this is always the verse I come back to when I get very overwhelmed with life, which is often these days. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths." I wanted to get this tattooed on me, but I chickened out and got the cross with the heart on it.
7. Fa-la-la-la Lifetime. They have some great Christmas movies! I said some not all!
8. Painted fingernails. I paint them, pick the paint, fix it, paint them, pick the paint, fix it......
9. Flats. I wore heels the other day for the first time and the last time for a while. I'm so happy that flats are so in.....
10. Being with my hubby.... :)
5 Things I'm not Lovin'; Two positives for every negative:
1. House Taxes in December. It should be outlawed.
2. Bugs. The flies have been replaced by ants and more earwigs.
3. My short list for Santa that will all go unanswered: A Mac Notebook, A Shootsac
4. Doctor bills. (P.S. Gray's surgery is next Tuesday.)
5. Worrying.
I love taking pictures, but I've realized no matter what job you have, you still have to nudge yourself to get up, get out the door, and get going. However, when I get to my destination, meet my clients, and get into the creative groove, you couldn't pull me away with a giant crane. Thus was the case when I met the Rivens last Saturday. Tuletia had contacted me a while ago about doing their pictures, but I never got the email. (I learned a very important lesson: Check my spam often.) Despite the miscommunication, we got together just in time to freeze what life looks like for the Rivens this Christmas. Her family is absolutely precious and full of love. I am so happy we got together! :) To see more pics, click here!!!
Rain + gray skies + a whole bunch a people on a back porch = Not Ideal for Pictures! But we pulled up our knickers and went to work. The Batson family had gathered to give thanks from 3 different states and this was our one and only chance to capture this moment in time. Enjoy.
To see more pics, click here.
Just in case you are not on my mailing list, which is a lot of you, I wanted to share our Christmas card via the internet. The Christmas card will read:
What will be in your stocking this year??? Merry Christmas! Love: Kevin, Hannah, & Gray
I met Selena what seems like forever ago. She is fabulous hair dresser at Carolina Forest Spa & Salon, near Fitness Edge in Carolina Forest. She is my go to when I want to get my hair did. She is obviously awesome, because she puts up with me. I love to shoot people who I know well, so I jumped at the chance to capture her, Zoe & Zeek. After our shoot and editing her pictures, I'm pretty sure that in the winter, black tops, blue jeans, and pops of red are the way to go and my personal favorite. I just wish I could pull off red lipstick. :) If you'd like to see more pics, click here for their slide show.
If McDonalds really wanted to help America slim down. They would put the grilled chicken sandwich on the dollar menu and charge extra for the double cheeseburger.
Gray plays in an electrical outlet. I "tap" the top of Gray's hand and say "No!" Gray looks at me like I'm crazy and reaches for the outlet again. I "tap" the top of Gray's hand a little harder and say "No!" Gray looks at me and taps the top of my hand back. I laugh. Couldn't help it. For those of you who have been keeping up with Gray and the strawberry: The doctor postponed our surgery, because he was attacked by Satan and hates me to the inner core. That's my personal take on the situation. It will now take place on Dec. 23rd, because....well read the sentence above!
Dear Internet,
Long time, no write. My deepest apologies. It's all the turkeys fault. It brings out the lazy in me, and it's a lazy that's oh so hard to repress. But I am back, rested, and better than ever. I've brought you a peace offering. The Dorman pictures. They are an awesome family with hearts of a servant, whether to our church or many of them to our country. David, the dad, is so talented and can do anything. I gave him the nickname Martha Villa a long time ago (That would be Martha Stewart and Bob Villa all wrapped up into one hands-on creative genius.). He has put many of his talents to work in his store, Palmetto Farms.
Andrew, the oldest guy, has been married for a couple of years and rocks out on the guitar in our band. His wife, Jenn, is beautiful! Adrianne, the only girl, is marrying Jake sometime..... (She will be deployed to Iraq in February, and there is a chance Jake will follow her there in November about the time she will be leaving.) Devin is SINGLE. That's all you need to know. If you'd like more info. (ladies only, per his request) send me a comment.
I hope you enjoy the pictures internet. Happy Belated Thanksgiving!
***Click the title for more pics.
Meet the Rusbacks: Tom, Michelle, and Maddie. I met Michelle when her family moved to South Carolina last year, and she landed a job at Loris Elementary. She is one of the people I miss getting to see on a regular basis! I had so much fun catching up and shooting her family, especially Maddie. I think I chuckled through the entire shoot, because I could not get over the poses and faces that were coming from this little girl. As we were leaving, Maddie fell down and lost her shoe. Michelle started laughing and told me this happens on a regular basis. She went on to explain that Maddie pretends to be Cinderella leaving a glass slipper behind for her prince, a lot. How cute is that??? Click the title and see more of Maddie's mad posing skills!
Come on girls, we've all done it. You know..in high school, we tend to be overwhelmed with the hunkiness of guys either our age or older. Only in rare cases do we see our-senior-selves pursuing and trying to develop a relationship with a "sophmore" boy. Such was the case for Brooke and Blake. After high school, both went off to college in hopes of finding an education???...NO! True Love, of course. But after failing, ridiculous, underserving men and women had their chance, they might have left with a BA, but left without their MR & MRS. Thankfully, Brooke takes care of her pearly whites, and after a fateful trip to the dentist's office back home, where she ran into Blake's mom, love was about to be in the air. The rest, as they say, is history. After a romatic ride on the ocean in Hilton Head, Blake pledged his love to Brooke and asked her to spend the rest of her life with him. They are beyond perfect together, and I am thrilled that my friend, Brooke, has finally ended up with the right guy at the right time. Thank you again for asking me to document this special time for you and Blake! **** The video is sweet, but the quality.....eeehhh. Click on the title to see more of their pics.
She was from out of town looking for a new set of friends. He lived in this town but was always open to expanding his circle of friends. Through one message sent via the Internet, the rest is history. You could say, and most of their family does say, that this couple was brought together for a special purpose. This purpose not only being to bring love into each other's lives, but to decide together that it was of the utmost importance to invest their love and lives into following Christ. Jenny & Steven, your wedding was beautiful and perfect. I'm so glad that you are a part of the Rock and happy that you let me capture your very special day!
I've had lots of emails and comments from friends in the upstate about taking their pictures. I've been thinking about planning a Saturday of Spring Pics in Greenville, if I can generate enough interest to make it worth my while. If you are around the Greenville Area and are interested in having your pictures done in the Spring, please comment or send me an email. As soon as I get enough, I'll post a where, when, how much kind of thing, and start booking.
I have just a few more session slots before Christmas. Grab your cute pea coats, scarves, tobaggans & gloves and give me a ring!!! I'm off to Charleston tomorrow, but I'll "holla" back tomorrow night! :)
This picture of Steven & Jenny is one of my faves!
Check out these leaves below. Gorgeous!
My house is clean, my baby is asleep, HGTV and TLC are battling it out for my attention, and I'm working away on some pictures. It's a Monday! For the first time in my entire life...I love them, Mondays that is! I try to make Monday like a Saturday or Sunday, because I'm usually busy on the weekends shooting, doing church stuff, or hanging out with family and friends.I also got a couple new emails from people who loved their pictures. I love, heart, adore emails, and I love comments just as much!!! Compliments to what I'm doing inspire me, they get me going, they charge my batteries, they make me smile, they are the wind beneath my photographer wings, you get the point. So in short, thank you to clients and potential clients who comment and keep commenting. You freakin' rock! :)
Blake and Brooke thanks for driving down. I had so much fun! Hope these pictures tide you over until the rest are through!
So, I had two shoots today but because of the horrible thunderstorms, that never came, we postponed both of them. Sometimes I despise the weather and the weather people. Ok, done with the negative and on to the positive. I did have all day Saturday to chillax at home with my in-laws, husband, and Gray. During the afternoon, we sat around and laughed at Gray, while I edited away on Jenny & Steven's wedding (I'm half way through!!!!). Later, we ventured to the mall. ***Side Note: If I had a life savings, I could spend it on little girls clothing. I love them. Side Note Over**** We ended the night with me cooking dinner! Then, my family, minus one came to hang out. Tomorrow will be a busy day! Church from morning to afternoon, a quick lunch, and then meeting Brooke & Blake, who you will meet on my blog later this week, for an engagement shoot! I'm still looking for some people to finish out my wedding booking season for 2009. If you know anyone who is getting married and is interested, give them my link hannahgray.net ! Word of mouth is the best compliment you can give me. Have a wonderful Sunday!!!The pics are from Jenny & Steven's wedding. Some random shots that I love. I'll blog more when I'm all done!!!!
Check out these two very handsome young men: Graham and Avery Carter. I asked them during the shoot if they were always "this" nice to each other, and they said no, and upon questioning confirmed that their mom wouldn't want pictures of them being mean! Ha! :) They are two very sweet kids and with these poses could be a future GQ cover! Thanks so much Julie and Patrick for having me take pictures of your boys, and thank you boys for traipsing around Conway and being such great sports. I hope you love all of your pictures! Click here for more photos of the Carter Boys!*P.S* You can not type in hannahgray.net and get my blog page, so WHEN you tell your friends, it will be easier to pass along! ;)
*P.S.S* Don't forget to check the posts below. There are a lot of new pictures up. Show each post your love and tell which is your favorite.
Two things crossed my mind as I prepared the pictures for this post. #1 I am a much better photographer since I took engagement pictures of Melissa and her future husband, Jonathan. Not being overtly cocky, but I am growing and I hope to never stop! #2 How thankful I am for Melissa. She is one of the MAIN reasons that I am on this photography journey. Earlier this year, before I stopped teaching, Melissa approached me about shooting her wedding. She knew that I didn't do weddings professionally, but she knew I loved taking pictures and had seen a few shoots I had done for friends. I agreed to do the wedding and started to think about the equipment I would need to do it. I talked with Kevin and before long had purchased my Nikon and lenses. I started reading ferociously about how to operate it, researching wedding websites and photographers, buying books on how to shoot weddings, and so on. One shoot with my new camera and growing passion led to another shoot and led to another shoot and 24 shoots in 2 1/2 months later....here I am. What a whirlwind it has been! Thank you Melissa for helping fan the photography flame inside of me. You probably were just thinking about saving money for your wedding, but God used you to push me into the most unexpected career path. I know your wedding will be fabulousity, just like you!
Click here for Melissa's Slideshow.
P.S. Melissa wanted these pictures posted before her wedding, and she swore to me that Jonathan would never be on this site to see her pictures!!!
I met my friend Taraka my first year of teaching. She was one of the people who helped me keep my sanity, and she knows exactly what I'm talking about! Since that year, she's always been someone who is easy to talk to, thus her job as a therapist. Taylor came into Taraka's life about 2 years ago. She is a gorgeous little girl, as you can tell from her pictures. Taylor wasn't too happy to be dressed in a witch costume with a strange person standing in front of her holding a big black toy that made sounds and kept flashing, but after a while she warmed up and started giving me some grins to document. Thank you Taraka and Taylor for choosing me to take pictures that you will share with others this season. I hope to see you again soon! 
Remember that adorable little pirate I posted a couple of weeks ago? He's back...along with his mom and dad, Mark and Kim. The Calhouns met me down at Myrtle Beach State Park to capture some photos of their family in 2008. In most of the pictures you will pick up on their laid back, care-free, up for whatever mood! You would never guess that they worked their way through millions of sand spurs and avoided bugs in the forest to get some of these pictures. :)
I can remember a long, long time ago, a night that I thought I just might not make it. I, the patient, was lying on the bed, so trusting of the individual that claimed she could make me better in no time at all. I opened up my mouth for my medicine and kept my eyes closed tightly, because I knew I was in good hands. Next thing I know, I have a mouth full of baby powder sucking and squeezing any moisture out my head. I sat up quickly and started heaving. I looked to my left to see Michelle trying not to laugh and telling me that she could have sworn that bottle was closed before she turned it over. This is just one of many, many stupid and ridiculous memories that make Michelle so special to me. I could literally go on for days!!! And I'm quite sure she could too.
There are some people that you have spent so much of your life with, that they are forever engraved in your heart and mind for as long as you live. Michelle is one of those people to me. She married her high school sweetheart, Lawson, and they now have a gorgeous little boy, Hudson Drew, and another baby on the way. She has been patiently waiting on these pictures, so I hope she loves each and every one! :)
That's right- you heard (read) me! Flies, I said. Today, they, the flies, were obviously filming a motion picture in my house. They flew, they landed, they teased, they tried to escape, but inevitably the film took a turn for the worst when the nasty, evil human slapped all 25 of them dead in their tracks. At first they were nice slaps, but as time went on.....they became more and more violent! (Evil Laugh)- HAHHAHAHA! Flies, who's ya mama??
Back to photography, I'm finished with the Clary's pics, but I've got to make some more space on my laptop before publishing. Here's another one up top, just because this is a photography site and you probably want to see a picture! I'm still working on the new stuff for my photography brand. KIT! :) Happy Friday!
Along with my 30 day changes, I'm trying to work on some business changes as well. I have changed my business name after much thought and spelling my last name 100x for people. For those of you who don't know, Gray is my middle name, as well as my daughters. I thought the new name of my business (hannah gray photography) was completely appropriate, because Gray (my daughter) is the sole reason that I have quit teaching and get to pursue this dream. My domain later this week will be hannahgray.net; I'll let you know when it's working! I'm also working on enhancing other things on my blog. Check out these bigger and better pictures! Know some one who is getting married? I'm booking for the 2009 wedding season. Send them my info before prices go up in January! 
Check out this show!
I decided to start my 30 days on Monday instead of this weekend. (I had Gray's party, and what kind of host would I have been if I didn't partake in the delicious hor' d'oeuvres.) I was out of sync today with going to Georgetown, so I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich combo from McDonalds with fries. About 1/2 way through, I remembered I wasn't going to eat them all month. Oh well! Now it will be on the forefront of my brain for the rest of November. I did, however, face Little Debbie Honeybuns and Swissrolls in the face ALL DAY and did not enjoy even the tiniest bite. YAY! I'm headed to my Monday mygroup (ha) with some great people tonight!
You know those people you have such history with, that when you get to see each other it seems that no time has passed since you were last together. That is exactly how I feel about the Hermans. I have known them for just about all of my life. I have so many memories with them, that they are just part of who I am. They now live in Liberty, SC, and are part of an awesome church plant 5 Point Fellowship. Since they are in Easley, I get to see them often for which I am glad! Hermans- I hope you like your first pictures from me and hope there will be plenty more to come!!!! :) Click HERE to see more pictures!
I think it's ok to mention this. It's only been in our (Beth and I) minds and hearts, but hasn't really been spoken or shared. I guess, two weeks ago, Beth and I were feeling this contagious excitement for what God is going to do through the Rock soon. Neither of us could explain it to you, it was just there! After we talked, it seemed that everybody around us (including us) has taken a beating over the head. Whether money, family, personal, you name it.. We were talking about what else we could do to lift up the leaders in our church, to keep people in the Rock from Satan, to pray for the needs of our good friends. What we decided is quite simple, but
ferocious at the same time. We will pray. Before church, 8:30 a.m. . Get some of our friends together and beg God to protect us, bring on more excitement, etc. I think this 30 days series is the perfect time to start. If you'd like to join Beth and I, just let us know. Here are some of the challenges that I will face in the month of November.
1. No sweets for a month. Including Thanksgiving Day. ;/
2. Exercise everyday. EVERYDAY.
3. No Burgers & Fries at all. No exception.
4. Spend Quality -Quiet- Alone Time with Kevin at least once a week. (With a baby and football, this is a lot, I promise.)
5. Spend an interrupted hour in prayer every week.
6. Spend a day each week with NO TV or computer.
These are all I have so far? What have you decided to do for 30 days? Do you know what 30 days is about? This is what the church website says about the series:
30Days. OK, 29 if you start on Sunday. OK, 28 if you skip Thanksgiving Day. But "30 Days" sounds much cooler. It can be "the month your life changed." How many of us need to be shoved out of our comfort zones? How many desperately need a spiritual kick in the pants to dislodge us from our medium-heat mediocrity? Get ready for 30 Days of SPIRITUAL I-DARE-YOU's that cover ever area in your life: your soul, your body, your mind, your stuff, your time, your relationships. If you are a spiritual coward or so set in your ways that you refuse every new challenge, well, go visit another church for the month of November. We're about to turn the heat WAY up @ The ROCK. You probably can't take it.
the boots....ROCK!
They have a lot of energy. JK..I asked them to do this.
Love this pic of every single person.
H-O-T-T..
This is one of my faves. It's in black and white in the slideshow too. I'm not sure which one I like more.Did you know I also do make-up? Check out this Rock commercial. Pay special attention to the last 10 seconds.
***Don't forget to check out the Prosser slideshow and tell Stacey which pic is your fav.
By far, my favorite. It's so different than any other.
Love the jump pictures, and the fountain....love it!!!
I really wanted to get the turquoise bar in the picture. 
I hunched over and stared out of the window, pondering all the things that I have coming up in life. Thoughts in my mind are like a carnival ride that goes round and round and round. Each thought and worry has its own seat. I get done thinking and stressing about it and then before you know it, here it comes again. I look over to my husband, who is looking quite content with life and start to express my worries and explain to him over and over how stressed I am up about everything coming up. His calm repsonse, "Baby, if there is anybody who can handle it all and do it well, it's you!" Nice statement, I know, but still....it didn't help. There's only one way to deal with these worries and stresses. Pray, Face them head on, and Take them out....one by one.
***Thanks to everyone who called, texted, and emailed about Evan, my favorite sister. She had her appendix taken out, rather quickly, and she is still in the hospital recovering. She's a toughie and I love her lots! :)
***Look for a lot of picture posts this week. I have the Prosser, Clary, Herman, and Middleton Families on the "editing burner". I'll write more about each family later.
Here is my claim to fame.
Some things you need to know:
1. Yes, this was performed during church. My church rocks. (rockc3.com)
2. Mygroup is ...I guess the modern approach to Sunday School, but we meet during the week at people's homes. I heart mygroup.
3. If I look fat, the camera adds 20 not 10 pounds, and I'm working on it. So hush! :O
4. If you think TJ does not have rhythm, you should have seen him when we started. (Sorry T!) I can honestly say that I laughed as hard as I have in years when we were practicing.
5. We made our own costumes, so don't hate.
6. There are a lot of inside jokes hidden inside the sketch. Jerimiah is semi-short (You're welcome for the semi-), and has a really cool I-phone.
That's about it. Hope you enjoyed. There are more videos on youtube. Type in rockc3 and up they will come.....
I told you I liked to have fun! ;)
Old Buggy + Good Sports = Fun Picture
Love It! Another of my fave's!
It's quite ironic how having someone take sharp scissors, a razor and bleach to your head makes you feel beautifully brand new! Selena cut my hair off even shorter, and I am loving it. :) I'm pretty easy to please these days, but my favorite cuts are imperfect- meets edgy- meets modern-meets southern- meets chic...I think that means eclectic hair is my fav.??? She does a great job of listening to my blubber and creates a great cut everytime. Next time, I might even go shorter...good-bye long hair, maybe for good??? (I would post a picture of myself, but if you haven't noticed I enjoy being BEHIND the camera. Stay tuned though, I just might suprise you!)
I'm finally finished with the wedding pics and now I am starting on Nicki and T's maternity shoot. Check out this awesome slideshow of Larry and Christine's Pics. These are just a few of my favs.
P.S. *** The toasts came after the wedding, but for some reason it uploaded them before. Go figure. I'm still working on them, but I wanted everybody to see my new videos. :)
Thank you Jesus! I'm running around like a chicken with my head cut off, and I LOVE IT! I was telling Kevin the other night, if I could work with my kids at church and take pictures the rest of my life, I would be loving me some life. There are going to be some "postages" all over this blog so stay tuned. I have three weddings, one maternity, one bridal, and ten families in the next seven weeks. I wish you could see the silly-little-childish grin that comes across my face as I type just typed that sentence. Thanks so, so, SO much to you guys who have been booked, been shot, been talkin' , and been believin' in my art. Word of mouth is 1,000 times better than handing out busy-ness cards. You guys are amazingly awesome! :) Have a wonderful weekend. New wedding pics will be up soon.
#1 If I put as much energy into getting fit as I do my photography, I would be competing in body building competitions on the side by now.
#2 Has anybody besides me realized that that the word DIE is in DIET, and the word EX is in EXERCISE. Both having negative connotations. I'm just saying.
#3 If healthy, no calorie, no fat food were a third as delicious as a Gina Lowes' blueberry cake (which I've had two days in a row), I would be 99 lbs.
#4 I say to myself, "If I had a treadmill, I would run more." That is a bald-faced lie.
#5 Having a baby DOES NOT make you fatter for life. Sitting on your butt eating after having a baby makes you fatter for life.
That's all.
I wanted to sleep in SO BAD this morning, but between random slaps in the face, a finger up my nose, the pinching of my neck fat, and a gosh awful smell when Gray decided to use my face for a seat cushion.....I got over it, quick! It wasn't two hours later that my precious little girl went back to sleep. :) I was jealous. I am feeling that hurry feeling inside from all of the things I'm gearing up for: a wedding Saturday, cleaning my house, EDM visit to Georgetown, Rock-It Power, Gray's Birthday par-tay! All the while trying to enjoy life, family, and friends. I told my small group Monday, that I have just this overwhelming feeling of excitement for something in the future. I don't know exactly what it is: business stuff, church stuff, family stuff. No idea. I just can't get it out of my head and heart!
This is for everyone who sends me emails saying they would post a comment but can't figure out how, or it won't let them.
#1 Click on the word comments.
#2 Write your comment, where it says "write your comment"
#3 Instead of entering your google information. Click the button that says you would like to leave your name. Then type in your name and if you have a URL, leave that too.
#4 Then you have to do that letter/number thing.
#5 Click the publish my comment button and you should be done.
NO MORE EXCUSES!!! :) For real, comments make my day.
After a full week, I am utterly exhausted. For those people who have their picture already painted of a stay at home, I am here to tell you.......there is not a lot of peace, rest, and serenity. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE IT! I think some of my exhaustion has a lot of to do with not having Daddy around. He is at football every night until dinner. Monday is mygroup. Either Tuesdays or Wednesdays, he is playing softball. Thursdays and Fridays are game days, a lot of them far away. Saturday is my big workday. Sunday, we might as well hang it up, because we are sleeping.
The other reason for operation wear down is probably because I am just as busy, but with a baby on my hip. Each job comes with a different love and passion, some (like coaching) I have had to put by the way side for now. Currently: I love to do Rock_It Power, my church's kid ministry. I have a passion for those kids and want to have the best program around!!! I love being able to once a month help teachers figure out how to best teach the Everyday Math Program. I love, love, love photography and all the jobs and people coming my way! I love being a mom! I love being a wife! I have always described myself as a jack all trades and master of none. :)
P.S. Check out another logo tryout, let me know what you think.
P.S.S. I am going to bed!
Shoot me some love and tell me if you are feeling my new logo. Evan- (If you ever read this..) You'll be back. Beth- You happened to be the practice pic with the logo. Lucky, lucky girl. Are you getting excited as you read this...are ya, are ya??? :)
The reason I work so hard. Jeez am I blessed!!
Melanie & Josh....your slideshow is ready. Click on the title to see most of your pics.
Beth, I had to remove you from my top spot, so I thought I'd give you some recent bloggin love! :) It also gives me the chance (mmmmm, mmmm) to announce that this photograph was chosen to be published in a book. Photo Laurettes (sp). Pretty Cool. I entitled it "A Splash to Remember". Gay I know, but an awesome pic none the less. Thanks Beth for representing the blog for a while. You'll be back up there one day!
Come one, come all and register for three contests that I have going on right now!!!
Contest 1: Register for a free Baby or Belly Shoot!
Contest 2: Register for a 50% Bridal Package.
Contest 3: Register for a free Family Photo Shoot!
Email me (hannahlockaby@yahoo.com) for more information and to register! Come on People. I said FREE.
Enjoying the Bounce House!
Prepping for his own personal cake!
My great friend Tasha and her family came to visit this past week. They have a two-year-old little boy, Stone, so there was never a dull moment. The night we went to take their family pics, Stone was anything other than happy to comply (as you will see in the pics). Despite this, we still got some great pics and some smiles towards the end. Considering the circumstances, I think they turned out superb! :)
Click the title to see more pics.
A great friend, Megan Galloway Bayliff, came to visit me this past week. She loves to take pics and is really good at it, so I asked her to snap some of my family. Gray is almost 9 mos. old and these are our first family pics with her. I feel like such a bad person for saying that.... Anyway, I edited them away and love them. Thank you Meg. Come visit us more often! :)
P.S. They have my name on them, but I just edited what Megan captured. I'll change that soon.
Click the title to see pics.
My church is awesome. A simple explanation, but oh so true! It is one of the main reasons my family came to live in Conway. I couldn't imagine NOT being a part of what is taking place at the ROCK. Today, we baptized 20 some people in the fresh ocean waters of Myrtle Beach, SC (ha ha!) It was A-mazing to watch. My favorite was watching children help baptize their parents, and parents help baptize their children. Wow! Here are some pics to view what went down. Enjoy!
Click the title to see more pics.
Recently, I was able to take my first prego pics! My friend, Abby, is expecting in August! She looked, looks, and will look great! She's just one of those women who look like themselves the whole pregnancy. Unlike me who was swollen from head to toe, and that is no hyperbole! Anway, I can't wait for Dawson Daves to arrive! He's a lucky guy already. Thanks Abby and Forest.
Check the title to see more pics.
