South Wood County Humane Society's Free Session Winner!

A while back T.Hawke Photography teamed up with The South Wood County Humane Society . My goal was to bring in as many donations of cat food as we could. And I was willing to give away a Session to make that happen. One entry for every large bag of cat food donated. Thank you to everyone who donated to help feed all the Cats still looking for homes . There are so many mouths to feed and anything you can give will help more then you can imagine. Can't afford to make donations.. your time can be worth just as much. These poor cats spend sometimes up to a year..... Sitting in their cages , day after day . A small stainless steel cage. Big enough for a sleeping area directly above there food , water , and litter box. Month after month they wait.. hoping that someone will take them home . Give them a second chance. I myself find it hard to even photograph these beautiful little souls. Simply because I want to take them all home. My husband always tells me when I leave to photograph them not to come back home with another one. These animals have so much to give. And if all you can give is your time, a little time out of their cage to snuggle , play, to remember what it is like to be loved... Helps keep hope alive in these animals that someday they will find a home.  

Sooooooo in celebration of our little event a BIG Congratulations goes out to Sheila. T.HawkePhotography's 

Complementary Session Winner!

And what a wonderful person to have won. Sheila has 4 Cats. All rescued shelter cats. And I have to say.. they were a lot of fun. I set up my lights and camera. Laid out a cozy little blanket and they worked there magic. From Shelter Cat to Supermodel. They posed and posed and posed for me. Bunch of little camera buffs they were. I was so happy to be able photograph these cats .. kind of a happy ever after story.  All once abandoned .. now in a warm cozy home being spoiled with all the love in the world. And they so deserve it.

Keep an eye out for future give aways!

If you are interested in having your own portrait session done with

Your furry family please contact me at

715-451-8106 For Details

Vist me at

Thawkephotography.zenfolio.com

I have been known to

Also photograph humans so even if you don't have a 4 legged member

Call today to have your own personal session... family session

Anything session

And....

Leave behind your something beautiful in 2014!

 

 

 

2 years later

The very words I wrote almost 2 years to this date... Written on Sept 10,2011

I use to sit at my job and wonder .. why am I here. I spend most of my life right here in this building . Am I doing what I enjoy? Well I was to some degree. But I was never truly happy. The truth of the matter was like alot of people I was stuck. I needed the money and this was a good job and I enjoyed what I was doing . But I dreamed of being one of those people that got to do what they really wanted in life. The ones who became what they wanted to be. I came across a quote that inspired me . It said... its never to late to be what you might have been -George Eliot-. Little did I know that those twelve words were about to change my life. Ever since I can remember I have been taking pictures. I may not have always had a nice camera but I was capturing every moment of my life . I always felt I had the vision and the talent but lacked in a proper camera and the chance to .. take a chance so to speak. In high school I was able to use the SLRS at school and bring my images to life in the darkroom they made available. Back then things were alot more complicated if you planned to produce your own images. Now flash forward to the present and everything has changed. That is everything but how to actually create an exposure. I stared at those 12 words and read them over and over. And in those moments an idea was born. I would take the talent that God himself has given me and do what I love. And this is were the story begins....... one step at a time I will become who I should have been.

Aug 30,2012

"Keep your heart open to dreams. For as long as there's a dream, there is hope, and as long as there is hope, there is joy in living." Anonymous

Its been almost two years since I started my journey . And what a journey it has been. I have grown so much in the last two years . As a mother, photographer, a wife, homemaker. To say this has been an easy ride would be lying but it has been an enjoyable one . It is said that God will put the right people in your path , those who will help you become what you were meant to be. And he sure has not given me a short supply. I am so grateful for all the people whom I have met , and even not ever met but have become a part of my life. My journey would have been much harder had they not been there to lend a hand to me. Some believe that to get to the top you should climb over everyone in your way and don't look back. I believe that the best way to get to the top is to push the person in front of you from behind . Lift them higher, help them get to the top . Because sooner or later when they reach it guess what. So do you. I look back now at when I started and can not believe how my work has changed. Everyday I try to photograph something. Even if it is just a flower. Because everyday is a chance for me to learn something new. And of course my family has always been my favorite target. My children are so use to being photographed it has become second nature to them. Some day when I leave this world for the next I will surely leave behind a legacy that my children will cherish. For no matter where this journey takes me I will be documenting there lives every single day. This is a sometimes frustrating business to break into. Spending hours and hours trying to come up with the new best idea, the promotion that everyone will love. Striving to always be better then the day I was before. Never really happy with my work no matter how perfect of a shot I get. I am always challenging myself for bigger, better, the learning curve in this business never ends. In these few short years I have now become active in school and church script programs. I am volunteering my time and images to the humane society to help find homes for the animals there who desperately are in need of a portrait makeover. I have even had several chances to photograph horses. One of my photography bucket list entry's. Senior portrait's, family sessions, pet portraits, threw all of them one thing has not changed. I still love to photograph children. It was my first love and continues to be . There is something so precious to me to have the opportunity to follow around a child and capture there little personalities. Yes I will probably never be able to pull of a 30 min session. When I first began for some reason I believed this is what I needed to do. I guess that is part of what makes me different. To get what I want ... takes time. So if you are booking a session with me plan on at least an hour. I cant ever seem to walk away from a session any sooner then that when it comes to children and families. Yes I have been told I over shoot sessions. But you know ... that is ok . Because at the end of the day when I am in front of my computer and I see the images I captured. And I begin to piece little glimpse of there lives together . When a photograph of a child can bring a lump in my throat and they are not even my flesh and blood.. well to me that is priceless. And well worth the extra effort. And now two years later my story continues.. having become who I should have been and striving to be so much more. Thank you to everyone whom has helped me get this far. I am truly grateful!



 When I was a little girl I dreamed of one day having a horse of my own. We had a family friend whom had a couple of horses and I was able to go there riding sometimes. I loved the awesome freedom that came with galloping across the field. Like I was flying. I dreamed of having a all black horse.. like THE BLACK STALLION. What little girl didn't love that movie. More even then horses I loved unicorns. My whole bedroom was full of these beautiful mythical creatures. I remember the first time I saw Legend.. a movie with a princess, a handsome lover, mythical creatures, good verses evil , and the unicorns.. the unicorns were so beautiful they took my breath away. I dreamed about being the princess in that story. To have the horse , the prince charming... So when I got the chance to take photographs at the Adams County 4H horse and pony project.. two passions coming together. I couldn't say no.  

 Watching these young girls and young men compete together with there horses reminded me of what I so longed for at that age. How lucky they are to be living their own dreams. As I am lucky to be living one of mine. To use my gifts to capture these magnificent animals and the love they have for there riders.. was pure heaven to me. I find it truly incredible the respect these horses have for their riders..and there riders for them.. it really touched my heart to watch them interact

 I was in my element, that is for sure. Camera in hand, the smell of hay and horses... couldn't think of a place I'd rather have been at that moment. So if my portraits of this day look dreamy to you .. perhaps its just that part of me .. that is coming out in my images... a part of me I'd tucked away close to my heart .  I was truly blessed with this opportunity and I am thankful for the hours I spent there capturing moments of what I wanted to be as a child, as a young adult. Perhaps I was living a small part of their dreams while I was sharing my own ... My love of light, human nature, and my passion for taking just a moment in time.. a second .. and tucking it away so that years later can look back at those images and remember for that moment in your life your were truly happy.

Finding me ...

When I started on this journey I was told that I needed to find me. My brand.. what I have to offer the world that is different then everyone else. I found this assignment to be ironic since part of this journey was about tapping into a part of myself that had been set on the back burner for so many years. I never truly thought I would be were I am today. Years ago when digital did not even exist and I was in high school. I was an intern for the photography department. I spent hours in the dark room watching images appear before me turning thoughts in my mind of how I would build my own dark room someday. Part of me still wishing I had one. We all have dreams when we are young.. few of us ever due what we truly wanted to . We find that the road we were traveling on leads you in many different directions. And somehow we leave behind our dreams, dropping bread crumbs behind us so that perhaps we may find our way back to them somehow.

In finding my way back to who I should have been , who I wanted to be..I won't lie and say it has been an easy ride. Photography is a never ending learning process. Just when you think you have it, you look back 3 months later and see that you are so much better then you were the day before. I work hard every single day to teach myself , to become better then my last shot.. to surprise myself.

Learning from others, endless tutorials , books, studying light in itself.

God has gifted me with so much in this life. When you study light and how it touches the world you begin to see things differently. Suddenly a drive down the highway is not just a destination. Its hay bales glowing in the sun, fields of nothing more then weeds bathed in the beautiful golden light. You start to see that everything in this world is beautiful with light. And when you come to that place where you do SEE IT.. you know that your road is headed in the right direction.

T.Hawke Photography's

Prints for Paws

This July T.Hawke Photography

&

 The South Wood County Humane Society

Are teaming up to present you

with a unique opportunity to participate in

a limited time Fundraising event

T.Hawke Photography will

be offering family photo sessions with your

4 pawed friends included

Depending on the package you choose

A set dollar amount will be

Donated to the South Wood County Humane Society

Sessions will be outdoors

Dates and times will be subject to Mother Nature

Coming soon I will also be Photographing

Shelter Dogs and Cats

Whom are in need of Forever Homes

So get your fur fluffed , coats shiny

And put your best paw forward

The 4 paws at this shelter

Are about to get a photographic makeover

Details in the next few days

So keep your eyes pealed

Little things...

“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” .. Robert Brault..

This quote is so dear to my heart. Every word of it is so true. We all get so busy in our daily lives that we forget about the little things.  Part of the reason I think at times we all wish we could be a child again.  Childern get up everyday with a new sense of wonder and adventure. When is the last time you laided out a blanket and just watched the clouds pass by. Listened to the birds sing. Noticed the smell of fresh cut grass and the sweet smell of lilacs. How beautiful the rays of the sun cast a golden glow on everything in this world. When is the last time you saw the sun rise or caught a raindrop on your tongue.There are so many things in this world , the little things . If this was your last day .. if you knew that you would have only a few more hours left... these are the things that you wouldnt want to let go. Seeing your child smile as they take there first step, climb that big slide all by themselves, spending time with those you love.. that is what it is all about. I think to often we are caught up... so caught up in all the things we want .. we forget what we already have. Get your family together, your kids, your friends and family.. even your dog.. and enjoy the little things life has to offer.. I assure you that one day hopefully sooner then later your will see just how important and cherished those little moments become. And when that happens you will see that you already have everything you could ever need. Be blessed my friends and enjoy every moment of your life .

Changes for 2012!

Big news for my clients this year. I have partnered with a second lab to bring you even more new and exciting products! I will be posting a price list and a sneak peak on my web page very soon. Also new this year I have changed my shipping policies. All client orders will now be shipped to my studio first. In the past clients were able to order and have there portraits shipped directly to them. In effort to better serve my clients I am having them sent to me first. For the simple reason that I want to make sure that the companies I choose to work with are providing the very best quality.  If I receive a portrait that I feel has not been printed to the best possible quality I will have it reprinted till it is. This is the only way I am able to insure quality products to my customers. So yes it may take an extra day or two for you to get your order but I assure you its worth the extra step. You will be contacted when I receive your order to arrange a pickup or delivery time that suits your needs.  Check out my web page in the next week to see the new products I have to offer!

Ahhhh, the smell of spring is in the air. Warmer days are ahead. I have always loved spring. Sitting back and watching the flowers come to life, the trees become green once again. There something very refreshing about starting over. Its been almost a year now since I started this journey. It has been a very long road... but one worth taking. Even if it has been uphill all the way. I have learned so much in the last year about the myself, the art of photography itself and what it feels like to follow your dreams. Its not easy, and its not cheap. LOL. But it is worth every penny spent and every once of energy I have put into it. Building a business from the ground up and diving in head first takes a lot of determination , hard work, faith in God, and the belief in yourself. I being one of those people who had I been God , I would have wanted to create the world in one day ... that is just the way I am . So I find it hard sometimes to wait patiently as my business grows day by day.  A wise photographer and someone whom I would like to think of as a friend assured me ... That is this line of work you must have patience.  So instead of running uphill with my pants on fire I have slowed down and tried with all my heart and soul to let things take there own course. I am hoping this year brings me many new opportunities . I am looking forward to meeting new people and learning new things... And speaking of new people. Congratulations to Christina and Robin for winning the Who Do You Love Contest I held in Feb. Thank you to everyone who entered and shared my facebook page. They are both in the process of booking there sessions and I will post previews as soon as they are available. I will be posting my Easter Specials and New Senior Packages Soon. Check back for more details to come.

A new idea...to leave behind something beautiful...

To expand on my previous blog entry.... one of the things I love so much about photography is being able to capture a moment. I don't think that we always remember sometimes that the most cherished pictures are the ones that tell a story. The ones that make you stop and look twice. I saw a photograph that a photographer had posted of a little girl . It was a black and white image. The child was off center, not even looking at the camera. She was looking down at the ground , her knees were covered in mud, hair a mess. I loved that picture. That one image reminded me of how simple life is as a child. And it made me wonder .. what it was that she was so captivated by on the ground. So in honor of my love for photography from a journalistic standpoint. I am going to offer something that to my knowledge nobody else does in this area. I would like to offer... life stories. I haven't yet come up with a price for this yet but I wanted to get the word out. I will be offering Birth Stories, Graduation, Family reunions. I'm thinking that I will put the images I take in a custom designed album to be included with the cost of the session. As well as have the prints available on a per print price if the customer wishes. Now why hire me when you can take these pictures yourself? Have you ever been frustrated trying to get a group of people to smile over and over for each person to take a picture..when your child was born was there someone there to tell the story , someone taking pictures of the little things. A husband holding his wife's hand, the look on the mothers face when she sees her child for the first time? Maybe I am wrong but these are the images that I hold value to. Images that tell a story, images that capture a fleeting moment that nobody else sees... images that will leave behind memories you will cherish for a lifetime.

The best things come to those who wait...

Some of the most incredible images I have captured yet occurred after the pose, waiting and watching. Especially when I am photographing children. Perhaps that's why no matter how hard I try I have never been able to limit my session to anything less then an hour. Spending time with a child or with any client is part of the photographic process. At least in my perception it is. How can I capture something real, something that is a mere reflection of a clients very soul. Without taking the time to know them. Sure I can take a portrait. Sitting up straight , hands in perfect position, everyone smiling , no hair out of place. If that is what you want. And for some that is exactly what they want. A traditional portrait with all the T's crossed. In my humble opinion not only is it incredibly stressful for the children involved but for the parents as well. Before you know it the parents are getting mad at the kids for not posing , and the kids are completely bored out of there minds. Thus you end up with a portrait that may look perfect but does it look real. When you look at that picture all you will remember is how much you were hoping you don't see the sweat running down your head and that you were holding your breath and clinching your teeth under a fake smile praying to God that this shot will be the one so you can get out of there. Now maybe you have perfect well behaved kids and everything in your world works out , if that were the case for everyone it would make a photographers job so much easier. So when it comes to defining my style and who I am , the images I capture when nobody is looking .. well those are the ones in my mind that are truly keepsakes .

Its the little things ...

Today I took a day off to spend with my daughter. So often she hers me say that I am studying , or I am working, or I am always doing something. I think sometimes as adults we get caught up in our everyday to due list that we forget how to have fun anymore. So today I took my little girl sledding. Now if there is anything in this world that can make me feel like a child again its this. I do however remember getting back up the hill was not quite so exhausting . We climbed and sled down the hill for hours. Half way threw we had some hot chocolate in the snowbank. Grace was so excited to sit down and crack open the thermos we brought . A little picnic in the snow . As I sat there watching her smile with her chocolate mustache and little pink cheeks my heart melted. God himself gave me this little soul to watch over . Its my job to bring adventure to her life, to teach her . Though I think she has taught me far more than I have her. My daughter is very spiritual, she love Jesus with all her heart and soul. She is loving to everyone she meets and goes out of her way to help them. She sees the beauty in everything and everyone. If its raining outside in the spring .. to her its still a beautiful day... we just need to bring an umbrella. The heart of a child is so pure and unbroken. Perhaps that is why I love to photograph them. So that perhaps one day they can look back and these images and see what beauty they have forgotten....and remember a time when a simple cup of hot chocolate, a sled and your mom was all you ever could have wanted.

Meet Jessie

My first session of 2012, and wow... My goal in this session was to capture the realization that being a mom... the single most important job in a women's life... Doesn't have to mean giving up yourself. So many of use put everyone else first and along the way somehow we tend to forget about ourselves. The dreams we have , taking time for ourselves. Sometimes even fixing our own hair in the morning can be a challenge. I want to  express that loving yourself is the first step to truly loving those around you. And to take a moment each day to see just how beautiful you are.