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 .