Shannon Gurney Photoblog

Bunko Babes...

have become something totally different. 

I'm pretty sure the "babes" are getting old.  You know it's a sad state of affairs when your Bunko group has resorted to playing Wii Fit to have a little fun.

She's totally gonna kill me for these.  I'll have to hide-out for, at least, a week or two.
 
 

I thought that one was hilarious...a tight rope walk.  HA!  I didn't even give it a try!  I knew I'd fall on my caboose!

Alright, we did sing a little, too.  AND, even the pre-teens came in to join the party.  Again, a sad state of affairs...
 

Oh hush, it was HER house, after all.  She knew I'd bring my camera!

Well, at least, this cutie was present.  We ALL wanted to take her home at the end of the night.
 

To give you an idea of her size, just take a look...LOOK closer!  Do you see her?

She was TINY!  Oh my gosh, adorable!
 

Some NEW favorites...

 

You gotta love a gal who can drive a tractor!

I'm loving Pioneer Woman's new action set.  If you haven't checked 'em out, you should.  All of these photos were run with either the 70's action or the colorized action before I converted them to b/w.  I'll show you some before and after later on...

Braylin - 1 year

As promised, here are some really GREAT shots (that don't involve too much cake) of my little friend, Braylin!
 
 
 
We (Braylin's momma and I) went back and forth about doing these at her house or outside at a local park...I persuaded her to go for the park and HOPE for good weather.  I'm so glad it all worked out to our advantage!  Braylin is stunning in nearly every shot - EVEN the cake ones!
 
 
 

Braylin has just started walking and as you can tell, we all had great fun watching her.
 

I'd say her momma is especially smitten with her...who wouldn't be though.  Take a look at those blue eyes!

I NEVER promised no cake pictures today!
 
 
 
 

Okay, that's all for now...I'll have them proofed soon!  Happy Monday to you all!

Imperfect Prelude

Hi there!

This post is to help prove a point and to tease this little gal's family just a tiny bit.  I promised them a sneak peek on Monday, but couldn't wait to post these!  They'll have to wait until tomorrow for all the 'NORMAL' photos.  BOO!

This is Braylin.  She's turning 1 year old in a short while and it just wouldn't be fair to have her 1 year pics taken without a little bit of CAKE involved.  However, with cake comes a LOT of clean up, which is not very much fun...not very much fun AT ALL.

In fact, it's really frustrating when the sun is setting and it's becoming more than a little chilly and mom decides you need a MAJOR wipe-down...

It's just not cool!

Just ask Braylin...

I'm right there with ya, little gal!

There rest of you are probably wondering what POINT, exactly, I was referring to in the beginning of this post...

The point is you don't need PERFECT pictures to capture some great memories! 

These photos are absolutely hilarious - AND none of them are "in-focus".  In fact, the fact they're out of focus makes them all the more awesome to me.  Just take a look for yourself.  She's frustrated, moving every which direction and trying to escape clean-up - it was impossible to get a PERFECT shot, but because they're imperfect...

They ARE perfect!

Are you with me?

25 Things about ME!

EDITED TO ADD:  I got to thinking and decided if I was gonna get tagged by everyone, then these ladies should have to spill their guts, too.  So, if you are Cynthia, DeLisa, Megan, or Country Girl, YOU'VE BEEN TAGGED!  There!  I feel much better now.

First of all, I've been tagged.

So, this Note Keeps going around Facebook and I've been tagged like a million times.  It started nearly two weeks ago.  I figure this will make everyone happy!

25 Random Things about ME!

1. I love being a mom.

2. I love my husband more every year as I see him grow into an awesome father and husband (not to mention he's SO good-looking!)

3. Shrimp and mushrooms GAG me!

4. I worked at a video store all through college...which leads to number 5.

5. I seriously LOVE movies (except slapstick comedies - HATE those) and secretly wish Josh did so he'd take me to a movie once in a while.

6. My favorite snack is movie popcorn without butter - see number 5.


7. I have a dream of going on a long road trip to meet some of my bloggy friends...especially HER.

8. I love the BEACH and the MOUNTAINS and could move to either locale.
 


9. I'm a ponytail gal - I would wear them everyday if my mom wouldn't lecture me about it.

10. I love the smell of clothes right out of the dryer, but I hate folding them and putting them away.

11. I HATE talking on the phone, which is why I LOVE email...which in turn makes me really bad at returning phone calls.

12. My mom and sisters are my best friends.

13. I seriously wish I (and Josh) would commit to going to church every week.  Luckily, I'm a Lifechurch groupie and can attend online.

14. I live in a tiny trailer house (the size of a shoebox) on 10 acres until we can get our house built, which hasn't even been started yet.

15. I HATE having my picture taken (is that normal for a photographer?).  But, if I absolutely have to have a photo, I usually have to take it myself!

16. I want my children to attend a tiny school like the one where I grew up (I was very sheltered).

17. I've only been out of the country once to go to Los Cabos, Mexico.

18. I was an elementary school teacher before becoming a photographer and stay-at-home mom.

19. Speaking in front of a large group seriously scares the heck out of me to the point of getting sick.

20. I worked as a Mentor for Great Expectations (a teacher training program) for two years traveling the state (and surrounding states) giving speeches and teaching inservices to LARGE groups of adults.  - see number 19.

21. I live for homemade RANCH dressing, especially on pizza.  This explains why I'm always on a diet.

22. I'm am seriously laid-back about pretty much everything.  It takes a HUGE event or catastrophe to get me upset or mad.  However, the smallest little thing regarding organization or lack of planning and I can become really stressed out!

23. I still don't have anything to show for the money I make from photography...other than a great portfolio.  There are simply too many purchases that still need to be made from equipment to software to office/studio space.

24. I am WAY too organized for my own good ( I tend to put things away where I can't find them).

25. I live for my family (even extended) and friends.  Every day I wonder what I can do to make them healthier and happier.  I literally list ways in my head of doing nice things for them to show them how much I care.  If I was a rich woman, my family and friends would be seriously taken care of.

Okay, folks!  That should take care of it for now.  Have a happy Friday!

Updates and other Random Babble.

So, the past couple of weeks have flown by.  I've been a busy bee, hoping to accomplish a million and one goals.  I'm pretty sure I've checked only a few off the list.  As always, it seems blogging falls to the wayside and other "more important" tasks take over.  The main problem with that is I really ENJOY blogging.  I miss you guys when I'm not around.  Hopefully, in my absence you haven't forgotten about me and this silly little blog.  I promise to do much better... have I said that already this year?  Probably so.

So anyway, I have a few random tidbits to share.  It could get weird.  Leave now, if you have something better to do.  I'll completely understand.

1.  Don't forget about the Valentine's Day special as it will be ending soon.  Call or email before Valentine's Day to get the discount.  This is an AWESOME deal!

2.  I've become TOTALLY ADDICTED to FACEBOOK.  I'm serious.  It's sad, but I check it a zillion times throughout the day.  Isn't it funny how people find you on there?  People you haven't seen or heard from since high school or even earlier?  I LOVE it!  I figure the more friends the better, right?  I've made lots of new friends through my page, as well as connected with tons of old friends.  I completely recommend you create a page if you haven't already.  Before you think I'm really weird, I'll let you in on a secret.  Even MY MOM has a page! 

Click here to become a FAN of Shannon Gurney Photography.  If you write a review, you'll be entered into a drawing for a FREE session.  Did I just say FREE?

3.  I've had a lot of people call me lately to inquite about me photographing weddings.  YES, I do weddings, BUT only weddings I'm comfortable with.  By comfortable, I mean USING NATURAL LIGHT as much as possible.  If you are planning a late evening wedding by candlelight, I'm probably not your gal.  Weddings start at $850.  Email or call me if you'd like a specific quote.

4.  I know many of you were keeping up with me when I was dieting with Nutrisystem.  I also know I totally quit posting regarding my diet status.  The truth is I sort of fell off the wagon for a while and am back on FULL FORCE.  On Nutrisystem, I lost a total of 30 pounds then went off the program last May.  I enjoyed an awesome summer full of BBQs and vacationing and lots and lots of junk food.  I'm not positive of the exact amount, but I'm guessing I gained around 10 or so pounds back.  Don't you hate how that works?  I sure do!  Anywho, I'm proud to say I've been working at it again since early December and have lost about 20 pounds.  WAY TO GO me!

5.  I told you this was a random post.

6.  Right now, Josh is reading this thinking I've completely lost my mind.  Who knows, I might have.  But when you spend most of your time at home with two boys under age 5 (one of which I still can't completely understand), you talk to whoever will listen.  For me, that's you.  I guess you sorta have to listen, right?  For those of you still reading, I LOVE you!

7.  I've been thinking of creating a blog and main photography site ALL-IN-ONE.  What do you think?  I feel like most of my clients visit my main website only to link to the blog.  I've also seen some really great blogs that combine as the photographer's main site and love it.  Like this one and this one.  Of course, it helps that these two are REALLY AWESOME photographers.  Tell me your thoughts.  Do you guys like that I have two separate sites?  OR would you prefer to go to one spot for all of it?

While I'm asking that, I should probably also ask if you'd rather me keep the personal stuff off of this blog.  Should I only be posting professional stuff here?  OR do you enjoy hearing about my nutty family once in a while?
 
8.  I'd really like to hear what you guys are doing for Valentine's Day.  Come on!  Share with us..  I might need to steal an idea or two if that's okay.

9.  I've decided I really HATE DISLIKE cold, dreary, winter days.  I'm ready for SPRING!  Please hurry up already!

10.  I was thinking of trying out a spray tan.  Your thoughts, please.  Is it really yucky?

Man, is that enough rambling for one night?  I'll see you guys again in a day or so.  I know I had more things to say, but now I'm starting to feel guilty about unloading them all on you.  Until next time bloggy friends...

Allen Family at the Farm

I drove to Chandler, Oklahoma on Saturday for a super cool family session.  At first, I wasn't sure what to expect since they told me we'd be driving out to her dad's farm.  As most of you know, Oklahoma was recently hammered with a huge ice/snow storm.  THEN, this weekend was in the 60's!  Basically, we've got a HUGE muddy mess EVERYWHERE, including the farm where the session took place.  If you ask me, it just made for more fun.  I LOVED it!

If you've been reading my Facebook, you know how I loved the town.  I SO want to move to Chandler, America!  It was awesome! - I knew this already since the town I graduated from is just a few miles away.  But, I'd forgotten just how neat it is.  I'm serious people!  If I could talk Josh into moving, I'd go for sure.  Now, I've just got to work on him!

So anyway, the family was just as great as the town, and they couldn't have picked a more perfect location for photos.  It ROCKED!  There was dust and mud, horses, dogs, tractors, bales of hay everywhere, an old chuckwagon, and lots of character all around!  IT WAS PERFECT!!! 

I had a great time Allen family and I'm totally serious about bringing my kids back for an Allen Family Farm field trip!
 
 
 
 
 
 

Papaw showed up to feed all the animals and little man here had to jump in to drive the truck!  He was a total Papaw's boy!

While trying to get this next shot from around the outside corner of the barn, I was literally attacked with LOVE and cuddles from the friendliest horses I'd ever met.  I thinked they liked my camera...

Rosie was my favorite!  What a doll!
 

There were plenty of horses to go around, but obviously I couldn't snap pictures of all of them or the family might've felt a little neglected.  I did get a shot of these two gals though!  Honestly, I wanted to take them ALL home...horses and dogs!
 
 
 
 
 
 
Everyone has to pitch in around the farm!  No exceptions for two year olds!

 

Snowed In

It looks like the snow is finally starting to melt.  It's amazing what a 60 degree (almost) day can do to a bunch of frozen white stuff.  But, hey, that's Oklahoma for you.  Snowing and freezing cold outside to 60 degrees all in the span of a couple of days!  Wow!

I have to say I'm really glad the snow is starting to melt since being cooped up in the house with two rambunctious little boys can be really tiring.  My boys haven't burned nearly enough energy in the last week even if we did get out for a little while to have a little fun in the snow...
 
For those of you who think it's cool to buy the "store bought" sleds, think again!  Ours is much better and came from the local hardware store!  It's amazing what high school kids can throw together to make a sled (especially after they bust your "store bought" one and have to replace it when all sleds are sold out!)...
 
AND, with Grandma around who need hills?  It's much more fun to be pulled around!

Plus, you get cuddles and hot chocolate afterwards...
 

Even Zipper was out and about to watch all the action.

Ty's favorite place to play at our house was in the ditch out front after the snow plow came by.  Talk about thick, deep snow with lots of chunks to throw around...HEAVEN for boys!
 
 
Did I mention we were snowed in for 3 days?  Luckily, the roads were just good enough for us to make a trip to my mom's house who happens to have a perfect-for-sledding hill in her backyard.  You know what that means?   More sledding and more hot chocolate...
 
 
 
 
 
 

White out

Wow!  The last 24 hours have been packed full of craziness around our place.  Unless you're living in a cave somewhere, you know Oklahoma has been completely overcome with a January ice-storm.  So much so, our governor has declared it a state of emergency.  Of course, the only emergency around our house is the lack of movies and junk food!

Josh didn't even make it home from work last night until nearly 9pm.  Apparently, the work truck he's driving is not exactly ice-friendly.  About 5 miles away from our place, it decided to take refuge from the crazy road conditions in a very large ditch.  Nice.

Not to worry, though.  His WONDERFUL wife saved the day...

I called our neighbor to rescue Josh and bring him home safely.  After nearly two hours of tugging, they were able to retrieve the work truck and make it home in time for a very late dinner.

Luckily, we were all able to pile in at home today...

After lazing (staying really close to the couch) most of the day away, I couldn't stand it any longer.  I covered my camera with a ziploc baggie and headed out the door with Ty in tow.  Soon after, Josh and Wes weren't far behind.  The windchill was around 5 degrees so we couldn't play too much, but here are some of the shots I stole in the brief amount of time my fingers were working.
 
 
 
 
 
Actually, I had to put the camera away to help out our neighbors (who had a few extra movies to share).  Afterward, we decided to take the truck out for a 4-wheel test drive...ended up at Braum's and the rest is history.

The pushing was kinda fun though...

yes, I even helped (a little bit).

Seriously? Today?

It's always best to plan ahead, right?  Yes.  At least, that's what I kept telling myself as I watched three freezing, cold men install my storm shelter today.  Seriously?  Are you kidding me?

No.  Not kidding.  They actually showed up today during a big ice storm.  It was bad enough, in fact, they had to leave their tractor and trailer here for fear of destroying them on the drive home.

Oh hush.

Remember, there is always a silver lining.  My silver lining today was the lovely tractor scooping dirt outside my bedroom window.  It kept my boys occupied for nearly two hours.  TWO HOURS!

Oh, how I love tractors...
 
 

All of these shots were taken through my bedroom window.  It was COLD, ICY, and I was not about to venture outside...

Don't worry.  I did offer them hot chocolate, but they were so cold they didn't want to stop long enough to drink it.  I guess I don't really blame them.  It did make me feel bad, though.  So, I snuck a couple of peeks out the back door...

 

I hope they all made it home okay...

Things were not looking good on TV...