New Beginnings for 2011

Lots of changes are happening. First of all, I am moving my blog to a new URL:
http://photographicrhodes.wordpress.com/. This will help me create a website and blog all in one. My goal is to have it done by the end of the year. :) Secondly, I am going to start the 365 Day Photography Project. I hope to take at least one good photo each day. To see day one, please take a look at my new blog. From there you can share my photos with your friends or subscribe to my blog. Check it out!

http://photographicrhodes.wordpress.com/

Holiday Cards from Shutterfly

We’re quickly approaching the time of year when a lot of us start ordering holiday cards. Even if you didn’t get your holiday photos taken with me (and you still have time), I would like to recommend the company we order our photo cards from: Shutterfly. They have a huge variety of designs to choose from. Last year Jerod and I ordered a classy black card with one of our wedding photos. This year, I’m thinking of tackling outdoor self-portraits. I’ve been looking through the Shutterfly photo cards, and I can’t decide between the following four designs. They’re all so different!

This whimsical, casual design…

This stylish card, which really emphasizes the photo …

This cute design with several photos (I can picture something like a series of photo booth type pictures)…

This fun design, which incorporates my favorite color: blue!

Which one do you think we should order? What would YOU order? You know what’s even better? We get 50 FREE photo cards this year! Find out how you can too.

Grand Canyon | October 2010

I'm finally getting around to posting photos from our dessert Southwest trip we took about a month ago. I had a really hard time narrowing it down from 500 to 15 for this blog post!

This was taken on an accidental 65-mile detour trying to view Castle Rock. We ended up driving through the La Sal mountain range after taking a wrong turn. (You can see Castle Rock way off in the distance.)


Taken at Dead Horse Point State Park.

At the top of Whale Rock in Canyonlands National Park.

My husband Jerod on a hike in Canyonlands National Park. He likes to get as close as possible to the edge of the cliff.


Whitewater raft trip in Westwater Canyon. (Obviously in the calm part of the river.)

Beautiful view from Red Cliffs Lodge in Moab, UT. Our cabin was about 50 years away from here.


Another view from Red Cliffs Lodge.

Beautiful rock formations in Arches National Park.

The Fiery Furnace section of Arches National Park requires a permit beyond the fence because there are dead-end canyons where you could get lost.

Skyline Arch - half of the middle section fell out only about 60 years ago (very recent in rock formation years).


I think this is the South Window arch.

Unfortunately it was cloudy and rainy while we were at the Grand Canyon, but we did see a beautiful rainbow ...

... and a beautiful sunset. What a great way to end our trip!

Holiday Photos

The holidays are quickly approaching, and I know many of you like to send out holiday greeting cards with your family photos. First time customers can receive an outdoor family photo shoot and a high-resolution CD of the images for just $99! Contact me to book your portraits today.

Sarah + Bobby Engagement

I had a lot of fun taking engagement photos for Sarah and Bobby a couple weeks ago. They're so playful and photogenic. You don't have to be around them long to realize how in love they are. They're a perfect match!

Note card design | Prayer Shawl Ministry

Broadway United Methodist Church in Kansas City, Mo. offers a unique prayer shawl ministry. Volunteers at the church stich prayer shawls and prayer pockets to give to those in need of prayer - whether it be after the loss of a loved one, during and after surgery, or even after giving birth. I had the pleasure of working with Joyce at Broadway UMC to create a few note card designs to give with the prayer shawls. Below are three designs for the front of the note cards.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

I helped take photos at the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer kick-off breakfast on Aug. 26 in Kansas City. It was a great event - and based on the turnout, I know the American Cancer Society will have a great Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in October! If you would like to get involved, visit www.makingstrideskansascity.org.

Uptown Theater

Registration tables

Lovely breakfast buffet

Emcees from Fox 4 News and Star 102.1

Christy, the wonderful event manager, showing off the T-shirts

Survivor receiving a pink rose

Team captain packets

Farmland | A Tribute to Buck

I have some unfortunate news: my husband's grandfather (Buck) passed away a week ago. We traveled to Southeast Kansas for his funeral on Wednesday, and for the first time Jerod took me to see his grandparents' farm. They live on beautiful land, so I couldn't resist taking a few photos. We picked some vegetables from his grandpa's garden, too. I know he and his garden will be greatly missed; he was always generous with sharing his veggies and anything else his family, friends, and neighbors needed.