Just for Doe's

Hey Doe's, thank you for taking the time to read my blog and view some pictures that I have of my favorite hunts. It would be an honor to be on a pro staff for Just For Doe's. Here is a little of my history of how I got into hunting, and how I have loved it ever since.

I have grown up on a farm all of my life and always enjoyed watching the wildlife; and I always found myself sneaking away from my work on the farm to sit in the tree line's and watch the deer, turkey, coyote's, ducks, pretty much anything that went by. I always found it so neat that they had no idea where I was and never expected me to be sitting there the whole time watching them. I always wanted to hunt, but my Daddy wasn't going to have any part in it neither were my grandparent's they said they were there to enjoy not to kill. My comment back was always smart with "God wouldn't have put them on earth and given us the option to hunt them if they were just there to watch." Of course that always got me in more trouble, than necessary.

My childhood year's consisted of hanging out with my cousin Kirk and our friend Jeremey who was always going on hunting trips. I was always so jealous when he came back and showed me what he got while on his hunting trips. I always told him I wanted to go with him and his response was "girls can't hunt as good as boys." Well that lit a fire under my butt to say the least, I never forgot what he said and I was still mad when he got to hunting and I didn't. In High School I took FFA courses and one of them was Wildlife Management and in that we were able to take a Hunter's Safety course so I was more than excited to go to that class each day. I remember when it came time to take the gun safety course where you got out in a field, and you have to shoot just one clay pigeon out of the three that were to be flown in all different directions controlled by our teacher. Everyone assumed I had never shot a gun (of course I was the only girl in that class), my daddy always let us shoot at clay pigeon's at home he just never let us shoot at anything living. There was no specific order it was all volunteer basis and I noticed how they were all trying to show each other up which ended in them hurrying their shot and making mistakes. No-one had hit all three clay pigeons yet, the most anyone had hit was two and it was just one person. As I go to shoot everyone of them assumed I would just miss and be done; their faces were priceless when I hit all three of them and none of them had.

My junior year I began dating the quarterback for our small town school, who was know for showing up late for classes because he was hunting. He came in face painted from duck hunting, or all camouflaged from deer or turkey hunting. He was in a few of my classes so I always talked to him about his hunting trips, and loved seeing his picture's of what he had killed that day. He took me Deer hunting with him and I was hooked even though he didn't kill anything that day. He finally let me start shooting things with him; I got my first eight pointer I was stoked. It wasn't very big compared to what the other guys had been shooting; but I was just happy to finally be able to get to go hunting. I went on my first Duck hunt which I came to find out was more talking than it was actually shooting; but it was still fun watching the dog I trained out their in the water after ducks. I bagged my first turkey that Spring, and did several other hunts as the year(s) went on. I have been addicted to it ever since, if it's in season I am out there in the woods or blind hunting alongside my husband. I still have to prove myself to a lot of the men I am around hunting, they always want to roll their eyes when they see a woman coming to hunt with them. They will finally let up once they know I am just as good as them if not better. I may be small and look younger than I am; but I can hunt just like the rest of them.

I always knew I would enjoy hunting I just never had the chance to prove myself until someone let me have the chance. I would love to be a part of Just For Doe's Pro Staff to be able to go different hunting trip's with other women and learn from some of the best out there. Everyone I hunt with right now are men I enjoy it don't get me wrong; but I would love to hunt along other women who are avid hunter's and be able to learn even more. I constantly follow you guys on Twitter and Facebook I love seeing all the new products y'all are putting out; and seeing other women's photo's on your monthly photo contest. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and view my pictures.

Have a great day.

Southern Made Moments First Photo Contest

I am proud to announce Southern Made Moments FIRST photo contest. Everyone loves to get their pictures made; but I realize with the economy it is hard to splurge on the extra stuff so what better way to splurge when you can win a FREE session. Also, second & third place winners will receive gift certificates to go towards professional printing or towards a session.

Here are the ONLY Rules:
1) For the vote to count you have to "like" Southern Made Moments photography page
2) All you have to do is "like" the picture you are wanting to cast your vote for.
Simple right?

So all you have to do is send me an image to mkirkphoto@yahoo.com of a picture that shows what you LOVE. You have until Sunday, April 29, 2012 to get me your image you are wanting to enter into the contest. Also, send me a caption that explains why you LOVE the image you sent in.

I will upload all the images I receive for the contest on April 30th, 2012 in the LOVE album. You will have until Sunday, May 6th to tell everyone to vote for your image. Remember they have to "like" the page & then "like" the image in order for it to count don't forget to do those two simple things (: I will announce the winner's on Monday, May 7, 2012.

If you have any questions or concerns please don't hesitate to ask me. I hope that everyone will enter a picture, it's so simple just send me the picture explaining why you LOVE what you sent that's all you have to do. Then just tell friends & family to go vote for your image! I can't wait to see what you LOVE, have a great week everyone.

Jake+Ashton+6 month+Easter (:

Ashton is officially six months old!! Look how big and precious she is, her brother Jake joined in her the session so we could get some Spring/Easter pictures. He was a trooper and even helped me out when it came to putting little sister in the wash tub, those bubbles were provided by Jake. These two are absolutely beautiful, Ashton is always a great little subject for each of her session's we have done so far. I think she is a complete natural for the camera, she has all kinds of face expressions that I like to capture. Thank you Erin for allowing me to shoot your beautiful children, I can't wait until her nine month session!(: 

Summer Special--THEME

Summer Theme Special

 I have been thinking about what kind of special(s) to do this summer, and well I have gotten lots of inquires about kid's birthday's or their precious kiddo turning the big ONE. Well that just made me think of a special I can do all SUMMER long. What about a theme and not just any theme, a theme YOU can personally think of, and let me do the rest. Here is my thinking on this, when doing this if you are having a first birthday for your little one, than what may the theme be you are going to do party wise? Let's stick to it & you can put this picture as a Birthday invitation OR you will always have the pictures and they can look back on what they were into at the time. 

It doesn't have to be just for a Birthday, it can be Western because you & your family are into that. It can be around the farm with different animals. It could be vintage with a little girl in old school hats and jewelry. It could be fishing, carnival, picnic. It can literally be ANYTHING you want to choose. If you need help deciding on a theme, that is not a problem at all I have several idea's I have been wanting for my own personal portfolio, and also because I have no kids of my own to try it on (: It's your own personal theme and it can be ANYTHING no limitations at all. 

This isn't just for kid's either, it can be for families & engagements, I always like everyone of my clients images to be different. I don't like doing the same thing with my clients, I want everyone's images to be different and for those images to reflect on the individuals. 

Also, I will have other "Mini" Sessions throughout the summer that will be Themed, but those won't change much other than the client and they are not as long as my normal sessions. They are wonderful to take advantage of though. The theme's will change from month to month. Starting in May I will have little girl's tea party that will consist of Tea of course, old time hats & jewelry for the little ones to play dress up and enjoy Tea. I have examples coming very soon, you can invite friends to your tea party. Also, some other mini sessions include: Fourth of July, Rough little boys, Water, Picnic_Lemonade, Fall, Halloween costumes and much much more. More details for these to come when they are soon to begin. 

I would love to hear any and all feedback that you can give. I want to be slammed this summer of nothing but taking pictures & meeting new and returning clients. I love working with everyone and I look forward to each and every session that I book. Thank you for choosing Southern Made Moments photography. Please tell your friends & family about our photography. Remember you refer friends & family and YOU and YOUR family get a FREE Session. I know you want FREE images, so start referring people. Have a great day everyone.

Ava Easter Session

Introducing Ava

This past Sunday, I had the pleasure to shoot the beautiful Ava for an Easter Session. She was a bit shy at first, but once her personality started showing there was no holding her back. She enjoyed hunting eggs in the field, and collecting them in her pink basket once she had them all collected there was no taking her eyes off of that basket. She was a trooper for her session since it was pretty warm for a Spring day. Thank you Melia for allowing me to shoot Ava, she is a beautiful little girl with an amazing personality. Must take after her Momma (: 

Easter & EmMarie

Meet EmMarie 

Meet the gorgeous EmMarie, I got to meet her and her mom Stacy for the first time this past Sunday. We did part one of two Easter Mini Sessions. She has such a fun personality, she was a little shy at first but once she warmed up there was no stopping her from posing for some funny pictures. She might as well be a model, she knew how to work the camera and I loved it. I think I can say I capture EmMarie, she was so much fun to work with. She hide Easter eggs & redecorated the Easter Egg Tree and she did a fabulous job. Thank you for choosing Southern Made Moments Photography, I can't wait to work with you again in the near future! 

MIA!

First off, let me start by saying I am so sorry for going MIA! Everything has been a little crazy in my life & I feel as if I have been running in circles trying to catch up to everyone. I had posted on Southern Made Moments Facebook Page about a mini session for the kiddo's; I am sorry that I wasn't able to do that. I didn't have a lot of people wanting to do that, so therefore I didn't want to spend the money on props and not have a great result. So instead of spending money on the Valentines day mini session there will be more money to go towards an Easter Mini session. I am ironing out all the details & will have more information for you to view coming very soon.

What to look forward to for the Easter Mini Session: There will be live animals in their session, last year when I did this I got the greatest reaction out of all the kids. Also, each session will last up to 30 minutes, remember these are Mini Sessions, if you would like more time we can arrange that. Depending on the weather I am hoping to have it indoors, so we will be able to shoot rain or shine. If the weather is absolutely beautiful I would rather do them outdoors, so there may be an opportunity to do both (: Also, I am going to start announcing dates for these sessions very soon; I am going to try and do several weekends in a row to ensure everyone will be able to get their images done by Southern Made Moments. I am looking to start Easter Mini Sessions in March. If you have any other questions or concerns please don't hesitate to shoot me an email. If you would like to make a suggestion I am all ears :)

Also, don't forget about the specials that are going on now until the end of February take advantage of them!