Rodeo Again! FINALLY!

I FINALLY got to shoot rodeo again this past weekend. This is the first time I shot a rodeo event since November of last year. I had a great time. Thanks to the GJRA once again for having me. I love y'all! I will be shooting my first GHSRA cutting event this Friday. I am excited about covering this event. I hope I do OK! I will also be shooting the GHSRA rodeo this weekend. It has been a while since I have seen many of the GHSRA people and I am really looking forward to it.

On the "Sonshine Portraits" side of my business, things have going very good. My 2008 wedding calendar is almost full and I am shooting a lot of portrait sessions. I shot a very cute 7 month old little girl this week. Her name was Emma and she did a great job during the shoot. I shot a little over 200 images of her in a 1 hour period. I bet she smiled for 95% of them. I also did a few pictures with Emma and her mother. I was very happy with those results also. I was talking to Emma's mother and she told me about her husband who was hit by a car in early December. He is currently in physical rehabilitation in Augusta (I think). It has been hard on her and Emma. This family has been and will continue to be in my prayers. Please include them in your prayers also.

Well....that's all for now.
Glory to God!

JD

Thank You Everyone...

Words con not express the gratitude I feel to everyone who was involved in the benefit barrel race held for my daughter Sam this past weekend. I was overwhelmed at the response of both the rodeo people and the community. There were so many people involved in this benefit that it is hard to single out people to thank. I would like to mention a few. The Norris, Cargle, Watkins, Yates and Maddux families. We love you guys. I will never forget the love you have shown us. There are MANY, MANY others involved in putting on this benefit. From the youngest contestant to the tractor drivers to the barrel setters, I thank God for each and every one of you. Once again, words can't express the love we feel for all of you. We love our Rodeo family. No other sport on the planet "looks after their own" like rodeo. I am very proud to be associated with all of you, especially those of you in the GJRA and the GHSRA. Once again, thank you. All of you are very special people.

One another rodeo related note...Thanks to Mady D. of the GHSRA for coming to the Studio for pictures. We had a good time during the shoot and I captured some great images. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to serve you and good luck in this years GHSRA Queen's contest!

Glory to God.
JD

Let's try this again!

Well...I need to try this blogging thing again! I wasn't very good at keeping my old one "current". Now that I FINALLY have hi-speed Internet at home, I will have more time to work on things like this. So...I am going to try it again!

First and foremost...I would like to thank the organizers and everyone involved in the benefit barrel race for my daughter that will take place tomorrow, March 9. Sam is doing much better. After being diagnosed with cancer in August of last year, undergoing chemo and surgery, the doctors have finally told us she is in remission. That doesn't mean that we can let down our guard or the trips to Atlanta will stop. She will still be seeing her oncologist and receiving CT scans on a regular basis. But for now...we can relax a little and not have to worry that much about what will be next with her treatment. That will make the benefit more of a celebration for her and our family! Thank you God for answering prayer and thank you God for our rodeo family. I can not think of any other sport that I would rather be involved with. You guys are the best!

My portrait studio business, Sonshine Portriats, is doing very well. My 2008 wedding calender is almost full! If you are considering us for your wedding, please give us a call before I close out the year. Thanks to all the 2008 seniors that have used us for your Senior portraits (especially from LaFayette High School...Go Ramblers!). I have enjoyed every single session that I have done. Thanks to everyone else who has also supported us.

Last but not least, I would like to talk about my event photography business, JD Photography. Thanks to the Georgia High School Rodeo Association and the Georgia Junior Rodeo Association for having me as their "official" photographer. This season has been rough for me because of my family situation. Things will get better and I will be attending more events. In the near future, I will be shooting the GJRA event on March 22 and the GHSRA events on March 28, 29 and 30. Also, never fear! I will be shooting the GHSRA and Wrangler finals in Perry in June.

Well...that's all for now.
Glory to God!
JD