Bill’s Blog

I often feel like I’m the only guy that doesn’t get the punchline, especially when it snows in Arkansas.  [For those not from here, it doesn't really SNOW, it just drops ice, rarely.]

Why–when the weather turns inclement–should I desperately need bread and milk?  People rush in droves to the grocery store, those sacred halls of panic, to ravage the dairy and bread sections.  I have a wife and three small children, and I really want to provide for their needs.  Is there some special cold-weather-vitamin-nourishment-elixer of milk and bread that I know not of?  If anything, why don’t we storm the bastion of chili and hot toddies?  Or the new sushi bar at our local Kroger?  [Note to the reader: I do not serve hot toddies to my children, but they do love some chili and sushi, respectively.]

My eldest son [8 years old] just sat down with me.  I just explained what a blog is, and he wants to write.  So I’m typing as he talks.

Dad:  “Big C–what would you like to tell everyone about the ice we just had?”

Big C:  “It was fun to play in the snow.  It was very cold.  Well, I didn’t really play out in the snow.  You just wrote that down?!  [laughs]  What are you doing?!  Okay, I’m going.”

Now that we’ve survived the great Ice Age of 2010 [1 day out of school], it’s time to think of Spring.  If you haven’t seen the main site for Beyond Photography lately, the calendar is plotted out until mid-October.  You’ll notice that we’ve planned several Spring events, including a trip to Ponca, Arkansas, to San Antonio, a Black and White event, a local outdoor special . . . and of course . . . EASTER PORTRAITS!  Why should you schedule your kids for Easter Portraits?

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Without question, 2009 was the best year in the history of our business!

We’re fully adjusted to life without a storefront, and the move has been wonderful. We’re having fun again, enjoying our sessions more, and I’ve been blessed to benefit from more training. As we’re looking toward 2010 [we've plotted our calendar through October], Sheree and I are thrilled for a year that is better than ever. If you’re reading this blog, then I likely have you to thank for our success. I know there are dozens of other Photographers in our area, and I don’t take for granted that you could choose any one of them. Thank you.

I thought I’d share with you an image from our last session of the year. Sheree and I had driven by this home scores of times, and we always said: “What a great place for a portrait!” We had been looking for a unique location for these 5 boys [FIVE BOYS!!!!], and the homeowner was kind enough to loan his broken-down truck. There are more photos of these handsome devils on our website. If it’s been awhile since you’ve surfed around the site, I’ve finally updated the galleries, and the calendar is current. If you’d like to check it out, click on the photo below.

Happy New Year! It’s great to be back to the blog, and great to be gearing up for a fantastic year. God bless,
–mr. bill

It’s 3 pm on Wednesday, November 4th.  Why should that matter to you?  Simple–in only 18 hours, Santa will appear in Little Rock for his annual pre-Christmas visit!  Fortunately, I also have the chance to be there, with camera in hand.  Yeah, Santa avoids the paparazzi, but freely allows ME to photograph him.  Why?  Again, it’s simple–I’ve been at the top of the “Nice” list for a long time.

Okay, that’s not exactly true . . . Sheree has.  I’m not entirely on the “Naughty” list, I hoover somewhere in the “Tolerable” category.  Sheree also tops the “Holy-Smokes-She-Is-Still-With-Him!!!” list.  Since she’s earned a spot on both of those lists, and because Santa likes my kids, he allows us to photograph him when he visits.

If you’ve been wondering what a “Norman Rockwell” Christmas scene looks like, wonder no more!  We managed to sneak a few photos when Santa popped in to chat a few days ago.  We still have a few appointment times available, so if you’ve waited to schedule a session, call immediately!  Our studio cell is 501.766.5671.  Click here to learn more about package pricing, etc.  I hope to see you soon!

-mr. bill

As we’re busy fielding phone calls for Christmas appointments, we’re hearing one of the most common questions of the season:

“What do your Christmas cards look like?”

Here’s a preview of the designs that Sheree has baked up for this year.  If you haven’t scheduled your appointment yet, THE TIME IS NOW!  Our fliers are hitting mailboxes today and tomorrow, so the phone is getting hot.  Remember that we’re scheduling full sessions and Quick Pics with and without Santa.  We’ll be in Chenal Downs November 5-8; and in Pine Bluff November 20-21.

Everyone celebrates some sort of annual tradition.

Some folks merrily gather round the Festivus Tree, others gleefully mail taxes to the IRS.  Still others gather in the same home for Christmas Dinner, some never miss the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Hot Springs, AR [the shortest St. Patty's Day parade in the world; thank you very much.  Don't believe me?  Click here].  Thanks to some diligent, thoughtful parents, I also have the chance to see some of the same kids, every year.

Two of my favorite sisters meet me each year for their portrait session.  I’ve watched these two ladies grow for several years now–even before sister #2 had arrived!  Somehow, the girls seemed to have aged this time!!!!  In my mind, they’ve always been the same age, forever locked into “little girl land.”  Alas . . . I think they’re growing into young ladies.  Sigh.  Thankfully, my own little Bella Grace will always stay small and giggly and always love snuggling with her dad.

Those of you who know our work at Beyond Photography know that most of our sessions are outdoors.  If you’ve had a session with me that is unlike everyone else’s, then you can thank the folks who hire me every year!  These parents force me to find new locations and shoot something different than they’ve already seen.  This year, I enjoyed shooting images of the girls in Downtown Little Rock.  If you’d like to compare the last two years’ sessions, click here for last year’s blog.

I hope that you have a wonderful holiday season, and you enjoy some of your own yearly traditions.  Right now, I have to get back to one of my own traditions . . . cooking the “rainy-day-in-the-Fall-pot-of-chili.”  I hope that Bella likes it a little scalded on the bottom.