Hop Along Productions

Photo Challenge (small treasures)

2012-01-16T21:54:00.002-06:00

To make things easier I will do one post for each week of the photo challenge. Also, to help me from getting blocked I decided to picked a theme each week. This weeks theme is 'small treasures'. I love looking around and finding small things that pull everything together.

Small treasures.

15/365

Nick Nacks

16/365

Photo Challenge 14/365

2012-01-16T21:49:00.001-06:00

Flip flop weather is almost here.

Photo Challenge 13/365

2012-01-16T21:44:00.000-06:00

My hands say thank you.

Photo Challenge 12/365

2012-01-12T19:20:00.000-06:00

On our way home from Palestine this afternoon, we stopped for fried pickles and sweet tea. The ride home was crunchy and sweet.

Photo Challenge 11/365

2012-01-11T21:01:00.002-06:00

All tuckered out after a long day. Love how she has her zebra hat on. She is sleeping on her pillow pet too. Look closely behind her and you can see her books and brown bear, well at least his legs. Love how she take her favorite things to bed with her. She has to spend every moment with them.

Photo Challenge

2012-01-10T19:02:00.000-06:00

A few days rolled into one.

With all the rain we have had these are staying right beside the front door.
7/365

Nothing like a cool drink after a workout.
8/365

Lucky all tuckered out.
9/365

Working by candle light.

10/365

Photo Challenge 6/365

2012-01-06T21:12:00.000-06:00

The roster strutting his stuff.

Photo Challenge 5/365

2012-01-05T20:52:00.000-06:00

Waiting and playing games, two things she great at. Lazy evening tonight.

Photo Challenge 4/365

2012-01-04T20:25:00.000-06:00

My overachiever, standing in the church foier doing her homework. No such thing as idle time in her world.

Photo Challenge 3/365

2012-01-03T20:17:00.000-06:00

After we arrived home tonight Bandit was ready to be let outside. He doesn't like when we are away so long. He has to stay in his carrier. If not we would come home to a BIG mess.

Photo Challenge 2/365

2012-01-02T20:10:00.000-06:00

My sweet B reading her library book. I am thankful for the sound of her little as she reads.

Photo Challenge 1/365

2012-01-01T22:45:00.000-06:00

With new year kicking off I have decided I would try my hand at the 365 Photo challenge. My first post to kick things off is my kindle on the web page that has inspired this challenge, I Heart Faces.

The Branson Family

2011-11-19T20:52:00.001-06:00

We braved the wind and took a chance to proceed with this photo session. I am so glad we did. The winding trails and fall foliage on the Dogwood Trail added just the right feel. You know that winter is not far away after looking at these beautiful colors. Now time for a sneak peek.

Outside the box

2011-11-09T16:05:00.002-06:00

This was shared, yesterday evening, with me by my daughter. She said everyone needs to be reminded of this. Don't you just love kids!

2011-08-27T17:39:00.002-05:00

Friday night football to most is just something to watch. For small towns it is a part of life. Our game last night was in Centerville. By five o'clock the buses were loaded with kids, instruments, and gear. Then they hit the road for bus ride to the stadium. Once there they unloaded, set up, and began pregame prep. The game kicked off at 7:30. It started off tough and the Sandies tried to hang on. They fought back in the third quarter but were finally defeated. The Sandie fans were there through it all. Even the smallest tried to hang on as long as they could.

Groovy 1st Grader

2011-08-22T22:01:00.001-05:00

My sweet B started first grade today. She was a little nervous. That soon faded when she saw all her friends again. I got a play by play of her day when I got home. To think I had homework tonight instead of her, dang paperwork. So glad she had such a good day. Looking forward to a great year!

Mr. Brown Bear

2011-08-20T09:48:00.002-05:00

This morning a sleepy eyed, bed headed little girl pushed her little face close to mine and softly made one simple request, "Can you fix Brown Bear?" Brown Bear is her favorite stuffed animal and has been with us since B was two. Reaching for the light I asked her what was wrong with him. She then pointed out two small holes in his leg and one on in his arm. I smiled and said of course I can fix him. I soon discovered all I had was pink thread. I asked her if that was okay to use. She smiled sweetly and handed him to me. Knowing no one will be able to see the thread once I am done was reassuring to her. Together we fixed him. Her sleepy face slowly turned to a smile. She thanked me with lots of kissed and hugs. The best payment ever. I snapped a photo after the operation. I think Brown Bear will be with us for years to come.

The Watson Wedding

2011-08-13T11:12:00.006-05:00

Enjoyed being with friends. It was a hot afternoon but we made the best of it! Congratulations to you both. The ceremony was beautiful and the reception a party to remember.

The Flu

2011-02-20T11:09:00.003-06:00

Cough, cough, sniffle, sniffle.....these are the sounds that have filled my whole week. My two sweet girls have the flu. I hate to see them sick like this. Feeling so gloomy and not being able to kiss them and make it all better really makes me feel helpless. Doctor visit check. Prescription filled at the pharmacy double check. On the road to two healthy girls, bumpy.

Fixing things...

2011-01-23T12:04:00.002-06:00

Well as you may have noticed I have not been blogging very often these days. Life feels like a whirlwind lately. I am trying to fix some things on the business side of my photo obsession. I am however looking for new models for 2011. If you are interested message me on my facebook. Hope everyones year has started off on a good note.

Sneak Peek for The Molens Family

2010-11-29T19:35:00.005-06:00

I enjoyed my Saturday afternoon capturing two smart and beautiful children. As we started the session they showed me just how sharp they were by asking me questions. With little instruction they smiled their way through the session like a cool breeze. They were a true delight. Thank you Brandi for the opportunity to capture your smart and beautiful children. Enjoy!

Sneak Peek for the Wislon Family

2010-11-07T11:58:00.008-06:00

Nothing like the view point of a three year old to bring you back to the simple things of life. I had the pleasure of capturing this very well behaved boy last weekend. LW was so good and made it through the whole session, the first for his age group. Mandy you have one very smart little guy. I was so impressed by how well he listen and gave me his best during the session. Well without further delay here is LW's sneak peek.

Let's fly

2010-10-05T22:45:00.002-05:00

Let's fly
Originally uploaded by Wendy's H. A. P.

Had a wonderful weekend. Went on a little trip with my mother and daughter. Nice relaxing time. Here is one of our little finds. Hope your week is productive.

Sneak Peek

2010-09-11T14:01:00.009-05:00

After a few delays on with my post editing I am very proud to present the sneak peak for Alex.

Senior 2011

2010-08-25T01:21:00.002-05:00

This weekend was busy for me. I had a Senior Session and started editing the photos. I shot 328 photos and I am slowly going through them all. I decided to post a little sneak peek here. So enjoy!

Senior of 2011 Wanted

2010-07-28T08:38:00.001-05:00

I am looking for a few Seniors of 2011 for my model campaign. I need two girls and one boy. This early campaign is to provide images for my maketing layout. Your images would be used in all my ads for this school year. By accepting this challenge you get a free session, 8x10 and an online gallery of all your images from the shoot. I am accepting all submissions until August 2. Please contact me through my facebook page or leave a comment here. Provide your name, email address and the best time to conatact you. I look forward to this every year. Good luck to all who are interested.

2010-07-09T09:21:00.002-05:00

Be f-e-i-s-t-y:

“F” is for focus. You need to get focused on what is important and stay focused.
“E” is for energy. Bring all the energy you can muster to every situation.
“I” is for integrity. This is your most important possession. Don’t ever compromise it.
“S” is for solve the problem. Don’t argue. Don’t make excuses. Just solve the problem and get on
        with   it.
“T” is for take the blame when no one else will. Accept responsibility and be accountable.
“Y” is for “Yes, I do windows.” Don’t ever say, “That’s not my job.” Do whatever the boss asks you
       to do and do it with enthusiasm.

General Tommy Franks

Next Step

2010-06-26T14:20:00.002-05:00

I have taken the next step in my business. I now have an online store where you can view and order your photos. I will be adding older sessions slowly so keep checking back to see when I add your previous session. I hope everyone enjoys this next step and takes a few minutes to and look at the online store. Thank you all for constant support. You can find my online store here.

The Boyd Wedding

2010-06-19T10:07:00.019-05:00

This sneak peek is well overdue! The last couple of weeks have been so busy with the start of summer. Now the kids are out of school and it seems like I have work extra hard at finding time to edit my sessions. So without further delay a glimpse of the Boyd Wedding...

I have created an online gallery for this event. You may view it here.

I ♥ Faces "Yellow"

2010-05-24T14:51:00.012-05:00

The color yellow makes me think of sunny days and going swimming. I posted this as my entry on I heart Faces, www.iheartfaces.com. Their challenge for this week is YELLOW. I knew this photo would be the perfect fit. Nothing like a little yellow to brighten your day.

Sneak Peek

2010-05-21T13:03:00.006-05:00

Just a quick sneak peek of a sweet little one to hold you over the weekend. I enjoyed this session so much. She slept the entire time. I know her Mom and Dad are going to love the final images. Hope everyone has a good weekend. I am supper busy this weekend. Some more to come on Monday.

It has arrived...

2010-05-01T21:29:00.005-05:00

YEAH! I received my long awaited package from *Shey* [B]. I found this line of camera strap covers from Shey Benner. She designs and makes these beautiful works of art. These strap covers are all unique. I always have looked for a way to make my camera more me. I am so glad I found her products. I am very pleased with my strap cover and didn't waste one minute putting it on. Of course I had to snap a photo to share.

Senior 2010

2010-04-29T19:36:00.008-05:00

The joy of being a Senior. I really enjoyed this session and new I would get some really good shots. She was a natural in front of the lens. The session stared of cloudy and the began to sprinkle after we did our first two locations. We had to wait out the rain only a few times. I have a few sneak peaks below. Enjoy.

The Sanders Bundle of Joy

2010-03-22T12:42:00.011-05:00

My model search began about four weeks ago. I knew what I was looking for and was having trouble finding the right little one to fit my needs. As it turned out someone mentioned to me, at work, about someone's nephew. They thought he was perfect. So I talked it over with the Sanders Family and found that he was absolutely what I was looking for. I scheduled our session and left the afternoon open. I wanted nothing to keep me from getting the poses I wanted.

Our session began after 10:00 that morning and last for four hours. I used several props and different light set-ups. Mom and Dad were great through the whole session and so helpful. Their little man was such a trooper. I was so excited to get home and begin post production. Of course, things didn't go as I had planned and my computer crashed. I lost one whole week and half before my computer was able to be repaired. So as soon as I got it back I began to slowly work on select poses from the session. Now I am proud to present to you Amy and Steve's bundle of joy!

Tiny Sparrow Foundation

2010-03-19T15:34:00.003-05:00

I found this wonderful non-profit organization, Tiny Sparrow Foundation. I never thought by doing what I love I could help others. This organization that Jael DeYoung has created is wonderful. Tiny Sparrow Foundation is dedicated to providing families with these heartfelt, tangible mementos that can be cherished for a lifetime. The miracle of a child is the most precious gift a parent can receive. Sadly, some families learn the devastating news that their beloved child is faced with a life-threatening illness. Each year in the United States, approximately 500,000 children cope with life-threatening diseases or conditions.

Across the nation, these children and their parents struggle daily to fight these illnesses. These struggles along with the myriad of emotions that result from these unexpected illnesses leave precious little time to enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Often, this leads to little or no time to capture and cherish the special moments the family shares throughout their journey. This is where Tiny Sparrow steps in. With the help of photographers worldwide, they are able to give a beautiful album that will carry the love, joy and everlasting memory of each individual family.

This is just a sample of her work. Below I have included a donate button through PayPal. Sometimes I believe God gives us Angels here on earth. She is one! I hope she continues her beautiful work. You can contact her directly to find out more information or just visit her site to see what her origination is all about.

Making things personal

2010-03-18T16:26:00.005-05:00

One thing is being able to stand out amongst the crowd. Not only do I want my work to stand out, I want my style to stand out. Over the past few days I have been looking for some simple ways to help me reach this small feat. I stumbled upon this today, Shely B. She offers a way to dress up your camera.

Now, I know what your thinking, that doesn't even make sense. How could something like that help you stand out? Sometimes the simplest answer is the best. My camera is an extension of me therefore being able to display my style through the appearance of your camera is unique. So I looked around her site, which is very user friendly, and found this strap cover. I added a pocket to it so that it would help me to be more organized. Which I know I will greatly appreciate later. Another thing it will help me when I have a long shoot. For most photographers out there, professional or amateur, you know that your strap can make things a bit uncomfortable. So this slides right over your strap. You can take it off and wash it or just change it out with another style. I am looking forward to my purchases arrival. So what are you waiting for go check out her store.

Survival of the fittest...

2010-03-16T16:17:00.002-05:00

So as I have began my journey of my business there have been some bumps and maybe even a small road block along the way. My computer crash last week and I had to purchase a new hard drive. So I have been going through major computer withdrawal. Now I am thankful for friends who are so very helpful. Thanks to Greg and Shauna for helping out. I am very glad that I am blessed with such great friends. So now the editing continues and a few updates as I restore my computer. I plan spending the next two afternoons editing and installing things. So soon there will sneak peeks again. Thanks to all for your patience.

Anniversary

2010-03-11T12:11:00.006-06:00

I have found a wonderful website. I go there everyday to see what is new. They are having a celebration this week. It is their anniversary. I knew everyone would love to go and check out this website for themselves. So below is the link. Enjoy! Congrats to the Maternal Lens on their anniversary.

Jubilation

2010-02-18T10:39:00.011-06:00

I am proud to announce my website has been redesigned. I need to give a warm thank you to B-Jay of Arvibe Ideas. He designed the work of art and gracefully dealt with me and all my questions. Not only did he have a fast turnaround, he was very patient and helpful with everything. This allowed me to broaden my business. Now I have one more tool to help my business grow.

I will be running a special to celebrate. I will be doing one hour session for the first ten people that contact me at half price. So don't hesitate and leave a comment and the become a fan of me on facebook. Then leave a comment telling me you are a fan on facebook. Thank you to all.

Work in progress...

2010-02-16T12:38:00.003-06:00

As you may see things are a little different since your last visit. I am currently updating my website and a few other things. So please be patient. There will be new things to reveal soon. Thank you for stopping by.

Flickr

2010-01-28T12:27:00.003-06:00

I have linked my flickr account with my blog. I am hoping this will make things little more simple!

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

The Atkins Family

2010-01-28T11:54:00.014-06:00

I enjoyed this photo session. It was a little cooler than I would have liked.
This was my last for the 2009. I am looking forward to what the new year will bring. Nothing like spending time with a family to make you realize how important love is in your life. I started of at my favorite spot, in the late evening. We started off center stage, well sort off.

We enjoyed the sun as it peeked through the clouds. This was making some of my desired locations a little harder to use. So we decided to settle on a much sunnier spot.

I got the group shots quickly so I wouldn't loose the interest of my younger subjects. After several different arrangements we rotated to another side for some group shots of the girls only.

I wrapped up the photo shoot with a very big girl. She was so good and behaved so well. I couldn't believe how well these turned out.

The Thorpe Family

2009-12-01T09:13:00.008-06:00

This past weekend I got the joy of capturing the Thorpe Family. It was a little cool. Everyone was such a good sport. Before I knew it an hour had past and I had everything I needed. I took these photos at Salmon Lake Park, http://salmonlakepark.com/. This is one of my favorite places. You can do so many different things in just one locations. I just started going through the photos. I wanted to give everyone just a sneak peek. I will do another post with more of the final photos. Enjoy.

I know I haven't had a blog post in a while. Sorry for that. I will post more often. I hope everyone is enjoying this holiday season. I am looking forward to Christmas. So glad you stopped by.

The Swanson Wedding

2009-07-24T11:44:00.007-05:00

I had the privilege of shooting this very personal wedding. My good friend asked me to add my artistic touch and photograph her wedding.

I loved the ceremony, it was very unique. It was set in a small country side church with the bride being led in by bagpipes. The ceremony began with a blessing of the couple and their union. Vows were exchanged and the couple were officially united as one in the eyes of God and man.

The Dotson Wedding

2009-07-24T10:02:00.021-05:00

All have gathered and are awaiting the beginning of the ceremony, while the bride and her bridesmaids have a little photo session.

I got to take a few photos. This one is a favorite, directly above. Everything was so beautiful. An outside wedding in the late afternoon. There was a little overcast. The setting was beautiful, overlooking this little lake.

The reception was really nice. It was held in this log cabin. A buffet dinner was set out for guest. Lots of family and friends were there to enjoy this memorable moment. I really enjoyed myself and got to capture a couple of sweet moments.

After the cake was cut, which was much later than expected, they started placing them in these little take home containers. They were all lined up so nicely for everyone to take home. I had to get a quick snap of them.

Engagement

2009-07-24T08:50:00.009-05:00

This session was really a memorable one for me. Being friends, this couple had asked many times for me to do their engagement photos. I finally agreed. We did several different locations. The wind was not helping any though. You probably can see that in some of these photos. Our finally stop was one of the first that she had requested the, railroad tracks.

I truly enjoyed this couple. I am looking forward to their wedding. I will be a guest attending and definitely have my camera in hand.

New Beginnings

2009-03-13T11:36:00.005-05:00

My blog has grown as has my business! I now have my own website, http://www.hopalongproductions.net/.