THIRTY IS THE NEW TWENTY

So... as a few of you might know - I recently turned THIRTY!!! So did one of my dear friends, Stacie. Stacie is usually out of the country, but she is currently in the states staying with her sister her just had a baby. So while Stacie is in the states I decided I better grab some time with her while I could! I went to Chicago and we celebrated our THIRTIETH birthdays!

Stacie has been one of my photography subjects for years! I should dig out some of the photos I took of her back in 2002 while we were at the University of Arkansas. (I love those pics, by the way!!!) So - I, of course, had to photograph her while we were together!

I got to photograph Stacie's lovely face and her beautiful niece, Madelynn. Madelynn is a beautiful baby! She is going to be a heartbreaker one day!

Stacie is a beautiful woman inside and out. I have looked up to her and depended on her advice for years. She is an amazing and Godly woman. I am actually getting teary eyed right now typing this! LOVE YOU STACIE! Hope it's not two more years before I see you again!

*MAKE A DIFFERENCE MAY*

Everybody has been given unique talents and abilities to put to use in the service of God. God has a special purpose in mind for every single one of His children.

Romans 12:3-8

³For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. ⁴Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. ⁷If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; ⁸if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

I believe, without a doubt, that God has given me the gift of creativity. He as also given me a strong spirit of compassion. I have wanted to help others in any way I possibly could ever since I was a child.

God has blessed me with the talent of taking photographs and helping people document special moments in their lives. I want to give back!

So.... this is how "Make a Difference May" came to be. I had been mulling over this idea for over a year, but I was unsure of how to go about it. Once I came up with the concept, I decided on May - because it is lovely outside, the temperature is a happy medium, grass is green, flowers are blooming... and also because May is my anniversary month and it makes me so happy I have to share the love!

I am giving away a free session (and some surprise products!) to one lucky, deserving person or family!

Here's where you come in...

Is there someone you know who would love to have their family or special event captured in photographs to cherish forever?

I want you to nominate someone that you think is deserving of a free photography session. Maybe an illness has taken cherished time away from a family, maybe hard times have taken their tole financially... I just ask that the person you nominate need this opportunity.

*All you have to do is email me at

folsomphotography@yahoo.com

or visit my website at www.folsomphotography.com and contact me there.

Submit your name, address, phone number - the person you are nominating and why. (please more than one sentence but a novel is not required)

-Courtney

Entries will be judged based on need and special circumstances.

Entries must be received by midnight on Saturday, May 29th.

Winner will be announced the first week of June.

Help me Make a Difference this May!

-Courtney

ALI - SENIOR

Ali is a senior at Holdenville High School. I have known Ali for a few years because her brother is one of my friends whom I have known for almost ten years!!!

Ali is a sweetie! She has a sweet voice, a sweet spirit... I cannot imagine her being mean - EVER!! I love that! She always has a smile on her face.

Next year Ali is coming to ECU to be a Tiger! :) YAY!

Oh - and I must send a huge - THANK YOU! to her brother, Curt. He was my lovely assistant during her shoot and he was really good at it, too! (Hope you are feeling better Curt!)

Baby Barrett

Baby Barrett was barely a week old when we shot these photos. He was so tiny! I just loved meeting and getting to know the entire Heatherly family.

Barrett is the most recent member of my Mini Milestones baby program, so get ready to watch him grow!

Some of his photos are some of my favorites that I have ever done! I discover that I enjoy photographing babies more and more each time.

Keep an eye out for his 6 month photos - they will be here before we know it!

CORD - SENIOR

I have known Cord forever. Seriously. Forever. He was the most rotten little kid. Who could have known that he would grow up to be such a sweet and handsome grown man?!? He was such a good sport taking photos. No complaints at all! That's pretty rare with guys! :)

I get so nervous when I photograph guys because I want to make them look manly. I had my lovely assistant with me (my husband :) to tell me - "Uh, nope, Courts. That is NOT manly." haha! Love it!

Cord, I'm so proud of the strong Christian (and handsome) man you have grown up to be! Good luck in college!