The Family of Personality...

So here we are...the heat of the day starting to calm down, but not fast enough. A great family full of personality. It's amazing how much life these kids had. Up, down, and all around...all except the smallest who is not as mobile yet. Running through the grass and hiding in the shade was the name of the game. Then when went inside where it went for cool to down right cold. Who says a little a/c isn't good?!?!

It was a great time and we got some great stuff. Hey, and I always like to have fun and I think for the most part they were laughing with me. So that's always a plus!

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This is only informative...

I waited for the first wave of all emotions to run over before I made this post. It has nothing to do with hurting feelings. Or pointing and saying I told you so. It is just my thoughts that will hopefully make others think a bit before they make a decision.

Why hire a photographer instead of a friend? A friend has a great camera and they have used it a lot. They like taking pictures. Etcetera and so on. Lets leave out some of the normal things....stress...composition...work flow. I will stick with some things you may not think about.

What does a photographer do after they have captured your event?

--If it's a wedding maybe you get a top notch album. So now you have this amazing album. It's setting on your coffee table for everyone to see when they come over. Perfect, right?!

--Say it's a family shoot? Okay, you have these great prints of many different sizes hanging throughout your home. Gallery prints, Composite prints, framed prints. MAN THEY LOOK AMAZING!!

--How about a newborn? A newborn album! MORE PRINTS!!!

But hey I can make all these prints and a decent album myself?!?! Maybe you also have perfect skin or you are not to bad a post processing a photo.

These things are still not it.

I had a past bride email me 4 years after her wedding wanting some more prints. Four or five clicks later and I have them pulled up on my screen. Also I have them burned on a DVD. So where is that CD you have all your pictures from your wedding your friend gave you? Perhaps you know right where it is.

In light of the last few months...tornadoes...Alabama & Joplin, MO...two of the most damaging storms in a while. Houses torn apart...lives lost...things scattered. The tornadoes didn't care about the amazing album laying on the table. There are no walls for the pictures to hang on. Computers that held the images on file destroyed. CD or DVD's scattered about. So now the only memory you have of those special times is held in your brain. Or is it? There is something else that set a Professional photographer apart. Sure all their stuff could be destroyed as well, but there is other places to store files. Maybe it's a safe full of external hard drives? Off site storage that was thousands of miles away from storm.

There is other things that a Professional keeps in mind after the event is gone...and they know how valuable those files are to you as well as them. Sure you can save money on the front end by going cheap. But what price will you pay when you no longer have anything with a face of a loved one that you can't get back...and a face you can no longer touch.

The skies are quiet...the waters are still, but still have those families affected by events that have taken so much from them in your thoughts and prayers.

No shutter...only hands...

This last week has been long. I had been yearning to get to Joplin and do anything I could to get my hands dirty and my hat sweaty. I had things going on all week and I didn't think I would get to make a trip down there this week. But sometimes when you don't expect it God opens...I ran through it.

Enter Wednesday...I was supposed to have a family shoot the next day and thought maybe I could go down early and help until noon. I mean I was taking my little girl to the lady that had been keeping her before I was laid off. I CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN. I get a message...it was about the shoot...sick kids :( they need to move the date. While this is not a good thing...the result of what I can now do is.

Thursday, I find myself just past Mt. Vernon, MO heading towards Joplin thinking of what this day may bring. I've seen the pictures heard the reports, but nothing could prepare me. I think what if it was me...what if my girl now had nothing...no toys...her stuffed animals...her "best friends" what if she didn't have me..or me have her...her mommy...my wife. Needless to say tears filled my eyes with the first thought running through my head. I can help...help pick up peoples "lives" their belongings scattered across the land. I can unload the multitude of donations coming in. I can take supplies out to those already in the 6 mile "footprint." But what if I was not "allowed" in...There are shelters where families are "living" places they are calling 'home" if I can't do all that I will go there.

My little one just turned 3. She can mentally wear me out sometimes and I still have my home. I can't even think of all the added stress and trying to deal with her loss as well...nothing to play with...and even nobody to play with. These younger kids not even fully aware of what has happened. Bright eyed...huge smile...no cares. If I can't get in to "ground zero" this is what I will do. Rest mommy...rest daddy...you may not know me, but I am here to help. I can't bring back your house...I can't bring back what or who may have been lost. But I WILL bring a smile to your children's face. You do what you need to do, I will be here and I will stay here until you come back. We will be here to greet you with a hug...a smile...an embrace to try and help with what you face.

As a parent you know the feeling when you see the smile and laughter comes from that little one you love. So if you can't get in to help physically...here is also my thoughts spilled out for you to think over.

Exit 8 into Joplin...a right turn I make...I stop by The Bridge and a helping hand they take. Unloading cars and trucks the come down the drive. Things from here and there all to help something that was lost. It was amazing the out pour of love that was cast upon the Ozarks. Here in our back yard. Seeming like it was only the people of the US helping give back. Funny how something happens across the world and here we are to help out...but when it's us in facing the heartache we stand here on our own. We are the best country on the Earth. We have our troops fighting to keep us free...but something else we have...LOVE...love that shines through...those who have been given lots, give back. Those who have little, give back. Those who have nothing, give back. We have our differences...we have things that make us mad. But when a time comes to help those who have lost it all...we drop it all and come together as one. Not divided by the accents...not torn apart by religion...not looking at the color, but looking at the heart within. American flags blowing in the wind in Joplin...TRUE Americans coming to help those in need.

We don't sit around and wait for others to help us...we never have...as American's...we just go get things done.

A Short Meeting...

It was a small and tasty coffee shop, overcast, and cold for a May day. I had to make a short walk down the street from my parking spot and thought the they may already have beat me there.

I saw through a glass window a face I had met before and when I saw those eyes looking back I saw her face light up. (Great Feeling) The excitement had to be written on my face as much as it was for both of them. All three of were all smiles so we got right to it. Wedding album design...check. Laughing...check. Different styles of print paper...check. Fun...check.

Coffee? Yes please!! We only had an hour since the coffee shop was going to close early. I got my camera out and shot a few pictures. It was natural...the shooting...the love...all of it...natural. After a couple of min we sat down and drank our coffee and talked a bit more about the plans of the wedding and what all we had planned for that day. The getting ready...the first glance...the limo...the wedding party fun...the "foto booth."

All warmed up on the coffee we stepped outside to brave the chill and take a couple more shots. They had already had engagement pictures done, so this was more of a chance for them to get in front of lens and see how I shoot. It was quick, maybe 5-7 minutes between both of the times we took pictures and they were pros at it!!

Coats on...walk to the car...plan for August!

A Non-Picture Post

With all the news stirring about the picture proof it makes you start to think. This isn't what you think it will be. Not about I need to see a picture...not a I want a trophy...not a celebration of a death. All those points are mute compared to a big picture. (no pun intended)

So what could this possibly be? Our digital age...how fast does our media move? I can do a shoot and edit in the field and post a picture from the shoot all within a matter on minutes. I can post a picture here in Missouri and someone across the globe can see it. Heck, I can see a picture from Saturday morning in Japan while it is still light out here in Missouri on Friday!? But what does this have to do with a a single picture from a Navy SEAL raid?

The power of a photo...the meaning behind a photo...the meaning behind any photo. It captures a moment in time and invokes many different emotions, depending on the person who is viewing. The doubters are crying for proof...the ones wounded by this man are wanting to see justification, but what about the ones who loved him? One picture many different emotions. Power of an art form?

Photography has changed vastly since the ages of a dark room being the only way to have a print to paper. We don't even need a paper print in some cases...digital frames. A small little file compressed into a .jpg .raw .dng...what does it hold? Pixels by the millions? Art? Emotion? Power? I say yes! From the first few hours of a newborns life to the flitting breaths in death...it can now all be captured and shown to the world with in minutes...seconds. And all evoke some sort of emotion.

The one who snaps is carrying more than just a little emotion. You have trusted this person to emotionally move you. 1/8000 of a second holds little meaning in a 24 hours day, but in the mirror slapping world of photography it can make you laugh or cry and even both.

It's not about needing a picture to prove power.

But as a photographer it's about the power of a picture we need to prove.

The Cute Contest!

We are on the third day into the voting and we have a couple of kids breaking away from pack. But this in no way means that they are going to win. Catching up and getting ahead are as easy as sharing the album of images and asking your friends to vote for you! Even better is to go to your picture or pictures in the album and share them as well. What else can you do? Ask your friends to share the pictures on their page too and get the facebook party started!

Make sure you tell them to like the fan page first or they won't be able to see the options to "like" or "comment. Get the action going and get the votes in...who knows what might be added to the winner's prize...or maybe even WINNERS.

Click the picture above to go to the Facebook album

Easter and Rain

With all this rain coming down I wasn't very hopeful that the sky would let up and we would get to hunt eggs outside. But it did! There was all kinds of family and friends getting ready to watch the hunt!

With snake boots on Zach trudged out into the light rain and hid the eggs for kids. Right as he was getting down the rain stopped and out we ran to not waste the opportunity for a some what dry hunt. Well I guess I should say we didn't get rained on. Every ones feet got wet, but I think that it was more than worth it! Around 300 eggs were hidden and about that many were found...I think the lawn mower will find the rest.

Bellies full, eggs found and Tangled on for the kids...it was time for a nap!

The NEW WEBSITE is up and going! Check it out and get booked...you could make the main

slide show!

New website! Maybe it will help me blog more!

Well I decided it was time to go ahead and do this part. I have only been dragging my feet on a website for a few years. I am good at telling myself no. And here is to hoping that with a link to my blog from my splash page it will give me more of a reason to blog.

We can all dream a little!

Tony

New Friends, New Fun!

It is amazing the way God works in our lives. He makes us see full and well who is in charge. We have not been friends long with the Gants, but it seems like we all grew up together. There is so many things you could ask for in friends and never seem to to live up to it yourself. But I think something real is going on here. If you need something or don't know what the next you should take call on God he will answer.

This was a fun little shoot that we did. We went to a park climbed around, spun around, and ran around. These to kids have great personalities and are too cute. Hope you enjoy these. Click the above picture for more.

Tony

Girls Time!

This was a crazy bunch of girls! They were are so full of life. It was funny to reflect back on watching a couple of these girls growing up. What a ministry that has been put together for these girls, just to hang out a learn as a group.

God has given us others to help lead us, teach us, and mentor too. Thanks to all these girls for letting me do this for them.

Tony

Middle school friends....

Aaron and I have been playing French Horn since the 6th grade. Now that neither really play anymore, we still are friends none the less. It seems that I have been taking a lot of baby pictures lately...and I love it. What a blessing it is that I got to share this first moment with this God loving couple.

It is wierd to think how far we have come being in middle school to now being parents ourselves.

Click the picture above for a few more from this time we shared.

Tony Williams

The Zigs

I had the best time getting to shoot these newborn pictures and 1 year pictures. Church family makes the fellowship of the time taking the pictures even that more enjoyable. (If that is even proper English?) So what more is there to say. How great is God.

This mom and dad were told by doctors that they would not be able to conceive a child of their own. Maybe the doctors should have contacted the one in control first. Not only is seeing a child being born an awesome sight, but when you are told it can't happen and it does?!?! How can you not believe that there IS someone much mightier than we could ever be.

Click the image above to see the rest of the shots.

Tony Williams

Josh and April party it out...

What a night this was. I had done the engagement photos for Josh and April just a few weeks ago and then they had a few plans change and got married down in Arkansas a few days later. Then we had a reception last night. I brought my lights and backdrop for always fun "foto"booth.

Congrats to the awesome couple and I am sure our friendship will continue to grow.

Click the picture for more from the fun!

Tony

HHS "Band"quet

So here we are again. The end of another school year and all the things that go along with it. I had the honor of taking pictures at the HHS band banquet. It was good food, good music and an all around good time. I hope you like some of the shots here.

If you would like to use these on your facebook pages that is fine, but if you don't mind go ahead and tag me in them as well. My page is www.facebook.com/anthonylwilliams.com. Also if you would like to purchase some of these just send me an inbox message or an email.

Click the image above to see the rest of the nights pictures

Tony

Easter Time

It always seems that I fail to update this so here is Easter. Hey it was only last week. Don't ask about the other pictures I have failed to post.

Everything here has just been moving along fine. She is growing up way to fast and talks allllllllllll the time. It is weird and surprising when she doesn't talk in complete sentences now. I know she is almost two and says: "How about we read the dinosaur book." The look of amazement on both of our faces always seems to come about now.

Mommy and her came out to watch me umpire the other night which was really nice to be able to see them at night since I leave before they get home. Spfld Cardinals open this Thursday so we will see how much she gets into baseball this year. I am thinking so is going to love it...I hope.

Tony Williams

Rodeo

Man I really wish that this blog thing got used more. Something that always seems to be lacking is that little bit of extra time. Anyway this is from a rodeo that I was at doing some senior pictures for on of the finalist.

It was a really fun deal that we ended up staying the whole day, maybe I will get to do a few more of these. Trying to get some things ironed out to make it happen...I hope.

Click the picture for more from this event.

Tony

Mom and Brian

Here are some shots from their ceremony a while back. What a good son, take forever to get anything put up for this. Lucky I can say that it was because of being busy. With a "great" economy it is good to be busy.

Still looking for the change.

I guess you could call that a side note. Ok back to the wedding. Can't say it wasn't a hard one to do, but it was easier for me to focus on my job than anything else. It is good to see them both smiling again after the past year and a half or more.

I have some other things going that I am trying to work on and hope to get them done and up soon. A couple of Tuscany Albums and per mommy a "few" more shots of our little Izzy.

Tony

HHS

I can't believe how some of these kids have grown up. To say this was fun for me is an understatement! I have know some of these boys and girls since they were 7 or 8, playing baseball and biting your knees. One in particular I even changed his diapers...now he "could" change the diapers of my own little one. How time flies.

Anyway to the project at hand. I have made these pictures available for download to use for your facebook our myspace page. If you would like to use them for that...great...if you would like to tag me in them along with everyone else in them...even better! Downloads are free. They are low resolution files so they won't print well. If you would like to get some prints of any of these just email me and we can work it out from there. (williams_photo@hotmail.com) That is also the email that I used for my facebook page...if you care to know.

To see the rest of the images just click on the new Jazz Band front picture above!

Tony

The backroads...

So I was driving back from Roaring River today and cam upon this a Lookout Tower and a little stop area so I had my camera, becuase I was taking pictures at a job, and stopped.

The shed is a HDR photo of about 7 images and I think it turned out pretty cool looking. I wish it was a bit closer so I could do family photo stuff there, but oh well. These next couple are from around and up the tower. ENJOY!

Tony

10 months just in time for 11

As we can all tell by the number of posts this is not going as planned. But not all is lost I have managed to get Izzy's 10 month picture done before she turned 11 months. You may ask yourself what happened to 9 month pictures? Well I took them and I have them...They are on the flickr site if you want to see them.

I now have a facebook and have started a Anthony L. Williams Photography group so feel free to join. I will put some specials up there from time to time.

Tony