I love Spring!

I love Spring. There are so many beautiful things to photograph. The flowers are out, the birds are building and sitting on nests. Those cold drab days are for the most part gone. (Of course I remember April snows). The weather just invites me to come outside and enjoy all the beauty that God has put on this earth. Let's be good stewards of the planet. Here is a picture of my neighbor's Iris. She has the absolute best green thumb and is gracious enough to let me come take pictures.

Sweet little dog

I haven't been taking many pictures lately.  Yes, I know shame on me. I believe I need to beging a 365 photo mission. I am going to take and post a picture each day. I just took some pictures of my sweet little eleven year old dog Gizmo yesterday. Here she is.

Win a chance for a free background

I just found out about Denny's Manufactoring and Mom's With Cameras hosting a contest for a silver bokeh background. Like them on facebook and twitter to enter. Hurry it ends tonight. My status on face book is "Denny Manufacturing is giving away an 8×8 Silver Bokeh Backdrop at www.moms-with-cameras.com".

Happy New Year

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year. I hope that 2012 will be a happy and prosperous year for you and yours.

Merry Christmas

I live with my little dog, Gizmo. She is very patient and puts up with my little bit of dressing up. So, in honor of Christmas, as in Merry Christmas, not Happy Holidays, she and I have donned the reindeer antlers. So Merry Christmas from Gizmo and I. May you have peace and the unconditional love. May your New Year bring prosperity and happiness.

It is time to get that holiday gift shopping started. Why not do it from the comfort of your home. Do you like hand made beaded jewely, photography gifts, fine art photography? If so, than click on the word etsy or zazzle and find the perfect gift.

Now featuring Etsy

In addition to the photographic gifts that I sell, I've also started making beaded jewelry to sell and give for Christmas presents. Here is a sneak preview of my Etsy shop and the first few things I have listed for sale.

Learning the software

Of course, until I can get back to RCC, I have to do self-tutorials to learn how to use most of the photo-editing software. Between youtube and the NPB digital photography club, I've found some great tutorials. I hope to keep up with my peers and prepare myself to be ahead of the learning curb when I get back to school so that I can concentrate on the artistic side of photography. I use photoshop when I want to do something complicated, photoshop elements when I want a quick edit and portrait professional 10 for portraiture.

New Portraits: Head and Shoulder Shots

I did a self-portrait and a portrait of my son. My son was enjoying Linkin Park with his headsets at a local park. I was using my point & shoot to take the self portrait. It makes focusing a bit easier. Here they are.

sneak peeks

I'll be postings some sneak peeks of my fireworks photos and photo's from the church picnic. The full catalog can be found at my website: www.daylilydreamsphoto.com. You'll see a few here.

Make a free picture slideshow

Beautiful People

It doesn't matter if the beauty is on the inside or the outside, we love the people who are part of our lives. Each gives us a gift just by being who they are. I hope that this video will give you a glimpse of some of the folks I have had the pleasure of photographing over the last three years. Enjoy and email if you have any questions.

Dragonflies Anyone?

Here is an Animoto Video from my day at High Point City Lake Park photographing dragonflies. Enjoy.

Portrait Study and Practice

 I hate that I missed getting to study under Mr. Ashley Fetner this year at Randolph Community College because he is retiring and I had to wait an extra year to come back. However, his encouragement allowed me to step out of my own comfort zone and take more than just nature and landscape pictures. I've started an exploration of portraiture. I'm starting with natural lighting and outdoor but will eventually start using studio lights. I am also enjoying using digital backgrounds to enhance and create fun memories for my clients. Here are a couple of examples of the natural or neutral background followed by the digital. It is a lot of fun.

Another free slideshow by Smilebox

It's a Party!

Let's get excited about summertime! The kids are going to be out of school. Moms and Dads are looking for something to do! How about hosting a Childrens Portrait Party. Mom or Dad can invite 5 other parents, each with one child and I'll bring the studio in a box, my camera and ME!  We take pictures of each child, no sitting fee for the first child, $9.95 sitting fee for each additional child. Each person attending will get proofs of their child's best pose and the host or hostess will get one 8 x 10 and two 5 x 7s of their child. Everyone will have the opportunity to purchase portrait packages for a reasonable price. I've set up a special email address just for the portrait parties, so email me at daylilydreamsphoto@gmail.com for questions and to book your portrait party today!

Make Mine Music

I had the pleasure of shooting a birthday party for a friend of a friend. I had several pictures that turned out pretty good but these are some of my favorites. The first is the birthday boy picking up a bow and trying it out on a Cello for the first time. It was a beautiful sight. The second is a picture of his grandmother walking out for a turn at the badminton game. Everyone had a lot of fun, including me.

Photo Book

Click here to view this photo book larger

Canvas On Demand

I don't normally use my blog to advertise business but there are two business here in North Carolina that I really have to share. The first is Canvas on Demand and the second is Bullock Pro. I really like Canvas on Demand. They put out great work and are fast and courteous.  Now they are donating $5 bucks to the Ronald McDonald House Charities for each order and giving everyone a 20% discount. The are also a North Carolina company and I like supporting local businesses.

Dancing Flames



The flames of the campfire seem to dance
to the symphony of night sounds.



Gizmo watches the flames from a safe
distance, while snuggled in a blanket.



I just spent four lovely days (with the exception of a nasty thunderstorm one night) at a very picturesque and peaceful place called Morrow Mountain State Park. It is quiet, clean and a great place to relax and of course take some pictures. I had my little dog, Gizmo with me and she is a lot like a clingy two-year old even though she is an eleven year old Rat Terrier. She managed to break her leash but didn't get far. I sat on the picnic bench and she got the comfy chair with a warm blanket to snuggle up in. We both seemed to be mesmerized by the campfire. The flames danced and crackled and it sounded like a symphony with the crickets and the peeper frogs in the background. It was a nice evening. Next time I'll bring marshmallows.

The Eyes Have It Part 2



I know I'm unique. Thank you. My
fans adore me.



Here are the other cat pictures in my quest to learn to "brighten" eyes in my photographs without making them look too obvious. The first cat belongs to one friend and already has an almost neon green colored eyes. The second cat belongs to another friend and has pretty regular colored, but striking eyes against her grey coat.



If you stinkin' paparrazi don't get out of my face,
I'm gonna use you as a scratch pad!