Archive for 2012

I really cannot believe that Christmas is just around the corner!  My how time flies!  I have been very busy this fall with weddings and family photo sessions which has left me little time to keep up my blog.  I would much rather be shooting or editing than blogging about shooting or editing.  Still, I hope to share some of what I have been up to over the next couple of months (typically pretty slow months for weddings and family photography). 

But in the meantime, my mind has been on Christmas.  I got to spend some nice time with my family at my house over Thanksgiving, but for Christmas this year my husband and I are headed out west to visit his family.  I do love Christmas, but for the last few years I haven't done much in terms of decorating for it or getting too into the Christmas spirit.  I think I have gotten a little burnt out on the commercialism of Christmas (as a lot of us have, I am sure).  This year, though, I have been busy decorating (even though we won't be here for Christmas day specifically). 

A quote to think about:
"Carry out random acts of kindness with no expectation if reward safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you." -- Princess Diana

I usually have the most fun around Christmas doing a couple of simple random acts of kindness...like paying for the car behind me at the drive-thru, surprising someone behind me at Target by buying and giving them a small gift card and just saying "Merry Christmas" (especially love this if they appear to be someone in need of a little extra), buying toys for Toys for Tots, participating in an Angel Tree, baking a lot and sharing with friends and family, etc.  To me these things are fun (partially because they are unexpected).  I love the idea of Random Acts of Kindness all year round but they especially seem to mean a lot around Christmas.  I was discussing these RAoK with some friends a week of so ago and they also thought RAoK were a great idea...that got me thinking that maybe I should try to perform at least 1 Random Act of Christmas Kindness each day between December 1st and 25th.  The bad news is that I am just now getting started so I will have to make up a couple of days.  :) 

Now those of you who know me well, know about my fetish for pretty stationary, cards, etc. so of course I had to sit down and whip up a RACK (Random Act of Christmas Kindness) card to give to people so they know what it is all about.  :)  Here it is:

By the way if anyone wants a copy of my RACK card (can be printed pretty inexpensively as a 4x6 or 5x7 card)...just shoot me an e-mail at info@byheartandhand.com and I will reply with the jpg file which you are welcome to use if you like.   :) I would love it if my family, friends, and clients decided to participate in the RACK, too...consider that a challenge to do so!  I am definitely someone who believes you reap what you sow and there are some very inexpensive and easy things you can do this month that may make someone's day!  Just think if each of us did one kind thing for someone else each day of December and then if just half of those people affected decided to do one kind deed and pass it on.  I believe that would lead to a change we really need in our world...if we tried to focus less on what we want or need and more on what we could do to positively affect each other! 

I have also tried to come up with (some on my own, some by scouring pinterest and other blogs) some simple ideas for your and my Random Acts of Christmas Kindess.  Be sure to leave a RACK card or note for everyone you do something for so that they understand that they didn't just get lucky, but this was a deliberate act of kindness from someone else (maybe that way they will be touched enough to pass it on).  This is just a starter list but here are some ideas I saw or came up with:

1. If it is raining, purchase a few cheap umbrellas to leave in shop entrances with a notes saying to take it if you need it to stay dry.
2. Leave RACK cards with a dollar or two in an unexpected spot like a bathroom stall or other places.
3. Leave a big tip to an especially hardworking waiter or waitress with a nice note about how you appreciate the job they did. 
4. As mentioned, buy the order for the person behind you at the drive thru.
5. Make and distribute care packs to the homeless (I got some of these ready on Saturday so I will try to do a more specific blog on this later).
6. Load extra change in a vending maching for the next person or put extra change taped to a RACK card or in a ziploc bag for the next person to use.
7. Send dessert to another table at a restaurant.
8. Delivery baked treats or donuts to a nearby police station, fire station, or children's home.  If the people there don't know you, I would make these store bought so you can assure they won't get tossed.
9. Arrange to pay for a soldier's meal if you see one while out dining during the month.  Write a quick thank you for your service message on the back of your RACK card and have the wait staff deliver it to them.
10. Deliver a bouquet to nurses at a hospital so they can give it to a patient who needs it and may not have many visitors.
11. Take flowers or poinsettas to work for your coworkers.
12. Bake something for your coworkers to enjoy.
13. Slip a RACK card under the windshield wiper of a car while out shopping and include a couple bucks or even a $5 gift card to a fast food restaurant.
14. Feed someone else's parking meter (although I got in trouble for this one time in downtown Nashville).
15. Pay for someone behind you at the movie theatre.
16. If you know of someone who is having trouble financially, pop some cash in an envelope with a RACK card and a note.  It doesn't have to be much ($5, $10, $20, or whatever you can afford).  It is  more about showing someone notices and cares than solving their financial woes completely.
17. Tape some change to a payphone (assuming you can find a working one nowadays) with a note saying it is for whoever needs it.
18. Send a card to someone in the military overseas or check out "Adopt a Soldier" Programs.
19. Put something you no longer need on Craigslist for FREE.
20. Leave a couple of $1 bills with a RACK card in the toy section at the Dollar Tree. 
21. Pass out candy to people waiting in line at the Post Office. 
22. Tape candy to an ATM machine.
23. On Christmas Eve:  Take a Christmas treat to an all night drug store worker (or anyone else you know who has to work on Christmas).
24. Buy hot cocoa for a Salvation Army bell ringer.
25. And my favorite if you are able:  Find out about a family in need (ask your priest, preacher, or friends if they know of a family in need) and secretly and anonymously "adopt them".  You could buy them Christmas dinner and fixings or get them a grocery store gift card and maybe buy a little something for each family member as well.  Deliver on their doorstep anonymously.  Ring the bell and RUN! 

I am sure there are more and would love to hear of anyone else's ideas...this is just a list to get you (and I) started.  It really is true that it is a better to give than to receive.  I am not without worries or cares in my life and am certainly not rich, but my life is blessed in so many ways that I get a true sense of joy in giving something back to others. 

Now a few quotes to inspire you:

"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."  -- John Wooden

"Kindness is a language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see."  -- Mark Twain

"A little thought and a little kindness are often worth more than a great deal of money." --John Ruskin

I thought I would take a minute to share a little bit about something new (well not so new to those of us in the wedding industry because they have been around for a while, but some of you newly engaged out there may not be aware of them)...it is the Engagement and Bridal Photo Guest Book!

This is a professionally printed guest book with images from your Engagement and/or Bridal Sessions which has spots set aside in it for your wedding guests to sign in or even write you a message on your wedding day...I think they are so cute!  Even though they do end up costing more than your average store bought guest book, this guest book really does become a keepsake because instead of just having a roll call of who attended your wedding, you also have a book of professional prints of the best of the best images from your enagagement and bridal sessions...so in other words this is a guest book you will actually be able to locate and really will flip through fondly years from now.

Here are just a couple of sample pages from a recent design I worked on...check it out and let me know what you think!


This is an example of the front and back cover...

I am so excited to finally share Deidre's Bridal Session Photos (I already shared them on Facebook earlier today)...

Deidre and Josh tied the knot last weekend (05/26/2012) at the beautiful Historic Cragfont in Castalian Springs, Tennessee near Gallatin.  I was honored to share their wedding day with them and capture all the fun, but Deidre actually chose to do a separate Bridal Photo Session back in April.  This is so smart!  On her wedding day, she got to spend the morning relaxing and enjoying time with her family and bridesmaids while getting ready rather than rushing to get ready in time to do a bunch of bridal shots of just her.  Don't get me wrong...we still took plenty of shots of the bride the day of her wedding at the wedding venue, but we didn't have to try to cram in a 2 hour session worth of pictures in 20 minutes...we got to concentrate more on pictures with her family and bridal party before the wedding (she and Josh didn't see each other until after the ceremony). 

This was an especially good decision since the Nashville area registered RECORD HIGH TEMPS on Deidre's wedding day...it was seriously HOT (95 and humid)!  You never would have guessed it to see Deidre though - I was melting but she looked cool and calm!

Anyway, the weather was far more coopertive back on April 4th when we headed out to Ellington Agricultural Center in Nashville for her Bridal Session with mom and sister, April, tagging along to help :)

If you aren't familiar with Ellington Agricultural Center in Nashville, it is a hidden jewel right in the middle of the Crieve Hall neighborhood in Nashville.  I used to live in Crieve Hall so I am especially fond of Ellington...check out Deidre's bridal pictures and I think you will see why it makes such a great spot for Bridal or Engagement sessions...


 In addition to pretty gardens, Ellington has this cute little bridge (see above) and a gazebo which is also great for pictures and getting out of the hot Nashville sun!









I also love this archway that is at Ellington...so pretty...






Bridal Sessions are great for capturing little details (engagement ring, details on the dress, bustled dress, etc)...


There is also old farm equipment - great for a bride looking for a country feel...





 I insisted that I needed to get some pictures of Deidre with her mom and sister.  I think they were hesitant because they weren't dressed up, but I think it is important to get a couple shots with the family who is helping you so you can look back years from now and recall those memories :)  Besides, they looked beautiful...so happy for Deidre!

Alisha and Chad are an adorable Nashville area couple.  Their wedding is coming up on May 19th.  It was originally slated for September and they had me booked for it.  I was totally bummed when I got a call from them saying that they had changed their date and unfortunately it was on a date when I was unavailable!  I hate it when that happens!  I rebooked their date within a week of them notifying me of the change in date so I did offer to return their deposit but was super excited when they said they would rather put it towards their engagement session, which they still wanted me to do for them (yay!). 

We had a great time walking around Ellington Agricultural Center and taking pictures...this couple is a hoot!  I am sure their wedding will be great fun!  I wish them all the best!