Keondra S. Crump AlbumI had a photoshoot with Lee University Student Keondra S. Crump. She has an amazing look to her and she was simply beautiful in the Tennessee sunset.
We went down to one of my favorite places to photograph and the opportunities were endless. She wanted a very classy yet fun photoshoot, and that we did. We spent around an hour and a half shooting around the Old Woolen Mill in Cleveland, TN and we were able to get some amazing shots. It made me feel pretty good that I still have a creative eye for fine art portraiture. As always, I enjoyed the opportunity to capture someones true character.
Click on the photo above to visit the IHOF Photo BlogYes I designed the Logo!
I have been attending the church "Intenational House of Fire" for the past three years. I've been shooting the services there since I fell in love with photography. I have now included the photos in their own web albums for all to enjoy.
Check them out and let me know what you think.
Thanks
Andrew Millar
It just occured to me that next week is December....yeah I know its a no-brainer, but I can't get over how fast the holidays have arrived!I have so much to be thankful for, so to jumpstart this season of giving I am offering:
a Special Winter Discount on all Weddings during the months of December, January, February, March and April.
a Special Winter Discount on all Weddings during the months of December, January, February, March and April.
Your engagement sessions now include an exclusive 20 page 7x7 engagement book to display or sign at your wedding for free! Only During the Winter Months Special.
Call the studio for more info today--2008 is booking up quickly!
-Andrew 423.339.3461
p.s. stay tuned for more promotions and contests!
Rachael my wife amazes me!
This post goes out to all the moms! Especially my wife! I just got done with two days with my two kids while Rachael was out with the flu. What blows me away is that after watching the kids non-stop on the weekends, she gets home from working a full time job, she still comes home early because she misses her kids! Seriously, mothers have a gift! It's the gift of patience, unconditional love, and dying to themselves every day. Rachael use to be an 7 hour a night sleeper minimum! She now sleeps between 4 and 5 hours a night and doesn't even complain. There are days when she doesn't even get to shower or get dressed because Sam throws off her schedule by waking up early or spitting up all over himself right after she changes him. She left me with the kids on Friday night to go to lay down because she wasn't feeling well and told me everything I needed to know and I forgot like half of the things I was supposed to do. Today she wrote down everything for me :) Anyway... just wanted to say that if you're a mom, you have rewards in heaven! You have the hardest and most important job in the world and you have my deepest respect!
Austin and Jessica were such an adorable couple last weekend! I began theirphoto session at a local business that is favored by photographers every where and then went off-road a bit to explore some new areas. They were easy to work with, open to some new ideas and it made for some AWESOME pictures! I really enjoyed working with them both and cannot wait to take part in their wedding if they so choose to get married. Thank you guys for letting me spend the morning with you!
Engagement Album~ Cuteness!
I did indeed drag Andrea and Tanner out in the cold for their engagement session this weekend! The leaves are just soooo awesome right now, and they are so great to photograph. I knew we could get some more great stuff. (New website right around the corner.. perfect excuse to get some new images! :) And really.. I've been wanting to go to Chattanooga to Coolidge Park for some time now. We spent two hours shooting photos and I had a blast! I mean really, could it hurt to have too many engagement pictures? I'm thinking not.
It was peak weekend for the leaves and as you can see the surronding colors provided an unbelievable backdrop. Thanks again you two and I am looking forward to your upcoming May wedding!
People are starting to tell me more and more that my name is bigger than I think it is. All I know is that God is much bigger than we all think and He has the power to take us places in order to bring the gospel to as many unbelievers as possible. I am not important, nor is my brand or career, other than to bring glory to God.I use to think that this business was really just a training ground for some future ministry that God had planned for me. All of the experience I've been getting with starting and running a business, public speaking, business management, taking care of clients, and learning to trust Him when I'm out of my comfort zone has turned into more than just training. It's turned into a platform that I think God is starting to use. It's so amazing to see what He's doing!
Well... It's tuesday evening and the day has finally wound down. The kids are in bed and my wife has had yet another exhausting day at work. I don't think life would be much fun without her.
So far this week I've booked several portraits, engagements and three booked weddings for 2008. So space is fillling up fast. I have an engagement session this weekend in Chattanoooga and I will get them posted A.S.A.P. Weather permitting...
Enjoy your week
Andrew Millar
It's 4:05pm and I'm here in front of my laptop doing my very best to stay focused on the "important" things I'm supposed to get done before I go to church tonight. One of which is an email questions like....."How would you describe your particular style in shooting weddings? What makes you stand out from the rest of the wedding photographers? It's always hard for me to answer questions. Maybe because I know that hundreds of people will be reading my answers or more likely it's because I sometimes forget what sets me apart from other photographers out there. I mean... all of us are just making it up as we go right? We somehow have a vision in our heads of who we want to be and where we want to go and we just move forward with one eye open hoping we don't trip or run into a wall along the way. An ex-employer asked me a question once when I was getting ready to leave his studio to start my own business. His question went something like this, "Andy, what makes you think you're any different from the hundreds of photographers out there trying to make a living? What are you going to do that isn't being done already? How are you going to succeed? Have you ever stopped to think about that? "I don't exactly know why, but I've always had a quiet (maybe false) sense of confidence. I like to think I've found favor in the eyes of God but I don't know that for sure... it's just a result of so many things going right in my life that I can't really take credit for. My mom told me once that I have "the touch" and everything I touch turns to gold. I'm sure she told that to my brother and sister too! Well, I couldn't answer my soon-to-be ex-boss's question without sounding like an idiot so I just kept my mouth shut and shrugged my shoulders. If I didn't care what he thought of me, I would have said what was so obvious to me at the young, know-it-all age of 29, "It's me. I'm different. There's only one of me so that makes me one of a kind. Isn't that enough to be successful?"I remember how confident I was. There was nothing that was going to hold me back from pursuing and realizing my dream of owning my own photography business and making a decent living doing what I loved so much.Looking back, my expections weren't exactly in the clouds. All I wanted was to be able to do something fun as a career, afford to drive a new (or at least newer) vehicle instead of my 10 year old small buick, and eventually be able to move out on my own so I could really provide for my family. I never actually thought that I could take this so far. I didn't put a cap on my dreams but I never expected to find the kind of success I've found. God really must have a plan for my life because I can honestly say that I don't know what I am doing here or how I got here. It reminds me that I don't want to be 80 years old and thinking about how I never made a difference. I want to be used by God in whatever way. It may just be to take care of my family and point my kids towards heaven or I might end up in on the other side of the world preaching the Gospel to fifty thousand heads. I guess God knows right?Ok, now back to the "important" stuff. It was fun rambling. Thanks for reading :Oh, the moral to what I originally started this post for was something along the lines of - You have no competition because there is only ONE of you on this earth. Embrace that fact and let it carry you in your art, your business, and your confidence!
Love and God Bless
Andrew Millar
Tess Ball AlbumFor the past month I've been blasting away with sports and other special events for Lee University for whom I am now one of their featured photographers. I haven't had the opportunity to get really creative with lighting or just have some fun shooting latley except my wife and kids. Well that all changed for me Saturday morning when I had a photoshoot with graphic designer Tess Ball. She has an amazing looking Volks Walgen Beetle custom chopped to look much like a Rolls Royce. And it was simply beautiful in the morning sun in Tennessee.
We went down to one of my favorite places to photograph and the opportunities were endless. She wanted a very classy yet fun photoshoot, and that we did. We spent around an hour and a half shooting around the Old Woolen Mill in Cleveland, TN and we were able to get some amazing shots. It made me feel pretty good that I still have a creative eye for fine art portraiture. She was so excited. "I can't believe you made me look beautiful." "Oh, Wow!" were many of the comments she was making just looking at the camera back. I haven't even edited them yet. I'm glad she loved the photos.
As always, I enjoyed the opportunity to capture someones true character. I simply don´t know how my job could get any cooler.
P.S. I wasn't going to mention this because it is so personal, but I can't hold it in.
God shook me up this morning and revealed things in my life that I need to change. I'm starting with the most important - my relationship with Christ. I'm ashamed to say that He has not been first in my life.
Next is more quality time with my wife and kids. It's crazy how easy it is to let materialism and selfishness creep in. I have this freakish need for success and it has really become a false god. I am so thankful that I have such good friends and Godly mentors in my life who look out for me and slap me around when I start to slip.
""For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?" (Matthew 16:26)
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." (Galatians 5:22)
Good morning to all.
Today is my wedding anniversary and it feels amazing. My wife and I have been married for a rough and tumbling 5 years. We've had amazing moments and set backs but e've managed to come together and push through and past all that comes against us.
Today I will take her out to lunch and the movie "Why did we get married".
Yes, I never get tired of photographing her or our children.
I had the most amazing hour and a half this evening with an amazing woman. I am glad to introduce the one and only Apostle Tina Baker of Cleveland, TN.
When I set up my portable studio in the front of International House of Fire; the church where she is the leader of and responsible for, we chatted about this that and life. Apostle Tina is easy going and I could have talked to her all night. In my opinion as well as many others... She is a treasure here on this earth.
Those who meet her leave with smiles and a renewed sense of the living Jesus Christ. She is not one to push religion or stuff God down your throat. She is one that I am glad to know who is not afraid to tell the simple yet impacting truth of the Son of God who died for all of us.
I am glad that I know this woman. I am happy to know that she is someone I can go to for counsel or ask out to lunch just to enjoy her company.
God bless Apostle Tina Baker, her family and all the lives she touches for generations to come!
Much love to IHOF!
Andrew Millar
It's about time I update this blog and turn my hobby into a full time business.
It's been some a very busy summer and fall season so far. Recently I had the pleasure of photographing Chris and Ariel. They are such a charming couple that you'd think they were engaged or even married. Alas... No. They are patiently waiting for the right time and I more than anyone can appreciate that. They were very comfortable in front of the camera and I enjoyed every moment of their time spent with me.
Thanks Chris and Ariel.
Saturday June 2-2007
La Quinceañera
An Hispanic Celebration of Budding Womanhood
The transition from childhood to womanhood is a significant passage for adolescent girls in almost all cultures. In Mexico, it is marked with the celebration of the Quinceañera, or 15th Birthday. From a north-of-the-border viewpoint, it may be seen as a cross between Sweet Sixteen and a debutante's coming out party. The celebration is a way to acknowledge that a young woman has reached sexual maturity and is thus of a marriageable age.
An Hispanic Celebration of Budding Womanhood
The transition from childhood to womanhood is a significant passage for adolescent girls in almost all cultures. In Mexico, it is marked with the celebration of the Quinceañera, or 15th Birthday. From a north-of-the-border viewpoint, it may be seen as a cross between Sweet Sixteen and a debutante's coming out party. The celebration is a way to acknowledge that a young woman has reached sexual maturity and is thus of a marriageable age.
The most important component of the celebration is invariably a Misa de acción de gracias (thanksgiving Mass). The birthday girl arrives decked out in a fancy full-length dress - frills, pastel tones and matching hats or headdresses prevail. Flanked by her parents and padrinos (godparents), she is specially seated at the foot of the altar throughout the service. She may be accompanied by up to seven damas (maids of honor) and as many chambelanes (chamberlains), selected from among close family and friends.
At the end of the mass younger sisters, cousins and friends pass out bolos (commemorative favors) to those in attendance, while the quinceañera deposits her bouquet on the altar or in a niche honoring the Virgin Mary, most often that of the ubiquitous Virgen de Guadalupe.
The quinceañera traditionally has the option of further celebrating the occasion with either a viaje (journey) or a fiesta (birthday bash). While a trip to Paris and other European destinations was once the rage among the well-heeled, nowadays young women of all social strata generally opt for the party, complete with live band music. The degree of opulence of the event is directly related to the economic means of the girl's parents and godparents.
Urbanites frequently lease banquet halls for the dance, while village folks are more inclined to set up rented folding tables and chairs in a freshly cleared and swept huerta (orchard) or corral. To cover the multiple expenses, a host of padrinos and madrinas may be invited to sponsor, respectively, the dress, the music, the locale, the bar, the cake and the table favors.
While raucous banda, cumbia and salsa tunes tend dominate throughout the event, the culminating moment comes when the festejada (celebrant) and her number-one chambelán (escort) dance to a traditional waltz. Other indispensable highlights include a customary toast and the cutting of a multi-tiered birthday cake. Dripping in meringue frosting and decorated in hues to match the quincea–era's dress, the cake may be of such monumental proportions that the door leading into the party locale must be removed from it hinges.to accommodate it!
The origins of Mexico's quinceañera celebrations remain obscure, although the roots may well lie in the era of the Aztecs. According to Bernardino de Sahagun, in his chronicle Historia de Nueva España, it was traditional for the parents of a young Aztec maiden to formally acknowledge her passage into womanhood. This included a stern but tender exhortation to observe acceptable modes of behavior.
Regardless of how the tradition originated, regardless of the relentless onslaught of gringo culture prevalent today, the celebration of the quinceañera remains as one of the rites of passage that keeps the bonds of the Mexican family firmly cemented. Its fancy frills and frosting abide as rich ingredients for a niña's sweet dreams.
Words cannot explain the culture shock I found myself in yesturday.
The QUINCEAÑERA was an experience I would do over and over again. It made me want to learn spanish! It maade me want to go and join in and dance and sing.
Adam and Imelda are parents that love their daughter and it showed the entire day. With both of them lacking sleep from tireless preperations from earlier that week.
It was a privlege and my honor to photograph this experience and I look forward to doing it again.
God Bless
Andrew Millar
This is Ava Williams. I shot her session today and I'm editing her photos with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom. I'm also putting together a leather scrap book and a DVD multimedia story that I'm designing for her to take home when she goes back to Freeport, Bahamas. A preview of her photos and her album will be up on my .com site soon!
This is Jermon and Demeka. I shot their engagement session a few months back and I'm putting together some shots to go in a custom leather scrap book that I'm designing for their wedding sign-in book. It's turning out so cool! I had these books made by hand for my studio and I burn in my signature logo in the back. Maybe when it's done I'll take a picture of it and show it off. I'll put up a preview on my .com site soon!
Just read this scripture and thought it might be as inspiring to you as it is to me!
"How blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways.When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands, you will be happy and it will be well with you.Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine within your house,Your children like olive plants around your table.Behold, For thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord."
Psalm 128:1
God is good!
Andrew Millar
The scripture below has impacted my life more than any other I can think of.
It's not enough to be a church-going, happy-smiley, "amen brother" shouting, tithing, baptised, nice guy with a fish sticker on my car.
Lord, give me a heart for the sick, poor, hungry, thirsty, imprisoned, naked, and lonely. Please forgive me for my selfishness. Soften my heart and give me conviction so I can make a difference.
Matthew 25:31-46
31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.
32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.
33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;
36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?
38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?
39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’
40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink;
43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’
44 “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’
45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’
46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Amen!
Andrew Millar
Hi and welcome to my brand new web journal.
This is my first post and I'm so glad you stopped by to check it out! I picked this image of my son Shiloh because I thought he looked especially cute in it. It was taken by my myself in Skyridge Medical Center the same day as his birth. I had to run back to the house for a quick bite to eat and a quick nao before I had to go and pick up my wife and sonin the morning. I'll have to post an image of my wife tomorrow so she doesn't feel left out.Well, today is pretty much an average day for me... except for the fact that I've been working from home all morning. I woke up this morning to Children's cartoons and my daughter bringing me her favorite doll to play with her. I couldn't stay home this morning I am too excited to bring home my new son. I'm going to attempt to put together a web blast to announce my new .net site and formally introduce my new .com site even though it's been online for a few months. I need to retouch a headshot I took of an event planner and friend of mine which will be going into a Magazine next to her bio. I have 3 weddings to edit so I'll most likely get through one before I head out to lunch. That's it for now... please check back tomorrow for more images and rambling :)Remember to appreciate what you have and to view any trials in your life as a blessing that will help you grow and gain in wisdom!
God Bless!
Andrew Millar
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