Thank you, “D” family for entrusting me with your precious memories.  What a blessing “H” is and I look forward to our year of fun sessions and watching her grow.  Enjoy these faves…

Some favorites:

Couldn’t resist posting some outtakes.  Such a fun session!  Thanks for making me laugh, Greg!

Creating art for others simply feeds my soul.  But somewhere along the way—and I know this is something a lot of my friends and family struggle with as well— I’ve lost a bit of the hunger to create for myself.  To play. To explore. To find inspiration not only in the brightest of days, but also in the uncertainty. Or maybe life just happened and I forgot to carve out a little space for myself in which to create and play and dream.  Perhaps I’m just afraid of sacrificing one thing for another…of being able to do both and do them well.  I’m quite sure it’s a combination.

I do long to create.  God wants me to create.  I feel called to create.  Sadly, I don’t give myself permission to do more of it just for me.  I know if I did, it would only enrich my art, my relationships and my well-being, as well as recharge that initial passion I had for it. So much easier said than done. But I’m working on it…

And this was my first self-imposed assignment  in a very long time:

I’ve had this session “brewing” in me for a while but wasn’t quite sure what it looked like or how I was going to execute it.  I was kind of scared of it.  I buried it. I could see it getting a little too “dark”. Until last month when everything fell into place and the timing was right.  I knew I wanted to depict a combination of darkness and light, sanguine and melancholy, quiet and chaos, the calm in a storm.  The juxtaposition of beauty…and imperfection.

I tapped one of my faithful muses—my 10-year-old niece Sailor who’s no stranger to my camera, to be the star of my “story” and, after a quick styling (again wasn’t sure what I was going to do with her but it all came together perfectly) we set out into the woods on a chilly February afternoon. With barren branches and fallen trees as our backdrop, I reveled in capturing her beauty, innocence and light.  Childlike faith. Hope. Courage.

Two literal symbols are present in this session (something I don’t typically do but felt compelled to for at least a couple images) – a white butterfly and a dove.  I’ll spare you the details as to what each means to me personally because this session encompasses so many themes and emotions.  All of them complicated yet so simple.  And I think I’d rather keep a little piece of this story just for me.  It’s the beginning of my journey to create more for myself.  Thank you for being a part of it.

All of that to say, it’s exciting to watch my oldest niece be a loving, amazing mother.  And it’s exciting to now be a Great Aunt!  Sweet, serious Mason has brought so much joy to our family and here are a few of my faves from his 2-year session.

Loved this monkey suit my niece bought for him.  Apparently he always wants to wear it so we had to capture him monkeying around in it!

Love these sweet mother/son moments:

We took advantage of the pretty day—and this is where the stick horse cowboy rides away…

**If you’re interested in capturing your child’s first year, please email me or call for more details! heather@heatherthorne.com ~ 817.360.6754

One of my faves from the session is the one on the left – I love how both he and his “buddy” have blue eyes!

Just for fun – some Valentine love…

I love his intense, serious face…

Some faves…

 Love this vintage hat/coat on her!

Sweet moments with mom…Three generations.  love.

I’m in the mood for Valentine’s Day so I played a little   I also offer custom Valentine’s for my clients and these are just a few samples…

2011 brought about some challenges but also some amazing experiences.  I photographed two mission trips for the LEAP Foundation – one in Belize, one in Haiti. I traveled to Canada, Vail, Denver, Jacksonville, Oklahoma City, Jefferson, TX and Kansas City for both work and play.  I hosted numerous out-of-town guests and had my busiest “busy” season yet this past fall at the studio.  All of this while battling chronic back pain and trying to keep my head above water these past few months. No complaints at all about my life.  Just how I’ve been handling it.

What has been heavy on my heart of late is that I haven’t been very good about balancing it all.  Four years ago, I took a leap of faith and opened my own photography business.  God has opened doors and blessed me in countless ways since doing so, but I’ve realized I haven’t been holding up my end of the deal.  I haven’t spent as much quiet time with Him. I’ve canceled on plans with friends. I’ve turned down family functions and even canceled on a girl trip to Vegas.  Why?  Because I was overwhelmed and tired and not managing my life in the way I hope to in 2012. I thought I’d fail at one thing if I did the other.  I’ve had this mentality that there is always work to be done and it’s probably true – especially owning your own business.  But the work will still be there tomorrow.  And the next day. Just like it was when I worked for someone else.  What may not be there are the people who mean the most to you.

I don’t really do resolutions but I believe goals are imperative for anyone in business and personal matters. Here’s how I’m going to do that. And I suppose I feel this public post will help keep me accountable. Or maybe it will inspire you to see what changes need to be made in your life.  Either way, I’m feeling the need to put it out there.

In no particular order, I will….

1.  Continue to serve while finding more balance with my client shoots and volunteer work: I’m kicking off 2012 travel with a trip to Ecuador next week with John and the LEAP Foundation and have other volunteer projects on the calendar. I never want to get to a place where I’m so tired or overwhelmed that my heart and mind aren’t in the right place while serving.

2.  Create more. Dream more: I have so many ideas swirling in my head but never seem to execute them because I’m “too busy.”  I will strive to find inspiration daily and create more through imagery, crafting and writing.

3.  Be a better business owner: This one is always at the forefront and keeps me awake at night. I’m headed to Karen Carey’s THRIVE workshop at the end of month and  I cannot wait to come home more business savvy, inspired and ready to take my business to the next level – all while keeping a semi-normal personal life and nurturing the relationships I have.  No pressure, Karen

4. Be more present in my relationships: I love my friends.  I love my family.  I think any one of them will tell you I’m there for them if they ever need me.  But I want to be there even when I need them.  Instead of tapping into the amazing support system I have, I’ve carried the burdens of life all by myself, not wanting to bother others.  I always want to be that person that fixes things for others.  Not the one that needs fixing.  Well, that’s just dumb! Who do I think I am controlling it all?   I’m quite sure this won’t change overnight but I’m determined to lean on others more. To delegate and outsource what I cannot do.  To ask for help.  A dear friend (and one that went on that trip I canceled this fall) just told me last night to stop apologizing for the two months we’ve gone without seeing each other. And then she told me she loved me.  No matter what. She made realize even more that I’m way too hard on myself. Guilt will get me nowhere.  Doing something about the situation will.

5. Read more:  It’s sad the amount of books I’ve bought over the past few years and haven’t cracked open a one.  Or I start one and don’t finish it.  LAME. Again, my head seems to be swirling 100 mph when I finally sit down to read and I can’t quiet it down long enough to enjoy one of my favorite past times.  That will be changing.  Yes indeed.

6.  Spend more time in the Word, with God:  This fuels my soul and having gotten off track, it’s clear how I’ve gotten to this place.  I’m thankful He is always there, even when I’m not allowing myself to let Him take the reigns.

7.  Get healthier:  I know I know.  This is the cliche of all new year’s goals.  My intent isn’t to get a six pack though.  I just want to feel good.  After a rough two years of chronic back pain, physical therapy and no real diagnosis or relief (my physical therapist sums it up like this—”You’re a bio-mechanical mess.”  Nice.  And I’m supposed to do what with that? I will make time to explore avenues to help alleviate some of my symptoms which definitely affect all areas of my life.  Eating healthier and starting a gentle yoga class are both on the agenda. And of course following through with stretches and exercise that I’ve, um, seemed to blow off. Instead of keeping Icy Hot in business, I think I’ll do what I can to not need them.

I think I’ll stop there.  I wouldn’t want to get too crazy with the list or add more pressure.   I hope that whatever goals you set for 2012, you are kind to yourself if you happen to get off track.  I’m going to take my own advice too.  And if I don’t, feel free to call me out on it.

Lastly, I couldn’t post a new year’s goal list without photos from our cozy night in with our dear friends Michael and Julie who came in from Oklahoma.  I love these two so much and am thankful Julie and I reconnected two years ago.  I hadn’t seen her since college but it feels like we’ve been close friends for years. And yes, she’s another friend I’ll be sure to lean on.  Julie, you have my permission to remind me of my goal list if I don’t execute.

Thank you Michael and Julie for a lovely start to the new year.  Looking forward to many more memories with you!

Our impromptu “photo booth” set up in my living room…