Las Vegas... There's a new photographer in town!
The Winter Storm of 2021
The storm that changed everything.
I happened to be in Las Vegas the week the winter storm hit in Houston. My business partners (Terrance and Joe) and I were chatting at the kitchen table one morning, and I remember saying, “Ya know, I’m gonna have to move here soon.” I’ll never forget Terrance’s expression as he looked at me and said, “Yeah, you are. But I don’t think it’s gonna be some leap of faith like it was when you moved to Houston. I think God’s gonna make it obvious.”
The next night I dreamed that I moved to Vegas and I was so happy because I found a furnished apartment. I woke up thinking it was such a random dream…
Two days later, a friend checked on my house. He sent me photos of complete devastation. The ceiling had caved in in several places in the house. There was water damage all over and by the time the insurance company came to check everything out, there was plenty of mold damage, too.
I thought I lost everything… but I actually GAINED everything. Do you know what a blessing it is to suddenly be homeless with ZERO belongings? It’s the most freeing feeling I’ve had in my life.
Now, it’s time for a change.
"The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps."
Proverbs 16:9
Sometimes God knows we won’t let go on our own…
So He strips things from us. I don’t think he does it to be mean… He does it so we don’t have to make the decisions on our own.
I don’t know how long it would have taken me to make this move… but I know it wouldn’t have happened right now without some divine intervention.
The first week of June will be my last full week as a Houston resident.
I’ll be leaving to set up shop in Vegas. Most of my time will be devoted to our sports media company, Franchise Sports Media.
But this doesn’t mean you can’t book me in Houston! I plan to live between both cities. From my new website, you can book me for photography or videography in both cities as well as Los Angeles. I’ll be keeping the calendars updated with the days I’ll be in each place. I’m still planning to do photography workshops and now I have an excuse to do a travel workshop in Vegas for my Houston peeps!
So.. Who’s coming? 🙌🏻
P.S. I have five weeks left before I move. If you want to get on my Houston calendar, you can book through my new website. Let’s go!!!
Travel Photographer || Bali, Indonesia
Travel Photography
I've always wanted to be a travel photographer. My first major trip was to India in 2014 to document an adoption. From that moment on, I knew I wanted to travel the world and document moments that matter. Over the last 5 years, God has blessed me tremendously!
Bali, Baby
When Roz asked me to go back to Bali to document her fitness retreat, I was all in. My second trip to Bali was even better than the first. We had more time to explore and made sure to take advantage. Roz and I spent our first day with the best tour guide in Bali... Mano. (instagram.com/mano_balitourguide) He took us to an amazing lookout where we had a gorgeous view of Mount Agung.
Then we headed to the Lempuyang Temple in Kuta. It's an Instagram famous temple that is a little bit of an illusion. There is a man who takes the photos with your phone and uses a mirror to reflect the top of the photo to the bottom. It makes it look like the temple has a pool of water below it, but in reality it doesn't. However, it was still AMAZING and beautiful. We also went to a water garden (Tirta Gangga) and the water temple, Taman Ujung. If you want a place to take Instagrammable photos, these should be on your list!
The rest of the week was spent doing a workout at the Muscle Gym at the Komune Hotel, hiking Mount Batur, scoping out the market and learning to cook traditional Balinese food, biking through rice paddies, and enjoying the city scenes. Our last two days were spent in Canggu relaxing and eating amazing food. Everything we ate in Bali was fabulous. I will definitely go back and spend more time trying new restaurants!
If you have any questions about where to stay, what to do, or what to expect, shoot me an email. I'd love to share more of my experience with anyone who wants to hear. :)
Fit(ish) Travel Adventures - Photography in Bali
Travel Photography is definitely my jam.
One of the most epic adventures I've been on to date was this trip to Bali with Fit(ish) Travel Adventures led by Roz Jones. Combining photography, fitness, and travel is a dream come true! I want to give a quick overview of the entire week, and then break it down into smaller blogs to let you in on more details. I'll definitely be posting about the hike up Mount Batur because that was the one activity that I was the most curious about beforehand.
Komune Resort was the best place to experience Bali.
From the people to the food to the views, we could not have asked for a better place to enjoy this beautiful country. I don't think I ever saw one employee without a smile. Every person there seemed to LOVE their job and they were super accommodating every time we had a request. They helped coordinate drivers and excursions and by the end of the week, they knew our names! At every meal we had a fresh juice and whoa... they were all so yummy. There were two different restaurants to choose from--The Health Hub and the Beach Club. I preferred the healthier options at the Health Hub, but the Beach Club looked out over the ocean. We couldn't go wrong with either choice!
The excursions were the BEST.
Our first excursion was a cooking class where we made traditional Balinese dishes. I'm usually pretty nervous about trying new foods but I honestly liked most of the dishes we made! We smashed peanuts to make our own peanut sauce, chopped veggies, pressed mashed up, seasoned chicken onto sticks, and learned a lot about the Balinese culture through the class. Our hostess was fabulous and we all left full and happy.
Our next excursion was the hike up Mount Batur.
Who doesn't want to get up at 2 am and hike a volcano? I was still tired from jet lag and honestly didn't know what to expect so I was a little nervous about this at first. But we made it! We all made it to the top of the mountain--even poor Roz who had been sick for a couple days. The sunrise views from the top were amazing and I was on a high after that hike. The monkeys only added to the charm of the day, and we even witnessed a proposal at the top!
The next day, a few of us went on some adventures of our own.
We knew we wanted to go to the Uma Pakel Swing and although I'm a bit of a scaredy cat when it comes to heights, I knew I HAD to do it. That first push was terrifying and thrilling all at once. I mean, you're so freaking high on a swing that goes out over a huge ravine and they just keep pushing you higher and higher... and yes, I screamed like a little girl! Lol. After the swing we went to a Balinese Market to buy souvenirs and then made our way to the Tegenungen Waterfall.
The Rice Paddy Bike Tour was a great way to soak up more of the culture and scenery.
I tried to use my camera while on the bike, but it was pretty impossible. Lol. I loved having an excuse to just be in the moment and take in all the sounds, sights, and smells. We stopped midway and had a coffee and tea tasting. Everyone loved the coconut coffee! My favorite part of the bike tour was all the people yelling "Hello!" as we rode by. Kids waved and smiled and I tried to memorize every face I saw since I couldn't take pictures.
Last but not least... the workouts!
Roz led some amazing workouts from HIIT, to yoga, to outdoor workouts by the beach. I wish I could have filmed AND worked out, but I was definitely taking notes for my workouts when I got home. :) Roz is an amazing fitness instructor who knows how to motivate! I'm so grateful that she asked me to tag along and document such an epic trip. If you're looking for an excuse to travel and work out, you should definitely follow Roz and watch for her next trip announcement.
www.facebook.com/fitishtraveladventures
These two got engaged at the top of Mount Batur so I snapped a few pics!
Bringing Vincent Home through Adoption
If adoption tugs at your heart, grab some tissues.
This adoption story will have you wiping your eyes. On May 8, 2017, the Hutchins Family boarded a bus with two other couples. There was a nervous excitement in the air. No one knew what to expect. The guide spoke on the bus ride while everyone listened intently.
"Sometimes the children attach to one parent. Sometimes it's the mom and sometimes it's the dad." Everyone on the bus hung onto every word Rita said. This was the day -- the day they would meet their children.
The expectant parents stepped off of the bus and into the waiting area. There was no way to know whose child would arrive first. Cody and Bree watched as 3 other children arrived and met their parents. Their anxious excitement was evident as they paced the room and tried to distract their minds by attending to Lucy and Landry.
And then, all of a sudden, he was there.
Vincent walked through the door rather timidly.
He was led by his orphanage director. The Hutchins family scrambled to get together.
"He's here! He's here!" Bree said excitedly to Landry. "Come on!"
They gathered around their quiet boy while the orphanage director showed him pictures in a book that had been sent to Vincent through another family a few months prior. She pointed to the photos of Cody and Bree and explained that they were his mom and dad. Then there was big brother and sister. Vincent looked up at them and no one was sure what his next move would be.
And then it happened.
Bree stretched out her arms for a hug and Vincent walked right into them. There was no fear -- just a little boy embracing the woman who would hold him forever... The woman he would call "Mom"... The woman who had waited for this day for entirely too long. Tears flowed as Vincent gave Cody a hug, too.
Vincent, an orphan for nearly four years, finally has a family to call his own.
You can watch the whole thing right here. If you like it, please share! There are 153 million orphans worldwide. If this video makes one person decide to adopt, it would make my heart SING!
Video shot by Trisha LaCoste and April Loyle. Edited by Trisha LaCoste.
I got to visit Vincent in Denver in August. He was so happy and always eating!
Photography Focus
I say work with what you've got. There are a lot of thing I'd like to buy... a few thousand dollars worth of lenses, a brand new computer with all the bells and whistles, some new stabilizers for videos. But what I've learned over the years is to make do with what I've got. You can have the best lens in the world but if you don't know how to use that camera, it won't make much difference to your work. Photography is more about the person behind the camera than the equipment in hand. I've been learning my equipment inside and out for the last few years. I've added a few reasonable things to my arsenal, but I keep getting better at using what I already have, too! Focus on your craft more than your equipment. Eventually, you'll be so good at what you do that you can charge whatever you want and buy all the things you've been dreaming about. Whatever you do, just keep shooting! :)
Vincent - An Adoption Story
Adoption has always been a part of my life... almost for as long as I can remember.
I have three adopted siblings, an adopted son, an adopted nephew, adopted cousins... the list is long. In 2014, April (my friend/business partner/sister from another mister) and I traveled to India to document an adoption and I made it a goal to travel as often as possible with families who are adopting. Adoption is so dear to my heart.
Let's rewind for a minute. I spent my first 9 years of life in a tiny town in northeast Ohio. Minerva was the home town of both my parents and it seemed like we were related to everyone! Bree was one of those relatives -- our grandparents were siblings. I moved off to Wisconsin and then later to Alabama so the last time I really remember seeing Bree we were somewhere around 8 or 9 years old. We may have crossed paths at some point after that but my memory is horrible.
Thank goodness for Facebook, right? Somewhere over the last 10 years, we became friends on Facebook. I watched from my corner of the world as she and her husband had a baby, adopted a daughter from China, moved to Denver, etc.
Then one day a little over a year ago, she messaged me. She and Cody were adopting from China again and she wondered about the possibility of me tagging along to document the day they would meet their son. Well... long story short... the details worked out and April and I went to China in May.
There is no way to describe the feelings involved in adoption.
It's something you just have to experience. Even if you're just a bystander, the emotions in the air are thick. It's heavy and happy all at the same time. An orphan is connecting to strangers he's never met. He's supposed to call them "Mom" and "Dad" but he's never even seen them in real life. He's about to leave everything he's known for a place he's never seen and every child responds differently. It was amazing to watch Vincent warm up so quickly.
Grab a tissue! Here is a glimpse of the days leading up to Vincent's "Gotcha Day" and the moments when Cody, Bree, Lucy, and Landry met Vincent for the first time.
*Tomorrow, I'll be posting a video of this emotional meeting. In the meantime, enjoy a quick trip through a Chinese adoption.
George was our guide in Beijing.
The Forbidden City
Lucy climbing The Great Wall 
After three days, we finally made it to the BIG DAY.
Photography Focus...
My go-to lenses are the Canon 70-200mm 2.8 and the Sigma 35mm ART 1.4, and I used them almost exclusively on this trip. I only pulled out my Canon 17-40mm 4.0 for a few landscape shots while climbing The Great Wall. When you take a trip like this you never know what kind of shooting conditions you'll face. Thankfully, years of photographing weddings in dark churches and reception halls has prepared me to think on my toes. The room where we waited for the children was bright and cheery with plenty of light so we had no lighting issues at all. Honestly, even if it was dark I would have chosen to shoot without flash and bump up my ISO. Sometimes shooting with flash ruins the mood of the photos. I'm a natural light photographer first and a "light creator" second.
My Next Adventure...
When I quit my insurance job six years ago, I never could have imagined where God was going to take me from there. I crossed my fingers, prayed a LOT, and begged God to provide enough money for me to pay my bills. There was a Christmas when someone felt led to give me $500 and without it, I honestly wouldn't have been able to do much for my kids. Being self-employed has its perks but it's a lot of work, too. You guys may see my pics from China, Scotland, and Uganda and think I've got it made. But what you don't see is the huge amount of work and stress and uncertainty that goes into reaching those few mountain top moments. I've spent the last six years staying up late to work, waking up early to work, doing free photo shoots, missing my kids' basketball games, learning new skills, building websites, making mistakes, sitting behind my laptop for HOURS .... you get the idea. It's been a huge sacrifice to get to where I am now. And it still is a sacrifice! Some days I would love nothing more than to get a "real" job, have a regular paycheck, get a bigger house, drive a nicer car, and be home with my kids more.
But those moments -- the ones when I wonder why I keep doing this -- they all lead me back to my purpose. My calling.
I am called to create... Photos, videos, graphics, websites, art... it doesn't matter what it is. My calling is to create. I've been this way since I was a child! When I was in 2nd grade, I remember overhearing my dad say, "She's creative but she sure knows how to make a mess!" Lol. I like to think I've gotten the messy part under control, but my neat-freak daughter might disagree. :)
My friend, Terrance, recently pointed out to me that the very first thing God did was create. Have you ever thought about that? In the beginning, God created. A quote I read yesterday hit the nail on the head:
“Like (C.S.) Lewis, the gospel frees us to create for the pure joy of creating, not seeking fortune or fame, but the fame of the One who has called us to create.” (From a Called to Create Bible Reading plan.)
I don't post photos because I want you to look at them and say "WOW! She's got a really cool life!" I share my life with you because I want you to look at the One who brought me here and say, "Man... I'd like to know Him, too." He's the only One who is worthy of any kind of fame.
Through all the crazy, uncertain times, not only has He has provided what I need to survive... He has given me exactly what I need to THRIVE. He's answered all my prayers and then some. He's blessed me for relentlessly pursuing the things that set my soul on fire, and this morning I prepared for another adventure...
To BALI. I booked a flight to Bali today!
I'll be traveling there to document a fitness retreat and will get to be a part of all the activities as well! We'll be hiking Mount Batur, taking a rice paddy cycling tour, doing daily fitness activities, and recharging our batteries. I am pinching myself and thanking God at the same time. He's been so good to me.
If you're not pursuing the thing that He's called you to do, can you explain why? Is there a good enough excuse for why you are choosing to get by by rather than going full speed ahead in the direction of your calling? If He put it in your heart, He'll give you what you need to see it through.
It won't always be easy, but I'm living proof that it's worth it.
(These are not my photos.... But I can't wait to share some after my trip!)
I've Seen You Move - 2017 Recap
As I reflect on 2017, I'm amazed at the opportunities God put in my path. The ways He moved in my life changed me... spiritually, personally, and professionally. Not only did I get to document an adoption in China (a calling He placed on my life years ago), but I also shot two international weddings, shot a music video in Scotland (which will release this year), spent more time in an airplane than in my car, and wrapped up my 6th year as a full-time creative. I also accomplished a personal goal of reading through the entire Bible for the first time!
God has been so good to me. Just a few years ago I was newly divorced, kinda broken, and not sure how I would provide for myself and my family. Now I get to do something I love that actually means something for others. The one thing I've prayed for over and over in the last 5 years is that God would allow me to travel the world and document moments that matter. He definitely came through on that!
This song from Elevation Worship is one of my favorites and it's carrying me through to 2018! Listen and enjoy while you scroll through some of my favorite images from 2017. Do It Again by Elevation Worship
Grand Canyon taken from a helicopter.
Maia Pearl meeting her mom and dad for the first time in Zhengzhou, China.
My oldest looking out over Chicago... he dreams big!
Epic engagement session at Big Bend National Park.
Senior session with Tiana in Nashville.
Favorite family session in Houston!
The Great Wall of China. May 2017.
Somewhere near Gulu, Uganda. 
Near Paraa Safari Lodge in Uganda. 
One of my favorite people and favorite photos. (I also shot his wedding in 2017!) Brandon Williams Music
Cody, Bree, Landry, and Lucy meeting Vincent Chen Ke for the first time.
Zion National Park, April 2017.
Marfa, TX (Coolest little town you'll ever visit!)
Lucy meeting her mama. Zhengzhou, China.
My friend, business partner, inspiration. Shot in Gulf Shores, AL.
Golden Gate Bridge, February 2017.
The Painted Ladies (Full House house... the kid in me loved this!)
Overlooking San Fran. 
My musician friend, Nadia... shot in Houston. You can listen to her music here.
Lifehouse Films owners (and friends!) in Mobile, AL. 
Mobile, AL Sunset
Meeting their son, Jamison, for the first time. Adoption stories give me life! (Houston, TX)
Jamison, day 2.
Two of mine.
Albion Basin, Utah. We accidentally ran into snow!
Styled shoot at Zion National Park. Coordinated by Katie Bushnell of Havenwood Design.
Zhengzhou, China
My best childhood friend with his wife in Galveston, TX.
Model Lauren shot in Houston.
My BFFs in Edinburgh, Scotland. 
This lady was cooking in her hut outside of Gulu, Uagnda. 
Random stroll in Glen Etive, Scotland. :)
Ended my Scotland video shoot of TQ with a few portraits at Crichton Castle.
My whole crew at Willis Tower in Chicago. 
I always have one unhappy kid. [Shrug]
The Flatirons, Boulder, CO.
One of the families I took photos of for Show Hope. (Dream gig!)
In the middle of shooting "The Kingdom" with TQ. (Photo by April Loyle) 
Louisville, KY with my girl! 
NYC engagement shoot. They are so cute. 
TQ in NYC to shoot "Little Ghetto Boy."
Wedding in Gulu, Uganda. You can see the whole thing by clicking here.
Favorite wedding EVER.
Shooting through a prism. Planning to get even more creative in 2018!
African Safari at Paraa Safari Lodge.
Standing on the Nile River with my friend, Cheree. (Lifehouse Films)
Somewhere over the Grand Canyon. 
Yvonne (Spoiled Latina) shot in Houston for Ciroc French Vanilla. 
I'm learning that I LOVE portraits... Houston, TX.
TQ in DC while shooting his music video for "Freedom."
One of my favorites.
Big Bend National Park... using my iPhone as a reflector to get this look.
Taking photos for The Green Bone was so much fun. Shot this for their website I designed. 
Yes. Those are real lions. And yes, I was very close. 
Gulu, Uganda. I felt so safe walking the streets there!
Zion National Park. 
Nadia. Always nailing the posing.
Alcatraz. One of the most interesting tours I've ever done!
Sunrise in Uganda. This will hang in my house as a reminder for 2018. He's always got my back. He's got yours, too, ya know.
African Safari
In October of 2017, I was asked to shoot a wedding in Gulu, Uganda. Although I was nervous at first, I quickly realized I was in an amazing place with some of the kindest people I've ever met. The highlight of the trip was our safari and boat ride on the Nile River at Paraa Safari Lodge. I've never been so overwhelmed at God's beautiful creation. If you ever get a chance to visit Africa, GO. There is nothing like it.
Taylor's Journey
The summer of 2016 was a life-changing one for me. In June, I hopped on a plane to the U.K. to document R&B singer, TQ’s time there. I stayed in Nottingham and through a friend of TQ's we met Taylor Marshall. I had heard Taylor's story but had a hard time wrapping my head around it. When you have kids of your own it's tough to imagine any kid going through what he's had to endure. I thought it would be cool to take pictures of him and share his story, but I had no idea what I was getting myself into...
So to backtrack just a bit, on April 20, 2015, Taylor got sick. He was admitted to the hospital in Nottingham, UK and placed in a medically induced coma fighting for his life. At first, no one knew what was wrong, but soon his family learned that he had contracted Meningococcal Septicaemia (Type W Meningitis). Doctors gave him just hours to live and told his mom to say her goodbyes...
But his little body kept fighting. His kidneys failed and he was on dialysis for 6 weeks. If he survived he'd be on antibiotics for the rest of his life. Then in June of 2015, surgeons were forced to amputate Taylor's left leg, right foot, and all his fingers and thumbs. He spent a total of 7 months in the hospital and has had 46 surgeries.
So in June of 2016, I walked into Taylor's house to meet him. The first thing I noticed was his blue eyes. It felt like they were piercing my heart the way the light hit them. Then he smiled and I swear the whole room lit up. Those elements combined with his British accent, and it felt like I was in a movie. I couldn't take my eyes off of the places where his hands used to be. I watched him pick up a cup and drink. He crawled across the room with ease. He threw a ball for his dog. He even climbed up on the couch with a little help and was able to get down on his own.
I was snapping constantly, eager to capture the soul behind his eyes... trying desperately to create an image that somehow showed this boy's spirit. I decided to film a little bit because I just had to document that boy in action. I wanted to remember the way he interacted with TQ because it was mesmerizing. Anyone who knows T knows that kids and dogs love him. Well, Taylor was no exception. Almost immediately, he was giving high fives and playing cars and blocks with this man he'd never met before. We spent about an hour with Taylor and I honestly hated leaving. Something about Taylor just made me want to be near him. He was inspiring and tenacious and I wanted to soak up just a little more of his spirit.
After meeting him, TQ was so inspired he wrote a song for Taylor. Back in the states, I immediately wished I had captured more video footage. But I knew I couldn't let this opportunity pass. I booked a flight back to the U.K. and we set up another meeting with Taylor and his family. This time, we met at a park and it was the perfect way to document the bond between these two.
For me, Taylor's Song has given a new meaning to gratefulness. I think it's perfect that the video was released on Thanksgiving. It made me realize that the things I worry about are so minor. When I would typically feel down about something silly, I remember Taylor. I remember his determination as he sped through the grass swinging his legs from back to front with all of his weight on his forearms. I remember his laughter as he came down the slide like Superman. I picture those blue eyes... the way they stared back at me just before a grin broke through. This boy, who just turned two, inspired more more than anyone else ever has. And I'm so proud of my friend, T, for following his heart on this one.
Taylor Marshall is a special kid. He has a calling on his life to do great things and I can't wait to watch.
Meet Taylor, friends. I hope his story inspires you as much as it inspires me.
(If you'd like to donate to Taylor's Journey, visit www.TaylorsSong.com. You can purchase the song by clicking here. Taylor's family owns half of the publishing so every purchase of the song helps with his medical expenses!)
