Back to School

Can you believe it's already time to go back to school? I always love when the kid's schedules are a little more planned but it always adds so many more activities to our days. Plus at our house having to keep up with students at four different schools is kind of crazy. I have my 12 year old daughter moving up to junior high this year. I can't believe she's already there. I still remember her running around with her adorable bouncy little curls. My youngest is in elementary school and my oldest studies at OSU. Then there's the mama. Yes, I'm going back to school full time again this fall. I'm finally a senior at the University of Oklahoma. Had I not changed schools, changed majors several times and had OU allowed my credits from New York, I would have graduated quite a while ago. It's funny how when you try to change your major and think you want to do something else in life, your heart always finds a way to tell you what you're supposed to be doing.

So yes, I'm back to my Fine Art Photography major and well, after all, isn't that what I am, a photographer?

When my father passed away in January I was so sad and I just didn't even want to get out of bed some mornings. While my Dad was still in the hospital and we found out he would be needing help with dialysis and his care if he were to ever get to go home, I told him I was going to quit school to help take care of him. He made me promise to go back. He told me how well I did and he knew I loved it. He didn't want me to change anything I had planned before he got sick for the spring semester. Little did I know at the time that a week later, he would go Heaven and I wouldn't be taking care of him anymore. My return to OU helped me so. When I felt like I didn't want to get up and do anything I knew I had to go to school because I had promised my Dad. Going back to photography school was helping me and I was doing one more thing for my Dad.

So here it is, Back to School time and Yes, I am going back to school too. A forty year old college senior. In this life, I have learned there are so many things to be thankful for and one of them is being back in college. I appreciate it so much more now than when I started as a freshman at the age of nineteen. When my kiddos think I am crazy because I LOVE doing my homework, hopefully I'm instilling the desire to learn and the importance of school and most of all, the importance of following your heart. Follow your heart and follow your dreams, whether it's going back to school, changing your job, having another child, or confessing your heart to the one you love. Life is too short to not do what love and love what you do. God bless ~ Shelly


.....about the photo.... I created this image of my youngest daughter for a magazine cover that will be coming out this fall. We did a couple of outfits and although this is not the one that will be on the cover, this is the one that I love the most. I wanted to share it with you and tell everyone to enjoy your time this fall as the kids (and mamas) go back to school.

Shelly Perkins Photography www.shellyperkins.com

Be Still

Recently my family went on a trip to Hawaii. This was the third time I've been blessed to visit and I always feel like I grow closer to God both physically and spiritually. You can't be there and not feel like you're getting a glimpse into Heaven. God totally sent me there to get some answers.

If you know me personally, you know how crazy I am, I don't mean that I should be committed in a padded room, but I mean crazy with activities and the hustle and bustle of life. My family is always going here or there. We're blessed to have a great family, some great friends and people in our lives and able to go to the best church in my part of the world. With all those people we love, brings lots of activities. Lots of church activities, lots of lessons between band, dance, volleyball, gymnastics, scouts, you name it. With me it lots of college classes and lots of photography shoots and I'm always on the go.

I've been praying a lot lately about what's next in our lives. I've been thinking about when I graduate (yep, from OU with a Fine Arts degree), if I should get a "regular" job with a 9 to 5 work week with a regular paycheck and pension or if I should continue my passion in photography. I love my photography and I feel like God has given me this gift to see those things in the world which are beautiful. However, with the photography business comes the part of working for myself, having a job on commission, working for years without ever getting anything from social security when I'm old and in my rocker, no 401k's and no company picnics.

When I married my husband, Scott, we had to luxury of me being able to quit my job as a photographer in a studio, where I worked on a salary and commission, shooting portraits and weddings. I knew each week I would get a paycheck and it helped pay the bills and take care of my kids when I was a single mother. With Scott, I was able to continue in my passion for photography and make images and shoot portraits on my own time. I have been able to do the things I love. I was able to stay home with my girls. I was waiting for my husband when he'd come home from a trip and have dinner waiting for him. We were close but we were often far distances apart. Then my husband, who was an officer in the Air Force and pilot, got brain cancer. My world stopped.

Unless you've had a terminal illness hit your immediate, nuclear family, there is no way you will ever completely understand what I am saying. It will completely stop you in your tracks, overnight it will change your world.

Now being a Momma to three beautiful and bright girls, my main purpose in life is to give these girls spiritual guidance, help them to become self-reliant, protect them and care for them. That's it.

I love my husband and I'm happy to say he has so far beaten the original prognosis of only having months to live with this terminal brain cancer. However, I honestly can't help but wander what's on the horizon? I don't have the luxury of living in a little bubble while my husband hands over his paycheck and I hand out the money for bills. I can't help but wonder, what's next? I wonder what's next with his cancer? Is it going to come back? Is it going to be worse than before? Will I be able to continue helping him get better? Will I have enough money to pay for insurance and the doctor appointments? Will I still be able to pay for kid's college? Will I even have enough money for food and a place to live with my kids? These are things that people think about, when the reality of a terminal illness strikes. Before this happens, it's easy to plan for the future, when "we're old" and when "we're retired." So instead I just go and go and go and go. I go to school. I go to work. I go here. I go there. All the while, wondering what I should be doing and praying to God asking if I'm doing the right thing? Then I found this verse ~

Mark 4:39 King James Version (KJV) 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Sometimes when we are on our crazy roller coaster life, in search of the ole' mighty dollar, striving to be the best at whatever, or just trying to make a living but we can't find the answers we're searching for because we haven't slowed down to listen to God.

Peace.
Slow Down.
Peace.
Listen.
Peace.
Be Still.
Peace.
Okay God, I'm listening.


Shelly Perkins Photography www.shellyperkins.com

Vintage Blacksmith in Grapevine

Vintage Blacksmith in Grapevine

For all those western decor lovers and those who love the old west, I made this image with thoughts of times long ago. We've taken several family trips to Grapevine, Texas and really love the area. There is such a variety of things to do and living in Oklahoma, it's not that far for a great vacation.

Grapevine offers such a variety of places to visit, shops of all types and price range and things to do no matter what your age. If you've got a family full of kids, you'll probably want to stay at either Great Wolf Lodge or the Gaylord Texan. Been to both resorts and there's lots to do. If you're a shopper, then hit the outlets at Grapevine Mills. We bought my oldest daughter's prom dress, shoes and jewelry here. (BTW-she looked beautiful.) If you're like my husband and enjoy vintage like railroads and museums, or like me who and enjoy live artist exhibitions, go downtown around the railroad and check it out.

Here I go on my travel planner tips again ~ but I always like to share when I've found a great place for my family to visit. ;0) Made this image on our last trip ~ I love all things vintage and the idea of a simpler life. Enjoy.

Shelly Perkins Photography www.shellyperkins.com

Stay Tuned for Fun and Funky

I'm trying to update my website and blog with lots of new images and ideas.  My photography is undergoing some major changes ~ trying new styles and new post-processing techniques.  Lots of fun stuff coming and I can't wait to share.  I'm still LIMITING my photo shoots because I have this tendency to over-book and go a little crazy being way too busy.  Since my Daddy died a few months ago, I've really been trying to spend more time with my family and not constantly shooting pics of everyone else's family or working on my school work from OU.  I'm trying to put my family first. I'm only taking two classes this summer and not going on any huge conferences.  I'm still keeping up-to-date with some of the latest edgy looks and products.  OH I CAN'T WAIT TO SHARE (And get some new things for my house too).  So stay tuned ~

Shelly Perkins Photography
www.shellyperkins.com

Shelly Perkins Art from Kids to Crazy

I've been very busy finishing up this semester at OU. I'm about to finish up my first year at art school. I've had a great time experimenting many different aspects of my photography. I'm usually a kid photographer by trade but working with other new emerging artists and being pushed by the faculty, I've found a whole other side to my work. By all means, many of these photos are not exactly everyone's taste but isn't that what art is all about? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

This summer I will be back to shooting more kid portraits and team pictures but also I'm working on several other projects that I may showcase through my personal blog. This blog is basically my online journal in my world. It's not a "site specific" kid photographer site but a whole hodge podge of what's going on inside that eccentric head of mine. I've been working on a few "alternative" works which are a little edgy and maybe a little disturbing to some. Okay I'll say it, some may just think the work is really strange. God has blessed me to see beauty is so much that others wouldn't and I really enjoy experimenting with many different genres in life. I was born an Okie, married a New Yorker and had the chance to be a New Yorker for about five years. I appreciate that not everyone is the same and many people are open to other lifestyles or types of photography.

So before I freak everyone out here, just look at my images and creations for what they are ~ works of art. Sometimes art is unexplainable and sometimes it is misunderstood. I'm just here to create and enjoy life. God bless you guys ~

Shelly Perkins Photography www.shellyperkins.com

Photo Art made with Cell Phones at ArtSpace at Untitled

Can You See Me Now? Photos made on Phones

A new art exhibit has opened at ArtSpace downtown OKC. It is called "Can You See Me Now" and is a collection of photos made on cell phones. Photos came from as far away as Italy and feature some really great images. The exhibit will run through October 1st and if you have the time, I encourage you to stop by to visit.

KFOR's Galen Culver visited the museum for his segment "Is this a Great State or What?" and I've included a link to his work. Check it out.

http://www.kfor.com/videobeta/?watchId=cb7fb6ed-0b5a-45fb-9e96-ea7ac4cdd1da

Shelly Perkins Photography
www.shellyperkins.com

Shelly Perkins Photography specializing in Children's Photography

Shelly Perkins Photography has been making unique and fun portraits, professionally for about 17 years. If you're interested in having Shelly design something unique for your walls, shoot her an email or give her a call.


Shelly Perkins Photography
www.shellyperkins.com

The Branson Sky by Oklahoma's Shelly Perkins Photography

Looking off near the Branson Landing, Branson Missouri

Recently I had the opportunity to spend a few days in Branson, Missouri. One of my daughter's was attending a dance convention while I ran around exploring Branson. Unfortunately most of the time it was raining, however once the sky opened up, it presented me a beautiful image I just couldn't resist. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did photographing it.

Shelly Perkins Photography
www.shellyperkins.com

Red Tulips....Things which make me SMILE Shelly Perkins Photography of Oklahoma

God's Beauty
Things which make me Smile..... Red Tulips

I spotted these on a recent quick trip through Indiana.
Enjoy, Shelly