Life: I am very thankful that my husband and I get to experience parts of the country that many people only dream about due to his career path.

Art: I recently taught myself to sew and I'm not sure I'd have been able to pick it up so quickly if I didn't spend so much of time being artistic and creative with photography, scrapbooking and the like. I'm truly appreciative of the fact I'm able to pick up my camera, envision a sewing project, lay out photos into a scrapbook.

Business: How can I not be incredibly grateful to all the clients who put their faith in me to capture their families and actually pay me to do it. Truly blessed!

Life: I'm most thankful for Jesus Christ and all he did for me and everyone who believes in Him! For my awesome supportive wife and the blessing of two awesome adopted children. My life is complete right here!

Art: I'm thankful that my dad put a camera in my hands back in high school and experiencing the darkroom! I was hooked! Being able to see light and the way it can impact an image and having the ability to shape that awesome stuff, too! I'm also thankful for the ability to create products that wow my clients and myself sometimes!

Business: I'm so thankful for my clients and the faith they have in my abilities to capture their children, families and their high school seniors and mostly being able to do what I love for a full-time career! I extremely thankful/grateful for the photographic community and those who are willing to share and pay it forward to those of us wanting to continually grow. Growth never stops! Well...it does, but then hopefully we're in heaven by then. :-)

Life: I'm Thankful to Life for letting me be here now,even though I'm away from home, but I'm not alone, my husband and I are together in this photography project for life and feels that we are in the right path. This country and people has received us with arms wide open and as long as God gives us health we'll keep working hard and the day we'll see our families again, at least we'll say it was worth it.

Art: I'm thankful for all the good people I've learned from all around the world. That scholarship that took me to England 5 years ago opened my eyes to new possibilities and inspiration that still feeds my soul and somehow brought me here.

Business: I'm deeply deeply thankful to this Fantastic economy! starting with nothing in our pockets, from being servers in a restaurant, we saved to start our photography business, which is still young, but gives us so many satisfactions. Two years ago, we lost everything to Hurricane IKE and as if life were by our side, months later we got a prize in photography equipment valued in $6000, which brought us back to life. We thank to life, God and people who trust with closed eyes in us.

Jeff and Allison!!
First of all I'm thankful for you. When it comes to art and business, I can honestly say I'm grateful for your friendship and the opportunity to see how you run your business and manage your family at the same time. You have been great models for me.

Life: so thankful for good health. I realized one day after I had to leave my own birthday party because of a debilitating migraine that you can have it all but if you feel like crap it doesn't matter. Also grateful for healthy children.

And speaking of children, so thankful for my little family and the reason that photography is so meaningful to me. Also so thankful for my sister and soulmate, Jules, who has opened this whole world to me and makes working fun because I get to do it with my best friend.

Life: I am thankful for God's grace as he has seen me through two layoffs, 2 relocation's and back surgery in the past 3 years. He keeps on providing for me and my family. In this day and time when people are feeling the stress from the economy and are losing faith I still have joy in following my passion.

Art: I'm thankful for my many talents that I have been blessed with especially my eyesight and heart that allows to me to capture the world around me.

Business: I am looking forward to officially starting my business in January 2011. This will allow me the ability to provide for my wife and children on my own terms. I can find peace of mind in knowing that I completely control my destiny and not be subject to a corporate existence. At least for a little while longer.

Life: I am thankful for supportive family and friends - and especially my girlfriend (and soon fiance!!!)

Art: I am so thankful to have the tools to create freely whatever is on my mind or in front of me with the latest and greatest technology. I remember in the past feeling so held back, but now whatever I want to create - I can. Currently, that's been fine art water color paper and my wide format printer. It's been amazingly fun just messing around and learning how it all works. I'm so thankful that I'm free to create!

Business: This past year has been a mixed bag - but great nonetheless. I've met a ton of new customers and great people. Primarily in business this year, I'm most thankful though for the many great business owners and photographers I've had the privilege of working with.

My heart is filled with gratitude each morning as I roll out of bed. Grateful for another day, another opportunity to do better than the day before. I find myself thankful for little things in my daily life--but mostly the hand of God in good and challenging times, and the daily lessons about life and love that each day brings from my husband and Little Man.

I'm so, so thankful to tell people's stories, in the big moments and the little ones in between, about the kind of connections and relationships they have between one another. I could not be more grateful and humbled by the artistic gift I have been given to be able to serve as a visual storyteller in that regard.

I'm grateful to have a thriving business...one that continues to help provide for my family; and a community of photographers and vendors who continually inspire and challenge me to continue raising the bar for the entire industry.

• Life - I'm thankful for the time I've had in college. I'm graduating on December 18th, and starting to realize just how major of a role Ouachita Baptist University has played in my life. It sounds cheesy, it sounds cliche'd, but it couldn't be more true: The people I've done life with over the past three and a half years are truly my family. I love them dearly, and as of January 4th, the 4 of us that are closest will be in 3 different states. It really helps bring some perspective to what I've had.

• Art - this isn't the most "artistic" thing to say, but I'm thankful I didn't start in the film age. I'm a tangible learner, and so being able to be 'in the field' making art and being able to see it come through in real time, and being able to see how well i've captured my vision that moment has been crucial to my learning curve.

• Business - my CPA. enough said.

haha, but also, it's nice to be in a place (for a short, short while longer) where I don't rely on photography as my main source of income. Thanks to that, i'm not forced to take anything that comes along, but I can wait and decide to only do things I'm really excited about.

Life~ I am so thankful for the three amazing kids God has gifted me with. For a husband who remains totally supportive to my long hours at night getting my business going and helping with whatever he can.
Art~ I love that God created our emotional base to be triggered by the sight of photograph of a loved one, a smell of something that takes us back to a special time, or music that can bring us to tears. I fell honored to be able to produce images that will make a mother happy everytime she sees them.
business ~ That God does not always let us have what we want when we think we want it. But sometimes in the wait makes us stronger and wiser about how to handle things. My business has been very slow to start because of waiting on a move we are going to make but I have gotten to use this time to really get a grasp on the "business" of photography not just my art. I feel a lot more prepared then if it has just hit the ground running. Allison and Jeff I saw you at the Seattle PPA tour and took more than a few great things away from that. Thanks! I am looking forward to seeing you in Feb. in Palm Springs.

Life-I am thankful that the Lord has blessed me with a supportive and understanding husband, four incredible daughters, a loving extended family, and the best friends any girl could have.

Art-I am so very thankful for all the amazing and talented photo artists who are not afraid to share ideas and techniques with fellow members of the community. There are so many kind and generous photographers and designers out there.

Business-I am thankful for my happy and expanding client base.