Peggy's Last Treatment! // The Story of a Cancer Destroyer

I met Peggy when I first came to Liberty, my church, over 3 years ago. I think the first thought that ran through my head was, "Is she really that crazy?!" Fast forward to now and I've fully realized that crazy is only one word you can use to describe this sweet, strong woman!

Peggy was diagnosed with cancer last year, and has been fighting it HARD. She went through so many rounds of chemo before having to jump right into radiation treatments. Never once has she told me it's been easy, but she's never once complained, either. Her spunky attitude has carried her through the treatments, and her faith in God that He will heal her is obvious to everyone around her.

This week, we got to be at her FINISH LINE as Peggy completed her LAST radiation treatment! I'm so grateful to know Peggy, and so thankful that she has come to the end of that portion of her journey. She is in my prayers as she earns the name of cancer survivor! You go, Peggy!

Peggy's last cancer treatment | Maria Grace Photography
Peggy's last cancer treatment | Maria Grace Photography
Peggy's last cancer treatment | Maria Grace Photography
Peggy's last cancer treatment | Maria Grace Photography
Peggy's last cancer treatment | Maria Grace Photography
Peggy's last cancer treatment | Maria Grace Photography
Peggy's last cancer treatment | Maria Grace Photography
Peggy's last cancer treatment | Maria Grace Photography
Peggy's last cancer treatment | Maria Grace Photography
Peggy's last cancer treatment | Maria Grace Photography
Peggy's last cancer treatment | Maria Grace Photography
Peggy's last cancer treatment | Maria Grace Photography
Peggy's last cancer treatment | Maria Grace Photography
Peggy's last cancer treatment | Maria Grace Photography
Peggy's last cancer treatment | Maria Grace Photography
Peggy's last cancer treatment | Maria Grace Photography

Fox Hole Kingdom Press Photos // Hampton Roads Photographer

Something I've learned over the past few years is how important it is to take time to do things for yourself. For me, that's much easier said than done. I think a lot of you can relate. Every time I sit down to do nothing I end up thinking of something else to do. Running a small business is a never ending project, and there is ALWAYS something I could do instead of resting. So I have a long ways to go on learning how to just stop and be for a little while.

One thing that has become important to me is personal projects. Whether that's working on something around the house other than cleaning (I've got a little project in the works now!) or taking pictures of something outside of my comfort zone, these are things that stretch me both creatively and personally. If I didn't take a break from the normal every once in awhile, I know I would get stuck in a rut. This definitely applies to my photography!

Even though I haven't been in business too long, I know that it can become easy to start going through the motions and doing the same thing that you did before. You KNOW you can do something well, so why not just do it like you did last time? However, this is not how I will ever become better or serve my clients as well as I should. For that reason, I try to do things that expand my horizon of creativity.

In the past year, that has involved taking cover shots & press photos for the band Fox Hole Kingdom. I do take pictures at all their events I can make it to, but what has really pushed me outside of the box I can find myself in is taking posed shots, trying new editing and lighting techniques, and working with a larger group of people than just a guy and a girl. Honestly, this is so enjoyable to me. I really have to think through each picture and how each individual person looks. I have to put a LOT of thought into every pose, and my editing techniques are drastically different with band photos than with an engagement session.

I thought I'd share some of these today! I always have to keep these under wraps until FHK releases them first, and now I can finally share! Side note - check these guys out. They're awesome! Right now they're on a mini tour and I'm so excited to see where their music takes them.

Fox Hole Kingdom in Downtown Smithfield band press photos
Fox Hole Kingdom in Downtown Smithfield band press photos
Fox Hole Kingdom in Downtown Smithfield band press photos
Fox Hole Kingdom in Downtown Smithfield band press photos
Fox Hole Kingdom bassist in Downtown Smithfield band press photos
Fox Hole Kingdom electric guitarist in Downtown Smithfield band press photos
Fox Hole Kingdom drummer in Downtown Smithfield band press photos
Fox Hole Kingdom in Downtown Smithfield band press photos
Fox Hole Kingdom in Downtown Smithfield band press photos
Fox Hole Kingdom in Downtown Smithfield band press photos
Fox Hole Kingdom; black and white; train tracks' band press photos
One of my favorite pictures that I've ever taken! The light was just amazing

One of my favorite pictures that I've ever taken! The light was just amazing

What Does Photography Mean to Me, Part 4 // Guest Blog

This is the LAST week in this series, and I am so sad to see it go! I've saved one of the best for last, though. This blog comes from Wendy Mills, a dear friend who has been an encouragement and an example to me. A few years ago she and her husband experienced the loss of her son, Christopher. I have never once heard complaint or anger - only powerful stories of how God has changed her heart. Wendy recently wrote a book called Rejoicing Through the Rain, which is published and available on Amazon here! (PS Be sure to read the captions - they are a big part of this story!)

Ask someone, “If you knew your house was going to catch fire and burn down in the next 15 minutes, what would you grab first?”  After the kids, the dog and the spouse, most of us would say pictures.  Why are pictures our most valuable possession? Here are just a few reasons:

1. Pictures are evidence of our existence and a recorded history of our short time on this earth. The Bible says we are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. We all want to leave evidence of our mist behind.

This is a picture of my mom (holding me), my dad, and my three brothers.  Priceless!

This is a picture of my mom (holding me), my dad, and my three brothers.  Priceless!

2. The puzzle of our life is an accumulation of a lifetime of moments.  Think of photos as a picture on the puzzle pieces.  When you put the pieces together, the picture of our journey on this earth is revealed.  Leave that puzzle as a legacy, and your grandchildren will be able to meet you, get to know who you were, and develop a connection with their past.

This is a picture of my father-in-law holding my husband (left) and my son, Christopher (right). I love seeing these pictures, 26 years apart, side by side.

This is a picture of my father-in-law holding my husband (left) and my son, Christopher (right).
 I love seeing these pictures, 26 years apart, side by side.

3. When a photograph captures an event, apprehends an emotion and detains a memory, it is locked away for safe keeping, growing more valuable over time.  Pick up a picture 10 years later and it will transport you back in time, bringing into focus the very moment the photo was taken.  You will re-live the experience and resurrect the emotions associated with it.

This is a picture of Christopher holding Chelsea. He was so excited to have a little sister he grinned for the first three months. They grew to have a big brother/little sister-love/hate relationship where he could pick on her all he wanted but nobo…

This is a picture of Christopher holding Chelsea. He was so excited to have a little sister he grinned for the first three months. They grew to have a big brother/little sister-love/hate relationship where he could pick on her all he wanted but nobody else was allowed that privilege.   

4. Photographs seize details and give us the gift of exploration at our luxury.  Life moves so fast, it’s all but impossible to capture the clarity of moments in our mind because the details of a moment are gone in a split-second of time, never to be repeated.  We may remember the forest but photos give us a chance to examine the leaves on the trees.  Sometimes a leaf in itself tells a treasured story. 

This picture was taken to record Christopher being mean to Chelsea. We had gone to visit Christopher at school and Chelsea would not leave him alone. She wanted some big-brother attention so she was pulling on him, poking at him and doing everything…

This picture was taken to record Christopher being mean to Chelsea. We had gone to visit Christopher at school and Chelsea would not leave him alone. She wanted some big-brother attention so she was pulling on him, poking at him and doing everything she could to get him to turn his attention her way. He finally got irritated at her enough that he grabbed her, flipped her, and held her upside down. She whined until he let her go and it wasn’t until I looked back at the picture that I realized they were both grinning from ear to ear.

5. Pictures capture real life.   The small, mundane, real moments of our lives are just as important as the major mile-markers.  A mundane picture today may become a great treasure tomorrow.

This picture was taken on Mother’s Day, 2008.  We had gone to visit Christopher at school and as he was walking us to the car to leave, my daughter grabbed his hand and held it as they walked away together. Exactly one year later, Mother’s Day,…

This picture was taken on Mother’s Day, 2008.  We had gone to visit Christopher at school and as he was walking us to the car to leave, my daughter grabbed his hand and held it as they walked away together. Exactly one year later, Mother’s Day, 2009, Christopher passed away unexpectedly. This sweet picture of everyday life is now one of my favorites. I can’t remember why she had a box of tissues in her hand but now, it is a perfect fit for this photo.

Pictures hold a vital part of our life so take lots of them.  Also, be sure you are not always on the “Say Cheese” side of the camera.  As I was going through my pictures I realized that sadly, I’m not in many of them.  I need a photographer to follow me around for a day and record my existence! And take pictures of anything in your life that makes your life, your life.  Your house, your kitchen, your bedroom, your workplace, your co-workers, your cars, your school.  You will appreciate having those pictures around three houses and two cars later.  Oh, and be sure to keep them organized.  I went through 5 huge 18 gallon tubs before I found the pictures I wanted for this blog.  I have to go clean up my mess now.  God bless.