Lately in the days of my life.

Well hello there! I do hope everyone is doing well, especially with this terribly cold winter weather we are having. (I'm beginning to hate winter.... HATE winter.)

So lately I have been CRAZY busy! So many new things in my life and I am unbelievably happy about it!

Here's what's been going on:

• I started working on a website for my photography business. (So excited about this! Almost ready to share it with the world!)
• I started college! (Coolest college experience EVER)
•  Changed some things with my photography business, I think it's much better now. :) 
• Took up crocheting! (Yeah, I have literally turned into an old lady.) 
• Started getting serious about my future. (Time to step it up.) 

So first things first..... Let's talk Photography! I want to share some of my favorite latest photos and also tell you about my super duper exciting news!

  I've shown these photos more than once since I did them, but I was just so excited! My studio is up and running and this was the first shoot I got to do with my new equipment and studio room! I think they turned out beautifully! (It helps that my model was my beautiful sister! She's stunning!)

 These are my other two favorites from this maternity shoot. I just love the way the white walls work with my white lights! I am just in love with this new room! :)


Also new to my photography world, a website! I am setting up my first ever official website and I couldn't be more excited! It's taking me some time, but it will be so worth it! I'm hoping to do some more things with marketing to get my business off the ground a little more, but that will come when the weather warms up a bit. :)

My super duper exciting news is that I now have permanent prices!
I have to be completely honest, I got a little over my head about prices when I was extremely busy this fall. But then one day when a customer told me that they wanted to do photos with me but couldn't afford the price, I felt HORRIBLE. Money was not the reason I got into this. I LOVE photography, it's not a money making thing for me. So I have set up prices that will take care of my gas and material expenses and set at a more comfortable price range for everyone. I have to remember why I'm doing this and make sure my customers are always coming first! So check out my new prices on the "about" section of my Facebook photography page and you can see the difference!

(Also, let me just apologize for that. I feel terrible about the money side of it.)


So that's what's new in Through My Lens Photography by Stephanie! Book a session and have some gorgeous memories to keep forever! :) (Plus spend an hour with me, win-win situation!) :)

 Wanna hear some more extremely exciting news?!?!?!?!

I STARTED COLLEGE! Woohoo!

 Okay, let's be honest. I had no intentions of going back to school after I graduated. When I was still in high school I wanted to go away for college and have the whole college experience. And then life happened and my thoughts of college drifted away. (Not complaining, I LOVE my life choices! Happier than ever!) :)

 But after high school, real world does start. You start having bills, responsibilities, and a taste of what financial mayhem feels like. I went from job to job to job and was never satisfied. I had jobs but that's exactly what they were... jobs. Not careers, not something I love, not something that has a future for me, just a job. That works for a little while, but then you start to feel stuck.

So last week my mom started talking to me about college. She was asking about different types of degrees and credit hours and stuff like that. I didn't really think anything of it. The next morning at 8 o'clock she called me and said, "Do you wanna go back to school with me?"
 My reaction was less than enthusiastic. I started making excuses for me NOT to go.

I couldn't pay for it, it's to late for me to start, I wouldn't be good at it, I'd probably never finish it, etc. But then, for once in my life, I took my own advice! I prayed about it.  And then I started thinking of reasons why I SHOULD go! It completely changed my outlook on it and now I am having the coolest college experience ever! My mom is my best friend and how many kids can say they are going to college with their mom? (Okay go ahead, make fun of me. I go to college with my mommy, blah, blah, blah.) ;)

But seriously, we are having the time of our lives! We talk about homework together, we help motivate each other, we have better communication skills, and it will be so cool to get my degree with my mom!

Okay, my mom deserves some bragging rights! She never does anything for herself and it's pretty awesome that she is finally doing something for her! Go mom!

So now I am officially a student at Drury University. (Go Panthers!) Everyone is super friendly there and I am loving everything thus far. :)


Okay now for the really cool part: I crochet.

Yup, you read that right. I am now an Andy Griffith watching, hot tea drinking, puzzle putting together, crocheting wife. Life is good friends, life is good.

I am in the process of making my first scarf, and you better believe I'll be posting pictures of that bad boy! Crocheting is seriously so relaxing. If you crochet before bed, you're basically guaranteed to fall asleep. Someone else my age should start doing it too so I don't feel so lame.... Seriously, I need a buddy.
(I think I use the word "seriously" too much. My apologies.)

So I have to be honest, my beauty product that I was going to do today hasn't came in the mail yet. So no beauty this time. Hopefully by my next blog it will be here. :/



But it is time for my favorite part! Let's talk about JESUSSSSSSSS! :)
This one is pretty short sweet and to the point, but it swells with information.
(Don't ask why I used the word "swells"..... It just came to me.)

1 John 4:19
"We love Him because He first loved us."

That's one of those verses that packs a truck load of reassurance! It doesn't matter what you do, God loves you. You could do something as simple as tell a little white lie (that's still a sin.) but God still loves you. You can do something as extreme as stealing a truck, but God will still love you. Now, I am by no means saying you should go steal a truck today and all you have to do is ask for forgiveness and everything will be perfect in God's eyes. I'm saying strive to be just like God and his love for you will grow more and more everyday along with your love for Him. How cool is it that even before we were born God loved us. Even before we were a teeny tiny cell, God loved us. Even before our parents parents parents grandparents were born, God had a plan for us and loved us! It's pretty hard to find love like that anywhere else!

So if you're having a rough day and you're angry and hurt, remember that God loves you and it's as simple as that. Knowing that the most almighty being in all of eternity loves you more than anything should be a pretty awesome feeling. :)

Have a fantastic night and keep that in mind. Chin up, and keep on smiling. :) Love, Steph.