M Family | Portraits

If you're one of those "long time readers" of this blog, you might recall seeing pictures of this adorable family that I posted back in 2012.  I think this summer marked...



If you're one of those "long time readers" of this blog, you might recall seeing pictures of this adorable family that I posted back in 2012.  I think this summer marked the 4th time I've photographed the M family, and it's been so much fun to be the one capturing their developing personalities and be able to watch them grow each year.  After scouting a bit online, we decided on the Harrisonville city park where we found a beautiful lake and - much to little Cody, the boy of the family's, delight - a train cab!   Which, yes, we used for some of the girls' shots too... because its not everyday you get your picture taken on a train. =)  It being a red train, it went perfectly with their "4th of July" coordinated outfits!

Fun fact!  Mally's newborn pictures made up the first ever blog post on Anna Liz Photography! ;-)

Cody's "cool face"... haha!

When you have three sisters who all do cartwheels?  Well, you take a picture, of course!

Spring Farm Tour | Wilstin Farm

Willie and Kristin own a small farm here in Missouri where (among other farm-related work ;-) they raise dexter cattle and stable a few of their horses.  Kristin actually shows ...

In with Lightroom...

I've been waiting to upgrade to Lightroom for a while now, and finally made the decision to go for it this winter!  I wasn't sure how much I'd like the change, but I'm loving it!  It's been such a time-saver (not to mention it's so much more flexible with different lighting situations than PS), and makes me realize how editing in Photoshop was taking more time than I thought.

For all you "Lightroom-users" out there... what's your favorite thing about Lightroom?

"The Lord is risen, indeed!" | Personal

"Our religion is little because our God is little.  Our religion is weak because our God is weak.  Our religion is ignoble because the God we serve is ignoble.  We do not see God as He is.

The Psalmist said, "O magnify the Lord with me" (34:3).  "Magnify" may mean one of two things: "make it look bigger than it is", or "see it as big as it is."  The latter is what "magnify" means as the Psalmist used it.

If you want to examine a very small amount of matter, you put it under a microscope and magnify it to make it look bigger than it is.  But it is impossible to make God look bigger than He is.  When we say "magnify the Lord", we mean try to see God somewhere near as big as He is.

This is what I want to do.  This is what, by His help, I have dedicated myself to." (A.W. Tozer)

I read this in a book a week or two ago, and it came back to me tonight as I was thinking about what we're celebrating this weekend.  Thinking about the many wonderful things that were a result of what took place - the opportunity we each have to experience a second chance and a new life, to walk through each day's trials with a Helper and Friend in our hearts, and the hope of a place in Heaven where we'll be with Him forever.  

To accomplish all that, our God couldn't be a little God.   He couldn't be a weak God.  He couldn't be an ignoble God.  He is all-powerful... powerful enough to become a man in the world His own hands created, powerful enough to bring to life what was dead, and powerful enough to give sinners like me a way out of our darkness and destruction.  He is a powerful and mighty God!  And the GOOD NEWS?  The God who raised the crucified Jesus and defeated death forevermore is the same God who continues to work in our world today and resides in the hearts of those who believe in Him.

This Easter, let's worship our all-powerful and almighty God. Let's take the time to ponder what a great King we serve, and let's try to "see God somewhere as big as He really is"!

"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." (Revelations 4:11)

Jim & Jeannie | Wedding

Life has been hard for Jim and Jeannie these past few years, as they have equally suffered through the death of a previous spouse as well as the recent and sudden death of Jim's oldest son.  Their wedding was ...

A Taste of Spring

When it's winter, and the ground is not covered in snow... well, there's not much for a photographer to photograph.  However, when you have ...

When it's winter, and the ground is not covered in snow... well, there's not much for a photographer to photograph.  However, when you have a sister who bakes yummy desserts and likes to decorate them all pretty-like?  You have a solution to the "no photographic subject" problem for a day. ;-)  Emily has been busy in the kitchen with many lovely cakes lately, but this one in particular that she whipped up for Mama's birthday was just so simple and beautiful - roses, pastel colors and all!