I’m excited… That our first wedding together where we’ll both be guest is coming up this Friday night!

I’m enjoying… These past few weeks! They’ve been filled with bridals showers, bachelor & bachelorette parties and our couples shower.

I changed… The way I look. Haven’t seen me lately? Head on over to my fitness page on Facebook to see my transformation from the last few months.

I’m thankful…for the friendships the Lord has placed in my life. Goodness, these people knock my socks off. Some I’ve known for a long time and some I’ve met in the last few year,s but man I’m a lucky girl.

I’m in awe…of what God is doing in our lives these days and the long-awaited visions He is bringing to life. He is so good. I’m excited to see the plans unfold.

I’m currently… Busy working part0-time with another Dallas Wedding Photographer and love my job!! Plus, I’ve been busy photographing a few 2013 seniors as well. Take a look!

Photos by the amazing Evan Godwin | Taken at 3825 S. Bowen Rd.

Hands down the most emotional father/daughter dance EVER!! There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

You can see more of this couple from their engagement session HERE. And to see more of Justin & Casey’s Windsor at Hebron Park wedding, you can view the slideshow below.

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past – frequently simple goals such as New Year’s resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

My List
Start date : March 16, 2013
End date : December 12, 2015

Key 

Not yet started | In progress | Complete  - I was supposed to create a blog post about each completed goal but didn’t do so well.

1. Inspire someone to write their own list
2. Host a game night
3. Write a letter to myself to open in 10 years
4. Sew a dress
5. Crochet another blanket (Began Oct 2010)
6. Go on a cruise
7. Attend at least 5 concerts
8. Go Sky-Diving
9. Be hired as a 2nd shooter at a wedding
10. Visit 3 new states (Visited NYC, Dec. 2010)
12.  
13. Visit the boats in Shreveport, LA
14. Write and mail 25 hand written notes to family & friends
15. Get braces
16. Bake a pie from scratch
17. Volunteer on Thanksgiving
18. Vacation in the mountains and visit a ski resort
19. Eat at 10 new restaurants
20. Attend a runway shoe at New York’s Fashion Week
21. Swim with dolphins
22. Plant an herb garden
23. Try at least one new recipe a month
24. Complete a 365 project - (Began on August 16, 2012)
25. Take a weekend trip w/my Mom to a casino
26.  
27. Carve pumpkins @Halloween with KJ
28. Visit 3 new countries
29. Enter a photo into the photo contest at the Texas State Fair
31. Make a time capsule & bury it at my Grandparents house in the country
33. Get KJ a passport
35. Ride on the ferris wheel at Coney Island
37. Get baptized
39. Attend a yoga class
40. Get my bra size measured professionally (TMI, I know)
43. Visit a paint your own ceramics/pottery store
44. Create an actual business plan
45. Buy my 1st home
46. Watch a new movie that I’ve never seen before at least once a month
47. Get my windshield replaced
48. Watch 3 classic Black & White Movies that I never seen before (Casablanca, Gone With the Wind & It’s a Wonderful Life)
50. Donate to a single charity each year
52. Get my bra size measured professionally (TMI, I know)
53. Take a cooking class
54. Read from the bible daily
55. Kiss in the rain
57. Take a road trip to visit another state with my husband and son
58. Watch the sunrise & sunset on the same day
59. Get a brazilian bikini waxGo to a drive-in movie theater
61. Open a business account
62. Decorate my home more
63. Go to SXSW
64. Use my video camera more to record memories & events
65. Pay for the person behind me in the Drive Thru (Pay it Forward)
66. Visit a haunted house
67. Buy a Christmas gift for a needy child
69. Go a on a girls getaway trip for the weekend
70. Dye Easter eggs with KJ
71. Have a professional photography session done of my family
72. Read a book a month
73. Make new friends & build relationships (I’ve met some of the best friends in the world and hope to continue building relationships with them and with new people)
74. Stop being so afraid of what people think of me & build my confidence
75. Have a real picnic in a park (picnic basket & all)
76. Visit Savannah, GA and eat at Paula Deen’s restaurant
77. Have a second child!
78. Visit a real light house
79. Get a new tattoo (cover up an old one)
80. Attend an NFL game of someone other than the Dallas Cowboys
81. Bring my own grocery bags to the grocery store at least once a month (I’ve done it once so far)
82. Send a care package to a solider overseas
83. Become certified in CPR
84. Have my make-up done professionally
85. Tailgate at the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium
86. Have a photo published in a major magazine and/or featured on another blog
87. Visit an Aquarium
88. Eat vegetarian for a week
89. Leave an inspirational note inside a book for someone to find
90. Go paintballing
91. Call my grandparents at least once a month (I need to start!! I only have one grandparent living now, RIP grandma 10/7/12)
92. Earn a profit as a Beachbody coach
93. Fall asleep in a hammock that hangs from a tree (preferably on a beach)
94. Get a full body massage, facial, manicure and pedicure all in one day
95. Pay $10 for every goal not completed to Charity or a Non-Profit Organization
96.  
97.  
98.  
99.  
100. Create a new 101 in 1001 list!

In addition to contacting Shayla J. Photography to photograph your session let’s start thinking about what you’re going to wear?  It can sometimes be difficult to figure out what to wear on your photo shoot and luckily your sessions come with a pre-consultation to help decide what you’re going to wear and to come up with the perfect outfits!

In case you need somewhere to start here’s some tips!

Prepare 4-5 complete outfits. Make sure theses outfits are classic, timeless pieces. This is your time to shine, so pick your outfits based on your personality.

Select two to three outfits, or dress in layers to change up your look throughout the shoot. Aim for one casual and one dressy and definitively “you” outfit that says something about your personality. Try to avoid bright colors and busy patterns — which can sometimes be distracting in photos. You should ALWAYS iron in advance, and bring all attire on hangers. Hey and if you need help with a hair & makeup, just let me know. I can refer you to a local expert!

Girls – While you’re out shopping, remember the boots, the pumps, the jewelry, the scarfs, the hats. Accessories make it fun, new, & edgy. And of course, don’t forget the mani & pedi’s!

Check out  Sofia’s outfit below, isn’t it cute ?!?!? No, Sofia isn’t a senior, she’s not even a model! She was another attendee at a workshop that I went  to recently. I just loved the look she had going on with her denim shirt, colored skinny’s and cowboy boots. Not to mention her cute do, it make me want to cut my hair again.

Her look was perfect for a photo shoot!! Accessories and all.

Guys – Of course nothing can beat a nice pair of jeans and t-shirt also bring at least one formal wear outfit. Whether you’d like to sport a suit and tie or prefer the look above with button up shirt and some jeans. A formal shirt and pants is a timeless classic and one of the popular senior picture ideas for guys. Guys you can also experiment with mix match clothes that looks stylish and peppy. You can also mix in caps, hats, and different types of jackets and blazers to get a unique look.

I’m more than happy to discuss your clothing choices, help you narrow down your decisions to make sure that your clothing coordinates well with the locations chosen for your photo shoot.

If you have any questions please fill out the contact form and let me know!!

Before heading out to do some hand’s on-shooting of our own we spent the morning discussing everything from sales tax, branding and money management to editing software, posing, online resources & forums and advanced camera functions. With me heading into my second year of photographing full-time, the day was filled with tons of information that was valuable for photographers at all levels.

Celina’s second shooter Melinda was also on hand to answer any questions that we had and to help out and the two of them are quite the pair because they had us cracking up all day long.

I’ll be sharing photos from the workshop in the upcoming weeks, but in honor of Valentine’s Day today here are some photos the happily married Nico & Tracy who braved the chilly weather to model for us that day!p style=”text-align: center;”>

If you’re interested in scheduling a shoot email me at shayla{at}shayla-j.com or click on the contact link above!!