Stan Dunlap Photography

I have finally finished our Wedding Packages for 2010. I wanted to simplify the packages yet structure them so that couples could choose a package and options that fit their budget yet still enable them to have wonderful photographic memories of their engagement and wedding.

You will notice that two of our three packages include either an enagagement or bridal session or both; the reason for that is simple, we want to get to know the couple before their wedding day. Engagement and Bridals allow us time before the wedding to work with the bride and groom in a relaxed atmosphere, with out interruptions and the time constraits that are a part of every Wedding Day. To review our galleries and see the package information go to www.sdphotographs.com.

Stan Dunlap Photography

Yesterday me, Julie, Lindsey and Chase went driving looking for a hill to do a little sledding. Maybe I should say a little hill to do some sledding! We found one on New Shackle Island and had a blast. Lindsey and Chase called their friends Brandon and Carissa (and their 2 year old son). Of course I had my camera, below are some of the images. I also photographed some people we shared the hill with but didn’t get their names.

We used the old fashion kind…

This father snow plowed his child!

Carissa looks terrified!

Addison is not sure about Brandon’s driving.

Face plant, he was ok!

Lindsey & Chase went head first into the bank.

He was flying.

Little Hill Big Fun!

We finally got some snow! Depending on where you measure in Hendersonville TN there is 5″ to 8″ of snow. This morning after Julie made us waffles, bacon and coffee, which we ate by the fireplace, I decided to take a drive with my camera in tow. I can’t remember the last time we got this much snow and the roads being so bad. I love it, finally got to put my Tahoe in 4-wheel drive!

Do you guys like this weather? It was evident, as I drove around, a lot of people do. Her are a few images from today.

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My favorite Red Barn!

Remember, No church at LHBC tomorrow. Guess I did to many dounuts in the parking lot!

As I have watched the news and updates about the devastation in Haiti I’ve seen the destruction, the pain, the poverty, and I realized how spoiled I am. I realized how out of touch with this situation I am. I see the images and I pray, I see the hurting and dyeing and I feel badly, but what am I going to do? I asked what is my part in this?

Last week as I was looking at some of the images from Haiti I saw this one of a little boy, all alone and setting on a rock. In my early training as a photographer I was taught to focus on a persons eyes so now when I’m viewing a photograph of a person I seem to always look at the eyes. The boy looked to be about 8 or 9 and his eyes were big and brown, he wasn’t crying he wasn’t doing anything, just looking into the camera lens.  I can’t explain it but the lost and lonely look in this child’s eyes told the story. Then I read the caption under the image, he had lost his entire family and had no one. Then I thought, how much do I love, I talk a good game but how much do I care, and how much do I sacrifice? That day the words of Brandon Heath’s song “Give Me Your Eyes” kept going through my mind;

Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
Ones that are far beyond my reach.
Give me your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see

Last Sunday and today Long Hollow Baptist  (as well as countless other churches) gave and gave and gave. Since last summer Long Hollow has been raising money through the Crazy Love offerings in order, via a partnership with the Global Orphans Project, to build villages with schools and shelter for the orphans of Haiti. Is this a coincidence? I don’t think so; I think God has been preparing my heart, our hearts in order to break them so we can see.  I will never see the boy in the photograph but God is calling me to help my church and through His work the orphans in Haiti will be exposed to his love and grace!

Today the people attending Long Hollow donated food, medicine, tents, diapers and clothes to the people of Haiti. FedEx donated a trailer, driver and time and will deliver the items to Miami, Florida. Once in Miami the Global Orphans Project will have it shipped to Haiti. The trailer was filled, actually there was probably enough to fill two trailers. Here are few images from today at Long Hollow;

Not only did they give they worked. Men, women and children packed boxes and loaded the truck!

Awesome! Keep praying for Haiti and for the staff members of Long Hollow Baptist who are in Haiti this week!

At the end of the year I always try to review and critic my work from the last 12 months.  This year I picked a few (about 30) of my images and thought I would ask for your criticism and comments. So, what do you think? Do you have a favorite, is there one (or more) that I should have shot differently? Do the images express anything to you or do they appear as snapshots, just  posed photographs? Because photography is always changing I learn a great deal from what you think. As always, I appreciate all your comments.

Weddings………………………………………………………….

Couples………………………………………………………….

Portraits…………………………………………………………………..

My Stuff………………………………………………………….

My grandson spreading grass seed.

Thanks for looking!

2010 has been cold! Even if we didn’t get the snow I think we all wanted, we sure did get the cold! After being in all week and not shooting for a couple of days I decide I would drive down Long Hollow Pike and see if I could find some interesting things to shoot. My wife ask me if I new how cold it was and I told her not to tell me! I bundle up, warmed up my truck grabbed my camera and started driving. Below are a few of the things I notice during my drive. Leave a comment, tell me what you think.

I have always loved this barn next to a little creek….

This horse just kept looking at me like, are you crazy, it’s cold!

This green light on this barn caught my eye, also liked the peeling paint.

Ok by now I was cold so I checked the temp on my iphone, burrr!

Station Camp creek had ice on the edges that looked cool almost like jewels!

The wind whipping Old Glory, taped to a fence post made me do a u-turn.

I liked the rust and the ice cycles

White water in Station Camp.

So by now I am very cold and headed home but I saw this bank that looked like a frozen waterfall. I had fun looking at stuff I drive by everyday!

Ever since Alyssa and our daughters became friends in high school she has been like one of our daughters, so naturally we were excited to be able to photograph her and Brandon’s wedding. The wedding was beautiful and so was Alyssa (even though her voice was gone). Here are a few of their wedding images.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last night we celebrated Christmas at Long Hollow in music, song and worship! The children began the worship then the choir and Long Hollow teens continued the praise. Brother David ’s brief words were about not only Christ birth but the reason for his birth and his death,  that reason was to save you and me. Here are a few images from last night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I posted 16 photos on Facebook in the album “Families” http://bit.ly/5Qu3oa

Joe and his children wanted an outdoor country setting for their casual style portraits,  Julie and I knew just the spot. Earlier in the fall I had found this barn with old trucks, woods and plenty of pasture.  I suggested the location to Joe and he and his kids were all for it. Here are a few from our afternoon with the Quilty’s.