PTP 2013 review!

What a year…. we covered a spectrum of  highs and lows.  I can say i am ready to move onto a new year and excited about positive changes happening.  We will cover the highlights, as they are pretty GRAND indeed!

I had a fantastic senior and family season, creating great images and turned them into art.  Some amazing ART albums went out the door this year for seniors, they will LOVE and cherish the images forever, such a fun and special time.   So, from our family to yours…here’s to an AMAZING 2014~ I am looking forward to the journey that lies ahead.

Volunteer Highlights: 

Besides the auction, school, and non profit donations I routinely I donate to, these THREE areas touched my heart tremendously!

I Photographed several families this year for the F.I.L.M. Project.  This is volunteer photography work I do working with families with cancer.  Images they will for their future. Each and every session is so special, the love and the emotion has filled my heart in a way I can’t really describe.  Giving these families a special gift is what it is about.   Lasting memories for them to cherish.

With that said, the most difficult session I have ever photographed was for the FILM Project was this year.   I was given the opportunity to photograph my dear friend Kathleen and her sweet, amazing family.  One such session I wish I had not had to contribute to, as she was my first FILM family client that has passed away.

Her battle was short but her heart has left a legacy.  You are always in our hearts Kathleen.

Drake Edwards

In early 2013 I established The Drake Edwards Memorial Portrait Scholarship.  It is in honor of one great guy whose life tragically Dec 23rd 2012… with the help of Drake’s family and a committee we read through some great applicants for the portrait scholarship.  In July- Drew Minter was awarded as the first recipient of the Drake Edwards Memorial Portrait Scholarship.   Deserving and FUN… we had a great time capturing his spirit and sharing some memories of our friend Drake as we photographed.  It is with excitement we will continue the portrait scholarship in his honor.

November – The PTP FOOD RAISER

With a letter of need I decided i wanted to give back to the community that has supported my busienss for 15 years.  I am constantly ‘giving’ but this just felt like a fun, great thing idea that would keep giving.  I approaced the Food Pantry and they were delighted.  Well, with lots of happy families getting portraits done,  we had Donated 371 lbs of food to the West Linn Food Pantry  I Photographed 24 families over two days for the food raiser and had some great volunteers step in and help.  We had so much fun as we contributed and supported the community.  We also meant some incredible new families and had a blast playing!

2013 Professionally:

Simply Fabulous began… a line photographing Women. It’s all about capturing beauty, fun, happiness, and love.  Check out our face book page for information:  https://www.facebook.com/SimplyFabulousByNancySteele  Had a lot of fun at a conference studying lighting and posing of women.

AND…. I Passed my CPP exam

December 7th!

This is a technical exam to become a Certified Professional Photographer.  Next week I will begin the image review process.  After passing the exam, I will submit images to be reviewed by a panel at Professional Photographers of America.  These images are a combination of specific lighting techniques and client work.  Then, i will be awarded certification!  Currently there are only 20 some CPP’s in Oregon.  It’s a professional highlight on my way to my goal of  Master Photographer award by PPA!

(The Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) program from PPA assures others of a photographer’s knowledge, experience and continuance to develop new skills and techniques. It is a declaration of your professional competence! The certification program assures the general public that you, as a Certified Professional Photographer, are a quality professional. It’s like quality assurance because certification is a credential consumers and businesses understand!)

Was asked to be a part of the PPO board in 2013 (Professional Photographers of Oregon).

Was fun to be a part of such educated photographers and learning the ins and outs of the Organization.  We have recently joined with PMPA to form the new organization called Oregon Professional Photographers Association.  I look forward to being active in the group and beginning to work on Print Competition in the coming year!

Personally

Was a year filled with lots of highs and lows, that’s what makes lives so adventuresome.

We were saddened by the passing of several dear friends and relatives.  Grief is a hard thing and especially to watch dear friends go through and to feel so very deeply.  Part of friendship is being there, supporting, and loving.   We all become better people through the process and it was a tough journey this past year.

SOME HIGHLIGHTS!

My older daughter Jenna graduated college, HOORAY.  She earned a degree in Exercise Science Degree with a minor in Coaching.

She competed for FOUR years in Lacrosse at Fort Lewis College in Durango Colorado.  Sadly, she ended her season early after suffering two concussions.  She was an amazing 3 year captain and leader, had many achievements on and off the field.  We are so very proud of the person she is and  has become.   Dealing with her concussions the past year has shown exactly who she is, Caring, compassionate, and fierce competitor.    I am very excited to see where her next adventure takes her in life.  Until then, having her home to heal has been a wonderful time I cherish!

In the meantime, I had a few GREAT trips across the county to watch her play lacrosse.  So happy I made the trips, as she could not compete her last several senior games.  I traveled for both work and pleasure and saw a few new cities to me.  St. Louis twice in two weeks…but I LOVED the city.  Philly, St. Louis, Kansas City, and all over Pennsylvania!

Currently my younger daughter Kylie is studying in South Africa.  What an exciting time… as a communications major she is traveling with her group from Whitworth University.  I am sure it will be an incredible journey with this amazing community of friends.  She is studying Communications as a major and is working on Minors in Theology, and French.   (I think I see a trip to France in our future!)

Oh the homestead…. we still adore Tyson the beast of a dog (he’s a large lab!)  We adopted a cat, (that sleeps in really strange places!)  she is at least temporary, and lost a few chickens to the coyotes, and hubby got a few new babies and they  grow!  I am a happy Urban Farmer as they are laying eggs again…it became so, so very hard to buy eggs at the store!

Thought I’d be fun to start by showing a few IG images… of the life in the year!   https://instagram.com/ptpnancy