Celebrity Photos

Ok, so maybe you don't recognize him. But, if you were from Ethiopia you would! With wedding photography, every wedding is a new and fun experience. Last month, we photographed an Ethiopian wedding and Yehune Belay provided the music. While waiting for the bride and groom to arrive, I had a chance to chat with him. You can check out his web site at http://www.yehuniebelay.com/.

Portraits in the bathroom?

One of my favorite parts about being a photographer is the funny situations we end up in. Photographers go to great lengths to get "the" shot. Sometimes that means crawling through bushes, laying in the mud, climbing on top of things, etc. Other times it means you get to take executive portraits in the bathroom!! 

Although... you'd never know if I hadn't just told you :o)

When I grow up I want to be a photographer...

This morning I, Christy, got an opportunity of a lifetime. No, I didn't go in any more burning buildings! Instead I went inside a building that holds such precious archives that if it was burning all of the air would be sucked out to kill the fire! Myself, along with 3 other photographers, had the opportunity to visit the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (http://www.billygraham.org/default.asp) headquarters to meet with Russ Busby, who has been the head photographer for the last 52 years!

Talk about an incredible man! He's living proof of my theory that portrait photographers are (or at least should be) some of the nicest characters on earth! This man has had the opportunity to travel all over the world photographing everyone from the poor farmer in the Middle East to the president of the United States. When I say president I'm talking pretty much every single president since the mid-1950's!! Just recently he traveled overseas to North Korea... or was it South Korea? I don't remember. Anyway, the guy has stories to tell!! Not just stories, but also plenty jokes and tidbits of helpful information. Something that stuck out in my mind he said at the very end. "It's the person who takes the picture, not the camera." 

Originally our meeting was supposed to be only an hour. Two and a half hours later after hearing stories, seeing the archives and learning about how they work, we were saying goodbye. He gave us each a copy of the Billy Graham documentary book full of quotes, articles and photographs of the last 50 years of his ministry. Quoting Russ, "It's not a book of pictures I've taken, or things Billy Graham has said, but rather it is a book of what God has done." 

It was such a blessing to get to spend a few hours with a man of his character. I can only wish that someday when I grow up I can be a photographer like Russ Busby!!