Every day I wake up wishing that my whole life would become as clear in my mind as my pretty house does. And every day I go to bed wishing I had followed through with much more than I did or I had been more organized or I wishing I had been a better person, mother, wife, friend, etc. Something does remain as clear as my pretty house. It is the fact that I KNOW I want to create art every day of my life. I want to capture moments that sometimes live in a vision inside my brain and I want to bring all those thoughts to reality. Why? Not for any specific reason but because it is what makes me absolutely soar. 

When I capture those moments, it is absolute Magic. It gives me purpose. I go to bed knowing that I did exactly what I wanted on this day and that feeling is priceless. 

I woke up a couple of weeks ago with a vision of what I wanted and I texted my sweet daughter in law to inquire about her plans for the day. When she said none, I asked to come take pictures of Ian. Spontaneous, last minute and just perfect. 

Art waiting to happen. In my mind. Very clear. 

 

So here we are again at the beginning of another year. Bittersweet..... Wonderful events, new friends, new business endeavors. Like any other human being I also experienced loss. Loss of family, extended family as well as friends. Those experiences, have all made me stronger and I must say at times kinder. I never think of myself as an unfriendly person but I'm also NOT sugary sweet, so I may come across as too frank or too straight forward. This has defined me at times and I know myself enough to know that I have become much more tolerant of things that I know in the past would have set me off. I am grateful for every experience that gave me the opportunity to grow. I am grateful for the fact that I no longer take things too personal and have learned to separate words, to take only the good to heart .What I feel may be the "bad", I have learned  from and took away whatever I could. Pretty awesome stuff! I am a new me, therefore I really don't have New Year's resolutions this time. I am already on my way and loving every minute of it. There is one thing. 748. This number now means a myriad of things to me. I will refrain from stating the story behind it but if you happen to come across my path, remember to say 748. It keeps me focused. It keeps me centered. No need for resolutions. Just 748.

To celebrate the new year, I am giving away a 16x20 wooden carved frame from Artsy Couture. This company has been so amazingly generous! They sent over 60 frames free of charge to photographers who posted on their Facebook page and I was one of them.

Here are the rules:

1. Get one entry by hitting the "Like" button on our Facebook page (Frances Otero Photography)  and becoming a fan. 

2. Get one entry by hitting the "Like" button on Artsy Couture's Facebook page.

2. Get an additional entry by leaving a comment on this blog. (Limit to one per person). 

3. Get double your entries by sharing on your blog or Facebook page and linking back to us.

Contest ends on Sunday January 15th, 2012 at Midnight.  The winner will be announced on Monday.

We are super excited to be able to pass on this wonderful gift to you. Enjoy and remember.... 748. Happy New Year to all of my amazing customers, friends and family. I would not be able to grow without you. You make my journey so filled with wonder! So worth living!!

Our town is divided by East and West. We don't have such descriptions in NY. Our towns are just towns. You don't have an East Maybrook and a West Maybrook. We just have a Maybrook. For some reason, East here in TX has a connotation of lesser. There is a group of people that tends to populate "the other side". The people who are considered immigrants. I see them at the bus stop in the cold, in the heat, in the morning, the afternoon. They stay and bear the weather, the stares from other people, hunger and much more, because they must bring the daily bread home. I for one never knew how to appreciate these people until I spent some time with them these past two weeks. This project made me appreciate what I have. Made me realize that there are people who would give anything to have very little of what I take for granted each day. They made me laugh, cry and think. They are "the other side" of my town. They are "the other side" of culture. They are "the other side" which many are afraid to even cross to. I am so proud to share some images of what I experienced by spending some time on "the other side"

I now feel the need to take a new direction with my work. My first love will always be children's photography and it will be one I will pursue and love forever. Life is way too short to spend it doing something we do not believe in. How many times have we all celebrated with our families and looked at old photographs? I know we do at times as a family. We laugh and remember those times with nostalgia. 

I don't want to be the photographer who puts more effort in setting up backgrounds, props and lights, rather than the one that captures the moments you will eventually remember with joy. The one who can capture the laughter in your child's eyes. The joy of those special moments. I want to be that photographer. I don't ever remember pulling out a studio picture from our trunk and laughing with my family about anything else but what I was wearing at the time or how funny my hairstyle was. Then there are those pictures that show my son's first rocking chair and how happy he was with it; the one of my three sons hugging as kids and smiling in a way that you can only capture when your heart knows how to. Yes. Your photography shows when your heart is in it. Just like it does when it is not. 

My commitment is now much more in tune with the direction I would like to take. Like I said. Life is way too short to do something that kills my spirit every day. I vow to never compromise my style for the sake of profit or to keep up with the very elite photographers. They have to do what makes them happy. I certainly will do what makes me happy. Don't want to waste another minute letting others dictate what should go on my viewfinder. 

New projects will now feed my need for art and thirst for excellence. I will continue to capture my family and children images with my heart and soul and will continue to bring my own touch. I read somewhere where a photographer said "Find out what others are doing and don't do it". This has served me well. I don't want to be others. I want to be me. I want you to look at my images and say "That has to be Frances' picture". I respect what others do. If you choose to capture your subjects with props, backgrounds, bling, whatever, it must be what you want to do and who am I to judge you. There is a market for that type of photography. I respect those who go out of their way to find the vintage look and old town charm and integrate it in their art. And who am I to judge you. I respect those who provide the "over the mantle glossy smiles" and who am I to judge you. I respect you. Now is my turn to earn your respect.