Krszjzaniek {Family}

"Ok, this feels real now. I can't believe I'm actually doing this." Nicole's famous words as we were booking her family for a portrait session. I knew what she meant. She's thinking about the past or worried about her boys' behavior during the shoot. If it's been hard to get family pictures in the past, then it will be hard in the future, and that includes now. So, the sensible thing to do is avoid it as long as possible. Well, Nicole had avoided it long enough and she knew she needed to move on it. She trusted me, we spent some time planning her clothing, and I found a sweet spot off the side of a road somewhere the day before our shoot (I got inspired and although there were a lot of easier alternatives, I took the risk to use it). I was so proud of her because she kept her cool all day, didn't stress about the kids, the crazy weird location, or their outfits, so the vibe the kids got from her and dad was very laid back when we got there. That is SO hard to do-I know it is-so kudos to Supermom Nicole.

We did the session and she wasn't really thinking beyond "let's just get the pictures done". In the beginning, it's all about hoping it goes well and you'll get a few good images. I am willing to bet there are a lot of moms out there just like her and have been in her shoes. I feel like my family is the hardest to capture for absolutely anyone and I pity the photographer that tries. I've heard that same statement from moms hundreds of times! Everyone thinks their family is the hardest, believe me. Do you know what else I've heard hundreds of times? "I'm shocked at how many good ones there are. How on earth am I going to choose? Thank you SO much!" and it makes my heart happy. Nicole's story is like so many others and yes-it ends the same. Absolute fascination of a job well beyond done- with so much heart and customization. It's my story-it's how it always goes-and I'm thankful for it. I love being in the room to watch them see their images for the first time. I'm not the cyber ghost photographer that shows up for pictures one day having never met you, snaps, and then sends your images on CD and never sees you again-no, not me. I'll sit with you, watch you get teary-eyed, and help you make decisions. Then you get these amazing photos with true professional color, beautiful framed pieces or canvases for your wall and many times I return for a delivery, another planning session, or a get-together and I see them in their display. It is the ultimate reward! Nicole couldn't believe how well the session turned out and now she's excited about her displays! Here are a few from her bigger-than-normal gallery. The boys are absolutely awesome. Each with their own personality-sweet as can be. I loved getting to know them through this shoot!

The location was literally on the side of the road and I couldn't have asked for a better family or day. They were so cool and collected, and the weather was gorgeous. The location will probably never be the same after the yellow wildflowers fade away, but at least we captured what it looked like at one instance in time. Phenomenal is the least I can say about this shoot! Thank you, Nicole, for trusting me with such an important job as this!

Let Go and Let God {Chan Family}

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday. It is the great and humble entrance of the Lord Jesus into Jerusalem. It was a magnificent day where the people supported our Lord for who He is-the son of God. That day the people knew. They knew He was the One. They supported and accepted that fact and because they knew He was the Son of God by the miracles He performed and by the way He loved, many of them couldn't honor Him enough. They didn't know what to do when they saw Him coming. Shouldn't there be some sort of honor for the Son of God? What can we do? We line the street, we give praise to the Father for sending us Jesus! Right there they had conversions. On this day, people asked questions. On this day when people asked, "Who is this Jesus?", they were told, "This is the One! The Messiah! The King! He's come to Jerusalem to take his place on the throne and save us!! The one we've been waiting for! Truly he was sent by God!" Many of them grabbed palm branches off the trees to lay down as a carpet for Him. Who was the first person to do it? Does he or she know what they began? Did he or she know we would be remembering this for eternity? I'm sure they didn't. But they knew they had to do something for Jesus; something worthy of the Lamb of God who has come to take His place on the throne. It would be the last time they would support Him while he walked this earth...

I can't imagine a better way to usher in Jesus this Palm Sunday other than with a gift of praise. This is a wondrous hallelujah story from my friend become client, Mandy Chan. Mandy and I attend church together and her story at our Women's Ministry Kickoff Dinner had tears rolling down my cheeks in a steady stream. I don't think there was a dry eye during most of her talk. She is an example of faith to me and she's risen with God's help to conquer unspeakable odds. Although her life still isn't easy, she has her Lord to thank for her wonderful son Cameron's life. Enjoy this amazing story and all glory to the Comforter.

Mandy Chan: "Let Go and Let God"

I have struggled with this concept all of my life and sometimes I still do. When I had Cameron from the very beginning God was teaching me to let go.

Cameron was born at The Woodlands Hermann Memorial hospital on June 16, 2009 at 24 weeks gestation and weighing 2 pounds. Cameron was the youngest baby born to date at The Woodlands Hermann. The Doctor called my Mom and Doug out into the hall and told Doug all the complications and Cameron’s survival rate. The Doctor told Doug to make a choice on whether they should even try to resuscitate him. Hermann flew in a team of Doctors to help him through his first few hours of life. That was the first time Doug and I had to “let go and let God”. The Doctors worked for 20 minutes resuscitating him and since that moment Cameron has fought for his life with a passion.


I remember lying in bed worrying about his eyes opening because Cameron’s eyes were still fused shut. I would cry and pray for his eyes to open. Cameron opened his beautiful eyes on July 4th 2009. Doug and I joked that Cameron wanted to see the fireworks. I remember the first time I held Cameron, it was skin to skin and the nurses called this Kangaroo time. Kangaroo time would help him feel and smell me since he was not in the womb. I would also bring a doll home and sleep with it and then bring it back to Cameron so he could have the smell of his mother in his incubator. Cameron had a lot of struggles, but we made it through every one together as a family. Doug and I described it as a rollercoaster we didn’t know if we would ever get off and be a normal family.

A month into Cameron’s life I was told that he had 24 hours to live and that I should come to the hospital. I was with my grandmother and I got down on my knees and cried and begged God not to take Cameron home. I got to the hospital and prayed with Gail Matthews and my husband Doug Chan and we prayed over Cameron. I will never forget that day because we let go and let God. All of my life I have tried to control what I could because I was scared. But I couldn’t control what was going on. I was in a state of confusion most of the time.

When Cameron was life flighted downtown to Hermann Medical Center because he was not thriving and needed more advanced care. Once again this decision saved Cameron’s life and I feel God’s hand was involved. Doug and I worried about how we would be able to stay with Cameron and where we would stay downtown. We lived an hour one way. But then God came through again using our Bammel church family. I have never experienced such love from a church. Our Bammel church family was so gracious with their love donations. They found us an apartment and paid for one of month of groceries and parking passes. It would not have been possible for us to stay with Cameron if it were not for our Bammel church family.

After Cameron was life flighted we found out that everyone is born with a hole in their heart and it fuses shut by itself. Cameron’s hole in his heart was 4 times larger than the Aorta. The doctors informed us that Cameron would have to have an emergency surgery that would be 5 hours long. This surgery required a pda ligation this is where the doctors would clamp the hole together. We were very scared and worried about this surgery but yet again God and Cameron taught me a valuable lesson. Let go and Let God.

With all the surgeries Cameron has been through I have learned to let go on every one and God always was faithful and seemed to pull Cameron through the worst. Recently Cameron had a surgery to remove his trach. I worried for months about his vocal cord being damaged through the process of the surgery. The surgery turned out better then I could have ever imagined it to be. The doctor came to Doug and me and said there was a new procedure that he wanted to try on Cameron. This new procedure would not require the rib reconstruction. This surgery had only been done 9 other times in the USA. We agreed and when everything was all done Cameron was extubated and he cried for his music box and I cried with him I knew he was okay.



Cameron is an amazing little boy when I first brought Cameron home I told myself that I would not treat him as if he had a disability. When we were trying to get him to sit up I remember working hard to try to leave him in the high chair most of the day so he could learn to sit up. We would play and interact with him. It was also the same with crawling, because it was a struggle to get him to crawl. We worked together as a team and I remember crying and getting frustrated but the day he started crawling was quite a wonderful day. I am reminded of the time the doctors came to us and said that Cameron would be a vegetable and that he would never sit up, crawl or walk and asked us to turn off the machines because he was worried about the quality of Cameron’s life. I said no and I told them that if God wanted to take Cameron home that he would have already and that it was not my place to decide. I am glad that we decided against the Doctor and I wish that same Doctor could see that he was wrong.



When you go through struggles and you look around and you can’t see God your mind naturally goes in a state of panic. When I was downtown I remember looking up into the night sky and I had just had a not so great day. I had tears streaming down my face and I looked up and I questioned God do you still love me? God is always faithful and loving and kind. God has many mysterious ways of letting his children know that he loves them. 3 days later I received a letter in the mail from someone that I didn’t know at the time. We eventually became friends. This letter stated that God does still loves me! Every time I think about that letter I get a warm feeling in my heart because now I know.

There are so many things about Cameron that I could worry about. But God and Cameron working as a team constantly reassures me that everything will be okay. My child has such a passion to live and works hard on things that many people would take for granted. I am constantly reminded every time I see my child walk of how great our God is. My family and friends lives have been changed by the miracle of Cameron. That is why for the rest of my life my son will be a living testimony to this world of God’s great and beautiful miracles. I have learned through all of the struggles we went through that when you call God, God will come and he will take over and walk you through. All you have to do is say God I need you and God will come running. God loves you and I hope God speaks to your heart just as he has to mine.





Mandra Chan

Inspired Child Sessions

I shared this photo on my facebook page and some people commented that they are interested in having a session like this for their own children.



It has been my inspiration from God that makes me feel the need to place scripture on images and ultimately in homes. I've given these images to clients for free when they book me since the beginning of this business and it's kind of been kept a secret. It's always a gift and sometimes I'll get a call or email that says "I got this extra picture with a scripture on it-was it a mistake?" My upbringing has taught me not to talk about such wonderful things or my blessing gets taken away. Hmm. Anyway, Philippians 4:8 says to think of these praiseworthy things. How can you think on them when no one can share them? Lately I've wondered if I should stop keeping secrets. So I'm ready to share my heart for God and I'm eagerly wanting my work to speak volumes. I am SOOOO in love with Jesus. So, so, so in love with my Savior. Everything I do is because I want to put a smile on His face (although I am far from perfect!). I realize some of you aren't shocked-I've sprinkled my love for Christ all over my website and my facebook page. Keeping with my promise to give God the glory for my talent, I've always remembered it is HIS creation that I'm capturing, I've tried to make this business about what I'm about-Jesus. But, in all honesty, it's only the tip of the iceberg. It's so much bigger than that. God is so much bigger than that. I'm a person with struggles, trials, and tenacity for this Christian life-it is a daily, purposeful journey and it's so rewarding. Believe it or not, my business postings are actually "toned down" from what I really feel in my heart for Jesus. Yes, even still. I remember when I first started out there were a few seasoned photographers that told me I need to stop putting all the "God stuff" on my website-that it will drive clients away and I'll make less money. After all, this is a business (in other words, God doesn't belong in photography businesses). I never actually listened to them. I figured if God gave me this talent, then He should be given credit. I figured that the clients that are driven away weren't meant for me anyway. I reasoned that God would bless me with clients anyway (and HE HAS). But I still know that what God has done through my business hasn't been fully shared. I've been afraid that I can't stand up to what my images do for people or maybe I think too much of them. Perhaps I feel like people will think I think too much of myself or that I think I'm "too good" for them. I'm not sure which fear it is or if it's a combination of it all. The truth is I don't feel like I'm too good at all. I like my talent, but I know I have room to grow. I love my love for God, but I know it is HE that creates it. I feel like I don't deserve these blessings and the truth is, I don't. I also know that my kids don't "deserve" what they receive from me either. But is that really the question? Do I actually think to myself as I pick up a dress for Rio or a toy for Lathan, "Does he/she deserve this?". No, of course not! That's never the question. I'm too excited to give the gift! I imagine that's what God is like for me. So then, I've taken His blessings and turned them into blessing others.

My post from Facebook read:
Easter is coming and with it comes a flood of emotions for me. I start off pretty sad and stricken. Emotions from past events in my own life plague me and as I contemplate the events leading up to Christ's crucifixion, the feeling of sadness is sometimes overwhelming. Then that Sunday, the sadness turns to joy. I look forward to the feeling every year and in preparation, I love looking for ways to communicate what I feel through my art. I have begun thinking of it as their life story. I have always enjoyed painting these prophecies of belief for my kids-its part of how I pass on the legacy of faith that comes before them. I want them to be equipped and framed by these scripture images in the future. I want them to see scripture in their home, their rooms, next to their faces. Part of all of this is wanting more and more to do that for my friends-my clients. A vision I use often in my business is to offer to my clients what I would want for my own children. I don't want to simply "snap pictures for people". I want to write a story. I crave to speak into existence a framing for their very future-for all the children and families I meet. Soon after I took this picture of Lathan, my mom sent me posters of the fruits of the Spirit as a gift to hang in my room. She didn't know I had been reflecting on the very same subject. Her gift was because she wishes these gifts on me. She read in the book, "The Circle Maker" by Mark Batterson about a young girl whose parents framed and hung prophetic words in her room. When the girl grew up and left the house, she told her parents that on some nights when she couldn't fall asleep, she would look at the those words on the wall, and they would speak to her. Those framed words started to frame her. What a gift!! I want the same for my kids and the kids I meet. This image was taken in Spring and I am willing to go out there again if some of you are willing to create prophetic art of your kids in front of this cross. If many of you are interested, please comment below and I'll arrange a date with more details. Happy Easter!! :)

So people responded and really as soon as I hear one response, how could I decide not to? Truthfully, I've struggled with offering mini sessions anymore because my life is expensive. They are dreadfully underpriced because I can't bring myself to charge what my time is worth. From the outside it looks like its all profit and it's far from it. My children miss me and I miss them and whether its working in my room or off shooting, I'm not there. My kids and my bills are expensive. I feel bad even charging for such a wonderful event like Easter images. But I have to. It's more about the opportunity to do for someone else as I have done for myself. I have pictures of my kids with scripture next to them, or of them reading the bible, or an image with just a prophetic word to frame their personality. For this session, I actually don't even care if it's just one person. So I'm thinking about the true goal-a scripture image on the wall and for a child to see him/herself next to God's words. He/she will remember that picture when he/she grows up. A mounted 11x14 will do the job. It's the gift I've given to families since the beginning. It costs $110. So I've taken off $20 and am donating it along with my time to take the pictures, bring out props, edit them, upload and host them, and process the orders. It's a celebration of Christ and it's my sacrifice, which will be pleasing to Him. I don't usually work on Sundays, but I see this as a part of worship. These sessions will be available this next weekend and beyond. Perhaps you don't want a full session, you just want to frame your kids with scripture. These can always be booked. They will be at a discount for Easter, but "regularly priced" (time still donated) at $110 throughout the year. Just ask for an Inspired Child Session. I don't share all of these details so people feel like they're getting a deal or to give anyone permission to judge my worship or work habits; I share them because I am sharing my true heart. I am proud that I donate time, that I work hard for God, and that I consider my work as my ministry. I pray you'll be blessed and not-so-secretly, I know you and your family will!
You can purchase a session here and book by email:

Session Options

Easter Session $90.00 USD Easter Session with Digitals $120.00 USD Anytime Session $110.00 USD Anytime Session with Digitals $140.00 USD

Here are the details: