Would you mind of I paid you in gum?

I went to the Indian version of Starbucks today. Bought a water which cost 15 rupees, I gave him 20. He gave me 2 rupees and three pieces of gum. This is not the first time this has happened.

Day Seven: Thankful for the call

Okay I'll be honest, I lost steam somewhere in the love for my job in children's ministry. Somewhere along the line I just didn't care as much as I did before, still thankful, still wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

Today before we left Mysore to travel back to Bangalore, I realized how incredibly fruitful the children's ministry has been. It's very clear that God has gifted and called me to minister to children, it comes so naturally...and I really do care about it.

We did a creative session today for the teachers at the school to teach the. How to teach the bible better. I think the team did so good, I was so proud of how they pulled through even though none of us were really prepared to do that.

The rest of the day was tons and tons of driving to get back to Bangalore... And tomorrow? Driving. Hopefully I'll have some wifi there or we will be back to no updates.

Oh and side note, my iPhone is hateful and refuses to recognize anything I ask of it, so i can't put pictures up... But my team has been taking some beautiful pictures. Honestly...I really haven't taken many pictures at all. :)

This time next week

I'll be on a plane. India bound.

She's a busy girl

I made a list, just so you know. I made a list of posts. Shoot, I know exactly what I am writing about for almost the next entire month. I've got that list baby.

But I'm a busy girl, and though the work sure is coming in for photography. I've yet to put time aside every day to actually write everything out.

I just couldn't resist though. Tonight I've been working on editing this engagement shoot. This couple was TOO adorable for words. I thoroughly enjoyed my day with them. I was incredibly sick but being with them was wonderful. You'll love their love. Here's a preview, much more of Kate and John to come.

A little illustration or two :: Personal

I love blogs. I always have. I follow random blogs all over the place and recently my good friend Mark has developed his own tumblr to showcase his marvelous work. It will make you laugh. You'll be jealous of his talent and maybe will give up on your own dream and aspirations. Or you'll enjoy them and follow him just as I have.
It's difficult to pick just one, but here's one of my favorite of his recent update. Click to check out more.

Tristan + Juliette :: Four Year Anniversary

Romeo ran into the church looking for his beloved Juliette. But heavens, where is Julie? Is she behind the pew? Is she late? Meanwhile some distance away and an entirely different story all together; Isolde realizes that the love potion would certainly cause havoc on her marriage and the entire kingdom so she throws the dreadful thing into the ocean. Leaving Juliette and her darling Tristan free to make their own choices, which is to get married and then four years later have a creative photo session with their favorite photographer.

It's a beautiful story isn't it? Absolutely true too. Well maybe with a few things added on for flair. Tristan and Juliette are absolutely adorable together. They wanted something fun, and after going over a couple of ideas for places to shoot. They came up with Boomers (which will still forever be known to them as Grand Prix even though the management and name changed years ago. Stick to your guns kids. Stay in school. Don't do drugs.)

Tristan and Juliette - I am so thankful for you letting me capture the obvious enjoyment that you two have in each other.

Want some more? Enjoy their slideshow!

Tristan and Juliette :: Anniversary from Ashley Sellers on Vimeo.

The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow :: Personal

Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow. They'll be - "Thank you!"

I've been in middle school auditions for Annie this week. Casting truly has been fun, but this song.. this horrid song... it's on repeat in my head. Little pre-teens singing a pitchy tune in front of their peers and four judges. That just can't be easy. Face your fears? They are. Dead on.

It's got me to thinking. I really don't deal with those fears! Ashley is great at many things but master at none. Scheduled events that never take place. Half decorated cakes. A sewing machine with no thread. Partially painted bookshelf. Broken string on the guitar. Three blank canvas's waiting to be painted. Part of a website, absolutely no logo. Ideas but no production. What. A. waste.

Face those fears, do not be apathetic. Be unabashedly and boldly optimistic in the face of naysayers and maybe that sun will come out tomorrow. It's only a day away anyway.

In light of optimism, here's a preview of this "unabashedly and boldly optimistic" couple.

I thank God for you :: Personal

My first shoot? Old school Pentax film camera, there's some numbers on the top of the camera and I'm thinking... ehhh... we'll just try them all. Some old guy is telling me how to talk to my model who awkwardly stands there. I don't know what I'm doing with myself, I sort of want to leave and sort of want to stay. I stayed, developed my photos and guess what, they weren't so bad

Oh sure it wasn't the cover of vogue or anything, but their grain had a charm to them. The idea's weren't so bad, and I remember specifically praying for God to please help me with this new hobby. I loved it so much that I prayed about a specific couple. It was crazy, absolutely crazy to even consider them. I mean they were professionals, they were successful! Why in the world would they even bother giving me the time to learn about this.

While I prayed about them. They prayed about me. That's the awesome thing about our God. He's all knowing, He's working on the hearts of two different people at the same time but with the same intention in mind. That's how He shows "This was me". It becomes unavoidable, it's divinity showing you what He'd like to do.

Steve and Michelle Lawson added me onto their team a little under a year ago. They knew I was amateur, I did NOT understand how even shutter speed works. He taught me as we went. Challenged me when it was risky... and had SO much fun in the process. Then when it came time to let me go and brand on my own, he let me. They have never been selfish. They never took advantage of me. They always believed in me. I was blessed to work alongside two VERY talented professional photographers.

Brides, nobody will love you more than Steve and Michelle Lawson will. Current facebook status? "Just booked another amazing wedding at the Pelican Grand. Now 3 more weddings to book today. We are so thankful to everyone for thinking of us for photography. Thank you Michelle Lawson Photography fans!!!" All of this is COMPLETELY ACCURATE. They DO book amazing weddings... they will book 3 more because that's just how lovable they are. They truly are VERY thankful to their brides and the "!!!" is honestly the way they feel. Especially Steve. He's a "!!!" and a half.Friend's I can't express how utterly thankful and honored I am to have worked for you. I appreciate every single thing you've done for me. Your passion for capturing people only inspires me more every day, and I pray for your constant success. Too much love for you :)

Following photo taken by Kalley Hernandez. Enjoy this obvious high school sweetheart love.

http://www.michellelawson.com/

Was this blog too long? Sure. Do they deserve it? Oh yes.

Mark and Noelle :: Five Year Anniversary

"Girl point those legs, they're hot and I want to show them off"
"I know, that's what snagged me"
He lied. Sure the girl has nice legs, but that's not it. It's not even her classic vintage charm, fantastic sense of style or a keen taste of music. He saw in her what none of us saw from the beginning. Only God and Mark Cruz knew the gem that Noelle would be. Thank God for that.

When he introduced this girl to us we mostly frowned. Minus one, Mark gleamed. He absolutely adored her. We intensely disliked. I owned that fact, we made a habit of rejecting Noelle from the group. She was confident though, and resilient. She stayed around a group of stink eye'd "friends" to be with her man. No stink eye is ruining this good thing.

So knocking on the door of the girl who I hated seemed like a terrible idea. Surely she hates me too, she is going to open up this door and just punch me right in the face. I was sure of it. I sort of liked my face, so I thought about just turning around and going back to the car. Then she opened the door. Well, she opened it about an inch and stuck her nose out to greet me. I had caught Noelle in the middle of a enthralling episode of Unsolved Mysteries and the knock came to that door at the most inappropriate time. We had that in common, things easily scared us. Me, knocking on a door of a girl I disliked. Her, unsolved mysteries and this crazy half Mexican daring to be at the door. I came in, we exchanged pleasantries... and became best friends.

So it came as a surprise to be standing on the beach in a bright teal dress as the maid of honor to one of the most in love couples I know. They love the Lord. They are tremendously talented... and they are absolutely without a doubt crazy about each other. I do not know another couple like this! Not like this. When I marry, I pray my love looks exactly like this. Mark and Noelle are too lucky to have each other. I'm too lucky to get to shoot them, and too lucky to call them friends.

Happy 5 years my friends! Congratulations to finding a lover in your best friend.

Mark and Noelle from Ashley Sellers on Vimeo.

Mondray and Manny :: Mini Session

Sometimes... you meet someone in an ordinary place and know right away they are extraordinary people. I met Mondray years ago when we both were employed at a local restaurant. I wanted to be an artist, she wanted to be a nurse. Radiantly beautiful, infectious laugh (which is ironic for a nurse). Manny must have caught onto this because he went ahead and snagged her and I got to enjoy both of them for a mini session. Here's my favorite.