It begins!! For more information, visit the ARC website at www.animalrescuecorps.org The only thing that I’ll add is this: Today is a very exciting day for animals around the world. This organization which launched TODAY, is founded by the group of folks I most respect in animal welfare and rescue matters.

And here is the greatest news of all: In this effort, we’re being led by the very best of the best: Scotlund Haisley. 20 year animal rescue leader. I mean, not 20 years of sitting around caring and “wishing we could do more,” like most of us… he’s been actively rescuing, caring for & making a difference daily in the lives of countless animals. When the Vick dogs were rescued, they sent the most critically abused ones to Scotlund. When you watch those animal rescue videos, his arms are the ones you see reaching into the filthy feces encrusted cages to rescue those poor breeding dogs from the puppy mill facilities, giving them an actual compassionate human touch for the first time in their entire lives. Letting their paws touch the earth’s surface, rather than a rusty cage grid, for the first time in their entire lives. His voice is the one you hear narrating, informing and imploring us to help those who can’t help themselves.

So yeah, it’s a very BIG day for animals around the world today, and I’m so very excited to be a part of it. If you love animals and want to help, join us – sign up on the ARC website, and help make a difference.

Well, the results are in! I’m so very honored to have learned that Cindy Gordon Photography was voted The Best Pet Photographer in Dallas / Fort Worth by the WFAA A-List voters! If that includes you, thank you very much. There is some real talent in this area, so this award is a very special one to me, and I am very grateful to have received it!!

Here is the newest addition to the Wivagg Family, William Robert.  This beautiful announcement went out in November to help share the news.  Welcome William!

Well another Christmas has come and gone, services attended, all the presents opened, food gobbled up, kids played out, even doggies tucked in their beds. What stood out to you about this Christmas season? I pray that your time and mine was well spent with family, friends & furry ones.  And that we took some time to stop, look around, and be thankful for the many, many blessings we’ve been given.  And hopefully, we gave often out of that thankfulness and abundance, and next year, we’ll give even more.  More time, more attention, more support, more understanding & more love.  The week before the new year is as good a time as any to reflect back over the previous year, to consider and pray over plans for the year that’s around the corner.  How do we use the lessons we’ve learned this year to meet new goals next year?  I’ve got some big prayers / plans for 2011, how about you?

Just a brief break from photography, but not from visual beauty!  This is the time of year that The Gordon Family is in full swing with Gordon Lights at my brother’s house, 2 blocks south of my studio.  It’s quite an incredible display of lights and music, which Fabian spends pretty much all year working on – building, soldering, designing, sequencing, etc…  Then about 3-4 weeks before Thanksgiving, their lawn becomes a flurry of family and thankfully, as we have a very SMALL family, volunteers!  Thank you volunteers!!  Action continues all the way up to Thanksgiving, as lights are strung on trees, into grids on the ground, mini trees are carefully placed, mega trees are built, reindeer, merry go round style horses, painted signs, strobes, candy cane posts, all take their place on what becomes a stage that will entertain many families throughout the holiday season.  A couple of us climb ladders for the higher objects, up to the the roof for the very highest.  It would be difficult to explain the complexity involved without showing some of the “behind the scenes to you.”  I won’t even pretend to know exactly where to start in the explanation!  There are lots of “construction” images from previous years on our facebook page, just “like” our page and you’ll be able to see them all.  www.facebook.com/gordonlights  And of course you can also visit the official (thought somewhat dated) website at www.gordonlights.com.

But as anyone will tell you, the BEST part by far is to see it in action!  Here is a teaser of what you’ll see when you visit, taken from The Official Gordon Lights Vimeo page.  When you visit Gordon Lights in person, if you feel led to give to Operation Homefront, the charity that Gordon Lights supports annually with this event, there is an anonymous donation box at the front of the display for you to do so.  On their behalf, we thank you very much for your support.  However, there is absolutely no fee to come and enjoy the show!  So if you live nearby, please come and visit us!  And for those of you too far for a visit, please enjoy the videos, which can be found in their entirety on the Gordon Lights website at www.gordonlights.com:

You’re in for a real treat today… this is the most amazing kinetic typography video I’ve ever seen.  Grab a cup of coffee and check this out.  Bump it up to 720 dpi and go full screen, if you like it, you’ll want to watch it a few times.  I know I have.  Enjoy!

When Peter & Elizabeth first hired me to photograph their wedding back in ’05, I immediately fell in love with them.  I’ve been blessed to photograph their growing family over the years, now four in number (plus pets)!  First came their precious son Nathan, then they added a furry family member, a beautiful (and ENORMOUS) Newfoundland named Lily.  I believe there’s are several other animals in the mix as well, but they haven’t visited my studio. (yet!)    Their most recent addition is William Robert, born September 29th.  William’s newborn portrait session last month, and their family portrait session this past weekend, were both wonderful opportunities to visit with this sweet family!

Lulu is the name that Linda picked for this beautiful little furball of love!  Lulu is a Shorkie, which is half Yorki and half Shih Tzu, and I have to say, she definitely got the best features of each breed.  Her coat is soft and silky, her temperament is calm, and she looks like she got the highlight/low light treatment that many women pay the big bucks for!  Such beautiful markings.  She’s only five months old and has found a brand new home in Linda’s arms.  Looks to me like she’s very happy & comfortable there – welcome home Lulu!

Nancy Dodd is owner of THE new bridal shop in town, A Bridal Blossom.  She is a designer, seamstress, and business owner whose talent is truly amazing! I photographed the fashion show she organized and participated in last month, where the models showcased her creations. One of them is featured in an ad which will run this month in “Chic” magazine. Here’s the ad below – I’ll be posting more about A Bridal Blossom in the coming weeks!

I’ve been encouraged to throw my hat in the ring for WFAA’s A-List: Best Pet Photography. But I’m going to need your help!! If you’re a fan of my pet photography, would you please help me by casting a vote? (voting ends Dec 16, 2010)

Just click this image before Dec 16, 2010:

It only takes a moment and it would mean a lot to me. If you’ll post it on your facebook or ask friends to vote too, that would be amazing. Be sure and let me know if you voted for me so I can thank you!