Hello, and welcome to the C. Abigail Photography blog! I welcome visitors and I hope that you enjoy my work! If you have any questions for me, please use the "Contact" tab to send me a message. I'd love to hear from you!
Thank you for visiting!
-Chari
{ Cornerstone Bakery }
Hello, all!
I haven't been able to write about it yet, but I had an amazing opportunity to work with a local business in Yates Center this summer! Our local bakery, Cornerstone Bakery, is AMAZING to say the least. The warmth of the atmosphere and people you will meet there are just as much a part of the experience as are the always perfectly crafted sweet treats, breakfast kolaches, and many satisfying beverage choices. I can't leave the place without my caramel vanilla latte - I have established Cornerstone Fridays for myself, in which I treat myself to a coffee and kolache on Fridays before I head into teach for the day. I must say, I look forward to it every single week!
I could gush about this place forever, so I'll stop. BUT I highly recommend giving this locally owned business a try if you are headed through town. It's located conveniently on the quaint and historic, red brick-paved Yates Center square (you can take a look at our beautiful courthouse while you're there!). We have to go two days a week without our Cornerstone coffee fix, but you can catch them Tuesdays - Fridays from 7 AM to 1:00 PM, and Saturdays from 7 AM until noon. Lunch is served on weekdays (and it's just as wonderful as you might suspect). Jessica's menu items might sound intimidating at first, but take my word for it and take one of her lunch specials for a spin - I've tried things I never imagined that I would try and I would order every single one of them again!
These are a few of the photos I captured last year during our Yates Center Days celebration. It was loads of fun to document the little moments and capture the small details that make this place a cozy spot that you won't want to say goodbye to!
A Whirlwind Year
I must say, 2017 was quite a year. I completed my student teaching in Wichita, moved home, started my little farm (with much help from my family, friends, and husband), tried to get prepared for my first teaching position and get the house organized, began teaching 3rd grade at the school I attended when I was growing up, took on too many photography and cow projects, and finally finished the year out completing every photo project I had going.
That being said, I recognize that I took on TOO MUCH this fall, which means I aim to lessen my photography workload even less from here on out. That means that sessions will be few and far between, which is not ideal, but is best for my own health, the quality of work I can do with my students and with my clients, and for clients who would have to be very patient at times otherwise.
I enjoy this business, though. Here is a look at a few of the sessions I was lucky enough to photograph this fall!
Have a wonderful 2018, friends.
"Crazy" Edits!
Hello, all!
I recently had the opportunity to work with a very outgoing and creative young lady! Her senior picture shoot was a blast - there are so many great pictures that I am still working on. She made some requests that may seem "far out" to some, but I am willing to try every creative idea that my clients suggest! These were a bit tricky at times, but so much fun to create and even more fun to enjoy now that they are finished works of art!
To any of you out there, don't be afraid to ask, and don't be afraid to share your ideas! If they're you, and they're within my skill set, we may just get some amazing and unique photos for everyone to enjoy (and especially you!) :)
P.S. - We also shot some of the photos at Taco Bell, which you may have seen on the Facebook page. Translation: We both got to eat Taco Bell during her senior picture session. Can it get better than that?
A Much Needed Update!
Hello, all!
It's been a great year for me - I've met some great new people and we've collaborated to create some truly beautiful memories. I haven't posted for quite some time, and it's important that I update you!
Many of you may know that I'm nearing college graduation! I will graduate next May - meaning that I am already very busy with teaching and lesson planning and assignments... and in the spring, I will begin student teaching full time! This is great news, as it means I'm almost finished with my teacher education program - however, it means that I will be able to offer photography services on a very limited basis.
IMPORTANT: If you would like a photo session this spring, please contact me to reserve your spot ASAP! I will not be offering many sessions, as student teaching will be very taxing and I will have many important tasks to complete. I already have some of you who are interested, so please confirm your sessions with me if you have already discussed a possible session this spring. If I cannot get you in this spring, I should have more openings in the summer for sessions.
ALSO IMPORTANT: I will not be offering indoor Christmas sessions this year... I'm sorry! I know that they were a hit last year, but we'll just say that my studio set-up has been compromised for the time being. I have a lot of editing to do, a lot of schoolwork to do, exams to take, and a photo session or two already booked this winter (not to mention my wisdom teeth are coming out - yikes!). Sessions available over Christmas break will be limited, though I will do my best to accommodate those of you who were hoping for some snowy family pictures!
I am extremely excited to be nearing graduation! It will be fantastic to have my teaching degree! Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions or to make or confirm a session for this spring.
Thank you to all of my past and present clients - you're amazing and I'm so thankful that you all have trusted me to play such an important role in your lives.
Until my next update,
Stay beautiful, friends!
Chari =)
{ Undercover Proposal Assignment! }
I will start this blog post off with a story...
At the end of October 2015, just when the weather was starting to cool off, I was asked by my fiance if I could take some pictures for a friend. I thought that perhaps this had to do with this friend's business or his vehicles - but I was very wrong! A day or two before the date he had in mind, this friend began discussing an undercover shoot to capture his proposal!
Boy was I caught off guard. But how could I not be excited (and nervous)! We (including my very supportive fiance, Dylan) made our way out to El Dorado Lake to plan for the "event." It was chilly, and we had to be there at sunset to plan for the actual proposal. This guy had an excellent plan for me to work with - we just had to get the details perfect! We decided on silhouette shots to truly take advantage of the sunset and ensure that I would be able to take the photos without being detected, and we marked our places with rocks and plants in order to minimize our chances of messing it up.
Of course, the day of the planned proposal, it rained! It was an awful day - of course the proposal had to be postponed! Though I was busy, I made sure that my schedule would allow for the next possible proposal day. After talking with our friend the day before and setting up exact times, we had no contact with him until after the proposal had already happened! We couldn't risk exposing the secret, which meant that we had to trust each other to do our part and be prepared on time. It was nerve wracking.
Dylan and I made last minute preparations, including finding some awesome camouflage netting and bagging up leaves from our yard to help me stay hidden in the grass at the lake! These photos were taken by Dylan before he left me hidden in the grass... from a distance I was impossible to see!
I hid in that grass for what felt like forever! We arrived plenty early so that I would be in place - just in case the schedule went a little bit faster than planned! I'm not sure how long I was actually there, but I'm fairly sure it was at least 20-30 minutes before the future happy couple came along in the truck you'll see in the photos below! My arms and hands were numb from propping myself up for so long, and my neck was straining to the point where I rested my head at times. Every person driving near, or boat passing by, had me on edge! I didn't want to be unprepared when the couple arrived!
Alas, they drove up, but our friend pulled up a little bit too far - making my shot a lot off. I shifted and wiggled myself inch by inch until I could get my shot right again, hoping beyond hope that I wasn't making noise or observable movements! There was still a bit of grass in the shot, but I think that it adds to the uniqueness of the photos!
I held my breath and trusted that my settings were capturing the scene at hand. I couldn't check my viewfinder without moving around, so I was stuck relying on the fact that my camera setting skills were on point that day! We had planned for just the right moment, so I endured quite a few more minutes of silent discomfort as I took test shots and captured the moments leading up to the proposal. With each camera click, I held my breath. Surely she could hear my camera SNAP as I took each photo! Somebody was playing a trombone at their campsite, and a train went by across the water, giving me a few opportunities to click without anxiety. At one point, she looked back my way. She didn't start investigating or yelling, so I assumed that my hiding place was safe.
Finally, I watched as our friend got down on one knee and popped the question! Snapping away, I was no longer afraid that she would hear my camera. She was very excited! I was able to capture the special moments during and following the proposal, and then they took off again in the truck and I was left to review the photos!
I must say, being a part of something like that gave me an incredible feeling. I am so happy that I was there to capture the moments that beautiful evening.
The photos turned out wonderfully! After that, the task was working (in secret) with our friend to get the pictures in order for his fiance's Christmas gift! Which meant that in her eyes, they needed engagement pictures! I was hired to take them and had to follow her out to the lake like I didn't know where I was going - we even missed a turn at one point! The shoot was short and chilly, but it went amazingly! Those photos can be found in the "Engagement" folder under "Portfolio" here on my website.
When our bride-to-be finally got her proposal pictures for Christmas, they brought her to tears. All of the work and planning that went into capturing those photos paid off in a big way - such a happy ending to this story! At the request of our friend, these photographs have been edited in no way - they are untouched and beautiful! I hope that you enjoy this look into one of my most meaningful (and secretive) photography assignments!
