graditude

We live in an apartment that is right on the corner of two major roads. Our apartment is the top apartment right on the corner of the two roads. Often I complain about the noise from the cars and the sirens that we hear multiple times a day from the fire station less than a block away. I don't think I'll complain any more though. My heart is filled with gratitude for those who are prepared for the worst. Had the firefighters and Medics not been there as quick as they were I fear someone may not have lived. There have been a few times we have seen accidents we even had someone drive straight into our complex building but this one has been the worst since we have lived here. It involved a few teenage girls and a motorcylist who flew 20 feet. I would not have thought to take pictures but since my cousin was one of the EMT's I thought I would get some shots of him doing his job. When I look at the pictures I honestly have to fight back tears because the scene was just so remarkable. One of my favorites is of the mom (i'm assuming it was her mom) praying as they assessed her daughter that was pulled from the car. It made me think of how much parents love their children, of how precious life is, and of how grateful I am to those Men and Women who work 24 hour shifts to be there for everyone one of us when we might need it. Here is to them.

New Website (Merry Christmas to myself)

Over the next couple days you may or may not be able to use www.photographybyjo.com. That is because it use to be linked with my blog but is now going to be the domain for my website.
If you would like to go straight to my blog from now on you can use www.photographybyjo.net! (without the exclamation point)

Also, please bare with me as I make changes over the next week to my site.

Thanks for your patience!

Jo

P.S. I want to give a special thanks to Troy Lisonbee for allowing me to use his music for my website!

one week left

To set up a session please e-mail me or call:
joalldredgephotography@gmail.com
480.710.6493

Mini Sessions

To set up a session please e-mail me or call:
joalldredgephotography@gmail.com
480.710.6493

More Halloween fun

My brother, my cousin, and a friend of ours from High School showed up at my door step at about midnight on Halloween (I was up working on pictures). Their costumes were hilarious! My brother came up with his costume (random accessory man) and our friends costume (internet dating guy). He's so creative! Here are the results.



Everything you need! From a can opener to bobby pins!

And the most important part... toilet paper!

The internet dating guy!! Anyone need a date?


I made them act out all the pickup lines they made up for the party they went to. They would wait for a girl to notice them and then go over to her and say (internet dating guy)"I know you want to read it go ahead..." or (accessory man) "I saw you checking out my accessory's did you need to use something? (then he would find something they might need.)" They also came up with pickup lines like. (internet dating guy)"do you want to leave me a note on my facebook?" or (random accessory man)"here you can use this mouse to scroll down.(when they were reading internet dating guys profile)" They are too funny! I couldn't stop laughing at all of their jokes!

Here is another costume you should all check out. It's my friends little boy.

Finally 70-200mm 2.8L IS

I finally bought the lens that I have been wanting. It's hard to fork out the money but it is a much needed lens. I'm really excited about it! I borrowed this lens for a couple weddings and absolutely loved it! I decided that I can't live without it. It's a wedding must have! It's one of my favs! Thanks Brian for letting me take a picture of your lens! (mine is the same one)

Welcome Home!

I'm trying to catch up on pictures I've taken and so these are from a couple weeks ago but I thought I would share. A good friend of mines husband is in the Marines and has been serving our country in Africa. Emma and I went to go welcome him home and get some pictures. It was a really neat experience to see him come home to his wife and see his baby girl for the first time. I can't say thanks enough to those who are out serving our country! They are truly amazing and I admire all that they sacrifice. Thanks!
The American flag means a lot to me. I can't look at it and not feel extremely grateful for the country that we live in and for the freedoms that we have.

It also makes me think of one of my favorite songs:

If tomorrow all the things were gone,
I’d worked for all my life.
And I had to start again,
with just my children and my wife.
I’d thank my lucky stars,
to be livin here today.
‘ Cause the flag still stands for freedom,
and they can’t take that away.

And I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

-Lee Greenwood

While we were waiting it was hard to keep EmmaLee in one spot. She sat on my camera bag for a little bit but as soon as I would look away she was running across the parking lot!

4th folder 4th picture!

I'm going to be working on my tags the next couple weeks because I've got some catching up to do. This one seemed like the easiest tag to do today so here it is. Here is the fourth photo in the fourth folder of my pictures.

I Tag:
Anyone who wants to do it!!

A free makeover!!!

I found this link on a friends blog and thought I would give it a try. I'm sure I spent way too long playing with this picture but it was fun. If my hair had been in a pony tail I could have done more with the hair but it's all good. It's a pretty fun website. You can even change the color of your contacts! Here is what I came up with! Here is the site. TAAZ

camping

I have tons of pictures to post but I've been so bust I haven't had time to post. I'm off to go camping for the weekend but don't go too far because there will be lots of pictures when I get back!!!!

Red with envy

My brother called me last night and we talked for about for almost a hour about what was new in our lives. When I was telling him about how photography was going he told me that his roommate just bought a new lens... I said, "really what lens?" thinking it was going to be one of your typical everyday lenses. He then said, "I'm not sure but I think it cost him almost $2000." My response, "What!!?? Go in there right now and ask him what lens it is!!!!!" I had a feeling it was the lens I've been dreaming about and it was! I know that I shouldn't be envious but I am! It's hard not to be. I've been wanting this lens for so long and I can't wait to get one.

This picture isn't of the exact lens I've been wanting but it's the only on I could find close to it that granted the rights for usage. The lens I want is the 70-200 2.8 IS USM telephoto lens. If anyone wants to buy it for me for my birthday.... :) It's only $1,600 if you find it on a good deal.

Doggie

Sorry I didn't post yesterday. Hopefully no one missed me too much. Anyhow, I was just finishing up my engagement photos from the other week and I came across this one. This little Dog is just too cute. I can't resist posting a picture of her.