Olivia M. | Jamestown, NC | Senior Photographer

Welcome back!

Today, I want you to meet Olivia. Beautiful and sweet, yet just enough sassy, are the words that come to mind when I think about this vibrant, young woman.

Olivia is a senior at High Point Central, Class of 2014. She is an active member of HPC’s Key Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Honors Society, and Secretary of Beta Club. She's also an outdoorsy and crafty hipster!

It was a crazy, hot day, but we were thankful for the break in the rain. Even though I was eaten alive because I forgot my bug spray, note to self, we did find some luscious shade to shelter us.

I was psyched for the outfits that Olivia brought to the shoot. For example, the gray sleeveless top with the pop-of-color aqua skinny jeans that went perfectly with her soft coloring. And I loved the the hints of blues and greens from the peacock feather with her neutral ivory dress.

I asked Olivia whether she had any advice to offer others who were getting ready to take senior pictures. This is what she had to share:

“Double check that you have everything that you’re planning on bringing to the shoot!”
(LOL, there was a slight mishap with a missing pair of shoes. But we made it work perfectly!)

After high school, Olivia wants to go to Appalachian State University and major in Speech Pathology.

Best of luck to Olivia. I know you'll be awesome!

;-D
-Michelle

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Sleepy Time?

drowsy dog, originally uploaded by www.michellelyman.com

So little time and so much to do. The creatures around me are dropping like flies, lol. Maybe it is time to take a little nap...

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Stand Out!

I have taught art to both children and adults for years. It has always made me sad when people get frustrated that their project doesn't look like someone else's. 

STOP IT! 

printable art at smallfrynotables.etsy.com

Really! Don't worry; I don't really yell it at my students. I just think it loudly. Anyone that really knows me will say I have no problem standing out. I always stood out as a kid, both intentionally and not. Moving from small towns, to big cities and places that took forever to understand the slang, lol. My mom was excited to move to a new place because you could start over and be whomever you wanted to be. I was just fine being me. 

Don't get me wrong. I am in no way perfect and I am always trying to grow and learn new things. I just don't have to be someone else to do it. I am fine with having people not always agree with me. We can all be mature in our differences. I probably don't want to spend a lot of time with them anyway, so it is a win-win! Besides, when someone challenges your thoughts and ideas, it does one of two things. It either makes you stand your ground in how you feel, or it opens your mind to new possibilities.

I believe God made each of us unique. We are not supposed to have the same hair color, skin color, body style, roaring laugh, or magnificent athleticism. How boring would this world be if all art was the same? If every one looked and sounded the same? If we all drove the same car and had the same dog?

You don't have to be obnoxious to do it. Just enjoy being with yourself. If you don't enjoy it, why should someone else? Why are you trying so hard to fit in when you were born to stand out?

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Good Bye 2012 and Hello 2013!

I do so love new beginnings...but I would love to be able to slow time down.

Time just seems to be flying by now. I remember wishing the months by when I was in school so it would hurry and be summer break. I remember wishing the years by so I could be older. That's a big laugh now! I wish I could slow it down these days.

I seem to fill my schedule to the max sometimes until my tasks overflow into the next, and the next...you get the hint. The days go by, the weeks go by, and now the years go by.

I am not much for resolutions. I am very goal-oriented though. I keep that going no matter the date. I do want to choose my tasks more carefully this year and commit to the things that will add memories to my life and family and start whittling down the rest.

What will you do this year?

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