Tyler R. Brown Photography was honored to donate our photographic services this evening for the Carrollton American Cancer Society Relay For Life.  This is typically an outdoor event, but due to the weather, we were forced indoors to the RL Turner High School gymnasium, no matter, we ran the relay and had a great time helping to raise both money and awareness for this great cause.  This cause touches close to home for both Stacia and I who have several family members who have survived, and one currently fighting this dreadful disease.  It was a touching event, and one of the hardest things we have ever photographed.  It’s hard to focus on, well, focus, and composition, lighting and all of the other things that go into a great photograph when you are fighting back the tears.  Celebrating life, and remembering those that are no longer with us was the theme, and celebrate we did, with dancing, and face painting, Guitar Hero, an auction and lots of food!  It was a wonderful experience, and we highly recommend it to anyone who’s life has been altered by cancer.

A special thank you to Team Yes We Can for making the arrangements to have us there.  We were truly honored to help out.

All of the pictures can be viewed from our website Tyler R. Brown Photography, and all proceeds from any print or product purchases will be donated to the American Cancer Society.  Thank you for your support!

The Covenant Church of McKinney had a Valentine’s Dance and Banquet just before the big day, and they invited us to come along and capture the event.  I had to fly solo on this one since Stacia had just been discharged from the hospital.  It was really a great time had by all.  They had a comedian, played a hilarious game of “which is my wife” where all you had to go on was the touch of their hands.  The dude in the line up was not once mistaken for someone’s wife, to everyone’s relief I think.  They danced and stayed right through till the end, and I stayed with them shooting the fun.  When the DJ spun M.J.’s Thriller the dance floor came alive (and stayed that way all night).

It was great fun.  I wish I had received the our new Canon EOS-1D Mark IV before this gig, but alas it was still on backorder.  We have it now, and I’m loving it.  More on that in a later post.  Maybe even a review, we’ll see.

Anyhow, big thanks to the crew that put this excellent event on.  It was a ton of fun.  I put together a website for the guests to view their photographs.  You can check out the fun here on The Covenant Church Valentine's Day Dance website.

More photographs like these can be found in the Dallas Wedding Photographer galleries.

Sorry for going so long without a post, but things have been crazy lately.  Stacia had a very close call after complications from an appendectomy, so we haven’t been spending much time behind the lens shooting weddings or seniors lately. Instead we have been in and out of the hospital, not the way!  Once she was out of the woods (after her second surgery) I got to go home for a few hours so I grabbed the camera and caught a few candid shots of her recovering, some of the wonderful staff that treated her and the flowers and gifts that everyone sent.

This was by far the hardest thing we have ever been through, and it really was touch and go there for a bit.  The complication she had is fatal if not caught within 36 hours, which it was thank God!  She was in really bad shape, but is now on her way to a full recovery.  This is due to the excellent care her doctor, nurses and the whole staff at Plano Presbyterian Hospital gave her.  I wouldn’t wish what she went through on my worst enemy, however I can’t imagine a better place to go through something horrible like this. 

Thank you everyone, family, friends and Plano Presbyterian Hospital staff for taking care of my girl (and me).  We wouldn’t have made it through this horrific time in our lives without you all.

Here are some photographs of these wonderful people that took such great care of her.

Here is Nurse Jessika and Stacia (no she is not holding a baby!).  Jessika was great, tough love is what comes to mind when I think about her forcing Stacia to get out of bed and walk around.  Every time she came by she would say, “I want to see you up and around, Missy”  Loved her.  I wanted to say, “Yeah, Stacia, just walk it off!”  :)  Thank You Jessika!!!

Here is Jessika again as she retrieves the “good stuff” that goes in one of the six IVs Stacia had during her stays. Also here is Stacia with AK another wonderful nurse that took great care of her.  THANK YOU AK!

Here are some (there were so many I had to make two trips home) of the gifts and flowers Stacia received during her stay.

PCT (Patient Care Technician) Rosie was a riot!  She was on hand taking vitals when Stacia was finally allowed to have some food, well broth.

Cynthia and Mary were a great nurse and PCT team, really the whole 7th floor was full of great people, and the room could have only been better if it had its own mini-fridge!

These photographs are of Lacey Lemak, one of the models that graciously, and quite patiently let us shoot her all day at Neil van Niekerk’s flash photography seminar.  I had a great time learning from Neil, and making new friends.