Yesterday marked SIXTEEN years of Terri Gillis Photography. I love celebrating this anniversary of the day I took a leap of faith.  I had a toddler on my hip as I walked accross the Calder Stage area  to the county building to register my business with a skip in my step and a dream in my heart.  To everyone else it’s just an ordinary day but that day put me on a journey I couldn’t have every even dreamed of.  I am such a sentimental person so celebrating this anniversary, even if it’s only me celebrating, is not something I overlook or take lightly.

These 16 years have required A LOT of learning and exploring and just good old-fashioned work.  Snapping pictures is fun but this is a business and for it to be successful it required me to invest my heart and soul.  The return on that has been so much more than a paycheck.  I’ve traveled near and far and had the opportunity to learn from some absolutely amazing photographers including Michelle Celentano, Jasmine Star, Susan Stripling, Laura Brett and my absolute favorite…. Anne Geddes.  I’ve been to Hawaii (HAWAII!!!! If I didn’t have the images to prove it I wouldn’t beleive it myself!).  I’ve witnessed births and the miracle of that first breath…… I’ve also had the opportunity to photograph some people who knew it would be their last photos ever and would pass on shortly thereafter and the joy that would come with having those photos.  I’ve watched kids grow up, I’ve photographed over 300 (THREE HUNDRED!!) weddings.  Those weddings have become the foundation of my business as I’ve gone on to photograph many famlies as they’ve grown. ( It’s amazing!!)  I’ve learned so much about computers & graphic design and it has really become a huge love of mine.  I never learned to speak another launguage but I’m fluent in Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator and THAT is something.  I’ve cut back significantly on weddings.  I still take them, I just don’t push for them.  After working weekends all summer long for 15 years I felt like I was ready to step back from that.  I love having summer weekends off with my husband. To fill in that gap I take a lot of design work now and I really REALLY enjoy it.  Designing cards, books, albums has always been part of my routine but in the last year I’ve added logos, invitaiton, a little bit of web design, marketing materials….. and I even do a little bit of business consulting and have helped a few people launch their own businesses!

So after 16 years, I can tell you this…. I am so grateful for every single opportunity that has been put in front of me. For every face that has graced my camera and my life.  Grateful for every session, wedding, child, project that I have been entrusted with.  Grateful for every mile I’ve driven, every click of my shutter, every day that I’ve had to throw a camera bag or a briefcase over my shoulder and head out the door.  It has been an amazing journey and I’m thankful to call it mine.

For the free download of my design above just click HERE!  ENJOY!!

CHEERS TO A SWEET 16 YEARS!

I wrestle with the fact (almost daily) that I haven’t blogged for over a year. Why haven’t I you ask? So many reasons…. mainly, I think I’m the only one who ever reads it. I was also a little burned out. Burned out on the hustle of photography, burned out from the schedule, exhausted from working and I needed a break from anything I could get one from, so the blog was the first to go….. and then it was the photography. I needed to put some space in there to see what it was that kept me working this job that seemed to be taking me down. Being a photographer became my identity… and without a camera hanging around my neck I felt a little lost…. and a little empty. When you realize people only are calling or reaching out to me, sometimes inviting me to things…. because they need a photographer. And my social calendar, without a camera, is nearly non-existant. I had a deep desire to change this but terrified that if I stepped away from it, it would be the equivalent of stepping out of my soul. Truly terrifying. And what if this really was all there was to me? But I had to do it….. and I did. After a 7 month hiatus with only limited contact with my equipment, some serious soul searching and “weeding” things out of my life,  14 months later I feel so differently about everything. Having an opportunity to step back and regain my perspective. It hasn’t been easy and the most difficult part is to be careful not to fall back into old habits. I love this job, and the amazing blessing it has been in my life, but I love having an identity… and not just a job.  For the first time in 10 years we took a summer vacation. I also attended a wedding as a guest (and realized how difficult it was for me to enjoy a wedding without photographing it) I was the equivalent of a fish out of water. My Mom is battling cancer and that has sort of rocked our world and it was another thing that gave me permission to step back a little and not take on the same hefty workload that I might otherwise have. I also had an opportunity dropped in my lap to do graphic design with the flexibility to work at home or in the office and never dreamed how much I would truly enjoy the comraderie of co-workers.

Where is she going with this?? Success doesn’t just come in the form of your paycheck. It comes with anything you want it to. Some days success is getting in the shower before my kids go to school, or getting through my to-do list, actually having a phone call with a friend and not just a series of texts. It’s time with my husband and kids, chatting at the kitchen table with my Mom, completing a project for a client, photographing an awesome newborn session or trying a new recipe and actually having it work out (thank you Pinterest for the pressure!). Whatever hat I’m wearing at the moment…. Wife, Mom, daughter, aunt, friend, seamstress, photographer, designer, chef, makeup artist, maid, baby whisperer my goal is and will be to simply seize the day and enjoy moments that I just am completely unwilling to miss out on….. Carpe Diem!

This is just a small splash of some of the sessions I’ve done in the last year that just made my heart sing.   My family that I love to care for, my husband who I simply could not adore more than I already do, some new clients and some old one’s…. Some of these faces I look at and am overwhelmed by the miracle staring back at me.  Selecting after a year of not posting was painful…. I would love to post one from every single session time and energy are a precious commodity…. and  I have to go make dinner now and an evening with my crew awaits. Happy Leap Day!  DAY it forward!!  I hope you WIN! XO!

Contact:  Terri Gillis 616-550-8997 or email gillisphoto@mac.com

So once again I was asked this question….If you HAD to pick one thing that you love to do the most what would it be?  This question about wrecks me everytime because I like all the ages and stages…. funny little toddlers, styling up my seniors and chasing women in white dresses…. but my mind always turns to these little people…. I love newborns.  I seriously could get drunk on babies.  I love holding them, feeding them &  posing them. I love the way they smell, the way they look, the way they feel. Sometimes after I’ve taken a few clicks I just pause and stare at them.  “All of God’s Grace in one sweet little face”…. a miracle right there in front of me!!  It’s incredible and I’ve always been this way about newborns. I’m just fascinated (obsessed) with them.    So if I HAD to pick one thing…. this is it. This is what I love to do the most.

I take a limited amount of newborns every month and am implementing a new program for all of my newborns with session/disk deals that you won’t be able to resist.  Newborns MUST be younger than 14 days (6-10 days is my fav).  Call me for the 411! 616.550.8997.

The great thing about this session is her Mom put thought not just into her outfit but to spice it up she brought along little hats, bathing suits and the things her girl loves most. Clara is at an age (8 Months) where she wants to have something in her hands all the time. I can pull out my bells and rattles but NOTHING evoked the response we got when we pulled out her lambi…. her Sophie (apparently the worlds most expensive infant teething toy)…. or…. best of all…..her beloved potatoe masher! Who knew a potatoe masher could be so amazing?!?

You want your photos to not only convey the look of your child but also t their personality drawn out as well. Bring their beloved toys!! Even if it’s a potatoe masher!!!

You may have seen them before…. I did an engagement session with Mark and Sarah on seriously the COLDEST day I’ve ever worked outside.  (I have a new rule, no outdoor sessions if it’s below 20 degrees….Brrrrrrrr….).  Their wedding comes on a March day that is 60 degrees, humid and the trees are all in full out bloom…. I spend the day absolutely amazed (and warm).  They notify me shortly after their wedding that a baby is on the way and we plan a maternity session for a beautiful fall day…. It’s 80 degrees, in October.  (We nearly sweat to death but they appear cool and comfortable in their sweaters).  Titus makes his arrival, just in time for Christmas.  When we meet again it’s snowy, it’s December 30th and another season is upon us.  A year ago they were a couple planning the wedding of their dreams; they’ve transitioned so nicely from newlyweds to a sweet little family.  Enjoy this little re-cap of some of my favorites of them from the year.

No big changes on the horizon for me.  I’m just here doing the daily duties that come with owning a business.  I’m more content than ever though and looking forward to the next chapter, the next age, the next stage…. enjoying every season for what it brings.

Happy New year!!

I know that God will be glorified through this, someway, somehow.   I’ve read things like… “Where was God?”….. Listen people…Our Lord saves!! I believe that in a blink of an eye those children went from this earth into HIS arms.  I am grateful for that reality!    He knows how many days there are for each of us, he knows our story.  It’s not about us!!  We are all eternal beings!!  I pray that you know him as your Lord and Savior because I believe   1Corinthians2:9 when it says…”No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.”.   Heaven is for real!  This is the only hope I have and I cling to it with all that I have. Our response is the ONLY thing that matters….. Look how we are responding?!?!?

I don’t live in Connecticut.  I don’t personally know any of those families and I won’t’ even pretend to imagine their devastation.  I can’t console one of them, prepare a meal, send a card.  Satan must love the way he has this world stirred up, anger & rage everywhere.  Satan come s to seeks steal, kill and destroy anything that is good…. Wouldn’t he just love it if we all just sat on this, went round and round and  fought about how we could remove evil from a world but were so caught up in our bitterness that we couldn’t even take a step forward??  Let’s not do that!!  (insert collective deep breath here)

Let us not spend another moment focusing on how those children died, but let it be revealed how they lived and who they loved. They were here for a reason, let it be known!  Let’s put away our anger and step out to love someone, serve someone, be aware of who/where we can make a difference.  Let our love for God, the peace we have with Him be evident  in everything we do.  Let us be overwhelmed with a spirit of thankfulness, for what we have and what we don’t.  Let us be cheerful givers of our resources, our time, our love, our attention. ” Jesus He came not to a throne,  but to a manger. He lived not as a king, but as a servant.He chose not a kingdom, but a cross. He gave not just a little,  but everything” -Holly Gerth…..  Spread the gospel everywhere you go, use words if necessary!!!

When this was all happening yesterday, I was in the studio with a family I’ve really grown to love, I admit that when I opened these images this morning  I wasn’t in the mood to work, but  then I came across this….so sweet, so peaceful and I am reminded a family is celebrating a new life.  4 days old and he already has a position in life… He is a son, a grandson, a nephew, a brother, a friend.  He is loved.

Let’s put down our anger and step away from it. If we are going to dwell on anything let it be …. Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable…… and God WILL give us peace and life and hope.

If you don’t know Him …. Start HERE.…. and let me know so that I can pray for you.  XO!

Watching them together I am reminded of that song by Celine Dion – “Have you ever been in love”…

Have you ever been in love
You could touch the moonlight
When your heart’s shooting stars
You’re holding heaven in your arms
Have you ever been so in love

My girlfriend gave me with this red chair 2 years ago.  I had noticed it in her garage many times and caught myself coveting it time and again. I knew it had belonged to her grandmother so I didn’t dare ask her for it.   But one day she told me she loved it but didn’t have a place for it so she was ready to find a new home for it and I was delighted to take it off of her hands.   Months ago she told me her sister was expecting a baby girl and wondered if I still had the chair…. Are you following me?…. Last week here sister brought her new baby to my studio (completely unaware of the chair or it’s whereabouts) and I opened the door in my studio to reveal where we would take photos of Savanna.  It was a sweet moment when she recognized it. When I laid the baby on the chair  I envisioned a young lady sitting in it unsuspecting that her great granddaughter, whom she would not meet in this life,  would one day lay here. A spot that is only significant because she had been here first….A new life is here; a legacy is born.