Rancho El Destino

Meet Juan Carlos Iriarte and Lisa Dwyer of Rancho El Destino. Fate plopped us down in the same place at the same time just a couple of weeks ago. At Doc Robinson's. He is our local country vet with a waiting room the size of a pea.

I was there with our almost 15 year old dog who wasn't feeling well, and they were there with an adorable newly adopted puppy. It was a long wait - well over 2 hours - so in that tiny pea-sized room we began chit-chatting. I learned that Juan was a horse trainer and that he and Lisa owned a ranch. They learned that I was a photographer. They asked if I took pictures of horses....

And that is how I ended up at Rancho El Destino. I can't tell you what a fabulous time I had. Horses are such beautiful, graceful creatures. They are a real pleasure to photograph. But there was much more to it than just capturing a pretty image! Juan taught me what to look for and when to snap the shutter. He knew exactly what he wanted. All I can say is, for me, it was really cool.

These beauties are Paso Finos. Juan and his family have been training these horses for 5 generations. Juan's father owns Startown Stables, another local Paso Fino stable.

Juan's method of training is quiet and calm. I thought of him as a "horse whisperer". He's very disciplined and you can see that his horses have a great deal of respect for him. He and Lisa's stable is beautiful. Neat as a pin and runs like a well-oiled machine. The animals of Rancho El Destino are treated like royalty. And I think they know it.

Here Juan is wearing the customary chaps that are part of the Paso Fino show finery. They are VERY long and weigh a ton! Look, they almost drag the ground!

Lisa told me that she learned to ride just a little over two years ago. I would have never known. She rides like a seasoned pro and handles horses like she's been around them her entire life.

This is Chepe, one of Juan and Lisa's two newly adopted pound puppies. After a morning of frolicking in the barns and fields he was just plum tuckered and decided to lay down and take a nap. My kids and I are just in love with him. He is a doll.

Just look at these faces. Gotta love those big soulful eyes and those soft as satin noses ....

As I said, neat as a pin and perfectly organized. That's the way Rancho El Destino works.

I think you now know how much I enjoyed my time at Juan and Lisa's. I will be studying up on my equine photography so that next time I can take even better pictures for them.

You can learn more about Rancho El Destino by visiting http://www.ranchoeldestino.com/

Juan and Lisa, I just want to say thanks for giving me the opportunity to come and shoot for you. And for being so patient and taking the time to answer my endless questions.

Juan, we're thinking of you, and hope you get well soon.

~ Sandy

Sneak Peek!

Meet MC. I have known this young lady since she was two years old. She had the curliest locks I've ever seen in my life! She was itty bitty with a huge, huge voice!!! We all adored her! Cute as a button.


Now 8+ years later, she has grown into a lovely young lady. AND her curly hair is straight! I find that absolutely amazing! Where on earth did all those ringlets go???



Miss M was a joy to photograph. She is so easy going and just did anything little thing I asked.
I wish all my subjects (mainly my own kids) were this easy. :)

Found this awesome old Ford tractor at the back of their property! I just love, love, love old decrepit cars and things. They have such character!

Miss M's house is set on a beautiful piece of land. And her family has landscaped it in a way that it is very natural, but has lots of nooks and crannies that are just perfect for photographs. I only wish my yard was so picture perfect..... ahhhh.....maybe my next house.....

You were awesome MC! Tell your mama that next time she's got to be in the pictures, too!!!

I'll post more of this session in a few days.

Peaches and Cream

That's what comes to mind when I look at little Miss C. I just loved the sherbert-y look of these pictures. And you can't help but ooh and ahhh over her beautiful big blue eyes! What a cutie!

But, then when I saw it in black and white ... well, loved that, too!



And what a sweetie. She was just like this, happy and smiley, the entire time! Her only request was " don't lay me down!" At just 5 months she can't quite sit by herself, so we did lots of propping to keep her nice and happy. I bought a Boppy just for the occasion. I had never even heard of a BOPPY till the day before!!! Who knew???

Here she is modeling one of the hats I made this past winter!

Do you see any teeth in there?? I think she's all gums.

Here she is modeling her artistic side. This little pink tutu was just too-too cute on her!

Here's those baby blues again.

I absolutely loved taking your picture Little Miss C and I hope you'll come back to see me soon! Maybe next time you'll be up and running! Then we'll really have some fun!

Creativity

"All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up."
~ Pablo Picasso


I have three kids. All three are terrific-ly well-rounded. The first two more studious than the third. The first two a little more reserved and laid back than the third. The first two definitely more quiet than the third.

What does the third possess that the first two lack. Creativity. Drama. Vision. I am a very creative person. I'm not happy if I'm not creating something or changing something or playing with something to try and make it just a little bit better or prettier. Actually, I frequently call it "the curse" cause I just can't leave well enough alone.

Last night Miss K created these adorable hats out of newspaper. I love them! They're not just thrown together. Oh No. They're carefully pieced together like a seamstress would put together a pattern. They are carefully pieced and stapled, paying careful attention to detail, such as the name of the paper front and center. And the carefully constructed flower detail on the side. The insides are even lined with felt so as not to leave a black smudge on your forehead! Yep, she definitely has the curse, um, GIFT!

She even made one for her sister. I bet we'll all have one before she's all done.

I'm Still Here!

I know I haven't posted in a few days! Been super busy. I hope to get some new pics up here in a day or two. I took some adorable pics of a 5 month old cutie the other day, but it may be awhile before I can post these. Her Grandma brought her and wants to surprise her daughter with the pics. So, I'm patiently waiting in hopes that "Baby C's" mommy will allow me to post her adorable pics here! I can't wait to share them with you!

I've got several more shoots scheduled in the next couple of weeks, so hope to have new stuff here soon. Keep checking back!

And remember that I'm running the Spring Special - 20% off all prints - through April 30th, so if you haven't booked an appointment, but you're thinking about it, make sure you book before then!

Be back soon!

It's Chow Time!!!!

Ya'll come and get it !!!

This little cutie was just a callin' all his family and friends to come get a bite! He was pretty wordy for such a little fella. FYI, I took all these pictures from inside my house, deep in the bowels of my living room, using my 300 mm telephoto lens, and shooting through the plate glass living room window, capturing all these little guys as they dined on the feeder that hangs on our front porch. Did you get all that???

So what do you think he's trying to say now? I'm thinking maybe he has a complaint about the food or something. It was served up fresh this morning, so I don't know!

It's a town hot spot! We serve all the locals!

And we keep all the rif-raf away. Like this guy. He's always hanging around waiting to eat any leftovers, or any customers who may lose their way!!

We're so busy that we even have a waiting line. It moves pretty quickly though, so you never have to wait but a minute or two.

Sometimes, we even have out-of-towners. Where ya from big girl??

Sometimes, the rif-raf gets a little annoyed when there's no leftovers and just shuns everyone.

Here he is turning a cold shoulder to all the goings on outside.

Tell all your friends about us! The food is great and there's always room for one more!

Goin' Urban

Urban. What is urban exactly? Well, Mr. Webster says it's "characteristic of the city or city life". Well, let me tell you what. We live in the country!!!! Mostly, anyhow. But, we decided we wanted to do an "urban shoot", so off we went seeking that "urban look". Not that we really know what an "urban look" looks like exactly!

We went to the old (and I mean reeeeally old) high school, which was converted into a middle school a couple years ago, seeking that illusive "urban look". This looks kinda urban ... don'cha think???

Ok. Maybe this is a little on the country side - wide open spaces and all - but there are some buildings back there in the distance. And we did risk our personal safety getting this shot!! Surely, that counts for something!

Wow! I don't care if this is urban or not! LOVE this shot!

Oooooh, and this one too! Although, I'm thinking this MUST be urban, right????

And, how 'bout this? Poles, brick, concrete. Is this urban???

We loved this "pit-ty" thing. We think this is where they throw the kids when they're being bad. :)

Uh, oh, Back to that country look again. Aged, peeling paint, chain link fence encircling a wide open space of dirt and green grass. Just screams little country school, doesn't it?? sigh ....

where is the urban, exactly?

Even this brick wall is more country than urban. I mean, really, do they make quaint little brick walls like this in the city???

WAIT A SECOND! This looks kinda urbany, doesn't it? Cept maybe this kids hat on backward. Geeeeesh, what a way to ruin my urban look!!!!

Ha! Ha! You gotta love this sign! Right on the way into the football field, you know on that old peeling paint little ticket booth that's probably been standing there for the past 80 years or so!

I bet the signs only 5 or 6 years old though.

Here's this kid in the "pit-ty" thing again. He MUST have done something really bad!!! Probably for wearing that dang hat backward! His mama told him to turn it around!!! :)

Awe, how sweet. Country or city, you gotta love her. :)

Well, I'm not really sure we accomplished the "urban look" but we sure had a blast trying! Risking life and limb, while developing our "urban eye", to get these shots. And the railroad tracks ... well let me just say that we will remember them forever!

Thanks so much M & E!!!! You guys are the absolute greatest! Your mom, too!

xoxo ~S