Teri Fode Photography

Sometimes you meet someone not by accident but by divine appointment. This was the case when I met Brittain. It was with divine purpose that I received an amazing inquiry through my website from a man with so much enthusiasm and excitement that I could hardly wait to call him. I didn’t have to. He called me within a short time after sending the email. His voice on the other end of the receiver was filled with so much energy that it was contagious…I thought I had just run a marathon.

He was searching for a photographer to shoot his upcoming contemporary christian CD cover and had some great ideas. The next few weeks were spent collaberating on an overall idea to create images that reflected the feel of his music and upcoming release. I was truly energized by his excitement and could hardly wait to shoot this project.

We pinpointed an urban-themed location and he came dressed for the part. I loved the different looks he had—unique but all very cohesive. Don and I loved this shoot and the amazing blessing that it was to be a part of Brittain’s life if just for a few hours. I can’t wait for his CD to come out to see how these images are used.

Here are a few of my favorites.

Last month I was contacted by Stephanie Boozer from PPA Magazine (the official magazine for Professional Photographers of America) and my thought process was like this: “Wait…what? Who is this?”. Yeah, exactly like that. She said she wanted to feature my studio in the March issue of PPA Magazine and wanted to know if I was interested. “Hmmmm. Let me get back to you on that”. REALLY? Of COURSE I’m interested! She scheduled a phone interview for an hour later that week. During the interview I talked about a mile a minute and I could hear the sound of her keyborad flying in the background.

As if that wasn’t enough, Jeff Kent contacted me while we were waiting for hours in the Tampa airport (delayed while coming back from SYNC due to the monster storm raging through the country!) asking me to do the “Goods Splash Page” in the same issue!

It’s all been so exciting these past few months…especially as I reflect on that huge decision to risk it all to follow a dream that has changed our lives drastically (in such a huge, blessed way) in these past few years since I left the corporate world. People dream about changing their lives late in life…and it’s hard. Most people DON’T do it because it’s…scary. And Risky.  And…HARD. But in the end, doing it is so worth it.

God is good and so faithful to us…we have dedicated our business to Him and He has in turn blessed us in so many ways. This fun little feature is just a cherry on top of it all and I’m so excited to share it.

Thanks PPA Magazine!

Interested in your own copy of the magazine? Purchase your copy here: Current Issue/PPA Magazine

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We shot a portfolio last year for Cary Faley and were thrilled when he called to update his portfolio for a new album being released this summer. Cary is one of the guys you just immediately like…he’s laid back, easy-going and very likeable…AND…very musically talented.

Above link will allow you to listen to and purchase his latest and past releases. Enjoy!

Including recent and past images we shot for Cary…

Can I brag? MY SON IS SO COOL. I say that with the modest tone possible. Because truly…my son is one cool dude. And I mean that in many ways and on many levels. If I wasn’t his mom…I would still be impressed with this guy.

He loves God with all of his heart and is very secure and confident in his beliefs to shout from the rooftops. He doesn’t care if he is the only one shouting. He doesn’ t care if what he believes makes him unpopular. He stands on the Word of God and the Word of God alone. That makes him cool.

He is also very talented musically. He wants to be a musician…either in church (perhaps in ministry) or in contemporary christian music. He sings…he plays guitar…he plays sax…oh…and he plays harmonica. And he plays to the glory of God. That makes him cool.

He also makes a mean smoothie. Cool…told ya.

We took him out for a pro-photo session a couple of months ago right before he got his braces on…since his sister will be debuted on the websites and blog soon for being one of our 2011 Senior Spokesmodels in a few days (I’m in denial that my baby girl is going to be  a senior), I thought we’d give Jordan his own special feature here now…because after all, the kid is cool.

Today I’d like to share the song lyrics and story behind my all-time favorite Christmas song…

Mary Did you Know?

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Did you know
That your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
That your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you’ve delivered
Will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Did you know
That your baby boy will calm a storm with His hand?
Did you know
That your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little boy
You’ve kissed the face of God.

Mary, did you know?
The blind will see
The deaf will hear
And the dead will live again
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of the Lamb.

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Did you know
That your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know
That your baby boy is heaven’s perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you’re holding
Is the Great I Am.

-Song lyrics by Mark Lowry

Every time I hear this song (we love it in the version sung by Michael English), it gives me chills to imagine what Mary must have felt, knowing that she was carrying the Great I Am…knowing that He would one day rule the nations…that the baby she delivered, would soon deliver her?

Amazing song.

Amazing story.

Amazing God we have, that the world would be saved in this very incredible way.

STORY BEHIND THE LYRICS (copied and pasted from Christianitytoday.com):

Mark Lowry is best known as a singer and comedian who spent more than a decade as a regular fixture of Bill Gaither’s vocal band. But years from now, when all is said and done, Lowry’s most enduring legacy will probably be the beautiful little song that he wrote 18 years ago as a meditation for a Christmas program at his church.

In 1984, the leaders at Lowry’s Nashville congregation asked him if he’d be willing to write a musical for Advent. He gladly agreed.Inspiration came as Lowry focused his heart and mind on the wonder of Christmas.

"I tried to picture Mary holding the baby Jesus on the first Christmas morning and wondered what she was thinking about that child," he says. "She knew he was special—the Virgin Birth was her first clue—but could she ever imagine all the things that he would do while he was here?"

Soon, Lowry came up with a series of questions that he would like to ask Mary: "Did she know he would walk on water? Raise the dead? Give sight to the blind?"

Lowry decided to use the questions as a monologue to be recited between the scenes of his musical. But the profundity of those questions lingered in his mind long after the church musical was done.

Six years later, harmonica virtuoso Buddy Greene supplied just the right music and "Mary, Did You Know?" was complete.

Since then, Lowry and Greene’s tune has become a modern classic. It has been recorded by more than 30 different artists (besides Lowry), including Kenny Rogers, Kathleen Battle, and Reba McEntire.

"I hear from a lot of people who have sung it in the church choir for Christmas and Easter programs," says Lowry. "When I wrote it, I felt there was something special there, but I never imagined how wide-reaching it would become."