LEAH | STYLIZED SHOOT | OKLAHOMA PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER

When I discovered an amazing parking garage with a perfect view of downtown OKC, I instantly knew I had to shoot there. Thankfully the opportunity to shoot with the adventurous Leah soon presented itself, so it was on an early Sunday morning when we found ourselves up on the rooftop, snapping photos with the sunrise. I used this shoot to play and experiment and try out some new shooting styles and techniques, tips I've picked up from photographers like Ben Sasso (who is basically my photography hero, I mean what the heck how on earth is one person so darn talented). Leah and I started out with some rooftop drama, inspired by Taylor Swift's Wildest Dreams, then transitioned into a groovy urban style a la Ben Rector. The weather was perfect, the lighting was gorgeous, and as you can see, the model was stunning. I basically walked away from this shoot never wanting to put my camera down again. And that's a really, really good feeling.

 

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MY YEAR IN BOOKS, V.2

In the spirit of tradition, today I am sharing all the books I read last year! (For the record, referring to 2015 as "last year" is already weird. What the even.) If I have one 2015 regret, it is that I didn't get to read near as many books as I wished. Ah well. C'est la vie. But I did the best I could and discovered some true gems! Last year (still weird) I read books that have become my favourites and a couple I wish I could forget. So without further ado...

The books of 2015!

• Show Your Work - Austin Kleon
• The Importance of Being Earnest - Oscar Wilde
• Chivalry - Zach Hunter
• The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexander Dumas
• Life of Pi - Yann Martel
• Erasing Hell - Francis Chan
• Rebecca (reread) - Daphne de Maurier
• Bread and Wine - Shauna Niequist
• The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd
• The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict - Trenton Lee Stewart
• The Calvary Road - Roy Hession
• Divergent, Insurgent, + Allegiant - Veronica Roth
• The $100 Startup - Chris Guillebeau
• The Thirteenth Tale - Diane Setterfield
• Go Set a Watchman - Harper Lee
• The Circle Maker - Mark Batterson
• Daring Greatly - Brene Brown
• The Hundred-Foot Journey - Richard C. Morais

BEST: Bread and Wine wins by a landslide. This is one I want to keep and treasure and read again throughout the years. Also, I won't be satisfied until I try all those scrumptious recipes. Whoa man. 

WORST: The Divergent series. For the love, do not even get me started on what a sloppy, shallow mess these books were. No, really, stop me now.

MOST THOUGHT-PROVOKING: I thought long and hard over Daring Greatly. What Brene Brown had to say about the power of vulnerability and how it changes our lives was fascinating.

MOST DULL: I'm afraid I will have to say Life of Pi. But to be fair, the second half was very engaging and interesting. It was only the long, prologue-ish first half that tended to bore me. 

FUNNIEST: This honor goes to The Importance of Being Earnest. Oh my word, what a wickedly funny little story!  

MOST CHALLENGING: To say The Calvary Road is a challenging book is an understatement. It would be more accurate to say it grabs a hold of you, knocks you over the head with a spiritual sledgehammer, and leaves you in a corner to consider what you have done.  

MOST INTENSE: Though I found the middle to drag a bit, The Count of Monte Cristo was an intriguing read. The beginning and end were wild rides of intensity that kept me going until the last page.  

MOST SURPRISING: As I said in my review, I expected Go Set A Watchman to be a major disappointment, yet it wasn't. Though it can't compare to its faultless predecessor (what could?), I loved this book through and through.

CURRENTLY READING: My Cousin Rachel by Daphne de Maurier, The Complete Collection of the Brothers Grimm, + Charles Dickens: A Life by Claire Tomalin. 

So. We all know what comes next. The 2016 reading list! What are your recommendations?

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IT'S A MERRY CHRISTMAS PLAYLIST

Merry Christmas, friends! I can't even tell you how happy I am that Christmas is finally here. This is a beautiful season of life and light and hope and celebrating the birth of Jesus. How blessed we are to be loved so much by such a great God! I'm sure all of you are busy with festivities and celebrations, so I shan't keep you long. But as a lover of Christmas and fan of music in general and Christmas music in particular, here are my top ten favourite Christmas songs for you all to enjoy today as you're eating food, gathering with family, and basking in this wintry season. Happy holidays, friends!

noel - lauren daigle

This one is a new favourite, but oh me oh my, this woman and her ridiculously good voice.

for all that you have done - rend collective

Rend's whole Christmas album is fabulous, but this revised version of Auld Lang Syne is a gorgeous anthem celebrating the love and power of our God.

little drummer boy - josh groban
It's either hit or miss with this song; not just anyone can sing it well. But if anyone can, it's Josh Groban.

pat-a-pan - david archuleta
I remember loving this performance when it aired on television several years ago. And every time I pull it up, I can't help but love it still. So beautiful and peppy!

every bell on earth will ring - the oh hellos
If I had to pick one Christmas album to listen to for the rest of my life, it would be the Oh Hellos. And this unique, joyful tune is the highlight.

born in bethlehem - third day
I grew up listening to Third Day, so I may be a little biased, but even fifteen years after the release of their Christmas album, I am still not over this song. In fact, it's one of the few Christmas songs I will sometimes listen to throughout the year.  

a mad russian's christmas - trans-siberian orchestra
What's Christmas without the Trans-Siberian Orchestra? For all you Nutcracker fans out there, this energetic rock song is for you.

a hallelujah christmas - cloverton
Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" is gorgeous by itself, but a Christmas version? So much wow.

o holy night - andrea faustini
I discovered Andrea when he performed on the UK X Factor show, amazed by the range and strength of his voice. His rendition of this song gives me goosebumps.

here with us - joy williams
I listened to Joy Williams way before The Civil Wars was even a thing, because I'm cool like that. I remember my aunt singing this song nearly every year for our church's Christmas service, and I always looked forward to hearing it, a melody that was both haunting and triumphant.

BONUS:
the parting glass - the high kings
I'm adding this as a bonus because it's not technically a Christmas song, yet for some reason, it always reminds me of the Christmas season, with the new year quickly approaching. New years always bring changes, farewells, challenges, and moving on... So yeah, I guess this song fits.

what are some of your favourite Christmas tunes?

(Jess and I filmed a special Christmas edition of Mind the Gap! Be sure to check it out here.)

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