Papa's Garden

Here are some updated pics of the flower garden we built on the spot where Alvie passed away last year. At the time he passed away, this was just a burn pile in the backyard where we burned scraps of wood and garbage from the construction of our studio. The day he died, he was standing in the burn pile clipping off the sharp corners of scrap vinyl siding to keep the girls from getting hurt on it (the man was ALWAYS thinking like that). Anyhow, after he passed, I knew that we had to do something to make that spot a special place; and this is what we came up with. The entrance is still not finished (I'll probably get to that this fall); but we're so pleased with the results so far. Kellie and I did this ourselves with a little tractor help from her grandfather. It was a lot of work; but it's a place now where we can go and reflect on Alvie's life and a place that the girls can play and remember their Papa.

Studio Day TWO

Wow! Studio day two went even smoother than the first day! The musicians were on their stuff; and not only did we finish all fourteen tracks that we had hoped to do - but we also laid a surprise 15th track!!! It was a great day, filled with emotion. While recording Go Get My Children, I absolutely lost it and sobbed like a baby for a few minutes. It just came out of no where; but man when it hit me, it hit like a ton of bricks. I know there's no way we could do this as good as we could have if Alvie were here to guide us through it; but I can't help but believe he would be SO pleased with the way everything has gone so far!

So now that we have music tracks to practice with, Cassie, Kellie, and I will begin practicing vocals and hopefully be ready to lay those on the last two weekends of August. Keep praying for us!

Studio Day One

Well we got through the first day of music tracks; and everything is sounded GREAT! Our musicians are doing a fantastic job; and we're really going to work them out this coming Saturday for Day Two! We didn't work a full day this past Saturday and only recorded five songs; and so this coming Saturday, we have eight (maybe NINE) songs left to record! But I have faith that they can pull it off - they're pros!

Here's one of our engineers, Bro. Jeff Walls, hard at work.



Yes folks, that is THE Joe David Cantrell - my production assistant :)

Mr. Jimmy Long is tearing it up on the electric and accoustic guitars - sounds fantastic!


And speaking of famous people - here's the one and only Bruce Terry wailing away on the steele guitar - doing an AWESOME job!

Here's my brother-in-law, Dustin McKenzie, doing his thing on the bass guitar. You wann talk about pro's? He's the bomb!




And here is the multi-talented Dustin Kelly banging on the keys like nobody's business! Dustin is doing a great job with our album as producer also!

Another pic of the band - Bruce Terry on steele, Dustin McKenzie on bass, Dustin Kelly on keyboard, and Rusty Walls, who's supposed to be in the drum booth but instead appear to be standing around talking! ;)


We're looking forward to another great day of music on Saturday! I'm sure I'll post more updates next week!

New Project Underway!

Hello Everybody!

Kellie and I will be going to the studio this Saturday to begin a very special personal project! Alvie (Kellie’s dad) wrote 23 songs during his lifetime; and all but nine of those have been recorded by various groups over the years, including The McKenzie’s, The Long Family, The Higdonaires, Chosen, and others. This project will include those nine songs not previously recorded, as well as a few of his other songs that have become personal favorites of ours.
Joining us for vocals will be Cassie McKenzie, who is married to Kellie’s first cousin, Clint. And there will also be guest appearances by Uncle K. Wayne Guffey, as well as Alvie's sister, Janine. Kellie’s brother, Dustin, will be playing bass guitar; and serving as pianist will be our great friend, Dustin Kelly, who is also our project producer. Several other great musicians will be joining in as well!
We’re not forming a group and do not plan to book any singings. We’re just doing the recording in memory of Alvie, hoping to preserve these great songs that so few people have heard before, and have a great time doing it!
As you can tell, I’m very excited about the project! The album will feature the first song Alvie ever wrote, “Not Another Tear”, which is also the project name. Alvie was only ten years old when he first penned this beautiful song way back in 1969! Also included will be:

I’ll Live Again
King’s Highway
Let the Praises Ring
The Comforter
Holy Power
Be Ye Ready
He Will Stand By Your Side
The Roadmap
That Wonderful Day
How Do You Measure Love
I’d Rather Be Here
Today Is the Day
Go Get My Children

So be on the lookout for “The Alvie McKenzie Family: Not Another Tear” sometime this Fall; and please pray for us as we go along! Updates will be posted all along on my blog, http://www.byrdprophoto.blogspot.com/! Please help us spread the word!

Love & Prayers,
-BYRD

***The picture is of Alvie at Gold Mine Studio in Gadsden, Alabama, during Chosen's "Power In Believing" project***

Me and my woman...

Wow... sure seems odd being on the this side of the lens! It's been a REALLY long time since Kellie and I had a professional picture made of just the two of us. In fact, I guess it's been nearly 10 years. Who's the photographer here, you ask? Makayla - our three year old - ha, ha! I set everything up and gave her the trigger and told her when to mash it. It's REALLY hard to pose yourself when you can't see yourself; but we liked this one okay. After seeing these, I remember why I try to stay on the other side of the camera! Oh well!

North Sand Mountain Kindergarten

Pictures for North Sand Mountain's 2009 Kindergarten Graduation are now available! To see pictures of your child, please give us a call or shoot us an email! We have 8x10's Memory Matte's (like the sample shown here), class group pictures, and also individual pictures of your child receiving their diploma and performing their speaking part during the ceremony.

The Rice Family...

This evening, Kellie, Mackenzie, Makayla, and Vicky, my mother-in-law, went to Guntersville, Alabama, where we photographed the Rice Family - Darrell, Mary, Chris, & Lizzie, who were in town visiting from the Nashville area. Actually, Chris is in the US Airforce and stationed out west. We had a great photo-session, including these two sample shots (click to enlarge). Darrell & Mary - I'll try to have the rest up on my website in a week or so. I hope you like these previews!

Afterward, my clan loaded up and rode about five miles into town, where we ate at the "world famous" Top O' The River! If you've never eaten there and are local (within two hundred miles), you should be ashamed of yourself! I ate waaaay too much; and we still brought home not one, not two, but THREE to-go boxes of left-overs! Yikes! Lunch for tomorrow is well taken care of! :)

-BYRD

North Sand Mountain Kindergarten Graduation

This year, I had the distinguished honor of photographing the NSM Kindergarten Graduation - and it was a bitter-sweet event for me indeed! My baby, Mackenzie, was one of the graduates (or as she would call it, one of the "graduaters") who graced the stage to receive her diploma! I was so proud; and she did SO good! Here are a few shots of her; and I'll have all of the photos from the day posted to my website soon! If any of the parents have any questions, please let me know! Oh; and a very special thanks to my good friend, Shannon Atchley, who helped me cover the event!!!!

Thanks!

-BYRD

The Middlebrooks'...

Tonight I had a quick session with some of our best friends - Kyle, Amy, Emily, & Blake! Here's a couple of quick sneak peaks from the shoot.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all of you Momma's out there; and especially to Kellie, Mom, & Vicky!

-BYRD

The Long Family...

It's a little after 11:00 p.m.; I just got in from Guntersville, Alabama, where I spent the evening photographing the family of Bob & Betty Long. They have an absolutely beautiful bunch of kids and grand kids; and it was such a pleasure to get to see them and spend a little time with them today. Here are a few previews from our session (CLICK TO ENLARGE); and hopefully I have the rest up in a week or two (I'm really far behind right now)!

Thanks!

-BYRD

It's Like Rain On Your Wedding Day...

Not just "like" rain on your wedding day - it IS! Bummer! Victoria and Ryan were originally scheduled to exchange their vows perched on the brow of Sand Mountain at her parents' beautiful home overlooking Dearhead Cove. It was a BEAUTIFUL setting for a wedding - but it rained us out! So, everybody worked like dogs moving everything over to a local church, where Ryan and Victoria were married in a very lovely ceremony with many of their family and friends there to witness. So, at any rate, congrats to Victoria & Ryan; and thank-you SO much for allowing us to be a part of your special day!!!

(Click on the pic to enlarge)

-BYRD

New Ground...

Today, Kellie and I had the distinguished honor of photographing New Ground, a fantabulous Southern Gospel trio from Scottsboro, Alabama. Dale and Robbie Maxwell have been staples in my life for as long as I can remember. Robbie's parents lived across the street from my parents for my entire life (still do, in fact); and she is also a distant relative of mine (one that I'll actually claim - ha, ha)! Speaking of family, we got there only to find out that New Ground's new drummer, Taylor "Fannie" Guffey, is Kellie's third cousin! Wow - small world! We also were able to meet lead singer, David "Champ" Owens, and pianist, Micky "Prince" Bell. We had a great time and were treated with a verse of "Where Could I Go"! Robbie - I hope you like these quick-edit previews (click on them to enlarge)! I'll have the rest done soon! Great to see you guys and thanks again for allowing me this opportunity!!!

-BYRD

Bro. David Jones

One of the absolute greatest influences in my life, the Rev. David H. Jones, of the Huntsville Holiness Church, went home to be with the Lord last night shortly before midnight. He will be missed by so many people! I didn't make this photo, it's from the '90's; but I wanted to pay tribute to one of the men who helped me be what I am today.

Round Two - Senior Girls

My Class of '09 Senior Models were back in front of the lens this evening for their studio shots. Alyshia and Emily did great jobs striking their poses and working the camera! Both are beautiful girls; and we were so glad to have the opportunity to photograph them for their senior portraits! Here are a few previews from the evening (click to enlarge).

Easter Pics at Simmons Farm

Meet Buddy. Whoever came up with the whole "gentle as a little lamb" never met Buddy, a demon goat from some farm of the the nether regions of Tennessee! Nah, Buddy actually turned out to be alright! Saturday, my friend Marty and I shot some Easter pics on location at the Simmons' farm in Big Cove, Alabama. We had, I think, a total of 22 sittings for the day; and probably between 35 and 40 kids. By the end of the day, Marty, Buddy, and I, were absolutley smashed! Most of the kids really loved interacting with Buddy, of course a lot of them thought he was just a funny looking dog. We did have a few meltdowns; but out of those, almost every one of them recovered enough to have some good times with ole Buddy.

This is me and Buddy taking a break and relaxing in the sun. It was a beautiful day!

This little man was ready! I really thought the lamb would scare most of the little kids; but it never phased this guy!

I can't even remember this little feller's name; but he was so cute. I loved this candid moment I caught of him in deep thought!

Yep, we even had some little bitty babies. Hayden (one of three Hayden's we had for the day) was just under a month old!

One of our few meltdowns. This is Morgan, my cousin's daughter. She didn't think too fondly of Buddy at first; but after a few minutes she loved him too. I just had to share this picture though because I thought it was hilarious!

This little fellow here was so sweet!

And this bright-eyed beauty is Harley! She is Marty's niece and is absolutely adorable!

Katie loved Buddy! She did such a good job for her shoot!

Call Me!

If you need me that is :) I'll be away from the computer for a week or so, so if you need me in the coming week, just pick up the phone and call me. My cell number is 423.802.9314.

Virus :(

Everybody else has been sick, so I guess my computer might as well be too... it has it's first virus! So if you have jobs pending with me, they might be a little extra delayed (as if I wasn't already behind). Holler at me with any questions!

shannon@byrdprophoto.com

-BYRD

Easter Pics

I don't think I'm going to have time to do a full day of mini-sessions at the studio this year (again)! But if you're interested in booking a mini-session similar to the V-day shoot, let me know; and we'll try to set-up maybe a couple of evenings specifically for this. BUT, for those of you in Madison County (or those willing to travel to Madison County), my friend, Marty, and I are going to be doing an Easter mini-session day on Saturday, March 21, at a farm in Big Cove. The shoot will feature a live lamb!!! Marty says I'm in charge of it; but I beg to differ!!!. MARTY had a little lamb, not Shannon! :) I've never worked with live animals (besides kids); and so I'm anxious to see how this goes! We've already booked 20 sessions; and it was only announced yesterday! Yikes! If you want more information regarding these mini-sessions, just shoot me an email!

-BYRD

Online Again...

We're back online now. Visit us at www.byrdprophoto.com.

Thanks!
-BYRD

Website Down

Our website is temporarily unavailable; and I am also unable to receive emails sent to shannon@byrdprophoto.com. Please check back soon or call 423.802.9314 for more info.

Thanks,
-BYRD