Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Everyone!

It has been a minute since I last made a post, so I figured it would be a great way to usher in this New Year! So grateful for God's amazing gift of another year and for the opportunity to see it with my family.

So, what can I say about 2014? I can definitely say it was a year of highs and lows, but nonetheless, we came out of it built Ford tough! We watched while God supernaturally healed not just one, but BOTH of our sons (won't He do it?). We learned many lessons about life, business and PEOPLE. We learned to set some attainable and a few far reaching goals. We learned (and I guess are still learning) how not to take things too seriously OR personally. We learned that remaining focused would be necessary for our success in any area, and that we would need to steer clear of unnecessary distractions that threatened to redirect us. We learned that not everyone would be in favor of our progress and that's ok. It takes all of the above to help push you beyond where you are and it was always just what we needed to move past a particular plateau in our lives. We just accepted that not everyone would understand our vision, our time investment, and why and how we do what we do, but we also know it was never intended for their understanding.

Now that 2015 is officially underway, it is time to start your engines and set (or reset) some goals. Create a vision board (on our To Do List for Jan. 1st, by the way) or a bucket list of things you want to accomplish this year. If you go through year after year without a plan, what on earth are you accomplishing besides just simply "EXISTING"? When you don't have goals and something to work toward, then you tend to focus more on the people who do. I saw a quote recently that read, "Winners focus on winning, losers focus on winners."  Now, I'm not necessarily calling anyone a loser, but if you're not out winning, then what are you doing? Stop focusing on what others are doing and start building some dreams of your own. Otherwise, you miss out on a chance to really live! Oh, and don't forget to spend some of your time volunteering, whether it is to help out your ministry or for a community outreach initiative. It's a great way to develop some compassion.

Now to wrap-up 2014, our family decided to just cut loose and do what we normally do when no one is watching. I love having a family that knows how to laugh and have a good time. Laughter is good for the soul and we do a lot of it! Enjoy a few images from our impromptu shoot! It is what it is!

   

Thank you so much for visiting our blog! Keep up with the Team at Photography by Sean Ponder by visiting our website at www.PhotographybySeanPonder.com or on FaceBook at Facebook.com/PhotographybySeanPonder (Like our page!). You can also follow us on InstaGram at Instagram.com/PhotographybySeanPonder. We follow back! 

Until next time, Peace, Love and Light!

Angela

The Creative Director
  


 www.PhotographybySeanPonder.com

Father's Day 2014... A Weekend in the Life!

Ok, so this year for Father's Day, I wanted to make it a weekend event for my hubby, since I so graciously celebrate Mother's Day from Friday to Sunday each year (don't judge me). I had the entire weekend planned out, and with the exception of a couple of events that we just could not fit in, everything went according to my plans. I decided to chronicle the weekend's activities via my IPhone5C, and as a disclaimer, these images are straight from my phone, no edits or touch-ups at ALL. What you see is what you get. This post is a break away from the norm. It is nothing fancy, it's just us... a weekend in the life.

I kicked the weekend off by making spinach omelettes for the family. Once dad chose which shirt he would wear on Saturday, we made our way to Sambukka's Barber and Styling for a quick clean-up for our boys. (Check out Keith or Terry at Sambukka's. We've been going to them for 8 years now. Great people! FREE PUB) 

Spinach Omelettes on Saturday and Sunday morning.

Mr. Ponder's attire selection for the weekend!

First stop, getting our boys cleaned up by Keith Jordan at Sambukka's. =0)

We headed to Olive Garden for lunch and had a full blown conversation about the NBA play-offs (which only upset me, #teamLebron), high school, responsibility, life and future endeavors. We also discussed in-depth about being leaders and examples, just before the jokes started. Don't let them fool you. These three are serious cut-ups!

Rule #1, "No phones once drinks arrive". Oh well, watch this... 

Notice the strategic and gradual change in his position... 

We did not intervene on this, because big brother broke the rule. #overtheshoulder ;-)

Mom and Dad getting in a selfie (NO FILTER) BEFORE the drinks arrive. =0)

Next up was a trip to Cool Springs Mall so dad could do a little shopping. We ended up separating from him and going to Game Stop. They had money and it was burning a hole in their pockets! We made a Smoothie King run as well. We LOVE that place!

Photo opp on the Macy's escalator, while Mr. Frugal checks his receipt detail. 

Our little one kept suggesting socks he KNEW his dad would not wear. #pinkgreenblack 

Meanwhile, our eldest looks to be having a spectacular time! =0/

Oh and there's a photo bomb straight ahead... dead center! SMH o_O

Our youngest is so animated! Check out #MrTelephoneMan. He is always on that phone!

Chopping it up with his brother during lunch on Sunday. Photo bomber to the right.

Photo opp with my dad! (I was SO not ready! :-|) 

We all just happened to have similar colored shirts hanging in our closets. Imagine that! #theFam 
(A smile from our eldest coming someday soon... O_o)

#theTEAM #20YearsTogether #Married17

The Loves of my Life... My Men Folk! 
(I think I see an almost smile from our eldest. He was laughing until I started my count.)

Thanks for your indulgence. Unfortunately, I missed a lot of moments during the weekend, but I'm grateful I was able to capture a few. We hope you enjoyed a glimpse into our weekend and I hope all of the fathers out there were celebrated for the measure of love and effort they give to nurturing and supporting their children. Until next time, Be Blessed!

Angela

The Creative Director

#theDirectorsVoice

www.PhotographybySeanPonder.com
www.Behance.net/photosbyseanponder
www.Facebook.com/PhotographybySeanPonder
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Happy Holidays from The Ponders!

This year has been an absolute whirlwind for our family! Our photography business kicked up SEVERAL notches (special THANKS to all of our clients and phenomenal models!). We published our first blog in the spring of this year, and since then, it has received over 3,000 views globally, in addition to a lot of great feedback! We developed a blue print for the second half of the year for our business, assigned tasks, and executed it exactly as planned. This blueprint also helped in mapping out plans for 2014. We rolled out our official logo, launched our website and online portfolio, and we raised the bar on our own creative offerings, in an effort to stretch us beyond what we "thought" we wanted to do; to help us determine our specific niche and really make some things happen as we go forward into the New Year.

On the home front, we witnessed both of our sons become champions this year! Our son, Sean played on a championship middle school basketball team earlier in the year, and they landed the title of Rutherford County Middle School Champions! Our son, Stefan played on a championship youth football team just this fall, where they were awarded two titles, Mid-State Youth Football League Champions and "Battle in Rocky Top" National Champions. We keep them busy, they keep us running, and they have constant goals that they are in pursuit of at all times.

This year did not come without its own set of challenges and circumstances, that tested both our faith and our ability to remain strong under pressure. Through life-changing infirmities plaguing our household in 2013, we continue to forge our way TOGETHER. We wouldn't have it any other way. 

About a month ago, we set out to take some fall family photos to create Christmas cards. It took two separate days of shooting, but we ended up with some images we really liked. This is US... the Ponder family. We are a hardworking, praying, loving family who have a great time together. We manage a growing business we are very proud of and we support every endeavor of our children, and we always will.
 

The Team at Photography by Sean Ponder is totally focused, armed with goals, and prepared to charge into the New Year at full throttle! We have some AMAZING shoots scheduled that are going to knock your socks off! In addition, by mid-year, we will introduce Mr. ADONIS 2014! Don't go ANYWHERE... The Team at Photography by Sean Ponder is just getting started!

As we wrap up this eventful year, we plan to simply relax and enjoy our family and friends for the remainder of this holiday season. We pray that you and your families have a very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year!

See you in 2014!

Angela

The Creative Director

www.PhotographybySeanPonder.com
www.Behance.net/photosbyseanponder
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