The Boys Of Fall…
I’m quite a ways from my hometown…863 miles to be exact but Sapulpa makes me feel like I’m still there. I’ve been in love with small towns for as long as I can remember. I can’t really pinpoint one thing… maybe it’s the people, the old buildings, Main St., barber shops on the corner…or day to day life steeped in traditions like hometown football… things that make you feel like your home.
Tradition is important to me & giving back to the community that I love is even more important. This is why a couple of weeks ago we announced our Football Season Senior Event. We started accepting nominations for deserving students & each week we will select one student to receive our Ultimate Senior Session & a photography package… together worth over $750! The nominations started pouring in & it didn’t take long to realize we have some truly wonderful kids in this town! It was a hard decision but our first winner was a stand out. As I read the details of the letter it was clear that this young man truly deserved something special for his senior year. We selected Kyle Stephens…a linebacker (#3) for Sapulpa H.S.
Everyone knows that injuries are part of football. This is why a few minutes before every game you will find Sapulpa parents on the field praying together for our boys. When the inevitable happens…you will see our boys take a knee out of respect when a player goes down. I’ve even seen them take a knee for their opponent even when their own team wouldn’t… it’s a sign of respect & something our boys know well.
On September 11, 2011 Sapulpa was facing Bixby H.S. on their home turf. It was an intense game to say the least! All at once we seen one of our players go down and the waiting began to know exactly how bad the situation was. Our family was sitting 3 rows up on the 50 yard line… close enough to the field to have a clear view of Kyle. I seen the look on his face & you could just tell that this was serious & he knew it.
I didn’t know Kyle personally at that time but I couldn’t help but notice his determination that night at Bixby. I seen them take him off the field & later in the game he came back out on crutches. You could tell he was in pain but he never left his team that night. He stayed as close as he could & did all he could from the sidelines. Kyle stood out to me that night & I knew his heart was still in there playing. Sapulpa went on to win that game… 46-33! Later in the week we got word that Kyle had suffered a serious injury to his ACL & MCL & was out for the rest of the season. He would also have to have surgery within a week. This was a harsh reality that he had played his last game for Sapulpa High School. What crushing news for a player to hear…especially during his senior year.
I’ve had the opportunity to spend time with Kyle over the past couple of weeks while shooting his senior session. I have to say that he was the correct choice for our deserving senior gift. Kyle is not only an excellent student & football player…but he is a tremendous young man. I shot the last of Kyle’s senior football images just an hour before his surgery & it was truly an honor to capture such a pivotal moment in his life. As Coach Gottsch said on the field that morning… “This isn’t the end of it.” I fully expect Kyle to go on to university & be a successful student & accomplished athlete. He is a remarkable young man that is well liked & respected among his peers & within the community! Good luck Kyle & remember that we will all be cheering for you again one day very soon!
I wanted to share a few of the images we captured of Kyle’s senior session. The football images are very special to me as I am sure they will be to Kyle & his family. I found that the football shots took on a life of their own and for that moment, it wasn’t about the camera or simply pictures. I captured that rare glimpse of who Kyle really is & what being a Chieftain has meant to him. It’s so obvious that this isn’t just a football game to Kyle…it is something of far greater value and something that will be part of him for the rest of his life.
“Once a Chieftain, Always a Chieftain”
KYLE STEPHENS: Kyle has played football since 5th grade. He has loved the sport of football & played with heart. He has played several positions & both sides of the ball. He has played offense as a running back & in special teams as a kicker and has continued those positions throughout high school. It wasn’t until he began playing linebacker that he found his niche & played this position since that time. He was offered the opportunity to start on varsity in his sophomore year & lettered. Kyle lead in tackles his junior year & was all district nominee & lettered. Kyle started his senior year & played until his injury…He finishes his high school career with over 100 tackles. Kyle plans to play college ball & would love to join OSU or OU. After college…he hopes to continue his football career in the pros.
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If you know of a deserving senior that you would like to nominate for our Football Season Event…please email a nomination letter to barbara@bjgphoto.com
www.bjgphoto.com
They Are Not Lost…Just Undiscovered!
As a photographer I am blessed to meet some of the most amazing people in the world. I’ve been from coast to coast & seen many beautiful things & experienced some wonderful adventures with my friends and family. Those are moments we can’t replace…those are the days that I can’t get back but I refuse to let go. Somewhere along the way I became a photographer… that’s a rather long story for another day but for now….
Today, I want to talk about a group of my clients that is very dear to my heart…my high school seniors! I get the privilege of meeting these incredible individuals at the perfect time in their lives. They have come from vastly different lifestyles yet whatever shaped them to be here at this moment…it’s their time to step out & choose what comes next. It’s a time to build on the solid foundation that they created or it’s an opportunity for a clean slate…a moment of clarity with the realization that in this great country they live in…they can become anything they choose to be!
I meet some seniors that are confident & know exactly what they want to do… then there are others that just want to stand still in this moment…then there are some that seem blank yet they aren’t. I never fail to be able to see past all of that during my sessions…there is something amazing that happens when we begin capturing a senior…it’s hard to explain but the pictures say it all. Guards come down & there is that moment that you get a small glimpse of who they are & who they hope to be after they walk that stage on graduation night.
Someone let me hear a song recently when I was trying to choose selections for my new website…It’s called Undiscovered. This song lends some insight to some of those seniors that you will see walk across that stage. There is a sea of caps & gowns…tassels swaying as the seniors walk toward their futures but there is far more to them than what meets the eye. Through my lens I see hope, dreams, things they may never verbalize but it’s there…. remember “They’re not lost, just undiscovered!”
Our studio has always been about giving back! This is something you will see from us on a regular basis. This isn’t just a business it’s an intricate part of who I am & what our family is about. To kick off our grand opening in Sapulpa we will give away a 2012 ultimate senior session to one deserving student each week for the entire football season! Everyone is welcome to nominate a senior. Email your name, name of nominee, brief note on why your nominee should win & your phone numbers! Thanks to all my loyal followers, clients, friends & family for supporting us throughout the years & especially during the transition to Oklahoma from Chicago! We love you all dearly!
GO CHIEFTAINS…PROUD MOM OF #13 JASON GARLAND!
WWW.BJGPHOTO.COM
Meet my family…
It’s almost 3 a.m. & I’m taking a little break from designing images so I can blog a few lines. We are in the middle of senior season & while our mailer doesn’t go out until this week & we haven’t had our ribbon cutting or grand opening celebration, I have been booked solid just from word of mouth! I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to move 10 hours from Chicago to a small town like Sapulpa & feel this great reception into the community! We love our Oklahoma people… they are too amazing for words;)
Okay so for a little feedback…we are so excited about all the buzz over our new website & blog. The last time I checked we had 60 or so new people “Like” our Facebook page, which takes us up to about 1340 fans…plus we’ve had about 200 people visit our new website & blog just in the last 48 hours! Thanks for all encouraging messages…it’s been great hearing from everyone!
For all of those that haven’t met my family yet, I thought i would introduce them via the blog 
Jerry & I have been married for over 22 years & we have 3 great kids & a 130 pound white lab named Buddy We have one daughter & two sons, Holly is 20, Aaron is 19 & Jason is 15. Holly & Aaron are both in college…Holly is pursuing a career in education & will receive her degree from Oklahoma University. Aaron is majoring in graphic design & will graduate from Oklahoma State University…yes, we are a house divided lol but it keeps things interesting. Finally, Jason is a Sophomore at Sapulpa High School & plays football so if you happen to meet him be ready to talk football… he loves it! By the way, Friday night lights go on this week…Go Chieftains!!! I’m blessed to have a great family & each of them contribute their talents & time to the studio every week. As I’ve always said, none of this would mean anything without them & I know I couldn’t do it without their help! Here are a few personal family pics so you can put a name with the face if you see our family around town Hope everyone has a great week…keep checking the blog for new senior previews going up & of course more blogging as I find the time!
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NEW BJG WEBSITE GOES LIVE!
A special thanks to my amazing husband that works tirelessly each week to provide the best resources & advertising talent in the world! He wears many hats & I don’t know how he does it all! During the week you will find him flying coast to coast managing some of the best advertising campaigns in the country…but at the end of the week you will always find him at the studio…from working on my branding/advertising to remodeling the studio bathroom… hanging images, talking to clients or just letting me bounce ideas off him…he is always there for me! I am so blessed to have someone that has made my dream theirs & strives to make it all happen each & every day…love you always!
When I began working on the new site I was concerned about finding a designer that could understand how important my clients are to me & have the ability to convey that through my website design. Jerry hit the mark by introducing me to Christine Hajar-Chastane of Boston…owner of RedFlag Design! While we have never actually met in person…we are like twins. She understands my style & we really don’t have to say very much…we are always in tune with one another. She just has the incredible ability to know what to design & how to bring all these jumbled concepts to fruition. I truly don’t think anyone could have designed something that matched my expectations so closely. Thank you Christine…you are a true artist & you inspire me!
Last but not least thanks to my kids…Holly, Aaron & Jason for all your encouragement & support! Part of the design process is having a test audience to screen your creatives & give feedback on redesign. I’ve worn them & all their friends out watching my website but they have been great! When I wake up each day I know that I can count on my family to love me & support my dreams…that means more than anything to me because I wouldn’t want to do this without them…I love all three of you very much!
Thanks also to all my extended family, friends and loyal clients across the country! I can’t tell you how many calls & texts I get each week from people near & far that just want to offer encouragement! I couldn’t ask for better…God really knew what He was doing when He placed all of you in my life!!
So enough said in my first blog…I hope you enjoy the new site at www.bjgphoto.com. Feel free to message us if you want to give some feedback! Keep coming back…I will be blogging on a regular basis…I plan to keep it interesting & fun so don’t miss it! Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend
Barbara J. Garland
Welcome to our new look!
We are so excited to launch our brand new website! I will be blogging on a regular basis about happenings around the studio, sessions, family…well, just about anything you can think of! Keep coming back & feel free to write stay in touch…we would love to hear from you
