What’s it REALLY Like to Shoot a Red Carpet?

Morning Everyone!

I’m so excited because my twin sister and her family are headed to visit from Arkansas today!  Look out DFW the sisters are back together 🙂

If you have been following me on Instagram or Instastories you may have some idea of how fabulous this week has been….NOT.  A pipe leaked in our kitchen, so half of our kitchen has been torn out.  Our garage broke the day after that.   I had the WORST stomach virus over the weekend as well….so it’s just one of those times in life that you think “Is this all really happening?”  I’m sure one day we’ll look back and laugh….right?

Anyway, back to the topic of this blog post.  Last year around Christmas time I was asked to photograph the Red Carpet at the Jingle Ball here in Dallas.  I got notice literally the night before and I pretty much told Terence “Hey tomorrow night I have a shoot and I won’t be here!”  Because let’s face it, how many opportunities to photograph events like this will I have in my lifetime?

I arrived early and went through a ton of security.  They check all your gear and backpacks etc.  You are then escorted to a waiting room with a small red carpet and a handful of other photographers from other agencies working from laptops and some even have two or three photographers with them.  You have to be escorted everywhere, because you can’t run around with a camera unattended.  Even if you have to use the bathroom.  Gulp.

They did provide water and a few snacks, but here are a few things I wish I would have known before shooting a red carpet event.

  • You are there to serve the agency you work for and nobody else.  You represent them and you are not there to mingle with other photographers.
  • Bring a laptop. The sooner you upload your photos, the sooner they are likely to get published and sell.
  • Bring ear plugs!  This is a big one….nobody told me this and I wish I would have known.  We got to shoot the celebrities on the red carpet and also the very first song of each performance.  Photographers stand RIGHT NEXT TO the stage equipment and speakers…..so I was basically deaf.  Lol!  After the first song you are escorted back to the waiting area for the next celebrity appearance.
  • The waiting gets old.  You may be on a schedule, but the celebrities don’t show up one after the other.  There was at least a 30-45 min gap in between appearances.
  • Everyone- including body guards, family members, and acquaintances of each celebrity bombard at once.   The room gets full really quick and it goes by fast, so be ready to shoot and click the minute they walk in.
  • Be prepared to YELL!  “Hey Charlie look this way!”  “To the Left” “To the Right” (They are used to this and posing so ASK for their attention or you won’t get it).
  • Bring a Red Bull or Caffeine because the night is long and nobody is going to deliver you a Starbucks.

I had the best time and so many of the celebrities were very nice.  Kesha….well…she was quite the diva and didn’t want her live performance photographed either.  To each their own I guess, it was still disappointing.

Here are a few photos I got from that night, I hope you enjoy!  I have hundreds…but you know…gotta whittle it down 🙂

Camilla Cabello

Hailee Steinfeld – Loved her in all the Pitch Perfect movies

Forgot this guy’s name…he was on the Bachelor?

Liam Payne- Former One Direction 

My absolute favorite of the night was Charlie Puth.  His personality was so cute and he was great with everyone.

Hailee’s first song on stage

Kesha

Niall Horan- Former One Direction 

My other favorite was The Chainsmokers.  These two were SO nice and down to earth.

Up and coming boy band- Why Don’t We

I hope you enjoyed these pics and a little behind the scenes info!  I look forward to shooting many more red carpets and having fun.  That’s what life is all about.

xo – Becky with the good coffee

Mary Poppins Party + Movie Sneak Peek!

Last fall I was asked to photograph a cookie exchange party for several little girls.  The party theme was “Mary Poppins”.  When I walked in I was blown away by the decorations and the magical feel of the entire party.  The hostess actually owns an event planning/decorating service, so if you are looking for someone in DFW to take your party to the next level email me and I’ll forward her information.  With the upcoming movie “Mary Poppins” hitting theaters in December 2018, this party couldn’t have come at a better time.

Each little girl attending the party got a dress and a parasol to decorate.  Of course no party would be complete without Mary Poppins popping in for an appearance and a sing along!

It was truly one of the cutest parties I’ve ever attended and photographed.  Enjoy the photos below 🙂

Now that you are in the mood for a Mary Poppins party…take a sneak peek at the new teaser trailer from Disney’s MARY POPPINS RETURNS, an all-new sequel with a fresh sensibility that celebrates the spirit of the original film.

In the sequel, which arrives in theaters this Christmas, Mary Poppins is back to help the next generation of the Banks family find the joy and wonder missing in their lives.

MARY POPPINS RETURNS stars Emily Blunt as the practically-perfect nanny with unique magical skills who can turn any task into an unforgettable, fantastic adventure; Lin-Manuel Miranda as her friend Jack, an optimistic street lamplighter who helps bring light—and life—to the streets of London; Ben Whishaw as Michael Banks; Emily Mortimer as Jane Banks; and Julie Walters as the Banks’ housekeeper Ellen; with Colin Firth as Fidelity Fiduciary Bank’s William Weatherall Wilkins; and Meryl Streep as Mary’s eccentric cousin, Topsy. The film also introduces three new Banks’ children played by Pixie Davies, Nathanael Saleh and newcomer Joel Dawson. Angela Lansbury appears as the Balloon Lady, a treasured character from the PL Travers books and Dick Van Dyke is Mr. Dawes Jr., the retired chairman of the bank now run by Firth’s character.

Top Tips for Purchasing Washers and Dryers

Over the years, washers and dryers have become necessary parts of our lives. However, this wasn’t always the case. The first washing machine wasn’t patented until 1691, and the first dryer didn’t really come on the scene until 1892. These machines were incredibly rudimentary – they primarily ran water through clothes and the dryers were hand-crank operated. The washers and dryers we take for granted today didn’t truly come about until the early 1900’s. It’s tough to imagine a world where there isn’t a washer and dryer in every home. Nowadays, of course, the options for purchasing a washer or dryer are endless. There are so many unique features – any buyer can find the exact machine that’s tailored to their lifestyle and needs.

In recent years, technology had become so advanced that it’s impacting everything from our cars to our home appliances. Washers and dryers are no exception. There are several washer and dryer sets on the market that take your laundry game to the next level. They connect to other appliances in your home, hook up to apps on your mobile phone so you can start and stop loads of laundry while you’re on the go, and more. Admittedly, these options aren’t inexpensive – but they are a unique option for those who prefer to lead a high-tech life.

The more advanced these washers and dryers get, their price point continues to hike higher and higher. However, given the fact that buyers are now getting more use out of their washers and dryers with all of their unique features, the increasing prices make sense. Of course, low-cost models are still available if you look for them. Are you interested in what kinds of features are included in modern washers and dryers? Here are some ideas to consider:

  1. Size

A few size considerations are obvious – what kind of laundry are you doing? How often? And for how many people? Larger families tend to have more laundry and therefore might need a washer and dryer set that has a larger capacity so they’re not doing laundry all day every day. However, big families aren’t the only ones who might need a larger laundry capacity. For example, one or two individuals who are particularly active and need to wash their regular laundry as well as daily sports or exercise clothes could require a larger laundry capacity.

Recommended: If you’re looking for something more compact because you’re tight on space, this GE is a good choice.

  1. Front Loading v. Top Loading

Another feature you need to consider is whether you want a front loading or top loading machine set. Front loading machine sets are generally better. They are more energy efficient, do a better job of getting out tough stains, and they save on water, as well. You can also stack front loading machines, saving on space. What’s not to love? All that being said, top-loading machines tend to be more popular. In general, they are less expensive. They are also easier to maintain. They’re also notoriously easier to unload – there’s no bending over or reaching into a front loading machine to scoop out wet clothes.

  1. Energy Efficiency

If going green is your thing, there are several washers and dryers that focus on being energy-efficient. In fact, most modern washers and dryers strive toward being more energy-efficient than older models. However, now you can specifically look for a machine set that has been Energy Star certified. Energy Star certified machines use about 25% less energy and 45% less water than regular, or uncertified, machines.

Recommended:

This Energy Star certified Kenmore might be a good fit.

  1. 2-in-1 Machines

Want to simplify your laundry? 2-in-1 machines might be the answer for you. The washer and dryer is combined in one single unit. These units are ordinarily large capacity, which makes them a good buy for big families who are looking to cut down on the total amount of time they’re spending changing laundry loads over from washer to dryer and cycling everything through. They’re also excellent for saving space since they’re only one single, large capacity machine, rather than two.

Recommended: This LG 2-in-1 model is a great option.

The beauty of shopping for anything electronic in today’s day and age is that the amount of features available to completely customize your product purchase are endless. Make a list of what’s important to you in big-ticket items such as washers and dryers, then feel free to shop around until you find something that meets all or most of your selections. Everyone uses washers and dryers, from all walks of life with all sorts of living situations and unique laundry needs that need to be met. You’re sure to find something that fits your lifestyle perfectly!

Extended Warranties? Home Warranties?

There’s a constant debate between those who swear by extended warranties (or home warranties, which is essentially a comprehensive coverage for all appliances and home systems), and those who think it is unnecessary and does not save money in the long run. It’s difficult to say what’s the precise answer to this. On one hand, purchasing an extended warranty or a home warranty should in theory keep unexpected spending at bay – if the appliance (washers, dryers or even jacuzzis) goes bust, you are reimbursed, and on the other hand they are quite expensive if you look at it over a period of time.

Home warranty companies in Texas offer a variety of plans, and the cheapest I could find is $25 a month. That’s $280 a year (before any discounts applied), which comes down to over a grand in a period of 5 years. If your new washer or dryer does not break unexpectedly, you’d be paying a hefty premium for absolutely no reason.

Extended warranties are cheaper and more focused but then again you end up with the exact same Return On Investment calculation. How likely is your return to be positive when you’re paying a monthly premium over a brand new appliance that should in theory run smoothly for years to come?

I would say buying a home warranty or an extended appliance warranty heavily depends on your situation. If you have a steady income then you should consider tapping into it, just to avoid the unexpected, and if the cost will be a burden for you, then you might as well drop it, especially considering home warranty companies don’t always pay.

Start Your Morning with RaceTrac + Enter to WIN!

This post is sponsored by RaceTrac.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was so glad to see the sun shining this morning!  Last week in rained every single day and we had a chilling cold front come through DFW.  Our mornings are pretty busy- Get up, shower, get myself ready, get Connor ready for school, make breakfast, make lunch, and all those other little things that come up.  After I drop Connor off at school I usually stop for a coffee and RaceTrac has an amazing coffee bar that I’ve written about before!

What’s better on a cold and rainy day than a warm cup of fresh coffee???  NOTHING!

Most people head to RaceTrac from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., seeing an average of 124,550 early-bird TracFanactics across all RaceTrac stores in the wee hours of every morning. Mornings can be hard sometimes, but RaceTrac has got the perfect coffee or snack to get you going. To salute early birds of all kinds, RaceTrac is honoring early-bird guests with in-store offers exclusive to early morning hours.

What gets you going in the morning?  I love a cup of coffee and Krispy Kreme Cinnamon Doughnuts!

Not everyone can be an early bird, but at RaceTrac they have whatever you need to make your mornings something to look forward to. With hearty, delicious breakfast options, they’ve got what you need so that your morning is never mundane.

My sweet little door holder 🙂

RaceTrac also knows that its guests want more than just traditional breakfast items in the morning. People are re-thinking breakfast and grabbing the things that get them going – Whatever that may be. Whatever for breakfast? Now that’s the dream. That’s everything from hot dogs and sodas to bacon, egg and cheese croissants and coffee. RaceTrac wants you to know that they have Whatever you need to fuel your morning.

My breakfast main feature is always a good cup of coffee…and RaceTrac has that and more!

Crazy Good Coffee
RaceTrac’s “Crazy Good Coffee” bar offers a variety of blends of fresh brewed coffee, including 100 percent Hazelnut, Regular, Columbian, Decaf and Dark Roast.
• All are 100 percent Arabica beans — the highest quality coffee.
• RaceTrac’s coffee bar also features cappuccinos, iced coffee, hot teas and hot chocolate.
• RaceTrac has new coffee machines coming to stores in 2018, which will give its guests an even more elevated coffee experience. This new offering will allow guests to be their own barista by selecting their favorite coffee blend and watching the beans grind right before their eyes into the freshest cup of joe.
• Guests can also be their own barista by selecting their favorite coffee blend and pairing it with their favorite creamers, sweeteners and toppings like whipped cream.


RaceTrac wants to give its guests good food that gets them excited to start their days. From six blends of fresh brewed coffee and fresh donuts delivered daily to classic roller grill items, RaceTrac has Whatever their guests need to start their morning off right.


Racetrac has everything from tasty bacon, egg and cheese croissant, to a fresh slice of pizza or a Reese’s pieces topped Swirl World, RaceTrac has breakfast covered.

OTHER BREAKFAST OPTIONS:

Grab-And-Go Breakfast Sandwiches
Sandwiches are made in-house with hand-selected, high-quality ingredients – real buttermilk biscuits, flaky croissants, Jimmy Dean sausage and Tyson chicken breasts. Most of our stores offer a customizable approach to building your perfect sandwich, bringing each food item in individually and cooking them separately.
• The store team makes the sandwiches and wraps them in the store.
• All ingredients were hand-selected by our Executive Chef to ensure they are the highest quality.
• Breakfast sandwiches are portable to meet our guests’ grab-and-go lifestyles. Today, we offer four sandwiches for our grab-and-go guest; the Sausage Egg and Cheese Biscuit, Chicken Biscuit, Ham Egg and Cheese Croissant, and Bacon Egg and Cheese Croissant.
• Our most popular new recipe combinations, which include a ham, egg and cheese croissant and a sausage, egg and cheese biscuit, among others, are cooked throughout the morning and then made available in the hot case for easy grab-and-go.

Fresh Food
RaceTrac’s sandwiches, cut fruit and salads are made and delivered fresh to the stores daily.
• Salads o RaceTrac rencently launched new salads! Farmhouse Cobb Salad, BLT Caesar Salad, Side Garden Salad, Greek Style Salad. These exciting additions to the sandwich cooler have a fresh new look and taste! The packages were artfully designed to ensure the lettuce and toppings stay crispy and fresh from the moment they’re packaged until they hit your mouth.
• Sandwiches o Looking for the perfect main course to pair with your TasteWorks chips? Look no further than RaceTrac’s sandwich cooler! These sandwiches are fresh, flavorful and offer a variety of options for the guest that wants to try them all! Options include our Turkey & Swiss with Tomato, Italian Sub, Club Stacker and Chipotle Kickin’ Chicken Wrap.
Pizza
Like the new breakfast sandwiches, our pizzas are assembled in-store using separate ingredients. Guests can order a custom personal or a full 16” pizza.
• We offer “grab and go” pepperoni and meat lovers slices as well as MTO personal pizzas. Our personal pizzas are customizable with over 12 different meat and veggie toppings.
• Guests can grab slices out of the hot case, or they can also customize their own 7” personal pizza. We have more than 10 toppings guests can add to their pizza, including mushrooms, black olives, onions, jalapenos, bacon, sausage and pepperoni.
Roller Grill
• The roller grill is one of RaceTrac’s most popular offerings.
• Most popular items:
Nathan’s Famous 100 percent Premium All Beef Hot Dog: our number-one seller and a great source of protein for anytime of day!
Tamales: unique to RaceTrac, traditional corn husk-wrapped and stuffed with seasoned pork
Taquitos: battered and fried tortillas filled with meats, cheeses and delicious spices
Roller bites: breaded chicken product in such flavors as Monterrey Jack and Buffalo
• RaceTrac introduces limited time offer (LTO) products on the grill on a quarterly basis to help keep the offer fresh and fun, such as a Chicken and Waffle Taquito, Guinness Beer Brat, Bacon Cheddar Dog or even a Pork Egg Roll.
• All roller grill items can be topped with old favorites like ketchup and mustard, or mixed up with new additions like onions, jalapenos and nacho cheese from our expanded toppings bar.
• Roller grill toppings bars across all markets include Sauerkraut, sliced jalapeños, banana peppers, salsa, jalapeño pickles, sour cream, diced onions, ketchup, mustard, nacho cheese, nacho chili.
Swirl World
• RaceTrac is the only convenience store to offer Swirl World – a variety of frozen desserts including ice creams, yogurts, sorbets and Italian Ice.
• You can customize your frozen treat just how you like it – with up to 40 toppings*, the choice of a cup, cake cone or waffle cone and a variety of flavors.
• Toppings include gummies, sprinkles, oreos, chocolate covered marshmellows, salted caramel chips, hot fudge, and fresh berries, just to name a few.
*Number of toppings varies per store

ENTER TO WIN ONE OF TWO RACETRAC GIFT CARDS!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What’s in My Camera Bag?

If I had a nickel for every time someone asked me “What kind of camera do you have?” or “What kind of lens is that?” I would be a hundred-aire.  I’ve been thinking about this post a lot and I’m going to spell it all out for you below.  What lenses I use, why I use them, and what I use them for. Recently I shot a beautiful wedding in Tulum, Mexico so I needed something good and sturdy for traveling.  I’ve owned every kind of camera bag out there from the expensive Kelly Moore bags, sling bags, and hard cases.  I still use my hard case to store all my equipment in, but if I’m running around or traveling I use this backpack.  Thanks to my photographer friend Cindy who told me about it.  This bag has become a new favorite!  I have two camera bodies, two flashes, four lenses, extra camera cards, charger, accessories, AND a change of clothes!

I also have a hard case like this one that I use for storage.  It’s waterproof and STRONG, also great for travel.I shoot with a Nikon D750 camera body.  I considered the Nikon 810, but unless you’re shooting pictures that need to be blown up into billboards, I wouldn’t spend the extra money.  The D750 is an AMAZING camera!  I would recommend buying a camera body and all your lenses separate.  The lenses that usually come in kits are crappy and you get what you pay for.  If you want good glass and a great lens to go with your high end DSLR camera do your research and buy what you need, not what comes with the camera just because it’s there.  In my opinion there’s a reason why it’s in a kit.  It’s not the best quality lens and you think your getting a good deal…when in actuality you aren’t. Okay, now let’s talk lenses.  My go-to lens is what most people call the “nifty fifty”.  That’s probably because it’s one of the most universal lenses that can be used for both portraits & landscape.  It’s also really lightweight and easy to carry.  You can’t go wrong with this lens.  It’s a fixed lens, so you can’t zoom in or out, but once you learn to master it then you’ll find yourself grabbing it all the time!  This lens is also relatively inexpensive compared to most DSLR lenses.

 

 

A 50 mm also works really well in low lighting situations.

I carry a Nikon 28-300 in my bag.  This is a good overall zoom lens for just about anything and it pretty universal.  We used this lens when we traveled to Europe and it did just fine.  This is a great lens for any situation- up close or afar.

Now this is my MAC DADDY lens.  My baby.  My 70-200 lens.  This is great when I shoot weddings and need that up close and personal shot from waaaaay down the isle.  This is a zoom lens in every capacity.  I love this lens for all that it is…shoulder pains and all.  This is not something you want to carry on your shoulders all day long, but dang is it crisp and sharp.  If you’re searching for an all around zoom lens- this is it.Example shot:

I was standing pretty far away in this photo, but you can still see how close I got and it’s pretty crisp.

Last, but not least is a great wide angle lens.  This is a Nikon 20mm lens.  A fun lens to have for landscapes, real estate, or parties.  If you want to get a large group of people, an entire room, or a HUGE mountain….this is your lens!  Example shot:

As far as accessories go I’ll list a few out here.  I used to have a lighting set-up but I rarely used it, so I ended up selling it.  I have two off camera speedlights and a ring light if I need it.

Other accessories I always keep on hand are extra camera cards, an extra battery charger for my camera, extra flash batteries, and filters for all my lenses.

Accessories every photographer needs to have:

White Balance Card

Wireless Remote (for your flash)

Polarizing Filter

A couple of good tripods

UV Lens Filter

Light Reflector

Camera Cleaning Kit

I hope this answered some of your questions and feel free to leave a comment if you have any more. I love photography and it’s truly become my creative outlet.  It takes a lot of practice and time, but it’s so much FUN!  One thing I’ve learned over the years is you CANNOT compare yourself to other photographers.  Everyone has their own eye and their own editing style.  No picture is just alike and no matter how much you just loooove a picture on Pinterest and try to recreate it…it’s not going to be exact.  Just like I can’t make everyone look like a super model, even Photoshop has it’s limits!  If you are looking into editing software then Lightroom is a great place to start.  After you’ve mastered Lightroom you can get into heavier editing using Photoshop.  It’s all about your creative outlet and your eye for the photo.  Most importantly have FUN!

xo – Becky with the good coffee 😉

Laundry Made Easier With LG

This post is sponsored by Best Buy.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

One of our favorite places to go and walk around on the weekends is Best Buy….well, actually I would say it’s more Terence’s, but there are so many things for me to look at as well!

Usually while Terence is looking at the speakers and entertainment systems I’m looking at all the cool appliances Best Buy offers.  A recent favorite is the  LG Twin Wash system which includes LG Front Load laundry paired with LG’s SideKick Pedestal Washer.

With LG’s TwinWash system you get the best of both worlds. For small loads that can’t wait (The sweatpants after hot yoga, the red shirt in a pile of whites, the dirty school uniform on a Sunday night) there is the LG SideKick pedestal washer. You can even use it simultaneously while you do a bigger load up top on your LG Front load washer.  There are so many times I just need to wash one or two items like my favorite pair of jeans or a shirt Connor spilled something on.  I love this tiny little washing machine feature.  Not only do these washers have mega capacity to tackle any size load, they are energy efficient while giving you the best cleaning performance. No wonder more households have chosen LG laundry over any other brand!

Right now Best Buy is offering a great deal from 1/11-4/25 to receive up to $500 off a LG laundry solution for your home.

So what are you waiting for?  It’s time to replace those old appliances for sparkly new ones!

This kid as made SO many messes over the years and I can’t believe he’s going to be 8-years-old in a couple of weeks.

The Toyota Highlander Is Worth The Hype

Hello Everyone!  So, I just got back from the DFW Auto Show this past week and it was AMAZING!  I was super excited to be covering Toyota this year and check out all the new and upcoming models.  Terence and I have talked a lot about what our next car will be and we’ve decided on an SUV or a truck.  Just this weekend he had to pick up some shelves from the home improvement store and he said “Man…if we only had a truck to pick up those shelves I ordered”.  I get so excited when we get to drive new cars and try them out.  It definitely helps narrow down what we like and don’t like.

Late last fall we were able to drive a Toyota Highlander SE model.  I think someone was a little bit excited about this car???  Ya think???

The Toyota Highlander was basically the perfect vehicle….if it were up to ME!  We have gone back and forth between the Toyota Highlander and a Lexus RX.  They both have great qualities, but the Highlander price point fits more in our family budget.
I really enjoy being a bit higher up off the road in an SUV.  For some reason this makes me feel more “large and in charge” while driving.   The automatic trunk opens and closes with a push of a button.  You know those days when it’s raining outside and you have your hands full of 20 things and can’t dig through your purse for the keys?  Just press the button on the trunk and “viola” it opens for you!   Of course Connor’s favorite thing was the TV.  Oh my goodness I’ve never had a more quiet car than when I was driving this Highlander! LOL!  It comes fully equipped with headphones and a remote.  Roadtrips would definitely be much more smooth with these fun extras.

I’m sure a lot of Mom’s have heard this before….“Mommy…Mommy…the sun is in my eyes!!!”  The built in sunscreens are a life saver on those hot, sunny Texas days. The dashboard and command station have everything at the press of a button.  This car was sooooo COMFY y’all!  I didn’t find myself reaching and extending for things or pressing certain buttons because they were all within an arms reach. That third row seating is a definite bonus too.   I could car pool ALL the kiddos in this Highlander!  The third row also folds down for extra storage, so the next time we need to pick up a bulky item…like shelves for the garage…just pop that seat down.
Do you ever find the smallest things to be your favorite as well?  This little shelve that was in the front dash was my FAVORITE thing!  My phone is usually sliding all around my car, but I found it so easy to just pop the things I needed right there on this little shelf.  
The Highlander is definitely one of my most favorite Toyota vehicles. It’s got just about everything you could ever want and need for any adventure.

Until our next adventure…..xo Becky