Captured by Cass Photography

Grace | Kampala Photographer Portraits

noreply@blogger.com (Cassandra) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 18:35:00 +0000

Almost a month ago, Blaise and I had Grace take some pictures of us in Old Kampala. They were really great, and we were really thrilled that he agreed to photograph us. To repay him for his kindness, I took portraits of him for his advertising. Repay photography with photography...and in Uganda, this exchange of services is the perfect way to do business! =)

Anyway, here's Grace...

This photo shoot was a lot of fun, too! I think of how different my summer would have been if I had lived at the Hendersons' and not had the opportunity to spend time getting to know Grace and go on so many awesome photo field trips around the city! Blaise and I were both so blessed by his friendship.

The Henderson Family | Kampala Photo Shoot

noreply@blogger.com (Cassandra) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 09:10:00 +0000

The Henderson Family is absolutely awesome! I have LOVED getting to know them better and spending so much time working with them this summer. They have been on with Aid Sudan for the last three years, and they have pretty much set everything up here on the African side of things. I went on the Nasir trip with Kerry last summer, which was a lot of fun, and then had the priviledge of working with him all summer on radio programming. Neltia is an amazing woman who completely keeps things running at their house and home schools their three sweet boys...not to mention that she is an incredible cook! The boys, Drayton, Isom, and McCain, are some of the best-behaved boys I have ever met...not to mention they are incredibly funny!

We (Grace and I) did the shoot out at Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort outside of Kampala. Munyonyo is reportedly where the Queen of England stays when she comes to visit Uganda...so it's a pretty nice place! The shoot was my gift to the Hendersons for all of their help and hospitality this summer, as well as a workshop for Grace just to see how I run a photo shoot. Tons of fun!

Happy Monday!

Photography Workshop | Uganda Style

noreply@blogger.com (Cassandra) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 13:23:00 +0000

I hosted my first photography workshop...in Uganda!!

Okay, let me back up a smidgeon...

Our night guard, Grace, is a wedding photographer here in Kampala- crazy, right?- and I have been mentoring him in all things photography. He already has a business, a studio, a great portfolio, and many bookings, and my desire has never been to change the way he runs his business (because, really, what do I know about business in Africa?); however, I have been teaching him the things I know about shooting, such as camera settings, composition, posing, etc. It has been a TON of fun for me to have someone with whom I can talk about nerdy photography stuff while I've been here! It has also been fun because we have taken a couple of photo field trips, which allows me to see parts of the city that a mzungu (white person) generally does not venture! =)

This past Monday, I set up a photo shoot with another Aid Sudan family here in Kampala so that Grace could come shoot with me. I knew that it would be an opportunity for him to just see how I run a shoot, give him an opportunity to practice, AND give him some mzungu pictures to add to his portfolio. It was also great for the Hendersons because they haven't had family pictures in a while. And it was fun for me, of course!

Meet Grace...

Here are some shots of Grace and I in action...

I will have the Henderson Family shoot up very soon!

Love, Cass

Tonj, Sudan | Life in Portraits IV

noreply@blogger.com (Cassandra) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 07:32:00 +0000

Here is the final installation of Life in Portraits...for now! I leave again in a week and a half to go back into Sudan; this time back to Nasir (where I was last summer), so I will have plenty more pictures to share!

Can you see why the people of Sudan captured my heart?

Tonj, Sudan | Life in Portraits III

noreply@blogger.com (Cassandra) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 13:29:00 +0000

Enjoy!

Tonj, Sudan | Life in Portraits II

noreply@blogger.com (Cassandra) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 07:37:00 +0000

Here is the second installation of Life in Portraits from my mission trip to Tonj, Sudan. I LOVE the faces of the people, and I hope that through their photographs I am able to tell their stories...

Tonj, Sudan | Life in Portraits

noreply@blogger.com (Cassandra) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 08:44:00 +0000

I have been eager to share with you many pictures from my trip into South Sudan last month, but alas, time has quickly slipped away! The trip to Tonj, Sudan was yet another unbelievably powerful trip filled with incredible joys and tremendous heartaches. Life in Sudan is full of contrasts, and that was really the theme for our mission trip. We saw new life born and young life taken away. We witnessed a dearth of basic necessities and an abundance of praise to an all-powerful God. We learned of repeated sexual assaults and of a marriage that is a testimony to God's grace and love. We left feeling responsible...responsible for the stories, for the people, and for their needs. God was so good in providing us with this opportunity to learn and witness, and it is now my responsibility to share with you.

Part II will be coming soon.

Kayla + Chris | Married

noreply@blogger.com (Cassandra) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 13:38:00 +0000

On May 7, Kayla and Chris stood before their beloved friends and family and vowed to be man and wife. Every detail about that day was perfect: the weather, the dress, the cake, and the heartfelt emotions that were shared. These two are so incredibly sweet, and I have truly enjoyed getting to know them over the course of the last year.

Congratulations, Kayla and Chris!!

My Apologies...

noreply@blogger.com (Cassandra) — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 12:05:00 +0000

I got an email from my best cousin, Nicole, today that was quite disturbing. Apparently, my Blogger account was hacked and some REALLY strange stuff was sent to Google Reader from my blog. I just want to apologize if you have received anything strange from me...I did NOT send it!!!

Happy Friday!

Week in the Life.

noreply@blogger.com (Cassandra) — Fri, 06 May 2011 15:51:00 +0000

It has been CRAZY!!!

My week looked something like this...

packing.
lesson plans.
packing.
packing.
checklists.
lesson plans.
lunch with grandma, mom, aunt.
cook out with parents.
post-Easter gathering with in-laws.
starbucks with girls.
packing.
lesson plans.
dinner with in-laws.
dinner with girls.
sewing.
day with mom.
day with blaise.
dinner with cousins.
packing.

More iPhone pictures...

Work day.

I finished another class.

My favorite pair.

Lesson plans.

My new pair.

Enjoying every last drop before I head to the land without Starbucks!

La Hacienda for Cinco de Mayo.

Blaise and I.

Brandon and Megan.

All my bags are packed; I'm ready to go...

In TWO days, I will be going here (from last summer).

Farewell Dinners + Friends

noreply@blogger.com (Cassandra) — Thu, 05 May 2011 10:57:00 +0000

In the last week, I have spent time with family and friends preparing to be away from them for the next three months. It really tugs at my heartstrings to have so many people supporting me and praying for me, and as hard as it will be to leave, it will be so awesome to have such amazing stories to share with them when I return.

Last week, I met up with my former co-workers and we had a fun dinner at On the Border...

Saturday we went to my parents' house for a cookout. I didn't take very many pictures, but I did get this one of Dad and my nieces...

Mom got these shots of Blaise and I...

Mi familia...

Thank you all for your love and support!

April through the Eye of my iPhone...

noreply@blogger.com (Cassandra) — Wed, 04 May 2011 14:12:00 +0000

I realized that I take a ton of pictures with my iPhone when I'm out and don't have my camera. Usually, these photos stay on my phone and nothing happens with them. Ever. However, Nicole recently (as in, last week) bought her very first iPhone and posted several pictures that she took with it. It inspired me to share some recent pictures that I have taken with my phone...with some fancy Instagra.m filters applied!
April from my iPhone...

Nap time...

Cally during a storm...

New handmade skirt...

Dress Shopping...

Geese...

Chloe...

Precious...

Night out with Nicole and Ryan...

Lesson Planning...

This was actually from last year, but in FOUR DAYS I'm leavin' on a jetplane!!

Abby + Trevor | Engaged

noreply@blogger.com (Cassandra) — Tue, 03 May 2011 14:09:00 +0000

I cannot remember my earliest memory of Trevor, but I'm sure that it was related to our small town's coach-pitch baseball team! Trevor, Blaise, and I all went to school together from Kindergarten through graduation and we were friends throughout the years, so being able to photograph his wedding is a tremendous honor to me.

I met Abby for the first time several weeks ago when we met to discuss their wedding day. We talked about their wedding day...a little...and then we talked about everything else! She is such a sweet, funny woman, and I could not be happier that she and Trevor found one another.

Trevor never really dated much in high school; he was very athletic and spent more time playing football with the guys. That was until he met Abby. This was well after high school, Trevor met Abby and knew that he wanted to get to know her better. She was in a relationship at the time, so he waited. Once Abby was single, Trevor pursued her and she allowed him to. They have shared tremendous joys and heartaches since then, but they are so clearly in love and will marry this fall at a beautiful vintage wedding.

Absolutely gorgeous!

Abby later told me that Trevor did not like to be photographed. What?!? He totally fooled me...

My shot...

Blaise's shot...

Fun fact: Trevor and I were voted "Most Outdoorsy" our senior year of high school. Clearly, he hasn't changed, and he found his perfect match! =)

Most unique ring shot!

My shot...

Blaise's shot...

My shot...

Blaise's shot...

I adore these two...

Happy Tuesday!

An Easter to Remember...

noreply@blogger.com (Cassandra) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 14:11:00 +0000

As children Easter rocked because we got to hunt for eggs and eat chocolate until we were "chocolate wasted!" It's been years since our youngest family members were little enough to hunt for eggs, but this year we have come full circle. My adorable nieces were trained up right on Sunday, as they hunted for 28 hidden (not really) eggs.

Right out of the gates, Chloe was completely serious about finding eggs...okay, she's only 15 months old, so she was just eager to run around the yard!

Once we showed her what to do, however, she rocked out the Easter egg hunt!

Mmmmmm...Kylie was not so interested in eggs, but the girl LOVES rocks!

There we go...she's got this.

Precious. That's my small brother being a daddy...

She never really did understand the point of finding the eggs, but she sure did have fun wandering around Mimi and Papaw's big yard!

Then she discovered her purpose: dog walker!

Chloe enjoyed finding eggs so much that Papaw was gathering them and tossing them in front of her so that she could pick up more...hilarious!

Homegirl likes to share with Aunt Cass...

"No, Chloe, you keep your loot. It's far more entertaining watching you juggle so many eggs!"

Uncle Blaise melts my heart.

Once Chloe found ~~all~~ most of the eggs, Kylie found another great purpose: egg sorter. She LOVED taking eggs out of the bucket, arranging them, putting them back, and repeating.

Chloe got in on the action, too...

She's telling us how it's done...

P.S. Isn't Kylie's polka dot dress the CUTEST thing you've ever seen???

Week in the Life.

noreply@blogger.com (Cassandra) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 15:51:00 +0000

This week has been b.u.s.y. As in, much busier than it ever was during a work week, but I'm so thankful for the time off! I have been mega productive, which makes me oh-so-happy, and I am finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel!

Here was my week...

last day of work.
niece spent the night.
rainy afternoons.
travel health appointment.
bought antimalarial med lariam.
shopping at keystone with mom.
wedding consult.
lesson plans.
lesson plans.
lesson plans.
quick trip to switch antimalarial.
visit with grandparents.
lesson plans.
lesson plans.

I am thankful that it's Friday, because we are hanging out with my cousin and her hubster tonight, and then celebrating Christ's most profound sacrifice on Sunday...then only TWO WEEKS until I leave for Africa!!!

Here are a few shots from this week...

Chloe and me hanging out (p.s. our couch is not normally that ugly, but it was uncovered so that I could wash the slipcovers...just so you know)...

She is precious.

Watching Up...

Have a great weekend, and Happy Easter!

Extraordinary People.

noreply@blogger.com (Cassandra) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 12:41:00 +0000

I feel so blessed to have some of the most amazing people in my life! I have a wonderful family, the most amazing clients, and students and colleagues who are so inspiring. I am blessed to be surrounded by extraordinary people!

Friday was my last day working at the high school, and as difficult as it was to say goodbye, everyone made me feel so loved and supported. Handmade cards from students, thoughtful gifts from colleagues, and a goodbye celebration or two made a tough day bearable.

So, I want to thank all of you- you know who you are- for blessing me beyond words.

A student's card (this one made me cry)...

A group of teachers' gift...

I hope that you can look around and feel the same way about the people in your life today. Happy Monday!

Week in the Life.

noreply@blogger.com (Cassandra) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Spring has finally arrived, with 80+ degree temperatures and lots of weekends spent outside. I LOVE it!!

Here was my week...

dinner+starbucks with cousin
shopping
engagement shoot
cook out with fam
spontaneous visit to nicole's
last week of work
starbucks with girls
lesson plans
lesson plans at starbucks
afternoon naps
sewing
packing
cleaning
hike with husband
keeping it together for last days of work

I did take pictures this week! Here are a few of them...

SNEAK PEEK: Abby and Trevor...

We are keeping one of our nieces overnight tonight...which should prove to be quite interesting!!

Have a great weekend!

Brody [Class 2011] | Part II

noreply@blogger.com (Cassandra) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Last fall, I shot Brody's senior pictures, and then we met up again at the end of February to get some shots of Brody in his basketball uniform at school. Brody is a phenomenal basketball player, and will likely play in college. It was fun to get pictures of him completely in his element! It was also fun to shoot in the [tiny] high school I graduated from...because the high school I work in now could fit about 10 Fountain Centrals inside!!

Happy Monday!!

Week in the Life.

noreply@blogger.com (Cassandra) — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:53:00 +0000

The weather is slowly getting warmer. I'm SO ready for it to be warm. Now.

Okay, here was my week...

lesson plans.
bible stories.
packing lists.
joann etc.
sewing.
coffee.
raking walnuts.
sewing.
lesson plans.

I managed to grab a few shots this week, after taking a couple of weeks off!

Have a great and warm weekend!

Week in the Life.

noreply@blogger.com (Cassandra) — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:51:00 +0000

Spring Break '11 week! Okay, I didn't go anywhere for spring break because I'm going back to Africa in 5 weeks, but it was a very welcome break from work and I finally got to welcome Blaise home from 7 weeks of working in Arizona.

My week looked something like this...

weekend with parents.
tonj team training.
airport for blaise.
the adjustment bureau.
starbucks.
chipotle.
lesson plans.
designing photo books.
starbucks with girls.
dinner with in-laws.
more lesson plans.
packing.
target.
ordering supplies.
planet earth.
sleeping in.

I wasn't very inspired to take many photos this week. The weather turned cold again and I've kind of hibernated this week, but I did get a few shots of the beginnings of packing madness and a photo series that I did while Blaise was gone. Here are a couple of pictures from that crazy hailstorm that we got last week...

Have a fun weekend!

My New Favorite TOMS + One Day Without Shoes...

noreply@blogger.com (Cassandra) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 11:32:00 +0000

I have an addiction...to TOMS Shoes. It's serious...I seriously have 6 pair! They are like scarves (only more expensive) in that they come in so many colors and I can match them with so many things. And they're comfortable. Really, really comfortable.

As I've begun to pack for my three month trip to Uganda and Sudan, I have wondered which pair(s) of TOMS I would be taking with me...and I couldn't decide. They are ALL so cute, but I know that the red dust in Uganda will potentially ruin my lighter colored shoes. So, I decided to order a pair specifically for Africa, and whatever shape they come home in will be fine with me.

Enter these AWESOME red TOMS...

I LOVE the red ones (they're so fun), but my absolute favorite pair are the fantastic blue ones with the map of Africa on them. I first saw them last summer, but by the time I found them, they were already sold out in almost every size...including mine. I was sad. However, when I got on the website a couple of weeks ago I saw that they brought them back, and they still had them in my size, I hurried to order a pair. I was NOT disappointed, they absolutely ROCK!!!

I also want to share this with you.

Each year TOMS puts on a One Day Without Shoes event in which participants go barefoot for the day. This year, ODWS will be on Tuesday, April 5th...that's in 8 days and you should totally join...I am. The purpose of the event is to raise awareness for the millions of children worldwide who cannot afford shoes, and who often contract preventable soil-borne illnesses. These children are in families that live on less than $2/day, like children in Sudan. Additionally, many children would be able to attend school, except that schools require shoes. TOMS is super awesome in that they donate a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair of TOMS you buy. I will be kicking off my shoes next Tuesday and raising awareness of "the impact a pair of shoes can have on a child's life." Visit One Day Without Shoes to learn more and sign up!

Here's their video about One Day Without Shoes...

Finally, here are some kiddos that I met in Southern Sudan last summer who live without shoes...

Week in the Life (Slacker Edition).

noreply@blogger.com (Cassandra) — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 11:20:00 +0000

Haha. I'm the worst blogger ever. However, I am not going to apologize...I have not had words in the last couple of weeks, so I just didn't write.

However, I found my words and I'm ready to resume my posts!

This week was busy...

visit with aunt shannon.
weekend with the rents.
hike in the woods.
target practice.
wounded thumb from target practice (random injury).
afternoon at auto repair shop.
documentaries (The Devil Came on Horseback, War Dance, A Film Unfinished, Restrepo).
assignments.
yard work.
tanning.
visit with grandparents.
began spring break!!!

Here are a couple of pictures from last weekend at my parents' house. We spent Saturday afternoon target practicing, which was a TON of fun! It's been a LONG time since I've done that, and I think I'm going to do it again soon!

Myself, my mom (Loretta), and my small brother (Samuel)...

Mom and I...

Because my camera has a REALLY fast continuous shooting mode, my dad thought that meant taking 500 blurry pictures in about 10 seconds! This is my reaction...

I finally wrestled the camera out of his hands. This is my dad...

We went for a hike in their woods on Sunday, and I had to get this shot of my dad looking all Wild West (although this is how he looks ALL of the time...minus the pistol)...

Great times, and more to come! I hope your weekend is fantastic!!

Kylie-wilie and Chlo-us...

noreply@blogger.com (Cassandra) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 10:55:00 +0000

How do kids get these strange nicknames?!? I didn't make them up! Since the day of their birth last year, I have been calling them Kylie and Chloe, but then I show up at my parents' house and they are calling them Kylie-wilie and Chlo-us. Why?

Anyway, they are still the two cutest girls I've ever seen (but I'm kind of biased), so I can never resist taking pictures of their chubby cheeks!

Here's Chloe showing us how she can rock out the earphones...

Kylie was not a fan...

She is quite a fan of Papaw's singing and clapping!

And so is Chloe...

Aren't they just too darn cute?? I cannot believe how big they are getting! I would always roll my eyes when I was a kid and adults would say that to my parents over my head, and now I'm the annoying adult saying the same thing...but it's true!

Happy Thursday!

Jessica + Jason | Brownstown Reception...

noreply@blogger.com (Cassandra) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 22:49:00 +0000

Jessica and Jason were married at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee over the holidays, but they still wanted to celebrate their marriage with family and friends who did not make the trip south for the big day. They held a super cozy reception in Brownstown, Indiana at the historic W R Ewing building...complete with the original painted brick walls, wood floors, and gorgeous chandeliers. It was such an intimate reception in a very relaxed setting. So. Much. Fun.

Before the guests arrived, we took some time to run outside (in the FREEZING cold weather) for some pictures of Jessica and Jason all dressed up and looking gorgeous...

Blaise's shot...

Blaise's shot, and probably my absolute favorite...

Blaise's shot...love it!

As guest began arriving, we set out to capture the details...and I loved that the couple honored their families in the details!

I'm seriously SO blessed to meet such wonderful people!!

My New Camera Backpack + Gear for Sudan

noreply@blogger.com (Cassandra) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Last summer when I went to Sudan, I did take a camera and some lenses, but I did not take my professional camera or any professional lenses. I had NO idea what to expect, and I did NOT want to risk anything happening to my baby! This year, however, I know that as long as my camera bag is all-weather and well-padded, I will be fine.

So, a couple of weeks ago I ordered a new camera backpack. I had searched for a couple of weeks before that to find something that had ALL (I wasn't going to settle) of the features I wanted, and I finally found it! I bought the Lowepro Primus Minimus. The regular Lowepro Primus was cheaper, but I really didn't need the extra size (read: bulk), so I went with the smaller Minimus.

I LOVE it!

So here is the backpack...

One of my favorite features is that all of the access points are on the back of the backpack right up against my back. This will be really handy, especially in Uganda, because pickpocketing is not uncommon, but I won't have to worry about any sly thieves unzipping a pocket and sneaking anything out!

At first I was worried that my camera body and 70-200 lens wouldn't fit, but I was able to reconfigure the padded dividers and get it all to fit well (the camera will almost always be hanging around my neck, but I will need it to fit in case it rains)...

Another thing that I love about it is that there is a separate compartment atop the camera compartment that allows me to store at least my 32 oz. Nalgene bottle and a rain poncho. I can certainly stick other stuff in there, too, like my video camera, hand sanitizer, sunglasses, my mini Dinka and Nuer dictionaries, etc. That will be handy because last year I would have to stop and put my water down or ask someone else to hold it in order to take pictures. This year, I will be hands-free save for my camera!!

There is also a side-access door which is suppose to be for easily storing or removing your camera, but my camera is too big to fit through the door. However, I can certainly use it for quickly switching lenses without ever having to take the backpack off...

Along with all those things I love about it, it also has very padded shoulder and hip straps, an all-weather cover, a thin storage pouch on the front (handy for teacher training material), and a storage pocket on the side.

The ONLY two things that will be potentially problematic is that it's too big to fit inside of my carry-on and not big enough to serve as my carry-on, and it's kind of heavy. I will probably use my smaller camera bag from last year (since I know it fits inside my carry-on) to travel with, and I'll store my new backpack in my checked luggage. I'll also have to sacrifice some items going into Sudan to accommodate both the bigger bag and heavier camera gear. It's totally worth it, though!

Another recent gadget that I finally decided to get was UV filters for each of my lenses. It will help prevent any dust and junk from getting on my lenses, and it also helps protect the lens glass in case something were to hit it. They are small purchases, but potentially big money-savers...

Also on my list to buy are a portable (ruggedized) external hard drive and 2 more camera batteries. There's so much more to consider since I'll be taking my good gear into Sudan (protection-wise) and since I'll be gone for 3 months and taking 2 trips into Sudan. That will be TREMENDOUSLY more pictures!!