Mark Mabry Photography

Excuses. Excuses.

I have not fallen off the face of the earth, even though I might look like it. Avoiding eye contact with those that expect an update can no longer be how I operate. This last 3 weeks have had numerous family and engagement shoots, two out of town weddings, a couple in-town too, a few great corporate shoots... and best for last, two great new additions to Mabry Studios.
I'm going to do a post on my outstanding staff. They are all amazingly versitile, talanted, beautiful, and patient. Soon I will have more time to blog. I am getting together a last month in review post for the near future.
I'm excited that my awsome associates have lifted substantial burden from me. I can focus now on shooting photographs and enjoying my clients. There are 7 of us now. You'll see them all soon.

Is anybody out there? Please comment and tell me what you want to see.

Thanks.

Mark

Ava Liv's 1st Birthday.

My little girl changes how I look at everything. For Father's day she kissed and hugged me all day long and that was great. Since her, I keep the camera extra close to my face during the father-daughter dances. Today is Ava's first birthday. Ava's little fiesta began this morning in her new dress from Cancun (thanks Aunt Kade and Uncle Kim). Few words tonight. Just pics. Please enjoy two sets of images. One with some photos from the first year of her life, the other of this morning.

A few little things that are big.

For my voyeurs, don't worry, images are coming. For my thinkers, here is something.
June 9th my younger sister-in-law married Kim Eaton. I'm thrilled, I wish there was more of him to go around, as I've noticed an excess of great girls and a dirth of their male equals. Not my point right now though.
On the same night my Grandpa Mabry, who walks on water, was honored with a Rotary lifetime acheivement award. I was happily committed to photographing Kadence and Kim's reception, really. I love those guys and was honored to be at the reception. As the day wore on, Tara felt like I needed to be at my Grandpa's award ceremony. I urged her not to make a big deal about it as I had already suppressed my feelings about being there and needed to honor my committment to shoot that night. Here is what was huge to me.
Tara made a couple simple calls and the whole family showed up earlier than planned for the photos. It was hot. Wedding days are long. There was a million reasons to just keep it at 6:00ish, but everyone came at 5:15, not a soul was late from the family. Nobody whined. Everyone was happy to do it. I was able to photograph all the family and still catch the last part of my grandpa's big night.
Maybe to some my appreciation is esoteric. But to those that get it... good. Needless to say, I am so thankful for their thoughtfulness and love them so much.
Grandpa was so humbled by the award. He has truly dedicated himself to practicing the high ethical standards in business and the selfless acts of service required by anyone who sincerely becomes a Rotarian. To say I'm "proud" would be trite. His life inspires me.
I've been shooting so much, I'm begining to type with a limp... Once we process all of the images from the last 3 weeks or so, I'll get some up.

Sorry.

It turns out that everyone is nosey and wants to see more of other people's pictures. I have been absolutely burried for the last two weeks. I promised to be better. By the way, what do you all want to see anyway? What type of photos should I post? Please comment.

Props to My Wife, the Hottle.

There are a few weeks a year when I am just not home... and when I am. I'm still not. My mind is either melted from a long shoot or I'm planning another shoot. So, luckily now I have this blog, where I can let her know my Xs and Os of each day and we can move onto the important stuff, like Bo jamming pennies into her CD player.
I think I would be a tough guy to be married to. I'm constantly just staring at people and within a couple of thoughts could tell you features I'd emphasize, things I'd hide, how I'd light them and what angle I'd shoot them at to make them look good, or better. Also, how I'd have my staff retouch them. But with Tara, I don't do it. I look at her so differently that it is tough for me. About a year and a half ago we were photographed together by Greg Gorman, one of my idols, photographically. I thought he interpretted her and me very well together.
I love when she just let's down her gaurd and let's me photograph her. It forces me to see her in a totally different light, no pun intended. She is so pretty and I think that those that don't know her, could possibly think that she is only that. The truth is that Tara is one of the most humble and easily pleased women I've ever known. I love her or "you", if you're reading this T.
I'll post some pics of my hottie wife.

Mrs. Hubbard

I've been fortunate in my life to have a few teachers whos' lessons have conciously affected my decisions on a daily basis. Coach Parker, my coach at Mountain View High School, taught lesson's about overcoming fear and competing. All of his speeches were straight from historical figures... We memorized quotes and were tested and held painfully accountable. Dr. Snaford Couch was my Russian professor at ASU who was able to push me to think. He also is anonymously very charitable constantly supporting causes that would bring stability to Russia.
Mrs. Hubbard is my son's kindergarten teacher. Sometimes when work is overbearing and I need to hide out for a minute I go into her class and watch. The kids are rivited to her words. Six year olds are totally respectful and anxious to learn. She teaches the same lessons that I learned as a 18 and 22 year old. I witnessed her teaching a sermon on toughness to a little boy who cried about forgetting his homework. "If your daddy dies, I will hug you and love you all day long, and we'll all cry together. But, when you forget your homework, don't cry to me." I got chills. Thanks be to Mrs. Hubbard for not letting get weak. It's a shame that schools are so governmentally regulated because Mrs. Hubbard in an open market for teachers would be Alex Rodriguez. I love Mrs. Hubbard for the things she has taught my little boy.
We'll see if my prayers work and she moves up to first grade next year.

Super Bowl Champs

Not to make this thing too personal... But seriously. The Mesa Park and Recreation flag football league was taken by storm this season by the upstart Damage Control Damage Controls Site. If you need a demo job, fire cleanup, or mold removed their your guys. Plus if you need a brilliant play called, call Griffin. We won the semifinals 21-0 and the "super bowl" 28-0. I think the 18 year old version of me would really be making fun of the 30 year old version for going on about a flag football victory. But heah, there was some brilliant ball being played. There had to be some scouts somewhere among the thousands watching. To see results go to City of Mesa parks and rec.