CalebF

Moved my blog!

2009-04-20T23:39:00.003-05:00

so now it's happened. I've moved. CalebF Photography is now Big Box Photography, and you can keep up with my wedding blog at

bigboxphoto.com/blog

and check out our new site at www.bigboxphoto.com

-Caleb

But I'm a new photographer?! Here's what's next.

2009-04-01T19:47:00.000-05:00

So you're a new photographer. Wedding Photographer. Engagement Photographer. Event Photographer. What-have-you. So what's next? Do you do one of the following?

1. Call Visa, buy every piece of equipment that you could possibly ever need, and pay it off "later"
2. Just use your point and shoot-camera, it takes great pictures!
3. Buy a camera with a kit lens, good starter package right?
4. Book a wedding right away, you've gotta get experience sometime right?

Ahem. If you liked the any of these to start out a photography business you're out of your mind! But don't worry - there are a couple of good ways to get things off of the ground.

First off, don't go into debt. It's just not worth it (Dave Ramsey is a great reasource to learn how to live off of cash, even for your new photograpy business).

Second, your camera affects your pictures for sure, but i promise you that you can buy all the equipment in the world and still take crappy terrible uninteresting pictures. Learn how to compose a shot. Where do the people stand in relation to your camera, how far away should you be? Should you zoom in or just get awkwardly close to them? How much of the background should be in the picture? All good questions, and you should be able to answer all of these. Can you? (not a contest kiddos! :0)

Third, kit camera look like a good deal. They can be a good deal too, but beware of extreme zoom lenses. A lot of the cheaper ones can really distor your pictures, and most won't cut the cake for an indoor event. They don't let much light in the camera, and that means that your pictures will come out dark. Here is my suggestion, and how I started. Buy a used camera body. Today (as in TODAY, April 1, 2009) I would either buy a D70 for about $200 on craigslist, or a used D200 for $500). These are both decent camera bodies, and while buying a quality one is important you are going to want to spend your hard saved $$ on a lens. These get pricy, but you can start off with a Sigma lens that is a 2.8 for pretty cheap. Make sure your aperture is at least a 2.8, maybe smaller (f/1.8 can really make for a great picture). This will allow more light to enter your camera, and will blur out the background, helping you to tell a story about a couple people, instead of all the other people standing behind them.

No idea what any of this means? Then don't book a wedding or an event quite yet! It's a very important day for a couple, and how terrible would it be to mess up pictures on somebodys important day? I'd know, my photographer at my wedding did!

Look around for some photography workshops, even a Photo 101 class at a community college. That's just a good investment.

So think it out before you dive headlong in. It is FUN, but at the same time it's a career too. :0) Happy Shooting!

Marriage like Christ's Love

2009-03-26T21:48:00.000-05:00

I'm amazed, all the time. My marriage is tough - but only at times. Everybody has tough time in their life right? Bad job, cruel people, too much work, not enough sleep. It's good though right?

My marriage helps me understand how Christ loves the Church.

I can see why God calls himself a jealous God. It's because he is. I can see why Christ calls the church, even full of sinning - sometimes just bad people, close to his heart.

Krystel is my wife, and I want all of her. Even the bad. The good that makes me laugh, the sad that makes me cry. I love her with all my heart and I want her, evertyhing. Christ wants the Church like that. Not that I am like Christ, not by any means - but we both do see our brides.

If I come to God and hold back parts of me that are shameful, pieces of my heart I don't think he would even want, then I am cheating Christ of his bride. He loves me despite it, and he calls me, the church, to himself.

God wants all of us. give him all of you.

Rae's Graduation Slideshow

2009-03-23T22:00:00.001-05:00

Check out my latest slideshows

HERE

&

HERE

Rae's Totally Awesome Senior Pictures

2009-03-17T17:30:00.000-05:00

Had a great shoot with Rae down in Houston last week and I've gotta say - she's one of the easiest models to work with. She'd seen this location before so we loaded up and sure enough came out with some great shots. Enjoy!

Taco Salad!

2009-02-22T10:00:00.000-06:00

Cooked one of my specialties last night. TACO SALAD! Very easy and way better than anybody elses (yes, i'm kind of proud of my salad!)

2-lbs Lean Ground Beef (or turkey meat) cooked and mixed with a packet of taco seasoning
1 can pinto beans (drained and rinsed)
1 can kidney beans (drained and rinsed)
1/2 block of cheese cubed
1 diced tomatoe
1 head of shredded iceberg lettuce

mix it all together (the colder the better!) and top it off with some catilina dressing and you're good to go my friend! Easy, i'd say in under 20 min you've got a meal for the family!

the delish salad

oh yeah, you need to eat it with chips too, just that extra good crunch

We topped ours off with a bottle of Evolution Lucky #9, very fruity white wine - not very dry at all (means i REALLY liked it). :0) enjoy kiddos.

2009-01-31T09:20:00.002-06:00

It's the end of the world as we know it. Google got hacked?

All queries return "This site may harm your computer" regardless the search item. I just found myself sitting here at the computer not knowing what to do - no google...i guess i could go outside??

Streams of Consiousness

2009-01-22T18:54:00.009-06:00

Tryin' out a new thing here folks, outlines so you can skip the parts you don't want. If you're only going to spend 20 seconds on my page you might as well walk away with something!:

1. Smoke 'em BIG PEACE PIPE, imported beer & conversations.
2. Wasted time, College Education & The Interview Process

1. I got to sit out last night and have some deep thoughts with JB, named my pipe "Clive" (2 eprops to whoever can guess who it's named after). Good Celtic Blend of tobacco from up in smoke, and an Indian Beer (really bitter and hoppy - awesome). It's so good to have stimulating thoughts, really deep rich conversations with another guy. There's somethign really nourishing about that to the spirit. I'm blessed to have such a great friend.

2. How much of your college education do you actively use? What did you learn in college that helped you to succeed, or help you to get where you are going?

In a nutshell, college is to get a grade, it's a time to learn how to grow up and then throw you out when the 4 year timer goes off. How does that help to get a job, with a bachelors degree? It doesn't. So we see 24 year old kids moving back to moms hosue to play video games because their timer never went off. The idea is to learn books yeah, but to learn how to operate in the world on your own. IF mommy & daddy pay for it all while you pass with D's and play Halo 2 for half a decade then you come out a degenerate. What does your interview look like then after college? Weak at best. You've got nothing to offer than the best you did to pass. Free rides always wind up costing you at the end.

When asked the ? "What would you say if somebody more qualified came in and applied for the same job?"
If you can honeslty say even close to this (and I hope that one day I can) then you've got a good start.
"I will do this job well, I show up on time, work hard and my personal life doesn't get in the way of my work like. I work well with people because I like motivating people to do well, but I can be trusted to finish a job without supervision. Give me 8 hours of work and I'll do it in 6..." and I'm lost in the rant. But long rant summarized. Work hard at everything you do so you can be proud of it.

Headed out today to get some pictures for calebf.com and coloredorange.com done. Headed out with the great Jonathan Ivy (spent way more time than I did with Agung Fauzi, and is all the better for it!). I'll be in touch!

Bankruptcy for sure

2009-01-14T20:03:00.000-06:00

That's right, I'm taking the same road as Jessica Claire and starting over with the blog. Poor updating - depressing stories. A new year a new leaf right?

Talking about a new year things are really taking off here. The SWPPP job is going great, taking off actually - new business and more work for me. Storm The Beach is also taking off, tons of new business and I've got so much to learn.

The top of my 2009 priority list, is lists.

Less problems, less stress. I'm finding out that if i project positive things out in front of me - that's often brought back to me in return. I don't feel tired from it either, it's refreshing to be positive. Because life really will slip right past us.

I told a guy I used to know out in Odessa once that you ought to be now, what you hope to be in the future. My mentor told me the same thing. Today? I am kind, understanding, slow to speak, quick to laugh & enjoy, and constantly looking into my own eyes seeing what else needs to change. Be all that God made me to be.

Quick Thought

2008-12-19T07:47:00.000-06:00

Quick Thoughts
And then i'll get out of your hair.

The world and God both offer happiness. At one point I believe that htese two can conincide - and the joy that a christian can express can be at the same intensitiy as a non-christian. Only for a second though can these two be similar.

God's joy can fill me up when I am deprived of all earthly things, when I am put down and pulled out. Becuase happiness doesn't look like the world's joy it's viewed as less than satisfactory - when really, I am just as joyful being able to serve Christ in any condition. My joy isn't dependant on things its built from denying those things and serving.

Looking for true joy and satisfaction? Give up everything, and your life - there is joy in hollowing out myself and striving to be filled with Christ. If he's going to treat me with care like a sheep anyways what do I have to worry about?

Rough Holidays

2008-12-15T13:50:00.000-06:00

I love the Charlie Brown Christmas Song, I love the Christmas CD "Hotel Cafe Presents Winter Songs"

So far this year they've been hard to listen to though. Its like they come through thicker air than usual. All of life revolves around new life. Families by nature talk about new things, or they talk about how new all these old things used to be (think about it next time you're around the table).

There are waves of emotion that come and go, especially that came yesterday at Community of Faith yesterday during the baby dedication. I cried, and through foggy eyes was able to sing a beautiful christmas song. Krystel was out in the hall with mom, and I was praying that God would be show me how to take a hold of the abundant grace that he has already given to me.

Misscarriages are hard.

Only 6 weeks from his creation, our sweet baby is now being cared for by Jesus, the ultimate comforter of our universe. I want so bady to hold him or her and tuck them close to my chest, protecting them from all the harm of the world, raising them up to be strong belivers in Jesus Christ by my examples of love and passion. This is hard, very very hard.

If anybody can be there though, let it be Jesus, and while he holds me I know that he's holding my baby too - both of us close to his heart.

Thank-you God for taking care of me further than I could have ever deserved. You are my rock and my shelter - in you my soul finds no harm. Only safety for the utmost essence of who I am.

Second wind.

2008-12-10T01:38:00.001-06:00

Second wind.
Its been a really long time since I stayed up late, and if it weren't
for that Spanish test Thursday I'd stay up much later. Living gets in
the way of life sometimes, or the other way around maybe.

We talked the other day about what we would change about ourselves if
we could go back 4 years and do it again. I would go out with friends,
get a hair cut and live!!

What would I say if I could look back two years from now? I'd want to
savour special/insignificant times - the feel of the sheets, the smell
of Downey, stop and think of Krystel for longer than myself, speak my
feelings. So these are the decisions that I am making today.

What would you change about yourself 4years ago? Now?

Caleb Fleming
Sent from my iPhone

Mollie loves roadtrips

2008-12-06T08:15:00.000-06:00

Crazy dog. Krystel was even sleeping!

Goals for this year

2008-12-02T22:52:00.002-06:00

Notes:

Who ever said that goals were only to be set on Jan 1? And all too often with no thought put into it.

My Goals:
1. Sell 1 new item per week at www.stormthebeach.com
2. Have 1/2 my house paid off in 8 years.
3. Become a recognized stock photographer in 3 years, have a decent income from it by January 2010
4. Blog at least once a week.
5. Don't upgrade my camera until I can make money with this one
6. Watch only 1 hour of TV per day for the next month (as a trial run)
7. To-Do lists every day to maximize my time

Krystel is wrapping the rest of the christmas presents right now, that's right it's just December 2nd and we're already done with all our shopping (except for my brother-in-law, but that'll be done soon enough).

Thanksgiving was great here, actually in Odessa. We headed out there from wednesday till sunday and it's always great to see family. There are some great people out there too! I've got a big 'ol stack of books to read too. "Think & Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill; "22 Immutable Laws of Marketing"; and a few others I don't remember the name of.

Rusty Combs and I will be starting meetings here and then about "The Heavenly Man" by Brother Yun and I'll be posting either audio or notes on what we talk about. Feel free to read along with us, we'll be discussing the first chapter after I get the book. Dang Rusty bought the last book from Barnes & Nobles - Amazon.com here I come!

And for now, bed here I come!

Possum Kingdom Lake

2008-11-01T09:02:00.000-05:00

This weekend Krystel and I were fortunate enough to have some great friends of ours come out to the lake house with us. Talk about a fun couple too - laughs all the time and really authentic hearts. It's enouraging to spend time with somebody that challenges you to be better with out saying a word.

This monring I woke up before the rest of the gang, go figure huh? Headed down to the trading post for eggs, chicken, and a bag of deer corn so we can feed Bambi tomorrow morning. Now I'm sitting on the back porch and this is beautiful.

Who can sit out here and not be in constant wonder about God? I just finished The Shack yesterday and it has really made me think more about what I see. Yes I see trees, water, sky, and grass but thre is more going on out here than what I can see. Who pushes this water and I down, while pulling the trees to the sky? I don't see anything - but trust that it's going to just stay this way. I just hit that point where I'm amazed that life could be this complex and simple at the same time.

If I weren't bound by time would all of this creation be dancing for God? Rejoicing that he's going to be coming back to redeem everything? I'm excited about, that I know for sure!

2008-10-22T07:03:00.000-05:00

I've got my $500 dollar rubber band on this week. It's really a tool for marital counseling. We went to Community of Faith on Sunday with my family and this was the sermon. We're all supposed to wear them this week and when we have negative thoughts, or thoughts of unforgiveness we pop it. It's a silly reminder - but I've popped it a few times this week for sure. When I see a guy who doesn't have anything, and think to myself "thank-you God for blessing me with all these things, and thank you for being enough so I don't need them" I'll pop it. Luke 18 - couldn't we all be more humble? Everybody sins, everybody falls short for the grace of God. How could I not see the man who has less and be compelled to give him what I have? POP.

All just to go to bed

2008-10-03T23:25:00.001-05:00

Krystel and I made it out to the lake house about 10:00 tonight, got all settled in - bags out of the car, dog to the potty, lunchable (okay, so that was just me). I realized that it was a bit muggy in the house, and that's strange because outside it's a clear breezy 55. Then I remembered, last weekend Clayton (Brother-in-law) and I cut the AC power when installing the roof on the back porch. No a/c, no wind - this was going to make for a long night.

Good thing I've got a bit of southern engineering in me.

I've got it all rigged up and covered with a few yards too much electrical. But it works till the central a/c is up and running.

All in all I'd like to think Krystel is so impressed with me she just can't keep away. But she's been playing labyrinth on the iPhone like a maniac.

-I get frustrated-

She's not super impressed, but we're enjoying the a/c - and when you're that hot, about to go to bed all priority goes out the window. It's just pure bliss enjoying cool, crisp air.

Construction

2008-09-20T19:53:00.004-05:00

Krystel and I have been headed to the lake every weekend we've been available to help with the construction. Clayton (my brother-in-law) does some construction, and at the end of May he demolished most of the existing house to rebuild it by the end of summer. Adding things in like, working plumbing, sockets that can take grounded plugs, and central air conditioning - he's got a plate full. Did I mention that he's completely changed the floor-plan too? Needless to say things got behind (it's a plate full after all) and we're out here on the weekends helping him and his dad, H.

Today Krystel and I cut down a 30 year old cottonwood tree. We borrowed a chain saw from the neighbors and had at it.

I had to miss the lake, and miss the pump house - as you see it in the picture is how I cut it to fall. I'm even pretty impressed with myself!

Only minor damage to the pump house (it's coming down in a couple of months anyways).

We started at noon and finished at 7:30. What a tough job too - now I can't stand for too long - and I'm going to sleep like a baby! Rough!

It feels good to have hard work under your belt too. Also, I married a hoss - great hard work babe!

Y'Ikes!

2008-09-12T14:02:00.002-05:00

So my parents have everything up (almost) and the inside pantry is ready. Battery TV's, weather radios, air mattresses, and it is the pantry..so lots of food. My favorite has to be the peek holes they cut out, so they can see out. Even better though are the peek holes at the bottom so the dog can see out!

Most of their street is going to stay, so they've all got cell phones and walkie-talkies in case somebody needs help. HOPEFULLY this will be just like hurricaine rita, and they'll only get a little bit of wind. They are saying though, that this one is bigger than Katrina - even though it's only a category 2. Keep all the people in the way of this in your prayers!

Late week in Houston

2008-08-15T11:18:00.001-05:00

Krystel and I are in Houston

View Larger Map

and we've got the day to ourselves today. Rachelle is baby-sitting, Dad is working, and Mom is getting ready for the school year up at Cy-Woods.

We've got some exciting things on our to-do list today. Laptop batteries, Sushi (Red Fish Seafood Grill) and who knows what after that.

I got up this morning around 8, jogged about 3 1/2 miles, mowed the yard then I went for a swim. I twas really nice to get up and go do all those things. I don't know why I don't do them living in an apartment - it just seem so much more do-able living in a house. We'll have one some day - it just not the right time now.

Time to do some more real work before we hit the town though. I'm reading through storm-water permits for various states. And nobody cares...

Soul Era

2008-08-10T18:07:00.001-05:00

Last time too see the soul patch and sideburns. :(. We had a good run.

Diversification

2008-08-07T16:28:00.000-05:00

I'm talking about the glorious idea that is going to take your
business into the black, or triple foot traffic. But what about ideas
like selling gyros and smoothies from the same counter? This has got
to be breaking some unwritten moral code.

Up next, (following the theme of diversification) limp bizkit touring
with point of grace, Victorias secret boosting sales by selling bread,
and ford breaks into the furniture business...

To move on - satisfaction.

2008-08-05T13:55:00.005-05:00

I wonder sometimes what it would be like in a few yeras. Not the "world" buthow I will be in a few years. I think I wonder because sometimes I remember the past and want to recreate a specific moment.

Remembering as a kid what it felt like at a first kiss, or the first time I got to drive, even the first time I lost a good friend, even when I saw Krystel coming down the aisle at our wedding. All those emotions are still kind of fresh in my mind. Now I don't dwell on them - but I remember what those times felt like.

So years from now will I have those experiences again? Never.

I'm finding that too often people live for the past. "I remember when...that was so much more fun than now." And that's all fine but remember

World English Bible

Don't say, "Why were the former days better than these?" For you do not ask wisely about this.

The future is ours to hold onto. Remembering the past is important - but it's more important to look to the future - being the person we are because of the past.

Today holds so much for us - and so often we miss it because we're too busy trying to re-create yesterday. Take note of today and enjoy it for what it is.

Love .. growing love

2008-07-31T21:10:00.003-05:00

I think there are lots of people who wind up posting the same kind of thing I am posting now - but this is my feelings, so I'll write them briefly.

When I told Krystel that I loved her I really thought I did. Looking back now I'm not sure that was the case. Let me explain. I did love her, but compared to the amount of love and respect I have for her now my feelings then seem so small.

I remember at the time they weren't insignificant - they were so important to me.

Every husband hopefully falls into love with his wife more every day. I would hope, and I know that I have. Time after time, I fall more in love with her.

Rough times, oh there are some times where we're both really frustrated, hurt, and wronged. Forgiveness is key for any relationship to work - especially the marriage. It's at work all the time in ours, since we both find ourselves in the wrong at times.

This short to say - I love you Krystel, and I will for the rest of my life.

C-Flem. Peace Out

Shaking hands in church

2008-07-27T21:18:00.002-05:00

There's nothing worse than a forced hand-shake. And that's exactly the situation I find myself in right between worship and sermon. Every Sunday, "Now, please greet the people around you." And I'm making small talk with people around me that I fully know I will never see again.

If we are going to shake hands then I want to sit and talk for a while - I want to see the struggles they are having, and share some of my own.

So I never know what to do when I'm shaking hands with a complete stranger. Anybody else feel the same way about the awkward meet and greet?