My 2nd Annual End of the Year Photo Contest!

I had so much fun doing this last year that I've decided to do it again! I am posting the rules and photos here on my website, but in order to vote, you must head over to my Facebook page. I have taken one image from every session that I've done in 2011, excluding boudoir (since not everyone signed a model release it wouldn't really be fair), special events, and this year I've also decided to only include one photo per client, which means that if you've had more than one session with me in 2011 only one of your images is used in the contest. This way, your friends and family don't have to choose, thus avoiding having to split the vote :) For these reasons, the pool of photos is a lot smaller, but I think this is the best way.

How to vote Head over to my Facebook gallery for the contest and "Like" your favorite photo. You can "like" as many photos as you wish. Bre Thurston Photography on Facebook

Feel free to have friends and family vote! This is a very "open" contest. There will also be people voting who have no special affiliation with a specific client and they will simply be voting for their favorite photo.

When does voting start and conclude? Voting beings tonight, the evening of December 15th, and I will stop counting votes at 6pm PST on Wednesday, December 21st. The winners will be announced later that evening.

What are the prizes? The 3 photos/client with the most votes will each win a prize!

1st place - A free 1 hour session with me to be used any time in 2012 and a free 16x20 print of the winning image. This session can also be gifted to someone else, but you must notify me of who you are giving it to. You or whomever you gift it to must be able to travel to me in Southern California or be flexible with my Northern California/Bay Area travel schedule.

-OR-

A 10x10 coffeetable book of the images from your 2011 session.

2nd and 3rd place - $150 off a future session with me in 2012 -or- one free 16x20 print of the winning image.

Is there a prize just for voting? Just like last year...yes! However, due to Facebook contest restrictions, I cannot choose the winner from there. So, in order to be entered to win, you must COMMENT HERE (on this post) and answer this question: What is your favorite image of you, your child, or your own family and why? All of those who answer will be eligible to win a copy of the book Laughter, published by ClickinMoms which also features two of my own images! It's an amazing book and I seriously suggest buying it even if you don't win. It will make you smile...guaranteed!

As always, thank you for the amazing support of my clients, friends, family and "fans" (that sounds weird, but you know what I mean). Thanks for an amazing 2011 and cheers to an even better 2012!

To vote for one of the below photos, head over to my Facebook page!

Please contact me directly with any questions - bre@brethurston.com

Cancer

My dad has stage IV lung cancer. Just last week, we learned that the cancer has spread to his bones. These are my dads final days. If I get to spend Christmas with him this year, it will be the last. When most people think of this disease, they think of someone who is bald from radiation, perhaps someone who is in a hospital bed or in a hospital gown. They think of someone who is skinny and sick looking. They think of someone who has wires connected to them or an oxygen tube in their nose. They expect to see grief, sadness, tears, sickness. Why yes, those are the things they picture when they think of cancer. What you may not picture? A man who is spending his final days at home, in his favorite reclinging chair in the living room, who prefers to wear sweats instead of some hospital gown. A man who has indeed lost weight, but still apears to be a significant size. A man who wants to remove his oxygen because he knows that his youngest daughter is taking a photo of him. He doesn't want her to remember him that way. A man who is still capable of smiling and being silly, because he knows that is what his family wants to see.

This photo was taken in my dad's recliner, the only place where he can sit or sleep comfortably. This photo was taken with his oxygen tubes laying in his lap, ready to be put right back on. This photo was taken by a daughter with shaking hands who had to force herself to press the shutter button. This photo was taken by a daughter because she was told that someday she would look back at these photos and be thankful that she took them, all the while wondering if that is true. Is this really how she wants to remember her hero? The man who took her on Harley rides? Who layed her concrete patio in 100 degree heat? Who threw his grandson over his shoulder with the ease of  a man half of his age? Who was playing football on the beach 10 months ago?

No, this is not the most amazing photo that you will ever see. This photo will never win awards or be acclaimed for its greatness. This photo may be quickly overlook by someone who does not regognize the indentation on a man's cheek from his oxygen tube. This photo may be overlooked because it is none of those things that I initially listed.

This is the face of cancer. This is our face of cancer.

This is my grief.

This is my love.