Baby Boys

You might remember the youngest boy from his newborn session

Garage Finds

Last night Ben and I were cleaning out our garage and I stumbled upon this picture. The first words that came out of my mouth were, "I love this picture." I noticed there was something written on the back and ya know what it said? " I love this picture." I must really love it if I wrote that almost 9 years ago when we were dating and then saying it again 9 years later, being married for almost 7 years:)I'll say it one more time. I LOVE this picture. Oh and yes, that is Ben with hair. When we were dating his hair was to his shoulders. I loved it, but i also love his buzz hair-do as well :)

Ansley and Zo.Wedding

Zo and Ansley have been dating on and off since jr. high, and they are finally married.  Yay! More pictures added so scroll on down! Ansley and Zo I'm so excited for your adventure ahead.  Your videographer asked if I would give advice on how to have a happy marriage on tape.  I said as long as you keep God first in everything you do, your life will be blessed beyond belief.  There is nothing better than letting God take hold of your marriage because he WILL bless  you more than you could ever imagine.

Much love Ansley and Zo..... Cristy

I love Ansley's reaction when she first sees Zo...sweet tears

I sort of have a thing for blurry vision

Ansley you couldn't be MORE stunning!

I didn't ask what was said, but Zo whispered a little something something to his sweet soon-to-be wifey

Ansley and I have known each other since she was in jr. high and I was in high school.  We've gone on a couple mission youth trips and I've seen her grow from a sweet young lady to a wise young woman.  The two girls on the far right were also in the youth group with Ansley and I and I love them so.  Such sweet awesome girls. oxoxox

Umm if you know these fellas, you know you probably don't want to know what they were saying.  Funny group of guys that had Lauren Zaffos and I laughing.

Holga.Film

A holga camera is a fun, inexpensive medium format plastic camera that has light leaks creating one of a kind images.  They are so child like and its kind of nice not knowing what the image will look like until you get the film back.  It's also nice not having to be perfect and just letting your hair down.  Have a great night :)

Lindsay.Bridal

Sneak peek of Lindsay from her bridal session. I'm looking forward to her wedding August 22 for many reasons-one of them being they are doing the photobooth with me!! I can't wait! If you are interested in a photobooth for your reception you can see a few samples on my website->wedding->photobooth.

Looking forward: July 25 Ansley and Zo's wedding Lbk, Tx August 1 Amanda and Richards wedding Clovis, NM August 8 Aleisha and Chris's wedding Lbk, Tx August 13 portrait session and bridal session Clovis, NM August 15 engagement session Clovis, NM August 22 Lindsay and Byron's wedding Lbk, Tx August 29 Christina and Jeff's wedding Clovis, NM Sept 5 visiting with best friends!! Lbk, Tx Sept 12 Carrie and Jeffrey's wedding Clovis, NM Oct 10 Kylie and Rodney's wedding Ranchvale, NM Nov 28th Corrie and Grant's wedding Texico, NM

I also have a few other sessions in between the weddings for families and high school seniors that are already thinking about Christmas cards and gifts. The calendar fills up quickly so if you are interested in a family or senior session for the fall, please contact me as soon as possible via contact form on blog.

Selling Digital Negatives

I am selling the digital negatives for portrait sessions I did in 2006 and 2007 for $100. That is a $200 discount (originally $300). I am also selling digital negatives for weddings I did in 2006 and 2007 for $300.  That is a $400 discount (originally $700).

If you are not sure what year your session was in, send me an email and I'll check for you.  If you know of someone that has had pictures with me, let them know if this good deal, too.

Please email or call to place your order.

575.219.9312

cristy@cristycross.com

Or you can fill out the contact form on the blog.

Wedding Chicks Sweet Stuff

I received an email from Wedding Chicks' Jocey Canrinus:Hey Cristy- Not sure if you saw but you where selected as WC SWEET STUFF... yesterday. Love that photo. I was super excited to see what she was talking about. They featured Priscilla in her awesome 50s style dress that used to be her moms 70s dress. She made some changes and wala. Thanks Priscilla for your awesome style and for Wedding Chicks making me their Sweet Stuff yesterday.

My cup overflows

I have many images I love from this wedding. I want to post every single one. Here is another round of Haleigh and Caleb. One word sums up Caleb: Fun-tastic.He is entertaining and most of all makes Haleigh laugh. I've spent most of my time with Haleigh through out our journey as photog/client relationship and I can tell you she is head over hills for him. That's the way it should be. More eye candy for you to enjoy.

From the Streets of New York

New York at a Glance

Ben and I headed to NY last week and enjoyed lots of fun times, just the two of us. When I get a chance to post more, and tell you some of the fun places we ventured to I will. Benson is about to wake up and we are gonna go play in the sand.Enjoy :)

Accepting Our Imperfections

My quiet time this morning was about acknowledging your weaknesses/Imperctions and giving them to God.   His power works best in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).  When I give him my weakness and accept humility and become humbled rather than prideful, I will allow God to do his work. So I thought I would list some of my imperfections here.  What better place to really let it out and if anyone wants to join me, we can keep each other accountable to giving our imperfections to God.

Cristy's Imperfections:

I'm just going to say it...I have a muffin top

My nose is big

I don't tan

I think the correct word, but say the opposite (does that make since)

I'm messy (but organized in my own way)

I get so mad at myself when I mess up, even on the smallest things

I have big feet (not quite like Peggy Hill though hahha)

Sometimes when I look in the mirror I feel like my belly looks like I'm pregnant.  And I'm not.

I wish I would have started doing ab workouts soon after having Benson to deflate my tummy

I have gray hairs already

It takes me a while to forgive

As I'm writing all of these things, I'm realizing they may be imperfections to me, but to God they are not (except for the forgiving part).  I already feel better about myself after writing this list, because I'm giving my weaknesses to God.  Take them and have them, because I don't want them anymore.

I am going to be like Paul this week and not try and appear perfect.  I am going to admit my weaknesses and not care about my "flaws".  Through this I know humility will grow, but out of humility I will receive the grace the Lord has for me and I will trust him instead of myself.  When we are weak, he is strong, and we are strong in him.

All of this was gathered from "The One Year Women's Friendship Devotional, " byCheri Heath Fuller and Sandra Aldrich

Haleigh and Caleb. Wedding

I have never cried at a wedding I've shot. I've come close, but never cried. That is until Haleigh and Calebs wedding. My camera was shaking, as I was fighting back the tears. My eyes were getting all foggy and it was difficult for me to see through the view finder. This couple was SO ment to be together and I was SO ment to be their photographer.One day back in October 2008, I was trying to figure out how to get more engagement clients. I loved engagement sessions, but didn't get very many. They all wanted me to do there wedding, but already had a family relative or friend do their engagement pictures. So I posted "FREE engagement session when you book a wedding with me." I quickly received an email from Haleigh saying she was interested. There was a problem though. She thought it was a free engagement session period. When I explained to her through email that it was only free when you book a wedding with me, I was disappointed and so was she. That night, my heart kept speaking to me and God was telling me that I should do their engagement session anyways. I read up a little of them on facebook, and that is when I first saw just how special they were as a couple. They were so sweet even on facebook. So, to make a long story short, I emailed her back and said, "lets do this!" We had a blast at their session, and I had an awesome time with the two of them. They were so sweet to me, they even brought me a present that I still have in my office today along with my favorite lotion. After they saw their pictures from the session, I received an email asking if I still had June 13, 2009 available. I was so thrilled, because I was going to get to be the lucky photographer to be with them on their wedding day. Through this client relationship, a friendship has definitely formed and I couldn't be more grateful. God has blessed my life by putting these two in it.

Finding your inner peace...with tennis

I just really fell in love with these so I'm sharing some more from Nicole and Katie's session on Wednesday.

My work load this week: Editing TWO weddings Publish weddings on web galleries Edit TWO portrait sessions Publish the portrait sessions on web galleries Finish album from May 16, 2009 wedding

When I only have a two hour window before Benson wakes up in the morning and then working from 1-4 pm during his nap, I am very proud I was able to get all of this done. And now for a nice weekend...

Nicole and Katie.Hippie Chicks

I had a booty load of work to do yesterday, but gave myself a nice little break to take pictures of my niece and her friend.  They came in from Kansas to hang out with her grandma (my mother-in-law) and enjoy a relaxing time sun bathing.  I'm so so glad we did this little spontaneous shoot.  They are beautiful, fun girls who are delightfully enjoyable. When I opened the images up on the big screen computer my heart nearly jumped out of my chest I was so happy with the results.  I'm working on wedding galleries now, but hope to post more from this shoot very very soon.

Thanks girls for a fun evening :)

A Photographer and her family

I have been waiting several months for this session. Brianna Saban booked back in the winter I think and the day finally came. I've never met her in person however I feel like I already knew her. I was greeted with a warm hug and a friendly hello from the sweet Saban family when I met up at their hotel. They came in for her husbands class reunion, but before they ventured on that fun road, I got to hang out with them first. Seriously, in my family shoots I like to just hang out and play and have fun. And that my friends is exactly what we did.

Priscilla.Bridals

Priscilla and I grew up together. When I heard she was engaged and wanted me to take her bridal pictures I was beyond thrilled. She has this sense of style that is unique, fun, and authentic. I KNEW KNEW KNEW she was going to have a fabulous dress and look gorgeous. The thing I love about Priscilla's bridal pictures is that she held nothing back for me. She gave me HERSELF and that is all I really ask. She was fun, and energetic, yet sassy and glamorous all at the same time.Congratulations Priscilla on being a married lady for two days now! Much love friend.

Happy Father's Day

Little Benson is the luckiest boy to have Ben as his daddy.

Benson says thanks daddy for everything. For all the wrestling and for making me laugh and for holding me when I'm hurt and for hugging me just because. You are the best.---Benson

True Photographers

Today I had the honor of shooting family pictures for the talented Brianna Saban. More to show tomorrow. It's sleepy time for Critty.

Haleigh.Bridal

Lindsie.Bridal

Lindsie you are beautiful.  I hope you are having fun on your honeymoon.