With an awesome wife, Andrea, who loves the Lord and people, a two year old boy, Connor, who is all boy, and a second boy, Cade, born in October 2007. I have everything. Living in a tourist village like Ruidoso, My wife and I have met people from all over the world (like Japan and Korea) who have trusted us with their lives and their memories. We get to spend our time with people from all walks of life. Being known and getting to know others, nothing is more sacred.
One door shut, then a shadow of light beaming through the window...
I spent almost seven years in youth and family ministry in Churches of Christ while earning a Master of Divinity from Abilene Christian University. During those years, I expected to spend most of my life as a paid staff-member serving a local congregation somewhere in Texas. One year out of seminary, I found myself in Ruidoso, New Mexico working with treatment foster kids--at risk youth with little hope in the world. Although not a paid staff member of a local church, the ministry to teens and families is unbelievable.
More than a title...
During the past two years, photography has become a part of my ministry to the world. I have learned that photography is more than getting paid to create an image. Photography is getting to know people and letting them love themselves while seeing that slight imperfections are what make us perfect. To let one live in a small moment of time, to become real, is the goal.
Giving back the experience...
On my desk is an 8x10 of my grandparents, Granny and Papa. Few things in my house are more sacred to me than their portrait. Having known my Papa, it must have taken quite a bit of work from my granny to get him to a portrait studio. Since getting "cleaned up" was a weekly ordeal, and into his best suit was a yearly (at best) ordeal, it must have been a mess of a day getting him to a photography session. I am sure money was an issue as well. But Papa and his tipped up felt Stetson and Granny with her peppered curly hair; I see who they are so many years later. I am not sure what the 8x10 cost them back then, but nothing would be more expensive than not knowing them as they were.
More than a portrait session...
time with Studio Layne Photography is all about the experience of being together with your family. The time you spend with us is about creating memories that you and your family can keep with you forever, and have portraits to tell that memory. Plan to laugh...to cry...to experience life...and most of all... become known.