Christmas In July

Before we know it, this heat wave will be over and the holidays will be upon us!  To celebrate the

return of cooler weather TONYA WINTERS PHOTOGRAPHY is having CHRISTMAS IN JULY!!!

Gather the family, big or small, and let's make some memories!

Contact Tonya @ (803)665-4170 to schedule your session

*$50.00 deposit is required to reserve your date

* Special ends July 31st @ midnight



TWP's Litte Hero-May

Here she is, Briar Scott! I just love her name.  Briar is TWP's Little Hero for the month of May. Briar is a true Daddy's girl to U.S. Army Soldier, Jeff Scott stationd with HHC 705th MP Co., here at Fort Leavenworth.  Before joining the Army 2 years ago, Jeff spent 8 1/2 years in the Navy.  Like many military children, Briar struggles with all this "Army Stuff"....training, schools, and unaccopanied tours. Also, like many military children, she has been strong through it all and has adapted to where ever her family may move to or go through next. 

It only took Briar a few minutes to warm up to me and my camera. Then, she became a photographers dream!!!!  We also got lucky that Dad stopped by the shoot on his way home from work. We were able to grab him and take a few shots of him and his girl together. 

After talking with Briar only a few minutes I could tell that she was as sweet on the inside as she was pretty on the outside!  She enjoys all sorts of activities like: swiminng, gymnastics, baseball and girl scouts, just to name a few. Briar is in the 1st grade and being homeschooled by her mother Dee.

  Briar, it was my pleasure to have you be my Little Hero feature this month.  Continue to love and support your Daddy, watch over your Mommy, and turn to God to get you through this crazy life as an Army Brat!!!!!

  

TWP's Little Hero of the Month-April

I know, I know,this blog post is really late. I have a good excuse though. I've been planning a birthday party in a Galaxy Far, Far Away. It just so happens that the birthday party was for this month's Little Hero.

April is the Month of the Military Child, so what better time for me to feature my own LITTLE HERO!

This is Kadence Abigail and she just turned five this past Monday!  As I look back on the past five years I can't help but think about what she has had to endure the past few years...all because she is an Army Brat.  Kadence has endured a deployment, has now lived in three different states,  had to say good-bye to her puppy( he couldn't fly back from Hawaii because of a heart condition), and said good-bye to the best little friends a girl could have.

We ask so much of our military children and we rarely hear them complain. We need to stop and think about what kind of toll this lifestyle takes on them. When you stop to thank a service member for serving his/her country, take a few minutes and thank their children too!  We must remember, we had a choice. We had that choice to join this CrAzY military life. Our children did not.

My Sweet Girl still cries for her friends, misses her puppy and continually ask if her new puppies have to stay in Kansas when we move again. This is a tough life we live.  My sweet BuggaLou is this Month's LITTLE HERO for the strength she has shown over the past two years.  She faces each situation that is thrown at her with great courage and self-confidence.  Next time you are having a hard time with this Military Life, think about your child. How would they handle the situation. There is a lot to be learned from Our Little Hero's!



Hannah/ Yukon High School Senior 2012

I did a bittersweet senior session for my niece Hannah this past Sunday evening. I cannot believe this time has arrived.   Hannah is a 2012 graduate from Yukon High School.  She will be attending Southwestern Oklahoma State University in the Fall where she will study Speech Pathology. She later hopes to transfer to Oklahoma State to finish her masters.  I loved spending this special time with you Hannah. I love you very much. You future is bright my dear, go and get it!!!!!!

Little Hero Of the Month...March

 This is Kiylei  Fortune!!!!! She is Tonya Winters Photography's Little Hero for the month of March.  I met Kiylei when she was 4 years old. When her dad and my husband taught an Army course together in Hawaii.
My first impression of Kiylei was...what a little red-headed spit fire. (in a good way)  Kiylei and I soon become best buddies, doing all sorts of fun activities together. Our favorite was dancing around the living room to "I'm A Real Wild Child", from PRETTY WOMAN!  It was kinda Kiylie's theme song. :) 

In 2008, Kiylei moved back to Montana along with her mom and brother. Her dad moved to Fort Campbell, KY. This would be her first experience of being separated from him.  Since then, Kiylei has seen her Dad through not one, but two deployments.  She has said goodbye for more TDY trips, training exercises, and Army schools that she cares to, or can count.  Her Mom and brother provided her with the stability and the sense of security she needed during these times when the Army called her dad to duty.  When I asked Kiylei what it meant to her to have grown up an Army Brat she said, "Being an Army Brat has given her experiences, structure and a perspective on life she would not have had otherwise."

Now, you might be thinking, she is a little old to be considered a "Little" Hero.  Just keep reading and you will see why she is this months feature.  Kiylei has watched her mom stand beside her dad with great strength and support as he grew in the ranks as an Enlisted Soldier and then stood in support again when he attend OCS to become an officer.  Seeing her father's growth as an American Soldier, her mother's strength, and with the support of her brother,  Kiylie had the inspiration and guidance she needed to stand before her father, raise her right hand and take the oath to go become and American Soldier herself.   Kiylie says, " Taking that oath makes her part of something honorable. It means taking on a challenge and becoming part of something much bigger than yourself."  Kiylei will always be My Little Hero, but now she gets to be her Countries Hero!
 I'm sure her Mom and Dad would agree!
 

                      * photo courtesy of Jessie Moore Photography, Billings, Montana

Kiylei being sworn into the Army by her father, 1LT  Mike Fortune.

Puppy Love

Best 11 of 2011

Before I dive head first into  2012, I wanted to take a moment and reflect on last year. It was my 1st year in business and with the encouragement from family and friends it was an amazing year. Not to mention....it was in Hawaii.  I was looking back at photos late one night when I decided to do this post. While I had tons of favorites, at least one from every session, I wanted to pick out just a few of my fave. Scroll on down and see if you made the list. If not, don't feel bad, I still feel blessed that each and everyone of my clients......family & friends, trusted me with making memories for their families.

Have a Wonderful and Blessed 2012!!!!!