Inky Johnson and Jeff Hagood headshots as seen in Inky Johnson’s latest book jacket:

Privett Insurance Group headshots:

Photo by Cable Photography.

Be sure to watch the slide show below which includes some of our favorite photos and highlights from 2011!!
http://www.overbayphotography.net/Slideshows/OverbayPhotography2011/

This will be our third year participating in the HELP-PORTRAIT movement which enables us to “give back” to someone in our community. Here is a link to their site explaining the concept: http://help-portrait.com. Here is the basic idea:
FIND SOMEONE IN NEED > TAKE THEIR PORTRAIT> PRINT THEIR PORTRAIT > AND DELIVER THEM

This year I had the opportunity to meet and photograph a family who has been in and out of the hospital several times this year with their daughter who has Cystic Fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide). In the 1950s, few children with cystic fibrosis lived to attend elementary school. Today, advances in research and medical treatments have further enhanced and extended life for children and adults with CF. Many people with the disease can now expect to live into their 30s, 40s and beyond. (http://www.cff.org/AboutCF/)

I have come to learn about this disease through my neighbors, who also have a daughter with CF. They were the ones who introduced me to the family I photographed. I was fortunate enough to get involved with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation a bit over this past year through the Martinis & Movies Gala and the Great Strides Walk. If you are interested in learning more about the disease or finding ways to “give back” yourself through the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Knoxville click here.

I am really glad that I get to do this each year around the holidays. If you know of someone who would benefit from this service in 2012 please let us know! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Oh, and in case you missed how my husband surprised me with our trip this year click the link below:

If there was one place that perfectly captures the magic of Christmas…where would that one place be?

Today, I officially left my day job and I am thrilled to announce that Overbay Photography is now a full-time REALITY!

I have spent the past 5 years in a cubicle working 40 hours a week and early on photography became my creative outlet. It quickly became a passion that I knew I wanted to turn into something more. This has been a much needed and long awaited life adjustment in the making. I could not have made it to this point without the love and support of those closest to me. I want to say a special thank you to my husband for putting up with me while I balanced practically two full-time jobs. Thank you for helping me thru all of the late nights editing photos, traveling, and having to say no to things in our personal life in order to grow this business. Special thanks to my parents and in-laws also for understanding when family plans did not always work out the way we had hoped due to scheduling conflicts. To Stephanie and Heather, my wonderful assistants, thank you SO MUCH for your willingness to help turn this dream into a reality we can continue to enjoy together. I truly could not have done it without the long hours you put in helping edit, constantly corresponding to e-mails, encouraging words, and enthusiasm to get us where we are today. Most importantly, I thank God every day for the many blessings he has bestowed upon me and my family and for the opportunity to take this step of faith.

I will end this post with lyrics from a song that I heard a couple weeks ago at church that really spoke to me about my future. Ever since I started this business in September 2007 I have tried, through all of my successes, to live out the verse Romans 11:36:“For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever.”
As I continue on this journey I will strive to always put Him first in my work and throughout life.

Jesus, my passion in life is to know You
May all other goals bow down to This journey of loving You more
Jesus, You’ve showered Your goodness on me
Given Your gifts so freely
But there’s one thing I’m longing for
Hear my heart’s cry
And my prayer for this life

Above all else
Above all else
ABOVE ALL ELSE
Give me Yourself

 Above All Else-Vicky Beeching http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDVRQ1TZpX4