the image seen around the world
The whole idea for the Freeze started when I was sitting
with a group friends waiting on our girls to finish dance
class...we joked that we should start a softball team with a
Frozen theme. We were going to be called the Sparkling
Elsas and then the Freeze was thrown out and we knew it was
the name for us! We laughed about uniform ideas, recruited
friends to coach, asked Elsa-loving girls to play and the
Freeze was born. Our girls were 4-5 years old playing
some girls as old as 7, so we just approached the season as
a way to have fun, get the girls some softball experience
and look really cute doing it along the way.
The girls improved with each game, we only practiced a few
times and my dream for an Elsa picture kept growing. I
laughed with some of the Moms on the team, told them my idea
and they were all on board. So, we planned a date,
prayed the rain would stay away, gathered up the Elsa
dresses and met at the University of Central Oklahoma's
softball field. We did traditional pictures and then
put the Elsa dresses and eye black on the girls. Keep in
mind that this was one of the hottest days we have had that
summer and these little girls were in some pretty warm
dresses! The parents helped get the girls in position, I did
a few test shots and between giggles and a few silly faces,
the image you see was the winning shot. I was on the ground
trying to get a lower angle while the parents were behind me
helping to get the "serious, tough girl" faces. I am sure we
were quite a sight!
I think every photographer/artist out there falls into a
daily battle of comparing our work to those around us.
I had just been dealing with that...we are
saturated with ideas and other images between Facebook,
Pinterest, Twitter, IG, etc... I am the world's finest at
thinking I am not good enough and should just hang up my hat
and call it good. And then, this image happened and
spread like wildfire. In the midst of it all, I am
remembering why I started, to get images of my own children
so when they are grown and have kids or grandkids of their
own, they have some great memories to share. God has allowed
me to go on this fun little journey and for that I am
humbled and grateful. Photography is such a timeless gift-
moments in time frozen forever. Capturing great images of my
own children turned into capturing memories for family and
friends and Betsy Gregory Photography was born. I don't
claim to know everything or even a drop of what some
know about photography, but I do know one thing, I love
people and the chance to give them a moment in time.
The response to the Freeze image was overwhelming to
say the least. I am forever indebted to those that
have took time to share what really started as a joking
matter! Special thanks to all who took time to share the image and the many
companies who sent the girls free goodies!
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