My Corner of the Sky

Happy New Year

2012-01-02T14:07:00.004-05:00

I've been miserable about blogging, but it has been a good year. Excluding my "Survivor Stories" portraits, these are my favorite photos from 2011. To see them larger, visit my web site.

Sunset in the Missouri River Valley

2011-10-18T15:39:00.004-04:00

I love the Wabash Nature Trail. You get to start in the Missouri River Valley and follow it as it winds into the Loess Hills. It's so beautiful out there and when you're in the valley you can see the vast expanse of the sky. It was an unusually pleasant and beautiful day when Chris, Brooke and I went there to shoot engagement portraits. I had a lot of fun and we made some beautiful pictures.

Survivor Stories

2011-10-05T09:40:00.003-04:00

Victoria Lopez - revolutionary and rape survivor

These days I’m living my own little American dream -- no home, no school, no job. I’m traveling. I’ve been partaking in a lot of protests, like Occupy Wall street. Revolution is happening everywhere, and it’s really changing my look on life. I’m very happy and I love everyone around me.

The incident happened at the very very first of July. Today it will be three months. That day was such a crazy day. There was a friend, a guy I thought was a friend, and he was just kind of like, “Hey do you want to hang out?” It had been a while that we’d had a chance to talk. I thought we could catch up.

We drove out, and we were talking and listening to music. We ended up in a cornfield. I used to carry a knife with me everywhere I went, and I was showing him it, just joking. I said, if you try and do anything, I’m going to put up a fight. And then he took it. He took the knife, and that’s when that all went down.

The first thing I did was call the Nebraska Family Help Line. I called them and was like, I need to go to a doctor, but I don’t want the police involved, and I’m afraid of this kid.

I ended up going to the hospital. The nurses were excellent. They were so nice. The officers were very helpful, but it was almost like they had to pressure me into telling because I didn’t want the police to know. And I did not want my parents to know.

When my mom came to the emergency room, it was exactly the way I pictured it. She wasn’t mad that it happened, she wasn’t afraid for me, she wasn’t comforting, she was just mad at me. She said, “I told you, what did I tell you?”

They ended up having to separate her from me. She ended up leaving the ER, she didn’t even stay there with me. Which was a little sad. I love my mom, but she’s established how much of a relationship she wants with me. I’m homeless.

I’m thankful we’re not going to have to do a trial. The last I heard, he has changed his plea back to guilty or no contest, something like that. I ended up getting a text (from the attacker that same day) and it was essentially “oh crap, I hurt you.” So he knows what he’s done. I’m sure that that’s going to follow him for the rest of his life.

He hurt me. It is probably among the top three worst things, that could ever have happened to me. I thought about ending it, but you can either let it bring you down or you can be really pumped about the positives in your life.

That helped, just trying to stay positive, optimistic and always, always, always thinking this isn’t an opportunity for me to go down or feel sorry for myself. I’m all about forgiveness and I’m all about peace and love.

There’s so much love and I hope every victim understands that. There is too much genuine love and genuine compassion and genuine concern between human beings for them to let one incident dictate their future or lack there of. This is not an opportunity to go down, never has been.

I’m just really happy to be alive and I hope that someday every victim gets to a place where they’re just like every thing’s going to be Ok. Cause it is.

To see the other Survivor Stories click here
To ask questions or become a part of this project, please don't hesitate to contact me at teresa.c.prince@gmail.com

Slutwalk Omaha

2011-09-21T00:19:00.002-04:00

I participated in a great event this Sunday called Slutwalk. It's a march to end victim blaming in cases of sexual assault and rape. The name is controversial and needs some explanation. I created a video to do that. I also recorded a video of the speech I gave after the march. I'm proud of both. I'm also going to post a bunch of links for anyone interested in the subject. I wish I had some photos to show, but I was really busy that day. Thank you for taking the time to look through any of these links. 1 in 3 women in the United States will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime. This has been a largely quiet and misunderstood epidemic, but that ends now. Help shatter the silence and stop the violence!

My video about the history and objective of Slutwalk Omaha

My speech about ending victim blaming

Facebook page where you can join the cause

Omaha World-Herald article on our march

WOWT piece on the march

KVNO piece on the march

Hilarious and accurate rape analogy

Site of the original slutwalk

Road Trip!

2011-08-24T11:17:00.002-04:00

I finished summer school and hit the road! I hiked all over Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park. It was great.

Busy Summer

2011-08-09T16:46:00.006-04:00

I'm back in school. For some reason, I thought that taking 11 credit hours in 10 weeks, while working part-time, would be a good way to spend my summer. It's been intense. Here are a few photos taken when I wasn't studying. I'll try and get back to posting somewhat regularly.

Survivor Stories

2011-06-24T16:07:00.005-04:00

I’m currently working on two long-term projects: a continuation of the “Survivor Stories” piece I did in college and returning to college to become a radiology technician. Both will take a lot of time, so I’m trying to be patient and enjoy the journey.

“Survivor Stories” was a video I made for the Daily Nebraska. I wove interviews with six survivors of sexual assault into a single story about assault and its aftermath. I’m now working on a collection of portraits and interviews that I hope will become a book someday. That day probably won’t be for a long time. I’m doing this project because sexual assault is a silent crime. Most victims experience terrible shame and loneliness. It’s very difficult to admit this happened, even to your closest friends and family. This project will show how it’s possible to survive and move past this trauma. It should offer and hope and understanding to victims of sexual assault and the loved ones who support them. Sexual assault is a terrible crime that affects everyone in society. We need to confront it and that starts by shattering the silence.

If you have any questions about this project or would like to participate in it, please don’t hesitate to contact me. My email is teresa.c.prince@gmail.com Below is my first interview for the project. Renee was in the original “Survivor Stories” video. She’s a brave woman who survived a brutal rape by a person she trusted. Her story is graphic, violent and important.

Renee Boyeett - macrame artist and rape survivor

I was 18, and he was my best friend. I had known him since sixth grade, and when I moved away right after my freshman year, he was the only person that wrote to me. I would receive a letter every week. Then we moved back, and I trusted him. So I never saw this coming, and I was a virgin at the time, so I really was very naive about it all.

He had asked me to come over to his house, because he knew I was going to school for art. And he asked if I could come in and critique some of the work he had done. And I’d gone over and hung out all the time down in his bedroom in the basement , so -- no biggie. I go to into his room, and he closes the door.

Next thing I know, I’m pinned down on the bed, and he’s groping me, and I’m freaking out and screaming. And he kept saying, “You want this, you want this, I’ll be gentle I promise.” I left with bruises from chafing, from his hands holding both my wrists down. And I bled for three days, cause he had torn my hymen, and he had also raped me from the behind.

And I didn’t understand what had happened. I didn’t tell anyone, and I was in a complete panic for weeks. I got tested for STDs every week, got a pregnancy test every week for almost six months, cause I was just that freaked out. And no one could touch me. I wouldn’t let anyone touch me for almost a year.

Six years after it happened, I went to “Take Back the Night” (an event that supports survivors of sexual violence) and I decided -- you know what? I’m going to face this. I’m having panic attacks regularly, I still do. I have nightmares; I have flashbacks, but now I’m facing them and seeing them for what they are, instead of the shame.

It took me going to a mental hospital twice for suicide attempts to face that I’m not a victim. I had to change my way of thinking; I’m a survivor. I am a rape survivor. I’m not a victim anymore. I’ve done artwork, and it’s been very cathartic. And a lot of people don’t like the artwork cause it’s offensive, but the act itself was offensive. And so I speak loudly about it. I see no shame in what happened; he should be ashamed, because he showed that he’s not human.

One thing that’s helped me with mentoring is I found out that I actually saved a girl. She was thirteen-years-old and considering suicide. She’s part of the online support group that I help in. She was considering killing herself because her brother, just two years older, had raped her over and over and over again. And when she saw some of my artwork and read some of the things that I had written, she realized that it’s not her fault.

She told her mother; she told her father. They didn’t believe her. And so she got a little camera with night vision; she put it in her room, and it recorded her brother raping her, violently, while her parents were asleep down the hall. And she was put into a mental hospital for three weeks; her brother was arrested. He’s in prison right now. She said that I saved her life, because she faced what happened to her. She had someone listening who wasn’t judging her.

When someone tells you this happened to them, believe them because you could save a life.

Small Town Splendor

2011-06-10T12:51:00.004-04:00

I drove up north through some beautiful countryside to the tiny town of Crofton, Neb. for Natalie and Isaiah's wedding at the St. Rose of Lima Church and Parish Center. It was a beautiful ceremony and fun reception. After portraits we stopped at the local restaurant/bar/bowling alley where the bride and groom cooled off with a milkshake. At sunset we drove along some dirt roads to take pictures with the gorgeous sunset. A herd of curious cows checked us out and we made some pictures with them too. It was a great wedding.

Mo + Jon

2011-05-10T14:00:00.002-04:00

Ok so I shot these last fall, but better late than never. We went downtown and then to the Hitchcock Nature Center. I don't know why, but for some reason I always get that cool halo when I'm up on the bluffs at sunset. You should go check it out, the Loess Hills are beautiful.

Take Back the Night

2011-04-26T12:38:00.003-04:00

Colleen and I after TBTN. She is the awesome director of the WRC in charge of the event this year. She's also an old friend and all around kick-ass person.

Martina, Laura and I after TBTN. Martina and I are organizing a walk to celebrate the inauguration of PAVE (Promoting Awareness Victim Empowerment) on April 30 in Elmwood Park. Laura helped organize TBTN.

I attended Nebraska's third Take Back the Night Rally last Thursday. Take Back the Night is an event that helps victims of sexual violence come together, share their stories and learn where they can get helped or get involved. It's emotional, powerful event. The University of Nebraska-Omaha's Women's Resource Center organized and sponsored it. April is sexual assault awareness month so I'm going to post some helpful links. Please check them out and learn more about this issue.

My multi-media series - Speaking through Silence

Official web Site of Take Back the Night

UNO's Women's Resource Center

PAVE Promoting Awareness Victim Empowerment

Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network

YWCA

Bitch - It's our word now

2011-03-28T22:25:00.003-04:00

Meant to post about this last month when I had a display at UNO. Oops.
These are some of my favorite photos from my series Bitch - it's our word now. I started this project because the word has always intrigued me. Women and men have used this word negatively for years to describe people who are not sticking to traditional gender roles. Women who are tough, opinionated and fearless should be celebrated. So should men who are sensitive and creative. That is what this project is about - turning this word on its head and honoring the men and women who are leaders, strong-willed, fierce, tough, confident, ambitious, opinionated, resilient, adventurous, sexy, smart and so much more. You can see the whole series here: http://teresaprince.com/bitch/

The birds fill the sky!

2011-03-13T12:41:00.003-05:00

My friend Hilary and I drove to the Rowe Sanctuary in Gibbon, Neb. to watch the Sandhill Cranes come roost on the Platte River. On our way there, we stopped at the Mormon Island State Recreation area to see a pond FULL of snow geese. The weather was cool but pleasant and the sunset was really beautiful. Alas, all the clouds near the horizon made it too dark to photograph the cranes as they landed on the sandbars near the river. I still had a great time and made some images I'm proud to share. The cranes will be there for a few more weeks, you should go see them if you live in Nebraska. It's spectacular.

Little Brown Church in the Vale

2011-03-01T21:26:00.002-05:00

My friend Bonnie was married in this quaint country church in Nashua, Iowa. It was a sweet service and afterward I asked the bride and groom and my best friend to pose outside in the softly falling snow for some pictures.

Wintry Mix

2011-01-31T14:12:00.003-05:00

Freezing rain fell early this morning and a blizzard will soon follow. I'm getting really sick of this weather. I know this winter hasn't been nearly as bad as last year, but I'm still sick of it. For the past three winters, I've lost control of my car thanks to ice. The last accident totaled my car. Now I have a new car, a new fear of icy roads and a new case of cabin fever. I hear the roads aren't too bad this afternoon so I'll be leaving for work soon. I hope I don't get holed up in my apartment for the next couple days. Otherwise I'll go as nuts as these guys.

Best of Weddings -2010

2011-01-12T15:41:00.001-05:00

It's that time again. Here are my favorite wedding photos of the past year.

Merry Chistmas

2011-01-12T15:31:00.002-05:00

I have been behind on a lot of things, all thanks to the holidays, snowstorms and birthday celebrations. But now I'm finally posting pictures from my family's Christmas Eve celebration. It was so much fun. We ate amazing prime rib and Santa brought me some great books. The girls came from behind to beat the boys in an intense Pictionary game. It was a great night.

Elliana - Age 3

2010-11-12T12:26:00.004-05:00

I shot some photos of my cousin Christina's daughter, Elianna. Three-year-olds do not like to pose for pictures. That's why I usually just take some long glass and chase after them using natural light. Everybody is happier that way. You can also get some fun, candid images. I love how happy she looks throwing leaves in the sky, I hate myself for chopping off her feet in the bottom of the frame.

First Friday Show

2010-11-02T21:12:00.003-05:00

If you're in Lincoln on Friday, come to the 11th street Cultiva Coffee House between 6:30 pm and 9:00 pm to see some of my favorite nature photos of Nebraska (and one-and-a-half of Iowa). This photo was shot in Iowa but looking towards the Nebraska bluffs along the Missouri River Valley. I shot it at the Hitchcock Nature Center a few weeks ago. This has been a beautiful fall, I'm glad I got to shoot a lot.

Ashley + Chad

2010-10-15T11:18:00.004-04:00

Ashley and Chad were married on a beautiful day in beautiful settings. I love shooting portraits at the capitol building. St. Mary's is a beautiful Catholic church in downtown Lincoln. It was a great wedding.

Natalie + Isaiah

2010-09-22T11:46:00.003-04:00

I shot some lovely engagement portraits last Saturday. Summer has drawn to a close and it was a chilly, autumn day. But that didn't stop Natalie from wearing a sleeveless, blue dress and taking some beautiful portraits with her fiancee, Isaiah. We wandered around the Old Market area and the Heartland of America Park. I really love downtown Omaha; it's a great place to take pictures, meet friends or simply wander about.

Adventure in the Pacific Northwest

2010-09-07T15:19:00.005-04:00

My cousin Katie and I flew to the west coast for a fabulous vacation. We explored the beautiful forests, mountains and coastline of the Olympic Peninsula and hung out with our cousin, Sam, in Seattle and Eugene.

Danielle + Pete

2010-08-10T21:06:00.004-04:00

I drove to a Kearney last Friday for the wedding of Danielle and Pete. It was a great wedding: the priest used props during his homily, we took portraits at an art museum, the cake was green and delicious. There were so many friends and family in attendance and everyone was so thrilled for the couple -- it was a great day.

Valerie + Asten

2010-08-03T12:23:00.004-04:00

Valerie and Asten were married at the Player's Club in northwest Omaha last Saturday. I don't know if I've ever seen a bride smile so much before. Everyone at the wedding was smiling and laughing and crying, and it was great to be a part of it.

Omaha Triathlon

2010-08-03T12:14:00.005-04:00

My dad and sister competed in the first ever Omaha Triathlon. It was a grueling, hilly course and a hot, humid day, but they still kicked ass!

Dad finished his swim in 22:31, beating half of the younger guys who had a three-minute head start.

She started in the third flight, so you have to subtract 9 minutes. Awesome time, she finished 3rd out of the 129 female competitors.

So proud!

Darcy + T.J.

2010-06-08T11:36:00.004-04:00

Darcy and T.J. had a beautiful wedding in Fremont last Saturday. Darcy is a florist and did all the arrangements for her wedding by herself. The bouquets were stunning.

Their wedding party was very large and very lively, so though it some extra-loud instructions, we made some really fun pics. They look like a formally dressed army on the charge.

So this isn't my best wedding photo ever, but it is one the most entertaining. Long-haired brunette did tumble to the ground but she kept the bouquet!

Allison + Travis Act II

2010-05-24T13:18:00.006-04:00

Luckily Allison and Travis had their ceremony in February, because trying to have a reception amidst the crazy wind this weekend would have been disastrous. Her veil kept blowing away during our portrait session. The reception was laid-back, and I had a great time.

Valerie + Asten

2010-05-18T14:45:00.002-04:00

Val and Asten live in Chicago but are getting married here in Nebraska. They flew in town for a quick weekend trip and Saturday was the only day before their wedding that we could shoot engagement portraits. Luckily it turned out to be one of the most beautiful days of the year. We had a great time and I'm really glad we stuck it out until the fountain lights came on.

Chicago!!!

2010-03-02T20:38:00.003-05:00

Travis + Allison

2010-02-22T12:23:00.003-05:00

Travis and Ali were married this weekend at the Cornerstone Mansion amongst close family and friends. It felt like I was stepping back in time to when weddings were small, intimate affairs done at home.

Feliz Día de San Valentin!

2010-02-14T19:25:00.003-05:00

On my way home from doing taxes and laundry at my parents' I saw this beautiful sunset. I parked my car, ran inside, grabbed my camera and took this picture from my doorstep right before the sun dipped below the horizon. How lucky is that?!

Best of 2009 - Weddings!

2010-01-17T13:46:00.003-05:00

Eight weddings this year, I wish all those couples the best of luck in their married lives!

A three-day blizzard didn't stop Natalja and Matt from having a beautiful wedding on Dec. 26.

Bored bridesmaids do funny things, like racing in rolly chairs while eating meat sticks.

I love how much love is in her eyes, you know she's so happy she wants to cry.

Funkiest wedding of the year, the groom's a tatoo artist and the bride scorned the traditional white gown and wore a bold, red dress that was intended for a quinciñera.

Best of 2009 - Engagements!

2010-01-17T13:39:00.003-05:00

Allison and Travis let me suggest the location of their engagement portrait session. I chose the Hitchcock Nature Center near Honey Creek, Iowa. I love that place because you have beautiful views of the Missouri River Valley and the Loess hills and unlike the Nebraska side of the valley, you can see the sun set from Iowa.

Danielle and Pete wanted to take their pictures at Fontenelle Forest. It was great fun hiking all over and taking pictures in the woods, by the river and even on the railroad tracks.

Silhouettes are a bit cliche but sometimes they really kick ass.

Best of 2009 - Seniors!

2010-01-15T11:33:00.002-05:00

I had a lot of fun shooting senior portraits during some of the beautiful weather we had last fall. I really miss those warm sunny days.

Best of 2009 - Families!

2010-01-13T10:37:00.005-05:00

So now I shoot all types of portraits, including family portraits. My family has had most of our portraits done in studios over the years and they always look nice, but boring. The backgrounds, lighting and posing don't really change much. I prefer to shoot portraits somewhere cool and to keep my eyes open for little moments that make really interesting, unexpected pictures.

Lane and his family at Lake Zorinsky.

The Worthington Family on a dirt road located conveniently near the grandparents' home so we could have a nice clean background without making the young-un's travel too far and get cranky.

A bunch of my cousins taking a walk on the pedestrian bridge during Peter's wedding. I take so many pictures they get used to ignoring me and fun moments happen!

It's hard to get teenage boys to loosen up in front of a camera, who knew a picture of them hanging out on a fence and picking up discarded beer bottles would turn into a sweet picture?

Best of 2009 - Babies!

2010-01-11T15:15:00.001-05:00

In March of 2009 I moved in with my cousin and took care of two adorable newborn twins until their mother recovered. I really enjoyed taking portraits of them and that caused my shift from photojournalism to portrait photography. So here are my best baby portraits from 2009.

A hell of a year

2010-01-09T20:06:00.003-05:00

So 2009 was a difficult, turbulent year for me. I can't even write about most of the stuff that happened because it's not appropriate for a public forum. I thought 2010 was the year everything would turn around, but today I slid on the ice and experienced my first car accident. Not a fun or cheap experience but I'm thankful nobody died. That's a quote from Woody Allen's play "Don't Drink the Water." I think it's going to be my new philosophy. I was going to use "Que sera sera" (Whatever will be will be) but now "Be grateful nobody died" seems more applicable.

But despite the bad times, I've also had a lot of great experiences and adventures in 2009. I formed a lot of new friendships and rekindled some old ones. I'm healthy, employed and loved and I know I can handle whatever 2010 has in store. And in between dealing with catastrophes last year I still managed to make some good images that I will now be showing off.

I started 2009 as a photojournalist at the Globe Gazette in Mason City. I miss the great journalism assignments, the stories that really meant something or were just so much fun that you couldn't believe you were paid to cover them. I don't miss the slow days of killing time in the newsroom while receiving emails that Lee Enterprise was going bankrupt and to avoid more layoffs we all had to take unpaid furloughs. Here are my best news photos:

Sexual assault survivor Barb Benson sends a message to other victims. She says the worst thing a victim can do is keep the crime a secret. That secret will eat you up and cripple you, seek help from someone or some agency that you can trust. It's not your fault. To read more about Barb check out this fabulous article that ran in the Globe Gazette's women's magazine.

This woman's name is actually Peggy Sue. This photo was taken at the "50 Winters Later" commemoration of the deaths of Buddy Holly and his band. That was an amazing event to shoot. Rock and roll fans from all over the globe came to Clear Lake, Iowa for a week of concerts and dancing. Everyone dressed up in poodle skirts and saddle shoes and had a great time, the best part was I got to meet Tim Rice; he shook my hand and said I was charming!!!! Tim Rice helped write the music for Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Aladdin and the Lion King.

This is the best image from a photo story I did called "Life After Drugs." Tyrel Finger was putting his life back together after years of meth addiction. His daughter was his motivation for staying sober. You can see the whole story by clicking here.

In the fall I visited my old high school to teach the journalism students a little about photography. Mrs. K encouraged me to stay for the pep rally after class so that the students could watch me in action. I forgot how much crazy school spirit exists at Marian.

Happy New Year

2010-01-02T13:00:00.001-05:00

I rang in the New Year by having a fun photo shoot with all my girlfriends.

Nice day for a white wedding

2009-12-28T01:20:00.003-05:00

Despite the three-day blizzard, Natalja and Matt had a beautiful wedding on Saturday.

¡Feliz Navidad!

2009-12-25T11:54:00.002-05:00

I love my family and I love the holidays!

Fun with the Worthington Family

2009-12-03T12:22:00.002-05:00

I had a great time taking family portraits of the Worthingtons. Beth and I went to high school together and it was great seeing her new baby and taking pictures of her new family. (That's her with Dan and Joey in the middle picture)

Travis + Allison

2009-11-22T19:41:00.004-05:00

Travis and Allison let me drive them all the way out to the Hitchcock Nature Center in Honey Creek, Iowa. I normally hate most things associated with Iowa, but Hitchcock is a great place to hike amongst the Loess Hills and see fabulous views of the Missouri River Valley. Especially good for sunsets over the Missouri River Valler.

Fun with the Family

2009-11-16T11:29:00.001-05:00

My cousin Peter was married last weekend. Between the ceremony and reception, a handful of us cousins walked across the pedestrian bridge between Iowa and Nebraska. We're a fun bunch.

A weekend in Lincoln

2009-11-16T11:23:00.003-05:00

I helped Lane Hickenbottom photograph his last wedding of 2009, I still have one left. It was a a great day, the Huskers beat the Jayhawks and the Herzogs had a lovely wedding.

Fun in the Forest

2009-11-09T11:41:00.002-05:00

After a miserable October, we seem to have been blessed with a beautiful November. Which made my engagement portraits with Danielle and Pete very pleasant to shoot.

Another beautiful sunny day at last!

2009-10-19T11:45:00.002-04:00

Yesterday was so beautiful, it was a great evening for shooting senior portraits. Why can't the weather stay this nice?

If only the clouds and cold would stay away

2009-10-08T12:42:00.003-04:00

Had a lovely time photographing senior pictures last night. I hope Wednesday wasn't the last beautiful day of fall.

Funky Wedding

2009-09-29T19:22:00.003-04:00

Sometimes you just have to break tradition.

New Job

2009-09-25T21:10:00.002-04:00

In addition to working at Lane Photographics I'm also working at Club 66, which means I watch kids before and after school. It's a lot of fun because I spend most of the time playing games like elimination and mancala and hanging out on the playground.

A new season begins

2009-09-23T20:12:00.005-04:00

I celebrated the Autumnal Equinox by photographing the sunset at Neale Woods last night; the photo is more impressive if you click on it to view it at a higher resolution. Hopefully autumn will bring an end to all the drama in my life. I want to keep the same job and address for 12 full months, and I hope that none of mis queridas (my dear ones) go through near-death experiences, divorce or heartbreak this year.

Family Portraits

2009-09-21T12:49:00.002-04:00

I shot some pictures of Omaha wedding photographer Lane Hickenbottom and his family at Lake Zorinsky. I'm always a little nervous when taking pictures of other photographers; it's like baby-sitting while the parents are still in the house. You know you can do your job well, but you don't like the feeling someone is looking over your shoulder while you're doing it. But Lane's a cool guy, so it was a fun shoot and I'm happy with the images.

Wedding Moments

2009-09-08T11:31:00.003-04:00

Tagged along with Omaha wedding photographer Lane Hickenbottom on Saturday to photograph a wedding. In addition to portraits, I'm going to be shooting more weddings from now on!

Back to Marian

2009-08-31T11:05:00.004-04:00

Went back to Marian High School last Friday to talk to the yearbook staff about photojournalism. After my speech, Mrs. K suggested I take pictures at the Walk-a-thon kickoff block so the students could watch me work. I forgot how much screaming and silliness went on at those events. It was a lot of fun. The juniors skit (girls with guitar-hero guitars and swimsuits) was absurd and hilarious!

Engagement Portraits

2009-08-22T14:00:00.001-04:00

Followed Lane as he shot engagement portraits last night. It was a beautiful night to be shooting.

First Baby Portraits for Lane Photographics!

2009-08-18T13:55:00.004-04:00

He had just started teething and was pretty cranky, but we managed to get a few cute pictures.

Summer Storms

2009-08-09T23:24:00.003-04:00

Two-year-olds aren't easy to photograph

2009-07-20T23:34:00.000-04:00

I can't help it, they're so cute!

2009-07-09T12:42:00.003-04:00

I'm working on SEO, so I hope you all like these baby portraits by Omaha photographer Teresa Prince.

We didn't catch the rainbow

2009-07-07T02:07:00.007-04:00

But even without that teasing rainbow, Susan and I still made some nice senior portraits.

Come one, come all!

2009-07-02T14:20:00.003-04:00

Lane Photographics is open for business, the painting supplies are gone and the studio looks great. Come check it out and meet all the other photographers in the My Studio co-op next Thursday! Check us out at lanephotographics.com

In sadder news, the portrait business is just starting and not a reliable source of income, Alex doesn't have a reliable source of income either and we can't afford our own place, so we're postponing the wedding until we can.

La Vida Loca

2009-06-15T00:00:00.004-04:00

Wow, a lot has been going on this past month or so, and that craziness is just getting started.

Job - I am no longer a nanny because the twins have a healthy mom! I really enjoyed taking care of them, though I can definitely wait a few years before I want the responsibility of raising my own children. But caring for and photographing these lovely twins has caused a huge shift in my career plans. Instead of searching for another newspaper job (which only exist at the end of a rainbow these days), I'm working with the very talented Omaha wedding photographer Lane Hickenbottom to start a family portrait business.

Lane left newspapers years ago and has enjoyed great success covering weddings, but now wants to expand Lane Weddings, into Lane Photographics and he asked me to help!!!! I hope to photograph babies and families, similar to the way I photographed the twins. I'm going to shoot on location, without a lot of props and capture an intimate image that parents can treasure forever. Check out the new web site for more info: http://lanephotographics.com/

Personal: I'm getting married in six weeks!!! How did that date creep up on me!!!

Boda

2009-05-03T16:45:00.002-04:00

Helped Omaha Wedding Photographer Lane Hickenbottom cover a wedding in Seward this weekend. Twas a fun but long day.

More baby pictures

2009-04-29T11:38:00.003-04:00

First portrait session where the subject peed on me

2009-04-15T23:53:00.006-04:00

She looks just like Cindy Lou Who

2009-04-03T22:42:00.002-04:00

A whole new job

2009-03-23T23:36:00.004-04:00

I left my job at the Mason City Globe Gazette. Now I'm living near Council Bluffs and helping my cousin Mike take care of his beautiful baby girls. Their mom is still in the hospital unfortunately so I'm helping out for a while. It's a much different job, but I enjoy learning new things. Caring for two newborns at one time is definately something I've never dealt with before.

Life After Drugs

2009-03-08T09:51:00.002-04:00

Tyrel Finger and his daughter, Hailea, take the bus to Prairie Ridge for Tyrel's group therapy. Tyrel is halfway through the "Taking Charge" program for meth and cocaine users. Hailea is his inspiration for staying sober; he doesn't want her to be brought up around drugs and abuse like he was.

Story

http://www.globegazette.com/articles/2009/03/08/news/local/doc49b3527799b4f905302829.txt

Video

http://videos.globegazette.com/p/video?id=3369059

Chubby Bunny

2009-03-04T18:36:00.001-05:00

Three more weeks

2009-02-26T16:09:00.001-05:00

I'm really really really sick of winter.

The photog wrote a colum

2009-02-18T19:19:00.003-05:00

Article on Barb Benson a sexual assault survivor

My column on victim blaming

Bumpy Ride

2009-02-13T18:48:00.002-05:00

Went over a nasty speed bump on the bus ride.

More from Fifties in February

2009-02-12T16:45:00.002-05:00

Winter Dance Party

2009-01-31T15:36:00.003-05:00

It's been exciting here in North Iowa. Rock and roll fans and stars have traveled to Clear Lake Iowa for the Winter Dance Party honoring the 50th Anniversary of the Day the Music Died. Buddy Holly, Ritchie Vallens and the Big Bopper died in a plan crash outside of Clear Lake on Feb. 3. 1959. I've learned a lot about Rock n' Roll this week, seen great costumes and heard some great live music. The worst part is I can't get "Peggy Sue" out of my head, especially annoying when I'm trying to sleep. The best part is I met Tim Rice!!! I talked to him for a few minutes, we shook hands and he said it was nice to meet me. Tim Rice is a famous songwriter who wrote the music for Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita and The Lion King. How cool is that!!!!!!!

Check out more pictures from the Surf.

That's Tim Rice, a jolly Englishman!

Busy Day

2009-01-06T22:32:00.003-05:00

In the last twelve hours I drove almost 300 miles, shot six photo assignments: two portraits, a weather feature, play preview and prep basketball game. I also produced two videos. Now it's time to cuddle up on the couch with a mug of cocoa.

http://videos.globegazette.com/p/video?id=2770120

The other video isn't online yet, it's about the Elks Lodge losing their building. Poor Elks.

Look out! Here comes a Spiderman

2008-12-13T19:43:00.003-05:00

I was wondering around the mall in between assignments and saw this kid in costume eating a pretzel with his family. His mom said he hasn't worn anything else since Halloween, he thinks he's Spiderman. Alas, my photo is still not as cool as Robert Cohen's Superman Kid.

First Snowfall

2008-12-01T14:48:00.001-05:00

Engagement Photo

2008-11-20T16:27:00.003-05:00

Weddings are expensive. To be thrifty, I shot my own engagement portrait. The weather was freezing, ruining my idea of a nice picture at our favorite beach on Lake Michigan. Also, the cheap tripod needed a homemade counter-balance mechanism to support the weight of my camera without tilting downwards. But it works and the price was right. I can't decide if I like the muted colors or if it should just be black and white.

Life in Iowa

2008-11-13T20:08:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I met this great young man named Tyler. He injured his spinal cord during a football game in September and is slowly regaining movement and strength. He's still in the hospital in Rochester, Minn, but was able to make his first visit back home to Lake Mills, Iowa yesterday. It was great to see him reconnect with old classmates, race another wheelchair-bound girl down the school hallways and pet his dog for the first time in months.

In other news, Mason City has a problem with a large crow population defectaing on the veterans' memorial in central park. The article in today's paper had a great quote. Jim Kantaris, a members of the Veterans Memorial Association suggested this: "Shoot the crows, tie'em on a board and hang'em in the trees," he said. "We've got to do something. I wish you'd let us shoot'em."

He won Mom!

2008-11-05T18:37:00.004-05:00

Sendoff

2008-10-31T14:06:00.002-05:00

Sad night. A video/slideshow is here: http://videos.globegazette.com/p/video?id=2340037

I think Margaret Piercy was right when she said war was just organized waste. I know it's important to protect oppressed peoples and fight for freedom. I know the soldiers are doing a brave and difficult job, but I wish they didn't have to.

I don't want my flu shot either

2008-10-24T14:38:00.003-04:00

I got a lot of feedback for this photo, mostly angry and incredulous comments. I bet these readers

would also hate Jill Greenberg's series "End Times" which is a series of surreal portraits of toddlers crying. The photographer gave the children candy and toys then snatched them away to capture the raw emotions of anger and loss. It's a powerful series of portraits; she said she was trying to show grief in a child's face because so many people are numb to images of pain and war. You can see them at her site: http://www.manipulator.com/ click on the gallery "End Times."

What do we want? BRAINS!!!!

2008-10-20T15:06:00.001-04:00

I had a lot of fun at the Zombie Pub Crawl in Minneapolis this weekend.

Fall Colors

2008-10-10T18:39:00.003-04:00

I have a great job. I spent my evening walking around the nature center looking for fall color features.

Water break

2008-10-08T14:14:00.002-04:00

For football features. Work's been crazy busy. Hopefully when the fall sports are over I can get a story started.

Celebrating the Depression Era

2008-09-22T21:21:00.002-04:00

Mason City celebrated this weekend with a reenactment of the infamous 1934 robbery of the First National Bank by John Dillinger and his gang. To preview the event I helped with a piece about 1930s cultural history, mostly fashion. I was worries when I found out the models were 13, but amazed by how sophisticated they looked with classic clothes and deep red lipstick.

Lime Creek Conservation Area

2008-09-11T15:10:00.003-04:00

This is where I go running. There are eight miles of dirt and limstone trails through forests and prairie. I can get to it on foot from a trail that starts a half-mile from my apartment. It's pretty amazing.

Bad weather makes good pictures

2008-08-23T18:41:00.002-04:00

I love storm clouds and I love good access. I walked up to the players during their big scrimmage on Friday night and no one yelled at me or told me to stand back. Their media guy apologized for not having a roster on hand to give to me. I'm not at good ol' Nebraska U anymore.

Somedays this job is really tough.

2008-08-14T18:32:00.002-04:00

I had to photograph this 10-week-old golden retriever yesterday. She's being trained to assist people with disabilities. She'll probably become a seeing-eye dog. We're covering the guy who volunteers to train these dogs. It was a really tough assignment. Brilyn, the puppy, played tug-of-war with my camera strap most the time. I've also had to shoot a lot of video this week.

I've had fun with it. Check them out:

Band Camp Video: http://videos.globegazette.com/p/video?id=2079942

Band Camp Slide Show: http://videos.globegazette.com/p/video?id=2079911
Gun Show: http://videos.globegazette.com/p/video?id=2066898

Hobo Band: http://videos.globegazette.com/p/video?id=2059944

I had a lot of technical difficulties with the Hobo one. I need to get a tripod asap.

More from Hobo Days

2008-08-11T14:35:00.001-04:00

Stretch - Hobo King 2008
Minnesota Jim

Just David

First Week on the Job

2008-08-08T16:55:00.003-04:00

It's been a week and I'm enjoying the National Hobo Convention in Britt, Iowa. I've heard some great music and good stories hanging out with these folks. That's Drakewville Bill plucking out a tune with C&E Bob. I learned a great, new phrase at the hobo memorial today. They honored the graves of all the hobos who "caught the westward" in recent years. This week, I also became an official Iowegian with Iowa plates, an Iowa Driver's License and Iowa polling place. Don't worry Nebraska, I still think you're the good life.

Moving on...

2008-07-25T17:36:00.003-04:00

Got lucky and met the Dickson family while I was feature hunting on Wednesday. Today's Friday, my last day at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. It's been a short stay here in St. Louis. In just under two months I've made some new friends, started running again, learned a lot about newspapers and took some nice pictures. I'll be updating my website www.teresaprince.com with the new work next week. I'm really excited about my new job at the Globe Gazette in Mason City. Next week will be a fury of packing, moving and getting ready for the next stage of my life: the full-time employee stage. I'll pay all of my own bills and get very little vacation time. I wonder how long it will take to miss college. Anyway, I'm looking forward to it. St. Louis and Nebraska are great, but now it's time to sally forth into uncharted waters (or cornfields).

A Senseless Tragedy

2008-07-23T18:38:00.003-04:00

Ryan Hummert, a 22-year-old rookie fire fighter in Maplewood, Mo. was shot and killed Monday morning while responding to a routine vehicle fire. The community is in shock and grief. To know more read the Post-Dispatch coverage. It's one of the saddest stories I've covered.

Step Up

2008-07-16T12:10:00.004-04:00

I shot these photos a while ago, but had to wait for the story in the Post-Dispatch before I could post them here. In St. Charles, Mo. a pastor's wife named Pat Merold decided that domestic abuse should not be shoved under the rug anymore. Some clergy have a tendency to tell women to work at being better wives and to avoid divorce because marriage is sacred. Merold and her husband deal with the issue differently. They started the Step Up program which gives battered women and their families a safe place to live and helps them find jobs and cars. It's a great program and the women I met who used their services were so grateful. They are away from the abuse and leading new lives thanks to Pat.

"They show the true meaning of Jesus, that's for sure," says a woman who left her husband years ago after he almost choked her son.

"I just love this place, and I can never repay them," another woman said.

In other news, I'm leaving in St. Louis two weeks to start my first full time job at the Globe Gazette in Mason City, Iowa. Check it out: http://globegazette.com/ I'm excited!

Growing Up

2008-07-14T10:48:00.002-04:00

I shot my little brother's senior pictures this weekend. I can't believe how grown up he looks. Speaking of growing up; I have some news that I will be posting soon, so check back later this week.

Feature Hunting

2008-07-09T17:11:00.002-04:00

Drove around, then walked around and I ended up at a Rec Center where these teenagers hang out every day. They've been doing that for years.

Onward Christian Soldiers!

2008-07-08T11:28:00.002-04:00

Pretty sky last night. I stopped by the Art Museum on my way home and photographed the massive statue of St. Louis that looks over the Grand Basin in Forest Park. The Worlds Fair was hosted here way back when. It's a cool place.

America

2008-07-05T17:50:00.002-04:00

Eyes to the Sky

2008-06-22T14:02:00.003-04:00

This is for a shootout with some ol' college friends. I still feel like a college student even though I'm paying health insurance and looking for full time work. It'll sink in next fall I'm sure.

I flew a helicopter!

2008-06-20T21:48:00.002-04:00

My parents always told me not to accept rides from strangers. Sound advice. But when a very kind stranger asked if I wanted to ride in his helicopter to photograph the flooded Mississippi River, I couldn't help but say yes. It was so cool. I mean I felt bad for all the people who's homes were underwater, but since the death toll seems to be zero and most people have flood insurance, it's not a great tragedy. It was so cool! He taught me how to fly the gyro and I flew it towards Grafton to photograph the houses I visited last weekend. It was so cool. I really can't believe my luck sometimes.

Moving to higher ground

2008-06-16T18:35:00.002-04:00

Hayden Crone, 9, rests in Pam Bick's trailer in Grafton after a morning of packing. Bick has lived in her house at 101 E. Main Street her whole life despite all the floods. She said when it's not flooding it's beautiful. She figures that If she moved, she'd have to worry about a different disaster. Teresa Prince | Post-Dispatch

Iowa has it worse, but the water's moving this way fast. I wonder if it will reach St. Louis.

Front Page!

2008-06-14T17:45:00.003-04:00

Yay for great play! It's not my best picture ever, but it the biggest anything of mine has ever run on the front page of a metro newspaper. I was really excited when I saw the newsstand. Huzzah!