Thursday December 4th, 2014: Shero Brianna Castillo

Shero

Meet Brianna! Brianna is truly a light to anyone who meets her! I’ve known Brianna for a few years but I reconnected with her to capture my senior pictures. I could not be more pleased with them! She totally understood the look I was going for and they turned out AMAZING! If you need pictures taken in the DFW Area contact Brianna because she ROCKS.

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Brianna is todays SHERO! If you haven’t seen the first Shero post it’s here!

Just so you can get to know Brianna a little better…

(I pronounce it bree-ann-ah, not bree-ah-nuh). Photography is my passion and I feel so blessed to be able to pursue my passion full-time! For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been drawn to photography. When I was about 8 years old I would set up a mini studio with random knick-knacks from around the house, a white blanket as the background, and entertain myself for hours with a point-and-shoot camera.

I love photographs but what I love even more are the people photography allows me to meet. Getting to be a part of my clients’ lives and capture such special moments that they will look back at for years is what I love most.

In every area of my life (especially photography), I am in a perpetual state of learning. I haven’t reached a level where I think I know it all, and I never will. I love trying new things and am always open to ideas!

Another passion of mine is adventuring. Check out #CastilloAdventures on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter and you’ll see what I’m talking about. Although I live in Dallas, Texas, you never know where I may end up…I don’t even always know! I have strong roots in Minnesota and travel there frequently, often shooting some sessions while I’m there. Tell me where you’d like me to be and we can probably work it out.

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 Brianna and her husband Oscar

What do you like to do in your spare time?:

            I like to spend time with my husband and friends. We like to have people over for dinner as often as possible. It’s our ministry together. I also like to run.

Looking back, would you have ever seen yourself where you are now?:

            Part of me wants to says yes… As a kid I would say yes, but as a young adult I finally got back to what I wanted to do, photography, my main passion.

What’s the biggest lie the enemy tells this generation?:

            I think the biggest lie the enemy tells this generation is to put your value and worth in the wrong things and to loose sight in your value and worth.

Any advice for young girls?:

            Keep your focus on what’s most important to you. You need to decide what is most important to you (God) and you need to focus on that. You need to base everything off that. When you try to do what the world tells you instead of what God tells you, you will fail!

 If you could go back and change anything, would you?:

            I want to say yes, but no. I know that all the mistakes and wrong choices I made, make me who I am. If I could go back I wouldn’t be who I am today. We can’t live life wishing we could change the past. It’s made me who I am and I’m so thankful for that.

What’s your favorite scripture?:

           “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make you path straights.” Proverbs 3:6

If you focus on him and that’s your reference point, everything else will be okay.

           “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

Keep him the main focus and don’t let yourself be influenced by the enemy.

 Here’s a few of my favorite pictures Brianna captured for me!

View More: http://castillostudios.pass.us/hannahsenior2015 View More: http://castillostudios.pass.us/hannahsenior2015 View More: http://castillostudios.pass.us/hannahsenior2015 View More: http://castillostudios.pass.us/hannahsenior2015 View More: http://castillostudios.pass.us/hannahsenior2015 View More: http://castillostudios.pass.us/hannahsenior2015 View More: http://castillostudios.pass.us/hannahsenior2015

 Follow Brianna on Instagram and Like her Photography Page on Facebook!

Also email Brianna if you have any questions! brianna@castillostudios.com

Always, Hannah

Thursday September 18th, 2014: SHERO Kara Gore

Shero

Today I’m starting a new category on the blog called Sheros, which I got from Taylor! A Shero is a she hero (duh 🙂 ). Sheros are woman I find who exemplify the Proverbs 31 woman. These are women who put others before themselves and personify Jesus.

Today’s Shero is Kara Gore. Kara Gore is your modern day superwoman! I have the privilege of personally knowing her. Kara and her husband Shane have three adorable kids, Hayze (11), and twin girls Morgan and Makenna (9). Kara works with the youth at my church and as I’ve gotten to know her, she has become a role model to me.

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Kara is the real deal. She is the most organized person I know. She can do literally anything. She handles herself with so much grace and humility. She has taught me what it looks like to balance church, a marriage, and raising kids. If you know Kara you know that she is truly Jesus with skin. Kara is willing to do anything for others. She would give you the shirt off her back. She is an amazing woman and a true SHERO!

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-What do you like to do in your free time?

            I love to spend time with my kids and husband. I know I only have a certain time with my kids so I try to spend as much time with them as I can. I also like having people over at our house. When I have time for myself I like to go shopping… Every momma who gets alone time needs some retail therapy! 🙂

-Would you have imagined your life looking like this when you were a teenager?

            No, not at all. When I graduated high school I thought I wanted to be a paralegal. I grew up in church, but I never would’ve thought I would end up working in the church. I wouldn’t have imagined marrying a pastor either. Not that I wouldn’t have, but I just wasn’t living my life the right way. I wouldn’t have thought that God would’ve used me.

-If you could go back and change anything in your past would you, if so what?

            Yes, just choices I made about boys that I liked and the way that I lived my life. I would’ve been a stronger Christian.

-What are some encouraging words to teenagers/ young women?

            Pray about decisions and consult the Lord in every decision you make. In your dating life, friendships, etc. Make good choices. I learned the hard the way and I wish that I would’ve learned that the first time around. It’s better to make good decisions early in life than to look back with regrets. I also wish I would’ve been a better example at school and been a better Christ like example in my classmates lives.

-Favorite Scripture

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28

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Get connected with Kara:

Twitter: @karagore

Instagram: @kgore