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About studio563

It's the sweet passion in her smile as she meets the gaze of her beloved; the look of pure, unrestrained love in his eyes as he sees his future walking down the aisle; the tear of prideful joy as his bride becomes his wife; the laughter, the passion, the tenderness found in a loving embrace; the moments that change lives and the emotions that are forever remembered — that's what we capture.

We are studio563, a collection of Houston and Austin's most talented young photographers. We are an assortment of faces and stories who work seamlessly and consistently together to provide you with a most beautiful account of all your most meaningful memories. We deliver the finest art at the highest quality, making studio563 your first choice to capture every look, every smile, every emotion. Our sophisticated style and friendly approach ensures that your experience is as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.

We are studio563, your photographer.

About Chip

Hey!  Thanks so much for stopping by my studio563 blog! 

This is the place where you'll find all my latest wedding-related work on the web.  I will update this site as often as I can to keep the newest, freshest studio563 looks coming your way.  Feel free to poke around, as there may be more exciting things hidden here and there around my site.  And always feel free to leave a comment or two to let me know you were here!

peace.

Finding Hope in Haiti

Please try and understand what I mean when I say that there is no possible way I could even begin to describe my experience in Haiti.  In fact, these past 10 days have been so incredibly moving and have had such an impact on me that I fully expect to look back to these days and be able to identify a definitive turning point in my life.  Not that I am radically somehow some different person or that I’ve changed the way I think about everything in the world around me, but — well — kinda…

I’m not much of a journal-er, so I found it ironically appropriate that my sister gave me one for my birthday just before I left.  She had taken the time to draw me some sketches and write me a message in the front before she sent me off, so I felt obliged to keep somewhat of a log of my experiences while I was there.  I’m not good at it, but it was good for me to put some thoughts on paper — to work through the gut-wrenching emotions I had felt on any given day, or simply to remember a funny or meaningful moment.  I debated on sharing any of it with anyone — I felt, and still do I guess, that what is written there is more for me than for anyone else.  But decided to share a small excerpt here.  Below is actually the last entry from the week — my closing thoughts, so to speak.  This is the way I will choose to remember my first trip to Haiti.

“I took a trip this week that cost me nothing, and cost me everything.  In the same moments I saw the depths of human need and despair, and the pinnacle of hope and beauty, life and love.  I saw that sometimes the “least of these” can be the greatest.  I saw people give until they could not.  I heard people sing when it seemed they could not.  I watched people strive forward when most others would not.  This trip cost me everything.  It cost me my pride, my sense of self, my sense of safety and indifference, prestige and entitlement.  Everything.  I have nothing left.  And now I can truly live.”

peace.

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GiveHopeForHaiti

Last night was a most beautiful and moving experience.  For many of us, our hearts have been broken for those affected by the earthquakes in Haiti, but for most of us it has felt so far away.  Last night, for me at least, it came home.  From watching a monstrous outpouring from both volunteers and financial donors, to learning that our friend Aaron Ivey got a phonecall that his son was on a plane from Haiti and would be in Orlando in only a few hours — it was an evening I will not soon forget.  Collectively, the two Give Hope for Haiti events raised over $13,000 that will go directly for orphan care and clean water solutions.  But perhaps even more than that, it seemed that people who had previously felt a distance from Haiti understood that they are not (and are never) too far away to make a difference in someone’s life.

There are far too many people to thank individually here, so I won’t attempt to.  And, the people who served and gave last night didn’t do it for the thanks.  They did it because they believed that their voice, their dollars, their presence matters.  And it does.

Please click up this link to watch a short video from Houston’s Fox station’s 9 o’clock news.  Having watched this just now I’m struck that within a half-hour of the shooting of this video, Aaron got the phonecall that his son was on the way home, and within an hour of that, he and his wife were aboard a Southwest Airlines flight to Florida to embrace their son for the first time ever on American soil.

There is hope for Haiti.  Right now, some of it is found in us.

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/local/100122-haiti-benefit-concert

peace.

A New Part of My Story

In fewer than two weeks from today, I will join a small group of people who are making an immeasurable difference in the lives of many thousands.  Through an organization called I Am Change and their clean water initiative Hydrate Hope I will be taking part in providing clean drinking water for tens of thousands of people in Haiti, while also helping to establish long-term employment and sustainability by helping build a bio-sand filter factory near Port-au-Prince.  This factory will give employment opportunities to local people and will manufacture bio-sand filters that will provide families with clean water for decades.  The work we will do in our six days in Haiti will not magically change the world.  But what we will help establish will, for a very long time to come, provide clean water, employment, and, most importantly, hope.

I hope that the plight of the poorest of the poor in Haiti is not far from your mind.  It’s likely you’ve watched or read the news stories.  Maybe you know someone who has worked there or is working there now to help.  Perhaps you’ve already even donated financially to the rescue and rebuilding efforts.  I hope you have — the people of Haiti are desperate for your help.

But if your heart breaks daily over the pain and fear and devastation that the Haitian people have experienced and want to help further, please support us.  In order for us to establish the systems that we are trying to create for the long-term rebuilding and redemption of Haiti, we have great needs.  Not the least of these is financial.  If you have watched the news or heard the sound bytes, you know that a texting campaign from the Red Cross has already raised over $20,000,000.00 in less than a week.  That’s huge!  People are giving generously, and that money is making a marked difference in the lives of suffering Haitians.  But let me point out another mind-boggling fact here about the Red Cross texting campaign :: not one of those donations was greater than $10.

Just because you don’t have ten grand in a cookie jar or under the mattress, or a stock portfolio to rival Warren Buffet’s doesn’t mean that your donation can’t make a huge difference.  Ten bucks — three lattes — can mean a world of difference for someone whose greatest and most immediate need is drinkable water.  So please think and pray about giving to I Am Change and Hydrate Hope.

Another need we have is your prayers.  We do not leave for this trip without a healthy amount of caution.  We are not going on a vacation.  We are not going to a safe place.  We are going where we are called; to the place with the greatest need.  And we believe that our God has gone before us and has orchestrated every step of our journey.  We struggle against fear and in moments our faith is tested.  But we know what we are to do.  Likewise, our wives and children will not be waiting for us at home without the slightest bit of apprehension.  They, too, will need your support and encouragement.  Please pray for our safety, for favor with the existing governmental authorities, and for the effectiveness of our mission and ministry in Haiti.

We know that God is greater than anything we will face, and He will provide for us and protect us as He will.

We know that we, a very small group, can make a huge difference in the lives of hurting and suffering people.  We are confident that God will provide for us as we go.  We are sure that He will use some of you for that provision.

peace.

chipgillespie
iamchange.org

Amy and Stuart | Houston, TX Wedding

Stu and Amy met at church camp.  I was totally there…

Stu and Amy were married last month at Ashton Gardens.  They were surrounded by their closest friends and family.  ALL their friends and family.  HUNDREDS of their friends and family!!  I have never seen Ashton Gardens so full.

The ceremony was beautiful and the DJ kept the dance floor packed.  All in all, it was a super fun day and no one had more fun than Amy and Stu!  Here are some of my favorites from their day.  Enjoy!

peace.

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After the wedding, Stu, Amy and I headed into town for a bride and groom session.

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Favorite.

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Chelsea and John | Courtyard on St. James Wedding

Chelsea and John were married just before Thanksgiving at the Courtyard on St. James.  Their evening wedding was beautiful, and the party that followed was not one to be missed!  Matthew accompanied me and snagged some killer second/angle shots, as well as some slammin’ details.  Here are some of my favorites from the day. Enjoy!

peace.

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Get it, girl!  : )

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