A Hiking Portrait

My second portrait on Saturday was with the Land's. As I mentioned in my previous post, I photographed this cute family last February at their home. This time, mom thought it'd be fun to head outside and explore the outdoors with their son. We met at The Roswell Mill and I must say I was completely unprepared for the hike we had ahead of us. Not realizing that the area is mostly gravel, tree roots and dirt, I wore....flipflops. Not so smart. By the end of the day, my flops were so torn up that I had to throw them away. But nothing kept me from enjoying the unbelievable views, the perfect weather and the curiosity of this adorable three year old.

It's so fun to watch little ones enjoy and be fascinated by everything around them, from playing in the river to discovering new bugs to climbing on rocks. Just goes to show how the best photos are the ones that capture you doing something you enjoy and not just posing for the camera.

Ahhh, the open air. The sound of crashing water at the waterfall was so refreshing.

We had such a great time and this new portrait location is sure to be a repeat. Thanks again!

Take a look at their slideshow here.

A Growing Family

I had a busy day on Saturday. It started with the Gotham's at their beautiful Atlanta home. The weather couldn't have been more perfect. And I swear I'll have to find out if I can use their backyard again for future portraits. It was an oasis of beauty - large hydrangeas, lush grass and huge mature trees.

They are pregnant with their third and they couldn't be happier. It's so nice to meet families who share so much love. I have the best job!

Mom and Dad

A kiss for the baby


playing on daddy's legs

Thanks for sharing this special time with me. I can't wait to meet the little one in a few months!
Take a look at their slideshow here.

Gearing Up

I'm gearing up for some really busy weeks ahead. This weekend I am photographing three portraits - I think that may be a record for me. It's funny how all three portraits represent different milestones for each family.

The first is a maternity & family portrait - the third child for this growing family. I'm so excited to photograph little hands on mom's belly!

The second is a family who I photographed last February. Trip is so adorable, so full of energy and is so expressive. Here are a couple of my favorites from that shoot (before I had the BLOG to post pictures.)


And the third is a portrait for a great couple that got married a few years ago. I was going to photograph their wedding, but they decided to change their local plans and have a very small destination wedding. Just so you know in the future, I love destination weddings and I'm happy to follow wherever your plans take you! So they wanted to get some great couple's portraits since they were less than satisfied with their wedding pictures. I am especially honored to photograph them because Kristian works at PPA (Professional Photographer's Of America). You know she could have asked any photographer so it's super cool that they've asked me to photograph them.

Next weekend, my parents are coming to visit to help us make a final decision about the venue for our wedding. I am excited to confirm the date so I can start doing other things. I think I'm most looking forward to the cake tasting! Mmmm....cake. I wonder how difficult it is to get an ice cream wedding cake. That would be the best.

Sniffle, sniffle, cough, sneeze...

Back on the road to being healthy again. I've been sick for like... forever it seems. I got sick with a nasty cold about four weeks ago. It lasted a week and then I got better for two and then I got the same thing again. I am finally on anti-biotics as a last resort and am feeling a lot better. Nick is always pretty resilient to everything I catch, but this time he couldn't avoid it. During band practice last week, he actually lost his voice. (It's weird, but I always wanted to lose my voice when I was young. I thought it was so cool, but now, not so much.) He had a gig on Saturday so not having his voice was not an option. We took a fun trip to the doctor on Friday and he fixed us both up. While the doc talked to Nick about his music and his CD, he mentioned that Usher is a patient there. Pretty cool.

It's been an exciting week aside from all the coughs and sniffles. We finalized our plans to renovate our kitchen. It's going to be beautiful. Dark wood cabinets, stainless door handles, quartz countertops.... I have to admit though, that I am really nervous about the actual construction. I remember when my parents' kitchen was renovated back in the late 80's I think. It seemed like it took forever and cooking everything in the microwave got old really quick. Since I do a lot of cooking, working from home and all, I am not looking forward to cooking on whatever appliances we can plug into the dining room. I know it will be worth it so I am just hoping that my patience lasts longer than I anticipate, or even better, that the kitchen is completed super-fast! I'll be sure to post some before, during and after pictures.

Puppet Fun

On Saturday, I headed to The Center for Puppetry Arts to photograph a fun day for AutoTrader.com. I enlisted the help of two friends, Bonnie Heath and Jenni Girtman of The Decisive Moment and the AJC. They are both really talented photographers and it was great to have them on my team. The event was really fun with dinosaur hand-puppet give-aways, make-your-own-puppet and Dinosaurs, the show. Here are some pics from the day.

Watch out! Pinocchio's going to step on you!

Happy raffle-prize winners!

Rebecca Watson demonstrates how cool the dinosaurs are, with sound effects and all!

How cute is this hoolah-hoop contestant?


Hand-made dinosaur puppets make great shadow puppets.

See you next time!

Courtney & Michael's Slideshow

Here's the link to Courtney and Michael engagement portrait slideshow.

Slideshow

Thanks again you guys!

Feelin' Love on Luckie Street

Courtney and Michael are a great couple who are getting married on the beach in beautiful St. Augustine, FL this Memorial Day weekend. We went out last weekend to shoot some engagement portraits. They were so much fun dancing in the street, smooching in front of old warehouses, relaxing on the grass in Centennial Olympic Park, and playing in the park's famous fountains. Michael said he knew when I liked what they were doing because he could hear my camera snapping away! I don't think they minded having a papparazzi for a day since we got pictures like these...

Feelin' Love on Luckie Street

so cute dancing in the street!


who knew the Atlanta Court of Appeals building could be so sexy?!


wrapped in Michael's arms


Isn't he romantic? Good thing the police just around the corner didn't see where that flower came from!


Centennial Park Fountains...

Congratulations Courtney and Michael. See you in Florida!

View their slideshow soon.

Jennifer & Adam

Connie and I photographed our first ever vow renewal ceremony and reception on Sunday for Jennifer and Adam. They are such an amazing couple. After 6 years of marriage and their 2 year old son, Ethan, they decided to renew their vows to each other with a Jewish ceremony at Shearith Israel.

The major difference from a traditional wedding was that they weren't under the normal stress that most couples and families are. Questions like, "Do you have the rings?", weren't asked with cringed faces anticipating a poor response. Instead there was laughter, a lot of laughter, Florida basketball updates, direction-giving to lost relatives who somehow managed to circle all of Atlanta on I-285, Ethan running around during the ceremony, Rabbi Norry pouring shots of whiskey for everyone after the Ketubah (marriage contract) was signed, and the most beautiful vows I've ever heard. It's so amazing how years of marriage will change the types of promises made and the way that a couple will describe their love. It was apparent that their love has grown so much stronger since they were first married. Jen's vows were so beautiful that my eyes started to well up and I was forced to stop shooting for a moment so I could see.

Their dinner reception was at Muss & Turner's in Smyrna. Ryan Turner's beautiful restaurant was the perfect host to Jen and Adam's small gathering. The intimate ambiance, delicious food, and, from what I heard, great wine tasting all complemented the celebration for Jen and Adam.

Here are some of my favorite images.

walking down the isle...

... the Jewish tradition of the bride circling the groom seven times at the start of the ceremony

Ethan was having a blast running around while the ceremony took place....



...the celebration continued to Muss & Turner's

Click here to see their slideshow.

Painting Party for One

After grabbing an early dinner at The Righteous Room with my friend Arrie, I headed home to tackle painting my office. While I continue to work during the day, Nick and I have been trying to work on the renovations in my new office at night and on the weekends. The peachy paint isn't so peachy, so I decided to paint the walls a more neutral gray. (The Sherwin Williams paint is actually called "Grayish" which I found amusing.)


The best part of the renovations so far hasn't been the paint, but a cubbie/file/display wall that we're putting in. The fireplace on the other side of the wall created this weird "nook" that could only be one thing in my mind. Since I needed storage for large collages, wall enlargements and framed pieces, I thought it'd be a great place to customize something that would hold these large pieces on the bottom and shelves above for sample albums, information, etc. Here's the progess so far.


The house is old, built in 1947, so none of the walls are straight and there isn't a right angle anywhere, so fitting shelves and all the files have been no easy task. Luckily, I have Nick for that! So as soon as the shelves are cut, I'll be able to paint them and we can finally finish. Well, finish the cubbie. So far, I've only painted one of the four walls. All in due time, right?! I am so excited for it all to be finished. It's going to be great.

It's time to celebrate!

I found out on Tuesday that I was nominated for an Allie Award for Best Event Photography for Beth & Tim's wedding! How cool!! The judges are caterers, florists, event production people, basically every type of vendor you would ever need for a wedding or other event. The awards recognize outstanding work, ethics and service to event and wedding clients. I'm so excited to be honored as an exceptional wedding photographer by my colleagues

The gala event is on March 25 and is just like the Oscar's so I'll be waiting anxiously in my seat to find out if I won. Just being nominated is a huge accomplishment, but it would be great to win.

Thanks to Beth & Tim and Suzy at Neverland Farms, the venue for the September 2006 wedding. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

By the way, could they have found a more elegant and iconic person to represent this year's award ceremony? Audrey Hepburn has been a favorite of mine since I saw Breakfast at Tiffany's. In fact her picture has been on my fridge for the last 4 years to serve as my inspiration. Everytime I see her picture, I'm reminded to continue aiming to be a graceful and genuine female professional.

Funky Friday Rocked!

On Friday night, Nick's band played at Vinyl and I went to shoot some pics of them. They competed in the Emergenza contest and sounded the best they've ever sounded. I've taken a lot of pictures of Nick before, (in fact that's how we met) but I think these are the best live shots I've ever taken. Nick has a ton of shows coming up, so check his schedule on Myspace and join us at his next show at Maddy's in Decatur on April 14th or at Black Bear Tavern this Saturday with the Kerry Hill Band.

Fascinating Article about Portraits

I was reading one my many photography magazines - Studio Photography - a couple nights ago. The pile of backlogged mag's that I haven't been able to keep up with has gotten out of hand since I moved. I'm sure you can relate to stacks of newspapers and magazines that you want to read but sometimes just can't find the time to read. Anyway, I came upon a really interesting article. It's called "The New Face of Advertising: Fed up with Scandals, Threats, Public Drawn to Real People" by Denise Waggoner. It talks about how advertising campaigns have used images of people to convince potential customers of the greatness of their products.

"We all remember the handsome and rugged Marlboro Man, who made the filtered cigarette a symbol of masculinity."

She goes on to describe why images of people are so descriptive.

"According to David B. Givens, Ph.D., director of the Center for Nonverbal Studies, the answer may be written all over their faces. Givens describes the face as every human’s visual trademark, a powerful expression of attitudes, opinions, and moods that defines our identity and enables us to communicate—and connect—without words."

Without any verbal communication, we are able to read the mood of others. I think we are so accustomed to doing this that we don't even think about it anymore. But think about it. You can always tell when that person in front of you in line at the grocery store is in a hurry without speaking to him. Or you can see when someone is having a great day because they smile or laugh for what seems like no reason. Something great must have happened, right? I think that is so powerful. We are so perceptive that we don't need language to understand others.

© © 200122768-001/Jack Louth/Getty Images

"This portrait’s calm, quiet confidence connects the viewer with an inner desire to possess the same qualities."

The article goes on to say that we are so inundated with advertising in all media, that we find ourselves trying to sift through it all to find truth. And that means that we trust product ads more when we see people using them that look like us. We don't beleive the supermodel perfection.

"... audiences had become skeptical about 'slicked up' advertising centered on artificial heroes. Consumers no longer wanted to see perfection; they wanted to see themselves."

© © 200283064-002/Sir Stafford/Getty Images
"Portraits can recognize diversity, while focusing on individual style rather than groupthink."

It's interesting that they were able to isolate this phenomenon in their study because I find myself doing this all the time. I know that the spectacle of perfection isn't real so whatever product is being advertised using this guise, I consider a lie. It's nice to know that I'm not the only skeptical one out there!

So, in the future, advertising will continue to move in this direction of showing real people to convey truth.

"We’ll also see a growing number of advertising concepts that rely on the appeal of authentic personal testimony. . . the new aesthetic will fuse both conceptual and documentary styles, forming a compelling visual based on abstract realism."

And you know I love that the future of advertising will be this "truth" aesthetic because that 's what I strive to do every day for my clients. Being able to reveal personality, mood and the essence of relationships is what makes photographs so meaningful.

Roulette, Blackjack and Dancing

Back in December, we photographed the annual holiday party for AutoTrader.com. I always have such a great time with the ATC crew. Everyone is so happy and welcoming and their events don't feel at all like work. :)

The big event was held at the Westin in Buckhead and drew about 2,000 people. While I don't usually enjoy photographing posed pictures, everyone there made it so fun. Barry, Connie and I must have laughed all night. Here are a few of my favorite shots.

The great view of Lenox Square from the private balcony.


The chef made me swear not to show this picture to his bosses. He was posing for me and didn't realize that his knife was in the wrong hand. "That'll make it tough to cut!"


Charlie's Angels


Adorable happy couple.


My friends, Michele & Hilly, who are always available for a picture.


Sha-zam!

Our Doors are Open

My first official client meeting in the new space was this morning and although the 5 of us were a little cramped, it went great. Monica and Morris are a fun artistic couple from San Francisco. And their amazing wedding coordinator, Margie Sikes of Affairs of Elegance, is full of energy. She and I worked together at Noelle and Nathan's wedding a few years ago at Park Tavern.

Being artists themselves, M&M (cute, huh?) really understand the importance of photography at their wedding. In fact, they had already decided that it would recieve the largest budget of all their vendors. They explained that they wanted to be able to enjoy captured moments as art in their home. They spoke about a photographer at a friend's wedding (and I've heard this so many times before!) who made the couple re-walk the isle and redo just about everything in order to photograph it. How frustrating would that be to have to stop your day just so that the photographer can take pictures?! The point is to document the day, to tell a story, the re-experience the day as it happened - bloopers and all - every time they look at their album or wall photographs.

I'm really looking forward to photographing their wedding in the fall. So, it seems that the new space is good luck so far!