Last few days for our Fall Promotion! - Ends Nov. 1st

All orders placed and sessions booked by November 1st are eligible to receive a FREE custom iPhone, Blackberry, or other cell phone/PDA skin.*

Introducing SKINS! What's a SKIN? It's a durable 3M vinyl that transforms any phone/PDA into a one-of-a-kind art piece. Select your photo and we'll create your customized skin just for you. What's better than being reminded of your favorite people everyday and showing them off to everyone you know?!

The skins are low-profile and won't interfere with docking, charging or any other accessories. They don't leave any residue behind so when you're ready for an update, simply peel off the old one and replace it with a photo taken during your most recent session.

All orders placed and sessions booked by November 1st are eligible to receive a FREE custom iPhone, Blackberry, or other cell phone/PDA skin.*

iPhone/Blackberry/all other cell phone skins = $75 value
iPad skin = $100 value

*Free with a minimum order of $700. One per family. Orders may not be combined. Promotion is only valid at Design Appointment.

Contacting the studio at 404-nine six six-7272.

Picture of the Day - Atlanta Baby Portrait

Today's Picture of the Day is just so darn cute! Little Eva was the perfect model throughout our 2-hour session. Eva's parents are hoping to put up a Wall Collection of pictures in their hallway that are a bit antique looking. Retro-inspired borders around the pictures really make the entire collection something special, but let's be honest, Eva is the star. These 9 pieces can be printed onto Fine Art Canvas or Fine Art Metal and hung as a cluster.

As she grows, we'll add another collection from each session to document her growing up.

Meet 6 month old Eva!

Adventure Portrait: Patrick (Marietta Children's Photographer)

As your little one grows up, it is so exciting to watch them enjoy their favorite activities. Whether your child is quiet and observant, or rambunctious and talkative, Adventure Portraits are a fun and non-stressful way to capture their personality. During our Planning Meeting, we'll discuss your child's interests and incorporate those interests into the session. Love animals? Let's go to the Atlanta Zoo like Cole. Love to play dress-up? Let's put a bunch of clothes and jewelry in a trunk, find a full-length mirror and play!

Last year Patrick was really into trucks, especially fire trucks. So an Adventure Portrait at the local fire station was a huge treat. He also loves sports and especially loves ice hockey so this year we headed to the ice skating rink. He challenged me to a race on the ice on the ride over to the rink and guess what? He beat me! Yay, Patrick!

It's hard to believe that Patrick is four years old. I've been photographing him since he was 5 or 6 months old, and now he's a big kid!

Click the image below to view a slideshow of Patrick's Adventure Portrait. (warning: there is music on the slideshow so turn down your sound if you're at work.)

Picture of the Day - Day in the Life Adventure Portrait

Playing with dad
Adventure portrait session on the
Chattahoochee River Cochran Shoals Trails

Blog Action Day 2010: WATER

Blog Action Day 2010: Water from Blog Action Day on Vimeo.

Across the world today, thousands of people are blogging about water issues facing people everywhere. As a proud blog writer, I think it's important to join in the conversation and raise awareness of the need for attention to this most basic human need.

Here are some interesting facts about WATER: (used with permission from http://blogactionday.change.org/)

1. Unsafe drinking water and lack of sanitation kills more people every year than all forms of violence, including war. Unclean drinking water can incubate some pretty scary diseases, like E. coli, salmonella, cholera and hepatitis A. Given that bouquet of bacteria, it's no surprise that water, or rather lack thereof, causes 42,000 deaths each week.
2. More people have access to a cell phone than to a toilet. Today, 2.5 billion people lack access to toilets. This means that sewage spills into rivers and streams, contaminating drinking water and causing disease.
3. Every day, women and children in Africa walk a combined total of 109 million hours to get water. They do this while carrying cisterns weighing around 40 pounds when filled in order to gather water that, in many cases, is still polluted. Aside from putting a great deal of strain on their bodies, walking such long distances keeps children out of school and women away from other endeavors that can help improve the quality of life in their communities.
4. It takes 6.3 gallons of water to produce just one hamburger. That 6.3 gallons covers everything from watering the wheat for the bun and providing water for the cow to cooking the patty and baking the bun. And that's just one meal! It would take over 184 billion gallons of water to make just one hamburger for every person in the United States.
5. The average American uses 159 gallons of water every day – more than 15 times the average person in the developing world. From showering and washing our hands to watering our lawns and washing our cars, Americans use a lot of water. To put things into perspective, the average five-minute shower will use about 10 gallons of water. Now imagine using that same amount to bathe, wash your clothes, cook your meals and quench your thirst.

While these facts may be grim, there is hope for real solutions as more and more people around the world are waking up to the clean water crisis. Earlier this year, the UN declared access to clean water a human right and groups like charity: water and Water.org continue to work tirelessly to bring water access to the developing world.

________________________

The vulnerability of this once-thought infinite resource became a personal realization a couple years ago here in Atlanta when we had been in a drought for so long that water restrictions were put in place across the entire state. I remember capturing water from the shower in a bucket as the water warmed up so I could later water the plants outside. I remember being so conscious about unnecessary running water, like letting the water run as I brushed my teeth or washed dishes, and it seems that now that we are no longer in a drought that no one is talking about the need for conscious water use anymore. I am happy to report that turning off the water when I'm brushing has become habit and I don't think about it anymore, but there are many more things I could do to help preserve this resource and to help provide clean drinking water for those who need it.

This website does an amazing job of explaining why safe drinking water is so important, its affects on the people who have no other choice but to drink unclean water, and what you can do to help. The organization, charity: water, donates 100% of it's donations to help build wells where safe drinking water is not available.

I'd love to start a conversation so please feel free to leave a comment below (look for the "comment" link).

• Has your perspective of water changed throughout the last few years or maybe after reading those scary facts above?
• What do you do to help conserve water or provide clean drinking water to others who need it?
• What do you think is "doable" to make a change in your everyday life to conserve water?

If you have a blog and would like to join the conversation, visit Blog Action Day 2010 website to learn more.

STuFF - Sara's Totally Fantastic Finds, Episode 18: Just for Fun

Just for fun and smiles...

(thanks to my sister-in-law for showing me this and brightening my day.)

Photography as Art

Buying family portraits for your home used to mean little 5x7's and 8x10's in small frames on desks, mantles and shelves. Not that there's anything wrong with displaying your favorite people around your home - but today there are so many great options for incorporating photography into the fine art in your home. If you have ever struggled with what to put up in your living room, above your mantle or even in a stairway or hallway, let me tell you a little secret. Get really close to the computer and listen...

Pictures of your family are the most personalized and one-of-a-kind art you can ever buy. They have the ability to bring back rich memories, make you laugh and truly fill your home with warmth and love. There is no other art that can be this meaningful so forget those old rules!

Take a look at this wonderful use of family pictures. With the intention of adding to this wall as the four children grow, we've left space in-between the framed pieces. And by making use of the vertical space and working with the step formation of the stairs, this is a great way to display a series of pictures and most importantly, to enjoy them everyday.

Happy Anniversary to my best friend

Two years ago today, I married my best friend. It was, what I thought, the best day of my life, but honestly, life after the wedding is so much better than I ever imagined. Happy Anniversary, Nick!

See ya! We're off to celebrate!

The Museum School Project - Installation

The long-awaited day finally came last Thursday. With all the planning, scouting, organizing, finding sponsors, photographing, post-processing and finally installation, Exhibition Night at The Museum School was a great way to bring the project to a close and to see the product of so much time and thought. (Learn about the project concept and pre-production here and view the photo shoot video here)

Thanks again to Salon Red Kids for sponsoring the project, our fantastic lab for printing the photograph on fine art metal (and discounting the cost for us), Jen Singh for all her help and organizing, Ms. Pomfret for being a wonderful teacher and model, and all the kids for being great models and their parents for volunteering to help with this unusual project.

The best part of the evening was hearing from the classroom parents how much they liked the piece and how much it meant to them to have it in the classroom. It's a great honor to create a piece of art that means a lot to the entire school community.

And here is the final piece in the classroom. It was printed on high-gloss fine art metal - super-durable and quite striking.

STuFF - Sara's Totally Fantastic Finds, Episode 17: Pickles & Ice Cream for Expecting Parents

Pickles & Ice Cream Event

This weekend we are going to be at a great event for expectant moms and dads. Stop by to get great information (and great discounts) from childbirth instructors, doulas, chiropractors, yoga & fitness professionals, massage therapists, and other vendors specializing in the needs of new and expecting parents.





The event is sponsored by Baby Steps, PSS Injury & Wellness Center and Dance 411.



Where: Dance 411 - 475 Moreland Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30316
When: Saturday, October 9th, 4-6pm (ChiroTalk at 5:30pm)

Come by to say hi!