Picture of the Day - Large Family Portraits in Atlanta

As things wind down here at the studio, we are finishing up some New Year's cards, enlargement orders and preparing for our planning month ahead. I have so many ideas for 2011 and I can't wait to share them with you. In due time...

I hope you are enjoying these last few days of shopping and getting ready for Christmas and New Year's. I'm looking forward to some time cooking and baking in the kitchen for some parties we're going to with friends, and next week is my birthday! Nick and I are 3 days apart so we decided it was time to have a joint birthday celebration. Looking forward to some dancing at Loca Luna!

So, you may remember this family portrait from an earlier post. The goal was to get a few group portraits of everyone for grandma. Under normal circumstances with 4 adults and 4 children (3 of which are 3 years old or younger) that would be somewhat difficult. But the kids were amazing and did a great job. I was actually able to give the family a few different options for the group shot and this is one of them. Learning a technique from one of the greats in our industry, Drake Busath, I photographed each family separately and then brought them together in Photoshop. I love the result - natural and relaxed expressions, and intimacy that can only happen when the individual groups are small.

Click the image to see it larger.

Picture of the Day: Corporate Event Photography - A Surprise Guest

I recently photographed a corporate dinner at the beautiful St. Regis Atlanta in Buckhead. During the cocktail hour as guests were arriving, two guests entered the room and my excitement overtook me. Ok, maybe "overtook" is too strong a word because I tend to put on the calmest face when I am stressed or excited in company where I need to hold it together. So maybe it's better to say that I was jumping up and down ... inside my head.

Andrew Young and his wife Carolyn entered the room with such grace. Andrew Young is like Atlanta royalty. He was Atlanta's mayor, UN Ambassador, US Congressman, executive director of the SCLC, colleague of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., founder of the Andrew Young Foundation, chairman of Southern African Enterprise Development Fund, and he received the Presidential Medal of Honor among many other accolades. And, as I quickly found out, he is such a nice man and very approachable. He asked me to take a few pictures throughout the evening of he and his wife so how could I refuse? Here are some of my favorites.

Wedding Photography - Engagement Photography on Decatur Square

On a cold and blustery Sunday afternoon, Elizabeth and Joe somehow managed to stay warm throughout our portrait session. Must be love or something. :)

So excited for your wedding in May! Congratulations on your engagement!