a teaser

And because I know my dear friends, Michele and Hilly, are DYING to see pictures from yesterday's portrait of Max, here's a teaser....



More to come this week.

Harper's 1st Portrait

What a week! I am still working on getting the pictures from New Orleans up so check back soon. This past weekend was a busy one with two portrait sessions, a wedding consultation and a shoot at B'nai Torah for the membership directory cover. I'll start with adorable Harper.

Harper's mom acted quickly back in December when we offered discounted gift certificates for the holidays. The timing was great because Harper was born just a few months ago and they have been anxious to schedule a time for me to start photographing her. This is the first of the Growing Baby Portrait Collage series so I am really excited to see how much she changes over the next year. It was wonderful meeting this beautiful family and seeing the love that mom and dad have for little Harper.

Enjoy the slideshow by clicking the picture below!

Day 1: St. Bernard Project

So this is the house that we worked on today. It's in St. Bernard Parish. It's owned by a wonderul old man who used to be a shrimp fisherman. We spent the day insulating the house, ceiling and walls. I've never had such great knowledge of fiberglass insulation. I have a bunch of pictures but can't seem to figure out how to get multiple pictures here from my iPhone without doing multiple posts. So if anyone has an idea, please comment below. Off to sleep....

Arrived and settling in

So, Nick and I arrived in New Orleans tonight without any travel drama. It's amazing! Our group is 16 strong and everyone seems really nice and excited to start working. Our day tomorrow starts early at 7am - translation: so early that I don't remember what that time of day looks like. I am so - correction - we are so not early risers. We stay up usually til around 1 or 2am so getting up tomorrow is going to be interesting.

But I am so excited to finally get to the first project and get my hands dirty. Since all of the renovation I've done in the last 2 years has been on our house, I'm excited to put all my newly acquired knowledge to use. Did you know that I know how to do drywall, tile, paint, stain and I'm really good with a hammer? I am! They are so lucky to have me. :)

More tomorrow with some "before" pictures.

Helping Out

This week, I am headed to New Orleans for an amazing opportunity. Nick and I are volunteering to help rebuild New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. It was the costliest tropical cyclone to ever hit the US and is responsible for an estimate $81 billion in damage. It's hard to believe that 3 1/2 years after the storm, families and communities are still trying to rebuild. From what we've heard, the volunteer efforts have tapered off so we are really excited to help out and offer our support. Here's some info about the two projects we'll be working on:

St. Bernard Project removes barriers for families who wish to return to their homes in St. Bernard Parish. They are able to completely rebuild a house that has been gutted to the studs in 12 weeks and for $12,000, with a lot of volunteer labor. Since August 2006, they have helped 184families and recruited 10,000 volunteers.

School at Blair Grocery is a project started by teacher, Nate Turner. He has turned this neighborhood grocery into a home school for community youth. The goal is to teach the kids not only the standard disciplines, but also environmental education, community awareness, social justice and organic farming. They are even using adjacent abandoned lots for their own organic gardens. Check out the video of Mr. Turner discussing the project.


If you're interested in volunteering, the organization we're working with is Jewish Funds for Justice.

I hope to blog while we're there, with before, during & after pictures, and more information about what's needed in NO, so be sure to check back.

STuFF - Sara's Totally Fantastic Finds (Episode 3)

This image provided by GeoEye Satellite Image shows Washington D.C.'s National Mall and the United States Capitol (top), in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009 taken at 11:19AM EDT during the inauguration of President Barack Obama. The image, taken through high, wispy white clouds, shows the masses of people between the Capitol and the Washington Monument. (AP Photo/GeoEye Satellite Image)

Check out some more amazing and inspirational images from President Barak Obama's Inauguration at the 44th President of the United States. The photographs are not only from Washington, DC but from all over the world where people watched the monumental day. Thanks, mom for passing this on to me!

STuFF - Sara's Totally Fantastic Finds (Episode 2)

In today's second episode, "episode" (kinda like a comic book, or for those more advanced, a graphic novel), I have two Finds to share.

The first I found by way of one of the many photography blogs I read, Anna Kuperberg's. She posted a link to this fantastic website that sells really cool baby, toddler, kids and mommy clothes. Everything from organic onesies to maternity shirts to cool diaper bags for dad. Check out this adorable infant t-shirt!

Can't you see trying to adjust that knob at 3am while your adorable baby keeps you awake?!

It's called www.babywit.com and if you're like me, you'll spend way too much time looking through the online catalog. But it's really fun!

Ok, the second Find I have to share is The Children's Boutique Warehouse Sale Friday and Saturday, February 20th and 21st. It's a month away so you have some time to get the girls together for a fun afternoon of boutique shopping at ridiculously low prices. A portion of the entrance fee goes to a local charity. The location has changed this year, so be sure to visit the website for directions.

Have a great weekend!

Announcing Portraits in Baltimore

For all our mid-atlantic and northeast US clients and friends, we're heading your way this summer!

We're scheduling sessions now for

May 30 - June 3
Baltimore, MD

Packages are available for baby, kids and family portraits. All portraits are done on-location at your home, at a park, at the Harbor, etc. These "day-in-the-life" portraits sessions last 2 hours and capture natural moments with little posing.

To RSVP, email us here.

STuFF - Sara's Totally Fantastic Findings (Episode 1)

It's a new year and so I thought a perfect time to start something new. I am always finding things, places and activities that I think are cool, fun, meaningful, useful, or otherwise just interesting. I keep thinking," this would be fun to share on the blog," so I'll be sharing those things with you and I'd love to get your thoughts about them. (Just click on Comments at the bottom of the post.) Hopefully I can do this once a week, but don't kill me if I can't maintain that. It is kinda busy around here.

So, being a recent Mac convert, I no longer have all the error messages, blue screen of death, or the irritating - no sound when surfing the web. (Yes, it was really time to upgrade.) This little discovery has been around for quite a while, so don't kill me for just experiencing it because work preempted any fun on the error-filled computer.

AOL Internet Radio is so awesome! Free radio from any CBS station across the country. My personal favorite station of the day is Boston's 80's Channel. They seriously play all of my favorite songs from the 80's, including the first song I ever bought on 45 vinyl, "Rock Me Amadeus" by Falco. Seriously, I haven't heard that song in SO long. I have another preset to the local Atlanta station DaveFM. So when I don't feel like getting up to turn on the radio (yeah, sometimes I feel lazy!), I can still hear Mara rant about something during the lunch hour.

So if you haven't tried it out, take a spin. You can listen to any genre of music or talk radio you can imagine.

(wow, I'm listening now and you won't believe what just came on....."Joy and Pain" by Rob Base. Hello memories from junior high!)

The Very Best of 2008

2008 was both an amazing and trying year. The economy, the housing market and the growing unemployment rate has been felt by everyone, but instead of dwelling on that negative, I prefer to stay positive and note all of the wonderful things that happened this year. [Cause when I stay positive, good things happen. :)]

For one, I got married! On a beautiful October Sunday, I uttered my vows through tears to my best friend, Nick. The entire weekend was better than I ever imagined.

And the year was filled was so many memorable moments with my clients. So many cute faces, hugs and kisses, and tears. Ok, many of the tears were mine. I don't know what it is, but just about every time I meet with clients for the Viewing appointment, I tear up looking through the images with them and seeing their responses. Whether they are laughing or tearing up themselves, it means so much to me that my images can illicit that kind of feeling. I think of what my favorite childhood pictures remind me of, the feelings I had at those moments, the security and love I felt from my family, the memories of reading Goodnight Moon with my parents, the thrill at the moment that my brother and I were caught red-handed sneaking Oreo cookies while we thought mom and dad were still asleep upstairs, sitting on my grandfather's lap..... The thought that I am helping kids (and parents) keep memories of their childhoods is both powerful and humbling.

I've heard from clients and friends that they teared up looking at other clients' slideshows, so now I have proof that I'm not just a softy. Just brings tears to my eyes thinking about it.

Ok, I've wiped away the tears and I'm ready to move on to my favorite images from the year. I'm liking this idea as an annual ritual so let me know what you think. Be prepared - this is going to be my longest post ever. Enjoy!

Thanks for looking through all these images. Have an amazing 2009!

Jack is ONE!

Wow, it seems like a really long time since I last posted. I've been busy doing a lot of planning and reorganizing for 2009. It's going to be a fantastic year and I am so excited about some of the changes taking place. To round out 2008, I'll be posting my favorite images from the year soon. But if you're a fan on Facebook, you can already view the pictures.

Last week I had the honor of photographing a portrait session for my friends, Jenny and Pete. I photographed their wedding, only my 4th wedding ever, back in 2004. Here is Jenny looking stunning in her gown and veil at Frogtown Winery in Dahlonega, GA.

So photographing a storytelling portrait session for them with their one year old son, Jack, was a real thrill. I just love having an opportunity to document families at such special moments. Plus, the fact that Jenny and Pete are so wonderful makes it even more enjoyable. Here's Jack's slideshow... Click the image to view the show.

As always, the slideshow is available for purchase on DVD or digital download. Simply click the DVD icon in the menu bar of the show.

My New Year's

Hope you had a great new year's. Here are a few pictures from our time in Dahlonega, GA. The cozy Blue Ridge Mountain town is a great escape from Atlanta and not far away either. Just 1 hour away, we found ourselves surrounded by Christmas lights covering all the trees on the square, homemade maple syrup with Georgia pecans, an awesome jacuzzi in our hotel room, strange and funny items at the local antique stores and some very parched rivers and lakes :(

But first, Nick's birthday was on Monday. Here he is blowing out all the candles on his ice cream cake from Bruster's. Yum!

Nick performing at The Crimson Moon. Love the ambiance and the food at this place and the music isn't half bad either. :)


the countdown to midnight ... love my iphone!


On New Year's Day, we went to a park to take a short hike around the lake, only to find that the lake had been abducted.


But we were still happy because it's 2009. So happy, we felt like jumping for joy.


And I am happy it's my birthday!


The end.

Happy New Year!

Happy 2009! I'm in Dahlonega, GA enjoying some time with Nick. He
played last night at The Crimson Moon and when the clock struck 12, we
celebrated the new year AND my birthday, January 1, 197... You didn't
think I was actually going to tell you age, did you?! So enough
blogging for now. We're off to enjoy brunch and the cool, clean
mountain air.

Hope you have a happy, loving, healthy, inspiring, productive,
rewarding, laughter-filled year! May 2009 be the year you look back
on without any regrets.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The Final Hours

The Gift Certificate sale is almost over. This is the last chance to save on portrait sessions, wedding packages, wall art, fine art canvases and more.

Know one of our clients? This is the perfect holiday gift. They can use the gift certificate to purchase anything they want.

New client? Use your gift certificate toward any portrait, event or wedding package, or any of our Gift Shop items.

Looking for a unique holiday gift for your wife or mother? Use your gift certificate for a beautiful sterling silver photo necklace. She'll love you for it!

The 20% off sale ends at 6pm today. Contact the studio at 404-966-7272 or place your order here.

Cole's First Portrait

Before heading to hear Annie Leibovitz yesterday, I photographed Cole's first portrait. This cutie is so blessed with two mommies who's love for Cole is touching. His beautiful nursery is serene and with the rain outside, the warmth of their home was soothing. Cole has three dogs who all make appearances in the slideshow below. It's only right to photograph the first "babies" in the house! The Christmas tree was another great scene that I just loved capturing.

Enjoy the slideshow below by clicking on the picture. The show is available for purchase on DVD or digital download. Simply click the DVD icon in the menu bar of the show.

Annie Leibovitz and me

I had the great opportunity to hear Annie Leibovitz speak last night at the Jewish Community Center in Dunwoody. She is on a tour publicizing her latest book, At Work. I recently saw a documentary about her on PBS and it was fantastic. Maybe you were lucky enough to see her exhibit at The High Museum last year. Tonight's book reading and talk were all about how and why she took some of her most memorable images. John and Yoko, the guards rolling up the carpet after Nixon's resignation, Demi Moore's pregnancy, and so many others. It was fascinating to hear how she originally got the idea to create staged storyboard portraits, or what she calls "Conceptual Portraits" - from a client! She was photographing poet Tess Gallagher in 1980 and Tess said that she had a horse and would like to be photographed with him. She also had masks all over her home and wanted to get dressed up. So Annie obliged and shot the image. It inspired her to start these types of portraits which have helped make her one of the most well-known photographers ever.

(iPhone picture) - waiting for the book reading to start.

Afterwords, we stayed to meet Annie and have our book signed. She was so nice to pose for a picture too.

Thanks to Marsha Brenner for the picture!

Holiday Special

Because you're so special, we're offering a special especially for you.

Gift Certificates are on sale!
That's right!
20% off all Gift Certificates
of $100 or more

The fine print: Sale ends Friday, December 12th. Gift Certificates will be mailed within 3-4 business days of purchase or you may pick them up at our studio by December 19th. Gift Certificates expire 6 months from date of purchase. Gift Certificates may not be transferred and have no cash value. Call the studio for more information 404-966-7272.

Holiday Card Design - The Stewart's

The Stewart's adorable holiday cards for 2008. White linen folded card with one image. The gray band at the bottom will not be printed. The front of the card features a black rough edge around the image which gives it a more finished look.

Memories of Thanksgiving

Really, it's hard for me to accept that it's December. I keep looking at the calendar trying to reinforce the idea, but it just won't sink in. Since I don't often go out of town on long vacations, I think our honeymoon just really threw me for a loop. I left town when the weather was my favorite - low 70's and sunny - only to return to 40's and 50's. Brrr! What happened to my northeast toughness, you may ask? I spent the first 18 years of my life in Baltimore, MD and then headed even further north to Rochester, NY for college. Four years of 8-month winters and "lake-effect snow" was enough to encourage my pilgrimage to Atlanta, but I always laughed when I saw people around town bundled up when the thermostat read 50-degrees. "You have no idea what cold is! This isn't cold!" Now, I've become such a wimp. I can't seem to get warm in our drafty house. And I refuse to go out for my nightly walks because it's just too cold!

I got a break from the cold weather over Thanksgiving when Nick and I went to Orlando to visit some of his family. The weather? Sunny and high 60's. Yay! We got to see the family, reminisce about our wedding, walk on the beach, eat a delicious Thanksgiving dinner, window-shop without coats, and the really fun part - we went to going to Disney! I haven't been to Disneyworld since was about 8 years old. (Everything wasn't nearly as big as I remember...) The Magic Kingdom was so fun. My favorite rides were Pirates of the Carribean, Peter Pan and The Hanted Mansion. Funny how I remembered The Haunted Mansion. It must have scared me so much that the memory of standing in the dark waiting for the car to arrive is burned in my memory.

Check out this warped picture of Cinderella's Castle.
My iPhone had had a couple by this point. :)

Nick and I in line for Peter Pan...
One of the few lines we had to stand in.

Me and Dumbo. I'm the one wearing sunglasses.

Disney Ducks! These were actual real ducks!
After seeing all the mechanical animals for hours, we couldn't believe our eyes.

I was talking with Nick in general about taking kids to places like Disneyworld. When kids are so young, there's no way of knowing if they will ever remember it. He wondered if it was worth spending upwards of $50 or $75 for admission, plus hotel and transportation on an experience they may not remember. Since most memories are based on the emotions you feel at the moment, I'm thinking that Disney is a very memorable place. Whether they scream on Thunder Mountain or stood in awe of Mickey Mouse, chances are if they're tall enough to ride the rides, they'll probably remember something. But more important than that is that they had fun while they were there. Since we can't know what kids will remember, isn't it worth it to have the most varied, fun, exploratory, educational, new experiences possible?

(And now for the shameless plug....hey, at least I'll admit it!) This is why photography is so important. I think we've all had the experience of not remembering something from our childhood until we saw a photograph of it. Or even more extreme, when our visual memory is directly tied to that photograph. What memories will your kids have? What will they have the opportunity to remember simply because there's a photograph of it?