We know many of you have been waiting for this so thanks for being patient! Our 2009 catalog of holiday cards and birth announcements is here!
Many of the designs are customizable - colors, text, font, size of images on the cards, etc. Also, birth announcement designs can be customized for the holidays, and vice-versa, so don't be afraid to ask if we can adjust a design for you.
Click here to see the complete catalog.
It's hard to believe that Nick and I have been married for 11 months. This year has flown by and it's almost time for our anniversary. Nick and I made promises, more like a bet, to each other and my end of the deal was to finish designing our wedding album by our first anniversary. Well, I'm not even close to being finished. I am finally seeing what my clients have always said about how difficult it is to choose their favorite pictures. While it's always a challenge to design a wedding or portrait album, I can honestly say now that it is easier for me to eliminate, sequence and group pictures than it is for a bride, groom or parent.
But now I'm designing my own wedding album and it is SO HARD! I've probably spent about 3 hours on it already and only designed 8 page spreads - and that includes the invitation on the first page. Anyway, while I keep my head down and try to plow thru, I decided that we needed some eye-candy, something to remind us everyday of our beautiful and memorable wedding. And we shouldn't have to wait until the album is complete to enjoy all the amazing pictures. (A bit of a copout, maybe. So what!)
So, I had a 24x36 canvas made of one of our favorite photos. It was shot during our first dance, a swing number to "You Make Me Feel So Young" by Frank Sinatra. Love the song and performing our well-rehearsed dance, with lifts and a gajillion spins, was one of the highlights of the entire day. What I love about this image is ....so many things. First, the expressions on everyone's faces - priceless. The lighting is superb, lighting up my dress and illuminating everyone's faces. Third, the composition of Nick and me in the frame. Fourth, that I can just barely make out Ben and Chris lighting and shooting this moment. (Thanks, Chris, Katie and Ben!) And most importantly, fifth, the memories is brings back. We love placing it above our bed. Since it's in a private space of the house, we get to enjoy it all to ourselves (well, except for this post, of course!) and it makes it really special.
I've had a really great time designing some new holiday cards. If you are interested in the holiday card package on Portrait Day, email me and I can send you the catalog as soon as it's complete.
While I was working on holiday cards, I took the opportunity to add some birth announcement cards to my collection. I absolutely love this new design. It's a tri-fold 5x5 card that is available in 5 different papers - linen, watercolor, semi-gloss, gloss, and matte recycled paper.
The day has finally come after months of planning and a year since the last event. Portrait Day 2009 registration is now open!
Only 12 hours until Portrait Day 2009 registration is open! This year's event is sure to fill up quickly so if you're interested in scheduling a session, be sure to check back here tomorrow morning for all the details.
BUT if you are a Facebook fan, you can register NOW. Facebook fans get the VIP treatment, so if you're not a fan yet, click the logo, become a fan and register early.
I know it's hard to believe that fall is right around the corner. Although, the last couple days of mild temps have been so amazing. Who would have thought that Atlanta could experience low 80's in August?! Love it.
I've been busy planning the fall and have some important dates that I thought I'd post here.
September
For any moms or dads out there who are about to embark on their first, first day of school for their child, the day can be filled with stress, anxiety, nerves and excitement, and that's just for the parents! Most importantly, it's a day you'll want to remember forever.
We are offering a new package just in time for the first day of Kindergarten or 1st grade. The "1st Day of School" is a documentary session that starts at home, as your child wakes in his cozy bed and includes those all-important first-day-of-school clothes, breakfast, getting the backpack ready, handing him lunch and out the door. Coverage continues in the car, up to the school doors and hugs & kisses. The package concludes with all your favorite photos in a custom-designed 5x5 Carry-About Album that you and your child are sure to cherish forever.
Because many schools begin on the same day, availability is VERY limited. So if you are interested, contact the studio immediately. 404-nine-six-six-7-two-7-two.
This weekend is the Children's Boutique Warehouse Sale at The Works. All the adorable clothes, toys, room decor and shoes you can find at the local boutiques, like Sugar Plum Kids, Limetree, and Wiggle are on sale up to 70% off at this huge warehouse sale.
Children's Boutique Warehouse Sale at The Works - Click the link or the image for more info and directions.
On Tuesday, I had the honor of being asked again to judge the ImageMaker's Competition, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America annual photo competition. Students compete in local competitions to reach the national competition where I and two other professionals judged the entries. It is such a great complement to be asked to judge. And it was wonderful to see how young children and teenagers use creativity to see their everyday world. Many students wrote about how photography has allowed them to see the world in a different way and opened their eyes to new things. I love that photography has that power and that they've had that experience!
I met Jen and Adam two years ago when they asked me to photograph their wedding vow renewal ceremony and dinner. They are beautiful people - inside and out - genuine and truly nice people, so when Jen contacted me recently to schedule a portrait session for their family, I jumped at the chance to see them again and meet Eli, the newest member of the family.
On a side note, Jen has an amazing blog that I love reading. I subscribe to many blogs to keep up on my friends and other big-name photographers, but Jen's blog is different. For one, take a look at the description she's given to it:
Stories of the frazzled and funny days I spend living life with two boys. Read on about how I manage motherhood, marriage, faith, friendships and all the little twists and turns along the way that keep it interesting.Plus, I love the name of it - Tales of a Southern Yankee. For all you mom's, I think you'll be able to relate to everything she writes about. So, if you do visit her newly designed blog, be sure to leave a comment. We blog people love comments!
Happy Belated 4th of July! Hope you had a wonderful weekend with family & friends. Nick and I had a great day on Saturday. We headed up to the north Georgia mountains to a blueberry farm and picked delicious blueberries. I had to sample them while we picked to be sure they were "ok." It was a great way to take a mini-vacation and do something different. And we've been enjoying them since. Blueberry muffins, blueberry pancakes....
These pictures are from my iPhone. Not bad, right?
After so many great responses to yesterday's Picture of the Day, I'm inspired. I have high hopes of being able to post a favorite image every day. (Those hopes may be a bit ambitious, but it's worth a try, right?)
So here's today's. Although it's not an image of a client, per se, I think it still qualifies. It's a shot of a collage in Cole's bedroom. The collage is from his first portrait session in December. I love the soft colors of the images (an effect I call "old film"), the rustic black edges and how amazing it looks on this walls of this colorful and playful room.
On Saturday, I had another great opportunity to second shoot with Matt Yung in Athens, GA. I truly love second shooting weddings with Matt. It was a lot of fun to be able to take some more creative shots and move around a lot more. As the lead photographer, I generally am concerned with getting a lot of "necessary" shots, in addition to candid moments, to be sure that I cover everything. But as the second photographer, I can be a bit more relaxed and look for the unique angles and candid moments that can often be missed. It refreshed my creative eye!
This is my favorite of the day.
I visited with Harper and her parents last week for her second portrait session of the Growing Baby Collage Package. Harper is just about ready to walk which is so exciting. Whenever she can, she will walk with mom and dad's help. And just like her first session, her smile is infectious.
I started playing with some new effects during the retouching process and I love the way these have turned out. Some are a bit retro looking, like they are old photos that were taken some 30 years ago or more, and others are just different and fun. My favorite image is the one below. A tender moment of Harper and her mom reading one of her favorite books. I love that it has so much emotion and yet leaves much to the imagination.
Enjoy the slideshow below by clicking the image.
I've been a bit neglectful of blogging recently. Sorry! I still love you all! I have however been posting to our Facebook page so be sure to become a fan.
I've been working on 4 album designs simultaneously, which is a new record for me, in addition to retouching a bunch of portraits and orders. I know that Christin & Jason are really anxious to see their wedding album and although it isn't complete, I can't wait any longer to show them (and you!) a few of my favorite pages. Their final albums, yes, I wrote "albums" because they're getting two to hold all the pictures from their 2-weekend celebration, will be beautiful Queensberry 18x12 Duo albums. The Duo means that the album is a combination of matted pages and flushmount/magazine pages - the ultimate in design.
I had the pleasure to meet Harrison and his parents last week for an afternoon portrait session at their home. He is a very happy baby and seemed to enjoy everything. We started off with a bath, then some dinner (mmm, spaghetti!), and then went in to the yard to play on the new swing set. I must mention here that Harrison's dad built the swing set - very impressive! And although it's not yet complete, Harrison is already enjoying it. Just look how happy he is on the swing!
The truck that he's playing with here was passed down to him from his Great Grandfather, for whom he's named. Imagine him playing with the same toy at Harrison's age - so amazing. I love that we incorporated this special toy into the session. It makes a beautiful memory.
Enjoy the slideshow!
My vacation was fantastic, albeit too short as most vacations are, but it was great. Got to spend some much needed time with my family, including my 9 month old niece, Elizabeth Sophie. I'll post some pictures soon.
In the meantime, it's been a bit difficult to get back into the swing of working after being off for a week, so I mosied (is that a word?) on over to YouTube to watch my favorite Muppet who always makes me laugh. Thought I'd share it with you...just for laughs. Amazing how much laughing can relax a person! Ok, I mean me...
Saturday morning I met twins, Duncan & Bennett, and their big sister, Evie, at Piedmont Park. With all the newborn portrait sessions I've been doing recently at my clients' homes, it's been a long time since I was at the park and it was great to get back. I was reminded how nice it is to photograph there, except when there's an event going on. So it turns out that Saturday morning was the Peachtree Junior Road Race. I had no idea there was such a thing, but it looked like a lot of fun. With so many people in the park, it's often difficult to take pictures of my clients without someone in the background. But I was up for the challenge. I figured out one wonderful advantage to photographing a portrait session in the park on the day of an event - MUSIC! We had great music to listen to throughout our session and it made the beautiful day even more fun. Hmmm...maybe I should start bringing music with me on all my shoots. :)
Thanks to Evie, Duncan & Bennett for a fun morning! I definitely got my workout for the day trying to keep up with the twins. If you're a mom with little ones who are suddenly walking, you totally understand.
Enjoy your slideshow. Click the image below to view it.
Reese has grown so much since I first starting photographing her a year ago. She is walking and talking now, and she has beautiful blond curls. I'm liking this look a lot better than the bald baby look. :)
I am really excited to start designing her baby album from all three portrait sessions. I'll be sure to post a few pages here when it's complete.
Click the image to watch the slideshow.
Have I mentioned how many of my friends are having kids? I guess there's just something about my age, but it seems like all my friends who are married are having babies. And as you'd imagine photographing my friends' families is SO AMAZING. I pride myself on getting to know my clients and knowing what moments and images will be most meaningful to them. Add that I know my friends even better, sometimes for years, and it makes the process of documenting their little ones even more special.
I've known Dan & Rachel since college. We all attended the University of Rochester (in fact, that's where they met) and I am so grateful for their friendship. Photographing Joshua was an especially fantastic experience. I can see how he resembles mom and dad in so many ways and it's so wonderful to see how much their love reflects in his eyes.
Click the image below to see a few of my favorite images from their session last weekend.
Spring is finally here and with it comes portraits! Yay portraits!
This morning I had the pleasure to visit with Clark again. I photographed a portrait session of him at Piedmont Park last year just after his second birthday. Now he has a baby brother, Luke. Luke has the most adorable smile and it was so fun talking to Clark. I am always so excited when my kids are able to communicate with me verbally and even use my name. At the end of the session as they were getting ready for lunch, he asked me if I'd like to join them for pizza. How cute is that?!
Here's Luke and his big brother, Clark.
It's been a long 5 months....ok, not really. It's just that I've been working on a lot of new projects since January. Kinda like a total business overhaul. June 1 will be my 6th anniversary so it was really time for some changes. I've learned a lot in these 6 years and while I have been making changes along the way to accommodate the requests I've received, this time it's a big change because so many things have been enhanced.
Today is the day that the new price list is being released! I know, not something you are really all that excited about, but you should be! We now have wall art collections, an inspiration guide to help you think about the creative and attractive ways you can display your favorite images, enhancements to the Coffee Table Albums with something totally custom-made (and unlike anything you've ever seen), and so many more things. Not only are there new concepts and products, but it looks beautiful too! Here's a little glimpse.
On my first full day in Santa Rosa Beach/San Destin, FL for Christin and Jason's wedding weekend, I had the absolute pleasure to photograph a family portrait session on the beach for some of my favorite clients. I have been photographing Avery and her parents, Kelly & Chris, since she was just a few months old. Now she's 5 and has a sister and brother. I don't get many opportunities to photograph sessions on the beach, so it was a real treat to photograph their annual portrait in the sun and sand. The weather couldn't have been better and ....seriously, what's not to love about playing at the beach? It was also a lot of fun to come up with new ways of photographing the whole family. Walking on the beach is just so simple and beautiful, and when I saw a row of 5 blue beach chairs, I couldn't resist. I love how Jack is standing on the chair in that image. It's just so expressive of his personality and of all the fun the kids had at the beach. Next year, I hope we can return to the beach for some photos of the whole family buried in the sand!
Click the image to watch the slideshow. As always, it is available for purchase on DVD or by download. Simply click the icon at the bottom of the slideshow to purchase.
Christin and Jason's intimate wedding (with just 20 friends and family) was on the beautiful beach of Santa Rosa, FL on Saturday. There were so many wonderful details and moments, and I am so excited to share them soon in the slideshow. But I know that Christin, Jason and their families are super anxious to see pictures, in fact, I'm pretty sure C&J are checking the blog from their honeymoon (hi!), so although I still have lots of editing and retouching to do, I wanted to share this great image. Enjoy!
The economy stinks and everyone is feeling the crunch. (As if I needed to tell you!) As we all try to make the best of this stressful situation, I'm reminded how important our families are. Remember how fun it was to ride bikes as a kid, go to the park, play a boardgame and do so many things that (hello!) cost little or nothing at all? It's those times that many of us remember most vividly because it was fun to be with our families without all the distractions. It's time to get back to basics and back to our families.
In honor of our kids, our husbands and wives, our parents and siblings, and the importance of refocusing our priorities, we have something really special for the first 5 people to contact us.
50% off our most popular ABC Storytelling Portrait session
The session includes:
A planning session at our Decatur studio
A 2-hour session at your home or local park for 3 people (additional people are $25/each)
An online slideshow of "photographer phavorites"
A Viewing/Ordering appointment at our Decatur studio
A Portrait Website for one month
And a $50 credit for the Viewing/Ordering appointment
Regular price for this package is $300 but this "back to basics" offer brings it to only $150.
So if you've been putting off scheduling a portrait session, carpe diem! This offer will only last as long as it takes 5 people to contact us.
And now for the fine print:
Portrait session must be scheduled for May 2009.
Travel beyond 20 miles from Decatur, GA will be an additional charge.
Prices for enlargements and other gift shop items are subject to current pricing.
This offer is not applicable to currently contracted work with Sara Speert Photography.
email: sara (at) saraphotography (dot) com
main: 404-966-7272
Our article in the Atlanta Jewish Times was published today and I am ecstatic to see that it got the front cover!
The images I took, including the one on the front cover, accompany the piece that Nick and I wrote about our experience on a trip to volunteer our time to the people of New Orleans. We left with a much better understanding of the reality there, inspiration from the survivors and community organizers, and an awareness of the great need for volunteer help and donations.
Thanks to the Atlanta Jewish Times for giving this issue the priority it deserves.
Read the article here...
Just some fun that my mom sent my way...
Playing For Change | Song Around The World "Stand By Me" from Concord Music Group on Vimeo.
http://playingforchange.com - From the award-winning documentary, "Playing For Change: Peace Through Music", comes the first of many "songs around the world" being released independently. Featured is a cover of the Ben E. King classic by musicians around the world adding their part to the song as it traveled the globe. This video and "Don't Worry" are available now at iTunes. Other songs such as "One Love" will be released as digital downloads soon; followed by the film soundtrack and DVD in stores on 4.28.09.
Pre-order the CD/DVD "Playing For Change: Songs Around The World" now at amazon.com!
www.tinyurl.com/c6mhgd
Order the "Stand By Me" and "Don't Worry" now at itunes!
www.tinyurl.com/bl7fvf
Sign up at www.playingforchange.com for updates and exclusive content.
Join the Playing for Change Online Street Team at:
www.ufanz.com/teams/playingforchange
Join the Movement to help build schools, connect students, and inspire communities in need through music.
My amazing husband, Nick Edelstein, played on Fox 5 Atlanta's Good Day Atlanta this morning! Check out the footage below. He's playing organ and guitar, and he got a lot of face time, because he's so hot. :)
The band, Connor Christian & The Southern Gothic, is playing this weekend at The Atlanta Dogwood Festival. They go on at 6:30pm on Saturday.
Registration is officially open for Portraits in Baltimore. We will be in Baltimore (my hometown!) May 30 - June 3 and we have sessions available for newborn, baby, children, family and couple's portraits.
Christin and Jason are getting married in a little over two weeks on Santa Rosa Beach, FL. I am really excited to photograph another beach wedding and especially to document their intimate ceremony with only 20 people. The celebration will continue a couple weeks later at Barnsley Gardens so that's where we decided to go for their engagement portrait session.
They are so in love and excited about the wedding, and I loved being able to capture some of that emotion. I'd never been to Barnsley Gardens before and I really think I could have spent a week with C & J photographing them all over the grounds. From the ruins and the lush gardens, to the wide open fields and hiking paths, it's a photographer's dream. Good thing we'll be back there again for the reception. :)
Click the image below to watch the slideshow. As always, this slideshow can be purchased in widescreen DVD or downloaded to your iPod by clicking the link at the bottom of the show.
Nick and I were flattered when we were asked to write about our recent trip to New Orleans with Jewish Funds for Social Justice in the organization's monthly e-newsletter. I totally recommend the trip and JFSJ so be sure to check out the next trips to Tampa, Asheville, Savannah and New Orleans. It was a rare opportunity to help the people of New Orleans who really need volunteer support in order to get back on their feet.
Harper's portrait a couple weeks ago was the first of the Growing Baby Package. Mom and dad decided since they loved so many of the pictures that the Carry-About Album would be a perfect baby album. And I couldn't agree more! After each session, they'll be adding to the collection and getting another album. How cool will it be to have such fun albums documenting Harper's first 12 months!
Check out this adorable 5x5 album. The colorful circles I used as backgrounds on many of the pages are actually on the wall in the nursery. I just love all the bright colors.
