I was asked by Expectant Mother's Guide, an Atlanta publication for new and expecting moms, to write an article about taking the best pictures of your child. It was such an honor to contribute to this great magazine which is chock full of wonderful information ranging from financial planning to the benefits of infant massage to nursery design.
It’s a day you’ve dreamt of for months. As you leave the hospital, you can’t believe that this little bundle is yours. You step into your home and it hits you, “What now?” You have so much to do, but at that moment all you want to do is lie down on your bed and stare at this beautiful little person who just changed your life. This is a moment that you want to remember forever. His little fingers and toes are the cutest things you’ve ever seen. His lips, his eyes, everything is so perfect! So you reach for your camera to capture this moment. It’s a picture you know you will look at over and over again, so you cross your fingers that it will turn out..... continue reading the article.
The magazine will be available in March at local pediatricians' and OB doctors' offices.
What is a SpokesMAMA? She's a mom who loves her kids and adores professional portraits of them. She loves the candid and artistic style of our photography and the emotions that it captures. She is active in her community, meeting with other moms at mommy groups, church/synagogue groups, at daycare and school, and online. She frequents Facebook and Twitter, parenting forums and listserves for her neighborhood. She thinks our portrait photography is awesome and may or may not already be a client.
As a spokesperson of Sara Speert Photography, the winning SpokesMama will represent SSP to her friends and family. She'll take every opportunity to share the photos that were taken during her sessions and talk about her experience with SSP. She'll use social media, printed fliers, email, etc. to refer other like-minded families to SSP. (Printed pieces will be provided by SSP)
Be our SpokesMAMA, spread the word about SSP and help us grow!
In exchange, if you are chosen, you will receive a free ABC Storytelling Portrait Session package which includes a Planning Meeting, a 2-hour session, a Design Appointment and a $250 credit for anything purchased at the Design Appointment. This package is valued at $500. AND you will also receive 25% off your second session during your year-long tenure as a SpokesMAMA or a $125 discount off your chosen Growing Baby Portrait Package that will be completed during your year.
This contest is for newborns. In order to be selected, you must have a baby who is 2 weeks old or younger in the month of March 22 - April 22, 2010. CHANGE: NOW OPEN TO BABIES BORN BETWEEN MARCH 22 AND JUNE 22! (If this does not apply to you, join our mailing list - we will be holding contests for families with older children soon.)
Contest ends on Thursday, March 18th. Winner will be chosen on Monday, March 22nd.
Although the snow is all but completely gone just 3 days later, I loved it while it lasted. I worked most of the day on Friday until I couldn't resist any longer headed outside to play. My parents who live in Baltimore have been overwhelmed with 3+ feet of snow in the last week (and today they will get even more), and I have to admit that I was a bit jealous. After living in Rochester, NY, I never thought I'd miss the snow again, but it finally happened. Seeing their pictures and hearing the reports of record snowfall made me wish I could helicopter in to spend a few snow-days with them. So when we got our own bit, I was so excited. Here are some pictures I took Friday afternoon. It's been a long time since I went out to just shoot for ME without any agenda. So this was a lot of fun. Here's to hoping we get another snowstorm so I can play again.
I discovered this great time-saver and back pain-easer for bathing your little one. No more bending over one of those inserts in the tub or lugging those heavy basins around.
And when you're finished, simply hang it up to dry.
In case you missed it, we added a link on the right side of the blog for one of our favorite online stores. Kir De Vriesis an awesome shop where you can buy everything from reusable stainless steel BPA-free water bottles, insulated lunch totes that I would love to use as a purse (they're so cute!), and washable produce bags (to cut down on the use of plastic bags that aren't good for anyone.) It's a wonderful way to take one more step to being green and looking great doing it.
If you decide to purchase something, let me know! I'd love to hear what you think.
Only one day left for the Valentine's Special. It's a super deal and an original gift that your spouse is sure to love. Cute, personalized, unique and *so* your child!
So, if we did a portrait for you in 2009 or in the last month, click here for more information and to purchase it online. (Sorry, time's run out for new sessions with this package.)
So, I just got word of another fantastic sale but this one's for the ladies (ok, maybe a few men's items too.) The Best Boutique Sale Ever Warehouse Sale is on Friday and Saturday, January 29th and 30th (that's THIS weekend!) in Decatur. Save up to 90% (wow, that's some good savings!) on items from some great local boutiques, including one of my favorite stores, Boogaloos. (You gotta see their adorable website.)
It's time again for The Children's Boutique Clothing Sale. Save up to 70% off clothing, decor, toys and shoes from some great Atlanta boutiques including Wiggle and Sugar Plum Kids.
The sale is at Atlantic Station above Z Gallerie (one of my favorite stores!) on Saturday, February 20th, 9am - 6pm. And just like the last time I announced this great sale, I highly suggest making it a mom's day out with your friends. Leave the kids with dad, go out for some great deals on boutique clothing, grab a bite to eat, and maybe even a glass of wine or some Coldstone ice cream. Whatever you're reason, or even if you have to make up one, it's time for some girl-time!
I mentioned on Facebook (are you a fan?) a few days ago that I was really excited about photographing a portrait session for an old client. It's really quite flattering. I photographed Mae 5 years ago when my business was really in its infancy. Mae was so adorable and her mom came up with a great idea for the session. She put Mae in a tutu and a precious star and ooodles of beautiful portraits were born. 5 years ago I didn't have a blog, so here are a few from the session. If you've been to the studio, you'll recognize this one immediately because it's hanging on one of our walls.
More cuteness:
Sadly, Mae and her parents moved up north a few years ago and I haven't heard from them for a while. So, when I got a call from Mae's mom a few weeks ago, I was so excited. Of course I remember them. How could I forget. This portrait session was one of my favorites.
So, Mae now has a little sister who is about the same age as Mae was when I photographed her years ago. The family planned a trip to Atlanta and wanted to schedule a session while they were in town. What a fabulous idea! Seriously, so flattered that they remembered me. Mae's mom told me that she's had portraits done of the girls since they left Atlanta, but that the photos I took remain her favorite.
Take a look at 7 year old Mae. She is so beautiful and I just LOVE her hair. Gorgeous thick auburn hair is my favorite.
Mae and her mom 5 years ago and today.
And here is Evie. It's quite amazing how much she looks like her sister. Ok, amazing maybe isn't the right word, because they are sisters afterall. But I just love it. Beautiful curls and the same vibrant personality.
And although we tried to get both girls into their tutu's, we weren't so successful. But I'm so glad I was able to capture this one of Evie. Can't you just hear her laughing?
Lovely girls. Can't wait to see you again soon! Let's try to make it sooner than 5 years though, ok?
I have been remiss. I promised days and days of blogging, and I did make it 5 days in a row (my best record yet), but as soon as I headed out of town for Imaging USA (an annual national convention for photographers), I lost some steam. I refer only to blog steam, because I've been really busy getting all my ducks in a row for 2010. It's amazing as my business grows and matures how much more work I create for myself. :) I was inspired at Imaging USA, as I always am at photography conventions, to streamline what I'm doing, to create even more value for my clients and to rethink and reinforce the concept .... that I need some help. I can't do it all anymore and I would love to work with some cool people. Ok, so I'm looking for a couple good people for some help. First, is a graphic designer. Ideally, you are someone who has your own business or you are doing some freelance on the side of a full-time job, because what I got is a lot but not full-time. I'm looking for a self-starter, someone who is in love with graphic design, who lives, sleeps and breathes graphic design, someone who can think outside the box. I am a visual artist and all, so presentation is everything and the projects I have for this year require some creativity beyond letterhead and business card branding.
Second, is a sales and design consultant. I don't mean a car sales person because.... ew. That's just not my thing. You are someone with passion for interior design, someone who is not only friendly, but can really connect with people on a personal level. You have sales experience or, more importantly, have a business degree. You always take note of how businesses you frequent market and sell their services and goods, and you always seem to be taking mental notes or talking to others about what you see. You are not pushy but you are clear with your ideas and suggestions, and you have a subtle way of making them known. Again, this is not a full-time position but if things go well, it could grow into something much bigger.
If you know someone or you yourself fit the bill, please contact me at info (at) saraphotography (dot) com.
Oh, by the way, neither of these positions are 9 to 5. The graphic designer position is by project and the sales and design position is PRN or as needed.
And now back to our regularly scheduled blogging. Seriously, I'm going to post something right now. :)
Watching and reading the news about the devastation in Haiti following yesterday's earthquake is so upsetting. Like everyone else, I feel that I need to do something to help.
So, we will donate a portion of all January sales, including the Valentine's special. The percentage we will donate will increase with more sales.
If you were thinking about booking a portrait session for your family, this is a wonderful way to help a community in need at the same time.
This cutey-patooty is just as fun as she looks. Check out her 5x5 CarryAbout Album filled with playing, reading, snuggling, her mom's beautiful wedding sari, and lots and lots of laughter. Click to see the album.
During the week of Christmas while many of us were cooking and doing last minute shopping, I photographed a portrait session in Dunwoody, GA for this beautiful family. All three grown siblings have kids of their own and the family continues to grow with little Chapin being born just 3 months ago. Since the entire family doesn't live in Georgia, being together for the holiday was a wonderful opportunity to schedule a family session.
Normally I like to include one favorite image from each session in my Picture of the Day. But I had a really hard time deciding so instead, here are two. Yay!
Getting all the girls together for a few photos was so much fun. Emily had a toy she just had to play with at that moment and I love everything that's going on on the couch behind her. Nuzzling noses, laughter and Emily's mom wishing that she'd rejoin everyone. There's something about the chaos of this moment that depicts so well what family holidays are all about.
The love of a grandmother for her grandchild is unmistakable and so lovely.
I got the best (and most unusual) complement this morning from one of my clients.
"Sara, you're like crack. We're addicted to you and your photography. Your photography is the best I've ever seen."
How awesome is that? I've never been told I'm addictive like a drug. But I like the idea. :)
Take a look at the CarryAbout Album created from Carter's Growing Baby Portrait Package. It's amazing how much he's changed since I started photographing him. Thanks Jonathan!
If you couldn't tell from my lack of blogging action, December was a bit crazy. And I'm sorry for ignoring you for too long. Hopefully you've been following me on Facebook and have become a fan on our fanpage so you haven't gone into withdrawal. I kid, I kid (as in the words of Jeff Dunham) I know you didn't go into withdrawal because you were just as busy, I'm sure!
Over the holiday weekend, I wrote a list of all the things I want to blog about and the list isn't even complete at 15 items. So, get ready for some mad blogging throughout the next few weeks.
I'd like to begin with something a bit somber. On December 14th, my Great Aunt Esther passed away. She was 92 years old and lived a long and rich life. She was my Grandfather's sister and they had so much in common. She loved her family and relished the time she had with them. She had such a thirst for education and knowledge that she attended adult education classes at the local college in her 70's and 80's. She always had wonderful words of advice to share with me and never missed an opportunity to tell me how much my grandparents would have been proud of my accomplishments. In some ways, losing her was like losing another part of my grandfather, so it was an especially difficult thing to handle.
The last time I saw her was on my last visit to Seattle in March 2009. It meant a lot to me to be able to visit with her and I will cherish this photo forever.
Me, my niece Elizabeth and Aunt Esther in March 2009
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Future blogging.... Best of 2009 Incorporated? Wha? We're Google's favorite, no really! A Christmas family portrait Weekend session change
Puzzled over how to use photography in your home in a way that looks great and works with your existing decor? We've been working to make it easier for you to envision the possibilities including offering examples by photographing our clients homes.
Just love this one at William and Margaret's home. Both kids did a Growing Baby Portrait Package which included three sessions for each of them in the first 12 months. The final product - two Jazz Collages (9-images). Placing them in the stairwell is such a great way to add style and memories to a place that would normally be passed by.
Perfect for the holidays! Go in with your friends on a one-of-a-kind gift for an expecting mother. Had a portrait done with us last year and itching for a new session? Mention it to your in-laws for a wonderful holiday gift that you know you'll love. Take the guesswork out of a Valentine's gift for your hubby - buy a gift certificate for a portrait session and the enjoy the gift for years to come. The options are endless.
Save on all Gift Certificates, Baby Registry, Gift Registry and Wedding Registry purchases
Save 10% on all gift certificates/registry purchases valued $50 to $300 Save 25% on all gift certificates/registry purchases valued $500 Save 25% on all ABC Storytelling Portrait Package gift certificates
I met Naomi early this year when Nick and I decided to take a trip to New Orleans to volunteer our time to help rebuild in the aftermath of Katrina. The trip was so educational and moving that upon my return, I created a movie with the images from my time there and my thoughts about our experiences. You can watch it here. I also wrote one article and had one written about me in the Atlanta Jewish Times and Professional Photographer Magazine.
So, Naomi is one of the amazing people that worked for JFSJ, the organization that sponsored the trip. Her enthusiasm about the program and her genuine desire to connect with all the volunteers was palpable and infectious. She and Alana guided the Atlanta office to great things. So, when it came time to thank her for her efforts, we couldn't think of a more fitting thank you than a portrait session of her family.
Photographing Naomi and Michael and their two girls, Jolene and Talia, was really fun. After a morning of rain, the skies cleared and we had a beautiful fall sunset. Riding bikes, pretending their backyard was Cinderella's Ball, and singing silly songs meant the pictures from their session truly captured a day-in-the-life of this family.
Today you get 3, count 'em THREE, Pictures of the Day. I just couldn't resist. :) How adorable is Simran in her bassinet? Yes, this was taken in her home and no, I didn't bring this prop with me. This is what makes storytelling portraits so special. This is Simran's bassinet that she used to sleep in when she needed to sleep close to mom. What a wonderful way to remember how small she is now.
One of my clients recently asked about something she saw in another client's photos. Harper has some colorful dots on the walls in her room. They match perfectly with the rest of the brightly colored decor in her room.
Besides looking great, they are removable stickers! Yes! That means that as your child grows, you can change the walls without damaging them. Love that.
When Simran's mom asked where Harper's mom got them, I contacted her to find out. And when I went to the website I was blown away. There are so many great things there for a nursery so I thought I'd share it with you too!
They have a great selection of wall stickers, like this tree.
Look at this inventive hi-chair. Not only does it come in great colors, have a 5-point harness system, pneumatic-assist, easy-lift height adjustment allowing infinite positions, but it also won the Best Baby and Infant Product 2009 in the Netherlands.
And they have some eco-friendly stuff too which is awesome. When you're trying to prepare a beautiful, soothing and safe nursery, it just makes sense to get eco-friendly furniture and toys to keep the room free of strange chemicals and earth-depleting materials.
This is a 100% formaldehyde-free, FSC Certified real wood book caddy.
If you know of a product, website, blog or anything else that other parents should see, please let us know. Email us at info (at) saraphotography (dot) com.
On Saturday, I photographed a Halloween party for a house-full of one-year old's. I was so excited about photographing this party because really, there's little that is cuter than a baby in a hooded costume. And, I was definitely not disappointed. All the parents I met were really great and Courtney's parents were wonderful to host such a fun party.
And bonus! - Courtney walked for the first time at the end of the party! It was a really exciting moment. Everyone started clapping and she looked around like she had no idea what the big deal was. So cute. It got me thinking that if I could time my clients' portraits sessions for the exact moment that their child takes his/her first steps that'd be perfect. So, let's get on that. :)
Here is my favorite Picture of the Day of pouty Superman. How precious is he?
If you'd like information about hosting your own Portrait Party, please contact us at info (at) saraphotography (dot) com. We offer no-obligation packages to all families in attendance, a gift for the host family, and a Parent's Night Out Viewing Party. Portrait Parties are perfect for birthday parties, holiday parties and playgroups.
How was your Halloween weekend? Mine was really busy. And as a result I have a ton to post here over the next few days. The highlight was arriving home on Saturday after shooting to find that Nick had gone shopping and put together a Halloween-themed dinner just for us. We decided to take it easy this year and just hang out at the house and hand out candy to the trick-or-treaters. So this dinner and drinks was awesome and so perfect. Did I mention that he made two mixed cocktails? Pictured are "Monster Eyeballs Martini" and for dinner, "Bat Wings".
We crafted some floating ghosts in the front yard and bats in the windows. Scary!
Our new coffeetable album arrived and it - is - beautiful! We've upgraded the actual album to one that has hard-backed pages, full images across the entire page and a choice of covers. This one is a fine art canvas cover. This album is more durable than its predecessor and a much more substantial look and feel. You are guaranteed to be wowed.
The design is one we've been working on for quite a while (and is the first of three designs that will be available). It's called Color-block and has infinite possibilities of color combinations. The blue-green is perfect for this one year old boy. Think two-tone pinks for little girls, taupe and white for an elegant gender-neutral album, or knock-out purple and yellow for a bright fun look.
This 10x10 album can be purchased a-la-carte with any portrait session, vacation portrait session, or choose the Growing Baby Album package to include the photographs from your child's first 12 months into one custom-designed baby book.
One of my favorite things about the Growing Baby Album package is the accompanying blank journal for mom and dad. Use the journal all year long to write messages to your child, make a note of poetry and keep a journal of his/her accomplishments throughout the year. Then, we'll take excerpts from it and include them in the album. Such a personal way to enjoy your baby's first year and something that your child will grow to love years from now. Love it!
For more information, contact the studio.
Sara Speert Photography | Baby Albums, Children's Albums, CoffeeTable Albums, Family Albums, Vacation Albums
It's hard to believe that Harper is one year old. Since her first portrait session, it's been so fun to get to know her. If her pictures are anything, they are really colorful. Love the striped rug in her room, her striped legs and her striped jacket. The combination of colors make the pictures so lively and fun.
Although I have terrible allergies to dogs and cats, my love for them is stronger, and I can't help but photograph the four-legged family members as well. Love the images of Harper's dog sitting patiently outside on the deck while we finish up her session.
Let me preface this post by saying a big "Thank You!" to Cobb County Fire Station #3 on Terrell Mill Road. The firemen were so gracious to give us a tour of the trucks and the station, and most of all, put Patrick in the driver's seat for this very exciting portrait session. I don't think there is anything more exciting for a 3 year old boy than seeing a firetruck up close and being able to "drive" the truck and turn on the flashing lights.
I love this idea for a portrait session! Patrick loves trucks of all kinds so this seemed like a perfect choice for this 4th portrait session. Now that he's all grown up and completed the Growing Baby Package, we started the new Annual Portrait Session Package with this fun adventure. Although Patrick was a bit shy at first, he eventually got down from his dad's arms to explore the firehouse. The hoses, the tools, the huge steering wheel, the helmets, everything was so neat! And can't you see the excitement in Patrick's eyes? We started and finished at his house with biking, snacks and playing with some favorite toys. We really managed to get a lot into one 2-hour session.
Enjoy the slideshow below by clicking the picture to view.
I know what you're thinking... You have so much going on that even though registering for Portrait Day is on your " to-do list," you just haven't had the time to register. Well, the good news is that we still have some spots open. The bad news is that registration is only open until 11:59pm Wednesday night (tomorrow, October 7th). So, hop to it! Click here to learn more about Portrait Day and register before the buzzer goes off and the gong is, well, gonged. And since I can't post here without something for your visual pleasure, I thought I'd spread the word about a hilarious comedian who's getting his own show on Comedy Central. I first saw Jeff Dunham in college and then took Nick to see him a year ago here in Atlanta. He is the most original and talented comedian I've ever seen. That's a pretty big complement considering Jerry Seinfeld, Robin Williams, Bill Cosby, et al., but he does something completely different. (Warning: the material in this video may not be suitable to young ears.)
Carter is such a sweetie. This was his third portrait session and I can't believe how much he's grown. I know I say that all the time, but really, when I start photographing little ones when they're....so little, it's amazing and emotional to watch them turn into little boys. Carter just celebrated his 2nd birthday, and he loves to read and climb and slide and throw and look at bugs. So needless to say, this session was jam-packed with activity. We even made it down to the neighborhood park like last time. And if you remember from the first session, Hiro, Carter's doggie, got some photo love, and this time, he got some love again. Who can say no to those precious eyes? Not me.
Carter's family was especially wonderful this session because I am working on a top-secret project in which they are playing a huge role. (Hey, that was great grammar!) I hope to announce the project in the next month or so. So, thank you Amy, Jonathan and Carter!
What a crazy time of year! For those of you who celebrate Rosh Hashanah and honor Yom Kippur, I hope your holidays were wonderful, meaningful and filled with family. It always feels like the High Holidays have come out of nowhere because I am so busy doing, working and living; the summer ends and all I can focus on are all the things I have planned for the fall and then, all of a sudden, the holidays are here. It's a good thing though. As much as I like to stay focused on the finish line, it's so necessary to take a break, a full break without the phone, tv, email, or Facebook, and really take some time to meditate on the past year. It's a time to realize the mistakes we've made, the accomplishments we've had, correct our wrongs and make a promise to have more accomplishments and fewer mistakes next year. Isn't that a great way for everyone to celebrate the new year? On Saturday, I was about to start cooking eggs for brunch when I looked out the window and saw a little turtle walking up our driveway. Now, we have a lot of wildlife in our neighborhood including a stray cat and her kitten who decided to take up residence outside our house for a few weeks. The list also includes, owls, opossum, geese, ducks, squirrels, chipmunks... But a turtle?! That was new. There is a stream right across from our house and with all the rain, the stream overflowed and the streets were covered in water. Thank goodness we are on a hill and didn't experience any damage from all the flooding, but this little guy must have been looking for something, maybe food, maybe a dry place to rest, but he had no idea he was walking onto the driveway of a photographer with a love for turtles. As soon as I saw him, I ran out to see him. I didn't touch him or try to pick him up because I feel that he's a wild animal (I mean, reptile) and just because I'm higher on the food chain doesn't mean that I should do whatever I want with him. Nick suggested we make him our pet, but I don't think that putting him into a 10-gallon fish tank or even creating an outdoor home for him is really a nice way to live. Don't get me wrong, I've had pets, including turtles, and pets are wonderful but for some reason, I felt that since he's lived his whole life in the wild, I have no right to take him out of that just for my own satisfaction. But what I did do is grab my camera, and Nick grabbed our new Flip HD video camera and captured the little guy.
I think the timing of his arrival was great. The New Year is a time of reflection, meditation and renewal and what better way to symbolize that than by observing something new in nature in your environment. It's amazing what we can see if we just stop every once in a while and look around, and respect nature and all it has to offer us.
Can you say excited?! I have been working on these 12 new designs for our greeting card catalog and the samples arrived! I love the variety of designs that really can fit any event. Birth announcement, Christmas card, New Year's card, or, something that's become popular with my clients, an everyday notecard that can be used throughout the year.
We've added some paper selections as well. We've had watercolor, linen and glossy papers from some time. And now we have pearl (an iridescent paper), semi-gloss and a recycled paper. Since we as a studio are all about conserving and recycling, I'm especially excited about offering the recycled paper option.
All holiday card orders must be placed by November 1.
I am a huge fan of This American Life , the radio show on NPR that explores American life, stories, events both personal and public in a way that is refreshing, captivating and educational. It airs here in Atlanta on Sunday evenings, but I subscribe to the podcasts so I can listen whenever I have time. Usually that means, while I paint our living room, do the huge pile of dishes that have accumulated over what seems like weeks (read 48 hours), or my newest favorite non-photography hobby - cook in our new kitchen.
Anyway, I saw this and had to share. It's an animation of one of the vignettes on an episode. If you haven't had the pleasure yet, I urge you to listen to the next show. You can download old episodes on iTunes, listen to the latest episode here and become addicted, like me! Love it!
If you've been following me on Facebook, you already know that I've been making Challah (egg bread) from scratch throughout the last few months. It is such a gratifying experience to know that I'm capable of making bread, and the fact they it is so much more delicious than the store bought stuff makes me (& Nick) especially happy. These are my first round loaves made especially for Rosh Hashanah. One plain, one with raisins - yummy!
