Picture of the Day

The rabbi at the Orthodox congregation, Beth Israel, in New Orleans, asked if I could send some of the pictures I took while touring their Katrina-flooded building. While editing thru some pictures from our February trip, I came upon this image. It isn't one that previously stood out to me, but it just goes to show how the meaning and impact of a photograph can change. It really appeals to me now. The room was only lit slightly by an overcast day seeping in through nearby fogged windows. The room felt like a cemetery of ruined items and furniture. This pew stood alone. Imagine all the people who must have sat in this pew throughout the years, praying for ill family members, rejoicing at marriages and bar mitzvahs, celebrating Rosh Hashanah's year after year.

Anyway, thought it was appropriate as Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, begins Friday evening. L'Shanah Tovah! May the year bring you good health, happiness and many pauses to enjoy the little things that make our lives rich.

2009 Holiday Cards

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.

Thanks to our amazing clients for their allowing us to use their pictures in this year's catalog!

Sara Speert Photography | Atlanta Photographer | Holiday Portraits | Holiday Cards

William & Margaret

On Saturday, I had the pleasure of photographing William and Margaret again. As with William's third session, we headed outside for Margaret's third session as well. This time, we went to Emory University. Mom used to work there which I know created a interesting circle-of-life kind of thing for her to have a portrait session of her children in the same place she used to work 5 days a week. They often take walks thru the campus as a family because it's just so darn beautiful and I think the lack of traffic is also a nice perk. So, the kids seem to know the place well and felt really comfortable there - probably one of the top 3 important elements of a great portrait session.

While most of the students were still sleeping on Saturday morning, we wandered around enjoying the break in rain. But before we left the house, I snagged this moment thru the front door of William and his dad having a quiet moment on the front porch.

Enjoy the slideshow by clicking the image.

Wedding Art

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.

Love everyone's expressions, and my twirling dress!

Check out the amazing texture of the canvas. Love it.
And, yes, I wore sneakers all day. I'm an all-comfort kinda girl.

New Card Design - Birth Announcements

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.

front


As you open the card, this picture on the left is revealed. The right side is still folded.


inside


And the back.

Contact the studio if you'd like information about scheduling a newborn portrait session, Growing Baby Portrait Packages or birth announcements.

Registration is now open - Portrait Day 2009

The day has finally come after months of planning and a year since the last event. Portrait Day 2009 registration is now open!

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Join us at the park... dance among the trees, twirl in the grass, bring a picnic and enjoy a beautiful day while Sara Speert Photography photographs stunning images of your family.

This year's Portrait Day will be held on October 24th, 2009 from 9am to 6:30pm. Mini-sessions will be held all day and offer a wonderful opportunity for holiday or annual family portraits at a great discount.

Our goal is to capture the natural and real emotions of your family, and create custom art for your home with images that will make you laugh and bring tears to your eyes.

Click here or on the image below to learn about all the details and register. This event will sell out so register now. Registration deadline is October 7th.

Thanks to our amazing clients & friends - Pete, Jenny, & Jack, and Dan, Rachel & Joshua for their beautiful pictures featured on this year's Portrait Day flier.

12 hours to go.....

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.

Planning for the Fall

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

• Tuesday, September 1st - Registration opens for Portrait Day 2009 (announcement will be posted here.)
• Monday, September 7th - Labor Day - Studio Closed
  
• Friday, September 18th @2pm thru Sunday, September 20th - Rosh Hashanah - Studio Closed
• Monday, September 28th - Yom Kippur - Studio Closed

October

• Wednesday, October 7th - Deadline for Portrait Day 2009 Registration
  
• Monday, October 12th - Studio Closed (My 1st Anniversary!) - Studio Closed
  
• Saturday, October 24th - Portrait Day 2009

November

• Friday, November 6th - Deadline for all Holiday Orders
  
• Wednesday, November 25 - 29th, Thanksgiving - Studio Closed

December

• Thurday, December 23rd thru Sunday, January 3rd - Christmas/New Year's/My birthday - Studio Closed

I'll be sure to post any changes or additions here.

Picture of the Day

1st Day of School jitters or joy?

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.

Picture of the Day

Amelia Island, FL

Picture of the Day

the ultimate summer portrait! - pure joy running through a sprinkler in the yard

STuFF - Sara's Totally Fantastic Finds (episode 8)

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.

Invite your friends for a fun mom's day of the sale and lunch at Star Provisions, Figo Pasta or Taqueria del Sol down the street!

Picture of the Day

Josie

Click the image to view the slideshow.

These are Josie's footprints. After playing in the baby pool in her backyard, she stopped here for a moment before moving inside to eat lunch. I love how she left her little mark. :) Josie is an adorable 14 months old with a beautiful, light-up-the-room smile. It was so fun documenting a day in the life for her and her parents.

I don't often get to photograph pet cats because A) if my clients have pets, they are usually dogs, and B) they normally don't want to have anything to do with me or pictures. But Josie's wonderful cat seems to love Josie just as much as she loves her parents. The cat (sorry, I've forgotten her name!) was a rescue and really the first baby in the family, so it is appropriate that she gets some picture-love too. I just the adore the series of her with mom and Josie reading a book. Enjoy the slideshow!


Sara Speert - Decatur children's photographer, family pet photographer

Me, a judge?

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!

John Sharp (professor at SCAD Atlanta) and Connie Jackson (professional photographer) looking through the portfolio entries.

One of the beautiful images entered by a student.

Another beautiful entry - a dandelion.

Ethan & Eli

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!

Last week I posted a POTD (Picture of the Day) from their session. And today's the day for the slideshow. So without further ado, to-do or ago....

(click the image to watch the slideshow)

This beautiful scene is right in their backyard! How amazing!

Sara Speert - Kennesaw portraits, family portraits, Gwinett County portraits

Picture of the Day

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?

Then we headed back home. Parked the car and walked to Avondale Estates fireworks. Although we've been living in our house for 2.5 years, we never seem to be in town for the 4th so this was our first time going to see the fireworks there. Avondale Lake is just a mile away and it was so nice to be able to walk there, not deal with the car and parking, set up our chairs and join the huge crowd. And we had no idea the fireworks would be so good! The "show" lasted at least 15 minutes. And it was fantastic. The moon was just to the right of where the fireworks went off so it was a really beautiful sight. I took a few pictures with my iPhone and they looked amazing on the phone but when I downloaded them.... hmmm, not so great in real life. So you'll just have to use your imagination.


So here's the next Picture of the Day! Enjoy!

Grace

Grace and her parents are one of the lucky families to win a free portrait session from Gymboree at Toco Hill. So last Wednesday, we met at a Decatur park for some exploring. Grace is precious and so expressive. She had a great time exploring, collecting rocks and running around. Ok, I admit it; I was chasing her. :) I love the vivid colors of the authentic Chinese dresses she wore. And the image of her peering through the bay window is one that will be very special to dad. Everyday when dad leaves for work, Grace runs to the window to wave goodby as he drives away. How cute is she?!

Click the image below to watch the slideshow.

Sara Speert - children's photography, toddler photography, portraits at the park

Cole's 2nd Portrait

Last week, I visited Cole and his mommies for a second time. The first session was a blast and it's hard to believe how much he has grown since then. He looks so much more like a little boy now than a baby. He is learning to walk on his own and is definitely proud of this new found ability.

I absolutely love the picture below of Cole. He stopped for split second to rest while playing on the couch. It is such a peaceful moment and I love that I was able to capture his tranquil expression. And those eyes! So beautiful!

Sara Speert Photography - Decatur children's portraits