How do I cover the last 3 weeks in one post?

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

Happy Holidays!

Baby Portrait Collections & Collages

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.

Thanksgiving Sale ends tonight!

Cyber-Monday excitement continues! Our Thanksgiving sale ends tonight at midnight so be sure to take advantage.

All gift certificates are 10-25% off!

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.

Buy sale gift certificates now.

Sale ends at 11:59pm tonight!

Thanksgiving Sale starts today

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

Buy yours here.

Sale ends Monday, November 30th.

Picture of the Day

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.

Picture of the Day

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.

Deadline for Holiday Orders

Today is the regular deadline for all holiday orders and all 2009 client image galleries.

We will however be able to take orders after today at a 50% rush fee. Please see below for more information.

• Friday, November 6 - Regular Deadline for all holiday orders (50% rush fee on orders placed after today)
• Friday, November 6 - Expiration date for all reactivated 2009 client image galleries
• Friday, November 6 - Final Deadline for all albums
• Friday, November 13 - Late Deadline for all holiday card orders
  
• Friday, November 20 - Late Deadline for all enlargements, fine art canvas, framed pieces, folios and jewelry

If you have any questions, please feel free to write them in the comments below or email us at info (at) saraphotography (dot) com.

STuFF - Sara's Totally Fantastic Finds (episode 10)

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!

Modern Nursery is www.modernnursery.com.

Check out what else I found on the website.

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.

Portrait Party - Halloween

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.

Halloween Recap

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!

Check back for "Picture of the Day."

New Coffeetable Album

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

Harper - 1 year old

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.

Enjoy the slideshow!

Patrick's trip to the Fire Station

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.

Final Reminder for Portrait Day & Bonus STuFF

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.)

Enjoy!

Carter's 3rd Portrait - Age 2

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!

View the slideshow by clicking the image.

Stop and smell the... reptile

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.

Greeting Card samples - arrived!

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.

STuFF - Sara's Totally Fantastic Finds (episode 9)

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!

Happy Rosh Hashanah!

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!