Pictures of the Day - New York City, Part 1

I just returned last night from a weekend of family and kids portraits in New York City. I have always wanted to travel to different cities to photograph families, and this is the first time I traveled with the sole purpose of portraits. It was a wonderful way to meet new beautiful families and get reinspired to find new and exciting ways to photograph the love of a young family.

Gabi's pictures make me smile, awww, and giggle so it was really hard to choose just one picture to feature as a Picture of the Day. So I chose three!

Thanks, Emily, Elan and Gabi!

Family Resemblances

My little niece is so yummy, I could eat her up. Since she was born, I have enjoyed every moment. I could just stare at her all day, ok, actually, I could photograph her all day. Because she lives in Seattle, I don't get to see her as often as I'd like, which means that the time we do have together is really special.

While I post pictures on here all the time of my clients, I don't often put up pictures of my own family. And that's gotta change. With my recent post about my Northeast Tour, I was able to share a lot of family with you. So that's a good start. Northeast Tour, Part 2 is coming soon.

Elizabeth and I share some similarities that well, just make me proud. See if you can figure them out. The top picture is me with my brother around age 3. The bottom is Elizabeth at my cousin's wedding in June. She'll be 2 in August.

Can you tell that I love being an aunt? I can't wait to introduce her to hair product and show her the ways of naturally curly hair. Those beautiful curls can sometimes be a pain, but through my infinite wisdom, I plan to show her how to love them.

Picture of the Day - Twins!

Today's Picture of the Day is brought to you by

The letter "A" and the number "2"

A is for adorable and 2 is for twins Ava and Elyse. These adorable sisters are so much fun. It was great to see how different their personalities are and to watch them play together. At 12 months old, they definitely are having a lot of fun. Elyse has just learned how to string together steps to get from mommy to daddy, and Ava is on her way. She shimmy's around by holding on but I know the next time I see her, she'll be running around every which way.

Northeast Tour, 2010 - Part One

A couple weeks ago, my husband Nick and I went on a tour of the northeast. The initial reason for our trip was to go to my cousin Beth's wedding in Connecticut. We figured this would be a great opportunity to see a lot of family, have a bit of vacation and even do some portraits along the way. I say "tour" because Nick is a musician and as we hopped from city to city visiting family and friends, he played gigs of his original music. His music is best described as a combination of blues-rock and funk. But really, it is so many more genres as well. He just loves music and when he writes, it's more of an expression of a story than a specific genre. It's because of Nick's pursuit of a music career that we met 6 years ago. Thank you, I'll be here all night! More on that another time.

FYI, he just had an album release party for his third album, Year of the Ox.
Check it out at the Nick Edelstein band website.

We left Atlanta on a Friday and hit Knoxville, TN. Nick played at a place called Manhattans which is kind of funny because we would go to the real Manhattan a few days later.

From Knoxville, we headed to my hometown of Baltimore. We stayed with my parents a few nights. I had the great pleasure of photographing Noah and Eli, sons of a great family friend who I grew up with. Take a look at my favorite picture from their session here. My time in Baltimore was a real vacation. We got to see some other childhood friends, the youngest of whom was getting married that weekend.

Congratulations, Suzanna! (iPhone picture - forgive the graininess)

After three nights there, we got back into the car and went to Lancaster, PA. We visited with Nick's cousins, Anne Marie, Seve, and Sammy, and went to Longwood Gardens - beautiful place.

Despite being in Pennsylvania, we had not yet escaped the heat and humidity of Atlanta. So the rest of our time there was spent indoors with family.

This is Nick with little Sammy after a pillow-fight. I think that Nick actually may
have had more fun than Sammy playing with all his toys.
Funny how men so quickly revert back to little boys
whenever there's a transformer around.

Our next stop was New York City. We visited with some of Nick's aunts and uncles who live on Long Island. We had a homemade lunch with Aunt Annie and Uncle Leo, and Nick played a couple of his original songs for them.

At Uncle Tommy and Aunt Helen's, we had pizza and admired Uncle Tommy's garden of Bonsai.

That evening, Nick played at National Underground on Houston Street on the lower east side, where we'll be returning this Friday. Come join us if you're in the area! Some of Nick's other cousins came to that show and we had a great time listening to Nick play. No pictures for this evening either, but I did get a parking ticket. HA! Expensive souvenir.

That evening, we stayed with Nick's cousins, Donna and Henrik, and we finally got to meet their son Hunter. We've been trying to get up to New York since he was born, but it was just not possible. Skype is a good consolation for visiting in person. But meeting Hunter, playing with him and photographing him has no substitute. Look at this cutie!

Me, Donna, Nick and Hunter

The next day we headed to Philadelphia. Oh, in case you're keeping track - still no relief from the heat and humidity. The northeast was having a heatwave - perfect!

Nick played a quick show in Philly. We got to see Nick's cousin, Lena, and my cousins DH and Betsy (thanks for dinner!) We immediately left after the show and hit the road.

Next destination: Simsbury, Connecticut for the wedding. But not before some unwanted excitement on the road... stay tuned for Part Two of our escapades.

Are you exhausted just reading about the trip? Don't worry, the beach is coming soon. :)

Picture of the Day - Atlanta Maternity Portrait

So I get a call from Rachael on Friday saying that she's pregnant and due in about two weeks. She knew it was last minute but she really wanted to document this time before the baby comes. And of course I said yes!

I love photographing maternity portraits. There is so much excitement and anticipation during these sessions that it's palpable, and contagious.

The baby's room is all ready for the baby and so cute. They used chocolate and pink in the room and an elephant theme throughout. An adorable mural above the crib with different patterned wall paper and fabric in the design of a family of elephants is just perfect.

Jeff and Rachael's love and excitement for the arrival of their baby is so lovely. Can't wait to meet the baby soon!

Support us with your vote - again & again

Creative Loafing is holding their annual Best of Atlanta survey to find the best things, food, places and businesses in Atlanta. Support us by voting for us in the Poets, Artists & Madmen section, page 2 of the survey.

BEST PHOTOGRAPHER

Throughout the last 4 years, we've been honored to receive 5 awards including Best Established Visual Artist, Best Local Visual Arts Website/Blog and Best Photographer. Help us this year by giving us your vote. You can vote multiple times by registering with different email addresses.

Thanks so much!

Picture of the Day: Father & Son, Baltimore Family Portraits

Growing up in Baltimore, MD, my family was extremely close to another family. We shared holidays and beach vacations in Ocean City, MD and Nags Head, NC. Because my brother and I were exactly the same age as the two oldest in their family, we also shared pre-school and religious school on Sundays at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation. We loved spending time with them, playing in the backyard and eating our moms' delicious food - lasagna, brownies, grilled hot dogs and corn pudding.

On my "northeast tour" (with Nick playing gigs throughout New England and the Mid-Atlantic), we stopped in Baltimore and I photographed a family portrait for Amy, the oldest, who has two little boys. It was so much fun to do this session because Amy and I have known each other for so long. Seeing their beautiful family, realizing how much she and I have grown up, and documenting this time in her family's life was so meaningful.

Here's my favorite from the whole day: Noah being tickled by his dad, Jeff - PURE JOY.

PUBLISHED! Professional Photographer Magazine

I am so excited, I can hardly sit still.

I'm in the July issue of Professional Photographer Magazine!!!

This national trade magazine has been an amazing resource for me as a new business owner, and even now, 7 years after I opened my studio, I still learn so much from it. Everything from the art of photography to operating a studio to the latest new camera gear is covered. I have always looked up to the photographers who are profiled and included in the magazine, and I dreamed of the day that I, too, would be included. Reaching that point of experience, skill and knowledge to be included has been one of my goals from the very start. So to get here is oh, so sweet.

If you remember, last year PPMag wrote a piece about my photo essay in New Orleans. And this time, I was asked about our SpokesMAMA campaign. It's a huge honor to be asked about an advertising campaign that I created (with some initial ideas from Rod Evans). SpokesMAMA has been greatly successful in spreading the word about our studio. The concept of taking word-of-mouth advertising by the reigns and guiding it along is not new but finding the best way to do it is the tough part.

The current SpokesMAMA Contest is for photography of your child's first day of school (kindergarten or first grade). Unlike our other contests that are based on the age of your child and include a portrait session, this session is all about photographing the emotions and details of this exciting day.

Apply to be the SpokesMAMA - First Day of School.

Read the Professional Photographer Magazine article.

Thanks for spreading the word about SpokesMAMA and continuing to support the studio!

And a specific thanks to Shelly, Angus and Gemma for letting me use the lovely image of Gemma reaching for her daddy's hand. So sweet.

STuFF - Sara's Totally Fantastic Finds, Episode 16: Thick & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Throughout the last year I've been bitten by the cooking bug. I have finally come to enjoy trying new recipes and spending time in the kitchen. And there is no doubt that this cooking bug is genetic. My mom is an amazing chef & baker, and my grandmother was sensational. My brother realized his cooking genes long before me. And my dad, even my dad, the guy who used to work so late that by the time he arrived home from work, dinner was miraculously already made and on the table waiting for him. Even my dad has been cooking for years now.

As I find good recipes, I'm trying to get into the habit of sharing them. It's just so frustrating to spend so much time buying ingredients and making food to only find out that the dish isn't any good. If you're going to make the effort, it should definitely be delicious.

I posted a delicious vegetarian recipe I made on my Facebook page a while back. Lemony Broccoli and Chickpea Rigatoni. I can't say that I am a full vegetarian. I'm more of an omnivore with a focus on low-fat (sometimes low-gluten, sometimes low-dairy) dishes. Oh, and I am for sure a chocoholic. So, on Sunday, I looked around our kitchen for food and instead of making some delicious eggplant Parmesan, grilling some chicken and veggies on the grill or any other well-rounded meal that we could enjoy as leftovers throughout the rest of the week, I opted for Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies. Great idea, right!?

I've made quite a few chocolate chip cookies and I have to admit that oatmeal chocolate chip are my favorite, but this one created the most beautiful cookies I've ever made. They're thick and they are the perfect combination of chewy and crunchy. I will definitely make these again. (FYI, these are neither low-fat nor low-gluten.)

Here's the recipe. Enjoy!

Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Cook's Illustrated.com
Makes 1 1/2 dozen 3-inch cookies

2 1/8 cups bleached all-purpose flour (about 10 1/2 oz.'s)
1/2t table salt
1/2t baking soda
12T unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks, melted and cooled slightly)
1 cup brown sugar (7 oz.'s)
1/2 cup granulated sugar (3 1/2 oz.'s)
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
2t vanilla extract
1-2 cups chocolate chips or chunks (semi- or bittersweet)

1. Heat oven to 325 degrees. Adjust oven racks to upper- and lower-middle positions. Mix flour, salt and baking soda together in medium bowl; set aside.

2. Either by hand or with an electric mixer, mix butter and sugars until thoroughly blended. Mix in egg, yolk, and vanilla. Add dry ingredients. Mix until just combined. Stir in chips.

3. (This part is all about making the cookies look rough and uneven. I found it unnecessary but you could do it and let me know how it turns out.) Form scant 1/4 cup dough into balls. Holding dough ball using fingertips of both hands, pull into two equal halves. Rotate halves ninety degrees and, with jagged surfaces exposed, join halves together at their base, again forming a single cookie, being careful not to smooth dough's uneven surface. Place formed dough into one of two parchment paper-lined 20x14 lipless cookie sheets, about nine dough balls per sheet. Dough can be refrigerated up to 2 days or frozen up to a month - shaped or not.

4. Bake, reversing cookie sheets' positions halfway through the baking, until cookies are light golden brown and outer edges start to harden yet centers are still soft and puffy. 15-18 minutes (start checking at 13 minutes). (Frozen dough requires an extra 1 to 2 minutes baking time.)

Tips: You can substitute white, milk chocolate or peanut butter chips for the semi- or bittersweet chips. In addition to the chips, you can flavor the dough with one cup of nuts, raisins or shredded coconut.


Definitely let me know how it turns out by leaving a comment below. I'd love to hear the yummy results.

SpokesMAMA Contest - First Day of School

Yay for the next SpokesMAMA Contest! We are so excited with the responses we've received from everyone for all our other contests and this time we are trying something a bit out of the box. This portrait package is a new one and to give it a jump start, we thought we'd introduce it with a SpokesMAMA contest.

The image of my first day of school is ingrained in my mind. My parents took a picture of me standing on our street waiting for the bus to pick me up. There I was at 5 years old, pigtails in my hair and a giant backpack on my back. I was nervous and scared but also excited and curious about this "school thing." Having that photo means so much to me and I am so grateful to have it. This is what gave me the idea to create a package that would capture that day. Everything from waking in the morning, eating a delicious breakfast, new clothes and shoes, peanut butter and jelly sandwich in the lunchbag, and the tears rolling down mom's cheek as she waves goodbye. Makes me teary just writing it...

This contest is for a documentary session on your child's first day of kindergarten or first grade. Your baby's first day of school is an emotional day. We know your anxiety, your excitement, your disbelief that this day has come. Just a short time ago, you were holding a tiny newborn in your arms. The time has flown and now it's time for him/her to go off to school. We also understand how exciting and intimidating the first day of school can be for a child. The anticipation of being away from home in a new place with kids and adults you don't know, and the fun of riding a big yellow bus and making new friends.

We want to capture all that emotion through photographs that you and your child will cherish forever. It's moments like this that help shape who we are and are rich with memories, if we take the time to capture them.

The winning SpokesMama will receive a free ABC Storytelling Portrait Session package which includes a Planning Meeting, a 2-hour session at your home (also on the way to school and in front of the school), a Design Appointment and a $250 product credit for anything purchased at the Design Appointment.

The SpokesMAMA will also receive a 25% discount on her second session during her year-long 'tenure' or a $125 discount off her choice of an Annual Portrait Package.

In exchange, each SpokesMAMA will tell her friends and family about SSP. She'll take every opportunity to share the photos that were taken during her session and talk about her experience. She'll use social media, printed fliers, email, etc. to refer other like-minded families to us. (Printed pieces will be provided by SSP.)

Apply to be a SpokesMAMA and win the chance to capture this
emotional occasion with professional photography!

Deadline for applications is July 16th.

Vacation Photos - California

My sister-in-law graduated from the Academy of Art University with a Bachelor's in Fine Arts for Motion Pictures and Television Acting in San Francisco. Nick and I, and my in-laws flew out to go to graduation and then to vacation around California for a week. The weather was beautiful and we had a great time visiting Alcatraz Prison, Yosemite National Park, Monterrey and everywhere inbetween. The California coastline is so majestic and hiking Yosemite was stunning. And getting away from the hot humidity of Atlanta was great too.

View the rest of the pictures in my album on Facebook. And leave comments! I love comments!

Here are some of my favorite pictures from our adventure. Congratulations, Sam!

Sam's in the middle with her friends, Leah and Sloan.
Remember these faces - they'll be famous one day.


Walking out during the recessional - I love the excitement of this moment.


Standing outside after graduating. Doesn't she look like she could be
in the movie, The Graduate, with Dustin Hoffman?
Her dress and shoes are so retro-cool.


A view of downtown San Francisco from Alcatraz.


San Francisco, circa 1968.
Just kidding...


San Francisco - Golden Gate Bridge


Alcatraz kitchen. Don't the sketches of the knives look scary to be in a prison?


Alcatraz kitchen - NO SOUP FOR YOU!


Alcatraz kitchen - the beauty of texture on the floor.


Yosemite National Park
my ode to Ansel Adams (if only I were so good)


Mom and Dad Edelstein


Yosemite National Park - near Yosemite Falls
quintessential park picture


Yosemite National Park - Bridalveil Falls


Yosemite National Park - Bridalveil Falls
WHERE THE RAINBOW ENDS!
Didn't you always wonder what it looked like?


Yosemite National Park - Bridalveil Falls


Yosemite National Park - Nick and I


Yosemite National Park - Half Dome


Yosemite National Park - sunset on Half Dome from Glacier Point


Yosemite National Park - fly like an eagle


Yosemite National Park - interesting texture from a fallen tree trunk


Sunset from the road
(I shot this from our moving car. How cool that the windmill
is in just the right spot. That's why I get paid the big bucks. HA!)


Monterrey, CA - sunbathing seal


Californa countryside - another shot from our moving car.


This was the centerpiece on our table at lunch in Big Sur.
Reminds me of the plant from The Little Shop of Horrors.

View more pictures in my album on Facebook.

SpokesMAMA News

In case you didn't hear, the SpokesMAMA Contest for children ages 2-3 ends tomorrow at 11:55pm. Don't miss your chance to win a FREE ABC Storytelling Portrait package which includes a Planning Meeting, a 2-hour portrait session, a Design Appointment and $250 in product credit.

Apply now to be our next SpokesMAMA!

In related news, Lisa came to the studio yesterday to pick up her gift bag. She is our SpokesMAMA (4-5) and it was wonderful to meet her. Check out her SpokesMAMA t-shirt! If you see her around town wearing the shirt, be sure to say hi and ask to see her pictures!

Lisa tells me that her 4-year old daughter Bella loves to play dress-up and I can't wait to see her all dolled up in a dress, high heel shoes and bracelets up to her elbows. It's going to be so cute!

Could you be the next SpokesMAMA?

SpokesMAMA Contest (2-3 years old) - EXTENDED

Originally the SpokesMAMA Contest for mamas of 2-3 year old kids was to end on Friday, May 28th. Due to Memorial Day, we've decided to extend the contest another week to allow more mamas the chance to enter.

Don't miss your chance to win a free ABC Storytelling Portrait Session, discounts on your second session package, T-shirt and more. Read more details about the SpokesMAMA contest here.

Apply to be a SpokesMAMA by completing the application.

Contest ends Friday, June 4th.
Good luck!

Outdoor Movie Night

On Saturday night, we had some friends over for one of my favorite things to do: movie night. Watching a movie outside under the stars is like having our own private Screen on the Green with great food and drink, a clean bathroom and without the crowd. Our house is unique in that our deck is surrounded by our house on three sides. It makes for a perfectly private relaxation spot and a great place to project a movie onto the white wall of our house.

We ate and drank and watched "Men Who Stare at Goats" (weird but funny flick, hard to believe any part of it is true) with George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Jeff Bridges and Kevin Spacey. After we finished that, the second feature was the new Star Trek movie with Sylar/AKA Zachary Quinto (yay, Heroes fans!) and Chris Pine. [Basically it was a night of hot men, but don't tell my husband Nick that.]

Munchies included homemade guacamole, onion dip and chips (thanks, Rachael!), hummus & veggies (thanks, Brooke!), zucchini & corn casserole and toffee bars for dessert. So fun and delicious. Thanks for coming over Rachael, Joe and Brooke!

Picture of the Day

Little Sophie was baptized on Saturday and I had the honor of photographing the lovely morning at St. Thomas Moore Catholic Church in Decatur. It was clear from the moment I entered the building how loved she is. Her parents glowed with pride and love like only parents can. She was surrounded by dear friends and family who were overjoyed to celebrate this rite of passage.

And just like an angel, Sophie slept through most of it.