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Hello and welcome to our blog! |
I'm always thrilled to meet the newest addition to the family after documenting the first child. Everything changes when you have a younger sibling. You have to share your attention with someone else... and to many, that's not the greatest feeling in the world. To Aiden, he was just delighted (although a little uncertain at first) to share everything with Finn. Including his parents....
For the past week or so, I've been working with the my friend (aka talented designer/photographer extraordinaire) Dan Almasy on a new seal that NAPCP members would use to affiliate themselves with our association. I wanted something simple, like the Real Simple feel conveyed on our site, whimsical and natural. Something that was pleasing to the eye, yet professional and finished. What he delivered was more than I could have ever dreamed! It's so pretty, I want to add frosting to it and eat it up.
Love the child ladybug following the mommy (or daddy) ladybug with the dotted trail of their flight. Whimsical, childlike, yet representative of our membership community growing in their photographic journeys. It's perfect.
Dan is a photoshop guru, so if any of you photographers have questions or need an amazing new logo or design, email him at danalmasy (at) gmail.com!
Just finished an initial design from a recent family session and wanted to share a few favorite spreads. I love keeping my designs simple, uncluttered and in a way that tells the Beatty's story. Such a beautiful family; hope I was able to illustrate that through my design and images...
April showers + sick twins + more April showers = belief that the rain gods really do not think this is your month for photos.
After an unfortunate series of session delays (5 to be exact!), I was so thrilled to arrive to the Spinner home this weekend in 70 degree weather AND (most importantly) healthy, happy & cooperative kids. They had a new swing set installed in their backyard this past weekend, making it the ideal time to finish our One Year series. I think it was a sign.
Last week, I had the AMAZING opportunity to photograph the winning family of last Christmas' Big Holiday Giveaway. Ty and his family were nominated by one of my favorite clients - the Shoop family. Meredith Shoop wrote to me with her neighbor's story:
Karen moved her 3 years ago from New Orleans. She was a victim, or should I say, survivor of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. She lost everything in the flooding that occurred after the hurricane. Her parents happen to live in Marietta so she evacuated with her husband and, then 2 year old, son to be here. Her husband went back to New Orleans a month later to check on things. There house was flooded to the second story. They lost everything and I mean everything. The only thing that remained was a few baby and wedding pictures that were hanging on the walls upstairs. If anyone cherishes pictures the most it’s my neighbor because she lost so many of them in the flood.
To make things worse, her husband died while he was back visiting. I’ve never asked about the cause of death, but it was some accident related to the flooding. She was able to purchase this house in Marietta with her insurance money, but she still has a mortgage. It was the weirdest thing to see someone move into a house with no moving van or boxes. There simply wasn’t anything to move or unpack. She is a single mom with a 5 year old and works full time as a teacher. She takes her son to school with her and I see her car pull out of the driveway every morning at 6:45am. She has a few health issues and had some cancer removed about 2 years ago. So, she’s been through a lot.
Most importantly, she never complains. She is so generous and giving and has never asked for anything. She gives us all of her son’s old clothes to Logan because she just so nice to us. I feel guilty having a nice husband and family and living right next door. But, she has been a wonderful friend and someone that I am thankful to have in my life.
I know that she’d love to have some professional pictures of her and her son for memories. It’s would be a chance for her to start over.
Though the Cosse family suffered a tremendous loss in so many immeasurable ways, they now look at life differently. The love life. They love their family more, and they make each day a celebration. Each family meal is Thanksgiving, and I love you's are never held back. Life is different now for the Cosse family, but in an amazing way...
I write this post with the sincerest appreciation of having met this little boy and his family. I, too often, get caught up in due dates, timelines, and checklists. The Cosse family lives every day the way it should be lived. Loving every minute they spend together and cherishing all of the small things that make life so wonderful.
They're definitely the way to my heart, and my husband knows this.
The last few weeks has been incredibly hard. Very little sleep, a busy spring portrait schedule, and a new and VERY active website has made me grumpier than a 6 month old who skipped her morning nap. That's pretty grumpy. Kyu and I think very differently; good for business, but tough when it comes to our marriage. We realize that our strengths (Kyu is amazing at numbers and a long term planner; I am pretty talented at multitasking) compliment one another for a great business partnership, but when you live with the person too, it can test every aspect of your relationship.
We have developed such an incredible bond over the last 6 or so years of doing businesses together. We know more about what annoys the other person than anyone else in the world. And when the annoyances surpasses the laughing and giggling, we know it's time for reinforcement. For Kyu, he knows it's time to bring me a capcake. All is well after that :)
One of the joys of my job is watching babies not only grow physically, but mentally & emotionally as well.
We started off our photo session celebrating one of life's biggest milestone, turning 1. Lily dove into her cupcake, just as any one else who's never tasted the sweet pleasures of frosting and chocolate.
Meet Ransom. 10 months, resides in NYC and has the most joyful laugh.
When I arrived to take photos at his grandmother's home, he crawled over, smiled and quickly crawled in another direction. That was my first glimpse of the most beautiful red curls.
Portraits
