Gals "Vacay"

Pardon my absence these last few days. Returning from a fun, relaxing, photo-inspired week with 3 of my best girlfriends here in Atlanta.

Sometimes, we all just need to just get away from our hectic schedules and plan a girls retreat with absolutely nothing on the agenda but steaming cappuccinos & good times. It's amazing what creative ideas will transpire when the 4 of us get together...

Amy, Sara, Whitney & I met last year at a photography workshop, and our friendships have blossomed over the months into an alter-ego-kindred-spirits kinda friendship that I know I'll hang onto for a lifetime.

We had a little fun walking around Atlantic Station, camera in hand. Yea, we're pretty dorky when we act like superstars...





...but we love each other (and our caffeinated beverage addictions) regardless.

I'm excited about an idea we have brewing for our photographic community, only one that could have developed after a few days of no-work and all-play. I see some remarkable things coming from the 4 of us in the near future...

Love you Sara, Amy & Whit! Can't wait until our next pedicure meeting & Gals "Vacay" as Amy so lovingly calls it!

Sweet dog in need of loving home

My friend just forwarded me these adorable photos of Blue, a bird dog from Albany, Georgia who is in need of a good home. This pup is friendly, has a good demeanor and I hear he is a lap dog. If Kyu and I could, we would love to give our 13 year old lab a young friend to play with. Unfortunately, our limited living space makes this so difficult to do. Until we can rescue all of the dogs out there, we're posting these photos in hope that someone can help find Blue a loving home. Energetic kids a plus!

Please email my friend Emily (emilyallen20@gmail.com) for more details.

Celebrating Kate's 1st Birthday

I have been photographing Kate and her brother Pearce for as long as I can remember. Feelings of nostalgia overwhelm me as I look through the hundreds of images I've taken of their family through the years. I feel like an integral part of their family.

Sometimes I have to step back and remember how important my role is when I document these important milestones in my client's lives. I watch many of them grow up and change so quickly, just as Kate has blossomed into such a spirited child.

I absolutely love working with Kate & Pearce's family. So wonderful to be there celebrating Kate's 1st birthday.









Looking forward to capture more memories for this family!

Just saying hello from the UK!

I received this fun email from this incredible park/cafe/recreational center in the UK:

Hi Alice

Just thought you might like to have a look at us over here - www.alicepark.co.uk!

If you are ever in the UK, come and say hello and get a free coffee on us!!

Kindest regards,

Tony

I'd LOVE to come have coffee at Alice Park. Besides loving the name, I love their motto: "Enjoy Life..." Yes, we all need to stop and remember that every once in a while.... It's so wonderful to have a place (though thousands of miles away) created just for that.

Mary Alice

She is as sweet as her pretty little name designates. (I'm particularly fond of her middle name...)

Elizabeth & Jason | Expecting

I knew after meeting Elizabeth & Jason last week that they were going to be so great in front of the camera. They're both young, in love, and so eager for their baby to arrive.... They're right around 35 weeks; I would be too!

Elizabeth absolutely glowed. I don't think I could shoot a bad angle of her.



And you can just tell that Elizabeth's fun & quirky personality brings out the very best in Jason. This is so them.



They are both dog lovers - another reason I loved working with them so much!
What a great looking family. Can't wait for the newest addition to arrive soon!

Client FAQ: Planning for this Fall

It's hard to believe summer has come and gone, and the kids are starting school this week..

As I sit down and plan my Fall calendar, family holidays & travel, I thought I would post a blurb about what to expect from Alice Park Photography! The months of September - December are ALWAYS the busiest time of the year for us. It's the time of the year when I load up on my vitamins so I don't get sick (ha!), set very strict deadlines re: holiday orders, and pray everyday for good weather. I always unintentionally over-book my calendar, but I try really, really hard to stay ahead of the game & on top of my clients! *You guys are the best!

I am booking very quickly through December now. If you are interested in scheduling an intimate session with me Tuesday thru Saturday, please contact me asap to get onto my calendar. Please note that ALL holiday orders MUST be received by November 15th to guarantee Christmas delivery (excluding folio book orders, which must be received by October 31st).

I have also locked in these events for travel & mini-session opportunities this Fall:

FAMILY DAY: October 24th
15 minute mini-session held at a favorite park in Atlanta. The purpose of this mini-session is to capture updated photos of the your child and to capture that perfect Christmas card photo. Because of my limited availability this Fall, we only plan on hosting 1 full day for past clients only. Official signup will open early September.

NEW YORK SESSIONS: Tentatively Scheduled for Week of October 12th
Scheduling 4-5 sessions within 2-3 days. If you live in NYC and are interested in scheduling an intimate session with me, please email me to inquire about my rates and policies.

BEACH SESSIONS: November 6th - 7th
30 minute mini-sessions in Charleston, SC. A very unique opportunity for professional family photos on the beach! There will be VERY limited slots open; please email me soon for more detailed information and to be placed on my wait list.

SANTA PORTRAITS @ b. braithwaite: December 5th, 12th & 19th
Be on the lookout for our official signup beginning early November. More info on b. braithwaite's exclusive event here.

I will be posting updates on the above photography opportunities as often as I can.

And because I can not post without a photo, here is one of my favorite families at last year's Family Day.



Looking forward to seeing everyone this Fall!

In Love with Pilates

I recently started taking pilates classes at CORE Pilates & Gyrotonic, and I am in LOVE with it! For someone who is constantly hauling heavy equipment and hunching over the computer all day, it's working wonders on my beaten body. :)

A few weeks ago, CORE's director, Jessica (also one of my favorite clients!) told me they needed some updated photos for their website. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity of photographing the staff in action.

I was amazed at their level of fitness - they were each so flexible & coordinated. I feel like my abs are a big mush or cornmeal compared to theirs!



They have group instructional classes that are a lot of fun too! Small enough to receive individual attention, but in a group setting, which I love...



Everything is available at their facilities....



And how good looking are their staff instructors?

My favorite thing about working out there is that it allows me to get away from work and focus on my overall well-being. Sounds selfish, but I love how I feel afterwards.... And when I'm happy, my clients are happy, Kyu is happy & all is good... :)

Bennett | 8 months old

Bennett is Porter's cousin. He is as cute as a button, just like Porter.

FAQ: Travel

I've been receiving some inquiries lately on my policy for travel. I figured I would tackle some questions here :)

"How much do you charge for travel?" "Do you have any stipulations or minimum order requirements?" "Are you flexible?"

The truth is as much as I LOVE to travel, get out of Atlanta & visit new places + people, I have a very unique love/hate relationship with it. When I leave this city to photograph a new family, I'm more excited than a dog getting ready for his walk of the day. I become consumed with my new adventures ahead, scheduling what I will do and the new things I will try every second of the day. I bring work with me because I have every intention to work, but never EVER does any of it get done.

So I come back, 3 days to a week later, and I stare at my 3 million emails to answer, dozen phone calls to return, 2 thousand item "priority" to-do list, and I hold my hands up ready to surrender.

I admit this is due to my complete and utter lack of self-control when I travel. Even if it's the busiest time of the year, I somehow find a way to ignore my missed calls and unanswered emails until it's mountain high.

How much do I charge for travel? It depends. Time is my most valuable asset...When I am out of the office, I am away from potential clients here, production work, and all of my other responsibilities as a business owner. Typically, aside from my flight, hotel & per diem expenses, I charge a nominal fee for my time. Also, I typically do require a minimum number of clients per visit, so if you have friends and/or family interested in my services, it always helps alleviate the costs of travel.

Minimum order requirements? Yes. Each client that I photograph must commit to a minimum order beyond the session fee (please email to inquire).

Are you flexible? During the months of September - December, unfortunately no. I am booked SOLID during those months, staying up countless nights making sure I don't fall behind. My most flexible months for travel is January thru March. Summer months of June - July come in close second, Spring and Fall are up in the air.

Do I love it? ABSOLUTELY. Too much. I already feel like I have the best job in the world, and when I'm asked to travel to photograph, it adds all the more glamour.

If for some reason, I can't make it out to you, you can always come to me! Atlanta Hartsfield is one of the most accessible airports in the country, and I hear babies are easy to pack! =)

Image courtesy of GOoGle images.