"Alice, where have you been?"

Greetings, Friends!

My deepest apologies for my absence these last three months! As I look back at my last published posts and how long it's been since I've updated this lovely blog of mine, I shake my head in disbelief. What could have possibly kept me too busy to blog?

Well, lots! :)

The last few months have been a bit of a whirlwind for both Kyu and I. Both professionally and personally.... To sum it up, here's what's been going on & what's coming in the near future:

1) The crazy holiday season came and went! It was the busiest Fall season we've ever had, but with the help of our amazing team, everything went flawlessly. Best Christmas to date!

2) Some time between all of the Fall madness, Kyu and I found out we were EXPECTING! I think eating all of the healthy omega-3's and broccoli during the developmental stages preoccupied me too much to blog; I'm not sure. ;) We're both absolutely elated, almost as much as the parents. It was a sweet, sweet surprise that couldn't have come at a better time in our lives...

3) We found out it was a BOY soon after. We were so convinced that we were having a girl prior to our 20 week ultra-sound because of all of the baby girl dreams I was having. But to our utmost surprise, when they told us 'BOY', we both smiled the biggest smile you could. And then hugged. What a blessing... Baby Boy Park will debut this April.

4) So, what does this all mean? We're still here and we're still taking portrait sessions! Officially, I'll be off for Maternity Leave April - mid June. Between now and then, I'll be booking as many sessions as I can, while possibly squeezing in a very much requested Family Day in March. He will be here before we know it :)

5) And lastly, we have a new blog in the works! This blog will have more of a personal ring to it - documenting our transition into parenthood, feature the way-too-many photos I take of our first born, our home, our projects, and of course - the amazing families I'm so thrilled to work with. Jane Johnson, the talented creative mind behind NAPCP's new look, is also working behind the scenes to create a new look for our humble little blog. Stay tuned, friends!

Behind the Scenes: Photographing a Newborn

A few weeks ago, a few NAPCP Atlantans gathered together for coffee. We chatted about family, talked shop and discussed our strengths & weaknesses in photography and business. It was a wonderful little pow-wow amongst friends sharing a common love for photographing children.

One of the girls confessed that she was scared to death to photograph newborns. "How do you pose them?" "What equipment do I need?" "How do I soothe them so that they stay sleepy?" "Help!" We heard her plea, and before any of us could say anything, Crystal James, a local Marietta photographer, and honestly - one of the most caring & thoughtful photographers I know - opened her new studio for an impromptu newborn workshop. Wow. She arranged for all of us to come to one of two hands-on sessions where we would be able to photograph ("experiment") with her new niece and a friend's new baby.

What an incredible opportunity it was for all of us. The session, which Crystal could have easily charged hundreds of dollars to host, allowed each of us the freedom to challenge ourselves creatively. Even though most of us had been photographing for years, we all walked away with new ideas, a broader knowledge of our very unique craft, and most importantly - added confidence & assurance in what we do.

Here are a few behind-the-scenes photos from the day:

Crystal prepping Ally for her photoshoot...



5 Days Old.



Beautiful natural light coming from a south-facing window, bounced by a 60" reflector:



This is Danielle's idea. Although she didn't make it to the workshop, we wanted to try her idea...



And the result..

So much fun!

For me, Crystal and this impromptu workshop was a testament of what the child photographic community is all about. While most business owners shy away from giving away their secrets and techniques, our community has embraced sharing... And we realize that when we do share, grow, and connect - we are are bridging gaps and raising our industry's standards to another level.

Thank you again Crystal, Lisa, Danielle, and Kim! Looking forward to getting together again soon!

ps - if you're a child photographer in Atlanta and you'd like to meet some fun ladies for coffee & cameras, email me!

I {heart} NAPCP...

We just returned from Napa for NAPCP's 1st annual retreat, and I have to admit, we have some pretty incredible folks in this industry. As I catch up with all that I missed here last week, I leave you with a photo that brings so much joy to my eyes. This group, our inaugural group of NAPCPers, holds a very special place in my heart...

More images from the Retreat coming soon!

It's finally here!!

I am beyond excited about the next few days ahead.... We have been planning this Retreat for our members for months now (Kyu can attest to my obsessive planning disorder), and we're thrilled to be spending the next week with members in beautiful wine country.

Lots of bonding, learning, shooting, wine tasting and soul grabbing fun.

We'll be updating the NAPCP blog on Monday with all of the fun things going on in Napa. Be sure to check there for a sneak peak of what's going on!

Meanwhile - thank you to my wonderful clients for your patience as I get back to a regularly scheduled routine....next week!

Cheers to you all!

Out :)

Just FYI that I will be out of the office until this Thursday, June 10th. Photographing some very special babies in Little Rock, AR.



See you soon!

xoxo...

coBBlestone rue: lifestyle for the modern family

I am a big fan of bloggers, certain bloggers more than others. ;)

Spending my mornings with the AJC and a cup of coffee has quickly been replaced with answering emails and keeping up with virtual friends and the fascinating lives they lead. If I'm searching for a little photographic inspiration, I'm on NAPCP's Blogroll, but if I'm in need for some calm in my life, I'm keeping up with Mil or Ree (a couple virtual friends who seem to solve all of my qualms in life...).

Yesterday, I received a beautifully crafted announcement revealing the launch of my friend Joy's new blog - cobblestone rue.

She writes:

Cobblestone rue is my search for clarity.
It's about birthday parties and tea parties.
It's about lifestyle and home style.
It's about smart fashion for children and smart children.
It's about being a wife, mom, entrepreneur, cook, designer, housekeeper, chauffeur and super-hero, all at the same time and doing so with grace and ease.

What makes bloggers so compelling to me is how relatable and honest and open they are. Joy is no exception. Life is complicated, but she counts her blessings everyday and isn't afraid to teach her daughters to dream.

I'm excited about the launch of her new blog - her place of purpose and passion. I've witnessed Joy do amazing things with her husband Garrett's photography career and effortlessly juggle life's craziness with grace & poise. I can't wait to see where she takes this, and I look forward to following her journey.

What a week!

Last week was quite possibly the longest week of my life. Kyu and I worked into the wee hours of the night, every night, on our latest NAPCP endeavor - the new Parent's Blog. I will post a more formal update on the enhancements once we fix all of the bugs in the site (just *love* making big changes). It's all coming together beautifully. Makes the late nights and long days very worth it in the end...

On another note, I was incredibly busy shooting last week too. One of my favorite sessions was of Gabriella, Alexander and Nathaniel. We'll be putting together a folios book for each of them over the course of the year. I'm already laying out my ideas for each of them... Such different personalities they each have.

Your Family's Record Keeper

I have an important job. Not a special job (although, it is pretty special), an important job.

I photographed Melissa's family a couple of years ago when she gave birth to her now 2 year old, Thomas, at Northside hospital. It was a pretty amazing day, full of little miracles that led to Thomas' big arrival. Afterwards, I went home, processed my favorite captures of the day, and then excitedly showed Melissa's family the story of Thomas' arrival through my lens. She was thrilled.

A few months later, Melissa's mom called me in a frantic. Her daughter and two grandchildren were involved in a highway car accident that fortunately left the two small ones unharmed, but Melissa in the emergency room battling for her life. After a series of operations, Melissa was in stable condition but in a deep coma.

All of the photographs of Melissa soon resurfaced from everyone she knew, from every neck of the woods. Mine included.

Her church gathered in prayer for Melissa's recovery. Everyone read Melissa's mom's web page for daily updates and left words of encouragement. It was a long two months, but Melissa did wake up. And although it took her some time to heal physically, her spirit and soul remained unchanged.

Melissa's experiences, although extreme, are not uncommon to the families I see everyday. Life happens. Sometimes tragedy hits us in ways we're not prepared for. Sometimes we take our everyday moments for granted...

Photography isn't just a creative hobby for me. It's my job. And it's yours too. Record these moments in your family's life - even the spilled milk, the scary hair days, and the temper tantrums. Especially those. Take time to journal the little memories that make everyday special. Be your family's Record Keeper. And embrace the job...

I have photographed Melissa's family since the accident, but this last session was special. A renewed sense of all things wonderful in life. Family. The sweet eskimo kisses. Being able to hold and squeeze your kids. Laughing and living...

Butterfly Kisses and Dandelion Wishes

Spring is here, and what a wonderful time to be outdoors with your loved ones.... Heading to see my family in Valdosta this weekend; Wishing everyone a Happy Weekend!

Moms & Easter Monday

To all of the moms this Easter Monday....

Thank you for all of the beautiful things you do in life.... for the Easter egg hunts, the fancy Sunday dresses, for balancing sports schedules with nap schedules, school meetings with fundraisers, for always putting your children, husband, dogs and cats in front of yourself, for the big hugs, the lessons in life, and for remembering to taking the time to document your children, even when you're always the one behind the camera.

This Easter Monday, I salute you.

Happy Monday Everyone!

Hi!

I'm still here, guys! Just wanted to say thank you for all of your emails, messages & prayers for Maverick. I was able to spend some quality time with him over the weekend, and although his health has really taken a turn for the worst, I'm so happy to have had a chance to give a proper goodbye. It's never easy losing a family member, especially the big fury ones with the huge hearts.... But I know he will be going to a better place soon, filled with the biggest milk bones in the world, a gigantic pond for him to swim in, all of the honey buns he can eat, and plenty of dogs to play and gallop in the fields with.

I love him so much.

Maverick is 13 years old...

...and I'm sad to say, he's not doing so well these days.

Sorry for the lack of posts these day, friends. I am spending the weekend with my buddy in Valdosta, hoping he'll pull another year for us... although, as a great dane, I already consider his run quite the miracle.

Taken below in 1999. Maverick was 3, I was 18.





We love him so much.

Are you Etsy-ing?

One of my favorite things to do in the morning involves "pouncing." What is that, you ask? Finding new, hand-made, undiscovered items to purchase on one of my FAVORITE sites - Etsy.

If you haven't discovered Etsy yet, I encourage you to visit....visit often. I love the founder's innovative approach to opening the marketplace for creative folks. And I love being able to find that perfect gift for a dear friend's birthday or new baby. A gift that I know no one else will give.

Happy Pouncing!

Away we are!

Sorry for the lack of blog posts! We are currently out of the office... Tennessee the past 2 weeks, Alabama next week, South Carolina (Charleston mainly) currently!

Thank you to all of my current clients for your patience as I reply to your emails evah-so-slowly!

** Edited to Add: So, my trip to Charleston ended up being twice as long as it should have been. Bad weather, rescheduled sessions, malfunctioned airport runways, and lots of cancelled flights to Atlanta.

Tired and frustrated, I was ready to start walking home... Then, I met three of the kindest women, all strangers, who made me realize that life is too short too be tired and frustrated. Make the best of it.... Que Sera Sera.

To my new friends, Sister Mary Margaret, Elaine and Berry. May we all make the best in everything life throws us... Cheers to that!

2009, I loved you!

May your heart
be filled with
Peace, Love, and Joy
this New Years Eve.



Thank you to all of my wonderful clients of 2009. Happy New Year, Everyone!

Another season, another year...

...and another ridiculously adorable family this Christmas.

As Kyu and I pack our bags and head south for the holidays, we wanted to wish all of our friends, clients, colleagues & blog readers a very joyful and blessed Christmas. And because we love pictures so much, here's the team at b braithwaite whom we love dearly. We are toasting to another successful season and hoping all of the best for the new year. Happy Holidays everyone!

Essential Items for any Lady Photographer...

I received a couple of things today that I am JUST giddy over. My super sweet ordering consultant Meredith gave me a gift for my birthday, and in the package contained one essential item I can't go a day without. Post-it notes are THE best invention. Ever. She had them personalized for me, which (as Meredith knows) makes them a bazillion times better!

I also received a new camera bag from a new company in Australia called Crumpler. I discovered this crazy new company in New York during my last visit; my friends and I spent hours admiring their stock... If I listed every single thing I wanted in a camera bag, this would bag would ALMOST make it.... Almost. Still searching for the bag that takes it all, but for now, me and Sydney are enjoying it..

Awe.

Sometimes you just know...

...that you're meant to be friends.

Last week, I met with my dearest friends Sara, Whitney and Amy in New York City to celebrate the end of another successful Fall portrait season. We met last year at Learnfest, and since then - we've made an effort to get together at least once a quarter. That's incredibly challenging for 4 women who live on opposite sides of the country, run a full time business and love their families dearly!

Every time we get together, we pass the time with gossip, shopping & photo excursions around around town.

No exception in the big city.... We were in heaven!

Our first stop, of course - the big & beautiful Christmas tree at the Rockefeller Center.



One of the main reasons we chose this city.... their flagship store is fabulous.



We took some time to explore the city, walk the streets, and play hopscotch!



Whitney flew cross country to see us, and we love her for that! We all got to see her depart....



...right before we took out our cameras for some fun! ...the beautiful Sara...



We call her Jansport. I wonder why?





And Sara snapped these silly shots of me, which I adore. Yes, Kyu is a lucky, lucky man...



I can't wait to see these lovely ladies again....in about 3 weeks in Nashville! Love you guys!

Out for a little break and some much needed girl time...

After an insane fall portrait season, I'm taking a little break from work and celebrating my 29th birthday (well, preview to it anyhow!) with my favorite girls in New York. I hear December is the best time to visit! Either way, I'm looking for a seeing these ladies, catching up on our gossip, shopping (of course) and taking in all that the city has to offer.

Kyu and I love each other immensely (it's scary!), but we're big fans of separate vacations, making time with our own friends & family, and allowing each other to have their own space every once in a while... I'll come back missing him more than ever (something that's GREAT after spending the last 30 days with him 24/7!).

I'll be out until Thursday, December 10th. Have a wonderful week, everyone!

Maya Angelou

"I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life. I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life." I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back. I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I've learned that I still have a lot to learn. I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

— Maya Angelou