I couldn’t be more excited about 2009! I plan to post a blog soon with some fun ideas, news, announcements and future-freebies. For now, however, I need to know what YOU would like to see more of in 2009. Please leave me a comment or, better yet, just place a vote or two on the poll below.
I want my blog to be a place you look forward to visiting each day. It’s up to YOU!
I wanted to post a quick blog during Ross and Rayna’s nap and prior to our annual Christmas meal. First of all, MERRY CHRISTMAS to whoever is nice enough to actually check my blog on Christmas day! Please leave me some blog-love (aka: a comment) where I’ll know you were here! It always makes me happy to see you were checking for updates.
Since I can’t post a blog without posting a picture, and all of Ross and Rayna’s photos from this morning are still in my camera downstairs, I’ll leave you with an image I took over eight years ago in Ghana, Africa. This picture kept popping in my head this morning as I thought about how blessed we all are. It’s easy to get caught-up in the toys, clothes, food and activities, but I want to always remember the smile on this little boy’s face below. Regardless of his only bath for the week being a cold and dirty one, he still seemed to be so grateful for the little he had.
Count your blessings.
Enjoy the moment.
Take time to remember the true meaning of Christmas.
Christy
I have a problem. Well, two problems, actually. The first thing I envision when thinking about a person, event, place or activity is the photographs associated with it. For example, when planning a vacation, instead thinking about how great it’s going to be to relax, I’m thinking about when, how and where I’m going to actually capture the images that have been stored away in my brain for months.
My second problem is that I am a very optimistic-visionary (aka: ‘dreamer’). Instead of thinking, “I can’t wait to get a picture of the beach,” I’m thinking, “I can’t wait to lay on my stomach to get that picture of the beach… with a huge sea shell in focus in front of me… while the waves crashing down will be out of focus in the distance.”
Typically, the result of this combination is me really getting my hopes up about these unrealistic AWESOME shots I want.
Enough background information.
Matthew had been out of town all week and we thought it would be fun to take the kids to see Santa when he returned. As we unloaded them out of the car, I was very excited about our little adventure. Camera already around my neck, here’s how ‘the shot’ had played out in my mind for the past four days we had been planning this trip. (Yes, I had been planning this shot for four days. I told you I had a problem.)
In my mind, Ross would be sitting on one of Santa’s knees. Rayna, instead of sitting, would be standing on his other knee. Ross and Rayna BOTH would be giving Santa a BIG kiss, make that at the EXACT same time. Oh yeah, Santa, in the middle of these two giant kisses, would be in the middle of the BIGGEST belly-laugh you’ve ever seen. I would have gotten a really tight face shot and, by some miracle, I would have caught the sun’s glimmer in all three of their eyes. I was REALLY looking forward to sharing the above (incredible) photo on my blog.
Once placed on Santa’s knee, Rayna became a very unhappy camper and Ross acted like he was afraid for his life.
THIS is my long-awaited 2008 Santa-shot:
We had really good intentions when we woke up on Wednesday morning. After we dropped off some hot lemon poppy-seed muffins at Grandmama’s house, we were going to the park and to the library for storytime and new library cards.
But, as we were leaving Grandmama’s house, Ross spotted her lake. Our plans were officially over. The next hour was filled with bug-searching, rock-kicking and branch-swinging.
I didn’t know what Ross was doing when he started running towards this old yellow trailer near the lake. When he climbed up on it and dropped his pants, I was glad I had grabbed my camera. This picture is funny to me because, in the middle of all of this land, he picked a platform to pee off of.
This weekend was very special for me and my family. Hannah (my sister) got married! We are all very excited about their future together. 
I’m glad Grandmama came in just a few minutes before the ceremony. We had all forgotten about getting the veil on.
With all of the pictures I’ve taken of Jason lately, I couldn’t help but notice how photogentic he is. He’s the only person I know who can refrain from blinking, talking or licking his lips while the camera is shooting.
Hannah and Jason wrote their own vows. (I love it!)
She is just putting the words in her head on paper before the ceremony.
Hannah, my mom and myself.
Right after he and my mom gave Hannah away, my dad played the guitar and sung, “I Loved Her First” He did a great job. 
There’s nothing sweeter than a guy getting a little emotional while saying his vows.
Hannah surprised everyone by singing Jason a song. It was really sweet because, in his vows,
Jason had just talked about Hannah’s voice and how much he loves it.
This was right after they were married. (I don’t know if I like the color version or black and white best. I posted them both. What do you think?)
Although it felt like it was ten degrees below zero, Matthew (Jason’s brother) came outside with me for a quick picture. You can’t even tell how cold he was, can you?
Why a picture of Matthew alone? Ummm… I don’t have a good answer for that question. I just thought he was looking especially awesome. I wanted to share the love.
Bye Hannah and Jason! Relax, have fun and stay warm on your honeymoon!
Okay, so her name is not really ‘Ha-Ha,’ but Ross has a way of making everyone want to talk just like him. He can’t quite say ‘Hannah’ or ‘Aunt Hannah,’ so ‘Ha-Ha’ it is. (You wouldn’t believe it if I told you how many times a day I hear, “Wat you doing, Ha-Ha?”)
Jason and Hannah really wanted to do photos during my last trip in October. Unfortunately, it rained the only day I didn’t have back-to-back sessions. Although it was VERY cold here last weekend, we didn’t have to worry about rain. We went to a neat little place close to downtown Lawrenceville. I really loved how old the buildings were.
I’m using some of these images to design a signature board for their wedding this weekend. If I remember, I’ll take a picture of the finished product to post. I LOVE giving all my wedding clients a Signature Board. I matte 1-3 of their favorite images from their engagement shoot, set up the large matte and photos on an easel at their wedding. The guests use the pens to write a short but special message to the couple. Matthew and I still get so many compliments on ours from seven years ago.
I remember exactly what I was doing, where I was sitting and what I was eating the moment I got a phone call from my sister-in-law Michelle telling us she and Jimmie were pregnant. Every baby is truly a miracle, but Jimmie and Michelle had been waiting a long time for Kenslee.
When Kenslee was born, Matthew and I were already getting ready for our move back to Georgia. We were both so happy to meet Kenslee while she was still tiny, warm and fuzzy.
I went over for a visit last week. Ross and Rayna were about an hour past their naps, so I didn’t get to do a ‘real’ shoot like I wanted. Luckily, Jimmie and MIchelle are only about 15 minutes away and Michelle is great to let me photograph her kids as often as I want to.
Enough typing… You’ve gotta see this precious little smile Kenslee keeps on her face about 90% of the time. It’s just too sweet!
I received a call from Dr. Lewis several months ago regarding scheduling a session for her two daughter’s senior photos. I had planned on photographing them next year when I return to shoot a wedding, but I was very excited when the girls decided they wanted to do the photo shoot during our time in Arkansas.
We shot in a neat little town just walking distance from their home.
Two beautiful girls, gorgeous eyes, an awesome location and six outfits later, I realized I was going to be in trouble. My 2GB SD card was already full! Yes, we took LOTS of pictures.
I stayed up a little later last night to post some extras! Enjoy!
If I told you we had a really, really great time in Arkansas would you believe me?
Despite the first picture I took there, we actually had a wonderful time in NW Arkansas visiting Matthew’s parents on our road-trip back to Georgia. (If you’ve had a session with me and your child was not loving picture-time, I’ve probably told you how difficult it is to get my own son to smile when the camera is out. Now, you see it for yourself!)
I had to post an extra photo of Grey. Why? Well, look at him. He was such a sweetie-pie. Another great family… adorable kids, fun parents… I LOOOOOVE my job!!!
Most Story Boards features a collection of family, children or individual images. However, one of my favorite ways to create a Story Board is using a sequence of images. These are normally images taken within seconds (literally) of one another. Here are a few I created from my last session. 