The god kids and their mom came up one weekend…sporting their Christmas presents from me. We missed the opportunity over Christmas so we made up for it in Atlanta! Thank God for 70 degree Georgia weather during the winter!!! We had to work quickly so I didn’t get as many as normal, but I love what we were able to get. I can’t wait to print these shots of my babies!

 

& if you’re wondering why I have a few more of MJ than Roman, it’s because he was not interested in me or my big camera. MJ on the other hand, she thinks she’s a model.

 

Thanks for looking!!!

 

Ah. I’m going to try not to make this TOO TOO lengthy, but there is SOOOO much to say about this family…and this day. In the first week of January 2012 I blindly sent Craig Obrist an email. He did one of my classmate’s wedding early in the year, and his work really stuck with me. It wasn’t even just that he did an awesome job, but it was the blog that accompanied it. His beautiful work matched by beautiful words. I’d reached out to several photographers…some responded and some didn’t, but I hadn’t gotten the response I was seeking. I was almost desperate around the time I sent him an email. I thought…”He’d never respond, but I just want to know where I should start” & sure enough…The Obrists responded! I learned quickly that they were a team. It wasn’t just Craig…but it was Craig and Unchong. Not only did they respond, but they invited me to have coffee to talk about photography. Craig held nothing back…He told me where to begin & mistakes he made starting off. From that day forward…we’ve spent many weekends together shooting weddings and families and talking about photography. Without them, this blog would not exist & neither would my business. I thank God soooo often for bringing them into my life. They are genuinely an awesome family and I look up to Craig and Unchong on so many levels. Fast foward ONE year later…

Craig texts me on New Years Day, “Unchong is in labor! Are you willing to shoot the birth?” Woooo-hooo! I’d been trying to convince a family to do this for some time. I have yet to hear from a family that has had it done that they regret it. I’ve heard from birthing photographers that it is soooo fufilling to capture this moment in time. I was ECSTATIC that although it was a little uncomfortable for Unchong she wanted and trusted ME to do this. I did everything in my power to keep her as comfortable with my presence during the labor and delivery. I always left the room or turned around when she needed a private moment. I didn’t care about missing certain shots if it meant that I would have to make her uncomfortable. During the labor and delivery I was at her end of the bed. I didn’t care to blog ANYTHING without getting her stamp of approval for each picture…and now that I have that…I would love to show you the last little Obrist.

So funny now, we would be joking and talking and Unchong would be laughing with us…& then she’d say, “Ok guys. I’m gone again…here comes a contraction.”I’m not sure how Unchong would have done without Craig’s constant coaching and encouragement during the delivery process. The nurse said he used the bathroom as soon as he came out so really Unchong delivered a 9 lb baby. Unchong’s mom was there for the delivery as well. She stuck by her daughter’s side every second of the process.

There is nothing like a mother’s love…& that never changes.LOVE.Being a photographer, Craig couldn’t resist getting a few shots of his own.One of my faves!

THE NEXT DAY, THE BIG SISTERS, EMMA & ELI CAME TO SEE ETHAN FOR THE FIRST TIME…

Eli was a litte overwhelmed at first, but didn’t take long for her to want to love all over Ethan.

I adore The Obrists!

Thanks for looking!

Ok. There’s no Oscar Award here…YET. My dear friend Alicia is in what I would imagine to be the best position to get into acting. She’s young, it’s just her, she’s beautiful, and she lives in New York! When she told me she’d started making the necessary steps to begin this journey I was SOOOO SO SO SO excited for her! I could totally see her in movies…especially if she can land a role that requires a lot of happiness and smiling. When she asked me to do her head-shots, I could not get “YES!” out fast enough! Any way that I can show my friends the support or help in the same way that they have and continue to show me…I’m all in. What I love most about Alicia asking me to do this shoot for her is that she knew this wasn’t my comfort zone as far as photography and yet and still she still values my time and business so much that she did not expect this to be a free shoot. Ah, I love my friends…such blessings!

Anyway, check out these head shots and send up a prayer for my friend and her blossoming journey!

This isn’t for her portfolio, but this is soooo Alicia! Hehe!

Thanks for looking!

I don’t know what’s gotten into me. I know exactly what has gotten into me. When God puts something on my heart…I have to let it out. If I hold it in, I become an emotional wreck! I have to let THIS out.

When I have photo shoots with parents I have to literally convince them to get in pictures with their kids. In no way is this an attack. I completely understand not having the confidence to step in front of a camera…especially a camera that you are not controlling. We know our best angles, best lighting for us, and so many ways to mask our insecurities. When you allow someone else to control all of that it can be daunting, I get it ladies and gents!

I got into photography because I wanted to document my life and family, my god kids’ lives, and someday my own children’s lives. I was interested in lifestyle photography because I wanted to genuinely capture moments in time for people. I wanted parents to have a way to look back and see exactly who their child was at a particular time. To be honest, I have not reached a point where I am comfortable calling myself a lifestyle photographer. People just aren’t comfortable with inviting someone over, letting go of their reservations, and allowing me to catch them as they are. I’ve spent countless hours behind my computer looking at other lifestyle photographer’s work and just crying. The images they capture when people are just themselves are quite amazing and raw. It’s almost understandable if you’re never in pictures because you are the one taking them and you haven’t mastered your timer, but there is no excuse if you have someone else taking these pictures. Yes, your baby is the cutest thing ever and you want me to focus on that, but you as a new mom or dad with that baby is just as precious.

Well, this morning I happened to stumble across Jen Burgess story. See the video of her story here, read her story here, and see just how her story has made a difference here. If you never follow another link from me…PLEASE follow up on this. In short, Jen Burgess was a BEAUTIFUL photographer with 2 boys. She took the most amazing pictures of other people, but for some reason or another she didn’t have many photos of her with her kids…until she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer…at the young age of 36. She decided to share her battle and try to encourage photographers and parents around the world to GET IN PICTURES with their kids and make the most of every single day. Those are the pictures they will cherish forever. Forget about how your hair looks or the fact that you haven’t hit your weight goal. Time is so precious, and you just never know when your time is up. Last week Jen lost her battle with cancer, :'( but so many women are now making conscious decisions to get in pictures so their children will have something tangible to remember them by when they are gone. I have never lost a parent, but I know of so many people that have, and their pictures WITH their parent is their most prized possession. Don’t just get in a picture here and there…continue to get in pictures with them. Beyond pictures…make the most of the time you have with your loved ones. I know it’s cliche and we hear it so often but you really never know when it’ll be time for you to leave.

I ALWAYS ALWAYS try to encourage moms to get in pictures, and I wanted to put it out there why I am so passionate about that. I didn’t know Jen’s story, but now I will share it with clients and push harder for those reluctant moms. I have a few shoots coming up so I hope that if you’re on the schedule or you plan to be on the schedule in the future that you see this and you start preparing yourself, but this is SO much deeper than a plug for my business. If you take several pictures with your baby using your iPhone. Get those Instagram pictures printed, get your memory card backed up, and get your rolls of film developed. It is not enough to take pictures just for the sake of social networks because they come and go.

I have spent the morning looking at Jen’s IG pics, the influence she has had on the photography community, and just crying . Normally when I see someone’s battle with cancer and am moved to tears, I feel so down and out for them. This time, it was a different feeling. Jen might be THE most courageous woman. She took her battle and changed the lives of soooo many people. I believe in practicing what I preach so I am going to make more of an effort to stop wasting time on trivial things and get a little better with getting in pictures in-spite of feeling incredibly insecure after gaining a little weight.

Thank you, Jen.

Leaving you all with a few shots with mothers and their kids. They happen to be some of my favs! 😉

I’ve been known to spend hours on end in front of the computer reading, crying, and smiling at blog posts by photographers or random people that I don’t REALLY know. So now that I have my OWN blog, I’ve debated for months as to which route I want my blog to go. I’ve heard from people that know nothing about blogging nor running a photography business that I should keep my personal life separate from my business life. I was hesitant to post anything outside of my work here, but I have decided that this is MY blogosphere. This entire process has been a risk for me. I’ve invested in equipment, I’ve invested my time, and my heart. So I’m ok with the risk. After I’ve prayed about it I now wait on that peace, and once I have it…I go with it. So what better way to get to know your photog than the personal section of their blog? I happen to LOOOOVE photographers that post about their personal lives on their blogs so why wouldn’t I incorporate that into MY blog?!? When it’s time for ME to get married, I’m not just going to choose a photographer that’ll take awesome pictures, but one that’ll connect with us emotionally.   How can you be a journalist/photographer but not keep track or spend just as much time journaling/documenting your own life?! It happens, and I don’t want to be that person.

It wasn’t until my mom told me of someone frequenting my blog and LOVING my work so much…and this was a guy. I thought “WOW! You never know who’s looking!” and judging off of my blog stat report there are quite a few looking…even if they don’t comment on here. By the way, I’m totally fine with the creepers because I just creep on SEVERAL blogs. I’ve gotten emails and fb msgs from ppl that I don’t know…ppl that I wouldn’t think would ever have any type of connection to me. Have I booked shoots for them all? No, but they’ve had great things to say. So maybe I wont be your photographer, but maybe you’ll check out my site and get inspired…maybe to follow your dreams, maybe to love a little more, maybe to start a family, maybe to lean on God. Idk! That’s just what I hope for with this site. People always make the internet out to be this horrible thing. The truth is, it can be…like ANYTHING in life, but there is some good on the internet . I’ve been fortunate to find it, and I hope to add to it.

So every Sunday evening my boyfriend jots down his weekly “to do” list or goals. One day I suggested we tell each other about our monthly goals and maybe even come up with some goals as a couple. We drew blanks. I told him “I know we’re GREAT people and all but surely we’ve got some areas that need work.” I got to thinking about how many things I say I want to do and then the days go by so quickly that I just never get around to them. Well, that stops THIS month. I’ve heard that putting it out there…holds you more accountable. I’m going to post my monthly goals (personal and business) here every first of the month and also report on how they worked out the previous month.

I hope that this will inspire YOU to think about areas where you need work. If it helps you can tell me and I’ll be sure to check in on ya!

• Find personal bible study lesson plans 
• Hand write 2 letters to 2 ppl I love
• Do something to show support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month…a fundraising walk maybe?
• Blog at least 4 shoots for the month
• Reactive LA Fitness membership & work out at least 3 x’s a week
• Juice at least once a day on weekdays
• Cut out McDonalds (Don’t let that little evil dollar menu control you)
• Cook at least 3 new healthy meals
• Try out a new hairstylist
• Get ahead on schoolwork and lesson plans and ENJOY 25th birthday!!!!!!

Please feel free to comment on the blog…emails and texts are still welcomed, but you can aaaalways comment on the blog. You can also add yours monthly goals here if you’d like! I’d love to hear them…might inspire my next set of goals.