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!

Well, this certainly isn’t my first time working with Tiffany. She’s the Orange Moon event planner that I’ve been working with since what was almost the beginning for me.  I worked with her twice over the Christmas Break while she was home from over-seas. Randomly she asked to work together on something very different for us…a couple’s shoot! So we set one up and a few days later I see a picture on FB of her hand with the caption “I said Yes!”. Her boyfriend fiance was thinking ahead when he had her set a shoot up for the two of them. It still didn’t hit me until the day of the shoot that this was in fact an ENGAGEMENT SHOOT! SO funny that before the proposal, Tiffany and I were just talking about how amazing the details are going to have to be for her wedding, baby shower, etc…being that she’s an event planner!

Working with Tiffany and Kevin was a good time! Kevin brought the comedy throughout the entire shoot. When he didn’t have Tiffany (and goofy me) cracking up he was loading her up with compliments on how beautiful she looked and all kind of other sweet sweet things that you’d hope to hear from someone you’re planning to marry. I’m definitely looking forward to your upcoming December wedding!  🙂

I don’t want Kevin to lose too many cool points so let me just say that this bear holds value for them. He was given to Kevin when he bought the ring so he’s in their family now…along with the ring! SO Sweet, right?

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!

These kids are no strangers to my blog. They make as many appearances as my God kids…It’s Toot & Taylor! Taylor was my very first newborn shoot and now she’s THREE months! She wasn’t as easy going and sleepy as she was 3 months ago…oh no…she was a little baby diva. She required resting periods, milk on demand, and to be held here and there. LOL! Toot couldn’t decide if he loved pictures or hated them, but regardless we got AWESOOOOME shots! He also decided that he might want to be a photographer and took this opportunity to help me get the shots. He was directing me on how to pose them, what they should be doing, the faces they should be making, etc. It was interesting to say the least…LOL!

Thanks to Nichelle for continuously supporting my growing business and being on top of capturing all these special moments for her beautiful babies!

Thanks for looking!