{Journaling Memories}

As the mom of two very energetic and hilarious little boys, you can imagine the types

of things that come out of their mouths on a daily basis. Some of it adorable (singing

the "Thomas" theme song from the backseat), some of it a bit annoying ("Mommy, shush, calm down!"), and some of it downright embarrassing ("How the hell are ya?" to the next door neighbor). Kids are just naturally awesome. They say and do things without any regard to whether it's socially acceptable. They pick their nose in public. They pair tutus with jean shorts. They repeat your "colorful" language to the grocery store manager.

I'll admit, I cringe everytime my eight year old tells someone, "Let me tell you a funny story..." I never know what will follow. But I do know that those moments are ticking down. There will come a day when my kids gain a conscience and begin to care what people think. They will become shy pre-teens, aware of social norms and rules. So while I'm living among

senseless knock-knock jokes and a three year old who randomly goes into "dinosaur mode", I make sure that I jot down all of the quirky sayings and other fun stuff that comes with raising kiddos-

When my first son turned one, I bought a small journal that I could record all of

his toddler milestones in. Some entries are paragraphs, others simply one-liners and random

details of his life. Nothing fancy, just things I wanted to make sure I would never forget. As

he got older, he developed quite a sense of humor (from me of course) and would spout

out some real doozies. Everytime, I would write them down in his book, and I can look back and laugh at how awesomely hilarious he was at only 3 and now, I can share the book with him. He loves to see what he was like at his brother's age! Now my younger son has begun to think that he is a young Adam Sandler and his book is quickly filling with "Nolanisms".

Even if your kids are older, you can still benefit from recording random comments and

good jokes. I cherish these memories and love being able to share them with my boys. On bad days, I flip through my books and they never fail to change my mood!

{What You Do For Some} | Gwinnett County Portrait Photographer

My mother is a stickler for making things fair. She had three kids, so her life was filled

with, "But she has one!" and "If he can, why can't I?" She always made sure that

what she did for some, she did for all. I wanted to do the same with my kids- mini personal

photo albums of their first 3 years, their own scrapbooks, and for my mom, a small

collage of each of my boys when they were around 4 months.

 I was just starting photography school when my oldest was born and let's just say, he got used to the camera pretty quickly. These were shot on black and white film with a Pentax camera my mom and dad had just given me for Christmas. Check out the blanket "backdrop"!

We continued the tradition with my little guy, mostly because my mother didn't want him

to think she loved my oldest more than him, but I was happy to oblige.

And now, with the addition of a granddaughter, did you really think I'd get away scott free?
She came to visit me, so naturally, we turned babysitting into a photoshoot!

I love seeing not only the three grandbabies on her wall, but the progression of my

photography since the beginning. Hard to believe it's been eight years since I began my journey! I hope that more adorable faces will be added to "Mimi's" wall in the near future!

{Jason and Sara} Engagements | Gwinnett County Portrait Photographer

I was so excited when I heard that Jason was getting married. My husband and I have known Jason since high school and the two were roomies at UGA. I was delighted when his fiance, Sara, contacted me to do some engagements before the big day- she had so many ideas and our styles blended perfectly! So me and the hubs met them on the Georgia campus and spent the whole afternoon walking down memory lane and introducing Sara to all of the beauty of Athens! We ended our trip with a great dinner, catching up and getting to know Sara a bit better. You guys were great and I can't wait till the wedding!

{Katy} Seniors | Gwinnett High School Senior Photographer

Katy's family and I go way back. I watched her grow from a wee little thing to the

beautiful, caring, and smart young lady she is now. I get to see her even more now that

she helps teach my son's religious class and I am so happy to see her preparing

my baby for his First Communion in May!

I usually get so booked up with little 'uns, that I hardly get to photograph seniors-

but I simply adore them!

Congrats Katy- I am so proud of you my dear!



{Live, Laugh, Photograph} What's Your Point?

In photography, there are a lot of things to keep in mind while shooting. When you are the one behind the lens, you are the decision maker. This includes how you see the photograph. Your point of view is what is reflected in the image you produce and ultimately, becomes the viewers point of view as well. It sets the tone for the viewer and can be a very powerful tool when used correctly.


If all of your photos seem to have the subject dead center, from a height of about 5 and half feet, here are a few ideas of how to spice up your images simply by changing your angle:

Get in Close
One of my favorite ways to photograph kiddos is up close. Granted they allow you to get all up in their business! It gives your image an intimate feeling. A zoom or long lens works well for this- it allows you to get close, without being right up in the child's face. I love to, gasp!, cut off the tops of heads in my crops. I usually leave the chin as it gives the face it's shape. You can do head on shots, or profiles, but be sure to focus on the eyes.

Capture the Surroundings
If your subject isn't cool with the close-ups, then why not take advantage and shoot the whole environment? You can show how small your child is against a huge oak tree, or the rolling hills behind a bride and groom. It adds a feeling of openess in your photograph and can change the tone of the whole image.

Remember the Rule of Thirds
If there were such a thing as a photography God, his first commandment would be "Never center your subject in the frame." It's a photography sin. Setting your subject off-center is more pleasing to the eye, whether you use the vertical or horizontal. Use the rule of thirds no matter what you are shooting. Period. Here are some examples:

here I used the right and top third

see how he's almost centered on the vertical, but on the right horizontal third

You can center your subject on one plane while maintaining the rule of thirds on the other. 

Get Low
It may sound like this is a tip only for shooting small children, but it works equally well for couples, pets, and families. When you get on a lower level, you get personal, a viewpoint that's not normally seen. For adults, this works well when they are not looking at the camera. It gives a feeling of being a fly on the wall. For kids, it simply means getting down on their level, the way they see the world. It also helps them feel more comfortable being photographed when there isn't a camera looming overhead.

Shoot Down
I love to shoot down on my subjects. It's a great way to focus on the eyes and let everything else fade into the backround. It's a very powerful angle and can leave small kids overwhelmed, but if you can, try it. It works even better on adults as shooting from this angle is flattering to everyone. It hides any double chins and when paired with a slight turn of the head, lengthens the neck and slims the jaw. This is your secret weapon when ladies say, "Make me look thin!".

Off with Their Heads
As harsh as it may sound, I love to shoot photos that contain no faces- smiling or otherwise. Get up close on tiny fingers and toes, shoot a couple hand in hand at the waist. It's a totally different way of seeing your scene. Shooting details forces the viewer to see what you feel is important in the photograph.

Action!

Some of my favorite photographs are those that tell a story. Nobody is looking at the camera, or even paying a bit of attention to your attempts to get them to do so- so take advantage! Capture the scene exactly how you see it- are the kids playing quietly together? Is your husband enjoying the taste of little baby toes? Forget posing and shoot exactly what your subject gives you. This style is known as "photojournalistic" and is quickly gaining popularity. Trust me- it'll be frame-worthy!

While you are the creative director of your images, there are a few things that never look good:
-Cropping out limbs. As a good rule of thumb, you never want to crop at bends (knees, elbows, waists) If you must- crop just above or below these bends.
-Not knowing the focus of your image. When you make too many things important, you risk overwhelming the viewer.
-Not paying attention to your backround. Maybe you want to try shooting down, but your subject is sitting on a scuffed pink laminate floor. If the backround is busy, have the subject take a few steps forward and either zoom with a long lens, or use a wide aperture.
-Shooting up, especially on adults. This angle is very hard to master and should only be done if you have practiced and know exactly what you are doing.


I hope these help to give you an idea of what runs through my head when I am composing images, even brainstorming sessions. They are easy enough for even the most inexperienced clicker, and with a bit of practice, become like second-nature.

Now go- start snappin'!