{Amanda and Kevin} Maternity | Gwinnett County Portrait Photographer

 

I was so happy when Amanda contacted me a few months ago for her maternity and newborn sessions! Amanda and I go way back, so I was honored that she would choose me to document these milestones in her and Kevin's life. I shot their wedding back in 2010 and was thrilled to learn that they were expecting a little girl in December! I cannot wait to snuggle that precious little babe next month!

 

 

 

 

We are now booking for the Spring! If you are interested in a session or just want some more information, email me at ashley@hugghinsphotography.com

 

 



{Baby Reed} Newborn | Gwinnett County Portrait Photographer

 

This momma came to see me again- with the newest addition to the family! I shot older sister last year at this time and Reed is just as beautiful! This family knows how to make 'em! I was excited to have a newbie in the studio again! She was so quiet; even when she cried, it was a soft little whine. I enjoyed documenting this growing family and hope to see them again very soon!

 

 

 

 





{HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!} | Gwinnett County Portrait Photographer

 

I hope your day is full of treats (and just a few tricks)!

AND...be sure to post a photo of your little goblins and ghouls to our Facebook Page

for a chance to win a FREE SESSION!

Ends November 4th

 

 

 



{The Perfect Gift for Expectant Mommies!} | Gwinnett County Newborn Photographer

 

Everyone knows that the newborn months pass by quickly- they grow out of clothes quicker than you can put them on, they get tired of the baby swing, and the diapers...oh the diapers! But one thing never gets old or ratty or thrown into the giveaway box...photographs.

 

I am excited to introduce a new offering from Hugghins Photography that makes the PERFECT baby shower gift! Help a new mom preserve that precious newborn stage with a special gift from us! 

You will receive the "Welcome Baby" print along with an unfinished wooden frame so that you can decorate it to match the shower theme or baby's nursery! Then, mom can fill it with a beautiful, complimentary, 5x7 from her session! 

 

 

AND....the first two to purchase their gift will also receive a $75 gift card for mom to spend on her newborn art!

 

For more info or to purchase a newborn gift, contact me- ashley@hugghinsphotography.com

 

 

 



It's Here! 2012 Holiday Special! | Gwinnett County Portrait Photographer

 

Make life a little bit easier and let us take care of one more thing on your to-do list this year!

Only 4 sessions remain for the Fall, so get on it!

 

 

Card image and gallery image are to be the same.

Session must be held before November 25th.

ashley@hugghinsphotography.com or fill out a contact form HERE!

 



{The Fading Summer Days} | Gwinnett County Portrait Photographer

I know it is Fall, but here in Georgia, summer lasts pretty much until the middle of October. Our nights may get chilly, but our days are sunshiny and warm! I am trying to take more and more candid shots of my boys on random days so last night, I grabbed my camera, and snuck in a few as the sun was setting. I cannot say enough how much I ADORE this light! It will be gone soon, so I am taking it in as much as humanly possible!

 

 

 



{The Kougioulis Family} | Gwinnett County Portrait Photographer

 

I met this sweet little crew after mom won a session at the Ladies' Night Event this past June thrown by Upper Cervical Chiropractic of Georgia.

As soon as we spoke on the phone, I knew she was excited and as we discussed their session, I knew they'd be a fun shoot! I love the glow new parents have and families of three are one of my favorite groups to shoot! I had a great time guys! Enjoy your preview!

 

 

Fall is filling super fast! If you want to snag a spot, don't wait!

Booking October and November!

Drop me a line HERE!

 

 

 



{Add a Little ZING!} | Gwinnett County Portrait Photographer

  

I've been so busy with our little sister over at Urban Trend Seniors that this blog has been looking a bit neglected. Just so you know that I'm still chuggin', here's a little lighting post for ya!

This is just simple shots of my baby (well, not so much anymore!) on his first day of pre-k. The first one was shot under our front porch, the other out in the beautiful morning sun. Take a look at the difference in the feeling of the photos:

Not bad, but is lacking that "oomph". And, the background isn't very interesting- just some dirty concrete that makes the photo look a bit flat.

Now here, we stepped a few feet away from the porch and I turned his back to the sun. You may need to play with placement, but be sure there is no sun spilling onto the face. I even got a little flare over there on the left! The sun separates him from the backdrop giving the photo dimension.



 

Try experimenting with light, especially in the early morning and about an hour before sunset and see the difference in your own photos!



{Showcasing Your Art} | Gwinnett County Portrait Photographer

Who doesn't love showing off their family? And what better way than with a home gallery wall (or two!)? One of the trends I've noticed is a collage style gallery where you mix photos with art with sculpture. Different color frames, mixing color and black and white photos- I wanted it all! So, after doing some Pinterest research and hours and hours of choosing photos, I was ready to assemble.

Every frame I used was just lying around my house collecting dust. I painted a few for some variety, then laid them on my living room floor until I was happy with the arrangement. hen came the tough part- choosing photos to go in each frame. I had to consider their color, orientation, and content. Like I said, this was a long process, but it all came together and I am thrilled with the result! The perfect mix- snapshots alongside styled portraits with a bit of art prints thrown in! I'd love to hear what you think!



{Erica and Zach} | Gwinnett County Photographer

I love watching a bride on her wedding day. The excitement, the work she has put into all of the little details, and all the fun energy that comes along with getting married! It makes me want to relive mine all over again! Erica was a bridesmaid in Kati and Matt's wedding last Spring, so I was excited to see many familiar faces.

Erica and Zach were married in one of my favorite places- downtown Athens. I have fond memories of that place and I know it holds a special place in their hearts too. We could not have asked for better weather- sunny and 78 degrees, a picturesque Spring wedding day!

Thank you guys so much for allowing me to capture this special day for you! And to your families and friends for being so sweet and treating me like one of the gang! I wish you both all the happiness in the world!

Zach and Erica opted to do a first look. If you are planning your wedding, I HIGHLY recommend it. They still had their special moment, but we were able to get a ton of photos of them together, not to mention ALL of the bridal party photos out of the way before the ceremony even began. This is Zach's reaction to seeing his lovely bride-to-be! 

 

*Just a quick note that I am no longer accepting wedding commissions in order to focus on my studio and senior business. I look forward to capturing my past brides as their families grow!

 

{Live, Laugh, Photograph} | Decoding Camera Ads

A good friend of mine recently contacted me with a number of questions regarding cameras. She was in the market for a camera upgrade and had seen an ad for one that looked good. Problem was- she had no idea what all of the numbers and technical jargon meant. EOS, image stabilization, 15 megapixels....it can all be very confusing to the everyday consumer.

So I thought I might help others who are also looking to buy a new camera, but haven't yet because they don't know what they want (or need!).

The best thing about these camera for everyday consumers is that they can be set on automatic for beginners (just like your old point and shoot) but are also capable of full manual mode as you get more comfortable with the settings. There is also no delay from the time you press the shutter to the time the photo is captured (no more backs of heads!).

Other common photog terms that you might run across:

Live view- means that you can see the image in the screen as you are composing your shot. Most DSLRs do not have this feature and you must look through the camera to see your shot before snapping.

SD/CF cards- the format for the memory card. Any good store employee can direct you to the proper card for your camera. Most Canon and Nikon DSLRs take CF cards. The more megapixels your camera is, the larger each photo file will be. You may need a card with lots of memory to hold a decent amount of photos. (Think of it as film for your camera)

f/3.5-5.6 or simliar next to lens info- this is the aperture for the lens. Remember in our Live Laugh Photograph post where we discussed aperture? The two numbers here mean that the lens will have an aperture of 3.5 when set at the smallest focal length and 5.6 when zoomed all the way in.

Hope this helps you decode all of those letters and numbers and finally make the move to shooting with your own DSLR! Feel free to email me any questions- ashley@hugghinsphotography.com

{The Hardest Job in the World} | Gwinnett County Portrait Photographer

It is a bit cliche, but being a mom is the toughest, yet most rewarding job in the world. The long hours, the demanding boss(es), the responsibilities... oh, and it's all unpaid. But at night, when the house is quiet and you've just finished your third first glass of wine, you can't help but sneak into those messy rooms, over the piles of Legos and Barbie shoes, and simply watch them sleep, knowing that you have the BEST job in the world!

Happy Mother's Day to those brave souls who believed others when they said,

"It's not THAT hard!".

And thank you Lord for these two little hams that make my life interesting!