If you weren't ready, now you can be! The Kindle and Nook are reduced!

Summer time is HERE. Hello June 21 and summer solstice. Thank you for the longest day of the year and an excuse to 'waste' time reading...bc really, what are you going to do with all of that extra daylight? Thankfully, our tech-world has got some pretty cool things to help us get through our summer reading lists... i.g. the Kindle, Nook, and iPad.

I got SO excited today when I read this story about the new price reductions on the Amazon Kindle and the Barnes and Noble Nook. I have debated getting one of these simply because they are pretty pricey, and I would rather use Amazon to buy my $0.99 used copies of Pride and Prejudice. However, seeing these new numbers is tempting me toward one of these now faster than ever. I know friends who love them, because of the books, but also for the magazines, journals, and newspapers you can put on them.

Check them out, what are your opinions? I'm (read)y.

Coffee and Smart Water...

Do you ever start certain habits kind of blindly? I love Smart Water.  Which is kind of a big deal if you knew me and knew how much I DON'T drink water. No offense to H2O but it doesn't taste that great to me, and I would rather drink something that has a flavor and gives me some blood-flow (cough cough::coffee::). However, Smart Water may have won me over because I've now started this unconcious habit of downing about 4 bottles a day.

This is probably due to the genius advertising on their part by putting Jennifer Aniston as their spokes model... bc let's face it, who wouldn't want to drink something that maybe-might-possibly-bysomechance-kindof make you look like her? I want to be her friend.

So I'm a little healthier today (and for the past few weeks) because of my new obsession with Smart Water. Their spokes model and super-fun squeeze-bottles have won me over. I haven't completely replaced my coffee, nor will I EVER, but I'm pretty close to reducing it's domination over my blood stream. I think I'm putting the 'smart' in my Smart Water.

What are you thankful for?

Today is Friday and I think that can leave us all thankful for at least something. We can be thankful that Saturday isn't technically seen as a work-day, therefore we can slack-off or take-off at will. Or, if you usually work on Saturday's, like me (woo hoo wedding photographer), you can be thankful that you have something to do tomorrow that gives you a paycheck. Holler if you like getting paid!

This morning I made it a priority to sit down and write out the things I was thankful for. You may be thinking that my list was sophisticated and sentimental, and at parts it was...but I definitely wrote that I was thankful for coffee and the couch I was sitting on (because, let's face it... those are some things that hold us up when the going gets tough!). And that list (even the less-than-sopisticated-things) has allowed me to start out the day pretty darn cheerfully.

So make your list.

Now,

5 things...

Go.

The Hendersons | Destin Beach Family Photography

Today I'm blogging the images of one of my favorite families in the wide world. These are the Henderson's and they live up the street from me. I babysit for them a couple of days a week and you probably remember seeing their two girls in some past posts here and here. These kids are some of the most joy-filled and curious kids I know... and they have amazing parents that encourage them and love them through everything. They roll 6-deep over there, but no one's left out.

In May I was able to travel with them to San Destin, FL and help out with the kids. While we were down there the mom, Lacy, wanted me to capture some images of them all together at the beach (especially since it was their youngest, Breezy's, first time ever!!). She did some 'research' at the outlet malls earlier that day and got some great outfits for everyone. I love the way the yellow pops!

Thanks Lacy for being awesome and for having such a cute fam!

Woot woot Hump Day!

Things I wish I knew

There are a lot of things I wish I knew... and most of them are things that I wish I knew in the past, I could care less about the future! I just wish I knew that the answer wasn't always 'C' on a multiple choice test, or that the high-school boys I had crushed on would eventually turn out looking like Yoda dressed in J.Crew.

Those are small things, but right now I'm approaching my 1st year in business (or shooting weddings... my 'business' anniversary isn't until december) and I'm looking back and thinking 'Wow, I wish I'd known THAT'

One thing that I wish I'd known: For everything that you don't know how to do, or don't want to do, there is someone who can and wants to. 

In one word: outsourcing. I'm not a big fan of graphic design. I LOVE it, I'm just not that great at it. However, I had no idea the resources that are out there to help people like me who need a basic graphic, like...oh, a logo (not that basic, really...kind of a big deal).

I stumbled on LogoSauce last week and I was kicking myself for the amazing service it offers. If you're in need of a logo, or some graphics help...please check them out. I'm drumming up my own 'challenge' right now.

I wish I'd done it sooner, but add it to the list of things I wish I'd known.

Guess who's back...back again..

Yes I'm channeling my inner Slim-Shady with this blog post title. That's cool...right? Brings me back (back again...alright I'll stop)

anyways. this past month was a whirlwind of sorts. I apologize to my faithful readers bc I honestly was just too tired to lay it all out everyday! I didn't manage my time well at all, and my day-planner sat in the same place in the back of my car everyday (NOT a good sign). Today I blew the dust off of it and decided it was time to put  a little mojo back into my weeks... So I'm re-committing myself to discipline. Hi-Ya!

With all of that out of the way... I wanted to share with you some images that make me smile! I played around with a Tilt-Shift lens this weekend (yes that's a wikipedia link, don't hate) and had a BLAST. I even did some wedding images with it! I really liked it and can't wait to rent one again and explore some more. The price of that baby is going to have me renting for a while, but I would love to see if it's something to add to my permanent collection!

 

M-F

Well I neglected to post at ALL in between Monday and Today. Sorry Folks, the weeks are gettin' the best of me. I slept LATE today and got much needed rest. I plan on scheduling lots of posts very soon so that my days of middle-school procrastination don't come knockin' on the door once again (like this week).

I've been working on the wedding from Monday's post all week, and finally made it to portraits. I absolutely love this one. The lighting is completely ambient. The image is cropped (I'll be honest) which makes it a bit more dramatic. Nothing wrong with a lil' croppage!

Enjoy the weekend!

Hmm... Case of the Monday's?

Welcome to Monday my dears! I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm feeling particularly scattered this morning! Maybe it's the fact that I've been out of town 10 of the last 14 days but I'm feeling as if I'm a bit of a foreigner in my own life right now! Hopefully by the middle of this week I can re-learn my own language and customs (like... chocolate before every meal is ok, sleeping is supposed to be done at a reasonable hour, and people typically like it when you call them back...) .

I found this today, maybe some of you have seen it, but I thought it was hilarious, and kind of lets us all know we aren't alone out there in our Monday brain-farts.

Haha. Have a WONDERFUL day. 

Heading out

Well I'm packin' it all up again right now to head to Nashville, and eventually head to Virginia with my good friend Joy Wilson. She was my second shooter for Saturday's wedding in Gainesville, and so we are switching off and I am heading off to be her second shooter for tomorrow's wedding! It's a nice system we have here. Which brings me to ask...what can you do for your friends in the industry (or out of your industry, for that matter)? Have you done it? If not, what's stopping you? One of my biggest joy's (no pun intended, JOy) is helping out Joy, and other photographers, as well as others in and out of the industry that need some assistance. I always learn a ton, and I look forward to the ways in which my skills are sharpened through practice. Time for a cliche saying : "Practice makes perfect". You can rolls your eyes, as long as you try it out.

Here is one of the more 'formal' portraits from Saturday's wedding. I love each and every one of these girls with my whole heart, I went to school with all of them except for one, and they have impacted my tremendously. I mean, how could you NOT be affected by them? They're gorgeous!

I wish I looked this cute..

I'm still recovering from my little bit of absence last week...lots of work to catch up on, and I started a new routine yesterday so I'm also trying to hitch on to that wagon and make it safely home! Please disregard my blatant use of strange idioms.... I'm tired.

Anyways, I was looking through my images from the past couple of days and I landed on this one. I can't help but smile when I look at it, and really... I WISH I looked this cute when I jump into the ocean. Her little goggles, the life vest, the ocean green, and that smile! I love it! It brings me back to beach trips with my family; we would eat cheeze-its and drink Capri Sun while building those eery-looking sand castles made when you drip sand on top of itself. We had fun, but I never was this cute.

Hiatus is OVER

Well.. I took a half-week long hiatus from blogging to do a couple of things, and now I'm back. Of course by a couple of things I mean a LOT of things, because I'm the kind of girl who prides herself on multitasking, but only to a certain point. So the blog lost last week. But I'm back!

During my hiatus, which I will from now on refer to as hammer-time, I:
1. Went to the Beach
2. Shot a family session at the Beach
3. Babysat 4 kids at the Beach
4. Drove back form the Beach straight to a wedding.
5. Met with a new client
6. Shot wedding
7. Praised my Super-mom for how awesome she is
8. Culled 2500 images.
9. Babysat again.

Saturday marked my official start of wedding season, and it was great. I loved every minute of Saturday and can't wait to share all of the images with you. Even though this past week was especially crazy, I think everyone needs a little hammer-time to get them pumped up and focused so they can preform their absolute best. Hi-YA!

Saturday's food was awesome, I had TWO slices of cake. They also had the most adorable little cookies from OH Sugar! in Roswell, GA.

I'm going to spend the rest of the day eating cookies and catching up. Happy Monday!

Spontaneity

There is something to be said for spontaneity. Something to be said for saying 'yes' or 'no', for doing what you want to do right then and there, for not giving it more than 2seconds thought...and the only reason you even gave it 2 seconds is because it took your brain that long to decide to turn left or right (or what color cardigan to put on). Spontaneity is exciting, and nerve-wracking. It's probably giving some of you hives just reading the word. Well get over it. Go do something crazy, or just go DO something. The next phone call you get requesting your presence at an impromptu lunch...answer the call, and then go. Food is good, and whatever excuse you have for not going will still be there when you get back. Truth.

For all of us creative types out there, this is especially important when we find ourselves in a black hole of un-creativeness. Our mind will be forced to react quickly and creatively, and when your finished being wild and crazy... you may have your best idea yet.

taken by Sarah Esther for Joy Wilson Photography 

Update schmupdate.

Updated my website a smidge on Sunday.  There are a couple of new pages, and lots of images from recent sessions. I've added a children's section to further promote my stepping into the world of children and babies (say cheese, little kiddies!!!). As for now...I'm going to go hide in an editing hole for the next couple of months as wedding season parties on!        Enter full site here.

Atlanta Engagement Session | Robbie and Carrie

Perk up people.... you're about to see two of the most beautiful people in the world. Pretty babies ahead for these two! Carrie and Robbie are probably too hot for GQ, and so they live in Atlanta and teach cheerleading. Hey, life's hard.

I've known Carrie since before boys were even in the picture, and now she's engaged to one. These images were pretty special to capture, and pretty ridiculously amazing to capture, too. I did squeal a couple of times, and I definitely had on my game face....both of which mean that the session was pretty top-notch. Here are some of my favorites from the day! Enjoy, and please keep the drooling to a minimum .

Just a Preview

Lots to do today, so I'll cut to the chase and just offer you a preview of what's coming tomorrow...

Have a great wednesday!

In honor of GLEE

I have a special place in my heart for this TV phenomenon that is 'Glee'. I was definitely not the athletic one in high-school, but I can recite a mean monologue :) What can I say, I'm ridiculously cool. Show choir/Drama/county productions were our thing (by 'our' I mean myself and my group of drama-friends). Great times were had... and honestly, what you see on 'Glee' is pretty much true-to-size of what happens behind the scenes! Drama club was full of drama; would we be true to ourselves if it wasn't? Oh...and everyone dated everyone -annnnnnnnnnd we would break out into random song and dance at the lunch tables. Just sayin'.

Well in honor of Glee, and in honor of my friends... I wanted to share with you this link for the Glee auditions. If you didn't know already, well now you do, Glee was holding an open casting call for those around the country to score a spot on the show. I have some crazy-talented friends and one of them decided that she'd try out the at-home video and uploaded an audition! May I introduce you to Lydia Myers, my friend of 20 something years (seriously)!

Click on this link to view and VOTE for her!

Lydia Myers for GLEE

Weekend Recap

I hope everyone is having a happy Monday so far, the weather is beautiful in Atlanta this morning, which is crazy considering we had tornado warnings all-day Saturday!

This weekend was kind of a milestone for myself and my group of friends. I only talk to a few people from high-school (aren't we all like that? Sometimes I feel bad for not living up to all of the K.I.T.'s I wrote in people's yearbooks.... haha) but those few people are the ones who have seen it all; each crazy stage of life. A couple of those girls are engaged now, and Saturday I had the pleasure and pain of helping throw one of them her very first bridal shower. It was also my very first time throwing a bridal shower, so this was a bit ridiculous for all of us.

Outside of all of the crazy running around, screwed up invitations, potatoes that refused to bake, and a friendly tornado...we pulled it off. I sat back and watched as she opened her gifts and was amazed at how far we have come. How cool to have seen her grow from a skinny flag twirler freshman year to a gorgeous teacher with a strong love for her future husband. Neat-o. The end was a success, she's more than stocked with bowls from Crate & Barrel, we had some kick-ass mojitos, and we've all passed another milestone!

Here is a picture of us from Saturday...you're probably asking why I just didn't go ahead and wear some yellow pants :)

And here is a shot from Kelsey's (bride-to-be) engagement that I shot last spring.

Atlanta Portrait Session | Jodi Kendall- For Real

Today I would like to share with you the final images from Jodi Kendall (Mrs. Passport in My Pocket)! She's been on a whirlwind of traveling over the last couple of months, and during her time in Atlanta we were able to snap some great photos of her! We had a blast...Jodi is easy going, laughs a lot, and is super photogenic. Head on over to her blog to catch up on some really great ideas on things to do around the country, great giveaways, and to see some amazing animal images (she works for National Geographic!).

Thanks for being awesome, Jodi!

Dahlonega Engagement Session | Brad and Alison

A couple of weeks ago I posted a sneak-peak of Brad and Alison's engagement shoot in Dahlonega, GA. Today I am unveiling the entire thing (woot woot!). I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I did taking them. Seriously. I think I squeeled after almost every shot, making my first photo-impression with Brad and Alison nothing short of strange.  What can I say, I'm easily excited! These two laughing lovebirds will be married July 17, 2010 in Gainesville, GA...a date soon approaching, but still too far away from them!

Enjoy!!

And my absolute favorite of the bunch...