Avery-Senior Portraits | Columbus, GA Photographer

A farm, horses, pretty blue skies and a fun and beautiful Senior! The only thing that could mess up this session was the heat and a lack of clouds in the sky. I had a blast hanging out with Avery and her mom, Rita! I took Avery's brother's Senior portraits last year and then we had a family session last fall so Avery knew what to expect from a session with me! 

When we were talking about props for this session, Rita said, "Avery's main prop is going to be our two family dogs." I love when folks incorporate their pets into a session-after all, they are part of the family too! The dogs had a blast running around, free to go where they wanted. We let the dogs play and we took pictures, all over the property. I was sooooo thankful to have the dogs running around to scare away any possible snakes that could be hiding in the tall grass! Towards the end of the session when the dogs were getting a little tired, we called them over. I was afraid I may have made a huge mistake when I saw how dirty they had become. Thankfully Avery was such a great sport-along with her "props", and we got some great shots of them together! 

Rita and Avery, thanks for hiring me again to photograph your family! I had so much fun with you guys! I hope you have an amazing last year at Columbus High, Avery! As a former alumni, I must add a "Go Blue Devils!" :)

Head shots | Columbus, GA Photographer

Yesterday I posted a few images of the Hale brothers-today I wanted to show you a few head shots of just their mama. She is an author! She has literally written novels! As one who also loves to write, can I just say this fascinates me! She has an agent and is waiting to see when a publisher will pick up her manuscript and give her a contract.

She really needed some good head shots to use for publicity at writers conferences, business cards, blogs etc. Hopefully-one day soon, one of these shots will be on the back of one of her published novels! You can check out her writing and more information on her amazing testimony at www.JenniferKHale.com You can also follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/JenniferKHale I had a blast with you Jennifer and I am so blessed to be a part of your writing journey!

The Hales Family Session | Columbus, GA Photographer

Meet the Hale brothers. They do not run or walk anywhere, they chug and they puff. Their arms are traction rods and their baths are an opportunity for a shiny new coat of paint. They do not just "play" trains-they ARE trains! It is so much a part of their everyday life.

Jenny contacted me about a photo session and said she wanted it on the railroad tracks and I knew-I was going to have a blast! What better setting for these train lovin' boys than at the tracks?!? I love, love, love to document stages in children's lives. To say that kids grow up too fast, sounds cliche. But it's true. These boys will not enter high school wearing their Thomas the Train gear like they will in kindergarten.

When we arrived for the shoot, the oldest jumped out of the car, full of  excitement to get to see a place that trains used to be. It took us a few minutes to convince them that a train was not going to come down the tracks and that it was very safe to walk on them. After a few walking shots, I had Jenny pull out their train hats and toys and had the boys sit by the tracks and play. I love to capture children in their own little worlds, not shy or intimidated by a camera in their face, but simply at home being who they always are. There is such a sweet innocence about them in that moment.

Now let me just say, it was a hot, hot, hot morning-even with us starting very early. Did I mention it was HoT?!? I really think it was hands down, the hottest session I have ever worked-and living in the South, that's saying a lot! These boys were having so much fun and were such good little train engines, but even trains get hot and tired. It did not take long before they were ready to get in the nice air conditioned car. Personally, I could not wait to get these images off my camera and start editing.

I seriously had an absolute blast with the Hales! Thank you Brian and Jenny for giving me the opportunity to capture this stage in your boys lives. I hope that one day when they are grown, you will look back on these photos and say, "I remember when all they wanted to do was play trains and talk about trains and pretend they were trains." It really does go by so fast...

All About the Eyes | Columbus, GA Photographer

This week at I Heart Faces it is all about the eyes! You can tell so much about a person by looking them straight in the eyes. Are they kind, angry, mischievous, sad or overjoyed? I took this picture the other day as I was trying to get some homeschooling shots of my kids working. I want to remember these schooling days, but it is honestly such a struggle for me to remember to document my own life! Here's my youngest, sitting backwards in a chair at our school table, wanting so much to do some school himself. Shortly after this shot, his eyes were full of laughter as I found him coloring his shirt and our living room floor with the markers I had given him! I'm always amazed at the trouble they can get in when I'm sitting right by them!

Make sure you head on over to www.IHeartFaces.com to check out all the amazing entries! What a great way to start off the week! HaPpY MoNdAy everyone! :)

I ♥ Friends! | Columbus, GA Photographer

Did you know that this week is National Friendship Week? No? Me either! I am so thankful I Heart Faces reminded us all to reflect on the friendships in our lives through their photo themed challenge-"Friendships".

This is a picture of the friendship between a mother and daughter. Ashley is about to leave for a new adventure as a freshman in college. I can only imagine how bitter sweet that must be. I have no doubt that though the miles are between them and a new season in life has begun, their friendship will hold them together!

Make sure you head over to www.IHeartFaces.com to see all the fun entries! Happy Tuesday Everyone! Now go call your best friend :)
This photo was entered into the I Heart Faces photo challenge – http://iheartfaces.com” 

Back 2 School Promotion | Columbus, GA Photographer | Senior Portraits

This summer, I've had many Senior Portrait Sessions and I'm finding that I LOVE EACH AND EVERY ONE! They are always exciting and fun! There is so much to you can do photography-wise with one happy subject! It is such an exciting and memorable time in a young adults life. The world is open with new possibilities and journeys to begin. I still remember looking forward to my own Senior portraits when I was in high school!

With school starting back, I thought it would be fun to do a Senior Portrait Promotion! If you book a Senior Session by August 31, 2011, you will receive 40 die-cut wallets for free to hand out to all of your friends! After-all-those wallets are one of the best things about receiving your Senior photos-right?!? They become like trading cards among friends! The session does not have to be completed until October 31, 2011 so you have plenty of time to find a date on the calendar. 

I'm also holding a special BONUS promotion. Click on any of the Facebook, Twitter, email etc. share buttons at the bottom of this post to pass along the word of this promo~or any other creative idea you might have to get referrals :) Any sessions booked (and completed!) as a result, will earn you a $25 print credit PER REFERRAL on one future session! NO LIMIT!  

Now,  as a former Columbus High graduate, I must end this post with ~ Go Blue Devils :)