Stylized Portraiture » Athens and Watkinsville's most awesome portrait experience for babies, kids and families

Some of you may know that the ‘missing gerogia hiker’ Meredith Emerson was a good friend of mine, but most of you do not. I haven’t spoken much or written much about it since she was killed, but I was approached my a local magazine for use of some of the photos I’d taken of her for an article they’d be writing about her. I jumped at the chance to have more people see what I saw in her and gave my permission. I was also asked to write up a bit about the day we took the photos, in case they needed to use any of that for the article. They ended up not using it, but below is what I wrote.

She’d been my friend for a while at the time these were taken, but I was working on building my portfolio at the time, so I’d begged her to come model for me so I could dress her up. I promised her we’d do some normal looking photos later on, but the first part of the day was mine to do with her as I pleased. She laughed and said “Torture by photographer! Oh no!” That day, I laid out some dresses and things that she might like and told her she could pick whatever she wanted to wear. She chose a white top and dress and angel wings first, which ended up being some of my favorites of the day. I had some spirit gum and some rhinestones that I put at the corners of her eyes, then she wanted some on her shoulders and hands as well. Then I turned on the camera and she turned into a total model. I’ve never had anyone before or since who was THAT good at being in front of the camera. She was just so cute and so fun. I kept her in that outfit for an hour shooting before we changed. We went through four of them that day (she was so patient with me), but I have never really liked any of them as much as the angel ones.

After the inside stuff for me, we went for a walk to the local playground, so she could have some of the way she looked normally. It wasn’t too cold, despite being November 18th. As we strolled along, we chatted about the shots we’d just taken. She just kept saying how much fun she’d had, despite my worries. At the playground, we climbed around and shot some. I had her hang upside-down on some monkey bars and sit on a tire swing. She was so cool with doing whatever I wanted her to do. Then we went back behind the playground to some trails in the woods. The best of the day was her laying down in a pile of leaves. I shot a few from above, but then got on my belly facing her. Right at the moment I was taking that one, a family walked by and started talking about how cool it was that we were taking pictures. They even told her she looked amazing. She turned a little toward me and the light went right into her gorgeous green eyes as I snapped the shutter. That photo ended up being my favorite of her that I ever took. We got done and giggled through the rest of the shoot about the people that had stopped to talk about her.
Right before we left, right as the sun was setting, I saw the fall trees behind us. They were just a wall of amazing reds and oranges, and I had her turn around for some last shots. I snapped a few and she was standing there, then said something like “Do something fun!”. So, she turns and grins at me, looking for all the world like she’s just had the best day of her life. I was surprised at how much she loved the photos. To me, they were good because I had a blast and would be able to use them for the website. To her, they were something else. She told everyone she met about how much she loved them and how wonderful it was that day. I kept pestering her to do it again sometime when it was warm out, but she didn’t have time last year. We’d been idly chatting about it for this April. I wish that I’d had the skill then that I do now. It’s been a year and a half since I took these, but I always wish I could have given her better ones.

Go read the article by clicking here.

Read what I wrote in my personal journal in January by clicking below.

I just got the best Christmas present ever from an awesome client of mine today. I went over to drop off her Christmas cards and she says “I have a present for you, but It’s not wrapped, so I hope that’s okay.” Like I’m going to turn down gifts because they’re not wrapped. Hah hah. So she goes upstairs and comes back down with this amazing vintage baby scale she found years ago at an antique store! It’s got to be older than me. What at awesome thing for newborn sessions! Also timely, since my newest client was just born today at 4:19am.

Thank you Michelle!!

When I first got wind that I was “tagged” I was totally expecting to see some sort of random hacker grafitti on my blog or website. But nope, no such defacing of websites exists in the world of Blog Tag! So, to be TAGGED means that I must reveal 8 things about myself that others may not know! Seeing as how I talk a WHOLE big bunch, I find it hard to believe I can come up with 8, but I will surely try

1. I have 2 sisters. One older, one younger. I definitely suffer from Middle Child Syndrome.

2. I have only lived in one other city in my life. Tallahassee, FL. I moved to Athens in 2003 for Greg’s post-doc.

3. I was an athlete. I say was because with 5 kids I don’t have much time for doing my own thing. But anyhow, in highschool I played basketball, volleyball and softball. I went to FAMU on a full ride for softball.

4. I used to have a tongue ring

5. My favorite flower is a daisy. I don’t care for roses at ALL. Their beauty is so fleeting. Or, maybe my taking care of them just plain stinks.

6. My favorite ice cream in the WHOLE world is Baskin Robbins Peanut Butter and Chocolate. Mmmm Mmmmm GOOD!

7. I didn’t really learn to cook until about 2 years ago. Greg has always been the cook of the house. But in March of 2005 he took a job that required a TON of travel. So, while my kids could have happily survived on Happy Meals and Chick fil A for dinner every night, my pocket book just could not support that! So, I learned to cook. And, I am quite a good cook now if I might say so myself. Or perhaps my kids know what will happen to them if ever the words “This taste horrible” comes out of their mouths!

8. Ohhhh, this one ALWAYS makes people laugh. As I stated in #2. I also lived in Tallahassee, you know, the town of the Criminoles. Oh, *cough cough* I mean Seminoles! Well, that puts me living in two towns where football is a MAJOR sport/way of life/tradition. Well, I have NEVER been to a football game. Ever. I just cannot imagine enjoying the game anywhere but my couch! No line for the bathroom, my own personal waiter uhhh, I mean watching the game with my husband. Cheaper food and drinks, and, the one major thing……HEAT AND AIR that I control! Don’t get me wrong…I can tailgate with the best of them, but watching and enjoying the game….no where but the comfort of my own home.

So, now I feel pretty stupid reading my 8 things. But DANG, this was hard. I really think I ought to just stick to taking photos, I could never do an autobiography.

I’ve been tagged by the wonderful Shannan Holden for a fun photographer info meme. You write up 8 things about yourself others might not know and then ‘tag’ 8 more people.

1. I can’t sleep without my cat in the bed with me. She lumps herself over my left ankle and I just have trouble getting to sleep without her in that spot.

2. I have girls and boys names’ picked out, even though I will never have children. For the curious, they are.. Girls: Morgan, Renee, Regina – Boys: Emmett, Robin, Elliot

3. When I was little, My brother called me ‘Heffer’ which was fine until I figured out that it was another name for a cow. To this day, i still get cow gifts from him. I have cow stuff all over my apartment. People come over and say “So, you like cows, huh?” and I answer “No, not really..”

4. I have a love affair with the Discovery Chanel show “Dirty Jobs”. Mike Rowe delivers the BEST one-liners and I love watching him deal with all kids of gross jobs with a smile.

5. I could eat pasta every day and not get tired of it. My favorite is manicotti.

6. I remember in pictures. When looking for a book, I know what its cover looks like but not always what it’s named. If I see a movie preview, I can tell you within seconds what movie it’s for if I’ve seen only a few minutes of the movie before.

7. I have a sweet tooth the likes of which this world has not seen before. Right now on my desk as I edit photos I have a glass of Diet Coke, 3lbs of Skittles, some Milk Duds, and a bag of Hersey’s Kisses. In the pantry are more bags of Skittles and Kisses, plus some cupcake mix.

8. Blue and brown is a weakness for me. I want to buy everything blue and brown anytime I see some, even if I don’t need whatever it is. Even my camera strap is blue and brown, and I’m thinking of re-doing my website and blog to blue and brown instead if the green and yellow it is now.

I’m tagging:

Frankie Wylie

Angela Calderon

Donny and Holly

Tamara Burross

Marina Miller

Marlen Meith

Julia Greer

Julia Roberts

Many of you know that even though I’m a children’s photographer, I’m not a mother myself. A mother to a human baby, at least. I thought I’d introduce everyone to my baby. She’s a toddler in a fur suit, and I just love her to pieces.

This is Stumpy. We call her Stumpy, The Stump, or Little Mess. She adopted us one cold day about two years ago and just hasn’t left since. She’d been coming around my apartment for a while, but it was due to ice storm, so I’d begun leaving some food out. She’d carefully eat it and watch me through the glass, running away if I moved at all. John and I would refer to her as “The cat with the stumpy tail.” One night, I stood up slowly and went out, whereupon she attached herself to my lap and refused to be budged for 45 minutes.

I begged John to let her into the house and he finally agreed (he’s a dog person). She had a bad habit of talking loudly to herself late at night for a while, so we would put her out at night, but gradually she stopped and began hiding under things when it came time to put her out. Gradually she began staying in at night and that was that. We debated giving her a real name, but we’d been calling her ‘Stumpy Cat’ for so long that we couldn’t think of anything better.
She talks, she drools, she sleeps in the bed with us. She ‘rescues’ us from the shower and eats anything that gets into the house.  My baby doesn’t know she’s a cat. Either that, or she doesn’t know we’re not cats.

Many of you know that I love photography of course, but not much else about me. I’m going to put more of myself into this news page because I love for people to share my passions.

One of those passions in the realm of photography is Hummingbirds. I adore Hummingbirds. I know all 16+ species that frequent the US on sight. I know how to identify males from females, hatch year birds from adult birds, even how much they weigh at different times of the year. I hope to become a licensed hummingbird bander sometime in my lifetime. I even took a trip to the Hummingbird capitol of the US, Sierra Vista Arizona, last year with my SO. The above photo was taken this afternoon from my window at my apartment.
Every year, he and I go to the Hummingbird festival in Covington. My birthday is on August 2nd, so we call it my birthday present every year. Last year I was the official photographer for the festival and I even got to work the booth a little to learn how to record information for banding training. I had a blast!

I’m letting everyone know about the festival in hopes of seeing some of you there!
Georgia Hummers 3rd Annual Hummingbird Festival at Gaither’s Plantation near Mansfield!

Saturday, August 11, 2007 from 10:00am to 6:00pm and

Sunday, August 12, 2007 10:00am – 5:00pm

Last year’s festival was such a success we expanded it to run two days! If you would like to see some photos from the Hummingbird Festival 2006 click here. If you are interested in having a booth at this years festival print off an Exhibitor Application and send it in to the address on the application.

Watch the swarms of hummingbirds and butterflies in the hummingbird garden

Observe a hummingbird banding demonstration

Artists and exhibitors with bird, garden, and nature crafts

Tour Gaither’s Plantation House

Art projects, games, and face painting for the kids

Food door prizes and more!

For additional information, call Buddy Rowe @ 770-787-5560.

Directions: On I-20, take Exit 98 (GA11). Take GA11 south through Mansfield. Make a right on County Line Road (4th or 5th road after getting out of Mansfield). Make a right on Henderson Mill Road. Make a right on Davis Ford Road. Once on Davis Ford Road you should see Gaithers Plantation on the right. Gaither’s Plantation: 270 Davis Ford Rd. Covington, GA 30014

Guess what I scored on my trip to Ohio? That’s right, a new chair! I think this will be THE chair for the traveling chair book, and I can’t wait to start using it for sessions.