family + friends//Atlanta portraits

One of my brothers (Sean) works for CSS (Comcast Sports) as a television producer (and behind the camera, too).  He actually has won at least 3 Emmys in television for the Southeast Region and does some awesome work in sports television.  Sean recommended my photography to his friend and co-worker, Colleen, and soon after I took pictures of her son, Jackson, who was just 5 months old.  Now Jackson is almost 15 months old and breaking ladies hearts with his amazing blond hair and blue eyes.  We tried to schedule pictures at Sean's house in Cumming a few different times, but both Sean and Colleen were working in Orlando during Braves Spring Training and also the NBA All-Star game (you know, just rubbing shoulders with P-Diddy and 50 Cent... no big deal, right? I would have been freaking out, probably doing some sort of club dancing trying to get their autograph on my hand or something).  So finally the husband and I, with kids in tow, visited Sean and Jen to catch up, get some pictures of my niece, Audrey, and take pictures of little Jackson.  Colleen and her husband, Seth, and her grandmother, Gigi, came along to make Jackson laugh for pictures and they did an awesome job getting some good smiles from the little guy.  In between shots of Jackson I happened to catch Audrey and Ethan playing, and am posting some pictures of these cute cousins, too.  Sean and Jen have this amazing barn in their backyard that is just begging to be used for pictures, so all of these were taken there.  Check out these blue eyes... so handsome! I had to put this picture of sad Jackson... we had a little accident on the fire engine and Jackson was not excited about more pictures with it!  Sorry, Jackson- never again!

and here a few of my niece Audrey, and my own little guy, Ethan...

And I had to include this picture... I assume these are Audrey's paws on the window:) It's a good reminder to me that children are a precious mess.  One day we'll wish we could go back to the days of handprints on the windows...

The Snapp Family//Athens, GA

Soooo I technically don't take family pictures anymore in an effort to focus my work and time on wedding photography, but on different occasions I do photograph families I know and feel connected to.  I've known the Snapp family for nearly 10 years, first meeting them when I was a college student and their oldest son was only around 3 years old.  It was crazy for me to see him now (in 6th grade) and how this little boy was bigger than Angela, his mom, and on his way up to his dad, Bill!  Maren is their sweet little girl who made me laugh when throughout the pictures she pretended to be a kitty cat and we had to refer to her hands as paws:)  I had a good time catching up with this family and the best part was their understanding that family pictures sometimes turn out crazy because trying to get everyone in a family to smile and not blink and put their hands down and not slouch and not give bunny ears...well it can sometimes be challenging! But they were up for the challenge and had such a good attitude about it. Family pictures can be such a gift because it freezes time so that you can look at the people you love, almost from the outside looking in, and appreciate them more even though in the day to day minutia their little idiosyncrasies can drive you bananas!  I love looking through pictures of my children or husband because it reminds me how sacred family is, how grateful I am for my children and how precious it all is.  I always think as I'm taking family pictures that there will be a day when they look back at these photos and remember what life was like when kids were younger and the good times in the middle of the craziness.  So thanks, Snapp family, for helping me remember the importance and value of family life, and how before we know it 10 years will have passed and little faces will be big faces and we'll wish we savored those little faces more.  Enjoy!!

Marshall + Rachel//Atlanta Engagement

One of my favorite quotes comes from Rachel Reece about love.  I've known Rachel for almost 4 years, and all throughout this time she has been in love with Marshall Sims.  I can still picture our friends in my living room, and what Rachel said when I asked her how things were going between her and Marshall.  Among many things she said, "home is when I with him."  My eyes filled up because I thought that was such an accurate way to describe the experience of love, a feeling of being at home with someone.  So it was special for me to photograph Marshall and Rachel's engagement pictures because I have seen their relationship and know how much they love each other.  Marshall & Rachel are getting married in just a few weeks, so I'll be posting their wedding pictures soon but I had to make sure to blog a few engagement pictures first.  So here's to love and the blessing of being at home with another person... thanks Rachel for always being an inspiration to me:)