Shooting Nouns

These lovebirds are getting hitched next spring on the beach where they came to the irrefutable conclusion that they were a “they”.  It’s not just their youth that makes me adore them (I can’t deny I envy it), it’s their mutual admiration, their creativity and their contributions to the art community.  They were both deeply involved in establishing MASS Collective in the Castleberry Hill neighborhood of Atlanta, so it was only fitting that we did a shoot celebrating their engagement in the space.

As clients go, I’m very fortunate.  I’m drawn to the laid back and the authentic, and they’re drawn to me.  G + M were relaxed, goofy, and every bit themselves as we wandered around the delicious space and documented an hour in the life of their love, on their terms.

Thank you both for the privilege, and congratulations on finding each other.

 

 

I was honored but hesitant when Colin and Jesse asked me to shoot their wedding.  Weddings aren’t my thing (do I have a thing?) – they scare the hell out of me.  It’s a once in a lifetime event, with back-to-back once in a lifetime moments.   Missing one of those moments, or failing to capture something especially meaningful is a lot of pressure, and I never entertained the idea of putting myself in that situation.

Until Jesse and Colin.

These two are hands down, a couple of the kindest and laid back people I’ve ever met.  They’re patient and gentle and give great hugs.  So when they asked me to photograph their wedding and we subsequently discussed it over a delicious bottle of red wine and laughter – I agreed.

In retrospect, of course, I was being ridiculous.

Spending three days at the edge of the ocean following Jesse around like a stalkeratzi and experiencing her wedding through her eyes was something I wouldn’t change for the world.  Being there when Colin saw her for the first time, being there while she and Baby Mary were having their hair done, standing by as her sister Emily helped her put her shoes on, and seeing them showered with love…it was priceless.

Congratulations to the beautiful couple on their nuptials this past weekend in Seaside, Florida.  Congrats to Baby Mary, who is adorable and adored and threw one seriously fantastic party for a 2 year old.

Thank you all for letting me be a part of your celebration, and for trusting me to trap your memories with my lens.

 

There may be nothing I love about photography more than watching how peoples lives evolve in front of the camera, it humbles me every time I’m asked to capture the changes and chronicle the key points in their lives as they happen.

Late last summer I took maternity photos of Gwen at the river, this winter I was given the opportunity to capture Levi not long after his entry into the world, and here we are at the 6 month mark of his life.  I’m in awe of how much can happen in such a short span of time.  I’m quieted by Levi – his expression filled eyes, his charming smile, his chunky little thighs, and the best qualities of both his parents seeping out of him.  The glances, the held stare, the bashful turn from the camera.  Here’s a tiny handful of what their love looks like.

Happy half-way-to-one mark, Little Man.  You’re still one of the luckiest kids I know to be born to such amazing folks with such kind spirits.

 

A month ago I received a late request for a photo session, which bothered me NONE since it was a client I’d worked with previously.  Or should I say clients?

Cindy, Lolly and I spent a winter afternoon together a year or so ago, which resulted in some beautiful images of them.  That’s due to the subject, not the photographer (thought I like to think I had something to do with it?).  With their imminent feature in The Decatur Patch, they needed an updated set of images, so I ran over  late one afternoon shortly after a rainstorm and fired off a series of shots.

Cindy and Lolly are dream clients, so at ease in front of the camera and so photogenic!  Cindy didn’t mind a bit as I asked her to move this way and that to get in tight with Lolly and Lolly? She did everything I asked her to do and then some.

Props to both of you for having your adoption story featured on The Patch, and thank you for letting me be a part of your story!

 

 

 

We all get caught up in our day to day, and only realize on our birthdays or major holidays how much has or hasn’t changed in the year that’s flown by.  The things we meant to do, people we meant to call, letters we meant to write.  It’s life.  On special dates (or days of the week if we’re lucky), we give pause to reflect and appreciate.

This particular one year mark rocked me off my chair.

In February of 2011, I’d been asked by Wyatt’s mom to come over for a shoot.  She wanted to capture Wyatt in his environment, on his terms, in his reality.  One year ago, that meant fresh from open heart surgery.  It meant tubes coming out of his belly.  It meant help breathing, and very grateful, anxious and adoring parents.

Here is an explanation that I took from the A Wish for Wyatt facebook page:

Wyatt was born on Aug. 1, 2010- 6 weeks prematurely and with a congenital heart defect, Critical Aortic Stenosis. Since there was no indication of a problem during Jennifer’s pregnancy, this came as a complete shock.

Wyatt underwent a balloon angio on August 5, which opened his aortic valve. But his heart’s left ventricle had been damaged in the womb and was unable to pump out enough blood to his body. Because of the LV problems, his mitral valve then began to leak. Wyatt struggled for 2 months in the ICU.

Egleston hospital in Atlanta did the best they could, but finally admitted that Wyatt’s only option was a heart transplant. Transplanted hearts live an average of 12 years and have a 60% chance of survival all together. If Wyatt did survive, he might be
eligible for a 2nd heart, but 3rd hearts were rarely transplanted.

On the advice of Jamie Annarino, Clint and Jen sent Wyatt’s medical records to Children’s Hospital Boston. Dr. del Nido said that he could operate on Wyatt’s heart and avoid a heart transplant.

On October 12, Wyatt was flown to Boston and on the 19th, underwent open heart surgery to repair his aortic and mitral valves. The surgery was a success! After 2 months in the ICU, his left ventricle recovered and he was sent home: a few days before Christmas and for the first time in his little life.

Today, Wyatt’s heart is still recovering and he will most likely require more surgery on his mitral valve. Hopefully it will be later, rather than sooner.

I was humbled by the invitation to do that shoot, and I loved Wyatt instantly.  He charmed me with those big, brown eyes and his strong, calm gaze.  He seemed to look straight through me, and he remains the most agreeable model I’ve ever had.

Too close to the one year mark not to be ignored, his mother invited me back to get a new round of images.  Wyatt was now a stumbling, burly toddler.  Wyatt also has a new little brother – Luke.

Here are a few of the images from that day, but for the real goods, you should click through and see the job their momma did matching up shots year to year.  I won’t lie, it made me weepy.