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I GET how important it is!! – Birmingham Alabama Photographer

Posted on May 26, 2011

I remember saying in my high school business class that I wanted to work with the public. I love meeting new people, hearing their stories, seeing how families interact together. It is so exciting to me right before a wedding or portrait session (and nerve wracking too!). And there is one thing I never want to take for granted…. every thing  you did to be at our session. I know how hard it is to get ready for a portrait session. I know it shouldn’t be but as a mom and bride 10 years ago… I know it wasn’t easy for you to come see me for your session. Of course, I can tell you that my sessions are laid back and we try to have fun and if something isn’t working, we do something else…. etc etc. BUT, I know that before I ever see mom’s or a bride’s face that you are nervous and probably have had to fight tooth and nail to get there. I know how much time you spent thinking about what to wear. You want your portraits to be about you, not about what you are wearing… but you want to look like you do in her head or better.

If you are a mom, I know that you are most likely on edge. There is so much riding on this portrait session. You have studied my work for months. What would YOUR family look like through my lens? Of course, the world is not going end if the portrait session doesn’t go well. But, you have planned… dreamed, cleaned your kids, ironed your clothes, pumped up your kids for a portrait session, promised treats if everyone behaves, you are running late or almost running late when your precious 18 month old found the perfect outfit you carefully picked out and smears gold fish crackers down the front while it is still hanging, you get in the car and fight traffic, go somewhere unfamiliar and sometimes you are meeting someone unfamiliar (me!), etc etc… by the time I see most moms I know the panic in your face. I have been there. IS my kid going to act right? They are kids and we are asking them to do something a little strange. Meet this person you don’t really know and smile pretty at her big black box. And sometimes there are toddlers involved or newborns… and frankly all bets are off! I have been there and my little precious angel did not mind me or Cory one bit. She was bad and didn’t want to do anything we wanted her to do. (she has done this at two separate portrait sessions!) My son gave them a weird smile and it took a while for him to warm up. And you know what… my son refuses to look at the camera. (He is getting better!). But I so cherish those pictures today. As much as I hate to be on the other side of the camera, my family portraits are so very important to me and I put much thought into every detail. I know how moms feel. (both photographers that did our family session did any amazing job and I OF COURSE had nothing to worry about!).

If you are a bride, I know how much your engagement session means to you. I still have my pictures on our wall. It was such a sweet time in my life. I had no idea what I was doing but I was so in love. I look at those pictures today and I am so grateful for that time and for the journey it took to get where I am now. I know our brides will one day do the same thing. And at your wedding, I know how important every detail is to you. I know you want to remember it. I know that as a bride you spend months planning every single detail as a way to celebrate how much you love each other. My wedding portraits are one of my most valuable possessions. Yes, I know and I remember what it took to get to the pictures at my engagement and wedding. It is very personal to me. I know one day you will show your children the images I take of you and your husband (to be). I know it is a big deal.

BUT even though I know how hard it was for you to come see me (or us at your wedding) I also know how excited I am to see YOU and your family (or husband to be). I can’t wait to see what you are wearing, I can’t wait to find out more about your family, and I can’t wait to take awesome pictures that you worked so hard for. During my family session, things weren’t going well and I was nervous. We had invested so much into our session and my Sarah wasn’t doing anything we needed her to do. Then as we changed locations, my loving Cory said to me, “how often has this happened to you? The kids weren’t listening, the mom was stressed… and you still took fabulous pictures. RELAX and let her do her job”. He was right and I had lost sight that I had hired a professional. And they knew what they were doing. I was in a good hands. And my pictures were fabulous and I even LOVE the one of Sarah acting out. It is so her and makes me laugh every time I see it.

This is my advice to you as a mom and a bride to be… RELAX and know that you hired someone that knows exactly how you feel and I know how important our session is for you. If your kid is bad, no big deal. I will figure it out. If your husband is known to be is a blinker and never gives a real smile… don’t worry, I am here to make you look lovely (and him too!).

That is why you hired me and I totally GET what your time with me means. I love my job.

And because you HAVE to have pictures on this blog… here are a few favorites from this week!

Blue is in Bloom at Aldridge – Aldridge Gardens Child Portrait Photographer

Posted on May 19, 2011

This sweet family heard how beautiful the blue hydrangeas are at Aldridge Gardens. We talked a few months ago about setting up a session as soon as the blue hydrangeas started blooming. It was totally worth the wait! The gardens are just beautiful and the weather today was AMAZING!! These two little girls were such a delight to photograph. Big sister was full of “yes ma’ams, please’s, and thank you’s” and her sweet southern accent made you want sweet tea! I loved it! And little sister was much more interested in eating pine straw, or faking out mom and then taking off her bow! Her cute little laugh was infectious! Here are a few of my favorites! If you want portraits with the hydrangeas, we need to book NOW!!!… don’t wait or it will be too late!

Rosewood Wedding – Birmingham Alabama Wedding Photographer

Posted on May 16, 2011

I love my job. I know I say that a lot. It is true. We are so blessed to see things that no one else gets to see. Like this… this beautiful bride with her dad right before she walks down the isle.

The bride getting her dress on with her mom, step-mom, and close friends. For Cory, he sees the groom with his friends… often the groomsmen are giving the groom a hard time, making him less nervous.

I am blessed to have the time to enjoy the details of a wedding that are planned months in advance. The dress… perfectly picked for the bride, rings that the couple will wear the rest of their life, tasty amazing cake, flowers that add just the right touch, the bride’s jewelry…. I could go on and on. It is our job to capture all the couple’s hard work.

And then it is our job to capture the relationships of those people you love them most. And of course, the bride and groom and how much they love each other. The couple has thought about the day for such a long time. It is our job to show the love they have for each other. We are blessed to say probably spend more time with the bride and groom on the wedding day than any other person at the wedding. We have the most amazing couples we serve. This couple was no different! They signed with us way over a year from the wedding day so I know how long they have waited to celebrate. It was such a perfect day!

And then the most important time of the day…  the ceremony and reception! It is our job to take every moment down without taking away from the sacredness of the ceremony. It my favorite part of the day.

All of this is why I love my job! (and why Cory loves his too!). Every time we leave a wedding on the way home we talk about all the great things that happened. One of us will always say… I can’t believe this is our job. We are so blessed and our heart is so full to know the couples and families we serve!

One quick shout out to the awesome wedding venue!! Rosewood is the most perfect place for your wedding!! The place is beautiful and the owners are so awesome! The took care of every detail and made our job even easier!!! I look forward to working with them in the future!

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