Introducing Baby B - Augusta Georgia Newborn Photography

I had the pleasure of spending yesterday afternoon in great company...with a bouncing baby boy and his super sweet mommy! He is a very sleepy newborn and kept peeking at me and "smiled" at me whenever I moved him.




Although he didn't actually wake up until the very end, he sure let me know that he really didn't care too much for trying any of the great poses I had in mind. Each time I posed him, he went right back to his own little sleepy & comfy position!




I was rather fond of the spot color picture below until I noticed a huge blunder with the blocks....do you see it? When I first saw it, I started to gripe at myself. But then I had a good laugh after I remembered that we had a couple little visitors during this part of the pictures...his older sister and brother. They really had a lot of fun playing with the blocks and helping me line them up to spell out his name! ha ha!! They really were cutie pies, and I think I'll go ahead and do a picture for their mommy with the mistake included and without the mistake so she'll get a laugh thinking of all of her sweet babies at the same time whenever she looks at this picture.




And wouldn't it be fun to do another blog post after I fix the mistake....to show you the before and after shot? . So, look for another blog post about my fun mistake in the future!

Savannah Rapids - Martinez, Ga On-Location Photographer

I think the best part about shooting pictures on location is the variety of beautiful backdrops that nature has to offer.

The CSRA definitely has countless spots that provide natural beauty for pictures. So, I'm giving my opinion about the pros and cons to selecting popular sites for on-location photography in the CSRA. There are so many locations that I'll need to cover this topic in a few different posts. I'm including pictures that were taken at the location to illustrate the points I'm making about my likes/dislikes.



So here is my own personal review of having pictures made at Savannah Rapids Park, commonly referred to as "SRP" or "Savannah Rapids Pavilion". On a scale from 1-10, it rates an "8" on my list of preferred locations.

Savannah Rapids Pavilion
3300 Evans to Locks Rd.
Martinez, GA 30907

What I Like About SRP:

• Spanish Moss hangs from some of the trees, which looks beautiful in pictures.
• Lots of different textures for a variety of natural backdrops: stone, water, weathered wood, wooden fence, and lots of trees and even grass.
  
• The leaves in the Fall turn a beautiful golden color, which is great for spot color in black and white pictures. In the Spring and Summer, SRP has a lush green background. It's so versatile regardless of the season.
  
• I think the stone background makes good black and white pictures with clothing of solid colors.
• Yay...SRP has conveniently located public bathrooms!!!! This comes in handy for wardrobe changes.
  
• Its recent construction has added a new parking lot and expanded the usable area
• And let's not forget that the people who work at SRP are great! They are so helpful and accommodating.
  

What I Don't Like About SRP:

• It's crowded during weekends, which minimizes the shots. Nothing messes up a great Kodak moment like a few joggers passing by in your family portrait!
• Although the weathered wooden structures make a great background, they are dirty. Most people have a tendency to lean against the wall, which gets messy.
• There are so many different spots to take pictures at SRP that it gets exhausting, especially for kids.
  
• It's not exactly the safest place for small kiddos. There are many areas accessing the water where a small child could easily fall in the water. And its middle name is "rapids" for a reason. The water flows so fast, which is beautiful and calming....but dangerous. Children are pretty well supervised for most of a family session unless I'm taking a picture of the parents. If my attention is focused on the parents and the parents' attention is focused on me, then who is paying attention to the kids? That's usually not a concern if there is plenty of room for the kids to roam freely and safely for a few moments, but at SRP even a moment of inattention can be very dangerous. So if you have small kiddos, just be aware of the possible danger.
  

Final Thoughts:

I hear there are some waterfalls a little bit down the path from SRP. I've never been that far down (gasp!), but I understand it's a little bit of a hike with kiddos. Savannah Rapids is overall a really great place for family pictures if you can schedule at a time that isn't so busy...avoid weekends at all cost!

Fun to be One! - Scribbletime Photography

I first met this sweet boy at a birthday party a few months ago. Now he is getting ready for his own very special birthday...his FIRST birthday! We spent yesterday afternoon playing...trying to beat the rain that was predicted....as the sun peeked through the canopy of trees above us.



I love this age because a one year old has very few teeth. Every time this little guy smiles, he reveals two bottom teeth that are the trademark for a one year old! His two little teeth made me smile each time I saw them poking out!




But the best part about turning one is having a great mommy and daddy to share each day with! If his mommy looks familiar, it's probably because you may recognize her gorgeous hair....she is the co-owner of Salon Surreal, which is located in Martinez on Columbia Road next to Anytime Fitness. I won't mention how long it has been since I've had my hair cut, but I assure you I'll be utilizing her services soon in preparation for my very own upcoming session for a headshot.

Planning for the Big Event - Augusta Georgia Maternity Photographer

Earlier in the year when this mommy-to-be contacted me about doing a maternity session, she ended up agreeing to be my Guinea Pig. Even though I had never done a belly session before, she decided to take her chances. And I'm so glad she did. It was such a neat experience....she brought her mother (my brand new make-up, hair and wardrobe assistant) and hubby, who protected us from hungry alligators!



When she shared with me her vision of a gift-wrapped belly with a tag "do not open until July 2010", I wasn't at all surprised by her creativity. Lianna is the owner of Beautiful Day Events. Planning and getting creative is definitely her thing! Oh, and not only does she plan beautiful events, she somehow has managed to get this far in her pregnancy with only one single stretch mark. ONLY ONE!!




She brought along the most adorable little ladybug items from her baby girl's nurser. I instantly fell in love with these cute ladybug shoes that we placed on top of her belly bump...




I truly enjoyed taking these maternity pictures! It was such a pleasure and I can't wait to take pictures of Lianna's big event in July...well, maybe not the "actual" event, but I am definitely looking forward to doing the newborn pictures. Congratulations & enjoy this preview of your pictures!

Some Past Favorites - Augusta, Georgia On-Location Photographer

I was looking through some past session pictures today when I came across some that are my favorites. Apparently I'm very fond of black and white photographs because that's what most of my favorites are. So, I just thought I'd share some...

These two were taken at different hospitals...the first one didn't look right completely black and white, so there is a hint of pink and blue remaining. Usually newborns photograph best when they are in a deep sleep because you can position them so easily. Even though the next baby was about 24 hours old, I love how he was looking straight at me...so alert!







And I think the next shots are so cute because bless her heart, she was teething! His nose just happened to look like something great to chew on. So, she's actually chewing on his nose, not giving him little baby kisses. To me this is just one of the sweetest little storyboards....




Babies make the cutest pictures & I just love them. Yesterday I was visiting with another photographer here in Augusta & she asked me what I like taking pictures of the most. Of course the word "babies" came out of my mouth. We both got a laugh as she pointed out how much that makes sense because I said it as I had a baby on my hip!

I like the next two pictures because they make me think of the contrast between big and little. The first picture is of a huge piece of logging machinery with two little girls playing on it in the middle of a field in the bright sunlight. And I think the second big/little picture is just so tender....even if it is a picture of farm equipment!







And this picture is a favorite too. This young lady, a life guard, got sunburned the day before we took pictures in her prom dress. Her mom loves the picture too because it depicts her daughter exactly. And I concur.




Some pictures look really nice in black and white, but look terrible in color. This is an example of that. I don't like the color picture at all, but turn it in to a black and white and it's an instant favorite of mine. Weird, huh?



Finally, if babies are my absolute most favorite subjects to photograph, then outdoor sporting events easily rank a very close number two on my list of favorites. Interestingly, I don't like sports events pictures in black and white! Isn't that odd? Here are two of my favorites from the 2010 Masters tournament. Golf has turned out to be my absolute favorite sport to photograph by the way!

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2010 Fort Gordon Marine Mud Run - Augusta Photographer

This past weekend I ended up shooting a team for the 2010 Fort Gordon Marine Mud Run. It was huge fun and I knew my team was going to be a handful when they told me their name: "We've Got The Runs". (It was embarrassing to write that by the way!). And trust me, they did much more than just run!



This was a completely last minute thing, and I was a little nervous because I had never heard of a mud run before. My main concern was how to take meaningful pictures of a mud run without getting muddy? I truly didn't know what in the world I was getting myself into. So, I consulted with someone who knows mud runs inside and out,...Charles, co-owner of Sweat It Out Fitness, Inc. Charles, who competes in the Columbia South Carolina Mud Run, and even helped with the initial course design for the Ft. Gordon Mud Run, gave me some valuable information for what to expect at the race.



Basically, this mud run is over 4 miles of muddy obstacles to maneuver, and many participants lost their shoes during the course of the race. My team (the team whose name I shall not mention again) put duct-tape around their shoes to make sure they wouldn't fall off during the run. I was pleased with the shots I got, and this is the kind of last minute adventure worth risking getting my camera muddy for!

10-10-10 Giveaway!!

October 10, 2010 is a very special day (it's my birthday), so I'm having a "10-10-10 Giveaway". Scribbletime will give a FREE SESSION and FREE 8x10 to (ten) 10 children who are turning 10 on October 10, 2010.

YES, you heard correctly...10 lucky kids will get a free session. So, spread the word. Here are the details & guidelines of this giveaway:

• The 10-10-10 session must be booked before October 10, 2010 (between now & Oct 10)
  
• Session must be booked by the parent or guardian by sending an email to sharon@scribbletime.com with the subject line: 10-10-10
  
• Images from the session may be used for future Scribbletime advertising, so a model release will need to be signed by the parent at time of session
• Child's actual birthdate must be October 10, 2000
• The 10-10-10 sessions will be taken at a location Scribbletime chooses in the CSRA
  
• Only the first 10 kids turning 10 on October, 10, 2010 are eligible, so hurry and book asap!
  

Three Kiddos - Augusta, Georgia Photographer

The last time my camera took pictures of these kiddos...a few months ago...the wind was blowing so hard you would have thought a tornado was coming. Long hair and wind don't make a great combination for pictures. I am happy to report that their hair did much better this session! This was a great location for pictures, complete with lots of honeysuckle...which added an element of discovery to this session (we also discovered a mound of ants!). Mom & Dad...here is a preview and thank you so much for letting me hang out with your kiddos for pictures again!

Fairy Princesses - Augusta Ga Baby Photographer

Ever since my daughter was born, I've wanted to do fairy pictures. I just love the magical feel of fairytale portraiture...it's just a fun and artistic way to capture a little girl playing dress up in wings and a tutu. My daughter is just 10 months, so she's definitely not old enough to pick flowers, twirl around, and do the things that naturally unfold when little girls enter into an enchanted pretend world. But who cares...she's still cute in wings and a tutu!

And if one little fairytale princess makes sweet pictures, then two little fairytale princesses should make even sweeter pictures, right?...






So, I enlisted the help of a fabulous friend who has a daughter the same age as my baby girl. Our daughters have never actually had a "playdate". The only glimpse of each other they usually get is from the view of their jogging strollers as their mommies run. Okay who am I kidding, I don't run....it's more like a gentle trot.

So, we thought it would be fun to dress the girls up and let them play...while snapping away and hopefully get some cute fairy style pictures in the process. I think these "outtakes" are the cutest!

Here she is at the beginning of this fairy playdate....looking at me like I've lost my mind!!....



Because maybe she knew her little playdate friend was plotting to get rid of her...


But some comfort food makes everything okay...


Of course, my daughter is a picky eater...



At the end of the playdate, my daughter was a little "done" with fairy pictures, so we switched to vintage. It was a fun experiment, even if our little fairy princesses are a little young to actually know what was going on! If you have a little girl who loves to play dress up, get in touch with me. I'd love to capture magical moments of your precious princess playing!

Senior Session - Columbia County Ga Photographer

Yay! I got to do my very first high school senior session! This lovely young lady is graduating from high school with honors and has spent the past four years preparing for college....where she will begin the journey toward her career as a medical doctor. During the week she is hard at work attending clinicals and practicing for Lacrosse games. On weekends she works as a lifeguard, and she has very defined tan lines to show for it! But the best part of all is that she gets the distinction of graduating with honors! Congratulations!

Golf Party...Augusta Style! -Augusta, Ga Corporate Event Photographer

One of the most exciting things about living in Augusta is being right down the road from the world's greatest golf tournament. I just think there is something so amazingly special about Masters week.



And this year the week was even more exciting than usual because I had the honor of photographing a four-day party hosted by DSM Chemical North America. It was held at the beautiful Palmetto Terrace at the Municipal Center in North Augusta overlooking downtown Augusta across the Savannah River. Each evening we were met with a cool breeze as the terrace bathed in a golden sunset. And just in case the location wasn't gorgeous enough on its own, Summerhill Interiors provided an extra touch of captivating beauty.


What a great venue for any event, but this was a special treat. DSM guests from across the globe attended the party at night after spending their daytime hours at the tournament. And if they didn't get enough golf during the day, they could catch up at the party!




But the absolute best part of the entire week had to be the most amazing food, prepared by Manuel's Bread Cafe.

What an absolute pleasure it was to taste test some of the crab cakes. My mouth is watering just remembering all the flavor! Can you tell I'm a bit of a shellfish junky (yum!)...





One really interesting note about Manuel's Bread Cafe is that they grow their own produce at Blue Clay Farms (Hammond's Ferry). Wow! Hope you enjoy this little preview!