We upped the ante a bit with our latest little trip with Ms. Mary. If you remember our last visit with Mary, we had a nice leisurely walk around the government buildings, library, and of course, trash containers. This session started out similar as we started out in the back of the Evans Fitness Center near the trash containers to take a moment to get familiar again with the process. However, you will notice a little foreshadowing to later events as she brought a touch of her dance moves into the back wall portion of the session below.
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new construction equals new opportunities
I hate to beat the proverbial horse here, but I really want a studio to work out of. Sort of. I think. Well, yes and no. Yes when it is over 90 degrees, 90 percent humidity, no wind, no clouds, too much wind, 40 degrees, rain, yada, yada, yada. You get the picture. And when it’s not like that? Well, of course, outside is the way to go. Unless I want a pure color background with Cyclorama wall complete with beautifully constructed lighting that never changes unless I want it to. But outside of that pure color background, there is no way I could spend hundreds upon hundreds of dollars for backgrounds when if you just walk outside and look, you have hundreds of “studio” backdrops available virtually anywhere you go. It’s one reason I can’t understand photographers that go to the same places again and again. There is only so much of the train tracks, depot, or Savannah Rapids before I go nuts.
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they say never work with animals...
It was W.C. Fields who coined the famous phrase, “Never work with animals or children” due to their unpredictability and scene stealing nature. I have worked with children before, and for the most part I would agree with their scene stealing nature, but animals? One of Rachel’s Zumba classmates lives close by and happens to have a little fluffy young goat to play with and we thought, what the heck, let’s test out this axiom. Couple of phone calls and voila, Jennifer has her hands full of some cute goat-ness and I have two lovely subjects for a photo session.
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my year in the miller theater, volume 6
Welcome back, it’s been awhile since I checked in with this little run down memory lane, thank you Mr. Compressed Vertebral Disc. But, as we have decided to mend our relationship and travel down recovery road, don’t mind us as we take a detour down the aforementioned lane. As for the theater itself, a little inside, a little outside, some close details and some wide expanses. On the portrait front, we inject a little pin-up flavor with the lovely Jessica. Onward we go…
Read Morea personal maternity session
As I am getting older and mortality is becoming an ever increasing sentiment within my mind, not really but it is a good lead in, I listen to a lot of podcasts where health, nutrition, and fitness is a focus and I have attempted to clean up my act by cutting the sugary snacks and carbs out of my diet. One of the things I have dramatically increased in my diet is nuts, which have a multitude of benefits, one of which is highlighted in the below tweet from the amazingly brilliant Dr. Rhonda Patrick.
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my year in the miller theater, volume 4
This week in The Miller brings us a bit of color and texture shot from the roof, focusing on the surrounding environment of buildings and skyline of downtown Augusta and it's unique mix of brick, sculpture, peeling paint, and rust. We follow that up with a little tour back inside featuring some of the unique fixtures and textures of The Miller, also the ubiquitous front stairwell and finishing with some sunset shots from the roof. This volume's portrait session is a Senior Session featuring Emily introducing the back alley and the room under the secret yellow room room and getting her own time on the roof while joining the "just like a tree stand" club when presented with the many ladders on the roof.
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my year in the miller theater, volume 3
Welcome to Volume 3 of my Miller time. In this episode we continue on from the previous volume and continue to explore the projector room, the ever-present front stairwell, add in a new addition in the under the secret yellow room room, and finally start the love affair with roof shots of the city skyline with the always evocative Lamar Building. We finish with a gorgeous set of photos from our session with Kristen, who pushed us to match the beauty and grace she brought to the table that day. We hope you enjoy!
pb | rb
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my year in the miller theater, volume 2
Welcome to volume 2 of my year at The Miller and thank you for showing up. I introduce a few new rooms (hello projector and uh, lady's bathroom ante-room...) and their treasures as well as establishing some returns from earlier. Here's looking at you , front door, phones and stairwell. The projector room was awesome and I would have loved to shoot there more, but shortly after my photo shoot with Ashley as you will see below, the lock was changed and I was unable gain access to the room. Oh, and for the record, it was not because I did anything, but there were quite a few copies made of the key from other people, so I think the powers that be wanted to limit access where possible.
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my year in the miller theater, volume 1
In mid 2013 the opportunity to photograph in The Miller Theater presented itself. A friend/mentor of mine had access and wanted to know if I would want to take a look. Not really knowing anything about the building or it's history, I said sure and we met a few days later downtown. For that meeting, I brought nothing but myself, no camera. Long story short, at the end of that tour I got a key, had access to The Miller anytime I felt like it, and knew I would not enter the dressing rooms downstairs alone for fear of "her." Whether she still haunts it after the remodel...
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it's not always going to be perfect...
...and that's ok. Sometimes Rachel get's a bee in her bonnet to shoot a non-commissioned session. She got a new bit of makeup, a new hairstyle she wants to try out, a new dress she found, or maybe someone from church who's hair she's been eyeballin' or face she want's to try that new makeup on. This photo session with Susannah would nicely fit into several of those categories. But as you may know from the previous blog post, I often don't like to repeat myself when it comes to a session, so what do I do when I have my pick of locations for a session with a client who is along for the ride? Well duh, how about behind the Big Lots and Home Depot parking lot? Isn't that what you were thinking?!?
Read Morelocation, location, location
On windy days such as been the case the first two days of this years Master's, it can make me somewhat wistful when it comes to the idea of a photography studio. Through the years I have come across several spaces that have suddenly come available, or in terms of downtown Augusta, spaces that have been vacant for many years, and stood outside of the door, checked every window, checked certain apps on my phone to see when and where the sun rises or sets in relation to those windows and dreamt of what could be. Enterprise Mill, the White building, that secret room in the Miller Theatre, large, small, and everything in between. I think Rachel has heard the phrase "I think I found it" so many times, well, at this point it has gone beyond any sort of response, even the "yes dear."
Read Morethe return of winter, a carly session.
Alright, so my last post caught us up with Sommer during our photo session in the winter, yet was full of witty repartee about the weather turning towards summer (seemingly) and yet as I write this post at 2a on March 14, a few days after we just "sprung" forward and the temp yesterday was a lovely 36° as I trudged through the forest scouting locations for future shoots. Future shoots in warmer weather if I had my druthers. But not too warm, too soon as you all know how lovely the heat and humidity have fun with us here in Augusta during the summer months.
Read Moreportrait photography and patience, the katie session
For those of you in the know, it is Championship Sunday as I write this and one of the biggest story lines of the playoffs has been Le'Veon Bell and his unique running style. If you happen to be around the t.v. while the Steelers are on today, take a listen and see if you can count the number of times you here the word "patience" in reference to Mr. Bell. Please don't make a drinking game out of it, because with Phil Simm's behind the mic, it will be every other word out of his mouth when the Steelers have the ball and you would be well on your way to being toasted by the end of the 1st quarter. But outside of that digression, Mr. Bell truly does have a unique way of running with patience and if I may be so bold, I am going to use him and his style as my segue into this lovely Senior Session with Katie.
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Senior Photography in Evans GA: Alissa
Twenty years ago I entered my senior year in high school. I had just come home from a summer in Ecuador, and I had shoulder length blonde hair that I was devising a plan to cut into a pixy (do I sleep with gum? Do I just lie? My parents would never let me do it). I had gained a solid 10 or 15 lbs. that summer to add to the several I already possessed overweight. Heroin chic I was not, but maybe I could go skater/raver/punk. The girls at school already didn't quite get me, so who would care?
That year I clad myself in funky vintage sweaters and JNCO. I lied to cut off my hair, and desperately searched out an identity that wasn't entirely centered on singing. I didn't think I was able to be who I desperately wanted to be, so I had to find an alternative.
Read MoreAugusta GA Portrait Photography: Sommer
Happy Saturday, Y'all! It has been a wonderfully long week, and today is all the longer. I did think a little art might help the day along, so I wanted to share these images of our new friend, Sommer.
Bill Cunningham, the recently deceased New York Times fashion photographer, is quoted to have been searching for "birds of paradise" in and around Manhattan. He searched for women of "daring styles" instead of women with "cookie cutter sameness" for the subjects of his art. Young, old, poor, wealthy- his selection was based entirely on his artistic perception.
Read MoreAugusta GA Portrait Photography: Rebekah Too
We shot Rebekah two years ago, and it is a wonder to see her change. High school is behind her, and she is on to her first year of college in the fall. She has the loveliest gentle spirit, and a delight to be around.
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Augusta GA Portrait Photography: Hannah
Her name is Hannah, and she is the most peaceful angel of a young woman. Normally she is not so serious, but she reigned the smile in for some dark lipstick and wild curls done on a 1/3 inch iron (her hair is straight). Modeling is not for the faint of heart!
Read MoreA word an artist understands: Portrait photography in Augusta, GA
I do not like the word "no." It could be the most agitating word to my ears. Despite hating the word, I love to play a game with our daughter, Lilah, whose favorite word to say is "no."
"Lilah. Would you like a giant hot fudge sundae?"
"No."
"How about to play in a room filled with sweet little puppies?"
"No."
"Would you like to swim in a pool full of marshmallows?"
"No."
Read MoreGood morning beautiful, Augusta GA Portrait Photography
Oh! Well, hello there, pretty thing! You look great this morning! Checking out the interwebs, sipping your coffee, swatting at the children under your feet... It is so good to see you again!
That's enough for the greetings right now, but it does seem like it has been forever since I have been curating lovely photos for you. Patrick and I have working hard over the last 18 months adjusting to life as a family of four, or really showing a little one how to adjust to life in our family. Work has not slowed down (can you believe I first typed "slown down?"), but instead is constantly filling. We have kept up everything, except for taking a calm moment to sit and share this passion of ours with you.
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Senior portraits in Augusta GA: Into Art
Swoon.
Isn't she lovely?
Today we get to work with this talented young woman again, and we are over the moon.
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