This weekend marks the end of summer. Maybe not literally for folks like us that have the huge privilege of living in the South but symbolically for sure. The kids have started the new school year. After Labor Day the stores put out Halloween decorations and fall decor. Summer is slowing fading and I want to reel it back in like a fish that’s trying to get away.

I love summer. I love the beach. I love ice cream on hot days. I love sundresses. I love walking barefoot in the grass. I can’t have those things in the winter (and face it, we only have 2 seasons here). I don’t want summer to end. I feel like a child having a temper tantrum.

The images I capture in the warm season is what gets me through the winter. I look back at them and it pulls me through to the other side. So I carry my camera with me wherever I go and snap away at the most random things. Because I know in a few months when it’s 35 degrees and rainy outside I can look back at my images and they will remind me that summer is only a few months away.

I know, I’m a terrible parent because I’m just getting around to this post and school started 2 weeks ago. As all of you overwork and stressed out mom’s out there know, things are really crazy right after school starts. You have the typical 400 pages of emergency contact information forms to fill out not to mention the effort it takes just to get the kids in bed at a decent hour.

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting all of Gage and Lindsay’s teachers and I have to say that I couldn’t be more lucky. Living in a small town is so great because by the time your child reaches the next grade, you already know the teachers and they are already familiar with your child. So I really already knew most of their teachers but it was nice to catch up with them and to see what the new year had in store for them.

Now that Gage is a sophmore and driving (I can’t believe I’m saying that) I’m sure it won’t be long before he is gone all of the time. So I’m soaking up every bit of quality time we can get together before he can’t stand to be around me. I know it’s coming…it’s just a matter of time.

And my baby girl is growing up so fast. She’s in 5th grade but she still feels like my baby. I remember how grown up I felt in the 5th grade….and I’m sure she feels the same way. She is my fearless, go-getter. She never backs down and always stands up for what’s right.

My goal as a parent is to cherish these small moments because I know they won’t come around forever. It’s the every day giggles and hugs that I’ll miss most when my kids are all grown up and have lives of their own. And it’s then that I will look back at the images I took on the front steps of our home on the first day of school and wish I could get every one of them back.

This past weekend has been one that my family has anticipated for quite a while. We always do. It’s the weekend of the 13th Annual Antioch Community Center SCHRA Rodeo. Every year, a few weeks after school starts, we get to dress up in our cowboy (and cowgirl) wear and head to the rodeo. Because we live in such a small community, it seems like everyone in our town and the surrounding areas are there. This year was no exception. We saw family and friends and got to meet a few new people. I can’t explain why but this event is one of my favorites of the year. I love all of the different competitions but the barrel racing is what I love the most. Just watching the girls put everything they have into guiding their horses around the barrels and then back through the gate is so exciting. I think that it has something to do with my secret dream to have a horse when I was growing up in Charleston in an apartment. Anyway, this year’s competitions did not disappoint. I actually got really close for the bull riding competition which was kind of scary. The bulls are definitely a lot bigger in person than they look on tv. Thankfully none of the riders were seriously injured this year as were in the past. Our family had a wonderful time and I’m already looking forward to next year.

Here are a few of my favorite images of the night.

Yes, I know it’s not even September yet. But the Holidays will be here before you know it. And do you really want to be running around at the last minute trying to plan a session just to make sure that your Holiday cards are sent out on time. And let’s face it, running back and forth trying to set the timer on your own camera trying to get a perfect family portrait is not easy. I know how terrible it is because I tried it ONCE.

Our Holiday Cards this year are so much fun. We’ve got 4 Collections to choose from with several different versions in each one. You’re sure to find the perfect one for your family. We also design custom cards for our clients that want something that no other family will be sending out. Just give us a call and we’ll be glad to work together with you to design a totally unique Holiday card just for your family.

Merry and Bright Collection

Card 1

Card 2

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Candied Christmas Collection

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Card 2

Card 3

Snow Kissed Collection

Card 1

Card 2

Card 3

Classic Holiday Collection

Card 1

Card 2

Card 3

Card 4

Believe in Magic Collection

Card 1

Card 2

I have been soooo excited to share these with you. I just sent this set out to a recent client that LOVED them. I almost didn’t want to part with them and they weren’t even images of my children! Each album set is custom designed for you. The album is 3″ x 3″ and actually has a magnet inside to keep the front and back secure when it’s closed. They also come in these adorable little clear cases that protect it when you carry them in your purse, etc. I also love the idea of using them as fridge magnets. I’m sure there are plenty of other great ideas but I’m sure Grandmothers won’t need one as long as they can reach into their purse and pull out this little gem! We are going to use them for all different types of sessions/events such as, newborn, families, seniors, weddings, engagements, bridal portraits, child sessions, pet sessions, maternity and boudoir portraits. I can’t wait to start handing these little babies out to all of our clients.

I’ve been wanting to share some photos of the new studio for some time. But I really wanted to wait until it was a little farther along in the remodeling. I just couldn’t wait any more! I decided that it wouldn’t hurt to share pictures of the work in process. Then I can take more as it becomes more complete. This has been a dream of mine for a long time and it’s finally coming true. I won’t be using the studio for traditional portraits. I will be doing all of my consultations and sales presentations there along with newborn and boudoir sessions. I still love the fresh, fun images I get with doing children and families on location so that won’t change. I just needed a place to call home (as far as my work is concerned). I can’t wait to share more as the project progresses. The owners live in Atlanta and are “living” there during the remodel. I feel so bad for them because it doesn’t have central AC yet so they are literally roasting with 2 small window units to cool the whole building. Well, hopefully it will only be a couple of more months before it’s finished. Let me know what you think!

This is the view from just inside the front door. It's quite a mess!

This is a view to the right of the front door. It's a pretty big room that I will probably use as a waiting area.

This is the entrance into the main part of the building just after you pass through the front room.

A small storage area in the bathroom. I can see props going here!

A shot of the unfinished bathroom.

Another shot of the unfinished bathroom. I think this room will be finished last. Can you really blame them?

This was taken from the back of the building looking towards the front. If only they would leave me the big screen!

A shot of the kitchen area. They are getting ready to install new cabinets next week.

Yes that is a garage door! That is coming out and french doors are going to be installed along with a couple of floor to ceiling windows on either side.

The stair leading to the second floor.

The second floor...kind of small but lots of potential.

Another shot of the second floor looking in the opposite direction. The stairs are in the middle of the room.

Well, that’s the tour. I hope to be adding some more images as the work is completed. I really can’t wait to get everything decorated and my work hanging on the walls! When it gets closer to completion, I will start planning an Open House so I can invite all of my clients, friends and family over to get a better look. I hope you have a fabulous weekend!!

Doing a recent pet session with a truly amazing dog got me thinking about the differences between “dog people” and regular people. I never understood how someone could treat their dog like a person…or why they would want to. I’ve learned a lot over the past 4 years about dogs….and myself.

I grew up in Charleston, SC. For most of my childhood, we lived in an apartment which didn’t allow pets. My mom did a great job of hiding kittens so the Apartment Manager wouldn’t find out so I wasn’t always without a pet. However, I never had a dog. You can’t really hide a dog because of the whole pooping outside thing. But I loved my cats (even when they brought dead things up the door) and never thought anything about not being able to have a puppy. So as an adult, I’ve never been a dog person. I love all types of animals but owning a dog has always meant something different to me than “dog people.” I got my kids a dog and it stayed outside. I’d pet it on the head as I walked by but never thought much about it. Then 4 years ago, I moved in with my boyfriend and he is allergic to cats. We had a cat at the time…a beautiful Siamese that my son adored. But she disappeared the day we moved into the new house. I guess she wasn’t keen on the idea of living in a different house. After a year of not having any pets, I started really missing that great feeling when your pet jumps up in your lap and wants nothing from you but to be loved. So I decided to get an inside dog. I figured it can’t be much different than a cat. Boy was I wrong! We decided on an Italian Greyhound. He was gorgeous. He was sleek and could run faster than anything I’d ever seen. He was incredibly sweet. I was his human and all he wanted to do was lay beside me under a blanket. Me and this dog bonded from day one. But this dog was extremely high maintenance. I don’t mean we had to take him to the groomer every other week (he doesn’t have much fur at all). I mean all our lives revolve around this dog. I had never had a dog before. I thought all I had to do was take it out a few times a day and it would be trained. Um that’s not how it worked with this dog. He was stubborn, needy and scared of every freakin’ sound outside. He would literally shake and tremble for 30 minutes if a car drove by.  I had to use puppy pads in the house because he just refused to go to the bathroom outside. Several times I broke down and cried to Daniel about the dog. I couldn’t handle it. I already had 2 children and a man to take care of. Now I had this needy dog. I had to find another home for him or I was going to have a breakdown. He would always talk me out of it. He would say “Heather, you love that dog and he loves you. You can’t get rid of him.” Of course, that would always make me change my mind. Over the next couple of years, I just became accustomed to the extra care I had to put into my dog. That’s not to say that I liked it or didn’t have moments of pure insanity (ask Daniel) but I dealt with it.Daniel was right, I love my dog and he loved me.

Fast forward to the Fall of last year. My Stepfather passed away on November 1st. My family was devastated. He was only 54 years old. My children had lost the only male figure that had been a constant throughout their lives. Daniel was a great father to them but we had only been together 5 years at that point. My daughter wanted a puppy for Christmas. She had never had a pet because I always thought she was too young for the responsibility (I already had a crazy dog to take care of). But I thought if I got her the puppy, she wouldn’t be so sad about her Papa. So, I set out to find her a puppy. Daniel and I both agreed that the smaller the better so we  decided on a Chihuahua. Now, most of these types of dogs are really super ugly and “yippy.” We didn’t want that. I had to find one that was cute and acted more like a big dog. Good luck, right? It took some time but I found her the perfect puppy. I couldn’t wait until Christmas to give it to her so I took her with me to pick it up. It was love at first sight. She fell asleep holding the puppy on the way home. Ok, so now we have a neurotic dog and a new puppy in the house. What was I thinking?! Training the new puppy wasn’t that bad. She was litter box trained when we got her (yes, you can train a dog to go in a litter box!) so we just had to work with her a little to get her going outside. After a few months we decided to get my dog fixed being that he is a boy and the puppy was a girl (you know the birds and the bees stuff). I couldn’t believe the transformation in him. It seemed like overnight, he didn’t have a problem going to the bathroom outside, he didn’t try to crawl down my shirt when new people came over. He started becoming normal! Now I don’t know if it was because he was socializing with another dog and saw what he was supposed to act like or if it was the surgery. But whatever it was, I sure wish I would have done it sooner.

Now our new puppy isn’t quite so much a puppy anymore and my dog will be 4 next month. Life around our house has become pretty normal – or as close to normal as we’re going to get. We love our dogs and couldn’t imagine our lives without them. They are still extremely irritating sometimes especially when they both want to lay on me at the same time or when the have to go outside at 10pm. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. I guess that’s why I’m a “dog person.”

My dog, Duke.

Our dog, Georgia (as a puppy).

Learn how to take better images of your children. It's not rocket science, but you do have to know a little about that fancy camera.

Interested in a private group class? These are a popular class option!! Get a group of your friends together for a mom’s night out at a friend’s house, or a daytime class while the kids are at school. We’ll cover:

-10 Tips for Taking Better Pictures of Your Kids

-Introduction to Exposure -ISO -Shutter Speed

-Aperture

-Training Wheels

-Using your Camera’s Basic Settings

-Lens Overview

The three hour group class is $100 per person with a minimum of three participants. Each person will receive a textbook to keep as a reference. The class lasts for 3 hours for 3-5 people, and can be extended to 4 hours for over 5 people (due to the extra questions that may come up for a larger group size). If you are interested contact me with some possible dates/times that work for you and your friends so we can coordinate the class.

Interested in putting a class together for your friends? Call Heather at 843.245.7320 or email heather@infinityimages.net

We are thrilled to be able to announce this contest sponsered by Miller’s Professional Imaging!!

Schedule an appointment with us from now until June 21st, and your child’s portrait will also be entered into the Miller’s Professional Imaging Baby and Child Contest.  A range of prizes will be awarded from $500 – $5,000 in cash!

Portrait sessions are limited so please call today to reserve your child’s appointment. Let us help document your child’s ever-changing stages with priceless portraits that will be with you for a lifetime!
 
How It Works:

Miller’s 2010 Baby & Child Contest will be held online, allowing you to help determine the winners by voting for your favorite portraits.

Categories for this year’s contest include: Color, Black & White/Sepia, Special Needs, and Humorous. The online contest will consist of four different qualifying rounds and one final round. Each round will last for one month. Infinity Images will be able to post entries during the first three weeks of every qualifying month and vote during the last week of the month. Posting and voting deadlines are listed:

• Round 1 (March): Post Entries – March 1 – 21. Vote on Entries – March 22 – 31.
• Round 2 (April): Post Entries – April 1 – 21. Vote on Entries – April 22 – 30.
• Round 3 (May): Post Entries – May 1 – 21. Vote on Entries – May 22 – 31.
• Round 4 (June): Post Entries – June 1 – 21. Vote on Entries – June 22 – 30.

For each qualifying round, the top five winners will be selected from the four categories. These winning portraits will be entered into the Final Round, which takes place during the month of July. The Final Round will be judged online by a panel of esteemed photographers. First, Second, and Third places, as well as two Honorable Mentions, will be announced for each category! Cash prizes for these winners include $2,000 for First, $1,000 for Second, $750 for Third, and $500 for each Honorable Mention. One portrait from the Final Round will also receive the highest of accolades — Grand Prize Winner. The cash prize will be $5,000 for this lucky winner! All cash prizes will be given to the families of the winning portraits.

Miller’s Baby & Child Contest Rules

• All portraits taken January 1- June 21, 2010 are eligible for entry into the 2010 Baby & Child Contest.
• Voters will have the ability to flag any image they feel does not meet the guidelines of the contest. Flagged images will be reviewed prior to the announcement of round winners to ensure the winning images do meet contest standards.
• Infinity Images may post one image per child from each photography session. Miller’s reserves the right to delete multiple submissions from one session.   
• Children age 12 and under can be entered into the contest.
• Maternity shots do not fall within any of the available categories.

We are so excited about our new partnership with Growing Up Green in Lake City, SC. It is an adorable new children’s boutique that carries everything from silver baby rattles to hot new scarves. We will be offering Growing Up Green’s clients special rates and access to special promotions that no one else will have. We are shooting several sessions with models in their products to hang in their shop. We had so much fun at the first session. I can’t wait for the next one! These kids were so much fun and too cute for words. Here are a few of my favorites and I’ve also added a few of the shop. I’m thrilled that our work will be covering their walls!