I knew while planning our trip to Las Vegas in February, I wanted to shoot a session there. There’s nothing like shooting in new locations to get your creative juices flowing. I didn’t know a soul in the area but I was determined to shoot someone, even if it was Daniel. He was not crazy about that idea by the way. I had my heart set on shooting at the Neon Museum (aka The Old Sign Graveyard).  I approached several other photographers that would be in the area for the same convention I was attending (WPPI). But between the limited hours of operation at the Neon Museum and the schedules of the other photographers, nothing seemed to be working out. I started to come to terms with the fact that I wasn’t going to get my session.

But thanks to the wonderful world of Twitter, I met Meredith who was interested in having her engagement session done at the Neon Museum. After a few emails back and forth we decided doing them at the Museum wasn’t the best plan. We opted for Red Rock Canyon and The Fremont Street Experience area of Downtown Las Vegas. It’s so funny how things work out like that. My original plan didn’t work out but the new plan was SO much better!

James and Meredith picked us up Friday afternoon and we were off to Red Rock Canyon. Let me just say, this place is amazing! Ok, I mean until we got out of the car at our first stop. I have never in my life felt winds like I did that day. We not only had to endure 40-60 mile per hour winds but it was FREEZING! I felt so bad for James and Meredith who pushed through stopping at several locations throughout the park to get some amazing images. When the sun started to set, we ventured into Downtown Las Vegas. With the buildings around to block the wind and the casinos to duck into to warm up, the second part of our session was much more fun. We found some really fun signs to incorporate into the images, along with some dark alleyways to show a more intimate side of this adorable couple.

You would never guess it by looking at these images but James and Meredith are from a small town in Indiana. Don’t they look like Supermodels that just stepped off a runway in NYC? They met in high school…the typical All-American high school sweetheart story. Only it didn’t last and they ended up going their separate ways. But their Love Story wasn’t over. As fate would have it, they ended up at the same university. After bumping into each other one day, they spent the afternoon catching up. And as they say, the rest is history. They moved out west this year and are planning their wedding for June of 2013 to take place at Red Rock Canyon. What an incredibly beautiful location for this beautiful couple!! Thank you James and Meredith for sharing a vision and allowing me to capture these images for you! Enjoy!!

So I hope by now everyone has seen our new Designer Frames. They are curvy, spunky and sooooo much fun! Who wouldn’t want a wall full of these awesome frames?! Well, I’ve decided to do a really fun giveaway for this super cool 8×10 frame. Our frames are available in over 50 colors so you will even get to choose which color would best fit your decor. All you have to do is head on over to our Facebook Fanpage here and “like” our Page. Then comment on this post letting us know you “liked” our Fanpage, who’s picture you would put in this frame and where you would hang it in your home. It’s that easy! One super-lucky winner will be chosen by a random drawing on Friday 2/18/11. We’ll announce the winner at 12pm. Good Luck!!!!

Hi!! I’ve crawled out from under my rock and finally feel some sunshine on my face. Metaphorically speaking of course, because as we all know, the weather here in SC has been anything but warm and sunny lately. It’s just for the past few months, I’ve been working my tail off trying to get a space of my own up and running. It feels like a century has gone by. I’ve had to slack off on my workload just to get everything done. I’ve had the help of my wonderful boyfriend, Daniel, our kids, Gage and Lindsay and our friend Chris. Everyone has really put 100% into getting this space ready for me and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate them for caring about me and my vision so much.

I’ve been wanting a space like this for some time. I have been shooting on-location and meeting couples for bridal consultations at my home for a long time and just really needed somewhere to call my own. I feel quite sure my family is thrilled to have all of my photography stuff out of our house. It was literally taking over.

I thought it would be cool to post before and after shots so everyone could see just how far the little place has come. Of course, I still have some spaces to fill on the walls. I’ve got a few wall galleries on order that will be in this week but who knows when I’ll get the opportunity to hang them. So I just wanted to go ahead and take some images and put them out there. Let me know what you think!! And thanks again for making my dream of photographing people come true!

Before and After - Studio Entrance

Another shot of the Entrance

Before and After - Office Area

Before and After - Studio Bathroom

Before and After - Another shot of the bathroom

Before and After - Sales Area

After - Sample Product Showcase

Before and After - Camera Area

Before and After - Camera Area

Finally have a place for all of the newborn stuff

Kids Play Area

Ok, so I know I still have lots of work to do. But it’s a start and I’m so proud of my space. I hope everyone will come out to our Grand Opening Party that we’re planning for March. I’ll post the details very soon! Thank you for stopping by!!

-Heather

Let me start this post by saying that I LOVE photography seminars/workshops/conventions. There is nothing like a huge room full of positive, motivated photographers to get your juices flowing. My friend, Nichole of Nichole Alexandra Photography, invited me to come along with her to Atlanta for the WPPI Road Trip last week. For those of you who aren’t photographers, WPPI is the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International  (I know only us nerdy folks actually know what that is). WPPI holds an annual convention in Vegas that usually falls around March or April. But this year, they decided to do something really awesome. They got a wonderful group of speakers and vendors together and went out on the road. This made is so convenient for lots of photographers that can’t make it out to Vegas.

So on Sunday, Nichole and I met up and made our way to Atlanta. I had just shot a wedding Saturday and didn’t make it home until after midnight so I was totally exhausted. But even with no sleep, I was totally siked for our trip. We hit Atlanta a little after lunch time which meant we were both starving. So Nichole looked up the nearest Cheesecake Factory on her Iphone and lucky us, it was only 8 miles from the hotel. We sped over as fast as we could and ate the most amazing lunch. We decided after gorging ourselves that we should walk around the mall several hundred times to work off all of the calories we took in. We had so much fun talking and shopping. We ended up staying up half the night gabbing and eating Chinese take out in our room.

Monday morning came early (especially since I hadn’t had any sleep in 2 days). But with a Starbucks Latte in my hand we ventured into the convention room. We spent the entire day learning from some of the best photographers out there. I can’t tell you how inspiring it was to hear from all of them. And the vendors! Holy cow! It’s so great to be able to touch and hold the actual products that you’re considering offering your clients. I don’t ever sell a product that I haven’t seen myself. We got to ask the vendors questions and voice our concerns. It was fabulous! Here are just a few of the images we took during the day. Thanks so much Nichole for letting me tag along. I had a blast!! I hope we can do it again really soon!

This was the amazing Damon Tucci. He specializes in wedding photography and shared some gorgeous images and information with us.

The most inspiring of all the speakers from the day had to be (at least for me anyway) Blair and Suzanne Phillips of Blair Phillips Photography. They are out of Landis, NC and have really come a long way from their humble beginnings. They made me see that you don’t have to live in a metropolitan area to grow a photography business.

This amazing photographer and business woman hosted the event. Bambi Cantrell is one of the most highly acclaimed women in our industry. What this lady can do with light and posing is absolutely incredible. She had been one of the photographers that I’ve looked up to since I’ve started so it was really a treat to get to meet her.

Here is a sample album that I thought was so adorable!

I’ve recently started offering the Gallery Float Mount shown here. They are gorgeous and are less expensive than a Gallery Wrap Canvas.

See, this is what I love about the vendor exhibits. This is such a cool idea that I wouldn’t have come across otherwise. This is a photo that was printed on metal and can be hung or placed on an easel. So cool!

This was another exhibit for metal prints. I just love them. I will eventually have these all over my house!

I recently came across a wonderful article (via The Boudoir Divas) written by author Kat Rosenfield about how every woman should experience posing nude for an artist. I couldn’t agree more with everything Rosenfield talks about in the article. I come across so many women that are completely closed off to doing a Boudoir Session and I only wish that they realized how right now, this minute, they are absolutely beautiful…no matter what size or shape. If you are hesitant about doing a Boudoir Session, take a look at this article. And feel free to ask questions. I’d be happy to help squash any doubts or concerns that you may have about the experience. Enjoy!

An excerpt:

As an artist’s and photographer’s model, I’ve spent substantial portions of my early-to-mid twenties standing around in front of strangers with no clothes on. And while it might be initially nerve-wracking, it’s also one of the most interesting and worthwhile experiences I’ve ever had — so worthwhile that I firmly believe it belongs on the bucket list for any young woman, no matter what her shape, size, or level of confidence with her own naked body. Why should you take a photo or two in your birthday suit?

• Your body is beautiful. Really, it is. And it doesn’t matter whether you’re plump or slender, reedy or Rubenesque; your whole self — top to toe — deserves its day in the spotlight. Women put in huge amounts of effort each day just to meet society’s standard of beauty, only to get bogged down by stress and insecurity over failing to fit within that narrowly-defined (and often unhealthy) ideal. Stripping down and showing it off is a celebratory, powerful, even subversive act — and it’s exhilarating. And when you see those photos in the days, months and years that follow, it’ll be with a lasting appreciation for your body as the glorious, gorgeous machine it is.
• It’s a confidence boost. Between diet culture, celebrity obsession, and the airbrushed images that we see every day on billboards and in magazines, women have developed an utterly warped idea of what a healthy body looks like. And the effects go way beyond simply disliking what we see in the mirror; at this point, many women are battling body dysmorphia and/or too afraid to even look at themselves naked. Seeing your own body given just a fraction of the star treatment — with makeup, lighting, and a skilled photographer to help you pose — is a powerful way to fight back against that fear and insecurity. Basically, you are so much hotter than you think you are.
• It’s totally vain… and completely awesome. When it comes to balancing your busy life, you’re always being told to take care, take time out, and take one day a week to do something nice for yourself. Well, go big or go home, lady. Your “just for me” weekly manicure only lasts as long as it takes your nail polish to chip, but a private album of drawings or photos that show you at your prime — young, healthy, and before childbirth, gravity, and the vagaries of time have taken their toll — is a memory you’ll have forever. (Not to mention a great conversation-starter when someone pulls it off your bookshelf in 2072 and says, “Grandma! Was that YOU?”)

So, are you ready to get naked? You’ve got options, but they’re not all good. Unless you’re the edgy type, avoid amateur photographers with seedy apartment “studios” and no portfolio to speak of; chances are, they’re just looking for spank material. And even if your boyfriend is a totally trustworthy dude who would never, ever blackmail you with your sexy shots post-breakup, he may lack the photographic skills to do your naked body justice. (And while an unflattering photo is never pleasant, an unflattering naked photo is a special kind of hell.) Instead, plan to drop a little cash and consider the following:

• Boudoir photography. If you want to look gorgeous and play coy, hire a professional boudoir photog to snap some sexy, low-lit photos of you in your favorite lingerie… or less. (Check with your individual photographer to see how he or she feels about topless shots, straight-up nudity, or tasteful draping.)
• Go retro. Love the look of old-school pin-up shots like Marilyn Monroe’s famous series with Bert Stern? Photogs specializing in vintage-inspired photoshoots have begun cropping up all over the country; if you’re nervous about taking it all off, some studios also offer costumes and wigs to get you into character.
• Sexiness optional. Naked photos don’t have to be porn-y; if looking lascivious isn’t your thing, skip the sex factor and work with a fine art photographer to shoot some artistic, black-and-white nudes that explore your body’s form in a non-erotic way.
• Put it on paper. Taking nude photos absolutely isn’t the recipe for disaster that people make it out to be — you retain the rights to pictures you’ve paid for, but even if you didn’t, a naked body isn’t a moral evil in and of itself. (Meaning that if someone sees them, it’s not like your life is over. Just ask Carla Bruni!) But if you simply can’t stomach the thought of actual photographic evidence that, at one time, you did not have clothes on, consider posing for a figure drawing or painting class. The in-practice terror factor is substantially greater — instead of one photographer seeing you nude, it’s a dozen aspiring artists and an instructor — but the sketch that one of your new artist friends gifts to you at the end of class will forever be a cool and unique souvenir of your brass-balled bravery.

Now take your pants off, and say cheese.

Enjoy the full article here.

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

Card 3

Candied Christmas Collection

Card 1

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.