I was so excited to do JD and Morgan’s engagement session. I always ask my couples what they like to do for fun so I can create a really special portrait session for them. JD and Morgan love coming down to the Pier at Myrtle Beach State Park to fish so we incorporated that location into their session. It was so much fun to see all of their fishing pals congratulating them while I was taking their pictures. I think JD was just happy that we started the session at 7am before the beach and pier was too packed with people. We ended up having a great time and I was really happy with the images I captured. I’m really looking forward to their wedding this fall. Thanks guys for being so awesome!!

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).

When I got an email from Mrs. B requesting a Family Portrait Session, I was totally thrilled. You see, I had the honor of photographing Mr. & Mrs. B’s wedding almost 3 years ago. They lived in the midwest so I thought after their wedding I would never have the opportunity to work with them again. I was pretty bummed about it because they are such an incredible couple and so laid back. But when I got that email I got so excited. They were coming to SC to visit family and wanted ME to take their first family portrait. They had an adorable baby girl last year and hadn’t had any professional portraits taken of her yet. So I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to not only work with them again but to have the honor of taking their first portraits. We had so much fun with this session. Miss E loved the camera and really showed her personality off. We did some outside shots at Lawton Park in Hartsville, SC and then scooted over to the family’s farm where we did some inside portraits along with some great images outside. I was so pleased with the way everything turned out. Thanks so much guys for giving me the opportunity. Now I know that even when I think working with my past clients is never going to happen, nothing is impossible!

March is the first month of spring and already we are anticipating spring’s gorgeous colors. In the meantime, we’ve got some fresh, fun campaigns in full bloom to celebrate the season!

What other word could better describe your beauty? Make him burn for you. Breathtaking images of you is the essence of our Boudoir Collection. Forget-me-not portraiture at it’s finest. Enjoy a glass of wine, let your hair down, and relax on our luxurious set as we capture the goddess in YOU! Call us today to schedule your private session at 843-245-7320.

 Freshen your look this Spring! Look great in your business cards, networking sites, brochures, and newsletters with an updated professional portrait. You work hard to build your business. Now it’s time to improve your own ROI with a professional headshot.

It’s your birthday and the fun has just begun! May this day find you full of laughter, free spirit, and cheeks covered with cake and kisses! Happy Birthday! Please accept a gift from your friends at Infinity Images for a complimentary birthday session and 8 Complimentary Wallets from your session!

While it’s still cold outside, we have some fun reasons for you to join us inside!

Does your little sweet cup want to be a magical fairy when she grows up?

Delight her with a limited edition fairies session in our charming fairy garden set.

Sweetheart garlands, pretty pastel tulle, adorable tutus and fairy wings will put a sparkle in her eye! Call Infinity Images today to book your session.

Don’t forget your furry family members! They are the stars of our popular Pet Days. High tail it over to Kalmia Gardens

and capture precious memories of your constant companion. Pet session fees are only $45 and we’ll donate 25% of the cost of your order to the Darlington County Animal Shelter.

Attention seniors! Now is a great time to start designing your graduation announcement cards. Our custom postcards and business cards are the perfect touch to announce your celebration. Call today to schedule a complimentary senior design session. Order your senior card set by May 1st, 2010 and receive 15% off your card order.

Getting married or know someone who is? February is national wedding month! You’ve dreamt of this day forever — remember it well. Infinity Images specializes in creating signature wedding portraiture.

It’s your birthday and the real gift is you! Let us celebrate your next birthday with a complimentary keepsake birthday session and 16 Birthday Signature Wallets.

Your family still has time to compete in the Child & Baby Photo Contest sponsered by Miller’s Professional Labs. Infinity Images is submitting one image from each session done before June 21st. Call today to book your family’s session. The winning family takes home $5000. There is also 1st & 2nd runner up prizes as well as an Honorable Mention. 

You can know keep up with Infinity Images through our quarterly newsletter “A Glimpse of Infinity”. Click here to sign up to receive our newsletter that is filled with information about promotions, things our clients are up to, stuff happening at the studio and lots of other fun stuff.

The Red Cross is holding a Blood Drive at Cedar Creek Baptist Church in Hartsville today from 3pm – 8pm in memory of Josh Howle who passed away on June 17th of this year at the age of 23. Please come out and give blood and save lives.

If you didn’t have the honor of knowing Josh, I’ll tell you a little bit about him. He was a light when he entered a room. He had a smile that would brighten someones darkest day. His laugh was like sunshine. When he gave you a hug, you felt loved. Josh was attending the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine to become a large animal vet. He lived to help animals and people just the same. He was his mama’s baby boy, his father’s right hand man and his brother’s best friend. He was doing things with his life that made everyone around him proud. He was a devoted Christian. He was a goofball and a friend. This is Josh on the right with his Uncle Daniel (my boyfriend). What a pair!

Please come out to Cedar Creek today and gift the gift of life to someone that needs it. I hope to see you out there!

Join us in October to help children get a new smile. Infinity Images is participating in Family Portrait Month that benefits Operation Smile. This is a charity that helps children that were born with cleft palates get a new smile. We are donating $25 from every family or child portrait session in October to Operation Smile. It only costs $240 for one child to receive the surgery and a whole new outlook on life. So for every 10 sessions, we all help one child. Cleft lips and cleft palates are the fourth most common birth defect in the world. In developing countries, 1 in 500 children is born with a correctable facial deformity…but their families don’t have the resources and some countries don’t have doctors to perform the surgeries. The children can’t eat; can’t speak; or go to school. Our donors give these children the opportunity for happier, more fulfilled lives. 

In the United States, Operation Smile provides a network of resources to assist families who have children born with a cleft lip or cleft palate. Referrals are made to doctors and nurses who help coordinate care and to support groups across the US.

You know that you want a new family portrait for those Christmas cards you are going to send out this year. So why not help a child in need this year. We hope to see you in October!!!

I have been so excited about this Engagement Session with Ben & Janet at Huntington Beach State Park in Myrtle Beach. I never thought the day would get here. Janet is such a great person and so full of life. I knew the session would be a blast!! They couldn’t have picked a more perfect location…even if it was 100 Degrees!!! Here are a few of my favorites from the Session.

We got a few pics of Janet and her cousin while we were out there! Too cute!!!

Wow! Look at those curls!! I had the opportunity to do a session with Little T last weekend and it was so much fun. She has 4 older brothers and sisters and they all love her to death. How could you not? She is too sweet and adorable to boot.  Ok, the little glasses have got to be the cutest thing I’ve ever seen!!