life is sweet

i have moved. blogs, that is.

2010-05-18T09:23:00.000-07:00

you can now find me at www.emilymcginnis.com.

could you spare some votes?

2010-03-02T06:36:00.000-08:00

ian is currently in a contest by NEXT (british children's clothing). if he ends in the top 50, we will win a trip to universal studios hollywood. note: this is about 41 minutes away from disneyland. you all know me and what a crazy disney nut i am! plus, i'd love to have a special trip with my cute, little guy!

if you can spare a moment, please vote for ian. you can vote once every 24 hours. and, you can vote with every valid email address you may have. i've been voting with all of my addresses every day! the contest runs through march 18.

thanks so much!

best of 2009

2010-01-06T18:47:00.000-08:00

here are my top ten client captures from 2009! thank you to all of my wonderful clients (and friends) who made 2009 such a wonderful year! i really do fall in love with each of my clients and am so appreciative that you put your faith in me!

oh what? you thought i could limit it to ten? do i ever actually limit it to ten? getting these 13 was hard enough!!

just trust me. charleston family photographer

2009-11-10T14:03:00.000-08:00

i love when my clients just trust me. i had a session last week in north charleston. while k and i were discussing location, i mentioned a place i loved. it had old, abandoned, falling-down houses, pathways, etc. not everyone "gets" that and i understand that. but k just said, "i trust you. if you like it, i'll like it too." oh. how i love this spot. seriously, love it. and she is the first client i've taken there (although i've taken my kids a few times).

i love this family. they are so cute and up for anything. miss m used to be one of my preschool cuties. i remember when she was a wee little one in the youngest class. and now, she is just becoming this beautiful little girl. sigh. little brother was just a baby when i first met him. and now he's a full-fledged toddler who really doesn't care about my camera. there are WAY too many more fun things than miss emily! and mom and dad are just up for anything. i dragged them around for two hours, until our light was completely (and i do mean completely) gone. i love it!

a lovely beaufort day

2009-11-02T18:46:00.000-08:00

i would love to have a second home in beaufort. i have found some of my favorite spots there--if only it weren't such a drive. i can't exactly ask charleston clients to drive ninety minutes with me! beaufort is such a beautiful town. and maybe it's that it's still fresh to me since i see a different area almost every time i visit! i am so fortunate to have met some amazing clients, many of whom have turned into wonderful friends.

last week, i traveled to beaufort to meet with two wonderful families. the first was a cute little family--mom is sister to one of my other clients. it was wonderful to meet them and hang out with them. and get to know their little cuties, who were shy, but giggly!

the second is a family who has gone through SO much. the first time we had a session scheduled, mom ended up in the hospital with emergency surgery. so, obviously, our session was postponed. this time, mom had a little boo boo that morning and didn't make it into the pictures. once i get back for their family pictures, i told her there are to be no emergencies! nonetheless, i had a BLAST with her and her boys! she was a great sport, even though i know she was probably tired and in pain. and dad was great too--he pushed those boys on their swing SO much and SO high (and you know how i love old swings!).

at one point, mom mentioned the property next door, with an old barn. i asked if they knew the owners or if it was abandoned. abandoned. um. hello! jackpot! old barn. old car. oh yeah.

i'm nothing...

2009-10-26T17:31:00.000-07:00

...if not perpetually behind! i will get caught up. it's been a busy holiday season and i am most definitely NOT complaining. i am extremely grateful for my wonderful clients. it is such a blessing to watch these children grow up. i cannot believe how fortunate i am to be able to do something that i love. i feel truly and completely blessed.

a few weeks back, i had another portrait party at a home in west ashley. a gorgeous home with an amazing dock on the water. sigh. i love my life. i am very grateful to the one who opened her home to us. and also to my faithful hostess, who i can definitely say has been a key figure in the growth of my business.

anyway, if the week prior had been HOT, then this week was chilly. this week, the children were shivering (instead of sweating). but we made it through and had a blast. and most of them had more fun AFTER their session, running around the yard playing. what can i say?

first holiday portrait party of the season

2009-10-22T08:07:00.001-07:00

i love doing portrait parties. yes, it's a lot of work. but it also means i get to meet some new clients and make new friends. this first one was a blast, but HOT. it was hard to think we were taking pictures to go on Christmas cards when it was in the 90s. craziness!

i got to see two "old" friends and then meet some new ones. i love watching these littles grow up. it's one of the highlights of my job! and to meet new friends who i hope to follow through their childhood as well--it doesn't get any better than that!

anyhoo, a huge thanks to miss s for scheduling the sessions! you know i love little e--she is a girl after my own heart! and i sure do love them spunky!

preschool portraits

2009-10-13T05:52:00.000-07:00

every fall/spring, when i do the portraits for a local preschool, i am struck by how blessed i am to have met the owner. not only does she "get" me, she lets me do my thing. she lets me skip the backdrop and lights and shoot things my way. and she has become a friend too, which is the best part of all.

for fall pictures, i took my antique desk along. i let the children draw in my book--how fun will it be to have a book full of drawings by the kids who've sat at that desk!

anyway, thank you to the coolest preschool in town!

another cool senior

2009-10-13T05:47:00.001-07:00

i have been fortunate to have some great senior guys this year! it has been a blast! we actually taught this young man when he was in fourth grade (sunday school). what a nice young man he has become. his parents should be really proud!

we did a two different sessions. one was downtown, walking the streets. the second was at a community recreation center for some basketball shots!

he said i'm funny, until i tease him. then, i'm not so fun (or funny). sorry, z, it makes you smile when i tease.

one long day. two amazing sessions. beaufort family children photographer

2009-09-21T16:24:00.001-07:00

two saturdays ago, i made my way to beaufort, one of my favorite towns. i was driving there as the sun was coming up. and i drove home as the sun was going down. it was totally worth it though. i was able to see two of my favorite families!

we started at the beach with the p family. the beach has the most amazing trees growing from the sand. i love when beaches have more than just sand and water--it adds character. after the beach, we traveled to a private island that was in the family. it's such a gorgeous location and mr p grew up here. so, we have a lot of history to include, which makes it a really special place.

i love the p kids. they are just so much fun. and they were SO patient--two locations and several hours. but they didn't complain and did a great job!

after that, i traveled to bluffton to meet the s family. i photographed this family last september in a gorgeous house on the battery. but today, i was in their neck of the woods. on the trip in, mom called me and told me to drive a little past my turn and check out a location. she had me at "old barn" and "old truck." seriously. i was downright salivating and could've easily pulled over to do cartwheels. but we did some family pictures at her house and some formals of the girls in their Christmas dresses. and then, i got to play at the farm. i took a gazillion pictures. and the girls were wonderful! we ended the session with their feeding and brushing the horses. all in all, a great day!

impossibly beautiful family. charleston family photographer

2009-09-14T12:24:00.001-07:00

life is good. i love my job. for some reason, i am blessed with the most beautiful clients any photographer could ever hope to have!

mom was an acquaintance in college. she was older than me, but we still remember each other. i took pictures for her sister's family when i was in ohio in june. but they were going to be in pawley's island, so i gladly made the trip.

isn't cute little bro just adorable. i know he was so tired of my calling him "cutie" all night. and big sis is beautiful too--those eyes. and tons of personality!

it was wonderful to see them all again. and to visit after the session--that's the best!

extended family session. charleston family photographer

2009-09-14T12:20:00.000-07:00

last week, i met a great family from both here and georgia. they were vacationing out at wild dunes (love wild dunes). i loved that, when i got there, they told me that the two-year-old twins didn't like to have their pictures taken. challenge accepted. :) by the end of the session, at least one twin was asking me to take more!!!

cool senior with his family. charleston portrait photographer

2009-09-03T09:47:00.000-07:00

last saturday, i had a high school senior along with his very cool family. we got permission to shoot at joe riley stadium! it was supposed to be empty, but rain the night before had meant a rescheduled game (and thus, a double-header on saturday). so, what was supposed to be an empty stadium was filled with some people. we worked around them anyway.

after that, we met the rest of the family at folly beach to finish our session. super fun family--we all laughed again and again! and got bit by a LOT of bugs.

cool twins, downtown charleston. charleston portrait photographer

2009-09-03T09:44:00.000-07:00

a few weeks back (yes, i am behind on my blog), i had the opportunity to photograph twin senior girls downtown! and it was hot! but we managed. these girls are super sweet and funny! and pretty much game for anything! i love that!

thanks for the fun few hours and for the laughter!

see in a new way

2009-08-18T17:02:00.000-07:00

i have been making the effort to learn new things and techniques that can keep me improving my photography. one of my current studies has been off-camera flash. but, my friend jodi at mcp actions is having a great contest to win a lensbaby composer. lensbaby's tagline is "seeing in a new way." and that is definitely something i want to always do!

to me, seeing in a new way involves seeing beauty in everything! even something that someone else views as ugly, i want to see the beauty. it is important to me to always find something beautiful in everything and everyone i come into contact with.

here's the address to jodi's blog/contest: http://mcpactions.com/blog/2009/08/18/win-a-lensbaby/

and, here is a spot where others probably drive by and think as ugly and run-down. but to me, it is beautiful!

there's a storm a-brewin'

2009-08-09T16:41:00.001-07:00

last weekend, i drove down to beautiful spring island, just south of beaufort. i met with a wonderful extended family from all over--including california! anyway, i think i have never shot a session so quickly in my life. i have shot quickly, to avoid a potential storm. but this time, the storm was hanging out across the water from us. the longer i shot, the closer it got. we just barely got done before it finally got to us. and once again, i drove home in a storm (that was fun).

anyway, i wanted to share a few shots here. in some of them, you can see the dark sky in the background. it was literally lightning right across the water from us. and we ventured to take one group picture on the dock (crowded, but we managed). that was a little crazy!

cute kids! i love cute kids! the little guy told me he was not photogenic? seriously. that's crazy--he had gorgeous blue eyes and freckles! i told him i'd be editing some of him in black/white because i love freckles in black/white. but i thought i'd share a color one here.

anyhoo, without further ado...thank you, m family, for inviting me down to capture your family on your parent's anniversary.

holiday cards and scheduling

2009-08-02T17:21:00.000-07:00

happy august! it's almost time for back to school. i am amazed at how quickly the summer flew! craziness!

as it stands now, i have two weekends open between now and november. those weekends are august 22 and september 12. i do have a few evening sessions i can fit in on a few different weekends. and, i still have some openings during the week. but i just wanted to put that out there for anyone considering a portrait party or needing a saturday morning session.

ah. christmas is my favorite time of year! this year, my cut-off for orders will be november 18. the last date i will take sessions is friday, november 6. i have a great variety of cards this year: a little traditional, some bright & cheerful and some clean and modern. anyway, i have a lot of great cards that i know everyone will love!

here's a little sneak for ya!

great family

2009-08-02T17:12:00.000-07:00

i had the opportunity to photograph the sweetest family last weekend. when we started, mom told me how she really hates to have her picture taken. by the time we were done, she was having such a great time. we kept going and going. we finally had to stop. and ended our session with a visit to cupcake (and seriously, that is the BEST way to end a session!).

the son is going to be a senior this year. and he is one of the smartest people i know. we did chat photography a little and it was nice to tell him some things he didn't know. of course, once he starts talking computers, he's lost me completely!

we took his senior session and turned it into a combo senior/family session. we had a lot of fun and just enjoyed walking around downtown charleston. i hope they all love what i was able to capture! (and check out the very cool way they coordinated--i love it!)

just recording my thoughts

2009-07-23T18:37:00.001-07:00

i want to put this down somewhere, so i have a record of it. i don't want to forget this moment.

addie is spending the night with her aunt. thus, ian is an "only child." and he is alone in his bedroom with no addie here. we had already sung our song and he and daddy had prayed. i was getting ready to get to work on my computer. i heard a wee little voice come down the hall, "mommy." i went in to see what he needed.

"mommy, you sleep with me for now?" who could resist. i knew it wouldn't take him long to fall asleep. it never does. and so i wrapped my arms around him and snuggled. melt my heart when he wrap my arm with his left arm and grabbed my hand with his right hand. he didn't say anything. i just listened to him breathe.

why do we rush through childhood? how often have i just rushed my kids to bed because i needed to work? they are only little once. and i don't want it to end. my baby will be five in a few months. and i still think of him as three. or, i still want him to be three. i don't want him to be five. i'm not ready. all too soon, he's going to be at the age that he doesn't want mommy around all of the time.

but i don't want to forget tonight. i don't want to forget that moment, listening to him breathe.

holiday scheduling and sneak peek

2009-07-23T08:21:00.001-07:00

first, i'd like to give a quick chat about holiday scheduling. as it stands now, i have one saturday available in september (the 12th). november is booked. my holiday cut-off for ordering this year will be november 18. october still has some availability. i may be able to take a few weekday sessions in september. also, i'm already plotting my holiday card offering. so, stay tuned for some sneak peeks of that.

now, on to the sneak peek for one of my favorite families. i've been photographing them for almost three years now! it's hard to believe that time has flown by that quickly! wow! anyway, i adore this family. we had to do their family session a bit earlier than normal this year, which meant being in the heat! and was it hot!

i adore them. mr. a will be in class with my ian this year. their poor teacher. those two are peas in a pod and, well, let's just say they have a lot of fun together. and we'll leave it at that. and of course, the beautiful miss l is one of my favorite girls. i just adore her!

i know mom has been waiting for a sneak peek from our session last saturday. i'm still a bit behind in my editing. but, i knew it was time to throw her a few! love them!

beaufort sneak peek

2009-07-15T18:32:00.000-07:00

oh my. i am so far behind. story of my life. i still haven't finished all of the family members i photographed in ohio. i had one beach session right after i returned (finished that one up). and then on monday, i traveled to beaufort for ELEVEN sessions. yep. you heard that right. of course, i won't complain at all. i got to see some previous clients and several new ones. the rain held off for all but two sessions (one of those was half-dry). the one session, we were relegated to the porch. i did the best i could and i'm surprised i didn't slide right down the steps during that one! it was pouring!

anyway, i am so grateful for my hostess and all of the families she lined up for me. amazing! but i was sore by the end. wowzers. i truly need to do squats or something to build up my leg muscles. because wow! i'm out of shape!!!

one of these days, i'll post some from my sessions in ohio. but for now, here is a sneak peek for my lovely families from beaufort!

my flower girl

2009-06-26T12:04:00.000-07:00

is all grown up. it's hard to believe the little girl who was dressed like me almost twelve years ago is old enough to be a high school senior. she's grown into an extraordinary person. plus, she is a lot of fun. i was more than honored to take her senior pictures while in cincinnati last week.

we laughed a lot. if there was a wrong turn to take, we took it. to the point that, when i told her we'd have to hurry at our next location before we lost the light, then topped the hill only to see a train forcing us to stop, we burst into laughter. that was pretty much par for the course that night!

it was wonderful to get to spend some one-on-one time with her. i feel like i got to know her better-what makes her tick and what she loves (um, metro station, for starters).

very cool girl. incredibly smart. not afraid to be herself. and with the most amazing eyes!

my oldest client

2009-05-31T17:27:00.000-07:00

okay. i should say my longest client. i photographed miss a almost three years ago, just after i'd started buckling down to really get in business. so, she has been with me longer than any other client. i only wish i'd have started sooner so that i could've photographed her as a newborn. but she was four months old the first time i photographed her. and she turned three earlier this spring, so we've had quite the journey!

all of that leads me to a conversation i had with another client last night. she mentioned that i'm "like family," and am, in fact, their "family photographer." and that's it. that's exactly what i want to be. i want my clients to be friends. i want to form relationships and be there for your important events. i don't want a cold business relationship with my clients. i want to get to know you better and form a friendship that we can carry into the future. truth be told, i fall in love with my clients and genuinely care about each of you and your families! one of my other clients recently told me that her daughter had gotten a camera for her birthday and that she couldn't wait to shoot with miss emily. seriously, that is IT! that kind of comment totally makes my day.

anyway, back to miss a. i cannot believe how i've watched her grow over the past three years. she was a beautiful baby (anyone remember the baby with the HUGE eyes on my early website?). and she is a beautiful little girl now. she gave me tons of hugs and kisses on saturday. in fact, she even posed with me for a picture taken by mom (thanks, mom). i can't wait to see where the years take her and hope that i can be remain there, with my camera, along the journey!

my birthday buddy

2009-05-27T05:46:00.001-07:00

on saturday, i had the opportunity to photograph the adorable miss i. she is celebrating her birthday in july. when i asked what day, i was so excited to find out that we shared a birthday. miss i will be three in july. i will be... much older than three. miss i had never had a professional portrait taken, so she started our session a little shy. but we ganged up against some little bugs and i won her over. from then on, she was posing and carrying on like a total natural!

happy mother's day!

2009-05-10T18:09:00.001-07:00

i just wanted to wish a happy mother's day to all those wonderful mothers out there! you all know who you are!

(thank you to my amazing sister-in-law melody for the cutie picture.)

soulographer workshop weekend

2009-04-29T08:40:00.000-07:00

last weekend, i was honored to host a workshop with skye hardwick. we held the workshop at middleton inn, which is gorgeous with a capital g! it was a great weekend of learning and networking.

we had three hours with models. i didn't photograph the first set of models because we had a great one-to-one ratio of models to photographers. i did manage to sneak away with my beautiful ten-month-old niece and sister-in-law for a few shots though. i did take a few snaps with the second set of models (most of whom stayed on for an extra hour). of course, i've known most of them since they were babies!

a huge thank you to the moms (and dads) who came out with their kids. and an even bigger thanks to the kids who let us photograph them! they were great! i was so proud of them!

mother's day special!

2009-04-19T12:09:00.001-07:00

i wanted to do something special for mother's day to honor all of the wonderful moms i know! so, i'd like to offer a gift certificate special! from now through may 3, purchase a $300 gift certificate to emily mcginnis photography for $225! that's almost like getting a session for free! gift certificates must be used on new sessions from may through september 2009. you may use your gift certificate towards both your session fee and print purchase.

what a great opportunity and gift for someone special! be sure to order with payment by may 3 so i can get your gift certificate to you in time for mother's day!

(in honor of mother's day, a picture with me (and my littles)--i promise this won't happen very often!)

folly beach and a cute almost-three-year-old

2009-04-13T06:18:00.000-07:00

last thursday, i got to meet a new friend. and, we got to hang out at what is now my favorite beach location in charleston! i have fallen in love with folly beach, out near the morris island lighthouse. i think it's mostly that it's a change from my usual spots at sullivan's island. different is good.

the weather was beautiful! mr j was in good spirits. and we just mostly had fun and played in the sand. he was SO very cute and equally sweet. we made shovels out of shells and got sand everywhere! we were all kind of sad to have to leave!

mr j will also be getting a new little brother in the fall! i can't wait!

how a gloomy day can be tons of fun

2009-04-03T07:02:00.000-07:00

wow. was yesterday ugly or what? i really don't mind rain. but i don't love torrential downpours. and i don't particularly enjoy when it's so gray. yes, i'd rather it be sunny when it rains. weird.

i promised ian, who had worn his wellies all day, that he and addie could jump in the puddles for a bit after getting addie from school. it was a little chilly, but i figured a few minutes wouldn't hurt. i had to get them both bathed anyway, because i was going out to eat with some friends and daddy was on duty for the evening. so, we didn't have a huge amount of time.

addie's wellies still have not arrived (i ordered them over a month ago). so, i rolled up her jeans and let her go barefoot. (ian eventually did the same.) they were both soaked. addie wanted to SIT in the water, but i said no to that. we had a huge puddle down by the end of our driveway and they just went nuts. my neighbor was totally laughing at them. and the water, which was so clear when we first went out there, became complete mud! i snapped a few pictures before retreating to the cover of the porch!

oh to be a kid again!

a very blustery day

2009-03-30T06:56:00.000-07:00

i have to laugh a little about this one. it seems that i have a few clients who always bring with them some kind of weather issue. one client always ALWAYS has to be rescheduled due to rain or cold. i think, the past spring, was the first time i didn't have to reschedule them in the almost two years i've been working with them. but my family yesterday always brings the wind. and i don't mean a little breeze. i mean W.I.N.D. but other than the wind, the weather was gorgeous!

the location to start was white point gardens. but i took only one pose there because the wind was so strong. we picked most of our locations walking down church street. the focus was on miss c, whose bat mitzvah is coming up soon. she worked the camera for sure, and even gave me a heidi klum pose or two!

this family is a lot of fun! what a great way to spend a sunday afternoon!

sullivan's island sneak peek

2009-03-26T15:30:00.000-07:00

guess what? beach season for photography is already upon us! i got started a bit earlier than usual this year. but i can't complain. how cool is it to spend a morning in february, or march in this case, at the beach? it was a little chilly on saturday, but we managed.

mom is an old friend. and it had been awhile since i'd seen them. plus, they have a cutie pie baby sister now. she is just as adorable as the rest of them. we had a lot of fun. miss m loves to pose for me--i call her my america's next top model. and the backlighting through her gorgeous curls--love it!

i remember the first time i photographed mr. p. he wouldn't even look at me. slowly, over time, he's warmed to me and now he's just a nut. in fact, he was asking me to take more pictures of him--who'd have thought?!

finally, baby sis. isn't she a doll? grandmother bought her this hat with the cute flower. and, you'll notice that she is NOT on the sand. no. that did not go well for her. so, we went to a grassy area next to fort moultrie instead. she was much happier there. and we didn't have to worry about her eating sand!

ctcdc at magnolia plantation

2009-03-09T17:30:00.000-07:00

don't think for a minute that i don't realize how fortunate i am. i have the best job in the world! and i am fortunate enough to work with one of the coolest preschool directors in this area. she gets me. she gets my vision. and she also shares it. i know how lucky i am.

i spent thursday and friday at magnolia plantation with ctcdc. i feel like we didn't even scratch the surface of all of the cool locations this plantation offers. the weather was unbelievably gorgeous. and the kids were as sweet as ever! thank you to sara for allowing me to go along on this journey, and for getting me.

last week

2009-02-27T04:37:00.000-08:00

one of the great things about living in south carolina is that we have lovely spring-like days in january and february (mixed in with the cooler days). granted, in january, i'm complaining because i actually want to have cold weather (i mean, it is winter). but by february, i've usually made peace with it and enjoy the spring-like days. last thursday was one of those days. and i was quite lucky enough to spend the morning at folly beach, out near the morris island lighthouse.

i photographed miss a last june with her beautiful mom. it was a surprise for her daddy's 40th birthday, so i never posted a sneak peek here. we had to keep it all hush hush so daddy wouldn't know. well, now that lovely family is moving away from the area, so mom wanted to get one last session in before the move. i am so saddened by their move. i really love the part of my job that allows me to watch children grow up. one of my little subjects, whom i have been photographing since she was four months old, will turn three next month. three! so, it does make me a little sad that i won't get to see miss a grow up in the same way.

nonetheless, i was so excited to see her and her mommy again. and she is as cute as ever! for reference, this is the cutie (in my black and white gallery) who is making a pouty face. she's 16-months old now. and well, this time i basically just followed her around. let's face it, i am not the boss of my sessions--the children are. and i'm cool with that. i recognize my place. so, i let her (mostly) call the shots and we went from there.

folly beach is important to her parents because that is where their engagement pictures were done. and this family loves the beach--it's an important backdrop for them. so, we just hung out and followed miss a around. and i tried to get some shots in here and there!

beaufort sneak peek

2009-02-06T16:35:00.000-08:00

yesterday, i had my first portrait party of the season! i got the opportunity to go to beaufort again. i have totally fallen in love with that town and the drive between there and charleston. one of these days, i'm going to take a day just to explore the drive with my camera, visiting all of the abandoned houses and buildings. there's also a little empty church on the way that i visited last year. i didn't have time to stop on my way yesterday. and frankly, it's a little too spooky for me to see by myself (on the way home). but i admire it every time i pass. and i will get back there some day when i have more time.

anyhoo, i was able to see some clients from last spring. one little boy had a new sister--such a beautiful baby girl! and she wasn't pushing up yet, but i propped her on a pillow and she pushed her little head up and looked at me. it was great! i also got to photograph mr. m, who is just the sweetest little boy. he reminds me of my ian--sweet and loving and fun! and the o kids, whom i met last year. mr. g wasn't as into me this time, but the girls made me laugh and totally hammed it up for the camera. and also the p kids, whom i just adore. both girls were extra spunky and silly. mr s was as happy as ever, except when he was expected to be still. i could not believe his running around and talking! i also met some new faces, like the feisty miss f. she totally cracked me up and had such a fun spirit about her. and also miss b, who is an "old soul" with a quiet, sweet spirit about her.

i love my beaufort clients. i'm hoping to get back later in the spring, to see those i missed this time. but in the meantime, here is a sneak peek for those i did see yesterday!

february special!

2009-01-22T08:07:00.001-08:00

valentine's day is just around the corner! and it is one of my favorite holidays (hint, hint, michael). to celebrate, i'm offering a great special for the month of february! all regular/full sessions taking place in the month of february will receive 25% off print orders (when order is placed within seven days of proofs being posted online).

i also have cute valentine's day cards (thanks to the talented tina parker) for those who'd like to order for family and friends. we can either schedule a new session (better do it fast) or use pictures from a previous session. i'll be posting an example below. they are super cute and can also be ordered in wallet-sizes!

on a spring note, april is pretty much booked. there is the possibility that a few spots will open up, but if you really want an april session, you need to contact me soon. that way, i can fit you in. keep in mind that easter is in early april, so anyone needing prints in time for easter will need to book in march. i may be out of town for the week before easter, so i'll have to get orders delivered before i leave.

on that note! i hope the locals are enjoying the cold weather! i think it's going away though! we were hoping to see snow and had maybe three little flakes in our back yard on tuesday. oh well. maybe someday. :)

oh, on another note, i've been tossing around the idea of changing my logo colors to red, pink and brown. what do you think?

a word about facebook/myspace

2009-01-06T04:55:00.000-08:00

i was chatting with a client last night who wanted to post my session with her family on her facebook account. and i thought it might be good information to post on my blog for everyone to read.

i am a pretty laid back individual. it really takes a lot to upset me. so, i don't want anyone to misconstrue that i'm upset, because i am not. :)

i don't mind if you want to post my portraits on your facebook or myspace pages. however, i do request that you ask permission first and that you let me send you web-sized files to do so. scanning or photographing my work violates copyright laws. but above that, the portraits lose a lot of quality when they are scanned. i take pride in my work and what i do. i use professional labs who cater to photographers. so, the prints are printed as such. and scanning them, or photographing them, takes away from that quality. and is illegal. i know that most people don't even realize this is the case, so i'm just spreading a little knowledge here. :)

that being said, if you'd like pictures to post on your facebook or myspace pages, all you have to do is ask. if you just want to pick a few, i'm happy to send you non-watermarked copies with the understanding that you will not try to print them. they will be web-sized quality and not suitable for a good print. and, i also ask that you please credit me as the photographer.

now, if you want the entire session to post, i will send you the watermarked proofs that i post on my proofing website. i send these because they are already sized for the web and will be quicker for me to send to you via email.

so. to rehash. i don't mind. just ask. give me credit. easy peasy! :)

oh. and one more thing, you need to add me to your friends at facebook too. i'm emily hart mcginnis there. :)

and just to show that i'm not mad (because who can be mad while looking at this picture):

top five of 2008

2008-12-30T20:20:00.000-08:00

happy new year!

i almost hesitate to do a list. but it gives me a chance to go back through the portraits i've done throughout the year and see how much i've grown. i really feel like i hit my stride this past holiday season. i hope the good groove continues!

without further ado, here are my top five favorites from 2008. and they may not be the best pictures of the year either. a lot of times, my favorites have a back-story that speaks to me more than the actual shot itself.

for example, peter pan and mr. giggles. oh, how i love these boys. no matter what i said, mr. giggles would snicker and laugh. he totally made my day. this picture wasn't my favorite from the session (i actually liked an individual of each of them more, but then that would take up two slots, so...), but it's my favorite of them together because of how much fun and silliness it shows. total boys.

this picture of the beautiful miss ac is one that i love because it is different from most of what i get to shoot. this portrait was taken in one of the historic homes downtown on south battery. the setting was just perfect. and when i shot it, i knew i had it. i love the dramatic lighting. and i love LOVE her toes!

these two boys were obsessed with the olympics. so, mom decided to have them race up the beach and back. poor little brother didn't stand a chance. but he figured out a way to win: he just turned around early so that he made it back to mom first.

this beautiful girl is very special to me. i blogged about her back when i shot this portrait. i've known her for years and she was in my awana group when she was in 3rd and 4th grades. i just adored her then. i told her mom once, when she was in her awkward phase, that she was going to be the prettiest in her already impossibly beautiful family. and my, is she ever!

finally, i don't shoot a lot of weddings. i have a pretty specific style and personality and i want to ensure that it's a perfect fit between me and the couple. well, this couple was a total blast! michael and i left the wedding saying how much fun it had been, even though we'd been working the entire time (well, i had at least). anyhoo, i could pick a lot of shots from that wedding, but chose this one. just because.

big sale coming...

2008-12-26T14:48:00.001-08:00

stay tuned. it's going to be a great sale for anyone who had a session in 2008 and would like to order more prints. huge.

another year gone

2008-12-20T12:47:00.001-08:00

it seems just yesterday i was writing my post titled, "happy birthday, beautiful dreamer." and here we are again. another year has passed and you are now seven. you aren't a baby anymore, even though you will ALWAYS be mine. you are definitely in the "tween" stage, which is a day i thought we'd not see for a long time. you seem so old and wise and very much a girl and not so much a little kid.

you are now in first grade and at the top of your class. i'm glad that you love school and want to do well. you work hard and make sure that you get your work done. you don't always love doing homework, but i really can't say that i blame you there. you say your favorite subject is recess. but i know that you do the best in spelling and Bible verse memorization. you really are my child, even if you don't look like me so much.

i know we butt heads. i think that has to do with our having the same personality. i see myself in you and the looks in your eyes. it's crazy! i know that granny and poppy are secretly laughing that i really did have a child just like me. i KNOW poppy is since he mentions it at least once a week or so.

i am so proud of you. i don't think i say that enough. i am proud of how determined you are to be a good student. i am proud of how creative you are in the stories you tell and the drawings you create. i am proud of how you try at soccer, even if you aren't a natural athlete (and how it's obvious you're just having fun even if your team loses). i am proud of how you always at least try what i make for dinner, even if it really doesn't sound that good to you. i am proud of how kind you are to new children. i am proud of how you aren't afraid to be you.

i am grateful that God put you in our family. i can't imagine life without you. i can't imagine who would make me laugh every morning, even when i would rather be sleeping. i can't imagine what i'd do without my little monkey, always climbing trees. i can't imagine driving around without hearing, "louder, please?" because you love music just as much as i do. and i don't know who would put the sprinkles on my cupcakes. if you weren't here, my life would be a lot less exciting and fun.

thank you. you are my beautiful dreamer, my sweet adeline, my princess peekins and my monkey. you are mine. and for that, i thank God every day.

i love you. happy seventh birthday, sugarplum.

oh, mickey, you're so fine!

2008-11-23T17:32:00.000-08:00

i cannot believe it is finally here! i first made this vacation reservation in august 2007! so, i've been planning and paying for quite awhile now (sixteen months)! and it's here! we leave tomorrow afternoon! the kids are bouncing off the walls. ian wants to leave N.O.W. addie wants to totally skip school tomorrow (not going to happen). but, if all goes well, we will wake up in "the world" on tuesday! woo hoo!

i am a bit of a disney nut. i'll admit it. my nephew said today that i must really like it. i told him that like was an understatement. something about disney makes me feel nine again! and seeing it through my kids' eyes is just even better. the last time we went, ian had just turned two and addie was almost five. so, they are now two years older and it will be fun to see how their experiences are different. will addie still be afraid of any hint of a villain? will ian pass the height restrictions on more rides (because he IS tall enough, but i hear that the height checkers can be picky)? how many times will i tear up? it really is my happy place.

anyway, in honor of our trip, i'm sharing some two-years-old pictures! the one of ian with lighting mcqueen--that's about as close to pure joy as you'll get. he STILL loves his cars! and addie, she was a ham for the camera even then! this time, she has her own camera, so i will be sharing some of what she captures once we come back! she seems to have already developed a knack for close-ups. i have NO idea where she picked that up! ;)

i hope you all have a wonderful thanksgiving! thank you to my clients for the wonderful holiday season! it has been a crazy busy one, but i'm so grateful for every single client, so many of whom have become dear friends!

happy birthday, boo

2008-11-14T12:47:00.000-08:00

i cannot believe it's been four years already. i tried to convince ian to just skip his birthday this year, and to stay three for longer. but he wouldn't agree. and i guess i can't stop him from growing up. he is truly now passed the baby and toddler stage and is a little boy. sob.

he is my love. and he totally has me wrapped around his finger, even when he's being ornery. and goodness knows he can be ornery. :) but he's such a sweet love, that it's hard to get upset with him, even when he is not behaving. i really am a softie. but it's true what they say about how boys love their mommies. and mommies love their boys.

what can i tell you about him? well, he loves cars, especially pixar Cars. it's a love that he hasn't grown out of for years. he is fantastic at playing the cars game on our playstation. he can beat me! he loves dinosaurs, of any variety. he loves pirates, especially the veggie tales pirates who don't do anything. he loves balls and sports. he loves to talk. and talk. and talk (almost as much as his sister). he loves mcdonalds, and would eat there for every meal if we'd let him.

he is exuberant. he loves to have fun and laugh and wrestle with daddy. he loves to go to school twice a week. he loves to sing the "goodbye, cuddly cubs" song (from school). he loves when it's time to pick up addie from school, even if they fight about half of the time. his favorite song to sing is "the pirates who don't do anything." and we sing it every night before he goes to bed. he loves the song "jingle bells." and he loves to play. and he hates, absolutely HATES to have his picture taken.

my beautiful

2008-11-09T19:31:00.001-08:00

everything i've written in this post, i've erased. it just doesn't sound right. so, i'm just going to leave it as follows:

you know how when you look at something or someone every single day, you sometimes get so used to the beauty that you take it completely for granted?

what do you do...

2008-10-26T18:37:00.000-07:00

...with two very well-behaved boys whose mother has told them to do whatever the photographer says? (hee hee hee)

you roll up their pants and stick them in a fountain! (with mom's permission, of course)

way overdue post

2008-10-18T12:53:00.000-07:00

let's see. since my last blog posting (other than the two posts about the preschool), i have had eight sessions. so, yeah. i'm way overdue for a posting!

things have been super busy here. i'm up to my eyeballs in proof albums and orders and holiday cards! but i can't complain! i appreciate my clients more than words can ever say. so many of you have become good friends. and it just doesn't get any better than that! i'm thrilled that you've all allowed me to capture memories for your families. it's quite an honor for me.

without further ado, here are some portraits from my many recent sessions! enjoy!

mr j makes me smile

2008-10-06T04:59:00.000-07:00

first, i have to brag on a client, who has become a great friend. she owns a preschool and i started taking their portraits last year. last month, she had her husband build an old-fashioned swing for their fall portraits! are you kidding me? that is the coolest thing ever! she emailed me last week and said that they were glad i was part of their family. and honestly, that comment made my day. because that is what i want to be--part of your family, so to speak. i love all of my clients, but it makes my day to become friends with you, to get to know you and your kids better. and to watch your children grow up, and be able to capture that for you. i don't ever want to be just "the photographer." and, in the past year, i've become friends with this particular client, whom i never even knew until the first time i met her, just before i photographed her girls. now, i totally adore her and her girls (and her husband is nice too--after all, he built a swing and i am so grateful for that).

now, i do meet lots and lots of kids. and i fall in love with all of the kids i photographed. each child has something special in him or her, and i love to discover that. and there are some who make one smile just hearing their names mentioned. mr j is one of them. i seriously grin whenever i take his portraits. he's just one of those kids with an infectious grin and giggle. and you just want to smuggle him home with you and keep him. of course, i think his mom might not like that. but i also think she knows. she knows how irresistible her little man is. sigh. and if this first picture doesn't make you smile, then something is wrong with your smiler! :) :)

seriously

2008-09-30T18:04:00.000-07:00

okay. i don't even think i have to say anything. but have you ever seen such a perfect cherub face?

final weekend sneak peek

2008-09-02T10:59:00.000-07:00

i was a busy girl this weekend. i had two sessions on saturday and one on sunday. and something tells me that my event in beaufort scheduled for saturday is going to get moved. thank you, hurricane hanna!

anyhoo, i met this mom originally in beaufort, where amy did a wonderful job photographing her girls. this family has family in town (with a gorgeous house on the battery) and were up visiting them. so, we decided to do some family portraits with mom, dad and the girls! just in time to get an early jump on my Christmas rush (and it IS going to be a rush).

i love r. she has a wonderful story and is one of those persons that you feel like you've known forever, when you meet her. i was so honored to be able to photograph her entire family (even though dad doesn't appear in the sneak peek). and is she gorgeous or what? seriously. stunning. sigh.

the twins. are they cutest? we had fun talking about birthdays and madeline and bikes. such cuties!

so, here ya go, r. i know you've been waiting!

wild dunes sneak peek

2008-09-02T06:52:00.000-07:00

saturday evening, i headed out to wild dunes for my standing "labor day weekend" appointment with the r family. i've known the mom for a few years, but only get to see her once a year. one of these times, we're going to coordinate it better so that she and i can have some extra time to visit! i am so proud of her and all she has accomplished since i last saw her. she has spent this past (slightly more than a) year working to get healthier and more in shape. and she looks totally different from when i last saw her! i'm so proud of her!

needless to say, i love this family. last year, the younger boy (mister l) didn't much like my camera. but this year, he was so sweet and polite and always willing to interrupt his play for me, even when i wanted him to keep playing and pretend i wasn't there. and his eyes! oh his eyes! he seriously has THE most beautiful eyes that i have ever seen!

mr t is just a joy. he has so much energy and is a truly fun spirit. the picture of him has significance--this boy loved the olympics. so, this is his track and field racing pose! and both boys would race up and down the beach over and over.

just a few...

sneak peek for a gorgeous senior

2008-08-31T19:09:00.000-07:00

a few weeks back, i photographed a beautiful family. you know. the ones where the kids were impossibly gorgeous! yesterday, i was able to photograph the youngest daughter's senior pictures. i can't begin to tell you what an honor it was. i mentioned before that i've known her since she was in elementary school. she was in my awana group. and i've always just adored her. she has a sweet spirit. and she's just one of those that you know is a good kid.

we dealt with the heat. we walked around downtown for awhile. and then traveled to boone hall plantation. we did some different stuff, and i promise i didn't ask her to do anything too crazy. well, except take her shoes off for almost every picture. but seriously, teenage girls out there, those sperrys are ugly!

i had three sessions this weekend. hers was the first. so, miss m, i hope you enjoy your sneak peek!

my new site is live!

2008-08-29T10:19:00.000-07:00

it's live! my website has undergone some changes recently, with an updated design and bigger pictures. the set-up is different from before, but we'll all get used to it together! check it out and let me know what you think (same address: www.emilymcginnisphotography.com). if you absolutely have to see the old one, you can still find it hidden at www.emilymcginnisphotography.com/jinky.

i know i sound like a broken record, but my holiday season is getting packed. i have no openings after october 4. none. not even one. i have two saturdays open in september and october 4 open. so, please, if you need a saturday session, call me now! i still will take limited weekday evening or morning sessions.

picture for the day (ian sharing some ice cream):

it's time

2008-08-27T06:07:00.000-07:00

yep. it's time. it's time to start thinking about your Christmas and holiday sessions and cards. things are certainly picking up here. i've got three portrait parties on the calendar. so, i will not be offering mini sessions this season. if you would like to schedule a mini session, i will be more than happy to let you know the dates of the scheduled portrait parties and you can contact their hostesses. i'm pretty sure the november party is full, but we may be able to squeeze in another client or two there.

beaufort clients, i will be in your area on september 6. we're planning to get our portrait party done before everyone's schedules get too crazy with sports and school. this party will be hosted again by ryan, so see her for details. the first session will be at 9:15 and we'll go from there. i'm looking forward to a full day. this party will be the only one i'll have in beaufort, although i will still be available for individual sessions on other dates. we are doing this party on a saturday so that the whole family can come and you can get your holiday card pictures done!

so, now for a sneak peek at some of the templates i'll have available. of course, this is a sampling. i don't want to reveal all of my cards yet!

random thoughts

2008-08-23T11:33:00.000-07:00

good morning! i just wanted to let everyone know that i've had to do a slight price increase on prints and canvases. the difference is only a few dollars. :)

this summer has been a great one! i've met several new clients, including some visiting from out-of-state. i've enjoyed this season, but am definitely ready for cooler weather. i know we won't be truly "cool" for a long time still, but i'll be happy with temperatures under 90. i'm starting to book september. i only have one saturday left available in october (of course, i can still work you in on the weekdays).

i am planning a mini-session event for my clients in beaufort. i'm still ironing out the date and location. this fall's minis will be held on a saturday for those of you wanting family portraits. i'm hoping this will be convenient for everyone.

addie started first grade on monday. she's getting used to going to school all day. at least she gets two recesses. i've also been coerced in agreeing to one hot lunch per week. she, of course, has chosen hamburger day. what can i say? my girl loves her burgers and fries. see the picture below for her thoughts on all-day school.

only two saturdays left for october

2008-08-14T10:12:00.001-07:00

if you need a saturday session for the holidays, i only have two left in october: the 4th and 25th. i do have limited availability during the weekdays still. november is already booked solid. i have canceled my mini sessions for now. i'm always open to changing my mind, but for now, i've got two portrait parties booked and another one possibly coming up too.

next week is back to school! addie will be starting first grade on monday! we're doing her "back to school" session on saturday morning!

here's your picture for today! :)

impossibly gorgeous family

2008-08-12T20:38:00.000-07:00

seriously. when you have four children, what are the odds that every single one of them is going to be breathtakingly gorgeous? this family is dear to my heart. i have known the youngest girl since she was in my awana group at church, when she was in the third grade. she might have been in that middle school awkward phase, but i knew she was going to turn out to be a stunner. and is she ever. but you know what's even better? she's got the sweetest heart and is just a love. i adored her then and i adore her now. her sisters and brother are sweethearts too. i only wish i knew them better. :) mom and dad are two of the kindest people you will ever meet. i have a tremendous respect for both of them.

one thing i like in my sessions is a lot of laughter. sometimes, it can be hard with mostly adults because younger children usually provide the laughter. but this family is not stiff and posed. they were relaxed. we laughed and had a blast. and those kinds of sessions are the best kind and yield the best pictures!

anyway, i'm droning on and on, i know. so, to shut me up, here are a few from my session with the impossibly gorgeous family:

play date with the cousins

2008-08-08T09:44:00.000-07:00

first, i am warning you all that my hair is black. i attempted to cover my grown-out highlights and get back to my natural color of dark brown. well, right now, my hair is pretty darn dark--much darker than i anticipated. i'm hoping it lightens up some, but if it doesn't...consider yourself warned. because i'll have to wait a few weeks before i re-dye it to lighten it up. but at least it matches my naturally black eyebrows! ;)

yesterday, we took lunch over to my sister-in-law's new home (which is gorgeous). my addie is three months younger than my nephew. my ian is seven months younger than my niece. so, they are somewhat close in age and love to play together. unfortunately, i don't think there will be a cousin companion for my newest niece. but i digress!

the porch on my sil's house is a popular spot. and it has the greatest lighting. i am so jealous! but it was nice to be able to chat with her while the kids played--adult conversation. make that extended adult conversation. we actually got to talk mostly uninterrupted while the kids played together. ian, of course, played mostly with the exact same trains he has here. you know, because it's way more fun at someone else's house!

so, we did snap a few pictures of the kiddos! i mean, hello! we are both photographers! you can't expect much less!

nice day for a white wedding

2008-08-04T16:20:00.000-07:00

make that a hot day. no. a H.O.T. day. saturday was a doozy. but at least it didn't rain. that would've just ruined it all. in june, i photographed that too-adorable-for-words family with the prettiest baby ever. and on saturday, they had their wedding. it was such a fun, sweet ceremony. when they lit their unity candle, they had a candle representing baby l too. and daddy's face lit up because he hadn't seen his baby girl all day. you could just tell how much they loved each other and their sweet baby girl. and you could tell that they were just having a blast and enjoying the party! and that's exactly how it should be!

august and november are booked!

2008-07-30T06:38:00.000-07:00

yes, you read that right! august is booked for now. and because i was only offering very limited availability in november, it is also booked now. that leaves september and october for your holiday sessions! i will most likely move my mini-session date to october 18. however, if i book more portrait parties, i may cancel the minis altogether. so, let me know if you're planning a mini- session for that date so i don't cancel it!

here's your picture for the day!

isle of palms on an overcast evening

2008-07-28T17:26:00.000-07:00

last week, i had the joy of photographing an extended family here for vacation. they came from charlotte and beyond. we had a blast! everyone was so laid back and fun to be around--the best kind! and the kids were hilarious! all four kids ended up in the ocean with the three little quite soaked! but what else is being at the ocean for? am i right? :)

more...

2008-07-21T12:44:00.001-07:00

flower girl

2008-07-21T07:16:00.000-07:00

so, my addie really wants to be a flower girl. unfortunately, we don't have any possibilities on the horizon. so, i picked up a dress off the discontinued rack at a bridal salon. add some baby roses from publix and we have a flower girl! she was so excited. but since ian and daddy came along, her cooperation was limited. at least the dress is ours and i can put it on her again. :)

reluctant models

2008-07-18T18:33:00.000-07:00

i met some friends for lunch today in summerville. if you haven't, try out p-dogs. it's around the corner from sandalwoods salon/spa. it's good. it kind of reminded me of jack's cosmic dogs in mt. pleasant, only it has a bigger selection and less seating! ;) anyhoo, i was hoping to take addie out for a little photo session, but it started raining when we were ready to walk out the door. so we still managed to sneak a few pictures before our friends arrived.

i also snapped a few before we all left. here's what i call a gang of reluctants. the only thing missing is ian with his cheeser smile and closed eyes!

and then, one of the adorable miss l, who would model for me all day long. i need to steal her from her mom one day and just drive her to all of the great locations! she's turning into an old pro, and she's only FOUR!

and then, my miss a. she's always so serious in portraits.

i promise she's really, truly more like this:

i'm thinking christmas

2008-07-13T19:04:00.000-07:00

yep! already! it's time for me to start buying templates for Christmas cards! designers have started to release their new designs for 2008. i've already purchased three sets from two different artists. so, samples will be coming soon!

i'll be sending out my "season's greetings" letter next month with more detailed information. but it is certainly not too early to book your holiday session. and for anyone interested in hosting a portrait party, now is the time to contact me. you definitely want to get that on the calendar before i start filling it up with regular sessions.

my family will be taking a vacation over thanksgiving week this year. and i want to make sure everything is done prior to leaving! so, my holiday season will close out on november 15. i'll take one "last ditch" session on november 8, but that client will have to be willing to make a quick ordering decision so that the order is in prior to my trip. all holiday orders will be delivered/mailed by december 9. but ideally, i'd like to get them all out prior to my trip.

so, now that the deadline discussion is out of the way, let's chat locations! my favorite location for holiday sessions is downtown. however, downtown sessions require full-length sessions. i do wish i could do mini-sessions downtown, but there is simply too much to explore for only 20 minutes time. so, i'm still tossing around a location for holiday minis this year. last year was sullivan's island and hampton park. and i know that at least one day of mini-sessions will be on saturday, october 25. i will take five sessions, starting at 8:30 am, every half hour.

so, season's greetings and merry Christmas! here's a silly picture for you (just so i'm posting a picture)!

family session, hampton park

2008-07-07T19:34:00.001-07:00

in august, i will be photographing the wedding of a lovely couple. because they have a gorgeous baby girl, they opted to do a family session prior to the ceremony. i love that idea! and i'm so happy they included the beautiful miss l. mom teaches with my sister. and even my sister said that this baby girl is just beautiful, and was even as a newborn. and she is! baby l won the genetic lottery for sure. i mean, all three of them have these amazing, intense blue eyes! wowza!

anyway, what a fun couple! they are so laid back and easy-going. it was a session right up my alley! i know their wedding is going to be gorgeous, and a blast! and isn't that what a wedding should be?

so, here's a sneak peek from their family session! i can't wait for the wedding!

the beach on a beautiful morning

2008-07-02T11:13:00.000-07:00

last week, i met a new client out at sullivan's island. you know. my favorite spot when it comes to beach photography. the problem is that i can't blog the pictures until next month because it is a surprise for dad. so, in the meantime, i'll post some pictures of my family! we spent two days out at isle of palms in sort of a super-mini vacation. it was nice to be able to hit the beach and then go immediately to the room to clean up. and i must 125% recommend banana cabana down at iop. huge servings and great prices, all within sight of the water. sigh.

have you ever heard a song that leaves you breathless?

2008-06-30T19:03:00.000-07:00

i heard it tonight. and i honestly don't know how i've missed it all of these years. i grew up on this kind of music. my mom used to take us to gospel concerts regularly. i don't know. maybe i did hear it at some point and just missed it. but i have a lot of favorites that i've loved a long time. and i'm pretty sure this would have been one of them.

regardless, i heard it tonight. i finally bought the latest gaither vocal band cd. finally. i was listening to it while i was editing a recent session tonight. and the words of this song made me stop. the tears rolling down my cheeks, i could do nothing but just listen. and it just... wow. i don't even truly have words. but it makes you think.

i think that sometimes, we get so used to hearing about Christ's crucifixion, that it is easy to take for granted. and not that we ever should. but we are human. or at least i am. but this song made me think. it made me really THINK. i had to share it somehow, for those to whom it might mean something. for those who've never heard it either. or for those who haven't heard it in a very long time.

this version isn't the one i have on the cd. but it was all i could find. the song is called "then He bowed His head and died."

you'll have to copy and paste this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JM3fuZu7vFI

bray's island

2008-06-26T19:11:00.000-07:00

last week, i had the opportunity to travel to bray's island, which is near beaufort, for a special photo session. i met this family during the first beaufort portrait party, although i didn't photograph them that day. mom wanted a special portrait of her older girl, miss a, to be painted by an oil paint artist. so, we met at bray's island, which used to be in her husband's family.

wow! is this place gorgeous! it was seriously a photographer's dream and i didn't even scratch the surface. but, as usual, the kids always steal the show. as well they should! miss a is quite a character and we played back and forth. miss l was a true southern belle complete with moments of shyness. and mister s is just the happiest guy you will ever meet! three fun kids, beautiful mom, gorgeous location. gold! i've said it before, but i LOVE my job!

thank you, to the p family, for allowing me the honor and joy of photographing your family! i had a blast!

go berkeley!

2008-06-20T20:27:00.000-07:00

yes, i am behind again. seriously, is anyone surprised? and yes, sara, i know that i need to post some from that session on which you assisted me. :)

on tuesday, i met with miss h, who is my senior rep from berkeley high school. she is a student of my sister's. and she is a total sweetheart. she was game for anything i suggested, except being serious. she said she's just a happy person, so serious pictures don't suit her. she is what more people should be. she's sweet, polite and personable! i hope that she realizes just how beautiful she truly is, both inside and out.

quick sneak peek

2008-06-09T17:36:00.001-07:00

i had a portrait party on saturday morning at sullivan's island. starting at 8:30 am, i had seven mini-sessions. and my shoulders have the burn to prove it! yes, i know i should've worn sunscreen, but i thought about it on my way out the door. really though, it isn't too bad since i already had a tan to start. but i digress.

the faces i saw were familiar ones, children i have photographed through a local preschool. i've grown to love these kids, so it was a treat for me to get to see them again! it was also wonderful to meet some of the parents i hadn't had the opportunity to meet yet.

anyway, i promised one mom i'd post a sneak peek today or tomorrow. so, i will do it now. i'm only posting one picture from each session. i'll try to most more later in the week, as i go through and do my real session editing. in the meantime, enjoy!

a very blustery day

2008-06-08T20:48:00.000-07:00

so, i'm running a touch behind in my proofing. this session actually took place LAST saturday. but i have to get caught up because i had seven mini-sessions at sullivan's island yesterday (yes, i said seven) that i have eager clients wanting to see. but in the meantime...

this family is a lot of fun. i'm never quite sure what we'll end up doing. i knew that we were going to the beach at kiawah near their home. but it was a part of the beach where i've not been yet, so i wasn't sure what to expect. i will say that mom and i agreed that the kiawah beaches are much prettier than folly and isle of palms (brown sand and green water, anyone?). but it was seriously windy. it's always windy at the beach, but this was an extreme. what's with that? my last kiawah session was spent waiting for the wind to take a break.

anyway, lots of fun, this family. little mr. j was completely and totally soaked. but at least he had a good time and i managed to get some great shots of his fun! and for some reason, we always take a jumping picture. and everybody has to be off the ground before we stop taking jumping pictures. someday, i'm sure they'll wonder why we've taken all of the jumping pictures, but at least they're fun!

the cutest thing ever

2008-06-03T20:04:00.001-07:00

i declare a lot of things the cutest thing ever. but seriously, if you can tell me that this child is not the cutest thing you've seen all day. well, then i don't know what. i was so excited on saturday when i met her with mom and dad and beheld her cuteness. seriously. adorable! she's a pistol too. she had my number. but, oh, i had hers too. and so, we did the dance, namely to the "abc" song. it was a workout, but the results are so worth it!

and admit it, mom. you know that you left our session thinking i had gotten nothing. most moms do. but i got something. thank you for spending time with me on saturday morning. it was a lot of fun. i'm happy we were finally able to have that session we wanted way back when! :) mom is a sweetheart--a petite little thing. but a firecracker too (ain't nothin' wrong with that either). and let's just say that the lovely child takes after her mama! but both with hearts of gold!

a is for astron

2008-06-02T18:29:00.001-07:00

some pictures from graymour-bediko stables

2008-06-02T18:22:00.000-07:00

Addie rides weekly at Graymour-Bediko Stables in Ladson. She loves it there! We went early on Friday because it is such a perfect location for portraits. I only wish I could take clients there. But since I can't, I will fully take advantage of it's beauty for portraits of my children. And I really didn't anticipate Ian getting in on the fun (since he normally runs the opposite way of my camera). If I had known, I would've dressed him up a little. Oh well, he loves his surfer dinosaur shirt, so it works!

recent folly beach session

2008-05-27T07:50:00.001-07:00

i will admit that i haven't blogged the last several sessions. april and may were a little busy for me, with our hawaii trip and addie finishing up school. so, i thought i'd blog my most recent session.

this family is one of my beaufort clients. they were visiting folly beach to celebrate grammy's birthday. grammy, her three children and their families were all in town. so, we got all of them together and hit the folly pier! this time was my first shooting a client at the pier and i actually loved it. granted, it's heavier trafficked than my regular spot on sullivan's island. but, it wasn't too bad in the morning (it got worse as the morning progressed).

we had a fun time! the family had seven boys total! now, that was a fun crowd!

tomorrow is the big day

2008-05-22T18:30:00.000-07:00

i am worried that i will be too distracted to post tomorrow. but it's finally here--graduation day. it's so hard to believe that my little monkey will be graduating kindergarten. time flies by so quickly. and i know that, before i realize it, she'll be graduating high school. and goodness knows that i'm not even ready to go there. at all.

it seems such a short time ago that i was pregnant with addie. i knew she was addie before the doctor ever told me we were having a girl. it's true what they say about mother's intuition (i knew with both of mine). of course, before it was confirmed, i had given her the name sprout. but i knew. i knew that it was my adeline ruth.

she really was a great baby. other than that time, when at four days old, she decided to quit eating. those were good times. but otherwise, she was a breeze. now, her toddler years were a little more trying. but still, a pretty good kid. even now. and don't get me wrong because she certainly isn't perfect (but neither am i--shocking, i know). she's a little spoiled. okay. a lot spoiled. but it isn't all my doing. i certainly have help from her aunt, granny and grandma.

she's done really well in school. she adores her teacher, and the feeling is requited. she's a bright girl and has excelled in academics. she loves reading and math (happy, aunt wendy?). and i must brag on her a bit--she has not gotten ONE tally all year. that's right. she hasn't gotten in trouble once. i'm sure she's probably deserved a tally a time or too, but she never was given one. and her report cards started out the year at satisfactory/satisfactory plus and proceeded to outstanding. i am so very proud of her.

she's still ready for summer break. she said she is ready for the break from seat work. is she ever in for it next year with first grade! :)

anyway, tomorrow night is the big graduation ceremony. i am so excited to see her in her cap and gown. and she is excited for all of us to see the program! they've been working on it for a few weeks now and she's about to burst in anticipation.

so, here she is, in her cap and gown. my little graduate. my soon-to-be first grader.

and every time she leaves me, she blows me a kiss. it's for my pocket. so that when i miss her, i can pull it out and have it to help me feel better. so, here's a kiss for yours...

aloha

2008-05-08T18:19:00.001-07:00

okay, bear with me. :)

we left last wednesday at 6:05 am. needless to say, neither one of us had a huge amount of sleep! the flight from atlanta to honolulu was LONG. i was about to go nuts. going to the bathroom in an airplane is terrifying! i could feel the turbulence in there so much more. that's all i'm saying about that!

we landed at 2 pm hawaii time (8 pm est). michael and i walked around the resort a little and i checked out the jewelry stores (a girl's gotta shop). our resort had these cute little penguins (also several koi ponds, ducks, flamingos, etc.).

i made it until 6 pm and then literally was about to fall over. we went to the room and i crashed. michael went to get a snack for us. he woke me up at 8 pm to watch the AI results and then i crashed again. i woke up EARLY and kept waking up every hour until i finally got up at 4: 30 am! we went down and got some breakfast (macadamia muffin for me--YUM). the coffee in the room was horrible! blech! we also went and sat on some lava rocks and watched the surfers.

this day was pretty much spent waiting for musc's booth set-up to be delivered to the convention center. we ate lunch at this sandwich shop (so good, but expensive--$16 for a sandwich and potato salad). we finally went over to the hawaii convention center to set up their stuff. this took several hours. then, we all had dinner at a little italian place. i have a major fondness for italian food. as an aside, the hawaii convention center is where the "sydney airport" scenes of LOST are filmed.

on friday, we planned the pearl harbour/circle island tour. we left our resort at 6:10 am. our first stop was pearl harbour. i took a ton of pictures here, but i'm only sharing a few. i don't know that words can really say the impression left on me. as an american, it was just such a heavy feeling. i cried. and feel like, if it doesn't get to you at all, then something is wrong with your "getter." i imagine i'd feel the same way if I ever get to visit where the world trade center towers stood. they ask you not to talk when you enter the arizona memorial area. so, there is this silence and reverence that takes place. and to think of the lives that were lost there. it's just...i don't have words to do it justice.

more...

aloha, part two

2008-05-08T18:18:00.000-07:00

after pearl harbour, our tour traveled around the island and hit some of the hot spots, so to speak. of course, we drove by some places where i wished we would've stopped. oh well. these are the mountains (the name escapes me), taken from a moving tour bus. ;)

we stopped at bonsai beach, which was completely deserted. this spot is normally a surfing hot spot, but the water was like glass further out. the only waves were small ones at the shore.

chinaman's hat (i can't remember if we stopped here or if this is from the tour bus too)

i can't remember which beach this is, but it was full of people snorkeling. it was beautiful. i would've liked to have gone back.

nuaana pali lookout, a stop on our tour:

hanauama bay, another hot spot for snorkeling. there was a beach at the bottom that was pretty crowded. we didn't get to hike down to the water though.

more...

aloha, part three

2008-05-08T18:00:00.000-07:00

monday was our LOST tour. now, this tour isn't cheap, but this company is the only one allowed to go off-road back in the kauloa ranch. there is a four-wheeler tour and a bus tour, but neither of those go to some of the cool spots. and those tours don't stop for pictures either. since there were eight of us, we had two hummers. the tour visits spots used in windtalkers, godzilla, mighty joe young, george of the jungle, 50 first dates, you, me and dupree, tears of the sun, and pearl harbour (I think that's it). i'll mostly focus on LOST here.

this spot is where they film the jacob's cabin outside shots. it's just right off the road (nuuana pali drive). this picture was taken out the front window.

this tree is the one where they hide. they took a picture of us with michael's camera here, but it is too dark. this spot is off the nuuana pali drive as well. we did have to walk back to it though.

this spot was used in the scene where mr. eko kills two drug dealers. on the opposite side of this building is the spot where they filmed the reception from you, me and dupree. it's funny because you literally walk through and the building looks completely different from whichever angle you see it.

radio hill: they drop you off and let you walk up the hill. you come down on the other side of some trees. this first picture is looking up radio hill:

coming down, this is the spot where ben and jack talked at some point.

this hill is the one hurley rode down in the van. our tour guide even did donuts in the spot where hurley does them. we went down this hill in our hummers.

hurley's golf course

godzilla footprints. there are four of them and then the rest were CGI. this film was the one with matthew broderick (what? you haven't seen it either?). the footprints were deeper, but they've been mostly filled in because it was dangerous for the cattle here.

this spot was used in the movie pearl harbour. they also put a facade on the front to film for the LOST tempest scenes. also, there was a scene filmed with jack and juliet kissing taken from inside the bunker facing out. they took a picture of that with michael's camera. this bunker was actually used during the war.

one more picture...meet tifani and charlie. tifani is addie's, and was a gift from our dear friend tifani. charlie is ian's. they went along for the trip. they posed in various spots. and I'm not the only one who does this, since i saw another dad taking pictures of a teddy bear. ;) anyway, here they are at nuuana pali lookout.

i'll have to post about surfing, or the attempt thereof, later!

we are packed

2008-04-29T18:49:00.001-07:00

our flight to Atlanta leaves at 6:05 am tomorrow. I'm a little nervous. I don't love flying. But what can you do? We then fly nonstop from Atlanta to Hawaii for over nine hours. Nine! Hours!

I said goodbye to my loves tonight. That was rough. So, I can't wait to see them in a week.

I hope to come back with lots of pictures and some great stories!

One more of my loves.

my little boy

2008-04-27T19:46:00.001-07:00

he assures me that he is not my baby boy. he is not yet a big boy either. instead, he says, he is my little boy. and he totally has me wrapped around his little finger.

oh, how he melts me on a daily basis. he starts each morning by running down the hall, throwing his arms around my neck, his legs around my waist and giving me the longest, best bear hug ever. and i love that he'll just sit with me for the longest time. i could snuggle with him all day long.

oh, but is he ever ornery. and he knows it too. he will get the goofiest grin on his face when he knows that he's being naughty. he tries to charm his way out of trouble. and sometimes, i do give in to him. it is so bad, i know. but how can i help it? when he gives me that grin. sigh. that's it. it's over. stick a fork in me. mama is done.

he won't let me sing my "song" for him anymore. when he was a baby, i would sing "baby mine" to him when i rocked him to sleep. but no more. now, i either sing "yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me" or "the pirates who don't do anything" to him. and he grins that silly, sweet grin while he bounces and sings along.

he can work on puzzles for hours. he is quite quick at it too. one morning, he had half of a 70-piece puzzle completed (he'd worked on it with daddy). i took a shower. and in that time, he finished the puzzle all by himself. i was amazed. his other loves are cars and dinosaurs. and bugs. of course. always bugs. he drove his train over a caterpillar yesterday. poor critter. the caterpillar made it, a little worse for wear. and i allowed him to escape to our back yard to avoid future meetings with some wheeled vehicle.

but what a total love. he is such a happy little boy. he is such a loving, affectionate doll. my little boy. my little love. he'll always be my baby boy. just don't tell him so.

beautiful dreamer

2008-04-24T19:09:00.000-07:00

one more month of kindergarten to go. it is so hard to believe. so hard to wrap my mind around the fact that my baby is no longer a baby. she is growing into quite the little lady. her teacher says that she is such a thankful girl. she's also called her a deep thinker. my child. she asks a million questions. she wants to know everything about everything, even things that i cannot put into words to explain.

she is compassionate. to everyone except her brother. but i guess that he doesn't count for that. :) he is, after all, her brother. her best friend. her worst enemy. the one who will be there for her even when no one else is. so, while he may not be the recipient of her compassion now, he will be.

we have ducks in our neighborhood. we saw two today who are injured. she was quite concerned about their well-being. but unfortunately, we are unable to help them. instead, we will feed them. and swoon over the little babies who follow their mama around. so cute.

she is smart. too smart. she gets that from me. okay, so her daddy is pretty smart too, in ways that i am not.

she is an artist. her art is different from mine. she can already draw better than me (not that it is saying much, but she is quite good. i however, am not). and her imagination knows no limits. the things she comes up with are amazing. she will be a wonderful writer some day. and she will be able to illustrate her stories with her own drawings.

i am smitten with my girl. sometimes, her questions tire my brain. sometimes, i get frustrated and lose my patience. sometimes, i am not the mom she deserves. but always, i am smitten. always.

four things about me

2008-04-22T12:25:00.000-07:00

my friend amy forwarded this message to me. it was one i hadn't seen before (although i'm sure many have). so, i thought i'd post it here instead of forwarding it on. :)

four places i go over and over:
1. church/addie's school (it's the same place)
2. target
3. downtown charleston
4. walmart

four movies i have watched more than four times:
1. dead poet's society
2. ferris bueller's day off
3. ratatouille (my new favorite pixar movie ever!)
4. enchanted

four places i have lived:
1. goshen, ohio
2. greenville, sc
3. summerville, sc
(do you believe that is IT!)

four tv shows i watch:
1. american idol (i take this show WAY too seriously)
2. project runway
3. dancing with the stars
4. anything on travel channel having to do with disney

four places i have been:
1. orlando, fl (i am a disney nut)
2. new orleans, la
3. gatlinburg, tn
4. new york city
(my poor travel list has to do with a fear of flying. however, i will be going to hawaii in a week)

people who email me regulary:
1. wendy
2. amy c
3. amy s
4. sara

four of my favorite foods:
1. chocolate
2. peanut butter
3. whole grain bread
4. pasta

four places i would like to visit:
1. california
2. new england
3. ireland
4. caribbean (will i find captain jack there?)

things i'm looking forward to in 2008:
1. traveling to hawaii in a week
2. thanksgiving at walt disney world
3. continuing to grow my business
4. visiting boston in july with addie

happiness is...

2008-04-18T19:18:00.000-07:00

...monster trucks

mobile studio

2008-04-08T10:41:00.001-07:00

i am branching out and dipping my toes into studio photography. don't worry. i'm not going to get away from my outdoor portraits. that area has my heart in a major way. there is no background more beautiful than the one God gave to us in His creation. but there are times that a little extra light can be a huge help. you may even see me dragging my softbox and stand to the beach! the whole set-up is portable--no outlets needed. you just have to give me ten minutes to get it set up (and another ten to tear it down).

so, i picked up some fabric from gdc the other day. i've always loved this fabric, but a seamstress i am not. i've always wondered how i could use it, because i think it's too "big" to use for clothing (or else i'd send it to the friend who makes customs for addie). with the help of my softbox, i now have the perfect use. it makes a gorgeous backdrop for studio-style portraits. now, i know it isn't for everyone, but i love it. i also have a gorgeous brown and gold muslin backdrop coming too. as if my lens addiction wasn't enough, now i'm going to be addicted to collecting backdrops!

what do you think?

not a baby anymore

2008-04-03T18:19:00.000-07:00

so, on saturday, while i was busy working at the two sessions, michael thought he'd give ian a little trim. well, i guess little is probably not an accurate word.

last week, i was very fortunate to get this:

isn't he cute? yes, it's on my splash page. it's also on a new canvas in my living room. it's pure love.

but then, i came home saturday to this:

isn't that sad? isn't that just heartbreaking? seriously, i cried. needless to say, he is SO growing that back out. i much prefer his normally disheveled do. it's just more him.

i tried to even up his bangs some, but i still can't wait until it grows out. seriously.

a very blustery day

2008-03-31T07:15:00.000-07:00

on saturday, i had two sessions. the first was featured in the prior posting. the second was out at kiawah, after the crazy wind started blowing. it was quite a challenge, but i managed to shoot during the brief moments the wind took a break. the sanctuary is a resort out at kiawah and it is gorgeous with a capital g. wow!

i've known this mom through an online mom's board for several years now. but this session was the first time i've met her in person. it was like meeting a friend you've known for years. she is a doll! and her kids are amazing and sweet! it was a great time being with that family and getting to know them better. i hope they come back for a visit soon!

sneak peek

2008-03-30T15:39:00.000-07:00

have you been paying attention? if so, you will probably recognize this family, as they've been featured on my blog in the past. the little guy is getting ready to turn three, and he has turned over a new leaf. in the past, he hasn't really loved me when i have my camera aimed his way. but yesterday, he was a pro! he did such a good job and i'm so pleased with the results!

this family is filled with friends. miss l will walk around holding my hand, which just make me melt. she's such a little beauty and totally hilarious. i hear she practices her posing prior to our sessions. and i adore her. and mr. a is such a boy. he and ian are two peas in a pod, and so much fun to have together.

and mom is a doll--always a kind word and sweet smile. she is "good people" for sure.

a face without freckles

2008-03-25T10:49:00.000-07:00

...is like a sky without the stars

beaufort, part two

2008-03-25T10:34:00.001-07:00

yesterday, i went back to beaufort for another portrait party. thank you, ryan, for again opening your gorgeous home to me.

this time, i met some new friends who couldn't make it last time. it was great fun photographing your children and chatting with each of you. the hospitality and friendliness on both of my visits is amazing! it's fun and encouraging to walk into a situation where you feel as if you've known these people for years. they are just that great!

i know some of you are looking for a sneak peek, and because i hate to disappoint...

happy second birthday

2008-03-22T08:08:00.000-07:00

so, her birthday is not until next week, but we did her birthday portraits yesterday. she was a pro! it is hard to believe that this one is going to be two. i've known her mom for years, and have been photographing her since she was four months old. and she's two already. wow. time flies.

happy birthday, miss a. i hope you get everything your little heart desires!

mr. giggles

2008-03-12T18:24:00.001-07:00

you get your own entry. thank you so very much for making me laugh.

beaufort sneak peek

2008-03-12T13:36:00.000-07:00

yesterday, i traveled to beaufort, sc for a portrait party. i finally got to meet the lovely and talented amy sansbury (of amy sansbury photography in florence, sc). it was quite a day. it was great to meet new people and make new friends. i definitely enjoyed the hospitality offered to me. thank you, ryan, for opening your absolutely gorgeous home (addie is eager to see it in person). for those i photographed (and those i didn't), it was great to meet you.

please, enjoy the sneak peek here. i've only pulled one per session with a quick color edit (although a few of these scream black and white to me). however, in the interest of simplicity...

since is it my blog

2008-03-03T07:38:00.000-08:00

i'm allowed to gush about clients! these girls kill me! i adore them. they have a light in them that is just completely infectious. i grin from ear to ear when i'm editing their pictures. and little e (the older one) is a total ham and just loves the camera! which, of course, means photographic gold! platinum!

anyhoo, we did a dress-up session on saturday, complete with pettiskirts, feather boas, necklaces and crowns. it was a hoot wandering around the streets of downtown charleston with them (have i mentioned that downtown is my absolute favorite place to shoot? about ten times already?). we found a new spot that i'd missed on previous visits. a little spot we like to call the magic door.

anyway, i wanted to share a few.

mom, you know you're going to have to lock her up

2008-03-02T20:24:00.000-08:00

how beautiful is she?

sneak peeks

2008-02-29T19:07:00.000-08:00

just a few i pulled from my preschool portraits this morning. the kids were troopers--fabulous! i photographed 28 kids in less than two hours and they were great!

old friends

2008-02-28T18:36:00.000-08:00

more of my muse

2008-02-27T20:03:00.000-08:00

just sharing...

more of my kids

2008-02-26T04:55:00.000-08:00

i am absolutely ready for spring! my spring season was supposed to kick off today with a portrait party in beaufort. however, the weather is looking ominous, so we've postponed for two weeks. i have to wait until thursday, when i take pictures for a local preschool i worked with last fall. this time, we're doing it over two days though and i'm working it more like a mini version of a mini session. thirty-eight kids in two days should be fun!

in the meantime, i borrowed the coolest chair from a friend. addie and ian thought we were stealing it and were extremely upset. when michael carried it outside to put in the car, they both ran back inside to tell our friend that their daddy was stealing her chair. it was too funny! so, i took said chair to azalea park in summerville to try out some different poses on it, to prepare for this week. i wasn't in love with any of the full-body pictures i took, but the ground was quishy and i didn't want to tromp through the mud to get where i wanted to be. if it would ever stop raining, the ground could dry out and i could play more.

but in the meantime, ian did decide to give me two seconds of eye contact. so, i managed a few of him.

just a revisit

2008-02-12T07:03:00.000-08:00

i know someone who checks my blog regularly, an old friend of the best kind (as in, the kind that go all the way back to my toddler years). anyway, i always thought this picture needed more than what i gave it at the time. so, here's a new play...

outside the box

2008-02-09T13:22:00.001-08:00

my goal for 2008 is to think outside of my box. my portraits have a very clean, classic contemporary feel to them. and i definitely embrace that. but i also have the nature to want to experiment and try different things. of course, as with all things, addie is the one who gets the initial experimentation. and even though she wasn't in the mood before her riding lesson yesterday, she still gave me some good shots.

so, i tried some new post-processing on these images. you'll have to let me know what you think!

snaps from the park

2008-01-31T16:34:00.000-08:00

of course, the day we plan to meet friends at the park, it is gloomy and overcast. thankfully, the rain did not come. i got a new lens and wanted to try it out. it's heavier than my normal lens, so i've got to build my muscles to use it! :)

anyway, i wanted to share a few snaps. the kids turned and turned on the tire swing until finally ian threw up. but he survived. mr. a had a few bumps and bruises too. but everyone came through mostly unscathed.

t, do you see this? what got into him? he was still. still!