last week

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

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!

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

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

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...

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

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.