Catherine

October 20, 2009

This past weekend, I had the privilege of photographing a beautiful, young woman.  She and her husband are expecting their first child in the next couple of weeks.  To say I was nervous about this particular shoot was an understatement.  Catherine is a former Miss Alabama and is used to being photographed by world renowned photographers.  Intimidating?  Yes, a bit.  However, it was a very relaxed and enjoyable session.  Catherine was a wonderful hostess.  She, Frank (her husband) and their 2 schnauzers (BeBe and Lola)  welcomed us into their beautiful home.  She was delightful to work with; after all, she "knows the ropes".   When I say beautiful, I'm  not exaggerating....see for yourself.


Mary Catherine and Blake

October 15, 2009

Kids have the greatest personalities.  They are not shy or bashful about speaking their mind.  On Sunday, I had the privlege of photographing Mary Catherine and Blake.  Both of them were hilarious during the shoot, but there was a point when I almost dropped my camera.  I had Mary Catherine on a hay bale positioning her for the shot.  I was fussing with her hair and turning her head a little when she asked me if her hair looked alright.  I told her it did and that she still had lots of curls.  She said, "good, 'cause mama brought the curling iron but I don't want to use it.  I slept on sponge rollers for these curls but I'm afraid the humidity may be making my curls fall.  Do you think it's humid outside?"  She's 7.  See the "curls" for yourself....


My Artist Statement

October 09, 2009

When you decide to participate seriously in any activity that is considered “artistic”, you are required, not by law but by the code that rules your specific art genre, to write an “artist statement”.

I have been taking what I consider to be continuing education courses in the art of photography. This is the second course I’ve taken where I’ve been required to write an artist statement about my work. It is difficult – I don’t like doing it. I take these classes to shoot, not to write. I’m not a writer…you’ve seen my blogs! My husband is the writer, I’m the photographer. We worked it out that way. We each decided we would not marry someone with which we shared the same level of artistic skill, thus avoiding the ugly spousal competition. I’ve been out of “regular” school for years yet always seem to wind up in a class where the instructor instructs you to write an essay. It’s a requirement to complete the class. It’s not like we get a grade, it is strictly a P or F kind of world, but that P depends on doing the required work assigned within the class, specifically, this time, an artist statement. Have I mentioned how much I do not like writing an artist statement? It takes someone with much more talent and skill than me to adequately put into words a description of my photos or series of photos. Below is my rough draft. I would like to go on record to say that it was painful; painful for me to write. Unfortunately, it will be just as painful for you to read!

Artist Statement

Life-changing moments. Our lives are littered with them. Blink and you just might miss one.

Life inspires me. I’m often accused of staring at people but I don’t consider it staring. I’m observing……and waiting. Watching what they do and how they do it so that I can mentally capture an image and hopefully carry it to print. There is a couple sitting on a bench; they’ve hired me to take their engagement portraits. I sit. I watch. I wait for that perfect moment when she leans in to whisper in his ear….click….got it! Their special moment can now be presented to them to share with their friends and family….or to keep just between themselves.

Eleven years ago, as I watched with awe an image appear in a tray filled with developer, a friend told me that I would never be able to take photos or be a photographer because I was too uptight and controlled. I instinctively took that as a direct challenge and set off to prove said friend wrong. I started shooting portraits of my friends and their children. I read everything about portrait photography that I could get my hands on and then started taking classes to improve my technique. Since then, I’ve been taking photos of anything and everything, at every opportunity.

People, along with their habits and characteristics, fascinate me. I love being able to capture a facet of someone’s personality when they are in front of my camera. To me, you learn a lot about that person…if they are bold, shy, confident or a little unsure of themselves. However, there are those that believe if you capture their image on film, you’ve taken something very valuable: their soul. Do I believe this? Yes. Why? Because when you photograph someone, you are in essence, taking a piece of that person along with you. And, if you’re lucky, you get the opportunity to capture someone’s life-changing moment.

To take a photograph is to participate in another person’s mortality, vulnerability and mutability. – Susan Sontag

Missed Opportunities

October 06, 2009

On a cold winter’s day in Alabama about 11 years ago, as I watched with awe an image appear in a tray filled with developer, a friend told me that I would never be able to take photos or be a photographer because I was too uptight and controlled. I instinctively took that as a challenge and set off to prove said friend wrong. For 11 years, I’ve been taking photos of anything and everything, at every opportunity. However, there was one time I missed an opportunity that I will never forget.

In April of 2006, we were visiting New York City. We were bundled in layers of warm clothing as the city had experienced a cold snap that spring. We had been in downtown Manhattan for the day and were returning to our hotel on the A train, or it could have been the B, C or D train, I don’t recall; the subway is a confusing place for southerners, at least for this southerner. If you have ever been on the subway, you know there are many, many stops with the doors opening and closing constantly.

At one of those stops, the doors opened and there sat an elderly woman on a bench with a little girl at her feet. The woman was unkempt, wearing a brown tattered coat, with an equally tattered scarf on her head. She had on thick, flesh-colored knee highs, you know, the ones the elderly women wear for support. On her feet were black orthopedic-style shoes, scuffed and worn. Her face was lined with age; the years appeared to have taken a hard toll on her. The little girl was around 5, I would guess, and she was crying, tears streaking her dirt-smudged face. She didn’t want to leave the city or possibly go to the city; I am unsure as to which direction they were headed. The child’s coat was worn and dull, like that of her grandmother (I imagined it was her grandmother).

Sitting next to the girl was a bag, which appeared to be filled with groceries. I saw a loaf of French bread sticking out of the top. But the thing that caught my eye most of all, was the package in the old woman’s lap. It was a simple bunch of daisies, wrapped in brown paper. The yellow petals were a stark contrast sitting against the dismal color of the woman’s worn and tattered coat. A promising sign of spring….of life….of hope. And where was my camera? Back at our hotel, in our room, in my bag, tucked safely away from would be thieves that I might possibly encounter on the streets of New York City. Although that particular moment in time was never captured to be printed, the image is as vivid in my mind today as it was 3 years ago….when I missed my opportunity.

Missed opportunities. Life-changing moments. Our lives are littered with them. I suppose the important thing is to learn something from those missed chances and make every effort to never let what could be a life-altering opportunity pass you by. To this day, I can’t help but wonder what would have happened if I had been brave enough to take my camera downtown, step off the subway and speak to the woman and little girl. To ask to take their photo. Could that opportunity have altered my photography path, forever catapulting me into a world in which I would love to be a part of? Could a photo of an elderly woman carrying daisies along side a little girl with a dirt-smudged, tear-streaked face, sitting on a subway platform bench have altered their lives in any way? I will never know.

Going on a "Hunt"

October 05, 2009

This past weekend, I had the privilege of photographing a wedding in Gadsden, Alabama for Robby Hunt and Jill Ortman.  Jill's mom, Junel, hired me sight unseen.  Well, I suppose she had viewed my "site", but we had not officially met in person. This was an honor.

You couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day for an outdoor wedding.  Alot of brides desire an outdoor wedding but are hesitant to do so because one never knows when the weather is going to make a change for the worse.  Jill was brave and forged ahead with her plans.  We shot some of her bridal portraits at Noccalula Falls.  This was my first visit.  Isn't it amazing how many places you don't visit when you live in a state?  The park and falls are breathtaking, as was the bride....see for yourself.




Official "Sneak Peek"

October 01, 2009

I was finally able to purchase my business license today, so I suppose that makes me "bonafide and broke". Sweet Life Studio has been officially welcomed into the world of small business.

Last night, I had the opportunity to photograph a beautiful woman, Fran, who is expecting her second child. Fran represents class, refinement and all things feminine. She and her husband prefer to welcome their children into the world the old-fashioned way...they have chosen not to find out what the sex of the baby is ahead of time. They want to be surprised on the fabulous day the baby arrives. Below is a photo of Fran with her first baby....a baby grand piano. Did I mention she is also a former ballerina?


 
Sweet Nothings. Design by Pocket