Picks + Passes

One of my favorite photographers, Jasmine Star, has inspired me to start adding a more personal touch to my blog as she does. Jasmine has a weekly "Kisses + Disses" post where she lists things she likes and dislikes. After seeing hers I thought, "Wow, what a great way to incorporate more me into my blog!" So, to put a little spin on it and add my own touch I present this week's "Picks + Passes"...


PICKS :

•  Lipton's Orange, Passion Fruit and Jasmine green tea.  I prefer it hot, with a dash (well, that's being modest) of honey. YUM. This is an every night occurrence. Speaking of which... it's about that time. White Mangosteen & Peach is good too!
• An heirloom: My grandmother's vintage diamond cluster ring. After years of loathing over it, my Nanny finally decided I was old enough to have it. I wear it every single day. You can somewhat see the ring in the photo of me at the bottom of this blog.
• Ariston's Wallabees (shoes). I love miniature sized adult items for kids. They are so darn cute! The picture below proves it. Mom and Dad have matching pairs ;) We try to schedule around one another.
• I jumped on the bandwagon- I'm a GLEEKer. It's undeniable.
• Photographing little girls like this one, and this one. I just love them so!
• My new black skinny jeans from 7 For All Mankind. I sneakingly wear them to work because they almost look like dress pants, but they aren't. I'm such a rule breaker, and no one even knows it. Shhh. 
• Scented sachets. What's that you might ask. You can usually find them at little old ladies' houses. Or mine. It's those little paper envelope baggy things that have smell good stuff inside. I currently have a Christmas scented one out. Now, the house not only looks like Christmas but smells like it too. It makes me happy. 

PASSES :

• Getting tickets. Notice ticket is used in plural tense. And no, I'm not talking about concert tickets. I'm talking about speeding and traffic signal tickets. Obtaining 2 tickets in one month that are both complete and total malarkey would be on anyones list. ARG. They make me type growling words. I'm fighting both!
• Not that you'd want to, but I do NOT recommend buying the Verizon Voyager. I've had the phone a little over a year and it died today. The touch screen stopped working a while back and it won't even charge anymore. At least this leads to something newer and better.
• Mercer Law School, will you give me my husband back now? Thanks.   -I'm predicting this will move to the Picks list in a year in a half. 
• People who pull out in front of me when there isn't a single car behind me. Really? You can't wait one millionth of a millisecond longer until I pass? Yeah, I didn't think so. Stupid. (Is it obvious I spend a lot of time on the road- most of my frustrations in life are commute associated.)
• Curry. I think it's one of the only edible things I really don't have a tolerance for. YUCK.

(I end noting I publish this post while finishing up my hot green tea. Ahhh. Life is good)

Brett : Senior | Stockbridge, GA Photographer

Meet Brett.

Brett is quite the looker. I say that in a non-creeper/cougar kind of way - insert winky face. I guess being 25 now I have to watch what I say about the Senior boys. Gosh, that makes me feel like an old lady. It's happening isn't it? With age comes wisdom, I guess I'm okay with that (like I actually have a choice).  Brett lives a hop, skip and a jump from me. I love it when that happens. Convenience is one of those things I wished happened more often.

In terms of backdrops I like the nitty gritty, especially when photographing the guys, so we hit downtown. The textures and colors downtown cities possess are extraordinary for photographs. I love finding paint chipped walls and old doors. Who would of thought such things would make a girl so happy, or a photo so amazing. Brett was quite the trooper. I pointed, and he followed. We knocked this session out rather quickly. I think this first photo could be in a magazine.

Aubriana | 1 month

A few months back I had a beautiful maternity session with Mandi and Bert, Aubriana's mommy and daddy. You can see that post here. Anxious for her arrival, I patiently waited to meet little Miss Aubriana. She was well worth the wait, might I add.  A month after her birth day she and her mother made a trip out to see me so. I was really excited to use some of the props I've been collecting with Aubriana. She was so full of personality, already. I just fell in love with her. We worked long and hard to get her to sleep. Being that she slept the entire way to my house she wasn't exactly tired when she arrived. I was glad, it gave me a chance to meet her :) Once we got her warm and bundled up in her mommy's lap, she was out- and that's when the magic happened. 

Mandi and Bert, Congratulations on such a beautiful daughter. I wish your family all the happiness in the world.

[ This is me refraining from a side note dedicated to how much I want a little baby... girl. ]

Peters | Brothers Session

Another coworker of mine asked if I could photograph her grandsons, and of course I said yes! It's always nice to meet the sweet little faces that go with the stories I hear at work. I traveled out to Laura's house for a quick little session to capture some shots of these little guys. They were all smiles and so full of personality. We had a great time! 

Highers | Family Session

Cheri and I share the love of teaching, she's a coworker of mine. I had the opportunity to meet her sweet little family over Thanksgiving break. Despite the fact that I got a speeding ticket on the way to meet them, it was the perfect day. 

Side note: The speeding ticket was one of the most frustrating moments of my life. Ok, I've had tickets before- whatever- but this time I actually wasn't speeding. Here's the scoop- I drive by a cop (4 lane road, he was in the right lane) and he pulled me over AFTER I set my cruise control 2 mph over the limit just so that I wouldn't get a friggin ticket. He claimed he paced me (did not clock me) going 15 mph over, which is interesting considering he was going 35 in a 45 talking on his cell phone.  I was FURIOUS. I, for the first time, cried I was so angry. So- I will be fighting this one. The hubby (future lawyer) will be going with me for legal assistance (the only thing I like about the situation). 

Once I got to the location I had cooled off. Photography has a way of doing that for me. Cheri's little crew were great. I was so glad she brought the pup, too! He was just as good looking as the rest of the family. Oh. I do have one more story. Cheri told me that Cody, their lab, sleeps on the middle floor of their 3 story house because they sleep on the bottom floor and their daughter sleeps on the top floor. Cody splits the difference and protects them all ;) LOVE that. 

This post was way longer than I intended. Oopsy. I begin with my favorite. Check out those boots!

McCarthy Family | Mini Session

What a beautiful family~ and of course, I adore my little Maris (Martie too!). I've known this family a few years now so when Martie, one of my girlfriends, asked me to take some family pictures as a gift for her mother I was absolutely delighted. There are so many beautiful faces in this family, I was thrilled to start a beautiful Fall day off with the McCarthys.