BLOG-Turning Leaf Photography

2011 Holiday Portraits with Santa, Atlanta & Marietta, Georgia

2011-11-10T10:51:00.002-05:00

Santa's sleigh has been spotted around town conditioning the reindeer for the BIG EVENT that's right around the corner.

CHRISTMAS is only a blink of an eye away!

I've been on the hotline with the big man himself and he's been busy making his list and checking it twice!

Turning Leaf Photography offers Santa portraits like none other in the Atlanta Metro area. Our third annual portraits with Santa is again scheduled at the gorgeous Marlow House, a Victorian home on the Historic Marietta Square in Marietta, Ga! The home will be decorated with Christmas tree's galore and will be open for tours!

Portraits with Santa always proves to be a spectacular event and will be held on December 3, 2011 by appointment, during the 25th annual Marietta Pilgrimage Tour, a fantastical tour of historic homes on the Marietta Square.

What better way to kick off the magical holiday season than with life long memorable, heirloom portraits with Santa - who wants to stand in line at the local mall anyways?

Pictures with Santa include a non-rushed visit, allowing plenty of time to talk and visit with Santa, share your child's Christmas list all while Turning Leaf Photography captures these moments for a lifetime of memories!

Check out some previous portraits with Santa sessions at the Marlow House in this wonderful little video!

Visit our website and join us on Facebook! Call today for your very own personal visit with Santa!

678.920.8216

Atlanta Photographer - Fall, Holiday Family and Santa Portraits

2011-10-12T11:34:00.003-04:00

Fill your bags with bundles of joy this holiday season!

Fall family portraits are in full swing!

The phone rang (literally) off the hook for the past two days filling the calendar even more with family portrait bookings. I have very slim pickings for sessions in October and November is filling in fast as well. This is prime holiday portrait time folks!

Just a reminder that I am booking appointments for Santa portraits in-studio for November 12th, 2011 (hello, this is only one month away!). This early bird session is awesome because it will allow plenty of time for orders to come back in time for GUARANTEED holiday gifting! This is great for those who can plan ahead and visit Santa before the holiday rush! Sessions allow one-on-one time with Santa and include a reading of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas'!!

The second date I am booking for portraits with Santa is December 3rd, 2011. This is the only date for portraits with Santa at The Marlow House on the Historic Marietta Square. Sessions are booking by appointment. This is a perfect opportunity to make a day of visiting the Marietta Square as the 2011 Pilgrimage Tour will also be going on this weekend and The Marlow House will be decking their halls with boughs of holly! Why wait at the mall or some other line to visit Santa? Products from this sessions will be back just before Christmas, however holiday products, like cards will not be available prior to Christmas mailing.

Speaking of holiday portraits, I've been busy at work in between everything else setting up my 2011 holiday line up for Christmas cards this year! I will be bringing back some of the fun, whimsical vintage card designs that I've designed myself for last year!

I also have some fresh new fun and modern looks along with traditional choices - there's something for everyone! Posted here are just a small sampling of the choices available with Turning Leaf Photography and Design for holiday cards!

Special holiday packages are available this year which include holiday cards; check it out below!

As always please visit our website for more samples of our photography and check out our reviews online!

www.turningleafphotography.com

Creating art, Capturing memories...Because a photograph never grows up!

678.920.8216

2011 Portraits with Santa - Atlanta Family and Children's Photographer

2011-10-03T13:00:00.000-04:00

Bookings are in full swing for portraits with Santa 2011!

Trust me, Santa is on SPEED DIAL here at Turning Leaf!

He is really very excited about the upcoming holiday season - he's already making his list and checking it twice!

This year, sessions will be held at our new studio location as well as a ONE day ONLY visit to the beautiful Marlow House in Marietta, Ga. The Marlow House is located on the historic Marietta Square in Marietta, Ga! This is always an event you will not want to miss and our third year at the Marlow House!

In-studio (Woodstock) sessions are now booking for November 12th, 2011 from 11:00am - 3:30pm.

Marlow House sessions are now booking for December 3rd, 2011 from 1:00 - 4:45. This will be the ONLY date Santa will be at the Marlow House this season!

Limited Availability for all sessions, by appointment booking only! Call now and book early....bookings are filling in fast!

As always please visit our website for more information and portrait samples. Also check out our awesome reviews!

678.920.8216

Fall Family Portraits and Holiday Giving....Family and Children's Photographer Atlanta

2011-10-03T12:41:00.003-04:00

I hope everyone is loving this fall weather!!! We had our first frost here today and actually popped the heat on a bit as well! I just wanted to give an update on fall family portraits! October is filling in really quickly with only a couple of weekend openings available.

I guarantee that October will be prime fall foliage time as we've been so dry and this cold snap will bring the leaves to change quickly and drop to the ground! If you are longing for the perfect fall or holiday family portrait with a beautiful setting, please do not wait until the last minute (ie: Thanksgiving week)! Before you know it the leaves will be gone from the trees until spring 2012!

Sessions begin at $150, and includes a fabulous Turning Leaf Photography session either on-location or in-studio, awesomely edited images and a personal password protected ordering gallery. Turning Leaf Photography also is more than happy to help with What to Wear! It's the #1 question I receive and you will receive access 'What to wear and how to prepare guide' which is invaluable to clients.

Please call me at 678.920.8216 to discuss your portrait session ideas! I have many locations I frequent, however I'm always happy to try something new!

Visit our website for more information and portrait samples. Also check out our awesome reviews!

Ho Ho Ho! Atlanta Family and Childrens Photographer Holiday Portraits!

2011-09-14T15:51:00.002-04:00

The Holidays are right around the corner.....yes it will be here before we know it! Once October comes and we pass Halloween it's crazy busy for everyone right through Thanksgiving and Christmas. Before you know it, we are ringing in the New Year and singing Auld Lang Syne! Procrastination gets everyone in trouble, including myself- let's try for everyone's sake to avoid that! I'm trying HARD to be early and plan to avoid any holiday madness :)!

Let's talk holiday portraits: Everyone wants them! Actually, for many families, it's a yearly tradition! However, once you start thinking "I need a portrait for the holiday....!" you start to panic and realize you've already bought and thawed your turkey and planned your menu because you have to cook it tomorrow morning, because it's actually Thanksgiving! I know, I know! We as a society, we are so busy!

The key is to take 5 minutes and plan ahead - just slightly!

There's no muss or fuss with holiday portraits with Turning Leaf Photography. Sessions are customized to suit your needs. Holiday packages are available-simply visit our website and contact us through the Contact us tab for more information!!

1) Sessions are available on-location or in-studio. I love both. However both produce VERY different results! Quick note: I prefer on-location for families with five or more persons. In-studio is GREAT for smaller families, for just the kiddos or babies. There are some insanely fun possibilities for holiday cards...SO many fun things to do, I can't wait to get started! The possibilities are almost endless!

2) Custom holiday cards are available and are really popular with Turning Leaf Photography clients! I have so many designs to share and select from that I am unable to begin sharing here! Trust me, I have whimsical, traditional, contemporary...something to please everyone!

3) Everyone likes to mail their holiday cards right after Thanksgiving...AND you know what that means? We need to have your session in October or at least, the very beginning of November for cards to be designed and come back in time for holiday mailing!

4) Have a Smart Phone? Would you like to see our reviews? Just scan our bar-code for more information! It's conveniently located right here!

5) What are you waiting for? Pick up the phone and give us a jingle or visit our website! 678.920.8216

We look forward to hearing from you and capturing your holiday portraits!

Atlanta Photographer - Fall Family Portraits and Holiday Santa Sessions

2011-09-09T11:15:00.001-04:00

It's that time again! Fall is in the air and the temperatures are leveling out from our hot summer! As I'm sad to see summer go, I'm also ready for shorter days and slightly cooler temperatures!

Fall is the perfect time for any portrait session: senior portraits, family portraits and children's portraits and the favored time of year second to spring for portrait sessions, period! September will be over before you know it and October is the perfect time for a portrait session! You won't want to miss out!

Turning Leaf Photography has a wide array of beautiful holiday cards to select from as well as a wide range of heirloom products masterfully hand-edited for years of enjoyment! Book early to receive your holiday cards in time for mailing as there will be an order cut off date this year!

Heirloom Santa sessions will be open for booking the week of September 19th. Sessions will be by pre-paid by appointment only and will be in-studio (dates and hours to be announced!). There will be VERY LIMITED AVAILABILITY for all Santa portrait sessions. Sessions will be first come, first served. Please be ready to book early and have your credit card in hand when you call....!!

Holiday ordering cut off date is November 30th, 2011!!!! Please visit the Turning Leaf Photography website to view galleries of our work!

Etowah High School, Woodstock Ga - Senior Photography- Senior Portrait Photographer

2011-08-09T16:27:00.001-04:00

Etowah High School's seniors are rockin' their senior portrait sessions! Dylan Herod is a football player at Etowah High and graduates in 2012!

See more senior portrait photography from Etowah High and surrounding area schools at the Turning Leaf Photography WEBSITE!

Meet my Senior Model Reps +2012 - Senior Portrait Photographer Atlanta Metro

2011-07-08T17:31:00.002-04:00

Meet my Senior Model Reps +2012!!

I am so excited and blessed to work with these gorgeous and wonderful ladies this year!!

Thank you for being a part of the Turning Leaf Photography +2012 Senior Portrait Model Rep Team!

A while back, in spring I believe, I opened up application acceptance for senior model reps for the 2012 high school graduation year. The response was overwhelming, with applicants from all over Metro Atlanta! I really try hard to focus on North Fulton County, Cobb County and Cherokee County schools since I consider this my 'stomping ground' as a graduate from Wheeler High School in Marietta, Ga myself! Originally, I planned to only accept two model reps. And then I added two more model reps...how can I pick just two anyhow? :)

So, without further delay, here are the current 2012 senior model reps for Turning Leaf Photography! There is a slight chance I will add more reps at the end of summer or beginning of the school year, so keep your eyes peeled and join me here for the notice on Facebook if the opportunity opens to the general public again!

Visit the Turning Leaf Photography {All SENIORS} blog here.

View the YouTube Video Channel Here.

Pamela Wilbur

2012 High School Senior, Allatoona High School, Acworth, Ga

Brittany Brennan

2012 High School Senior, Lassiter High School, Marietta, Ga

Abbey Priest

2012 High School Senior, Allatoona High School, Acworth, Ga

Ansley Ponder

2012 High School Graduate, Etowah High School, Woodstock, Ga

Visit the Turning Leaf Photography WEBSITE here and join us on FACEBOOK here. Check out our awesome five star Google reviews here!

Young at Heart - Vintage Photo Restoration - An Era to remember

2011-05-15T14:49:00.002-04:00

I’ve been saving the thought of this post for some time, for the right moment as it’s tugged at my heart over the course of the last few months. Some of you know me well and you know my husband and I have a neighbor friend whom we get together with on a regular basis. He treats us like family. He brings us a dozen donuts and a pie every weekend. Yes, every weekend -without fail. I asked him recently, what about a bag of apples or a head of broccoli? We’re gonna get fat! He brings the donuts for the kids and the pie for us. He just say’s your only young once…a few donuts aint’ gonna hurt ya!

We're talking about someone who doesn't know the internet. We ordered a hubcap for him off the internet and he wondered just how we go about getting the hub cap 'outta there'. He just started using a cellphone with our help and is old school. He still drives, mows his grass and takes care of himself-he's very young at heart in so many ways. I'm sure he would have gotten us in trouble if we were all young and friends in his day! Our neighbor friend, he has his agenda for the week and we are on it, come hell or high water. He worries about us if we don’t talk to him for a couple of days and will come and check in on us. He’s a WWII Veteran and hero in our eyes; a walking book of history. He fought for our freedom. His parents emigrated from Italy; he speaks and understands Italian and has a somewhat heavy accent. He loves to cook and has a great palate. He’s from New York, can tell us some stories of 'the mob' and he retired from driving a city bus, through what I consider such an epic era of Americana. He knows hard work. He is the face of America. In fact, he is an amazing part of history and he's a dying breed. He’s told us so many amazing stories that we would never hear on The History Channel, read in WWII books or learn about in school.

Our neighbor friend is 88 years young and one year ago today he lost the love of his life (they met at age 14), after 64 years of marriage, and a battle of Alzheimer’s and breast cancer. In fact he say’s all the time it was not the Alzheimer’s that took her, but the cancer. She was not well enough for the cancer treatment. He cared for her himself for 7 years at home. No matter what she was his pride and joy; and she would never go into a nursing home. He stuck by that.

I never met his wife.

Since that day, he has been a sometimes daily and at least weekly part of our lives. We were worried about him and how he would cope after losing his wife and caring for her. So, we started checking in on him. We invited him over and asked him to dinner. Now he invites us over and asks us to dinner…he has us falling in love with the best imported Italian cheeses and we share a drink or two. We hear stories we’ve never heard and many times the same stories we’ve heard before. But you know, he’s taught us so much.

Yesterday, like many days, we were so busy. Run here, run there…football for our son, working on the yard, teenager kids in the house…simply put, we are busy people. But he was on our minds and hearts yesterday and we put him on our agenda. We knew he’d expect us to check in on him-since Saturdays are usually our get together day. So we called him up and planned a get together after dinner. We headed over there a little after 9 pm…he has shrimp cocktail out, delicious fudge like Reggiano cheese, imported mozzarella, crackers and wine. He pulls out all the stops -always- it’s just the way it was done in his age in time. He just had some remodeling completed in his kitchen and he wanted us to see it also; it was beautiful of course. But while we were there, he brought up his wife, who we’ve heard about many times through the past year, and today was a year ago she passed away. He and his daughter are headed to the mausoleum to visit her today. And he’s just on my heart and mind as I type. I’m so glad we called him and went over there last night. I knew the day was coming, but did not remember the actual date.

A few months ago, knowing I'm a photographer, he had asked me about some portrait prints he has of his wife and of his wedding day, over 64 years ago. He has only a few prints, which he cherishes. One was specifically of his wife and it was in black and white…he wanted it colored and asked could I do that for him and enlarge it to an 8x10 as it was a 5x7. Well, if you’ve followed me long enough you know I love vintage-style photography. When I say that, I mean making a new picture look vintage. But I also love photo restoration. So I jumped at the opportunity to restore his vintage (and antique) wedding prints as well as a portrait of his wife. I was honored actually because how amazing really to hold these in my hand and him value them so close to his heart-and know him? I was able to use the hand painted coloring from his wedding portrait to color in the black and white portrait of his wife. The 8x10 is now framed and displayed on his mantle. These memories needed to be preserved, and now they are forever for his future generations.

Through working on these pictures and visiting with our neighbor friend, I am reminded how time flies. He has seen SO much in his lifetime. It's amazing. For example his father was in the ice and coal business. He worked delivering blocks of ice and taking them to clients homes for their fridge. The same with coal in the winter. His first car was a Model T convertible. I mean, you just don't meet people like him every day.

Some days I wish I had a slow-mo button to push. Time literally flies without fail. But these pictures tell a story, of an era past, of a deep and passionate love. The beginning of a family and chapters they would add behind them in their life. It’s just amazing, and deep, and I truly treasure this history. I understand how important it is to capture these special moments and be able to look back on them years down the road and share them with family or friends. I always hear people say photographs like this aren’t taken anymore and I agree in a way, photography is a part of every day life now and in the past it was a special event. Now days, everyone has a camera and they probably carry it with them in their purse and snap pictures wherever they go, of anything and everything. But portraits like this are still made today, because from a photographer standtpoint, we are capturing your era. Your beginning. Your special moment in time. Your history in the making. Just remember to slow down and take the time to capture the moments you can- together. Its not where you end up that matters, but what you collect and treasure along the way and the memories you create.

Salut! Here's to neighbors and friends; and friends who become family, no matter what their age. And to our neighbor friends wife, whom I was never able to meet...she still hold a special place in my heart.

Newborn Photography & Baby 'B' Bliss - Kennesaw and Atlanta Newborn Portrait Photographer

2011-05-15T09:30:00.002-04:00

Little baby 'B' and his parents were such pleasure to work with - such proud, first time parents! My sister (who by the way is just starting up her Doula services- I will share info about her as soon as she's up and rolling for anyone searching for this) are friends with them and had been helping them get ready for the arrival of this baby 'B' as well as helped when he came home. What a beautiful connection for new friends!

I love arriving ready for pictures with the baby and the parents have just rolled out of bed - as I ring the bell - first time parents, 2 hours of sleep under their belt (if that) -the love of it all! The coffee maker is cranked up by dad and baby B is having his breakfast upstairs with mom.....the bliss of a newborns first week of life! The roller coaster sleeping habits of babies and parents are fun to hear from client to client! I've been there, trust me! The first couple weeks of a baby's life are magical from a parents standpoint as well as my own and I love capturing those precious moments - even as mom or dad sneak a few long blinks and/or proud parent tears :).

I have to add, never say 'my baby is THE BEST BABY and sleeps like an angel, following this schedule or that, nothing to worry about'. That is usually the day everything will change and baby will prove parents so incorrect! Turns out baby 'B' is a perfect angel, and his parents are head over heels and magically enthralled with this little wonder. Congratulations guys!! I look forward to seeing baby 'B' grow up! Enjoy your beautiful portraits!

Check out the Turning Leaf Photography website here as well as many happy client reviews on Google.

Artistic Vintage Portraits - Custom Photography by Turning Leaf

2011-04-13T10:15:00.000-04:00

Whether you are searching for a creative and artistic photographer or just would like to have fun and try something new for your photography session, storybook sessions will be the choice for you! Whether we take a trip to Mayberry, step in Shirley Temples shoes, or dress up as a favorite princess, your child will LOVE their painless storybook session. And as a parent, you will cherish the unique images as portrait art for years to come! Storybook sessions are an experience, a Turning Leaf Exclusive.

A Turning Leaf Photography classic, vintage style photographs are something I love to create and are a standard with these storybook sessions. Whether dreamy or the roaring 20's is your desire, take a look at the images here and then visit the Turning Leaf Photography website for a more in depth view of what a storybook session allows. Spring is the perfect time for our Gone Fishin', which is a favorite for the boys (and families alike!) with a REAL pole, REAL worms and a REAL pond! Girls always love both the tea party and princess storybook sessions!

Turning Leaf's Five Star Reviews can be found HERE, make sure you click thru as the fantastic Google algorythems are importing the star count incorrectly (we are all aware of the problem, however and time will repair this we're told).

Remember, a photograph never grows up!
Creating art, Capturing memories...Because a Photograph Never Grows up-Turning Leaf Photography

Email
678-920-8216

Spring and Easter Portraits with a Live Bunny - Last Chance! April 16, 2011 - Children, Baby, Family Photographer

2011-04-13T09:40:00.001-04:00

Your final opportunity has arrived for spring and Easter portraits with a live bunny at the Marlow House for 2011! Here are just a sampling of the sessions from this year!

The final live bunny session is scheduled for this Saturday, April 16th in the morning hours. There are only a couple of openings left. The package information is below, pre-payment is required as noted to hold your session time. Don't miss out!!

Make sure you check out our reviews HERE (the star counts are not posting correctly due to some Google Algorythm problem which we are aware of, however all sites are five star ratings across the board, please click thru), as well as read reviews and see more bunny pictures at the website below!

http://www.turningleafphotography.com/

Creating art, Capturing memories...Because a photograph never grows up!

678-920-8216

~scroll for package pricing an information~

Live Easter Bunny Portraits for Children - A perfect time for spring portraits! Photographer Atlanta - Marietta, Ga

2011-03-04T10:25:00.008-05:00

Absolute LAST CHANCE for Portraits with a Live Bunny at the Marlow House on the Marietta Square! Sessions now open for booking on April 16, 2011 for morning.
Limited availability, by appointment/bookings only.
-Only a few openings left as of 4/10/11-
Call or email today. Details on packages, pricing and session info is below. Sessions require non-refundable prepayment at time of bookings to hold your appointment time.

All of the sudden, everyone seems to have spring fever!! I know I do and I'm ready to roll with bunny sessions! If you are searching for a photographer to photograph your kids with a live bunny, this is the real deal.

These sessions are held at the beautiful and historic Marlow House on the Marietta Square. They have been so kind as to have Turning Leaf Photography back again for year three of bunny portraits! I love working with the Marlow House as there are ample opportunities for portraits with the bunny in their wonderful front courtyard and porch.

Session dates and times for portraits with the live bunny are Tuesday, March 22nd in the morning as well as Saturday, March 26th in the morning. Sessions are by appointment and are limited availability. Session package fee's are due at time of booking to hold your date and time and are non-refundable. Your package comes with the prints and session as shown below, however you are more than welcome to purchase more prints and other products!! There are no limits....!

Please call or email for more information and bookings! This is the hottest thing going right now...make sure you don't miss out as I am filling up fast!! Prints will be back in time for Easter!!

678.920.8216
info@turningleafphotography.com
Creating art, Capturing memories...Because a photograph never grows up!

Childrens Tea Party Session ~ Vintage portraiture, Sweet Sisters ~ Childrens Photographer Atlanta, Ga

2011-03-02T17:49:00.000-05:00

Ahhh...the smell of sunshine and green grass, what can be sweeter as a child? Memories for me were laying on my back in the grass and watching cloud shapes go by while the smell of fresh cut grass floated in the air. The fleeting moments of childhood...they seemed to last forever! But they are gone in the blink of an eye...literally, upon looking back.

How about capturing these moments with a spring tea party?! We are coming up on one of the greatest times of year for photography sessions and a tea party is the perfect opportunity to capture your children in a unique, one of a kind way..artistically. These images are Photo Art.

To top it off, tea parties come with dress up and fabulous photographs in a vintage style. I must admit, this is still one of my favorite sessions. I love sessions that allow me to work in a vintage look and styling.....the kind that beckon Mayberry and Shirley Temple! I will say this...these photos are also fantabulous in color and I had a really hard time with some of them going vintage because they were so great in color as well! The client loved all of the images in both color and vintage and ended up purchasing a session album, which is an awesome keepsake!

Contact Turning Leaf Photography today, we specialize in storybook princess sessions, vintage sessions, gone fishing sessions (with a real pole and pond) and any other unique one of a kind sessions in which to create heirloom photo art. The sky is the limit on ideas! Shoot us an email or give us a ring-a-ding to create your own custom session!

Creating art, Capturing memories...Because a Photograph never Grows up!

http://www.turningleafphotography.com/

678.920.8216

Photographer, Atlanta GA on Thumbtack.com

2011-03-02T16:15:00.002-05:00

Please check us out on one of the newest search sevices available! It's called Thumbtack! I'm not sure anyone but my grandma uses the phone book or yellow pages anymore! Thumbtack.com is a great way to search for your favorite photographer, Like Turning Leaf Photography in Atlanta, Ga! Check it out below!
Thumbtack.com

Spring Portraits with a Live Bunny! Atlanta Childrens Photographer

2011-02-15T10:18:00.001-05:00

It's that time of year again! Spring is just around the corner and I'm finally getting the word on the street after much prodding from past clients that do not want to miss out on the special live Easter bunny/spring portraits with a live bunny! These die hard clients have had their bunny ears on and are waiting in the wings to hop on this seasonal event!

I am fortunate enough to have the same bunny three years running...he's amazing! You can see him here in the picture...isn't he precious? His name is either Jasper or Booger, depending on who's asking me. :)

So....without further ado, you will NOT want to miss out on the 3rd annual spring portraits with a live bunny at the Historic Marlow House located on the Marietta Square!

Live bunny sessions are available by packages only. Pricing is shown above.

Details: Sessions include bunny session theming only, per terms and conditions. Space is limited and by appointment only. All sessions include an online password protected gallery and slideshow for four days for ordering. Prints included with the package are lustre finish. Mailing option is available upon checkout. Non-refundable prepayment is required in full at time of appointment booking to hold your session date and time. This fee includes up to three children, siblings only, each additional child is $25 per.

VISIT WEBSITE for previous years of live bunny pictures and more!

EMAIL us for information and appointment bookings

PHONE/TEXT 678.920.8216

Join us on FACEBOOK

Creating art, Capturing memories...Because a photograph never grows up! Turning Leaf Photography

{Who's your Valentine?} Valentines Couple Contest, Atlanta Photographer

2011-02-03T17:02:00.002-05:00

{Who's your Valentine?} Is it your best friend? Your dog? Or have you found that special someone this year? Whoever it is, you make a great pair, so submit a photo of you with your Valentine to our Best "You and Your Valentine" photo contest and the winner will receive a complimentary mini session!

I'm desperately in love..how do I enter?

1) email me a picture of you and your valentine!

IN THE SUBJECT LINE of your email type the text "Who's your Valentine?". *clean pics only, follow some decency quite obviously.

2) join me on facebook and come to my wall to say hello! I entered your 'who's your valentine contest!' or something to that fact. GIVE ME some typed love and let me know you are excited about this contest!!

3) after joining my facebook share my facebook page via that super awesome 'share with friends' option and tell them about turning leaf photography.

4) tweet about turning leaf photography and this special to all your tweet pals!

Great, that's easy, how do I win?

entries MUST be received by 2/13/11. i have judges on-hand to help me pick the best entry. the best entry will be chosen 2/14 and announced here as well as on facebook ON 2/14-I know you will be on the edge of your seat! You may only enter once.

Ok, what do I win?

a complimentary on-location weekday mini-session within 10 miles of area code 30188, Woodstock GA and an 8x10 print of your choice. All images will be masterfully edited in the Turning Leaf style, posted in an online slideshow gallery for viewing and ordering for four days. you are welcome to purchase what you love!

**session must be completed by 2/28/11. must be 18 or older to enter. model release required. no cash value. non-trasferrable. no exceptions**

Live Bunny Portraits for Spring & Easter - Atlanta Photographer

2011-02-01T17:12:00.002-05:00

Be All Ears!

Bunny portrait information is coming soon!

Because a Photograph Never Grows Up...Turning Leaf Photography Portraits with a Live Bunny.

You will not want to miss out on this fantastic seasonal event with Turning Leaf Photography, spring portraits with a live bunny! I've already been receiving requests for information...so you will not want to delay booking once session info is announced. I expect to fill in quickly as this is a very anticipated event and sessions will be limited! I will add, babies and children alike LOVE the session with the bunny.

While it's dreary and grey outside, I'm happy to be lost in my thoughts for the coming Spring months! Yes, your minds should already be drifting to the Spring attire your children will wear for bunny portraits. Hey, it's never to early to plan the perfect smocked dress or pick out gloves and a hat for Easter is it?! I know, I know, we were taught not to wear white shoes before Spring comes...but let your little girl have some fun already! :)

I am very happy to announce that Jasper, shown here, will be back again for his third year with portraits for the kiddies at the Marlow House in Marietta! He's an amazing rabbit, really...I'm not kidding, his demeanor is fabulous! He's also very handsome and photogenic as well, I might add. This little guy has had his ears twisted and tied in knots and he just rolls right along with the session (and he get's plenty of love, affection and treats as well when he's visiting Turning Leaf Photography!).

I might have a couple of other fun things up my sleeve that I think many of you will find exciting as well, but you will have to wait just a little while longer to find out what that might be! If you would like to receive informational updates for portraits with a live bunny, make sure you Friend me on Facebook (where my MOST up to date information is almost always announced) or email me as I would always love to hear from you and would be more than happy to keep you in the loop!

If you would like to see reviews from past clients, you may read them here on Google and view pictures from previous bunny, Easter and spring sessions at my WEBSITE.

I hope to hear from you soon! Say hello when you stop by!

Kristie

http://www.turningleafphotography.com/

Creating Art, Capturing Memories...Because a Photograph Never Grows Up!

Go-Red For Women - with spokeswoman Linda Couch for the American Heart Association [photographer, atlanta]

2011-02-01T16:11:00.000-05:00

Wow! Happy 2/1/11! I can't believe it's February! That means we are one month closer to SPRING! yay!!

With Valentines Day in the hump of the month, this is the perfect time to blog about this fantastic lady I photographed in January...her name is Linda Couch. She first contacted me last October 2010 regarding portraits so that when the media swarms her with requests she would be ready with pictures she loved, alas things just didn't get around to happening and then the holidays. But, we finally hooked up! I'm so glad we did and we had great weather to boot {no boot pun intended}!!

Let me tell you, this is one busy person!

Please set your DVR's for Thursday, 2/2/11 on WSB with Brenda Woods who has an airing of an interview with Linda that evening. Then, talk about celebrity locals hitting it BIG???? Linda will also be in NEW YORK and on the TODAY show with Kathi Lee this Friday, 2/3/11.

Talk about exciting!!! I am SO excited for her!!

Linda's story is amazing~seriously...read her own words and see her video at the links below!!! Not only has she had a heart transplant, she also had a double hip transplant. Look at this lady wearing heels I would never even consider buying!! She most certainly is a perfect candidate to reach women for the American Heart Association with her wonderful personality and story. I'm so happy to have met her!

You can read more about Linda Couch here:

Woman's Day Magazine

Go Red For Women

Newborn and Maternity Photographer - Atlanta

2011-01-02T19:39:00.003-05:00

I really wanted to have a fun Facebook contest for moms-to-be. Alas, everyone is super busy and Facebook also has strict rules about contests, which change daily. So...I decided to add this blogger post about my baby plan. These are just a few of the details, so make sure you contact me for the skinny and this way, everyone wins!!!

Baby Plan includes 3 custom photo sessions. Newborn, 6 & 12 month.

At the end of baby's first year receive a custom art canvas with your three favorite poses, including your child/baby's name.

Baby plan clients receive priority on my calendar!

Maternity sessions can be added onto the plan!

Baby plan includes everything a normal session would + more!!

What better way to remember baby's first year, capturing your their special milestones and whirlwind changes! It's just one less thing to worry about when it's pre-planned!

Add Turning Leaf Photography to your registry list for baby showers!!

There are lots of great products to choose from including custom announcements, custom albums and other heirloom keepsakes perfect for remembering baby's first year!

In addition, moms-to-be who book with my baby plan before January 31, 2011 receive 50 custom birth announcements!

Turning Leaf Photography is one of Atlanta's premier family portrait photographers. Kristie Andraschko at Turning Leaf Photography was voted 'Best Family Photographer in Atlanta' by Nickelodeon's ParentConnect for 2010.

-More information about newborn photography-

Kristie's photography style is naturally posed, candid and photojournalistic with a flair for the artistic eye. Kristie intertwines her love of art with photography to create heirloom Photo Art. With a strong love for vintage photographs and illustrated art, Kristie is sought out for her unique, one-of-a-kind artistic offerings. "I was always told I'd be an artist when I grew up...I just never want to grow up! Capturing real memories, in real time and knowing these moments will never come again for a client moves me beyond words."

Working closely with clients who enjoy taking a more active role in the creation of their families memories, Turning Leaf accepts a limited number of art portrait sessions per month. Turning Leaf offers a variety of art portrait sessions including maternity, newborn, baby, children, families and couples.

It's never too early to book your newborn session! Custom commissioned artwork, albums, birth announcements, prints, fine art gallery canvas and digital file collections are all available. Contact Turning Leaf Photography today for information on baby plans, packages and art portrait booking information.

Creating art, Capturing memories...Because a Photograph never grows up!

Phone: 678.920-8216

TurningLeafPhotography.com

Turning Leaf Photography - Atlanta, GA Photographer

Contact Turning Leaf Photography for more information on our baby plan!!

check our website for more newborn and maternity portraits!

http://www.turningleafphotography.com/

678.920.8216

info@turningleafphotography.com

Santa Said: A Santa Claus Book

2010-12-14T11:37:00.000-05:00

Santa portraits are behind us for yet another holiday season and the holiday hustle and bustle is here!

Santa is magical to myself and many others and I would like to invite you to visit his website as well as checkout his newly published book. This book makes a great gift. You can purchase right online via PayPal! Santa, the author is a local author and the book features illustrations by Ramona Bassett with Design and Printing by Treva Couch.

Santa Said is a colorful, fully illustrated, soft cover, 14 page book detailing Santa's magical Christmas Eve voyage. http://believe-in-the-magic.com/

{Excerpt from Website}
Christmas is such a fun and exciting time. It is a time of visiting friends and family, lots of shopping and eating good food. We enjoy giving and getting gifts, decorating our homes and putting up Christmas trees. In some areas of the world people enjoy the cold weather and snow that come with winter. And yes most look forward to the tradition of Santa Claus’ visit on Christmas Eve.

With that said I ask you all to never forget why we really celebrate. It is the birth of Jesus. Without the birth of this Child over two thousand years ago there would be no Christmas.

“For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11.

Please enjoy Christmas and remember why we celebrate.
Santa Buck

On the Fifth Day of Christmas - Photographer, Atlanta

2010-12-03T10:18:00.001-05:00

For the Fifth Day of Christmas, you will receive an awesome custom desktop calendar with 12 images from your session! This is a great gift or just keep it for yourself and display it on your desk!

Want this special???

To redeem the gift of the day, all you have to do is call 678-920-8216, text 678-920-8216 or email me kristie@turningleafphotography.com today saying “I want today's special!!!!!” then book and pay for your session today in full to claim your special gift!!

Tell your friends, tell your family! Spread the news! Visit my website http://www.turningleafphotography.com/ join me on Facebook and subscribe to my Blogger....!

Remember each person participating in the 12 Days of Christmas will be entered to win other fabulous prizes! For more details on the 12 Days of Christmas, please view my previous posts on this special event; call or email!!

Portraits with Santa 2010- Santa Portraits - Photographer Atlanta, Ga

2010-12-02T09:43:00.002-05:00

Heirloom Santa Portraits

When it comes to Santa, the magic really takes hold for the season! The holidays are one of my favorite times of the year for portraits, especially with children! I get SO excited when Santa comes to town for photographs! The anticipation and surprise is priceless and what a joy for me to capture these cherished moments that will last for a lifetime as photo art.

Santa will again be at the Historic Marlow House with Turning Leaf Photography on December 9th for more portraits! The Marlow House will be decorated in their georgeous vintage style as they will be hosting visitors this upcoming weekend for the annual Marietta Pilgrimage Tour on December 4th and 5th, 2010. The georgeous decorations provided by the Marlow House will be the backdrop for portraits on this special date. Sessions are by appointment/pre-paid booking only and are limited. Sessions allow for plenty of time to visit with Santa. For the children who are afraid, this is the perfect opportunity for a portrait with Santa as we will take the time for un-knowing portraits! Santa sessions are available in package format below. Call today 678-920-8216, email kristie@turningleafphotography.com; don't miss your opportunity for heirloom portraits with Santa at the Marlow House, this is not your mall Santa photo.

Peek at sessions from November 2010 with Santa

In November, I was lucky enough to have Santa visit from the North Pole and come to the beautiful and historic Marlow House, located on the Marietta Square, for portraits. At the time of these portraits, the Marlow House was not decorated for the holidays, so I themed my own setup. I went to the Marlow House early in the day with all of my props, used some Santa magic to set up to be ready for portraits by 4pm; then turned around after portraits were done and took everything back down and loaded up my sleigh.

The evening was more than magical. Here are just a few of the portraits taken in November 2010.

Photo art created from Santa portraits for clients:

Norman Rockwell Style

Twas the Night Before Christmas & Sugar Plum Fairy Dreams

{special Christmas card theme commissioned by a client}

More Santa Baby....! December 9th, 2010 Turning Leaf Photography

2010-11-18T13:25:00.001-05:00

If you missed out on November 15th Santa Portraits at the Marlow House on the historic Marietta Square, you are in for a treat! I talked to the Ho Ho Ho man himself and he has cleared his schedule and booked a flight with his Reindeer so you can get your Santa fill!

Bookings are now available for Thursday afternoon, December 9th, 2010. Sessions are by appointment & pre-paid upon booking to reserve your date and time; session packages are shown below.

Please call for your own visit with private visit with Santa by Turning Leaf Photography-voted best family photographer in Atlanta by Nickelodeons ParentConnect!

Creating art, Capturing memories...Because a photograph never grows up!

Atlanta Portrait Photographer | Santa Portraits 2010

2010-11-05T18:04:00.000-04:00

Santa will be with Turning Leaf November 15th, 2010 at the beautiful Marlow House located on the Historic Marietta Square. I only have a few session openings left! Word on the street (and at their website) is that the Phipps Plaza Santa at the Pink Pig are booked solid....!

Sessions bookings are by appointment only...call today! 678.920.8216

View my video featuring some photos from last year: Santa Video

Engagement and Wedding Photography - Atlanta, Ga

2010-10-15T20:49:00.002-04:00

bliss·ful/ˈblisfəl/Adjective
1. Extremely happy; full of joy.
2. Providing perfect happiness or great joy

I do not call myself a wedding photographer. I'm a lifestyle portrait photographer, focusing on families and couples...capturing their 'life'. Sure, I've photographed weddings and repeatedly receive requests to photograph weddings...only the work, stress and hustle and bustle that can come with photographing weddings can be somewhat overwhelming. I'm an artist and I love to create. When you photograph a wedding you feel like you have to be in 10 places at one time! :)When asked to photograph a wedding, I tend to say "I'm not booking weddings at this time".

I have to tell you, the photos I took of Phyllis and Peter actually have me re-considering wedding photography again. I had such a wonderful time, I really enjoyed their pre-wedding hour photography session-which was what they chose to focus on; Not the wedding itself. What a lovely couple and they are so in love.

Congratulations to Phyllis and Peter....they are in all definition of the word: blissful.

Atlanta Photographer booking Santa Portraits at the Marlow House in Marietta, Ga

2010-10-07T16:47:00.000-04:00

Fall is in full swing and we all know it, the holidays are just around the corner! Let's face it, we all get busy...then make a list of 'to do's' which get lost in our pile of papers on the desk and before we know it...uh oh....where did that list go!? Sound familiar? It happened to me today! That means a last minute planning of events for the holidays always happen...but they don't have to. You can book your Santa session today and mark it off your list of 'to do'.

Portraits with Santa by Turning Leaf Photography are non-rushed, non-hustle and bustle...and not at the mall. Enjoy the abience of the Historic Marietta Square and book your Santa session at the Marlow House with Turning Leaf Photography.

This year, I have more options to choose from than ever. From a simple quick picture with Santa, to I want the whole ho ho ho....! Private one-on-one sessions are available with a reading of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. Imagine your child visiting with Santa and reading this cherished holiday treasure just before the holidays are in full swing. The magic of the season happens before your eyes; the wonder and childhood innocence captured in my lens.

Heirloom portraits with Santa don't happen at the mall. Check out my little video clip featuring some of the portraits from 2009 and I think you'll agree...Sugar Plum Fairies do exist....

But hurry...sessions are by appointment only, are limited, and are filling in quickly.

Turning Leaf Photography
Santa Portraits at the Marlow House 2010
678-920-8216

See the Santa Video by Clicking Here....

Voted Best Family Photographer - Atlanta, Ga

2010-09-30T10:33:00.001-04:00

MEDIA ADVISORY*MEDIA ADVISORY*MEDIA ADVISORY

Turning Leaf Photography and Design, an Atlanta based photographer, WON A NICKELODEON'S PARENTSCONNECT PARENTS' PICKS AWARD FOR Best Family Photographer in Atlanta 2010.

The Parents' Picks Awards is an annual nationwide online poll that allows parents to vote for their favorite family places, products and parenting tips. The 2010 voting took place from July 7 through August 31, 2010. ParentsConnect announced the winners online on September 15, 2010.

WHAT: Nickelodeon's ParentsConnect, the online resource for parenting advice and community, is hosting its third annual Parents' Picks Awards. From July to August ParentsConnect invited parents to pick the best parenting products, parenting tips and local family places. Turning Leaf Photography and Design WON for Best Family Photographer in Atlanta, Ga. The 2010 Parents' Picks Award winners will be featured on ParentsConnect throughout the year.

THE WINNERS: The nominee in each category with the most votes was crowned the 2010 Parents Picks Awards WINNER and has been established as the best product, tip or place in that category. To announce their win, they received a "Parents' Picks 2010 Winner" seal to display and will be featured as the winning product, tip or place on Nickelodeon's ParentsConnect site until the 2011 awards, so parents everywhere will know that they are the best of the best.

PARENTSCONNECT BACKGROUND: Featuring the tagline "We're not perfect, we're parents," Nickelodeon's ParentsConnect is the online resource providing parenting advice and community, celebrating the reality of parenthood and making parents' lives easier. Geared towards parents with kids of all ages, from pregnancy to teens, the site offers unique features like personalized profiles that help parents connect with each other; advice from top-tier parenting experts; weekly online parties; hot topic boot camps on burning parenting topics; sweepstakes and giveaways; customizable baby names lists; comprehensive baby name lists; seasonal crafts, recipes and activities; a weekly meal-planner; a weekly newsletter focusing on pregnancy and early childhood milestones; and guest celebrity editorials. Each age-related section on the site provides users with content to help them through both large and small parenting challenges.

CONTACTS: Nicole Bradley / Nicole.Bradley@nick.com / 212.846.5939

Kristie Andraschko / kristie@turningleafphotography.com / 678.920.8216

Best Family Photographer Atlanta Georgia

2010-09-16T16:08:00.001-04:00

It's official!

I was voted 'Best Family Photographer in Atlanta, Georgia' by Nickelodeon's ParentsConnect and you for 2010!

To celebrate, I'm currently holding a special for Facebook Fans....you must be a Facebook Fan to receive the special! Visit my Facebook Page by clicking on the Facebook link here on my Blogger and you will be redirected.

And thank you to everyone for voting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kristie

Turning Leaf Photography

678.920.8216

Go to Nickelodeon ParentConnect by clicking here

My Own Personal Katrina-Five Years Later...

2010-08-27T23:03:00.019-04:00

Five years ago. Where was I?
Where to start?
It's not as easy as I thought it would be.

When I thought about writing my own post about our experiences with Katrina for the five year anniversary, I thought it would be a cinch. I'm always asked when I say 'I went through Katrina....', "So you lived in New Orleans?" No. Our story came from the lesser covered part of the Gulf Coast...Mississipi.

Yep, it's harder than I thought it would be to write my experiences but you would think it should be fairly simple. After all, we've talked about what we went through during the past five years time and again. Ditto with pictures, we’ve shown them over and over. But really, once I sat down and started typing it became harder and harder to explain what we went through. Katrina was so personal to so many people. And really, I don't know if I wrote this again, if it would come out the same. Katrina was multi-faceted, yet everyone who went through Katrina met in the middle, interlocked somewhere, somehow, some way. Simple? Not so. It's complex.

Looking back through the pictures I took throughout our Hurricane Katrina journey, it is clearly evident I wasn't thinking like a photo-journalist. I took pictures that impacted us personally, but not to really show anyone else later or to publish a book with by any means...far from it. I wasn't thinking like that. Something to be proud of and show off? No, far from it. And really, the pictures I took do not really do justice to the devastation we experienced. In some ways, probably because I'm a photographer, I wish I had better pictures and in other ways the memories that swirl in my mind are enough.

For us Katrina was a blessing and a curse.

[remnants of my husbands shop; Long Beach, Miss, across from the beach.]

We'd lived in Mississippi for 8 years at the time and felt we were seasoned veterans at this tropical storm and hurricane thing. We loved Mississippi! Pretty much everything about it...the food, the culture, the people, the seafood, the Mississippi Sound and fishing. When a storm came we had to prep. I remember what we called 'Battening down the Hatches' around our home time after time...it kinda became a joke in a way-thus the reason so many people stayed behind and didn't evacuate. They were tired of it and to be honest in most people's minds you couldn't top Camille in the 60's. So we would prep, this meant cleaning up outside and locking down anything that could blow freely in tropical force winds and sometimes boarding windows. Talking to my mom on the phone before Hurricane Katrina came ashore the days before, I remember her saying 'it's going to be bad' and she wanted us to evacuate. I simply said...oh we'll loose some branches and a few trees...we have a few dead limbs that could come out of there anyhow!

We're staying.

We did our normal run to the grocery store for a loaf of bread, milk, granola bars, bottled water, dry goods, etc...the usual staples of canned goods you would buy when a hurricane or tropical storm is coming. We had just moved and didn't have much more than ketchup though! On the way to the store, I remember seeing cows up to their bellies in ponds of water and thought that odd and interesting. It was hot, but not for the time of day on the eve before the hurricane. They were taking shelter early on.

We filled our bathtubs full of water...something you are also told to do, just in case. We actually parked our vehicles in the middle of our pasture so that trees, if they fell, wouldn't fall on the vehicles. I knew though when I saw the weather forecast the day before the hurricane (because I've always been a weather freak and super glued to The Weather Channel) that we were in trouble. Because Jim Cantore scared me to death saying 'Folks, what you see now, right here, today will not be here tomorrow. The Gulf Coast will be forever changed.' If you are a Weather Channel watcher, you know Jim Cantore. I can see him talking to me now. Scary. I like Jim Cantore though, even though he scared me...and was right.

But THAT scared me. The Tropical Updates scared me-always made my heart race and made my blood pressure rise. By the time we'd heard that report, they wouldn't even let you evacuate if you wanted to. We heard of people trying to evacuate at the last minute and they would be turned back by the police saying the roads were closed. The interstates were closed and we were staying. No going back now.

Rewind: June 2005

We had decided in June 2005 we wanted to move to a farm, to be 'land bearers' and have 'privacy'-not even see a neighbor from our house! I'm sure there are some of you that can relate to that. We'd always dreamed of having property.

At the time we lived on the Back Bay of Biloxi in a boating type community, beside a house on a canal. It was a beautiful neighborhood by the water with houses on pillars, boats in the driveway or canal behind the house and pretty sunsets. But we wanted horses and chickens-we'd done the boating thing (another story or 10 or 20 for another time)!

So....we called our realtor friend to put her on the prowl. It didn't take long because she said she had just listed a property 30 miles north of the coast, she said take a drive up and look at it and let me know what you think. She knew at our last house purchase we had wanted property and couldn't find what we were looking for at the time. So we drove up to look at it - the same day. We were hooked, line and sinker. A diamond in the rough....a beautiful home with an amazing ten and a half foot deep wrap around porch, pastures, a meadow, a barn, a pond....massive azaleas lining the driveway. Picture perfect and we had a vision of what it could be-better than it was. It was all perfect for our family, exactly what we'd wanted, it was unbelieveable we found it. It had been empty two years, it needed some work and it could be ours. We could picture the horses running and grazing in the pasture and the chickens clucking and scratching around, free-ranging no less, with our kids collecting eggs! PERFECT! Here are pictures taken in 2006 or so, a year after Katrina.

Happiness on the farm!

We made an offer-the offer was accepted.
Friends and neighbors thought we were slightly crazy actually. Here are some pictures from before Katrina.

Long Beach, Mississippi and Ship Island Mississippi on the Mississippi Sound-beautiful!

Gulfport Beach and the kids to the left; hubby with the kids and fish with the boat and Ship Is again.

The house we moved out of, pre-Katrina

After all, we loved the water; REALLY loved the water as you can tell by our pictures; and that's a tiny sampling. We loved fishing and we were the type to be on our boat just about every weekend in the summer-even many times in the winter-to fish and we fished the oil rigs and went to the islands in the Mississippi Sound with the kids (the beaches are awesome out there as you can see!). We loved our house, neighborhood, neighbors, friends and the kid’s school. There was NO rhyme or reason to it, other than we wanted a farm! We felt the urge to move. We were told we wouldn't sell our boat for what we had in it. We didn't listen. We put our house located on the Back Bay of Biloxi on the market. And.....had an offer within three days, just a drive by...no appointment. They made an offer! We accepted! We sold our boat for what we asked for it the following week. All within a month or so of finding our dream farm, we were moved off the coast and the Back Bay of Biloxi in a whirlwind. A domino affect. A door opened, a window closed. A blessing.

August 29, 2005

Three short weeks later, Hurricane Katrina. A curse? Or a blessing?

The sign propped up on the house on the left say's 'for sale 1/2 off'. This house was located about 5 homes away from the house we moved out of. The image on the right is just a massive pile of 2x4's of what used to be homes and possessions.

The house we had moved out of on the Back Bay of Biloxi and had lived in and loved so much too, had nine feet of water taken in. We were still very connected to our old house and neighborhood; after all it had only been about three weeks since we had moved. The water that came in was higher than the door jams. Everything was basically destroyed, we never had flood insurance there either. It wasn't required. The family who had just purchased our house and evacuated lost everything. We were the ones to call them and tell them. What an awful feeling.

We would have lost everything had we still lived there. Everything. My husband didn't like to evacuate. He would have stayed in our house. Oh my. This is where I stumble somewhat because so much happened so quickly, in such a short period of time, it's hard to keep it all straight, especially when you are in shock. I've tried to keep things clear and concise as best as I can.

Deep Impact.

Upper right: our friends and neighbors house who stayed with us during the hurricane (the snippet of their house is on the left of the picture, yes that is an overturned boat and a pile of cars). Bottom right: The house we moved out of before Katrina.

What happened during the hurricane is hard to describe to people. My husband thought the roof was going to lift off the house. I've never seen so torrential rain or wind like that and I had seen my share of storms. The best way we can describe the rain and wind is similar to when you use a pressure washer and hold it sideways? And it hurts if it hits you? I'm not quite sure how fast that comes out mph or pressure wise; imagine that force. Now imagine it for almost 12 hours, all around you. That's what it was like, waves of someone spraying a pressure washer wand. Even in our house, you could hear the wind and rain slamming sideways into the house and trees cracking under the force of the wind like a football player cracking his knuckles before a super bowl game. When we would hear a lot of cracking in the distance, we knew a huge burst of wind was coming our way. It came in waves, in a pattern of sorts. And we would cringe for the impact. The day went pretty fast, ironically. The power went out early on in the day. We sat huddled with our backs against the refrigerator on a cooler and kitchen chairs with our neighbors, in our kitchen away from the windows, but just enough behind the counter to see out our windows and feel as safe as we could under the circumstances.

I mainly have little video clips of the storms progression of wind blowing through the trees and rain blowing sideways. Pictures at this point wouldn't show much except a blur...and I didn't take any anyhow.

I will post a few here on the blog.

Eventually I got scared the wind would actually blow the windows in and shatter glass everywhere...and I stopped recording before the peak of the hurricane, so this is not the worst of what we endured, it was just ramping up. We put the kids in the center of the house in a bathroom without windows and tons of pillows, sleeping bags and stuffed animals. The broadcasting we could get on the radio was New Orleans news and the fact that the dome was loosing its roof and some of that hoopla. Well that didn't sound too good, but what about Mississippi? We were in the eastern eye wall, the worse part of a hurricane.

After the hurricane passed us by us there were barely leaves left on the trees. The leaves were now like confetti from a party and were now stuck directly to the sides of the house and littering the ground. Part of our vinyl siding panels were blown into the woods. The smell of rain and Christmas hung heavily in the air from the massive amount of pine tree damage. The sky was a strange off color peach, grey, green (not pretty really when you combine those together) and clouds were racing overhead. Our pond had overflowed its banks and was still was surging from all of the run off. Our creek sounded like the Colorado River. The birds weren't singing, in fact I don't remember seeing or hearing birds for quite some time or even seeing squirrels scrounging for acorns. In the days following Katrina, it actually looked like fall because the leaves that were left on the trees dried up and fell off, ugly brown and shriveled right up due to stress and wind damage. Some trees had damage from being bent and died. Other trees remained at a serious slant from the strong wind. In the DeSoto National Forest near our home, there were forests of pine trees leaning the same direction depending on the way the wind blew. Slanted trees. Like hundreds of leaning towers of Piza. A month later there were new leaves emerging, green and bright like spring had come, only to have fall come to soon and again turn them brown for winter.

It doesn't look like much, does it? It was a tangled mess. This was the front yard at the house on the farm. Notice the leaves out of the trees and all over covering the ground.

We did loose alot. But it wasn't personal and material loss of our own per se.

Remember the roof my husband was worried about? We had just put a new roof on our house and only lost one shingle.

We lost friends due to stress over time, places we loved completely disappeared and never returned, we were taken over by a sea of blue tarped roofs and sometimes roofs covered in billboard material that had blown off in the wind. Convoys of US military (which were appreciated) and made you weep to see them. Yes, we lost a lot, including my husbands job. Katrina hurt to the core. Fortunately, we didn't know anyone personally that lost their life due to Katrina, though where we had moved from we heard of a body count of thirteen if I remember correctly, found behind our friends and neighbors home of neighborhood locals, who had stayed behind in their homes to ride out the storm. I didn't know those people personally. We were the fortunate ones and to be quite honest knowing just how fortunate we were was our driving force to recover. "We are the lucky ones".

We kept telling ourselves this. This phrase was the twine that held us together after the storm.

We have friends who lost everything; it broke our hearts to see the devastation to their homes, businesses and property. Their personal lives in shambles. They were way worse off than us. Our friends and neighbors who stayed with us during the hurricane, so they didn't have to evacuate out of state, lost everything. And I mean what they brought with them to our house, is what they had left. Pretty much everything else, they lost. Their furniture, a vehicle, their house, everything ruined.

Thank God they stayed with us. A blessing.

We really would have struggled without them in the country on the farm in the messy aftermath. Sure, where we moved to, we had TONS of damage. But not complete loss, far from it actually. Not even a tree or limb on the house. A blessing. We endured 130mph winds and flooding downpours, lost literally 100's of trees...we stopped counting and we'd lost one measly roof shingle. The trees alone took us over four months (ok, maybe a year or two-we added to the cleaning with other projects) of clean up. We literally had countless house sized piles of burning trees and limbs for months and hauled trees to the main street where they were picked up by FEMA to be burned at other locations. If I never have to pick up another limb, I will be happy.

But we were the lucky ones.

When we bought our farm, we bought the tractor that was on the property. My husband had just on a spur of the moment, bought a nice big honker of a Husqavarna chainsaw as well that he happened upon on the return shelf at Home Depot and we had just borrowed a four-wheeler from a friend. Without those items and help from our neighbors, I'm not sure how things would have panned out on the farm...surely not the same as if we had been alone. The farm was on a 1/4 mile long gravel road with one other neighbor, who evacuated to Florida.

After the winds died down some and the main bulk of Katrina passed us by, out came the chainsaw, the tractor, the four wheeler and a massive chain or two along with I don't know what else. We had trees piled up on our driveway, trees down everywhere you looked (but not on the house). When the clean up crew of two made it to the road and cleared past those trees, there were more trees, piled one top of another and then more trees. Pine trees stacked 3, 4 and 5 trees high like pick up sticks and toothpicks a child has played with and left for mom to clean up. That was the report, more trees, we can't get through. After a few days of cleaning up trees, rationing food, bathing in the creek (yes, we did that too) and flushing toilets with creek water we hauled up in Rubbermaid garbage cans in a wagon...finally they made a somewhat passable cleared path to the main road, which looked the same.....looking left and right...trees down. There were piles upon piles of pine trees criss-crossing the roads, power lines down. It was crazy. Many of the neighbors along that road pitched in and tried to clean up what they could, at least to make a one car pass here and there.

I actually didn't take many pictures of some of these things because it was so chaotic and I never ventured too far past our driveway. My camera wasn’t really what was on my mind. The pictures I did take do not even do justice to the devastation. The seals in our double paned windows broke due to the force of the winds and they eventually gathered moisture between the panes. We lived without electricity for the weeks following Katrina. We ate MRE's (military meals ready to eat) and drank Gatorade with foreign labels because eventually military had a daily depot for goods and ice at the local volunteer fire department. Our cell phones did not work; the military had taken over the cell towers-all we could see was a little airplane symbol for service on the cellphone? And No Service. We had cell coverage immediately after the hurricane, but not the following day. We were basically disconnected. Unplugged. Fortunately we did eventually get a small window a/c unit, gas, dry goods and a generator. We used this wisely since it was gas powered, but did run our fridge and freezer...and everyone should remember the gas shortage that Katrina created. Luckily our tractor was diesel! Still, we worried about fuel.

Another story I won't tell here. And again, no pictures, venturing out in search for gas and goods worried you would in fact run out while out and not be able to get back and be stranded....finding lines upon lines of cars and people-I'm sure you saw the images on tv anyhow.

But we were the lucky ones.

When we eventually made the trip south to the coast winding off and on the road past piles of trees, power lines and power poles and to the neighborhood we had just moved from (following behind our friends and neighbors who had helped us clear up our driveway and road), the feeling was indescribable. The further south we went, towards the coast, there was more evidence of destruction. The further south, the deeper our sinking feeling hit us. It was a lot to take in. We only had radio broadcasting and much of that came out of New Orleans, local news had been chaotic and sketchy and we had only heard that one city for sure, Pass Christian, that had been completely submerged and no contact. So we weren't positive what had happened on the coast, but we had a feeling and it wasn't good.

The smell upon reaching the Back Bay was even more indescribable and the sun, heat and humidity were fierce. The friends who stayed with us, like I mentioned, lost everything. Their house, part of it anyhow, is in a picture I posted. Never, ever, would we have imagined the water coming into the neighborhood and into the homes like it did, not once. Ever.

There was saw grass from the Back Bay washed up into homes with water moccasins and mud, over turned cars everywhere, boats in yards, blown out doors and piles of debris which included mounds of 2x4's and a child’s bunkbed and so on and so forth. You can see some of that here in this video of the neighborhood we lived in. Some houses standing on pillars, the underneath gone, some just a slab. Again, there were really no leaves on the trees…in August. And just imagine 90+ f heat and 100% humidity with the bottom of a muddy Back Bay baking in a home, along roadsides along with the smell of rotting food, swarms of knats and saw grass piled on top of furniture along with who knows what else.

Once we reached our friends and neighbors home and the neighborhood we'd just moved from three or so short weeks before, we just cried.

Cried, hugged each other and went to work. They climbed in through their bedroom window (busted out by the force of the water surge) and handed us soggy photographs, jewelry and any personal items that could be salvaged. They had to watch for snakes. We lined the driveway with pages from albums and photos so they could dry out. Really, even thinking back it's incomprehensible. Unbelievable. What a crazy feeling to know we had barely scraped out of this devastation and of loosing everything, but our friends and neighbors did not. They went to Georgia that day, to stay with family.

We were the lucky ones. Yes, we were the lucky ones.

December 2005: Was the first time we personally were able to drive along the beach. This area was kept closed for many reasons. This is my husband on the rubble of the building where he used to work. This building was in Long Beach, Mississippi across from the beach. Notice the upper right picture. This was an area that used to be a two story apartment building.

Wash, rinse, repeat.

Day after day after day.

All we could do was clean up. There was no place to go work for months. Schools were closed for weeks. Everyone was working to clean up, survive and rebuild. So we woke, we worked cleaning up any debris and tree stuff basically, which we burned, we ate what we could, we took showers (we had a well and we hooked the pump to the generator) and took turns using the hot water from the water heater in the attic heated by the sun during the day....though it didn't bother us much to take cold showers in the dark! We were thankful for a house with a roof and walls and windows. And it was amazing how a noisy generator humming in the background while you slept wouldn't be heard because you were dog tired. We woke up and did it again. and again. and again. From sun up to sun down.

I never realized how dark it was outside without lights.

Amazingly dark. And how bad I could hurt! Advil, Tylenol? I think we took it...I don't remember, but I think so. But honestly, with the clean up, we punished ourselves and didn’t think about what we were doing. We just did it. I’m sure many others were in the same situation. Just do it, don't think. Survival mode.

To make a long story short (believe me I could go on and on and this really isn't short) we were able to obtain a generator as I said, fuel, dry and canned goods etc fairly quickly, within a week or so of Katrina. We made do and eventually had our electricity turned back on, weeks later. I remember that day!!! How awesome to be able to turn everything back on...including the coveted Air Conditioner! We took the down plastic sheeting we'd taped up to keep cool air in a specific area of the home from the window a/c unit. Just the electricity coming on made us feel like we were alive again. Being able to cook on the stove, a full meal for the family, not only mac and cheese or canned Chunky Campbell’s Soup on a portable Coleman Stove....and run a dishwasher. The kids finally went back to school with classrooms that had been repaired (somewhat) with pink plastic insulation sheeting, and no windows to see out of because they covered them up. It was only slightly eerie to have pink tinted light in your classroom. All a blessing.

I will say, that Coleman Stove came in handy though.....!

October 2005 and forward

I had a small design and sign shop in Biloxi prior to Katrina, where we produced and sold magnetic signs and banners to contractors coming into the area to work-believe me there were a lot of them. We eventually opened the shop again once we felt somewhat situated and the electricity had come back on. It got us through. But my husband eventually got a better job the following spring and we closed that shop down. We eventually created our own little paradise of property over the following year or two. We got one horse and then another...and then fifty chickens. And had baby chickens. We had rabbits. And had baby rabbits. There were snakes in our pond, but the azaleas in the spring and the smell of horse sweat was wonderful. We loved it for the most part, for quite some time.

It was a blessing and a curse.

That twine started wearing thin. And we grew tired. Of the same depressing news. We were like the energizer bunny running on the batteries that wouldn't recharge. We would be drained physically and emotionally at the drop of a hat, it was an odd feeling. We would reach the edge and then push further and further. It wore thin, burning yourself at both ends mentally and physically. And we still get zapped immediately for no apparent reason from time to time. A curse in it's own way.

When we left our retreat of a farm or turned on the news or the radio, or drove down to the beach (which we did only the first time in December of 2005 because you had to prove residency in that area to go there), we realized everything outside our property was still devastated. So we could be happy at home but if we left, we returned to a depressed state. This happened time after time, it was humbling and depressing at the same time. It was so incredibly depressing to see things not coming back. Each time this happened it would take us a long time to recover mentally from the impact of it all. I couldn't stand the news anymore with Katrina this and Katrina that and we barely drove to the coast. Vacant slabs from buildings that once stood on a street corner you knew and even used as a landmark. Olive Garden washed away even...it's hard to live without Olive Garden people! And that was the best Olive Garden!! Ok, a little joke there. But you get my point. It was just plain hard. Every day, day after day. Even a year later every time the news was on, Hurricane Katrina was mentioned! And we felt the economy sucking wind along with our spirits...that twine holding us together had finally started unraveling at both ends and worked its way to the center of the twine only to leave a tiny, very thin thread.

Yes, surreal. Where my husband had worked.

It was two years later and we were tired and quite honestly, depressed. Ironically, our dream wasn't a dream anymore without everything else that we had loved on the coast. And mentally and physically, Katrina broke us. The farm began to feel more and more like work and wasn't enjoyable. As much as we loved the farm and horses and chikens and rabbits, they were work. Everywhere we looked, work. We mowed week after week, for hours upon end and ended up clearing a good 20 acres of land during that time as well. We never had down time. We were work-a-holics! Just one day it hit us and we were wiped out.

We decided, somewhat reluctantly to sell our beautiful home and farm, feeling we had become much like the economy there. We were also stagnant. After two years of fighting tooth and nail and living through Hurricane Katrina and reaching what we thought was our dream, we tucked our tail and moved to Georgia in 2007. Again, ironically once we made the decision to sell, we again contacted our realtor friend. And the person who bought the property and house was a relative of the former owner. We came out well considering the property was not on the coast where property values really had tanked. Yep, ironic and entwined.

A window opened, many doors closed. A blessing.

It was time to move on. We moved from Kennesaw to Mississippi in 1999, so basically moving to Georgia was a coming home in a way. We felt we had better potential in Georgia and after all, I grew up in Marietta and family would be nearby. We live two miles from my parents now and have friends here. Plus it was refreshing to have a different view and away from the constant Katrina and FEMA talk.

For us, Katrina was reality and taught us to really take nothing for granted. Our perspective has forever been changed. We are very fortunate to have ended up where we are and are happy to be here. Five years later we feel like we've aged older than our years. Sometimes we feel as if we've lived a few lifetimes and Katrina seems like a bad dream in ways. Still, that very thin thread keeps us tied to the coast in many ways. We do miss many things about the coast, including the food, many good times we did have and a couple super great friends that are still there dealing now with the aftermath of the oil spill...which is a story for another person to tell.

Since we’ve been in Georgia life has been pretty good. Once we moved here, the first thing I did was purchase a professional camera and start my photographic journey in Georgia. I hit the ground running. Turning Leaf has been GREAT and another dream come true and I feel it's in it's infancy. It's been three years of building and constant work and has a long way to go! No, we definately cannot complain about being here! After all, we have very little grass to mow and a pool in the backyard.

It took us awhile to settle in, oddly enough. We didn't realize how in shock we were still, even two years after the hurricane and after we moved here. We still would get zapped quickly and had what we personally started calling Katrina alzheimers. Still sometimes we cannot remember some things we should be able to remember, but we've gotten better. We finally don’t have panic attacks when the tropical updates come on the weather or when the wind and rain pick up. We finally watched a dvd of the devastation on the Mississippi Gulf Coast after we moved away; we were unable to watch it before that. Yes, I think we had post traumatic stress disorder, without a doubt. You function, and you live life, but you have it. You don't think, you just do. We have friends and family close by and we live in a great neighborhood. The kids again love their friends and their school as well. We’ve definitely settled in to our groove, but it's taken time to heal. But we also feel we will never be the same as we were before Katrina. I still have a hard time eating some brands of granola bars (ha ha), I don't buy Cambells Chunky soup anymore and we are way beyond boxed mac and cheese. We ate too much of it all.

Funny enough, when we moved, we had one box of MRE's left (meals ready to eat). Yes, we moved them to Georgia with us (don't ask why? we also moved our fifty chickens and horses too). We took those MRE's up to the local Goodwill with a load of get rid of some stuff and the manager of the store wanted them badly for hunting and camping. Good riddance to those! I hope he enjoyed them!

I do have to say, I know New Orleans had a hard time with Katrina, but their story was different and they did overshadow Mississippi. Mississippi shouldn't be forgotten. We were in the eyewall. We endured terrible damage and terrible loss. It still hurts us to see them struggling. If I tell people "I went through Katrina." They automatically think I am from New Orleans. It's a little frustrating to be honest to explain, no, I was in Mississippi and it was bad there. But it's hard to explain. Still.

Katrina taught me a lot of things. In many ways I don't have much room for drama and I don't mean Dynasty or 90210. I'm a really down to earth and for real person, I always was...but even more so now. I'm just me. I'm slightly sarcastic and see things sometimes in a funny or cynical way. As a family, husband and wife, we learned perserverence, who our real friends were, how to be humble and not take a roof over your head and walls around you for granted. How to push yourself beyond your limits...way beyond without thinking. It was like going on a walk and you kept walking and finally reached China and not realizing how far it really was to walk there, but it was exhausting. You just didn't think about it for the most part. But, eventually, it was hard to make that trip again and again. We can never get that time during Katrina back in a normal mode, so we learn from it. I realized strengths in magnatudes I never knew I had, both mentally and physically. I realize now we are still work-a-holics. Sometimes we slip into survival mode without realizing it and re-correct.

Yes, Katrina felt like a blessing and a curse. The curse has been hard to overcome, the job loss, friend loss, the things you loved....lost. Five years later we are still recovering in many ways believe it or not. Yet we have so much to be thankful for...you just learn to keep counting your blessings to stay on top. Let me tell you, that it get's tiring to keep climbing a mountain of depression day after day, week after week and month after month. I know it sounds cliche to many, but without faith in God I don't believe we would have made it through and be where we are today. For a long time if you searched us on the internet we would show up under the reported missing persons from the Red Cross. I'm sure that's buried in Google now. That's a good thing.

We learned that even if you are knocked down onto your knees and have to pray out to God time and again to show you the way, in time you will find out which doors are locked and which windows are open. Sometimes quickly and sometimes not and it's hard to have patience. But he hears you. Keep praying. You have to keep searching for the open window and trying keys to different doors. If things fall into place quickly, without effort, it's meant to be...that's an open door. Head that way. And listen. With both ears.

In many ways I cannot believe it's been five years since Katrina, and in other ways it feels like fifty.

And…those friends and neighbors that stayed with us during the hurricane?? What happened to them? They forever entwined with us. They know who they are. We are more than thankful for our true friends. And...they have their own story to tell, but they live about 10 miles away from us..in Canton!

Santa Portraits 2010 | Atlanta Portrait Photographer

2010-08-19T17:47:00.000-04:00

Santa told me so yesterday when we talked on the phone about his trip to Alanta to see all of the boys and girls for portraits this holiday season!

I know it's hot outside right now, but Santa and I have been planning a fun packed season. He will be in town next week for a meeting and some {iced} coffee and maybe a donut {or two}.

So be good, you never know when he's watching!

Stay tuned for the fun! It's only the beginning of a magical season.

If you would like to get a jump on all of the fun, please fan (or 'like' me) on Facebook at the link here on my blog, send me an email to be added to my list of bookings and you will be set for all the updates!

Kristie@turningleafphotography.com

Best Family Photographer Atlanta Georgia

2010-08-16T15:09:00.000-04:00

I wanted to take a minute and share my press release {link below}!

I'm super excited to again announce that I am an official nominee for a Nickelodeon Parents Picks Award for Best Family Photographer in Atlanta, Georgia! yippee!!! Thank you to everyone who is voting for me! This really has been a LONG voting period. Voting ends August 31, 2010 and winners will be announced on September 15, 2010.

Please make sure you vote! My voting link is here: VOTE for me HERE!

More importantly, I want to capture your memories...of your family. Please call for your own custom family portrait session!
Please email me, call me or text me! I hope to hear from you! 678.920.8216
http://www.turningleafphotography.com/
kristie@turningleafphotography.com

Kristie

Creating art, Capturing memories...Becuase a Photograph Never grows Up!

Turning Leaf Photography
Best Family Photographer, Atlanta Georgia:
click here to read press release....

http://www.free-press-release.com/news-turning-leaf-photography-is-nominated-for-nickelodeon-s-parentsconnect-parents-picks-award-for-best-family-photographer-atlanta-georgia-1281984816.html

Are the digital files included? Atlanta Newborn Portrait Photographer

2010-08-07T09:56:00.001-04:00

Surely you’ve noticed an increase in the number of photographers giving away digital files. As a customer, should you expect them to be for sale? Why don’t all photographers include them in the session fee for free, or at least make them affordable? Don’t the files belong to you anyway?

Federal copyright law is very clear about image ownership. They belong to your photographer, who has the sole right to print, display, and sell them.

You should expect the price of digital files, if available, to compensate your photographer for their work and talent. Baby photographers don’t always sell a large package up front like wedding photographers. Instead, most charge a session fee that just covers some costs of providing the shoot. We rely on print sales as our sole source of income. The digital images are the key to those print sales. This is good for you. It means I have to do a good job for you, or I won’t get paid.

While many photographers do offer the files for sale, many baby photographers who specialize in creating custom art don’t. For them, it’s a matter of quality control from start to finish. They realize cutting corners on that is a disservice to their clients.

Almost all of the file inquiries I get stem from an attempt to get my work for cheap… to get my vision, but to skip out on buying prints from me. Or from a misconception that digital is cheaper to produce than film. It’s not.

The equipment is much more expensive, replacements are necessary more often, and the workflow, maintenance, troubleshooting, and constant education requirements make digital much more expensive.

Even at that, the real value of digital files comes not from the cost, but what the files contain: the work and artistry that prompted you to choose that photographer. If you purchase files, expect to pay a price that values the work, and is sustainable for the photographer. You want him or her to still be in business when your new baby starts sitting up. Or walking. Or when your family grows.

If you’re looking for cheap portraits, and you don’t care about prints or a long-term photographer, cheap photography is available in abundance on places like Craigslist. You can have a session and all the files for very little money. But for custom baby photography, the most important things to look for are artistry, image quality, experience with babies, safety, and service. Choose wisely – baby portraits are precious memories and family heirlooms.

Copyright ©2010 Lauri Baker
Article shared with permission

http://www.babyphotographers.com/results.php?letter=t&cat=georgia&tit=photographer name&btn_go=&type=Location&template_id=&categ=georgia&cat_id=329

Atlanta Newborn Baby Photographer - Atlanta Ga

2010-08-06T10:31:00.002-04:00

I had a special delivery arrive yesterday with these awesomely precious custom newborn baby announcements!! They are the cutest newborn announcement package yet. This is quickly becoming my most popular custom newborn announcement layout!!! The colors of the pictures and layout flow perfectly as well! The luxiourious paper is very fashionable linen. I love them and had to share!

Of course baby is the star of the show here and is the cutest thing ever! I also designed custom stickers for the client that say "Special Delivery"; they really are the icing on the cake!

If you or someone you know is expecting and thinking about a maternity or newborn session, please give me a call! I'd love to hear from you!!!

http://www.turningleafphotography.com/
kristie@turningleafphotography.com
678.920.8216

newborn portrait photography atlanta georgia, custom baby announcements, maternity photography atlanta

Your Camera Takes Really Nice Pictures.... Atlanta, Georgia Portrait Photographer

2010-07-31T20:37:00.001-04:00

June 25, 2010
"Your Camera Takes Really Nice Pictures!"

I have to admit as a photographer I've heard this many times before...I read the following blog post at Erin Farrell Photography and decided to share!

Please read, very enjoyable and pictures at the links below...Kristie http://www.turningleafphotography.com/

Prologue:
Professional photographers spend so much of our time researching, learning and networking. We have a tendency to live, eat and breathe photography. For instance, even when I’m taking a drive out to visit family, I’m always looking out the window, scanning the horizon, taking mental notes of great places to hold a photo session. And if I happen to drive past a wheat field at sunset? It takes every ounce of willpower not to drag my hungry, tired kids out of the car for an impromptu photo shoot. Professional photographers put all of their passion and knowledge into every wedding, graduation, birthday and family photo session. If expensive tools were all it took, producing great images would be a piece of cake. Amazingly delicious cake, of course.

*****************************************************************************************

Imagine that you’re baking dessert for a party.It’s your special recipe: the one everyone asks for. You make it from scratch, of course, never looking at the recipe that you committed to memory so long ago. Sugar, beaten eggs, sift in the flour… you’re crafting something delicious from basic elements. Now you’re at the party and everyone is gushing about your dessert. The flavor! The texture! But most of all you’re being asked, “what kind of oven do you have? It makes great cakes!”

That’s pretty much how a photographer feels when people look at their photos and say, “your camera takes great pictures.”
Of course it’s not the camera that takes great photos, any more than it’s the oven that makes a great dessert. Ovens and cameras are just tools that make our jobs easier. Yes, better equipment does make a difference. I wouldn’t spend thousands of dollars on cameras and lenses if it didn’t. However, you must understand the camera to take advantage of all it can offer. Just because you’re using a professional camera does not mean you are producing professional images.

It’s all about what you know: the technicalities of photography. You have to determine just the right type and direction of light, position your models to take advantage of that light and create a pleasing composition, utilize the correct camera settings (aperture, ISO, etc.) and work with your models to make them feel comfortable. And that’s just the first half! After the photo shoot there is still post-processing to be done.

I decided to do a little experiment. I used my friend’s daughter as my model and brought my brother with me for a mini session. Not at a garden or the beach, but at Houlihan’s Restaurant situated right in the middle of the mall parking lot. (I figured a little challenge never hurt anyone.) I set my camera to auto, handed it over to my brother and sent him off with my model for 10 minutes to see what he could do. When they came back, it was my turn (using my camera on manual, of course). Same camera, same location, same model. The only difference was the person using the camera.

I was anxious to get home and look through them. These are all straight out of the camera, with no processing. You’ll see that there wasn’t a whole lot of thought put into the first set; my brother pretty much stuck the poor girl in front of different trees and snapped away. The exposure isn’t perfect, the color is off in some and the composition is boring.

Read the end of the blog post and see the pictures Erin is talking about here!

http://www.erinfarrellphotography.com/theblog/?p=817

Flower Pot Baby - Baby & Childrens Photographer - Atlanta & Roswell Georgia

2010-07-19T14:38:00.001-04:00

Look at this precious cutie who just turned one! She was so full of personality...! Mom and I had a great time together, thanks for an awesome session with little "C"! I'm so glad you loved your pictures!

air quoting mom: "I just had to write to tell you how much I LOVE the pictures!! I cried!! You did a fantastic job capturing my little girl. I might have a few questions, but I just want to watch the slide show over and over for now. Thank you so much, M"

Family Portrait Photographer - Atlanta & Roswell, GA -A Mom and her Boys

2010-07-19T14:28:00.003-04:00

As a mom of a son, I know boys are special. There is just something different about a son than a daughter. Mom called me wanting family portraits with her and her {very handsome} sons, one was moving out of state! How exciting and a 'mom moment' all at once that has to be captured! To be happy for your son and yet have your heart strings be tugged on as well with a son moving away! I was so excited to capture their family, what a beautiful, loving family portrait and one of her sons-a happy couple who may have wedding bells in the future? ;)

In the garden... {Photographer Atlanta, Ga}

2010-07-19T09:01:00.000-04:00

Hi Blogger! Long time no see! I actually made this post quite awhile ago and Blogger gave me a really hard time posting it, so here it is finally posted....! I've been busy the past few weeks and hope to be back on blogger in a more regular pattern! I've missed you blogger!

I love getting out and taking pictures in my yard, these are from earlier this summer. This year I have a BEAUTIFUL purple hydrangea...I didn't do anything special to make it this color, but it's so pretty! I have some pretty blue ones also...

I'm not sure what these are called..!! Anyone?

This year I planted tomatos and cucumbers in a little raised garden. I've been fighting some little munchkins though. These little grape tomatoes are in a pot...they've been eaten now (by us and other munchkins)! But I love the size and colors, how they lined up and ripened like they did! I love tomato!!!

I have a slight passion for coneflowers. This year my purple cone flowers aren't in masses like they were last year, but thanks to the gold finches, they have spread nicely and naturally through my flower garden. This year I added white and two varieties of pink (which I haven't gotten pictures of yet...maybe next year!).

The elusive butterfly...er moth. I actually was in search of a beautiful butterfly and they proved to be rather elusive. So instead I captured a bee on my lambs ear and a moth on my butterfly bush. I've since seen some butterflies, yellow and black and black with blue on my bush (which is like a tree rather) and of course I didn't have my camera with me! By the way, if you ever want any lambs ear, like seen below...I have TONS. Let me know!

{here is a zoom of the original picture, in case you missed it....}

Claire Kitchen and the Kitchen Family-Woodstock, Georgia 30188

2010-06-24T17:25:00.001-04:00

Meet Claire:
A 3 year old, fiesty and vibrant little girl with two brothers and a beautiful mom and dad.

Claire has stage 3 Neuroblastoma/in-operable cancer.
She was diagnosed in May 2010. Claire has never had any symptoms of having cancer and this was only discovered after she had two UTI's within a six month time frame.

I received a special request from a neighbor friend this past Saturday. She told me about the Kitchen Family and their little daughter Claire. My friend asked that I please take pictures of this family before Claire underwent chemotherapy. I happily accepted the opportunity with open arms and I was so happy to be able to set up a photography session this past Tuesday with this fantastic family! I hope to help them as I am able and share their story along the way.

What now?
Claire is scheduled for surgery {tomorrow} Friday, June 25, 2010 to have a central line put in and will be admitted for her first cycle of chemotherapy the same day. Claire will be treated with high-dose chemotherapy, surgery, radiation and other medications; all
will take place over a year. She will be in the hospital for five days and then come home until the next cycle is administered. The cycles will be spaced three weeks apart. After five cycles, she will have some kind scan (MRI) to check the size of her tumor. If they can remove it surgically at that time, they will. The concern is that it is resting on her aorta and also the tumor is very vascular. Even if it is removed surgically, she will still have chemo, radiation and Accutane.

Please pray for this wonderful family and their little girl Claire as she is given anesthesia again, proceeds with chemotherapy and as they walk this road together. I will be posting information as I receive it and I will be also sharing fundraising events to help this family along the way.

You can join in with the family here at Caring Bridge, or feel freel to share here on my blog as well. They would love to know you are in their thoughts and prayers.

Kristie

link again:
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/clairekitchen/createorsignin

The Adventures of Chicken Noodle | Chicken Noodle Goes does the Breast Stroke | Episode 4

2010-06-14T20:29:00.000-04:00

If you are new to the Adventures of Chicken Noodle, please go back through my old posts and watch/read the episodes! Chicken Noodle is a type of parrot called a Caique.

This weekend Chicken Noodle had her very first swim lesson. It's summer afterall and Chicken LOVES to hang out with us (and was hot and panting). So she went swimming in the pool! For those of you that don't know, I'm a swim lesson instructor (though I am really not giving lessons this summer you can check out my website here: www.swimwoodstock.com, I know you want to know if I'm qualified to be teaching a bird to swim anyhow).

So I caught some video with my phone. Now I'm NOT an expert at videoing and never will really claim to be! Just know that Chicken Noodle did very well at her first lesson on the Breast Stroke (no 'chicken breast' pun intended) and she's completely fine and happy. In fact, she chilled out on the lounge chair afterwards....what a silly Chicken. Stay tuned for a new adventure with Chicken Noodle!

The Littlest Heroes Project | Acworth, Ga | Children and Family Photographer

2010-06-08T17:46:00.006-04:00

I had a super time meeting Gabriel and Aidan for their Littlest Heroes photo session. Grandma submitted an application to the Littlest Heroes Project because Gabriel and Aidan hadn't had pictures since they were one. Mom was so stressed out, she told me she cried after that session because of the stress involved! I hear this session produced tears of joy and celebration!

Gabriel and Aidan are 6 year old identical twins; both have autism. Aidan had a super experience this last year by attending school and graduating kindergarten! Aidan's wish is to go to Disney World one day. Gabriel LOVES books and loves to read, he wasn't able to communicate until Memorial Day this year when he said his first word!!!! I look forward to keeping in touch with this fantastic family and hearing about their progress in leaps and bounds!

I am so excited to share their session with you. Here are the brothers sharing their Ipod touch (at least for a second..!). You can see more images {including mom, dad and grandma} on my Facebook Fan page.

And.......meet Annabella. Annabella also has autism and she has a helper dog named Lila. Annabella was the perfect little photography model! We had a great time together and as you can see we caught some amazing moments. Annabella loves to draw and her wish is to fly. She has to try extra hard to do things that come easily for others. Annabella also han't had pictures since she was a baby! I told her mom to bring her to me anytime! I can't wait to see how Annabella grows in the years to come! Check out more of Annabella's session at my Facebook Page (link at bottom of blog).

We had a great time petting the horses at Hidden Acres in Acworth. Thank you to Pat and Brooke for allowing us to photograph at their beautiful property with these fantastic families and make sure you check them out for weddings and events! It's amazing to find such a slice of heaven so close to I-75! Check out Hidden Acres Events here: http://hiddenacresweddingsevents.yolasite.com/

If you would like more information about the Littlest Heroes Project, you can visit their website here: http://www.littlestheroesproject.org/

Poor Neglected Blogger...~Woodstock, Ga~Portrait Photographer

2010-06-04T21:09:00.004-04:00

I will post to you soon about something important. I've been spending all of my spare time on Facebook! I promise I'll write soon...by the way I also thought about re-designing you...! So you have something to look forward to in the future as well! Stay in touch with me blogger, or in the meantime come and visit me on Facebook!

The Adventures of Chicken Noodle | Chicken Noodle Goes on a Field Trip | Episode 3

2010-05-17T10:13:00.012-04:00

Ahhh...Chicken Noodle. Our beautiful and hilarious parrot....!

Chicken really is so entertaining...we had a great adventure taking the parrot with us out and about a week ago Saturday with plans to take it for a nail trimming and beak tweaking while out..... it turned into quite the adventurous day! Chicken has only visited the parrot parlor once before, for some tweaking, but it's where Chicken originally was before becoming part of our family....but otherwise Chicken has just been out and about around home.

We had a trailer hitch added to my husbands car-er Cube-so we can get one of those handy dandy cargo thingies that go on a trailer hitch? So cool!! Anyhow...we thought we'd be able to go have that done and then take the parrot to the primping parlor while out. At first Chicken wasn't quite sure about the fast driving (perception of fast flying maybe?) but got used to it and preferred to be on my finger in my lap, not really looking out the windows.

Actually Chicken started really enjoying and appreciating the adventure when we were at the trailer hitch store and there was a bright chrome (ie very shiny perch mirror) bumper hanging on the wall that looked like a fantastic parrot climbing toy! Chicken liked that alot....we really didn't have any strange looks at the trailer place while there with our parrot LOL..then again there were like 3 people there & they were employees.

Well, the hitch took a little longer than we were told...like an hour or so longer than the original hour we were told...so we walked down Hwy 41 with Chicken while the cars flew by...to a couple of stores there heading south towards the Big Chicken. If you are from around here, you know the Big Chicken http://roadsidegeorgia.com/site/bigchicken.html
which Chicken has not seen yet-but you know that may be something we have to do, go see the Big Chicken- considering?........I forget the name of the stores we went to, but the family and Chicken really liked the one store with all of the adirondack chairs and pretty clay pots...! Check that place out...it's pretty cool! It's by the 'living fences' company.

So after the trailer hitch was all done, we were pretty hungry and decided to eat lunch...at Five Guys on Canton Road...! FYI, Chicken gave Five Guys two wings up because they have peanuts and Chicken was able to picnic with us on my knee outside on the patio! We did start having some funny looks at this point in time...but mostly 'look at the bird' comments while Chicken was enjoying its pnut lunch (Chicken loves pnuts by the way...). And Taco Mac wouldn't allow Chicken on their patio....boo to Taco Mac....we love them though maybe not the best idea to eat chicken wings with Chicken along?! But honestly, Chicken would love to go back to Five Guys any day....

We still had another appointment after lunch for hubby to have an eye exam at Costco....so Chicken would have to wait to go to the parlor and alas...Chicken had to go with us to Costco. On the way there Chicken got car sick! yes....car sick! I guess it ate too many pnuts and decided the fast flying wasn't quite the best idea..! But we dealt with the car sickness and got past it...it was quite funny though...we had no idea a bird can get car sick!!! When we were at Costco, we really were thinking the Costco managers wouldn't appreciate Chicken in their store...but Chicken was full and had some water and tea (and a little motion sickness) so I thought it would be ok...it's really a good bird! By now, surely you think the same? So I wrapped Chicken up in a towel and in my purse it went with it's head poking out. I kinda covered it's head with my hand. Really...Chicken was GREAT for quite some time...really.....didn't make a peep!!! I was really impressed. I was sitting in a row of chairs by some other people waiting on eye exams and they didn't even realize I had a parrot in my purse...!! LOL!! I for sure thought the kid sitting with them would see it, but nope! I think one lady had her eyes dialated...so maybe she couldn't see anyhow...but I didn't want to 'scare' anyone..that's for sure! :) I could see that happening though...and had a few chuckles to myself (but really didn't want to go there...we really didn't need a lady with dialated eyes running around Costco screaming there is a parrot in here-but I can imagine it well, hee hee!). But.....once I was up and walking around and Chicken realized there were mirrors there by the array of glasses......the purse didn't seem so fun anymore! So...out chicken came and I just held it in the towel in my hands...but apparently no one saw the bird climb onto my shoulder before being covered back up...hee hee. Finally one of the ladies working behind the counter kept giving me a funny look about having this towel in my hand, so I showed her what was in there.....lol...just a wee little peek!! She was a little shocked and surprised and said "that was a first...!" LOL!! But then another lady who has had a parrot before had to come over and love on Chicken Noodle-who loved all of the love and attention...then some kids wanted to pet the bird and Chicken was super excited about that, because Chicken LOVES people.....and another lady too (with really awesome hair by the way...seriously) said Chicken Noodle made her day...and thank you for bringing the bird into the store....!

It was all worth it..!! Chicken made someone elses day! :)

We still hadn't made it to the parrot parlor though (which Chicken really wouldn't be enjoying at this point in time anyhow!)...and it was time for me to now meet a client for a pick-up..! So home we went with Chicken like a bobble head on my hubbies dash toupee http://reviews.cnet.com/i/bto/20090416/Shag_Dash_Topper_270x187.jpg
in his Cube. I admit it, we do get looks when we drive our twin Cubes (although two different color Cubes (mine green, his brown...we do have the pathetic Cube love despite what anyone thinks it is hip to be square! and the dash toupee does get alot of questions too...but you can't have a bald Cube?)....BUT let alone the Cube gets many looks and questions...so add a parrot to your dash toupee, yes you get many, many looks and laughs and get pointed at!

The kids love it-seriously....!!

So then back out again we headed, finally in the evening, to the parrot parlor...they said after all Chicken Noodle didn't need any special grooming...so much for that....! And they do believe 90% sure that Chicken Noodle is a girl....! Seems that Chicken Noodle has the frame of a bird that would be able to lay an egg in the future. So Chicken was able to visit her old home and appreciate not having the SUPER loud conures yelling at her all day...she didn't really seem to appreciate that and tried to yell back with her alarm sound, but I don't think they heard her. Feel free to check out Animal Atlanta though...they are great people and have some really cool pets! http://www.animalatlanta.com/

Now the kids want to get another parrot and have baby Chicken Noodles....! That seriously sounds funny....?

Ahh...the adventures of Chicken Noodle....! And to think I didn't even take a picture the whole day?????????? The kids now want to take her everywhere.....

The Littlest Heroes Project | Woodstock, Ga | Children and Family Photographer | Photography

2010-05-17T09:55:00.005-04:00

I am so excited about an up coming session for a fantastic organization I have become a part of....I have the exciting opportunity to photograph identical twin boys, age 6.....!! I cannot wait to meet these little heroes and their family...!!!! Read more about this organization below and stay tuned for more from their session in the next month!! I can't wait..! We have a beautiful location picked out as well...! So much to look forward to....!!

I would like to talk a little about the Littlest Heroes organization and help spread the word as well. Make sure you spread the word too and pass along the information...! I'm sure most have never heard of it....I'm looking forward to giving back and capturing special memories for this fantastic and beautiful family.

The Littlest Heroes Project is a non-profit based organization founded in January 2008 by Felicia Reinhard, made up of professional photographers nationwide that provide free photo sessions to our nations Littlest Heroes. Through the power of photography we are giving back and taking a stand for these children who sometimes feel forgotten because of their illnesses. We are here to let them know that they are heroes to many, and to share their inspirational stories and photos with the world.

http://www.littlestheroesproject.org/

If you have a child, or know a child, who suffers from any type of serious illness or life altering disability we are here to help. The Littlest Heroes Project provides you with a complimentary photo shoot for your hero and family. Please read the information on this site and be sure to contact us so we can help pair you up with a photographer from your area. The whole family … Super Sibs and the Brave Parents are welcome to participate in the session as well!

Hello Blogger!! | Woodstock, Georgia | Children and Family Photographer

2010-05-17T09:51:00.003-04:00

Hi Blogger!!! I've missed you, but I've been spending time on my Facebook page!! This seems to be where most of my updating happens!! I'm sorry to leave you out!
I will try to visit you more often! :) Yes, I do have some updating to do....!!!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Woodstock-GA/Turning-Leaf-Designs-Boutique-Photography/105592615759

I'm a 2010 Nickelodeon Parent Pick Nominee!!! Vote me! | Woodstock, Georgia | Family Photographer

2010-05-07T16:28:00.003-04:00

WOW!! What an honor! I was excited when I received my Google Choice award but this is SUPER exiciting!!! YAY ME!

I hope you will vote for me- Click the link below!!!!

Thank you!
Kristie
www.turningleafdesigns.com

For Family Photographer
in Atlanta

The Adventures of Chicken Noodle | Chicken Noodle Meets the Concrete | Episode 2

2010-04-23T14:29:00.005-04:00

In this episode Chicken Noodle takes an venture outdoors (no, the bird can't fly away (and really can't fly well) and it's wings are clipped & we do watch for nasty chicken hawks!).

Chicken Noodle is sooo funny! This just cracks me up. We took a venture outdoors and Chicken Noodle rubbed it's beak and body all over the concrete. It was love at first sight! The bird loves the concrete where it meets she white plastic spacers! Exfoliation at it's best!

Stay tuned for another Chicken Noodle adventure by subscribing to my blog!! Make sure you join me on Facebook also by the link at the side of the screen.

Storybook Sessions | Princess & Fairies | Woodstock Georgia Childrens Portrait Photographer

2010-04-20T10:22:00.005-04:00

Storybook sessions now prebooking...!

Princess or fairy themed sessions are perfect for the little girl in your life...I have costumes for some ages (or bring your own) for a magical portrait session!

Together we will create heirloom artwork.

Call today to book your own magic.............!

http://www.turningleafphotography.com/

678-920-8216

Meet Chicken Noodle | Woodstock Georgia Photographer | The Adventures of Chicken Noodle | Episode One

2010-04-16T16:21:00.005-04:00

Meet Chicken Noodle, my pet parrot-well, the family parrot really.

Why the name Chicken Noodle?

Well, we couldn't decide on a name as a family and as a rule of thumb I tend to call any pet bird I have a chicken. We had several names to pick from, including Skittles and Sneakers, but Chicken Noodle stuck and totally matches the birds personality!

If you know me well, you know I've had parakeets since I was age 9 or 10....growing up, our next door neighbor Mrs. Williams had a parakeet. I looooooooooooved her parakeet..it was SO smart and it would pick up toothpicks and drop them off of her table and carry them around....and do things she told it to do. I thought that was the best thing in the world for a pet and I had to have my own! Well, that's how my love of parakeets and birds started. Since then I've had countless parakeets with one of my last parakeets living over 13 years! That was a pretty good life from what I've been told. There will be more about my parakeets later. :)

We've moved up a little now in size, brains and color to a parrot. This was dear husbands idea...which is beyond me! Chicken Noodle is hilarious. Really...! So hiliarious I've decided to start adding to my blog 'The Adventures of Chicken Noodle'.

What kind of parrot is Chicken Noodle?

A Yellow Bellied Caique. Though this bird is not from the wild or wild caught, but hatched here domestically in the United States. They originally come from South America.

I get the question all the time...is Chicken Noodle a girl or a boy?

Well in short, we don't know! That was part of the delimma in naming the bird to begin with. We could have a DNA test done...or we can wait 8 years to see if the bird lays an egg! :) We are just going to wait it all out and see if we ever have an egg. Do we have any idea if the bird is a girl or boy...? NO, not really. Sometimes the bird acts like it could be a girl and sometimes a boy.

How old is Chicken Noodle?

We don't have a birthdate or anything for Chicken as we fondly call the bird, however, when we got the bird in November 2009, we were told it was around 5 months of age....so really we could say we are coming up on a one year birthday! Can you say party! :)

So stay tuned...for the time of your life and follow The Adventures of Chicken Noodle (soon to be made a major motion picture event (I'm sure)).

Gone Fishin' | Photographer Woodstock, Ga | Family and Childrens Photography

2010-04-16T15:18:00.003-04:00

Now booking Gone Fishin'...!!

Gone Fishin was a HUGE hit last year with children and families alike!
I provide all of the props.....& all images in this session are given a specialty vintage treatment...! A great storybook themed session from Turning Leaf Photography & Design!

Please check out images at my website for more examples!
www.turningleafphotography.com

Call today to capture your own memories...678-920-8216

Bad Blogger and Freckle Juice | Atlanta's Children Photographer | Portrait Photography

2010-04-14T15:23:00.006-04:00

I have been such an awful blogger and at keeping everyone updated!!! I am sorry to everyone! I had a super busy streak there for awhile with bunny portraits and then we had spring break...now my kiddos have state testing (= stress)! I haven't had time for sneak peeks...! I hope you all had a super spring break! We did and we are SO happy to see the beautiful streak of weather after the winter we had..! My kids were even brave enough to hit the pool..at a chilly 70f water temp! It's gotten better now, but they couldn't resist!

Thank you to everyone who came out for bunny portraits! The bunny finally went home to be with his full time owner again. I'm sure he missed his chicken friends and the noises he is used to. It's quiet at our house compared to where he lives! We loved having him around, just like last year. I have him on reservation again for next year...but who knows...! Maybe there will be some of his babies with the same demeanor. Once I find something I like though, I have a hard time changing....! Jasper is such a great bunny....and I got so many great portraits with the bunny!

I meet so many wonderful people through my photography..I LOVE my clients!!! I always have friends say "how in the world do you find all of the cute kids...?" I just have to say I am very fortunate! All of my clients have beautiful children...! I wanted to share a picture that is so precious...I love freckles...and this picture is just precious.

Look at those freckles? Beautiful!

Speaking of freckles, my cousins and I had a joke when we were little that all of our freckles would run together and we'd be 'tan'. That didn't really work (lol)...and I remember reading the book "Freckle Juice"...and yes..I admit it..! I tried the recipe in the book! No luck there either! Well...yes, my freckles run together now, but I'm still not tan! My daughter also get's tons of freckles and my son is pretty blessed with almost freckle free and well tanned skin thanks to his dad! None-the-less, I LOVE photographing freckles!

I also photographed some newborn babies while I took a blogging break...WELCOME to the world little ones!! I had a joy meeting the proud parents and in some cases big brother or sister siblings as well!

I promise, my blog will be updated this week with pre-booking information for one of my storybook themes: Gone Fishin'. There are images in my website gallery if you'd like to take a look. This session is great for little boys and girls alike! We get our feet wet and have lot's of fun!

More info to come this week-lots going on..!!

stay tuned..............

Spring & Easter Portraits with a Live Bunny | Atlanta Family and Childrens Photographer

2010-03-29T21:34:00.006-04:00

I'm still booking sessions for portraits with the bunny this week because Easter is early this year....it's not too late. Call or email me and I will work to get you into a session!

Check out previous bunny sessions on my website!

If you are looking for spring family portraits, the weather is starting to cooperate and so are the flowers! Yay for spring! I will be more than happy to schedule a family portrait for you as well.

Please check out my Mother's Day special...on the post below this one.

Please fan me on Facebook with the link to your left and check out my fantastic reviews on Google (as well as on Facebook) :). I hope to see you there!

Kristie

http://www.turningleafphotography.com/

kristie@turningleafdesigns.com

678-920-8216

Creating art, Capturing memories...because a photograph never grows up!

Blogger Images not showing up...March 29, 2010

2010-03-29T15:04:00.001-04:00

Ok...so Google Blogger is having an issue...I researched why my images aren't showing up-so sorry!! Please visit my website for images and check back later to see images on my blogger..!! It's not my fault :(.......

Kristie
678-920-8216
www.turningleafphotography.com

Spring, Easter & Bunny Portraits | Atlanta, Marietta Georgia

2010-03-27T13:15:00.005-04:00

Easter is next weeked and I've decided to keep the bunny at least through the end of this week..!! I know Easter is early, but and the bunny is synonymous with Easter for the most part....anyone still interested in a bunny session feel free to contact me..!! He will be leaving to go back to his owner again soon..!

Don't miss out, I will be happy to schedule an appointment for you-just get with me ASAP!

If you are looking for spring family portraits, I have lots of great locations to choose from! Check my Facebook for Mothers Day specials!

As always, please join me on Facebook for the most up to date information, casting calls and specials! I currently have two casting calls out-check out my Facebook to the side of my blog!

I hope to see you there!

Kristie

678-920-8216

http://www.turningleafphotography.com/
Creating art, Capturing memories...Because a photograph never grows up!

$25 off... | Metro Atlanta Family and Children Spring Portraits | Photography

2010-03-22T20:11:00.003-04:00

Book a session for children or family the week of March 27th, 2010 and receive $25 off of your session fee! This is a great time to take advantage before peak season hits...!

Call or email me today & capture your own memories!

678-920-8216

kristie@turningleafdesigns.com

Creating art, Capturing memories...Because a photograph never grows up!

*offer good through March 27, 2010

Hop on Over...Bunny Portraits | March 20, 2010 | The Marlow House | Marietta, Georgia

2010-03-19T11:27:00.006-04:00

Last chance booking bunny portraits for March 20th, 2010 at the Marlow House...! Don't miss out..call now for your own bunny portrait session!

http://www.turningleafphotography.com/

Creating art, Capturing memories...Because a photograph never grows up!

678-920-8216

Live Bunny Portraits | March 16th, 2010 | Spring Portraits

2010-03-12T08:47:00.010-05:00

Spring is in the air...at least I think we are moving in the right direction...the allergies are starting to kick in as well! This morning I noticed the leaves are starting to come out on my willow tree..! Yippie! I do see daffodils coming up and blooming too! I have some little purple flower that comes up early and they are so pretty! I love spring and I'm ready for warmer weather, beautiful flowers and the fresh green and spring air that comes with it!

However blessed I feel we are with rain, the weather is really messing with my bunny portraits! We have rain on tap for tomorrow {Saturday}, which was a scheduled day for the bunny sessions. I really love the bunny portraits outdoors and just do not want to move them indoors. It's just not the same and the Marlow House is the perfect location as well for the bunny portraits outdoors.

Currently, I'm looking at Tuesday, March 16th for morning bookings as well as afternoon bookings pending good weather {and right now it looks good!}! The next date for portraits will be scheduled soon since we have so much rain in the forecast-stay tuned if you are looking for another date to hook up!

If you are interested in portraits with a live bunny, please contact me & check out my website galleries for bunny portraits from last year at the Marlow House!

Bunny packages/sessions are prepaid as shown in the packages below.

And remember time change is this weekend....!

Kristie
678-920-8216
http://www.turningleafphotography.com/

Creating art, Capturing memories...because a photograph never grows up!

Turning Leaf Photography & Design of Woodstock GA 30188 678-920-8216

Photographer serving north Georgia including Atlanta metro and surrounding. Woodstock, Marietta, Acworth, Canton, Kennesaw, Holly Springs, Roswell, Alpharetta, Atlanta, Smyrna, Jasper, Towne Lake, Crabapple, Johns Creek, Bridgemill, Cherokee County, Cobb County, Fulton County, Buckhead, Virginia Highland, Emory, Druid Hills, Decatur, Oak Grove, Vinings, Smyrna, Inman Park, Candler Park, Avondale Estates, Poncey Highland, Midtown
Atlanta area as well as Atlanta City limits, including Fulton County (Alpharetta, Roswell, Johns Creek, Milton, Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Buckhead, Decatur and Atlanta), Forsyth County (Alpharetta and Cumming)

Fine art baby, child, family, pet portraits. Live Bunny Portraits, Easter Portraits, Spring Portraits, Santa Portraits.

We also provide on location natural light portrait photography serving metro Atlanta area Georgia

Specializing in on-Location natural light portraiture. Turning Leaf Designs is a premier Woodstock Georgia children, baby and newborn photographer.
Portraiture of Family, Children, Baby, Newborn, Senior, Engagement, Wedding and event. Turning Leaf Photography and Designs offers themed, Fine art, black and white, water color, photojournalistic and candid photography.

Turning Leaf Photography & Designs is available for commercial and editorial work. Turning Leaf Designs offers custom announcements and artwork.

Baby Bunny | Atlanta Premier Artistic Newborn Portrait Photographer

2010-03-11T18:16:00.002-05:00

Simply precious...I'm speechless....

The Band of Brothers | Woodstock Newborn Photographer

2010-03-11T15:03:00.003-05:00

Look at this cutie pie with his new baby brother {you can totally tell he was enthralled with the baby, right?}...........He was so funny with the balloons!! I had a great time hanging out with with the "D" family after the birth of their newest addition...! Thanks for having me over....what a beautiful family...!

Yellow Bell | Easter~Spring Pet Photography | Sassy Paws Pet Boutique | Woodstock, Georgia |

2010-03-05T15:35:00.006-05:00

Look at this cutie pie!! She was so, so sweet and such a model...the camera loved her!

Her name is Pixie and she is the official mascot for Sassy Paws Pet Boutique in Woodstock. They are located off of Towne Lake at 1105 Parkside Lane, Suite 1200, 30189. They have an AWESOME variety of natural foods & treats, pet wear as you see on Pixie as well as leashes and collars, toys, beds....the list goes on and on! Check them out and meet Miss Pixie while you are there...I heard she has a boyfriend and goes on dates!!

I will be at Sassy Paws on March 20th for Easter Portraits with your pet! Virtually any pet can be photographed...!! There is a $10 appointment fee, which will be donated to the Cherokee County Humane Society.

More details on special packages for this session are below! Feel free to contact myself or Robin at Sassy Paws for more information! We hope to see you there!

Sassy Paws Pet Boutique: 678-275-2126

Turning Leaf Boutique Photography: 678-920-8216

Feel free to leave a comment about this cutie pie, you know you want to...!

Pet photography, Woodstock, Marietta, Kennesaw, Alpharetta, Roswell, Holly Springs, Canton, Acworth, Vinings, Atlanta and Atlanta Metro, Georgia

Bunny Portraits for Earthquake Relief | Marietta Georgia Portrait Photographer

2010-03-01T09:00:00.005-05:00

Portraits with a bunny for a cause: Earthquake Relief

With all of the news of recent devastation in Haiti and Chile due to Earthquakes,
I felt compelled to give to the cause, will you come join me?

For the date of March 6th, 2010 all bunny portrait session fees will be donated to the American Red Cross for Earthquake Relief in Haiti and Chile. Bunny Portraits will be held at the Marlow House on the Historic Marietta Square. These will be mini-sessions.

How does this work, you ask?
You must fan me on Facebook & set your Facebook status to the following:

I’m attending Bunny Portrait Earthquake Relief with Turning Leaf Photography at the Marlow House March 6th. All session fees go to the American Red Cross for Earthquake Relief! Join the cause today! 678-920-8216 LIMITED AVAILABILITY!!!!! www.turningleafdesigns.com

What is the cost?
$15 per child, no exceptions...
pre-paid bookings through me via all major credit cards.
This fee goes directly towards Earthquake Relief for the American
Red Cross for Haiti and Chile. Sessions will be in 10 minute increments.

Prints will be in available at special package pricing for THIS session only.
Portrait proofs will include minor retouching.
All portraits taken at your session will available for purchase in an
online password protected gallery for one week. All purchases must be made
during this time to receive special package pricing.

Package A- Two Poses $125
(2) 4x6
(2) 5x7
(2) 8x10
(16) wallets

Package B - One Pose $75
(2) 8x10 & (16) wallets

Contact Turning Leaf Photography & Design today!
678-920-8216
www.turningleafdesigns.com

Creating Art, Capturing Memories...Because a Photograph Never Grows Up!

Model Material | Roswell & Marietta, Georgia | Senior Portrait Photographer

2010-02-17T10:32:00.012-05:00

Wow, is all I can say about this senior portrait session for an upcoming 2010 high school graduate! Everything came together so perfectly with the session.........and then the snow {which was really supposed to be much ado about nothing by the forecast}....!

I was so excited {and slightly apprehensive} about the prospect of keeping the session on schedule with snow on the ground since my excitement was soaring and I was really hoping for some snow portraits!! What a sport and she was more than excited to hang with me for a few hours out in the cold weather for snow portraits!!! I'm so glad we didn't miss the opportunity of shooting in the snow-something that we all know doesn't happen too often in Georgia! Thanks for battling the cold & freezing along with me for these awesome portraits!!

I have to say, this girl is Model Material....and so fun! So photogenic; she really made my job pretty easy considering the great subject matter at hand!

Congratulations on your upcoming graduation-best wishes for college and your future! I had an awesome time!

Turning Leaf Portrait Photography, 678-920-8216, www.turningleafdesigns.com
Roswell, Woodstock, Alpharetta, Marietta, Canton, Kennesaw, Holly Springs, Acworth, Georgia Senior Portrait Photographer 2010, 2011

Cherokee County Humane Society-Food Drive | Woodstock, Georgia | Pet Portrait Photography

2010-02-05T08:41:00.015-05:00

I wanted to provide an update on my charity food drive for the Cherokee County Humane Society and give a little information about them and what they offer our community.

I really wanted to hold a photography day during the month of February where the community could donate puppy or kitten food to the Humane Society in exchange for a portrait with their pet. I took a drive to the Cherokee County Humane Society Thrift Store last week working to get all of my ducks in a row. I had a great visit and learned alot about CCHS!

My wish was to hold a photography event at PetSmart (indoors or out) while CCHS was holding adoptions to promote what they offer and help them stock up on much needed food supplies. After much research and phone calling, it has come to my understanding big business has rules, hoops and hurdles you have to jump through and even then they do not sponsor 'charity' events or allow such an event...which this would be considered. Really; interesting....considering. But I understand.

Having said that, setting up a day at a park this time of year for photographing pets isn't in the best interest of anyone with our wishy-washy weather! I want this to be a fantastic event for the Humane Society to promote them as well as help them stock up on kitten and puppy food for pets that come to the shelter. I do not want to half way hold this event. So....this has been post-poned until spring is in the air! I will revisit and replan this event soon for a beautiful weather day so everyone can get on board....on a beautiful spring day!

So now the plug on the Cherokee County Humane Society and what they offer...because it is really, really great and I don't think that people realize everything they have, so I want to help spread the word-please do the same!

1) The Humane Society can still use puppy and kitten food.

Many of the pets the shelter receives cannot eat adult foods, so if you find it in your gracious giving to bring them some sort of food supply, please bring kitten or puppy foods in wet or dry form. Kitten season is around the corner and this will be needed for the shelter.

2) Did you know that the Cherokee County Humane Society has a thrift store, similar to Goodwill?

Yes, they do...! And even better yet, did you know they will come to YOU and pick up items you want to donate! The list is endless for what they accept.....! Just call them up ask them what they do/do not accept (the list for do not accept is small) and schedule a pick up....! They offer this free service for just calling...free of charge! See that picture of Ottis Moore with the thrift store truck....they will come to you! And remember the profits of what they sell helps keep the shelter up and running so they can continue to help the community. Check them out next time you want to head to a thrift store! And when you are spring cleaning remember them....!

Pick up at your home/business or drop off at their location!
Cherokee County Humane Society Thrift Store
5900 Bell Ferry Road
Acworth, Georgia 30102
770-592-8072

Here is the link to the Thrift Store: http://www.cchumanesociety.org/thrift-store/

3) The Humane Society Low Cost Spay and Neuter for cats & dogs:

As a responsible community we should do our best to keep unwanted animals from ever having to go to a shelter and not be loved by a family. Sure puppies and kittens are cute, but let's face it we need to keep the population down and do our part. Here are a couple of programs to help out with this:

http://www.cchumanesociety.org/pet-programs/catsnip/
http://www.cchumanesociety.org/pet-programs/snap-spay-neuter/

4) The Humane Society offers Low Cost Vaccinations:

Lets face it, having a pet isn't cheap, sometimes they can be more expensive than a child :)! Head to the CCHS for low cost vaccinations and keep your pet healthy & happy! Check their online calendar or give them a call....

http://www.cchumanesociety.org/pet-programs/low-cost-vaccinations/

These are just a few of the great things that the Humane Society offers....so give them a call!
Remember the Humane Society if you are looking to add a pet to your family. Some of the best pets my family and I have had have come from a humane society.

If you contact them, tell them Turning Leaf Photography told you about them! If you aren't in Cherokee County, please contact your local Humane Society as I know many have great programs like CCHS has.
Turning Leaf Photography
www.turningleafdesigns.com
678-920-8216

pet photography, cherokee county humane society, Georgia, food drive, charity event, cherokee county georgia thrift store

Pre-booking Portaits with a Bunny & the Early Bird gets the Worm! | Woodstock, Georgia | Childrens Portrait Photographer

2010-02-03T10:42:00.017-05:00

Spring is on the way...even if the groundhog say's it will be late!

Easter is already on my mind and it's early this year-yikes! So it's time to think about booking bunny portraits! Bunny portraits were a big hit last year.......and I expect this year will be no different! The bunny I had last year was fantastic, he's super awesome with children......in fact he was so incredibly fantastic that I pre-booked him last year for this year! I talked to his owner a couple of weeks ago just to check in and he's still as awesome as ever...! I've missed him and my kids are looking forward to having him back as well in a few short weeks...by the way he's not for sale, his owner loves him! He's a super great bunny and makes for awesome bunny portraits and I will be happy to have him for again, if only for a little while!

This year bunny sessions will be held at the Marlow House on the Marietta Square, by appointment. The Marlow House is a Victorian Era Home & Event Venue where I photographed bunny sessions last year. The backdrop of this location is perfect for bunny portraits! Please check out my website gallery under 'themes & bunny portraits' for some pictures from last year!

Sessions are in packages and include prints as shown below & space is limited! Session packages are themed for bunny portraits only and do allow 'play time' with the bunny depending on which session you select. If you would like to have a family portrait or another type of spring portrait on location elsewhere, the bunny is also available for a 'bunny fee' with your session booking....! It was fun last year to take the bunny to clients homes...the kids got a huge kick out of that! Just contact me for more information!Having said all of this bunny mumbo-jumbo, I am happy to announce I am pre-booking all bunny sessions! And as they say, 'the early bird gets the worm'! I am including a special gift for clients that book any bunny session between the dates of 2/3/2010 & 2/10/2010....call today for your own booking & find out what your special gift will be! I accept all major credit cards! Session fees are due at the time of booking & are non-refundable.

Call today to reserve your own special bunny portrait moment...!
678-920-8216
http://www.turningleafdesigns.com/

Because a photograph never grows up!

Sneak Peek! | Marietta - Acworth - Georgia | Newborn and Maternity Portrait Photographer

2010-02-01T15:56:00.005-05:00

Here are a couple of sneak peeks from recent sessions! Look at this little munchkin! He's 3 months old....just precious. He really wasn't feeling well, poor baby, but we got some GREAT portraits!

Check out his beautiful blue eyes...!

Look at this gorgeous mom to be! We had a great time with big brother also...!

I love the shot here where we asked him to show us where the baby was and he pointed to his tummy! So cute! Thanks for super sessions!!!!!!!!!!!

Something to Think about! | Portrait Photographer | Woodstock, Ga

2010-01-24T09:48:00.003-05:00

This is is pretty funny actually...this is a listing from Craigslist in Salt Lake City, UT. It seems to be another photographer posting to make a point, however it makes you think...'Professional Photographers" are more than picking up a camera. Especially true for women getting married. Just because Uncle Bob has a camera does not mean you will get great photos....! Trust me...!

Good prices do not always mean great photos!

Elegant Wedding Photography (Salt Lake City, Utah)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 2009-12-26, 4:48PM MST
Reply to: serv-ysspm-1525534132@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi there! My name is Lindsay and I've just got a brand new camera for Christmas but haven't even taken it out of the box. I really want to get into the wedding photography business because I see so many people in Utah are getting married and it looks like easy money. I can't guarantee that even one photo will turn out looking good but I sure will try. Some pictures will be used for my portfolio and my future website. I start booking appointments this week! I am now booking for Spring and Summer of 2010.

I specialize in all types of Lifestyle photography including:

Weddings – You'll have to pay $15 for gas money outside of Salt Lake City
Bridals
Engagements
Families
Children
Portraiture
Fashion

My style is classy, elegant and artistic. I would be honored to be part of your special occasion or photography needs considering I have no professional experience. I would love to capture those beautiful moments for you and your family.

I have so much passion for being a pro wedding photographer! All my friends and family tell me I take great pictures at all our outings and picnics. I'm putting together a web site of all the flower pictures and sunsets I've taken so you can see how good I am. I even have a few pics of my pet dog which turned out really great!

But I don't have a business license, liability insurance, flashes, extra batteries, or even more than a kit lens that came in the box. If something goes wrong, you're out of luck. To keep things cheap for you, I won't even back up any of your images. Less cost for me means less cost for you. Just passing the savings on. I expect to be paid in cash or personal check because I don't plan on claiming this income on my taxes.

I know many fun and beautiful locations. I really care about making brides look beautiful! I add glow and selective color to all of my images, giving them the best look possible. No need to hassle with computer programs.

Bridals and Engagements are only $100. Please trust me to do your wedding. I'll do it cheap just to build up my portfolio. I will only charge you $250 for your entire wedding day. This is a deal. My camera cost me $700 brand new. All sessions include a Hi Resolution CD with FULL copy right release included, which means you get to print your pictures at Wal-Mart! Here's the BEST Part! I offer 100% guarantee on ALL my sessions! Don't pay a cent until you are 100% happy with your pictures!

I own a camera therefore I can take photos like the pros, who charge alot more. Most brides in Utah spend $2,500 on professional wedding photography. Since I have no experience I'll only be charging $250 (90% off regular wedding photography prices) to shoot full day wedding coverage.

Think about it: Pros charge alot of money because they have alot of expenses. I don't.

Pros have:
-a business license
- multiple cameras
-thousands of dollars in lenses and flashes
-hard drives to back up the images
-insurance
-experience
-people skills
-color calibrated monitors
-professional print labs
-professional albums

I have none of this stuff so we'll keep it cheap, just for you!

E-mail me if you want to set an appointment or if you have any questions, I will gladly respond.

•Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
•it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

PostingID: 1525534132

What a Princess | Tea Party Birthday at the Marlow House | Marietta, Ga | Lifestyle & Event Photographer

2010-01-23T14:09:00.004-05:00

Happy Birthday to the Party Girl she looks like a Princess...!

The Marlow House is a beautiful Victorian event venue located on the Historic Marietta Square.

Contact them for more information on event bookings such as parties!

http://www.marlowhouse.com/

Event, Birthday, Party, Sweet Sixteen, Quinceañera Celebration, Quinceanera, Photography, Photographer, Woodstock, Marietta, Kennesaw, Canton, Alpharetta, Roswell, Atlanta, Georgia

Come VOTE!! Best of 2009 | Woodstock Georgia Lifestyle Portrait Photographer

2010-01-21T19:55:00.011-05:00

VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!

Best of 2009

Out with the old and IN with the new! 2010 is going to be a FABULOUS year, but I wanted to look back and celebrate the great year we had in 2009. Here are some of the best portraits from last year in no particular order! Narrowing the selection down to a final 8 was a very hard decision from all of the sessions and portraits last year & took quite a bit of help. We did stick with babies & children to narrow the selection down some!

Thank you to all of my super clients and I look foward to seeing you in 2010!

**The images seen here can be seen larger in the galleries on my website!**

What does the winner receive??

A complimentary session OR an 11×14 wall portrait of the image that was chosen as the winner!

Forward to your family and friends….! Tell them to come & vote!

Rules and instructions:
*Anyone can vote, even if you are just here visiting {you MUST include your name with your vote or comment - or it will be deleted. This is just to be fair to everyone else if you do not have a blogger account; votes showing no name/anonymous will be deleted-hate that...! If you voted anonymously for an image, please feel free to cast your vote again with a name- thank you!} - come & show some love!

To cast your vote, you MUST leave your name and a comment at the bottom of this blog post and tell us which number you are voting for (you can tell us how much you love us if you want *wink*).

*You can only vote once per day, but you CAN vote every day.

*Winner: if you choose the portrait session, session must be scheduled by 6/30/2010 and be held on a weekday. If you choose the 11×14 wall portrait, it must be of the image chosen as the best of 2009 in this blog post.

Contest ends February 14th at midnight and the winner will be announced the following week!

Most of all.....have fun! Ready, Set, Go.......!

Now Booking ALL of 2010!!!!!
678-920-8216

http://www.turningleafdesigns.com/

Lifestyle Portrait Photography

Woodstock, Georgia 30188

***Update-12/14/2010-Voting is closed for this event! Thank you to everyone who participated! I will tally the votes and announce the winner! Thank you!!! Kristie***

AND

We have a winner!!

The winner is #8 with 100 votes!

Runner up is #1 with 82 votes!

Congratulations to #8!

Spring Portraits with a Bunny 2010 & Charity Event - Food Drive - for the Cherokee County Humane Society! | Woodstock, GA Portrait Photographer

2010-01-20T10:19:00.005-05:00

The start of 2010 has been a little more hectic than I planned it would be...!

I have so many goals for this year that organizing them with life is a feat of it's own proportion! Our family has had a visit from two ended stomach flu, a wreck on a skateboard resulting in an air cast and crutches...mix that with snow days, out of the ordinary winter temperatures, broken pool pipes and the holidays...! I must say, I did FINALLY get my Christmas decorations taken down!

yay me (thanks for helping kids)! Now I just have to put them back where they belong in the attic! :)

On another note, I am sooo happy the sun and warm (er) weather is here for a visit! I had a slight twinge of spring fever the other day....I don't want to jump the gun on that since we are still in the middle of winter! However I wanted to go ahead and promote a couple of things quickly coming down the pipe!

1) Portraits with a live Bunny & Easter Portraits: Easter is early this year (the end of March) so portraits with a Bunny will be the end of February/early March. Last years bunny portraits were a HUGE hit and I expect nothing less this year. I will have the same bunny as last year who's owner given name is 'Booger' (we called him Jasper here, though I love to throw the name out as a joke to the kids!). I am so excited about Easter portraits and Jasper-he's awesome! I haven't pounded out the exact plan for portraits with a bunny, but if you are interested and want to get on a list, please contact me asap through email or phone....I've already had a good many inquiries and I don't want you to miss out on this special time of year and special event! Plan accordingly....

2) Charity Event-Food Drive for the Cherokee County Humane Society: We all love our pets! I love animals and pets...and our pets are part of our family! My husband has called me Snow White because animals (of all kinds....) tend to find me out of the blue. I've had a wide variety pets including guinea pigs, rabbits, chickens, horses, cats, dogs, parakeets, hermit crabs & all kinds of fish (I'm sure I've forgotten something....). Our family now has a baby parrot (who's hilarious) & two cocker spaniels.

I'm all about pets and promoting the local humane society-they are a fantastic benefit to the local community and they can always use any help they can get! In fact, the pets we've gotten at the humane society have been THE best pets we've ever had. With this in mind, I would love to give back to the local community! I will be holding a food drive charity event benefitting the Cherokee County Humane Society. I am still (quickly) working out all of the details on where/when, but basically you will receive a free pet portrait (with or without your pet) and a 5x7 with the donation of wet or dry kitten or puppy food that will be delivered to the humane society. I spoke with Ottis Moore at the humane society on Bells Ferry road and he asked that puppy or kitten food be donated because many of the dogs and cats they receive may not be able to eat regular adult foods. I currently plan for this to be held sometime in February....I will keep you posted asap...again, if you are interested in participating in any way contact me as soon as possible......!

Spread the word......I hope to hear from you soon!

Kristie

678-920-8216

www.turningleafdesigns.com

Creating art, Capturing memories...Because a Photograph Never Grows Up!

Will Your Granchildren Be Very Upset With You? | Portrait Photographer | Woodstock, Ga 30188

2010-01-09T13:58:00.004-05:00

I’m willing to bet your grandchildren will be upset with you. Here’s why. Imagine, 50 years from now, as your grandchildren or great grandchildren are going through the boxes in the attic. They are enthralled with the treasures and keepsakes they find and how they tie into the story of your life.

Amongst all the old items, they find a number of round silver objects. Some have writing on them, some are blank, but they resemble some kind of a small platter about 4″ across, with a hole in the middle.

Puzzled, they take them to their parents. “What are these, Mom?” they ask. “Oh, I think those are all of grandma’s photographs. Yep, here’s one labeled ‘My Wedding’. Here’s some more labeled ‘Family Photos,’ and some more labeled ‘Vacations’.”

“How do we look at them?” they ask.

“Well, I’m not sure we can. First of all, no one has the device that reads these anymore. Besides that, I doubt after all these years that they’re any good anymore. Being stored in the attic, the heat and cold probably ruined them.”

The kids are very disappointed. Nowhere amongst all the treasures are any actual prints. All that history is lost. Their connection with the past and all the wonderful stories that might have gone along with all those photographs are gone as well.

Along with all the wonders of our digital age come some significant problems that most people have never thought of.

Did you know that over 90% of all images taken on today’s digital cameras are NEVER PRINTED? I’m guilty of that myself. I have gigabytes of personal photographs that have never been seen other than on a computer screen.

In the old days, film went to the lab and everything that was printable was printed. Even if it was a bad photograph, it still was a hard copy, a part of your family history and it had permanence. Even if they never went in an album, they at least went into a box, to be discovered as treasures years later.

The same problem exists in professional portrait studios today. Many people are simply asking for the images on CD. “I’ll print them later” or “I’ll design my own wedding album” are common phrases. Usually this is done with the thought that they’ll save some money by doing it themselves.

But you know what? Most never make it into any kind of an album. Life gets busy and 20 years later they’ll be looking for some way to read those disks.

I bring this up only to point out the importance of what we, as a professional studio do. Our job is not just to create the images, to create wonderful story telling photographs about the people in front of our camera; it’s to create a final product, whether it be a professionally retouched and printed single image, a family heirloom wall portrait, or an incredible storybook album using a collection of the images that were created.

It doesn’t matter whether it’s a wedding, a newborn baby, a senior or a family. Having the final product created for you is important. To do less is to leave the job half done and to short change the customer.

So, if you’re asked for a disk with all the images “so I can print them later”, that’s fine, just make sure your customers understand that if not printed, the conversation their grandchildren will want to have about their family history may never be able to happen.

Author: Fred Molesworth, Salem, Oregon

Google Trophy & Happy New Year! | Boutique Portrait Photographer | Woodstock, Ga

2009-12-31T13:02:00.010-05:00

WOW!!!!

I can't believe today is the last day of 2009! I look forward to the New Year with much anticipation! 2009 was amazing in so many ways...there were many highs, abounding blessings & so much to be grateful for...!

There's lots of new stuff coming out in the New Year for Turning Leaf....some new products and all kinda fun and fresh stuff to announce! Yay Yay!!! I can't wait to share....so stay tuned (fan me on Facebook, or subscribe to my blogger!!).

In this post I'm sharing the 2009 Turning Leaf 'Google Trophy'. WOW, is all I can say-I'm a little humbled...!

Turning Leaf received this really cool 'trophy' as I'd like to call it from Google because we're so popular......on Google....the most used search engine (though I'm sure some beg to differ)!!! See that little barcode thingie...? That's my own personal barcode!!! You can scan that with your phone and it will take you to my Google listing where you can write reviews and add me as a favorite!!! Sooo coool...!!! Ok, I haven't personally tried this, so if you try it, please let me know....!!!

Turning Leaf is high tech!

Thanks to everyone who made this possible..!!!!

Happy New Year to everyone! I wish you peace, health & prosperity...!

Onward

20K10 2010 Twenty-Ten Two-Thousand-Ten

{whatever you want to call it}

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! | Portrait Photographer | Woodstock, Georgia 30188

2009-12-17T08:52:00.009-05:00

{me at Christmas age 1}

I wanted to take a moment to wish everyone a wonderful Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Thank you to all of my clients for a fantastic 2009...I look foward to 2010 and capturing your memories!

We all have much to be thankful for here. So many things have shaped who I am and what I am thankful for the list is vast. A quick memory that comes to mind is when I was in elementary school and I had to write 'I will not talk in class...' on the chalk board. I apologize in advance for my longwindedness. My neighbor tells me I should write a book. I honestly wouldn't even know where to start. My life has definately been adventerous and as a family, we have some very comical & interesting things that happen to us.

I wonder if TLC will pick up my family in the place of the Gosselins? :) For the time being I'll just give my quick speech and hopefully I won't get interrupted by Kanye West.

My wonderful husband has been able to step in and help me out during the holidays...! Surprisingly, I have hair left on my head thanks to him :). Also, thank you to him for believing in me and my artistic skills. I love what I do!!! Sometimes I'm a little overly passionate and have a hard time shutting down {sometimes that's when magic happens}.

But without him, I wouldn't be able to do all that I do.

Thanks to my wonderful children for putting up with me and my sometimes crazy schedules {and sometimes not so great meals}. They are both fantastic kids...and fortunately very photogenic. :)

Thank you to my grandmother for her love of photography, allowing me to 'borrow' her camera when young on choir tours and not getting mad at me for taking flash cubes out of the drawer in her chest of drawers in her dining room {I know they weren't cheap!!! I heard that comment a few times.}. Thank you to her for instilling in me the want to capture memories that will be cherished for a lifetime and for future generations to come.

Thank you to my parents for buying me my first manual camera and also for allowing me to be so artistic! Without the years of choir and my crazy artistic side being allowed to come through and evolve, I would defintely not be the artist I am today or have the appreciation I have for many things in life. Sorry for leaving all of those glow in the dark stars and moons on the ceiling and walls in my room when I moved out! We all know I wasn't the best academically in math :); math has never been in the stars for me. I was always told by my aunt that I would be an artist when I grew up; she also told my cousin Mick would be in a band.

Those comments have both come to fruition!

I am always growing & learning and I really look forward to 2010.

For my family, I will be taking next week 'off' making cherished memories {and baking cookies and good meals}.

Feel free to email me with any questions or scheduling...! {and no, my website calendar is not updated....!}

Merry Christmas and Healthy & Happy New Year to you all....!

I wish you many cherished memories for years to come!

Photo Restoration | Photographer Woodstock, Georgia | Portrait Photgraphy

2009-12-08T18:05:00.004-05:00

As many of my clients know (or maybe you can tell by my website), I love to make some of my portraits look old, vintage and unique. Being able to snap a moment in time during 2009 and make it look turn of the century get's me excited! As an artist, artistically rendering images that I snap is one of my favorite things to do and is available by commission.

I also love looking through old photos from family and friends. I grew up looking at photo albums at grandma and grandpa's and when younger. The grandchildren would gather in Nana and Papa's house to watch slide shows of pictures taken from years gone by. I understand how time flies and value the cherished moments that we all want to last for a lifetime! Taking the time to look through old photos and remember days gone by or of family members long gone is cherished by many.
As a photographer, I strive to capture moments that will be cherished for a lifetime.

A special couple found me recently and asked for me to work on some precious momentos of their family from years past. I was honored they found me out of the blue, loved my work and flattered they entrusted me with their cherished photographs (they are in my safe with my camera equipment!) and asked me to work on some images of theirs; to 'freshen' and 'sharpen' them up a little and bring out the features. Here are a couple of the images they asked for me to work on. The first image below is from World War I; the 2nd image is dated 1963. The image from WWI has an out of focus subject (sitting) and unfortunately, his features could only be brought out some. Luckily, this isn't the person that my couple is interested in as much! The photo dated 1963 is very overexposed and was taken in direct sun. It is also very aged. Ironically, the coloring of these original photos is something I sometimes try and duplicate on modern day portraits! I was able to bring out the features of the four-generation family members and freshen the colors.

I just wanted to share with you! I thought it was all pretty fun! If you are ever interested in photo restoration, just drop me an email or give me a call!

678-920-8216
kristie@turningleafdesigns.com

Santa Napping | Portrait Photographer | Marietta, Ga | The Marlow House

2009-12-06T22:38:00.005-05:00

Santa was all tuckered out after all of the sessions from yesterday and today...! I caught him taking a cookie break and a nap by the fireplace! He headed back to the North Pole to make his list and check it twice. I hope all of you boys and girls have been good...!

Thanks for a super first annual portraits with Santa at the Marlow House on the Historic Marietta Square. A HUGE thankyou to the Marlow House; Rebecca and Loretta {owners} for hosting Santa portraits!

If you are ever in need of a place to host a party or event, or even a wedding or baby shower, please consider the Marlow House!
They also hold spectacular tea parties for little girls!
It is absolutely magical and spectacular! I will be posting pictures of the Marlow House Christmas trees in next few days to come! Stay posted, you won't want to miss this show!

You can visit the Marlow House website at http://www.marlowhouse.com/ and tell them Turning Leaf sent you!

Portraits with Santa | The Marlow House | Historic Marietta, Ga | Children Portrait Photographer

2009-12-05T16:00:00.004-05:00

WOW, snow this morning, Santa Portraits today!! AMAZING!

Here are some quick snips from portraits with Santa today! Christmas is in the air!

I have a few openings tomorrow's Santa sessions if you want to set up an appointment! Precious moments......don't miss your opportunity!

Call: 678-920-8216

Marlow House Christmas Open House | Portraits with Santa | Marietta, Ga Pilgrimage Tour 2009

2009-12-01T13:12:00.003-05:00

Please join Santa and Turning Leaf Photography at the Marlow House this weekend!!! I have a few sessions left...

Brother and Sister | Marietta, GA | Portrait Photographer

2009-11-30T16:41:00.002-05:00

Awesome session for some brother and sister pictures; we got some great portraits together also {don't fret, mom will love them}! Teenagers are so fun to work with and photograph; these two were no exception! I cracked a few jokes to get a couple of smiles too.

FYI: I will be searching for seniors to photograph pretty soon! Send me the teenagers!!

I'm always up for a challenge and baby/toddlers are fun, but teenagers are great to pose and work with in a totally different format altogether! Fun stuff guys-Thanks so much for asking me to take your portraits!!

Me and My Trike | Sandy Springs, GA | Children Portrait Photographer

2009-11-30T11:44:00.008-05:00

You may recognize this little guy!

I've photographed him a few times now with the most memorable image being his Gone Fishin' session. Mom got a beautiful gallery wrapped canvas of this image:

Soon to be a big brother, he's growing up so quickly!!! I am always amazed at how much clients children grow between sessions! I feel blessed to capture the precious moments as they pass by.

I value all of my photographs from childhood. It's fantastic how they bring back so many memories! Here is one of my memories; and I do remember it! I'm not sure who took the picture, probably my dad. I also had a tricycle when I was the age of litte trike boy above, my trike was blue though (which is suitable for me, I'm not a red person)! Here I am with my trike in all of my cuteness. Ahh....memories. Capture them while you can!

Double the Pleasure {twin girls} & Pettiskirts | Canton-Holly Springs, GA | Family and Childrens Portrait Photographer

2009-11-25T11:33:00.007-05:00

We had a great silly and giggly time at this twins session!

These two little girls and family were more than a pleasure to work with. I have SO many great portraits from this session; I had a very hard time picking my sneak peek!

I love them all, personally! The image below, let's just say O M G. This would be FANTASTIC as a large size Gallery Wrapped Canvas! Oh my...!

I will have to get my own!

Scroll down to see a perfectly pouty twins portrait. The girls were cracking up immediately before and following this shot. Super funny!

So glad we got the pouty pic.

Mom and dad were awesome location scouts and fun to work with! Thanks for a fantastically fun session! I hope you had as much fun as I did!

I look forward to sharing the rest of your gallery with you!