This is the last post I will be writing at this address. I decided it was time for something a little more customizable and professional. From now on all of my posts will be at the following: www.melissaaphotography.com/blog. Please check it out and bookmark the page so you can keep up with all the fun things going on and soon to come.
Thanks everyone!
I met up with this sweet family on one of our hottest days! Shortly before our session I drove by a sign that read "102 degrees" and that was at 4:45pm! This Georgia heat is something else, but that didn't stop us!
I arrived at our location a bit early and decided to walk around to check out some spots. Unfortunately, this turned me into a sweaty mess and the poor Hinson family met me for the first time completely sweaty and gross! They braved it though and we ended up having a nice time.
Little Evan is about 20 months old and just as cute as can be. He's at that stage where he wants to explore everything and does not want to sit still, so cute and of course something worth remembering! This session held an extra special meaning to the Hinson family for another reason, as well. Cindy is preparing to deploy to Afghanistan for 6 months. This will be her second deployment, but the first time she didn't have sweet Evan she had to leave behind.
Cindy, I can't imagine how difficult it must be to leave your family, but I thank you for your service. I hope these photos will provide some comfort to you and your family while you are away and in the future.
Cindy and Rich, thank you for choosing me and I wish y'all the best in your new adventures.
-Melissa
This must have been one of the most fun days I've had in a while. Drew joined his little friends for his first time bowling on Monday, August 2nd! I hadn't given much thought to taking Drew bowling so I was interested to see how this would go, and I was pleasantly surprised.
Seriously people, you've never seen anything so cute. These kiddos were all over this new activity and they even got their own little bitty bowling shoes!!! I didn't even know they made them that small! Anyway, it was fantastic and here are some fun photos to help us remember the day. Enjoy!
I can't believe it, I just can't believe it. You hear all the time that they grow so fast, but you never realize what that means until you have one of your own.
Four years ago today, I was headed to the hospital at around 4:30am. I was only 36 weeks along, but definitely felt like my body could not handle any more.
It's amazing how much of that early morning and day are sketchy in my memory. I remember driving to the hospital, but not the whole drive. I remember changing into a hospital gown, but not getting to the actual room I was in. I remember seeing 3 doctors during that time because the first one's shift was over and he was done, so he left it to the other two. I remember repeatedly asking for an epidural just in case they thought I was joking. I remember Charley making some phone calls, but not sure who all was called.
I remember he also sat doing a crossword puzzle to pass the time as I waited for my epidural. Yep, those are my feet he has the paper sitting between while I was lying in pain :oP
I remember after my epidural being quite the happy camper! I felt like I could hang out all day. I was so excited that I even got my own button to push when I felt I needed more meds. The labor part was not difficult; in between contractions and pushing I sat back and chit chatted with the doctors and nurses. Then we were blessed by this little bitty punkin. Andrew Charles Grooters was born at 2:15pm on August 6, 2006. He was four weeks early, but weighed 6 pounds 1 ounce. What a gift!
Everything went smoothly and we got to go home two days later. Later that week, though we were back in the hospital because of jaundice. I think this is where Drew's beach bum nature really set in! It was a rough night and couple of days, but we made it through.
This is probably the only point where Drew looked a lot more like me than Charley. :o)
One for each year!
It's amazing how quickly time has gone by. I am so sad when I think of how fast it's going, but I love every minute that passes with my little man.
So here's to remembering the past...
...and celebrating the future! Drew, you've made every struggle worthwhile and every happiness magnified! I love you and happy 4th birthday!
I had the opportunity to take a workshop through the Lamarr School - a PPA affiliate school at the beginning of July. It was fabulous and introduced to me by John Wrightenberry, the same one I second shot beside for the May wedding. He's not only a full time photographer, but also the director for the Lamarr School.
This workshop was created to help professional photographers improve their skills of capturing, enhancing, selling, and providing better service to their clients. The entire seminar was from Sunday to Thursday and included many different kinds of classes that ranged from two to four days. I took the two day Photoshop course, which was excellent! However, I was itching to take some pictures, especially after seeing models walking by our room several times all done up.
Part of the seminar was a hands on experience. The director and other instructors involved organized a Trash the Dress session for us on one of the evenings. I am so incredibly glad I was able to make it for this session. It provided not only a different experience then I'm used to, but some instruction was also given during the shoot.
Really, all I can say is that it was FABULOUS! I would do it again in a heartbeat and recommend it to anyone interested. It's totally worth the expense. So without further babbling from me, here is what I captured at that session....
Thank you to John Wrightenberry and the Lamarr School for a new and exciting adventure in photography!
I met up with the Jackson Family on Saturday and we had a very nice time. As seems to be the standard these days, the weather was threatening rain, so we moved our session up a bit earlier. We started heading down to our location and watched as the clouds just continued to get darker and just for good measure, some thunder was thrown in there, too! But, thankfully once we reached our destination the clouds parted some and we were even blessed with a decent breeze every now and then.
I met Lauren a couple of years ago when they moved here for her hubby to start the same residency program that my hubby is in. They've become good friends and are always so laid back and fun to be around. Lauren approached me about doing a large family session for them because Lynn, her husband, is about to deploy for three months to do his research time in Afghanistan. So, Lynn's family drove in and made it a great get together and also a nice farewell.
So, Jackson Family, here is your sneak peek. It was wonderful to meet you all. Lynn, we will miss you and look forward to your return!
Thank y'all!
~Melissa
So, here is another example of why I love photography. Just when I feel like I'm getting into the groove of things, I'm given another exciting, challenging opportunity and I fall in love with it all over again.
This wedding was my first one ever, and it was an amazing experience. I was invited as a second shooter by John Wrightenberry for this fabulous May wedding. Before I get into all the goods, I have to give you some of the backstory!
Last October I went with my family to Skytop Orchards to go apple picking, which you must visit if you haven't already. While finishing up there I was walking around taking photos of Drew, naturally, but he wasn't cooperating towards the end so I got up to find something else to photograph. Suddenly, I hear a man say, "I was trying to take an image of you taking an image of your son." Alrighty, so I got back down to Drew's level to capture a couple more since this man was trying to capture some of his own. After that he introduced himself as John Wrightenberry, and said he would email me the photos when he returned home. All of this was very nice, but I know how it is with photos, they often get buried beneath all of their photo buddies and they are never seen again.
Well, about a month or so later I find an email from John with the photos attached! I was quite surprised because I knew he was a very busy man just by looking at his website. I'm still surprised that he shares his time with me at all, but I'm thrilled to learn whatever I can from him.
So, months go by without talking to John until I receive an email from him in April asking if I was still doing photography and if I'd be interested in second shooting this wedding with him. Well, I had to reread the email a few times, and then double check to see if he sent it to the right person! To try to make an extremely long story slightly less long, he did send it to the right person and the rest is history!
Now, it's taken me a very, very long time to post this for a few reasons. First, I wanted to make sure that John received all of my images and was able to do his part with them. Second, I wanted to make sure the images I used were approved by him since he has the contract with the family. Finally, I couldn't choose which photos to share!!! :o)
So, here is my first wedding ever. The couple was very sweet and I wish them all the best in the world!
The Miller Family and I met on Saturday for their second ever family shoot. Due to the supposed rain, we moved our session up to the morning and while it was slightly cooler, it wasn't cool enough to forget that we're in the middle of summer in the south! No matter, this family is awesome! They were troopers through the heat and so relaxed.
Right off the bat you could tell that this is a fun and playful family. Michelle and I kept in touch up to the morning of the shoot and she mentioned that her hubby really wanted to include their family Jeep in some of the pictures. Instantly I was excited! This Jeep is something they use on the weekend and she said they do some off-roading behind their house! What a fun prop to include in your family photos!
Overall, it was a fabulous experience, especially getting to see casual, real play not only between the kids, but with the parents, too. Michelle, thank you for contacting me and I hope you enjoy your sneak peek. There are many other great ones to come :o)
First of all, I want to say thank you to all who visit and follow my blog. I know I haven't been very good at updating lately and it's simply because I'm overwhelmed with all I have going on. With two new babies, on the way, a little boy about to turn 4 (I can't believe it), keeping my house from crumbling, and working on my business things are very overwhelming, but.....not enough to make me stop any of it. I am completely and utterly at peace and smitten with my life right now!
I do want to include more personal things on this blog, not just my sessions with clients. I think it's important to keep things a little more intimate so that those who don't know me can get to know me, and those that do, you just get an extra dose of me :oP
Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you for stopping by and please continue to do so and pass my site onto your friends. And just for a little glimpse into my recent life, here you go...
Some much needed beach time...
We were driving somewhere and I happened to turn around and see this sight, so here's to seeing the world in new ways (even if it's through foggie frog goggles)...
We said goodbye to wonderful friends, here's the last night before they moved across the country...
Our summer has been full of trips, heading back to Texas and offering Woody and Buzz some new adventures...
We spent some quality time with my grandmother, Drew's great-grandmother while in Texas. She has alzheimers and she didn't know who we were, but it was special.
And here are the twinlets at 21 weeks! Two boys, look out world, the Grooters are going to take over!
Time as a family is essential and there never seems to be enough of it, so it's cherished...
Me and the hubster :o)
I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer full of things to create special memories...
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