Energy, Energy, Energy!!!

Energy, energy, energy... that is the name of the game with the Frey Family.  Joanne and Lars contacted me based on the recommendation of another client, the Ayres Family. 

What a wonderful family the Frey Family is!!  Their twins, Emma and Isabelle were filled with so much energy - Hmmm... in hindsight, maybe I shouldn't have given two three-year-old girls "lollipops"!!!  :)  

 
We met at Hammonds Ferry on a beautiful evening and our session was on the go, with quick location changes, different outfits and lots of different poses, were got a bunch of portraits done in a really fast amount of time!  

 
I was so happy to be able to take portraits for Lars and Joanne to send to their families in Austria and South Africa!  www.MaryBethsPhotography.info
 

Merry Christmas

This time of year always finds me - no matter if gifts are purchased and wrapped, no matter if the tree is trimmed, the lights are up and there are cookies ready for Santa.  

 
This year also always finds me... reflecting on the many Christmases of years past - growing up with my family, my first Christmas with my husband, Brett and celebrating each Christmas with our beautiful children.  

 
Yes, this time of year always finds me - grateful, happy, filled with the spirit of Christmas and wishing for snow.  

 
Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas from our home to yours.  www.MaryBethsPhotography.info

Unique Request = Special Opportunity

A few weeks ago, I had a chance meeting with Robert Rollings, who wanted to partner with a photographer for some advertising work for his wife's real estate company - Shannon Rollings Real Estate.   

 

An email soon followed with a unique request... Can I do it at night, with the lights on and make it happen fast?  :)  Yes!  Yes! and Yes!  You guessed it - She wanted to capture a home decorated with Christmas lights, at night and needed a very fast turnaround.  One thing led to another and here is one of my portraits on the back of the "The Home Buyer" magazine!  

I love working with businesses and meeting their needs.  If you or someone you know needs portraits for brochures, websites, flyers or any other need, give me a call.  www.MaryBethsPhotography.info

{ The Principal is on the Phone }

Is it wrong that even as an adult, when the Principal calls you, you get that worried feeling??  Well, turns out that Mrs. Churm's, the Principal at my children's school, phone call shouldn't have made me worry at all, just made me feel so honored!  

 

Mrs. Churm's grandchildren were in town from Atlanta and she asked if I was available to take portraits of two of the most adorable little girls.  

Ansley and her little sister, Audrey Claire, came to the studio in my home on a cold day.  The girls were so very sweet.  

 

As with any two-month-old, the second they fall asleep, the magic behind the camera begins.  I love watching siblings together and Ansley was such a wonderful big sister!  

Thank you for the very special honor, Mrs. Churm.  www.MaryBethsPhotography.info

{ Pond Family Giggles are the Best }

 Sometimes it is just easier for me to set up multiple sessions in one day.  And while it can be exhausting, it is always so much fun to spend the day taking portraits.  I just love it!  

 
On the day that I met with the Pond family, I had already done a session in the morning.  It was so exciting to be with the Pond family, taking portraits of them on their front porch swing.  Frick, Frack and Frog - the adorable Pond boys (their nicknames, of course) - have the best giggles I have heard!!

 
And what inspired their giggles... the trick up my sleeve - the whoopie cushion.  What a pretty setting we had in their home that was recently redone - what character and what characters those Pond boys are!!!  www.MaryBethsPhotography.info

{ Entries - Life Style Session }

It is time to vote!  After all the entries we received, here are our top three nominations.  Thank you to everyone who nominated, now let's start voting!  Here is how you do it:  Go to my blog www.MaryBethsPhotography.Blogspot.com and read the entries under the title { Entries - Life Style Session } - listed below in alphabetical order.  Leave a comment on Facebook or my Blog about which family should win - it could be as simple as "The XYZ Family should win!"  Voting ends December 16th, so any comments left after that will not be counted and whoever receives the most comments will WIN a FREE Life Style Session and an album of all the portraits from the day.  The winner will be notified with a phone call and be posted on the blog on December 18th!  Start voting today and encourage your friends and family to visit my Facebook page to vote, too!  (This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.)

The Ayres Family

The Ayres Family are such a wonderful and special family and friends of ours.  They do such cool and different things together and always as a family.  Their kids are so much apart of what they do and they always do things so that their kids can be apart of it too.  From camping trips to days at the lake or the park so crafts at home.  They give their kids the best of best experiences and fun times.  They would make the perfect family to follow around for the day!!  You will have a blast with them. 

The Blankenship Family
Picture this... the story of a family's reconciliation happens over Christmas.  That is what is happening for the Blankenships this year.  After losing touch for many years due to divorce, relocation and busy lives, four generations of the Blankenship family will gather together for the first time this Christmas.  People from ages 5 to 90 will gather together and blend the stories of their lives in North Augusta and celebrate.  The true meaning of the Christmas season will be living proof in the Blankenship family as they rebuild relationships and foster new ones.  What better way to document this momentous occasion than with a Life Style Session!! 

The Lehi Family

I really believe Terrie Lehi is an angel walking the earth.  She is a dedicated mother, wife, friend, and employee.  She seems to take everything in stride, keeping all situations in perspective about what are the most important things in life, God and her family and friends.  And she has boundless energy and dedication to making life better and happier for others.  Terrie is the type of person who doesn’t realize the impression she makes on others or the joy she brings to everyone’s life, simply by being herself.  She is selfless, always putting the needs of others first.  I think a “Life Style” session would be a wonderful treat for her and her family and a great way to capture the love of her family.

{ A December to Remember }

Attention all MEN: Do you have something special up your sleeve planned for this Christmas?  

Is that someone special in your life going to receive a very sparkly surprise this Christmas holiday?  

 

I would love to capture your engagement with portraits for you to remember always.  What better way to document the beginning of your love story than with portraits!!  Look at how I captured weddings from this past year and visit my website www.MaryBethsPhotography.info!  Give me a call at 803.634.0596 or email me at mb_photography@bellsouth.net   

 

 

{ A Change of Venue }

One of the battles a photographer faces when taking portraits outside is the weather.  And due to wet ground from the night before the Loose Family's session, we had to make a fast change.  

We decided to go to Hammond's Ferry and used the backyard and patio of Melissa's brother.  

 

We were so close to the water and had such great opportunities for different portraits - the day worked out just lovely!

 
Melissa and I are both in a Mother's Club and her children Thayer and Vivian are friends with my children.  It turned out to be a great session and I was so thankful we were able to make the location switch!  www.MaryBethsPhotography.info

{ Cyber Monday Special 2011 }

Black Friday has come and gone and now you are hoping that Cyber Monday helps you find the most perfect gift...  Well, look no further!!!  

As a unique giveaway to all my fans who have been so supportive this year, I am going to give away a very special portrait session, which is also becoming a new promotion for 2012.  

Have you every wished you had a photographer with you as you and your family bake your favorite holiday meal or as you go to the park for the day?  I am a photographer because I want to capture life's beautiful moments and they happen all the time!!  

In a new session called "Life Style", I will visit with you and your family for three hours and document your beautiful moments.  

Here is how you enter - send me an email (mb_photography@bellsouth.net) with who you are nominating, the town they live in and why you are nominating them in 200 words or less by December 8, 2011.  

Visit my Blog from December 12 - 16, 2011 for the top three stories and let me know who should win.  The story with the most votes by comments will be the winner and will be notified on December 19th - just in time for Christmas.  

Please note the winner of this contest must live within a 50 mile radius of North Augusta, SC.  

Start nominating and give someone the perfect gift on Christmas morning!  And as if that wasn't the most perfect gift ever... as an extra added, super special, just because you have all been so good to me addition, I am including a beautiful album for the winning family to use as a keepsake of this session!

{ So Much to be Thankful For Today } - WWoW

I love what Thanksgiving does to me!  Each year, Brett and I have made it a point to make November all about being thankful with our children.  Each day we ask them to tell us different things that make them thankful.  

 Last year, we had a "Thanks Tree" and each day, the children would add a leaf to the tree with something that made them thankful.  Sometimes the things we are thankful for are little - being thankful for a piece of electronics or pumpkin spiced coffee, and sometimes the little things we are thankful for rest on our hearts all year long.

 

This year started out so tough with the passing of my 92-year-old grandmother, but it is this time of year that makes me enjoy being thankful for all the little things about her that are always with me - the smell of her perfume, the funny things she would say when we would talk, the way she would pull off her clip-on earring to talk on the phone and the many Thanksgivings we spent together.

 
I am reminded of a quote I heard, "Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize that they were the big things."  As you celebrate Thanksgiving 2011, enjoy the little moments you have with your family and friends - a hug, a laugh, a smile, a memory - because one day, they will be the big things. I wish you a safe and thankful Thanksgiving!  www.MaryBethsPhotography.info

{ A Session that Deserves A Repeat }

Why can't all sessions be just like the one I had with the Ayres Family?   It was just a sweet session all around - sweet family, sweet children, sweet location... all sweet!
  

The Ayres crew was willing to try anything and they appreciate good photography.  On a cool, crisp day, we headed to a new location at the Savannah Rapids Pavilion. 

It was really a great place, full of life and a bunch of other photographers - all of us out in the same location, loving the scenery and respecting each others work... just doing what we love to do!  

Two very funny things happened during the session.  The oldest Ayres, Ryan, wanted so much to go to my studio because he loved to play with the car mat - too funny what impresses children and what they remember.  The second funny thing was the other impressive thing for Ryan - my whoopie cushion.  He was happy that I had brought my "special pillow".  A very special thank you to Rose, Eric, Ryan and Madeline!  www.MaryBethsPhotography.info
  

{ If Only the Horses Could Talk }

Sometimes everything just works... the weather is perfect, the family is full of healthy, happy people and the scenery accents the portraits at just the right time.  

 

This was a Saturday for me a couple weeks ago.  The Holton Family and I met at a special location near my home that was full of fields, horses, stables and I was feeling so creative! 

 

What a beautiful family full of a few generations together.  I swear the horses knew the second I was about to take the portrait, because they would stick their heads out from their stables at just the perfect time.  

 

I was sort of expecting them to start looking at me and smiling!!  One of my favorite portraits was the kids’ “silly picture”, something their mom, Kelly, had been telling me they had been practicing!! 

 

Thank you to the Holton Family for a wonderful day.  www.MaryBethsPhotography.info

{ A Well Planned Portrait Session }

I love spending time with customers whom I have worked with in the past.  

I really feel like I get to watch children grow, capturing them each year!  

The Huckaby Family and I met at Enterprise Mill for a portrait session that was booked three months ago! 

I love being well planned - and they loved knowing that I had saved the time just for them!!  

 
Mrs. Huckaby is fantastic at getting her family coordinated with great colors!  Thanks for a great day!  www.MaryBethsPhotography.info 

{ A Special Piece of Jewelry for that Special Someone }

Looking for that super special Christmas gift?  Then buy a piece from the Kotori Jewelry line and add a portrait from your session this year or a scheduled session.  

These beautiful pieces come in a variety of options for the special mother, grandmother, aunt or sister in your life.  There are also great options for men.  

All the pieces are handmade and solid sterling silver.  They are also UV resistant and waterproof.  Showcase your portraits in this unique way!  

You can also start thinking ahead for birthdays and Mother's Day next year!  Contact me ASAP for guaranteed delivery for Christmas.  www.MaryBethsPhotography.info