{ Hammond’s Ferry + The Movius Family = A Perfect Session! }

I can’t even begin to explain how much it means when I receive a client due to a referral; I firmly believe it is the highest form of a compliment.  

Spencer’s Mom referred the Movius Family to me this past summer.  Their daughter was turning 5 and they wanted to record this time in their lives with professional portraits.

  

I always encourage families to do that – capture this beautiful time with portraits.  

The Movius Family and I met at Hammond’s Ferry and I brought my fabulous red couch.

  

I love having the opportunity to speak with families before portraits are taken so that we can discuss expectations and great ideas!  I can also help figure out clothing and props!    www.MaryBethsPhotography.com

{ A New Year 2014 - A New Look and New Changes.... }

So each year I love to look back at the previous year and decide what changes I want to make in my personal life and in my business and what things I thought went well and were grateful for! It is a time of reflection for me and a time to renew my spirit! It is a sense of a clean slate if you will, when a New Year approaches. A time of great gratitude for the things accomplished and time spent with friends! I love the holidays just as much as I like the newness the New Year brings.

With reflecting back, it was a year of growth for my business! The addition of my studio proved to be a wonderful one throughout the year and I am feeling excited that the final touches continue to be added. I met many new faces this year and loved catching up with my existing clients. I  was able to get my baby fix by capturing the newness of life with newborns. I saw couples who were  two unique individuals taking vows and  becoming husband and wife several times this year. What wonderful celebrations I was hired to record. I was able to update family portraits and follow children as they changed throughout their first year! What wonders come from taking moments and capturing them for people to forever have!

Portraits to me are something that are truly priceless.....for when we go to be with God and leave our earthly bodies, our families will have portraits and any video that was taken to remember us by. It is nice to have a piece of jewelry or something special that our loved one gave us, but pictures are what I treasure the most. Isn't that what everyone says they will run back into a burning house to get? Those priceless pictures and portraits are our beloved treasures.... I learned this all to well this year with my father passing away. The last image I have of my father with me is the one below taken on Father's Day by my husband. I am not normally insistent on having myself in portraits, but perhaps deep down I knew the time was drawing close for my dad. I wanted one more picture with him.... I made him what he requested for Father's Day and made sure we captured "that " moment in time for me to forever have. One more moment I can look back on.  That is truly what portraits give you...."that" moment to forever look back and remember. To me you see, portraits are a gift.... a gift of precious moments.

So, as I have reflected on the year, I have a happy heart in knowing that I have given those type of gifts to my clients. I am thankful to all of you for allowing me this important job and thank you for supporting me as I continue this journey. You are what makes Mary Beth's Photography possible!

With a New Year, of course I love to make changes to what I think would benefit my clients and myself, to make Mary Beth's Photography even better. With a business, change is always happening to make things run smoother, to offer more and to continue to grow! You have seen the first change with my new logo and I am loving it! The second big change I would like to announce is that I will be now focusing on my true love of newborns, children and families! I have loved photographing weddings and will do a very limited amount on special request, but my passion has really evolved with newborns, children and families! I am also only going to be a natural light studio and natural light on location photographer only....for that is why I built my studio with 2 huge 5x5 windows. I just love the way it looks and as each photographer finds their path, this has always been my love....the beautiful light from outdoors illuminating my studio! There will be some more changes to come, but these are the first three I would like to share with the New Year now here! I look forward to many new wonderful experiences to come in 2014!
                                                                   
                                                                      ~ Mary Beth

{ Cyber Monday and a Naughty Elf }

I just can't believe my eyes this morning!!! I thought I had it all figured out, but then Snowy, our little Elf on the Shelf, decided to take over my Facebook page and drop the discounts on my Cyber Monday specials. Tricky little elf! There is no turning back now! 

Here are the specials... Newborn Sessions ($150 value) - $50 off!

First Year Moments Plan ($1600 value) - $400 off!!! 

Buy 1 session and receive a $100 print credit! These offers can not be combined. Also, I am not sure how Snowy convinced her, but if you purchase a session, the fabulous Karrie Lykins - Makeup Artist will do your makeup for FREE!!! WOW!!! 

Can you believe the discounts? Happy Cyber Monday! Remember, gift cards are available! 

To access these deals, please visit my website www.MaryBethsPhotography.info and click on the Cyber Monday link!

{ A Mother's Love }

There is just something so sweet about the care of a mother for her children.  

I can’t describe the love that pours from Mom’s voices when they schedule a session.  I love knowing that they recognize the importance of quality portraits to “capture life’s beautiful moments”.  

Delaney’s Mom called me, as she was one of our Mother’s Day portrait winners.  What a super sweet family from Aiken, who had a third little girl.  

Delaney and her sisters came to my studio in the cutest little outfits, especially Delaney’s headband and diaper cover – which very sweetly became a gift to me!  

The family decided to purchase my First Year Moments package, which includes 4 sessions for a newborn (or one can be switched for a family session) and comes with a payment installment plan.  What types of outfits do you like to dress your children in for portrait sessions?  www.MaryBethsPhotography.info

Photography Idol Contest

     {Photography Idol Entry} / Chic Critique

        " Sometimes, " said Pooh,  " the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."

                                                                                                                 - A. A. Milne

                                     

                   { www.marybethsphotography.info}

                                         

                   {www.facebook.com/MaryBethsPhotography}

{Chic Critique}

{ A Client From a Business Partnership }

Luke’s family found me through one of the companies that I have partnered with this year, The Augusta OBGYN. 

I was so excited to have a little boy newborn to take portraits of, as I had many little girl newborns.  I instantly hopped online to my favorite photographers in Oregon, Robin Long, who had just posted about a sale on her props.  

I bought a couple hats from her that we used for the adorable Mr. Luke.  In an effort to keep up with my own continuing education as a photographer, I purchased Robin Long’s guide to newborn portrait posing and was so excited to use a few new tricks I had learned with Luke!!  

What a great day!  What are some creative ways you have seen newborn portraits taken?  www.MaryBethsPhotography.info

      { Fabulous Fun Tip Friday }

   Oct. 4, 2013

  Today's tip is included in my newsletter!

{ Cake Smash Session Fabulousness!! }

Sweet little Riley – from a newborn to a one-year-old {Yeah!} – I have just loved watching this little girl grow over this last year! 

It was an exciting Cake Smash portrait session – her family bought the “First Year Moments” baby plan! 

What a great cake Riley’s Mom brought with them!  Riley was dressed in an adorable tutu and a couple other outfits. 

Typically when a Cake Smash happens, the parents bring three outfits!  What are your favorite outfits that you dress your children in for special occasions?

{ Sweet Chesnie - A Dream Newborn }

Last year, I made a big decision in my professional life.  I wanted my clients to have an “experience” with me.  Not one of those “run-of-your-mill” photographer experiences, but one that left the impression of how I feel and how I have always felt about my clients – I am so very thankful for being your photographer of choice.  

I teamed with La Dolce in Aiken and bring clients special desserts during our Session Viewings, I try to be proactive in figuring out what outfits/locations/props would work well for who my clients are and have tried to find resources that fit my clients’ needs to taking classes to improve my photography skills.

When Chesnie Tucker came to my studio, I felt like I had a new outlook on my newborn sessions and an ace in my pocket by the name of Terrie Lehi, one of the members of my team who keep me running on a daily basis.  At one 4 a.m. prior to the session, I had an epiphany about how I manage newborn sessions.  

I did a bit of research, called Terrie (when the sun was up) and headed to the kitchen.  I had spoken with Chesnie’s Mom about how I recommend making the newborn session successful, from timing of the session to how well-fed Chesnie should be prior to our start.  I made yogurt parfaits and muffins before Chesnie and her Mom arrived.

And just like I have always been told, being well planned worked.  Chesnie, who by the way was one of the best newborns EVER, slept the whole time.  Her Mom was able to sit back and watch her daughter being a model for the day while feeling pampered with the sweet treats I made.  

I was able to work with Terrie to use many of my tricks to get the perfect shot and keep sweet little Chesnie safe.  It was an amazing time and I really think the portraits express that!  Now, if I could only figure out how to make moments of preparation happen during the daylight!  www.MaryBethsPhotography.info 

{ Sweet Bralyn is One! }

The truth is that sweet Bralyn has had a rough year with a bunch of medical issues involving eating, but what a long way she has come!! 

I was so excited when her Mom called me for Bralyn’s one year portraits, especially since I knew this was going to be a custom session. Bralyn’s Mom is extremely talented; she crochets and made the outfits and the tutu for Bralyn. 

It was so much fun to stylize her session, especially since the theme was cupcakes. I made a banner out of… colored napkins – an inexpensive way to make a session or banner unique. Bralyn’s Mom values really good portraits, so we knew that we had a perfect match – especially with all the options I have for ordering elegant and quality portraits.

Bralyn was cleared to dive into the cake that her Mom brought and we knew she was having fun, but didn't realize just how much until we tried to take the cake away and she screamed! 

The cherry onto of the “cake” for me was when I was able to snap a few portraits of Bralyn with her Mom. We Moms are always behind the camera; it is so important to document time with our children.  www.MaryBethsPhotography.info

Fa La La La La

Can you believe it is that time of year again?  Stores have been promoting Christmas sales and everywhere you turn, even downtown North Augusta, garland and wreaths are starting to pop up everywhere!  

And you know what that means...  Time to celebrate your holiday cheer with friends and family by sending out Christmas cards!!  Mary Beth's Photography is offering special Christmas Portrait Sessions on December 3rd and in the afternoon of December 4th.

Since these are the last appointments available in 2010, book your appointment today!  Take a look at our special Christmas Hat Session done recently with my three favorite models - an option for your Christmas card, too!
 

"Old Time Feeling" With An Adorable Family

I can't believe that it was a short time ago that we were celebrating Braeden's first birthday with his "Smash the Cake" celebration!  In just a month, he has gotten so big! 

I had the sincere pleasure of seeing Braeden and taking portraits of Lauren and Andy and all their boys at the train tracks. It was the perfect setting, especially for the hat that Andy was wearing... The hat and the train tracks gave an "old time feeling" to the session - It was great!

Two funny things happened during the session.  First, despite the forecast for great weather, we finished the portrait session just in time to beat the rain!!  Secondly, one of the boys kept thinking that there was a train coming down the tracks, because we could hear trains in the distant.  Interestingly enough, the tracks are live, so every time we heard the train in the distance, we looked around very quickly and were ready to jump!!

A Little Red Wagon and Two Cute Models

Seriously, there is something about a little red wagon and boys that just warms my heart!  

I couldn't have asked for cuter models than Braden and Brenton Vasquez!   You may recognize them from a portrait session last year (black and white with a black backdrop) and the latest portrait session was full of fun places to capture their super sweet and super tough personalities.  

 

 

 Our session was on location at the Stewart House (special thanks to my friend Melody for permission), where the white paint and worn look of the barn complimented the Georgia Bulldog red wagon.

 

 

The boys were as adorable as ever!  It is always so nice to watch as children grow.  I have know Braden and Brenton for a while because their mother, Jennifer and I are in a Mother's Club together.