Ladies now you have a new reason to go to Savannah Mall – to see our new portraits, banners and video slide show in our gallery.  Many of you have asked over the last few weeks when we are going to update the Gallery.  We try to update it every few weeks in some small way and completely update it seasonally.  Well this is our mid season – seasonal update.  As promised, I wanted to give you some of the stories behind these special portraits that we have shared for display.

We are featuring three portraits in the gallery, a watercolor and two traditional portraits.  The watercolor was created at Tybee.  The family wanted a piece of artwork for their home that would become the centerpiece of the room.  However, they did not want a traditional family portrait – but would like to include their family in the portrait.  Occasionally our clients tell me that they do not feel comfortable having a large portrait of themselves or their family in their home.  They feel that this is to ostentatious so they elect to display other types of art instead of their family.  This watercolor is a great example of how we blend the desire of art and include your family in the portrait making it tremendously more valuable to you and your family.  The exquisite frame that accentuates the torn edge of the watercolor paper as the portrait floats in the frame really adds a tremendously artistic final touch.

The second portrait is a traditional portrait on canvas.  Deployments are always hard – especially for newlyweds.  This couple was one of many couples and families I created portraits for over the past few months as our brave soldiers prepare to deploy yet again.  Their is nothing more thrilling than spending time capturing images of love in its infancy – but combine that with the anticipation of a long separation and you get a powerful combination of chemistry, anticipation and desire.  These two really touched me.  They are a beautiful, special couple who I think about daily.  This is the portrait they selected and I could write a novel expressing all of the feelings evoked in this portrait.  We have many….many clients who spouses are currently deployed.  You are all very inspiring to me.  When I am having a challenging day – I think of you and what your day must be like.  Being married to a hero is a very very special calling.  I look forward to many more portraits in the future of happy homecomings and long successful lives together.  Thanks for ALL you DO!

The third portrait is a black and white portrait featuring a mother’s love for her baby.  The excitement and emotion of expecting, birth and the first year of a child’s life is a wonderfully special time for portraits.  I love the glow radiated by a new mom and the thrill of the first smile captured.  This black and white portrait of a mother and child I created using window light in my studio in Statesboro.  The baby was 12 weeks old in this image.  These intimate mother love sessions are some of my favorite of images created during the first year.  I like to photograph moms when they are expecting and the babies at newborn, around 12 weeks, 28 weeks, 36 weeks and one year.  There is never a time that your child will change more in a single year than the first year.  Do not let this year pass without having your baby photographed professionally at least two times during the first year.  The two biggest regrets I hear over and over from clients is that they did not have a professional bridal portrait created.  In stead they settled for one created the day of the wedding by the wedding photographer and they have never been pleased with it.  The second is that they only have candid’s of the baby’s first year.  These are two stages of life that you can not rewind and recreate.

We have added a new feature to the gallery a video slide show of some of my favorite images from recent sessions.  This gives you an opportunity to review a broader body of my work.  It is a great way to get inspired with portrait ideas featuring your family for your home.  The two banners feature more of my favorite images.  One features bridal portraits and displays some of my published and most talked about bridals.  The second banner features one of my most popular images of a child in a christening gown.  I call this image “Family Tradition.”  The gown was hand made by the mother of the child.  The gown has bands of lace at the bottom.  Every time another child is born, a band will be added with the child’s name and date of birth.  Of course, along with the addition to the gown will be a similar portrait of the child.  What a great heirloom for this child and their descendants.  Now you understand why I call this image “Family Tradition.”

In a future blog I will share more about my bridals and why brides travel from all over to have me create this important portrait for them.  You have asked about my Masters Collection and published images.  All of these I will cover in more detail throughout future post.

If you have never been to our Savannah Mall Gallery it is located near the Target interior mall entrance.  There are specific directions on our web site in the directions tab.  Check it out the next time your at the mall and let me know what you think!