Well, she did make me feel comfortable but I think I will stay behind the camera most of the time. However, I will say it’s a good reminder once in a while for me to be on front side of the camera. It’s difficult. Uncomfortable. Weird being there in a pretty outfit standing in ways that make me look skinnier better. It’s not every day that we stand for more than a few seconds for a photo. But this I will tell you……

It’s important.

I mean the photos are important. I came across this photo of my Mom at my Grandparents house… I thought it was amazing to see her when she was younger. Before my Dad. Before Me. Before my Sister. I imagine what she was like. What she talked about. What she loved to do and what inspired her. It is fun to look at this photo and imagine how she became who she is today. I love this photo and will treasure it forever.

That brings me to this. Why are photos so important? Photos are our connection to the past. Photos in our home and on our walls are our daily reminder of those that love us and those we love. Photos are our future generations to remember us by. They are for our children. Even though I don’t have any kids yet - I will someday and I think of them when I am taking photos. Yeah maybe that sounds a little wacky but I do. I think of the photos that Ryan and I take together. Photos we take of each other, trips we go on, friends we have, our homes, our families and just our everyday life. Think of what this will mean 20, 30, even 100 years from now! Can you imagine how just a simple photo of you getting a hug from someone you love could make you feel? What if they are gone then and that is all you have? I am not trying to be a downer. Only explaining how very, very important they are.

So, now you are thinking “But Emily….I DO take lots of photos. Lots. I have my point and shoot and my cell phone and my…and my……”

Yes. I know. I do to.  So did my parents. And my Grandparents. Look:

On the back of the Football photo my Grandma wrote “my hero 1940″  There are no words to describe how that makes me feel.

I love these photos because they are a true representation of them. Grandma on the left being goofy! G&G (as we liked to call them) on the right enjoying a day on the beach. The photo on the right is one of my favorites. I love the colors (or lack of them) I love the bushes in the background but most of all I love the casual feel of the photo. Not stiff or posed. Not boring. Not lifeless. You can see them. You can see their happiness. You can almost hear the laughs. This is why we take photos. Because we want to remember a moment. A place. A time. A person. A feeling. But, I would like you to consider this….with an open mind….

The photo below was a taken and printed by a professional. They had the best equipment, the best printing, the best paper - the best overall quality. Can you see the difference? First, look at the ink. It is smooth, not grainy and light like the photos above. There are no cracks, no fading, no warping. This photo was tossed in the same shoebox as the rest of the above photos with no extra care.

So, if you see the difference please understand that this still stands for today. Professional photography has grown leaps and bounds with it’s technology and printing abilities. With the technology today, photos that are professionally printed (even canvas) is estimated to last 100 years or more!!!! 100 years!! That is 2110!! We all know time flies but that is a LONG time from now. So, if you see the difference in the snapshots above that were taken by a “point and shoot” of sorts and the professional photo below then you might understand the difference. The difference does not mean stop taking photos with a point and shoot. Not at all. I still do. My only request is that you consider where you are having them printed. Most “box/chain” stores don’t have the best printers. Try Mpix.com. They have great prices and AMAZING quality. Long lasting quality. Our future generations deserve the best photo quality that we are able to give them. What will they think when they see a billion grainy cell phone photos saved on a disc that in 2010 will be the equivalent to a eight track!?!?   I, personally, would have a hard time understanding why that was all that was left behind when they know of the great technology in the 2000’s. Please remember this when you find yourself taking all of your photos on an iPhone or a Blackberry. I am guilty too and I am a photographer!! Yikes!! This post is just as much for me as it is for you.

Speaking of a billion grainy photos saved on a disc. Many professional photographers get the request for the disc or the “digital negatives” as they are now called. We (myself included) feel the need to have all of the photos. All of them saved forever on a disc. Except you know what I just learned the other day? They don’t last forever. CD’s and DVD’s that we are all burning our photos on are only rated to last 5-10 years!  WHAT? Yeah. I thought the same thing. So, “people” (who are those people by the way) have been telling us…back up your photos. Save them on a disc - forever. Except last I knew 5-10 years was not forever.  So, with all of this information I have come to believe that printing your photos, taking care of them and having professional photos done at least once a year is the best we can do. The best to let future generations enjoy photos like I enjoy and treasure those of my Mom and Grandparents.

Once a year photo sessions with a professional? Really? Is that necessary? You may be asking yourself these questions. My answer is a resounding YES! Maybe because that is my job. But also because I believe it is important.   Note to my Mom and Dad (I know you are reading): The next part is not to make you feel bad. Growing up it was only my sister and I that had our photos taken professionally. There are a few from when I was little and my Mom was pregnant with my sister. These photos are posed in a studio and basically documenting - this is what we looked like in 1985. I love them. I love looking at photos from when I was young. But with what I know now and what I do for a job I find family photos so incredibly important. It shows the relationships, the happiness, the love. I do have these photos in snapshot quality but not enough of the professional. I LOVE this photo of my friend Jac (who took my photos today) and her little guy Logan. Love it. I love that he will have this forever. He won’t even remember taking the photo but it will remind him of how much his Mom loves him and the relationship he has with her.

My family finally had a professional shoot a few years ago and while we all judged ourselves and thought we could have looked better. When I look at those photos I see what we are as a family. Plus, I get to see ALL of us. How many of your family photos have just the kids? Have just Mom or just Dad? Or better yet, are they like my photos with Ryan where they are super up close and one arm sticking out with the camera! Remember that years from now it’s the relationships and love that are shown in photos that counts. Make them worth it. Make them important. You won’t regret it. I promise. How could you regret a photo like the one of Logan and his Mama Jac?! You wouldn’t.

So, I leave you with this though… it may seem too expensive or not important right now. But, it will be. I promise.

Allow yourselves and your relationships to live everyday on your walls. Remind yourself daily of those you love and those that have left to early. Someday photos and memories will be all that is left. In the words of my either grade government teacher, “Make it count!!”

One more thing….watch this…. it’s only a minute…..get the kleenex….. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQAljN_bxG4&NR=1

Thank you a MILLION times over Jacquelyn for taking these photos. They will be treasured forever.

Also, thank you to Cyblee at Spalon Montage for curling my hair - you are a amazing! I owe you!!

This post deserves a ….

Love, Emily

]]> http://www.atlastimages.com/blog/on-the-other-side/feed/ http://www.atlastimages.com/blog/a-little-teaser/ http://www.atlastimages.com/blog/a-little-teaser/#comments Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:23:05 +0000 admin http://www.atlastimages.com/blog/?p=372 What a month! I am ready for April big time!

I was worried about launching a new brand, blog and new pricing in April but I couldn’t think of a better time. SPRING! A time of re-birth, a fresh start and happiness. I will soon be introducing my new blog/site and new pricing. There will be Spring Promos and incentives to book your sessions early! Be on the lookout for that announcement! In the meantime here is a little teaser of what is to come! Sorry it’s blurry…but it makes you want to come back right???!!!

Happy Spring!

So, here is the one photo that I have been waiting for… p.s. If you are looking for me later - I will be at my computer staring at this photo!!

All that beautiful hair — her Mama is a hair stylist!!  Vivian had the most perfect little swirl on top of her head. Had to capture that!

The little stinker kept smiling when I had my camera down or wasn’t ready. It’s like she knew. This is the closest I got, just a little smirk.

When I was taking Vivian’s photos, I decided that shooting “parts” of a baby are like the detail shots of a wedding.

Another adorable quilt beneath another adorably posed baby.

Something a little artsy. I love babies foreheads. Weird maybe? I dunno. They are just so darn cute!

This little hat was made by Ryan’s sister Anna. She is a very crafty and creative person. She has many talents and crocheting is one of them! She surprised me this little hat and of course Vivian let me try it out! I think I love it - no - I know I love it.

Hope you enjoyed looking.

In the next two days I will be posting my new logo and there will be some major changes on the blog so stay tuned!

]]> http://www.atlastimages.com/blog/vivian-%e2%80%a2%c2%a0minnetonka-newborn-photographer/feed/ http://www.atlastimages.com/blog/funny-video/ http://www.atlastimages.com/blog/funny-video/#comments Fri, 26 Feb 2010 22:01:52 +0000 admin http://www.atlastimages.com/blog/?p=331 A funny little video I found while browsing through photography blogs. I found this one on http://monyeenblack.com/blog/ She is a photographer in Central California. Her work is beautiful!

This video is about the Small Business Owners and clients that sometimes cross our paths. While it doesn’t seem like a big deal to some people to barter down the price of photography (i.e. the most common question - why don’t digital negatives come included?) This kind of puts it into perspective when you compare it to everyday experiences.  I understand that money is tight for everyone. I have a HUGE list of things that I would love to purchase to expand my business but I can’t right now. Hopefully that will change but for now things are tight as I am sure we are all aware of.

This video is a funny little take on how sometimes this isn’t clear to everyone… Enjoy a little laugh (or maybe a big one) on this sunny Friday!!

The Vendor Client Relationships - In Real World Situations

See that little swirl of hair in the upper left corner?

BABY LIPS! Love them!!

And….ohhhh….the hands. SO sweet. Levi is a VERY light sleeper so we had to get this shot and be done because it would only be seconds before he jumped and woke himself up.

Another little family trait that is showing up in Charlie is the way he kind of tilts his head back and looks down his nose at you. Our Grandma used to do this. The way it’s explained sounds kind of snobby - like Grandma was looking down her nose at you. But that is not it at all…. She just kind of tilted back just a bit and looked right down - it was sort of her way of taking it all in and concentrating. Grandma has been gone for quite a few years but it is pretty funny to see Charlie (whom she never met) take on this very cute trait that Grandma had. It’s so cute and you can kind of see it in the photo of Charlie and Ryan.

A few for you to see …

Thank you Laura for bringing Charlie out in the cold to get these photos! Can’t wait to do it again when he’s walking! Outside maybe??

Who are these beautiful people?! Well, I will tell you. But I will have to tell you tomorrow - I am EXHAUSTED!!  I have to get up and drive 6 1/2 hours home tomorrow from Kansas City in the snow. Why am I still awake? I dunno.  Am I going to look at this blog post tomorrow and wonder what the heck I was thinking?? Probably.

I will just leave you with this preview…..