I’m late with posting this, but I did shoot it in my week 5. I am so amazed at how at 8 years old, you can already see the talent and drive in these young men. This image is from the Upward basketball league my son plays in. I was pretty far away and not really set up for the Shot, But I think I captured the moment.
I’m not sure if I should have all of the kids dressed like Austrians while we sing and dance or go around to everybody saying “and you get a car and you get a car” in my best Oprah voice. I have decided to do a Favorite Things series. I don’t have any idea how regularly I will do it, I just want to feature some of my favorite artist, services,food, gadgets or just really cool things.
My favorite things Jasmine Star
Jasmine Star, considered one of the 10 best wedding photographers in the World is simply a breathe of fresh air. She is real, she is honest, she is sincere, she is imperfect and it works. Her photography is amazing and her story is inspirational. I think the thing I like the most is that she started like most of us and look at where she is now. She came out with a magazine a few months ago that revealed her journey (good and bad) and she has helped me to revision my business. I go through her blog weekly for tips, humor, inspiration, and just to have a success model that can also relate to my failures. If I could give you one gift today. . .It would be Jasmine Star Exposed.
When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I’m feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don’t feel so bad
Some people make the decision. For some it starts when they are children. They play good guys vs. bad guys and they have to be the good guy for the world to be right. They would make that decision for the remainder of their life. Some see their favorite T.V show as teens and they decide that living a little on the wild side could be fun. Some have an encounter as an adult. A life changing moment, good or bad, that gives them complete and total clarity of what they were born to be. Regardless of how they make the decision, these people, these citizen warriors, make a conscious decision to sacrifice their life for a belief. It is a belief of freedom, a belief of a better way of life, a belief of justice and service. They become Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen and they become Police. Simply put, these people stand at the line for us. When the raiders come by sea to harm us, they stand at the line and turn the ships around. Senior Police Officer Gail Thomas of the Atlanta Police Department was one these rare people who made the decision 15 years ago, that ultimate decision, to give her life for something greater. Your brothers and sisters on the line morn you and will miss you. However, to honor you, we will continue to stand on the line. . . . to Turn the Ships Around.
http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/atlanta-police-identify-officer-1315958.html
Nothing really deep to share this week, just a really beautiful Picture of the Lovely Lynn Green. Lynn is a successful wedding and event planner in the Atlanta area who asked us to cover an event for her in March. We decided to do a mini portrait session for her also, to help her brand this cool themed party (more closer to the date). We were actually done with the formal shooting inside when Belkis (so glad I hired her. . .er married her) recommended we go outside quickly for a different view. I loved the result.
The amazing thing about God is that he is able to take us, even in our broken state, and still use us to create beautiful things. He can and will mend our hearts, our broken dreams and forgotten promises. Even when we are at our worst, when the world thinks we no longer have use, when we believe that we should be thrown away, he takes our broken parts and uses us to changes lives. He rewrites our story, adds new color, he creates something new. Even when we are broken, his Love causes us to be reborn.
Kids throwing clothes over their heads, choosing to read a book instead of playing games, eating pizza while watching Bieber’s Never say Never. Some may call this strange. We just call it Friday.
Saw the kids playing with this Friday. I Love this clown. It was the first gift from my Father to Joshua.
I have been shooting my heart out so far in 2012 (thank you Lord). I want to make sure I post some of my favorite images in between the business shoots. The last week of the year I captured a few family pictures of my Uncle Ed, Aunt Evelyn and their family. They only have one daughter (and her husband), 2 grandchildren and 3/4 of a great-granddaughter (whole one in April). Since the family literally lives across the country, they have not had a family Portrait made since the grands were Elementary age. Belkis and I decided we wanted to create a few family pictures for them so they could have something more recent. I took individual photos first of everyone (man was it cold), we then took a few family Photos. The tree in the background has been in that yard since I was born and is a good representation of all of the Love and memories created at the Martin home. Here are a few of the individual pictures. I think I did a great job of capturing their unique personalities. I Love my family. . .
On New Year’s Eve, I had the opportunity to create some images for wonderful Aretha Powers. Aretha is a classically trained former Jazz Singer who now uses her skills to praise the Lord. Her daughter, a good college friend of mine wanted to gift her lovely mom a portrait shoot for her #$th Birthday on January 2nd. We originally wanted to shoot in a night or jazz club to recreate some Billy Holiday type scenes, but the opportunity escaped us. Therefore, I opted for us to shoot at Lithia Springs Sweetwater Creek State Park. Although I was worried about the weather at first, it turned out to be a beautiful morning and perfect shooting weather. I have to say, this was probably one of the most fun shoots I have had this year (on the last day of the year). Since Belkis wasn’t available, I took Kid 1 (Joshua) as an assistant and Aretha brought former Ebony model Papa Joe (her husband) and Lindsay (her daughter) and by the time we hiked what felt like a mile to the rapids of the creek, we were all one Big Happy, tired, laughing family. Aretha, thank you for allowing us (Joshua and I) to create some images for you to celebrate your day. We really did have a Ball! I hope we look this good at ## years old! p.s Joshua said “I luv you daddy” (in his best kid from Shrek voice).
This past week, I was speaking to an associate about my Photography and she asked me if “Photography was my Passion?” I truthfully answered yes, as Photography is at least one of my passions. She then noted that she does not “know what her passion is and doesn’t know how to find it.” At that time, I felt compelled to say something very specific but work and time jumped in and the opportunity to complete the thought never really returned. I wanted to tell her that if you are looking for your passion then you have to look to get closer to God. All of those dreams of grandeur, that urge you have to do something even if you will never get paid for it, that feeling that you were put here on earth to do one thing comes from God. As we improve our relationship with him, we hear him better and he starts to plant these seeds in us that become nearly impossible to ignore. These seeds are our Passions.
When a friend asked me if I could create some headshots for her classical musician daughter, I was like; sure, I love headshots and hey, I am an Portrait Photographer. Then I spoke to the future star Christine Sallas and she told me she plays and was getting her masters in the Oboe, I started thinking, is that like an older Hobo? Let us just say now I know a lot more about the Oboe and Christine is now my most favorist (I’m sure that’s a word somewhere) Oboist in the World. Here are a few of her lovely images. Thanks Christine
