Erin Glamour Shoot | Mikaela Joy: Savannah GA Glamour Portrait Photographer

I've been inspired to try something a bit different lately.  I've been taking classes and following same really amazing fashion and glamour photographers, and have been dying to do some of that type of work myself. 

The thing that's so great about glamour photography is the complete transformation of the subject- the hair, the makeup, the posing.  This was especially fun with Erin.  Erin is not known for being girly.  She lives in tee-shirts and jeans, and can probably count the number of times she's worn makeup on one hand.  So to glam her up in a sequin dress was a complete change.

And she rocked it.  Seriously, she looked amazing.  Wouldn't you agree?

Kitt & Family | Mikaela Joy: Savannah, GA Family Photographer

One of my favorite things about being a photographer is working with the same family more than once and watching how they grow and change.  You may remember this photo from a while back:

I worked with Kitt for the first time for a babywearing session earlier this year.  These two were absolutely wonderful together, and I loved working with them, so of course I was thrilled when Kitt asked me to do photos with her whole family.

It turns out the whole family includes three dogs, and a cat.  She calls them their pack- how perfect is that!

Just like the first time, this family was great to work with.  I can't wait to help them capture more of their future memories!  I also can't wait for another visit to their house just for the chance to lay in their fluffy pile of dogs :)

Ben & Erin | Mikaela Joy: Savannah Family Photographer

By the time that we are done with all our consultations and session, I usually know a lot about my clients and consider them to be friends.  But when the clients are friends before all of that, it's guaranteed that we will have an extra great time.

This is definitely true of Ben and Erin.  I've known these two for years (and have been trying to get them behind my camera for just about as long).   So when Erin contacted me asking about a family photo session I was pretty excited. 

The location was great, the timing was great, we just had one problem.  The shoot was scheduled during a very important football game.  All I can say there is thank god for technology! Ben was able to watch/listen to the game on his cell phone, and I was able to get the shots. Working with the dogs was an extra challenge (albeit a welcome one), but luckily for me these dogs were good posers.

And good kissers too, apparently.

Imaging USA | Mikaela Joy: Savannah Family Photographer

When my alarm went off at 3 AM, I was seriously doubting my decision to drive to Atlanta for the day.  I watched my family sleeping in bed so peacefully, and almost decided to stay with them.  A four hour drive at that ungodly hour, forget it!  And when I couldn't find a mug to bring some coffee in- well that was just almost too much.

But once I got on the road and got some caffeine in my system, I started to get excited.  I was on my way to Imaging USA, one of the biggest photography conferences out there.  There were famous photographers from all around the world teaching classes, and a huge expo of some of the best vendors around, with tons of products to touch, feel, and smell (what? I love the smell of a fresh printed album). This was definitely an event to be excited about.

Between the classes and the expo, I really enjoyed this event!  I learned a lot from some really amazing people, and found some really great products to offer.  I can't wait to share them with you! I even got to meet the amazing photographer Sue Bryce, who I've been learning from online, and whom I admire very much.

As an added bonus, I was able to meet up with an old friend from El Paso.  It was so great to see her, catch up, and of course talk photography.

I don't have pictures to share, because I was too busy taking it all in, but I can promise you this: You'll be seeing the results in my work and in the amazing new products I'll be offering!

And to all the photographers from around the country that were there- I'll see you next year!

2015 Wrap Up

Okay so I know I'm a few days late for this post.  It's been 2016 for 3 days now, and I'm just now getting around to reminiscing about 2015.  I'm a little behind. But I rung in the new year on a Red Eye Flight with a baby, so I've needed a little rest. After my obligatory two days of laying around the house in footie pajamas while playing call of duty, I'm back.

2015. It's been a good year!  I've spent more time behind the camera this year than I have ever before.  I've learned a lot and have finally got some big prints on the wall.  Of course the highlight of this year has definitely been watching my son grow up, but that will have to be a whole other post.  That is just too large of a subject.

Rather than talk about it,  I think I'll just show you what a great year its been.  Riley photos, however are not included in this go round.  You get enough of those on a daily basis, I'm sure.

So without further ado, here are 20 of my favorite photos from 2015.

A look back at 2015- 20 of the best images by Mikaela Joy: Savannah Family and Portrait Photographer

Normally I start the year off with big plans and New Years Resolutions.  Every year I make a  list and resolve to start fresh on January 1st, changing nearly everything.  It feels like such a clean place to start.

But the fact of the matter is, life doesn't work like that.  All my problems, worries, and bad habits don't just reset because of some arbitrary date and time. So this year I decided to do things a bit differently.  Rather than making plans for the new year, I made new plans a couple months ago.  I decided to kick off my new life right then and there and I haven't looked back. 

So while I do have big plans for the next year, I'm changing my focus.  I'm working on my bigger goals by focusing on what I can do this week, what I can do today.

This is the year that I'm going to make things happen, for myself and for my family. How can I be so sure?  Because I won't accept anything else.

What are your big goals and plans for the next year?  Lets chat about it in the comments & start working to make this year even better than the last!

Halloween Studio Sessions | Mikaela Joy: Savannah Children's Photographer

I hope everyone had a great Halloween! Ours was a bit un-eventful (at least in the evening).  Riley and I had plans to attend a Halloween party, but he decided to forgoe parties or trick-or-treating, and instead just go to bed.  A kid after my own heart.

We had a lot of fun pre-halloween though.  We had several kids in costume in the studio for photo shoots.  Riley participated as well.

First we had baby peach. She was pretty much the easiest model in the world.  She just sat there and smiled.

And we seem to have a theme here, because Mario came next. He really got into the game. It was important to him that the poses matched a particular version of the Mario games.  I only ever played on a super nintendo, so I hope that I did okay in terms of accuracy.

Riley joined in on the fun as the Eleventh Doctor. (I've never seen the doctor chew on his sonic screwdriver before, that's a first)

Then we had a couple of superheroes, Super Daniel and the Hydro Warrior Princess.  These two were so amazing, that I made them their own comic book cover.

I had such a blast shooting these and it was amazing to be able to really transform these kids into the characters they were dressing up as.  I will definitely be doing more of these soon (discount halloween costumes, anyone?!)

Prepping for your Babywearing Mini | Mikaela Joy Savannah Lifestyle Photographer

Here at Mikaela Joy Photography we are gearing up for more babywearing minis!  Have you booked one yet?  If not, please get in touch because we still have a few openings.

As I'm fielding the inquiries, I've been getting a lot of questions about how to prep for the sessions, so here are a few tips to get you ready.

Carrier Choice

I've been getting a lot of questions about what type of carrier to use for minis.  Is my tula ok? Is my ring sling ok? My definitive answer is yes.  While your babywearing mini is somewhat about the carrier (how could it not be with some of the beautiful textiles we use to hold our children), what it is really about is the bond between you and your child.  I want you to wear something that both of you are comfortable in, something that makes you smile whenever you put it on.  Whether that is a baby bjorn or an expensive handwoven wrap, we will use it to take some beautiful pictures of you and your child.

That said, there are a couple considerations for how to hold your child.  Back carries work well for portraits, but often don't show a lot of interaction between mom and baby.  Front carries are good for interaction and snuggly photos (if you have a snuggly baby).  Hip carries can be the best of both worlds if it's a position your baby likes.  Ultimately you know your baby best and know what will work for you two.  We will have time to switch carries once during your session, but any more than that will be tight.

Clothes

When it comes to clothing for your mini session, simple is generally better.  We want you, your baby, and your carrier to stand out.  So choose your carrier and plan around that.  A good idea is a plain tee and jeans or a simple dress/skirt. Keep in mind how chest belts and other carrier features will interact with your clothing choices. For example, loose clothing will often look better with a chest belt whereas a waist belt may cause the same clothing to sit strangely.

Don't forget to pay attention to detail!  Chipped nail polish, a hairband around your wrist, or bra straps sticking out can really detract from an otherwise beautiful photo.

Makeup

Makeup is an important consideration for photos. I've asked Abbie, a fellow VBE with Savannah Slingers as well as a licensed esthetician and makeup artist, to create a video with makeup tips for your session. You can check out more of her stuff here

Posing

This is one thing you don't have to worry about.  I've got you covered.  You'll probably hear me asking you to bring your forehead forward, chin down, lean forward, etc and it will feel super awkward.  I know it does. But just trust me that it will make your portrait look that much better.  Sometimes I won't pose you at all.  My favorite photos are the ones that show interaction between you and your baby.  I want it to look natural.

Are you as excited for these next couple rounds of mini sessions as I am?  So far they have been an absolute blast and we've come up with some great pictures.  As I mentioned before, we still have a few slots left, so sign up while they are available!

And don't forget to like my facebook page to see all the updates about future mini sessions, casting calls, and other great deals.  You don't want to miss out.

Kitt and Séamus | Mikaela Joy: Savannah Family Photographer

There's nothing more beautiful than the bond between a boy and his mother.

I'm sure this is pretty obvious, but I'm very passionate about babywearing.  The term sounds weird, but when you strip it down to what it really is- holding your baby close as much as possible, well that's something I can really get behind. 

It's been a total lifesaver for me since my little man was born.  My wraps have tamed tantrums, soothed teething pains, and allowed for me to do all the things I liked to do before baby.  Because of babywearing I have a photography assistant, lunch date, adventure buddy, and more! My little man is with me constantly, and I love it.

But this post isn't about me.  I met Kitt and Séamus through Savannah Slingers Babywearing group where I am a volunteer educator.  Kitt teaches a babywearing bellydancing class, a concept that she came up with after practicing her dancing while spending time with her little one.

The bond between these two is so beautiful. He is so comfortable and happy while wrapped up with mommy and she just exudes love for him.

This is exactly what I wanted to capture in this session.  The shoot fell just around Séamus' bedtime, so it was a bit difficult to get him to interact the way I had hoped, but when we got the shot, boy did we get it.

These two were so great to work with!  I can't wait for the chance to work with them again, and to watch little Séamus grow up!

365 Days of Riley | Savannah Lifestyle Photographer

One of the best things about being a mom and photographer is having a subject to work with all the time.  I'm constantly taking pictures of Riley.  If I find an idea I like, I test it out with Riley first. A location inspires me? Riley is my go-to guy!

I'm pretty sure that I've taken a photo of him every day since he was born.  He's constantly doing something cute or photo worthy.  But the thing is, most of them are on my cell phone.  There are some great photos I've taken that I would love to print big- if only they were taken on my real camera.  So I've decided to start another 365 project.  This time, I will be taking a photo of Riley every day for a year.

We've been going for just over a week now, and so far I'm having a lot of fun with it.  I'm already surprised in how much variety I've been able to capture in his daily routine.  It's really pushing me to find different angles and light.

So far, my only problem is picking just one photo each day!

If you'd like to follow along, you can find the gallery here

My Top 5 Values

I'm going to get a little personal today.

I've been watching a lot of creative live while I edit and I recently stumbled upon a course that caught my attention.  It's taught by a portrait photographer named Sue Bryce who shares her success stories and the path that got her there.  The class is called "Empower Yourself."

Now "Empower Yourself" is not something I would normally click on.  It sounds cheesy as heck! But it came on after another class I had been watching and I was hooked pretty quickly.

She talked about a lot of different ways to achieve a fulfilling life, but one thing that was memorable to me was this question- What are your top five values?  She wanted us all to consider what 5 things mean the most to us; what we spend our days doing and talking about? Her idea is that once we have a good handle on those things we can work through them to achieve our goals instead of working against them.  For instance, since family is a top priority for me, I can achieve my goal of getting in shape by working out with my son rather than trying to leave him to do so.  That way he helps motivate me instead of being a reason not to work out.

It makes sense, so I decided to give it a go and figure out what my top 5 are.

1. Family- My husband and son are my top priority.  Regardless of my future goals, that won't change.  I'm sure many of you parents can relate to that. Everything I do is for my son's happiness and the betterment of his life.  But in order to keep him happy and fulfilled I need to remember to achieve both for myself as well.

2. Creation- Whatever the form, I'm an artist and I have a need to create.  Whether it's making a beautiful photograph, writing a poem, or just coming up with a new recipe for dinner, I won't feel fulfilled unless I have some sort of creative outlet.

3. Connecting With People- I consider myself to be an introvert. I'm uncomfortable in large social situations and I genuinely enjoy my alone time. But leave me alone too long and I will go crazy. I am fascinated by people. I love listening to other people's stories and seeing where their passions lie. It's what inspires my art.

4. Relaxation- My ideal house would be full of quiet corners with comfy seating and books to read (don't forget the purring cat!). It is very important to me to have a couple hours of downtime each day to gather my thoughts and reset my mind.

5. Change- This may seem like a strange one for some people.  Change can be terrifying. But I am a restless soul and I thrive on it. That's why I make such a good army wife.  Every few years I get to do a total reset of my life. But this need for change can make it hard to accomplish long term goals. I get really fired up about something, only to lose interest and get excited about something else 6 months later. I'm pretty sure I've blogged about this before, but It's something I still struggle with.  How am I supposed to focus on just one thing for the rest of my life?  The answer is I can't.  I need to learn how to work with my need for change to constantly create new interesting work.  At least I know my creativity will never go stagnant.

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Although I've spent lots of time thinking about what's important in my life, it was an eye opener to survey my surroundings and day to day activities and actually write down how things stack up.  This is just the first step of figuring out how to achieve what one wants in life, but it's a pretty good place to start.  I'd encourage everyone to try it.

So let's hear it, what are your top five values in life?