I met Nadia years ago when she lived next door to my two cousins. The three of them were friends throughout their teenage years, and chances were if I saw a cousin I saw Nadia, too. Fast forward to last month at Adventurer's Coffee in Calera, when I met with Nadia & her daughter, Nala, and Nadia's mother, Kristi, for their pre-session consultation. It had been close to three years since I'd seen Nadia or Kristi and my first time meeting Nala. We sipped coffee, caught up, and talked about the upcoming mommy-daughter session.
Earlier this year I made the decision that every session will be accompanied by a pre-session consultation. Why?
Because relaxing, smiling, and "acting natural" can be difficult when you've never met the person taking your photos.
Because it's nice to have a face in mind when you pull up to your session and start looking for your photographer.
Because you should get to meet, connect with, and confirm that the photographer you choose is the right fit for you before committing to a session.
Because chit-chat over coffee means getting to know each other, which helps me tailor your session around your personality, vision, and how you plan to display your photos.
Because you get to see, hold, and compare the ways your photos can be printed and displayed!
During our time at Adventurer's, Nala went from super shy to comfortable and talkative, which meant the first half of our session was spent taking photos instead of warming up to the stranger taking photos! I was able to hear Nadia's questions, concerns, and suggestions that may not have been communicated through email, text, or even phone call. One thing I learned over coffee was that the Birmingham Botanical Gardens is a super special spot for Nadia and Nala. They've been a gazillion times, and the Japanese Gardens are Nala's favorite spot to explore. It was the obvious location choice, and as we left Adventurer's Coffee we had a date, time and plan for the session!
I've only ever been to the Botanical Gardens on a weekend, and now I'm asking myself WHY? The gardens on a weekday are quiet, peaceful, and provided plenty of space to roam and photograph with no worry of other guests making an appearance in the background of your portraits.
Exploring the gardens was so much fun, and Nala made sure to show me all her favorite spots and sights. Nadia explained that ever since Nala was a baby they've visited the Birmingham Botanical Gardens on an almost weekly basis. It's been a place for them to slow down and enjoy nature together as mom and daughter. Keeping up with Nala was a challenge at times, but knowing that mom and grandma LOVE candid shots and had their heart set on catching her personality above all else kept my mind at ease as I chased her with my memory making machine!
After a little over an hour of exploring, we had lots of gorgeous images to choose from. The following week I met with Nadia at her home where she relived their session through a slideshow and chose a collection of photos to be printed. She also decided to have her favorite photo of Nala turned into this framed metal print, and I'm in love with the results! Prints on metal have a vibrancy that cannot be replicated and make beautiful contemporary wall art with just the right amount of impact.
Do you have a special place that holds happy memories and sparks emotion? I'd love to hear from you! Creating artwork that speaks to your soul is my passion, and I'd love to work with you to create images that you'll cherish for years.
