Backyard Photography in Backwoods, South Carolina

 This precious little girl (we'll call her RaRa) is one of my favorite subjects because I have had the pleasure of watching her grow from a tiny infant to a blossoming young lady.  What is great about my portrait sessions with her is that they are usually spur of the moment which really challenges me as a photographer.  On top of adjusting the camera settings to achieve the right exposure or light settings, I have to look at the surroundings and find a good backdrop for the photos.  In these, I loved how the colors in pillow on the front porch swing coordinated with little RaRa's outfit and seemed to add a playful, girly splash of color to the photo.  Plus, the light was amazing on the porch as the sun shined behind her while keeping her in the shade.  Of course, I couldn't resist a shot of her smelling the impatiens as we all are anxiously awaiting Spring's arrival.  There will be more photos of RaRa in the future...some in Backwoods, South Carolina and some elsewhere.  And, by the way, don't let the title of this post fool you...I'm a country girl born and raised in Backwoods, Georgia, so I use the term "backwoods" with much love and endearment!  

Children at Play

 

I LOVE watching children at play!!  It is my favorite time to capture images of children.  When children are playing, they are in their natural environment and are most comfortable.  I love the looks on children's faces as they explore, learn, and play.  This is when I like to capture that inquisitive look or that joyful smile.  I like for the moms and dads of the children I photograph to look at the photos and think, "He always has that look on his face when he's concentrating" or "I don't ever want to forget that smile and laugh."  I absolutely love it when I capture a priceless expression.  It usually takes hundreds of photos to get that perfect one, but it is worth it!  For those of you interested in this type of photography, I highly recommend Me Ra Koh's blog.  Her "Refuse to Say Cheese" DVD is great for moms trying to capture those special moments in the lives of their children.

Taking a Leap of Faith with Photography

I've been working on starting a blog for weeks, so it is hard to know exactly what to say now that I actually have one.  I feel as if the words I write in this inaugural post are somewhat monumental.  I know that it cannot be complete without me saying that I absolutely LOVE photography!!  I love capturing the little moments of the lives around me whether it be my adorable son, Miller, feeling snow fall on his face for the very first time (or doing just about anything), or of a pregnant woman anxiously awaiting the arrival of her new bundle of joy, or of an adorable infant peacefully sleeping, or of an ecstatic bride getting ready to marry the man of her dreams. Pure and simple, I love capturing emotions through the lens of my camera.  And, I hope to turn this love and passion into a thriving business where I get to do what I love for a living everyday.  Isn't that the American Dream?!? My new business, Stacey Cooke Photography in Athens, Georgia, has been a long time coming, and it feels a bit surreal that I am finally turning my beloved hobby into an actual business. Through this blog, I hope to share with you the joys of owning my own business, the highlights of my photographs, and all the emotions that go along with it.  Pretty soon, I'll have my website up and running too (http://www.staceycookephotography.com), so check back soon for updates.  Thanks for checking in with me as I start this journey!!