My, How Time Flies! ~ NC Children's Photographer

There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million.                                                                                                                  ~  Walt Streightiff

Do you ever wonder who pushed the fast forward button on your child's life?
No matter the age of their child, every parent looks back and feels like time went by at lightning speed. Maybe its because we wish we had done this or that for them or with them when they were at a certain age or it could be that life's simple moments seems sweeter the further we get away from them.
It is a running theme in the life of the families who come to the studio.  Many of the babies I photographed as newborns are well into their teens now, so I get a dose of that "life flashing before my eyes" feeling along with their moms.

Lindsay is not that old yet; she's only 7 years old, but it really does seem like a short time ago, she was sleeping peacefully through her first portrait session in the studio. Yep, time flies!

Express Yourself! { Clemmons, NC Children's Photographer }

Sometimes...

its just the way they look at you 

or look away.
Maybe it's that sweet smile

or just that they want to play.

Wait for the expressions, 

anticipate the moment and they will come!

Portrait Clothing {More Thoughts...}

When people ask us what to wear for their sessions, we do not have a prescribed formula that overrides YOUR choices. When you come to us for personal wall art to suit your decor, we want it to express who you are, so we just share our observations from years of experience and make suggestions based on what you tell us about your family.
I have actually seen others photographer's websites saying "No white bows" or "No matching shirts and jeans" for any of their sessions, promoting their look for the edgiest, coolest pictures on Facebook. We love to bring out the natural lifestyle of a family and edgy,cool images are fabulous if that is what you really want. (Think of an "urban" setting- like a downtown alley, maybe a sofa on the water's edge or even a parking deck .)

However, it could be that you have another purpose for your portraits than trying to do the funkiest contemporary look of the week.The image below shows the same family in colorful clothing (the boys said they were like fall leaves!) and another from the same session all in black tops. An easy change of clothing for a different look.  Both are perfect...they show the love of this family and the boy's personalities. This family chose the colorful clothing for their wall portrait but also ordered some of the others in black shirts and some in black and white.

For larger multi-generational family groups, we do suggest with the number of people involved, different ages and genders, that it may be best to go with something simple and not overthink a concept. Try letting the clothing be a secondary object, with the subjects faces and body language being the main focus of the image.

Does this seem familiar with all the cell phones? Between all the texting, talking, playing games, internet, tweeting and checking all the status updates...Oh, my...how do we find the time to do anything else?

"What Should We Wear?" ~ NC, SC, GA Photographer

One of the most frequent questions we hear is, "What should we wear for our portrait session?"
The answers are as varied as the subjects we photograph, but I wanted to offer some ideas to consider when we are planning your personal wall art to decorate your home.

First, as we dismantle the idea that blonde hair and white clothing will "wash you out", it can actually be just the opposite. On a properly lit portrait, with the skin tones being deeper and warmer than any shade of white, the colors in the complexion stand out even more. Even with a white background, the simplicity can make the subjects the strongest part of the image.

One Week Only ~ Holiday Card SALE! {Clemmons, NC Photographer}

There's nothing like planning ahead for the holidays to make it more enjoyable and less stressful.  People tell us that they get compliments year round when they send our beautiful custom designed cards to their friends and family!
We can design a card for you from any previous session and any future sessions completed by October 31.
Please call 336.766.8367  or email nolan@grantphoto.com
and we'll take care of it for you!

Jonathan & Matthew ... Big & Little

Recently, there was a day in our studio where the children in 2 of our sessions had the same names!  Many of you can relate to both ends of the spectrum....
Matthew and Jonathan #1 are little boys who keep their parents very busy, each with their own wonderful personality. We have been photographing them since they were tiny babies and their parents bring a lot of great ideas to each session.  During a session, sometimes we need to let the littlest subjects just play around a little. It can be very entertaining to see the way they playfully tease each other... [you may need to click on the image to see their cute expressions & moods]

Now, fast forward about 18 years to Jonathan and Matthew #2. If these guys look familiar to any of you, it's because these brothers have worked at Anne Grant Photography since 2007, mastering anything from retouching and framing to landscaping and mowing! Jonathan came first while he was a senior at West Forsyth HS. When he was ready to go to Appalachian State after 2 years at Forsyth Tech, we hired his brother, Matthew in 2009. Now that Matthew has completed his 2 years at Forsyth Tech, he is leaving to go to UNC-Charlotte. We wish them the best in their college careers and beyond!

Having personally experienced both of these life cycles, from little ones in your arms and at your feet all the way to the "empty nest",  I can say that I treasure it all...even though it does seem to fly by! 

It is our greatest pleasure to be a part of our studio families' lives, reflecting every life stage in portraits!

One of the many blessings in our lives...

This week's blog entry is not really mine, but written by my Daughter-In-Law, Crystal on her Facebook Blog (they are called "notes" on Facebook.)
Anyway, I wanted to share it for 3 reasons:

• Most Mommies can relate to this 
• It has a positive message that may be encouraging to others: that both parents have their own special traits that help in raising their son, Carter and the love she has for her family.
• It makes my heart so full and I am so proud that our son, Spencer is a good Daddy and husband, with such a loving wife. All of the things she mentioned that he does with Carter, Spencer did as my little boy, especially making car noises. I was touched by this and hoped other parents and grandparents would enjoy it.
  It is just one of the many blessings I count everyday...

Daddy's Boy
"Lately Carter has been waking up in the morning after Spencer has already left for work.  Sleeping in is a good thing, but it inevitably leads to a disappointed little boy.  You see, from the moment Carter wakes up, his first words are, "Daddy, hold you."  He LOVES his daddy.  I know he loves mommy too, but he is definitely a daddy's boy.  I don't blame him; daddy is usually more fun than mommy.  Daddy wrestles, spins, throws, has tools, makes the best car noises. . . . So I wait.  For the moment when Carter comes to terms with the fact that daddy really is at work and he won't be home until dinner time.  This usually takes about 15 minutes.  Until that pivotal moment, he will not let mommy enter the room, turn on the light or raise the shade.  15 minutes to wrestle with the idea that it's just me and him all day long.  But then he somehow comes to terms with it, because I am good at some things after all.  I'm the best at kissing boo boos, the best at singing lullabies, the best at butterfly kisses.  I do the best Little A impersonation, and I know how to dance to all his favorite songs.  So we somehow get by until dinnertime.  And my unconditional love for him remains unfazed when daddy walks through the door and I get to play second string again."

NC Family Portraits, Baby Portraits, Senior Portraits, Pet Portraits...and More!

Just catching our breath...we've been as busy as little elves, creating portraits and some fantastic Christmas cards for some of the nicest people in NC! The more we get to know our clients, we feel so fortunate that our lives can be enriched by these special relationships.
This year has been challenging, sometimes stressful or even difficult for many families we meet, but one thing I have noticed is how those situations can draw people to what is really important. It seems that people are taking inventory of their lives more than ever... treasuring the relationships, memories and the simple joys that happen in families everyday.  It is usually not the most spectacular occasions that bring us our favorite memories of family or friends and we are lucky to get to share in a bit of that everyday...

 

 Well...I could go on and on..that's all I have time for now, but there is more to come...

Thanks To YOUR Vote, We are #1!

We nailed it!
What a thrill to see that once again, we were voted as Winston-Salem Journal Reader's Choice
Best Photographer for 2010-2011.
Seriously, it means a lot that you took the time to give us a "thumbs up" to express your confidence in our studio and what we have to offer.
Since there was no interview for the write up on our studio, it apparently came from the writer's impression of our website. I was especially pleased that it mentioned my love for the business extends to our valued employees, because the integrated effort of the Team at AGP is  truly what makes the portrait experience as they described... "positive, fun and memorable."
But only with the BEST clients and friends can we even be considered for the BEST Photographer and we thank you for that!

Hoppin' Down The Bunny Trail...

If you haven't made your appointment to come visit the live bunnies in the studio, it is not too late!
We still have room for your little one in their Easter finest or some cute denim overalls. Just give us a call at 336.766.8367 so we can reserve a time just for you for your Bunny Portrait Session on Monday, March 15 or Tuesday, March 16.
Guess what?  I even heard we will have some precious baby chicks, too...  Should be interesting, but always fun!   -Anne

Valentine's Day Is Coming

Santa Bits!

Just like every portrait we create, there is something special about the way your child is portrayed and our Santa Portraits are no different. Of course, you will have the quality images you have come to expect, but with a of a "little bit" of Santa and "more" of your child in your Santa Portrait:
-The focus is on your child!
-If you prefer, a family member can borrow our Santa's suit so your child can be with a familiar person.
-If you want us to provide the Santa, he can be very quiet so your child can tell him his Christmas list or he can be playful and silly if that is what your child needs.
-NO waiting in line...time is set aside exclusively for you!
For our Santa Bits sessions, there is NO Session Fee! Instead we request a gift for one of the Giving Tree items (click here for more info). Simply pick up a gift wish card at any of the 4 locations, choose a gift for the child and bring it to the studio on the day of your session. If you want us to do the shopping, you may make a monetary donation of $15 or more.

Anne's Angels & A Child's Prayer

All children are angels. nothing compares to the vision of a child kneeling to give thanks for the day or sharing a quiet story with a sibling.

This scene is all white. Bring your white gowns, slips, pajamas or shirts to emphasize the purity of childlike faith.

New Display at BenPhil's

Rebecca, the owner of BenPhil's Children's Clothier , is excited about our new display of portraits that enhance their decor with images of beautiful children in their latest Spring & Summer Fashions . She said that the portraits help to show that, even thought they are well known for timeless, white and pastel clothing, they also have the most up to date styles and colors. We hope to update their store with more portraits of First Communion candidates, so if you purchase your First Communion outfit at BenPhil's, ask how you can receive a FREE portrait session in your new clothes!

3rd Annual Gallery Exhibit

We will have a reception at the Lewisville Soda Shoppe 10am-2pm March 7, 2009

For more details on how to be a part of this event http://grantphoto.com/pdfs/Winter09.pdf

Beautiful Rainy Day...

One of the questions I get most often is, "What do we do about our outdoor portrait session if it is not sunny or if it rains?"

Unless it is raining pretty hard at the moment of our session, we don't need to reschedule. Sometimes it is pouring rain while people are en route to the studio and by the time they arrive, the sun is shining and everything is fresh from a quick shower.

This was a day where there was a very light rain, so we went outdoors to our shady area that serves as a natural umbrella. Notice how the colors "pop" on an overcast day. We primarily don't want our equipment to get wet or for our clients clothing & hair to get wet (bad hair day!), but we have even been known to hold an umbrella over the subjects and the camera and carry on...

We Have An Announcement...

Last Thursday was a wild day at Anne Grant Photography! So much was going on - sessions, portrait presentations, getting ready for Family Portrait Month, dogs running here and there, FedEx deliveries, the usual studio fare.
As we were all caught up in the busyness of the day, the most exciting thing happened.. we had a phone call. It was from Spencer, Anne & Nolan's son, and he announced that Anne & Nolan had a grandson!
The newest member of the Grant family, Carter Spencer Grant, was born on Thursday, September 11 at about 11:30am, weighing in at a healthy 8 lbs., 14 oz. Carter's parents, Crystal & Spencer Grant are both doing well and savoring every minute with their new addition!
You will probably be seeing a lot of our newest
"model"!

Who's The Boss?

Now this really is a sweet little boy, but he had a little trouble getting warmed up to us during his portrait session. He was absolutely clear that he "didn't want to take any pictures" and when we coaxed him into the camera room, he said, "You're Not The Boss Of Me!" To that I laughed and said, "Oh, but I think I AM the boss of you!" He seemed to think that was funny and we had a great session!

A VIsit With Santa

We will be at Emma Jane's Childrens' Specialty Shoppe located at 324 W. Mountain Street in Kernersville on Saturday, November 17 from 12PM-4PM with SANTA... I hope you can come!

Sitting inside, watching the cold wind blow, it's hard to believe that just a few days ago we were taking a break from our portrait session fishing for tadpoles and running barefoot in the grass!