H&M Photography & Design: The Blog

Farredeh's Portfolio Shots

Even though she's been on the cover of a major magazine, I'm glad Farredeh still asks me to take photos of her!

Farredeh wanted to update her portfolio with some new images, so we met up early one morning to beat the heat and humidity. Like, earlier than I get up most mornings, which, if I'm being honest, isn't that early. But still earlier than most people have to be at work! (Well, except her sister, who came to help out after working night shift as a nurse. How sweet is that?)

Despite our best efforts, the heat and humidity were already there. Oh, were they ever there. Ick. But from the looks of these photos, you'd never know it. I think Farredeh needs to give us all a few pointers on looking this good in 90-degree+ temps and 100 percent humidity. Maybe that's a future blog post. :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Heather Maynard, Athens, Georgia photographer 

Kara is Three & Lane is One!

I think I can pretty much say the names Kara and Lane and anyone who reads this blog will know exactly which two little people I'm talking about - they've been on the blog A LOT. Their parents Katie and Justin were my first real clients - some of the ones who encouraged me to turn a hobby into a business. I'm SO thankful to have them as clients and friends and for their unwavering support. It's amazing the changes that can happen in three years!

Justin might kill me for posting this, but during our first couple sessions, he was not quite accustomed to my style of shooting (a lot of people aren't). I don't do a lot of posing and tend to prefer to capture the connection between people rather than worrying about hand placement or perfect smiles. That can be a big change for someone who has only ever experienced the "say cheese" type of session. So with each session, Justin felt more at ease with my style (Katie was already a pro!) and I absolutely love some of the sweet moments I've captured between them and the kids.

Kara was actually the first newborn I photographed and it's been absolutely amazing to not only see her grow up, but to be able to capture that with my camera. It's so hard to believe that three years has passed since Kara was first in front of my camera (actually, more, since I photographed her when she was still in her mama's belly!) She grows up more every day and it's so fun to see the little person she's turning into.

The last year has gone by even faster - it seems like literally only a month or so since Lane made his appearance (his birthday is just days after Kara's)! He looks so much like Kara that watching his first year seems like a replay of Kara's. But don't get me wrong - he has a personality ALL his own! 

I love these kids SO much and I'm so thankful to be a part of their lives (and to be their photographer!).

 

 

 

I love the connection between Katie and Justin in this one - 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also shot photos and video at their fun farm party! You can check out the video we made on our Facebook page.
 
- Heather Maynard, Athens, Georgia family photographer
 

Addison, 7 Months Old

I have THE BEST clients. No, seriously. I really couldn't ask for more fun, easy going and sweet people to be the subjects of my photographs. I think that to myself so often when I have a session with families like Addison's.

Even at her four-month session, Addison was lots of fun. But the minute I walked in the door for this session, she started grinning and didn't stop. And I'm pretty sure she'll be crawling (or maybe even walking!) very soon because there are WAY too many interesting things going on around her to stay in one place for long. 

Take a happy baby and add to the mix her fun parents and Brody and Bella, two cute pups, and you've got all the ingredients for such a great session. I love my job!

Also, I want Kristin (Addison's mama) to come decorate my house. That is all.

Here are just a few of my favorites from the session:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We tried to get a few shots with the dogs (that never goes as planned!), but this is actually my favorite because both pups are begging for treats and Addison looks like she's thinking "What's going on?!"

 
- Heather Maynard, Social Circle, Georgia baby photographer

Jake is One Year Old!

It's been several months since I last saw Jake (for his four-month photos, actually), so I knew he'd be much different when we headed out for his one year session. But I wasn't prepared for a LITTLE BOY! Okay, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but Jake was decidedly less baby and more toddler. 

He's oh so cute and has one of the best temperaments. He was literally happy for our entire session and so content doing just about anything. Well, anything except touching the grass with his feet. He wasn't so happy about that. 

I think Jake gets his sweet attitude from his awesome parents. I don't get to see them all that often, but when I do it feels like we're old friends and we pick up right where we left off. I adore all of them!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baby kisses are so sweet:

 

Trying to keep his feet off the grass:

 

 

 

 
- Heather Maynard, Athens, Georgia baby photographer

I Hope Yellow's His Favorite Color

I photographed Michael a couple of years ago in the fall when things weren't so...yellow. But for our session today, literally EVERYTHING was yellow from pollen. Just stepping outside makes me feel like I'm covered in it, so there was no escaping it for this shoot. (I even tweeted earlier that I would have to adjust my white balance to account for all the yellow!) Luckily, we got the session in just before the rain came and washed at least a little of the pollen away. (I know my clients this weekend will be happy about that!)

Michael is in high school and he's such a good kid. Very mature for his age, funny, and very easy to carry on a conversation with. Oh, and extremely photogenic. I know a photo session isn't necessarily the way a high school boy wants to spend part of his spring break, but I hope he at least had fun exploring a little bit of Athens this morning! Enjoy the rest of your spring break, Michael!

 

 

 

Had to get one with his dad, who he is definitely taller than now! He made sure to make that clear in the photo!

 
 

 

- Heather Maynard, Athens, Georgia photographer

Mary Jo, Three Months Old

As is usually the case, Mary Jo looked so much different than she did for her newborn session. She's still tiny and so sweet, but for this session she was bright-eyed and very vocal. She's just three months and she's quite the talker! 

Our session was quite eventful. Mary Jo's parents wanted to get a couple of Easter shots, so they picked up a few baby ducks. Um, ducks are hard work! I guess we thought little baby ducks would just sit there quietly and have their photo taken. One - they aren't quiet! Two - they don't sit. In fact, they run really, really fast (and sometimes onto the baby - who knew?) Add to that a cat that thinks you've brought her a tasty Easter treat, and, well, you get the picture. Either way, it was fun! (I'm not blogging those shots, but if you know Mary Jo's mom, she may post some on Facebook for you to see.) 

I'm happy I was able to catch her sweet smile and I can't wait to see how she changes by our next session in three months. 

Here are a few of my favorites of Mary Jo at three months:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Heather Maynard, Athens, Georgia baby photographer

Meet Layton, 7 days old

Layton was so, so good for our photo session - he slept well and made the sweetest little faces. He was already well versed in having his photo taken. His parents are so good about taking photos and capture almost everything on camera. 

While Layton looks a lot different than his big brother, Logan, he reminded me SO much of him during our session. I took photos of Logan when he was still tiny (but not quite a newborn - almost THREE YEARS ago!) and he was all about stretching his legs as long as he could. Layton did the exact same thing (but he curled his upper body up so well!). Some of the similarities really made me laugh!

Here are some of my favorites from the session:

 

Logan is such a good big brother!

 
  

 

 

 

Layton has a FULL head of hair - more than I've seen on a newborn in a while!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
- Heather Maynard, Athens, Georgia newborn photographer

Kinley, 10 months

Kinley's mama couldn't wait to see what I was going to write on the blog about her. Not because of anything particular that happened at our session, but because Kinley made us work - HARD - to get a smile. 

Actually, she wouldn't give me a sweet little smile at all as long as there was a camera in front of my face. She'd be smiling and laughing, but as soon as she caught sight of that camera, she put everything she had into holding back smiles. So, so funny - but at least her parents and I were laughing!

I really did love her serious faces, though, and I did manage to capture a few of those sweet smiles. And in all honesty, I'm not sure you'd even notice if she's smiling or not because of her beautiful blue eyes. They're so blue that everything else goes unnoticed. I'll go ahead and tell you I did not Photoshop her eyes - they are really that blue!

Thanks for a fun session, guys! Can't wait to see you again soon! Here's a sneak peek of some of my favorite images. And watch the video at the bottom to see a few more images (and to check out something new I'm trying - what do you think?). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Video may take a second to load. If you have a slower internet connection, click HQ to switch to a lower resolution.

- Heather Maynard, Athens, Georgia baby photographer

Farredeh Featured in AJC

A month or so ago, Farredeh called me for a quick photo shoot. She was looking for a few updated photos to send to some magazines and newspapers that wanted to feature her because she's done such an awesome job losing weight.

She has a rocking body and she's definitely an inspiration for anyone looking to lose extra pounds. She's also a great mom, a super nice person and, oh yeah, gorgeous. 

Check out the recent article about her in the AJC and look for her in an upcoming issue of a major magazine (I'll post details when it's out)!

 

 

- Heather Maynard, Athens, Georgia photographer 

Jaiden's One & Big Sister Jacelyn!

This was my first session back from WPPI and it was such a great welcome back! Jaiden and Jacelyn were so sweet (as were their parents) and super cute, too. Jaiden was very interested in my camera - not being in front of it, but getting his hands on it! Jacelyn, on the other hand, knew just what to do in front of the camera. We had a great session and I can't wait to see them again! Here are a few of my favorites:

 

Here's Jaiden's little hand trying to get to my lens:

 

I have a feeling those eyes can get him just about anything he wants!

 

 

This is Jacelyn's favorite outfit and I think it shows off her personality perfectly:

 

 

Their mom had a cupcake for Jaiden, and Jacelyn got in on the fun, too.

 

 

Both kids have GORGEOUS lashes!

 

I love Jaiden's expression in this first one. He totally looks like he's had to put an important call on hold just so I could take his picture. Like, "What? Can't you see I'm on the phone?" The nerve of me!

 

And one of just mom and dad - does their mom have a beautiful smile or what?

 
- Heather Maynard, Winder, Georgia children's photographer
 

Meet Faith and Cameron, 7 weeks old

Yep, twins! I was so excited when their mama contacted me and wanted me to do all of their first year photos! You'll be seeing a lot more of these two on the blog this year!

Seven weeks is a little late for traditional newborn photos, but Faith and Cameron were AWESOME for our session! We got plenty of sleepy shots and they both cooperated better than I could ever have asked! These two are so sweet and so, so adorable! Here's a little sneak peek:

 

Of course we had to get a shot with their third baby, Benji:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Faith looked like a doll in this pink hat:

 

Cameron gave us a few sleepy shots, but really preferred to be awake so he didn't miss anything!

 

I LOVE sleepy baby smiles. Isn't Cameron so sweet?

 

 

 

 

Faith gave me the sweetest smiles after she woke up:

 
I can't wait to see them again!

- Heather Maynard, Greensboro, Georgia newborn twin photographer

Meet John Henry, 3 months old!

As promised, here are a few more pics from my first session (see a couple here, too) with John Henry and his sweet parents. There will be lots more of John Henry here on the blog - I'm the lucky photographer who gets to photograph his first year!

For a three-month-old, John Henry was SO alert and so happy for our whole session. Thankfully, we had a little break in all this cold weather on the day of our session, so we were able to go outside for a few shots and enjoy some warm weather.

I loved that we got to include other "family members" - the dog and cat - in the photos. Unfortunately, we weren't able to include the whole family - their two big dogs stayed outside. That would have been a full bed!

Thanks for a great session, guys! I can't wait until our next one and to see John Henry grow!

 

 

 

 

John Henry is already one stylish kid! Check out these shoes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
- Heather Maynard, Watkinsville, Georgia photographer

A Little Peek...

At a couple of photos that I'm love, love, loving from a session last weekend! I'll post a few more very soon, but right now I'm gearing up for a big commercial shoot today for My Katiebell Tutus. 

Check back soon for more photos!

 

 

- Heather Maynard, Watkinsville, Georgia baby photographer
 
 

Lane is Nine Months!

It's hard to believe that in just a couple of months this tiny baby will be one year old. This year has flown by! 

To me, I can see a huge difference in him from his six month shots (which is why frequent photos are SO important that first year!) to these shots. 

You never know what you're going to get for a nine-month session. Some babies are content with just sitting up, some are crawling all over the place and some are even walking! Lane has perfected the army crawl - to the point that I think he may still be crawling when he's 20 just because he's so good at it and moves faster than most people walk! Let me tell you, getting a still shot of him took some work!

Here's a little sneak peek at our session:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then we headed outside to soak up some the unseasonably warm weather with Lane's big sis Kara. She will be three a couple of days before Lane turns one!

 

 

 

 
- Heather Maynard, Watkinsville, Georgia baby photographer

Red Cross Mini Sessions

Thanks to everyone who came out for the mini sessions on Saturday, we raised over $200 for the American Red Cross Haitian relief! I have such awesome clients!

Here are a few of my favorites from Saturday:

Liam and Mary - some of THE smartest kids (and pretty darn cute, too):

 

 

 

Sawyer was too cute (and basically perfect in every single photo) - I love his flying pose: 

 

Mary Jo came for a mini session with her friend, Briley. They were born just a few days apart (so were their mamas).

 

Their moms are friends and were roommates at UGA - 

 

And Brittany came to support a good cause. She rocks the serious look, doesn't she?

 

- Heather Maynard, Athens, Georgia photographer 

Meet Addison, Four Months Old

I had no idea when I set out to photograph four-month-old Addison that she'd be such a grown up baby. Not only was she holding her head up SO well, but rolling over and even trying to sit up on her own. Such a big girl - way too old for any of that "baby" stuff!

She was so sweet and happy for our entire session - very go with the flow like her parents. That's not all she gets from her parents - look at her beautiful mama! They're one of those families that it's nearly impossible to take a bad photo of!

Here's a little sneak peek of our session:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 - Heather Maynard, Winder, Georgia baby photographer

Model in the Making?

I was very lucky to get to spend a little time with this sweet little one and her family the day after Christmas. She and her parents live in North Carolina, but we were able to find a little window of time while they were visiting her grandparents in Athens to take some photos. I'm so glad we did - she's so cute and was just the happiest baby. I think they may have a little model on their hands - she's already looking at the camera (and not the starry-eyed look lots of babies get)! 

Here are some of my favorite shots from our session:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With her sweet parents:

 

 

And with her grandparents:

 

And a quick shot of the whole family. Aren't they are beautiful family?

 

- Heather Maynard, Athens family photographer

Giving IS Awesome!

You know someone. You know someone who's experienced a tragedy, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids while holding down more than one job or is volunteering selflessly despite extenuating personal circumstances. You know someone who can't afford custom photography, but who would cherish it this holiday season. You know someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family's spirit, love and beauty.

You know someone. I guarantee it.

I want to know who they are, and I want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography -- $500 worth, to be exact - that's a portrait session and a $400 print credit! Whether it's a canvas or coffee table book, prints for Grandma or custom cards, it's in your power to give them the artwork they deserve this holiday season.

This is all part of something called Giving is Awesome - a worldwide effort by photographers to give back to their communities, and something I'm very proud to be involved with this year.

The rules:

* You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be incapable of purchasing my services. (Being unable to make mortgage payments for a two-million-dollar-vacation-home in Paris does not qualify as sincere financial need.)

* The nominee must reside in one of the following counties in Georgia: Clarke, Oconee, Barrow, Morgan, Gwinnett, Jackson, Hall, Walton or Madison. Tell me who you know, what they're experiencing, and why they deserve my artwork. (There's no need to write a novel, but just a couple lines won't cut it.) Please include a way to contact both your nominee and yourself as well (a phone number, address and email address would be nice). Not in this area? Find other participating photogs here.

* You must e-mail me the full story: hmhmaynard@gmail.com.

*Both sessions must be held by August 2010; weddings not included in the offer. Sessions must be held in the Athens, Georgia area.

The winner will be announced by Christmas day -- so get nominating! I can't wait to read all of your entries! All nominations must be turned in by December 18. We're enlisting some of our very best clients to help us pick the winner.

Open your heart to someone this holiday season -- and thanks for giving me the opportunity to open mine. 

With love,

Heather

Those Blue Eyes!

Remember these sweet blue-eyed kids? They're back - this time with Mom and Dad. I know where they got those pretty blue eyes!

Since Dad was away during our last session, they decided they wanted a quick session for a few family pics, too. I was happy to oblige - they are so much fun (you can just tell it from the photos)! We met at UGA's North Campus and enjoyed some unseasonably warm weather.

Loving these pics and this fun family:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Heather Maynard, Athens, Georgia family photographer 

My Mom

Blog readers, meet the most difficult client ever - my mom. Just kidding...sort of.

She's not difficult in the sense that she's hard to take photos of, but in the sense that she tends to hate EVERY. SINGLE. PICTURE. of herself. No matter who the photographer is. So when I needed to take photos of her for her website (she's an artist - I'll share the web address when it's up and running), I knew it wouldn't be an easy task.

We decided last week would be the time to do them since we were visiting them for Thanksgiving. Have I mentioned that my parents live at the beach? That means a change of scenery and lots of awesome shooting spots (not to mention a very nice place to spend Thanksgiving)!

I think we got lots of good shots! Hopefully Mom will agree. Here are my favorite shots:

 

I mean, straight out a a JCrew catalog, don't you think?

 

 

 

 

Channeling Tyra?

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

I had to include this one. This is my cat (okay, former-cat-now-my-parents'-cat) Bob. I think he just needs a little tam on his head and a paint brush in his mouth.

 
I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! I'm so thankful for all of you - my clients and my blog readers! I have a VERY BIG giveaway coming soon for a very deserving family where YOU get to do the nominating! Details coming soon!

- Heather Maynard, Gulf Shores portrait photographer 

Lane's Six Months! (And photos in pasture!)

I can't believe that tiny little Lane is already six months old. Or that he now sits up, rolls around and could be crawling at any moment. I also can't believe his big sister Kara is so grown up already. She's definitely two going on 12!

We snapped a few quick shots for Lane's official six-month photos (we knew it wouldn't take long because all he does is smile), then we headed to a giant field (a pasture, actually) for some fun family shots and to get a shot for their Christmas card. 

Here are some of my faves (but you'll have to wait to see the one they've chosen for their Christmas card this year):

 

 

 

 

Their cousin, Ali, came along to help get Lane to smile, so we snapped this quick shot:

 

 

 

I love how ALL of them are cooing at Lane in this one:



 

 

A disclaimer for Justin: His shirt was NOT pink! It was red. (You're welcome, Justin.) 

We had to drive past lots of cows to get to the field where we shot. Meet Horns:

I think he's Kara's favorite. I liked a fluffy brown one which Katie said was NOT a good cow. Guess which one of us showed cows and which one didn't! I think Kara will probably show cows like her mama one day. She "drove" around the fields after our session to check on the cows:

- Heather Maynard, Watkinsville, Georgia family photographer

Let's Go Ride a Bike

Claxton is such a sweet little guy! We headed to a giant field for a quick session the other day, where we played chase, rode a bike and picked flowers. He even picked a flower and said, "This one's for you, mama." See what I mean? So sweet! They'll have a new baby in the house in several months who I'm sure some of that sweetness with rub off on.

Claxton wasn't too happy about having his photos taken the other day, but he perked up at the idea of playing around on a bike. I think his mom might have been worried that we didn't get many good shots, but I think we got plenty! Here are some of my favorites:

 

 

 

 

 

- Heather Maynard, Athens, Georgia family photography

One Quick Peek for One Patient Mama

In about six hours we're headed out of town for the holidays. I've been super busy trying to get orders together before I leave for a week (not to mention we're in the middle - well, nearing the end - of a remodel on our house and people will be staying at our house while we are gone) and I still haven't packed. Because of all the craziness, I'm a little behind on blog posts...and sleep! 

I wanted to go ahead and share a couple for Tiffany, who has been waiting patiently for her sneak peek. More to come very, very soon!

 

I will be answering emails all week and I'll have limited access to the phone, so feel free to call or email me if you need to schedule a session, order prints or if you just need an excuse to escape all the family time!

- Heather Maynard, Athens, Georgia family photographer

He's Contagious

With laughter, that is. Cole is such a fun little guy. He was all smiles and laughs at our session this weekend and he was oh so cute in his little argyle sweater vest. 

His parents are lots of fun, too, and we had a great time tossing sticks in the water at Elder Mill covered bridge. The weather was absolutely perfect (which we were definitely hoping for since we rescheduled our first appointment due to rain) - not too hot and not too cold. I'm trying to soak up as much of this weather as possible because I know it can only last so long!

Here's a little sneak peek of the session:

 

 

 

 

 

- Heather Maynard, Watkinsville, Georgia family photographer

Some Seriously Sweet Smiles

I was so glad to get to see McKenzie and Maverick (and their sweet smiles) again for a shoot this weekend. It's been a few months since I've seen them and they've both grown up so much in a short period of time. I was also happy to get some family shots for them this time. 

Their mom came prepared with lots of accessories to change up their outfits which I LOVED. I'm pretty sure McKenzie loved it, too; Maverick - not so much. He was definitely more into exploring than outfit changes and photos, but can you blame him?

Here are some of my favorite shots from the session:

 

 

 

Maverick was not feeling the family shot:

 

 

We finished up the shoot with a little hide-and-seek and chase in the trees and blowing dandelion seeds - a perfect ending!

 

 

 

- Heather Maynard, Athens, Georgia children's and family photographer

Too much cuteness!

Prepare to be overwhelmed by cuteness because oh. my. goodness. Remember Angel & Isobel from this post and this post? They're back and I'm pretty sure cuter than ever.

Isobel is six months old now and at one of the cutest stages - just sitting up and all smiles. She absolutely lights up when her mom, dad or Angel walks into the room and gives the cutest grin. It's amazing the difference six months makes!

Angel is turning into such a great big sister - so helpful and always able to make Isobel laugh. I'm pretty sure I've never met a kid as creative as her!

Here are my faves from our shoot (although it was really hard to pick just a few):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Angel is always working on an art project. This is her latest one:

 

 

 

 

Angel was making Isobel laugh so hard here:

 

We did a photo like this at Isobel's newborn session - it definitely was a little different this time:

 

- Heather Maynard, Athens, Georgia baby and family photographer

Waiting Patiently

Kendra and Brittany are sisters, and Chad is Kendra's husband. However, you could just as easily believe that Chad and Brittany are siblings because of the close, playful relationship they seem to have. I had a blast with all of them (and Chad and Kendra's pup, Lexie) when we met for a quick session.

Chad, Kendra and Brittany have been patiently waiting for their sneak peek while I blogged all of the mini sessions from this week. So, here it is guys! Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Heather Maynard, Athens, Georgia photographer

Fall Mini Session, Part 4

Here's the last of my fall mini sessions. I had SUCH a blast with these sessions. Even though we had to reschedule our first date due to rain, I couldn't have asked for more perfect weather or families. I definitely want to hold more mini sessions!

When I sent out emails to everyone who had signed up for mini sessions, I also sent outfit suggestions. Every single one of them did an awesome job with clothing selections. But when Megan and her family pulled up, she had followed my suggestions perfectly. If I had picked out clothes for the family, I wouldn't have changed a thing - they'll definitely be used in a "what to wear" example!

Of course, I think Megan, Jason, Carson and Coleman could have worn paper sacks and been adorable, but aren't these outfits amazing? I think Megan should be my stylist!

These guys were so much fun and so laid-back. They knew exactly what to do in front of the camera, too.

 

Carson was such a cutie. Check out those eyes:

 

Don't worry - they aren't little graffiti artists - they were just checking out a key hole. It does look like they were tagging the building I guess.

I think Coleman may be a model in the making - he loved posing for the camera. I think he looks a little sneaky in this pic:

 

 

 

 

Are Megan and Jason not the cutest?

 

 

 

You all rocked it! Thanks for a great time!

- Heather Maynard, Athens, Georgia photographer

Fall Mini Session, Part 3

I would have blogged my third mini session yesterday, but the internet decided to stop working. No, not the whole internet, just the internet at my house. Sorry you had to wait another day, Annemarie!

The third family was just too cute! We started the session with Sydney taking my hand and asking me tons of questions. (I guess she's in that stage - she's five!) It was a great start to a session and she had me laughing immediately when she said, "Do you like this town? Do you have any restaurants in this town? In my country we have hundreds of restaurants!"

Too funny. 

So anyway, the family - super beautiful! Just check out these girls (I'm in love with this photo, even if I did take it myself - I want to order it in a 30x40 print):

 

Delaney has a smile unlike any two-year-old I've seen - a perfect blend of serious and smiling.

 

 

This one cracks me up:

 

We took a quick second to snap this one of mom and dad:

 

 

I thought I'd end with this one. I only got to spend about half an hour with this family, but I have a feeling this one captures Sydney's personality pretty well - so funny!

One more mini session coming up!

- Heather Maynard, Athens, Georgia photographer

More to Come...

But I wanted to take a quick break from mini sessions to share a little sneak peek for Chad, Kendra and Brittany (and Lexie, too!):

Be back with more later!

Fall Mini Session, Part 2

My second mini session was with a super fun family. They were some of the most cooperative kids I've ever photographed - even seven-month-old Laney looked at the camera, even for family pics. I'm not sure I've ever photographed a baby who looked at the camera so readily!

Is this a beautiful family, or what?

 

Such sweet kids (and so sweet with each other, too!). I was very impressed.

Emalee is so pretty and even had some photo ideas - love that!

 

 

Peyton loved being silly and making faces at the camera, but he has such a sweet natural smile, too.

What is it with all these kids with these adorable dimples lately?

Even more mini sessions coming soon!

- Heather Maynard, Athens, Georgia family photographer

Can They Get Any Sweeter?

I took photos of Kaitlyn, Porter and Lyla at my Easter mini sessions earlier this year and I was SO happy when their mom called me to schedule a full session for Lyla's nine-month photos and for some Christmas card shots (but not the bad kind of shots, Kaitlyn!).

These kids are some of the most loving kids I've been around - I seriously wanted to just scoop them up and take them home with me! They gave me plenty of hugs and were just so sweet the whole time. Of course I wouldn't expect any less since their mom is super sweet herself. It's obvious that they have lots of fun at their house!

Lyla wasn't too sure about having her photo taken or sitting in the grass, but a little dancing to some Beyonce cheered her up a little (seriously cute!). She's such a smiley baby!

Some of my favorite shots:

 

 

Getting a photo of three kids looking at the camera, all smiling at the same time is no easy task. It was a workout for their mom and me, but I do love these:

 

 

Several ended up like this, but I still think it's cute:

And I'm not going to lie, the next one took a little photoshopping, but all of them are looking! Yay!

 

 

Porter looks like such a little man in this one:

 

 

 

 

- Heather Maynard, Athens, Georgia children's photographer

Kristi & Justin's New Home

It's getting close to Christmas card season! I'll have my 2009 Christmas card designs up in just a few days.

After shooting the big family session Sunday, I headed over to Kristi and Justin's house for a quick session for their Christmas card photos. These cards will be the first ones sent from their brand new house, so we made sure to showcase the house (which is BEAUTIFUL, by the way) in the shots. Check out the blue porch ceiling - love it!

Kristi and Justin are so much fun, and I think these photos reflect that. We also snapped a few with their sweet dog, Beau. Here are some of my favorite shots:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Heather Maynard, Watkinsville, Georgia photography

Just a Quick Peek

This is all I had time to blog tonight, but I promise there's lots more to come from this fun session:

- Heather Maynard, Watkinsville, Georgia children's photography

Katy's Bridal Portraits

Many brides forgo bridal shots now, but I'm SO glad that Katy decided to do them. Even though it's a little weird getting all dolled up and putting on your wedding dress before the big day, it often makes things a little less stressful on the wedding day, since most of the individual bridal shots are out of the way and we can focus on other shots (and get to the fun stuff - the party!).

You may remember Katy from her engagement session. She was beautiful in those (remember that to-die-for purple dress?), but she made THE MOST gorgeous bride (both times!). She and Chris had an incredible wedding, but I won't talk about it too much here, as I have a few more wedding posts coming later this week. (Yes, a few - there are that many photos I want to show.)

We did the portraits at the church where she and Chris were married - Antioch Christian Church in Watkinsville, and at her family's farm, where they held the reception (and also where we took some of their engagement photos).

For now, here are a few of my faves from the bridal session:

-Heather Maynard, Athens, Georgia bridal and wedding photographer

Jake, Four Months and All Smiles

I don't know what's in the air these days, but all of the babies I've taken photos of lately have been so happy and smiley! 

Even though Jake's mom and dad (who you may remember from their maternity session) said he'd been fussy on the day of our session, he was perfectly happy once I pulled the camera out, smiling and talking to me. I was so happy to finally get to photograph Jake! I met him when he was just tiny and weeks old and he has grown SO MUCH! He's already such a big boy, holding up his head really well and even pushing up on his stomach.

I think sessions with Katie and Kent may be some of the most relaxed sessions I've had. They're always up for whatever and they totally trust my "vision," which means we can all relax, have fun and get lots of good shots. I can't wait to take more photos of this sweet family!

Here's a little sneak peek - enjoy! Click each photo to enlarge.

They brought some beautiful blankets that were handmade by some of their family and friends.

I LOVE Jake's expression in this one. Such a sneaky little face:

- Heather Maynard, Athens, Georgia baby and family portrait photographer 

Lane, 3 months, and Kara, 2 years, at the Beach

Last week I took a little beach vacation with my friend and awesome client Katie, plus her two little ones, Lane and Kara (who you've seen all over my blog and website). 

Katie signed Lane up for the "Baby's First Year" package, so we decided to do his three-month photos while we were at the beach for a laid-back session. Lane was already working the camera with lots of smiles, coos and little giggles!

We also decided to get some fun beach shots that I am absolutely in love with.

The thing that I love about them isn't that they're at the beach (although it's beautiful) or that some of my favorite people are in them (even though they are), but that I was able to capture totally natural moments of fun! Kara was dressed in a beautiful white linen dress, but Katie didn't let that stop them from having a great time. She wasn't worried about Kara getting dirty, wrinkled or wet. In fact, they ran in the surf as if no cameras were on them and they were in their swimsuits. Kara's dress did get wrinkled and wet (and Katie's, too!). But I'm so happy to have been able to capture that moment with my camera. Kara may not remember that day in a few years (she's only two), but I know Katie will, and I know that looking back on these pictures will make them both smile. Sure beats any posed photo, I think.

Here are some of my faves (click to enlarge)...

I had to snap a photo of his little Polo shoes that he won't be able to wear much longer...

This one is SO Kara (I think she gets it from her mama):

-Heather Maynard, Athens, Georgia baby, children's & family photographer

Katy & Chris {Athens, Georgia engagement photo session}

Katy and Chris met while they were in college. Both members of Campus Crusade for Christ, Katy and her friends had spotted Chris before and knew who he was. Once they were formally introduced, Katy and Chris became friends before they started dating. Now, they're both out of school, engaged and both working with Campus Crusade for Christ. It's funny how it all sort of comes full circle.

I think maybe they're also moonlighting as models, because they knew how to work it in front of the camera! They both appeared super comfortable (if they weren't, they sure fooled me!) and we had a great time!

We'll be shooting their wedding in just about a month and I can't wait. I usually shoot portrait sessions on my own, but I drug Matthew along on this one as a second shooter so he could meet Katy and Chris before the wedding. It's always fun shooting with him and I love seeing the different perspectives that I don't always capture.

Katy and Chris - you guys rock! I can't wait until your big day. I could easily have put up LOTS more photos from your engagement session because you two worked it, but here are a few of my faves (click each photo to enlarge):

That purple dress and those pink nails - PERFECTION.

We grabbed some ice cream before we headed to Katy's dad's farm for more photos.

-Heather Maynard, Athens, Georgia wedding and engagement photographer

Just Follow Their Lead

No matter how much you plan for a photo session with small children (or anyone, for that matter), you just never know exactly where that session will go, and you can never predict exactly what kind of photos you'll get. Since I'd consider myself more of a lifestyle photographer than a traditional photographer, that kind of unknown doesn't really bother me.

Erin was the winner of my photo session giveaway, and she brought her boys, Jake, four, and Grady, two, plus their dog, Buddha, for our session. When I asked Erin where she wanted to shoot, she told me that her boys love tractors. If you're from around here, you know tractors aren't hard to come by. And luckily, I have some really awesome friends who were willing to give us access to tractors - and a whole farm, in fact.

When we got to the farm, Jake had on bright orange boots. His mom had picked out other shoes for the session, but Jake chose to wear the boots instead. He must have known exactly what he was doing, because those boots were PERFECT for photos! And later, Jake and Grady insisted on checking out a dump truck on the farm. The photos from the truck turned out to be some of my favorite, even though I never would have thought to shoot there. That's why I named this post "Just Follow Their Lead" - often, the best photos come from just letting kids be kids and letting them take control of the session (and the wardrobe).

I knew Erin would be awesome to work with from the minute I spoke to her on the phone. She was so laid-back and her optimism is contagious. Her boys were just like her - lots of fun and so sweet. Buddha had the best time of all, though, running all over the farm and hanging out with the horses - what a great dog!

I loved so many of the photos from this session (and it was my first with my new camera), so here's a slightly longer than normal sneak peek:

I love how this one makes Grady look so tiny (and notice Buddha on the ground):

This was at the end of the session - I had to post it because it looks like both Buddha and Grady had passed out:

Thanks for an awesome session!

-Heather Maynard, Athens, Georgia lifestyle, family, children's, pet, portrait photographer

I Guess Time Does Fly When You're Having Fun

Where have the last six months gone?

Seriously, I'd like to know because it seems like just yesterday I was taking Jake's newborn photos. And then his three-month photos. And now? Now I'm posting his SIX-MONTH session!

Babies (well, kids in general) grow up so fast, and it's incredible to see the changes in them from session to session - particularly as their little personalities develop. 

Jake was smiling and talking for most of our session. Just last week he started sitting up (I think he must have known he was coming to have his picture taken) and I won't be surprised if he's mobile in no time. Here's a little sneak peek:

He may be growing up, but he still has sweet little baby hands and feet:

At first he did NOT like the hat:

but he came around:

He had fun splashing around in the water and bubbles. Do you see the water splashes in the air?

- Heather Maynard, Athens, Georgia baby photographer

Brody, 3 years old and Ella, 1 year old

I met up with Courtney, Cory, Brody and Ella on the North Campus of the University of Georgia for a family photo session. 

Brody's mom and dad were a little concerned about how our session would go since he had been up most of the night before (isn't that how it always goes with kids when you have something planned?), but he was a trooper through most of the session - such a grown up three-year-old!

Ella was a serious little one, but her dad could get her to crack a smile every now and then. I just love that red hair and those two fingers always in her mouth.

They were such a fun family to hang out with. Hope you guys had fun getting cheeseburgers and ice cream! Here are several of my faves from our shoot:

I love this series:

One of my favorites from the session - 

-Heather Maynard, Athens, Georgia child and family photographer

Megan and Her Pups

Megan is just so naturally beautiful, and she really shines when she's around her animals.

She's an animal lover just like me, so we did a little session of her and {mostly} her pups - Gypsy, Noble and Sable. I took photos of Sable when she was just a tiny pup, and now she's the biggest of the bunch (but still kind of a puppy). Megan has cats, too, but they weren't too keen on being models.

I had a great time hanging out with Megan and the dogs. I got lots of fun photos and lots of doggie kisses, too. Here are a few of my favorites:

Gypsy -

Noble (a camera hog) -

Sable -

Gypsy and Noble sing - SO funny!

On a side note, Megan is my hair stylist at Bob Salon in Athens. If you're looking for a new hair stylist, she's awesome!

-Heather Maynard, Athens, Georgia portrait and pet photographer

Two Happy Kids (and Superman Ice Cream!)

Jamey and Jackson are two happy kids! We hung out for a couple of hours for a session, and both were so pleasant and smiling the entire time - perfect for a photo session! 

Mom primarily wanted photos of Jackson, who just turned 10 months, and she wanted to attempt to get a good photo of both kids together. I think we accomplished that!

Before I came over, Jamey told her mom that she didn't want to have her photo taken. But, before our session was over, she said, "I like having my picture taken!" Both kids did awesome, and Jamey was going to be rewarded with her favorite ice cream - Superman flavor!

Here are some of my favorites of the happy twosome:

Mom jumped in for a few pics:

Jamey - I hope you enjoyed your Superman ice cream treat! You did a great job!

-Heather Maynard, Athens, Georgia baby and children's photographer

Meet Isobel, 6 Days Old, and Big Sister Angel, 6

I didn't get to spend Mother's Day with my mom (she lives hours away - don't worry, I'll see her soon), but I did get to spend part of the day with a pretty awesome mom and her equally awesome family to take newborn photos of her sweet baby girl, Isobel, and her six-year-old, Angel.

At just six days old, Isobel was wide-eyed and didn't want to go to sleep at first - she was afraid she was missing the party. But after a little convincing, she fell right to sleep, making sweet, smiling faces while I clicked away and big sister Angel helped me out.

Angel is a super cool kid - very artistic, funny and smart. I had a blast hanging out with her and looking at some of her books that she had written herself! She also gave me one of the best compliments a client can give me (and she's only six!). While we were hanging out and taking photos in her back yard, she said, "I kind of feel like this is just like any other day and you are just hanging out with me like my mom would." And that's EXACTLY how I want kids to feel when I photograph them - like I'm just there to hang out and have fun, and I just happen to have a camera in front of my face 95 percent of the time.

Isobel is very lucky to have a big sister like Angel, and if she turns out anything like her sis, she'll be a pretty awesome kid. Of course her parents are super smart and super creative, too, so her awesomeness is pretty much sealed already.

Here are some of my favorites from our session:

Little fingers...

And little toes...

This one cracks me up - I think she was yawning, but it looks like she was yelling:

And the sweet sisters:

Angel was so sweet and gave me a piece of her art that's hanging on my fridge now:

Thanks so much for letting me spend Mother's Day with you all!

-Heather Maynard, Athens, Georgia newborn and children's photographer

Hanging Out at the Farm

I really think that I get to photograph some of the prettiest and cutest kids around! Jackson, Will and Emily are all absolutely adorable, and their names are equally adorable.

I went to their house, which happens to be on a beautiful farm, to take photos. I love when I get to take photos at a client's home that is just perfect for photos! They had lakes, ducks, boats and all kinds of things to check out during our session. 

It was super humid and even sprinkling a little at the beginning of our session, but the rain held off long enough for us to get lots of fun photos. Here are some of my favorites:

These faces crack me up...

Brothers being brothers...

-Heather Maynard, Winder, Georgia children's photographer

Just a Teeny Tiny Peek

at sweet little Lane Charles. LOTS more to come, but I wanted to give his mama a quick peek at her precious little boy:

Baby season has officially begun! Keep H&M Photography in mind for photos and baby announcements. We have packages available for baby's first year of photos - go to the website and click on "investment." 

If you are expecting or know someone who is, it's best to do newborn photos within the first two weeks after baby is born. If you'd like to schedule a session, be sure to give us a call before baby is born and let us know your due date!

-Heather Maynard, Watkinsville, Georgia newborn and baby photographer

All Boy!

That's the best way I can describe little Charlie. He's nearly 17 months old and seems to be just getting to that stage when he's becoming independent. For his mama, daddy and me, that meant lots of running around during our session! He wasn't too keen on family shots that required sitting still, but I love the action shots!

He was all about balloons, rocks and testing us out to see just how far away from us he could run - definitely a little boy! 

About a year and a half ago I took maternity photos for Christy and Ryan, Charlie's mom and dad, and Charlie came over to hang out with the bunnies for an Easter session, too, but this was the first time that I was able to photograph all three of them together. They are such a beautiful family - check them out:

We broke out the sidewalk chalk, but Charlie thought drawing on his daddy might be more fun:

Charlie's parents told me to watch out for flying rocks. I think that may have been what he was thinking about as I took this shot:

A Saturday Play Date

Most of my business comes from referrals, so I was thrilled when Jennifer called me and asked if I would take photos of her two kids, McKenzie, four, and Maverick, one. She had been referred by my friend (and client) Brittany.

McKenzie and Maverick came over to my house for some play time with bubbles, sidewalk chalk and a little hopscotch. Oh, and a photo shoot.

I always try to make photo shoots fun, especially for kids, so that it's less of a "sit and smile" session than it is a play date. McKenzie and Maverick made great play dates. Maverick has the sweetest little grin that will just pop out of nowhere, and McKenzie is such a great big sis. I love her "serious" face - something that most four-year-olds just don't do in front of the camera.

Here are a few of my favorite shots from our little play date:

 

One of my new favorites...

-Heather Maynard, Statham, Georgia child photographer

Another Sweet Lilli

Lilli isn't a name you hear too often, and especially not spelled with with three l's and two i's. So what are the chances that I'd get to photograph two pretty, sweet little girls named Lilli within months of each other?

This Lilli also brought along her My Katiebell tutu for some fun tutu photos at the Botanical Gardens. Lilli, her mom, her grandmother and I hung out on the warmest afternoon yet, walking trails, trying (unsuccessfully) to catch tadpoles and running from the zillions of bumble bees flying around.

Lilli was a little shy and serious at first, but by the end of the session I'm pretty sure I could have a secured an invitation to go to the Hannah Montana movie with them afterwards (too bad I was busy).  

These are a few of my favorites. Don't you just love those curls and the pink Converse? She's definitely pretty like her mama!

-Heather Maynard, Athens, Georgia children's photographer

Any Day Now

I told Katie that's what I would call this blog post, because it could literally be any day now when Kara's baby brother or sister (no one knows yet) gets here!

I was happy to oblige when Katie told me she wanted some non-maternity maternity photos. Not a bunch of belly shots, backdrops or studio lights - just their family, as it is right now, hanging out, waiting on the new little bundle of joy to arrive. I love that these images accomplish that and that we could incorporate the nursery, too.

This is one very lucky baby - not only is he/she going to have a great mom and dad, but Kara is going to make a wonderful big sis, and this baby is going to be LOVED by so many.

Here are a few of my favorite images of the family, waiting for one more addition:

I love these shots of Kara getting her nails done for our shoot - some sweet alone time with Mom.

Couldn't decide if I liked this one better in black & white...

or color. What do you think?

I cannot wait until I get to take newborn photos! Get here soon, baby!

-Heather Maynard, Athens, Georgia maternity and family photographer