The Gersch Family | Clemson, SC Family Photographer

The Adams Family | Anderson, SC Family Photographer

The Smith Girls | Hartwell, Georgia Photographer

These gorgeous girls hired us to have their photos made as a gift to their parents, on their twentieth wedding anniversary.  As sweet, kind and genuine as they are striking, Whitney, Madison and Grace were a pleasure to photograph. 

Simply Chic Little Ladies | Hartwell, GA Photographer

 I'll bet you can't help but smile at these cuties... 



Michelle Spears' Simply Chic Boutique is responsible for all of these wonderful outfits.  If you're into sweet things designed for little girls, run over there and see all that she has for sale - right now she has a special going on those adorable Christmas dresses!  You can find her Facebook page here.



It's got to be hard work, bring a model....  ;) 

Paul and Alyse | Greenville, SC Wedding Photographer

It has absolutely been killing us not to post these photos. Leasy and Paul's wedding was the epitome of sweetness - pure, fresh, giggly love, shared with close friends and family. From minute one Leasy was the picture of grace while gushing with excitement. Paul was cool and calm, completely ready to embrace his bride. Paul's father, Lyndon, performed the ceremony, truly uniting their families. Their vows were their own; Leasy, the writer, created hers in the moment. The sheer openness was incredibly moving (I sobbed). If their marriage and life is as remarkable as their wedding, it will be one for the record books.

  

Congratulations, Leasy and Paul, and best wishes for a very sweet life.

3 Months | Hartwell, GA Baby Photographer

Remember Levi?  He came by for his three month session yesterday - such a wonderful personality and very willing model. 



Not to be outdone, Sara Beth showed us her supermodel side, too!

Testing the Mini-Theory | Hartwell, GA Family Photographer

Mini-sessions have proven to be a welcome addition to the small list of services we offer.  Very widely received, we've all but booked our mini-day on the 6th (3pm is still open, folks!) and have worked in people for minis all throughout the month of November.  It would be fair to say that we have increased our business by 300% for the coming month.  However, the idea of shooting a full session in 45 minutes is a little daunting - how to make such a high percentage of stong images with cooperative kids?  Kids take a while to warm up to strangers, especially those who demand interaction from the get-go - but mothers are looking for sweet shots and of course, the 2010 Christmas card photo! 

To do a little prep (and try a few new photography tricks), Dave decided to do a test yesterday while he was out running errands.  He stopped by the Botanical Gardens (our mini-session location) to see what could be done in a jiffy.  Now, these are our kids, but they're not always up for photos and sometimes give us the same reactions as any other kid would when being photographed.  In the end, the session was a success and the location has been thoroughly scouted.  Good photos, less that 45 minutes and the children's mother was very pleased with them.  ;) 

Tomorrow we will be photographing the wedding of one of the sweetest couples I can imagine.  Paul and Leasy, we're looking forward to being with you!   With this wedding, we kick off our month of photography mania!  If you're thinking about a fall session, please call 706-244-2205 or email us: info@snydersphotography.com.  We have limited space available for November and would hate to turn anyone away.  As always, follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/snydersphotography. 

Happy Halloween!

The (whole) Carter Family | Hartwell, Georgia Family Photographer

If it seems as if we've done several sessions in short succession with this family it's most definitely because we have!

When Levi was born, Lucy contacted us about doing a family session with wee Levi.  However, our schedules and their schedules didn't synch.  Newborns change so, so fast (I see you mommies out there, nodding your heads) that waiting until he was three and a half weeks old was out of the question.  So we shot Levi's newborn photos on August 9th.  Finally, on Saturday the 21st, we were able meet up with the whole Carter family for a session.  The rain scratched all plans of some sun-kissed-sprawled-out-in-the-grass photos; never fear, Curt and Lucy were all set up for indoor photographs.  Sara Beth was a doll, but that's not a surprise to anyone who knows her.  Levi was once again a cooperative model, but managed to pee on both his father and mother in a ten minute period. 

In case you're wondering, there's no particular reason why some photos are color, some are black and white and some are both.  Sometimes it's done at the client's request, but most of the time it's just a 'feel' thing.  I go by the emotion I want to evoke and the reaction I hope the viewer will have. 

The full Carter family album is showcased here, along with Levi's newborn photographs. 

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Carter Family, take three! | Hartwell, GA Family Photographer

A Saturday morning well spent...........

Wednesday Wandering | Hartwell, Georgia Photographer

Last Wednesday Aidan and I were at a loss for something to do.  With Em and Jake in school Aidan and I are on our own to fill the days.  It's funny, but when thinking about something to do I often forget that Aidan is 2 1/2 now and I have this "Aha!" moment when I realize we can do something outdoors!  We (OK, I) decided that we ought to pick up the camera and head out to check out areas I wasn't familiar with and make some photographs.  I spent four years exploring Boston (the Back Bay and Fenway, mainly) and there was always something new to discover.  The photos I made on those walks were more of an exercise for me than for any great artistic purpose; sometimes they would spark the idea for a photograph and sometimes they were silly photographs of leaves or stores.  I burned a lot of film (i.e. spent a ton of money and darkroom time) but really enjoyed the time to think and create.  That's just my process - think, shoot, then sometimes think more and reshoot.

So Aidan and I walked.  We wandered, we poked, we strolled.  We chatted and enjoyed each other's company as we checked out alleys and sidewalks and train cars and tall grass.  We were on our way home by 11am because it was getting hot and we were hungry, and Aidan took a marathon nap that afternoon.  As I did in Boston, I'm kind of using some of these like a painter would use sketches - great for working out ideas for photos to go back and make with different light, or with people for portraits, or with permission to explore a location in greater detail.  Others are just snaps from a fun morning out with my youngest son and I'm glad we ventured out to make them.

My little buddy in his shades, in the lower left.  This one has me thinking... I miss the city!  What city photographs can I make around here?  Can I make our small town look like a major city?  How can I do that?  Should I even try?  Should I respect the small-town qualities of our small town and showcase those instead?  What about doing both and juxtaposing the images?

  

No, the one on the right is not in Florida, it's just outside of Hartwell.  Love the colors - there's something else to be made there...

  

Good wood - I can almost feel the splinters.

      

Super colors, but not in love with them and I can't put my finger on why.  They might make a good exercise in Photoshop, to test out some new techniques for post-processing.  I don't believe that you can take a poor photograph and make it good with Photoshop, but I do believe you can take something already good and make it look extraordinary.  There might be hope for these. 

 

Love the feel of these, but the image can't work on tone/feel alone...  I think I'll chalk these up to "fun to make" - which is perfectly alright with me. 

*If you'd like to see what happens with these photos and the spin-offs from them, go "Like" our Facebook page to get the update!

Levi | Hartwell Georgia Newborn Photographer

Ever since we did Lucy's maternity session, we've been waiting to meet the little man inside the big belly.  Yesterday was that day!  Little Levi was alert and thoroughly interested in what was happening around him - which is wonderful for a 13-day old baby - but not so wonderful when we're trying to make sleeping baby photos!  After a few hours of evading sleep, Levi finaly drifted off and allowed us to make some pictures.  I don't believe there is anything sweeter than a sleeping baby.  According to Lucy, Levi slept all afternoon after we left - seems he's already becoming a mischievous little boy! 

We're very much looking forward to seeing Levi, Lucy, Sara Beth and Curt in a few weeks for their family session!

*Want to see more squishy, scrunchy baby cuteness?  Head on over to our Facebook page and click "Like" to see the cuties we photograph next!