So I announce that I’m going to Atlanta for WPPI University and hang out with all the Big Kids in the photography industry.  You know . . . the ones that earn $1 million per year, have people chasing them like Rock Stars and are gorgeous.  Anyway, Jeanne saw me post that on Facebook and said, “Hey, let’s do our shoot in Atlanta too!” . . . Uhm. . . . Jeanne . . . . you live in southern Alabama.  Apparently the ATL is old stompin’ grounds for Matt (who isn’t a comedian, but could stand in for one if they were late) and No, they wouldn’t mind making that 5 hour drive.  I had met Jeanne through a mutual friend online, but we had never met in person, but I didn’t give a second thought to hopping into the big fat truck in front of the Omni CNN in Atlanta with these folk . . . . Until the door shut.  I was about to make them promise not to kidnap me, when I realized it would be more like The Ransom of Little Red Chief.  And I’m not sure they had enough money to pay my family to take me back.

Off we went to the park I had researched thoroughly when we were turned back at the gate.  Appears as though not only was there a wedding, but a very very very large music festival as well.  We were welcome to hike in a mile if we parked illegally and didn’t get towed though.  The outlaw in me said “let’s go for it” and they were game.  The Grands were with us but this was all a surprise to them.  As was the hike.  Everyone was a good sport because Little Diva had a show of her own to put on.  By the time we got to the main park area and I scouted out my first site, we had little light remaining.  The photos you see here were me pushing my camera to maximum capacity with no flash and willing my hands to stay steady enough to keep the shutter open just a little bit longer.  We shot until after 8pm and luckily we ran out of baby before we ran out of camera function in low light!  She was a Super Star, but that was not news to me.  I picked up that Vanity Fair magazine at an antique store just for this shoot.  How did I know?

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Alabama Family Photographer, Alabama Child Photographer, Atlanta Lifestyle Photographer, Atlanta Portrait Photographer, Atlanta Family Photographer

Like so many other Viet Nam adoptive mommies, I met Kelli online.  We were both fighting a battle against the clock and against bureaucracy to bring our children home.  One particularly nail-biting day, I could sense the terror in her online communications, but I had information that would help ease her worry so I risked it all and sent her my phone number telling her to call.  I was just doing what any mom to be would do, but I found out how much it meant to her later.  When we were all able to exhale and talk more freely.

I was privileged enough to be one of the first to see Aiden Bao in his first photos sent from Viet Nam.   Considering it an honor to do so, imagine how I felt when Kelli found out I was coming to Chicago and could I do a shoot for them?  Kelli drove in from Indiana and was ready to unleash He Who Made Me Work For The Shot!  I was dying just to meet them in person, but to be asked to photograph Mommy and her little Prince was cathartic and healing in ways I couldn’t have imagined until I was there.  Shooting.  A. Miracle.  I still get emotional thinking about it and unless you were caught up in what we were caught up in, it is hard to explain.  Just trust me . . . it was a full circle experience.

Aiden, however, could not be bothered with such silliness.  There was this whole park that needed his footprints on it and if I wanted a piece of him, I’d better be quick.  The 70-200mm, 2.8 was MADE for Aiden.  It was REQUIRED for Aiden.  I just had to lie in the grass waiting for him to zoom by.  Luckily, it never occurred to me to try to pose him.  What a loss that would have been.  You want to meet Aiden . . . just look at these photos.  That is who he is!

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Chicago Family Photographer, Chicago Lifestyle Photographer, Chicago Portrait Photographer, Indiana Family Photographer

We had talked about a family shoot for some time, but it finally started putting plans together in May.  It just so happened that a family wedding was taking place and you know what that means.  Extended family photo options!  We adjusted my flight schedule accordingly so that we could include family from California before they headed back home.  Three generations came together and I had one chance to get it right.  So you know what happened right?  Torrential downpour.  Yup!  We were pulling lighting in from downstairs from construction that was still ongoing and we commenced shootin’ inside!  We managed to get through about 1/3 of the shots I was hoping to get when the sun came back out.  Oh Glory!  The kids held up like troopers and Grandpa was a rock star at getting the most lovely expressions of elation from them.  Two thumbs up for Grandpa!  But check out Grandma . . . . doesn’t she have the most gorgeous smile you have ever seen?  Why can’t my smile be that pretty!?  Please to enjoy, the H family.

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Chicago Family Photographer, Chicago Lifestyle Photographer, Chicago Portrait Photographer