Karen Baker Photography

MacKenzie ~ 6 Month Session ~ Atlanta, Georgia Baby Photographer

karen — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 04:32:00 +0000

I loved working with this sweet family. MacKenzie was like many 6 month old babies… place them outside and there is so much more to see, touch and hear to be bothered with a photo session! She made us work for those smiles, but it was completely worth it… what a beautiful baby girl!

Of course it helps having such a beautiful mom and dad and I loved that we were able to incorporate some special family elements into the session, including MacKenzie’s great grandad’s old truck.

Kimberly and Robert, thanks so much for a wonderful session… and for your patience in waiting to see some sneak peeks! I hope you’ll enjoy some of my favorites so far… more to come very soon!!!

North Atlanta Talent Education ~ Atlanta, Georgia Portrait Photographer

karen — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:00:22 +0000

I had a fun opportunity recently to step outside of my normal session “type” and photograph a different style of head/bio shots for these beautiful, and extremely talented ladies. These women are teachers with North Atlanta Talent Education and they were interested in getting some bio shots for their website, marketing purposes, etc. I had the best time working with all 6 of them and even had the treat of hearing a few of them play their instruments while we got a few “action shots”. How inspiring to be surrounded by such talent… and inspiring for me as well to step outside of the box a little and try some new things!

Thought I’d share a few of my favorites from the morning… and if you have a young child interested in music, I highly recommend checking out North Atlanta Talent Education in Roswell.

Carrie ~ Maternity Session ~ Marietta, Georgia Maternity Photographer

karen — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:42:02 +0000

I was honored and excited to do this maternity session for fellow photographer, Carrie Tabb, and her beautiful family. They’re expecting their newest addition next month and Carrie wanted to step on the other side of the lens to have this special time documented for her family. As I’ve said often, one of the very few downsides to this job is that after you spend so much time photographing other families, you sometimes feel like your own family’s moments aren’t documented as much as you’d like… or at least not with you in them. I love having the opportunity to provide a little of that for someone else who I know must also miss actually being IN pictures with her family!

Carrie and I have a few friends in common, so I’d followed her blog some before we actually met in person. Of course, once we got to the session, it was hard to not just sit and ”talk shop” about each others experiences. Carrie shoots weddings, quite beautifully I might add, so I loved talking about all the fun she encounters in her particular area of photography.

Carrie, thanks so much for the opportunity to document this special time for your family. I loved meeting you in person and having the chance to spend some time with all of you!! I can’t wait to hear of your newest blessing’s arrival!

Time Away & Calendar Full for 2010

karen — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 03:49:46 +0000

I returned earlier today from a much-needed, even more so enjoyed, long weekend away with my husband. We spent 2 wonderful days in the Bahamas and if it hadn’t been for our arms aching so badly to see our little one, we might have skipped the trip home and just stayed and set up camp out on those beautiful beaches. I couldn’t have been more thankful to have some time away, just the two of us… and of course some beautiful scenery to enjoy, as well!

Our little trip couldn’t have come at a better time, either. As I prepare for another busy Fall season, I know there are some crazy weeks ahead and moments when I’ll want to close my eyes and go right back to those white sandy beaches, looking out at the turquoise water.

I am so excited to see families I’ve worked with before and meet a lot of new ones. I’m excited to see and document the changes in little ones… some I haven’t seen since last Fall or earlier this year… and meet a bunch of new ones whose families are anxiously awaiting their arrival!

So, with that said, I’m officially closing my calendar for 2010 (Please note that this does not apply to newborn clients who I’ve already been in contact with). I’m beyond greatful for the busy weeks and weekends ahead, and all the sweet faces I’ll have the opportunity to meet and photograph!

And what good is a post on a photographer’s blog without at least one picture? A quick one from our time on Paradise Island…

Paradise Island, Bahamas, August 2010

Evan ~ 10 Days Old ~ Dallas, Georgia Newborn Photographer

karen — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:46:11 +0000

I was so thrilled when this little one entered the world, for more reasons than just being able to photograph all his sweet newborn “newness”. I am proud to call this beautiful baby boy (and the rest of his beautiful family, of course!) my neighbors and he’s now the newest member of our (rapidly growing) neighborhood playgroup. I can’t wait to watch him grow and change in the months ahead… although it seriously seems like just yesterday that his big brother Owen (and all of the “big kids” in our playgroup, including my little one) were this brand new! Where does the time go??

I loved watching big brother Owen interact with his new baby brother. He was so sweet and clearly very proud of Evan… even helping me out with blankets during the session, and keeping us all entertained by reading excerpts of “Brown Bear”. One of my favorite parts of doing a newborn session for the second, third, fourth, etc. child in the family is watching (and photographing, when possible!) the interaction of big brothers and sisters with their newest sibling.

Tony and Hannah, thank you so much for the opportunity to photograph your family’s beautiful new blessing… and your new family of four. More to come soon!

Lincoln ~ 11 Days Old ~ Atlanta, Georgia Newborn Photographer

karen — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 02:02:15 +0000

Lincoln was such a sweet, sleepy 11 day old… he slept straight through posing, the changing of different hats, and even shared a few newborn smiles with me. I had such a nice time working with Lincoln’s sweet parents and was so happy we could do his newborn session while his grandmother was still in town visiting, as well. We even managed to get a “new family of four” shot with (canine) brother Broddie.

I have to admit I enjoyed doing a few images with Lincoln’s UGA baby gear… so glad to see his parents are already raising him right!

Christina & Luke, thanks so much for welcoming me into your home and allowing me the opportunity to capture this wonderful time for your family! Hope you’ll enjoy some sneak peeks for now!

Abby ~ 1 Year Session ~ Atlanta Georgia Baby & Child Photographer

karen — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:01:28 +0000

One year olds can be a challenge to photograph… a fun & rewarding challenge, but a challenge nonetheless. They’re often newly mobile and much more interested in exploring their world than participating in a photo session. Abby was no exception… and she was fast… really fast. I was determined to catch some sweet moments with this little one, so I just had to play by her rules instead of my own. Totally worth it as there aren’t too many things more precious than this sweet face… with these adorable cheeks and blue eyes… what a beautiful baby!

I loved spending some time recently with Abby, her sweet mom and dad, and her canine brother, at their home in Atlanta. One of the things I love most about “on location photography” is that I have the opportunity to photograph families in their own environment, as well as little ones in places where they are most familiar and comfortable. Abby had the typical one year old speed, but she also had many smiles and happy faces to share… which is sometimes not so typical of the one year bunch.

Liz and Kevin, thank you so much for the opportunity to work with your sweet family and photograph this special session for your beautiful baby girl! I hope you’ll enjoy these sneak peeks for now!

Family Session ~ Cartersville, Georgia Family & Portrait Photographer

karen — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:27:21 +0000

I was excited to work with this family… and not just because every last one of them is good-looking or because they brought their sweet doggies along for the fun (LOVE it when we can incorporate the canine members of the family in sessions!).

I loved the clothing choices and colors for the group, especially, against the farm backdrop… makes my job all that more enjoyable and especially more fun for the editing process afterwards.

Kim and Jeremy, thanks so much for a wonderful session with your family! Hope you’ll enjoy these sneak peeks for now!

Lane & Kaleigh ~ Billings, Montana Newborn & Family Session

karen — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 02:08:09 +0000

As I mentioned in the last couple of posts, I had the awesome opportunity to spend some time in Montana & Wyoming late last month. The main reason for my visit, and especially the timing of my visit, was to photograph a newborn session for my friends Mindy and Josh who just welcomed their second child and first daughter, Kaleigh Rae. Mindy and her family will always hold a special place in our hearts as she was Luke’s first official babysitter (outside of family). I worked in Human Resources prior to doing photography full-time and returned to work part-time after our son was born. Mindy’s husband Josh and I worked for the same company and they had their first child, Lane, just six days after we had Luke. Mindy was staying home with Lane so it worked out wonderfully for her to watch Luke the days that I worked.

We were blessed to have Mindy caring for Luke and to have their sweet family living just a few miles down the road from us for just a year, when they decided to return to their home states of Montana and Wyoming. It was a sad day watching them leave, although we knew how wonderful it would be for them to be closer to all of their family again. It’s funny (and wonderful!) how God places people in your life, even for just a short time, and yet you know He has blessed you with a friendship to last a lifetime. I am so thankful that we’ve been able to stay close, even with them so many miles away now, and so thankful that I was able to be there during Kaleigh’s first days to photograph these moments for their family.

Welcome to the world Kaleigh! You are truly a gift from God.

These last few I couldn’t help but share. I had the opportunity to photograph Mindy’s entire family on their farm during my visit. Some of my most favorite images from my trip include the ones of Lane and Kaleigh with their grandfather, Mindy’s dad. Those of you who know me well know that I lost my father when I was 13. One of the things I miss most about not having my dad around now is that he doesn’t get to know my children… and they don’t get to know him. I know he is in a much better place and I know I will see him again one day, but I can’t help but miss having him here to experience all of the big moments of my adult years. I love that I was able to capture some images of Lane & Kaleigh with Mindy’s mom and dad… and I especially loved these of Mindy’s sweet dad in his cowboy hat, in front of their red barn… with his beautiful grandbabies.

Kyle & Tyler ~ Montana Mini ~ Billings, Montana

karen — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 17:39:50 +0000

During my first official morning in Montana, I had the pleasure of working with this sweet family! We met up at one of the many great parks around downtown Billings and I had a blast chasing these two little ones around. Toward the end of our session, Mom and Dad were even willing to take some pics in the beautiful stream that flowed throughout the park. That was a first for me… and the water was extra refreshing considering I was in Montana and not Georgia, where it seems even our bodies of water have gotten warm lately from the heat!

We were blessed with beautiful morning light for our session and, one of my most favorite parts of my trip to Montana, no humidity! It was glorious to work in!! I loved watching Kyle and Tyler interact with each other… sibling shots are some of my favorites – and sometimes the hardest to get! It didn’t hurt that we were in a little boy’s paradise with all of the rocks, dirt and water to play with!

Ginger and Ryan, thanks so much for a great session! I loved meeting and working with you and your boys… hope you’ll enjoy these sneak peeks for now. More to come soon!