Smith Photography & Design

Rusty & Lilly | Atlanta Dog Photographer

2010-10-01T12:37:00.011-04:00

Last week we posted images of Salty & Wrangler, two super cute Yorkie brothers who came into the studio. This week, we get to share images of their adopted brother & sister, Rusty & Lilly. There are times when I get dogs - and children, for that matter - in the studio that are just a dream to work with. The newborn baby that stays asleep for the entire session, or the 8 week old puppy that is just a ball of mush and is agreeable to pretty much anything we decide to do. Those sessions are fun in their own right because they allow me to be creative with an incredibly willing subject. Then there are other sessions with a completely different kind of subject... the reluctant child or dog, that simply finds very little pleasure in the process of the portrait session. Enter Rusty and Lilly. I knew we were in for a fun session when both dogs came bounding out of the car and mom looks at me and says "I even took them to the park this morning!" No problem, though... I enjoy a good challenge. Mom had given me fair warning about this pair, but honestly, I'd have these two sweet dogs back in the studio any day (mom is probably laughing as she reads this part). I know having portraits made can be stressful for the parents - whether they're parents of 4-legged children or 2-legged children. We use bribes, we use treats, we use toys, all in an effort to get that perfect expression. And while it can be challenging, it's all worth it in the end because we're creating treasured portraits of our loved ones. I absolutely love the opportunity to share a little piece of your babies - as challenging as it can be at times - because that's what it's all about.

2011 Puppy Calendar ready for pre-order!

2010-09-27T19:56:00.004-04:00

It's official! The 2011 Puppy Calendar is ready for pre-orders! A great gift for the holidays, and all profits will benefit the Humane Society of Forsyth County. Order your calendars online today using the button below, or call the studio to order over the phone. Your donation of $20 per calendar will make a significant difference for this wonderful no-kill shelter.

Or call the studio at 770-888-3191 to place your order over the phone.

Salty & Wrangler | Dog Photographer Atlanta Forsyth County

2010-09-23T10:26:00.003-04:00

I first met Salty at the Pet Fair last month. He was in very poor health at the time, so we created some images of him that day at our Pet Fair booth because there was concern that he might not make it through the next few days. He was such a sweetie, but he clearly didn't feel well. The great news is that Salty has made an incredible recovery. Mom tells me he's back to his old self, full of energy and loving life. I was so honored to have Salty and his brother Wrangler in the studio earlier this month. They were so full of love and puppy kisses (my favorite!), so we're sharing a few favorites from their session.

Newest addition to the Smith family | Dog Photographer Forsyth County GA

2010-08-02T15:59:00.005-04:00

Never a dull day in the Smith house! Over the weekend we added another cutie pie to the Smith household. After an exhaustive search for the right breed of dog for our family, we decided on and found a Boston Terrier puppy. So far, our 7-year-old Lhasa Apso, Lucy, is acclimating well to the arrival of the new beast. The only thing more difficult than choosing the right breed is, of course, choosing the right name. I've always stood by the rule that it has to be a name that can be yelled - and in such a way that you don't look (or sound) like an idiot when you yell the name. With all of that in place, we decided on the name Mac. Mac, you say? Where the heck did that come from? It's a tribute to General Stanley McChrystal. I'm not sure what the good General would think about us naming a dog after him, but hopefully he sees it as a compliment. With a name in place, a new collar, and shiny new name tag, the only thing left to do was take Mac down to the studio for his first official photo shoot. It's remarkable how similar photographing puppies is to photographing human babies... it's all about patience.

Puppy Sitting | Dog Photographer Forsyth County GA

2010-07-24T23:08:00.007-04:00

This week we have the pleasure of puppy-sitting for a friend. Meet Precious. She's a sweet little 3-month-old American Bulldog. She's taken to our house and routine just fine, and we've discovered that she's quite the cuddler. Of course, the only price you pay when we puppy-sit, is that you have to know that puppy will end up at the studio at some point! Well, Precious was no exception. One of the things that makes her unique is that she has this adorable heart-shaped nose. As a photographer, I simply couldn't resist that feature! She's actually the first dog to fall asleep in the studio - during the session. She got so comfy on the little pink couch that she just fell asleep... it was pretty darn cute. We had a great time with her in the studio and can't wait to see her back when she's bigger.

Puppy love! | Dog Photographer Atlanta GA

2010-07-22T20:00:00.000-04:00

Let me introduce you to Bella. This sweet little bundle of joy is only 13 weeks old and full of all kinds of energy. I'm looking forward to photographing her through her first year and watching how she grows and changes. My dog, Lucy, is now 7, so she's relatively "boring" as my children like to remind me. She's pretty mellow... and is often referred to as a 'cat-dog' since she sleeps most of the day and enjoys a good blanket, pillow, or the back of the couch to curl up on. My kids got to meet little Miss Bella during our session and they couldn't believe how much energy she had. Oh, and sharp little puppy teeth, too :) The kids were able to wear Bella out pretty good - I think she slept well once we were done with her session. I think the biggest issue we had (other than attention span... hers, not mine), was the licking of the camera. When I photograph dogs, I typically get down on the ground, on the grass, on the cement to get the shot I want and the angle I want. Well, once Bella realized I had treats with me, she kept running from her spot over to me... and since I was on the ground, she would run over, lick the camera lens, and then attack me. It was pretty funny, I think. I don't know how many times I cleaned off that lens. That's okay, though... nothing better than a little puppy love.

Snips and snails and puppy dog tails | Newborn Photographer Forsyth County GA

2010-07-21T15:39:00.006-04:00

That's what little boys are made of. When we photograph a newborn baby, we really like to get them into the studio within the first two weeks. There's a very good reason for that, too. They sleep :) They're pretty easy to get to sleep, and they're pretty easy to keep asleep. This sweet little baby boy was such a trooper - we moved him around, changed what he was laying on, jostled him around, and kept his diaper off the entire time. Now, I usually keep an extra set of clothes in the studio for me, and generally recommend that mom & dad have an extra pair as well, since we usually photograph our newborns in the buff. And when a baby is in the buff, there's usually one thing you can count on... getting tinkled on (or worse). Well, we really lucked out with this baby boy... not only did he stay asleep the entire time, he never tinkled! Life is good.

Slobber, High Fives, and the Lake | Dog Photographer, Forsyth County GA

2010-07-15T10:00:00.000-04:00

Have I mentioned recently how much I love my job? Seriously. It's the BEST job in the world. This post is all about Rico. I've actually known Rico for a year or two now, but this was the first opportunity I had to photograph him. I absolutely love his expressive face, and he has the longest tongue on the face of the planet. He's a very sweet dog... from his slobbery welcome to his high fives (yes, this awesome dog gives high fives), he reminds me just how much I love my job. When my hubby saw me after the session and the first thing he asked was, "What's on your shirt?"

"Oh," I said, "dog slobber." All in a day's work, my friends.

I decided to grab one of our big chairs from the studio and take it outside for Rico's session. I knew we were headed to the lake, and I'd found an awesome wooden dock at one of the local parks (most of the docks around here are metal, which the dogs don't care for, so I was super excited to find a wooden one!) The chair worked out well, and Rico made himself comfy. On the way to the lake, Rico couldn't resist hanging out the window, so we captured that part of the joyride as well. Hope you enjoy these as much as I did.

Siberian Husky | Dog Photographer Forsyth County GA

2010-07-13T17:44:00.004-04:00

So, in all of my brilliance, I decided that it was time to take the photography outside. I absolutely love being in my studio, but sometimes it's nice to change the scenery (literally, in this case), and do something different. Of course, I decided to head outside in the dead heat of an Atlanta summer. Ninety-some-odd degrees and a lot of water later, and the result was actually some fun images that I were exactly what I was looking for in this campaign. Nena was the first of the doggie models that came out for our Outside Dogs campaign. She's a beautiful caramel Siberian Husky and probably one of the most laid-back dogs I've ever met. Her mom calls her a princess... and I think I would have to agree with her. But in a good way. Nena is an awesome dog and I'd photograph her again any day!

Goin' outside | Dog Photographer Forsyth County GA

2010-07-08T14:42:00.007-04:00

Wow. It's been a really long time since I updated the blog. Apparently time really does fly fast. June was a pretty crazy month, but we're back to work and... well, it's going to the dogs. Literally :) The studio actually specializes in portraits of children and dogs, but this month we're really focusing on creating some new, fun, creative portraits of dogs. How are we doing that, you might ask? Well, for starters, we're heading outside. Yep, you heard me right... outside! We absolutely love being in the studio (because it's air conditioned among other things!), but we decided it was time to add some fun outdoor images to our mix. A huge thank you to all of the volunteers who were willing to be doggie models for us. We'll be photographing those puppies over the next two weeks and I'm excited to see what we end up with. In the meantime, I decided to take my terribly pampered pooch outside for some play time... but of course, being in Atlanta in the summer, it was HOT! We still had fun, and tried to spend some extra time in the shade.

I don't typically shoot from this perspective, but I thought it was funny with that big curled tongue sticking out... oh, and I love the blue sky behind her.

We went out to Lake Lanier and captured some fun images. It was too hot to do much else, so Lucy crashed on the ground in her typical fashion.

I was experimenting with the bottom range of one of my lenses, looking for a slightly-distorted-big-head-look, and again with the tongue! Although, I have to admit that I kinda like it... it looks like she's smiling. We finally ended up with one that was tongue-less... but it took some patience.

We love those babies! | Child Photographer Cumming-Forsyth GA

2010-05-12T12:50:00.004-04:00

It's always a special honor when we get to play with newborn babies. It never ceases to amaze me how wonderfully snuggly and sweet they are. As with most of our subjects, it's all about patience, patience, patience. This little doll didn't want to sleep, but we waited him out and he finally zonked... and it was well worth it. Just a few sneak peeks for mom & dad...

Still Need a Mother's Day Gift? | Child & Dog Photographer Forsyth-Cumming GA

2010-04-19T17:34:00.008-04:00

That's right... Mother's Day is just around the corner. Have you gotten a gift for Mom yet? If not, we're here to help. For the next two weeks, we're offering a 25% Bonus Buy on gift cards - for every $100 you purchase in gift cards, we'll add another $25! Order gift cards now, schedule a session later. Already got a gift for Mom? That's okay too... if you're planning on having portraits made in the near future, it's a great time to take advantage of a 25% bonus... there's no limit, and no expiration date.

Call the studio at 770.888.3191 or shoot us an email at heather@smithphotodesign.com to order your gift cards. Chose from electronic delivery or traditional card delivery.

How can you resist that face? | Dog Photographer Forsyth-Cumming GA

2010-04-18T22:10:00.005-04:00

One of the primary goals on my list when I photograph dogs is to capture them with their mouth closed. Generally speaking, it's a more appealing image when the mouth is closed... generally speaking. On occasion, I get a dog (or two, in this case) that looks so happy, so completely content with a wagging tongue, that I can't help but photograph them that way. These two dogs - Avery and Stella - were so incredibly happy, so terribly pleased with themselves. Sometimes having multiple large dogs in the studio (and trying to capture them at the same time) can be a difficult challenge, but Avery and Stella were up for the adventure. It was a great way to spend a Friday evening! Here are a few of my favorites...

It's our Facebook 500 Fan Challenge!

2010-04-13T17:27:00.005-04:00

Our fanbase is growing... and it's all because of you, our loyal followers! Facebook has become one of the new and every increasing ways to stay in regular contact with our clients and fans, and we want to say thank you. Between now and May 15th, we'll add cash to a studio bucks jackpot for every fan that joins our Facebook page. If we reach our goal of 500 fans, one lucky fan will win a jackpot worth $1500!

Already a Fan of Smith Photography & Design's Facebook page? Well, if you refer someone, be sure to tell them to post something on our wall that YOU sent them! We'll add YOU to a special drawing for another $1500 studio package!

Check out the flyer for more details... and as always, call or email the studio if you have any questions!

Not a Fan yet? Fan us HERE to be entered into the jackpot drawing.

Jordan | Forsyth-Cumming Portrait Photographer

2010-04-13T13:43:00.002-04:00

Every once in a while I get the pleasure of photographing a high school senior. It's an honor to be trusted with this important rite of passage. For the senior, it marks the end of childhood, although most will tell you that childhood ended years earlier. It's such a joyous and sad occasion all rolled into one. Joyous for the senior, of course, and a bit sad, even melancholy for the parents. I've known Jordan since he was in middle school, so I've been able to watch him grow into a remarkable young man over the course of a few short years. Such a responsible and caring young man, with a heart of gold. We only photograph a few seniors a year, which makes it even more fun for me. I pulled just a few of my favorites from Jordan's session... hope you enjoy.

Four Grandchildren+1 Dog=Tons of Fun! | Forsyth County Child Photographer

2010-04-13T10:51:00.005-04:00

We do a vast majority of our sessions within the walls of our studio, so it's fun to venture out for a location session every now and again. This wonderful family came to the studio through our participation with Canine Assistants, a fabulous organization that trains service dogs and prepares them for life with children and adults with disabilities or other special needs. If you're interested in learning more about Canine Assistants, they can be found here: http://www.canineassistants.org/

Emerson, the beautiful Yellow Lab, was a student of Canine Assistants, with a wonderful personality, and sweet temperament. I'm not sure who had more fun... the kids or the dog... or me! Here are a few of my favorites from our time together!

Welcome back, baby E! | Forsyth-Cumming Baby Photographer

2010-03-24T13:07:00.003-04:00

This sweet baby girl has the greatest smile... and she uses it often! She's such a happy, joyous little girl, I just love to photograph her. Here are a few of my favorites!

More cute kids | Forsyth-Cumming Child Photographer

2010-03-23T13:51:00.003-04:00

I guess I'm a little biased, because I think they're all cute. Even when they're cranky... not that any of these kiddos were! Some more of my favorites from our Dress Me Up! mini sessions.

We have a ton of new Limited Edition mini sessions coming up... watch the Blog & Facebook for announcements soon on dates, times, and themes!

Oh, the kids are so darn cute! | Forsyth-Cumming Child Photographer

2010-03-22T11:49:00.002-04:00

We had such a great time in the studio last week. Our Dress Me Up sessions were a great success and the little munchkins who came in to play were so sweet and cute... and we ended up with some great images! Our marketing plan for 2010 includes some new colors, bright, vibrant sets, and lots of fun stuff for our kids to dress up in, so many thanks to our little mini models for helping us showcase some of those! I'm sure you'll probably see more of these little sweethearts in the future! Here are a few of our favorites... with more to come in the next few days!

Dress Me Up - Free Mini Sessions!!

2010-03-02T18:49:00.003-05:00

We're on a mission to photograph every prop and dress-up item we have in the studio and it's FREE for you! Here’s the deal... we have tons of stuff at the studio for our clients to use during sessions and we’ve just added some more! Bring your clean, happy babies or children and we’ll play dress up! The mini session is free, and we'll also give you a complimentary 8x10 of your favorite image. The images will be used for ads, magazine covers, the blog and our website. Fan us here on Facebook and you’ll be tagged as well.

We're looking for boys & girls ages newborn to 8 years old. We're also looking for more girls ages 5 months (or sitting up) to 4 years.

Call or email the studio to reserve your time!

***BRING A FRIEND AND YOU'LL BOTH GET A $50 GIFT CARD!***

A Pair of Schnauzers

2010-01-30T21:14:00.007-05:00

I truly believe that I have an amazing job. I have the opportunity to meet some of the most amazing people every day. Today I got to meet a really special family from Woodstock, who brought their two beautiful Schnauzers to the studio for portraits. And let me say, for the record, that I work with a LOT of dogs, and these two animals were the most well behaved dogs I've had in the studio for quite some time. They were respectful, very responsive, and very gentle in everything they did. Sometimes we get the bull-in-the-china-shop, and sometimes we get dogs like this. They did pretty much anything we asked them to, and we ended up with some very special images. So, mom & dad... here's a sneak peek for you... but only a peek! I have more to show you later!

This is, technically, probably a blooper-reel candidate, but I chuckle every time I look at it, so I had to include it here on the blog.

Sweet Baby! | Child Photographer Forsyth County

2009-12-16T10:41:00.005-05:00

Oh, sweet baby girl! This is the second time this little sweet pea has been in to see us. She came in for her newborn session about 6 months ago and let's just say she made us work for it. Fortunately, she's too young to remember some of the challenges we had... because she had a blast this time! It's so fun to have these babies in the studio because I get to see them grow and develop such fun little personalities. Sharing some of my personal favorites from this session.... I'm still shocked that she let us try so many different things. She was quite the trooper. Grandma... the tutu image is for you!

It's Family Time | Family photographer

2009-11-23T11:22:00.003-05:00

As Christmas fast approaches, it's always the time of year when families finally decide to have a portrait done. It's the perfect gift, of course, because grandparents want to see not only their children, but most definitely their grandchildren captured in portraits. I love this time of year because people are actually excited about family portraits! This is one of my favorite families - I've known them for years and have had the opportunity to photograph them before. Such a sweet family with absolutely wonderful kids! Thanks for trusting me to be your photographer again!

Don't Give Me Those Puppy Dog Eyes | Dog photographer

2009-11-23T10:27:00.003-05:00

Meet Lucy. I love Lucy for many reasons, not the least of which being that she has the same name as my beloved pooch. Lucy is a Bassett Hound, and one of the most notable features of any Bassett Hound, aside from their floppy ears, are their huge brown puppy dog eyes. Lucy does not disappoint! She really was just an absolute doll to have in the studio.

Oh, baby! | Child Photographer

2009-11-23T10:23:00.007-05:00

This sweet little baby girl came to visit the studio last week and boy was she a cutie! She was actually one of our baby models for some clothing designs for www.cutebydesign.com, and came to visit us as a newborn. We were very excited to have her back now that she's 6 months old. She's become a thumb-sucker now, which I think is incredibly cute. Here are a few of my favorites from her session.