He is all smiles and laughs celebrating his 1st birthday!!
Thursday, August 13, 2015
Sarah J Photography || Nolan Duncan
What can I say about this little boy? He just had my heart. He was so full of life and smiles. He just melted my heart with his personality. Earlier this year I photographed his sister Caroline and fell in love with both of them! I went to school with their mother and it was so great to see her again. Her and I share a special bond through our children.
He is all smiles and laughs celebrating his 1st birthday!!
He is all smiles and laughs celebrating his 1st birthday!!
Sarah J Photography || Williamson Wedding || Newnan, Ga
Back in March, I had the great pleasure of photographing Robert and Ashley Williamson's wedding in downtown historic Newnan, Ga. I felt honored to get to capture this special day for both Ashley and Robert as well as both of their families.
Monday, February 9, 2015
My new adventure!
I am so excited to share with you guys about my new adventure in photography. For some years now, I have struggled in which direction I wanted to take my photography. I photographed whatever and whomever I could but still felt like it wasn't what I wanted to portray with my art. For years now I have been trying to work on my craft while trying to juggle being a mother of a brain tumor child and a single wife most of the time. My husband travels weeks at a time so most of my time is spent with my 3 children.
Over 2014, I grew so much as a photographer. I worked with other talented photographers and learned so much. I took chances on sessions that I thought might be in over my head just so I could learn. While I enjoyed every opportunity to grow and learn, I still felt like it wasn't right. I wasn't meant to do traditional as I call it photography.
Growing up my childhood was full of chaos as I am a sufferer of GAD or panic disorder. I spent years battling my emotions and my own self to find peace. I spent most of my teen years in a deep and dark place. I must say now looking back on it, it was a blessing in disguise. It allowed me to see that darker part of life. To see it's beauty and see it's rawness. To see that even though life can be beautiful that it's darker side can have just as much appeal. To be able to portray that in a photograph is so amazing to me. To be that vulnerable and open yourself up. To step out of the box called comfort. To challenge yourself to reach down inside yourself to find what you have been shielding. Whether it be expressing sexuality, rejection, love and so on.
At 25 years old, my life became somewhat of a circus. My youngest daughter was diagnosed at 5 months with a rare brain tumor. Back and forth to doctors, hospitals and chemotherapy became my new lifestyle for the past six years. Spending more time cleaning up throw up, bribing my child to eat, chemo and surgeries while trying to be a mother to two other children and a decent wife to my husband. My life became so consumed by this new "lifestyle" that I forgot who I was. What I enjoyed. Photography, music and the joy of life was sucked out of me. My camera sat in the bag for months at a time without being touched. Collecting dust and missing out on memories. Once again I found myself in a dark place in my life. Experiencing things that I never dreamt that I would ever have to do. Making decisions that were heartbreaking and frankly not the position I wanted to be in . From time to time I'd take a photo here and there but overall I had lost my drive.
This went on for years. So in the early part of 2014 while visiting St. Jude, I decided I wanted to photograph again. I wanted to get that same feeling I had had before every time I picked up my camera. I wanted to move forward again. No more being stuck with the label that I am just a "cancer" mom and that's all I will ever be known as. I wanted to be a successful photographer and I was determined to get there. While in Memphis at St. Jude I purchased a Canon 5D Mark iii. Having no idea how to use it, I took a risk. Best decision I have ever made.
So throughout the year I photographed and learned how to work my camera. I had a great mentor, Shauna Veasey, who taught me so much and encourage me to always keep going. To challenge myself and never get discouraged. Many times I would question whether I was capable of having a successful chance at photography and she would always remind me that it was coming one day. She allowed me to practice on her and give me directions on how to make a photo exactly what I had envisioned it in my mind. But I still felt like I was lacking the ability to truly showcase what was in my mind. I did many photo shoots just to get the practice but it wasn't really where my heart was. I did enjoy my sessions and my clients but I felt this isn't my style.
While my daughter was in Jacksonville, Florida for Proton radiation treatment, I decided to pick up my camera photograph what I could while we were there for six weeks. To my surprised, I photographed so many touching moments that I am thankful for.
I was so excited to see what more I could do, I decided I wanted to donate my time to these families that we had become almost family with and photograph them. To be able to give them the gift of a memory where they could see a smile in such a disheartening situation. I took so many pictures of these wonderful families. Made such loving bonds that are priceless. My camera had allowed me to gain beautiful friendships and put a smile on their faces.. What an amazing gift they gave me to allow me to do that for them. I know that God put them in my life to help me heal and let me breathe again. They helped me more than they will ever know about getting myself back. Here are a few examples of the awesome families who allowed me into their lives and their stories.
So in 2015, I decided I was going to start healing myself after six years of hardship and depression.
So I decided to branch out do what I love to do and in the style that I feel is best to express myself. I found out that all this time I was in awe of dramatic photography. I loved the darkness but simplicity of it. The raw emotions of the soul. Life isn't always happy and I wanted to portray that. I wanted my photos to be something that could be appreciated in a different light. To allow the person I am photographing to look at themselves deeper and love what they saw. Exactly how I am trying to do with my own self. I truly enjoy this type of photography and I hope others will see the beauty of it and allow me to capture them in the raw. To trust and love themselves. So excited to share my new journey with my new style with everyone!
XOXO,
Sarah
Over 2014, I grew so much as a photographer. I worked with other talented photographers and learned so much. I took chances on sessions that I thought might be in over my head just so I could learn. While I enjoyed every opportunity to grow and learn, I still felt like it wasn't right. I wasn't meant to do traditional as I call it photography.
Growing up my childhood was full of chaos as I am a sufferer of GAD or panic disorder. I spent years battling my emotions and my own self to find peace. I spent most of my teen years in a deep and dark place. I must say now looking back on it, it was a blessing in disguise. It allowed me to see that darker part of life. To see it's beauty and see it's rawness. To see that even though life can be beautiful that it's darker side can have just as much appeal. To be able to portray that in a photograph is so amazing to me. To be that vulnerable and open yourself up. To step out of the box called comfort. To challenge yourself to reach down inside yourself to find what you have been shielding. Whether it be expressing sexuality, rejection, love and so on.
At 25 years old, my life became somewhat of a circus. My youngest daughter was diagnosed at 5 months with a rare brain tumor. Back and forth to doctors, hospitals and chemotherapy became my new lifestyle for the past six years. Spending more time cleaning up throw up, bribing my child to eat, chemo and surgeries while trying to be a mother to two other children and a decent wife to my husband. My life became so consumed by this new "lifestyle" that I forgot who I was. What I enjoyed. Photography, music and the joy of life was sucked out of me. My camera sat in the bag for months at a time without being touched. Collecting dust and missing out on memories. Once again I found myself in a dark place in my life. Experiencing things that I never dreamt that I would ever have to do. Making decisions that were heartbreaking and frankly not the position I wanted to be in . From time to time I'd take a photo here and there but overall I had lost my drive.
This went on for years. So in the early part of 2014 while visiting St. Jude, I decided I wanted to photograph again. I wanted to get that same feeling I had had before every time I picked up my camera. I wanted to move forward again. No more being stuck with the label that I am just a "cancer" mom and that's all I will ever be known as. I wanted to be a successful photographer and I was determined to get there. While in Memphis at St. Jude I purchased a Canon 5D Mark iii. Having no idea how to use it, I took a risk. Best decision I have ever made.
So throughout the year I photographed and learned how to work my camera. I had a great mentor, Shauna Veasey, who taught me so much and encourage me to always keep going. To challenge myself and never get discouraged. Many times I would question whether I was capable of having a successful chance at photography and she would always remind me that it was coming one day. She allowed me to practice on her and give me directions on how to make a photo exactly what I had envisioned it in my mind. But I still felt like I was lacking the ability to truly showcase what was in my mind. I did many photo shoots just to get the practice but it wasn't really where my heart was. I did enjoy my sessions and my clients but I felt this isn't my style.
While my daughter was in Jacksonville, Florida for Proton radiation treatment, I decided to pick up my camera photograph what I could while we were there for six weeks. To my surprised, I photographed so many touching moments that I am thankful for.
I was so excited to see what more I could do, I decided I wanted to donate my time to these families that we had become almost family with and photograph them. To be able to give them the gift of a memory where they could see a smile in such a disheartening situation. I took so many pictures of these wonderful families. Made such loving bonds that are priceless. My camera had allowed me to gain beautiful friendships and put a smile on their faces.. What an amazing gift they gave me to allow me to do that for them. I know that God put them in my life to help me heal and let me breathe again. They helped me more than they will ever know about getting myself back. Here are a few examples of the awesome families who allowed me into their lives and their stories.
So in 2015, I decided I was going to start healing myself after six years of hardship and depression.
So I decided to branch out do what I love to do and in the style that I feel is best to express myself. I found out that all this time I was in awe of dramatic photography. I loved the darkness but simplicity of it. The raw emotions of the soul. Life isn't always happy and I wanted to portray that. I wanted my photos to be something that could be appreciated in a different light. To allow the person I am photographing to look at themselves deeper and love what they saw. Exactly how I am trying to do with my own self. I truly enjoy this type of photography and I hope others will see the beauty of it and allow me to capture them in the raw. To trust and love themselves. So excited to share my new journey with my new style with everyone!
XOXO,
Sarah
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