Angela Blake Photography - The Blog

The "T" Family | Gadsden, AL Family Photographer

2010-05-23T16:39:00.002-05:00

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of photographing this beautiful family.

Their precious little girl had just turned 1 month old... and as most new parents,
they had not had the time to have photos made all together as a family.

It was such a joy to spend time with them and capture these new memories for them. :)

Wall Design Ideas | Alabama Custom Portrait Photography

2010-05-18T20:28:00.000-05:00

So often people are afraid to purchase large wall portraits because they are not sure how they will look on their walls, or they are concerned if they will have enough space or not.

So, they turn to ordering the classic 8x10 and 5x7 gift sized prints for their own homes. These images will eventually be rotated out of their frames and put into a box or album (or even worse, the old photo will just remain behind the newer photo in the frame). No one sees the previous photograph anymore.

What if you could preserve those memories in a place where everyone that visit's your home could see them? You could create your own wall of highly personal art, that will grow with you through the years. You will be able to add to it piece by piece.

"But I am not sure how to place all the images, or if I will even have room?", you may think.

That's where I come in...

When the proofs are ready, all of my clients will receive a special link with many wall portrait design ideas on them. All of the portrait sizes are also listed with the design to make it easy to plan that work of art. :)

You can order your chosen design piece by piece adding to it over the years, or you can order all of the pieces at once.

Here is a sneak peek of the display ideas available exclusively to my clients. :)

Lil' Bro' | Alabama Children's Photographer

2010-05-13T20:12:00.001-05:00

Last weekend my little brother was in his first band concert (he plays saxophone). :) So, I brought my camera to record those precious memories. Well, come to find out, he was well over due for some pictures.

The next day we had a quick impromptu mini-session. It was so much fun. I got to hang out with my lil' bro', and I was able to give my mom some new and updated photos of the little rugrat. (of course, he would probably be mad at me for calling him that, since he is a big 6th grader now. :) )

Anyhow, on to the photos...

I loved being able to capture his spirit of just being a kid.... jumping and laughing!

Awww!! - Puppies!

2010-05-09T20:49:00.000-05:00

So, this past week I took a little trip up to visit my family and they had sooo many new animals.... puppies, kittens, and then all of the grown-up animals as well. I just couldn't resist taking a few photos of the cuteness.

Here are a few of the doggie and puppy photos... I hope they brighten your day!

Also, I have the kitten photos to post later this week, just to make you say AWWWW!!!!

Who can resist furry little baby critters?

------------------

I have a few shoots to edit this week....

So, keep a look out because I will be posting a mini-session with my little brother and a beautiful family session with their precious new little baby girl!

------------------

Also, don't forget about the Spring Special - May Mini Sessions!

This is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the great weather and update your photos!!!

MODEL SESSION | Alabama Fashion & Beauty Photographer

2010-05-05T17:59:00.000-05:00

I had the pleasure of shooting with a great little model a few weekends ago. It was so fun to get back to the creative roots of model portfolios and fashion/beauty photography. I love all types of photography, but who else can you convince to let you use their hair as a collar or to let you splatter make-up all over their face and the let you photograph it. All the while, I just tell the model... "Trust me! I know it sounds crazy, but it will all come together!", LOL!

It was a blast, and we had a great time getting creative. Here are some of the finished images from that shoot.

MAY SPECIAL!! | Alabama Custom Photographer

2010-05-03T15:37:00.000-05:00

Love is in the air | Alabama Engagement Photographer

2010-04-26T15:51:00.001-05:00

The weekend before last, I had the pleasure of shooting this couples engagement photos.

The weather was perfect and love was in the air. They are definitely looking forward to their upcoming spring wedding in May. I am so glad that I could be a part of helping them preserve the memories of their engagement.

Here are the highlights from that day...

I love this shot...Such a tender moment!

PROM PHOTOS PT. 3| ALABAMA SENIOR PORTAIT PHOTOGRAPHER

2010-04-20T19:43:00.001-05:00

Here is the last of the prom sessions for the season! Wow, the dresses they have now are just so amazing.

I don't remember those types of dresses when I went to prom, LOL!

PROM PHOTOS PT. 2| ALABAMA SENIOR PORTAIT PHOTOGRAPHER

2010-04-18T13:51:00.000-05:00

Here is the second part of the 3 part Prom series! This couple just photographed beautifully.

The colors, the clothes, the couple...everything just worked together perfectly.

Fun in the Field | Alabama Family Portrait Photographer

2010-04-11T18:22:00.001-05:00

You may recognize these cute children from a few previous posts. They belong to my dear friend Beth. We recently got together to shoot some new family portraits for her home... and I wanted to try out a new fabulous location. The weather was finally warm enough, the lighting was perfect, and it all fell into place perfectly.

We had a great time shooting!

When we left the field, we were covered in pollen, though.

(hey, sometimes you have to make sacrifices for the perfect shot... LOL!!!)

Prom Photos Pt. 1 | Alabama Senior Portait Photographer

2010-04-08T18:57:00.000-05:00

Here is part 1 of the Prom Series...

So, this cool group of teens wanted something a little different that your average prom photos .

So, I met with Ashleigh and her date and we went to several different locations to capture the memories of her first prom. I have known her since she was much smaller... and to see her grow up like this is awesome!

I am so glad I could be there that day!

Seeing all of these beautiful gowns made me wish I was back in high school...

or at least had somewhere to wear a formal gown. hehe!

The Big 1yr Birthday Party | Alabama Children's Photographer

2010-04-06T18:04:00.003-05:00

Last weekend Miss Finley had her big 1 year birthday party -- cowgirl style!

The cake and decorations were cute as can be, but not as cute as the little birthday girl herself.

She was a little apprehensive about smashing her cake, but after a few minutes (and the strategic removal of the fondant icing) she dove in and started to make a little mess!

Here are some of the photos from the event...

When else can playing in your birthday cake look so adorable?

Happy Easter! | Alabama Children's Photographer

2010-04-04T20:04:00.001-05:00

I hope everyone had a lovely Easter holiday!

The weather was just so beautiful this weekend and perfect for photos.

Spring is definitely in the air!

Here are some photos to kick of the Spring Season.

I just love the bright colors and their adorable faces!

I have several sessions that will be posted soon.

(The prom ones will be coming in a week or so...)

~Angie

I Heart Faces - Dramatic B&W | Photo Contest

2010-03-28T22:58:00.002-05:00

This week's contest at I Heart Faces is Dramatic Black and White.
When this genre came up, I only had one photo in mind.

This image is one of my favorites from a past model shoot.
It just embodies old Hollywood glamour, and what is more dramatic than that?

Make sure to head on over the I Heart Faces website, to take a look at the other fabulous entries!

------------------------------------------------

Also, keep an eye out very soon... I have several new photos to post as soon as I finish editing all of them!

Back at it... organizing and photos | GADSDEN, AL PHOTOGRAPHER

2010-03-16T20:56:00.000-05:00

So, it has been a little while since my last post. Things have been rather hectic and busy around here, and I haven't had the chance to keep up with my blog as much as I have wanted.

I have been working, attempting to "work-out" (but I noticed I will find every excuse not to go, hehe), and I have been working at getting the business side of the photography business re-organized. I found the most awesome studio management software, so I have a great start on getting all of that nice and organized with this new program. It will take some time to get everything completely swapped over, but it will be so worth it.

Last weekend I met with one of my close friends (who recently purchased a new camera) to show her some pointers and have a mini-class on photography. She brought 2 of her children as little models (who are just too adorable for words and sweet as pie). Sounds like the perfect setting, right? Wrong!

It had been raining here the entire week before and on the day we met it was so overcast, dreary, and started to sprinkle. We went ahead and met, but it was SO cold outside that we had a very brief session.

Never-the-less, we had a great time as always (while we were all shivering, LOL),

I got some cute shots of the kids. I can't wait to see the photos that she took.

Here are a few of my favorite shots:

_______________________________

Spring is almost here and it will be the perfect time to shoot.
If you are interested in booking a shoot, please email me anytime. :)

Product Samples | Gadsden, AL photographer

2010-02-17T19:47:00.002-06:00

So, this past week I have been ordering and updating product samples and taking photos of them for the website. The quality is amazing and each item looks so great in person. The photographs of the products don't do them justice. Of course, the samples will be brought to every in-person ordering session, so that you can touch and see every detail.

These products will look amazing personalized with your images and custom designed just for you!!

Now, on to the products...

Here is the 4x6 custom image box with magnetic closure. Your custom design will wrap across the entire cover. All clients ordering this product will be able to choose the colors, number of images, and text. It is such a great way to display and store the proofs from your session.

The little item below is the deluxe custom CD case. Your custom design will be wrapped around the entire cover of the case. All clients ordering this product will be able to choose the colors, number of images, and text. The case also has a magnetic closure to keep your disc secure.

The luxurious item below is the fine art album with lay-flat pages. Each album comes with 10 pages (20 sides), but more can be added for an additional charge. The press printed pages are thick, high quality, and lay completely flat, so that the images are not distorted by the binding. Pages can be ordered with a matte or pearl finish. The high quality hardback cover is completely customizable to your preferences.

These albums are truly spectacular.

Photography Website and Snow | Gadsden, Alabama

2010-02-12T23:34:00.000-06:00

The first bit of exciting news is that the website is now live at http://www.angelablakephotography.com. I have been working quite a bit the past week on getting everything prepared for the launch of the new site. Of course, I will keep it updated with new photos and new information/changes/etc... I have some other things that I am working on, so make sure to keep an eye out.

So, we had a nice little surprise today... 3-4 inches of snow!!! That is more snow than we have seen in a long time. We took our pups out to play in it, and they loved it. They have never seen snow like that (especially our littlest baby, as it is her very first snow) Of course, their little outing would not be complete with out a few photos.

another change...

2010-02-06T22:54:00.000-06:00

So, you may have noticed yet another change to the look of the blog.

This "should" be the last major change in the style for a while.

Lately, I have been working on different designs and branding, and I think I have finally settled on one...

Coming up with a cohesive design that would fit all different genres of photography and still adhering to my personal style was a lot harder than I had anticipated.

(a special thanks to all those that helped me decide. :-) )

Little newborn boy...

2010-01-28T21:58:00.002-06:00

This little guy was so fresh that he had not even been named yet... He just melted the heart of everyone in the room and was the perfect little model.

Here are the photos from the final model (from the "Be Inspired" workshop).

8 month old, L.

2010-01-26T21:40:00.005-06:00

Little L. was so very cute and never stayed in one spot too long. :) She had no real interest in the camera while we were taking turns trying to capture photos of her, but the camera absolutely loves her... just look at her adorable face!

Here is the 2nd set of model photos taken at Heather Rivlin's workshop.

Newborn - D...

2010-01-25T16:56:00.004-06:00

As I mentioned, last weekend I had the pleasure of attending Heather Rivlin's "Be Inspired" workshop in Toronto. I had such an amazing time, and Heather was such a gracious host. She shared her studio and a wealth of knowledge with everyone.
As a photographer (or with any anything in life), it is always great to learn new things, challenge yourself, and keep yourself current on your craft.

Here are a few of the photos taken of the sweet 5 day old model, "D".

We had 2 other models at the workshop, so stay tuned.... more images to come later!

Photos with my sis...

2010-01-24T22:35:00.002-06:00

So, here we are 2010...

Things have been so busy lately that I haven't been doing a much shooting as I would like. So, I jumped at the chance to take photos of my little sister. Together we scouted out some new locations and came up with some creative ideas. It was a lot of fun to just get to hang out and do what I love to do [take photos!!]

Here are some of the images we took:

I had the wonderful opportunity to go to a great workshop last weekend in Toronto. I had the pleasure of taking photos of 2 fresh, little newborns (only days old) and a little 8 month old girl.
Those images will be up soon, as soon as I finish editing all of them :)

Catching up and getting better...

2009-12-30T15:19:00.001-06:00

So, I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! We had a great holiday (minus that my husband was sick, and now I am sick too). Never-the-less, it was so great to see all of our friends and family. We are all spread out and we do not get together as much as we all would like, so it is always special to spend the holidays with everyone.

Not to much in the way of photographs lately, but in January, I will be attending a photography workshop in Canada with my husband and best friends... So, hopefully I will have many photos to share. :) Looking forward to it so much.

...now I am off to rest and get over this bronchitis.

~Angie

Here is a photo of Brandy (about to beg for cheese). 12-30-2009

Our Family Christmas Portraits....

2009-12-04T22:02:00.002-06:00

Here is this year's christmas portrait (courtesy of my tripod and trusty remote) ;-)
We were going to attempt to include our furry little babies in the photo, but they wouldn't look at the camera. So, we decided to do one of just us, and I did individual portraits of the fur-babies (located on the right hand side of the page).
They were not the slightest bit interested in having their photo made, but I made do and managed to get at least 1 decent shot of each of them.

New Season, New Look....

2009-12-04T20:04:00.003-06:00

Well, it is that time of year. I just love Christmas!!! The whole christmas season (the lights, the music, the smells, the food, friends and family) is just amazing.

I decided to update the look of the blog for new season. I am not completely sold on the new layout (as it is REALLY white), so I may change it up again later.... But for now it will do.

Sorry for the lack of posts... I have been slacking. I don't really have much to post in the area of photos (the holiday season is always so very busy personally), but we will be taking Christmas photos of our family soon... so I will definitely post those here! I am also in the process switching the tone/content of my blog over to more personal projects...

Photos from Honeymoon in Europe...

2009-10-24T15:21:00.001-05:00

Here are a few photos from our honeymoon. We visited Paris, Rome, and Venice.

PARIS:

  We arrived at 6am and since our room was not ready yet, we dropped off our luggage and wondered around like vagabonds. Once we were able to get checked in, we hit the town refreshed and ready to go. The hardest part about Paris was the food. Most of the menus were exclusively in French (which is to be expected), but it made it hard to know what to eat. Luckily, we are not picky and it all turned out fine. The best place we ate, which I highly recommend is Peperoni (83, Avenue Wagram , 75017 Paris)
   We did a whole lot of walking, but once we conquered the metro.... it made life ALOT easier. We also took the train out to the Palace of Versailles. That place was amazing, but such an obscene proclamation of wealth. It was unreal.
   There was tons of shopping on Champs Elysees... and of course the Eiffel Tower, and Arche de Triomphe were just beautiful.

ROME:

  We took the night train to Rome, and that was HORRIBLE. The sleeping car was itty-bitty and not what we had in mind. We were scheduled to have dinner at 9:30 in the dining car, but that was delayed until 11:00pm. By then, they were almost out of food, so we didn't get our entire meal and it was cold, and we still had to pay full price for it (which was about 80 euros). To top it off, we were 4 hours late arriving!!!
   Once we got to Rome, we checked in, ate lunch and hit the town. Rome was much easier to navigate for food as many Italians also speak English. The coliseum, roman ruins, Vatican City, etc.. were awesome. The most fun was the scooter tour with Annie of Scooteroma. We scootered all over Rome like a local.
If anyone is visiting Rome, I would definitely recommend her. She is from the US, but lives in Italy. She can show you all the sites, or recommend/ set-up other tours, and she even recommended restaurants in Rome and Venice for us to eat at..... and they all were wonderful.

Scooteroma on facebook : http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=93099935989&ref=ts

Annie's official website: http://www.romeandtuscanytours.com/

VENICE:

The train ride to Venice was MUCH nicer. We arrived in Venice and just got lost in the city. It was a great way to wrap up the trip. We just wandered around looking at every thing and it was a much slower paced environment. There were no cars, only boats that brought everything in to the town (including us).
We got to feed the pigeons in St. Marks Square.... until we were reprimanded by the local police, who informed only us (not the other dozen people doing the same thing) that it was illegal and it was a 50euro fine. They didn't make us pay, but we did stop. GRRR.... it was fun though!

Anyhow, The trip was a blast... though confusing at first, but we managed to get around just fine. It was the perfect honeymoon.

~Angie

Honeymoon in Paris.... and Rome and Venice!

2009-10-13T17:53:00.000-05:00

I am currently enjoying a lovely honeymoon in Paris right now, so I will be posting tons of photos when we get back!

The language barrier was confusing at first, but you learn how to work around that.

The Eiffel Tower, Arche du Triomphe, and Notre Dame were amazing...

Tomorrow we are visiting the Louvre and Palace of Versailles... and then shopping on Champs Elysees!!!

Later this week will be heading over to Rome and Venice, Italy!!! It is starting out to be such a wonderful, romantic, and adventurous trip, and such a great way to start out our marriage.

So, check back in a couple of weeks for photos from the trip and some from a children's photoshoot we shot shortly before I left.

Au Revoir,
Angie

A fall union....

2009-10-05T22:46:00.004-05:00

A dear friend from high school just got married yesterday (Oct 4.). It was so special to be able to share her special day. Here are some of the photos from the ceremony/reception.

The fall colors were so lovely and bright and photographed beautifully....

Weddings are definitely a challenge to photograph (as you only have one shot to get it right and they can be unpredictable, but they are so worth it!

The wedding atmosphere definitely added to my excitement of our (mine and Greg's) upcoming big day. We can not wait!!!

~Angie

Kix's newborn photos....

2009-09-27T11:06:00.002-05:00

This little guy was so much fun to photograph. He did not like the little hats much, but he was so cute that it didn't matter.

Here are some images from his shoot...

~Angie

Melissa's Family photoshoot

2009-09-26T20:54:00.005-05:00

Today I got the privilege of getting to take photos of my friend Melissa's children today. Melissa and I were absolute best friends through out high school, and it has been about 4 years since we have seen each other. It was a great little reunion and productive day. We got some great shots of her precious children!

I hope you enjoy the preview...

Looking forward to this weekend's shoot...

2009-09-21T17:07:00.004-05:00

So, the shoot we had scheduled for last weekend got canceled, but I am excited about this weekend's upcoming shoot. My best friend from high school, who i have not seen in years, is coming this weekend with her 2 children (4yr old and a newborn) for some photos.

Catching up with old friends and photography.... What better way to spend the day. :)

~Angie

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Abstract photo composite taken yesterday of a cherry blossom arrangement.

Tips for looking your best while being photographed.

2009-09-19T22:25:00.003-05:00

I found these tips on the internet and there was no credit associated with the article; however, I felt like the tips were very good advice and wanted to share them with you.

1.) It is important to look natural. Even though you are posing for a picture, try not to pose to much. The more natural you are, the better the picture will be.

2.) Don't face the camera straight on. Turn your body slightly to the side by putting one leg in front of the other. Hold your head up high and straight.
3.) It is important to smile! Don't force it though, remember to look natural. ( Try pushing your tongue against the back of your top teeth.)

4.) Keep your eyes open and don't stare directly at the camera. If you stare directly at the camera your photo may have redeye. Instead, look at a spot that is just slightly above the camera.
5.) RELAX! This goes back to step one... Remember to be natural, take a deep breath and relax.

Pet Photo Alert!!

2009-09-11T18:57:00.000-05:00

I was just wasting time this afternoon taking photos of one of my pups, Brandy. She is such a little ham for the camera (most of the time). :)

Beach Trip

2009-09-08T21:01:00.001-05:00

We took a family beach trip to Florida back in June...

Here are some cute photos of my soon-to-be nieces and nephew that were just too cute not to share.

Senior Photos

2009-09-08T20:56:00.003-05:00

Here are samples from 2 recent Senior Shoots

Rachel (my beautiful little sister) and Justyn

Engagements and weddings...

2009-09-08T20:40:00.004-05:00

Engagement and Wedding photos - 2009

Family Portraits, Maternity, Babies, and Children

2009-09-08T20:22:00.002-05:00

Here are some samples of family moments and memories....

Fashion Photoshoots from the past... (circa 2006-2007)

2009-09-08T19:47:00.002-05:00

Here are a few favorites from the modeling portfolio archives...

Getting started....

2009-09-08T18:50:00.003-05:00

So, I have a lot of my work posted on Facebook, Myspace, and our official website.... However, I feel that posting in a blog might be more interesting (because I know I spend quite a bit of time looking through other photography blogs)

It not only showcases the work itself, but it also shows a bit of the photographer's personality, ideas, and creativity.

Well, to start things off.... let me tell you a little bit about me.

I live in Alabama and I am getting married in October this year!!! :) It is a very exciting time!

I have always been interested in photography and in 2006 I started modeling. Well, I decided then, that I would much rather be on the other side of the camera... so, I started my photographic journey. For the most part, I was spending my time shooting modeling portfolios, which I absolutely love because creativity was key and you could do some outrageous things.

Later towards the end of 2008, my best friend (Laura) and I decided to partner together in the photography business) Now, we predominately shoot children and seniors (and a wedding here and there). Being part of creating a family's memories to cherish forever is an amazing experience, and I am so glad to be able to share those moments.

So, please check back often... I will be posting some of my older work, new works, and even personal projects and photographs.