Wedding and Portrait Photography in Atlanta GA Candace Marie Photography: Blog

Biased Much?

Thu, 28 May 2015 01:25:10 GMT

Sometimes I can't tell if I truly love our images because I think they're great images, or if it's because by the time I've completed all that it takes to get to that final edit of an image we've spent so much time with the subject in that image - maybe we've fallen in love with that couple just as much as we've fallen in love with the actual moment we've captured.

With how we do things now - possibly meeting our couples up to 3 times before the wedding (including engagement session/ordering) and then spending so many hours with the couple the day of the wedding; sometimes friending through social media and following them through all their wedding preparations... I feel like I've known the couple for years! The couple is no longer just a client but a friend.

So I'm in love with this couple from this past fall... and love all their images from their wedding day, engagement session and her boudoir session!!! Their wedding is being featured in this spring's edition of Atlanta's Perfect Wedding Guide which I just received in the mail!

Krista and David have such fun and hilarious personalities that their sessions did not seem like work!

Their wedding took place at Willow Creek Falls in Blue Ridge, GA

For all of the pictures from their wedding day go to http://www.foreverylife.com/davidandkrista

Luke's 1st Year

Thu, 21 May 2015 21:11:40 GMT

I've had the privilege of watching Luke grow over this past year, doing his 3, 9 & 12 months sessions as long as being there for his first birthday! It was a Mickey Mouse themed event at the East Cobb Park in Marietta, GA. His mother Brandy got her cute Mickey themed favors and decor from Etsy, the cake was made by The Cakes Truffle, and they rented the hot dog cart from Chrisally Events and Party Rentals and they had Miss Zooey's Face Painting and Balloons.

So Proud!

Thu, 11 Dec 2014 05:20:32 GMT

Excuse me for a minute while I just gush with pride over a few things...

I'm feeling so blessed and so very thankful for so many things, but right now I'm so thankful and blessed beyond belief to be able to call this angel baby mine! Not that long ago I wasn't sure that I would be able to have any more kids and now I have 2 under the age of 2! Oops... :D

I also just found out that one of our weddings from last year was featured on Rustic Wedding Chic.com - My first published feature!

Last but not least, I'm extremely thankful for my assistants Renee and Ben for being able to pick up the slack for me while I recover, shooting some fun events, weddings and fall and christmas portraits - taking such good care of our clients!

My New Philosophy

Wed, 05 Nov 2014 05:50:00 GMT

I'm going to be transparent about a huge leap I'm making. My price adjustments may come as a shock to past clients, but there has been a breaking point in my life and something has got to change:)

I've been reading and researching mentors and other professionals and it's become very apparent to me that I've been going about this all wrong. I've been contributing to the notion that photography, art and services should cost next to nothing. And for years I've been doing this!

I'm tired of missing monumental moments with my kids. Missing milestones that I should be capturing and printing... And framing or putting in albums. I've become what I don't want my clients to be: file hoarders. We hoard our thousands of files, not "art", on discs and hard drives- to be stored away and never to be seen again.

I'm changing my business model to assist my clients in ordering their art, so they're hanging them on walls and placing them on coffee tables, to become the works of art that they were meant to be. And in turn making more time to print out my own family milestones that have just been stored away and forgotten! As you can tell, I'm more guilty of this than anyone.

My family is beautiful... And growing. They are my art. So is yours. Let's showcase this beautiful art proudly!

I want to get back to loving the art of photography, and not getting engulfed in the "have to's" of the business side. I'm switching to a business model that has proven to work best for me and my family, instead of what works for the masses. I should be able to upgrade my equipment to offer amazing images. These changes will also allow me to provide unbeatable customer service to the clients that will choose me, not letting things slip through the cracks and not getting caught up on "how many" sessions/weddings, but how well I serve the ones I do have.

That's what really matters.

~Candace Armstrong

Assistant Bragging Rights

Fri, 07 Mar 2014 02:53:15 GMT

Have I mentioned how much I love my assistants?? Because I flippin' love them. Renee and Ben are so talented, most of the time they get shots that I love so much... that I think I might like their work better than mine...

Not sure if that's a good thing or not!

Culling through the images that first day after a huge event - yeah, it's really a love/hate thing. It's the most time consuming step in the post processing, but I love looking through Renee and Ben's shots for the first time, and seeing the event through someone else's eyes. It's truly captivating how two people can be at the same event and view it so differently.

#myassistantsarebetterthanyours ;)

Wedding photography by Renee Youngblood Rose Hall Events in Dallas, Georgia

This shot of Bernedette is my favorite of the whole day. Her lashes, the bokeh in the background, the fact that you can see all her details - the birdcage veil, sweetheart neckline, belt and bouquet <3

Wedding photography by Renee YoungbloodRose Hall Events in Dallas, GA

And These from Ben:

Wedding photography by Ben WalleyHills Creek Events in Rockmart, GA

And this shot after the ceremony, I was up by the 'stage' and was unable to capture this wonderful shot...

Wedding photography by Ben WalleyHills Creek in Rockmart, Georgia

One of my Favorite Things

Wed, 05 Mar 2014 14:24:19 GMT

One of my favorite trends over the last few years is the abundance of rustic weddings with all their burlap, lace and cowboy boots. Its nice when there is a little twist and a different detail is added to make the wedding unique, but this is definitely my favorite combination.

It's a New Year... Yes, I know it's March:)

Mon, 03 Mar 2014 16:12:14 GMT

Yes, It is March, but March always marks a new year for me in the business. I don't usually have weddings in January or February, and the weather is so unpredictable it's not a desirable time for portraits. So it's my time to tackle my taxes. Fun. But this Saturday is the first wedding of the year!! I'm so looking forward to starting off the year with this sweet couple that I had the pleasure of shooting last fall. I also purchased a new lens and can't wait to use it!

Corey and Erica's Engagement PortraitsErica, showing off her bling:)

Corey and Erica EngagementI'm loving her coral jeans<3

Christmas Portrait Specials Makes Great Gifts!

Mon, 18 Nov 2013 17:00:43 GMT

3 Special Christmas Mini Days coming up!

November 24 - This Sunday, An Afternoon With Santa!

(Our event page on Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/events/540819802673407)

An afternoon of cookies, pictures and story time with Santa! These will be outdoor portraits with a vintage setting, cookies for the kiddos and finishing it all out with story time read by the big man himself! You will have 2 package options, $75 for 5 edited proofs(4x6), 25 Christmas cards,one image to share on social media(give 1-2 weeks for processing), and one print to take home that day. Or $20 for one unedited 4x6 to take home that day. Again, the setting will be outdoor and unique, with a vintage red couch and freestanding mantle decorated. The story time will be in an event tent outdoors so bundle your kiddos accordingly. I've selected a 2 hour window, but message me for a time slot. -Candace Armstrong 404-409-0260. Story time will begin at 4:45. Please send deposits through PayPal to [email protected]. This session will take place in Dallas, GA, close to Rockmart, Temple and Yorkville.

December 8 - Boudoir + Hair and Makeup

This will make a wonderful gift for that special someone in your life! This session includes hair and makeup and a small flip photo book for $125

This photo shoot will take place at Bloom Hair in Dallas, GA.

December 9 - White Christmas

This session will be a setup with a white christmas tree, blue backdrop and wood floor. These sessions will be great for young kids and babies. This session includes 25 Christmas cards $75. This Photo Shoot will take place in Dallas, GA.

** All outdoor sessions from now until Christmas include 12 Christmas cards and edited images on a disc for $75!

Call me at 404-409-0260

Candace Armstrong

www.ForEveryLife.com

Easter Portraits!!

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 05:51:04 GMT

Even though it doesn't feel like it, Easter is just around the corner! And because I am a doer of all things last minute I'm running an Easter special... and just now posting about it :)

This year instead of the live bunny we will have a couple of chicks and ducks with the access of props, although as usual you are welcome to bring personal items to the shoot.

These are Mini Sessions for $40 and can include anywhere from 7-15 edited images that can be downloaded straight from our site, or you can receive a disc upon request.

What's exciting is now you can earn print credits by sending us referrals!!! For every friend that you refer, you can earn a $5 print credit that can be used right here on our site. (There is a $10 minimum purchase, and you must pay shipping) But there is no limit to the amount of credit you can earn!!!

Ways to earn credit?? Just word of mouth works as long as they let us know who sent them, but I'm starting a 'tagging party' on Facebook so that you can easily get the word out. All you do is tag all of your friends with kiddos that you think would be interested in this fun shoot. After your friend has booked and completed the session, I will email your own redemption code that you simply enter at checkout! Simple as that! (redemption codes will be good for 2 months) These codes are not limited to just our Easter sessions, if you are already a For Every Life customer and want to order prints from a past session you can do that as well!!! HAPPY TAGGING! Click here to tag our Facebook photo.

Modern Technology... Gotta love it!

Sat, 12 Jan 2013 21:29:53 GMT

So, I'm laying in bed too lazy to find my laptop, I think to myself: 'I wonder if I can blog from my phone?' So I try it. Turns out... I can. I have to admit I'm pretty stoked about this new found ability...

I wanted to share some of the Mini's we took about this time last year because on January 25th and 26th we are doing Valentine mini's for $30 and boudoir sessions with hair and makeup for $100. Although this years shots will be quite different, it will give you a decent idea. (Most of these were from a hat shoot we did, explanation for all the crocheted hats)

Light-My New Found Obsession

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 20:30:46 GMT

Thanks to Elizabeth Messina, I started exploring lighting and all the options there. I discovered that I had not been using it and my equipment to the fullest of it's potential. Although she shoots with film and I do not, a lot of her tips were very useful. With digital you have to be more mindful of hot spots when your overexposing but a lot of light can be a beautiful thing. ...And I tend to overdo it with the sun flare:)

Check out her amazing book The Luminous Portrait at http://www.kissthegroom.com

Here are some of my shots since I started reading her book ~ Candace

A New Year = New Beginnings

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 01:38:28 GMT

We had a wonderful year in 2012, and look forward to what 2013 will bring. Along with other changes that we will be making this year, we will soon be making changes to our websites so stay posted!

Here are a few shot favorites from 2012!

(don't worry, we will be posting more;)