Jessica Horwitz Photography Blog: Atlanta Portrait, Wedding and Event Photography

New Blog!

2009-04-07T07:15:00.005-04:00

I am so excited to present our new blog to the world...

The new blog is now located at jessicalilyhorwitz.com

Vickie and Adam: Engagement Sitting, Athens, GA

2009-04-01T09:15:00.008-04:00

The Grill in Athens, is a special place for Vickie and Adam. That is where they had their first date! For such a small town Athens certainly has a wide range of residents. Two very diverse and interesting fellows decided to sit in on our session. It was so unexpected that we just had to take the shot! (Notice our guest stars in the background of the first image, and then front and center in the second!)

Romancing the Bride

2009-03-25T09:15:00.004-04:00

We were asked to photograph and participate in three bridal shows, Romancing the Bride, at the end of February and beginning of March. All three shows were hosted at facilities around Atlanta that are owned by Magic Moments, Inc. We really enjoy working with everyone at Magic Moments and were thrilled when they asked us to document the events. Their staff is always friendly and personal, and their artistry in creating a perfect event is unparalleled. You will find the links to the venues at the beginning of each image collection.

Little Gardens

Flint Hill and The Atrium

Primrose Cottage

The Harrilal Family

2009-03-18T09:15:00.004-04:00

Cindy and Michael

2009-03-11T09:15:00.000-04:00

Valentines Day Gift

2009-02-11T10:00:00.003-05:00

This is such a perfect Valentines Gift... We will deliver your gift certificate directly to its recipient, gift wrapped and ready to go... the Gift Cards shown here, are delivered enclosed in an awesome clear case and tied with a perfect bow. You can even include a custom message! We will also deliver a email Valentines message to your recipient to let them know that their session is on its way... click here to purchase a session online...

Harlan Family Portraits

2009-02-05T09:30:00.000-05:00

I met the Harlan Family in the midst of a very cold spell, downtown in the Roswell Square. Their clever attire really impacted how these images came out: they stuck to the basics and choose solid, bright, bold colors... the result gave me the ability to really play with the colors and make imagery that is fun and playful. By bringing such lively colors into what could have been a drab winter environment, we created imagery that was so appropriate for the Harlans. By choosing one color to remain consistent throughout the group (denim blue) they all matched each other, regardless of which smaller group we created. Also, scarves are timeless and a fun way to add a bit of texture, color and personality. By shooting 2 hours before the sunsets, I use the natural light of dusk and long shadows to strength the compositions.

January Newsletter

2009-01-29T07:56:00.007-05:00

With the onset of a New Year, we are vowing two things: to keep up with the blog regularly and to publish monthly newsletters providing updates on our newest ideas and accomplishments. :) What an exciting year this has been already... we have been filled with family portrait sessions this month and have been having such a blast with it.

We have a very cool new feature we have added for accessing and updating your Client Profile... You can log in directly from our blog at the top, on the right ... Client Log In. You will always have access to your contract, your shoot details and package information.

I think the single thing I am most excited for this month is our newest addition to the online store: Portrait Display Collections. You can use the layout ideas to order either framed prints or just the prints alone and you can have them framed... there are huge price breaks for buying multiple enlargements. All of the collections are available in small, medium or large depending the scale of your wall presentation.

To promote their release, we are offering a very special Buy One, Get One Free on the Collections for one week only... Just in time for valentines day... ;)

This is the Welcome Home Collection in small... the large features a 20x24 composite in the center.

Visit this collection online at our store here: http://jessicahorwitzclients.com/RedCart/index.php?sid=96 ... every order placed until noon on Thursday February 5th will automatically have their purchase doubled. Only Portrait Display Collections are valid.

Second most exciting thing I am brewing up for this year is the introduction of Portrait Rewards. :) Finally!! You can access the new Portrait Rewards information on our store, here: http://jessicahorwitzclients.com/RedCart/index.php?sid=100

We also have a new product we are excited to offer. Our Engagement Guest Book made from 6x9 prints of your engagement session is simply stunning... its bound in your choice of leather or silk and features a square image on the cover. Your wedding guests can either sign the pages directly on the pages, or we can add lined pages.

We also have a new feature in our online store, an option for Vendor Kits. Tell your favorite vendors they can select their favorite 20 images from your event, add them to My Album and submit them as Vendor Kits ... we will send them branded images to use on their websites and a promo kit in the mail.

Lastly, we wanted to remind you that we always appreciate your comments on the work that we make for you. While an email can certainly make our day, it helps us so much when the rest of the world can hear what you think as well. One of the most gratifying things about this job is knowing the impact my images have made on the people that I work with. And the only way anyone knows how much they have affected you is if you share your experiences. Thus, a request for blog comments, on your images or any others that have moved you. We'll even bribe you to get the process started... we will give one free 8x10 Portfolio Enlargement to each of our clients who posts a comment on our blog on any post made into the future. Then, if you will take the time to comment on one of our advertising sites, we will send you a free 11x14 Portfolio Enlargement from one of your sessions (Citysearch or Kudzu). There is tentatively no expiration for this promotion. :) We are committed to our blog and want you to follow us as we grow...

The Thomas Family and Baron Family Portraits

2009-01-21T07:30:00.006-05:00

The Thomas Family and Baron Family's portrait session was shot at Wills Park in Alpharetta. I think that what I enjoy most about these images is that they are so whimsical! Jessica was able to capture everyone's true colors, as well as the families' dynamic. Everyone pitched in to make this session special.

Stevens Family Portraits

2009-01-14T07:30:00.001-05:00

Hello! And Happy New Year! My name is Faith and I am Jessica's new assistant. I am looking forward to what the upcoming year has to bring. I will be updating the blog and keeping you informed of what we are working on. For my first post I decided on the Stevens' family portrait session that was shot at Stone Mountain, a great setting to show off all the fall colors. Jessica and the Stevens had a blast creating these images. I love how playful and fun they are! The Stevenses were so thrilled with the outcome of their session that they decided to share them with their family and friends by having holiday cards made.

The Knot

2008-12-18T08:00:00.002-05:00

I am so excited about having been featured in the magazine The Knot. You can view my images on line here, Real Weddings: Andrea & Mike in Atlanta, GA, as well as the four page spread that I have posted below.

Andrea and Michael's outdoor wedding at the Cator Woolford Gardens in Atlanta was wonderful to shoot. They incooperated so many intricate details, like birds as their theme (even using them in table settings!). Their outdoor reception was stunning... You can see what I had to say about it as well as other images at Andrea and Michael's earlier blog post.

Kathleen and Tyler at Flint Hill

2008-12-10T08:00:00.003-05:00

One advantage of having an autumn wedding is the colors of the changing foliage compliment and add a certain touch that no other time of year can. Kathleen did a lovely job of incorporating autumn into her wedding! Flint Hill is a wonderful place to hold an event! They always do a great job, and Kathleen and Tyler's ceremony was no different.

Valentino at Phipps

2008-11-26T08:17:00.001-05:00

This release event at the Valentino Boutique was such an alluring event. The guest list-only event featured Valentino's releases and I came to document the event for the store. I captured images of the store, its guests and its products for the store to use in promotional pieces. Here are some of my favorite images...

Cortney and Josh's Wedding:: Brasstown Valley

2008-11-26T07:01:00.003-05:00

Cortney's stunning ceremony overlooked the beautiful mountain vista at Brasstown Valley Resort. She brought in bright reds to accent the natural landscape, and the result was simply breathtaking. They were blessed with gorgeous weather and proved to be quite the party hosts: their guests were so entertained that they were still dancing after the last dance.

Here are two of the very adorable Holiday Card designs that they get to choose from. These are the layouts for the front and the back of the flat 5x7 card...

And here are some of my favorite shots from their wedding...

A Day in Madison...

2008-11-19T05:34:00.014-05:00

:) I believe I have taken a vacation from my blog! We have been so busy this fall with weddings, portraits and some really great events that I haven't a chance to check in! I am back with a vengeance, though, with work from the last few weeks ready to shine! No better way to start off than with this really great project I had the chance to work on a few weeks ago.

A portrait client commissioned me to create some stunning art for his office walls. He specifically was interested in a portrait of Madison, GA, the location of one of his offices and where we have worked together on two of their babies' baptisms. He wanted to be able to bring this very special place back with him, into his primary office in midtown. A dream project, really... shoot whatever story you want! So, the liberty I took and came home with some images I am really excited about. So excited in fact, that I decided to make them publicly available for holiday gifts! They are available in limited edition Black and White prints as 11x14 and larger, sold directly through our store. (Click here to view the gallery...) There are around 60 total, but here are 10 of my favorites...

Fall/ Winter Portrait Catalog is here!

2008-10-10T14:50:00.006-04:00

Hi everyone! We have been working non stop throughout the fall to finish up wedding season and move into portrait season! Our new Fall Portrait Catalog is finally here and it comes with some much anticipated, very exciting new deliveries. Join our mailing list this weekend and get our new Portrait Promotions newsletter we will be releasing Monday. This year, our holiday discounts will be provided only via word of mouth and newsletter sharing, so be sure to sign up! You can send your portrait discounts to friends as well!

Here are some sneak peaks of the very awesome new things we have this year... Our new Portrait Display Collections feature (yes, framing!!) and beautiful combinations of prints designed to display in your home or office.

Our Holiday Card lineup is included with our catalog. All of our card orders come with color matching envelopes. Here are some of our newest creations...

Becky and Jimmy's Wedding:: Roswell Street Baptist Church

2008-10-02T03:56:00.001-04:00

Becky and Jimmy were married at Roswell Street Baptist Church... their ceremony was simply stunning. They did something really neat that I had not seen before. They played a video introduction before the ceremony where they talked about who they were and their relationship. It was made by Chris Keller at www.finaltouchproductions.net and it really was cool. It told all of the guests about their lives up to the wedding and was very well made. Here are some of my very favorite pictures from their wedding...

Nikki and Brian:: Engagement in Athens

2008-09-25T12:00:00.000-04:00

I always love shooting in Athens. I miss Athens often and its always so calming to return to ... so I spent a pretty good amount of time with Nikki and Brian. We started our shoot in the Founder's Garden and then shot downtown once it was night. The moon was full and our energy was high... these nighttime portraits were perhaps my favorite part of a very successful sitting. :)

We are also having some Save the Dates made from their engagement portraits. Here are two of my favorite magnet save the date designs:

As a side note, I apologize for not keeping up with the blog as much of late... we have had a very busy fall and post production on our full wedding schedule has made me a little neglectful to non-client related things. But I am working on some very exciting things for the holiday season, so be on the lookout for some really fun ideas in up coming posts!!

Rachel and Charles: Primrose Cottage, Roswell,GA

2008-08-28T18:14:00.007-04:00

Rachel and Charles' wedding was such a wonderful treat to be a part of. Not only because of how much I love working with Primrose Cottage, but also because the spirit of the day was just amazing. We kept barely missing rain clouds, resulting in gorgeous light for our portrait sessions. Rachel was so much fun to shoot and made a stunning bride.

Kristin's Bridals:: At Home

2008-08-19T07:40:00.004-04:00

I think that the home is my absolute favorite place for bridal portraits. We made Kristin's Bridals at the home she grew up in, which is so relevant to the images. We were able to be really playful with them and the entire session ended up being on of my favorites to date. Check out how sincerely adorable Kristin is... :)

Corporate Headshots:: Susan

2008-08-13T08:00:00.000-04:00

The wonderful people at Westplan Investors have me come to their office when the hire new investors to work with them. And Susan is just stunning... this was a different type of project for me to work on with them: I specifically needed to keep the background clean and this light neutral. I love to shoot these types of portraits without all of the fuss and rigidity of big lights, so I often use window light when we work indoors. I love this little study here... its a really good show of variety within some very tight outlines. Like usual, simple really is the best.

Family Portraits:: GA Tech

2008-08-11T08:00:00.001-04:00

I met back up with the so beautiful Kelly, a former bride, and her adorable family for some portraits of the whole group. These family portraits were takes on the GA Tech Campus near the towers. We took a variety of different semi-poses with everyone present and were able to collect some really fun images that are all very alive and full of life. How lucky I am to have such wonderful clients to work with. I loved this blue that they all choose to coordinate with!!

Matty's Make A Wish

2008-08-09T20:00:00.000-04:00

Matty's wish seemed simple: a train set made into a playhouse for his backyard. But the incredible structure that the Carter Real Estate people made for him was something beyond that: the 4 car structure was fully furnished and decorated with toy trains, train books, train hats .... and even a laptop to operate up front! It was an amazing thing to be a part of and I know that he truly appreciated this amazing gift in his backyard.

Cortney's Bridals:: Chateau Elan

2008-08-07T01:13:00.004-04:00

I love doing bridal portraits so much... we get to spend time on details without the rush of the wedding day. I really get a chance to explore my client's personalities to make images that indicate a true representation of their character. We shot these at Chateau Elan and how thrilled am I with Cortney's portraits... fun, but classy. I was so inspired by them that I was adventurous with their color spaces, bringing out a couple of shifts here and there while I was Digitally Mastering them. I have really been working hard lately on both a particularly busy August filled with clients and all of our new online upgrades. I even have a new special feature for my events in the store... Easy to order composite presentations. You can order the composites in what-ever size print you need for your frame... they are pre-designed and made available directly in the store. You can even order small copies to send in thank you notes and gift to friends and family.

Here are some composites that Cortney and her friends and family get to choose from:

Family Portraits:: Stone Mountain

2008-07-24T07:27:00.003-04:00

I am so thrilled to have finished our little internet makeover!! In addition to creating our new Online Store, we have also updated all of our website information as well so it is all much more current. With that comes some other website upgrading, including a slightly new look to match the online store.

And I finally can resume my blogging... starting with some really fun portraits I did with Helen, Abby, Moriah and Daniel. This is the third time I have worked with their family and it probably is my favorite shoot that we have done together.

My new STORE!!!

2008-07-16T05:22:00.017-04:00

Oh, my blog, my blog... what incredible news I have for you! I have been busy at work, creating something that has been in the works for months now: the NEW Store!! Combined with our incredible new studio management software, we can now sell nearly anything imaginable, online... we have pictures of everything and descriptions of what we offer. Additionally, our store features some of our NEW products introduced in our Summer/Fall Catalog release a few weeks ago, as well as Portrait and Accessory Sessions.

My absolute favorite is a new item that will be included with all of our new wedding packages: the Fine Art Collector's Box. It includes a 4x6 print of each of your portfolio images and is probably the coolest thing I have seen in a while. They are also available for portrait sessions and as gifts for friends and family.

My next favorite is our similarly new Gallery Matted Albums. They are our top of the line album and are stunning. They feature contemporary layouts and beautiful linen mats:

The store offers you many new options that make the entire process easier: with the My Album function, you can send orders in for any product that contains multiple images, including both your albums and composite prints. You can specify which particular album you would like from images of the many varieties that we offer and even add your own custom notes.

Here is an image of Maya's Plexi Album with one 8x12 Parent copy and 4 4x5 copies, as featured in our store.

Here is an image of a couple of types of Portrait Books from our store:

You can also use the My Album function to choose images for your Press Printed cards. Here is a layout for a 5x5 Save the Date card. The left is the front, the right is the back and the bottom is the middle and would be folded.

One of the most helpful things about our new store is that is offers you the opportunity to purchase Portrait Sessions directly online. :) Our Corporate Headshot portraits include two Digitally Mastered High Res files and are done at your office.

08 Summer/ Fall Catalog

2008-06-25T04:59:00.009-04:00

Ladies and Gentlemen... I am so, so pleased to present our new 2008 Summer/ Fall Wedding Photography Online Catalog!! It features an entirely new pricing structure for our wedding packages. While things will ultimately cost you about the same, we are offering some really exciting new plans and products. And a whole new, different and fun way to shop with us.

Our new Portfolio Print Collections and Photo Boxes included with every package are sure to stun your friends: and since you will receive them within 10 weeks of your wedding date they make perfect bragging material. They contain one 4x6 of each image in your Portfolio Collection.

Our newly implemented Referral Program is retroactive: if you are a previous client with qualifying booked referrals, please contact us and claim your rewards!

The new wedding catalog is perfect to really get to know us: it contains detailed information about what we do. The kind of pictures that we take, how we process our images and what we can do with your pictures are some of the things we discuss. Every product is explained and simplified.

Contact us to receive the complete new catalog online!

Here are some tempting screen shots of a couple of my favorite pages:

Etsy Store!!!!

2008-06-23T03:44:00.005-04:00

How exciting is this: after admiring the Etsy situation for a long, long time, I have finally set one up for myself! I have featured on it images that I have collected while traveling and such: I have arranged them in the pair couplings that I love so very much. I have offered them for sale in a few smaller sizes while I get used to the store: eventually, I plan to offer large scale prints and other fun things like notecards and such. It is a wonderful way for me to keep up with the other types of images that I am always working on that are not for clients. It is kind of in beta right now, even though that is not an Etsy option: it is a brand new idea with brand new images. Please leave me comments and let me know what you think about it!

Rachel and Charles: Downtown Atlanta

2008-06-19T04:57:00.002-04:00

I love the sitting location that we did for Rachel and Charles. We started near Atlantic Station and shot on the 17th street bridge... we walked down to Peachtree and shot some more around the High. Then, we walked to Piedmont park and shot a few there. We made it back to the 17th street bridge just in time for the sunset. Its the perfect engagement stroll downtown.

Laura and Jeff:: Lake Lanier

2008-06-16T02:30:00.004-04:00

How much fun was this sitting? Laura's very wonderful parents took us out on the family boat to find some beautiful island scenery. Laura is a cheering coach and her energetic personality worked so well with the images: we were really able to capture some exciting shots. Laura and Jeff's wedding was only this last weekend, so look forward to their wedding pictures coming soon!

I really love when my clients have really adventurous location ideas for their sittings. My photography is all about life and the candid way that I shoot really lends itself well to situations. Other really neat ideas I have done with clients for adventurous sittings include hiking trips in the N.Ga mountains, puling a canoe into the lake at Lenox Park and going out for ice cream at a historic parlor in Savannah. Bring me your really cool ideas and we will turn them into portraits that will be stunningly timeless!

Joel's Family Portraits: Stone Mountain, Ga

2008-06-13T03:05:00.003-04:00

Little Joel was potentially the most adorable child I have seen in a long time. His big curious eyes were stunning to photograph. We made a series of very dynamic portraits as we took a tour through my favorite places to shoot in Stone Mountain. I love making portrait sessions fluid and creating narrative portraits that tell a story about your family in this phase of your lives. These types of portraits become timeless displayed in your home. I created a very adorable square image composite from some of my favorite images. These types of enlargements can be printed with or without mat board. They also can be printed to be framed, or on a canvas wrap.

Andrea and Michael:: Cator Woolford Gardens, Atlanta GA

2008-06-09T05:10:00.008-04:00

What a beautiful and lucky wedding day Andrea and Michael's was. It kept raining intermittently throughout the day... But each time we had to do portraits and throughout the entire ceremony, it was dry and beautiful. They were able to have their ceremony outdoors in the garden at the Cator Woolford Gardens in Atlanta. I loved their yellow accents in their floras! They had so many handmade touches throughout the day... their slideshow has a good collection of the entire event.

With Andrea and Michael's wedding images, I made myself a new Digital Mastering Visual Guide to take to consultation meetings. Our digital mastering process is the second phase in image editing. We collect all of our images in RAW format and before they are uploaded to your photo store or added to your DVDs, they are each color balanced and density adjusted. After this phase is complete, we begin digitally mastering. With each sitting or event that we shoot, we master our favorite images: the ones that comprehensively tell a narrative portrait of our time with you: we capture images of your relationships, your expression, your environment and decor, the big events and the small moments. This collection of images becomes our portfolio. All of our packages include the cost of digital editing. We also master each image that goes into your album, or that you order as an 11x14 or larger. You can see a sample of some before and afters at the end of the post.

OK... so here are some examples of before and after digitally mastered images. The mastering process includes all digital retouching, including color enhancement, custom black and white conversions, vignetting, sharpening, dodging and burning, and other special things that make the image the very best it can be.

UN-MASTERED #1:
MASTERED #1:

UN-MASTERED #2:
MASTERED #2:

Make a Wish:: Darien Joins the Smyrna Police Dept

2008-06-04T03:57:00.001-04:00

Recently, I've started working with Make a Wish to document their children's wishes being made. :) Darien's was my first wish with them and I followed along as the Smyrna Police Department hosted a very special day on the job. Darien got to be a police officer for the day... we started off in the police car, learning about the various gadgets and such. Did you know that there is an entire laptop next to the officer when he drives? This one was mounted on the dash. We first patrolled the surrounding area by the station: then we caught a bad driver crossing through a stop sign without stopping. Darien wrote him a ticket and checked his license and registration. Then, we were back on the crime fighting scene. We caught a criminal breaking into a shopping center and Darien handcuffed him. Then, it was back to the office for paperwork... this took the most time. I never thought about it, but I suppose those cops do have to spend a lot of time in the office. Who would have known? :) It was really an exciting event for Darien and he really enjoyed it.

I created a 7x7 portrait book for Darien's family. Since they did not come along with us, it will be perfect for them to reflect on the trip together. I am really thrilled to be able to share my images with the Make a Wish people and am looking forward to more great wishes in the future. Here are some of the layouts for their portrait book:

And, of course, here is his slideshow...

Emmalyn's Senior Portraits: Stone Mountain

2008-06-02T00:39:00.005-04:00

Emmalyn (yes, a particularly beautiful name) and I created her senior portraits by the grist mill and the covered bridge at Stone Mountain. I really enjoyed working on these portraits with her. As we get into the warm months, we are actively promoting more and more portrait work. I really love to work with people to help them to see what I see beautiful about them: I work hard to make sure that my clients have fun while we work... my shooting style is casual, natural and sincere. Please enjoy these warm images of the so wonderful Emmalyn and contact us for senior portraits, profile portraits and family portraits. :)

Click here to view the slideshow larger...

Here is the layout for her composite display piece:

Cortney and Josh:: Vines Botanical Gardens, Ga

2008-05-28T02:31:00.006-04:00

Happy summer everyone! I hope you all had a good memorial day weekend. I have been working lately on lots and lots of different types of portrait sessions, so I have some really fun images in the upcoming weeks. ;) My engagement sessions are included in all of my wedding packages and they are all done on location. These couple type of portrait session also work with anniversary portraits as well. Don't forget that we sell gift certificates for portrait sessions ... contact us to purchase a gift portrait session for a good friend!!

Cortney and Josh brought along some really fun props for the end of the session: simple beer bottles to enjoy at the park! Props can be in cooperated into any session easily as well: some good portrait session props that clients have brought along have been picnic baskets with champagne, paper umbrellas, quilts, sunglasses and pets.

Cortney and Josh's Engagement Session at Vines Botanical Garden

Meirav's Portratis: Piedmont Park, Atlanta GA

2008-05-22T07:11:00.003-04:00

:) What a fun sitting this was. Meirav and I set off into Piedmont Park to create some portraits that celebrate life. She changed into a total of 4 perfect dresses. They were all just right for a portrait session: simple without busy patterns, some neutral, some color and timeless. These clothing suggestions can be used for any portrait session and I often remind my clients to think of the future when they are planning attire. The portrait should always speak louder than the dress.

Portraits like these are actually very simple to make. I shoot my portrait sessions with mostly daylight and two cameras. We talk while we shoot and include lots of movement. My goal in creating portraits is to reflect something sincere and genuine about you: I tell my clients that it is my job to find the good expressions and moments, theirs is only to be themselves. The portraits that result feel casual, natural and full of life.

Emily's Family Portraits:: Vines Botanical Gardens

2008-05-19T05:56:00.005-04:00

As the weather gets warmer, I am grateful to get to spend more and more time in the sunshine making fun, active, playful family portraits. My portrait style is technically lifestyle photography... I encourage my clients to remain in dialog, motion and interaction with each other throughout our shoot. I always tell everyone to remember that it is my job to find the moments that tell something special about you and your family. We spend time with our portrait sittings... the fist 15 minutes are spend warming up and getting comfortable to the camera being with you. Shoots usually last for around 1.5 hours and we do them in late day during the summer months. It really is very simple: you casually hang out with your loved ones in a beautiful setting, and we create narrative portraits that signify something wonderfully relevant about your everyday life.

Kim and Fred:: The Fox, Atlanta

2008-05-14T04:58:00.007-04:00

Kim and Fred had an elegant, but very fun, reception at the Fox on Peachtree. Their ceremony was at the ever-grand Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, just down the street. I had a special guest photographer along with me at this event: my friend Brandon Jones came along to shoot. He and I graduated from UGA's photography program in the same group of 9 together. (A few of us all are still very close: I recently photographed Keith and Corie Rein's wedding in Gainsville. Keith and Corie actually run a really creative, fun and unique design service, that also does things like wedding invitation design. Their website is: www.paperthindesign.com. ) Brandon got some really great shots of the boys getting ready. (You can see the whole slideshow at the bottom of my post.)

Michelle and Jason:: Newnan, Ga

2008-05-07T06:44:00.002-04:00

I have decided to attempt to match my blog to my slideshow on the website, with these image pairings. I love how narrative they feel in pairs and they allow me to add a few more images to the blog. Additionally, we have recently added some new cool things around here. Many of our slideshow images have been updated with more recent work. Also, we have implemented a new online booking system, allowing for credit card payments online for your wedding and portrait packages.

Michelle and Jason were wed in Newnan, GA. Michelle was a stunning bride... their pictures turned out awesome!! Hope you enjoy my pairings!

Michele and Marc:: Atlanta, Ga

2008-04-28T03:24:00.004-04:00

Michele and Marc and I went to Atlantic Station to take their engagement session portraits. It was a beautiful day and we all had a really nice afternoon strolling through the town. I love this green color on Michele... sometimes, a really bright color can work against you, but in this situation, it worked out so well.

Julia and Casey:: Savannah, GA

2008-04-20T02:54:00.003-04:00

Julia and Casey were engaged with the skyline of the beatuiful River Street in Savannah behind them. When I came to photograph them on their turf, they took me to many new sites I had not seen before in Savannah.... besides the beautiful proposal site, we worked with beautiful canopy oaks, the one and only Leopold's ice cream parlor and this awesome theater with the Savannah sign. I had such a good time working with these two and am very excited for their wedding.

Corie and Keith:: The Higdon House, Greensboro, GA

2008-04-07T02:16:00.007-04:00

The day of Corie and Keith's wedding was of the most amazing circumstances: the tornado's had just hit Atlanta and I had managed to sprain my ankle the night before. When I arrived on site, Keith still came to me with the biggest smile. Corie was excited, happy and her inspiring attitude continued through relocating her ceremony to the reception tent, the guests being evacuated from the tent and a short lived, but torrential rain. Their persistence was a reference to their strong bond: they didn't let a single drop of rain get them down. Thank you, Keith and Corie for inviting me to be a part of such an important day in your lives.

Becky and Jimmy:: Vines Botanical Gardens

2008-04-03T01:02:00.005-04:00

I met with Becky and Jimmy for their engagement portraits at Vines Botanical Gardens. These two were such a blast to work with... I am really looking forward to their wedding. :)

Here is their mini slideshow...

Goodies... Portrait and Wedding Books

2008-03-26T23:26:00.007-04:00

As a sort of visual guide on some of the beautiful books and such we have given our clients over the last few months, I wanted to post a couple of images of some choices we offer...

Our new mini books are the latest addition.

We offer them in a wide variety of very fun textured covers.

They are available in 5x7, 5x5 or 3x3 formats and make perfect gifts for friends and family.

They are also the perfect addition to your family, engagement or kids portrait sitting...

Our 4x5 vendor books are a great way to showcase the work of some of our favorite people to work with.

Our little 3x3 wedding pocket books are a new way to carry your images with you. They are available within 6 weeks following your wedding and are perfect for sharing with friends and family.

Our 7x7 or 5x5 Coffee Table Portrait Books feature custom book design with a photographic cover.

AND last but not least... Our full Graphi Coffee Table books are our bestselling wedding album.

They are normally covered in a transparent, plexi cover that features a photograph.

The rich pages are printed on lustre paper and are a perfect weight...
It is the perfect way to remember the faces, details and moments of your wedding day.

:) We offer many other options as well... contact us for a detailed online catalog, complete with pricing and pictures of many more products. info@jessicahorwitz.com

Andrea and Michael :: The Georgian Terrace

2008-03-19T02:14:00.006-04:00

Dear, dear blog... I have not been attending you as I should have. I am sincerely sorry... I have been thinking about you everyday as I attend to my photo excursions. I have been doing so many exciting things lately... I sprained my ankle Friday evening after tossing myself down a flight of brick stairs. :) Then, Saturday, I photographed Corie and Keith's wedding in the crazy storm... we were outside of the city, but were certainly lived through the torrential downpours. I promise to post those (along with other exciting things I have been attending to of late) very soon.

For now, I have some very, very fun shots from Andrea and Michael's engagement sitting downtown Atlanta. We started off on the roof of the Georgian Terrace... the view was spectacular from up there. I could see the Kodak sign on Ponce... :)

We went inside after that and made some portraits on the white, marble stairwell. I shot this first one while they chatted and I think it is adorable. Then, they danced on the stairwell's landing.

By the time we got back outside, the light was beautiful... I love the warmth in this one. Those blues work well together,too. I was really playing with those blues and yellows on this shoot. I really feel like they suit Andrea... I love the coolness in this shirt she picked out.
Then, we headed back out the front door.
The entrance is so beautiful here, but what makes this shot for me, is the gesture in their embrace...
My favorite part about this shot, is that the shadow on the bottom of the frame is a perfectly timed car, turning the corner at the same instant that they dipped... it really topped off the composition.
Then, we headed across the street, across from the Fox and found more beautiful golds to work with. The itsy bitsy bit of lens flare helps the image feel more intimate.

Donna and Michael:: St. Brigid Catholic Church

2008-02-28T04:31:00.003-05:00

We are pleased to officially offer Associate Photographer coverage to our product line! Our Associate Photographer packages feature 5 or 8 hour packages with the same product and design line and at least 2 photographers at your event, for about 30% less cost of Primary Photograher packages. Contact us for more specific pricing information.

In celebration then our of new package availability, I decided to focus this blog post on some awesome associate work. Courtney, our current Associate Photographer, had some great shots last week and I am thrilled to share some of her best work from Donna and Michael's February wedding. Contact us for information about booking her for your event and to meet with her for a consultation.

Jenny's Headshots...

2008-02-22T13:32:00.004-05:00

My business headshot packages are becoming more and more popular. My effort while making them is to make the shooting process enjoyable: I make them as easy on my clients as possible. I came to Jenny's office building at around 3 in the afternoon and we shot her portraits on location with all natural light for about 25 minutes. While we did the portraits, we chatted about all sorts of things. Talking, I find, helps clients to relax, resulting in genuine expressions for their portraits.

Jennie's Bat Mitzvah...

2008-02-16T03:01:00.009-05:00

Jennie's Bat Mitzvah was one of my favorite events to shoot. The decor was so whimsical: Jennie is a dancer and you could really feel that at the event.

I am very proud of this confetti shot... I honestly did not know that they would be exploding confetti in that corner of the room. I remember pushing the shutter really not knowing what had happened, even. :) How fun...

Ashley and Rich:: Hilton Head Island, SC

2008-02-09T01:52:00.000-05:00

I visited Ashley and Rich in Hilton Head Island, SC for their engagement sitting to work near and at Ashley's parents home. It ended up being a really cold day and the wind from the ocean was freezing.... Nonetheless, they danced on the beach, climbed trees and we even fit in pictures of the whole family. We had such a good time working together!!

Eileen and Phillip:: Lyndon House, Athens GA

2008-01-30T05:58:00.001-05:00

I've been in Athens a bunch these last few months and I have been really enjoying it. :) I really miss Athens sometimes and its really awsome when I get to go back. I always look forward to what food I will gorge on while I am in town... (the food is one of the things I miss most... Taco Stand. Five Star Day. Thai of Athens. yum.) The night of Eileen and Phillip's wedding, it was Taco Stand. ;)

These photographs are yummy, too. Phillip is a photo buff... which makes my job a little bit more nerve wrecking sometimes... but I am known to be one who works well under pressure. There were the more fancy camera's at this wedding than maybe ever before. :)

I am so happy with these...

Westplan Headshots...

2008-01-23T01:07:00.002-05:00

I have been shooting portraits with the Westplan Investors for a while now and I really enjoy working with them. They initially hired me after I worked with them for a Dutch magazine, Management Team. Recently, I was cleaning my office and I found the copy of the publication from that very first shoot... :) How awesome is this? The whole magazine is in Dutch and Ewoud here was featured.

We did the initial shoot at their office in Atlanta: the blue building in the background. I've come back to their office over the last few years as new associates arrive to create portraits of them all.

:) So, more recently, we shot a new batch of headshots for them to use on their website. I came to their office and did portraits of everyone on-site... We all enjoyed making the portraits and I really am pleased with how these turned out.

This, again, is Ewoud... he is really striking to photograph.

This is Carol... and this was also the first time I had worked with her. I ended up getting the most shots of her that I was really excited about. :)

This is Emory. Lucky for him, the office portraits coincided with his new braces. :) They proved to be adorable to photograph, though.

We even got to play with the really cool bright orange doors in the office to play off his tie. (Which, obviously, made his eyes really pop... )

And, last but not least was Rob... he prefaced our whole sitting by declaring a need to smile in the images. It was important to him to (authentically) look friendly in his portraits. He was in good hands, though, and his natural charm melded right in with the camera.

Corporate portraits and head shots like these are always done on location, usually at your office. Sittings are $299 for up to three people and are proofed online, normally including around 20-60 images per person. They also include the digital release of 2 high res images to use for your business cards and website (per person). For more than 3 people, Office Portrait Days can be scheduled by the hour. Coverage is offered at a minimum of 2 hours and is $200 per hour. It includes 20 minutes shooting time and the release of two high res images per person.

Dates book around 3-8 weeks in advance...

Corie and Keith... 01.15.08

2008-01-17T03:52:00.000-05:00

When Keith first asked me to photograph his wedding, I was initially terrified. He and I were in the same photography program at the University of Georgia...we have been friends for years, and photographing his wedding means a couple of things in my life: the most important thing that it means is that all of my photography peers will be evaluating my work to make sure that it is worthy of Keith and Corie. ;) The other thing that is means is that I am most certainly getting older. Our group of photography majors was really something particular: we were all very close. ::Sigh.::

Luckily, things are looking good... I can't wait to hear what they think of these first few favorites... :) I am so excited about these.

Here is the layout for their Engagement Portrait book...

http://jessicahorwitz.com/08_Clients/Corie_and_Keith/ebook/

Click on the above link to see the layout larger... :)

Packway Portraits...

2008-01-17T03:45:00.001-05:00

For the sake of inventory, I wanted to get these portraits of the boys up here before they became left behind. It was Tom's idea to shoot around this enormous power plant. While we were driving around, scoping out the area, we found the deep red mud. :) These are fun ...

animated gifs... ;)

2008-01-11T01:25:00.000-05:00

OK... so, hopefully, this is kind of adorable. I have been editing the new promo portraits I did for the Packway Handle Band and Tom mentioned an animated gif for their myspace page icon. :) Never before had I made an animated gif, but it was pretty simple and once it was created I decided it is the most hilarious thing. Here is the .gif for the boys...

But then, I decided that it was funny enough that I needed some for myself. :) And... a few weeks ago, we did some portraits near the house of us. AND Vicki and I took these really funny pictures of us goofing around with the cameras. AND... well... :) Here is mine, taken by my favorite second shooter, my sister Vicki...

And, then, Vicki's. Speaking of Vicki... she deserves a big job well done for officially being accepted into UGA's Law School! We are all very proud of her. :) Congratulations, Vicki!

Liz and Matthew... Waycross, Ga

2008-01-08T06:37:00.000-05:00

Here goes my New Year's valiant effort to maintain my blog. :) This year, very much like last year, I absolutely vow to post more often in my blog. Reminiscing, I went back through my posts recently and they are starting to feel like a chronicle of my work. I appreciate, looking back, that they are there... :) What a brilliant thing... blogs.

Here are some of my favorite images from Liz and Matthew's winter (a southern type of winter) wedding... :)

the packway handle band...

2008-01-02T23:45:00.000-05:00

SO... here is the exciting final layout (and some of the progress stages) for the Packway Handle Band's new self titled album. I know we all worked super hard on it and I am really thrilled with the album art. It is seriously very fun to have made these booklet materials. The guys play around a single mic setup... we decided to use the mics as the subject and came back with some really interesting images. :)

The album is not quite released yet, but the CDs have all been delivered and are anxiously awaiting their release later this month in Athens.

First, here is the front of the new album booklet:

and the back of the case:
... and the inside of the booklet.
These microphone portraits were so much fun to make and I wanted to post several more of my favorite images from that shoot. :)

season's greetings...

2007-12-26T19:32:00.000-05:00

Since 2004, I have had the honor of photographing the Access2Access Holiday party each year. Over the time that we have all known each other, we have all become good friends. Several of their families are my portrait clients and two of my brides from 07, work with Access. I am so fond of these people: they are all particularly kind, always welcoming and every year for the holidays, they all gather with their families and invite me to photograph them. Happy Holidays to all... with some images from their 2007 Holiday Party at Maggiano's in Buckhead.

Radha and Adam:: Callenwolde, Atlanta GA

2007-11-29T02:57:00.001-05:00

Radha and Adam were married at Callenwolde in Atlanta at the end of October. Their outdoor ceremony was stunning, complete with beautiful acoustic music and (most importantly) fire. ;) We really had a great time shooting their event. For dinner, we all (300+ guests) feasted on both delicious Indian food AND build your own pasta. Yum.

Two days before was the henna party. It was intimate, with close family and friends, and a news reporter! :) Radha's hands make a heart when the two are held together... both Radha and Adams names are hidden carefully in the henna designs. Everyone had a blast finding the names.

little Myles...

2007-11-28T02:02:00.000-05:00

This has been such an incredible fall. I have had all sorts of interesting portrait sittings to keep up with... for example, these super adorable portraits here are of Myles, the first child of some of my prior wedding clients, Claire and Justin. He was such an amazing child to photograph... absolutely the most well mannered baby I have been around. He shows so much personality in these portraits. :) Congratulations Claire and Justin!

holiday cards II...

2007-11-07T01:33:00.002-05:00

The pricing and ordering information to get your own cards is located here on my newsletter...

For the second round of Holiday Cards for this year, I have a few engagement sittings from this Fall...

holiday cards ...

2007-11-03T04:29:00.001-04:00

I have made some holiday cards for the 2007 season...

:) Contact me to have custom cards made from your sitting, wedding or event. The cards are 5x5, and the layouts pictured feature the front and the back on the top, and the folded inside on the bottom.

Click on any image to view it larger...

Elizabeth and Donovan:: The Highlands, NC

2007-10-25T01:20:00.003-04:00

Elizabeth invited us, along with her wedding guests, to a gorgeous weekend wedding at the Half Mile Farm in the Highlands, North Carolina. Her weekend started with a rehearsal dinner adorned with blue and white checkered table cloths, bar-b-que and bluegrass. It rained throughout most of the evening, until sunset, when a huge vibrant rainbow set out over the lake. By the morning, when we photographed their breakfast event, the sun was shining and their outdoor ceremony facing the stunning Appalachian mountains went on famously. It was one of my favorite events this fall and we really had a blast shooting it. Here are some of my favorite images from the wedding day...

Also, then, I am sampling out a new interface for client websites, where you can access all of your sittings from one site. Click on the image below to view their site, www.elizabethanddonovan.com

Maya and Coran: Twelve Hotel

2007-10-06T00:59:00.002-04:00

I am slowing finishing up my new website... which I am very, very excited about. It will be ready very soon...

It features all new work... portfolios upon portfolios, a very yummy intro slideshow, detailed product information... Heaven on earth. Its work, has unfortunately, slowed my blog update progress.

So I wanted to drop in with some portraits of Maya and Coran from their wedding day...

:) Here is their slideshow, it is a baby miracle... Maya and Coran were wed at Twelve Hotel in Atlantic Station. They had 350 guests and hosted a really stunning event. :)

I've created a myspace page...

2007-08-23T01:09:00.000-04:00

I've decided that I believe in the myspace's value for networking and as such, I have decided to create a myspace page. AND... I've made something really cool happen with them... I have made little mini slideshows for my client's weddings and portraits... that they can post on their own myspace pages!

** If you are a current client and you would like one, first, find me on myspace ( http://www.myspace.com/jessicahorwitzphotography is my location) ... add me as a friend, and then send a message to let me know you would like one. I will send you back the code to paste and voilà! A mini slideshow to share (more easily) with everyone you love!

So... since I've talked about these fabulous little shows so much, I thought, what better way to introduce them than to post a new wedding slideshow here. Kate and Jay were married at Big Canoe ... they proved that perhaps the tale that rain on your wedding day really does mean a lifetime of beautiful marriage. These two were made for each other and you can so easily see how close they are... Just press play to watch. Enjoy!

Welcome to the world little Matthew!

2007-08-09T17:18:00.002-04:00

So... Honey, a bride from a few years back, has finally had her first baby! Matthew is absolutely gorgeous and we decided to make these portraits at home. I really love shooting portraits in home spaces. Their environments are so relevant to day to day life... :) And little Matthew did so well... we even got the newborn to make a few smiles at us.

I also made them these two canvas storyboards to hang in their home from the portraits. (To view these larger, just click on the image and it will open a new window with a larger image.)
Aren't they beautiful... ?!?! Just imagine... you could have one of these hanging in your home of your own children! : )

And, of course, because this one is really a tear-jerker... here is matthew's slideshow.

spending the day on the tech campus...

2007-08-09T03:08:00.000-04:00

This is Matthew and Liz. They are going to have a winter wedding and I am really very excited for the event... they are phenomenal beauties and are so much fun to work with! Here are their engagement portraits, from a (semi) rainy day in the middle of the city. :)

So... I also made them this canvas wrap, in a storyboard style, featuring some of my favorite images. (Like any image in this blog, if you click on it, it will open a new window with a larger view...)

And then, of course, the link to their slideshow...

and the layout for their engagement book...

:)

spiderman and cinderella

2007-07-25T04:20:00.000-04:00

I went to Wisconsin this weekend for the yearly family picnic to see my relatives. We meet every year at a lake, and I always end up sunburned from spending too much time in the boat. Oh, how I love the lake. :) AND... my cousin has these adorable kids... and the light was just right.

Jennifer and Scott:: Whitlock Inn, Marietta GA

2007-07-14T03:56:00.002-04:00

Maybe some day my blog will keep up with my shooting schedule. In the meantime, here is one more May wedding. This was actually Jennifer and Scott's First Anniversary and their daughter proved to be a very photogenic baby. :) She had an adorable matching bridal dress and kept giving me those curious baby eyes... Jenifer's wedding was at the beautiful historic Whitlock Inn in Marietta. Events like these inspire me to make more beautiful work. :)

Julie and Oscar:: Parent's House, Macon, GA

2007-07-14T03:20:00.001-04:00

I know that it is not fair to choose favorites, but Julie and Oscar really threw a really beautiful event. Their reception was at Julie's parents house and it was outdoors and tented. For their first dance, they waited until after their parent dances and then they broke out into a salsa... it was actually really romantic. :) They almost made me cry. Here are some of my most favorite images from their wedding. Don't forget about the sideshow at the bottom of the post ... where you would find dancing pictures and the like ;) !

www.oscarandjulie.com

:) some people just always photograph well...

2007-07-09T04:44:00.000-04:00

This is Maya and Coran... now, their sitting was at Stone Mountain as well and I am realizing that I have exceeded my temporary limit on Stone Mountain sittings for the blog. :) Nonetheless... these images are worth it...

And... of course, here is the link to their engagement book...

check out these cuties...

2007-06-08T05:21:00.000-04:00

Diana and Jonathon's engagement sitting was at the ever perfectly made for engagement sittings Stone Mountain Park... they will be wed in August and I am really looking forward to their wedding. :)

Here is the link for their beautiful little 7x7 hardbound engagement book...

Abby and Jesse:: Cedar Plantation, Acworth GA

2007-06-02T14:30:00.001-04:00

As I head out the door to this afternoon's wedding, I wanted to post a recently edited wedding that came with some really exciting images. :) This is Abby and Jesse....

And here is the link to their slideshow...

Sabrina and Casey:: Vacoma at the Yellow River, Snellville GA

2007-06-01T20:37:00.001-04:00

While sorting through files just now, I found these wedding files I had made from Sabrina and Casey's wedding a few weeks ago that I completely forgot to post! What a find this is... their wedding was in April here in Snellville at Vecoma... absolutely adorable.

Here is the link for their slideshow...

Chatham's Baptism....

2007-05-29T16:30:00.000-04:00

And here is something else that is different ... being that I am Jewish, I was particularly fortunate to photograph Chatham's baptism on Mother's Day. I was so thrilled with this sitting.... :)

View his slideshow here... very adorable. :)

boating... in Lenox Park

2007-05-17T02:56:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I get really fun clients. Obviously, it makes me really happy. So... look and see what I get to do and call work...

This was Sean and Erin's idea and it all came together perfectly. We shot their engagements in Lenox Park in the middle of the city and drug a canoe into the lake. ;) Fabulous!

So, then, like usual, I made them a very perfect little engagement book... click here to see it. :)

Kelly's Bridals...

2007-05-09T05:39:00.000-04:00

I did Kelly's engagement sitting a while back and she was so excited about her images that she referred a bunch of girls from work to me ... I ended up doing portrait sittings for their families and I gained some really wonderful clients.

Kelly also decided that she wanted to come back before the wedding for a bridal portrait sitting... she talked the folks at the Primrose Cottage, where she is having her wedding into letting us use the property on a weeknight...

These are seriously very, very cute. Thanks Kelly!

I also made a really adorable bridal portrait book for Kelly... here is the link to view the layout...

the new Dovetail brochure

2007-05-04T04:56:00.000-04:00

A really fun part of my job is getting to do different types of work all of the time. The other day, I photographed some lifestyle images for the Dovetail Companies in Athens for their new brochure campaign. Its really interesting for me to get to shoot in such a different type of environment... I really had fun with some of these shots. :)