As you all know, I’m currently taking a little break from my business as I focus on homeschooling my children.  BUT (you knew there was a but coming, right?!) when a friend you’ve had since FOURTH grade has a baby… well that makes you NEED to pull out the camera, right?!!?  I had hoped to photograph sweet little Emalyn throughout her infancy but alas, moving four hours away throws a few kinks in the plans!!

So, here we are THIS precious baby turned SEVEN months on the day of our session!

Photographing babies who can sit up and smile and coo is just fun.  Photographing those same babies outside in my favorite field, at sunset is just ridiculously fun.  Add ALL that together with the fact that little Miss Emalyn is SERIOUSLY SERIOUSLY SERIOUSLY adorable and soooooooooooo happy — you’ve got it… I had the most FUN ever.  We changed this baby FOUR times, we put her in fields, in baskets, on blankets, on little doll beds and in her Mommy’s arms.  She was happy and sweet and never even fussed.  Especially once we let her chew on a little grass (hey, its fiber, right?!?)

So now I present quite possibly the happiest sitting up baby that I have ever ever photographed.  She’s got blue eyes and chubby cheeks for days and she’s gonna melt your heart. 

So this is just a tiny little scraping of all the FABULOUS images I capture of sweet little Emalyn.  Sooo, I think this will be PART ONE of a blog post for her!   Hahaha, my blog, I can do that, right?!

Enjoy!

Summer

So it’s been a little quiet on the blog.  I’ve hinted at things in my LAST post but never really discussed it fully.  When my family moved here to the Atlanta area, we decided we would be homeschooling our two girls.  It wasn’t an easy decision nor one we took lightly but a decision that worked the best for our family, in our current state.  With that, I decided that I would put my business on the “back burner” so to speak.  I’m not closing doors, I’m not quitting, I’m not STOPPING.  I just knew I needed to focus on this new state of “normal” for my family.  I had to figure out how to be the best teacher for my children, possible.  I needed to give my kids ALL of me.  So I decided that I would just take things slow and start researching locations and possibilities here in Atlanta.  I also didn’t want to rush into business here and NOT be able to give my clients what they truly deserve.  I want to KNOW locations, I want to know what to expect with the light, and honestly want to get more comfortable with the area.

SO, all that being said, I have not been taking sessions here in Atlanta yet. For those of you who have contacted me, I do hope we can work together in the future.  I hope to begin taking sessions again, officially, in the spring.  I hope by then, our new routine will feel like “normal” and I’ll really know the area so much better by then.

Now you are probably wondering what in the world does THIS have to do with the Brock Family.  I’m getting there, I promise.  In our time here, we’ve begun meeting new friends and new families.  My husband is a youth minister here in the area at Mountain Park United Methodist Church.  So really the ONLY people we’ve gotten to know are the people from the church.  One of those families has been very active in our lives since we moved.  They were apart of the hiring committee, a part of the welcoming committee and now are a very important part of our youth group volunteers.  Their oldest son is also in the youth group.  So when I finally found a location that I just loved, I knew I needed a chance to test it out on more than just MY pretty little girls (because although they are pretty, they aren’t a full family and they are used to getting photographed).  I needed someone to be my guinea pigs models to really make sure these locations work well with families.  As a mom, I also like to make sure a location will work with small children.  My 7 year old knows better than to go running into the creek but I needed to make sure it was the type of location I’d feel safe taking small children to, as well!   This is where the Brock Family comes into the picture.  We spent a FABULOUS fall evening in Stone Mountain Park.
I have previously lived in TN for 30 years.  I’ve always thought it was a great place to live and still think so.  But man oh man, the Atlanta  area is AMAZINGLY GORGEOUS in the fall.  Like wow.  Like blow my mind, wow.  The trees are INSANE.  Every possibly fall color you can imagine and there is just SO much of it.  And it lasted a good amount of time too!  We had fabulous temperatures, beautiful trees, and great light.  Put it all together… with a great family… and that makes me a happy gal!  So here, without further ado, is the Brock Family.  Thanks guys!

When a family has THIS much fun together… you KNOW its going to be a fun session!

I think its sooo important to get pictures of JUST mom and dad!

And pictures of each kid with each parent too… so sweet to see mom & sons and then dad & sons!

And let’s not forget each boy and the boys together! 

I can’t wait to shoot more Atlanta area families next Spring!
Summer

Well things have been quiet here at Whitehill Photography. (Although no where NEAR quiet in the Hillesheim household!!)  If you don’t know, Whitehill Photography relocated.  My husband was offered a new job: in a new city, in a new state.  At one point, we thought we would be moving to Florida.  Alas, God has different plans for us.  We really try to follow where God leads us and God lead us to a “little” town called Atlanta in a “little” state called Georgia.  Now technically speaking, we don’t live within the city – we are a bit east (north east even) of the actual downtown Atlanta area.  But who’s splitting hairs here (I know I’m not.. and since I own the blog, I get to say what goes).      Our church is located in a cute little town located in Lilburn, Georgia (here in Gwinnett County).  We actually live just a bit down the road in Stone Mountain, Georgia (which is Dekalb County, even though its like 10 minutes away!).  And yes Stone Mountain is home to well… Stone Mountain.  The strangest, largest piece of rock around!!!

I’ve been asked my MANY of my former clients if I’d come back and shoot occasionally in Murfreesboro or the Nashville area.  The answer is YES.  But its going to be for limited sessions and really only when my schedule allows.  Having my husband’s job (he’s a youth minister) and my sweet little girls’ schedules PLUS my own business here to juggle, those visits will be selective.  I’m sure you can understand that!  Feel free, however, to send me an email and ask about the next time we’ll be in town.  I can surely put you on a list (a good list, not a bad list)!

That being said, the blog will probably NOT be nearly as busy as you are used to seeing.  We have a whole new life to adjust to here and with that, I’m going to purposefully slow down.  My girls had a fabulous life in Murfreesboro and although I know that life will be EVEN MORE fabulous here in Atlanta, I want to devote much of my attention to helping them getting adjusted to our new life.  There will be more on that topic later, I’m sure.  I’ll be taking regular sessions of THEM and hopefully I’ll slowly start shooting here in Atlanta, as well.  Baby steps though, baby steps.

And really… I have to find ALL new locations to shoot at too.  I pride myself (pride before the fall maybe) on finding fun, lovely sun-DRENCHED locations that really lend to my style of shooting.  And that means searching high and low.  Goodness knows in Atlanta we have PLENTY of options for urban locations.  And in the outskirts of Atlanta, we have PLENTY of trees for some more natural, rustic images – as well.  And guess what, I’ve even found a FIELD!  And a pretty little pond just calling my name!  So far, I’ve bribed my children to let me take a few shots of them in a few local parks and although they are different from my old locations… I think I’m finding my groove here!  And to prove just that, I’m going to leave with you a few little pretties of them.    And to give my new Atlanta followers an idea of just what we can do at some of our local parks.

Starting off with Stone Mountain Park.  This is, well… on that big piece of rock that is pretty hard to miss.  I’ve got SEVERAL ideas for some gorgeous images here but ya know, the little ones reallllly wanted to play on the playground so we had to make it quick!

This little girl (my youngest) used to be TORTURE to photograph (she hated it).  Needless to say, she’s becoming quite the model for Momma.  Everytime I look at this image, it takes my breath away. 

This big girl actually loves to be in front of the camera and really has been quite easy to photograph.  Of course, there comes a time in every child’s life when they start to stiffen up.  I’m having to work a little more to loosen her up.  I think she’s so bent on looking just so, she forgets to just be herself.  Momma’s little (beautiful) perfectionist. 

I want to know, where does this child come up with her posing AND her sass?  I think she was just born with a certain amount of sass and spunk and its not going ANYWHERE!

Just a tiny example of some of the great spots I saw right there in Stone Mountain Park, GA.  If you’ve never BEEN to Stone Mountain Park you really really should check it out!  We’ve yet to check out the theme park (although its certainly on our list of fun things to do here) but from all that I can see, there is just a ton of fun things to do there!

I’ve got more images to show you of another park in the Atlanta area and then I’ll be sure to post again once we take the back to school/fall images of my girls.  I’m going to use the adorable pond I found virtually in my back yard! YAY for close locations!

Summer

I’ve photographed little David as a newborn and now I got the chance to photograph all three siblings together.  David wasn’t really sure he wanted to sit with big sisters but we pulled out some great images, nonetheless! Enjoy.

Summer

Drum roll please, its my BFF.  That crazy girl that used to run the halls, stay up until the middle of the night talking to me and was always there for me… wait she STILL DOES ALL THAT. 

I love photographing her family, not ONLY b/c they are insanely cute and not ONLY b/c I love them but they make my job easy.  And well its so much fun to pass on your talents to someone you love.  : ) Here they are in all their fabulousness… enjoy!

Summer

Emily has been telling me, for some time, that she would most definitely need ME to photograph her senior portraits.  So when Emily and her mom Tammy heard that we were relocating, her mom was on the ball and scheduled a session before her junior year was even over! Unfortunately, rain and illness forced us to reschedule several times but finally we had a HOT, sunny day to photograph this beautiful, upcoming Siegel High Senior!  Enjoy.

Summer

These little boys are just too terribly adorable.  It was a hot, buggy day and neither brother was entirely sure they wanted to hang out with me but well they are just too cute for words and I love getting the chance to hang out with their sweet mom and chit chat a little!  Enjoy.

Summer

Its not a secret that I don’t take on many weddings.  For now, I’ve chosen to focus on the portrait side of photography.  However, sometimes a couple will come along who I click with and who seems to really understand my style of photography and how that works with weddings.  This couple is one of those.  Dave & Jen had a beautiful, intimate wedding with all of their closet friends and family on a HOT day in May.  I loved the colors they chose to use to accent their day (how could I not, they very close resemble my OWN branding colors!??!), I love the connections they had with everyone their on their important day and I love the connection and love the two of them share.  It was a fabulous day, congratulations Jen & Dave! Enjoy.

The beautiful bride

The handsome groom

Fabulous shoes

The sweet and timid little ringbearer

Just look at the look on his face while they exchange rings… love!

The kiss!

Love the balloons in front of the church

Sigh…

A close knit group.

The rings

And the first dance… again… love the way they look at each other!

Many blessing Jen & Dave!
Summer

If you could see HOW many images I took at this session, it would be a good showing of just how much fun I had shooting this fabulously gorgeous young girl.  Katie is a sweet, gorgeous, FUN young lady who will be graduation from Seigel High next May.  Both her and her mom were just so much fun to work with.  I don’t know HOW many times her mom and I just gasped, we could just SEE just how beautiful these images were going to be!  Even better, Katie’s mom Laurie contacted me as soon as she heard that we were relocating.  She just HAD to have ME photographer Katie before I left and I couldn’t be MORE honored or more flattered! Enjoy.

Summer

There is just something really really cool about watching a child grow.  As a photographer, its especially fun to see this same child come back, time and time again – at each big milestone.  I’ve been photographing sweet Bella (& her sweet parents) since she was 3 months old.  She really wasn’t overwhelming in love with the idea of our session but we got some beautiful images that I just love!  Enjoy.

Summer