Mar 09 2012

Spring Cleaning Daily #1

My Simple Life

Recently, I watched a TED Talk on the topic of stuff. I can be happy with less stuff and I definitely have more stuff than I need. So I’m starting to purge. My wife teases me that I’m a hoarder, although I don’t think I’m that bad. I do tend to hang on to insignificant things much longer than I should. These items usually have a small memory behind them or I have hopes of someday using it.

So I’m beginning this process by finding at least one thing to throw away, donate or sell. And it begins with a bunch of old papers and old DVDs and CDs. The contents of these discs have since been backed up to the cloud and my primary MacBook Air doesn’t even have a DVD drive. Good bye old stuff and hello to a simpler life.

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My Simple Life

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Nov 30 2011

I Married Her Family

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I truly enjoy my in-laws and I’m not just saying that because they read this blog. They have adopted me as one of their own and I don’t feel like an outsider at all. According to all of the comedy material being written out there for sitcoms and standup, I must be in the minority. I can only imagine the agony that some people must feel when they are forced to attend family gatherings. I am very thankful for a family that makes life better, not worse.

And get this, most of the in-laws are Cowboys fans too! My own family are all Cowboys fan (of course), but I won the lottery to have support on both sides! However, my father-in-law is a Niners fan, which is more of an issue of contention this year because the Niners are good…but, we did beat them this year for one of their 2 losses. Take that Mike! I just hope we don’t have to play them in the playoffs.

So, we were in CA for Thanksgiving this year and I was able to do a small session for Alysa’s cousin Nick and his family. I think this is our third session with them and Eli is goofy in all of them (see below). Can’t wait for next time…whenever that may be!

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Joey Tolbert - Alan (and Alysa), you have such an amazing gift. These are beautiful!

Jul 03 2011

Boxers in Buford

Life

As Jen and Halle and Mike piled out of the car with the dogs, we suddenly realized it has been almost two years ago since our last session. We couldn’t believe it! Rocky was a puppy, but no more! And we were thrilled to get to meet Mike, who was out of the country last time. We can see why Jen and Halle talked so much about him when he was gone. He kept us laughing and kept Halle from using her fake smile with his silliness.

The things that hadn’t changed: Halle is just as much fun at eight as she was at six when she ran around in a tutu and combat boots (one of our favorite sessions!). She very likely has a future on Broadway – she can ham it up, pose like a model and switch from emotion to emotion at the flip of a switch. Jen is beautiful and loves to laugh and brag on her family. Lexi, though getting old, is a trooper and tolerated the walking, the posing, and Rocky’s playfulness like a patient lady. And Halle even taught us a new, more efficient way to request a smile from our clients. Just yell, “TEETH!”

Thank you guys for a great morning. We hope you love your images and that you get all you need for your new art project, Jen!

Life

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Beth Greenwald - These photos are amazing. You all look fantastic!

Victoria Cook - Fabulous photos! Wow!

Renee Grigg - Awesome!!! Love them!

Kari Kennedy - Love those photos. Amazing.

Laura Sikora - LOVE the pix!

Mike Lynch - LOVE the pictures of your family!!

Susan Mannheimer - new pictures are UNBELIEVABLE!!! love them. you all look amazing – doggies too! :)

Joni Darmody - You really do good work, Alan. I love these shots. What a sweet family.

Lyn Shepherd - Fabulous work, love your style and ability to get the family to show their love.

Jun 03 2011

Top 5 Reasons why I loved this Memorial Day

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#1 Shade

We started our session with the Anthes family in the morning, in hopes of having cooler weather. No such luck. By 11am it was already 120 degrees — ok, it wasn’t 120 degrees, it just felt like it. But we managed to find a few areas with good light and decent shade.

Micah may be cute, but he’s one mean biker dude…

#2 Improvisation

Micah is tall — which means that his pants often don’t fit. If the pants are long enough for his legs, then the waist is too big and his pants end up on the ground. Mark and I started thinking about what we could do to cinch up the waist just before our session when I had an inspired idea. I found a small carabiner in my camera bag, which we used to discreetly cinch those belt loops tight. His pants stayed up the whole time and I felt like MacGyver (if you don’t get this reference, then I’m much older than you). And I know you’re not supposed to tell secrets like that, but it was so cool…

#3 Family

Mark and Kathy (Micah’s mom and dad) were so excited that Kathy’s parents and sister were coming for the weekend. Micah sure loves his grandparents, too! Mostly, I think Micah enjoys hitching a ride on Grandma’s walker. Smart boy…

It’s a true honor to be asked to document and capture moments between family.

It was also Mark and Kathy’s anniversary, so Alysa occupied Micah (and Margot, who got to come on her first photo shoot with daddy!) while I snapped a few of them in all their cuteness.

#4 Walking Like A Monkey

Micah has just started walking. So far, he can take a few steps but he’s not completely confident about it yet. So, he’s developed a hybrid crawl/walk that makes him look like a monkey. Put him in a gorilla costume for Halloween and he’d pull it off masterfully. Too bad October is so far away — he’ll be running around by then and then the whole plan will be ruined.

#5 Food!

Have you eaten at the Boathouse in Chattanooga? It overlooks the Tennessee River and their Chicken Salad Sandwich with Fried Okra on the side was fantastic. I’m a true Southern boy, I guess —I LOVE FRIED OKRA! Kathy’s dad was kind enough to treat us all to our meal – Thank you so much David! We owe you one!

P.S.

Here’s a quick glimpse of the REAL Mark and Kathy. Aren’t they ridiculously good looking? We love you guys!

P.S. – Kathy’s good friend Nathalie did her makeup and hair for the session. Doesn’t it look great!? If you need a good stylist for a party, photo session, wedding, or whatever, or just need to buy some new makeup, please contact Nathalie. Her website is, http://www.marykay.com/nwodzenski

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Baley Whary - Wow, what great pictures! You really do have a beautiful family, Kathy! :)

Julie Little - These are great shots, Alan!

Kathy Anthes - LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!!!! Can’t wait to see the rest :)

Jaclyn Pruehs - Great GREAT shots and I love your writing these days :-)

Zoe Andrews - Kathy those are just beautiful, thanks for sharing! we miss u all

Kelly Fogg - Like, Like, Like!

Kim De Ruyter - What a beautiful way to document your time together and your very special family! We love you all!

Amy Goss - Very good photos. I enjoyed reading the blog along with them.

Shannon Armantrout - Wow! What amazing pictures! You’re gorgeous and little Micah is a doll!!!!!!!! ♥ Thanks for sharing!!!

Carol Newmyer - You guys look fabulous!! I love all of these!

Julie Tiller - Loved the pics:)

Michele Heath - Kathy the pictures are great! Micah is such a cutie!

Jan Lopes - Great pictures Kathy……You have a beautiful family.

Jenny Spicer - great pics!!!

Holli Davidson - Another fantastic collection! The subjects are gorgeous and the shots stunning. Home-run Darmody & Anthes crew!

Joey Tolbert - Beautiful Beautiful BEAUTIFUL! Kathy is so gorgeous:) Mark and Micah are very handsome:) I LOVE the Micah photo above #5 where he’s crawling. Wow!

Jendoh - Great pictures! I love this family! ….. And on a side note, Ryan and I both started singing (I use that term loosely) Pants on the Ground.

Joni - What a fun family this is! It’s pretty obvious that Micah is the center of everything — as it should be! Great shots, Alan. I especially like the full family photo with Micah craning his neck backward to look at his daddy. Not every photographer would catch that spontaneous moment. Well done!

May 28 2011

Jumping on Grandma’s Bed

Life

The favorite part about photographing kids is seeing them grow up! It’s just so fun to be able to document how much kids change in such a short amount of time. Blaire was just learning to walk when I met her and her brother Tripp about 18 months ago, and Tripp has probably grown a foot taller! Blaire isn’t the shy girl she was was back then – she is a bundle of energy now, but I don’t think she can match her brother quite yet! Tripp is a ham for the camera, and he knows it. Kids like them make my job easy and fun – I can just chase them around and let them be kids and it makes for the best photos.

We started out with some portraits out on the front porch of Grandma’s house. They did an amazing job of smiling for me and sitting nicely for some family shots, but I could tell that they were thinking toward the future. They knew where this session was going to finish up – in Grandma’s room. Jumping on the bed!

As soon as we finished the first batch of photos, Tripp and Blaire peeled off their first outfits and put on their pajamas and they were off! Up the stairs to mess up Grandma’s bed. This is not a regular occurrence, I’m certain, and they relished every moment. However, Tripp quickly realized that the mattress wasn’t exactly what he was expecting. “It’s not very bouncy!” Tripp said. Grandma laughed, “Oh yeah, it’s a memory foam mattress!” This small roadblock didn’t change they’re attitudes – they just jumped with more energy and gusto to get as much air between their feet and the blankets below!

Thank you Tripp, Blaire, Leslie and Mike for having me over to play and take a few photos! I hope to come over again sometime soon!

A quick clothing change so that the real fun can begin! (I love home sessions because authentic moments like this can be captured.)And now, upstairs to jump on Grandma’s bed!1. 2. 3. JUMP!!!

Life

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Joni - What cute kids! I love these pics!

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