Albums by Pear Tree Photography

I have been so excited to share my albums with you, but needed to wait until after Christmas.  This one was being given as a surprise present to the bride from my October wedding at Red Top Mountain state park.  I was told it was a big hit!  And there might have been tears.

I love that I'm not limited to just a leather binding and can use a photograph for the album cover.

Designing albums initially seemed like an overwhelmingly daunting task to me.   There are so many different companies to choose from for the printing.  There are so many different options to choose from after deciding on a printer like press printed, flush mount or lay flat albums.  And there was the matter of actually designing the album and choosing which software to use.

I love how photographs can extend right off the page, filling up every inch of the spread.

I ultimately decided on Adobe's InDesign software as Adobe's support is great (I primarily use Lightroom for editing my photographs, although I also use Photoshop).  I had the help of Lauren Lim from Photography Concentrate to make sense of all the bells, whistles, drop down menus and toolbars in Adobe InDesign.   I bought her tutorial and feel it was the best money I have ever spent.  I received hours upon hours of videos with the most thorough hands-on action and instruction and could not be more impressed.

I love that I can tell a story without words and details of the day will speak volumes in this heirloom album.

Once I designed the album, I uploaded it to my gallery site to share with the bride's family for feedback.  If you click here, then you can see a few of the spreads from the album.  Double-click on the image and you can see it even larger.  Clients can leave comments under each spread stating what they do like or what they would like changed.  This makes it super easy for me to understand requested changes and eliminates the need for back/forth emails or references to particular PDF files to tweak the album.

The thickness of the pages and quality of the paper and photos....wow.  Just wow!

This is a lay flat album, which means the pages will all open and then lay flat on their own.  The bonus to this is that the crease is barely noticeable.  Photographs can spread across the middle of the album without losing any impact.

This is still my favorite photograph from this special day.

I am so over-the-moon excited about being able to provide these albums.  The quality of them from cover to cover is absolutely phenomenal.  I wish you could reach through your monitor and hold it in your hands because it really is amazing! 

My album company is based out of Iowa and is filled with good people striving to provide excellent service and products AND in a faster turnaround time than is standard for most printing companies.  Do you see me doing the happy dance right now?  Amazing quality AND in my clients' hands in no time.  Double win!

Behind the Scenes {for photographers}

Here is a great shady spot with a neutral background that won't distract from my subjects.

That shade looks so dark from far away, but once in it there is plenty of light to illuminate my two cuties.  The sky is a natural reflector, as is the white building behind my back.

All the Best!

My family celebrated Christmas yesterday.  We were surrounded by family and my kids were spoiled by many grandparents.  The house was filled with laughter, Christmas carols and love.

From my family to yours, wishing you all the best as this year comes to a close and new one begins!

Behind the Scenes {for photographers}

Getting my feet off the ground helps me out tremendously.  We will refrain from short people jokes here, as there are many and I embrace my shortness.  By climbing up several feet on my ladder, my composition changes and the background buildings are eliminated.  As are possible double chins that so many of us want to avoid because folks won't be looking down.  Double-bonus.  Ok, no more puns.

See?  No buildings puts the focus solely on these two and the moment they are sharing.  And a shot that neither will look at and think, "I wish I would have stuck out my chin more." 

I'm always looking for ways to show off my clients in their best light.  I want to capture images as if they were taken through the eyes of whomever loves the subject the most and share that same love with anyone who looks at my photographs.


Our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy.
That is not our business and, in fact, it is nobody's business.
What we are asked to do is to love, and this love itself will render both ourselves and our neighbors worthy if anything can.

Thomas Merton (1915 - 1968) 

Behind the Scenes {for photographers}

What we see driving by looks like a bunch of old buildings, aging slowly and in various states of disrepair.  Crumbling cement steps.  Graffiti here and there.  But if we look a little closer and into the shade, we can find lovely spots to interact where the sun isn't making us squint and we can just be ourselves.

Standing where the red arrow is pointing above:

Help-Portrait 2011

My local photography society hosted the Help-Portrait project this year.  I was one of several photographers who participated to photograph foster families of Atlanta, as well as the kids individually.  Many of the photos will be printed and given to the families in 8x10s and 5x7s, as well as CD's of all the images.  I helped set up a background and lights, as well as assisted in posing kids, getting them to smile and a bit with editing as memory cards were shuffled between camera and laptop.  There were more photographers than necessary, so I only got to photograph one kid.....my personal assistant!

No, he has not seen Home Alone.  He is just good at being extra goofy.  And also extra sweet and thoughtful.  He asked if he could give out candy canes to each of the kids as a special Merry Christmas offering, so we made sure to bring along dozens.  I love that he wanted to do this with me and that he talks about working with me when he is older.  Makes me sigh and my heart overflow.

The H Family {Canton photographer}

This is the lucky family that won a free photo shoot from me at a Fall Festival two months ago.  I was so excited when we got a date scheduled to meet up this past weekend!

Is this not the largest lollipop you have ever seen?  I brought back two for these kids from my trip to Disney World over Thanksgiving.  Thank you Mrs. H for letting me give these massive amounts of sugar to your children!!!

These two were a bit shy at first, but by the end I was being asked by them to go on Medium Walks (not short and definitely NOT long walks) and hold hands as we balanced on railroad tracks together.  I even got a hug from the littlest!

Both kids were just the sweetest.  Throughout the hour we were together, I could not stop thinking how they were both Mini-Me's to their parents.

Thank you to the H Family for coming out on a gorgeous day with no naps.  Your children were absolutely wonderful and I had fun with you all!

Christmas Mini-Session - {Woodstock photographer}

Do you remember these two little girls?  They're growing up fast!  I loved their Christmas outfits.

I asked if I could borrow her boots and was told no.

I asked if I could borrow her cute shirt and was told no again.  Sigh.

Sneak Peek - H Family {Canton photographer}

Here is a sneak peek from my family session yesterday afternoon.  More coming this week.  All I can say is, "Wow!"   I loved this family and their kids were just THE sweetest!