Reflections by Luna

Let me stop for a second to tell you that I am seriously the luckiest photographer in the world. My clients are always so fabulous to work with. That's true of my session with the Pushko family, too! I met up with them March 16 at Leone Price Park in Kennesaw and the weather was perfect for photo-taking. It was cool spring weather with just the right mix of cloud cover and sunlight. While the weather was fine, it was the Pushko family that made this shoot such a blast! When you meet that special someone that you choose to spend the rest of your life with, you might think they will be your one and only love. But the minute that little child comes into your life you will realize that there is more than just your significant other and the love of a parent and child is more than one can even comprehend. Watching your child grow and learn and discover is so much fun. You learn to see everything through their eyes and they give you a whole new perspective on life. T...

We all know that Mom and her baby are the stars of the show when it comes to a maternity session, but there’s no denying the sweetness of having the entire family in the frame, too. I love capturing the raw, candid moments between parents and siblings, and pressing pause on a moment in time that would otherwise go by so quickly and without preservation! Being able to photograph a mother’s journey through pregnancy is probably one of the greatest gifts I can give to others. Capturing that love for the little one as well as the rest of the family is my goal during every maternity session. Carrying a little one in your belly for nine months is not an easy task. Doing it with 5 other kids can make it even more difficult. But the joy of having that little one in your life will surpass all the pain and hardship you may have dealt with during the pregnancy. Every baby is a blessing to the family it is born to and this one was no different. My shoot with TY and the rest of her fa...

Even though pregnancy comes with a lot of difficult trials, it is an amazing time in your life. It is a time of celebration and of anticipation as you prepare to meet your little bundle of joy. It’s a time where you become strong – stronger than you ever thought you could possibly be. During this time, you create your initial bond with your child that will continue throughout your entire lives. There are very few women who actually feel like they are beautiful while they are pregnant – especially during the first pregnancy. However, the miracle of pregnancy is a beautiful thing. Swollen feet, stretch marks, and hormone changes aside – you are growing a real live human being inside of you. All of those side effects come from different things your body has to do to help nourish and protect your baby. You are beautiful, and you should take the time to celebrate these changes and this amazing moment in your life. These photos will be a great gift to pass down to your child as an ...

When I was a military wife, I got called superwoman, super mom, super awesome but there are women out there that deserve that title more than me. Single moms. Yes, I was alone w/5 kids for months at time but daddy always came back and was there in the background providing support as much as he could be. Single moms are just that; single. They don't have that constant support of another parent to help or give them a break. They literally do it all. They are doctors, teachers, providers, defenders, protectors. The very definition of a superwoman can be found in any single mom working hard to raise their children and provide for them on their own. My client on Saturday is of those superwomen. She has three amazing children who absolutely adore her. I had the pleasure of capturing that adoration and love between mother and children this weekend. Grandma was there as a support but she is still one strong momma. Balancing everything can be difficult but she does it all. So he...

There is a time when sorrow can hit. A time for joy, and a time for pain. It may or may not be expected. The loss of a child is a tragedy that defies all others. It might happen during pregnancy, infancy, childhood or even adulthood. No matter when it happens it leaves a hole in the heart of those left behind. Miscarriage/infant loss is something isn't talked about often because of the different feelings it may come up. The rainbow is a symbol of hope and peace. It’s also a symbol of joy. A rainbow baby is a term used to describe an infant born after the loss of another child. 1 in 4 women experience infant loss during pregnancy or even birth. Any child born after that is considered the "rainbow of hope after the storm." This child may be extra special. Not only do they have a family here but also up in heaving watching over them. Celebrating the creation of life during pregnancy is amazing but it’s even more special when that child holds special meaning and has...

The journey between mother and child begins before baby is born. It begins in those first moments of creation and continues for eternity. There is a huge bond between a mother and child and especially when they are young, that child looks to their mother for life, for knowledge, and for nourishment. This weekend, I got to capture a mommy and me session. As a mother myself, I am usually the one behind the camera and that was the same for this mom. She wanted to capture those daily moments that might not be captured otherwise. Holding hands, singing songs, playing games, special moments that are normally not caught on camera are what I was able to capture this weekend. Moments that when little O is older, mom can look back at and moments little O can look back on when she is older or a mom herself. Thank you L and O for letting me capture these special moments for you.

On Saturday, I had the pleasure of photographing an amazing couple. They have spent the last 8 years together and have been engaged for 2 and will be tying the knot officially in May. It was so much fun to capture their love story. It didn't take much to make them laugh and smile. Even after 8 years you could still see how much they loved each other. Capturing the very essence of their emotion and their connection was my goal and it was so easy with how expressive they were. One of my favorite movies growing up was Beauty and the Beast. The main lesson of Beauty and the Beast was "The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return." (Eden Ahbez) You guys have learned to love and are continuing to love. During the good the bad, the ugly, the amazing, remember that love that you have nurtured together. Never forget to just love each other no matter what. It's hard to find true love but you got it! Congrats on your engagement and th...

Tips for eliminating Fake smiles Kids are completely unpredictable. They can be so adorable and easy going and laughing uncontrollably one minute, and the next minute, turn that charm off completely. They will typically smile for you all day long until you put them in front of a camera, then they freeze up like a deer in headlights. We want to avoid the gritted teeth and bug-eyed forced smiles during our session. Here are some things you can do to help all of us have a fantastic session and guarantee that the smiles that I capture are genuine smiles and not forced. If you have any other ideas/suggestions please feel free to comment on the post and I can add them for future clients. My goal is to capture the best memories possible for you and your family. Here are some things you can do: 1. Make a list of things that your child thinks are funny and send it to us prior to the session. This way, we can be prepared and add these things into our bag of tricks. 2. Also...

Christmas time and the holidays are one of my favorite times of the year. Its a special time were families become closer and really focus on what is important things. Sometimes family is far away and you can only talk via phone or video chat. But sometimes they are able to come and visit. This year was a special year for the W family. For the first time in several years. the entire extended family was together. 6 families, 22 people, all in one house. 4 generations. I had the privilege of photographing this family on Christmas eve. There was so much love and excitement. Sisters, cousins, aunts, grandparents, great grandparents, grandkids, and great grandkids. All together sharing joy and laughter. I love capturing memories like these. The patriarch and matriarch of the family were still very much in love which was shown when they did their couple pose they immediately kissed. The rest of the family just cheered them on. They created a beautiful legacy and it was a gift ...