Becca Eiland Photography

Hunnicutt Family

2011-12-14T12:02:00.001-08:00

Becca Eiland Photography: The Alford Family Portraits LaGrange, GA

2011-12-08T12:18:00.000-08:00

It is fun to watch a family's personality come out during their session and this one was no exception. What better combination to be as a family but both laid-back and hilarious which is why none of us could stop laughing; and why the pictures came out so great. The weather even started to cooperate toward the end and out of no where came this brilliant sunset. Enjoy!!

Becca Eiland Photography: Mark & Laura's Wedding 11.5.11 LaGrange, GA

2011-12-02T10:52:00.000-08:00

As much as I love my portraiture work, there is nothing more inspiring than photographing a beautiful wedding and witnessing two people in love starting the rest of their lives together. I consider it an honor to be bestowed the task of capturing such an important day in two people's lives.

Mark and Laura allowed me just that honor and I'm excited to share a few sneak peaks from their special day. You'll see from the photos there was no shortage of love being shared that evening between family, friends and especially the newlyweds. Thank you and enjoy!!

P.S. Be sure to take note of the last photo...it's the father of the bride emptying his pockets at the end of the night!!

Becca Eiland Photography: Linch Family Portraits, LaGrange, GA

2011-11-29T12:58:00.000-08:00

Thank you to the Linch Family who took advantage of the recent Thanksgiving holiday to have their family portraits done. With sons living essentially at two opposite ends of the U.S. gathering together happens less frequently so commemorating that time together was important. It was an honor to capture that time together and watching three generations together. Enjoy!!!!

Becca Eiland Photography: The Hunnicutt Family, LaGrange, GA

2011-11-15T19:19:00.001-08:00

Ok, so I mentioned something in a previous post about being obsessed with red couches. Well....I found yet another one. Again, it was love at first sight. I wasn't bold enough during last year's session to ask to bring it outside but this year I built up the courage.

Funny part was, not only did we have it outside in one location, but we threw it on the trailer and took it down by the lake for yet another spot. I can't decide which are my favorites. We had this amazing light beaming down which might look like a mistake to some but I love the effect. But who can't fall in love with an image with such a breathtaking lake background. Now its your turn to decide....

Becca Eiland Photography: The Clement Family, Atlanta, GA

2011-11-15T18:52:00.000-08:00

Despite not being especially pumped about taking pictures at 10am in the morning when it was 55 degrees out and overcast, these four gorgeous girls warmed up to the idea and I might even go as far to say that they had a great time doing so. Ok, maybe they had an good time, but I had a great time.

Thanks to the entire Clement family for being such great sports and hopefully by now the feeling has returned to your toes (haha). Enjoy!!!

Becca Eiland Photography: The Webber Family Atlanta, GA

2011-11-15T18:39:00.000-08:00

Always a joy and privilege to photography this family annually as I've done for the last 5 years. It is amazing to watch these little ones grow from year to year. Something about these two, they are striking in front of the camera. No forced smiles or poses, they are naturals. They know just what to do and it shows. Enjoy!!

Becca Eiland Photography: Fab Four, LaGrange, GA

2011-11-15T18:23:00.000-08:00

Suffering from a case of ants in their pants, these four cuties gave me a run for my money during this holiday shoot. Our goal was not so much singles but two solid group shots of the kids. One set for holiday cards and the other for a commission wall piece where we take one photo and divide it into nine separate prints (more on that later). After dancing the jig and countless animal impersonations, I think we got it!!

Becca Eiland Photography: The DeVane Family, LaGrange, GA

2011-11-15T18:04:00.000-08:00

Bribery will get you everywhere as it did during this photo shoot of the gorgeous DeVane family and their four children.

It was the morning after a cold front and we waited until 11am and the temps finally got into the 50s before we ventured out into the cold. Despite the cold and countless, "one more shot" the kids were troopers. It was the promise of hot chocolate, marshmellows AND whip cream that kept them going until the bitter end. That and a few side trips to the car to get a shot of whip cream in their mouths. The did fantastic as you will see....

Becca Eiland Photography: The Durand Grandchildren, LaGrange, GA

2011-11-15T16:29:00.000-08:00

Never one to shy away from hijacking a couch and putting it outside I might crossed the line when I pulled this one out of our church to do a client's shoot after church one afternoon. I've been in love with this red couch since the day I laid eyes on it and was looking for an excuse to use it. I finally had one. Enjoy....

Becca Eiland Photography: Will & Emily

2011-11-07T18:09:00.000-08:00

This was the photo shoot of never-ending cool places to photograph. It was just me, the kids and a fully charged golf cart so we were a force to be reckoned with in the beautiful neighborhood of Highland Park. At one point I had to tell my chauffeur (aka Lead Foot Will) to stop finding cool places to photography because I was running out of disc space. Kudos to both these sweet and obliging kids, they were troopers and up for anything. I had a blast with you both. Thanks to your cooperation and guidance, these photos came out amazing!! Enjoy!!!

Senior Session: Allison, LaGrange, GA

2011-10-31T05:24:00.000-07:00

I forgot how much fun it is to photography high school seniors. They are about the only segment of my clients that are truly pumped about getting their portrait taken; the senior girls especially. They are all about the outfit changes, walking through suspiciously high grass, hauling furniture...you name it, they are game. Plus they have the stamina of a work horse- they won't stop working the camera until the last ray of light to work with is gone.

The other part to photographing seniors I love is the post-processing when I get to come home and create slightly more edgy photos than I do for my families or brides. Picking my favorites from this session were tough. They are all so different and gorgeous at the same time. Thank you to Allison for being such a rock star!! Enjoy....

The Portraits of The Donnett Family

2011-10-24T17:39:00.001-07:00

I'm not sure who was more excited about this photo shoot, my kids or I. The session took place at the house and it included not only one of my daughter's fellow classmates but also his new, and highly anticipated, service dog- Bear. The fact that Bear was actually coming to our house to star in the family photo shoot was almost too much for them to take. Needless to say all my kids played a role in this session trying to keep Bear focused on the camera and not on our cats. Kudos to the entire Donnett Family, you did a beautiful job! Enjoy......

Portraits for HOPE: The DeVante Family Sneak Peak

2011-09-28T06:52:00.000-07:00

And last, but certainly not least...the DeVane Family! Thank you for your patience and participation in Portraits for HOPE. Kudos to the DeVane children who were absolute angels despite being attacked by mosquitos at dusk and the smell of me after stepping in a gigantic pile of dog doo. They couldn't stop laughing at me hopping around and nearly gagging- as they should. I was quite a site! Enjoy!!

Portraits for HOPE- The Kunczewski Family Sneak Peak

2011-09-25T17:35:00.000-07:00

Thank you to Nicole and her gorgeous children for their participation in Portraits for HOPE. All three children did amazing, even if it meant doing so with a lollipop - a little bribery will get you everywhere! Enjoy.....

Portraits for HOPE: The Petite Family Sneak Peak

2011-09-25T17:22:00.000-07:00

Thank you to the Petite family for their participation in Portraits for HOPE. I never tire of photographing mommies and their babies be them big or small-the love that is shared between them is a beautiful think to capture. This session was no exception. Enjoy!!

Lindsay & Hans- St. Simon's Wedding: Epworth by the Sea & Historic Lighthouse

2011-05-20T05:59:00.000-07:00

For those of you who weren't lucky enough to attend this wedding, it won't be hard to tell what an amazing time was had by all just by looking at these photos. This project didn't even feel like work- between the overabundance of love between the family and the friends of this bride and groom and the great time being had by all, there was photo opp after photo opp. It was so hard to find only a handful of favorites for this sneak peak. Finally, I can honestly say I've never seen a dance floor get as much of a work out as this one did! Thanks to all!

Senior Portrait Session Sneak Peak: Zach Anderson + LaGrange, GA

2011-05-02T15:07:00.001-07:00

Here are a few sneak peaks from my recent senior session with Zach Anderson. His mother had one very simple request and that was to capture Zach's infectious smile which was not hard to do since he was smiling most of the time. As a matter of fact, this is one of the few male sessions I had to ask him to stop smiling long enough for me to get some serious shots. Great work Zach and keep smiling....Enjoy!

Engagement Sneak Peak: Dustin & Lauren, LaGrange, GA

2011-04-20T16:04:00.001-07:00

It was an honor to take Dustin and Lauren's engagement portraits over the weekend and the weather could not have been more perfect. You would never know by looking at these pictures that having their picture taken ranks up there with getting a root canal. There are more great shots where these came from. In the mean time here are a few of my favorites.....Enjoy!

Sneak Peak: Abby & Jonathan's Portrait Shoot, Sarasota, FL

2011-04-12T11:35:00.001-07:00

Spring Break in Sarasota was not all play, no work. I took an evening to photograph these two cuties and was so glad I did. They were such a delight and loved being in front of the camera. Abby was the little daredevil with a twinkle of fun in her eye and Jonathan was the proverbial older and wiser brother and complete professional. Thanks to all for a great time and great shoot!!

American Girl Doll Fashion Show: Del'avant, LaGrange, GA

2011-03-28T12:56:00.000-07:00

Kudos to Kim Skiff, CASA and all the friends, family and volunteers that helped to pull of a wonderful series of American Girl Fashion Shows this weekend all to benefit CASA of Troup County (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for Children. Here are photos from Saturday's 2pm show....enjoy!!

Senior Session Sneak Peak: Mason Marshall, LaGrange, GA

2011-03-28T12:32:00.000-07:00

A true gentleman in every sense of the word, it was a joy to recently photograph Mason Marshall for his senior portraits. Its always an adventure when you are with me and this shoot was no different, especially when we shot at this abandoned house I've had my eye on for over a year. It served as the perfect backdrop so thank you Mason for being such a sport. Here is a sneak peak of a few shots from our session....enjoy!

Blood, Sweat & Tears

2010-12-04T10:31:00.000-08:00

Blood, Sweat and Tears is what I'm going to call this next photo shoot, but when photographing 3 kids under the age of 7 it goes with the territory. Kids, parents, photographer and assistant alike were all working overtime during this shoot. The kids put up a good fight but there was enough key jingling, idiot-acting,slurpee bribing activity that we were able to get some great shots. The oldest is a natural, the middle is a hoot and the poor baby just wanted his pacey! Too funny!

Power Shoot

2010-12-04T10:28:00.001-08:00

This was a power shoot of one of my all-time favorite families done in 30 minutes or less....the objective, a winning holiday card photo. Mission accomplished!

Sibling Revelry

2010-12-04T10:22:00.001-08:00

Here's a sneak peek from last weekend in Miami. While the beaches in Florida serve as such beautiful backgrounds, there are tons of other amazing locations like this one a friend turned me on to. The trees were amazing and the park came complete with its own 2-story, stone fort. What more could you ask for??

The Clarke kids were troopers being dragged from one end of the park to the other with me in search of alligators. The did amazing and it shows!!

Can We Play Yet??

2010-12-04T10:14:00.001-08:00

This crew had me in stitches from the moment I picked up the camera. They kept asking, "can't we just play and you take pictures?" I told them as a matter of fact that is how I get some of my best shots so play away

Beautiful inside and out

2010-12-04T09:54:00.000-08:00

Its been a few years since I last took Megan and Mitch's pictures and I could hardly believe how much they've grown in that short period. What I love about these kids is they are both beautiful on the inside and out; its no wonder when they come from such sweet parents.

Normally kids run the other way when they see me coming, but fashion-forward Megan greeted me at the door with her visions for her part of the shoot. I loved it! They both were naturals in front of the camera and it shows.

Enjoy!

Fun in Florida

2010-11-29T18:14:00.000-08:00

I'm just returning after spending Thanksgiving in Florida which included a stop in Miami for a power photo weekend. I have to make the most of my visits back to Florida to shoot my old clients and, in this case, new clients. The backdrop for this adorable family's photo shoot was their new neighborhood on Miami Beach, it couldn't be more perfect. The colors came out so bold and beautiful, I hated to make any black and white so for this sneak peak, you only get to see one!

The kids weren't quite sure what to think of me and just when I didn't think they were going to warm up, the photo gods cued a man with a puppy to walk behind me and the camera. The results...all smiles!

Zoe & Liam: 11.13.10

2010-11-18T07:35:00.001-08:00

They say a picture is worth a thousand words and there are a few from Zoe & Liam's photo shoot in Atlanta that are just that. You can definitely tell Zoe is under the apprenticeship of her brother based on the interactions and glances caught on camera. I particularly love the last one where Zoe is laughing loud into the camera and the look on big brother's face in the background is one that says, "job well done young jedi".

The Fabulous Fusco Four

2010-11-17T17:32:00.000-08:00

I was excited to meet the latest addition to our dear friends and clients' family, the Fuscos. It seemed like only yesterday that I was doing holiday photos when their oldest could barely sit up and now he we won't sit down. He is already a great big brother as you will see, it was such a big deal to hold the baby all by himself.

Speaking of...the baby was perfect! I could hardly believe for as much as we changed, prodded, changed some more and brought him in and out of the cold he never once cried. Now if he could only start doing that at night....

Sit tight, there's a lot. It was just so hard to pick my favorites for this sneak peak.

Quick Change

2010-11-15T18:36:00.000-08:00

You might recognize these handsome gents and their parents from the previous sneak peak...they did double duty in front of the camera. Needless to say I'm sure they had about enough by the end of this shoot, but they never let it show. Now Nick, the dog, he was definitely tired of my antics. There's even proof below a few laughs were had in the process. Who said getting your picture taken wasn't fun?? At least not when I'm around.....

Three's A Charm

2010-11-12T10:41:00.000-08:00

For three boys who were sort of over this photo shoot before it even started (who could blame them?)... I was able to get a few smiles out of them and then some. Poor things, they kept asking.."how many more" and I'd reply, "just one or two more" and then I'd see something else that would inspire me and then beg and plead that they let me take just "one or two more". So thank you boys for your patience and humor, it paid off!!

Senior Session 10.30.10: Clancy Alford

2010-11-10T07:33:00.000-08:00

Ok...so maybe scheduling a senior photo shoot the night after Halloween isn't the best idea. Despite being slightly sleep deprived, Clancy tolerated my antics and climbed on every stack of hay and sat on every step I asked. Perhaps he was so cooperative because he was just sleeping with his eyes open?? Whatever the case...I was inspired by the amazing backdrop of their family farm and got some great shots that the Alfords will hopefully cherish for a lifetime.

It was tough to choose, but here are just a few quick favorites from our session. Great job Clancy....now go get some sleep!

Engagement Session: Dexter & Beth

2010-11-04T16:58:00.000-07:00

Here are a few favorites from my recent engagement session with Beth and Dexter at his breathtaking property. Talk about a cute couple! Dexter was quite the trooper even when I asked him to knock on his neighbor's door to get permission to use their barn and when I drove on the grass. He drew the line when I asked him to haul an old canoe out of storage. I don't blame him. It must be love....

P.S. I'm still not sure what's harder to photograph, dogs or children- they both have a mind of their own.

The good, the bad and the "ugly"

2010-03-17T13:22:00.000-07:00

Forgive me blogger for I have sinned...its been almost 3 months since my last post.

Things have been sort of crazy on the personal side of life here for Becca Eiland Photography and I've been enjoying being a mom to my three funny and fab children. This post is long overdue, I intended to have it up around the holidays when these were taken but it was the holidays when we all have the best of intentions.

So its only fair for everyone to see the good, bad and "ugly" (I put ugly in quotes because I've never met an ugly kid) from my photo shoots. Yes, its true-there can be as many not-so-great pix as there are great pix from every session and the pendulum can swing either way giving you more of one or the other depending on who woke up on what side of the bed, whether we ran out of Goldfish during the shoot and about a million and one other factors. The good news, is we always get a winner. Its instinctual at this point, I keep shooting until I know I got "the one(s)".

Which is why I'm sharing with you some of the out takes from my photo shoot of the kids a few months ago. I'm the worst when it comes to pictures of my own children, shame on me. They are my hardest clients because they don't fall for any of my goofy tricks; they've seen every one of them.

During this shoot, you would have thought Finn (my 14 month old) would have been the problem child and he was in that he wouldn't sit still. But Addie, my middle child, was obsessed with all-things railroad and wouldn't stop collecting the rocks and old nails. I included one of her with her treasures, what a mess!!

The good news is I have all year to recover from this shoot until next year's card!!

Enjoy...

The Good

The Bad & The "Ugly"

.

Southern Wedding with Style (and funk)

2010-01-27T10:28:00.001-08:00

This wedding combined all the style that one would expect from a wedding in the south plus a little extra funk that was uniquely that of the bride, Amanda, and groom, Michael. The antebellum home of the groom’s family in LaGrange, GA was the setting for the ceremony and reception.

Wanting to contribute to the wedding in their own way, the bride and groom enlisted the help of friends and family to not only get the job done but to allow everyone to feel a part of the special day. From the cakes that were baked by fellow chefs to custom, handmade flower girl dresses and veil made by a close friend to the minister that married them and the DJ that spun the tunes until the wee hours, this was truly a cooperative effort of close friends and family. They also included elements as part of the wedding that reflected their funky personalities and artistic touch like their choice of footwear, programs that included a CD of their favorite tunes, the brides one-of-a-kind hand crafted veil, and piñatas at the reception for both the kids (candy) and adults (airplane bottles)!

Both avid runners, Michael and Amanda were set up on a blind date by a cousin who knew them both separately and figured once they met the rest would be history. She was right! They met, hit it off and knew immediately this was the person they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together. It was during an IronMan triathlon that Michael finally proposed to Amanda who was so exhausted she forgot to say yes.

It was such a pleasure to photograph this wedding and watch a couple come together and create a future filled with fun, love and laughter.

WEDDING DETAILS:
BRIDE & GROOM: Michael Eiland (personal chef) & Amanda Alexander (hairstylist)
WEDDING DATE: October 10, 2009
CEREMONY & RECEOPTION LOCATION: The Oaks (family home of the groom)
CITY: LaGrange, GA (hour south of Atlanta)

Best things come in threes

2009-11-16T08:51:00.000-08:00

I have the pleasure of chasing after these two sisters and their cousins every year with fingers crossed that we get "the one" worthy enough of the holiday card cover. With a little fancy footwork and some funny faces on my end, I think we were able to snap a few keepers. What a beautiful set of girls and what an honor to watch them grow more gorgeous every year!

Enjoy!!!

Growing every day

2009-11-14T19:01:00.000-08:00

I think the last time I photographed this family was for baby Zoe's newborn pictures. My what a difference a year makes in the life of a baby. So much change in so little time. Thankfully as we get older the aging process slows slightly because watching all these babies grow to be so big is making me feel old!

It is always an extra pleasure to photograph those children of my close friends as I did here. I only hope our kids can grow up to have as much fun together as I've been lucky enough to have with their parents. Watching them play together this weekend, I have no doubt they will. May only concern is that they'll have too much fun!

Enjoy!!

Beatuiful Bartons

2009-11-14T18:43:00.000-08:00

Meet the beautiful Bartons...we had a power photo shoot session and despite the 30 minutes we had to make these pix happen, they came out amazing if I do say so myself. The kids wanted to do anything and everything but sit still in front of the camera but who could blame them. However there was lots fun and games being had to help pass the time and capture some great shots. Enjoy!!

Michael & Amanda's Wedding, 10.10.09

2009-10-31T05:11:00.001-07:00

After months and months of planning, prep and partying my brother-in-law, Michael, and his fiance, Amanda, were married here at the house in LaGrange, GA and I had the honor of photographing the grand affair. While I love photographing weddings, they can be especially gratifying when you work with a bride and groom that are so in love and are each other's soul mate. I would have picked up on this had I met Amanda and Michael only once before their wedding date, as I do most of my clients. However, I've been fortunate to watch this beautiful relationship blossom over the last year and become what it is today- a match made in heaven. They are equal parts adventure, laughter, love and passion for life not to mention just down right "good people".

There were so many amazing aspects of this wedding to photograph, there needed to be 3 of me to capture all the details (thank you to Angie Knox for her help behind the camera!). Of course a small army of folks are behind pulling off a wedding of this caliber and at the helm was my mother-in-law, Susan Hall, who I don't think sat down the entire week before and after the wedding. Helping her to realize her and Amanda's vision for the big day was none other than the multi-talented Jerry Rigsby who did an amazing job, all in his "spare" time. The abundance of gorgeous flowers displayed throughout the house and at the reception were done by Kim Nelson Floral Design. And finally, Ed Yeargan and his team kept everyone fat and happy with his delicious feast served at the reception.

It was so hard to pick a quick handful of favorites to show, but here they are and there are many, many more where these came from so until then....Enjoy!!

Flower Power

2009-10-14T12:33:00.001-07:00

This past weekend all three of my children had the dubious honor, along with 3 other adorable children, to be Flower Girls and Ring Bearers in their Uncle Mike and (now) Aunt Amanda's phenomenal wedding. All 6 of these kids were so darn cute, they warranted their own blog entry.

A special shout out goes to Stephanie Marcelle who handmade (yes, that's right handmade) all the Flower Girl dresses and Finn's flashy tux onsie. Each dress was made custom for each girl based on the description Amanda gave of their personalities. Most amazing was that Stephanie never used a pattern for any of them.

Even cooler was that for Finn's (the baby) tux, she used a man's black dress shirt and converted it to a onsie and added those super fly ruffles, bow tie and elastic cumber bun. He was quite a hit with the ladies under 24 months of age.

You can check out more amazing clothing creations by Stephanie in her online store Natershum . Move over JCrew Weddings, here comes Natershum. Please do this talented designer a favor and spread the word of her creations to anyone you might know who has an upcoming wedding and wants the absolute coolest Flower Girl dresses!

P.S. Stephanie also designed and created the bride's veil and each of the Flower Girl headbands which all incorporated the same design themes of feathers, birds and more. That's Stephanie at the end!!

Best Buds

2009-08-03T19:45:00.000-07:00

We've been lucky enough to host my niece, Nina, during the month of July and sadly our time together is drawing to an end. My mom drove up this past weekend for a visit and brought Nina's best bud Lindsey along with her for a surprise visit before heading back to Sarasota. Nina had no clue and was over the moon when she figured out Grandma didn't come alone and she finally had someone over the age of 6 to hang out with.

What better way to commemorate Lindsey and Nina's best bud bond (that started in daycare when they were 6 months old) then to do a photo shoot with these two jokers together. They had a ball and hopefully will remember these days forever!

Enjoy!!!

Latest Addition

2009-06-30T17:53:00.000-07:00

Ok, so this is sort of a crazy story...this next adorable family you are about to see reminded me at our shoot that they were the last set of clients I photographed before moving to Miami 2 1/2 years ago and as luck would have it they are the first since we've moved back to Georgia.

This family has been busy growing while I was away and I was honored to return and photograph their latest addition, their baby boy! We got a great headshot of their daughter during our first shoot that they enlarged to a gorgeous 16x20 canvas and our goal was to get a similar shot for their latest addition. We got tons but here are a few of my favorites.

Despite the afternoon heat, everyone was able to put a smile on for this shoot.

Enjoy!!

Classic Fine Art Album

2009-05-18T10:15:00.000-07:00

Below is the 2nd of two album styles I offer, the classic fine art album. A traditional flush-mount album that offers a blend of today's high-end fashion with yesterday's old=world artisan crafts. This classic fine art album includes heavy, 1/8 inch thick pages to beautifully display both full spreads and individual page-size photos. The album cover comes in a variety of materials and colors including Durapelle (high-end faux leather), leather, metal and pure acrylic.

These albums are worth ever penny once you see the finished product. The craftsmanship on these albums is unmatched and the materials used are the finest. The binding on these albums allows you to print breathtaking, full spreads of a single photo as seen below.

Each album comes safely protected in its own sturdy Durapelle box and cloth case allowing for extra protection and easy portability.

It's raining albums.....Coffee Table Style Art Book

2009-05-18T09:45:00.000-07:00

It's raining something other than water here in Miami and it feels like albums! I'm working on a number of portrait and wedding albums for my clients right now which I love. Creating albums, regardless of the style, is no small feat.

The number of hours that go into designing the layout and the attention to detail to make sure all the photos in the album have been touched up and perfect can be exhausting. However, there is no greater sense of accomplishment than sharing the finished albums with them and watching their reactions. Typically there's not a dry eye in the house!

Albums are a great medium to forever cherish your favorite photos from your portrait session. Plus, let's be honest, if left up to most of us our photos never make it out of the package they arrived in. This way you can be sure they make it somewhere other than a shoe box!

Below are samples of the Coffee Table Style Art Book, one of the two different style albums I offer. The hard cover design of this album has a high-end feel that is reminiscent of fine art coffee table books. The album pages are made of high-quality paper that is protected with a varnish coating giving the pages a lustrous look and satiny feel and flush mounted (vs. stitched). Each album comes with an album cover and black, personalized sleeve allowing extra protection and easy portability.

11x14 Frame Proofs

2009-05-11T18:41:00.000-07:00

It's Raining Boys.....

2009-05-05T18:20:00.000-07:00

It's officially raining boys these days...between this family and the family I shot last week, everywhere I look there are boys. Needless to say at the end of these all-boy shoots I have to come home and put my feet up. They will wear you out! I guess its all good practice for the day that Finn (my baby boy) does more than roll from one side of the room to the other which is the move he is perfecting these days.

This is my third and final shoot for the Meltzer family and for this shoot, we went to South Pointe Park on South Beach. There are so many great places within this park to shoot, you just have to be careful and dodge the tourists in towels so they don't serve as your backdrop. One of my favorites from this shoot is the family walking down the curved sidewalk, so cool.

Now that we've completed the final shoot, the fun part begins. Mom and I will now sit down and narrow down our favorite shots and begin to design the frame wall for her new house which will showcase a variety of black and white photos in various sizes from all the shoots. Once the wall is finished, I'll be sure to post it to share with everyone!

Enjoy!!

Great ready to fall in love...

2009-04-29T11:21:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of photographing these three heartbreakers at my new favorite location, South Pointe Park on South Beach. At first glance, your immediately mesmerized because all three of them have the most gorgeous blue eyes. It will be of no surprise when I tell you that all three of these boys are models and our goal from this shoot was to have some fantastic shots to update their comp cards. Mission Accomplished!

Of course the unsung heros of this shoot (and all my shoots for that matter) were mom and dad who trudge through South Pointe Park carrying kids, dolling out waters, calming tempers and helping with outfit changes. Hopefully they'll agree it was all worth it when they see how great the boys did!

Enjoy!!

Spring Break 2009- Fun in the Sun

2009-04-23T12:27:00.000-07:00

I'm slowly making good on my resolution this year to take more photos of my family and despite the extra work involved, they are always my favorite subjects. Certainly my toughest subjects ("not the camera again"), but always my favorite.

The kids had a whopping 10 days off for Spring Break this month so we worked hard at keeping them busy. I think we managed to do so but now Ed and I are wondering when we get our Spring Break to recover from their Spring Break. Probably not going to happen!

We were lucky enough to go to Sea World for a few days and then to Sarasota to spend a few days with my mom for Easter. Great fun had by all.

Enjoy!!!

Ms. Japhnee Pays A Visit

2009-04-07T21:12:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows me, knows I'm a fish out of water without friends so when we first moved to Miami 2 years ago and I didn't know anyone, I went into full-on recruitment mode. One of the first friends I was lucky enough to meet a few weeks after arriving was Japhnee, Ella's teacher at school. Our friendship continued, as did our morning coffee talks during drop off, when she became Addie's teacher the next year. She had so much love and patience for her students and she was an arts and crafts guru!

Sadly, she and her family are now Living La Vida Loca in Vegas but she recently came back for a visit. We took the opportunity to do a mini photo shoot in the back yard. She is so gorgeous! Maybe she looks so relaxed in these photos because she left her four children back in Vegas with her poor husband while she came to Miami-yikes!

Enjoy....

Watch them grow...

2009-04-07T19:35:00.000-07:00

You've watched this ever-so-photogenic family grow from three to four over the last year and sadly this is the 4th of our series of four milestone photo shoots. It seems like just yesterday I was photographing this little peanut just a few days after birth, now I can barely keep up with him as he is enjoying the new found freedom his feet are affording him.

I always look forward to my shoots with this family not only because they are as much fun to photograph as they are gorgeous, but I'm always impressed at their colorful choice of clothing that compliments each other and the surroundings so nicely. They are my "poster child" family for how to incorporate color and patterns into your wardrobe as a departure from the traditional jeans and white shirts (boring)!

This photo shoot was done at the Miami Beach Botanical Gardens on South Beach across from the Convention Center-an oasis many of us have probably overlooked. It was a quaint location that served as a beautiful backdrop for the kids, not to mention admission was free!

Check it out.....

Welcome to the World Eli!

2009-04-06T09:15:00.000-07:00

I always considered myself a somewhat patient person, however as the mother of three I realized that patience, when it comes to children, must have its own definition. It goes something like this....
Patience- pat-ience: Moving at a pace as dictated by your children because they haven't finished eating, sleeping, peeing, dancing, bathing, putting a puzzle together, climbing a tree.....and the list goes on.

Patience certainly come in handy during my newborn photo shoots which can sometimes take twice as long as normal photo shoots because in order to get those all-too-yummy nude shots the babies have to be fat and fast asleep. Sounds simple enough, but for some reason whenever I get around my clients' newborns they suddenly become as alert and awake as a 9 month old. They must not want to miss a minute of the photo shoot because sleep seems to be the last thing on their mind.

Eli was no exception! He was such a good baby during the photo shoot despite the fact that he was awake for almost all 2 1/2 hours of the shoot. It wasn't until the last half hour that he finally threw in the towel and fell asleep. He was so funny to watch, it was like he knew what we wanted and he wasn't going to give in. We quickly jumped into action and got these amazing shots....

Enjoy!

Welcome Baby J

2009-03-03T17:41:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the world Little "J"! You meet him a month or so ago when he was on the "inside" and after much anticipation he finally arrived a couple of weeks ago. He is quite the lean, mean baby machine weighing in at 5 lbs. 15 oz. and 19.5 inches! Give him a few weeks and he'll be practicing his lay ups!

I tried every trick in my book to get the quintessential "naked baby shot" but "J" wasn't having it. I guess he didn't want any embarrassing bare bottom shots making their debut on his wedding day. Who could blame him??? Instead, we got a ton of other adorable pix as you will soon see....

Enjoy!

Jena & Chris: 2.22.09, Schnebly Winery, Redlands

2009-03-02T19:11:00.000-08:00

I'm starting to dust off the cob webs and slowly emerge from maternity leave and what a better way to kick things off than a wedding. Despite the hectic pace and pressure that goes hand-in-hand with being a wedding photographer, all the insanity is well worth it two witness two people come together to spend the rest of their lives together.

Jena and Chris were no exception as they exchanged vows a few weekends ago at the gorgeous little gem of a venue, Schnebly Winery. I had never heard of the winery nor been there but having been there I can see what all the buzz is about. This tropical oasis (and I mean oasis- this place is in the middle of nowhere farmland) served as a beautiful backdrop to this intimate wedding.

Enjoy!!

The Eiland Clan in Front of the Camera

2009-02-10T17:43:00.000-08:00

think I've said this a million times on this blog but I'll say it again....just like the shoemaker's kids who go without shoes, my kids go without ever having their photos taken. If you ask my kids, they'll tell you I'm always chasing the with the camera but thats only because they are some of my toughest clients and it is so hard to get a good photo of them alone, let alone together.

Here are a few of my favorites from a shoot I did with them before Christmas with the intent of using them in my Christmas card that never happened. So instead this year family and friends are getting Valentine's cards from the Eilands with warm wishes and love for 2009. Better late than never....

I

One of their own...

2009-02-10T09:30:00.000-08:00

After taking care of hundreds and hundreds of other people's babies, Dr. Keri Livingstone, the Miami Shores pediatrician/GP extraordinaire is going to have her hands full soon with her own bundle of joy. She and her husband are expecting their first child very soon.

With 3 children, I've seen my share of pediatricians and I can't say enough about Dr. Livingstone which is why it was an honor when she asked me to her maternity photos. She is always there when you need her and no question is too dumb (and believe me, I've asked them all), not to mention her waiting room, staff and office is the most non-chaotic and friendly I've ever experienced.

You can tell how excited both these soon-to-be parents are to meet their little wonder. As you'll see by the photos, his bedroom is all ready and waiting. Photographing rooms of the first born is always such a joy- everything is so clean and organized. I faintly remember a day when that was the case in our house, but now that is a distant memory (ha ha).

Enjoy!

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Halloween 2008- Pirates, Mermaids and Bats...oh my!

2008-11-03T05:40:00.000-08:00

Probably second to Christmas, Halloween is among our girls favorite holidays. When else can they stay up past their bed time roaming the neighborhood in search of candy and coming home with a bag full enough to feed a small country and have license to eat as much as they want.

Of course the fun really begins in the days after Halloween when they beg for their candy countless times each day and we slyly and slowly make handfuls of it disappear so the begging will cease.

Here is the Halloween crew this year both girls sporting costumes handmade by my mom. Ella went as Ariel, Addie as a Pirate and Finn, well he opted to not dress up this year and instead sleep through Halloween. Also joining the girls was their best bud Jordan and her little sister Sophia.

Finn's First 2 Weeks

2008-11-01T11:51:00.000-07:00

Life in the Eiland house is slowly returning to normal after Finn's arrival. He is such a sweet baby and so yummy you just want to eat him up! We've been spoiled (me especially) since my mom and Ed's mom have been here each for a week taking care of us. They both will need a vacation from their "vacation" here in Miami.

I've actually even made time to pick up the camera and take some pictures of Finn. Poor thing is learning quick what it means to be the son of a photographer- sleeping naked outside in a wooden box, being dressed up in crazy outfits and being told, "look here, just one more shot".

We are so blessed to have this little gem and the girls are so excited to have a baby brother (and someone to boss around). Thank you to everyone for their warm wishes and kind emails!!!

Introducing....Finnley Duke Eiland

2008-10-24T06:54:00.000-07:00

Wow, just like that baby #3 is here! We can still hardly believe that after almost 10 long months of waiting and wondering, Finn is finally here. We are completely blessed that the delivery went smoothly and Finn arrived healthy and happy (ok, as happy as one can be after taken from your dark, warm home of 10 months).

Finn arrived via c-section on Tuesday at 1:22pm weighing 7 lbs. 9 oz. and was 19 3/4 inches. Of course I'm biased...but he is such a sweetie; a Loverboy at a mere 2 days old. Can you tell I'm completely smitten?

So you might be wondering about the name??? Ed and the girls worked hard on this one and after naming both the girls I punted the chore to Ed. We both loved Finnley, Finn for short, it means "fair-haired courageous one" and after meeting him we think it couldn't be more true! His middle name, Duke, was my grandfather's nickname and we chose it to honor him. My grandfather's real name was Bethuel, he was one of 10 children of a norwegian minister who all got their names from the bible (now you know why he went by "Duke").

He is a spitting image of his older sister, Ella, when she was first born but time will tell who he's going to look like or whether he'll be a blonde or brunette. Will Ed or I have another mini-me as we each do with Ella (aka Becca Jr.) and Addie (aka Ed Jr.).

We are home now and the girls are taking their big-sister roles quite seriously although neither of them has ponied up to change a poopy diaper-I'm not holding my breath either. I'm in great hands between Ed and my mom who's here this week and Ed's mom whose here next week.

Finn's first professional photo shoot is scheduled for later today but in the meantime, here are some shots from the hospital of our beautiful baby boy!!

Holiday Cards 2008

2008-10-10T13:08:00.000-07:00

Truly celebrate the holidays this year by wowing friends and family with these custom, 5x7 and 5x5 horizontal and vertical holiday cards, both in postcard and fold over layouts. Choose the design as-is or customize the design color and verbiage to fit your style.

Holiday cards are printed on high-quality, fine art linen paper and include envelopes. Cards come 25 per pack and the deadline to order is November 7th for delivery by December 1st. Please contact me via email (becca@beccaeiland.com) for pricing and ordering information.

Ready to Pop- Me in Front of the Camera vs. Behind it!!

2008-10-07T05:15:00.000-07:00

Friends and clients keep asking me to send updates of my growing belly so ask and ye shall receive. Today marks 2 weeks and counting until baby Eiland arrives!

I am lucky enough to have as one of my close friends a very talented fellow photographer, Heather of Heather Donlan Photography, who treated me to a maternity session including Ed and the girls. Heather just opened her new studio in Naples, FL which is gorgeous so on Sunday we did a studio session there. I couldn't be more grateful for the opportunity and the fabulous photos which we'll treasure forever. Heather's work is amazing and she has been such a great sounding board for me as I navigate through this wild and wacky world of professional photography.

I must say, it was really different being in front of the camera instead of behind it. I think it might be easier to be the photographer vs. the subject!

Lastly, who says the third baby gets the shaft? I didn't have any maternity shots with either of the girls so we're off to a good start with this one-now I just have to keep up the momentum and keep snapping away once he arrives.

P.S. the last shot is of Heather's two girls and ours, what a handful. When they all get together, they are best buds and full of laughs.

Enjoy.....

Christmas is a Comin'

2008-10-06T02:46:00.001-07:00

I'm worse than Target, already talking and getting ready for Christmas. Prep for Christmas is coming even earlier this year since I'm taking off the next few months. That being said, I have some new holiday card designs I'm dying to show everyone but just haven't had the time to create the order forms yet but hopefully this week.

In the meantime, here are some favorites from a shoot I did of Jordan and baby Sophia who you saw first when she was still inside her mommy's tummy. They are both getting so big and it is so much fun to watch these two little sisters discover one another.

I also included their holiday card layout, a trifold 5x5 card that features 4 different photos- they turned out gorgeous! Included below in the following order are: card cover, inside right flap and then the 3 pages that make up the inside spread.

Enjoy!

Let the Countdown Begin.....A Baby Shower for Becca!!

2008-09-28T14:13:00.001-07:00

As of this coming Tuesday, it will be 3 weeks and counting until baby boy Eiland arrives!! I'm going in on October 21st for a scheduled c-section. I know scheduled c-sections sort of take the "magic" out of child birth because it seems so planned, but when you have your hands full with a 4 & 5 1/2 year old a little less spontaneity can be a good thing. Of course there are days when I wonder if I'll even make it 3 weeks, but then again if I don't then this baby will be wearing paper towels for diapers because I'm that behind.

So in the spirit of trying to wind down (which I don't do well) my deadline for orders for delivery pre-baby is September 30th. Otherwise, I'll be back up and running after the first of the year and ready to roll. It's killing me not to photograph the majority of my fabulous families for the holidays, but baby comes first.

So that was the BUSINESS part, her comes the PLEASURE part. I am lucky to have an amazing set of talented, generous and totally hilarious friends here in Miami who pull out all the stops when it comes to celebrating a special ocassion. While I say this is our third and final baby, after the shower these women threw me last night I'm considering having a fourth just so I can get another girl's night out like this one.

You'll get a small sampling of how amazing this evening was just by the decorations and special touches featured in the photos below. This morning I photographed all the elements that made up last night's fabulous shower because otherwise no one would believe it. Joanne of Joanne Mundy Designs (you'll see her card and contact info featured in one of the photos below) was the mastermind behind the evening's festivities but she couldn't have done it without the help of our other friends Shelsea, Alexa and Jenna.

It started a few weeks ago when we received handmade invitations, also featured below, for the baby shower which was to be a girls' night out spa night. As if the invitation and the idea of a night out at a spa with the girls (sans children and men) wasn't enough, true to Joanne and her amazing planning and decorating talents, she turned what would have been an ordinary evening into an extrordinary. We all met at the fabulous Coldwater Creek Spa in Miramar where she had the room decorated with all the things you see below. The girls had dinner brought in which we enjoyed while having a eucalyptus foot soak.

After dinner we all sat back and were pampered with an 80 minute pedicure. Anyone willing to touch my feet for that long is an angel and that is just what the staff at this spa were- angels. They made sure all our needs were taken care of. Granted, in the photo below it looks like we are all giving birth with our eyes closed but in reality we were in heaven. After our pedicures I was surprised a tower of amazing cupcakes from Sweetcakes in North Miami and a 4 foot basket of gifts, all wrapped in color coordinating paper complete with custom wrapping paper and bows.

As if that wasn't enough, Joanne made us all goodie bags containing all sorts of spa related items handmade (yes, I said handmade) by her- soaking salts, therapeutic neck wrap and more. If you wonder who, in today's day and age, still hand makes things- it's Joanne.

A truly special thank you goes out to Joanne, Shelsea, Alexa and Jenna for all the did to make me feel so very special and celebrated. Sometimes by your third child life gets too busy to celebrate, but these women made sure we did and we did in style. Also thank you to my mom who came all the way from Sarasota to also be here to celebrate with me.

I'll probably loose all these amazing friends I just told you about after they find out I included a photo of all of us in our robe at the spa, I couldn't resist!!!

P.S. Of course the cupcake tree came decorated with baby photos of Ed and I, not to mention color coordinated ribbons. I'm the baby looking particularly red and angry.

Happy Hudson

2008-09-28T13:52:00.000-07:00

As if I wasn't excited enough to have a baby boy, photographing the son of my latest client got me that much more excited. He was such a dream boat and a natural in front of the camera. He had no problem saying goodbye to his mom so he and I could go on a "lizard hunt" --a line that always works on the 3-6 year old boys I photograph. They become so fascinated looking for lizards, they forget all about me and the camera.

We had such great light and interesting, lush backdrops to work with at this shoot, the photos came out gorgeous!

Get ready to fall in love....

Wedding Slideshow Preview

2008-09-23T07:28:00.000-07:00

In response to a number of brides who have been contacting me already booking for next year's wedding season, I've created a slideshow of some of my favorite photos from a few weddings I did this past year. I limited the slideshow to just feature 3 weddings so not to bore you.

It was a tough choice because each wedding I shoot has some aspect of it that is unique from the last one, be it the people, the circumstances that brought the couple together, the decorations, the location, the weather, etc. so there is always something different to fall in love with from each occasion. Thats part of the reason I love shooting weddings, each one is so unique and presents a blank slate for me to add my creative touch to - no two weddings (or the photos I take at each wedding) are ever the same.

The popcorn's on me so sit back and enjoy!

2008 Abbreviated Holiday Photo Shoot Season

2008-09-11T07:10:00.000-07:00

I kicked off my abbreviated holiday photo shooting season while I was in Atlanta and shot some of my past clients in Atlanta who wanted to get a jump on their holiday photos. Yes, I said holiday photos.

Scary, I know but it is never to early to start your holiday photos especially since I'll be out of commission during my peak holiday shooting month (October) getting ready for baby boy! So for those clients who haven't booked for their holiday shoots, dates are limited and going fast so call or email soon. I only have a few dates left in the beginning of October, after that I'll need a wheelbarrow to carry around this belly while trying to shoot.

Here are some shots from two different families I photographed at Piedmont Park, one of our favorite Atlanta parks that has gone through some major renovations (and still is) so it was such a joy to go back and see all the progress.

Pay special attention to the last two photos, you'll get a chuckle. Here are a couple shots that truly showcase kids being kids- so of course that includes fabulous faces and some tears. I just love the one of the 3 girls where "E" in the middle is just squeeling with delight. You can practically hear her just looking at this photo.

During my shoots I probably work with as many smiles as I do tears, again its kids being kids. The last shot is one of the funniest and true to nature. Here "R" has had enough and isn't afraid to let everyone know. Luckily I snapped one right before this that just might be a keeper (also in this blog entry) but check out the face of sister and brother to the right and left as they just shake their heads and figure out their escape plan.

Enjoy!!

Back in the ATL

2008-09-10T14:36:00.000-07:00

We snuck away last week for a final visit to our old stomping ground, Atlanta, to visit friends and family. This will be our last trip before baby #3 arrives and we are homebound with our hands full.

The trip wasn't all play, no work, I was able to squeeze in a few shoots while I was there. I must be gaining my senses with each pregnancy or maybe it is because I'm toting around what feels like a watermelon in my belly, but instead of trying to do 15 shoots in a week, I just did a handful.

In keeping with the popular trend of updated headshots with a twist, I shot "L" in the Virginia Highlands and we had a blast. I almost gave her a coronary when, in lieu of a stool, I got on top of a rickety trash can to get a different camera angle. You should have seen the looks we got as I teetered high above the ground, big belly and everything.

Enjoy!!

Boys Rule and Girls Drool....

2008-08-28T16:16:00.000-07:00

...of course in my house where the girls dominate (5 total including myself, the 2 girls, Lily the dog and Kitty the cat) the saying goes Girls Rule and Boys Drool but when I asked the boys from my most recent shoot whether that was true they quickly informed me it was the other way around- Boys Rule and Girls Drool.

Ever-on-the-go, these three boys gave mom, dad and me all a workout on an evening when you could work up a sweat standing still. The backdrop for these photos was the beautiful La Gorce Country Club on Miami Beach. Despite the heat, everyone did a great job and we were able to capture some great shots of boys being boys and their loving parents trying to keep up with them.

Enjoy!

Lucky Little Girls

2008-08-27T17:57:00.000-07:00

I love the opportunity to photograph babies not only while they are inside their mommy's tummy, but also once they've finally arrived into this wonderful world. It is especially cool for those of you reading this blog to essentially see the "before" (aka while they are still in the oven) and "after" (once they've delivered) all within a few months time. If only being pregnant and giving birth actually took a few months vs. ten... it would make for a much happier me (p.s. I'm in my 7th month with baby #3- can you tell I'm ready for summer to be over and the basketball in my tummy to emerge?).

Enough about me and more about these 2 lucky little girls, "Baby Q" and "C". Why are they so lucky? Because they are surrounded by so much love it was a joy to be able to capture it on film. You've met their mommies before and now you get to meet their dad who is the proud papa of both "Baby Q" and "C". Together, they all make a beautiful family as you will soon see.

Enjoy!

Hair to Share

2008-08-22T10:39:00.001-07:00

One look at this beautiful new arrival and you'll know exactly why I titled this series "Hair to Share". Have you ever seen a more beautiful head of hair on a baby?? "Baby V" was 5 weeks old when we shot these photos and wonderfully cooperative. Despite our antics of dressing, undressing, holding, twisting and turning her, she did what babies do best and that was sleep and eat her way through most of of our shoot.

A special thanks to mom and dad because not only doing a great job in front of the camera, they were a huge help behind the camera. Thanks to some moves I've picked up having had 2 babies of my own and photographing plenty of infants, the few times "Baby V" did get fussy I was able to calm her back down. We laughed at one point that I could probably make more money on keeping newborns calm and quiet for new parents than I could photographing them.

Congratulations to both of you on your new arrival, she is a beauty!

Alicia & Michael's Wedding-Bonita Springs, Coconut Point Hyatt, 7.26.08

2008-08-01T13:18:00.000-07:00

I was biting my nails during my rain drenched drive from Miami to Bonita Springs for Alicia and Michael's wedding, but this couple's wedding day mojo kept Mother Nature and her rain clouds at bay. The result...a beautiful and bright afternoon, perfect for a summer wedding. This adorable couple and their family hosted an intimate wedding at the beautiful Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Bonita Springs. This gem of a property is located on the bay in Bonita Springs and comes complete with its own private island and beach that it shuttles guests to and from via boat. So cool!

This was one of those receptions you wish you could put down the camera and join in the fun. The maestro of fun was the bride's father who kept himself busy all night either leading the guests in a cha cha line or YMCA.

Congratulations to Michael and Alicia and wishing you both many happy years together!

Corporate Headshots Redefined

2008-07-01T10:36:00.001-07:00

Goodbye blah backgrounds, studio lights and stuffy suits; HELLO fun and fresh! Tired of her current headshot that was your classic gray suit, gray background, look here and smile shot, "M" wanted something new.

As a Principal Architect and Interior Designer at a Ft. Lauderdale Interior Design firm, "M" wanted a headshot that not only was flattering, but also in a glance portrayed her creative and communicative nature.

It was a no-brainer that Miami's Midtown Design District would serve as our backdrop for this shoot because of all the fabulous color and design elements. "M" was a natural and quickly became very comfortable in front of the camera and it shows. She was a trooper even managing warp speed wardrobe changes in the back of her car!

Here is just a sample of my favorites from the shoot!