…you must do what you’ve never done! – (Unknown… at the moment. :)
Jakene.
When Jakene first asked me to shoot her, for two reasons, I was elated… and that’s an understatement. First, she is one of the most naturally beautiful people I’ve ever met so it meant me basically showing up that day and knowing we’d have some beautiful images. I especially love these outdoor shots because of the light. She has an almost angelic glow (as cheesy as that sounds) against all the rust and dirty background environment. She was so brave as I knew she would be and just took any direction and made it ten times better. The second reason for my elation: she is equally as beautiful on the inside. Like I’ve told her many a time, I owe her so much for my current state of success and happiness in the big ol city of Atlanta! She took a chance on me, lil ol’ blond Iowa girl, a few years ago and has supported me non-stop since. I am envious of her in so many ways… and thankful in just about as many ways as well.
Oh yeah, baby! I love me some Atlanta Falcons. Yes, I’m a chick but I can get rough and tough when the sports chatter comes around… I suppose most talking about sports don’t call it chatter, do they? Regardless, as an Iowa native (and lover), the world of professional sports wasn’t hidden from me but it had to be a distant obsession with only cornfields not stadiums surrounding me. I had grown up in a family of soccer players, I repeat, ‘in a family of’ not grew up as one… though I did have my brief stint on the varsity soccer team as the undersized, yet aggressive defensive blond. I was always the dancer, though. Odd, I enjoyed being on stage and enjoyed competing, but never individually. I think that is why I adored sports teams so much. I would rather watch a college basketball game than go to an opera and would rather study the depth charts of all NFL teams so to accurately position my roster for fantasy football than go shopping and no questions asked when I was younger, I would’ve rather collected baseball cards with my brother than collect lightning bugs (though I did rock at both of those
Thus, since moving to the big city my love for my current hometown NFL team, the Atlanta Falcons, was a given.
I have been, without a doubt, blessed to be very involved with the Falcons for four years now. They have not always won. They have had unthinkable setbacks. They have had character building years. But they have never been seen as anything but classy and full of heart in my eyes, from day one. This year we face, in my eyes, a greater battle… history. We face the cold hard fact that never, in the organizations 43 years, have they had back-to-back winning seasons. Match that with a very tough schedule and the even more daunting idea of EXPECTATION. Last year was a beautiful surprise, marked with triumphs that were even more glorious because of the negative outcome predicted going into the season, every win was that much more amazing. I remember the turning point in my confidence in the team, Chicago Bears at home, six seconds left, down by one point and I was sure the game was over and it was a loss, as the year before the team would have looked at the clock and ran into the locker room… but not this team. Matt Ryan and his magic arm threw a deep pass to Michael Jenkins allowing Jason Elam to step in and kick a 48-yard field goal for the win with one second left. Matt Ryan, Jason Elam, Michael Jenkins… all big names… but every person in the organization was a part of that field goal. It is one of my hugest honors to say I am a part of this organization.
As we enter this year of uncertainty and expectation I can’t help but root for them in all things regardless of win or loss. I’m daily inspired for my own business by not just this team of athletes, coaches and cheerleaders but of every employee from the top, Mr. Arthur Blank himself, down. They represent character. As I’ve found in many blogs that I read, they make it a team one, regardless of location or loyalty, can’t help but root for. That surpasses athleticism and sport success… it is success in life. I cannot wait for the season to get kicked off… thanks so much to Matt Ryan and his offense, John Abraham and his defense, Mike Smith and his coaches, Chato Waters and her beautiful cheerleaders and Arthur Blank & Thomas Dimitroff and their outstanding staff for inspiring this little photographer what character and heart can do for an organization big or small! Let’s go FALCONS… This title quote couldn’t apply any better: now get out there and get what you’ve never had!
Special HAPPY BIRTHDAY wish to my amazing brother Brandon! I love you and hope you’re rockin out Madison. Also special thanks to Celeste P. and Cathy S. for their lovely and always welcome words of encouragement! :)
#26 is coming up tomorrow… and this one isn’t about sports… stay in touch… erika@erikaleighphotography.com!
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