go saints… really go falcons but hey.  I spent three days in Miami with good friends and good drinks and now I’m back hitting the shooting schedule… not without first watching the SuperBowl on TV from a comfortable couch/chair… not from Section 104 or any other.  Couldn’t have been happier.  Good Saints victory… and also… good google commercial!

love love… more soon… erika.  erika@erikaleighphotography.com.

Pure Joy.

This just makes me so happy.  That’s why I got into photography… it’s why I will try and never get out!  :)

My sweet Gabby.  I miss her.

Gabby came into my life out of selfishness on my behalf.  Yep, I decided to volunteer.  Volunteering is a cover up.  Everyone thinks people are so grand that volunteer but I know I volunteered because maybe I wasn’t being the person I thought I should be… and I knew I would feel better after doing so.  Helping is undoubtedly amazing… its healing to feel like you’ve made a difference and that’s what I mean by selfish… You help someone else but I could guess 99% of the time the person volunteering benefits more in a non-tangible way more than the person on the other end of the help.  I’m by no means looking down on volunteering but I have to admit my reasoning… Volunteering with the organization called HERO for Children did what I had expected… AND THEN SOME.  Gabby is my mentee… technically, but I’ll be the first to say she’s mentored me more probably than I would’ve ever mentored her.

She’s half my age but has lived and learned from more lessons than I never wish to learn through experience.  She has a smile that is constant and big but always seems to be at 95%… there’s more smile in her but I’m not sure she’d ever waste on it a joke or a good time… but her soul shines despite her not-all-the-way there smile, despite her sadness of being kept out of cheerleading for a year because she couldn’t get a physical in time, despite not being able to do certain things she loves because her irregular heartbeat, despite not being able to many things that I consider normal and expected in a childhood because of reasons beyond her control.  We’d go eat, she loves burgers, and every place we went she seemed at awe of the restaurant and always overly thankful for her food… My thank yous to her probably never hit home.  I doubt she’ll ever fully fathom her little strength that added to mine.  In the time we hung out, probably twice a month or so for a year she lost more than I’ve lost in all my years… she lost her health that subsequently caused her to lose her passion, but she said it was ok and that she’s happy she caught it early and was content in doing flags instead of cheerleading.  She lost her dog (as a dog lover put me into mini depression and we had to have a few extra french fries with the burgers that day) but she said that she was sad but she was more sad for her mom who had loved her dog so much.  Then, she lost her mom.   I found out from our volunteer coordinator late at night and tried to get a hold of her the next day but she was at school… she was at school?  Yep.  I got to talk to her on the phone and she didn’t cry… I did.  To be perfectly honest, I balled… SELFISHLY.  I was struggling hard at that time and when she talked to me and sounded so strong and so content with the idea of moving on, that these things happen, that we all find better places as we pass or move on.  I cried for my own pity of not being able to handle my hurt in that way, I cried for her loss and I cried a lot for the fact that she will never be able to let herself cry.  She’s grown up to expect that life doesn’t owe you anything… you’re not promised nor do you deserve anything just for being alive.  She valued her time with her mom and, my throat hurts as I choke back tears writing this, I remember her exact words on the phone when I told her, “Gabby, you know it’s ok to be sad about this…” and she said so matter-of-fact, “Erika, I was sad at first and thought how can I live without my momma, but then in the hospital I saw her and I just knew that she was going to a better place.”  It’s so simple, right?

She is an angel in my eyes… she just fights and she doesn’t even know that she’s fighting because nothing has ever just been too easy and therefore her attitude is nothing is too hard.  But she still shines… her soul truly shines.  At half my age she is still an amazing inspiration, just her and her resiliency.  I think most would think she would remind me to value the things I have but more so, to strive for those things I am not… to work at those things I fall short of every day… and remember nothing is promised to us.  Let your soul shine… Gabby always does.

FAMILY PORTRAIT SPECIAL will roll outta my email box into yours sometime next week… email me for details or to book now as availability will be limited.  erika@erikaleighphotography.com!

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!

Best Friends.

Like many of the images that will come up on this list I don’t have any over the top nor stoic explanation as to why I love a particular image.  Some, well most, just speak to me.  Of course, I know all the subjects of these photos which make them that much more special, but I think even a random person can look at this and just feel at ease.  That’s mostly what it is for me.  When I set out to take photos of a group, individual, wedding I never have some amazing mission statement or pursuit to change the world of photography.  I want real.  I want images that portray the moment, the feeling.  This one does it for me.  These two are an inseparable mother and son pair… their happiness in each other was so easy to capture in a photo.  I just smile looking at it… hope you do too!

I’m not even sure how to justly describe how Bill Simmons, aka ‘the Sports Guy’ has inspired a lowly blond photographer, let alone adequately praise him… Especially in a short segment.  I could talk for days on the ways I adore him but will try, like he does, to wrap up the large idea in a few paragraphs.  Keep in mind I will undoubtedly fall short.

The man is a genius on all walks of life hidden in a short (though he claims 6’1’’ & in my eyes that’s still short) journalist’s body.  I’m an avid reader & ESPN The Magazine (oh I will miss his column) gets me through many awful treadmill experiences and his writings always take me to another place.  He jokes, like only a smart person should (key phrase… ONLY a smart person should), about the wonders of the sports world, the ineffective leaders of teams, the oddities of the famous and the influences of technology, his father and his wife, etc.  Though his stories (they’re not just articles) make me laugh, they also breed a humble connection to him and his subject matter, which isn’t always easy in the supposed glamorous and caged world of sports and sports heroes. Beyond just the obvious writing style inspiration, his success of merging his life and work keeps me confident in what I do with my own business and inspires me to keep doing just that.

He takes me to a place where I find myself so often… Work and life all being joined in the same beautiful space.  He is a constant reminder, through his words and ‘tweets’ (oh I despise that word) that it is OK for your work and personal story/opinions to come together in this one big perfect assimilation of a life.  I struggle as a young business owner to find a way to be taken seriously yet to still live the fun, light-hearted life I lead.  Much like the title quote of this section could imply and much like Bill’s success proves, maybe these two pursuits don’t have to be different: just maybe I can be taken more seriously by sticking to me and by not being afraid of my endless pursuit of fun.  He gives fans, like me, a feeling that it is ok to be ordinary, have struggles, have odd likes and dislikes and still be amazing at what we do… Maybe even more so because of our ability accept and share these things.  I am constantly aiming to better connect to my ‘clients’ and he inspires me to keep doing so by being nothing more, nothing less than myself!  Someday, I’ll get to play a game of H-O-R-S-E with him where I’m sure he’ll make fun of my glamorization of his life and my overuse of ellipses… Until then… Thanks for the constant inspiration.

Go here for more on Number 28 or follow the dude on twitter:  twitter.com/sportsguy33   Thanks for reading.  Seriously, a giveaway is coming this week… stay tuned.

Waiting.

This is one of those accident shots that end up being your favorites.  My best friends’ little man Kian loves him his daddy.  While he has been known to throw any and all objects my way, he has a sweet loving side and on command, goes to the window when asked where his dad is.  Broken down, I love all the contrasting elements:  the sunlight against the dark curves of the door, the height and grandness of the side banisters compared to petiteness little Kian and his bright pajamas that stand out against the warm, classy background colors.  The shafts of light bring a dreamy quality to it, that keeps me looking back at it wondering what he really thinks is about to come through those doors…

It’s so perfectly fitting that my number 29 inspiration is the mother of the boy in the picture… My best friend, Shervin.  She is more than my best friend, she is my sounding board, my text partner in crime, my long lost sister, my stress relief, my constant in life.  She is proof that one should never judge a book by its cover, as i first came to know of Shervin through an old friend and I quickly named her ‘doily girl’ because I assumed any beautiful Persian woman, getting married so young had to wear a doily and stay indoors.  Yes, I was that terrible.  However from the second I actually met and spoke with her there was an undeniable connection.  One I must admit, I have never felt with any other human being.  It was as though I was meant to meet the friend that introduced us and move to Atlanta just to meet her.  All my life I grew up with a lot of friends… but never one that I felt was my other half.  Enter Shervin.

We couldn’t be more opposite… She is married, Persian, long dark hair, a good cook, an amazing mother to Kian and pregnant with another little chick on the way. Seriously, exact opposites.  :)  I rarely see her but when I do it is as though we live together.  She took care of me for one week through some tough times that I now quote as, ‘The Best Week of my Life.”  I often reflect on the time we have together and the discussions we have… I think, ‘Gosh, I guess we never talk too seriously or about sad things.’  But every time I go to see her its because I need a break from those hard times, from a long shoot day, from a stressful week of edits or I miss my family.  It is when I am with her that nothing is sad nor bad, hence why we never have to have those ‘serious’ talks.

Her inspiration to me is most definitely NOT a work one… as she is my release from work, though she does inspire me to wait to have children!  :) However, she is a constant part of my happiness that allows me to stay strong in work and life.  She reminds me, without words or proof, just of her being there, that life is good and that the things we battle over and work hard for are worth it but are nothing without those we love.  Through loving her and being loved by her she gives me strength and courage… I love you Shervin, thanks for inspiring me!  Can’t wait to meet Baby Kayden……… it’s still not too late to name her Erika!  :)

For those just joining us, it is ELP’s 1YA (One-year anniversary) Countdown Extravaganza (say that three times fast) where we’re counting down the top 30 images and inspirations of the last year… giveaways and other fun stuff coming soon.

Two down, 28 to go… stay in touch… erika@erikaleighphotography.com!