Lisa Phillipson Photography » Atlanta Family and High School Senior Photography

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I made it! The 12th day of Christmas and I was able to post something every day.  I was glad to share so many sessions but have saved a personal post for last.  I am pretty sure my Christmas Cards will be late this year so I’ll just share some pictures of my own kids right now.  Getting combed hair doesn’t seem to be the battle I chose to fight this day.  I’m fine with it.  My standards are pretty low for pictures of my own kids.  I only want three things: Them, no crazy Superhero T-shirts and to look “pleasant” (aka it is okay not to smile).

They were acting very silly and out of control on this afternoon.  I would like to say that is out of the ordinary but it isn’t.  They were doing big huge cheesy grins with their eyes shut tight.  Below is what I got when I asked them not to smile so much.  It reminds me of those old pictures from the 1800s when everyone looked so miserable stoic.

Are you still with me or asleep?  In case my Christmas cards really never make it out, I have included a couple of my annual Santa pictures.  My middle child has the gift thing figured out and explained to my little girl how it works as we waited our turn.  According to him, if you only put ONE thing on your list, you are certain to get it.  If you put 5 or 6 things you don’t know what you will get.  So sure enough, all three went up to Santa with exactly one thing on their lists.  Barbie Scooter, iPod and Wii-U.  That is all the Phillipson kids need to make their Christmas complete.  I’m afraid 2 of the 3 will be very disappointed on Christmas morning (although Andy and I have been known to cave at the last minute). I like this Santa.  We think he must be the real thing and not just a helper.  I like him because he always tells my children to brush their teeth.

Photographer’s Note: I want to get a canvas for each year of my Santa pictures and pull them all out every December.  I haven’t quite figured out how to display them or where I would put them so stay tuned.

I would like to share the best and absolute worst all time Christmas picture of all 3 of my children.  It again has the theme of uncombed hair.  An added bonus is that it features Alex’s haircut he created himself called my bangs were bothering me and now they are not.  If you read my earlier post about how I have lived with scissors on the top shelf for the last 10 years, now you know why.  Unfortunately, my kids are bigger now and can move chairs and climb high when I am not looking.  Ariel the Mermaid had a recent hair loss as well.  Anyway, Enjoy! Merry Christmas.

No, you may not submit this to Awkward Family Photos.  I plan on holding on to all my awkward photos.  I’m pretty sure I will have enough material for my own book one day.  If you have a funny picture, I would love to see it.  And you actually can submit to a funny Holiday contest here.

More silliness below (probably my Mom is the only one that has made it this far?).  I will call this session “get in the backyard so I can get a Christmas Card picture” OR ” the sun is going, the sun is going, stop it!”  I can’t decide.

kid photographer atlanta my own kid photographer atlanta

Christmas Gift Ideas: Only one today – remember the real gift already given to us all!  I’ll leave you with my favorite Christmas song:

Merry Christmas!

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you: He is Christ the Lord.” –Luke 2:11
posted in: Musings

These are the greatest dogs.  They remind me of the Golden Retriever I had in High School.  They are cute and hyper when they are puppies but grow up to be such good family pets.  We have friends with one now and the children just lay all over her and use her as a pillow.  She doesn’t mind at all.  If you have a long time wonderful pet like these two it is a great idea to document your time with them just like with children.  They are such special fur-people and really become a big part of the family.  They have their own personalities so it is funny to see how one of these two is so tennis ball crazy and the other…not so much.  🙂

Christmas Ideas:

Buy Cheap-O Christmas Decorations if you have little kids or pets so when they wreck them you won’t feel so bad. Really sad, huh?  Sorry, but I am still in that stage of life my husband calls “we can’t have nice things.”  True.

I bought this lovely ceramic Christmas Tree at Goodwill for maybe $4 (must not have had Grammy with me to get her Senior Discount?).  Don’t judge.  It has fake snow with little light up bulbs that no longer light up and reminds me of the one my grandmother had out every year.  I keep it right on my kitchen table so little fingers run all over it, color on it, break bulbs, smear food on it and as you can see below often decorate it with random things.  The first couple of years that I had it people were constantly informing daily what had “happened” to the tree on my table.  What a relief to not have to care.  For $4 it can be disposable (in my mind).  I have tried to keep the scissors and Sharpies on the top kitchen cabinet for the last 10 years.  I’m glad to at least have a tablescape for one month out of the year (I don’t think I can get away with tablescape can I?).

Merry Christmas!

posted in: Pets

2 and a half christmas

“Look at me! Look at me! Look at me NOW! It is fun to have fun, but you have to know how.”  — Dr. Seuss (The Cat in the Hat)

This sweet girl is just what you expect from a 2 1/2 year old.  She was a bundle of on the go, non-stop fun.  We explored, ran, jumped, threw leaves and laughed.  I think her candid moments are the best because they really capture a little piece of her fun personality.  Her family is so kind and patient with her and really enjoys all she has to offer.  It is really reflected in her pleasant, easy going nature.  All little girls should be this loved!

I have spared you a few days of super-cute puppy love so I leave you with one today.  Meet Sherman.  He isn’t too much of a puppy any more and he is just as cool as he thinks he is.  He was so nice to sit for my picture.  I think he almost smiled?

2 and a half christmas

Christmas Gift Idea for Little Girls:

Okay, this isn’t really an “idea” for you but more of a confession of what my little girl will be getting for Christmas against mine and the CVS cashier’s better judgement:

Stompeez
2 and a half christmas

Not just any Stompeez but the unicorn ones.  I hate unicorns!  I paid $21 at CVS oh and there is one more pair left for you!  These tacky things are going to be in my house now but I just had to do it.  You would understand if you had seen and heard the joy coming out of her as she told me all about them one day.  She had seen them with her Grammy “at the place where you drive up for subscriptions.”  She told me “they are a little big but I will grow into them!”  So, it is done and it will be worth it to see her when she opens them on Christmas.  When else in life will you ever be SO excited about light-up unicorn slippers?  I’m glad we can indulge her one day of the year.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas is for children. But it is for grownups too. Even if it is a headache, a chore, and nightmare, it is a period of necessary defrosting of chill and hide-bound hearts.  –Lenora Mattingly Weber

 

posted in: Childhood,Pets

On the 8th Day of Christmas… A Baseball Inspired Senior Boy Session Share

I know I say all my Seniors are so nice and great but this one really is!  We shot his whole session in and around the baseball field where he plays for his High School Team.  We captured a lot – the uniform, field, casual jeans & polo pictures and the Letter Jacket too.  We captured some really nice images to reflect what a big part of his Senior Year of High School was all about.  We also got the classic and timeless shots that never get old.  I was so happy to be the one to have this session with him.

Gift Ideas for the Baseball Enthusiast:

Teenagers might like a Snap-On Baseball Case for iPhone.  I also found a site called EverythingBaseball.com (which sums it up).  There are a lot of unique baseball gifts you can purchase.

Shutterfly is having a sale on Calendars – buy one and the rest are 50% off.  You could surprise your baseball fan with a calendar full of your favorite baseball pictures.  You can also get 40% off of photobooks through the 10th.  You will have to move on those things pretty quickly to get the deals and have it in hand for Christmas.

Good luck!

Merry Christmas!

posted in: High School

Today’s session-share is my kind of school portraits.  🙂  I’ve been invited several times throughout the years to go to schools and do the “school pictures” but I don’t really specialize in that and just have never had time to fit it in either.  This Fall I was so happy to work with an awesome school that was looking to hang huge canvases (30×40) around the top of their high walls.  They have been delivered now and I can’t wait to get back out there and check them out hanging on the walls.  The best part was that I was able to just “shoot” all the kids in their natural settings and in my style as well.  I love capturing children just playing and not having to fuss too much about bows being out of place and grass all over their pants.  It is just a lot more fun and natural to me.  I had lots of favorites from this session.  I think some of those kids could be GAP models!

Christmas Gift Ideas for Children:

I’ve heard the best toys are the classic ones that have stood the test of time and also help build fine motor skills.  Blocks will never go out of style.  A block set my boys were handed down from a friend and have always loved are Kapla Blocks. They are appropriate for around 3 years old and up;  We still have them out many years later.  My boys have built some really creative things with these blocks.  The blocks are simple and wood colored but I think you can add colored blocks now too.

The above was just one of their many Kapla creations.  It would go on to have Thomas trains running through it or around it and a few Lincoln Logcabins nearby.  It was the season of constant buildings and tracks lining my foyer hallway.  I often thought we had a pretty good security system from burglars coming in the front door.  Good thing Santa comes down the chimney!

Merry Christmas!

 

 

posted in: Childhood

On the 5th day of Christmas…

A handsome Senior High School boy

Atlanta, Georgia

A Senior Boy Session is definitely different than a Senior Girl Session (usually).  The girls have lots of ideas and we try all kinds of new things.  The boys do whatever I ask of them and are there just to make their Mom happy.  This young man was no exception – so polite and I liked him immediately.  He did not even mind sitting next to his twin brothers for a quick Christmas Card shot!  😉

Looking for a good teenage boy Christmas Gift? I have no ideas for you.  I’m assuming something electronic would be good.  Even my 11 year old doesn’t give me ideas and says “anything is fine, there is nothing I want.”  Is this where having a boy starts to pay off?

Gift Idea: I can frame and wrap a gift certificate for a customized Senior Portrait Session.  I will be doing these again starting in February and it applies for Class of 2013 and Class of 2014 Seniors.  Email me for details.

Camera: I’m sure I am biased but I think a nice camera is a great gift for anyone especially a teenager.  I don’t know that much about all the brands and what options are out there, but I know I loved the Canon Rebel I had years ago. You can check this link or Costco to see what has the better price.  Unless you know a lot about it, purchase the camera with the kit so you have all the pieces needed and make sure you pull out the battery and charge it before Christmas morning.  What a bummer to open it and not get to use it right away.

Merry Christmas!

posted in: High School

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