New Year, New Beginnings...

                 With the New 2014 (can you believe it's already 2014???) Year just around the corner, it got me thinking about the passing year and how my life has changed. Sure, I had some dreams and goals (didn't write them down, my excuse for not remembering them))) going into 2013, but I was sort of at a loss of where life was taking me. I had been a mother for a few years now and it is the best thing that could ever happen to me. I never thought I could love that much! My heart sometimes feels like an ever expanding balloon that my boys somehow manage to inflate with love, joy and happiness more and more, every day, every minute. And for them, for my dear hubby and my pups, I want to thrive to be a better person. So, some of the goals for this coming year include being a better mother and a better wife. To try to give more, love more and savor every moment. And adding another goal  now - becoming a better photographer. This year has blessed me with discovering a new passion - wedding photography. From something 12 months ago I wouldn't even believe I could do, to having shot my first photo sessions by the end of 2013! Life is so unpredictable and just simply amazing! I am so grateful to have this opportunity to try myself in the field of photography, to help people capture the precious moments of their lives... Incredible! Shooting my first wedding is definitely on THE dreams for the coming year list! :) Bring it on, 2014!!! I am ready (well, quite a bit scared, but ready!)...

                 I want to wish you all much success, joy and happiness in the New Year! Wherever your passes take you, I hope they lead you to your goals. 

                So, set your goals and don't be afraid to dream big! Have a blessed 2014!

The Cotton Anniversary..

Over the weekend I had a privilege to photograph this beautiful couple (and their absolutely precious boy). Today they are celebrating their two year anniversary! Rebecca and Jake, I would like to wish you a life full of happiness, love and joy.  It was a pleasure to work with you guys! 

The photo-session I will remember forever..

        I arrived to the location, got out of the car and scouted the area. Despite it being an overcast day, at least it wasn't raining as the weather forecast had been predicting the whole week prior. The park looked beautiful. Fall in Georgia is an amazing season, colorful and bright. I took a deep breath and tried to calm my nerves a bit. My first photography session, a real one, with real clients! I was excited, thrilled, nervous and somewhat terrified..
But after meeting this wonderful family, all my worries disappeared. And though this was the first time I met Mindy and Bjorn in person, their positive attitude and joyful personalities shined through turning the photo session into a fun filled time. Their two absolutely adorable kids were the light of the 

session.

       I cannot begin to express how greatful I am to Mindy and Bjorn for allowing me to photograph their family, knowing that it was my very first time. And I am so fortunate to have had them as my clients..

Leaving the photo-session I felt incredibly relieved... I finally overcame the fear and made that big first step.. And it was everything I dreamed of, and more.... 

The Beginning of the Journey...

             

            Life can be, to say the least, unpredictable. If somebody told me a couple of years ago that I will one day be a photographer, let alone, set my goal on becoming a wedding photographer, I would never believe. I always like photography, loved photographing my family, friends, but it never even crossed my mind to try myself in it professionally. And having had an unfortunate experience with my wedding photographer, I was skeptical of people calling themselves professional photographers. 
            For seven years I was dreading making my own wedding album, complaining every now and then to my brother, a professional landscape photographer and an incredibly gifted person, that I didn't even have the album to look through. He finally told me one day, to take my little camera, put the little lens he gave me on, shoot some detail pictures of whatever I had left, add to wedding photos and finally print that album. Why didn't I think of that?. So I set out to gather my Big day leftovers and shoot them. But I had no idea how... How do you shoot the rings, where? what about the dress? Should necklace and earring be in one shot?.. I had more questions than I could answer, so I went to.. Facebook and started browsing numerous pages of wedding photographers for some inspiration. And as I was looking through photos, I became amazed, obsessed and touched by these incredible memories unfolding in front of me.. I started to realize, that wedding photography was more then just another branch of the huge wedding industry giant, it was much more.. I became addicted with reading touching wedding blogs of incredibly talented Jasmine Star, a California based international wedding photographer, watching wedding slideshows of David Mielcarek (CinematicbyDavidM), the Group of 10, GM Photographics, Emilio B Photography, Untitled Film Works and I could go on.. And I realized that what I was looking at was not just some beautiful photographs, those were memories that couples and their families would treasure forever, would look back at with joy and re-live those happiest days... What an honor and big responsibility that must be to document a wedding day!!! I was hooked. A little fire has started deep in my heart. I wanted to become a wedding photographer and to be able to bring that joy of beautiful memories to couples.. So, long story short, with the support of my amazing best friend/husband I set out on the journey called a wedding photographer.... 
          Thank you for reading my story and for embarking on this adventure together with me!

Warmly,
Olya