Alan Darmody Blog http://www.alandarmodyblog.com My photography. My Life. Fri, 09 Mar 2012 15:47:29 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 alandarmodybloghttp://feedburner.google.com Spring Cleaning Daily #1 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/alandarmodyblog/~3/NK86wYaYqs8/ http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/spring-cleaning-1/#comments Fri, 09 Mar 2012 15:25:33 +0000 Alan http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/?p=2133 Recently, I watched a TED Talk on the topic of stuff. I can be happy with less stuff and I definitely have more stuff than I need. So I’m starting to purge. My wife teases me that I’m a hoarder, although I don’t think I’m that bad. I do tend to hang on to insignificant things much longer than I should. These items usually have a small memory behind them or I have hopes of someday using it.

So I’m beginning this process by finding at least one thing to throw away, donate or sell. And it begins with a bunch of old papers and old DVDs and CDs. The contents of these discs have since been backed up to the cloud and my primary MacBook Air doesn’t even have a DVD drive. Good bye old stuff and hello to a simpler life.

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]]> http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/spring-cleaning-1/feed/ 0 http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/spring-cleaning-1/ I Married Her Family http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/alandarmodyblog/~3/SuQIhEzfbVU/ http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/i-married-her-family/#comments Thu, 01 Dec 2011 03:48:26 +0000 Alan http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/?p=2089 I truly enjoy my in-laws and I’m not just saying that because they read this blog. They have adopted me as one of their own and I don’t feel like an outsider at all. According to all of the comedy material being written out there for sitcoms and standup, I must be in the minority. I can only imagine the agony that some people must feel when they are forced to attend family gatherings. I am very thankful for a family that makes life better, not worse.

And get this, most of the in-laws are Cowboys fans too! My own family are all Cowboys fan (of course), but I won the lottery to have support on both sides! However, my father-in-law is a Niners fan, which is more of an issue of contention this year because the Niners are good…but, we did beat them this year for one of their 2 losses. Take that Mike! I just hope we don’t have to play them in the playoffs.

So, we were in CA for Thanksgiving this year and I was able to do a small session for Alysa’s cousin Nick and his family. I think this is our third session with them and Eli is goofy in all of them (see below). Can’t wait for next time…whenever that may be!

]]> http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/i-married-her-family/feed/ 1 http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/i-married-her-family/ Boxers in Buford http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/alandarmodyblog/~3/Lp5v9_TYlSw/ http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/beautiful-day-buford/#comments Mon, 04 Jul 2011 00:43:45 +0000 Alysa http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/?p=2057 As Jen and Halle and Mike piled out of the car with the dogs, we suddenly realized it has been almost two years ago since our last session. We couldn’t believe it! Rocky was a puppy, but no more! And we were thrilled to get to meet Mike, who was out of the country last time. We can see why Jen and Halle talked so much about him when he was gone. He kept us laughing and kept Halle from using her fake smile with his silliness.

The things that hadn’t changed: Halle is just as much fun at eight as she was at six when she ran around in a tutu and combat boots (one of our favorite sessions!). She very likely has a future on Broadway – she can ham it up, pose like a model and switch from emotion to emotion at the flip of a switch. Jen is beautiful and loves to laugh and brag on her family. Lexi, though getting old, is a trooper and tolerated the walking, the posing, and Rocky’s playfulness like a patient lady. And Halle even taught us a new, more efficient way to request a smile from our clients. Just yell, “TEETH!”

Thank you guys for a great morning. We hope you love your images and that you get all you need for your new art project, Jen!

]]> http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/beautiful-day-buford/feed/ 9 http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/beautiful-day-buford/ Top 5 Reasons why I loved this Memorial Day http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/alandarmodyblog/~3/C__L_bI9fb4/ http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/memorial-day-weekend-top-5/#comments Fri, 03 Jun 2011 21:56:34 +0000 Alan http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/?p=2027 #1 Shade

We started our session with the Anthes family in the morning, in hopes of having cooler weather. No such luck. By 11am it was already 120 degrees — ok, it wasn’t 120 degrees, it just felt like it. But we managed to find a few areas with good light and decent shade.

Micah may be cute, but he’s one mean biker dude…

#2 Improvisation

Micah is tall — which means that his pants often don’t fit. If the pants are long enough for his legs, then the waist is too big and his pants end up on the ground. Mark and I started thinking about what we could do to cinch up the waist just before our session when I had an inspired idea. I found a small carabiner in my camera bag, which we used to discreetly cinch those belt loops tight. His pants stayed up the whole time and I felt like MacGyver (if you don’t get this reference, then I’m much older than you). And I know you’re not supposed to tell secrets like that, but it was so cool…

#3 Family

Mark and Kathy (Micah’s mom and dad) were so excited that Kathy’s parents and sister were coming for the weekend. Micah sure loves his grandparents, too! Mostly, I think Micah enjoys hitching a ride on Grandma’s walker. Smart boy…

It’s a true honor to be asked to document and capture moments between family.

It was also Mark and Kathy’s anniversary, so Alysa occupied Micah (and Margot, who got to come on her first photo shoot with daddy!) while I snapped a few of them in all their cuteness.

#4 Walking Like A Monkey

Micah has just started walking. So far, he can take a few steps but he’s not completely confident about it yet. So, he’s developed a hybrid crawl/walk that makes him look like a monkey. Put him in a gorilla costume for Halloween and he’d pull it off masterfully. Too bad October is so far away — he’ll be running around by then and then the whole plan will be ruined.

#5 Food!

Have you eaten at the Boathouse in Chattanooga? It overlooks the Tennessee River and their Chicken Salad Sandwich with Fried Okra on the side was fantastic. I’m a true Southern boy, I guess —I LOVE FRIED OKRA! Kathy’s dad was kind enough to treat us all to our meal – Thank you so much David! We owe you one!

P.S.

Here’s a quick glimpse of the REAL Mark and Kathy. Aren’t they ridiculously good looking? We love you guys!

P.S. – Kathy’s good friend Nathalie did her makeup and hair for the session. Doesn’t it look great!? If you need a good stylist for a party, photo session, wedding, or whatever, or just need to buy some new makeup, please contact Nathalie. Her website is, http://www.marykay.com/nwodzenski

]]> http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/memorial-day-weekend-top-5/feed/ 18 http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/memorial-day-weekend-top-5/ Jumping on Grandma’s Bed http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/alandarmodyblog/~3/ugBS9lk8HOQ/ http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/jumping-on-grandmas-bed/#comments Sun, 29 May 2011 02:07:55 +0000 Alan http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/?p=1989 The favorite part about photographing kids is seeing them grow up! It’s just so fun to be able to document how much kids change in such a short amount of time. Blaire was just learning to walk when I met her and her brother Tripp about 18 months ago, and Tripp has probably grown a foot taller! Blaire isn’t the shy girl she was was back then – she is a bundle of energy now, but I don’t think she can match her brother quite yet! Tripp is a ham for the camera, and he knows it. Kids like them make my job easy and fun – I can just chase them around and let them be kids and it makes for the best photos.

We started out with some portraits out on the front porch of Grandma’s house. They did an amazing job of smiling for me and sitting nicely for some family shots, but I could tell that they were thinking toward the future. They knew where this session was going to finish up – in Grandma’s room. Jumping on the bed!

As soon as we finished the first batch of photos, Tripp and Blaire peeled off their first outfits and put on their pajamas and they were off! Up the stairs to mess up Grandma’s bed. This is not a regular occurrence, I’m certain, and they relished every moment. However, Tripp quickly realized that the mattress wasn’t exactly what he was expecting. “It’s not very bouncy!” Tripp said. Grandma laughed, “Oh yeah, it’s a memory foam mattress!” This small roadblock didn’t change they’re attitudes – they just jumped with more energy and gusto to get as much air between their feet and the blankets below!

Thank you Tripp, Blaire, Leslie and Mike for having me over to play and take a few photos! I hope to come over again sometime soon!

A quick clothing change so that the real fun can begin! (I love home sessions because authentic moments like this can be captured.)And now, upstairs to jump on Grandma’s bed!1. 2. 3. JUMP!!!

]]> http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/jumping-on-grandmas-bed/feed/ 1 http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/jumping-on-grandmas-bed/ Google made me cry http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/alandarmodyblog/~3/FhK9C3I8qwQ/ http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/google-made-me-cry/#comments Tue, 24 May 2011 01:39:34 +0000 Alan http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/?p=1976 It’s been awhile since I’ve blogged, and I have an excuse. I’m Mr. Mom. Since I work from home, I’ve been taking the baby duties while Alysa is at work. My day is made up of two hour intervals that feel like 15 minutes. Margot likes to eat and likes to eat often, which means lots of bottles and lots of diapers!

I’ve never been a dad before (can you tell?) and I knew that things would change in my life, but I wasn’t really prepared for the emotional changes. Little things will make me emotional about fatherhood, especially commercials. And I think that having a daughter has magnified my sensitivity. I’m not ashamed about it, either. I still have my “man card” safely in my wallet.

During game 2 of the Western Conference Finals between the Dallas Mavericks (Go Mavs!!) and Oklahoma City Thunder, a commercial for Google Chrome came on and and it got to me. There weren’t tears, but there was definite moisture. It’s a great commercial, so I thought I’d share it and see how many of you I can get to cry too.

P.S. – So, did you cry? You can admit it. This is a safe place.

]]> http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/google-made-me-cry/feed/ 3 http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/google-made-me-cry/ The Royal Wedding of Allison and Albert http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/alandarmodyblog/~3/TovISjD-xa0/ http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/royal-wedding-allison-albert/#comments Tue, 17 May 2011 21:24:17 +0000 Alan http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/?p=1933 The Calhoun SDA church was packed last Sunday for what everyone called, “Calhoun’s Royal Wedding,” between Albert, the youth minister and Alli, the daughter of the local boarding academy’s principal. It amazed me to discover how many mutual friends we shared with the couple as I couldn’t turn around without being stopped by our own friends, including clients and friends the Lambertons, the Salyers and the Cobles.

For a simple wedding, the details were flawless. The bride’s dress was vintage-inspired and the girls were sharp in all black, but totally unique dresses chosen by themselves. The groom gave his groomsmen real bow ties as their gift and then found out that none of them knew how to tie them – none, that is, except bow tie groomsman extraordinaire Ben, who obliged the entire group of them.

We were also thrilled to be working with the Calhoun coordinator Robyn again and to see the amazing decorating abilities of Tami Richardson and Jennifer Coble, who managed to turn a gym into a gorgeous wedding venue (see below). The entertainment of the night was provided by the couple’s various friends and family, everything from the academy choir to a barbershop quartet to a ukelele number by one of the bridesmaids. It was fun, it was social, it was beautiful. Congratulations, Albert and Alli. We are so honored to have been a part of your gorgeous event.

P.S. – I met an awesome photographer in the bridal party, Caressa Rogers, who did a pre-wedding bridal session with Alli and Albert. I’ve only seen two images of the session, and they were great! I’d love to see the entire session sometime.

P.S.S. – Trivia Question: Where did Alli and Albert go on their honeymoon? It was a secret for Alli. I’m just curious where they went, I don’t even know.

]]> http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/royal-wedding-allison-albert/feed/ 7 http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/royal-wedding-allison-albert/ Hot construction dudes do charity http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/alandarmodyblog/~3/L8KtVujWpA4/ http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/hot-construction-dudes-do-charity/#comments Tue, 12 Apr 2011 15:05:53 +0000 Alysa http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/?p=1926 A close friend of ours, Angela of The Painted House blog, is involved in a great charity called Nicholas House, in which designers and decorators lend a hand to make rooms into liveable homes for homeless families. Alan got to go play construction crew with Angela’s husband, Clayton (also known as Alan’s evil twin) and screwdriver-wielding pastor Chris from our home church, Fusion Church Atlanta. We’re happy to be involved in such a great charity. You can find out more about it on Angela’s fantastic blog, which we highly recommend all you creatives out there. Oh and if you’re a vegan, you’ve found your mothership there, too…recipes galore. (And as a non-vegan, they’re all amazingly good! Crazy, I know!) Make sure you contact her if you would like to help her transform a simple little room into a beautiful home for a deserving family. She can use the help.

P.S. Thanks for the link, Angela!

 

]]> http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/hot-construction-dudes-do-charity/feed/ 3 http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/hot-construction-dudes-do-charity/ So Fresh and So Clean http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/alandarmodyblog/~3/pm3xjL295jg/ http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/so-fresh-so-clean/#comments Thu, 07 Apr 2011 15:00:48 +0000 Alan http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/?p=1890 Hello. My name is Margot Grey Darmody.

I like sleeping, eating, pooping and sucking on my own hands.

I’m already an overachiever and I can magically get out of any pair of socks in five seconds or less.

I don’t like baths. I don’t like being naked. I don’t like my diaper to be changed.

I have successfully spit-up on mom and dad. Next goal, poop or pee on them.

I’ve grown over a full inch since I left the hospital.

I’m getting better at sleeping by myself, although I love snuggling with mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, aunt or uncle. Really, I’ll snuggle with anyone.

I hate the hiccups. I get them everyday and they’re loud!

I’ve already had lots of photo shoots. Here is the first.

 

pic13 pic24 pic25 pic17 pic10 pic15 pic21 pic19 pic4 pic20 pic8 pic3 pic16 pic14 pic6 pic1 pic2 pic23 pic12 pic18 pic26 pic11 pic7 pic22 pic9 pic5

]]> http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/so-fresh-so-clean/feed/ 15 http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/so-fresh-so-clean/ How to explain natural disasters to your kids http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/alandarmodyblog/~3/IhQ0KYwlzRo/ http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/how-to-explain-natural-disasters-to-your-kids/#comments Mon, 04 Apr 2011 12:00:58 +0000 Alan http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/?p=1729

Now that I’m a parent I am realizing how much responsibility I have to educate my daughter about the world. I will be her primary source of information and it’s important that I don’t sugarcoat the pain and hurt that exists in this world. Let’s be honest, the world seems to be falling apart – natural disasters, wars and uprisings in foreign countries, disease, hunger and poverty. As adults, we are familiar with hurt and the reality of the world, but children are learning about all of this stuff and it’s fresh and new to them. As kids start to become more aware of their surroundings, they must, they have to find these issues confusing and hard to understand. That’s where I come in as a parent. I need to have a plan for how to teach my daughter about pain and suffering and also teach her compassion and love.

I subscribe to World Vision’s blog and they had an article talking about how to explain natural disasters to your kids. I think their suggestions are going to really help me with my gameplan when I am faced with answering my daughter’s questions of “Why?”.

1. Start by listening
Find out what your child already knows. You can then respond in an age-appropriate way. The aim is not to worry them with the devastating details, but to protect them from misinformation they may have heard from friends or disturbing images they may have seen on television.

2. Provide clear, simple answers
Limit your answer to the question asked and use simple language.

3. If you don’t know the answer, admit it
If your children ask questions that you can’t answer, tell them so, and then do some research to try and help them sort it out. If they ask “Why did this have to happen?” don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know.” If you are part of a faith community, the reassurance offered there can be invaluable in helping your child sort through the truth that awful things happen.

4. Follow media reports or online updates privately
Young children in particular are easily traumatized, and seeing or hearing about the horrifying details of the quake may be more than they can cope with. Adults, too, should ensure they are dealing with their own emotions by talking to others, so they can continue to respond well to their children’s needs.

5. Concentrate on making them feel safe
When tragedies occur, children wonder if the same event could happen in their hometown. If it was an act of nature that could not be repeated in your area, tell children that. Placing themselves in the situations of victims is not all bad—it is a sign of empathy, an essential life skill, but watch for signs of excessive worrying.

6. Give children creative outlets
Some children may not be prepared to speak about what they have heard, but may find drawing or other creative activities helpful to deal with their emotions and stress. Their drawings can be helpful starting points for conversation.

7. Model involvement and compassion
Tell your child that, as a family, you will be helping the people in Japan by giving a donation to a reputable charity such as World Vision.

8. Give your child a chance to be involved
Being involved in the solution will help relieve some of their anxiety. Invite them to contribute to the family’s gift by giving something out of their piggy bank.

Read the original article here on World Vision’s blog.

Photo credit: NY Times

]]> http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/how-to-explain-natural-disasters-to-your-kids/feed/ 0 http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/how-to-explain-natural-disasters-to-your-kids/ A Room for Margot http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/alandarmodyblog/~3/2NXCCkMlDWY/ http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/a-room-for-margot/#comments Fri, 01 Apr 2011 21:23:32 +0000 Alysa http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/?p=1878 We’ve gotten almost as many requests for pictures of Margot’s room as we have pictures of her. So here they are, finally! I wanted a room that stands up and says “I’m one hip and happy baby. So there!” Clean, simple, light, and vibrant with friendly critters all around to watch over her is the name of the game. I needed to know that I could stand hours and hours of being in this room – and I’ve already done that… In fact, we’re sitting in our chair together while I type this blog. Maternity leave, shmaternity leave. Gotta keep on workin’…

Curtain: Asian Poppy Curtain by Urban Outfitters;  Mirror: Ikea;  Recliner: Jackson Recliner by Macys Furniture Store;  Changing table/storage Chest: Olivia chest by Walmart.com (custom painted base);  Changing pad cover: Owls by DwellStudio;  Birdhouse: Hobby Lobby; Bird Art Print: Alan Darmody Photography!

Crib: Olivia 3-in-1 by Walmart.com (custom painted base);  Hanging toy holder: Ikea;  Animal Alphabet Print: englishmuffinshop on etsy.com;  Bird mobile: custom made to order by my amazing MOM! (Lyn Shepherd); Crib bedding: fabric by Amy Butler, crib set made to order by my amazing AUNT, Norma Shepherd (she will accept commissions on sewing of any kind – just drop me a comment below if interested!)

Storage units: Ikea;  Shelves: Ikea (custom painted); Owl wall decals: Target; Monkey and Giraffe decals: Stampin’ Up; Silver tree: Urban Outfitters; Art Print: ADP!

And just for the heck of it, here I am at 39 weeks, the day I went into the hospital for Margot’s arrival. I do not miss that belly. Wow.

P.S. Feel free to post any questions about this design in our comments section below.

P.P.S. Newborn pics of Margot to come soon! She’s making us do them in spurts. Newborns. Yeesh.

]]> http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/a-room-for-margot/feed/ 16 http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/a-room-for-margot/ Introducing, Margot Grey http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/alandarmodyblog/~3/Q_yWMp6w8Gw/ http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/introducing-margot-grey/#comments Wed, 30 Mar 2011 17:20:26 +0000 Alan http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/?p=1870 One week ago, on March 23, 2011 we met our daughter, Margot Grey. We will be doing a full newborn session with her today, but for now, here is a little sneak peek of our baby girl. She weighed in at 8 lb 2 oz and 21 1/4 inches long. Her first doctor’s visit was yesterday and she’s healthy and happy! We are truly blessed. Thank you all for your prayers and messages of encouragement.

]]> http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/introducing-margot-grey/feed/ 11 http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/introducing-margot-grey/ Creating a Monster on a dime http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/alandarmodyblog/~3/ag8RQIQuyr0/ http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/creating-a-monster-on-a-dime/#comments Thu, 24 Mar 2011 12:00:32 +0000 Alysa http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/?p=1668 They can’t say they didn’t warn me. You see, I am a total cheapskate. Ebenezer Scrooge has nothing on me. Don’t get me wrong, I love to give to causes I believe in and help out friends as much as possible. But when it comes to OUR family, I will scour the entire internet to find the lowest possible price on any given item before buying it. And I’ll get a coupon. And I’ll find free shipping. When I grocery shop, I don’t buy unless it’s on sale and I have a coupon, making almost every trip over 50% off retail. It’s a gift- and a curse.

So when I found out I was having a little girl, I told myself that I would have no problem keeping myself from buying clothes for her like a maniac almost-mom. My mom friends laughed and told me that even I would succumb to this temptation. And you, my friends, were right. BUT – I have done it by my rules – and slowly, ever so slowly, I am conquering the baby clothing industry with my hyper-frugality.

Oh, and did I mention that I like baby clothes that don’t LOOK like baby clothes? Give me clothes that look like you accidentally shrunk some awesome adult clothes in the dryer to mini-size.

So this blog is for you moms that might relate to my disorder, I mean spiritual gift. Here are my favorite places to shop, and a few examples of the clothes I’ve picked up while there.

Kid to Kid has to be a gift from the Lord above just for me. At this gently-used consignment store I’ve found Old Navy, Baby Gap, DwellStudio, Tea Collection, Naartje, Calvin Klein, Gymboree and everything in between for cents on the dollar. And if you have clothes left over that aren’t ruined, you might even make some money (or even better, store credit!) for reselling your clothes back to them! My favorite shopping trip is pictured here, where I walked away with 14+ brand name outfits for about $90.

Old Navy for babies. I can almost guarantee that I’ll like anything from this store – and its price! They have the mini-adult clothes thing down to an art form. And the real trick is to hit the in-store clearance section at the right time. Here are a few of my favorite O.N. finds! This load probably cost me $30 or $40.

Once Upon a Child is along the same lines as a Kid to Kid – gently used or new clothes, toys and gear. Just imagine the best garage sale ever. I’ll walk out with four outfits for about $10 all the time. And they often have onesies for $1 or less.

A local giant consignment sale. I just discovered Kidsignments, Gwinnett county’s biggest sale and it was pretty impressive. They have 1,400 private sellers and they fill the entire fairground building with stuff. It’s not all in tip top shape, but I got all of these items (again, mostly brand name and a few custom made) for about $35-$40. We also picked up a few books for less than $1 each.

If you’re lucky enough to have an H&M that carries baby clothes (we have one in Atlanta at Atlantic Station), you can find some fabulous stuff. But alas, they don’t sell online except in the Netherlands. So your best bet is to search ebay for the brand.

Target carries DwellStudio, Genuine Baby by Osh Kosh, Circo, and Cherokee, all of which can be very awesomely good, and sometimes just so-so. But they’re quite affordable (even more so if you find them in a consignment store – see above).

Finally, here are some great finds that caught my eye online that aren’t QUITE to the price I’m willing to pay – but if you see them in a store on further sale somewhere, pick them up for me!!

]]> http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/creating-a-monster-on-a-dime/feed/ 3 http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/creating-a-monster-on-a-dime/ New Portfolio Site for Kids! http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/alandarmodyblog/~3/UOcmzr6N_5k/ http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/new-portfolio-site-for-kids/#comments Tue, 22 Mar 2011 11:00:09 +0000 Alan http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/?p=1845 Over the past few months Alysa and I have been planning for change. We’re having a baby, very soon, and I have gone full-time into photography. Along with these changes we have decided to focus on a new photography market. Kids.

Over the years, we have photographed lots of families with kids and have enjoyed it immensely. Kids keep sessions fun and fluid. Anything goes and we like it like that! So, with our own kid on the way, we believe even more that family memories are precious and need to be documented. Kids change fast and aren’t the same from one day to the next.

So, today, we are launching a brand new portfolio site called Alan Darmody Kids. Please take a few minutes to check out our kids photography and let us know what you think with a comment below!

The new site’s URL is: http://www.alandarmodykids.com


P.S. – if you are wondering if we still shoot weddings…Yes! we still shoot weddings and love doing them. We are going to release a wedding portfolio as well. We’ll keep you posted.

P.P.S – Would you like a $300 discount on a session for your kids? We’re planning a fun promotion to help launch our kids site. Stay tuned to the blog for details!

]]> http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/new-portfolio-site-for-kids/feed/ 3 http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/new-portfolio-site-for-kids/ Hottest Ticket in Town http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/alandarmodyblog/~3/zetLcSSxCdo/ http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/hottest-ticket-in-town/#comments Fri, 18 Mar 2011 14:40:42 +0000 Alan http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/?p=1804 Check out this cool invitation! We love seeing how our couples use their photos. Albert and Allison used two great photos from their e-session for their invitation. We can’t wait to photograph your wedding in May! Thanks for inviting us!

Here are a few other images from their engagement session at Berry College in Rome, GA.

]]> http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/hottest-ticket-in-town/feed/ 0 http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/hottest-ticket-in-town/ We are Child Ambassadors http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/alandarmodyblog/~3/-719aH2EGGc/ http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/world-vision-child-ambassador/#comments Thu, 17 Mar 2011 12:00:17 +0000 Alan http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/?p=1575 Does one of these children belong to you?
wvchild_breidy wvchild_moe wvchild_osten wvchild_prisca wvchild_sheila george adp_wv

I have been involved with World Vision for many years, beginning with my family sponsoring a child named Talent from Zimbabwe. Her photo held a special spot on our fridge for many years and as she grew, we replaced old photos with new ones until she eventually graduated from the World Vision program. She was a part of our family and my sister and I learned at an early age about hunger, poverty and disease around the world. We couldn’t help every other child, but we could help just one.

As an husband and a father, I still sponsor a child with World Vision. Alysa and I have sponsored George for over 3 years and his photo holds a special place on our fridge today. And he has grown A LOT in those three years! We could barely recognize him when we got  his new photo in the mail. I look forward to the day when my daughter, Margot, sees George’s photo on the fridge and I get to explain to her that he is her brother from Lebanon. Margot will learn, as I did, about the world through our sponsored child.

We would like to share this experience of changing lives with our ADP family and friends. For only $35/month, you can make sure that a child will have food, water, clothes, education, medicine and community.

As Child Ambassadors, we are responsible to find homes for specific children assigned to us. And yesterday we officially got their folders! We’re so excited to help Breidy, Moe, Osten, Prisca and Sheila find homes! And so you know, the 5 children that you see above can only be sponsored through ADP. NO ONE else in the world has these folders and these children’s information. They are very specific children with very real needs. And when they’re adopted, we’ll get more wonderful faces to replace them.

Are you looking for a new family member? Does your only-child need a sibling? Please pray about this opportunity. I challenge you to step up and make a difference in a child’s life! If you want more information about World Vision or want to sign up to sponsor one of our five kids, please comment below and we’ll get you pointed in the right direction.

P.S. If you want to sponsor, but none of these five ring a bell with you, send us some specifics. Are you looking for a specific country, birthday or name? We can most likely get a child for you with those details.

 

]]> http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/world-vision-child-ambassador/feed/ 5 http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/world-vision-child-ambassador/ Tim, Jost, and Me http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/alandarmodyblog/~3/BbH3dnSwzCw/ http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/tim-jost-and-me/#comments Tue, 15 Mar 2011 21:08:20 +0000 Alysa http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/?p=1680 I am a total geek about many things. And since we’re being more transparent on our new blog, I thought I would confess at least one of my geeky interests.

I am a genealogist. I get a sick thrill out of learning the names, stories and origins of my family. Some of it is glorious (one line I’ve traced all the way back to Charlemagne). Some of it is not so magical (there was a whole clan of people in another line in the southern hills that all had the same genetic medical disorder – meaning they had never left their hills and were, yes, ALL related.).

If you haven’t watched the NBC show “Who Do You Think You Are?”, you are missing out. Even if you don’t get the fascination of history, you just MIGHT get a taste of why I love it so much as you watch celebrities get blown away by their own heritage. And who isn’t amazed at the idea of network TV being educational?! Novel concept.

While watching the recent episode featuring Tim McGraw, I almost choked on my food when the name Jost Hite came up in his family tree. Why? Because Mr. Hite is a pivotal member of MY family tree as well, my 8th great-grandfather on my mom’s side. Jost was a German immigrant that worked his way up to being one of the largest landowners in early America, owning hundreds of thousands of acres! He is credited with settling the entire Shenendoah Valley. The intriguing episode also brought out some connections with George Washington and even the ancestors of Elvis Presley!

For a limited time, you can watch the episode here.

There’s also a few clips here (thanks to realitytvmagazine.sheknows.com) not featured in the episode where Tim tours Jost’s son’s home and where he wrestles with his uncle on Josts’ questionable dealings with the Native Americans.

P.S. If you’re interested in getting to know where YOU come from, start a family tree on ancestry.com. It’s more than a first step. They do the work FOR you. If you have done any work on your ancestry, feel free to share your stories in our comments section below! I’d love to hear them!

P.P.S. Do you think Tim would respond if I contacted him and asked for more research that he may have received on his trip? Or do you think he’d ignore it?

 

]]> http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/tim-jost-and-me/feed/ 4 http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/tim-jost-and-me/ Beautifully Imperfect http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/alandarmodyblog/~3/c7ZbUEVLnH0/ http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/beautifully-imperfect/#comments Fri, 11 Mar 2011 13:00:00 +0000 Alan http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/?p=1627 I love wood flooring. Wood is organic and authentic. The majority of wood flooring is cut with clean, straight lines, and while there’s nothing innately wrong with this, there’s something really special about this flooring from Bolefloor. Bolefloor doesn’t cut with straight lines. Instead, they cut with the natural contour of the tree which generates a completely unique joint pattern. It’s refreshing to see a company focus on the natural characteristics of the product that they are working with and use those characteristics to enhance their product. They aren’t trying to make something different or change it from the original, they embrace the authentic and go with it. The result could be seen as imperfect. I see the result as beautifully imperfect. I don’t know if I can ever look at a wood floor the same way again. I’m spoiled at the thought of having this kind of floor, this kind of character in my home.

I couldn’t help but see a correlation between this natural cut wood flooring and my photography philosophy. I don’t want to create a different personality out of the personality that stands in front of my camera. I don’t want to straighten the natural lines of my subject. I want to capture the beautifully imperfect with my photography. People are not perfect. Real, actual people aren’t touched-up like fake magazine people. I want more reality in my work. I want your reality in my work.

 

P.S. – Would a better correlation have been between my philosophy and Wendy’s Natural Cut French Fries? Um, that might have been bad to compare my clients with oily potatoes. What do you think?

P.S. – I learned about this wood floor company on the GizMag blog. Check them out for daily posts about cool innovations and new technologies.

 

]]> http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/beautifully-imperfect/feed/ 2 http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/beautifully-imperfect/ The Mystery of Incarnation http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/alandarmodyblog/~3/l0FWcw7p6vA/ http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/mystery-of-incarnation/#comments Wed, 09 Mar 2011 22:13:05 +0000 Alan http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/?p=1605 I am blessed to be a part of a wonderful faith community called FUSION Church Atlanta. Our church meets in an art gallery called The Defoor Centre. It’s really a great venue with lots of character which allows us to be relaxed as we fellowship with one another and learn about Jesus. My favorite part is that I can wear jeans to church!

About this time last year, FUSION hosted their first GODencounters Conference and this past weekend they held the 2nd annual GODencounters Conference. This year’s conference was entitled Within: The Mystery of Incarnation and the message was brought to us by Pastor Matthew Gamble. This guy is brutally honest about his passion for Jesus Christ. I had never heard Matt speak before last weekend and I’m so thankful that I had the opportunity to meet him and get to know him a little bit. I love how he brands his ministry too. He travels the world speaking about The Life & Teachings of Jesus. I love how simple and pure Matt portrays Christ. All we must do is have a mustard seed of faith in Him. The idea that Christ wants to abide in us and live inside our lives is a powerful and beautiful concept, a thought that is hard to understand completely. Anyway, I’m not a preacher so I won’t attempt to replicate his message. Thank you Matt for sharing your passion for Christ. God Bless your ministry.

Another integral element to the weekend was worship through music. I was running the sound board most of the time and only got a few photos of Nicholas Zork. Thanks Nick for spending the weekend with us and leading us in worship. Btw, his CD is great! It’s available on iTunes too!

On Friday during some downtime during setup, I was able to get outside and explore with my camera. Here’s a little bit of what I captured on the streets around The Defoor Centre.

 

P.S. – Matt’s talks were recorded and are going to be posted online sometime. If you’d like to listen to them, leave a comment below and I’ll email you the link once it is available.

]]> http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/mystery-of-incarnation/feed/ 1 http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/mystery-of-incarnation/ Give away Friday begins… http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/alandarmodyblog/~3/60eBWMjeBQ4/ http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/give-away-friday-begins/#comments Fri, 04 Mar 2011 17:34:57 +0000 Alysa http://www.alandarmodyblog.com/?p=1584 One of our goals here on ADP Blog is to feature independent artists and retailers whose products inspire us or whose work we think will be favorites to our readers, our moms and our brides. So we’re starting close to home. Today we’re giving away a copy of singer/songwriter Jaclyn Pruehs‘ new cd, Firefly! Hold on till the end of this post to see how easy it is to win!

Jaclyn is also Alan’s little sister and while she’s been singing since she was talking, the last year or two have launched her music career forward more than the last twenty or so years put together! She’s done background vocals for singer Michelle Tumes, sung with the successful foursome Faith First and has recently traveled with and sung as a new vocalist in the classic Heritage Singers. This finally culminated this year in her first solo album, produced by Grammy and Dove award winner Lari Goss.

Firefly has been a serious labor of love by Jaclyn and her husband, Brooks. Its tracks are a smooth mix of youthful songs and mature arrangements. The songs and vocals are honest, sincere and simple, in the best of terms. You’ll hear covers from some favorites of mine such as Bethany Dillon, Nichole Nordeman and newcomer Audrey Assad, and even an original song, “In Between,” composed by Jaclyn, delving into her own personal questions, vulnerability and determination. You can hear a preview of it here in her first music video:

So if you’re needing that perfect cd to throw on when you need a pick-me-up, encouragement or simply a relaxing soundtrack to the end of your hectic week, check out Firefly, available now on iTunes!

BUT, if you’d like a chance to win a FREE copy, leave a comment here on the blog, about your experience with us, or with Jaclyn Pruehs, and the 15th commenter will win. We will wait until tomorrow, March 5 to check and approve comments just so that it stays fair (no counting comments, you crazy kids…). And if you’re the winner, you’ll receive an email from us shortly and we’ll get this cd out to you! And no, Facebook comments do not count – leave ‘em below in that shiny new comment box there.

P.S. And since I’m writing this review, I’m going to put a picture of Jaclyn and ME, taken waaaay back in ’04, right around the time I was introduced to her handsome brother, who would become my wonderful husband just two years later. *sigh* Good times.

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