It's official!

2010 will be a very exciting year indeed! Full of change, growth, and room for even more growth, allowing me to better serve my past, present, and future clients.
In less than three years, Ana Edwards photography has grown exponentially! It's hard to believe that it was such a short time ago when I literally nailed a sheet to the wall to try my hand at portraits; first, of my daughter, then of her friends, one of which became my first paying client: Maryann Herbert. Then, I felt prepared to do senior portraits for Ben Hardin, whose mother's confidence in me inspired an attempt at portrait photography. Perfectly happy as a hairstylist for 29 years, I had quite by chance discovered what now I believe is my true calling.
I've always enjoyed acquiring new knowledge and skills, and I've always been extremely ambitious: my first salon at 20 years old, my real estate license at age 32, my acquisition of construction skills when I bought my first home and totally renovated it at age 39, my Bachelor's degree in Psychology at age 46 (Cum Laude Honors graduate from G.S.W. :). I'm proud of ALL of those events!
But none took me by as much surprise as the growth of my new business...and passion. It's been an exciting and somewhat stressful struggle, causing a strain at times on my finances (professional photography equipment is WAY more expensive than hairstyling tools!), but I never gave up on reaching that bright light I saw in my dreams. What started with sheets for a background, lit by varying lamps from Lowe's, has grown to a fully equipped studio...completely cluttered and cramped with props.
And so, I proudly announce that by the end of December 2009, Ana Edwards photography will be operating in it's new, more-than-twice-as-big location at 109 Branchview Street (next door to Lee county Glass {same building}, right across from Kidsville and Ace Hardware, off of Hwy. 19) in Leesburg, Georgia. The lease is signed and it's official! We'll have 1800 sq.ft to spread out and have EIGHT permanent backgrounds set up, plus a client area for consultations. There's even a separate room for hairstyling, which I still do 2-3 days a week. The studio will also be available to rent hourly by my fellow photographers.
I thank the Almighty Lord for my blessings, and especially for having blessed me with perseverance when others might have given up the struggle! And I thank my past and present clients for their patience while we suffer through my growing pains together! I hope that it won't be long before Ana Edwards photography is no longer a 'one woman show'...I'll be soon looking for a much needed office assistant to keep me on schedule for a change :)
See ya'll soon! I think we just might need to have an open house party somewhere around the first of the new year!

Oh My! kiddie kouture. Christmas shoot!

Once again, I had the pleasure of photographing gorgeous children wearing the amazing custom created children's clothing of Oh My! kiddie kouture in the Albany Mall!
This time we're showcasing the newest outfits for the upcoming holidays. These are sure to go fast, so hurry and go see Amanda and pick out one (or an armful!) of these perfect-for-portraits outfits! They're on the left wing as you come in the mall, right before Victoria's Secret.

Christmas Mini-Sessions! They're not JUST for Christmas!

Our first day of mini-sessions was crazy-fun-tastic! Beautiful children, babies, even Stump, the Staffordshire Terrier was willing to sit patiently while we clicked away, capturing some great shots in 15 minute sessions!
There's just time for one more day of mini-sessions: Saturday, November 21st
For $45 you'll get the CD with all your edits, along with a copyright release which allows you to print as many as you'd like at your favorite photolab!
Contact me at 229.886.5575 or email me at aedward3@bellsouth.net (just click on the 'email me' link on the homepage) to schedule your time slot.
See ya'll soon!

Progress!

My first semi-annual editing hiatus has proven to be very productive! I still have a long ways to go, but I've put a serious dent in my workload these last five days.
I realize now how important it is to have ALL day, for several days to devote to editing all the memorable photos I've enjoyed shooting of all these beautiful people!
Only photographers, or family and friends of photographers, understand that the actual photoshoot is the easy part...it's the time consumed in editing that keeps us up 'til the wee hours of the morning, trying to keep our promised delivery dates.





I've also taken some time this week to improve my presentation. This is what your new CDs will look like! Choosing the photograph is the hard part...I'd hate to put the one you like the least on the front of your CD! So I try to find one that I confidently feel you'll want to look at every time you view your CD.



I'll have to say, in these last two and a half years I have tried very hard to improve the quality of work I give my clients, by upgrading my equipment as well as my technical knowledge and artistry. Below is a CD from almost exactly two tears ago. I'm scared to look at the pictures on it...I remember at the time, I thought they were some of my best work. Caleb is absolutely BEAUTIFUL, even if he IS a boy...so I'm sure HE looks adorable.
In our group of photographers (we all started around the same time), we talk about cringing when we look at our older work...I guess if we didn't it would mean we haven't improved :)
With all that having been said, I must tell you all that my pricing system will increase at the first of the year. I'm such a tight-wad that's it hard for me to increase my prices without cringing, too. But I hope to continue to please my clients, and continue to improve my service to my clients.
Thanks to all of you who have helped me fulfill my dream! I pray that all of you will fulfill yours, as well.

Alyssa and Billy

When Alyssa asked me to come to Fitzgerald, Georgia, I had no idea where it was or how amazing the location would be! It took me an hour and a half to get there from Leesburg and then five hours to get home to Panama City Beach (OK, yes I drive like a grandma :). But it was well worth the drive to experience this photographer's adventure! Alyssa had asked other photographers to come, but none accepted the opportunity...I say 'Thanks!' to them.
Alyssa and Billy were so much fun to photograph, their sense of fun and love for each other made them such easy subjects!





















A special thanks to Alyssa's grandparents, Larry and Carolyn Hurst for cultivating their country paradise into this photographer's dream location!




Cocoa was a bit camera shy, but I did get ONE shot of her.

Exclusive Models of Valdosta

Our third shoot with Exclusive Models of Valdosta State University was as much fun as ever, with the models being as professional and GORGEOUS as always! You will surely see more of these faces (and hot bodies) in the future...there is so much talent in this group it's obvious that it won't stop here. I can't wait to be able to say one day, that I had the pleasure of working with these models when their career as a top model was just a dream. These dreams will surely come true!