Alisha McKellar Portrait Design
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Welcome to the blog!

This is where the stories behind the photos live, as well as random stories about my life as an Atlanta, GA Portrait Photographer.

I hope you enjoy reading, and if not, there's always photos to look through. :)

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Thursday, July 28, 2011

Things Will Change: An Update for Alisha McKellar Portrait Design!

About ten months ago, I ventured out and went full time into my own photography company. It was quite scary, but the excitement of it all far outweighed any hesitation I had. Music photography was the niche that got me started out in this field years ago (and I will always love it), but things always change and grow, right?

After experiencing all of the amazing stages that came along with my nieces and nephew growing up, I had thought about gearing more toward children and family photography-and to fill the music side of me-Senior portraits. It must have been fate because it seemed like all of my friends, and former wedding clients, were expecting their first child at practically the same time. That is how it all took off. It's absolute proof that you should always do at least one thing that scares you. I can't imagine not having met all the wonderful families I've been lucky enough to work with lately. I mean, who wouldn't want to hang out with little kids who will absolutely say what is on their mind, and 99% of the time, it makes you laugh.

Newborns are just completely precious, and you just want to stare at them, so that's a given. Toddlers are amazing because they are curious--and that makes for great photos. The older ones and family portraits allow you to let personalities come out so they have memories to hold onto, long after their children are grown.

Senior portraits are another thing I LOVE because it reminds me so much of doing band photography. You get to plan out these fun, amazing sessions with so many different teens who each have their own unique personalities and dreams. The goal is to give them confidence to move on to the next chapter in their lives.

And, with all of these, the parents just amaze me! I have never experienced people so truly grateful and excited about their portraits, and just the whole experience. I love that parents want different things, and they all want a great portrait that shows their child's true personality. Those are fun sessions.

I have now decided that it's exactly the road I want to stay on. So, I have restructured my company, and I have updated my website to feature more of this.  I'm sure it will continue to grow and change along the way, and I hope you are able to become a part of the journey!




For now, the next big thing coming up will hopefully be pumpkin patch + Holiday card mini sessions! I will be sure to keep you posted on that!

~Alisha

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Christina Perri + Pure Happiness

What do you do when you've cried off all your makeup? If you're at a Christina Perri concert...you sing on! :)

I'd been counting down the days to Christina's Atlanta show, and finally, with my serious butterflies, we made our way through the completely awful weather, stood outside waiting on the slowest line in the world...only to get inside and realize that The Loft is not Center Stage...oops. That meant that, since I'm not 6'2", I was never going to see Christina. HAHA! The good part of that??? I got to dance, sing, cry, and smile my way through her whole set without ever bothering a soul. I live for nights like these.

I was all smiling and singing through "Black + Blue" and "Bang Bang Bang" (thinking of all the reasons I have to smile to those songs), but when she sang "The Lonely"...I lost it. I have not cried like that in public since I watched "City of Angels" at the movie theater. I felt the tears coming, and it was one of those times where you hope no one notices, and you REALLY hope that wasn't the last song. That way they don't turn on the lights. haha! I have never heard anything more beautiful than all of those notes dancing around her incredible voice. There just are no words.

For the record, I did catch glimpses of her (even though she was practically right in front of us, there were A LOT of tall people in front of me...sad). I honestly think that girl smiled her way through that entire show. She seemed so grateful to be up there, and talked about how thankful she was to be living her dream. Just amazing.

Another amazing part of the night...the opening band: Honey Honey. Okay, we've all had to sit through three HORRIBLE bands to finally get to the one we went to see, right? Well, when this girl opened her mouth, I was floored! Amazing music, amazing voice, she played the banjo (and I mean TRULY played it-not just holding it to look cute), she played the violin...and to top it all off, she was NICE! I absolutely had to go meet her after their set. She probably thinks I'm crazy, but seriously, she was awesome!

I didn't stick around to meet Christina because I know at that point, I would have just cried and made an idiot out of myself. haha!

So, there's another indescribably wonderful concert to place in my memories. :)

Here are a few of my super less than mediocre photos, taken with my old, trusty Rebel...above my head. Enjoy.





Please, don't judge Suzanne Santo by my awful photo. She's gorgeous.