South Georgia Senior Session | Senior Photography | Georgia Seniors

I can hardly believe my nephew is graduating. How can it be? What a privilege to capture him in one of the most pivotal times of his life. He has big plans post graduation and is working hard so that his dreams will be realized. I know you can do it! You've already accomplished so much.

I was looking for a quote that I thought would fit this next phase of life for him. I couldn't help but stop at this one by J.K. Rowling since the boys and are animately making our way through all of the Harry Potter books.

"It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all - in which case, you fail by default."

Alston, you are by no means taking the cautious route and I'm so proud of you! 

Here are some of my favorites from my time with him...

Spring Session at the Gardens | Birmingham Botanical Gardens | Mountain Brook, AL

Birmingham, Alabama is not at a loss for parks and beautiful scenery. When this gorgeous family asked me to photograph them at the Botanical Gardens, I wasn't fully prepared for what I would see. I don't think the kids were either. It was just magical. So many flowers and blossoming trees to take in all at once. It almost felt like a dream.

My favorite part was watching it through the eyes of the children. There was so much to see, one bright color after the next, always one more path to explore. We made the most of it and I tried not to pressure the kids too much to be still because I didn't want to squelch their curiosity. Yes, there were times when treats came out for certain poses or captures. (Pavlov was right! Hee, hee.) But, for the most part it was following them and capturing them navigating their way around the grounds.

This session really made me stop and think. I'm not sure what happens between childhood and adulthood, but I think we fear being our true selves in the face of so much beauty. Sweet little Sadie couldn't contain herself as she ran from one flower to the next, literally breathing in everything about them. I want to live like that. Unabashed and free to enjoy what I delight in most. When she did this, I never thought for a moment it was silly. The opposite happened. I wanted to capture that moment and preserve it forever. Maybe if we weren't so concerned about what others thought, we too would savor more moments like little children and actually take in the beauty before us. 

Here are the highlights from the session. Gah! I can't get enough.

Rachel Turns 5 | Ross Bridge | Hoover, Alabama

My cute client just turned 5 and mom wanted to document all that goodness. I mean, you're only 5 once, right? I can look back at other photos taken of this sweet family just last year and am reminded again how much our littles change. Ok time, can you please just slow down?

So, how do we get all those smiles and giggles? Well...we play. Yep. I teeter on a fine line between introvert and extrovert, but when I have a session with kids, all bets are off. I just go with it. Let's just say I always have a "friend" helping me. This time it was Bob the Tomato, next time it might be Olaf or a Minion...or all three. At any rate, they can be pretty convincing. They steal kisses, try to get in front of my camera, even dance on my head. Anything to get the true personality to shine through. And, even when kids aren't laughing, their expressions are still priceless. There is so much to observe through the pensive look of a child.

As a mother of two younger children myself, this session was a good reminder to drink in the stage of life they are in. I was reading in "The Mother Letters" and I thought Kari Clark said it perfectly in her letter "Unexpected."

Listen to what your children are teaching you. Listen to the things they do not say and to the things they do say. Strip yourself of what you want them to be and look deeply into what God has made them. Tell them often how much you love them. Enjoy every moment where little hands seek yours and find contentment there. Revel in the snuggles after dark that provide the chance to hear the softly spoken thoughts from the bottom of their souls. Breathe them in deeply. Record those little moments you think your heart will remember forever. Every memory captured in time will be worth its weight in gold."

I am humbled at the thought that even I can play a small part in this recording of moments. In a sense, I get to pause time and gift those moments back to the ones who love them most. May we all learn to drink them in and find contentment there.

Baby Joshua In-Home Newborn Session | Hoover, Alabama Photographer

I love photographing families in their homes. They seem more at ease and kids can come and go pretty much as they please. This is especially true when the family has welcomed a new baby. Yes, it can seem chaotic, but I assure you there is a certain peace that a new baby brings. Just watching them sleep is about one of the most tranquil feelings in the world. Am I right? It settles our hearts and makes us grateful for the new life among us. 

This session was no exception. As mom and dad scurried to get kids situated, hair combed and bows just right, there he was, just as calm as he could be. Reminding us to be still and soak it up. 

I learned later from the mom that this sweet baby boy was named because of a verse in the Bible, Joshua 1:9. Can you guess when he was born? January 9...as in 1:9. How precious is that? "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." 

I hope that encouraged you today as much as it did me. Enjoy some of my favorite captures from the morning with this adorable family. 

Finding the Magic in the Mundane / Home Session / Helena, Alabama

I can't believe it's been almost a year since I did one of my first home sessions. It began as a request to get in a few maternity shots before my friend's third child was born. Knowing I would be there in later weeks to photograph her newborn session, I told her I could get a few of her precious baby bump. I asked if I could linger a bit and capture her family doing all the things they love. 

I’m a firm believer now that parents should do a home session at least once in their lifetime, but especially when the kids are small. There are so many moments that go unnoticed or undocumented that just ooze with simple beauty. As mothers, we tend to get overwhelmed with the day in and out of picking up clothes, wiping down counters, stepping on legos, doctoring booboos and speaking to broken hearts. Rarely do we get to slow down in the sweet times and remember the goodness in the midst of the crazy. 

I love how a fellow photographer put it: "My job is to capture the fleeting moments in the life of a mom. Yes, there is drudgery in the everyday, but there's also magic. I want to capture that magic and preserve it so your kids can look back and see their childhood the way you gave it to them." I almost tear up every time I read that. It's such a good reminder to seek out the goodness in the monotonous. When I did this home session, THAT was on my mind. How can I remind this dear mama that there is magic in the mundane?

I asked my friend, Heather, if she could share a few words about her experience. This is what she had to say: 

"Right before we had Van, Michelle came into our home to do a lifestyle session. This basically meant she spent several hours of the day alongside us, carefully capturing our current season of normal. I was afraid it would be awkward to have a camera following us around, but she really made it so comfortable and easy for us. I honestly cannot say enough about how grateful I am for what she captured in those few hours- Clara's dirty feet as she played with Calico Critters, the way the afternoon sunlight hit Hudson's face as he concentrated on building a block tower, their sweet little expressions as I read from their favorite book. These images could not have been achieved by simply dressing up and going for a photo session. We have been given a raw, imperfect, and honest glimpse into our daily lives.  I will forever cherish these photographs."

Take a moment to get a peek into their home session and think about what you would want photographed given the opportunity. What would you like to freeze in time? Maybe Saturday pancakes, morning walks, making cookies, painting pumpkins, or even putting up the Christmas tree? I treasure that what I was allowed to capture with this family will be a bookmark in their story that can be revisited and celebrated for years to come. 

I love that one of the images even stirred a whole movement to encourage us to scroll less on our phones and train our minds to gravitate to more worthy pursuits. You can read more about that here. Heather is a gifted writer and I can't wait until she has authored her own book one day. But, until then, you can see a bit into her life as a mom below. Read more of her writings on instagram and articles she's posted as a contributor for engagingmotherhood.com.

And, keep looking for the magic in the mundane. I promise it's there.

Only a month later, Van was here. I thought this family couldn't get any cuter, but obviously I was wrong.

My Top Ten Tips on What to Wear for Family Photos

1. Mama, you get to go first this time. Yes. This time you don't get the leftovers. You've earned it! Pick what YOU feel great in and plan around that. Moms aren't used to getting the attention. Typically we pick everyone else's outfit then grab something that's "ok" but not necessarily what we love. You have permission to feel awesome in your images. I know if I don’t like what I’m wearing in the photo, then chances are I won’t have it hanging on my wall or on a Christmas card.

2. Choose whites and blacks wisely. The tendency is to lose details when those colors are next to each other. Think about getting in a tight photo with your family and it's white, on white, on white, or all black. It becomes a blob of one color and variation is lost. Now, don't get me wrong. I have photographed families in all white that were gorgeous, but the girls' shirts were light, airy, and sleeveless. The skin tones were a beautiful way to break up the white. What I am saying here is if you do choose all white or black, don't choose stark whites and the blackest blacks. Whites and blacks are not completely off limits if you do it well.

3. Use the color wheel to help. I went over this in my Facebook live video here, but you can get a summary below. Keep reading...

There are three terms to consider when picking color schemes: monochromatic, analogous, and complimentary.

- Monochromatic: using all the colors (tints, tones, and shades) of a single hue. Now I know what you’re thinking. She just told me to stay away from that with white or black. What I mean by using one color is using different tints or shades of the same color. For example, you decide to pick gray. You can mix dark grays with light grays. Blues – navy blues with light blues. Make sense?

- Analogous: Groups of three adjacent colors on the color wheel. Let’s pick blue again. Analogous colors would be blue-green and blue-violet because they are adjacent to blue on the color wheel.

- Complimentary: Colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel. Ever wonder why the sky looks especially blue during the fall when the leaves are orange in all their glory? It’s because orange and blue compliment each other. How cool is that? Imagine what complimentary colors can do for your photos. This doesn't mean to pick all of the brightest colors, but you can even use different tints or shades of complimentary colors. There are just SO many options!

4. Look in your husband’s or son’s closet to inspire you. Thought I’d never say that! Is there a plaid shirt of your husband’s that you love? I’m guessing there is a combination of colors that you’ve never even noticed, but you knew you loved the shirt when you first saw it. My husband has a red shirt that he loves, and if you could look closely there is a faint green line through it. Bam. I realized my younger son has a green shirt that exact color of green, so I just went with it. And, green just happens to compliment red. Sweet!

5. Add in some texture and accessories. Scarves, sweaters, chunky necklaces, and bracelets are great for this. How about a kid in a leather jacket? Even though it’s a darker color, our eyes tend to notice it right away because of the texture. Or how about the texture of this sweater on the little guy below? Adorable!

6. If you throw in a pop of color, do it on more than one family member. If one person has on bright pink, your eye will automatically be drawn to that one color. (Imagine a bright pink bow in a little girl's hair. What happens? Your eye is automatically draw to the pink bow.) But, if you mix the pops of color throughout the photo (pink here and there, or pink here and a bright shade of yellow there), your eye will move across the image without being fixated on that one spot. We want our eyes to scan across the photo and everyone to be noticed.

7.  Think about where your family photo will be showcased in your home. I’m so glad I started including a large print with my sessions because I want nothing more than to know it is being enjoyed in your home. Knowing where it will be hung can help you decide what colors to wear. If you’ve got one color scheme going on in your home, but the colors in your photo clash with it, the likelihood of you actually enjoying it on your wall will diminish.

8. Don’t be afraid to ask for help! I LOVE helping narrow down choices. If you are my client, feel free to take a photo of all of the outfits next to each other and send it to me. I’ve had moms send me photos of three different shirt options asking me my favorite. Now, I’m not fashion guru, but I think I have a hunch of what photographs well and I really want you to feel confident going into your session.

9. Let your favorite guy wear something he likes in your family photo. (Dads and husbands are all high fiving me right now.) For a lot of them it’s hard enough to have their picture taken, let alone wear something that is uncomfortable and not “them”. Give him a few choices and let him have some say about what to wear. You will all be happier and he will be more likely to feel good on the family "outing".

10. Keep the main thing the main thing. These are simply guidelines and are by no means hard and fast rules. (However, I do hope they have been helpful.) When it’s all said and done, the best thing about the photos will be your interaction with one another. Clothing choices are important, but how our hearts are on the day will be what really shines through. Keep it as stress free as possible with comfortable clothes that your family members feel good in and that allow each person’s personality to be captured naturally.

So, what are some of your favorite tips and tricks for styling your family on your session day? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.

I also have helpful tips on how to prepare for the actual shoot, what to bring, etc.  You can get the FREE printable of my checklist below.

Smash Cake Session | Family Photographer | Hillsboro Walking Trail | Helena, AL

Living near Birmingham, Alabama, has its advantages. There are so many parks and beautiful places for kids to play and for families to be together. It feels like I discover a new playground or trail on a monthly basis. One of my favorites is in Helena, AL, where there is a gorgeous neighborhood with a public walking trail. It has been a haven for early evening runs by myself or with friends, boasting very minimal hills and the perfect amount of shade. I love introducing places like this to my clients.

My first session with this beautiful family was back in May in an open field just next to the trail. We all know how hectic getting ready for a family photo shoot can feel with littles, and finding a new place can add to the stress of the day. Since we were both familiar with the location, we figured, let's do it again...but actually be ON the trail this time. I'm so glad we did. The canopy of trees with slivers of light coming in is so beautiful. I can see why this location is a favorite among other photographers as well. 

Not only were we updating family photos, but sweet little girl just celebrated her first birthday! After the family session, mom brought out the smash cake. Oh my goodness! Precious captures from her enjoying the cake and letting big brother join in are just too adorable. 

Here are some of my favorites from my time with them...

Isn't Mom beautiful with her little baby bump? She's expecting another girl in February and we've already set a potential date for her newborn session.  I cannot wait!

Bring on the cake...

Here comes brother. He was SO patient as he waited his turn to get in on this cake.

Time for clean up. Thank goodness for hand wipes!

Full of cake and smiles. Wouldn't you be, too? What a delight!

Being a family photographer is a privilege I don't take for granted. It's a joy to take a moment, an hour, an afternoon with a family and turn it into memories that are now preserved in precious images like these. If you are in the Birmingham area and are looking for a family and lifestyle photographer, I would love to connect with you to see if we are a good fit. You can contact me directly to find out what to expect from a session with Michelle Repolles Photography. 

Now, who wants some cake?

Sweet Summertime | Lifestyle Photography | Birmingham Photographer

Am I the only one in shock that we are in the middle of Labor Day weekend? How did it get here so quickly? I swear it was last week that our beloved Y pool was opening for the summer and in just one more day, it will be closing. Say it ain't so.

We had a fun summer trying new things. We signed Dawson up for T-ball for the first time. It was a lot of fun watching him. I'm so glad it was super laid back, too. Every kid got to bat every inning and the games only lasted 45 minutes to an hour. In the Alabama summer heat, it's all anyone can stand. He did great and improved with every game. His favorite parts? Batting and the post game snacks, of course. We still need to work on the concept of actually stepping on the bag when running the bases, and not throwing the bat after he gets a hit. But, we're working on it. The coaches were so patient with him and I am one thankful mama for a good experience with his first time at it.

Daddy was even able to make it to all of the games. His work uniform ironically coordinated with the T-ball uniforms, so he just looked like part of the team. I'm dying over this photo of them. Their smiles (especially my husband's) gets me every time. So handsome!

Talking game strategy of course. (Or what he hopes next week's snack will be.)

Thanks to my parents, we were able to make a trip to the beach, too. Anselmo LOVES the beach. His goal is to see just how much sand he can dig on any given day. This worked out perfectly for me because I would much rather be under a tent feeling the warm breeze, admiring the ocean, and catching up with my mom and sister while the boys get sand everywhere.

My sister and her kiddos. Loved getting time with them.

All of the guys. Can you pick out the Brazilians?

Shortly after we got back from the beach, we celebrated "Water Day" with the kids and moms in our church. The kids had a blast! The moms kept a pretty safe distance from the chaos.

Popsicles for everyone! (Remember this guy from my summer photo session?)

There's Dawson scrambling for ammunition.

And these two...what a motley crew. We have to keep a close eye on them. They're sneaky.

The summer rolled on with more firsts. Caiden swam on his own for the first time with absolutely no prompting! It took us by surprise, but once he figured out he could float, it was all over. Now he can't stop doing cannon balls in the deep end!

I was asked to do team photos for the first time, too.  The scheduled date didn't work out for Dawson's team, so they asked me to step in do it. From what everyone said, it was so much more convenient and (I believe) the pictures were a lot better quality than typical team pics. I loved making little package options with magnets, team photos and even the memory mates. I think it was a success and am hopeful for more opportunities in the future. (Interested in team pics for your kid's youth league? You can contact me here.)

I present to you the Pelham Y Tigers. Are they not the cutest??? These are some great kids and coaches!

I'm particularly fond of #9.

The coach asked if we could try and get a "cool" shot. I think we hit that one out of the park. (Ha!) I normally don't edit my photos like this, but it was begging for a vintage feel. Anyone else think of The Sand Lot when you see this?  "You're killin' me, Smalls!"

Sweet friend of the boys there to cheer on her brother.

Dawson running the bases and getting cues from his coach.

This one? He and his friend kept themselves busy running up bleachers or finding new patches of dirt to play in during the games.

Speaking of this guy...he celebrated his 4th birthday in July. We decided to keep it simple with ice cream cones at the golden arches. The kids played hard on the playground outside while the adults talked inside...in the air conditioning. Win!

Head drenched from playing hard didn't phase him. He was just too excited to be with his friends. Those curls!

The next day was his actual birthday and we celebrated with a pancake breakfast. Then he opened a few presents from us and played with the presents he got the night before. Hello, bed head! This boy brings so much laughter to our lives. He is all or nothing. He gives with no strings attached and reminds us all to live life with a big heart. He keeps asking how many days until he's 13. Too may for you to count, sweet Buddy, but too few for this mama. Time slow down.

We kept the celebration going as we headed over to Atlanta the next weekend for the boys' first Braves game. We had THE best time. We were spoiled by family, and I even felt quite nostalgic as I watched the 1991 Alumni Team parade across the field. (Um, 25 years since they won the pennant that started their string of championships. Nope, that did not make me feel old. Um, not one bit.) 

Then there was our boys' first memorable experience with the Olympics. Oh, my goodness! We were enthralled. It made us long for Brazil and be so proud of the country we used to call home. What about that gold medal soccer match? Hello?! Our hearts were about to explode. Ahhh! I miss "all the feels" already.

Another first: all of the cousins together! My twin sister and her family just moved to the States! I'm so excited to be living in the same time zone with her for the first time in 17 years! 

A summer of so many firsts! Super thankful as I look back over the photos and realize what a sweet summer it was. It really seemed to happen SO fast, but I'm glad we have these images to keep those memories fresh in our minds. Looking forward to the fall, beautiful colors, and more opportunities to photograph families other than just my own. 

Rodriguez Family Session | Hillsboro Walking Trail | Helena, AL

I was so excited when Amanda asked me to do portraits for her family. It just so happened both sides of the family were in town for our mini session on the Hillsboro walking trail. I loved the challenge of getting as many shots in as I could in our time frame. Dad, who is Argentinian,  was on a strict schedule because of the Copa America games. The only other county I know that is as fanatical about their soccer as Brazil is Argentina. (They are also happen to be chief rivals.) They were playing right after the session and Dad did not want to miss. Don't ever try to come between an Argentinian and his soccer. Ha!

If you don't know this about me, I lived in Brazil for almost 12 years and became "fluent" in Portuguese. (It's still hard to accept that because my Portuguese is not perfect and my strong southern accent butchers a lot of words.) My husband is Brazilian and we speak a lot of Portuguese at home. Spanish and Portuguese are so similar that I managed to speak a few words that Amanda's in-laws could understand. I LOVED it! I loved hearing them speak Spanish to each other. Amanda just lets it roll off her tongue likes it's her first language. 

I'm so thankful that photographs always cross over cultural borders. You don't need to speak Spanish (or any other language) to understand love portrayed in a photograph. Here are some of my favorites from the session.

These boys did such a good job! Big brother was a huge help with the little one. I brought parting gifts for them for having such great attitudes and then captured a few minutes of them enjoying their gifts. I mean, who doesn't love bubbles?

Thank you, Amanda, for entrusting me with such sweet moments with your family!

House Peace | Help With Our Blind Spots | Alabaster Lifestyle Photographer

We’ve all got blind spots, right? Things we've lived with our whole life that we never knew were issues until someone pointed them out? Well, I consider myself a pretty organized individual. Clutter drives me crazy. But, I’ve got 2 young boys and I feel like clutter follows me everywhere I go.

My friend, Tara Bremer, is pretty much an expert at finding blind spots. Think your cabinets and shelves are organized? She came into my home and showed me a better way, a much more peaceful way. Her goal is to bring peace to your home. Let me tell you, she does just that.

She first came over to do an evaluation. In just the 30 minutes she was at my house, she pretty much revolutionized my countertops. I had big containers of oil sitting out because I use them everyday. One simple change of moving the shelves up a notch and boom, all of the big containers fit! So simple, but so effective. Now I have so much more space near my stove and much less clutter.

We put it on our calendar for her to return to reorganize more kitchen drawers and cabinets. I have those dreaded junk drawers. You know the ones that are a catch-all for anything that doesn’t have a home? The ones you hope no one mistakes you’re your silver wear drawer. Yeah, that one. Here is one of 3 that I have in my kitchen.

Tara took every item out of those drawers so she could see what she was working with. What do I normally do? I try to organize with everything still in the drawer, while taking a few things out at a time to make room. We could draw so many analogies from just reorganizing drawers. Seriously, how many times do I try to rid myself of junk in my life by rearranging instead of doing a full on evaluation of all of it, then only keeping what will bring peace? It’s funny for how what’s true for those junk drawers is true for our lives. Just get it all out there. Let the light shine on all of it and evaluate where everything should go. Chunk this. Keep this.

Here is the result of some of her magic with my (no-longer) junk drawers, but fully functioning storage for items I use on a daily basis. Kids goggles? Put them in your pool bag. Those random candles and cupcake liners? They are all in their own little party box now that I retrieve only certain times of the year. Brilliant. It seems obvious, but we just get so caught up in our own messes it becomes our normal. That’s why it’s so great to get help with our blind spots.

Let’s move on to my pantry, aka. bottom cabinets. They were a mess. I had so many bags of chips, specialty flours and sugars. Bags don’t stack, they just get jumbled all together. Tara to the rescue. Why not pour those flours into mason jars? That cup of oil that you’ve got in the huge bottle? Let’s put that in it’s own little jar. Genius. Why not put those onions in a plastic container? Again, take EVERYTHING out and evaluate what needs to stay, what needs to go. She even got out my vaccum! And, look how I can now see all the food items in my cabinets! She brought 3-Tier-Spice Organizers with her. Voila! We used them for canned goods. I am no longer shuffling to find what I need.  I also know what I have. So, instead of buying another jar of peanut butter, I can see the 5 jars I have yet to open!

As a lifestyle photographer, I loved the opportunity of capturing Tara in her element. Tara loves what she does. She doesn’t have an emotional attachment to those things you keep holding onto, so she can gracefully help you say goodbye and keep what really matters.

Can you see how happy she is just removing labels from the Sterilite containers? (SO thankful she introduced me to these!) She thrives on bringing peace to your home by helping you find the blind spots you’ve never noticed, or areas you just don’t know how to make work in small spaces.  It doesn’t matter how small or large the area, she can make it work.

Her influence doesn’t stop when she leaves. I am benefitting from it everyday and my kids have even gotten in on organizing their own drawers. Win!

Thank you, Tara Bremer (House Peace) for showing me my blind spots and bringing some much needed peace to my little home.