Silver rocks

Alice Istanbul design is having a great giveaway on her blog, and I can't help it, I just love silver, and her style is amazing!

Triple cuteness{atlanta multiples portraits}

A couple of quick previews from a wonderful session today with newborn triplet girls:

Joy joy joy! {atlanta preschooler photoshoot}

It's always such joy to photograph Amelia and her parents!
Here are a few highlights from the most recent session:

I can now disclose some holiday cards -- here is the front of theirs, a folded 5x7 horizontal card:

a beautiful storyboard printed as an 8x8 and mounted on styrene -- to be displayed on an easel in her Daddy's office:

Family love{atlanta modern portraits}

Another session with a beautiful family this past December:

One-of-a-kind photography auction to benefit Haiti!{charity fundraiser}

As a child of almost 5 growing up in Romania, I vividly remember living through a 7.4 degree earthquake, and the panic and devastation that followed. Over the years, I witnessed a few other 6+ degree earthqaukes, and the feelings of extreme vulnerabilty at feeling the earth tremble remain etched in my memory.

Oana Hogrefe Photography is auctioning a unique photo-session: one hour of photography at a location of your choice (in the greater Atlanta area) AND 10 high resolution images from your session!

The value of this session is over $1500.

THE ENTIRE SESSION FEE GOES DIRECTLY TO RED CROSS HAITI.

Some possible uses for this session: children portraits, newborn, maternity, family, best friends, couples session, image photoshoot, boudoir, business photography, family reunion, etc.

Starting bid is $150; increments no lower than $50, please!

Photoshoot to be completed no later than May 1st 2010.
Bidding begins right now (1/21 at 9pm) and concludes end of day Friday January 29th.

To enter your bid, email me your entry at oana@shutterview.com. Additionally, enter the amount as a comment below, so others can see the highest current bid. The blog comments will serve as the official bid record.

Earliest posted comment for the same amount takes priority. I will post the winner at midnight on Friday. You must then make the donation to Red Cross Haiti and forward me the confirmation email, to qualify as the final winner.

Happy bidding, don't let this chance to get some wonderful images and benefit a great cause pass you by!

Here are the awards!{2009 children portraits}

Here are the awards for the most votes received in the Best child portrait of 2009 poll - congratulations to everyone whose children I met and photographed in 2009, for the unique blessing that your children are bringing to your lives!
I am happy to do my part in remembering these times for many many years to come!

First place:
"sisters"

The family of Cooper and Ryan will receive

* one of my Best of 2009 calendar (which features this entry and a few other of my 2009 child portraits)
* four marble coasters imprinted with the "sisters" image
* a mounted 11x7 print of the image, with a display easel
* two hours of photography (one session, to take place before Oct 1st, 2010) - a $200 value

Second place:
"joy"

The family of Bridget will receive

* one of my Best of 2009 calendar (which features this entry and a few other of my 2009 child portraits)
* four marble coasters imprinted with the "joy" image
* a mounted 5x7 print of the image, with a display easel
* one hour of photography (one session, to take place before May 1st, 2010)- a $100 value

Third place, a three-way tie!
"wistful"

The family of Oliver will receive

* one of my Best of 2009 calendar (which features this entry and a few other of my 2009 child portraits)
* four marble coasters imprinted with the "wisftul" image
* a mounted 5x7 print of the image, with a display easel
* complimetary admission to one of my limited edition photoshoots (such as "bright and funky" or "tutus and wings") or mini sessions of 2010 - a $50 value

Third place, a three-way tie!
"brand new"

The family of Talieh will receive

* one of my Best of 2009 calendar (which features this entry and a few other of my 2009 child portraits)
* four marble coasters imprinted with the "brand new" image
* a mounted 5x7 print of the image, with a display easel
* complimetary admission to one of my limited edition photoshoots (such as "bright and funky" or "tutus and wings") or mini sessions of 2010 - a $50 value


Third place, a three-way tie!
"pixie"

The family of Lucy will receive

* one of my Best of 2009 calendar (which features this entry and a few other of my 2009 child portraits)
* four marble coasters imprinted with the "pixie" image
* a mounted 5x7 print of the image, with a display easel
* complimetary admission to one of my limited edition photoshoots (such as "bright and funky" or "tutus and wings") or mini sessions of 2010 - a $50 value


Additionally, there will be honorable mentions for some of the other finalists (based on their votes, and the enthusiasm of their fan base ) -- I will contact those families via email.

Thanks again for voting, we had 300 votes in the poll!

Picture perfect{lifestyle portraits in atlanta}

Some of the many, many reasons why I love what I do! Smiles only tell part of the story -- my camera is greedier than that :) Thank you for allowing me to witness and showcase the priceless range of emotions in your children.

Quick poll update

So, with close to 300 votes (three times more than last year!) and two days to go on the Best of 2009 poll, the first and second place seem to be getting pretty secured.

HOWEVER, for the third place, only 1 vote separates the 3rd, 4th and 5th choices as of now!

So, if you have not yet voted (or still have people whose help you can enlist) do it today and tomorrow, so we can have some clear ranking!

Thanks everyone, I am happy to see how hard it is for you too to pick favorites ;)

I will leave you with a picture of my daughter, to warm you up with thoughts of Summer.

Couple's portraits{atlanta portraiture}

On a chilly, windy day in December, we had a great time creating some beautiful imagery of Jess and Andy, and their loving relationship.


Enjoy the preview!

Show your Love{special Valentine's Day offer}

Between now and February 11th, our custom Valentine Cards are 15% off (flat or folded, 5x7 in size).

Also, as they make amazing gifts, there are two other specials:

1) photography gift certificates: purchase any amount, get an additional 30% at no extra cost

2) 5x7 brag art books: on sale for $150 (great value)

3) digital high resolution files $75 per image, until Monday the 15th. Grab them now, this will not come back again.

Make your love be remembered for years to come!

Brand new and so beautiful{atlanta newborn portraits}

Remember baby Tierney? She is even cuter now that she is coming up on two weeks.

I spent a couple of hours with her, her mommy and siblings this past weekend and created some wonderful portraits of her at 11 days.

Enjoy this preview!

Rustic, fun fall session{atlanta portrait photographer}

Since I photograph on average one "grown-up" session for every five child/family photoshoots, when I do, I enjoy them thoroughly.

This beautiful lady is the mom of one of the super cute little girls I had the pleasure of photographing twice last year (she is in fact among the "Best Of" finalists below).

Holly is an amazing vocalist and needed some high quality portrait imagery representative of her style and personality.

We had a blast this Fall, taking pictures at the Farm.

Here is a sneak peek of some of the images -- while they are stunning in color as well, I wanted to mix things up a bit and preview them on the blog in black and white.

Enjoy!

Best of 2009 - poll {atlanta child and family portraits}

1: abandon


2: beauty


3: brand new

4: brothers

5: curiousity

6: delight

7: ethereal

8: exuberance

9: fun

10: joy

11: pixie

12: sisters

13: sweetness

14: trust

15: wistful

Happy 2010!

A favorite quote from Guillaume Apollinaire, to help refocus priorities this new year:

"Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy."

2009, for me, meant focusing on what makes my heart sing and sharing my passion with the people and families I was fortunate to photograph. I am deeply in love with love, and aim to bring focus on what is at once unique and universal in human relationships, as well as in all the daily fleeting moments of magic: the glimmer in a father's eye as he lovingly looks at his baby; the tenderness of a mother embracing her children; the many faces of childhood, the sweet, the shy, the brave, the daring, the playful, the mischievous, the wistful...

2010 has much more in store for you, my clients! From a streamlined, top of the line product offering, to unique designs and services, all the while maintaining the core of what my photography is centered on: my loving work of showcasing the deep beauty I see in everyone I meet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Some exciting news are coming this month, first, here are some free gifts for you!

This year Oana Hogrefe Photography is partnering with the talented designer Kristen Leigh, of kleighcreative, to offer free monthly digital desktop wallpaper downloads, featuring my photography and Kristen's design flair!

Go to her blog monthly, to pick your favorites and install them to your computer for daily inspiration and visual delight. (the January wallpapers are already available!)

I hope you enjoy these as much as we have fun creating them!