Tammi Nowack Photography Photoblog

My last shoot in Michigan was the Binney family, also long-time clients of mine, and one of the first subjects of my photography when I first started out several years ago.  I first photographed the girls when they were younger (on several occasions) and then sweet little baby boy R came along just 2 years ago.  I got to meet R for the first time last week.  Good to see you again B family - enjoy your Sneak Peek!

I did a lot of dog-piling family pictures when I was in Michigan…I think it’s because the grass up there is so much softer!

Little “R”….he had been sick the day before so he wasn’t quite as smiley as usual.  But I love this one even though he is a little melancholy.

My hands were trembling.

I loaded some film into my Canon Rebel, grabbed my meager collection of cheap lenses and drove to their house.  My first ever “real” client.  If you could call her that, because at the time I wouldn’t have even considered myself a “real” photographer.  Young, inexperienced, with a passion for photography and a drive to learn - really I was just a dumb kid with a camera, but my sister-in-law hooked me up with a friend of hers from church who was wanting some pictures done of her and her daughter.  And she suggested me. And the friend wanted to do it. *gulp*

So there I was at her house, with a camera bag of inexperience and nerves and I started taking pictures.  And then I forgot my brain, messed up settings, and the pictures turned out horribly.  LOL! I cringe to think about what they look like.  Please, Chris- tell me that you have them hidden away somewhere in a box!!

But she loved them, so a couple years later I did her maternity portraits (still not a “real” photographer yet!) and then a few DAYS later, I photographed the birth of their youngest child.  What an experience. An incredible, intimate, moving experience.

What a gift to have someone who believes in you so whole-heartedly (even if you’re not real).  To have someone who looks beyond the mistakes and sees the potential for what you can do.  I may give them family portraits, but Chris Crandle and her beautiful family have been a gift to me.  The encouragement I needed to keep walking forward in my photography journey.

I’m thankful for you.  More than you’ll ever know.

enjoy your sneak peek.

“E”

“L”

“H”…it all started with her.

“E”…my first birth photography experience.

My favorite:

Meet the Leatherman’s - college friends who drove all the way over from Detroit to get some family photos done Tammi Nowack style. Talk about cutie-patootie kids and they were SO well behaved.  I always take a DEEP breath before family sessions with small kids because they require so much energy, but the L kids were fabulously obedient and sweet as could be.

Check out this beautiful family -

and enjoy your sneak peek guys!

This is “A” - she was showing me her “sassy” look.

Here’s “T” - he likes Star Wars and Transformers.

And baby “O”.  She was so dang cute I wanted to eat her chubby little cheeks.

I have to say that it’s rare for me to do sessions with pre-adolescent girls, and I’m not sure why because I LOVE that age.  They are so fun and carefree, still uninhibited enough to laugh and be silly, with so much potential as they stand on the verge of the rocky teen years.

A few days ago, I met “L” and “H” in downtown GR along with their mom for an urban shoot.  Background: Their session was gifted to them by their aunt, Crystal - who I went to college with.  She lives in Seattle now, but we keep in touch on Facebook and when she found out I was coming to GR and doing shoots, she wanted to have the girl’s pictures done Tammi Nowack style. :)  Great gift idea Crystal, and it was so great meeting L & H.  I had a blast with them!!

First, some funny out-takes. 

When you’re photographing pre-adolescent girls, you’re gonna have a lot of pictures like this:

And these:

And this.  There was a LOT of giggling during this photo shoot.

Might as well get this one out of the way…..

And then they turned on their inner mini-rockstar…..

Here’s “H”.  She’s wild. crazy. funny. loud.  Actually reminds me of her aunt. LOL

And “L”.  She’s a dancer. graceful. natural. sweet. with a contagious laugh.

Hands down, my favorite image from the session:

And my second favorite:

Enjoy your sneak peek!  After I leave GR, fly back to Atlanta, and drive to Albany next week - I’ll be in touch!

This is my almost-one-year-old niece Emma.  Her eyes really ARE that blue and that big.  Obviously the first thing you notice about her.  Well, that and her bald little head.