Amy is doing such fantastic things in this world.

She runs the Parkinson’s Wellness Fund. They are a non-profit who supplies grants to individuals living with Parkinson’s to help them afford products and services that assist in their daily living. While most of the money in the community goes towards research, they focus on immediate help for individuals and their functionality. They are 14+ years into their nation-wide work, having provided grants to all 50 states and even internationally.

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On a personal note, Amy recently moved to the Atlanta area last from Los Angeles, and I was immediately taken by her warmth, charm, and conversational ease. Not only did I want her to become my friend, but I wanted to connect her immediately with other friends (ahem, Jules)!
Welcome to town, Amy, and the Parkinson’s community thanks you.

https://parkinsonswellnessfund.org/

I’ve worked with Stephanie, providing both commercial and personal photography, many times- but our story begins long before then.

And I was reminded of that as we worked, reminiscing about old times and mutual friends. She wanted an image where she looked relaxed, natural, at ease, and it came easy.

So did the environment for our session. She’s an interior designer who has redone her own home top to bottom. The background options were limitless and stunning. We even considered her bathrooms, they were so fantastic!

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Don’t hesitate to call in Stephanie and her team. Her own home is a mind-blowing testament to her talent.
https://www.sbsdesignsatlanta.com/

They walked into the studio, a bit nervous, expecting the worst. Most people who come in for a business image feel that way, it’s common.

I’m certain people come to them with their own butterflies. Just the idea of taking care of your family should the worst case scenario occur is daunting. But they promise compassion through the process. And having met them, I believe they deliver.

I offer the same. I gently coached them, we examined their images together, and made modifications until they were able to walk out the door, happy with the result, and proclaiming I made true on my promise that it “would not hurt a bit.”

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Reach out to Mark, Michelle, and Helen, for your needs: wills, trusts, guardianships, powers of attorney, asset protection, and more. https://www.mylifetimelawyer.com/

Lori walked into the studio, and a fresh breeze followed her.

She was here for a few headshots, as she began her new endeavor as a Sleep Consultant for Wee Sleep. And I can see why she’s just the person you would want with you, when you are bleary-eyed and exhausted to the point of tears. She is so kind, so warm, and so genuinely interested in you. Conversation with her flows so easily, and you don’t want it to end. She’s excited for your triumphs, and wants you to succeed. I mean, naturally. All the time. It’s who she is. And it’s what makes her perfect for this role.

She needed different versions of her images, to accommodate different scenarios for her company. I told her no problem…

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While I’m past the stage of needing a sleep consultant, (you, too, will get through it!), it was clear from our interactions that she’s the one to recommend.

http://wee-sleep.com/

Rachel walked in the studio door a stranger, referred to me by the magnificently talented Faith Cohen. She was in town visiting her parents, but our time in this neighborhood had not overlapped, which is an absolute shame.

Because she is hilarious. Quick, witty, to the point, and tells it like it is with a clever twist. Over and over again, I found myself thinking, “Damn, she nailed it again,” in reference to the most basic observations.

Which I imagine really pays off in her work as a marketing director at an ai startup…

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Check out the company she works for! hatch.ai, designed to help Nonprofit Fundraisers engage more effectively.

When Adee entered the studio, it hit me how long it had been. The beauty of repeat clients is the history. Connecting at different points through our journeys. It was incredible to catch up.

What’s interesting is we didn’t talk about business. As curious as I am about how the Real Estate world is treating him, we talked about family. About strengthening bonds, about seeing our children for who they are and adapting to their needs. About prioritizing our time with them. It was lovely.

I do, however happen to know that he’s got a great track record with flipping homes, so if you are an investor, he may be your match: adeeweismark@kw.com

This was a fun twist, for us both, I think.
On a mom board, Lizzy posted: “I’m an interior designer looking for headshots for a rebrand/podcast launch that I’m doing! Any photographers that would want to trade a photo shoot for a room makeover??”

There were already a ton of responses from talented photographers. I shrugged my shoulders, figured that could be fun, and threw my hat into the ring, expecting nothing.

Next thing I knew, we were meeting for coffee and making plans! I was floored that she said she found my work memorable and wanted to move forward.

Meet Lizzy!

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Lizzy earned her Residential Interior Design Certification from Kennesaw State University and is a member of the DSA.

But also? Lizzy is married to a police officer, with whom she has four kids and a bunch of chickens. And is active in their faith and church. And teaches preschool AND yoga. And loves antiquing.

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Check out her website, Facebook, and Instagram!

Next blog: check out what she had in mind for my entryway!

Deanna and her family were looking for a different communal vibe, and four distinct annual seasons.

After relocating her family from Boca Raton, Florida to Atlanta, Georgia, Deanna is launching her counseling private practice. While the move was overall very positive, the one loss was leaving a job she adored. Licensed in Florida, she is taking on clients virtually.

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Thank you to Rina Pollack for the beautiful makeup!

When you sit with Deanna, its clear she’s patient, thoughtful, curious, and ready to listen and guide.

Visit her website!

Mamie bounces into the studio full of life, despite being dampened by the rain. Talking to her is refreshing, and I’m instantly 22 again myself. Having just graduated (though unlike her, I didn’t crush through both an undergrad and a masters in Economics in 4 years…), and starting with a new company, a world of opportunity is on the horizon. The company isn’t totally new to her, she was onboarded by Palisades Hudson Financial Group, with whom she interned. She loves the stability, balance, and people at Palisades Hudson, and looks forward to also using her talents in side projects down the road, to help those in need.

What really warmed me was the email from her after I sent her image: “Just wanted to say thank you again for an easy and enjoyable shoot on Monday (and the bag of rice, lol⋆). I like the picture more than I would've ever expected. I really appreciate your work on this and will keep you in mind if I ever have any photography needs in ATL in the future!”

⋆(her phone was wet)
Gotta say, the feeling is mutual.

I’m grateful to Paul Jacobs, Managing Vice President at Palisades Hudson Financial Group. After working with his family and wife a handful of times, he thought of me when they needed an image for Mamie. Continued clients are absolutely the best clients.

With 3 kids 2 and under, New York was feeling too small for Daniela and her family. They wanted to move to a vibrant city with space to breathe and a friendly community with playdates for her growing family. Having supportive family already in Atlanta made it more enticing. With her degree in Social Work, she bid adieu to her role as a counselor in a performing arts school, and opened up Spark Teens Coaching.

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“Here at Spark Teens, our mission is simple: to provide tailored guidance and support to teens and their families. Drawing from a foundation of listening, collaboration, and a genuine passion for addressing the unique challenges teens encounter, we are dedicated to sparking positive change by helping teens reach their highest potential with confidence and resilience.”

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Daniela works with teens and their families to focus on an issue, create a plan, and IMPLEMENT it.
Here’s what I can promise about Daniela: she’s incredibly easy to talk to. She’s open, friendly, and vibrant. I know she came in for a branding session, but I felt like we were “out for coffee.” I can imagine being a teen and finding her comforting, safe, and relatable.

Spark Teens Website
Spark Teens Instagram

I’ve been doing the photography for Stein Law since 2017, but this was a totally different ballgame!

They’re doing a total brand overhaul. With the addition of a new teammate, they also are working with a marketing company that sent over a Photography Art Direction packet.

In it, it outlined the specific blue they needed in some of their images, along with a totally fun concept: each person should have a formal headshot- but when you hover over the headshot, it switches to a casual portrait that showcases their personality. I LOVE IT!!

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Is it obvious we had a lot of fun on set?

We ran with the idea, creating a couple sets of group shots that showed both.

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Stein Law has been assisting their clients in Corporate Services, Tax Planning and Controversy, and Estate Planning for two decades. Not only do they have the smarts, but the personality, too!

https://steinlawllc.com/

I was thrilled to be hired as the photographer for Faces of Orthodoxy Season 6 Atlanta (backed by the Orthodox Union). They profiled 6 movers and shakers, to tell their dynamic stories, and show the world that Orthodox people are relatable, rather than exotic or strange as seen in the media.

Week four: Erika Needleman

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“I come from a family of seekers. My father was always exploring. He was ordained as a Baptist minister at one point (he’s Jewish). My mom is a proud Jew. I have half-sisters who are 30 years older than me & both had gurus. I started yoga at 14 & met my first yoga teacher, Janice. I was always looking for a female role model who I could go to with questions. But after getting to know her, I saw that her life wasn’t as great as it looked in the yoga studio. At 19, I moved to an ashram in Upstate NY with Swamis, Hindu ascetics, to become a yoga teacher. I woke up at 5 a.m., meditated & studied Hinduism. By the end of the program, my back hurt from all the sitting & I didn't feel enlightened. But I knew a lot about Hinduism.

I then went to the Dominican Republic to do community service. I didn’t realize it was through a Christian missionary organization. Oops. I watched how they prayed, saw something was there, but the Jesus thing wasn’t sitting with me. My fellow volunteers asked me questions about Judaism, but all I could tell them was about Hinduism. It was embarrassing to be asked questions by missionaries about my religion which I knew nothing about. I had walked away from my people & heritage, but I didn’t know what I had walked away from. I needed a full grasp of my own religion, so I went back to my college, @arizonastateuniversity & became a religious studies major with a concentration in Jewish studies. I was the only Jew in the Jewish studies courses; everyone else was Mormon.

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I got an internship at @hadassah_brandeis_institute feminist think tank at Brandeis. I had never encountered academic Jews before. They all had so much knowledge, & I was just a beginner. I had my first Shabbos at my professor’s house with all the interns. For the first time, I shut off my phone & computer. It was transformative. Shabbos was filled with delicious food & wonderful conversation. I felt truly present like I was exactly where I was supposed to be & there was nothing else to do. Like yoga, but it was my tradition. I was totally hooked.”

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”They say you don’t know who you are as a Jew until you go to Israel. I went on Birthright & Ulpan. Before my next program, Pardes, started, I needed a place to stay for 3 weeks. My mom was friends with a survivor named Edith who was close to a family in Har Nof. She arranged for me to stay there. I was told to pack modest clothing. When I walked into their home, it wasn't just a husband and wife. It was a Rosh Yeshiva and Rebbetzin. I felt like an alien.

To my utter surprise, in the Rebbetzin I found the role model I was always looking for. I watched her navigate difficult phone calls and visits. I watched her pray in the morning. I saw someone really connected to G-d. This was a person who was in tune with her higher self, & I wanted that. She didn’t get caught in the spiral when things were overwhelming; G-d was at her center. I had never seen anyone able to do that. I saw in her what I didn’t see in my yoga teachers or professors.

I asked lots of questions but I started to realize that some of my questions didn’t make sense anymore. One morning I sat at her table grasping at straws as to why I wasn't religious, and I melted into a puddle of tears. I was going to have to change. Oh boy.

I decided I wanted to learn Torah in an all-female environment, so I went to Shearim Seminary, where I fell in love & felt at home. I told the head of school that I didn’t want to be religious, I just wanted to learn. She told me they just wanted to get my questions answered. Soon I realized this was exactly what I needed & wanted to be. A year later, I started dating. Edith told me that when you meet the right person, you’ll experience a fog. After my first date with my future husband, I experienced an actual fog. We got engaged 9 dates later.

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We lived in Israel for the first year, moved to Passaic & then to Atlanta. Over Covid, it became clear that I needed to use my skills in addition to being a mother. I started life coaching. I began teaching Jewish classes to college students. I also speak to girls’ camps, schools & women’s groups. I call it my Renaissance of Self. I’m receiving all the time when I’m teaching or coaching. It fills me up.”

BTS video courtesy of the talented Yelena Hertzberg

Aliza DID NOT WANT to have her photo taken.
Many months ago, she made note that she needed to update her very, very old headshot - both for her health insurance business, and for her teaching. But she dreaded it, and put it off.

And put it off.

And put it off.

Guess what… I hear this from a majority of my headshot clients. They are there because they HAVE to be, not because they WANT to be. They’re uncomfortable in front of the camera, and they just want to get it over with.

And I get it. Like Aliza, it’s out of the norm for most people, and we already have very full plates. Aliza works multiple jobs in multiple industries and has 4 kids ranging high school to preschool. But as she left, she sighed, with relief, “This was actually easy and fun!”

During a session, I coach, we giggle, and then we look at your images. And you say, “Wait! That’s it! I love it!” or, “Can we try it again? I liked that angle, but want to switch my hair.” We shoot until we nail it.

And now Aliza has something for her Health Insurance business cards. And to send to the school she teaches at virtually in Seattle for their website. And to show her children her huge, warm smile.

It suddenly struck Steven that his headshot was 15…maybe 20? years old, when he was asked to speak at a prestigious conference in Boston. We hustled to get him into the studio.

His daughter, Leah, arranged the whole thing. She is the Special Projects and Events consultant at Congregation Beth Jacob, and through my wedding work at the venue, she knew I was a photographer. She warned me that her father is hilarious.

As he entered, I asked about what he does, and what our goal was. He told me he works with US Customs and Border Patrol. “Constantly controversial…” I mused. He showed me an example from a colleague.

The conversation spun from there. He was far more interested in discussing his family than his work, which has been in this neighborhood since 1903! I learned about his dramatically different twins, and we discovered the best way to get his twinkle in his eye, was for him to tell me jokes.

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But the biggest smile of all was mine, when he texted after receiving his image. Not just the self deprecating jokes, but the top prize: a compliment from his wife.

Eric is a busy guy. I’ll just give over the titles listed in his LinkedIn: CEO at Bigger Cup Consulting: Business Coaching for C-Level Executives & Founders | Reach for A Bigger Cup & Achieve your Goals | CEO at First Avenue Mfg – Made in USA Bedding | Co-CEO at iAssay, Medical Device Startup

Which says nothing about his active involvement with his family and community. We were definitely looking to have an efficient system and turn-around. Good thing that’s standard by me!

The interesting tool he brought to expedite the process? His fantastic wife! It was great to have her eyes as we made adjustments and his final selection.

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I was thrilled when Eric wrote me: “This version is perfect, super happy with how this turned out, the speed, and the ease of the whole process. Thank you! Feel free to use me as a reference.”

Michael was a referral of a referral of a referral. I’m grateful!

Sooo I thought he was an architect.

Because he forwarded two pages of instructions from his architecture firm, Array Architects, on requirements for our images: 6 shots, black background, dark suit, horizontal, waist up, 3 expressions (neutral, slight smile, smile) and two body positions for each (full on, turned slightly)

Obstacles: 1. Dark on dark is technically challenging. The goal is to create separation between the client/suit and the background. 2. I’m ace at getting relaxed smiles from my clients. Telling them not to smile? Not my forte.

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Here’s how the shot was set up. Notice the light peeking over the top? That’s called a hair or rim light, and it creates the separation. You will also notice that we’re shooting on grey, not black, in a bright room. I set my camera settings to cut ambient light and darken the backdrop, so the only light at play was that which I deliberately introduced to the scene. I love shooting on grey- I can create anything I want with it!

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I’m grateful that the firm was thrilled with the results! The kicker?

Michael is NOT an architect! He’s a Healthcare Strategy and Business Development Executive! He’s currently advising Array Architects in their current project with Northside Hospital. (Which is full circle, as they were one of the buildings I photographed behind the scenes as an artistic installation for a HVAC firm a long time ago.)

He explained the type of analysis he provides to heathcare centers (he gave a fascinating example of a hospital purchasing hospital beds, and the way he advises them that incorporates not only their current numbers and projected growth, but the trends of the industry, which is moving towards remote locations and away from, say, needing a massive amount of beds…)

So Michael is not an architect, working for an architecture firm, and blowing my mind.

Lisa reached out in a rush for a headshot. She’s joined a new legal firm as Partner, and needed an updated shot to accompany the press release.

She gushed about her friend, Laura. She said Laura was one of her first friends upon moving to Atlanta 25 years ago. She had loved the headshot I did for her dearest friend, so when she needed one for herself, she reached out for the referral. (Thank you, Laura!!)

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Lisa had experienced a challenging day when she arrived, including her makeup artist cancelling with a possible case of pink eye. She was exhausted, and frazzled, and amazing. Regardless of it all, she came in with a rush of energy, and allowed herself to completely relax in front of the camera. This shot was the second image we took! Nailed it! I love her glasses and stacked necklaces: She wanted to stay true to who she is, give people a taste of who they will meet when working with her.

I asked that she send me some information about what she does. She sent the pending press release. It was so impressive, I couldn’t whittle it down to a sentence or two. Read on about this dynamic lady, and her Woman-led Law Firm!

FORMER NOKIA SENIOR COUNSEL LISA ROVINSKY JOINS CULHANE MEADOWS AS A

PARTNER IN ITS ATLANTA AND BOSTON OFFICES

ATLANTA, GA — Culhane Meadows is pleased to announce that Lisa Rovinsky ( lrovinsky@cm.law ) has joined the firm as a partner in their Atlanta and Boston offices.

Lisa has had two distinguished legal careers. Starting in advertising and marketing law, she served as Vice President & Counsel for Mastercard International and Chief Marketing Counsel for The Coca-Cola Company. She left Coca-Cola to go into private practice at the law firm Alston & Bird, moving on to become Senior Counsel at Nokia. Her move to the telecommunications giant refocused her career towards technology law and she has continued to build on that experience, working with a variety of technology-based startups.

“Lisa is an outstanding addition to our Technology and Corporate practices, “ says Kimberly Verska, Co-managing partner of Culhane Meadows, “Having worked with her in the past, I know that her creative and practical approach to problem-solving is a great fit for our firm.”

Culhane Meadows Co-founder and Co-Managing Partner James Meadows agrees, “During our time together at Alston & Bird I knew Lisa to be an advocate and mentor to women attorneys and a passionate proponent of diversity. Finding a partner who fits so well with our business and cultural goals, and who adds a wealth of experience to our team, is exciting.”

“I’ve followed the growth of Culhane Meadows for years and have had the good fortune to work with some of the partners throughout my career,” Lisa adds. “When I began to seriously consider joining the firm, one of the drivers was how impressively innovative Culhane Meadows is, and how they use technology to benefit both their attorneys and the firm’s clients. I’m looking forward to collaborating with such a forward-thinking group and the clients who value their innovation.”

Lisa graduated summa cum laude from Tufts University and attended Harvard Law School.

_______

Culhane Meadows is the largest woman-owned, national full-service law firm in the country (WBE) and has over seventy partners who work virtually from eleven offices around the U.S. Built to be fully remote from founding, Culhane Meadows serves client that range from startups to Fortune 100 businesses, offering outstanding efficiency and sophisticated legal knowledge from partners who are former BigLaw attorneys or in-house counsel, and have years of experience in creative problem-solving.

I have lots of great things to say about Daniel Wachtel (and his family.)

He is (They are) generous and welcoming. Accepting and genuine. He loves their community, staying active, and attending concerts.

Pretty much the type of person you would turn to when you need help. When you are struggling and need guidance. When you are ready for change.

It’s interesting. When I meet a client for the first time, we frequently open with “getting to know you” questions, divulging where we are from and the like. Caren and I somehow skipped right over that, and plunged right into dissecting Ozark and talking about mortifying Zoom mishaps.

Which is amazing. She connects so easily, something you might not expect from someone who is equally comfortable presenting in Federal Court.

Caren is a civil rights and voting rights attorney, transitioning from her work at the Southern Poverty Law Center. She’s going to be the legal director for the National League of Women Voters. If you are saying “wow,” you’ve got that right. And if you haven’t heard of these organizations - go Google them now.

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I wish Caren tremendous luck changing the world. And I hope she continues to have amazing anecdotes to show for it.

WORKING WITH AMY IS AMAZING.

She is literally all the things you would want. She’s sweet, kind, confident, pays attention to details, timely, does exactly what she says she’s going to do when she says she’s going to do it, takes initiative, I could seriously go on. She will not only hear you, but hear everything between the lines, and be proactive. She’s solution-oriented. You will never sit around wondering where things stand. And yes, all of this was apparent from the moment of booking: she wrote me at 12:23 on April 13th asking for information about headshots, and by 1:50 that day had every detail discussed, planned, contract signed, and retainer sent. This lady GETS THINGS DONE.

Are you a start up? Or an international company working on US market entry? Let me be clear, if you work with Amy and the Sapient Search Group, not only will you see a comprehensible and actionable trajectory, but your progress will be a PLEASURE.

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Makeup credit: Rena Pollack

https://sapientsearchgroup.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/solomon-amy/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shiragoldetsky/

More on Sapient Research Group:

Sapient Search offers a variety of strategic recruitment solutions to help organizations function at their highest level. We support technology companies of all sizes in close partnership on technical, business, and operational roles via contract, contract to hire, and direct hire placement. What sets us apart? We understand the critical nature of technology search. A strong technology framework is the foundation of every successful company. With a significant impact on your bottom line, competition for technology talent is fierce. As a boutique, relationship-based business our mission is to help our clients win top talent and grow their business, while developing a long term partnership. Our unparalleled work ethic, dedication and high level of support will help your company succeed. We have a robust team of recruiters, some of whom come from technical backgrounds themselves, and are highly successful with hard to fill positions. Our process Our consultative approach to recruitment begins with a deep dive into your organization to tailor our search process to your needs. After gaining needed intel we are able to target, market and recruit the most highly sought after talent to best suit your unique situation. Our in-depth screening process produces a low ratio of candidate introduction-to-hires and ensures the interview, feedback and offer process is geared for success.