Posts tagged portraitphotography
The Moment is Now

Dana reached out looking for a last minute photographer, wanting to capture the moment with her family before her mother was scheduled to begin Chemotherapy that week.

My stomach lurched. Both my mother and mother in law are, thanks to G-d, cancer survivors.

Dana’s mother is battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer. But she wanted to keep it quiet during the session, because her brother still didn’t know about it. He has Fragile X, and she wanted him to enjoy the session.

I wondered if I would. I wondered if I would keep it together.

It was an expectedly emotional process. Both the session and when we viewed the images and came up with a plan for them. I am so grateful to begin the process of creating an album for her, one that she will be able to pass down to her daughters.

I wish Dana and her family a lifetime of health and joy.

Update:

ClientsRachel Linkwaldcancer, canon, atlanta, atlanta family photographer, atlanta photographer, Jewish, family photography, heirloom, family, graduation, generational art, generations, portraits, portraiture, portraitphotography, outdoors, album, pancreatic cancerComment
The Chameleon

I’m grateful that the Jewish Moms of Atlanta (shout-out!!) directed Eriana straight into my studio. She’s a woman you notice. Full of intrigue and a winding story of how she found herself on an unexpected journey: both professionally and personally.

She’s starting work at Honeywell as a Sr. Business Development Manager. She has a fantastically varied history before this in the beauty industry, and then connecting baby products to big name brands. I asked if she did relatively the same work in all of these different sectors, but nope, she’s always crushing something new. Seriously, check this woman out: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erianarivera-rozo

It’s no surprise that she’s so prepared to transform herself in so many different roles, companies, and industries. She told me a fantastic story of her family origins in Columbia, and her mother’s discovery that she had Jewish lineage. The Spanish Inquisition not only caused so many to flee, but to then bury their identities. But her mother, and Eriana, embraced the discovery. It didn’t negate what they knew or who they believed themselves to be, it enriched it. It’s evident that Eriana sees each new role and revelation as an opportunity to learn, grow, embrace, and elevate.

ClientsRachel Linkwaldatlanta, atlanta photographer, atlanta headshot, Atlanta head shot, atlanta family photographer, canon, Jewish, head shot, headshots, headshot, introduction, jewish photographer, portraiture, portraits, portraitphotographyComment
Style

Sara wanted a session commemorating her son’s upshern (3rd birthday). Originally, she had in mind that we do the session before the party, since they were dressing up anyway. Ultimately, she decided to separate the two, as she wanted a low pressure session where it would be the only thing on her mind.

We shot in their home, moving only a couple pieces of furniture and taking advantage of the lovely light in their space.

We reviewed the images together, then she chatted with her amazing interior designer (I need to get her name and link her here!!), and together, we created a vision, and I edited her images accordingly.

Left: our design, virtual on the wall, Right: the actual installation

It was tremendous fun creating images to fulfill our final vision.

EDIT! And then…

Sara reached out, craving one more image. She wanted a color shot, to gift her husband for his office:

ClientsRachel Linkwaldatlanta family photographer, atlanta, atlanta photographer, children, daughter, editing, Jewish, heirloom, family, family photography, home, jewish photographer, living room, living room art, portraits, portraiture, portraitphotography, photoshop, photography, photographer, photoshoot style, art, home art, custom art, gallery, gallery design, love, simcha, timeless, upshern, shayna image
The Matriarch's Reunion

There’s a common scam photographers get, someone asking them to capture a “reunion,” and then pay the other “vendors” for them…

But I knew this one was legitimate, because the call came directly from Ramah Darom, explaining that their retreat center was hosting a family reunion, and that family portraits had been requested. Eliana, who runs the retreat center, said that she was coming to me because she and the family wanted to gift finished artwork to the matriarch for her home, as they were gathering to celebrate her 80th birthday.

I wanted to capture the sun rising behind the family over the lake. The two hour drive in the dark up through the mountains was stunning nonetheless. They really do have the most fantastic venue, and as I trekked, I reminisced about my pivotal time working there.

Ramah had put together an outstanding itinerary for them, featuring truly quality together time. I arrived as they were finishing their breakfast buffet, and then went to fine-tune the location I had in mind.

It was muddy, and there were tire tracks… and I was thrilled that the family was good sports about it, because it was PERFECT.

I got to know the family a bit. They had ventured in from all over, including California and Israel. They were a vibrant group, whom while diverse, were cohesive under Elaine’s leadership. When she and I had our selection appointment, she took me through their journey as a family. One of discovery, adventure, and risks with a big payoff. She had a clear vision for her family, and this reunion felt for her like the culmination of all her goals and efforts. She has such deserved pride for all that the generations she created are achieving.

I can only dream of glowing the way Elaine does when I’m 80. To have such sharp and radiating memories, and tangible proof of a life that was worth living. May we all experience such joy.

ClientsRachel Linkwaldatlanta family photographer, atlanta, atlanta photographer, art, cousins, children, canon, Jewish, family, family photography, heirloom, jewish camp, jewish photographer, love, outdoors, portraits, portraiture, portraitphotography, photoshop, photography, photographer, water, ramah, ramah daromComment
Waters

In 2018, we did our first Cohen family session. Their three precious girls dipped their hands in the water.

In 2019, we recreated that image.

In 2020, we paused. Covid took precedent.

In 2021, we captured it again.

Each year, we capture their growth, and mirror both the past, and what we desire for the future.

In 2019, we added metals to the year prior. In 2021, we reinvisioned the arrangements completely, forming new groupings to tell new stories.

We are continuing to select matte metals for Avital, not only because it lends cohesiveness to her expanding galleries, but because she raved: “I love these with my kids! I don’t worry as much about fingerprints or damage. The kids love exploring them and touching them and pointing to themselves, and I know these are durable enough for that.” She also loves treating their parents to accordion albums- tiny leather-bound brag books they can carry in their bags, and display on their shelves.

ClientsRachel LinkwaldShayna Image family photography, portraitphotography, siblings, canon, children, storytelling, atlanta family photographer, sisters, atlantaComment
Up and Coming

Get on Instagram! everyone said. I dragged my feet, but finally acquiesced.

It finally paid off, and I enjoyed my first session from someone who found me on IG!

Elliot is a law student at Georgia State University. Always thinking through every move, and several moves ahead, not only did he want to review our contract thoroughly (everyone should!), but he wanted to get ahead of the game getting his headshots, knowing that they would be crucial in his next career steps. This is a man both thoughtful and focused- he knows where he’s going and is proactive getting there.

I guess this just proves that, whether we are 24 or 39, it’s always time move forward, push yourself, and take those extra steps.

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