Hillgrove Prom, Infant Photo Sessions, Cancer Survivor, Ali Jackson

This past weekend was a busy one for us. We started

out Friday night with a trip to Little Fiv

e Points with Miranda Hull and Ashley Holloway. Miranda had spent the week with us and

we took Miranda and Ashley downtown for a mini-photo shoot and for dinner. We ended up in the back parking lot of some restaurants and bars, where we came upon some amazing graffiti walls that were perfect for photos. Ashley and Miranda ended up taking the camera and doing their own photo shoot. We had a great time with them!

Both Saturday and Sunday began with infant photo shoots in the morning.

We LOVE photographing babies! They are so precious and sweet. New parents are the BEST! Nothing is more rewarding than seeing the love and admiration that parents have for the newest additions to their families. New parents are always happy and generally love having photos taken of their little ones.

Just ask the parents of every newborn we photograph.....We NEVER rush our infant photo sessions and like to get plenty of great photos of the babies and their parents during these special photo shoots. We like to capture candid shots of the babies and their moms, dads, grandparents and anyone else who wants to be included in the session.

We allow plenty of time for these special sessions -- giving babies all the time they need to so that we can capture them as they play, smile, coo, sleep, eat, play, (repeat) during the session. We love capturing all of these special times while you're here! And nothing is more special than having each of these times captured in professional photography! Here are a couple of peeks at some photos from our infant sessions this weekend.

So our Saturday, started out with a fun infant session with 9 week old Benjamin Steed, his mom Sara Margaret and his grandmother, Bennea. Benjamin is an adorable little boy with a sweet, laid back personality.

I fell in love with his hair and his sweet disposition! Sara Margaret is a great mom and adores her new life with Benjamin.

After our Infant session on Saturday, we had back-to-back prom photos sessions scheduled in our studio. This year we are offering high school students the opportunity to "SAVE MONEY" on their prom photos by having them taken by us.

We currently have a great money-saving package for prom-goers! And the best thing is .....we don't do the traditional "Prom Photos" standing by a cheesy prom arbor or column covered in fake flowers. We do offer both a dark background and a white background for our prom photos and try to make these sessions both fun and different. Check out a few of our IN STUDIO prom photos from this weekend. Packages are only $27.50!! If your prom is coming up, call us to schedule an appointment on your prom day.

Then...on Saturday night, we had the privilege of attending Hillgrove High School's prom. Their prom theme was "Hollywood" and we were on hand taking some fun, candid shots as everyone arrived at prom, getting out of their cars and limos and walking on to the Red Carpet. The sun was just setting as most everyone arrived, and the attendees looked fantastic. It was so much fun photographing everyone!

We have posted the photos on our website. Here's how you can view them:

Go to: http://www.chuckwilliams-photography.com

Click on the Photo of the Bride and Groom

Click on On Line Ordering (Tab at the top)

Enter in your own email address

Enter in the password "hillgrove"

If you are interested in having us come to your prom to do the same thing, just have a teacher or administrator give us a call and if our schedule is open, we'll be there!

Sunday was another busy day, as we started off with another infant photo shoot, this time with 5 month old Jack Smith, his mom Jessica and his dad, Chris. What a happy family! Jack is such a happy little boy! He smiled the entire time that he was awake. Half way through the shoot, we all got hungry and ordered a pizza! Jack was worn out and took a quick nap! We had a great time with Jack, Jessica and Chris! Look at the last photo of Jack, Jessica and Chris. What an adorable little boy with bright blue eyes just like his mom and dad!

On Sunday afternoon, we had the pleasure of working again with Hillgrove High School senior, Lindsey Greenoe. We are mentoring Lindsey this semester as she works on her senior project. Her topic is Photography and her subtopic is Cancer, Cancer Survivors and their stories. I have worked with Lindsey so far photographing several cancer patients including Danielle Standridge, a 2 year old Leukemia patient who is just finishing up his last round of Chemo....and also Weston Crusselle, a McEachern High School Student. In addition, on Sunday, we had the privilege of photographing Ali Jackson and her mom, Kay. We have known Ali for 10-15 years, having worked with her at church when she was just in elementary school. She is now in college and is a cancer survivor. Thanks Ali, Kay, Weston, Jennifer, Daniel, Carrie and all of your families, for allowing us to photograph your lives and for helping Lindsey with her senior project!

We are scheduling photography sessions now for April, May and June.

Spring is a great time for high school senior portraits, infant and baby portraits, and family portraits!

Call us to get on our schedule!

404 925-2921

Chuck Williams Photography.

Become a fan of our Facebook Page!

http://www.facebook.com/chuckwilliamsphotography?ref=ts

Join Our "NEW" Facebook Group!

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=107661989258067&ref=ts

Meet Lane and Jeremy...

Lane and Jeremy are engaged to be married and are in the midst of planning a beautiful May, beach wedding. They were winners in our Engagement Session Photo Contest and won a complimentary Engagement Photo Shoot. Lane and Jeremy drove up to Atlanta from Dothan, Alabama for their photo shoot and things didn't go quiet as expected.

When they got to Atlanta, their car broke down and they had to miss their original photo shoot appointment because they had to have a new alternator put on their car. They called once the car was finished and thankfully, there was just enough time left in the day to get their engagement shoot done before they had to travel back to Dothan.

Lane grew up in Dothan Alabama, graduated from Auburn University and after graduation, spent a year in Thailand. Jeremy is from Puyallup, Washington. He graduated from West Point and has been stationed in Italy, Iraq and Japan. Jeremy is currently in flight school with the Army and is residing in Dothan. Lane and Jeremy met last September at a friend's birthday party. Jeremy proposed to Lane on New Years Day.

Lane and Jeremy love the outdoors, so an outdoor Engagement Shoot was perfect for this couple. I loved photographing them. They are such a sweet couple and you can tell from being around them that they absolutely adore each other!

I did their session in and around the Cobb/Paulding area. Aren't they just the sweetest couple? These are six of my favorites from their photo shoot...Which of these is your favorite? Leave a comment and let us know...

Lane and Jeremy are excited and are looking forward to their romantic, beach wedding in Navarre, FL on May 29^th.

Beverly Williams

Chuck Williams Photography

404 925-2921

www.chuckwilliams-photography.com

A Tribute To Some Very Important People

Over the weekend and today we had the honor of photographing several very important people. On Sunday, we had the pleasure of meeting (for the very first time),

Weston C,

a Sophomore at

McEachern

High School. Weston was diagnosed almost one year ago (April 1, 2009) with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)

Lindsey Greenoe, a senior at Hillgrove High School is mentoring with us this semester as she works on a photography project highlighting Cancer and Cancer Survivors.

Lindsey introduced us to Weston and his mom, Jennifer. Lindsey photographed Weston in her very first professional photo shoot as a photographer. She did a great job!

Today, Lindsey and I traveled to DeKalb County, to the AFLAC Children's Cancer Center at Egleston (Children's Healthcare of ATL).

My friend from high school, Lisa Kerley, arranged for us to meet and photograph 2 year old, Daniel S and his mom, Carrie. Daniel was diagnosed with Leukemia during a routine visit in August for his 2-year old check up.

Check out Daniel's Music Video Here.

At the end of the day we had one more very important photo shoot with Shelby T and her little brother, Joshua. Shelby and Joshua's mom, Linda just recently left Atlanta to travel to Houston to be with her sister, Anna. Anna was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma and Shelby and Joshua's mom is providing the bone marrow that Anna needs to survive.

Shelby and Joshua asked us to photograph them as a surprise for their Mom and their Aunt.

Check out their photos HERE and the SURPRISE Music Video that we put together.

Tomorrow is Joshua's birthday. Tough day for him to be without his mom and for his mom to be without him. We are so proud of you Linda for what you are doing for your sister!

Go Anna and Linda! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSHUA!!! xoxoxo

As many of you know, Chuck has dedicated many years as a volunteer for Team in Training (TNT), a part of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Team In Training teaches and trains people to run, walk and cycle Full Marathons (26.2 miles) and 1/2 marathons. To date, with an artificial hip that he received in 2000, Chuck has run in 9 Marathon and 1/2 marathon events to help raise money for Leukemia and Lymphoma research. Chuck has also helped mentor and coach others through Team in Training. Chuck lost his only sister to Leukemia several years ago.

Chuck ran his final 1/2 marathon this past November, when he ran the Atlanta Half Marathon in memory of my father, Jake Trainer, who passed away of Lung Cancer in September.

Visit Team In Training's website HERE and visit their Facebook Page HERE.

PROM PHOTOS SPECIAL - We are helping you save money! Packages only $27.50!

PROM PHOTO SPECIAL -- YOU CAN'T BEAT THESE PRICES!!

Meet Catherine and Carter.....and Ali and Barry.

Catherine and Ali are friends who attended Harrison High School this year.

Today, before Harrison's 2010 prom, Catherine and Carter .... and Ali and Barry all stopped by the studio to

take advantage of our Prom Photos Special.

Here are a few samples from their Prom Photo Sessions..

Here are several reasons to have us do your prom photos:

1. PRICE -- Our Prom Photo Packages are being offered at the SPECIAL DISCOUNTED PRICE of only $27.50!!

We are doing this to try and help teens and their parents save money on Prom Expenses. If you have your photos taken at Prom by the prom photographers, packages range from $35 to $80

2. SELECTION --We take lots of photos! We'll work with you on an individual basis and will do lots of fun poses with you, giving you a great selection and lots of choices!

You won't get this if you wait and have your photos taken at Prom!

3. FUN -- Grab your best friends and come to our studio for Prom Photos... we will make your session fun and exciting! We take our time and work with you to give you the best portraits available.

And all this for only $27.50!

We are booking sessions now for March and April Proms.

Schedule your session now before we fill up! We have a limited number of afternoon sessions available for each school's prom date.

Hillgrove...you're next...we're almost full, so call now!

Prom Photos are available for individuals, couples and for groups of friends!

404 925-2921

It's a horrible feeling to think you could almost lose a child....

We love you Katherine Williams....

Although this posting is not on the topic of Photography, it felt it was important to blog about it in order to create awareness of this potentially life-threatening condition that many people have never heard of - Exercise Induced Anaphylaxis.

Two years ago, at age 15, our daughter Katherine, while at school in a PE class, was running laps outside in the early spring with her class. Katherine has always been very physically active. She was a cheerleader for years during middle school, participated on a competition cheerleading squad, participated in gymnastics for years and could easily run for long distances without an incident. However, two years ago, while running in PE, she began to experience tightness in her face which began around her eyes. Within only minutes, the tightness escalated to severe swelling and itching of her arms, legs, and torso. Her face, neck and throat area began to swell uncontrollably and her breathing was labored. The school immediately called 911 and then called Chuck and me. No one, including Katherine had any idea of what was happening to her.

Here's my original post on FB about that episode....Please read this - Awareness may help save someone else's life

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=7467598505

Flashback to yesterday....

Yesterday afternoon, my phone rang. It was Katherine. I was in Carrollton with a friend at another Prom Dress Sale. Chuck was downtown in Atlanta at a Team In Training Function for the Leukemia Society. Katherine was in Hiram with her friend Brittany and Brittany's mom, Melisa. Melisa is a teacher and they had taken her fourth grade class skating at Sparkles in Hiram.

When I answered the phone, Katherine said "Mom, I think I'm having another allergic reaction". I told her to hang up with me and call 911. I spoke with Brittany, reminding her of the name of the syndrome that Katherine has "Exercise Induced Anaphylaxis" so that she could tell the 911 operator. I stayed on the line as they called 911. Luckily, there was an ambulance in the immediate area and within seconds, I could hear the sirens as I listened intently from the other side of the phone.

The paramedics literally arrived within 2-3 minutes. I spoke with the Paramedic in charge and told her what was going on. She, like many medical professionals had never heard of this. Most people think we're crazy when we tell them that Katherine can have an allergic reaction to exercising. (i joking tell people that she get's it from me! haha)

Katherine's face around her eyes had begun to swell and her arms were itching and broken out in hives. The paramedics said that they were going to transport her to the hospital and that they would meet me there. We decided to transport her to Tanner-Villa Rica medical center, which was 1/2 way between where I was in Carrollton and where Katherine was in Hiram. The paramedics said that her condition was not bad enough at this point to administer any medications and that they would watch her during the ride in the ambulance and would treat her if the swelling escalated.

Luckily, Katherine had stopped skating the moment she noticed the tightness in her eyes. She realized that she was on the verge of having another attack. We believe that this prevented this particular episode from escalating to the point that it did last time.

I met her at the hospital and when I saw her I immediately flashed back to that time two years ago when we could have lost her. From the looks of her face, it was clear to me that she was well on her way down the road to another attack of Exercise Induced Anaphylaxis. As I spoke with the ER nurses, none of them had ever ever heard of this. It's a strange feeling when you are talking with medical professionals and they look at you like you're making something up. The ER doctor came in and same thing....I told him what was happening and he said "well i've never heard of that". I told him to "google it". :)

Here's some information about Exercise Induced Anaphylaxis...

http://dermatology.about.com/cs/hives/a/exana.htm

There is also a Facebook Group about it that was started by a girl whose college roommate had this same thing happen to her:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&ref=ts&gid=2212396929

The nurses in the ER looked it up and found it. The head nurse said to me..."Well I guess I learned something new today".....The fact that they did not know about this had nothing to do with the hospital that we were at...every doctor that Katherine has been to, with the exception of the Allergist that she sees at Piedmont, is not familiar with EIA.

My hope is that by writing about this, more people will be aware that this is a very real, life threatening syndrome. Most people look at you with a very questioning look when you tell them that someone can be allergic to exercise. Just doesn't make sense, does it?

Thank you to Brittany Crider and Melisa Crider for being with Katherine yesterday when this happened and to Brittany for riding in the ambulance with Katherine to the hospital. Thank you to Lisa Kerley and to my sweet friend, Miranda Hull who were with me and kept me calm when I got the call. Thank you to Chris (our son) and his girlfriend, Ariana Hull, whom we love and adore, for rushing to Tanner to be with Katherine.

Thank you to some of Katherine's best friends...Bailey Reeves, Shelby Thompson and Thomas Moore, who all got together, called me, jumped in the car and drove to Villa Rica to be with her.

Thank you to my sister, Nancy and her family, who were on standby waiting to come if I had needed them.

Thank you to Carla, whom I couldn't reach but I know you would have been there if we needed you.

Thank you to my Dad who I know was watching over us all from Above.

And to my Mom, (whom we didn't tell until this was all over with) who would have prayed for Katherine ever second and who is the most amazing Mom and Mimi in the world. We love all of you guys so much!

And thank you to all of you who have taken the time to read this -- you may be able to help someone else one day.

Katherine, we love you more than anything in this world. Thank God you are okay.

Prom Photos - Check our prices!!

Want to SAVE MONEY on prom photos AND have more photo choices?

If you're going to Prom, chances are you're thinking about having your Photos made once you get there. This year we are excited to announce that Chuck Williams Photography will be helping teens save money and time by doing PROM PHOTOS in our Studio the day of prom!! PLUS...with us, you will get more pose choices and better prices!

Call now to schedule an appointment to have your pictures taken by us on the day of your Prom! We have a limited number of spaces available, so call early to make sure we can get you in on your prom day!

Prices for standard prom photo packages are only $27.50!

(click on flyer at top to enlarge)

That's a huge savings from what you are likely to pay if you wait and have your photos done at prom.

PLUS....if you schedule your photos through us, you won't have to stand in a long line at Prom waiting on photos and you can spend your evening having fun instead of standing in line!

Call today to reserve your spot before we sell out!

Chuck Williams Photography

404-925-2921