The Nickoles Family, 2018
The Nickoles Family, 2018
Alexandria + Cannon
Holy Trinity Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral
Birmingham, AL
The Yeck Family, 2018
Malloy, Myla, and Willa
These three brought lots of energy to the set. There was jumping, dancing, flamingo poses and laughter filling the studio with joy!
Malloy is the oldest, very bright, confident and will be a lady killer! He is also gonna have to keep the boys away from his little sisters. 🙂
Myla just started kindergarten and is an amazing little ballet dancer. Look at that cutie pie!!
Willa just had her first Birthday and is one of the sweetest, most precious and content babies I’ve met.
Shermika and Oli are getting married!!
This adorable couple currently lives in Atlanta and they are to be married there this February. Shermika is originally from Birmingham, AL and Oli is from Jamaica!
WHAT DOES YOUR HEADSHOT SAY ABOUT YOU?
We recently had the honor of doing another updated headshot and portrait session with the CEO and team of Cook and Bynum Investment Firm here in Birmingham.
The firm’s website was being updated, so the headshots were also due for a fresh updated look.
I’m a true believer that, a person’s portrait tells a lot about them. The right image shows confidence, personality, your passion for what you do.
Brand Image Builds Credibility And Equity
Believe it or not, your brand image is paramount to building credibility and loyalty among potential customers.
WHAT DOES YOUR HEADSHOT SAY ABOUT YOU?
For some companies, they want to keep a fresh updated look every 2-3 years. Companies also frequently have new hires and need additional photos to match the team’s current photos.
That’s the goal, and while I’m there I may be asked to take a few office shots or social shots or even re-shoot a previous photo due to their new looks.
A professional corporate head shot will allow you to portray your business the way it should be portrayed.
The lawyers of Watkins & Eager possess exceptional legal expertise and have achieved numerous notable distinctions.
When I had the attorneys from Watkins & Eager firm in the studio, I wanted to make sure I got images that instantly read something powerful and different about each of them. For each individual I wanted the bottom line for everyone to read, “That is the attorney I want to hire.”
We know that making a good first impression is important, especially in business. Your headshot develops trust between your clients and is an identifiable return on investment.
By crafting an inviting environment and listening to individual needs, I’ll help you to relax and enjoy the moment.
I was asked to capture a group image of the attorneys that they could use for the Birmingham Business Journal, announcing the Mississippi law firm’s open office in Birmingham. We all agreed at the last minute that Railroad Park would be the perfect setting for these group shots. I’m so happy with the way it turned out.
@angelakarenphotographer
@angelakarenstudio
Watkins & Eager
@birminghambusinessjournal
ENCANTED MEMORIES
How taking a moment to view the world through a child’s eyes is enough to bring back the joy and wonder that imagination brings.
TO ALL THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN THE MAGIC OF IMAGINATION
“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.”
― Roald Dahl
I wonder, are kids who are encouraged to pretend more expressive, empathetic, and socially adept than those who aren’t? I do know, you can definitely get something out of diving into your little one’s fantasy world. Adults tend to dismiss the urge to daydream as impractical or unproductive. But playing make-believe games with our little’s helps keep that sense of magic alive for us as well.
Great memories will forever be etched in Sunny’s mind through this particular experience and hopefully the photos will also be a little something she can use to recollect this magical day.
THE UNICORN HUNT
Taken right back to the steam train era on entering the station.
We board the train in Sheringham. A lovely little town in England, right outside the station where we spent most of our visiting days.
The station itself is a little gem and has certainly re-created the atmosphere of a country station from yesteryear.
What a lovely throw back – all very authentic with coal fire cases, station staff in old fashioned uniform, then the steam train itself is very old fashioned and stunning.
With great views of the Norfolk coast and countryside, we traveled from Sheringham to Holt to visit Baconsthorpe castle – where legends say unicorns live.
From the train window the unicorn search begins.
Upon arrival of Baconsthorpe Village the Baconsthorpe Castle appears from the distance.
Grandma Heather says, “Unicorns live in this castle and we must look for them.”
As soon as Sunny and her cousin Millie approach the castle ruins, they dash off into the distance with excitement, in hopes of finding a unicorn.
Their imaginations run wild and free as they frolic through the meadows to find a unicorn. “Unicorns do exist!”
They search and search; with no unicorn in sight. Unfortunately, they do not see any unicorns.
Grandma Heather finds a note for Sunny inside a room in the castle. The same room that is said to be where Rapunzel once lived. Inside the envelope was a handwritten invitation from Scottie, the Unicorn.
Dear Sunny,
My name is Scottie. I was too shy to come out and meet you, but I saw how beautiful you are. I hear you will one day be a unicorn doctor. I know you will be a kind and gentle doctor and all my unicorn friends will love you. I want you to take this card, show the lady at The Dales, Grandma knows where it is. I have left a special surprise for you there. I love you lots. Thank you for coming to my castle.
Love, Scottie the Unicorn
Everyone is beaming with curiosity, no one knew about this letter, except Grandma Heather. As per the unicorn’s request, Grandma Heather drives Sunny to The Dales in Sheringham – located in the eastern region of England. During the car ride, Sunny is full of anticipation and curiosity and wonders what this all must be about. After a short journey in the car traveling through the windy roads of the countryside a stone looking castle appears. Is this ‘The Dales’ Sunny exclaims?
She walks up the stairs of The Dales, a very elegant place to get a surprise from the ethereal unicorn. When sunny showed her card to the lady at reception the lady said ‘you must be Sunny who we are waiting for. We heard a clip clop clip clop but when we went to look no one was there, but we did find this.” And showed Sunny to the library where there was a sign on the door.
The door opens to a good, old-fashioned English tea time with finger sandwiches, dainty china cups and all the formality a little tea lover could wish for. The library was transformed into a spectacular afternoon tea party with an extremely long table for all of Sunny’s guests to join. The table is filled with decadent pastries and an array of scones with clotted cream and jam, cupcakes, macaroons and other tempting nibbles. This is a formal afternoon tea taking place, all orchestrated by the one and only Scottie the Unicorn (via Grandma Heather). Sunny has taken her seat beside Grandma Heather and Great-Grandma Enid. As she sat, she was showered with gifts from the unicorn and her great-grandma; one of those gifts was a very special silver unicorn necklace. This will be a family heirloom that maybe Sunny can pass down to her children and grandchildren one day.
Sunny was overloaded with joy. She was so taken back, she was nearly in shock. When something so surreal like this happens, Sunny goes quiet and absorbs herself deeply whilst taking it all in!
Great-Grandma Enid is such a lovely lady. She is the mother of the marvelous and so very kind – Grandma Heather. As you can gather, Sunny’s British roots come from a family of divine and thoughtful character.
As the tea party goes on, Sunny starts fantasizing about the unicorn and looks out the tall library window and declares, “I need to find the unicorn.” To distract her from her fantasy, cousin Millie takes her outside to the garden, imagine a garden setting – sort of reminiscent of Alice and Wonderland – where they find a life-size chess set on the lawn. Sunny is once again in awe, because chess is her favorite game after all. She happily partakes in the strategy with her cousin in this elaborate game of chess.
Once more, she wanders out into the garden at The Dales alone in her sparkly gown. “I really wish the unicorn wasn’t shy of me. I really want to meet him so badly.” She thinks, “If I were a unicorn, where would I hide?” After walking the entire grounds of The Dales it doesn’t appear Scottie will come close enough to be seen. Dusk is approaching and it was time to go; Sunny must end the unicorn hunt. As we walk back to the family Sunny concludes “Scottie the Unicorn isn’t here because he has gone to save the world.”
The unicorn hunt and tea party left a magical mark in Sunny’s heart forever. It was impressive to watch Sunny’s Grandma create these enchanting memories for her. Sunny is so lucky to come from such a lovely family and experience the magical childhood moments they created for her. As Grandma Enid says, “It sure is something special to see children that still believe.”
The entire week was beyond noteworthy for Sunny and all the family spectators. The experiences will be lasting impressions of her grandma and her roots. Sunny has always had quite the imagination, now we know where it comes from. 🙂
What a special gift to inherit!
Maya Angelou says it best — “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
As a photographer, it’s so rewarding to create visual stories in noteworthy moments of life. There is something magical about capturing the unexpected reactions and illustrating those moments that will be shared and treasured for generations to come.
Angela Karen
The Roop Family, 2017
Watching this family evolve into parenthood and their two littles grow!
Photos and interview by: Angela Karen
Nourish creates and delivers delicious, fully-prepared & healthy meals across the country.
All of the entrees fit into the lunch or dinner category. They offer individual portions, couples portions, and family portions.
What sets them apart from other online companies such as Hello Fresh or Blue Apron? The greatest difference between Nourish and Hello Fresh/Blue Aporn is the meals are fully-prepared. You only need to pull the meal from your fridge and heat in the microwave or oven. There is zero preparation and zero clean-up. It is a level of convenience beyond the meal kits.
Nourish offers fully-cooked healthy meals delivered to you door, which is a godsend for some families where both parents work full-time or single professionals who still want to eat healthy, but don’t have time. Nourish meals offer many different options for individuals, couples and families. But their plans start at 5 meals a week for an individual, 3 meals a week for a couple, or 2 meals a week for our families, and go up from there.
The added convenience of knowing your meals will be couriered each Sunday (in the Birmingham area) gives me more family time instead of my usual Sunday of food prepping and grocery shopping for the week. Nourish also offers meals around the country, but focuses on the Southeast and these meals are shipped via FedEx.
Nourish is also offering Gift Certificates this year or you can simply order online for a friend/family member at their website – Nourish Meals.
For more info on Nourish Foods read my November B-Yourself column in B-Metro Magazine here: B-Yourself: Nourish
Photos by Angela Karen Photography.
