Life happens and you never know what it will bring you and when it will bring it. Our latest family we photographed truly knows the value of creating and capturing memories whenever you have the chance. Through great celebrations like graduations to tough blows like fighting cancer with their dad, this family decided, we need to remember it all! With amazing attitudes and incredible energy, they all gathered with made up faces, fresh haircuts and cute outfits to not only have a photoshoot but an experience they will always remember. Of course, at the end of this they have plenty of photos to love and cherish but there is so much more involved. Because of the photo shoot, when they look back they will remember mom being a diva and dad being the first one ready for his close-up. They will remember how they said mom’s skin looked prettier than the girls and how the boys gave their grandparents and aunty the cutest pictures and not the parents. They will remember that Power Rangers was the magic word for the best photos and how dad needed a nap in the middle of the shoot. They will also remember how all of this was captured in a room they barely use but is now stamped with memories of that day. Although it is our job as photographers to provide this, often times, we leave learning something. From the Spann’s and Callaway’s we remembered, ‘When life gives you lemons…make memories!’ Thank you all for allowing us to be a part of your experience.

With love,

Dru and Shay

People ask how we are able to agree on work to give to the client or work to put out. Well the truth is that sometimes...we don't! When two different artists like us come together, sometimes (most times) it is an explosion of creativity...but sometimes, we simply have two completely different things in mind. When this happens with us, one of two things come out of it, either the client gets extra, or our ideas end up combined into something that neither one of us planned on from the beginning. Luckily, either way works for the client. For example, there have been times we have wanted to shoot the same person and think we have a similar vision for them until we get to the studio. Of course both of us just HAVE to at least shoot our ideas and then decide afterwards if one of us executed better and then go from there. And then of course depending on the client, we are simply just forced to go with what they prefer which sometimes is neither one of our favorite shots. At any rate, we embrace the time we have disagreements because it continues to help us get to know each other creatively. Now when we have certain clients, depending on what they have described to us, we are able to determine who should take the lead on a project. Even though both of us will be involved, we may say, "Hey this sounds more like your style so why don't you go ahead and take the lead and I'll assist you in accomplishing this." It has most definitely made the world of difference while still allowing us to be creative seperately and combined. 

Who says family portraits have to be traditional? If you ask us, a family portrait should embody who you are as a family. If all of you are fun, it should be fun, if everyone is chill but one is wild, let the one person in the portrait be wild. When you're looking back at your memories, you always want them to be real, it helps you remember what happened that day and what was going on in that very moment. Sure sometimes all you're thinking about is getting that perfect photo that you've paid for, but who says the perfect photo means all smiles? If one get is hard to pin down like the photo posted here (The Callaway's in black), why not do what you normally do to keep him still in the photo. It's real and true and in a few years, they'll have funny stories and proof about how he never wanted to sit still. And, not to mention, the photo still came out great!

So next time you do a family portrait, try thinking outside the box. It's not always about matching, not always about the perfect smile. Maybe you have a theme that works well with your family. Maybe you all love Disney and want to be your favorite Disney character, maybe you loved a throwback show like A Different world and you want to dress like Whitley and Dwayne Wayne! Or maybe you can be like the Manning family (pictured here) and go old school hip-hop with your family instead. There are no rules for your family portrait! It's your family so tell us who you are!

I'll never forget the many years I went without being able to take pictures of my mom. She used to hate the way she looked in them and would always turn away. As I grew into a photographer...it became more and more important to me to capture her.

One day I remember telling her, "Mommy, when I grow up and my children have children, I don't want them to only have a few old photos of their great grandmother when she was in her 20's. I want them to see your life. I want them to know you if you're not here to tell them." Even though it came out of my mouth, it was also the time I truly realized how important photography was. 

Since that day I have focused on so many attributes of my mother than I want all later generations to see. I make sure I have photos of here while she's changing the oil in the car before a road trip (because she was always an awesome provider), and her praying over someone in Malawi (because she's always been extremely loving), and all the way to moments of us just talking in the the bed with our bonnets on. Photographs are so much more than just pictures. They complete your stories, they help your life make sense, they bring back your memories, and they connect time periods together. 

-Shay

For me, I've always thought about the small things when it comes to photographs. I like to get the photos of someone brushing their teeth, doing their hair or sleeping. Those are the things people barely see and I've always loved those moments. I take pictures of Shay doing the most normal things all the time. 

Recently I have thought about the importance of a photograph in even more ways. As missing people are on the rise in so many places, I started to think, "Man what if some of these people are people who refuse to take pictures? How much harder would it be to find them without a photo that really identifies them?" 

So many of us think about photos for memories, but they can be so helpful, too and can play a major part in safety. Though many people don't like how much we are using technology, I'm happy to know that I can take a photo of any environment I'm in and send it along for people to know where I am and that many photos can always help someone identify exactly who I am. The power of a photography...so much more than you may think...

-Dru

Though we have been doing work together for a long time, this was our first event intentionally booked as team rather than the other coming to tag along and help the other one out. It was nothing new for us as far as dividing and conquering but being recognized as a team from beginning to end was a first. I must say, the work came out flawless!

Oh and did I mention this was in Mexico? It was a challenge trying to figure out how to bring the smallest amount of gear to make a big impact! In Atlanta, we have so much flexibility with the gear we can bring, not so much when you're flying to another country to shoot. But we worked it out surprisingly didn't even miss the gear we had to leave behind. 

Biggest take away from this trip? Shoot more than you think you need! Did we have tons of footage left over? Of course! However, we had absolutely EVERYTHING we needed to make the video completely representative of this wedding experience. We stand firm on the idea of having more and needing less is better than having less and needing more. The result of having more than we needed...

Enjoy  #OnCloudJames2017 and let us know that you think!

-Dru & Shay

Our first photo together circa Jan. of 2013

This is where it all began. From random encounters at SCAD to a loving relationship and an unstoppable creative team. We want to invite you to follow our story. And we don't just want you to read but we hope you will engage and dialogue with us as we grow!