coaphoto.com

About The Photographer

Hi! My name is Erika and I am photographer of Center of Attention Photography. My blog is a way for everyone to view recent work and get to know me! I am the very proud mommy to Braylan. I have the most wonderful and supportive family and friends. I LOVE what I do and I hope you can tell!

Archive: ‘personal’



Michigan vs. State

Saturday, January 7th, 2012

My friend and I thought this would be funny this past fall before the “BIG” game! They boys were like, eh?
I think it’s cute! Braylan and Davey supporting their teams.

BRAYLAN JAMES- My baby is ONE

Thursday, December 22nd, 2011

I am not a very good blog keeper! Some people ask me where the posts with my son are. I looked back and there is not very many. I am taking a mini vacation from the business Dec. 23rd-Jan. 6th. I’m going to be changing a little when I return! I’m also going to be posting lots of sessions from the last year of my clients.

This year my life totally changed! I’m happy to say it has been the best yet most challenging thing I have ever done. I have completely loved every second of motherhood. I was lucky enough to tough it out and be a stay at home mom AND fulltime photographer. Yeah I don’t know how I did it! I guess late nights turned into early morning editing. Every free moment returning calls, changing a diaper, emailing, feeding Braylan, placing orders, shooting, feeding myself, wedding… running around like a mad woman. I’m working on a plan for 2012 because it was very stressful…. but it all worked out in the end. My business took off this year and I guess I wasn’t as ready as I thought I was. I dreamed of this since day one of opening and it took me a while. I have a awesome mom who helps me SO much with Braylan when she isn’t working during the week. My husband works nights and he wakes up with the little guy when I have morning shoots. I tell ya! I know every mom thinks it of their own child but this little man is my world and is amazing. He has such a huge personality. His favorite thing is shopping! Not kidding… he doesn’t care much for products he just loves the attention people give him while he’s strolled around in the cart. Such a ham!! He just turned one and is fast as lightning crawling everywhere. He’s not walking yet and I’m in for it when he does because he’s very curious about EVERYTHING. He has always been a big boy and is in 2-3T clothing right now at 12 months. People usually can’t believe his age. :) He says about 8 words right now on a regular basis and loves to play hide and seek.

Here is a year of pictures of my little love!

OUR LITTLE SLUGGER

Thursday, June 2nd, 2011

Since Braylan has been born I have tried to take his picture out in my studio so many times. Having him in December made this into a whole process. It was freezing out. We both were so tired all the time and I just wouldn’t ask my husband for help. Now that’s it’s nice out and he LOVES it outside you will be seeing Braylan James a lot more on here. A couple weeks ago I woke up early and decided to take some baseball pictures. It was a last minute thing and Braylan did amazing! My husband was super helpful and now I have so many more ideas. I think with my own doing one theme once every couple weeks will make a happier baby (and mama.) I was feeling like I didn’t have enough pictures of him since I am lucky enough to own a photography business. Tomorrow I’m going to try again if it doesn’t rain. (My favorite from the session is up in my header pictures.) He just melts my heart!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELLEANA!

Monday, May 9th, 2011

I can’t believe how fast time flies. Ask my family or friend’s and they will tell you I can remember the craziest little details in my life. I can remember when I was 5 years old my neighbor’s house was on fire and the man in our yard telling us about the smoke and flames… I can remember the first day of kindergarten my mom walking me in after she bought me a slush puppy. I can remember my mom taking me and my brother to my grandpa’s to sleep over and taking his least favorite movie Matilda with us and him still letting us watch it. Oh and around the same time him telling me I couldn’t come over (he worked nights and was going home to sleep) and me sneaking in his backseat covering up with an old coat from his seat and sneaking to his house! Yep. I really wanted to go! My mom was freaking out looking for me. :) Oops. I remember the first time I ever got on the internet at my friend Kristen’s house and not understanding what the heck it even was! I can remember so many coversations my sister had with her now husband when they were in highschool while I was trying to sleep in the bed next to her. I remember my parents always taking us to a place we call “the farm” (which was my dad’s family property that was once a farm my great grandparents lived when they immigrated from poland) and them letting us sled, snowmobile, fish, camp, ride dirtbikes, learn to drive, pick apples, mushroom, clean the stream… My favorite place to be was there. I remember being in my friend Nicole’s room on a snowy day in Jan. 2001 and her telling her brother he was going to homecoming with me. He’s now my husband. I remember the every single day I spent in Hawaii on my senior class trip. I remember a laugh attack I had in Florida with Brittany and our friend Nathen. I remember my uncle Larry’s advice. All of it. Sleepovers… trips… fights… pictures I took way back when… the smell of people’s houses… I have the best memory like my Uncle Gerry and our family friend Donny. They both can open the pages of their memory and such amazing stories come out. I LOVE hearing about the past and reminiscing.

I am so greatful for my life. Not everyone is blessed and while my life isn’t perfect, I’m glad. Most people say it…. and it’s so true! If not for the mistakes we make we wouldn’t be who we are today. You live and you learn. Many days of my life stand out more than others and I have to say the day my niece was born was one of these days. My eyes are tearing up as I sit behind my computer at this early morning hour and type this blog. She is a huge blessing in my life. The day before my sister went grocery shopping and her feet were super swollen. My husband and I went and picked her up from her house and took her for a ride down a bumpy road. We came back to her house and ate dinner with my parents and our husbands… put the movie Baby Mama in. I was rubbing her super swollen feet toward the end of the movie when she jumped up and ran to the bathroom. She came out and said, “I think my water broke!” My parent’s had just left so we called them… I called my bestfriend’s… and we went straight to the hospital to meet them. Skip to the moment because I could type every single detail but there is TOO many to bore everyone with. My sister ended up having to have a C-section because she wouldn’t dialate. Every second she was in the O.R. I was a wreak! Then my brother-in-law brought out the camera while my sister was in recovery. I set eyes on that little doll and she had my heart. I knew our bound was going to be strong.

Today is her 2nd Birthday. The whole reason for this post is for her. I remember the first time she ate, the first time she said my name, when she saw her cousin Braylan RIGHT after he was born and the look on her face… and the other day. My sister called me to tell me something. My brother in law was just talking to Elleana and said, “Elleana your my bestfriend. Who’s yours?” She looked at him and said, “ummmm… Braylan.” Total heart melter! More tears.

I hope she has the best 2nd Birthday ever!

My big 4 month old baby!

Thursday, April 7th, 2011

This stage is so fun…. Braylan is learning everyday! He can do so many fun things now. Roll, belly laugh, play peek-a-boo, baby talk, tries to sit up… What is not fun is him teething! Poor boy is so young and is getting teeth. He puts everything in his mouth.

I can’t wait for the weather to warm up so I can start shooting outside again! I love photos outside.

Braylan just loves a good photoshoot!! hahaha…. someday!

My Family & Braylan at 8 weeks

Wednesday, February 9th, 2011

My life has changed so much not only since last April when my husband and I found out we were expecting but especially since December 10th since our little light of our life arrived. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been… and my camera has never been busier! :) This past week my baby boy has already rolled and has had a nice big belly laugh. How did this happen so fast? I will continue to update you all on Braylan because I have been told a few times this week over email and phone from my clients that they enjoy hearing about my personal life. I know when I read my fellow photographer’s blog I do as well.

This weekend I have my first wedding of a very busy wedding year. Not only do I have a ton of weddings to shoot in 2011 already… my husband will be standing in 3 and I will be in 1. As I say over and over…. we are VERY blessed.

I am dreaming and crossing my fingers and my toes of a new studio. If not in 2011 and almost positive in 2012 I will have one standing with all the features I not only want but NEED.

Update

Monday, January 10th, 2011


This past month has gone by in the blink of an eye! My baby is growing soooo much each day. I’m trying to enjoy every second before I have to go back to work!

Changes will be happening when I return from maternity leave. I will only be accepting 3 photo shoots per week and 3 weddings per month. I will be extending my two week time frame for editing sessions to 2-3 weeks. Online viewing galleries will up for 30 days from the time they are uploaded and photos must be ordered or a CD will have to be purchased with 60 of the uploading date or they will no longer be available.

My Baby Belly! 27 weeks

Friday, September 10th, 2010

Holy belly right?? My little man is a grower! My sister, mom and I drove around for a while to find the perfect place for some fall shots of my belly. A few teenage boys drive by super slow looking at us by this field like we were CRAZY. :) My sister fell in a hole and her feet went above her head (she saved my camera.) It was a funny 10 minutes! Next will be a pumpkin patch with my husband.

Braylan James Blackwell

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

Well I have been really slacking on my blog! So many exciting things have been happening in my life… I have a growing family and my business is booming. I couldn’t ask for more. Late nights are making mornings that I don’t feel guilty about sleeping in! I figure I better sleep in some mornings while I can before the baby gets here.

A couple weeks ago my husband and I found out we are having a boy! My husband chose the name Braylan James. We are super excited and can’t wait to meet him. December is going to come faster than it feels. Along with shooting sessions and editing like a mad woman I’ve been working on his nursery. It’s getting close and I will post pictures as soon as my husband puts the crib together and I add a few finishing touches.

I have so many sessions that I need to post I need to find time between the chaos.

Sorry I’ve gone missing!

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

I’m back!! I have been MIA for a while… I have so many updates with photography and life!

Some of you know I was going to open a new studio space and was on a search to find or build the perfect place. After much thought I have decided to stay where I’m at until next year. My little studio still works for right now and if I’m going to have a fabulous studio I want time to create something amazing. PLUS…. my husband and I are expecting!! We are over the moon and can’t wait for December to come. I will also be taking maternity leave. I haven’t decided exact dates but I know December I will be off.

Wedding session in in full swing and I have been blessed to work with the most amazing brides and grooms. I have also been photographing lots of newborns. If you have read my blog before you know this is my very favorite!! They make me so happy and let me create such pieces or art!

Ok I’m going to start knocking out some blog posts….

 

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