It’s no big secret that having been converted from Windows based PC’s, I’m an avid Apple fan. My hubby still has a Windows based laptop but that’s mainly because the Army isn’t Apple based and we do find the need for a PC at times. Given the choice, he’ll choose the Mac every time. He’s a smart guy.

The Air is feather light as far as laptops go (I have the 13″) and even in it’s protective pouch, it fits securely in my everyday bag. I didn’t want to have to switch out my purse every time I needed to carry my laptop and I also didn’t want to spend money on a decent looking “laptop bag.” Plus, as most everyone knows, I’m a sucker for my Coach bags and this slim little piece of technology slips right inside my favorite one.

In fact, it takes up virtually no space at all. If you don’t have a dedicated office space in your home then you’ll find this feature to be a huge selling point.

Both the start up and shut down times on this baby are insanely quick. I can hit the power button and by the time I’m done taking a swig of coffee, it’s ready to go. This is another huge perk for me. I bought the Air specifically for blogging (which I often do in the comfort of my local Starbucks) and sometimes I only have an hour. It’s important for me to be able to maximize my time.

And speaking of maximizing time, the Air is also very quick – quicker than my two year old iMac. Granted, it doesn’t have to handle large image files or editing software (and it wouldn’t be able to handle all that) but unless you’re a photographer, videographer, or graphic artist, you’d never need programs like that anyway. For normal internet surfing and photo sharing, it’s amazing!

I absolutely love it and if you’re in the market for a computer I’d highly recommend it. And no, Apple doesn’t pay me to say all this. Apple doesn’t even know who I am or how much of a love affair I have with their products.

Lea Hartman is a Portrait Photographer in Fayetteville, NC. Her work is honest and emotional, focusing on capturing real life, real people and real love. You can read the original blog post here MacBook Air Review | Fayetteville photographer.

Here’s hoping you have a moment to find your own source of relaxation this week.

Project 52 “Black and White” (week 20)

Lea Hartman is a Portrait Photographer in Fayetteville, NC. Her work is honest and emotional, focusing on capturing real life, real people and real love. You can read the original blog post here Black and white hammock nap | Project 52 lifestyle.

I love having items for you to touch and feel so that you really know what you’re getting before you place your order with me. Let me share with you a few products that can help you turn your photos into keepsakes.

Lifestyle storybooks are the modern day photo album, offering the ability to relive beautiful memories with the flip of a page. They’re also a perfect alternative for those of you who either don’t like to hang photographs on their wall (I know there are at least a few of you out there but hey, to each their own!), or perhaps are limited in what you’re allowed to hang due to living in a rental or other temporary housing arrangement. (Shout out to all my military peeps living on post!)

A color swatch in both leather and linen allows you to choose the shade that’s just right for you without any guesswork over what it will actually look like. I surprise myself by loving the pink.

Storybooks are available in two sizes. This is the 4×4 in white leather. The best part of this fun little mini book is that it comes in a matched set of two – one for your mom and one for the hubby’s! It’s the perfect size to carry around in your purse and if you have a soldier deployed overseas, it’s just the right size for his pocket. That way he can keep you close.

The pages in both the 4×4 and the larger 8×8 lay flat for a seamless display.

Engraving is available on both leather and linen books and each book comes with a protective dust cover.

In addition to storybooks, I love framed galleries. The 16×16 wall gallery actually has a final measurement of 20×20 with a 2″ frame. With seven framing options, you can be sure I have something to fit your own personal style. All my framing options are made from solid wood. Choose from mahogany, antique bronze, antique pewter as well as both black and white in two different widths.

I like to keep things simple, which is why my product offerings focus on classic pieces that can adorn your home today and become a lasting keepsake to hand down through the generations. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to have your images printed. It’s all too easy to let our pictures sit on a hard drive somewhere, often with good intentions, but somehow we never get around to displaying them.

For Mother’s Day, my mom sent me a photo album with a compilation of images from my childhood as well as pictures of family members through the years, many of which I’d never seen. I can’t even tell you how much it meant to me. It’s something I can now pass down to my children, something I can flip through with them as I tell them about their great great grandpa, whom they never got to meet.

These are just a few suggestions of course but above all, don’t let your memories sit in digital blackness where no one can enjoy them. They may be safe, but they’ll also be forgotten.

If you’d like to receive special product offers, then take a moment to sign up for my newsletter in the box below. Then leave a comment telling me about some of your favorite ways to preserve family memories.

Lea Hartman is a Portrait Photographer in Fayetteville, NC. Her work is honest and emotional, focusing on capturing real life, real people and real love. You can read the original blog post here Turn your photos into keepsakes | Fayetteville family photographer.

Oh, but I needn’t have worried because Katherine knew exactly what she was doing and I was honored to be able to return the favor when I headed to her home for some backyard family photography on a warm, spring evening.

It’s no surprise that these girlies are no stranger to the camera and it shows! Sweet baby W is already well on his way to becoming a pro at only six months old!

I had a vision for this next shot and risked my life to capture it. Okay, not really. But I did kneel down in a fire ant mound. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize it until hundreds of them were crawling on me. I’m not sure how, but I managed to only get five bites. Not my smartest move but worth it.

I think all family sessions should include at least one goofy face.

Oh man! Ten years from now when she’s too awesome for hugs, this picture will be even more precious.

If you’ve been following me for a while then you should already be aware of my affinity for photographing children’s feet. In which case, this next image needs no caption.

Katherine, thanks for letting me document your family. Fire ant bites aside, I had a blast! But I will be wearing boots next time I come to your house!

Lea Hartman is a Portrait Photographer in Fayetteville, NC. Her work is honest and emotional, focusing on capturing real life, real people and real love. You can read the original blog post here Backyard family photography | Parkton family lifestyle photographer.

Needless to say, all that work tuckered him out! He’s only been home from overseas for a couple of weeks and I’m not sure he’s even fully adjusted back to our time zone. He definitely deserved a nice, refreshing nap in his hammock.

Father’s Day is just around the corner and this man set the bar high!

Project 52, week 19. Shot with my iPhone 4s and edited using the VSCOCAM app.

Lea Hartman is a Portrait Photographer in Fayetteville, NC. Her work is honest and emotional, focusing on capturing real life, real people and real love. You can read the original blog post here Refreshing backyard hammock nap | Project 52 lifestyle.

Lea Hartman is a Portrait Photographer in Fayetteville, NC. Her work is honest and emotional, focusing on capturing real life, real people and real love. You can read the original blog post here April’s Instagram Fave Five | Fayetteville iPhoneography.

It’s amazing how easy it is to become ungrateful. A little rain, a little wind and I’m ready to rail against the unfairness of it all. Then I remembered that my dad always told me life’s not fair.

Life is all about perspective. The attitude you choose to adopt will drastically alter your experiences and if I’m being honest, then I’d have to admit that it’s way too easy for me to choose a pessimistic attitude. I like to call it realism but in my heart, I’m always waiting for the bottom to drop out.

Sometimes it’s hard not to live your life looking out the window, imaging how much better life must be out there. But the truth is that life has the potential to be whatever you make of it. Just like the weather outside, the climate of our lives is up to us. I don’t want to suffer through the unchanging climate of a pessimist. This week, I’m going to make it good.

Lea Hartman is a Portrait Photographer in Fayetteville, NC. Her work is honest and emotional, focusing on capturing real life, real people and real love. You can read the original blog post here The unchanging climate of a pessimist | Project 52 lifestyle.

In the short time Lover Boy has been home, we’ve gone for a family bike ride (during which I tried to impress my 7-year old by taking a jump – and laughed wholeheartedly at myself from the ground. I’m still nursing a limp), browsed through our favorite stores (we like to venture through Dick’s and Gander Mountain just for fun), fattened ourselves up at our favorite restaurant (shout out to Texas Roadhouse!) and have just enjoyed being together again.

I’ve cooked more this week than I had in the two weeks proceeding it and it feels good to get back in the kitchen making real food. I have to admit, I don’t put in a ton of effort when I’m cooking for the kids…they don’t appreciate it and at least one of them will claim they can’t eat it because it makes their tummy hurt. Little scammers! Since when did chicken nuggets become so great?

So here I sit on a Friday morning, Lover Boy lounging on the couch with a good cup of coffee, our oldest at school, our youngest showing Daddy his cool tricks and our girl picking out the perfect dress to wear – dressing up for Daddy is second nature to her. Life as we know it is back to normal and everything just feel right.

To all the military spouses out there whose soldiers are far away, take heart. I understand. Your turn will come.

Lea Hartman is a Portrait Photographer in Fayetteville, NC. Her work is honest and emotional, focusing on capturing real life, real people and real love. You can read the original blog post here Life as we know it | Personal lifestyle.

The theme for this past week was “beauty is…” and my take on it is simple. Beauty is natural. Beauty is in nature. Beauty is also found in friendships. Like my friend, Tina, bringing me basil and parsley plants on Saturday (I’ve already used the basil – yum!).

I’m a firm believer that beauty comes from within and though Tina is gorgeous on the outside, it’s her heart that’s truly breathtaking.

(This is Tina)

Lea Hartman is a Portrait Photographer in Fayetteville, NC. Her work is honest and emotional, focusing on capturing real life, real people and real love. You can read the original blog post here Beauty is… | Project 52 lifestyle.

I’ve been using only my iPhone these past few weeks and as I have, I’ve been trying to be much more intentional about the images I take and the moments I document. I’ve been trying to approach it as if I’m using a professional grade camera instead of a phone.

I still have some work to do, let me tell you! I’ve been so inspired by beautiful iPhone imagery via Instagram. One of my favorites is my friend, Rachel of Rachel Havel Photography in Colorado. Not only does she take amazingly beautiful engagement and wedding photos but she curates a lovely Instagram feed that gives you a true sense of who she is. (You can follow her @tomnrach).

It’s fitting really. Rachel is the one who first inspired me to put my love of photography into practice almost five years ago. Thanks, Rach.

So, for this week’s Project 52 via iPhone I tried to be more intentional about my composition, my processing and ignore the fact that I was using my phone!

While diamonds do glisten, sparkle and shine, the real treasure is the man who gave them to me.

Lea Hartman is a Portrait Photographer in Fayetteville, NC. Her work is honest and emotional, focusing on capturing real life, real people and real love. You can read the original blog post here Glisten, sparkle and shine | Project 52 iPhoneography.