Robin Dodd Photography

I WANTED to talk about that feeling that comes over us the second that school lets out.  But once again I am pulled in a different direction while working at a Starbucks.  A David Sedaris type character is sitting on the other side of the room and he seems to be on a date. David Sedaris is supposed to be at Parnassus books in two days,  if he's in town he's probably staying with Ann Patchett not flirting with a middle aged woman, frothy drink in hand, in Hermitage. This leads me to something I've learned while working in every coffee shop in Middle Tennessee. They may all be called Starbucks. (please take not that while in East Nashville USA I am always frequenting the slew of independents that I love so much, but I will also patronize the SB because of their wonderful adoption assistance program, yes in another life I was a Barista myself ) but I digresss. shocking I know..  The vibe is very specific in each and every Starbucks. The one I frequent the most is quit...

Check out our promo video for Magnitude pics this summer. Go Magnitude!

Happy May 15th day folks. This month is always intense for all the moms ( and dads) out there, I know why they make Mother's Day in May, because May puts you to the test. There are recitals, and all kinds of sports events and the end of school fun all crammed into one month. Making this video made me relax immediately. What a great family and a wonderful place, South Pittsburgh, TN on the way to Chattanooga.. Shawn and I discovered a mountain cabin nearby and well, we're in full dream manifest the cabin mode. I hope to head down there as soon as the last school bell of the year rings..

Where did the time go? In two weeks Mariama will be a teenager. What a great four and half years. Was is scary hopping on a plane and flying to another continent alone.. yah it was.  Is teenagerdom even scarier sometimes.. with the silliness, the forgetfulness. all the lost sweatshirts, school clothes, forgotten items..yes.. Do I get tired of repeating myself twenty seven times a day. Sure. but what's the point of  anything without someone as joyful as this to share it with. We have been forever changed by this gorgeous face.

Some girls are serious about their posing... Love this little...

  It took me awhile to discover Wes Anderson, but when I did, I realized his style of filmmaking lines up completely with my style of photography. At least in my mind LOL. I love his vintage nostalgic way of  saying it all.. all the clutter, attention to detail, the stark solemn direct way all the characters just stare at the camera and say nothing.. I LOVE IT. and he's a Texan as am I and lastly his mother's name is Texas Anne.  Now if that's not a name for a character in a book, I don't know what is. Simply put, the style in his films wins me over, they are quirky and always make me think "wow I want to live in this movie right now, not at this dysfunctional level, but in these pretty pictures." So on that note as a long winter turns into a blazing hot summer day and before we're all  hiding in the basement from this storm that's coming in ( I've got one kid up in Monteagle so I'd prefer not to hear tornado sirens tomorrow) I'd like to s...

April and May are going to be such busy months, but I am looking forward to it. I'm excited to embark on a new round of spring mini sessions as well as some neat themed portraits coming up, including a few babies to snuggle. I can't believe it's finally nice weather, I almost kissed the little cherry tree in our front yard this morning when I stepped outside. We're doing DancEast photos this month so we can have them ready for the showcase in May. On the gymnastics side of things, I'll be doing Magnitude 10.0's Spring Fling portraits for their recreational gymnasts and then team pictures in May. Throw in a couple more personal projects and we're done.  Then school will be out and it will be summer. No sweat huh. The kids are going to sleep away camp for the first time and I hope to finally get to see some friends I've missed very much and the Redwood forest. We can do it y'all, and soon we'll all be laying around by the pool whining about how ...