Back To School - Mini Sessions

Back To School Mini Sessions 

Do you want to change things up this year?  Instead of the usual cookie-cutter back to school picture opt for a custom Fotoplicity portrait.  I will spend approximately 10-15 minutes with your child and provide you with a handful of options that are well-deserving of a space on your living room wall!  The backdrop for the portraits will be a gorgeous and colorful mural concrete wall in Highland Park, NJ. - athe perfect backdrop to compliment your school-aged child's vibrant personality.

WHAT The $50 session fee includes a 10-15 minute outdoor photo session for one child (Older children may require less time), an online proofing gallery of FIVE (5) re-touched images and your choice of ONE (1) digital jpeg download printable up to 8×10.  You will also have the option to purchase additional prints & images.

WHO Sessions are for school aged children only (ages 4-17).  Sorry, no infants, toddlers and no adults.  No exceptions.  If you have more than one child, you may book them at the add-on rate of $25 each.  If you book back to back sessions for siblings I will take a photo of your children together.

WHEN Saturday September 10th 4-6pm Please arrive to your session 5 minutes early.  If you arrive late your session will be cut short.

WHERE The Painted Wall in the Stop & Shop Parking Lot Highland Park, NJ 08904

SESSION DETAILS The session will take place outdoors near the Stop & Shop parking lot.  I will use the wall as a backdrop.  There will be no use of props.  Headshots, 3/4 shots and full body shots will be taken.

PAYMENT & CONTRACT Payment in full and a signed contract are required to reserve your spot.

SIBLING DISCOUNT Book more than one session and get the second session for only $25!  This is perfect for those with more than one child.

REFUND POLICY Due to the nature of these mini sessions, there are NO REFUNDS given upon cancellation or due to no-show.  HOWEVER, if the cancellation is more than 24 hours you may use the credit towards any regular session if booked within TWO months (November 10, 2016) of the mini session date.

WARDROBE Wardrobe will NOT BE PROVIDED.  Please dress your child in an outfit that looks great and is comfortable!  Wardrobe changes will NOT be permitted.

PROOFING GALLERY Your proofing gallery of the best 5 images from the session will be emailed to you approximately 2 weeks after the session.  You will be able to download your favorite image (part of the session) and purchase any additional prints or digitals you like.  The gallery will only be active for FIVE (5) days.  Once the gallery expires there is a $25 fee to re-activate it, so please download and order before it expires!

PURCHASE ADD ONS The following specials will be available for purchase after your session.

There are only A HANDFUL of sessions available.  If you are interested in booking, click the button below. BOOK NOW!

Sessions are booked on a first come first serve basis and not confirmed until contract and payment are received.

A Mom & Daughter Session and The Importance of Trust

There is nothing I love more than to get a Mom and her children in front of my lens.  Let me tell you a little story about this particular family....I met them two years ago when when I had offered some Mini Sessions. F, the eldest daughter was quite weary of me and my camera while I, the little one, was doing her best being a toddler and running around exploring everything! Now, let me tell you that mini sessions can be quite challenging simply because there is very little time to relationship-build with children.  Think about it, a stranger is pretty much sticking a big camera in their face asking them to "smile" and act natural.   It took almost the whole session, but we manage to get some cute photos of the girls. A year later the whole family came back and we spent a bit more time together.  I'm not sure if the girls remembered me from the prior year but by the end of the session I had built enough of a rapport with them that they felt quite comfortable with me and let their personalities show through.

THIS year was the year that I enjoyed the biggest reward any child photographer can receive....As soon as these girls saw me I was immediately greeted with warm smiles and a huge hug from I!!  F quickly started up a conversation and our time together was extremely relaxed, comfortable and fun which resulted in amazing photographs!

Looking back on this family's photographs over the past three years you can see how the building of trust and familiarity can significantly impact a photo session, especially with children.  Not to mention you can also see how dramatically my style and skill has changed/improved over the years!   One of the most wonderful things about my job is building such nice relationships with my clients.  I'm looking forward to 2017!!!

The Top 5 Couture Dress Boutiques for Children

It should come as no surprise that I have hunted high and low for the most amazing couture dresses for my Enchanted Sessions.

It has taken me several years to collect all the gorgeous dresses and gowns in my closet.  I often have Mom's ask me where I find these gems so today I want to share with you my top five dressmakers, a little about them and why I love their shops so much.

Based out of Longmont Colorado, Joyfolie started as a small Etsy shop by owner Jessica Haley in 2009.  What began as a handmade baby bootie shop quickly grew into a fashion forward company who sells to fortune 500 companies like Gap and Anthropologie.

Joyfolie offers a wide range of apparel for women and girls.  You can find everything from jewelry to dresses.  Joyfolie also produces a wide range of shoes and boots.

I love the simple classic look of Joyfolie dresses.  I shop here when I'm in the mood for something that makes a quiet yet refined statement.  I also shop here if I'm in the mood for some fun accessories.

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Joyfolie is a great place to buy beautiful dresses and accessories without breaking the bank.  Most items are under $100 with a majority in the range of $40-$80.  HINT: If you sign up for their newsletter you'll find that they are constantly running great sales!

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Carmen Creation

Carmen Creation was started by Carmen Perez in 1992.  Based out of Los Angeles, California, this dress shop has created items for  Jennifer Lopez, Heidi Klum, So You Think You Can Dance, American Idol and more.

Carmen Creation creates dresses for everything from baptisms to weddings.  Throw in some fairy tale and vintage dresses and that about sums up the shop.  There is a huge variety of items and you can easily get lost in the designs.

I shop Carmen Creation when I want something vintage or fairy tail-ish.  My favorite purchase from this shop is pictured below.

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When you shop at Carmen Creation you can expect to spend between $150-$300.  Flower girl and fairy style dresses run on the lower end while the more intricate and detailed Renaissance gowns will put you in the $250-$400 range.

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Sugar and spice and everything nice...that is how I describe Dollcake Vintage.  Created by Christina Campbell and based out of Australia this shop offers delicate frocks overflowing with frills, crochets, rosettes, and vintage lace.

I shop Dollcake when I want something pastel, pretty, ruffled and comfortable.  Every dollcake dress I have is made from soft cotton that my little clients don't want to take off!  When it comes to children, comfort is everything!

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Another reason I love Dollcake is the price!  Most dresses can be purchased for under $100.  Now, you will have to pay more for international shipping, but trust me - it's worth it!

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A favorite amongst celebrities and trendsetters worldwide, Love Baby J is the place to go for quality crafted couture dresses.  Based out of Edmonds, Washington this shop is owned by Jennifer Langdon.

Love Baby J is known for creating one of a kind designs.  There is tulle, feathers and ruffles to be found for miles!  The shop offers everything from flower girl dresses to ball gowns.  The styles are endless and you will get lost in all the beauty.

I shop Love Baby J when I'm looking for something special.  This Love Baby J vintage style dress is definitely a client favorite.

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These dresses are made to order and crafted with the utmost care and quality control.  You can expect to pay between $200-$500 for these dresses with most in the $300 price range.

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Decadent...Exquisite...Refined...Quality...Artistry...Ultimate Couture.  Yes, that pretty much sums up this high end boutique shop founded by designer Anna Triantafellou in 2009.

This shop is my absolute favorite.  I have several of Anna's dresses in my Enchanted wardrobe closet.  The quality and customer service is top notch and every single dress is beyond breathtaking.  I should clarify - these are not just dresses, they are pieces of art.  Anna is an artist.  Not only is she an artist but she knows how to run a business focused on customer service.  As busy as she is, she finds the time to connect with her customers.  You can find her personally responding to emails and social media posts and inquiries.  I have chatted with Anna personally about each order I have placed.

I shop Anna Triant Couture when I'm looking for something ridiculously gorgeous, timeless and show stopping.

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I'm not going to lie, these dresses aren't for those on a budget.  When you purchase an Anna Triant Couture dress, you are making an investment in a custom made piece of art and top notch customer service.  You can expect to spend between $300-$600 on one of these dresses and if you want to go all out, shop her LUXE collection which can run you between $600-$1000 a piece.  The good news is that if you are looking for a dress for a single occasion or photo shoot you can now RENT some of these dresses for a few days for a fraction of the purchase price.

Fun Fact: The above Fotoplicity image is featured on the Anna Triant Couture Shop!  See it here.  

So there you have it.  Those are my Top Five Couture Dress Boutiques.  I source most of my couture dresses from these shops.  I do have some other favorites when shopping more fashion-forward, trendy wear which I will share with you in a future post, but for now take some time and enjoy browsing through these five shops.  If you are a dress/fashion connoisseur they're bound to keep you occupied for hours!

5 Tips - How To Photograph Your Tween / Teen

As the Mom of a Tween AND a photographer, this is a topic that I can speak to through experience.  Once your child gets into double digits you've moved through most of those typical photo-worthy milestones (first smile, first steps, first tooth, etc.)   At ten, our "babies" start their journey into adulthood.  You know the stage....the one where they start testing boundaries, develop strong opinions and explore all pieces of their identity.  They also go through some significant physical changes. All of these changes are significant and as parents, wouldn't it be nice to be able to look back at this time 10+ years from now and remember when she was first old enough to sit next to you in the front seat of the car?  Or remember when he surpassed you height wise?  These often overlooked moments are just as important and monumental as those baby milestones.  These are memories that aren't captured in the annual school photos.

So get your camera out and start documenting your tween/teen's life.  Capture important moments and be as enthusiastic as you were when they were little.  I guarantee you will be glad you did years down the road.  Of course getting those pictures may not be as easy as it used to be.  

Here are five tips on photographing your tween or teen.

Take photos of them doing what they love. Whether its dancing, gymnastics, playing football or soccer - when they’re enjoying themselves they will be more inclined to go along with your request getting some pictures OR, they'll be too busy to notice you with your camera.

This goes along with the first tip.  Instead of just standing on the sidelines, engage and interact with your child.  Show an interest in their hobbies and passions.  Don't make getting a photograph your only goal - take the time to connect with your child and take those photos only when the opportunity presents itself.  If you are actively engaged with your child they will be much more open to letting you get a genuine photo of them.  Even better - get IN the photo with your child!

As children get older, they develop their own sense of style.  Instead of giving them grief about it, embrace it.  This is who your child is, it's how they are known by their friends...why change that just for a photograph?  The idea is to capture your kid as they are - not some made-up, fairy tale version of them! Besides, I can pretty much guarantee they'll be more comfortable and willing to pose for a picture while wearing their favorite clothes.

And if you really want those fairy tale pictures, consider a Fotoplicity Enchanted Session and let me create an entire experience that will get them excited about having their photo taken!

This is where most parents fail...it is so important to treat your tween/teen like an adult. When you respect them they will be much more likely and willing to participate and smile for you. If you make them feel like the adults they're becoming it will go a long way.

This goes hand in hand with the last tip.  In today's world of social media most don't think twice about posting pictures for the world to see.  Sharing cute and silly pictures didn't matter to to them when they were toddlers, but now they are self-aware and conscious of how they look.  If they have their own online presence, they will want to control the photos that are shared.  If they know that they have the ability to veto the photos that get shared publicly they will be more likely to participate in your photo shoots!

Are you interested in getting professional pictures of your tween or teen?

TWEEN/TEEN WEEK - July 18-23, 2016

Session Fee:  $35 (plus tax) Includes:  Consultation, 20 Minute LOCAL Outdoor Session, Reveal Appointment Restrictions:  One child per session, session fee & signed contract due in full at time of booking, children ages 10-17 only, limited availability - only a handful of early morning and evening sessions are available.  If you book back to back sessions for siblings I will take images of them together.

Interested in booking?  Please CONTACT ME.

My Interview with Fashion Kids Magazine

I'm so proud to have been interviewed for the June Issue of Fashion Kids Magazine - a worldwide print and digital magazine featuring the most beautiful children in fashion. My interview is a two-page spread which features some of the images I've taken over the past 2 years....here is the interview:  

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8 Tips for Preparing for Your Summer Photo Session

You know we're ready for a hot summer, but are you?Here are eight ways you can make sure your summer photo session goes off without a hitch.

1. Dress appropriately. Summer sometimes means hot and humid weather, which can lead to uncomfortable bodies. Choose breathable, lightweight fabrics that won't weigh you down. As for shoes, nice flats or loafers are a great option.

2. Think about your hair. If you or a family member's hair reacts to humidity in a negative way, choose a hairstyle that won't leave you feeling insecure. Consider a braid or an updo - or maybe wear a decorative headband, or use a little extra product to keep frizz at bay.
3. Pack necessities. When packing your photo shoot necessities, I recommend bringing the following items: Lots of water for all, a snack, sunscreen, umbrella for shade, water mister, makeup touchup kit.

4. Creative Sessions. Summer offers a bunch of activities that lend themselves to amazing photo sessions. For example, think pools, sprinklers, the beach, lakes & streams.  I'd be more than happy to discuss a really creative session with you.

5. Head to toe details. Details are everything when it comes to photos!  For example, if you're wearing flip-flops or open toed shoes, you want to have manicured feet. If it's really breezy, a hat or scarf can keep your hair under control.

6. I won't let you overheat. Sometimes it's hard just to walk outside when it's scorching outside, but know that we're going to have an amazing shoot. We'll spend lots of time in the shade, dive into the cool A/C if and when we can, and I will never push your family into staying longer than they can or want.

7. Props. Outdoor summer shoots are loaded with natural imagery, but we can always incorporate a few props into the mix. Vintage step stools in a field look gorgeous, as do blankets, balloons, and even visually striking treats (lollipops, ice cream, etc.).  Talk to me about this during your consultation!
8. Timing.  The time of your session can have a huge impact on the heat.  The best time of day to schedule your session is 1-2 hours after sunrise or before sunset.  Don't worry, I am an early riser and can do a photo session as early as 6am!

Interested in Booking A Session? [button url="http://www.fotoplicity.com/contact/" style="red"]CONTACT FOTOPLICITY[/button]

Memorial Day - 2016

As we enjoy a day off from work and school and kick off our summer this Memorial Day, please make a point of remembering the true meaning of the holiday.  Memorial Day is a time to honor all Americans who have died while in the Military Service.

Did you know that on this day, the US flag is briskly raised to the top of the staff and then  solemnly lowered to the half-staff position, where it remains only until noon.   It is then raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day. The half-staff position remembers the more than one million men and women who gave their lives in service of their country. At noon, their memory is raised by the living, who resolve not to let their sacrifice be in vain, but to rise up in their stead and continue the fight for liberty and justice for all.

So please, take a moment today to recognize and remember all those who have given their lives for our country on this Memorial Day.

A Pine Barrens Enchanted Maternity Photo Session

Introducing Enchanted Maternity Photo Sessions!

If you follow me, you are probably familiar with my Enchanted Photo Sessions for children, but what you may not know is that I offer these magical photo sessions for Maternity Clients too!

This Enchanted Maternity Photo Session was done in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey.  Originally scheduled for 4pm, we had to move the session up because of a heavy thunderstorm that was in the forecast.  While noon-day photo sessions are not ideal, they are doable if the location and lighting is right. Thankfully, we lucked out with both!

For this specific session we shot in two different locations.  One with an empty road and beautiful lake and the other with a gorgeous stream.  Between the gorgeous locations, the beautiful family and the stunning dress I couldn't be happier with the final images.

Are you interested in learning more about an Enchanted Maternity Session?  Please fill out my CONTACT FORM.

After The Shoot - About Fotoplicity Post-Processing

Interested in knowing more about what goes into the post-processing of a Fotoplicity Portrait Session?

If you follow me on Facebook you may have seen my LIVE FEED photo session from Saturday.  For fun I allowed my followers to see me in action behind the scenes and watch parts of my session (and in-between) live!  It was a long, yet fun day and I had a few hiccups thrown at me but I couldn't be happier with how things went.  You can visit my facebook page if you want to watch all the live feeds.

I wanted to follow up those feeds with a post about what happens when the photo session is over.  The reason behind doing this is because I think it's important to understand that the photo shoot itself is only one part of what goes into a Fotoplicity Photo Session.  As a matter of fact, I spend several more hours working on a session AFTER the shoot is over!  Why?  Because I take a very artistic approach to my imagery.  The image that comes out of the camera is great, but I am driven to make it better.  That is my brand, my style and that is what I do.

Here is complete overview of exactly what it is that I do AFTER I take the photos.... 

Download & Cull

For an hour long session I usually have between 100-150 photos to sort through.  I download all those photos into Lightroom and do a quick run through deleting any images that have blinks, blurs, weird facial expressions or compositions I do not like.  That typically gets rid of about 25% of the photos.  Next I run through the ones that are left and highlight the ones I absolutely LOVE and eliminate the ones that are just "ok".  I then do one final run through and I am typically left with about 25-35 photos.  These are the ones that will move on to the "Retouch" Phase.

Retouch

I re-touch every single one of my portrait images.  This means that I move each photo that made the cut into Photoshop and I inspect every face....close up.  I clean up any blemishes and fix any stray hairs.  I remove dark shadows from under the eyes and cleaned up the skin a touch.  This is a very subtle edit, but when complete makes for a great portrait!   

Pop The Color

As great as digital photography is, the fact is when it comes to color and vibrancy, it just can't compete with real life.  I won't get into the details of why this is, but ultimately the best camera in the world cannot compete with the human eye.  So, I make a point of increasing the vibrancy of my images which make them more pleasing to look at.

Cool Things Down

I prefer my images to have a bit of a cooler tone so I make some adjustments until I get a look that I'm happy with.  

For a typical portrait session, I would consider this image complete and this is the what my client would see, however, when I get into my Enchanted Sessions I typically add a few extra steps which you can see below.

Enchanted Artistry

When it comest to Enchanted Images, I spend some extra editing time and allow my inner artist takes over.  While the re-touched images is beautiful, I can't help but want to add a little extra something to make it "magical".  Since this photo was taken mid-day, the gorgeous golden sunset light was missing so I want to bring it in by adding some flare and light.

Adding Light

I want the sun to shine behind these beautiful ladies, so I start by creating a burst of light.

Adding Flare

Next I add the sun which gives this image a lot more personality.

Finish

To finish the image I will usually add a light texture or deepen the matte as I did here to give it a more painterly or artistic feel.  At this point I also noticed that my daughter's dress was a tad too short and her shoes were showing so I extended the length.  Most people wouldn't notice this, but I do...so I fixed it.

I go through this process for each of the images that made the final cut.  Each edit can take between 10-30 minutes a piece.  Some will be purchased, some will not.  I don't let that stop me.  I approach each image as a blank canvas and work it until I am satisfied. To me, perfection is in the details no matter how small.  This is what sets my work apart from others and this is why my clients hire me.  My work isn't for everyone and I can completely appreciate that, but this is what makes my heart sing.  This is what makes me love what I do.  I am not just a photographer - I am an artist.

A Meaningful Senior Session, Highland Park NJ

A Senior Session in Central New Jersey

What are your extracurricular activities? What is something you can't live without? What is your best feature? How would you describe your everyday style?

These are just a few of the questions I ask my Senior clients.  Why?  Because this is how I get to know them, find out who they are and what they are about.  It helps me plan a photo session that allows me to tell their story through photographs.

Interestingly enough, senior photography is not as popular here on the East Coast as it is in the South or Mid-West.  I'm not really sure why because every year I hear the same complaints from parents of graduating teens.  The photographs taken by {insert big box portrait company here} are not of good quality and their prices are extremely high for what they offer.  EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR.  But every year more and more parents shell out hundreds of dollars for sub-par, boring photos due to lack of options.  Well, I'm hoping to change that for this local area.

This beautiful teen's story was the same.  She had the typical portrait done by xxx.  While the photos were nice, the session was quick and "assembly line-ish".  Parents weren't allowed to be present - which is really strange since the parents are the ones paying!  The print packages started around $180.  The most "desired" package ran into the $600 range.  Now, don't get me wrong - I value photography and some of my portrait packages fall within this price range HOWEVER...the question is, what are you getting for your investment?  I can tell you for $600 my personal expectation would be a full service experience, custom photo session, a voice in where my portraits are going to be taken and some input into what I want out of the session.  I would never pay that for a "typical" school portrait session.

The huge difference is in the VALUE of what you get for your money.

I met with this Senior before her session.  I found out that she is a singer and actor, an avid softball player and absolutely LOVES her HIGH HEELS!

We talked about what she (and her parents) would like from the session. We discussed location and wardrobe.  We planned things out, scheduled the session and most importantly we had FUN!

The entire session took about 2 hours and took place in 3 different locations throughout Highland Park.  Here is her REVEAL SLIDESHOW.

THIS is what a Fotoplicity Senior Portrait Session is.

Needless to say, I think this pretty much blew {big box portrait studio} out of the water.

[embed]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/74888664/Class%20of%202016.mp4[/embed]

Interested in learning more?

CLICK HERE to view session information.

CLICK HERE to inquire about a session!

How I turned a teen's nasty attitude into a teachable moment for my children

A few weeks ago I took my children out to lunch at a popular burger joint.  We sat at a booth-style table - my children on one side and myself on the other. While waiting for our food to arrive, my children (ages 7 & 10) were having a discussion about random things when all of a sudden the teenage girl who was sitting behind my children stood up, whipped around and yelled "CAN YOU STOP HITTING THE SEAT - IT'S ANNOYING"  She quickly turned around in a huff and slammed herself back down in the seat.   It took me a moment to figure out that she was yelling at my children because I did not see or hear them do anything that warranted that reaction - and I was looking right at them!  I glanced at my kids and they were as confused as I was.

I asked my kids if they did anything, which they swore they didn't.  I took some time to assess what happened and quickly realized that the table benches were the ones that have a shared back (the seat part on either side of one back).   The one my children were sitting on was off balance.  Now that I was paying close attention, I saw that every time this girl sitting on the other side moved, the entire chair moved too.

My first instinct was to let the whole thing go, but as we continued with our meal, I couldn't help but think about her reaction more and more.  Clearly my kids weren't out of control and even if they had been more "active" in the seat than they should have been her initial, venomous reaction was uncalled for.  My husband and I put a lot of effort into teaching our children manners and always tell them how they need to respect other people.  From holding doors open to simply acknowledging others - we pretty much drill this stuff into them on a daily basis.  And here they were, doing absolutely nothing and they got nastily reprimanded by some stranger.  No.  This didn't sit well with me.

I'm typically the person who lets things roll off her back.  I don't say anything, I don't get involved and certainly don't confront people.  Sometimes it's a good thing, sometimes it's not.  This was one of those times where I knew that I needed to jump into the fire and teach my children that there are times when you do say something.  More importantly, I wanted to reinforce to them that her reaction was uncalled for, inappropriate and rude.  I would NEVER want my children to think what she did was OK and I certainly didn't want them to think they did anything wrong.

As we packed up to leave, I told my children that I was going to talk to the girl.  Of course they were embarrassed and didn't want me to, but I had to.  As my children watched, I walked around to her table and said the following,

"I want to apologize for my children bumping the back of the seat, but I want you to know that they weren't doing anything but changing positions - you see, this seat is broken and they experienced the same "bumping" every time you moved.  I also wanted to tell you that your reaction was completely uncalled for and extremely rude.  I take a lot of pride in teaching my children to respect others and a can tell you that a simple, "Would you mind not bumping the back of the chair", would have sufficed.  Had you done that, I guarantee they would have quickly apologized and modified their behavior accordingly.  Your spiteful reaction showed them the exact opposite of what I teach them.  I would suggest that your really re-think the way you approach people.  But I do thank you for providing my children with a perfect example of how NOT to treat others and how NOT to behave in public."

As I spoke, the young girl sunk lower and lower into her chair.  Her boyfriend just about wanted to crawl under the table - he wouldn't even look at me.  To say they were uncomfortable was an understatement.  And yes, my kids were embarrassed, but they knew I was standing up for them.

As we walked out the door, my decision to confront this girl was validated when a woman stopped me outside the restaurant to tell me that she saw the entire thing and was glad I said something because she wanted to as well.  She had even witnessed something I did not....apparently after the girl yelled at my children her boyfriend said something to her about her so rude for no reason and she told him "she didn't care".  This woman was so bothered by the girl's behavior that she too wanted to say something but opted not to since she wasn't directly involved.  She ended our conversation by telling both my children that they had done absolutely nothing wrong.  I want to thank her reinforcing my decision and validating my children's feelings!

Why am I telling you this story?  I suppose because I want others who are like me (those who prefer to just let things go and never confront others) that sometimes it is more important and meaningful to step outside your comfort zone and use moments like this to teach your children that standing up for yourself (in an adult-like, calm way) is much more powerful than doing nothing.  I know that this incident made an impression on my kids.  Not only do they know that I will stand up for them but they know that the type of behavior they witnessed was completely unacceptable.  I know that when they are teenagers and a young child bangs the back of their chair they won't react the way this girl did.  I also hope that I made that girl so uncomfortable that she will think twice before reacting like this again.

49 Years & Counting!

The longly-weds know

That it isn't about the Golden Anniversary at all,

but about all the unremarkable years

that Hallmark doesn't even make a card for.

It's about the 2nd anniversary when they were surprised

to find they cared for each other more than last year.

And the 4th, when both kids had chickenpox

and she threw her shoe at him for no real reason.

And the 6th when he accidentally got drunk on the way

home from work because being a husband and a father

was so damned hard.

It's about the 11th, 12th and 13th years when

they discovered they could survive crisis.

And the 22nd anniversary when they looked

at each other across the empty nest, and found it good.

It's about the 37th year when she finally

decided she could never change him

And the 38th when he decided

a little change wasn't that bad.

It's about the 46th anniversary when they both

bought cards, and forgot to give them to each other.

But most of all it's about the end of the 49th year

when they discovered you don't have to be old

to have your 50th anniversary.

I have to tell you that this session was quite possibly the cutest couple session I've ever done.  These two classy folks met in Europe many years ago, fell in love and never looked back.  They are in their 49th year of marriage and this session was a gift from their daughter in celebration Dad's 80th birthday. Happy Birthday Geoffrey!

Prom, Magazine Style

Forget backyard snapshots....That PROM dress is magazine-worthy and your pictures should be too!

The word "prom" first appeared in 1894 in the journal of an Amherst College student on his way to a dance at Smith College. Fast forward 100+ years and they have become quite the iconic, integral part of the high school experience.  From fancy ballrooms, stretch limos and most importantly the DRESS!  Yes, that dress!

Girls spend hours hunting for that perfect dress.  The one that is red-carpet worthy.  For this shoot we took things a bit further. These beautiful girls were pampered with a professional makeup application by Rachel from Rocky's Hair & Makeup.  We then took advantage of the amazing evening sun filtering through the industrial windows of this stunning loft.  I guided the girls into fashion model poses and snapped away.  The results....Magazine-worthy images!

I am now offering a handful of very affordable PROM MINI SESSIONS so you too can get some fantastic photos for your memory books.  There are indoor & outdoor sessions available.  All sessions will take place on specific dates in Highland Park, NJ.  And yes - the indoor space is the SAME as in these pictures.  You can see some sample outdoor images HERE.

CLICK HERE for more information about my PROM Mini Sessions.

Prom, It's Time to Rock the Dress!

Hello Prom Season!  It's time to Rock The Dress!

I had so much fun with these two close friends!  With Prom happening in a few weeks, these girls did a dry run of their dresses, hair & makeup and I snapped some awesome photos that they have to remind them of this special event.  This event is one of those few times when you get to dress like a movie star.  So much goes into this one evening, having a few great photos of all that preparation just makes sense!  I am offering a handful of these Mini Sessions on a few dates in May.  There will be outdoor sessions like this as well as indoor Magazine-style sessions (check those out here).

Want to learn more about my PROM Mini Sessions and how you can ROCK THE DRESS?  CLICK HERE fore details.

It's Prom Season! Time to ROCK THE DRESS!

Jewels and sparkles take me thereTransport me from a world of care To that place all girls can share Destination: what to wear? Dress me up can hardly wait All dolled up can't be late Just as pretty as can be For a night of fantasy Dazzling swirls of sparkling light Colors dancing in the night Sweetest dreams are coming true May I have this dance with you? Too soon it's over, heading home Standing at my door alone One sweet kiss to say goodnight One cozy hug; all is right Tomarrow plain and ordinaire But with my memories fond and fair

~Loralie Harris

It's PROM time!  

Why settle for your average backyard snapshots when you can get some really great magazine-worthy pics of you rockin' that special dress!  And yes - guys are welcome too! Check out the details for my ROCK THE DRESS Mini Sessions...

Grab a friend or two and book a session time...

SESSION FEE:  $45 PER PERSON - Maximum of 4 people. LOCATION:  Highland Park, NJ (outdoor & indoor session dates available) DATES: Wednesday, May 18th (Outdoor) - RAINDATE:  Thursday, May 19th Friday, May 20th (Indoor) 

Sessions last approximately 20 minutes.  Sessions are only confirmed once payment is submitted and contract signed.  If under 18, a legal guardian or parent must sign!  You will be emailed an online proofing gallery with 8-10 professionally re-touched images within 2 weeks of your session where you can purchase your specially priced Prom Print or Digital Package!

Would you like to have your hair or makeup professionally done for your session?   Please contact Rachel at ROCKY'S HAIR & MAKEUP for rates and availability.

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS BOOKING FORM

Questions?  Email Jennifer

Want to see more photos?  Check out this INDOOR SESSION and this OUTDOOR SESSION!

Sunbeams, Babies and Geese

What is it about babies that just draw us in...we can't help but make silly faces and talk in high-pitched, soothing voices - yeah, don't tell me you don't!  It's no secret that I love taking photos of babies, especially the ones that aren't mobile yet.  If they haven't figured out how to crawl or walk they are open to being placed in baskets, on blankets and they let me have fun!  This four month old was so happy to cooperate for this session.  She let us dress her up and pose her however we liked and she smiled most of the time although she did have a moment at the end where she informed us that she was done, but I adore that picture too! When I get a cooperative, adorable baby who is willing to work with my props I'm a pretty happy photographer.  But even better, is when nature decides to play a role in the session also.  The sun added some beautiful light to our backdrop and a few geese couldn't help but get in the picture as well!

Baby's first year goes by so quickly, I am always thrilled to capture these fleeting moments for parents! 

A Creative Boy's Urban Snapshot Session

I just have to share this Snapshot Session with you!  When Mom scheduled it she told me that she really wanted the pictures to have a more "urban" feel to them.  Since I do most of my sessions in wooded areas and parks I really loved the idea of taking to the streets.  Believe it or not, all of these photos were taken within a one block radius! As much as the urban backdrop was fun, it was this 9 year old boy who made my day.  He was the creative mind behind many of these shots.  While most of my clients rely on me to come up with the creative ideas, this boy took control and I loved every minute of it.  He kept throwing out ideas for spots to take pictures and poses to do.  He loves his scooter, so we incorporated that into the session and he is a huge fan of Star Wars which allowed me a little creative license with his Storm Trooper.

On top of all of this, he has an amazing sense of humor and I'm not kidding when I say he had me in stitches the entire session!  We had a genuinely great time the entire time and I think the images reflect that fact pretty well!

If you are interested in booking a fun Spring Snapshot Session to capture your child's personality at this moment in time, Contact Me!

Celebrating Mom...Appreciation you can see!

Sometimes parenting can be a tough, pull your hair out, grab a bottle of wine and lock yourself in the bathroom type of thankless job....

As I sit here trying to write this blog post, my daughter is behind me singing into her karaoke machine as loud as she possibly can.  After every single song she asks me, "Mommy, do you think that I'm good enough to be on The Voice one day?"  Every.  Single.  Song.  <Facepalm>

My kids have been on Spring Break all week and I am quickly falling behind in my work.  I have 100 things I need to get done (including this blog post), and to be perfectly honest the karaoke is annoying the crap out of me.  My daughter KNEW I came to my desk to get some work done and decided to follow me into the room and sing her heart out.

As much as I want to tell her to leave, I can't.  You know why?  Because I know she wants to be NEAR ME.  She wants to sing FOR ME.  She wants attention, validation, acknowledgment and encouragement FROM ME.  She doesn't know or care about my work deadlines, she doesn't understand my responsibility of providing an income...all she knows is that she LOVES me and wants to BE WITH ME.

What she is really saying is, "Mommy, I rely on your constant encouragement and support for everything I do.  I need you to show/tell me that I can be who I want to be and push me in the right direction.  I TRUST you and look to you for advice and guidance.  You are my rock.  You are important in my life and I NEED you.

Nope....not going to send her to another room, instead I'm going to enjoy being interrupted every 3:28 minutes and answer that same question with enthusiastic support.

So, why am I writing this?  Because I know that moments like these exist all the time for EVERY Mom and I think it is important to realize that our children do these "annoying" things not to pester us, but to let us know how much they love us!

Wouldn't it be amazing if our children actually TOLD us how they felt instead of "showing" us?

Guess what?  This Mother's Day, I am going to provide an opportunity for exactly that to happen....

I asked an unsuspecting 10 year old boy to write down the answer to this question:  

"What do you love most about your Mom?" 

This is what he wrote:

Oh...my!  Want another?

That is from a 7 year old boy!  When the Mom of these boys read these, she was brought to tears and so was I.  These boys took this "assignment" very seriously and poured their heart into their words.  Simply beautiful!

What would it mean to you to have something like this from YOUR child?

WAIT...What about you?

No matter what age your child(ren) may be, there is something that you ABSOLUTELY LOVE about them.  Every year that something probably changes, so how nice would it be to document what that something is right NOW?   As part of this session you will also have to write a little blurb about what it is that you love about your child(ren) at this moment in time.... 

Photography is all about capturing a moment in time...my CELEBRATE MOM Mini Sessions are going above and beyond by providing not only a photograph of you and your child(ren), but the handwritten words that go along with this moment.  

What I do want you to know is that you are valuable and you are a vital part of creating the people who are the future.

This session is about CELEBRATING YOU and acknowledging that the role you play in your child's life, is crucial. Our children might not always show their appreciation, but trust me...that love and gratitude is there.

Every Mom who books this session will receive a beautiful custom collage like the one above that they can look at and read whenever they need a reminder of how much they are loved.

Click to go to the INFORMATION & BOOKING PAGE Let your child's words show you how much you are loved...

Autism Awareness Day - Sharing Some Special Stories

Have you noticed a lot of people wearing BLUE today?  That's because people, businesses and landmarks are donning the color all around the world to raise awareness.  Today (April 2, 2016) marks the eighth annual World Autism Awareness Day.  Autism organizations around the world celebrate the day with unique fundraising and awareness-raising events.

This year I had the opportunity to get involved in one of these amazing projects.  The Stories of Autism Project is a network of professional photographers with the mission is to increase awareness, acceptance, and inclusion of people with autism spectrum disorders through fine art portraits and stories.

Several months ago I was contacted by Maria McQuay, one of the coaches of the Jersey Hammerheads (a swim team for children with autism).  She asked if I would be interested in participating in this project by photographing her son Michael as well as the team.

I'm proud to be one of the 17 photographers who donated their time and talent to the project this year.  Here are the photos and stories that are featured in the project. [columns] [column6]

Michael was diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder when he was 6. Michael is 19 years old and he is currently attending MiddlesexCounty College as a Liberal Arts major. He hopes to achieve an Associates Degree.

Michael is such an amazing young man and an inspiration to so many. When he was first diagnosed we were not given any hope that he would flourish the way he has. We never gave up on our son! We knew we had to advocate for him and more importantly educate ourselves regarding what he was entitled to. Michael is more than his diagnosis.

Autism is just a part of who he is! He is a son,grandson, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, friend, animal lover and aSpecial Olympics National Gold Medal winner in swimming. He has always loved swimming and we were fortunate to begin our ownSpecial Olympics swim team called the Jersey Hammerheads which he is a part of. He wanted to continue swimming so he tried out for atypical swim team called Rutgers Scarlet and he made the team! He has been doing really well and all of the coaches at Scarlet are great with Michael!

As I stated before, Michael has a passion for animals. Last summer he was given a great opportunity to work at the Turtle BackZoo in West Orange, NJ. This is where Michael is most comfortable besides the water. He loved working at the petting zoo feeding and taking care of all the farm animals. He hopes to return this summer.

We were so grateful he had this opportunity to show people that despite having a disABILITY he can succeed and contribute to society.All of our children need to be given an opportunity to show what they can do!

Maria, mother of Michael East Brunswick, NJ

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Jersey HammerheadsSpecial Olympics Swim Team

The Jersey Hammerheads is a swim team for the Special Olympics of NJ.The unique thing about this team is that 97% of the athletes have an Autism SpectrumDisorder. Although these amazing athletes have a disability it does not hinder them from wanting to participate in sports and be part of team. They all work very hard at practices to be the best that they can be despite their disability.

Special Olympics of NJ has given ourathletes an opportunity to display how talented and committed they are. As one of the four coaches for this team I can truly say we are all so proud of every member of. They all work hard and they never give up. But more importantly they support one another. The true meaning of sportsmanship! What really matters is that they are all having fun and they are part of a team. Our athletes matter and should be included not excluded because of their disABILITY!

Go Hammerheads! East Brunswick, NJ

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If you have a moment, I encourage you to visit the Stories of Autism website, there are some truly amazing stories to read!  Oh, and if you aren't already, wear something blue today!