Sweet Baby Harper

Photographing newborns is always such a wonderful experience for me. They are so precious, so delicate and beautiful. They are joy and hope and love all wrapped up in a sweet little package. I love capturing new families, and catching kisses and cuddles, and I especially love getting to steal a few cuddles with baby myself!

But it is even more special for me when the newborn is the blessing of friends. A few weeks ago I had the joy of photographing my new little friend Harper, along with her mommy and daddy. Tom and Leigh are our neighbors and friends and I've been counting down the days for our little photo date! Harper, of course, did not disappoint! She was absolutely wonderful, never cried, and seemed perfectly content to have her portraits taken.

And of course, I got to sneak in a few extra cuddles with her. She is too precious!

Here are a few of my favorites from our session:

Thank you so much, Leigh and Tom, for letting me steal a few hours with you and your precious little girl. She is just amazing and I was totally smitten with her! I look so forward to watching her grow each day, and am waiting in the wings to babysit anytime!

Jen

Planning Portraits: Where Should We Shoot?

I recently had a client come to me for help in finding a new location. Planning for our second session together, she wanted to go somewhere new, and was at a loss for where to go. I assured her that I had a handful of great locations to suggest, and could send her some images so she could get a visual of each location. Together we'd come up with something great.

As I began pulling up portraits, it occurred to me that this question has come up many times before. In fact, it comes up with almost every single session (I've even had other photographers ask me for location suggestions). So this post is for everyone!

I have put together a little collage of my favorite locations. Portraits were taken at all different times of the day and year, and show how, with a little creativity and some great light, one location can take on many different looks.

I'm starting first with my favorite place, The Hill School. Not only is it my home (my husband teaches here) but it's one of the most beautiful campuses I've ever seen. What I love most about Hill is that a client can get a natural, rustic look and a funky, almost urban look all in one place. I love challenging myself to find new spots here on campus and enjoy stumping even Hill families with my images ("where did you shoot THAT??").

Another favorite spot of mine is Valley Forge National Park! It's a little bit of a drive for me, but it's so worth it! Every single time I go, things are a little different, and I love that. I've also found that each time I try a new spot, I leave the park thinking I've found a new favorite location- until next time!

And of course, we can't talk about my favorite locations without mentioning St. Peter's Village. This little gem sits out in the middle of the woods and offers the most wonderful variety of images ever! You've got the river running over great big boulders, the rustic look of a woodsy path, and some adorable little shops and boutiques, all within 100 yards of each other. And of course, there's that super cool brick wall down below the shops that I love! Every time I think I've exhausted this spot, I find something new!

These are some of my favorite spots, but I like to remind my clients that sometimes the best location is right in their own backyard! Often clients will dismiss this idea claiming that their house is boring or has no great landscaping, but flowers do not make the gorgeous images, great light does, and great families do, and sometimes for children, being comfortable at home does. So I encourage you to check out your own spaces. You might be surprised to find the beauty hidden in the shady yard, or near the stone wall on the side of the house, or even at the kitchen table which sits facing your gorgeous sliding doors.

All of these images were taken at clients' homes.

I hope this sneak peek into my favorite locations helped you see how much beauty can be found in one simple location. And I hope it also encouraged you to see the beauty in your own backyard. Beauty is everywhere, so have fun finding it. And, of course, let me know about your favorite locations! I'm always looking for great new spots!

Jen

Megan & Her Boys: A Family Portrait Session

I'd been wanting to get Megan and her boys in front of my camera for a while now, so I was ecstatic to finally have a date with them! We met at Valley Forge Park, but as we drove through, on our way to the chosen destination, I looked over and saw this field of gorgeous wildflowers and had to pull over. It was as if the spot was made for this session!

The boys were so great for us! They laughed and posed and were super fun! And I mean all THREE boys! Even dad, Ryan, did a great job and was a great sport, which my husband often reminds me is a big deal, as most husbands do not LOVE spending an hour having their portraits taken! But Ryan and the boys were great. And Megan? Well, she's just gorgeous and my camera loved her!

Here are a few of my favorites from the session:

Megan and Ryan, I had such a great time! Your boys are wonderful and were the highlight of the evening! Loved them!

Now I promise I will wait a little while before bugging you to do this again!

(hee hee!)

Jen

High School Senior Portraits: Summer Promotion!

Summer is almost here and it's time to start thinking about high school senior portraits! Contact me today and avoid the summer rush!

High School Senior Portraits: Meet Jackie

Jackie is a sixth former (aka senior) at The Hill School, and is weeks away from graduating and heading off to Texas Christian University. For now, she is enjoying time with friends, getting in a few games of j-ball (ask the Hill kids about that one!), and anticipating her sixth form dance.

So when Jackie decided to take time out of her insane schedule to book a portrait session with me, I was elated! After all, not only is Jackie a stunning beauty, but she's a great young lady with a great future. I knew it would be a fantastic time and I was right!

We had our session right here at Hill so as to incorporate some of the sentimentality of her "home away from home" into her portraits. I could have spent hours photographing her, but had to let her go after an hour or so. Still, I was delighted with what we had captured, and she was too.

Here are a few of my favorites from our time together. Ironically, her favorite image is the black and white portrait below. Excuse me?? Jackie, have you SEEN your gorgeous red hair? No way, the color images were my favorites for sure!

Thanks, Jackie, for the wonderful session! I wish you much success at TCU next year and can't wait to hear all about how much you love it there!

Jen

Happy Mother's Day

This weekend we celebrate Mother's Day and I wanted to post a tribute to all the wonderful mothers I have met and photographed this past year.

"A Mother's Love"

A Mother's love is something,

that no one can explain,

It is made of deep devotion,

and of sacrifice and pain.

It is endless and unselfish,

and enduring come what may,

For nothing can destroy it

or take that love away...

It is patient and forgiving,

when all others are forsaking,

And it never fails or falters

even though the heart is breaking...

It believes beyond believing

when the world around condemns,

And it glows with all the beauty

of the rarest, brightest gems.

It is far beyond defining,

it defies all explanation,

And it still remains a secret

like the mysteries of creation...

A many splendour-ed miracle

man cannot understand,

And another wondrous evidence

of God's tender guiding hand.

Happy Mother's Day to all you special moms out there.

And to the 4 special moms in my life:

My sister-in-law, Tara, who is more like my sister.

My sister-in-law, Dani, who is months away from becoming a mom herself.

My mother-in-law, Carol, who treats me like her very own.

And my amazing mother, Mary Jane, who is the best mom anyone could ever have.

Jen