Beautiful Kailey: High School Senior Session

I have come to LOVE high school senior portrait sessions!  For me, there is nothing like spending a couple of hours with a senior, finding that perfect location, and getting lost in the fun and the fabulousness for a while.  High school seniors are like no one else, they are so special, so vibrant, so beautiful.  They are about to take on the world, and yet, still have that young child inside of them.  That combination brings out amazing beauty, and on this day, with Kailey especially.

Kailey is one of my JLP Senior Reps and this was our final session together.  We spent the early evening at St. Peter's Village and enjoyed the time until the sun set.  I could have spent another hour with her, but the day ended on us.  

Here are a few of my favorites from the shoot:

Thank you so much Kailey for being one of my Senior Reps this year!  I loved every single minute of our time together.  You have such a bright future ahead of you and I wish you so much joy and success!

Thanks too, to great friend and make-up artist, Shannon Dimichele of Classic Bella, who did Kailey's hair and make-up and stayed on site with us for touch ups and assistance through the session.  You rock, Shannon!

Fabulous hair, gorgeous make-up, a fantastic location, and of course, a stunning beauty.  It simply does not get any better!

Keep smiling,

Jen

Look Who Turned One!

I cannot believe that a year has passed since I first photographed sweet baby Colbie.  Actually, it's been over a year because technically, the first time I photographed her was in her mommy's belly!  Colleen and Chad had contacted me last summer about my "Watch Me Grow" package and decided on maternity, newborn, and first year portraits.  Somehow, in the blink of an eye, we've completed all three and little Miss Colbie is now a beautiful 1 year old!

Here are a few of my favorites from our final session, shot at Daniel Boone Homestead.  However, I wanted to share one maternity portrait and one newborn portrait just to complete the scene.  

Colbie was such a joy to photograph, right from the very start.  I had the best time during each of our sessions together, and I hope that I'll be taking her portraits for years to come.  I'll have my running shoes on for the next ones though, as my guess is she'll have us all on our toes for years to come!

Hugs to you, Miss Colbie and happy happy birthday!

Keep smiling!

Jen

Birthday Treats

Yesterday was my birthday and my husband got me some of the greatest gifts, so I just had to share!  Now he'd be the first to tell you that he is not the greatest gift giver, and this used to tick me off.  But then I realized that I could just create a "wish list" for him that he could have with him for whenever he needed (or WANTED!) to get me a gift.  Enter Pinterest!  Oh how I love Pinterest, and here is another reason why.

Thanks to my "wish list" board, my husband was able to pick me out a few things, knowing I'd love them, and knowing he would not have to get himself worked up over my birthday!

First I was treated to my morning coffee out of my new mug!

How super cool is this mug!

Later on, I found this gift on my dresser and enjoyed sporting my new favorite T-shirt on my special day!  Love the double meaning of the shirt- you never know...!

And then, just before heading off to my evening session, I found this on my desk.  I absolutely LOVE this camera strap!  It's the same color red as in my logo and brand, and it's a super fun way to make my favorite accessory a little more "me".

My husband is the most wonderful guy in the world!  So he's not the world's most unique gift giver.  He's got heart and he loves me, and with a little help from me (and Pinterest), he's definitely done a fantastic job this birthday!

I love you Scott!

(and I love you too, Pinterest)

Jen

Sam & Meg: An Engagement Session

I still find it a little crazy that I am writing this blog post about an engagement session I recently had. Crazy to me, because the groom to be, Sam, was once a student of mine and ran track for my husband, Scott. Those days did not seem so far in the past until I met up with Sam and his beautiful fiance, Meg at their alma mater, Villanova University. They took me around campus and showed me all of their favorite spots, reminiscing about how they met, their days together on the track, and the fun they had together while undergrads there. Despite suddenly feeling a lot older, I had a blast with them, and was overjoyed for Sam. What a great lady he had found!

We spent most of the session at Villanova, then scooted back to The Hill School to get a few quick shots there before losing the sun for good. Then we finished by joining Scott and our kids for some pizza and some laughs. It was a wonderful time.

Here are a few of my favorites from the session.

On a super fun side note, as I was waiting for Sam and Meg to arrive for their session, I stumbled upon another love story! I witnessed a beautiful proposal between two other Villanova alums and offered to capture their moment for them too! Seems love was in the air that day, and I was thrilled to be a witness to it!

(permission to post by the bride to be)

Thanks, Sam and Meg, for the great time. I loved seeing Villanova through your eyes and wish you both a lifetime of love and happiness. Sam, Scott and I are so happy for you. You're a lucky man!

Keep smiling,

Jen

Jen Lebo Photography & Classic Bella Make Up Artistry

The up and coming fall portrait season is looking to be another fantastic one. I am beyond excited about the high school seniors I've got lined up this year, and want to make sure that each session itself is just as fabulous and unforgettable as the portraits we create together.

In doing so, I have teamed up with a fantastic friend and make-up artist, Shannon DiMichele of Classic Bella. Shannon and I first teamed up for a model shoot early this summer. We worked together a few more times, and both fell easily into a groove. We love working together!

The great thing about Shannon is that she works on-location and she works on the weekends, just like me. This makes her an ideal option for my high school seniors, who might be looking for that special look for our sessions. Shannon meets us on location (or at your home), creates a gorgeous, flawless look, and then stays on for the session, doing touch ups throughout. It's truly like being a high end fashion model!

Here are a few of my favorite images, for sessions we've teamed up for this summer.

A bunch of my seniors have already signed on with Shannon for their portrait sessions, but if you haven't, go check her out!

She's offering special packages for JLP Seniors too!

Your senior portraits only happen once, so let's make them unforgettable!

Just like YOU!

Jen

School Days Are Here Again

How did this happen?

Where did the summer go? Wasn't it just yesterday that we were celebrating the start of another fantastic summer vacation? Why does it always go so fast?

Somehow, here we are again, the kids a little older, the home a little different (Yay for the new home!), and mom a little weepy.

But instead of feeling sad for another summer's passing, I'll choose rather to remember the wonderful things that made this past season so special!

* A super fun swim season for TWO of our kids!

* Fantastic, lazy days at the YMCA pool!

* Watching Mike conquer his fear of water and become a little fish!

* Moving into a new house... truly our home!

* Two fantastic trips to the beach to see different friends!

* A short but sweet visit to Grandma and Grandpa's in New England.

* A big boy's 3rd birthday!

* Celebrating 10 years of marriage with the greatest guy on earth.

* Photographing an overwhelming number of wonderful families who wanted to help pay tribute to an amazing CCS friend.

* Scotty's first time at sleep away camp!

* Summer Olympics, shared now with our kids who were old enough to love it too!

* Lots of lazy, laughter-filled days with the 4 loves of my life.

I will miss my 4 loves today for sure (they all started school on the same day!), but look forward to an autumn of travel soccer, gymnastics, cross country meets, and gorgeous photo sessions. As long as I've got these faces smiling at me, every season is the best!

Keep smiling!

Jen

Meet Peg Calvario: A Very Different Kind of Coach

Meet my friend, Peg Calvario.

Peg is an Empowerment Mentor, a Business Coach, and an all around amazing woman. I first met Peg and her family over 10 years ago, when her daughter, Jodi, was a student at The Hill School where I was a teacher. I was drawn to Jodi's athleticism and amazing work ethic, despite not having her in class or on the athletic field (she was a swimmer, I was a field hockey coach).

Years later, I reconnected with Peg through her powerful and thought-provoking blog, Letters to Jodi, a tribute to that same amazing daughter who lost her battle with cancer in 2005. Like so many others, I was captivated by Peg's raw emotion and honest words, and I was inspired by her extraordinary will to survive and succeed for her daughter, and to help others do the same.

Peg is now an Empowerment Mentor and Business Coach to professionals nationwide. She is a Certified Professional Coach, is on the board of the Professional Women's Roundtable (PWR), and works with owners of businesses large and small, to find balance, set goals, and change lives. She is truly an awe-inspiring person.

Recently, Peg called on me to create some new portraits for her. In looking to update her website and social media presence, she had some great ideas about what she wanted from our session. As is always the case with Peg, she had a clear vision of what she wanted her portraits to say, and together we worked to create some fantastic images that capture a few of the wonderful sides of Peg Calvario.

A few of my favorites from our session:

Peg truly is an amazing woman, and a powerful mentor. She is an amazing resource and a wonderful asset to anyone who has the privilege to know her and work with her. Peg, thank you for calling on me to create these images. As always, it was a blast spending time with you, and a blessing to work with you.

Jen