The Hollinger Family/ Sanatoga Family Photography

What can I say about the Hollinger family?  These four were the kind of family I'd love to fill my calendar with!  A beautiful family, to be sure, but their connection with each other was what really captivated me.  Not only did they all love each other, they all actually seemed to like being together!  Not an easy feat with two young kids!

On this beautiful spring evening, we enjoyed the beautiful gardens at The Hill School (I so love living here!).  Except for a few annoying bugs, it was the perfect spring family session!

Here are a few of my favorites from that evening.

Hollingers, you guys were awesome!  

I'm beyond smitten with your kiddos, and just had a blast spending time with all of you!

Thanks for a wonderful session!

Keep smiling!

Jen

JLP Senior Portrait Sessions: Class of 2014 Early Bird Special!

The Kremer Family/ Pottstown Family Photography

The Kremers are an extraordinary family.  Those who know them know that this is an understatement.  They are absolutely AWESOME!  So when Kim called and said she wanted to schedule a family portrait session with THE WHOLE KREMER crew, I said "umm... DEFINITELY!".  More Kremers?  Bring it on!

Now a family of this size and of this energy is not for the faint of heart.  Thirteen kids, all under age 9.  There would be very little traditional posing and sweet smiles for the camera. But as I spent the morning with these super energetic kids, their hilariously wonderful parents (and aunt!), and their very proud and blessed grandparents, I realized it wasn't traditional we were going for.  It was real life. 

And I think we captured it.

Here are a few faves from our morning together.

Kremer crew (and Staude crew too- got a married sister there!), thank you for allowing me a glimpse into the wonderful Kremer world.  I now feel extra blessed to know and adore even more Kremers!

Keep smiling!

Jen

Friends & Family Day/ Pottstown Family Photography

 Last month I had my first ever "Friends & Family Day" where I treated my friends (no family in town!) to a special day of portraits.  It was a little chilly out, but an absolutely wonderful day.  Perfect for spending it with my camera and my friends!

Here's a bit of what we captured that day:

The Spatarella Family

The Dunn Family

The Swenson Family

The Snopkowski Family

The Neese Family

Thanks for spending the day with me, friends!  I was exhausted by the end, to be sure, but it was a wonderful way to celebrate the blessings of friendship in my life!

Keep smiling!

Jen

2014 JLP Senior Models: Meet Rachel/ The Hill School Photography

One of my favorite things about photographing people, particularly high school seniors, is connecting with them during the whole portrait process.  From pre-session consults, to Pinterest brainstorming, to emails and texts, I know my subjects quite well before I begin photographing them.

And from my first chat with Rachel, a junior at The Hill School, I knew this girl was going to be awesome.  Not only is Rachel a stunning beauty and a phenomenal athlete (an ice hockey goalie!), but she's friendly, hard-working, and has a great attitude about everything from family to her future.  Anyone who knows her knows this to be true.

Our first session together was a blast.  After hair and make-up with the fabulous ladies at Gwendolynn's Salon & Spa, we went to Blanket of Stars Farm, (thanks to the gracious Tricia Sullivan) and created lots of different looks.  The wind was quite crazy, but the session was a tremendous success, due mostly to Rachel.  She was excited and having so much fun, and it was contagious.  

Here are a few of my favorites from our session, along with Rachel's fun facts:

1. I am energetic, kind, and compassionate.

2. I absolutely love music.  It is a major part of my life.  Favorites are Lady Gaga & John Mayer.

3. Yellow is my favorite color.

4. I am a goaltender in ice hockey!

5. I live and breathe the beach... if I could spend every moment upon its sandy shores, I would.

6. I want to be a pediatric physical therapist for handicapped/disabled children when I am older.

7. My dream colleges are Quinnipiac & Syracuse.

8. The Philadelphia Flyers are my favorite hockey team!  I love Claude Giroux!

9. God is a huge part of my life.  I try to carry my strong Christian faith and morals everywhere I go, and with everything I do.

10. Family is the most important thing to me.

11. My two biggest celebrity crushes are Leonardo DiCaprio and Channing Tatum.

12. Favorite foods... mashed potatoes and artichokes!

13. Favorite movie: Titanic... I cry EVERY time!

14. I love to wakeboard at my mountain home in the summer!  It's my passion!

15. Dirt-biking is one of my favorite hobbies.  I love to ride with my Dad and brother!

16. I have one little brother, Dale, who attends Penn View Middle School.  I love him with all my heart.

17. My mom is my very best friend.

18. I have two dogs, Laddie (Rough-haired Collie) & Koda (Bernese Mountain Dog) and I love them very much.

19. I have a passion for athletics.  Anything that gets my feet moving and my heart racing EXCITES me!

20. I love to bake and cook.  Food Network is my absolute favorite!

21. "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" is probably one of my favorite TV shows ever.  I love Guy Fieri!

22. Favorite Quote: "Be kind, be fair, be honest, be true...and all of these things will come back to you."

23. In my free time I like to knit, spend time with my family, tumble on tumblr, and bake for my friends and family.

24. I love ice cream more than any other dessert in the world.  If I could have ice cream for every meal of every day, I would be perfectly happy.

25. I believe that with faith, devotion, and love, you can accomplish anything.

Rachel, you rocked!  I had such a blast during our spring session and I'm super excited to have our summer "friendship session" in the books for July!  

Girl, with your attitude and passion, you are going to go far.

Keep smiling!

Jen

2014 JLP Senior Model: Meet Jessica/ Spring-Ford High School Photography

Meet Jessica!  This fantastic young lady is a sophomore at Spring-Ford High School, which means I am lucky enough to have her on board for two years!  And after spending an afternoon with her, I am thinking that the next two years are going to be so fun!

Jessica and I decided to have her first session at St. Peter's Village.  We wanted a vintage type location, and St. Pete's seemed to offer the quaint, natural feel that we were going for. Jessica was a natural right from the start and we had a blast.  Her mom joined us for the session and was so fun to hang out with.  We had a lot of laughs (and some crazy moments too) and I was sad to have it end. 

Here are a few of my favorites from our session- of course, along with Jessica's fun facts!

1. I was born in San Francisco.

2. I'm afraid of the bus.

3. I love volleyball.

4. I love art.

5. I can't go a day without listening to music.

6. Any time I paint my nails, my right hand always looks terrible.

7. I sing loudly and terribly.

8. I'm SO thankful for my friends and family.

9. I have a major anxiety problem.

10. I love Chick-fil-a.

11. When I'm embarrassed, my face gets as red as a tomato.

12. I love to laugh.

13. I like making people happy.

14. I'm not a good public speaker.

15. I love fashion and make-up.

16. I could drink tea all day.

17. I love glitter.

18. I love peppermint patties, but I don't really like chocolate.

19. Action movies are the best!

20. I love rainy days.

21. I love looking at ideas on Pinterest.

22. I like to eat ice.

23. I brush my teeth twice a day and floss, and yet I always have a cavity.

24. "Law and Order" is probably my favorite TV show.

25. DIY crafts are so fun to do.

Thanks Jessica!  It's been a blast getting to know you and I am looking so forward to getting two years to photograph you.  I'm glad you love to laugh, because I think we are going to have a lot of fun together!

I'm thinking next time, we find a new location to shoot though, don't you?

Keep smiling!

Jen