Jennifer Breton Photography

I've moved!

2008-07-13T19:16:00.000-07:00

After an ardorous day of learning how to FTP, SQL and other web gobbledygook, the blog has now moved to http://www.jenniferbretonphotography.com/blog

Links on my website have been updated.

Thanks for following me to my new blog home! :)

-Jen

Session on vacation

2008-07-08T07:39:00.000-07:00

I certainly didn't mind taking a few hours out of my vacation to do a little work when I was lucky enough to photograph such a lovely and fun family.

Happy 4th of July! It's summer vacation time!

2008-07-04T09:29:00.000-07:00

I'm headed to the sunny shore for one week starting tomorrow--don't miss me too much while I'm gone, OK? :)

And because my dad asked when I was going to post more wedding pictures (hey, my dad reads my blog! Hi Dad! :), here are a few more of my favorites.

Weren't they the coolest centerpieces? Trust me, Kelly and her mom had every single little detail worked out--it was just a beautiful and elegant wedding.

Three under four

2008-07-02T10:54:00.001-07:00

Enough to make any photographer's (and woman's :) heart skip twice when they get a request for a session, but I love a good challenge, and you know how much I love photographing the toddler/preschooler years.

Drew & Kelly

2008-06-28T21:51:00.000-07:00

Just one. It's 12:52 a.m. and I'm beat, but so excited about their images. They had a beautiful, beautiful wedding, deserving of such an amazing couple. Congratulations Kelly & Drew!

(And for anyone wanting to see more sneak peeks, I'm sure I'll have some more up soon! :)

My how they've grown...

2008-06-21T15:29:00.000-07:00

I first met this family in November for a holiday mini session, and immediately loved them. I was so excited (and honored!) to meet them again for a full-length session in MUCH warmer and drier conditions today. I can't believe how much their adorable kids have grown in just 6 months' time.

Is it possible...

2008-06-17T10:51:00.000-07:00

To have a second session in a row with girls with amazing eyes?

I wasn't sure if we were going to get any of them together as the little one definitely loved being with mom more than her sister. But at the very end of the session, voilà! (French intended. ;)

How could you possibly resist...

2008-06-14T10:42:00.001-07:00

These big beautiful baby blues?

Right before Father's Day...

2008-06-13T19:02:00.001-07:00

At the end of April, I received an email from this dad inquiring if I sold gift certificates. As we worked out details of how to get him a certificate for Mother's Day, he excitedly showed me pictures of his boys on his family blog and told me how he thought this would be the perfect gift for his wife, who really loved taking pictures of their simply adorable boys.

Truly, I was touched that he considered me for such an important day for his wife, but moreover, I was touched by how much thought he had put into selecting just the perfect gift for her.

Here's to her (hopefully!) perfect Mother's Day gift right before Father's Day.

Our excitement for the evening...

2008-06-12T19:39:00.000-07:00

So I'm getting out of the shower, barely am dressed, and my husband's screaming from downstairs, "Jen! Get your camera! I think a hot air balloon is going to land in our backyard or crash through the trees!" Thankfully, I had my long lens already attached to my camera and caught this as they drifted (barely) above the treeline and floated out of sight...

Chasing sunlight

2008-06-12T18:52:00.000-07:00

I truly do feel blessed and incredibly thankful each day to do what I do, especially since ~~playing~~ working with kids and meeting their parents who seem to share so many common bonds with me is such a privilege. I exchanged a bunch of friendly emails with their mom prior to their session, so I sort of already figured it would be fun session, but little did I know that us chatting and playing with the kids would soon lead to me losing light before I had wrapped, so I'll have to be heading back next week to finish up the session.

Not that I mind in the slightest working with them again. :)

Third time's a charm...

2008-06-05T18:14:00.000-07:00

May was not a kind month to me weather-wise: I'd venture a guess that I had to reschedule half of my sessions due to rain (and even once for wind). This family, unfortunately, not only got cancelled on once, but twice, due to bad weather, with us finally getting their session rescheduled and completed this evening, nearly three weeks after their original appointment.

I gotta say I'm kinda glad, though: Three weeks ago, I'm sure these grasses weren't as high, and I've been dying to find a fantastic field somewhere to photograph kids. Theirs was right next to their house, and really, it was just the absolute perfect spot for their beautiful children.

Seven

2008-06-04T06:03:00.000-07:00

I know I must say this every year on her birthday, but she's just so much older this year.

From this morning:

And from her party this past weekend:

After throwing countless kids in the air, Joe was beat. :)

The trifecta is complete

2008-05-29T16:54:00.000-07:00

As my neighbor said when little Miss E arrived last Saturday on her due date, with 58 minutes to spare. Three new babes in my cul-de-sac, all born within one month of each other. Really, I cannot wait to watch all of them grow up together. :)

She was perfectly squishy--just as I love them--and perfectly beautiful, too.

Because I can't stop listening to this...

2008-05-28T07:58:00.000-07:00

Those iTunes commercials are killing me since I can't buy this until June 17th.

Coldplay – Viva La Vida

Can you believe...

2008-05-23T18:02:00.000-07:00

That these two refused to let me come along on vacation with them this weekend?

Preschool graduation...

2008-05-21T12:00:00.000-07:00

It's amazing how happy and proud you can be while simultaneously being so sad that his preschool/toddler/baby years have now officially ended...

Thank goodness he's got an October birthday and won't be headed off to preschool until he's nearly 4...

Who needs big smiles to be cute?

2008-05-18T12:48:00.000-07:00

He asks, raising his eyes in that inquisitive (and adorable) way he looked at me all morning.

Mail order seedlings...

2008-05-16T09:30:00.000-07:00

Those of you who work with me this summer might be lucky enough to get some homegrown (and organic!) peppers and tomatoes as part of your session. But, as much as I'm an optimist, don't completely count on it as my gardening record is not so, um, green.

Actually, other than hiring a gardener, I think I've actually got a Jen-proof method down. I purchased Earthboxes, which are these really cool containers that claim they cannot be over- or under-watered and self-feed themselves (the best part of all about that was that I didn't have to dig up my yard anywhere for a garden--and when we actually buid a deck, if this is a success, I plan to have a spot on the deck just for my Earthbox garden); and an automatic watering system. See, Jen-proof. As long as I don't need to water it and can't overwater it, I think I'm set.

These are the last seedlings to go in, which I had shipped to me from an organic seedling company in California. I've gone completely nuts--trust me, for someone with as poor of a record of gardening as I have, I don't know what I'm thinking, but hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained, right? Here's what been and being planted: strawberries (haven't killed them yet--I've got green ones!); beans; peas; tomatoes (roma paste, a few heirlooms, cherry); peppers (red, green, purple!); squash (butternut, acorn, butterstick, zucchini); cucumbers; eggplant; melons; and herbs.

Pictures of my success (or lack thereof) to come; and any gardening/growing tips/good luck appreciated. :)

Brown-eyed girl

2008-05-14T11:35:00.000-07:00

Oh my goodness.

When I first showed up this morning and met little Miss E, I was immediately blown away by her eyes. They're just so full of soul and honesty. She was such an amazing little girl to photograph. I love them at two: They're just them.

The color today was amazing thanks to all of the rain we've been having, but I know her mom wants some B&Ws, so I can't resist but share this one with those beautiful eyes...

Honestly...

2008-05-13T15:14:00.000-07:00

Have you ever seen a cuter alert newborn? I was thrilled to get such great eye contact.

But I couldn't resist lulling him to sleep, either.

He was as sweet as he looks. :)

Is that the smell of coffee and burnt pancakes?

2008-05-11T07:27:00.000-07:00

Which must mean it's Mother's Day morning.

The one day a year Joe uses his chemistry degree, somewhat unsuccessfully, but with my sincere and heartfelt appreciation.

Happy Mother's Day. :)

And in the mail today...

2008-05-10T17:00:00.000-07:00

Just a little something to make me feel old.

My husband's (need I bold that?) invitation to his 20-year high school reunion. (There's still several years left before it's time for mine, thankyouverymuch. :)

Wow--20 years. How'd that happen?

Seconds

2008-05-07T16:35:00.000-07:00

I wasn't quite sure how to title this one since I had two sessions today--both quite different from one another. The first was a reschedule from my Portraits in the Park session (all which had to be rescheduled due to bad weather that weekend), and it was also their second time meeting with me; and the second appointment was the second baby born in my cul-de-sac to the maternity couple below (and not to disappoint those following the theme here: also their second baby ;)

The family wins my award for a perfect coordination; and Baby M wins my award for the cleanest newborn I've ever shot since he didn't pee or poop on me (or his dad) once. I can't believe I walked out of a newborn session without two loads of laundry! (As an aside, I've been dying to shoot a newborn with a tattoo'ed dad--I'm so glad I finally got the chance.) Isn't Baby M perfect? *sigh*

New feature - new stuff

2008-05-06T11:20:00.001-07:00

If your eyes take a little look over to the right over there --->, you might see that I installed a handy dandy subscription service to my blog. If I did it correctly, all you should need to do is enter your email address, and every time my blog is updated, you'll get an email message alerting you to new posts. (If it's not working, someone let me know, OK? ;)

As part of that, I've decided to blog a little more regularly with some non-client images. Lately, I've been obsessed with macro (close-up) work, and these are of the pansies on my front porch. I just love pansies--I'm just hoping there's some way that I can make them survive into the dead heat of the summer? Anyone got any good tips on how to do that (and wanna come over and make sure I don't kill them with my brown thumb? ;)

Anyway, for now, I'm loving the purple and the rich tones. :)

Was that a sigh of relief I just heard?

2008-05-04T10:14:00.000-07:00

Doing large group family portraits with young kids is unpredictable at best. Literally, you've probably only got the first 5 minutes for their cooperation, and anything beyond that is just borrowed time. (This is also true for most of the men involved in the session, too. :)

I have a slight feeling at the end of the session that the person who organized it wasn't quite sure if it was successful or not, but I'm hoping she'll be relieved when she sees these three. While I feel a great sense of accomplishment getting those traditional, everyone-looking-straight-at-the-camera shots, I truly love family images that capture interactions and relationships so much more (and really, I think they're almost more challenging to get).

Meet the most daring couple in the world...

2008-05-03T15:39:00.000-07:00

Because they hired me--yes me--to shoot their wedding. Really, I couldn't feel more honored that they asked me in the first place, but, honestly, I gotta tell you that despite my nerves at going into unchartered waters, they're so much fun (and really, so cute together) that I think they're going to make me feel quite at ease and make my job quite easy.

Look for more of them on their big day a mere 8 weeks away (and if you could spare a prayer for perfect wedding and photography weather, that would be awesome...:)

Just a few I enjoyed from today's impromptu mini e-session. (That's photographer speak for engagement. Not something I talk about much here primarily shooting 2 year olds. ;)

Perfection in Pink

2008-04-26T16:03:00.000-07:00

Oh, it's torture living next door to a baby so sweet and just so perfect.

(There's two neighbor babies coming in the next month, too. Apparently, my husband unknowingly installed a water filter to prevent whatever was in my cul-de-sac's water from making it to our faucet. Perhaps three fresh babies in the neighborhood will change his mind. I mean, seeing her, how could resist? :)

Jet and a GMC

2008-04-20T15:23:00.000-07:00

Requests for sessions with family animals are pretty commonplace for me, but I've been dying to do a session with a girl and her horse. While there's lots of things that I drive past on a regular basis wishing I had my camera (really, it's time I get a small one that can be dropped in my purse), I gotta tell you that, other than people, nothing draws me more to grab my camera more than driving by fields of horses. So when I had the opportunity to photograph this teen and her horse, Jet, I completely jumped at the chance.

(Though I must admit that the old GMC parked by the barn had me equally as excited. Funny how the older, more beat up, textured and weathered the item is, the more I know it's going to be fabulous in pictures. ;)

Returns

2008-04-17T14:27:00.000-07:00

My dear friend from college, whom I haven't seen in four long years, returned home to visit this week, bringing the warm weather from North Carolina and her first born with her. I've been dying to get most adorable little "Mouse" in my arms and in my lens since her birth, though I'm not too sure she was as thrilled with me holding her (though she looks like her daddy, she is certainly her momma's girl), nor maybe photographing her as she certainly showed me her more serious side today. Still, I was thrilled that J and I persevered in finding a patch of yellow flowers somewhere--anywhere--in Berks County today to place Mouse in. Ah, spring has returned, too.

Much love, and many thanks, J&P. What an amazing and beautiful little girl you have.

Anticipation

2008-04-12T14:07:00.001-07:00

I often don't get asked often by friends to photograph their bellies during their pregnancies. So when my friend and neighbor told me she was expecting last year, I must admit that I sincerely hoped she'd ask me to photograph her pregnancy. Certainly, every pregnancy is miraculous, but some are just moreso than others. Hers is one of those: took a long time to happen, and then was difficult not only in the beginning, but also in the middle. Seeing her and her family touch her now full-term belly today, you just knew that they're not only anxiously awaiting soon meeting their baby, but that they're also feeling a well-deserved sense of accomplishment that they've finally made it.

Portraits in the Park

2008-03-31T09:39:00.001-07:00

It's a little last minute, but a few of you asked if I'd be offering this event again this year...

The end of April is one of the prettiest times of the year as the flowering trees will be in bloom, and the leaves on the trees will be starting to bud. And as hard as it it to believe as we sit shivering in today's rainy 47° weather, last year's sessions were gorgeous and mild with girls dressed in sundresses and boys in polos and shorts. (Psst: These make great First Holy Communion sessions, too!)

As always, appointments will be limited. Due to the nature and length of these sessions, there may be some restrictions with my travel, type of session, number of people photographed, etc. Please inquire for details.

Huddling for warmth

2008-03-30T15:23:00.000-07:00

I was a bit nervous leaving my house this morning. I had about an hour drive to West Chester, and despite the forecast predicting a nice spring day in the 50s, as I grabbed my keys, camera and coffee to go, and flung my coat over my arm, I opened my door and a blast of cold air hit me in the face. Turning on my car, a mere 32° displayed on my car's temperature gauge. Yikes. Not good.

Thankfully, it did warm up a bit by the time we actually started the session (not that it was exactly toasty outside), but hey, a little cold sometimes makes for a perfect picture as a family huddles trying to get warm.

Vintage inspired

2008-03-29T12:13:00.000-07:00

According to a photographer friend of mine who works in Virginia, if I lived a mere 3 hours south, I'd probably be photographing little girls in smocking and bows and boys in John-Johns everyday. But here in Pennsylvania, it's rare that parents break out the Strasburg Children or the like for photo sessions. Because I remember wearing a smocked dress for every special occasion and everytime my picture was professionally taken--trust me, I was shocked my mom didn't insist upon buying me a smocked wedding dress--I just couldn't help but give Miss C's photo from this morning a little vintage treatment to fondly remember my youth.

Collecting sticks--and smiles

2008-03-26T12:09:00.000-07:00

Three year olds--well, she's almost four--are the funniest little people. Really, they're one of my favorite age groups to work with. Besides the fact that their language skills are blossoming and their personalities as the people they'll grow up to be are blooming, they are just filled with cutest little idiosyncracies that I always find out about, oh, about 15 minutes into the session.

Hers? It's collecting things. Doesn't matter what, I don't think, but during our session it was these gigantic sticks. Huge. I mean, bigger than me. All which she adeptly dragged into a nice pile, while allowing me to collect smiles on my camera.

Stars and stripes and wagons

2008-03-25T13:07:00.000-07:00

I love the charm of small, historic towns, and I was so excited when this one year old cutie's mom agreed to do her session in Lititz. There were just so many neat little pockets to discover downtown--I could have photographed him for hours, but, well, one year olds usually only have tolerance for the lady behind the camera's terrible singing for so long. That's OK: My husband's the same way. ;)

Blessed

2008-03-20T12:15:00.000-07:00

I truly have a special place in my heart for girls celebrating their First Holy Communions. I'm not Catholic, and my mom and grandmother loved dressing me in classic smocked dresses (with two crinolin slips!) during my childhood very much to my dismay, but as much as I wasn't a girly-girl growing up, I must admit that I eyed up those communion gowns--which were everywhere in the predominately Catholic Scranton--with such envy every spring. "Mom, can't I get one?" I'd plead. "Please? Why can't we just go to a Catholic church?"

I know it took a leap of faith for her mom to hire me after years of working with another photographer, so she really has no clue how much I want her to desperately love these.

Blessings, Miss O. You're beautiful. :)

So I get this call today from Parenting magazine

2008-03-17T09:57:00.000-07:00

Saying that I had won their 2008 photo contest in the "baby" category with this submission of my son, Isaac. Isn't that cool? The photo below will appear in the August issue.

Yay! I have a published photo in a national magazine!

Baby, it's (getting warmer) outside...

2008-03-13T13:26:00.000-07:00

Oh, it's been SO nice getting outside again for sessions, and being able to feel my fingers working my camera after ten minutes. This is my fourth time photographing this little guy, and as I drove by the hospital on the way to their home, I kept thinking about how this time last year, his mom was spending her time there on complete bedrest, sacrificing so much to deliver him as close to his due date as possible. It seemed appropriate to take them back there to where the beginning of her steadfast devotion to him began.

Soaking up sweetness

2008-03-11T14:01:00.000-07:00

There's just something magical about photographing one year olds. Although they're usually terrible at making eye contact with the camera, it never seems to matter much as their innocence, expressions, and the way they look at the world in wonderment and discovery makes them such a delight to capture in images. She is just one of my most favorite clients ever--so full of discovery and joy--and I not only love photographing her, but I've also loved watching her personality and her sweetness just blossom (and her hair grow longer! :) the older she gets.

So have you heard about "Trash the Dress?"

2008-02-24T19:33:00.001-08:00

They're post-wedding sessions for brides who want to do some more daring things in their dresses without worrying about getting it wrinkled, dirty or messed up. Although I've definitely seen some brides and photographers actually trash their dresses by rolling around in mud or taking a swim in a lake, I don't think that I'd ever suggest a bride do that unless she truly wanted to (well, running through the ocean and laying on the sand would be pretty darn cool and encouraged!) I'm pretty sure Ashley's is in just as good condition as it was when she took it off after her ceremony four months ago.

Yeah, it was like 38 degrees out when these were taken. Good sports, huh?

Adorableness shouldn't be this easy...

2008-02-17T16:17:00.000-08:00

He made his poor mom wait many days past her due date, and once she was induced, he was quite stubborn being born, too. But I have a feeling that all was forgiven and forgotten as soon as they laid eyes on him.

Ok, you can melt in love with them now...

Thinking inside the tub

2008-02-17T15:51:00.000-08:00

A day without a session + some beautiful light coming in through my bathroom window = some new pictures for my bathroom.

Enjoy my kiddos.

Happy Valentine's Day

2008-02-14T18:32:00.000-08:00

xox, Jen

7 pounds of absolute adorable

2008-02-02T17:27:00.000-08:00

I have mentioned how much I love newborns, right? Particularly absolutely adorable ones?

I really hope my husband's snoring very loudly tonight... ;)

I don't care what they say about newborn smiles being caused by gas. They're caused by happiness. I love when I catch them. :)

Hold onto your ovaries...

2008-01-31T13:54:00.001-08:00

Is she not beautiful? Four days old and perfect. *adorablebabysigh*

She's the first of three newborn sessions I have immediately upcoming. Someone better find my husband some good birth control! (*wink*)

At the Goggleworks...

2008-01-31T13:48:00.000-08:00

I'm so behind in updating the blog, but I just had to share these two beauties from my Valentine sessions...

Your answers to some FAQs...

2008-01-21T05:42:00.000-08:00

It humbles me that I get inquiries from hobby and aspiring photographers who stumbled upon my website. My business is still new, there are hundreds and hundreds of amazing photographers out there who do such inspiring work, and I consider myself a beginner who is still doing a lot of learning (and will always be learning--I love that this is an art where I will never settle for complacency). Still, I feel bad that I can't always get around to answering all of these emails personally: A few have slipped through the cracks in my inbox during extremely busy times.

So since work is slower right now, I thought I'd take a moment to answer questions I get asked most frequently.

What camera and lens do you use?
I just upgraded to a Canon 5D, but the work that you see currently on my website was mostly done with a Canon 30D. I use different lenses in different situations (after all, that's the point of having different lenses), but I'd say a good all-purpose lens for professional portraiture is the 24-70 f/2.8L. A great starter camera (and one that produced fantastic results for me--especially for the low price tag--was the Rebel XT). Nothing in photography is cheap: If you're serious about photography, keep it simple in the beginning while you're learning. You can produce beautiful photographs with a good starter camera and a cheaper lens as you learn how to use your camera and begin to build your portfolio. The Rebel XT paired with the "fantastic plastic" 50 f/1.8 lens produced some wonderful photographs for me when I was just starting out.

Here's my little PSA on the subject of cameras and lenses: I think one of the biggest misconceptions in photography is that if you buy the camera and lens that a certain photographer has that you'll produce photographs just like that certain photographer. That's simply not true. The biggest step an aspiring photographer can take is to take her camera off of auto. I'll even take it a step further and say take it off of semi-auto modes, like Av and Tv. Cameras are not good decision makers--photographers are. There are places and times for auto, Av and Tv, but it's imperative to know how to properly expose a photograph and to understand the relationship between aperture, shutter speed and ISO speed. Then, it's a constant learning experience to understand how to further adjust those settings based upon what you want to photograph and what you want your final result to be. And that doesn't even begin to touch on depth of field and light and a million other variables and how those affect your final outcome...

Did you go to school for photography?
No, I didn't. At some point, I would love to--maybe not to complete a degree--but at least take some classes in some areas that I feel I'm lacking. I'd love to learn how to develop film, for example.

In case you're wondering, I do have a degree in professional writing (with minors in literature and public relations). I wrote for a professional health magazine when I graduated college, and then worked in public relations prior to having my daughter. When she was born, I left my career to stay at home and raise her. I then dabbled in a little freelance graphic design, writing and editing on the side as my photography hobby kicked into full gear when she was born. I truly wanted to go to college for art, and I didn't. Writing was my reconciliation with the guise of it being a more employable "artistic" job under the presumption that all visual artists are starving or struggling. While I was in college, I took a film course thinking it would be fun to watch movies and then write about them. Little did I know that we would wind up discussing imagery, storytelling via imagery, and why directors chose to frame and compose their movies the way that they did. Later, I took a media studies course where we spent a great deal of time studying images in advertising. Both of these courses really sparked something in me, and at that time, I petitioned the college to allow me to add an art minor to my degree, but my request was denied. And at that point in my life, I was married and we were starting to think about starting a family, so even though I would have been very happy continuing to be a professional student (and sink myself further in debt), I decided to just graduate with the major and minors I had. I found while writing professionally, I was most enthusiastic about meeting with the art department to discuss photo sessions to go along with our stories or marketing materials. To me, however, my degree is not wasted. Ultimately, my aim in photography is to tell stories and to evoke emotion, which, ultimately, is the aim of a good writer.

So if you didn't go to school for photography, how did you learn?
Lots and lots and lots of practice, trial and error, and study of photographers that I admire. I've spent hours reading books and then applying what I've learned in real-life situations. I've got three semi-willing kids who have spent their lives in front of my lens both when I was shooting just for fun and documentation of their lives, and now professionally. Treats are not a commonplace occurence here, so it's amazing what they'll agree to do for a lollipop. :) I also pay an annual fee to be a part of a network of professional photographers who help me run my business and help keep me improving artistically.

Knowing how to thoroughly use Photoshop is also integral to the processing of my images. I pair Photoshop with the use of a Wacom tablet to digitally "paint" my images. It takes me about 8 hours to process a session because I spend quite a lot of time on each image and carefully evaluating it and trying different techniques on it. I also spend a long time working on my b&w conversions, which I probably should stop doing because I probably only sell about 5% of my images in b&w since my clients always seem to prefer my color images. Believe it or not, my b&w images are not just color images with the color removed: Doing that in Photoshop just creates a lifeless and dull and very gray image. My b&w images actually have color in them--it's just about achieving a pleasing, seemingly colorless balance.

I want a part-time job. Is doing what you do a good choice?
There are obviously quicker and more efficient photographers out there. I spend about 60 hours a week on my business--and that's only with an average of 10 sessions per month. This year, it's my goal to become more efficient so I can spend more time with my family and my friends--and get back to the gym! :)

New website and ordering system launched!

2008-01-17T06:35:00.000-08:00

Maybe it's because I wasn't born in Berks County that I love change. :)

I really liked my old website, but I was always a bit disappointed that the pictures didn't display larger. Plus, I was just in a serious need of updating my work--I think it had been sometime in the early fall--maybe even summer--that I had last updated my portfolio sections.

Along with that, I've officially launched "The Boutique." Those of you who have done sessions with me up until now know how cumbersome my ordering system was: You looked at proofs; I directed you to my product blog to look at samples of frames or collages or jewelry had you not seen them in person during our session; perhaps I worked up wall displays for you by request or you looked at ideas online; you then filled out order sheets and dropped them in the mail to me; I then sent you an invoice; and then you sent me a check in the mail. While it worked, I must say it wasn't the most efficient system. The Boutique is a one-stop place for viewing proofs, ordering, seeing product samples, viewing wall displays and ordering prints to fill them, and submitting your payment. (Now if only it would do my laundry for me!)

By the way, just like before, the proofs in The Boutique are password-protected for my clients' privacy and protection, so unless you have a current gallery, there's no need to register. Perhaps once I clear my plate of other pending business I'll throw a sample gallery in there so that you can see how it operates.

Feel free to drop by the new site and let me know if there's any bugs that need to be worked out. I hope you enjoy it! Lots of new faces and new pictures--I only wish I could include all of you! :)

I look forward to hearing your thoughts! Enjoy!

Click here to see new website

A Dozen Poses - Limited Edition Studio Sessions

2008-01-10T10:28:00.001-08:00

Did she say "studio?"

I did! Nah, I'm not giving up my outside and on-location work, but the kind folks over at the GoggleWorks have been so awesome to let me make use of their amazing facilities when I've been in a pinch. Plus, it's a great place to take the kids for the day (and an even cooler place for them to discover art!)

So what exactly is a studio session?

Well, I'm going to be doing these mostly with lights (*gasp!*) and some cool red, gray or white background paper (*no!*) but still working hard to capture your kids character on camera. I'll also be making use of the GoggleWorks' architecture: cool distressed wood floors, beautiful brick and lots of light.

What's included?

a half hour mini session
presentation of a dozen proofs
five desk prints (8x10 and smaller)
and your choice of:
a ten-page 3x3 leather mini album, adorable and perfectly sized for your purse!

a digital keychain loaded with your session images, sure to be a perfect gift for Dad on Valentine's Day
or two dozen 4x5½ press-printed Valentines in a linen or pearl finish, sure to make an impression at school or capture the hearts of all they're sent to (templates are posted below)

Just a quick note: Due to reduced time, these sessions are for babies/kids/teens only, and up to three children in an immediate family. Please let me know when scheduling if you have more than three kids. There may be an additional fee to accomodate extra children.

These are limited edition sessions with a limited number of openings. Appointments are required.

xox,
Jen

Sometimes I wonder what my clients think...

2008-01-06T21:55:00.001-08:00

A baby! Well, not really one yet in her arms, but in her belly. The really neat thing about this session is that I took pictures of her kids back in the spring when she told me she had just found out that she was expecting. I'll be back in a few more weeks to take pictures of the baby when she arrives--it will be really neat to sort of have "been there" since the since the start.

So maternity sessions are always weird for me in that when the first inquiry comes in, there's kind of no easy way to say, "Hey, are you willing to get naked?" I always say it's a total shame that maternity sessions can't be conducted after a bottle of wine, but the truth of the matter is, photographing maternity is all about the body and the belly and the mom-to-be and the dad-to-be's (and soon-to-be big brother and sister's!) connection to their unborn baby, and I truly like to tastefully and discreetly do most maternity sessions with as little on as the client's comfortable baring. It's pretty funny though--I often think about my poor client's end of the session and just have to chuckle at how ridiculous it all must seem. But hey, in the end, the finished product is all that matters, right?

So on my way home, I pull into my neighborhood and run into my neighbor, to whom I owe a family portrait, which we were planning to do when the weather got warmer. Since it was so mild out today, I asked her if she wanted to try to do it today, and she enthusiastically agreed (her husband, not so enthusiastically. ;) So I told them that I'd be back in a few minutes, as soon as I cleared out my car so that I could fit in the trunk a setee that I wanted to put in the middle of the road somewhere, to which they didn't even bat an eyelash--as though hauling around a sofa in the back of one's SUV and plopping it in the middle of the road is an everday occurence. I'm glad they not only were willing to go along with my ideas, but that they were strong enough to help. :)

Miss me?

2008-01-05T18:26:00.000-08:00

A shoot today! Yay! Actually, two shoots today (and one tomorrow) so lots of new faces to look at around here. Plus, Santa brought yours truly a new camera plus some new yummy glass, which is awesome, but man, it sure is taking forever and a day for two sessions to upload to my computer! So I'll just bring you the excerpts from the memory cards that have uploaded thus far... (oh, and there's a little bit of news after the pictures. :)

I know I say it everytime, but I love 6 month old babies! Love them! Especially ones with amazing eyes. We caught him right when his eyes are changing from blue to brown, and I got lost in those beauties as I was photographing him. His brother hit a soft spot with me since he's a Thomas fan. I've got a almost-five year old obsessed with Thomas (so yes, I do know almost all of the trains, but discovered today that I really don't know the song that well); and my baby, well, he's not saying "Mama" yet, but he does say "Thomas." (I'm serious. I wish it weren't true, but it is. *sigh*) So let's just say that any boy who loves Thomas is a boy after my own heart since I've got two crazily obsessed Thomas fans of my own. :)

My second session was with my "Beauty in a Bow" from the summer. Can you believe how much she's grown? Even though I've gone through three babyhoods with my own kids, I'm still shocked by how much a little person can change over the span of a few months! Even though she's bigger, she's totally kept her piggy appetite and her drop-dead adorableness. These were taken just at the end of the session, and they were moments where, as a photographer, I just

stop.
hold breath.
click.
pray.
please stay where you are. please. please let my exposure be perfect. please let everyone be in focus. please.

whew. :)

And this one--total patience. Eventually, she had to grow tired of the pile of dirt she was sitting in and look up at me, right?

*****

Just a few news items tacked on at the end here, if you're still reading!

I'm getting ready to launch a new website and online ordering system, which I am really looking forward to. I got a chance to work on it during my holiday vacation and am ironing out a few bugs, etc. but I should be ready to go with it by the end of the month, if not sooner. Therefore, I just recently contacted all of my clients with outstanding orders to let you know that I'd like to get your order processed before the change takes place. If you're one of them, I look forward to hearing from you soon!

As a result of working on the new sites plus my new brochures for '08, and taking some very much needed time off during the holidays, I'm just now getting around to December proofing. I should have your galleries to you in the next week or two. As always, I apologize for the delay, but I really did just need to take a step away from the computer and Photoshop for two weeks--and maybe see if I could coax Isaac into saying "Mama." :)

Happy New Year everyone! I hope '08 is great!

Merry Christmas! We have a blog winner!

2007-12-24T06:24:00.000-08:00

With hard-to-resist beautiful blue eyes, our winner is.... *drumroll please*

Congratulations, Miss E! This is the second time I photographed her this year, and it's nearly impossible to take a bad picture of her with those inquisitive eyes and adorable smile!

It is the day before Christmas afterall, so onto the presents! I got these awesome digital keychains that everyone who's seen them so far has really enjoyed (so much so that I practically wound up giving away my first order of them to close friends and family), so Miss E's parents will receive one of those loaded with the images from her mini session. Enjoy!

And because every parent needs a break and a nice dinner out that doesn't involve chicken nuggets, they'll also receive a $50 gift certificate to the Black Lab Bistro in Phoenixville. Enjoy!

Thanks to all of you who voted, too! The contest had over 1,000 votes, which is pretty darn cool. :)

Merry Christmas to all of you, and the warmest wishes for a blessed New Year!

Vote for your favorite holiday session portrait

2007-12-11T18:38:00.000-08:00

Now that all the card orders are all in, it's time to celebrate! Vote for your favorite holidy session image below. No, this isn't a cute kid contest (they're all cute, aren't they?), or even the "holiday-est" picture--just vote for whatever moves you, strikes a chord within, (or whatever number your friend told you to vote for! ;). I'll offer the winner a cool present--trust me, she'll love it. My husband even loves it. Even my father-in-law. And my daughter. And my cat. And, well, I haven't told many people (or pets) beyond that... :) Voting ends December 23rd.

A huge thanks again to all of the parents and kiddos I worked with during these sessions--I had a great time, and I've loved seeing your cards! The rest of the orders will be in this week, just in time for you to get them out!

Happy voting!

Feelin' a little sappy (must be the tree)

2007-12-09T16:13:00.000-08:00

For the first time since May, I'm starting to feel actually reasonably caught up! I have a session from November that I'm working on, but other than that, I just have a few recent sessions to proof, which should be done this week *cross fingers!* Now just to tackle the 59 loads of laundry that are sitting in my house...

I will be "closed" from December 17th-31st (I'm sure I'll still be answering email/calls, however, and collecting and delivering orders), with sessions to resume in January. I will also be closed during February to catch up on administrative tasks, and just spend some much-needed downtime with my kids and family (and continue to catch up on laundry!). I have already been getting calls for next spring and early summer, so if you're interested in booking a date, it's never too early to call.

Although I haven't completely ironed out the details (geez, this keeps resorting back to laundry, doesn't it? ;), I'm going to be introducing some new things next year, including a new online ordering system, a digital package, new print collections, and, *cross fingers* I am desperately hoping to soon have an announcement regarding indoor studio space. (Not your typical background/prop type of studio, mind you...) The majority of my work is going to continue to be on-location, outdoor work, however. I truly feel that outside is where I work best, where I take the best portraits, where kids enjoy being the most, and continues to offer me the best light. I HATE cold weather. I'm a true summer baby and love it when it's 95 and humid, so don't think that if it's 20 outside that I'm going to be dragging your kids outdoors for a two-hour session, but if we can pop in and out of the cold and into a warm house or a warm car and run back out to take a few more portraits, I'm game all to get you the best portraits as possible. When thinking about your session, remember, layers, layers, layers! And cute knit hats and scarves are ADORABLE during this time of year, too! (Trust me, I'll probably be colder than your kids. ;)

As such, I've decided to continue offering a mini session package for us cold-weather wimps, as well as full sessions through the end of March. Please inquire for details. This is also a great time of year to consider portrait sessions conducted around an activity, such as sledding and snowball fights followed by drinking hot chocolate and cuddling around a fire. I LOVE thinking outside the box and when people express a desire to get something other than a traditional posed family portrait--no moment in a family is perfectly posed; these are the real moments to be forever captured and celebrated.

Oh yeah, and I'm a little behind preparing the blog contest, but it's coming. Promise!

As always, I appreciate your comments and suggestions and just plain 'ol hearing from you. Drop me a line at jennifer@jenniferbretonphotography.com with your thoughts.

Although I've still got two more '07 sessions left, I sincerely want to thank each of you who worked with me this year. When I hung out my shingle in March, I had NO idea that this would actually work, and I told my husband who handed me the checkbook with his blessing and a hand over his eyes, "well, I can always go bag groceries at Giant if it fails." Thanks for keeping me off the end of the checkout lane at Giant and doing something that I truly love. You truly have made my dream come true.

xox,
Jen

P.S. Because I know you'll enjoy this. This is MY Christmas card this year. Try as I might, I can't get a good one of the three of them together. Enjoy!

Snowy session (well, a teeny tiny little bit of snow)

2007-12-08T15:40:00.000-08:00

Just enough to make the ground super soggy--bleck. But what was left on the ground really lent itself perfectly to the scenery, didn't it? It's almost like something out of the ruins of Ireland, which I have a sneaking suspicion this family has a connection to.

And how fortunate am I to photograph multiples in back-to-back sessions? These were my first set of identical multiples, however, and I'm still a little worried that I'm posting pictures of the same one! (A little study of the cheeks, though, and I think I'm in the clear. :)

Enjoy the (multiple) sneak peeks!

Triple the fun, plus one

2007-12-02T19:13:00.000-08:00

Triplets! Plus an only-slightly older sister. Although I can't imagine what the early years of their babyhood and toddlerhood were like, I am envious of just how tight-knit they are as four. As I watched them sit together, I just kept thinking how cool it must be to watch them together. And, yeah, can you get over how cute?

It's also amazing to me that they had such laid back parents. I think if I had four kids all so close together in age, I'd probably still be in bed catching up on sleep with an IV of Starbucks going into my arm. :)

Curls & Cuties

2007-12-01T17:37:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it's just not fair to be this beautiful AND have great hair. C'mon--you should get one or the other, but not both! And certainly it shouldn't be all three of them! *wink*

It was a little weird to be going back into full-length sessions today after a month of minis, but I certainly enjoyed spending more time working with these three beauties and their parents, who made me feel so much at home that I probably chewed up way too much of their time this evening talking their ears off as the sunlight dipped further and further into the horizon, so much so that I wound up driving home by freshly-hung Christmas lights.

Holiday Mini Sessions - Week #4

2007-12-01T14:53:00.000-08:00

Pssst... I have a secret. :) I have a little contest that I've cooked up for all the families that participated in my holiday sessions as a thank you for asking me to capture their beautiful kids and families for the holidays. Details to be released this upcoming week. Until then, enjoy images from Week #4. :)

Holiday Mini Sessions - Week #3

2007-11-25T18:00:00.000-08:00

Seven sessions this week--what was I thinking? LOL. I just finished editing all of them this morning, which sitting at my computer all this week coupled with missing being at the gym for this entire month, is certainly not helping get rid of all that extra pumpkin pie I ate this week! Guess who's asking for one-size-bigger jeans for Christmas? ;)

I hope everyone had a terrific Thanksgiving!

Holiday Mini Sessions - Weekend #2

2007-11-12T17:02:00.000-08:00

A new client, a repeat client and two families with 5 kids (! Trust me, I would love to have that large of a family myself, but I must admit that five is a bit daunting for a photographer, especially for a short session!) I love how they turned out, however, and I truly hope the families do, too.

Enjoy!

Holiday Mini Sessions - Weekend #1

2007-11-07T10:45:00.000-08:00

I'd love to write a little bit about each of the families that I worked with this past weekend, but I'm totally time crunched with trying to finish end of September and October proofing (and my wonderful father-in-law, who helps me so much with my kids, has had other obligations yesterday and today, so I've lost about two days of work), so I'm going to cut it short and just show the pictures, darn it! After all, that's what you came here for, right? :)

It was a little bit chilly this past weekend, but the fall color is still amazing. Plus, don't I just get to photograph the most amazingly beautiful kids? I am a lucky, lucky girl!

Coordinating clothing

2007-10-29T09:10:00.000-07:00

The most amount of time I spend with clients prior to a session concerns clothing choices for their family. I'm of the school of thought that while putting the whole family in white shirts and jeans isn't a horrible choice, it's not necessarily the best choice, either. I don't think I've ever run across someone who said, "White is my child's best color." And generally, what's the best color choice for one child isn't necesarily the best color choice for another.

With November's holiday sessions about to begin, I thought I'd make a few suggestions for families, not only for holiday cards and portraits, but also just some general suggestions for other times of the year, too. If you're doing a holiday session with me, it's more than fine if you want to do traditional reds and greens, or sweaters with snowflakes and reindeer, but also remember that if you get a photo you cherish and want to hang on your wall or set on your desk all year, do you necessarily want to be staring at an embroidered picture of Rudolph?

I'm a firm believer in keeping things simple. If you want a pattern, try to keep it to one person in the family and coordinate with solids for the other members:

Vest from Gymboree, sweaters from Old Navy

Remember, with patterns and family photos, the simpler the better. I especially love argyle, polka dot and fair isle patterns. or just the simplicity of solid colors with a woven pattern, like a matching cable knit. Wonderful, whole-family coordinating looks can be found at such places as Hanna Andersson, Gymboree and Lands' End. Please remember, try to stray away from ginghams and smallish stripes--they tend to photograph oddly from a distance.

Styles from Hanna Andersson

Styles from Lands' End

For other family looks, try places that sell clothes for the whole family, like Gap or Old Navy. Generally, tones tend to match from department to department. Good coordination occurs when tones match--not necessarily the same colors. For example, khaki, creme, brown, lighter to medium shades of blue or lighter to medium (or dusty) shades of pink look great together. As do browns coordinated with burnt oranges or rusty reds or olive greens. Try to match your tones to your environment, too: If we'll be planning an outdoor session, stick with your earth tones this time of year (which is why I've been showcasing a lot of browns), or colors that look great with browns.

Styles from Gap

Styles from Old Navy

Finally, I always tell my families to dress like yourselves--kids in uncomfortable clothing tend to be miserable and uncomfortable, and no amount of retouching (or your bribery) is going to erase that. Also remember, I almost always pose families with smaller children on the ground, and this time of year, the ground can tend to be soggy for days. Please be prepared to sit (and maybe even bring along a small, solid colored blanket that you don't mind if it gets dirty).

As always, contact me with questions. :)

Global cooling

2007-10-28T17:48:00.000-07:00

Have any of you noticed how there's no spring or fall anymore? It's like we go straight from a long winter into cranking up the a/c, and straight from a hot summer to turning on the heat and huddling around the fireplace. Seriously. I'm wearing a tank top on Tuesday, and today, it was so cold that this sweet 4 year old simply couldn't finish the session. (At least she gets to go to Florida soon. I tried to pursuade her to let me come along in her suitcase and take family vacation photos, but she insisted that I wouldn't fit. Hmmph. ;)

So we cut it short, and hoped we could salvage a Christmas card shot. I don't know what they think, but I think we got it.

Baby love mush

2007-10-28T16:56:00.000-07:00

My baby just turned one a few days ago, so I'm in the midst of mourning perhaps the end of babies in our house. I think it's why I welcome baby sessions so much, even though I must admit that 3 weeks to 6 months is probably my least favorite age to photograph just because they're generally inconsistent cat nappers, tire quickly and are hard to schedule as a result; plus there's not much you can do with them other than lay them down or prop them up, and constantly remove their hands from their mouths. But you've got to admit, 3 month olds are beyond cute, especially when they give you that big old drooly smile (usually followed by a hiccup and some spit-up for good measure). It's like you just melt into a big ol' pile of baby love mush.

Miss S--yeah, she's got the baby love mush thing going on when she smiles. I assuredly saw it with her parents, who I know feel particularly blessed to finally have a baby.

And tell me, have you ever seen a little baby girl look so much like her dad? Look, they've even got the same amount of hair! *wink*

Family grace

2007-10-21T16:29:00.000-07:00

I take my kids (except for my daughter, who has an adult head of hair) to Kids' Cuts in West Reading to get their hair cut. My middle son is a bear--an absolute bear--when his hair is being cut. At nearly 5 years old, I thought that he'd be turning the corner on the crying and moaning, but no, he still makes it an absolutely miserable affair for the both of us, as well as his barber, John. So each time I get Josh's hair cut, I apologize up and down to John about how Josh acts, to the point where I asked during our last visit, "He's the worst you have, isn't he?" And to which John laughed, "Are you kidding? Not even close!" To me, well, he feels like the worst.

So I truly had to chuckle tonight as I was leaving and this mom looked at me and said, "We were the worst you ever had, weren't we?" I laughed. "Not even close!"

Though I must admit that being told at the beginning of the session that there were snakes in the yard (those of you who read my blog know how much I *love* snakes) followed by having an uninvited neighbor dog suddenly interrupt our session, pee inches away from me, and then proceed to jump in my car and lose my memory card with their session on it (found it, obviously--on the interior running board--yikes!) and then STAND (!!!) on a portrait order that I planned to drop off following their session. Now *that* may have taken the cake for the oddest thing that's happened to me during a session, but the worst? Nah. It would have taken a snake climbing in my car for it to be the worst. :)

M&Ms

2007-10-21T05:40:00.000-07:00

Whew! Blog's back up! :)

So last night's session was a first for me in that I've never exclusively done a mother-son session. A few days previously, I was surprised to hear on the phone that this handsome 14 year old was actually quite excited about our session--trust me, most 14 year old guys are about as excited about spending 2 hours with yours truly and having their picture taken as they are about going pantyhose shopping with their mothers. So I was really surprised to arrive and find him just as eager and cooperative as his mom said he was.

Spend two minutes with these two, and you'll be blown away by their bond. What a gift they are to each other. They simultaneously made me eager to see my own sons grow, and they also made me miss my own mom even more than I do.

I think this one captures their essence. *wink*

Ack!

2007-10-20T18:22:00.000-07:00

My blog isn't letting me upload photos tonight. Sit tight D--should hopefully be worked out by morning. (I hope! :)

As sweet as a cookie...

2007-10-20T10:58:00.000-07:00

That's Miss E, who is celebrating her 2nd birthday in a few days. This is the second time she's been behind my lens this year, and I swear she's gotten even cuter since last time.

Evidence #823 why simple knit hats photograph so amazingly well on kids (well, for the short time she let us keep it on her). How can you possibly resist falling in love?

Have a happy birthday, E! I hope you get lots of presents (and a few iced animal cookies! :)

sniff

2007-10-15T12:29:00.000-07:00

My baby sister got married yesterday. Although I wasn't her photographer, I couldn't resist snapping some of her on her absolutely perfect and beautiful day. Even back when I was taking pictures with 110 film, she always jumped in front of my lens every time I pulled my camera from the drawer. She's the one who was key in encouraging me to pursue photography professionally and has continued to believe in me and the worthiness of my work, so I will always owe her a major debt of gratitude.

She was as beautiful as her day. And I've got a fantastic new brother-in-law, too, who constantly keeps us laughing. They will surely have a lifetime together of laughter and love.

Congratulations, Dan & Ashley. We love you!

Holiday cards are here!

2007-10-11T13:36:00.000-07:00

Wow, first day where I haven't worn shorts, and I'm discussing Christmas! I'm excited! Wanna see my '07 cards? Go to my website and navigate to clients. Enter "cards" as your password, and you'll be taken to the gallery. There may be a few more additions to the gallery in the coming days, too.

For those of you who have booked holiday appointments with me, these are the cards you may choose from. Cards come complete with your own custom message inside.

If you've already had a session with me this year and would love to use your portraits on one of these cards, you certainly can. Orders for cards are being taken now through November 26th to ensure Christmas delivery. (Sorry, no orders for cards will be taken past November 26th.) All cards are printed on 5x7 folded cardstock in an elegant pearl or sophisticated linen finish and come with white envelopes. Cards are available in increments of 25 for $3 a piece.

Now, is it too early to start my Christmas shopping? :)

One thing I love about my work...

2007-10-07T08:27:00.000-07:00

Is having repeat clients--especially ones I love. I photographed her back in June, and she was just so sweet and petite, and even though she doesn't love looking at me or my camera, I find something just so sincere about her, like I just want to pick her up and protect her. It's almost too bad you can't hear her talk through her pictures--I'd love for you to hear her sweet little voice.

Though, you know, I think you can almost hear it when you look into her eyes, can't you?

Game on!

2007-10-06T17:44:00.000-07:00

What a weird weekend for fall sessions! I'm a summer lover, so you won't catch me complaining about the 85-degree heat and humidity well into the second weekend of October (other than it would be nice to turn off my a/c), but it sure does make it interesting for my poor clients who have planned their fall photo wardrobes thinking it's going to be nice and cool outside. I sure felt bad for these guys sweating it out in sweaters, long-sleeves and pants during their family portraits. What else made this session interesting is that the fall color is starting to peek out in the trees, but there is hardly a patch of green grass to be found anywhere, so we actually did most of the session on the road (uh, except for the ones I'm just happening to show... LOL), which was fun each time a car decided to drive down the road and this poor family had to get up, clear to the sides of the road, let the car pass, and then resume their positions in the middle of the road, only to do it again a few minutes later. Yep, all that moving sure helped the warm clothes/heat situation. :)

So I had to chuckle to myself when the sweet and shy 2-year-old here decided it might be fun to start yelling "car!" as soon as I would lay down in the the middle of the road just to catch my reaction. Suddenly, after a half hour of not liking me or my camera too much, we became fast friends. And she reminded me of great line in a Wayne's World movie, "Car! Game off!"

(And now I'm showing my age, so I shall shut up and let you see the pretty pictures with the non-sweaty kids... ;)

Magic pebbles (and a very helpful "intern")

2007-09-29T17:57:00.000-07:00

I've often joked that perhaps I need an intern to make my turnaround on proofing go a bit quicker, or someone to help me out during sessions by either holding my reflector, my flash, or--to really dream--schlep my stuff. Yep, I bet I'm going to wake up tomorrow morning to a bunch of resumes from eager college students! *wink*

But seriously, I did have a friend of a friend come along tonight so she could observe a session, and while I didn't ask her to schlep my stuff, she came up with a brilliant idea of a magic pebble to help re-engage a done-with-pictures 3 year old. So much for me teaching her a thing or two. :)

None of these are magic pebble moments, but still, I've got to love 3 year olds. I don't think I've ever met one without personality, but this one? She just oozes it on film, doesn't she? (And she happily made me and my "intern" work for every moment :). And the 7 year old? We didn't need any pebbles for him; just lots of conversation about his best friend Gertrude. *wink*

The 38th anniversary gift...

2007-09-24T18:11:00.000-07:00

After photographing this couple and their children and children-in-law (and one grandchild, who has been in front of my lens a lot lately!) for their anniversary, I decided to see what the traditional gift is for a 38th anniversary, and can you believe that once you hit your 20th anniversary, they only list gifts every 5 years? Perhaps that's a testament to the modern marriage and the high divorce rate--and maybe a couple of disillusioned list makers who thought, "Ah forget it! No one makes it past 20 anymore."

So, if I am allowed to start filling in a gap between anniversary years 35 to 40, I now present to you my just-invented 38th anniversary gift: family portraits! I also present to you a couple that still laughs when they remember their early years, and who surrounds themselves with beautiful and devoted children.

My warmest congratulations on your 38th year of marriage! No doubt, you'll be together to get the good stuff when you celebrate your 50th!

Boys, boys, boys...

2007-09-23T09:59:00.000-07:00

Three of 'em to be exact. One a leader, one a clown, and one a pirate (and I bet you can guess who is who from the pictures below). All of them loving football (I seem to be getting a lot of football families lately!), and oh yeah, I wouldn't mess with any of them during recess either--those boys have got some muscles!

Fighting Irish (and sleep)

2007-09-22T19:20:00.000-07:00

It's amazing what 84 days will do when you're a baby. I met this little guy that many days ago to photograph him for his baby announcements. Born two months prematurely, he was still so delicate, tiny and fragile. But now, look at him! Not only is he perfectly filled out, but he's perfectly adorable, too.

He's going to be a Fighting Irish fan (unless his mom gets her say ;); and along with it has come a great knack for fighting sleep, too. I'm pretty sure his mom was ready for a nap once we wrapped another long session, but I hope that our efforts will be worth it! In the very least, his "3" month portrait won't be one of him crying. ;)

Say "cheese!"

2007-09-16T12:17:00.000-07:00

Hours later, I have to laugh. Honestly, I was a little scared before this session this morning. I was out of half and half for my coffee, so I had a tiny, unsatisfying cup with 1% milk. It was the first day of really cold weather, and honestly, I'm just not a cold weather girl. Four kids. Three of them three or younger. One of them sick. And one of them very intent on saying, "cheese!" everytime I pointed my lens at him. Generally, a recipe for a portrait disaster, especially considering my non-caffeinated state. But within minutes, I was waking up, the weather was warming up, and I was playfully scolding him each time he said "cheese!" and all of us were then collapsing into fits of giggles with his unrelentlessness.

Mornings like this are what make me feel good, even without a decent cup of coffee to start my morning.

Special delivery

2007-09-15T20:24:00.000-07:00

Every woman loves hearing a good delivery story. So when my maternity client from just two weeks ago called me up this week and said, "We had our baby!" I must admit I was a little surprised to be hearing from her so soon since she wasn't due until the very end of September. So of course, I inquired about how her delivery went, expecting to hear the textbook, "blah, blah, blah... it was fine after the epidural." Instead, her story began with her water breaking three weeks early right after midnight with her husband in Florida on a business trip and no flight home until 8 in the morning. As if that weren't bad enough, she arrives at the hospital shortly after midnight to discover her baby is breech and she'll require an unexpected c-section. So her doctor gives her terbulatine to stop her contractions, which works for the first dose, but not the second. And she also gets a dose of a pain killer, which she then has an allergic reaction to. Oh, and the poor thing has to throw up while she's getting her c-section while being strapped down to the table. Undoubtedly, she's going to hands-down win labor horror story that women are fond of swapping among each other after they've given birth. :)

Her delivery, however, has a happy ending. Her husband did arrive in time to see his daughter being born, and Miss M was born healthy and happy--and as you can see, just perfectly beautiful, too.

My warmest congratulations!

Intensely bittersweet

2007-09-09T17:22:00.000-07:00

The main thing I've discovered about motherhood is its intense bittersweetness. It's beyond amazing to watch your kids grow up, yet also incredibly depressing--not necessarily because it signifies your own aging, but because you are simply left wondering where the time has gone.

They aren't my own kids, but she was the flower girl in my wedding. Four years old, and as cute as a button. She drew perhaps as much attention as her father did. (I'm totally kidding you, P! :) He was 2 weeks old. Two weeks! And now look at them. Not quite all the way grown up, but man, they sure are close enough.

I am not only left wondering where the time has gone, but how much beauty can be packed inside two kids not only on the outside, but also on the inside...

Are you ready for some football?

2007-09-09T10:29:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure if this beautiful family planned their session around the NFL calendar, but their mock football game sure was a great way to kick off the '07 season, and a perfect idea for some fun, candid family photos.

Well, except the Bears jerseys. :)

20x24 collage

Living on vacation

2007-09-08T11:27:00.000-07:00

This morning's session was a bit of a hike for me, but well worth it to see the beginnings of this family's home high on top of a mountain with a spectacular view. They're renovating an old hunting cabin, and adding many modern amenities onto it, but still keeping the integrity of the original structure. On their property, they also have some beautiful little outhouses (no, not the bathroom kind--at least I don't think they are) and this neat pavillion with a fireplace, picnic tables and a hammock. Truly, they're going to be living on vacation once their home is complete.

Next time, I might not leave. *wink*

New house, new baby

2007-09-05T08:15:00.000-07:00

How sweet to finally meet our new and adorable nephew! He lives in Virginia, and Labor Day was the first day we were able to go down and meet him. He was a teeny, tiny baby at birth, so even though he's now a month old, he still looks a lot like a newborn.

Of course I couldn't resist snapping a few pictures of him and his family. Congratulations, guys! Welcome, little Henry!

Surname share

2007-09-02T11:11:00.000-07:00

Although we're not even distantly related, these kids and I share my maiden name, which is definitely not common 'round these parts. Now I may be a bit biased, but based upon my side of the family's offspring, and then looking at these two, I think there may be something that automatically makes one beyond adorable when given our surname.

Well, except for my brother. I think he's missing that gene.
(Just kidding, Chris! ;)

Fairy wings, lollipop, bubbles & a Pancake

2007-09-01T13:26:00.000-07:00

That pretty much sums it up. Well, other than Pancake is a bear. A pink, flat, loved-to-death bear. Who gets used as a tissue rather regularly, I think.

But then again, that's what flat, pink, loved-to-death bears are for.

P.S. L, thanks for the trust.

Horse & buggy

2007-09-01T12:21:00.000-07:00

I've so enjoyed shooting at this location this summer, but it was only yesterday that I've ever seen horses on the property. It was to my absolute delight to find them not only friendly, but as interested in these kids as the kids were in them. And oh yeah, Miss H--future entomologist, I tell you. I don't think I've ever seen a little girl so interested in bugs, and much to my horror, snakes! *shiver* I've been freaked out all summer that I'd come across one while on a session and run and scream like a little girl (I'm sure that would bring on the smiles!) and here little Miss H was trying to find them. I was quite glad she didn't succeed. ;)

Belly envy

2007-08-27T09:10:00.000-07:00

I grow babies big. I don't know why, but mine have all popped out ready to get their driver's license. :) Needless to say, I've had the big belly to go along with the baby, so when I arrived for this maternity session on Saturday, and realized that she has only FOUR weeks to go to reach her due date, you can only imagine my belly envy. Doesn't she look AMAZING for 36 weeks? (She's beautiful to boot, too!)

I'm scheduled to return for the newborn pictures at the end of September. I might consider going armed with a magnifying glass to find that little baby. *wink*

Many, many warm wishes for a smooth and wonderful delivery, C&E! I can't wait to return to take your baby's first portraits and just see the amazing joy that I know your little bundle is going to bring you.

Me & my family

2007-08-23T19:46:00.000-07:00

A few people curious about how my own family session in Maine turned out asked that I post a picture when I received my proofs. So here I am, along with Isaac (9 months); Ryan (our daughter, 6); my husband of 11 years, Joe; and Josh (4), courtesy of Jeremi Jackson, who was just fabulous to work with. And yeah, I sure do love those front porches for family shots, don't I? ;)

Enjoy!

More from my senior session

2007-08-22T07:56:00.000-07:00

My urban cowgirl brought along some friends for her senior shoot to include in her personalized coffee table book. It was quite a sight in downtown Reading--me photographing these three beauties; you can only imagine the attention they drew (if the horns honking were any indication!) Outtakes below:

Vintage inspired...

2007-08-19T09:20:00.001-07:00

I'm not sure what it was about Miss C that inspired me to try this vintage processing of this portrait. I've done some vintage developing of my own images, but I often don't have the guts to show them to clients since I'm not sure what they'll think. Perhaps it was her grandparents' property with its barn and smokehouse, or her little shabby chic dress, or maybe even her vintage trike, but when I tried to process this image as a B&W and wasn't real thrilled with the results, I decided to try a little vintage and texturized work with it, and, for whatever reason, I think it fits really well. I hope her mom thinks so, too!

My baby's future wife

2007-08-18T11:36:00.000-07:00

Sorry boys, I'm claiming this almost-11 month old as my 10 month old's future wife. Besides having the sunniest of dispositions on the sunniest of days, I knew her eyes were just going to photograph amazingly well as soon as I met her this morning. She and her mom and grandmom were just a treat to work with this morning--I'm looking forward to them being my son's future in-laws! *wink*

Urban cowgirl

2007-08-16T21:55:00.000-07:00

OK, not really, but this adventerous senior from Oley Valley, with her mom's blessing, agreed to a more urban and gritty shoot in downtown Reading--and a few at the park, too. I love how railroad tracks are so specific to Berks County, and Reading in particular, but I particularly like them with seniors since they hint at movement forward into the unknown. B, I hope you have a great senior year. Enjoy it! I'm out of high school more years than I care to tell you, but they still carry some of the best memories of my life. Thanks for repping for me in the OV!

Beauty in a Bow

2007-08-12T14:13:00.000-07:00

Bet you couldn't guess that this sweet little 6 month old snorts like a piggy for her food. Seriously. It's the cutest little thing I've ever seen a baby do (and something I wish my 4 year old would do rather than refuse all but 10 foods in the entire world). I'm sure her parents are going to have a blast feeding her new foods with her enthusiasm. But most of all, I bet she'll long be feeding their enthusiasm for parenting with her delightfulness and joy!

P.S.: K, I think Miss E is ready for some more bows! ;)

Strawberry blonde

2007-08-08T19:00:00.000-07:00

If you can manage to look at this beautiful baby boy (sorry Chris!) and not manage to have your heart melt, there's something wrong with you. I was so happy to have photographed his parents a few weeks ago when they were anxiously awaiting his arrival, but I must admit, I was even more thrilled to have met their little creation today. He is simply stunning and has the most perfect head of strawberry blonde hair.

Welcome to the world sweet baby! You are obviously already loved so much by your parents, and I know you'll be a joy to them always.

Made in Maine

2007-08-08T18:43:00.000-07:00

I just got back from our yearly vacation to Maine, where I did a family photo swap with another photographer, Jeremi Jackson. It was great meeting up with her, but I must admit it was the most nerve wracking shoot I've been on in a while since I knew she'd have high standards for me. Another great thing? I've now been in my clients' shoes trying to figure out clothes for the family to wear, getting everyone to look presentable, coordinating meal times/nap times, and bribing my kids to no end to cooperate for poor Jeremi. I'm now anxiously awaiting my proofs, too!

Here are some images from my session with her beautiful family.

My birthday winner...

2007-07-24T06:17:00.000-07:00

Emailed me last night at 7:23 (coincidentally) and got a gift certificate for $33. I just finished proofing her kids' session, and have a few new favorites, including this one:

Thanks to everyone who emailed me and wished me a happy birthday! Your wishes made me smile!

It's my birthday!

2007-07-23T04:44:00.001-07:00

And as anyone in my family will tell you, I'm ALL about getting spoiled on your special day. Today, however, I'm giving the gifts! The person who is the _____ (yeah, that's what number I am--I turned my favorite number today!) person to email me, gets something special!

(Birthday wishes also accepted. *wink*)

Browns and Blondes

2007-07-22T09:56:00.000-07:00

Midway through our session today, the mom of these beautiful kids remarked that her kids don't even look like brother and sister. True, I thought, as each definitely takes after one parent. Yet they both have the most amazing eyes, even though so differently colored. I also think they seem very alike personality-wise with their gentle natures and relaxed temperments.

And they all look fantastic in brown, don't they?

Soles of souls

2007-07-21T11:57:00.000-07:00

As those of you who have done a baby session with me know, there's rarely a session that I don't grab at least one shot of baby feet. Trust me, I have the farthest thing from a foot fetish considering I think they become pretty gross once babies turns into toddlers, but today's session seemed appropriate to end with a family foot portrait. After all, there is something quite distinctive about our own family's feet, and as much as I hate to be so purposeful with a pun--so soulful about them as well.

Bubbles & Birthdays

2007-07-15T10:04:00.000-07:00

This handsome little guy is celebrating his first birthday. I love to bring bubbles along on my shoots for my more serious subjects, but what was particularly cute today was watching this birthday boy discover them for the first time. I have the feeling it's the start of many more sticky bubble finger days for him!

I hope he has a fantastic first birthday! (And yeah, I can't help but showcase his more serious side with those big blue eyes.)