Stars and stripes and wagons

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

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

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...

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

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?"

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...

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

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

xox, Jen

7 pounds of absolute adorable

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. :)