The family portrait above is one of my favorites because of the sparkle in Dad’s eye. I knew how much the portrait session meant to Susan. She impatiently waited until daughter, Autumn, turned 5 years old. Susan wanted to create a lasting and elegant memory
of this milestone with portraits taken at their home. I love the formal yet, non-traditional styling of the clothing, the simple and muted colors of the surroundings, and the light~ is just magnificent.
The portrait below is one of my all time favorite family portraits. I usually see life and art in warm tones, yet the coolness of the slates, blues and grays in this image blow me away. I also happen to just adore the Gust family. Mark and Jennifer are so good at keeping up with their portrait history. Every 2 years or so, we create something new and dynamic to add to their home decor and portrait history. I love this about them. They understand the children grow faster than we realize in our day to day lives. Sooner than any of us imagined, the older boys are already becoming young men!
I'm especially fond of the wide and slim composition of this portrait. The sleekness of it is easy on the eyes as you view it from left to right and back again, noticing everyone’s expression and individuality, yet one can’t help but notice each family member is connected to each other.
The portrait is as lovely as the family in it.
I really enjoy the challange of finding something new and exciting to create each time I photograph a family. Planning what to wear,the mood, tone and style of the session and how to get the family together all on the same day at the same time, alone takes creativity on the part of myself, mom and dad, however, I do so enjoy every step of the process, especially in September when the weather is so beautiful to
photograph outdoors. There are plenty of days left this Summer to plan a beautiful portrait. If you love Fall colors, October is the perfect time for outdoor portraits.
I hope you have enjoyed a glimpse at a few of my personal favorite portraits. I appreciate your interest and as always, could not do this without your support and trust.
I look forward to sharing more of my favorite portraits with you next month.
Don’t you just love the Summer? There is a palpable sense of renewal when the sun turns on its’ axis and gifts us Michiganders with its’ presence again. It seems to say to us, ‘Yes, you’ve been very good and now I will grace you with my warm light.’
Shedding winter-wear of heavy coats, hats, scarves, gloves and, those fabulous black leather boots you just had to have, makes one feel as light as a feather. So we flit about the garden; planting, pottering. Ready the BBQ and the pool. Pull out our shorts and hope to heaven they still fit… Grab the sun-screen, make lemonade and eat very little. Watch our children bask in the glorious sunlight, running, jumping, swimming, and marvel at the beautiful bronzed skin and sun-bleached hair that evolves before our very eyes and wish so bad we could sleep as a child does in the Summer.
What we do is fall in love all over again. With our families. With the earth. With good food. With great friends. With life.
Thank you, Sun.
Jocelyn
Our Senior Model Advisors; Jessica Murrell, Gracie Wood, Nicole Hogan, MacKenzie Chesley and Mackenzie Beatty are high school seniors, juniors and sophomore who have joined with me in making sure senior portraits for girls are everything a girl would want during her senior portrait experience. From designing postcards, rep cards, blogs, senior videos to planning a big surprise for seniors and juniors this year, they are my eyes and ears into what makes for a fabulous senior portrait!
I have several hair and make up artists ready to come to your portrait session and do your hair and make up to match your outfits. I've partnered with Diane, owner of Flirty Fashions in Downtown Rochester, for you to select the latest fashions at a special discount for our senior girls!
Stay in the studio and go out doors, bring a friend, parent or pet to be photographed with, mostly be prepared to have the most beautiful portraits while feeling and looking your most beautiful.
Jocelyn, Jessica, Gracie, Nicole, MacKenzie, Mackenzie, Melissa
My niece, Bethany, has been Facebooking questions to me about her first maternity portrait session asking:
"Auntie, how far along should I be before I get maternity portraits done?"
"Around 7 months, Beth." I replied.
"Auntie, what do you think I should wear for my maternity portraits?"
"Don't worry, I have many things to drape you beautifully. You'll be just fine, darling." I said, as I do for any new expectant mother who comes to me for their first session. They have so much going on, as many of you can relate; the last thing they need is to have a portrait session and its' preparation to be anything less than easy.
Bethany and Derek arrived last Friday all giggly and exuberant. I was so busy staring at Bethany, who waddled into the camera room, and the fact that my gorgeous, slim niece was now oddly shaped and barely able to walk. After a few 'Forrest Gump' head tilts, I shook myself out of that movie and came back to earth.
Okay.
So.
Well, she's going to have a baby.
I guess.
In my mind, that never grows old, she's just the little girl who declared, from the moment she could speak, my name would be Auntie, and all children of my siblings who followed her, shall indeed call me Auntie, too.
The session was going quite well. She said she felt beautiful. She smiled with exuberance, throwing back her head. She held close to Derek with nimble and long fingers that reached out to embrace him. She gazed into the camera with bright, jubilant eyes and she laughed at everything I said. She sat on the floor, belly in lap and looked past the camera lens and into my soul. Tears began to stream down my face. The camera's viewfinder began to fog.
In her smile I saw my mother. Her laugh, I saw myself. In her eyes, I saw my dear Grandmother, Martha. And when she sat, belly in lap, and reached into my heart; I saw my pregnant little sister Tracey, sitting next to me some thirty-years ago, wondering... who this child she was carrying would turn out to be.
Life has a way of taking hold of you and shaking you up. A way of lifting you up when you didn't even know you required lifting. A way of replenishing your soul when you didn't even know it was wanting.
Life is beautiful.
Life, is Art.
Congratulations, Bethany and Derek
Lv, Auntie.
Hello Blog World
It seems Zander and I will be learning this new and exciting world together. It's fun to stay current, even if you've been dragged, kicking and screaming...
No use in fighting progress. The world goes on with or without you. So, on behalf of myself and my new friend Zander, thank you for listening and go easy on us. We're new at this new-fangled-electronic-newage-blogeshpere stuff, figuring it all out makes us cranky, hungry, tired and that close to peeing our pants...
Welcome to my new world of blogging, dear friends and thank you for your patience.
Welcome to 'the' world, Zander.
Jocelyn
