Validation ... Meet the S Family

A little background on this next session I am about to share.  The S Family was the very first session I did after taking a two month break to stay home and help my husband heal.  Leaving my family after being through such a traumatic experience left me feeling vulnerable.  I did not have an ounce of confidence in me.  I felt disconnected and scared walking in door.  I had isolated myself so much in the two months that I felt what made my sessions so personal in the past, was not going to happen.

What I didn't know is that Elizabeth is best friends with a client I adore so she had known that my husband had just suffered from a brain aneurysm.  After saying hello to her beautiful family I laid it on the line to Elizabeth.  "I may be a little rough around the edges, and seem awkward, but I promise that I am here (mentally) and that we will have a wonderful session". 

What happened next makes me realize again that people are brought together not by chance.  Elizabeth had one of her best friends stop over whom shared a similar traumatic experience, and then Elizabeth shared a story of loss tied with courage.  The stories are each their own, I will not share them.  Yet, I will say that my feelings were validated.  It was what starting opening the "me" back up.  It helped me connect.

In the past six months since our session the amount of gratitude I have towards Elizabeth, her friend and her family is something I cannot define. 

I am so proud of these images.  The love each of them have for one another is easy to see.  I hope you love them as much as I do....





I can share so many more.. so if you want to see them, head over to my Facebook page.  :)

Thank you Elizabeth.  Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you Kevin for purchasing this session for Elizabeth..
And Thank you Libby for being friends with the kindest, most amazing people.

Smiles, giggles and a bee sting...Oh My..

Updating my blog with images from sessions I captured last year really makes me happy because it brings me back to the session and how much fun we had and the images I captured. 

Lucky is an understatement with the M Family.  The kids think I am cool, and Mom and Dad are so laid back that it is not even a job to me.  The entire session goes so quickly and I never ever feel that pressure of "Did I get the shot?" because I know that the M Family cannot take a bad photo. 

Miss K had made her communion a few weeks prior to this session and she was so excited to wear her gorgeous dress again.  She looks like a little angel here..


Then you have her little brother that is NEVER afraid to be the most charming little man ...

And then meet their super sweet, full of smiles baby sis..

Then you get them all together and they produce this magic..

It was right before that photo that a bee stung the bottom of my foot!!! OUCH!!! Now anyone that knows me knows I am a HUGE baby when it comes to bee stings, but I kept my composure because I didn't want to have the kids get afraid.  However, it HURT!! wahhhh.. who said photography is not a hazerdous profession.  :)

Here is one more of my favorite images from the session. 

Head over to my Facebook page to check out many more adorable photos from this session.

Thank you Danielle and Jim.  I adore your children and I am honored to photograph them!!

Brothers always make me smile...

As a mom of two boys I love seeing the relationship building between my sons.  Most days they argue and fight over whose toy it is, or whose turn it is, but the moments when they get along, pure bliss.  My youngest emulates every single thing my oldest does so when I met Michelle's boys I noticed it was not different.

Michelle's youngest idolizes his big brother.  The photo below is one of my favorites ever taken because it shows the bong between both of them and it makes me smile..


The whole family is just so adorable!



Thank you so much Michelle for choosing me to photograph your adorable family!! It was so much fun working with your boys!

For more photos from this session head over to my Facebook Page.  :)

Summer smiles and a boy turning two..

I have to admit that posting summer sessions in the middle of winter is putting a smile on my face.  It is 19 degrees outside yet I can remember how warm and humid it was when I arrived at Christine's home over the summer. 

To say I was elated when Christine contacted me to photograph Jack's second birthday photos is an understatement!  I had photographed Jack when he turned one, and he was so shy with me, but I was so in love with the images.  Now Jack is TWO!!! I cannot believe how much he has grown over the past year.  He was so funny and adorable, and still a bit shy with me. 

This is my favorite image of him from the session.  He is so attached to his little bunny.

My heart melts with this photo of the three of them..

He sure loves his Mom..

And his Dad..

Christine and Tom, thank you so much for allowing me to photography your precious son.  He is so angelic and adorable.  It is always so much fun catching up with you!!

For more images of this session head over to my Facebook page.. :)

When a client becomes a friend...

I've often written on this blog how grateful I am to have people wanting "me" to photograph their memories.  It is a feeling that makes my heart smile because I truly love what I do.  But when a client, someone I've never met before becomes a friend, well, that is a bonus to this business that I hold dear to me. 

Please let me introduce you to one of those clients that has turned into a friend....

Gina and I met when her daughter Antonina was born.  She was referred to me by a family member that I had photographed.  I went to her home to capture a newborn session with her family.  (Photos here).   Well fast forward a year, four photo sessions later, and I can safely say that I would invite Gina and her family over to my home for a BBQ because that is how comfortable I feel around her and her family.  I cannot say enough about Gina and her Mom Mary.  They both understand and love custom portraiture and how important it is to capture memories and moments and totally blame me for their addiction to Etsy too!

When my husband became ill in the Spring I had been working on an album from a session I did for them a few weeks back.  I told them that I had to put their project on hold because my family had to come first.  I not only was told don't worry about it, but to take my time.  Do you know that when they received their albums months later that they did not complain once?  I am not only grateful for how they have opened up their arms to me but how they value family and did not fault me once for putting my family first. 

Gina and I may not hang out, or talk on the phone, but I can tell you that there is a bond I have been able to create with her, her son, daughter and Mom that is irreplaceable.  When I go to her home, she opens the door and it is like I am seeing a friend.  

Thank you Gina, Mary & Richie for allowing me to be there to capture such precious moments of Richie and Antonina.  Your patience, and friendship is something I keep tight to my heart. 

Here are my favorite images from two sessions I had last year with their family.. One was from early Spring and the other was capturing Antonina's first birthday.

 
There are more images from this session over on my Facebook Page..  Click here to see them.. :)

Different. Completely different.

Life is not a race - but indeed a journey. Be Honest. Work Hard. Be Choosy. Say "thank you", and "great job" to someone each day. Go to church, take time for prayer. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh. Let your handshake mean more than pen and paper. Love your life and what you've been given, it is not accidental ~ search for your purpose and do it as best you can. Dreaming does matter. It allows you to become that which you inspire to be. Laugh often. Appreciate the little things in life and enjoy them Some of the best things really are free. Do not worry, less wrinkles are more becoming. Forgive, it frees the soul. Take time for yourself ~ Plan for longevity. Recognize the special people you've been blessed to know. Live for today, enjoy the moment.  - Bonnie Mohr

That beautiful quote is my favorite of all time.  It gives you enough hope to push forward, but a large dose of reality.

2011 has been one I would quickly want to forget.  One that I can easily bury my head and wish it away.  Having said that, it is also one that has shown me that faith and prayer is real.  It is one that grounded me.  Between almost losing my husband to watching my Mom fight a battle she is doomed to lose, it has pushed me to dig further than I ever wanted to go. 

It has changed me.  For the good and for the bad.

I am more compassionate, but less patient. 
I demand honesty, but accept flaws. 
I am scared more, and fearless less.

There were lessons I learned both personally and with my photography business I never imagined to learn.  Do you know what though?  I realized that I am incredibly lucky.  My family has been put through some extremely difficult tests this year.  It showed me who my true family is, who my true friends are, and that clients can quickly become really good friends.

The next three weeks I plan on taking off to take care of some personal stuff, spending time with my boys, revamp my website, pricing, business plans AND writing thank you notes.  I will be posting so many sessions that I never shared over the past few months. 

I want to take this time to say Happy Holidays to you all.  Thank you so very much for sticking by me, for booking sessions with me and for supporting my journey.  2012 will be different.  Completely different.  And that feels good.
(one of my favorite personal images captured in 2011 - my heart and their golf bags.. ) :)

An entire session of smiles..

This past summer I had a session with this beautiful family.  The session took place a day before Long Island ws hit by Hurricane Irene.  The weather was spectacular.  While the rest of the island was rushing around getting ready I was off photographing Monica and her beautiful family.

When I first arrived the kids were getting dressed.  The little girl came down stairs and this was my very first shot...I knew after I captured it, that it was going to be a great session.

My favorite from the session is this image.  They were belly laughing at one another.

Not even joking, I own the exact same shoes this handsome little man is wearing.


How adorable are these two?

Mom and Dad were equally as flawless..



Thank you so much Monica for such a great session.  Your children were simply wonderful to photograph!!

Little Miss L..

Over the years I have been lucky to meet so many clients that have allowed me to photograph their children as they grow.  I have been photograph Miss L since she was a teeny tiny newborn.  To date she is still the tiniest newborn I have ever photographed.  Check out how stinking adorable she was as a newborn here...

Over the summer I was lucky enough to take photos of her at Robert Moses beach.  All day her Mom and I were worried it was going to rain because the forecast and some of the sky was a little mean looking.  Once we met at the beach we could not have asked for a better day!!

Here are some of my favorites from our session.  Thank you again Michelle and Kenny.. you guys know how much I adore photographing your little girl!! :)

Welcome to the family Miss S...

When I arrived at Mirna's house to take photographs of her new baby girl I had no idea I would feel completely inspired and recharged as I left her home after the session was over.  Mirna shared a beautiful story with me while I was photographing her baby girl, sweet Miss S. It is Mirna's story to share, so one day I may convince her to share it with you, however, I am lucky to have met such an amazing strong woman with a heart as big as three universes. 

Now, Mirna and her husband have the most ADORABLE little girl in the world!!!! Below are my favorite from the session, but trust me I could have shown all 55 images as my favorites. 

A Stunning Headshot Session with Miss Krystin

Krystin contacted me a few months back to schedule a session for some head shots.  She wanted a different approach and thought my style would be perfect for the images she was looking to capture.  I am soooo happy she did contact me and we were finally able to meet up in the park a few weeks ago.  The light, weather and location was perfect.  I on the other hand was a babbling mess!!  I had about three hours sleep and I drank way to much coffee before the session making me like an energizer bunny gone wrong!  LOL 

If this girl doesn't make it I will be surprised!  She is funny, smart and stunning!! Here are a few of my favorite images from the session..