If you’re an avid reader of my blog you have probably noticed that I haven’t written in a very long time.  I have a really good excuse for that…

On January 25, 2011 Wyatt joined our family!  You might remember last fall there was mention of me being pregnant!   

Now that Wyatt is a little over three months old and the weather is starting to change, Snapshots By Jess is gearing up for another great year!  I promise to catch up on some posting, including a few more shots of Wyatt Joshua!  There are mini-sessions from last fall that never made it to the blog as well as some of the latest work from this year.  We’ve done senior sessions and professional head-shots and lots of baby photos! 

If you’re a member of the Class of 2012 and thinking about your senior portraits (as you should be), now is a GREAT time to contact me!  Spring can make for some awesome photos, especailly before it gets too hot and humid outside.  Feel free to contact me today and we’ll look at getting your session on the calendar.

I appreciate everyone’s support and understanding as we transition to this new stage of our life.  I’m still here and ready to help capture the snapshots of your life!

These shots are also from my mini-session marathon a few weekends ago.  I’m posting these a little out of order because I wanted to start with some of the Halloween images before Christmas rolls around!  (and yes I know I have to get caught up!)

Two of my sessions included halloween costumes and I loved them both!  I was so glad they decided to bring them along because I think they resulted in some extra special images for the time of year.

You might remember Kayden and Kendal from previous posts as the Vest Family has graced the pages of my blog a few times!  It’s clients like them that have helped me become what I am today and what I will become in the years to come.

Of course we got a few classic family shots to update the walls before I spent some times with the girls.  Here are a few of my favorites.

Carrie is a huge fan of black & white so when I was processing I made sure to include b&w previews as well!  I believe this is one of her favorites  as well!

I love the more “casual” feel of this one.

Mom and dad took center stage for a few before the focus shifted to the girls!  Love it!

These rank amongst my favorites from the session, only because they capture the pure innocence of the girls.  It’s funny how something as simple as sticking out your tongue can results in some great reactions.

Okay, now to the real “fun”!!  A quick change and we now have Miss Kendal as a Cowgirl!

Then there’s Kayden as a kitty-cat!  Meow!

A few more random shots from the session.

Some people just can’t pull off a “serious” expression – and some…  well…  little kids and serious just don’t always work the way you’d like them to, but it’s fun to try!  This photo still cracks me up every time I look at it!  Kendal’s expression (right) kills me!  I love her serious look!

Sisters!

For those of you who don’t know – I’m currently expecting my first child.  Carrie is about as excited for the arrival of “Little D” as my mother is.  She wouldn’t leave without turning the camera on me!  It’s not very often you see the photographer on their own blog – but today you’re about to get a special treat!  Just shy of 6 months pregnant in the following photo – and one of the only photos of me thus far!  Thank you Carrie for making me pose for this and for snapping a copy with my camera as well!

I’m sure we’ll be seeing this family again in the future!  Thank you all again for allowing me to be your favorite “picture-taker”!

The Hazell family is a new client and I’m excited to think they may become repeat clients!  I love to hear my clients are thrilled with their photos, especially when there are children involved.  I recently read something on another blog about the 4 things your photographer is…  and the top two were exactly what I want my clients to understand (and I hope Mr. & Mrs. Hazell don’t mind me using their session as an example):

4 Things Your Photographer IS…

1. A Parent
Every single family photographer I know is a parent. This means we are used to the hissy fits, the tragic meltdowns and the oil-to-water like aversion your toddler has to the camera. Every time I get an uncooperative toddler the parents apologize profusely for their behavior. Don’t sweat it! It makes me feel better that my kids aren’t the only ones that think standing still for 3 seconds is akin to getting your limbs ripped off. One simple apology will do just fine.

2. Patient
Sometimes it takes 10 minutes of running around, dancing like a fool, making silly noises, and talking about crazy monkeys just to get ONE good shot. Don’t bother demanding your child to sit and smile because as I’m sure every parent knows, the harder you push a toddler, the harder they push back. And an irritated toddler doesn’t give good smiles!

Okay… I’m not 100% a parent (yet, that’s coming in February!) but I do have a background in education and I know how kids (and sometimes adults) can be.  Sure, they may not always be willing to cooperate 100%, but as long as you understand that I’m going to do the best I can to get whatever comes close to a smile and just relax we’ll be okay!  I promise we’ll capture some of the good in your unruly kiddos!

Photo proof number 1:

Now you’re probably thinking… okay – what’s the big deal?  Cute family, right?  Well – this was by no means shot number 1, nor an easy shot to get.  I’ll just say one of the four was really unwilling to smile for me, no matter what the bribe was!  A quick shutter-finger and the willingness by your photographer to just go with the flow, build poses around whatever makes someone the happiest will go a long way!  It may be 1 in 25 shots the results in four lovely smiles, but you only need one and the digital world allows us the ability to snap 24 throw-away shots for that single moment in time!

Patient is one thing my clients know I have.  Wether it’s changing clothes, running a little late, or bringing animals into the photos, I’m willing to give your group the focus needed to get the results.  As number two abouve says, silly noises, crazy monkeys or in the case of the Hazell family we had our “special words”… which changed a few times, but if saying idiot makes a kid smile – I’m all for it!

If you’d like to read the remaing two things your photographer is and the four things they are not, feel free to explore this link: http://www.clickinmoms.com/blog/?p=1044, otherwise, keep on scrolling for more  Hazell fun!

Okay – here are a few more of my favorites from the session.

Love families in black and white!

In the mix of everything there’s always time for your pose ideas.  Singles, small groupings, anything you can think of we can work into the mix!  How about just mom with the kids?  Sure!

Of course we have to do Dad too!

And you can’t forget a special moment with just Mom and Dad!

A huge thank you to the Hazell family for allowing me the opportunity to update your family photos!  Maybe we can do it again sooner than later!  It was a pleasure meeting each of you and working together to capture these moments of your life together.  I wish you all a great fall and a wonderful holiday season!