Archive for the ‘Babies & Children’ Category

This adorable 8-year-old and her siblings came to J. Love Photography to be professionally photographed a  few weeks back.  Her mom and I wanted something different in the way of portraits for their home.  I had been wanting to purchase a zebra chair for the studio for quite some time so this was the excuse I needed.  We thought it might be interesting to put it outside in front of some tall grasses and see what we came up with.

We ended up deciding that the green grass was too overpowering so we made it black and white… except Dylan herself.  Her twin siblings were also part of the session.  We had a crazy good time on a beautiful summer evening.  We managed to capture the three of the siblings in a lovely pose for a wall portrait and we also created a little keepsake album of all of their favorites.

If you haven’t considered having your children professionally photographed together in quite some time, act now while the weather is still beautiful! I’ll post more images taken in this beautiful autumn weather soon.

For the last few years, I’ve been photographing children in the No Cavity Club at Dr. Brent Kolb’s office at Dexter Family Dentistry in Dexter, Michigan. Dr. Kolb and his staff; Sandy, Marian, Ashley and the gang are all so friendly and fun.  I’ve recommended countless people to their offices because Brent proves that dentistry does not have to be a painful, dreadful experience! I remember telling a friend that this dentist office is painless and fun and she thought I was nuts. But she’s now a devoted DFD patient too.

Several kids are rewarded yearly with their portrait on the wall all year when they have no cavities! We spend part of a day together with lots of kids having a good time as they entertain me with their spirited little selves. Sometimes I even talk the moms and dads into joining in.

Although I love them all, I posted two of my favorite No Cavity Club kid portrait that make me smile every time I see them! Kids are so funny aren’t they?

Recently, I had a newborn photography session that turned into a family portrait session.  Three-month-old Emerson brought his parents and his older brother, Henry.  I photographed Henry when he was born.  We had lots of fun and got some great images.  We couldn’t resist putting Henry in my new bear outfit and I can’t resist sharing the image with you!  What an angelic face!  Sean and Lindsay are both teachers and have lots of patience and love children.  It’s obvious. 

I look forward to watching these little men grow.  I continue to create portraits of little boy after little boy in the studio!  Are there any little girls out there, folks?  I have great tutus. But the boys just won’t look good in them, you know?!  LOL.

I end up spending so much time with families like this when they come in to the J. Love Photography studio.  I don’t wear a watch, I don’t have a clock here.  Time stands still.  We laugh, play, pose, try different things, and interact in a way that is enjoyable for everyone.  There is something about the tenderness we witness as photographers when parents come with their new babies. When they forget about us and just enjoy the moment, we make photographs like my favorite one below.  I can feel Lindsay’s gentle touch as she cradles Emerson and coos to him.  Can’t you?  Ahhhhhh. Love my job!

Photographers are always on the lookout for unique props for our studios.  I was excited to come across Mandy Pomo and her mom, Sandy Crews who share Sweet Pea & Co.  These two talented women create the most amazing soft dolls and whimsical clothing for children.  I have many, many outfits in my studio for children’s portraits such as a bear costume, a pea pod for a newborn baby, and lots and lots of tutus like the one pictured here.

Blue Faerie

I have grown up women ask me all the time why they can’t wear them!   I agree! When I create childrens’ portraits, especially when they are between the ages of 2 and 5, I let them go.  No posing.  Forget that! Children need to just ‘be’.  So we turn the music on, dress up, dance, play, and have a great time! Kids love playing dress-up with this clothing!  Quite honestly, adults like me are jealous!  What does Cyndi Lauper say… ‘girls just wanna have fun…’

These are the kinds of moments we capture.  Priceless!  So stop down and see Sandy and Mandy at Booth 43 during Dexter Daze Friday, August 13 and Saturday, August 14 by the gazebo. Check out all of their whimsical creations… and then come see me so we can create beautiful portraits of your children! Please pick up one of my business cards at their booth… there’s a special offer on the back side for Dexter Daze.

Dexter Daze is one of those small, hometown festivals that reminds you of how good it feels to live in a small community. Check it out and mark your calendar!

Zoey

I’m not big on carrying a camera around.  Yet, of late, I’ve decided that I need to photograph my personal life more.  I seem to be so busy creating portrait photography for other people that I often let the moments of my own life slip by.  And that can be a very bad thing since there is no one in my family remotely interested in holding a camera let alone using one!  So candid portraits, even snapshots, here I come.

On a recent warm summer evening, we had dinner outside with our kids and our granddaughter. ’Z’ always steals the show. None of us pay any attention to anything but her discoveries and delight of the most simple things.  She loves music and dances to everything including commercials.  She does yoga poses because she’s figured out it makes everyone laugh, especially when she’s stark naked which is a good deal of the time in the summer by our pool. She says “Mmmmm” whenever she tastes something good and blows kisses to everyone and anyone like her life depends on it. How can anyone not love babies?!

It’s occurred to me lately that I rarely take snapshot photos let alone print them. I’m too concerned with getting ‘the perfect shot.’  So I’m trying to turn a new leaf.  Tiny moments matter so much in our lives. They are here and with a whisper they are gone.  Get out your camera! Catch it.  It doesn’t matter if it’s perfect.  It matters that you have something to remember it by.  That’s my new motto for a while.

As our granddaughter grows, I want to catch it all.  Her mommy grew up in a split second. One day she was a tiny tot with her pony tail blowing in the wind and before I knew it she had grown up on me.  I have a chance to savor the moments more this time.  We intend to do just that.  I’m going to keep her one day a week (Mondays) for our daughter while she goes off to nursing school. Don’t worry, I will be exercising and eating my vitamins to make sure I have the stamina!

I’ve taken hundreds of photos of this sweet child since she was born 18 months ago. I love so many of them. But how ironic that my favorite portrait of her was one I grabbed on a hot summer evening just enjoying her thoroughly and snapping away mindlessly as she played. When I saw this image, it took my breath away. She so reminds me of her mother when she was tiny. Someone said ‘Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away.’

Get your camera out. Don’t let the moments slip away. Document them. Print them. Save them. Treasure them.