Archive for the ‘Babies & Children’ Category

We’re all so busy today. No one has time to breathe anymore. I’m no busier than anyone else. I get frustrated and know I’m holding my breath just try to keep up the dizzying pace of owning a one-woman business, being a wife, being a mother, a grandmother, daughter, friend, etc. On a good day, I remember my old faithful, Ram Dass, and his words that still touch me from long ago… Be Here Now!

A perfect morning is where I get up, stretch, go out, and hit the park for three miles, and then come home and make a cup of decaf and sit down to read a bit. I can make a shift this way to having a good day no matter what I come upon… or what comes upon me! Today is one of those days.

So in all the craziness, one of the things I really enjoy that helps me really get in touch is creating portraits of children. I am reminded how simple life is, how playful and fun it can be, and how important it is to let our light shine like they do. They sooooooo get it!

I’ve gotten off track (what else is new)… One of my morning reads is Alan Cohen’s A Deep Breath of Life  for a daily dose of inspiration. I was behind and decided to read up on the past stories I’d missed. Ironically, I had been looking for one of my very favorites and there it was. Thought I’d share it with you today…

Jill With Friend

The parents of a four-year-old boy arrived home with his new baby brother. Soon the elder child began to pester his parents to leave him alone with the infant. Fearing that the four-year-old might hurt the baby, they refused. Finally, after the boy persisted, the parents consented. As a safeguard, they turned on the intercom to monitor the boy’s visit. Listening from the kitchen, they heard the older brother approach the crib, lean over, and ask the baby, “Tell me about God… I’m starting to forget.”

We have all forgotten about God, and we are starting to remember. We love children because they still bear the innocent light of heaven, and they have not yet been sullied by the pain and small thinking of the world. They are our connection to the divine.

The light that children shine still lives within us. It has not been lost, just covered over. The spiritual path is not one of attainment, but return. We are returning to our innate wisdom that the beauty we seek shines in us, through us, as us.

I hope today you let your light shine! I know I am!

Everett here is another of J. Love Photography’s little friends who are in our Baby Love program. We photograph babies through their first year, doing three portrait sessions.  Sessions can be created for maternity, newborn, 6 months, one year… you choose! This was Everett’s 6 month session. I love this portait because I can see joy in both of their eyes. It always makes me smile.

As a member of our Baby Love program, you are entitled to discounts on product and portraits. Included in the program price is a beautiful, fine art collage of your baby’s first year that is printed on an archival, gallery-wrapped canvas. We end the first-year session with a birthday party complete with bubbles, a hat, and birthday cake!

We have fun, little costumes for the babies to wear as well. I’m working on getting more little boys outfits, as it’s always easier to find things for little girls. I’ve just added a little pea pod outfit for 0 to 3 months and a teddy bear outfit for one year-olds and up. Many of you have seen the array of tutus I have for little girls as well.

When my little babies toddle off after the year is over, it’s sad for me. I know I will see them again, but it isn’t the same. To watch a newborn grow into a toddler and celebrate their first birthday is a joy I cannot explain. I feel so blessed to capture these moments for their families and them.

Yes, I get peed on, pooped on, thrown up on, and sometimes a baby will cry and cry. It’s much harder on the parents than me. I’m used to it. I’ve had a few sessions where the parents are sure we weren’t able to capture a thing. But good light and quick reactions in the split seconds they take a breath between crying often gives me a perfect image of a baby that delights us all!

And then I get babies, especially the recent pack of little boys I’ve had, who are all smiling, happy babies who just ham it up for me and love every minute of it! I know that a lifetime from now, these images will be passed down in their families and be treasured keepsakes of moments that will never be forgotten. How can I not love what I do? It’s what makes my heart feel so full.

Here is what a recent mom whose son, Karl, recently completed the Baby Love program had to say:

“I am so happy that we found you just in time to memorialize our son’s first year of life!  The images that you took ages 3 weeks, 6 months and 1 year capture Karl’s essence.  When I look back now at these brief moments in time, I am overcome with gratitude for your artistry.  Thank you also for making the photo sessions a fun experience for Karl – he seemed to really enjoy himself!

I also appreciated how quickly you were able to share the images with me and process the order.”       

Megan Fink

If you know of someone who is pregnant or has a baby and might be interested in capturing those moments by a professional who cares, please share this blog with them! I’ll leave you with a few more images today of Everett being his sunny, little self. Doesn’t it make you smile?

Speaking of my Baby Love portrait program, I think clients would understand if I said that my favorite baby photography  has been of my granddaughter, Zoey!

Of course, we did monthly sessions, not quarterly… and admittedly I probably did more than that on occasion.  But who’s counting? 

At 15 months (the image at Easter), she is the shining star at the J. Love Photography studio… and out of studio as well.  Her grandpa and I are crazy about her. 

Everyone knows what a proud and happy grandma I am.  But if you weren’t,  you’ll probably now notice Miss Z on my website and blog frequently.

My daughter, Michelle,  never cared much about me being a photographer until she had Zoey.  Now she’s my number one fan!  I know that when Zoey grows up, has children of her own, and they have children, they will treasure these images of her as we do.  They are priceless.

I have a tiny photo of my mother when she was a baby.  It makes me smile whenever I look at it.  Nothing can replace these captured memories.  They become treasured keepsakes for generations.  I believe this is part of our legacy to the people we love.

There are times in our lives that are worth investing in!  If you value priceless moments happening RIGHT NOW in your life, there is no time like today to have a professional portrait made.  I guarantee you’ll be glad you did.

It is nothing short of amazing to spend a year capturing baby portraits of a tiny newborn as they first enter the world until they toddle off out my door after their first birthday session is over. I am always so meloncholy.

Karl has been one of my ‘students’ in my Baby Love first year photography program.  I remember the first time I saw him; tiny boy with tons of dark hair like a little punk rocker hairdo! His features were perfect and his parents were deeply in love with this new little being, as are all of my parents. 

That first session is so much about the relationship of the new family. Moms never feel pretty. But I have never seen a new mother who didn’t look beautiful to me as she held her tiny baby in her arms.

Six months go by and this little person arrives in my door!  It’s exciting to see how much they’ve changed, how much they’ve grown, and the relationship that has developed with this little person and their parents.  I’ve decided recently I love this age best in my program because six-month-olds are so expression-filled, happy, full of wonder, and I can hold them still because they aren’t walking yet!

Before I know it, we’re setting up their session as they turn an entire one years old!  Where did it go?!  Life is like that isn’t it?  Karl was happy to mush up his cake and play with frosting everywhere.  He toddled all over my studio and kept his mom and I very busy.  We laughed and enjoyed what a little boy he has become.

As part of the J. Love Photography Baby Love program, a finished image ready for hanging is included that has a portrait from every session. These were our selections of Karl’s first year. I will miss those big eyes and happy laugh!

Finally!  All of this technical, new age stuff is hard on me.  I’m pretty savvy in this area, but it’s been getting the better of me lately.   But here I am and here is my latest sweet subject to share.  He was a true joy!