Secrets are Hard to Keep!

Have you ever known about something SO EXCITING that you wanted to shout it for all the world to hear...but had to keep it a secret?  Do you remember how that awesome little secret burned inside of you each day you had to keep it to yourself?

Well, over the past several months, I've been keeping not one, but MANY new and exciting things under wraps over here at Jennifer Leigh Photography!  And to make it even more difficult to keep my lips sealed, the exciting things continue to multiply!  I swear, I am bursting at the seams to finally be able to reveal them all to you within the next month or so!

I've been hinting around here and there about what these incredible new changes, additions, opportunities, and ventures might be, but I have not given you anything concrete just yet. So consider this your first little sneak peek into just one of the new exciting things coming your way soon!

I'm working hard with a new partner of mine on one of the bigger pieces of awesomeness today, so that's all I can give you for now.  Keep checking back for more tidbits that will lead up to some crazy good reveals...all coming soon!

A Session with Team Dotson {Jekyll Island portrait photographer}

Boy, do I adore the Dotson family!  After our very fun portrait on Saint Simons Island in 2011, I was so stoked when they asked me to photograph them again this year! 

Not much has changed - Shannon and Mark still look fabulous, the boys still love cars and have gotten a little bigger, but Mark debuted a much shorter, spunkier cut after donating his ponytail last year for a good cause.  And speaking of hair, the whole family showed up to their shoot with some amazing styles, thanks to Mark being a professional hairstylist based in Atlanta!  (Look him up at Salon Ten80! He regularly travels to Saint Simons Island to pamper his growing clientele there.)

At the beginning of our session, we met on Jekyll Island's Driftwood Beach, where the boys loved searching the sand for crabs.  We then traveled to the other side of the island, where the Courtyard at Crane's gardens never disappoint.  The sun was picture perfect and cast a beautiful glow behind an already beautiful family.

Enjoy this sneak peek from my session with Team Dotson!  I can't wait to see and photograph them again!

 Is it just me, or do these two look like they're up to no good?  :)

Caroline & Russell {Jekyll Island engagement photographer}

Several weeks ago, I received the sweetest email all the way from the U.K.!  Russell explained he and Caroline, his girlfriend of over 7 years, would be traveling to Jekyll Island for a long holiday and was interested in having a portrait session.  But this would be no ordinary portrait session - on Caroline's birthday, Russell was going to propose, and he wanted me to capture the moment!  How exciting!

Two weeks ago, the big day arrived, and early in the morning, the three of us made our way to Driftwood Beach.  I'm not sure who was more nervous...Russell or me!  When he felt the time was right, Russell asked Caroline to sit down, as if he were staging our next shot, then knelt down and popped the big question to a very surprised and happy Caroline!  What a joy to be a witness to such a heartfelt moment and capture it all with my camera!  Russell did a wonderful job designing a beautiful custom ring for Caroline, and she apparently thought so, too, because she just couldn't stop staring at it!

Congratulations, Caroline and Russell, as you begin this exciting new chapter of your life together.  I am so honored to have been such a big part of this new beginning and wish you a lifetime of happiness and much love!

Russell takes over...and Caroline looks a little suspicious...

She said YES!

And a new chapter begins...

Self Portrait: A Peek Into My Process

I've been so fortunate to meet and photograph many wonderful people every year.  Some of you have wondered what I do while post-processing your images.  I do many technical things when editing, just like any other professional photographer, but I also do something that may be unexpected and unique: I smile.

I smile when I edit your photo session or wedding - from start to finish.  I smile so much, my face aches after a while, so I take a short break...only to return and smile some more.  I smile because the people I photograph make me happy.  I smile because I love knowing I'm creating a memory that my clients will cherish for a lifetime.  I smile because I love what I do.

It's an honor to photograph each and every one of you.  You make me happy, and I thought you should know that my happiness continues long after your session is over.  Thank you for choosing me to be your photographer.  I simply adore you.  xo

*   *   *

Jennifer Leigh Photography is based in Southeast Georgia, but Jen happily travels all over the country photographing true love.  She specializes in weddings and portraits...and will be revealing another exciting specialization of her brand in the next month.

912.222.8369     jenniferleighphotos@yahoo.com

www.jenniferleighphotography.net     ~     www.jenniferleighweddings.com 

The Crawford Family {Golden Isles portrait photographer}

Brandi and I had been planning a portrait session for several weeks but just couldn't come up with the perfect location.  She wanted a session to celebrate Dillan turning one year old and also wanted to have some maternity photos done.  We knew what they were wearing, knew the concept of the session would be...but we wanted to find the perfect location.

Enter my friend Gina, who told me about her friend's property in Blackshear, Georgia.  Every year, Ronda & Robbie Sauls plant a giant patch of sunflowers on their farm, which are in full bloom for about a week.  When I saw some of the images Ronda had taken of the flower patch, I just *knew* that I had finally found the Crawfords a perfect setting for their session.

We all piled into a car and drove about an hour to Blackshear, and were hoping to beat out the crazy lightning storm that was quickly approaching.  Upon arrival, we were stunned at just how awesome the sunflowers were.  Dillan was fascinated with them!  We managed to make some magic happen in about 20 minutes just before the sun hid behind the dark clouds for good and the lightning was getting a little too close for us. 

We all agreed that the drive was well worth it: the flowers were gorgeous...and so are the resulting images!  I hope you enjoy this sneak peek at what I was able to create during our sunflower session.  I am in love!!

FREE Engagement Session Special! {Georgia wedding photographer}

Only *21 days* are left to take advantage of this awesome special I'm currently running!  Don't miss out on booking professional wedding photography services with this talented and super fun lady...and earning a *FREE* 1-hour engagement session!

Want to know more about what makes Jennifer Leigh Photography a unique and preferred wedding photographer in the Golden Isles, all over the country and abroad in 2012?  Feel free to contact me anytime!  jenniferleighphotos@yahoo.com or 912.222.8369

I look forward to learning more about you and your fabulous wedding day, as well as sharing with you how I can turn your most special moments into everlasting memories!

~  Jennifer Tacbas, photographer of true love

The Sharpe Family {Jekyll Island portrait photographer}

The Sharpe family has Jekyll Island stitched closely to their hearts.  Becky and her husband, Tim, have been regularly visiting Jekyll Island for years.  One of their daughters was married at the beautiful Jekyll Island Club Hotel several years ago.  Now Becky & Tim's growing family visit as often as they can.

I had the pleasure of photographing all 18 of them - yep, 18! - recently during what was truly one of the hottest days of the summer!  Our evening session was tucked away in the shade of gorgeous live oak trees with their beautiful Spanish moss hanging from their widespread branches.  This family was such a delight to photograph!  And when the session was unofficially over, I enjoyed capturing candids of the grandkids as they played around the trees.

I had a wonderful time getting to know and photographing the Sharpe family, and I look forward to meeting up with them again when they're ready for another easy going and fun portrait session!

Standing in the spot where they said "I Do!"

Family member #19 is on the way!