Rosemary & Edmond {Jekyll Island wedding photographer}

Back in March, Rosemary and Edmond contacted me regarding a portrait session in preparation for a few big milestones.  The two lovebirds have known each other for 35 years and are coming up on their 8th wedding anniversary!  I loved hearing the story about how the couple got engaged and followed it up soon after with a small wedding in front of the justice of the peace - there was no waiting around because they wanted to hurry up and become husband and wife!  Since they didn't get the full wedding experience almost 8 years ago, they are currently planning on renewing their vows and turning it into quite the event!

After having to reschedule our session a few times, I was so happy to finally meet up with Rosemary and Edmond.  We met on Jekyll Island on the most beautiful day so far this year, and I had a really wonderful time chatting it up with them and taking photos at some of my favorite places on the island.  I loved that these two were up for anything, including practicing for their first dance they look forward to sharing at their vow renewal.  It was a pleasure to photograph two people so deeply in love.

I was so thrilled to recently receive a message from Rosemary, who felt I outdid myself and truly loves each and every one of the images in her web gallery.  Here's a sneak peek into the time the three of us spent together.  It was an honor to share in this wonderful time in Rosemary and Edmond's life journey together.  I cannot wait for the vow renewal!

The C Family {Saint Simons Island portrait photographer}

I recently had the pleasure of photographing this wonderful family, who had traveled to Saint Simons Island for the week. 

During our session, I found out that Dad proposed to Mom about 11 years ago on the boardwalk onto the beach, so naturally, we had to take a few photos there!

But the real stars of the show?  Mister T & Miser B.  Aren't they so adorable?  At the end of our session, when they lost interest in me after discovering the model cannon, I went along with it and quickly found myself in full play mode.  Did you know that the cannon shoots imaginary fire?  Yep...I was tricked into standing in front of the cannon several times and was set on fire each time.  Luckily, they had brought along with them some imaginary water so they could put out the flames on my arm.  And luckily they weren't paying attention to the fact that I kept snapping away with my camera because I caught some great close-ups of them.

Thank you, C Family, for a wonderful session.  It was my pleasure to photograph - and play along with - you!

The DuMortier Family {Saint Simons Island portrait photographer}

Anytime I get the opportunity to photograph the DuMortier family, I know I'm in for a real treat.  It's hard to believe Gracie and "Dee Dee" are growing up so fast!  It seems like just yesterday they were sucking on their thumbs and in diapers!  (Today marks Dee Dee's 3rd birthday!)  But two things have always stayed the same - they're so delightful to photograph and spend time with, and they always bring along their trusty friends, Bear and Monkey, to join in on the fun.

Our sessions are chock full of personality, laughter and entertainment...and this session was by far our most fun to date. Can you tell?  To top things off, at the end of the session, we were even visited by a super cute raccoon, who made time to smile for the camera!

I hope you enjoy viewing these images as much as I enjoyed capturing these moments.  My face even hurt from smiling too much during my editing process.  I love this family...and I love this job.  I'm a lucky, lucky girl to be able to work with amazing people every day.

 

Nope...no fun being had here...

Personality alert!  Two poses Gracie loves and her parents still wonder from where she picked them up!

The beautiful birthday girl!

The last photo of our session...thanks for the smile, Mr. Raccoon!

To book your very own portrait session with Jennifer Leigh Photography, email Jen at jenniferleighphotos@yahoo.com or call 912.222.8369.

Striving to Do Things Right {My Life}

While it seems like forever ago to me, it's only been about two weeks since my last photography-related post on my blog.  There are several reasons for the pause but no words of my own have been able to explain the need for this temporary pause like this quote I stumbled upon by Jason Fried:

This is exactly where I am in my life right now - in my personal life and in my business life.  There are so many new and wonderful things happening in my world right now, that I've had to take a few weeks to really slow down, reaccess, and reshape what I want my present and future to be.

The first big change was announced about week ago to my family and close friends, then revealed here on the JLP blog - I'm a mommy in the making!  After losing a pregnancy around this time last year, I have been taking extra time to fulfill what my body needs.  And it apparently has needed rest!  My business has soared over the last year to incredible heights, that I have been moving full steam ahead and really haven't stopped.  (Ask my awesome, supportive husband!)  I knew I would need a breather eventually, but when this baby began to grow, my body decided that my time of rest needed to be right then.  I've been happy to oblige because I know my growing little human is getting everything that he or she needs.  But even with all the fatigue over the past few weeks and the morning/afternoon sickness, growing this human right is my first priority...and I'm in love with it.

And can I please take a moment to say that I have THE BEST CLIENTS EVER?!  Not only have they been so supportive of my temporary slow down, they are super excited and supportive of me and this baby we have yet to meet!  Some of my brides have offered to throw me baby showers and have sent me cards, some of my clients have given me baby books and awesome pregnancy tips, and others often leave me emails and texts inquiring about how baby and I are doing.  I love, love, love my clients-turned-friends for all their love and support.  You have no idea how much you mean to me!  (Hint: It's a whole heck of a lot!)

The other big changes in my life are business-related.  I'm doing a little revamping of my business - some of which you will see in the upcoming weeks and some of which are completely behind the scenes.  I'm always moving forward, always looking to do things better, always dreaming up new ways to use my passion of photography.  The biggest obvious change in my business?  Very soon, I will finally get to reveal an exciting, new element of the Jennifer Leigh Photography brand!  (When it's ready to be announced, you will know because I'll be using a megaphone.)  Change, to me, is always good, when it is well thought out and feels right.  And all the tweaks happening now and in the future at JLP are just that.

So, thank you, Jason Fried, for your perfect quote that not only sums up to me my reasons for my recent slowdown, but helps me to best explain my reasons to others.  I, quite simply, am striving to do things right.

Proudly Announcing: Our New Addition

While I thought we would wait a little longer to make our exciting announcement, we just couldn't contain it anymore.  Jason and I are expecting a new addition to our family in January 2013!  Can you believe it?! 

We are finally grasping the awesomeness of this situation.  While we knew I was pregnant at 3 weeks, 6 days and have had 3 appointments/ultrasounds already - even heard the heartbeat - it took telling our family this week to make it much more "real" in our minds.

Today marks 9 weeks, and this growing a human stuff sure take a lot of energy!  But it has been exciting (and a bit nerve-racking) every step of the way.

Thank you so much for reading this and sharing in our joy of becoming first time parents!  I'll be sure to update you soon.

 

Top 10 Tips: What to Wear to a Portrait Session

No matter how good a photographer is, poorly chosen outfits can ruin your final images.  So to help you get the images you want, I compiled a list of my Top 10 tips on how to dress for portrait session success!  This list is for all types of portraits - family, children, engagement, etc.

1. Consider your location's colors when choosing clothing.  Pick clothing colors that will compliment the hues that will be in the background of your photos.  For example, if you are having your portraits taken at a location with a lot of green foliage in the background, neutral colors would work great, but wearing red would create a Christmas effect.

2. Choose clothing that fits.  Try on your clothing options well in advance.  Mentally choosing an outfit from your closet in advance is good preparation, but actually trying it on the day of the shoot only to have you realize it doesn't fit the way you remember just adds unneeded stress to your experience.  There's nothing worse than last minute shopping!

3. Choose clothing that is timeless.  I'm a child of the 80's - I know very well that clothing fads come and go.  Choose clothing that is more classic in appearance, and you will be proud to display your images in your home...instead of hiding them in the bottom of a drawer when the fashion times have moved on.  Not that I speak from experience or anything...

4. Choose clothing that shows your personality.  The clothing we wear is one of the biggest statements we make about who we are.  Wear clothing that is "you," and you'll love your images for years to come.

5. Choose clothing that makes you feel beautiful.  This is particularly important for moms who are trying to dress their whole families for portraits.  Mom tends to pick out clothing for everyone else first and plans her outfit around what they're wearing.  Often times, Mom picks something that she doesn't particularly like, but since it coordinates with everyone else, she wears it.  A photographer once said to me, "I always tell moms to wear something that makes them feel beautiful, then coordinate everyone else around her outfit." It's so simple, it's brilliant!  I've been telling my moms the same thing ever since.  Put yourself first, moms!  You deserve to feel beautiful!

6. Avoid bare arms.  Most often times, kids can get away with bare arms in photos; however, cameras tend to not be as friendly with adults.  Yes, there are plenty of things a photographer can coach you to do to make your arms look better in photos.  But let's be honest - your biggest critic is always yourself.  I know that's true with me!  If you're wearing a sleeveless shirt, please bring something to layer over it - a cute jacket, a shrug, a wrap.  We will try some photos with bare arms and some with the layer.  My clients most often pick the photos with the added clothing layer.

7. Avoid clothing with crazy patterns.  Solid colors always work best.  Light patterns that coordinate (such as the ones in the image below) are fine and can even be layered under something, like a jacket or a shrug to lessen the strength of the pattern.  But even just two people wearing wildly conflicting patterns in different colors will be hard on the eyes when looking at your final images.  When in doubt, stick to the solids.

8. Wear appropriate undergarments. Did I get your attention, ladies?  Good...because this one is for you.  Please test out your undergarments with your outfit selection well before the day of the shoot.  Wear a supportive bra.  (You do plan to wear a bra, right?)  If your bra is bulky and the shape of it can be seen while you're wearing your clothing over it, it is not the right bra for your portraits.  I absolutely adore t-shirt bras for their ability to go stealth under clothing.

9. Wear clothing & shoes that are comfortable and easy to move in.  I will be photographing you from all angles.  You will be standing, sitting, and perhaps, even laying down.  If you can't bend in your clothing, this is not a good pick for your photo session.

10. Don't forget about fingers and toes!  I'm one of those photographers that will photograph you from head to toe.  I love to add some detail shots to your portrait session, such as shoe shots and closeups of hand-holding.  Don't forget to prepare your finger and toes to be photographed.  Ladies, I highly recommend you treat yourself to a mani-pedi.  And speaking of fingers...don't forget to clean your ring, especially for an engagement shoot!

I hope my Top 10 list helps to guide you into making the right decisions about what to wear during your next portrait session.  Still at a loss?  Check out Pinterest for photo shoot clothing ideas or simply Google it!

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Jennifer Tacbas is a wedding, engagement & portrait photographer, proud owner of Jennifer Leigh Photography. While she is based in the Golden Isles along the Southeast Georgia coastline, Jennifer often travels across the country and abroad to photograph true love. 

www.jenniferleighphotography.net   ~   www.jenniferleighweddings.com