Images For A Cure 2012 is here!

It's that time again!

I was tickled pink when I received an email from Kristen Weaver announcing that photographer registration for the 2012 Image For A Cure campaign was open!  This amazing organization is made up each year of a few hundred photographers from around the country, campaigning to raise money for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation®.  So far, IFAC has proudly raised nearly $40,000 for the foundation...and I am so happy to have been a part of that!

As of this morning, my registration is complete!  This year marks my 3rd consecutive year as an Images For A Cure photographer...and I am looking forward to using my time and talent to make a difference in the lives of women!

In a few weeks, I will be releasing information on my exclusive mini sessions.  Just like the last two years, 100% of your session fee will be donated directly to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation® by YOU!  Yep - that means you will have the opportunity to have some beautiful images taken while supporting a great cause!  Does it get any better than that?

Stay tuned for more information...coming your way soon!  And if you'd like to be one of the first people contacted with the details about this session, please email me at jenniferleighphotos@yahoo.com to get on my contact list.  I look forward to connecting with...and photographing...you!

Ohio Bound! {Cleveland Wedding Photographer}

I cannot tell you how excited I am for the week ahead of me!  I'm taking an 8 day tour of Ohio, my home state, with a few stops in Kentucky!  It's been over a year and half since I was last in Ohio for my sister's wedding.  A few things on my agenda I'm really looking forward to...

• Ya Ya (our adopted foster dog) meets her awesome forever family, and I get to see our former foster dog, Lucie
• Melissa & Dave's engagement session take place in Kentucky
• Time with Mom, my 2 sisters, my cousin and my grandparents
• A family session with 2 of my besties and their gorgeous little girl
• Kristen & Matt's engagement session...possibly at a vineyard in Geneva or Playhouse Square in Cleveland
• Another family session with a sweet little baby and her parents
• Slovenian food and polka-ing.  (I kid you not!  Sooo excited!)
• A very special trash-the-dress session in the woods in Kentucky

Next week, I won't be blogging much...but I will be working hard and playing hard.  I shall return with sneak peeks you won't want to miss! 

I leave you with an image of my assistant, Brittany, and me at the Images for a Cure photography workshop in Orlando earlier in the week. 

A big thank you to the awesome artists/presenters!  I loved connecting with each and every one of you!

Lauren Grove of Every Last Detail

Abby Liga of Liga Photography

Melanie & Bradford Watson of La Dolce Vita Studio

Becka & Nate Robinson of Studio 222 Photography

Joey Wright of Joey Wright Photography

Julie Paisley of Julie Paisley Photography

Melanie Pace - stylist

Kristen Weaver of Kristen Weaver Photography

I look forward to my third year as an Images for a Cure photographer this fall!  I love using my camera and artistic eye to raise money for amazing causes, such as the Breast Cancer Research Foundation!

And now to pack for my Ohio trip.  See you soon!  xo

Images for a Cure Workshop

The month of March has got me traveling all over the East Coast!  My first stop?  Orlando!

I am so proud to be attending the Images for a Cure workshop today and tomorrow, taking place at The Mezz...one heck of a gorgeous venue!  I cannot tell you how excited I am to finally meet some of the 250 photographers worldwide who have been donating their time to raise money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation over the last two years alongside me!

Kristen Weaver, photographer extraordinaire and the brains behind IFAC, has got a huge list of amazing presenters lined up to speak at the 2-day workshop.

I look forward to sharing with you my experiences and images from this event in the near future!  Stay tuned!

Images for a Cure Workshop {My Life}

Only a few weeks away from the Images for a Cure workshop in Orlando!

I am in love with Images for a Cure.  I have been one of about 250 photographers worldwide to work with this amazing group for the past two years.  During October and November of each year, the IFAC photographers agree to run a campaign of their choosing and donate 100% of the proceeds of the session fees from that campaign to Images for a Cure.  Soon after everyone's campaign ends, IFAC donates all funds raised to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation!  You really can't beat that!  It was my honor to be a part of this amazing group of photographers for such a great cause.  I am looking forward to participating again next year, again as a Platinum (top level) photographer!

Each year in the following spring, Images for a Cure has a wonderful photography workshop.  I was unable to attend last year's workshop but my assistant and I are looking forward to attending this year.  (I think I may have been the first one registered.  Yeah...I'm a wee bit excited.)  I have proudly raised hundreds of dollars for this group and am finally going to get to meet photographers from all over the country who have been campaigning alongside me, including Kristen Weaver, the genius photographer who started this awesomeness!

I'll be sure to post my favorite images from the workshop here on the blog.  I will also be featured on the IFAC blog soon, so stay tuned for that, too! 

Other Images for a Cure photographers...let's connect!  I'd love to hear how your 2011 campaigns went!  Looking forward to hearing all about it!

Lindsey {Portraits}

It wasn't that long ago that I had the opportunity to photograph Lindsey, husband Josh, and their two four-legged "children."  (That shoot was to die for!)  This time around, Lindsey decided she would go it alone, as she will be using her portraits as a surprise for someone in her family this Christmas.  (Shhh!)

Recently having finished her very first marathon, she showed up to her session looking amazing!  And thankfully, she was up for anything...including lying in the middle of the street...because her images turned out spectacular!

I want to thank Lindsey for supporting my Images for a Cure campaign, in which 100% of her session fee was donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation!  During our session, I learned that her grandma is a breast cancer survivor.  Lindsey's donation will see to it that in the near future all women will be cured of this disease!

 

Kim & Marvis {Family Portraits}

Meet Kim and her son, Marvis!  I must admit - at first, I wasn't sure just how into this session Marvis was going to go.  But after the first 5 minutes, two things were clear: Kim and Marvis have an amazingly awesome bond...and Marvis is the sweetest, most fun 13-year-old I have ever met!  He was quick to get in on helping me pick out some poses for his mom and him - and all of them were great!  (New Jennifer Leigh Photography assistant in the making?)

Enjoy a sneak peek into the awesomeness that took place during this shoot.  And thank you to this dynamic duo for supporting my Images for a Cure campaign, in which 100% of their session fee was donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation!

Josh & Brian {Portraits}

I was thrilled to have the opportunity to photograph two of my favorite guys, Josh and Brian.  It had been a while since these two have had their photos professionally taken, so I was happy to do the honors!  I wanted this session to be extra special and show off their fun personalities.  When I asked Josh to name off some of their common interests, I got super excited when he mentioned that they, like so many others on Saint Simons Island, enjoy driving their golf cart around town.  I just knew we had to get some images of them in their cart...and they turned out wonderful!  Enjoy the sneak peek below from our session shenanigans!

I want to thank Josh & Brian for joining my Images for a Cure campaign, in which 100% of their session fee was donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.  There WILL be a cure one day soon!

Abby & Girls {Portraits}

When I have a client ask if he or she can bring along their four-legged family members, my answer is always an immediate, excited, "Yes!"  Abby met me on Saint Simons Island for a family session with her two "children," Savannah and Mia.  Both doggies are rescues and full of sweet personality.  Mia is a gentle and independent one.  Savannah, on the other hand, is clearly a Momma's girl.  All three ladies were beautiful and up for anything on our shoot.  Below is a sneak peek into their session, including some outtakes starring Savannah!

Thanks to Abby for supporting my Images for a Cure campaign, in which 100% of her session fee was donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation!

 

Everything was going so well.  And then...THIS happened:

HAHA!  Poor girl.  You can read on her face that she was a little bit embarrassed about the whole incident.  Don't worry...Momma will fix it!

Sharonda & Kids {Images for a Cure}

I had the pleasure of photographing Sharonda and her two adorable kiddos this past Saturday during my Images for a Cure campaign, in which 100% of the session fee was donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

The four of us had a wonderful, playful time during their mini session.  I just couldn't get enough of the kids' little smiles and big beautiful eyes!  Mom is a beautiful lady, too!  You can tell she is doing a great job raising these two happy kids - they were so sweet!

I am looking forward sharing with them all their final images...and our next session!

If you haven't booked your Images for a Cure session yet, there are two weekends left...both in November.  Contact me at jenniferleighphotos@yahoo.com or 912.222.8369 to book your session today - they are being snatched up like hotcakes!

Consider Yourself "Nudged" {Images for a Cure}

If you needed a little nudge to get motivated to contact Jennifer Leigh Photography and book your mini session, consider yourself officially "nudged."

I booked several sessions today, so in order to get the remaining prime appointments, contact me soon!  I look forward to hearing from you!  ~ Jen

Announcing: 2011 Images For A Cure Sessions at JLP

It's that time again!  I am beyond thrilled to be one of approximately 250 photographers WORLDWIDE teaming up with Images for a Cure to raise money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation!  This is my second year participating in the IFAC campaign, which raised over $15,000 last year!

Without further ado, I give you Jennifer Leigh Photography's 2011 IFAC mini session schedule!



Sound amazing, right?  So you may be wondering...how exactly does this work?  Here are a few facts about the Images for a Cure campaign at Jennifer Leigh Photography:

1. Session Fee - There is a session fee of $30, which covers my time and talent at your 15-minute mini session, as well as post-production editing.  100% of the session fee will be donated by YOU to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation through the Images for a Cure fund-raising website called FirstGiving.

After you book your session, I will give you the IFAC FirstGiving website to go and make your donation.  You will pay for your session with a debit or credit card on this website BEFORE you come to your session.  Email me your receipt or print it out and bring it to your session to confirm payment was received by Images for a Cure.  Here are 2 screen shots of what the website will ask of you.

First, you will enter $30.00 as your donation amount.  You will type in your name as your Display Name.  For your comment, please type in Jennifer Leigh Photography.  Your display name and comment will help keep the IFAC organizer, Kristen Weaver, informed about all the awesome donations JLP clients are making!

Scrolling down on the same page, you will enter your email address, where a receipt will be emailed, your name, debit/credit billing address, and your payment information.  When you're done, click the "Continue" button at the bottom of the page.

You will then check and confirm your information and submit your donation.  The last page will be your receipt.  You can print that out and bring it to your session as proof of payment OR you can simply forward me your payment confirmation email to jenniferleighphotos@yahoo.com.

2. Dates, Times & Locations: General information about the session dates and locations are listed on the JLP announcement poster, but I'm sure you'd like some more specific info about this stuff, am I right?  You've come to the right place!

Dates...  There are many exciting events happening around the Golden Isles during October & November, not to mention a few holidays!  I've picked 3 weekends that are fairly low key amidst the busy Fall schedule in order to make it more convenient for you and/or your families to have your portraits taken.  But if you are ridiculously busy, I could possibly be persuaded to give you an alternate date/time that works better for you.  Just ask!

Times...  I'm sure you've noticed there are no times listed on the announcement poster.  I'm pretty much leaving the schedule up to you.  We know that we're limited to certain hours of daylight nowadays, and even more so as the year goes on.  I'm currently booking sessions from 9am - 4pm on the dates given to utilize the best natural light the sun has to offer us this Fall.  While sessions are 15 minutes in length, I'll be booking the session in half hour increments - 9:00am, 9:30am, 10:00am and so on.  Please note that the first people who call to book sessions are the first to get dibs at the prime session times.  Sessions are sure to fill up fast so don't wait long to book yours!

Locations...  I love all the amazing outdoor locations the Golden Isles has to offer, don't you?  The locations selected will make great backdrops for your images!

Downtown Brunswick - One of my favorite locations in which to shoot! (Shoot photographs, that is!)  There are a crazy amount of interesting and beautiful locations in which to utilize during your session...all within a block or two!  Brick walls, distressed building exteriors, park benches, fountains, big live oak trees, stairs, interesting doorways...the list goes on and on.  There is something for everyone down here.

Jekyll Island - Can you say, "Gorgeous!?"  It's hard to pick only two locations for these sessions, but we've got 'em!  The mornings will be devotes to portraits on Driftwood Beach.  Water...sand...gorgeous, artistic ruins of live oaks...all beautiful and perfect for session backdrops!  The afternoon sessions will be held on the grounds of the Jekyll Island Club Hotel and surrounding areas.  Gardens, a boardwalk, amazing historic structures...there is a lot of variety here.  I love it all!

 Saint Simons Island - Another beautiful island just waiting for you!  Saturday will be spent on the beautiful grounds of Epworth by the Sea with its avenue of live oaks, little hidden park benches, stone steps, a gorgeous fountain and much more!  Sunday will be spent in the sweet little Pier Village area.  What's not to love about the little beach, the newly remodeled pier, numerous eclectic shops, a gorgeous park and that fabulous lighthouse?  We can make it all happen in 15 minutes!  (A little birdie secret - this will be my first time promoting sessions in Pier Village...and I'm super excited about it!  Now that the pier,park and lighthouse are restored, it's time to utilize all the fabulous locations Pier Village has to offer!)

3. How do I get my pictures?  Great question!  A week after your session, you will be able to view your session's 10 best images, all edited and ready to go, in a private web gallery.  I'll email you the link to the gallery, as well as the password.  From there, you can order professional, high-quality prints and print products, which will be shipped directly from the print lab to your door.  Simple enough, eh?

But if you are looking for a STEAL of a deal, I'm offering my Images for a Cure clients an OUTRAGEOUS special regarding a print package, a CD of images with a full printing rights, and custom-designed holiday cards!  Stay tuned to the JLP Facebook page or this blog for more details.  (I wouldn't want to over-excite you right now...and this blog entry is long enough already!)  I'll also be writing about the endless uses for these mini sessions to help inspire you to get in on the action!

In short, I'm stoked about the opportunity to use my time and talent for an amazing cause!  I look forward to touching base with you again tomorrow.  Until then, feel free to explore the Images for a Cure website and...live life to the fullest!

~ Jen @ Jennifer Leigh Photography