Valentine Mini Session | The J Brothers
I’ve known these boys for years! I taught elementary school with their mom before, well, before they were born!
This was my first time photographing them, and they were SO fun!
Full of energy and laughter…and boy did they giggle when their mom sounded the “fart machine” I had secretly handed to her a few minutes before. Haha!
I hope to photograph these two brothers again soon!
Valentine Mini Session | Little B
This was my second time hosting Valentine’s mini sessions at my home studio. (In 2018, I took these Valentine’s Day photos and these Valentine’s Day photos.)
Little B wasn’t too interested in having her photo taken; she’s at the age where she wants to explore and climb and touch everything, and I totally understand.
Her mom and I (let’s be honest: mostly her wonderful mom!) worked hard to coax a few smiles from her. And what an adorable smile it is!
I’ll be sharing more Valentine Mini Sessions soon!
The Y Family
I had the pleasure of photographing this family two years ago, and it was fun to see all of them again. This time, we tried a NEW-to-me location in Rocklin.
These sisters have gotten so BIG! They (and their mom and dad) actually live in the south, but they love to come and visit their family here in California during the holidays.
Their mom dressed them in the cutest red dresses, and towards the end of the photo session, she asked if she could do the girls’ hair in side buns and then have me take some more shots. Um, yes, please! So adorable, right?!
Cousin LOVE!
Love this family — whom we’ve known for over 30 years!
Thank you, Y family, for another FUN photo session! Let’s do it again in 2021!
The S Family | Auburn Family Session
I love photographing families at their home, especially when their yard looks like this!
The light was SOOO pretty!
Thank you, S family, for a FUN evening!
The N Family | What to Expect During Your Session
I know many people get nervous about having pictures taken of their family, especially if they have young kids. Some even avoid family photos altogether because they worry about how their kids will act. Will they be cooperative? Will they run away? Will they refuse to smile? I’m here to say that these are all totally normal fears.
I thought showing you what a typical family photo session looks like might allay some of your fears.
This is the N family, a family of five that I photographed for the first time this past fall at Springview-Johnson Park in Rocklin.
To make family sessions more enjoyable, I often lead families in short games (because what kid doesn’t love games?!).
Like the game of telephone! Remember that one?!
Or Ring Around the Rosie. Except instead of falling down at the end, I encourage family members to hug!
Most of the time, there is some running around mom and dad — and if I bring a blanket, the kids LOVE to dart underneath it.
Sometimes, there is dancing and twirling and singing — it all depends on the kids’ ages, interests, and the dynamics of the family.
Kids always love to hear whispered compliments — like what makes their mom or dad most proud of them.
That’s not to say there won’t be some chaos during the session (we are dealing with unpredictable kids!).
And when the chaos comes, it’s so important to keep the atmosphere light and relaxed and fun. I remind parents that no matter what happens, it’s best to just continue to smile and laugh and play.
Because when you see your gallery of beautiful images, you’ll be so glad you stayed calm and relaxed during the session.
Homeschool Pictures | The M Family
This is another one of the homeschooling families I had the pleasure of photographing in November. This family has FIVE beautiful girls, and they are the SWEETEST! Here they are from oldest to youngest.
Their mom did such a great job picking out their outfits, making sure that the colors and patterns worked together.
Awe, the baby!
We tried and tried to get her to smile, but this was as close as we got.
Then, she sat on the log with all her sisters (see below), and BAM, she smiled! Get a good look at her grin; isn’t it the cutest?! All those TEETH! Mom and I had a good chuckle!
I can’t wait to take more homeschooling photos this year!
Homeschool Pictures | The C Family
In November, I had the opportunity to photograph a group of homeschooling families in Auburn. And what a great experience it was!
I staggered the morning session times, so I could have at least 15 minutes with each family, and I was able to capture individual photos and group photos.
Meet the C siblings! One girl and four boys. ! Aren’t they SO adorable?! Gah…and they were an absolute DREAM to work with.
Can’t forget the BABY!
Such a fun morning! I’d love to photograph more homeschooling families in the future.
The K Family
I think this was my fourth time photographing this sweet family!
They are such an easygoing foursome, and always up for a little adventure.
Would you believe that it was nearing DUSK as well as RAINING as I shot these images in Old Town Auburn?!
Thank goodness for a little post-processing magic.
Let’s do it again sometime, K Family!
The O'Rourke Brothers
This was my third time photographing these sweet boys!
One of my favorite things about being a photographer is getting to interact with young children year after year after year. Seeing how much they’re growing and changing and blossoming is fun and exciting — and a privilege.
All photos taken at Vina Castellano Winery & Vineyard in Auburn.
Fall Mini Session: The B Family
I’ve seriously lost track of the number of times I’ve photographed this family. #thatsagoodthing
They are the absolute BEST!
They always show up to their sessions ready to have fun and goof around and play and laugh — and we have a delightful time!
These two kiddos are growing up SO fast!
This has become a tradition of sorts during their photo sessions. The parents swing each child once, sometimes twice. (Please note: No parents or children were harmed in the making of these images. Haha!)
Let’s do it again soon, B family!
Fall Mini Session: The S Family
This was my second time photographing this great family. #repeatclientsrock
We met up at Griffith Quarry for a fall mini session, and I couldn’t believe how much these twin boys have grown — in both inches and maturity!
This family sent me their “Happy New Year” card in the mail, and I was delighted to see the first photo above front and center on their card. (I always do a little happy dance when I see my work in print. Seriously, it’s the best!)
I hope to photograph these four fun people again next fall.
IMPACTFUL GIVING
Like many of you, each year in December, I find myself on the hunt for a half dozen gifts for my loved ones. Of course, I like to buy them things they desire, but I also want to financially support the missions of groups doing good work around the world.
That’s where impactful giving comes in — buying items from big-hearted organizations and companies who help people in need, whether here in the United States or abroad.
Here are THREE of my favorite places to shop this holiday season:
Amazima: Over a decade ago, I read the book, Kisses from Katie, and ever since, I’ve been a fan of the work that Katie and her organization, Amazima, do to help the people of Uganda. Shop for beautiful jewelry, coffee, and books HERE!
Compliment: This is a great shop! Compliment was started by Melissa, a woman I grew up with in the greater Sacramento area. Compliment sells unique notebooks (I bought one for my SMART teenage niece two years ago), beautiful jewelry, fun coffee mugs, tote bags — and even baby onesies! They give 5% of their profits to high school seniors in the form of scholarships.
The Adventure Project: The Adventure Project sells charcoal soap and charcoal candles. (Did you know that charcoal soap is GREAT for acne-prone skin?!) Your purchases benefit women in East Africa by providing them with charcoal-efficient stoves and solar lights.
Do you buy gifts from any big-hearted organizations or companies? Please SHARE below!
*Image is a free stock photo that can be found here.
Mini Session: The B Family
Super fun family alert!
It was my first time photographing this group, and they were up for pretty much anything.
When I said, “Hold hands in a line, spread out, and do a little twisting and wiggling and dancing,” they did.
When I said, “Green light!” they took off.
When I said, “On three, look at the funniest person in the family,” they did.
We took some portraits in the vineyard, too.
Such a beautiful family in a gorgeous location. Thanks, B Family, for an easy breezy mini-session!
Mini Session: The K Family
It was so special photographing this sweet family again — this time we met up at Vina Castellano, a beautiful vineyard and winery in Auburn. I first met the K Family at a local preschool when our oldest boys were four years old. Now those 7-year-old boys are playing soccer together on Saturday mornings. And coincidentally, their younger siblings (both 3 years old) are currently attending said preschool and had fun playing together at last Saturday’s soccer game.
Time marches on, doesn’t it?!
Mini Session: Headshots for Raquel
Did you know I take head shots? Most of the time, it’s during a family session, and I’m always happy to take a new head shot for mom or dad. Or both! This time, though, I was able to dedicate 20 minutes to taking photos of this beauty, Raquel, as well as a few shots with her mom.
After Raquel viewed her photo gallery, she sent me this message through Facebook: “Jennie! Thank you! You did an amazing job! We love the pictures.”
It doesn’t get much better than that. I’m happy that Raquel and her mom are happy!
Mini Session: The F Family
I started off my afternoon of mini sessions at Vina Castellano Vineyards with this adorable family of three. Mom is an elementary school teacher who is friends with my husband’s cousin — and she is also a teacher!
Isn’t this little guy the cutest?!
He is 10 months old — with the drool to prove it.
This is one loved little boy.
Tutor Totter Preschool Photos
This was my third year photographing the preschoolers at Tutor Totter Preschool in Auburn.
And can I just say that 2, 3 and 4-year-olds are some of my absolute favorite subjects?!
Yes, they can be wildly unpredictable. You never know if they are going to smile or cry or run away. (No runners this year, thankfully!) That just means I have to bring my A-game with silly stories and jokes and of course, candy, at the ready.
This year, for the first time, I offered proofs to parents so they could choose which pose (#1, #2, or #3) they liked best. Choice is a good thing, yeah?!
And even though parents had to chose their one favorite pose for the prints, they also had the option to purchase a larger package or buy digital add-ons if they wanted all three digital files.
These two cuties — my daughter, Bethany, and a sweet boy named Hank — were all smiles and giggles.
Hello My Name is Jennie
Like most photographers, I would much prefer to be behind the lens than in front of it. BUT late this summer, I realized that it had been several years (read: 5+ years) since I’d had professional head shots taken, so I reached out to Aimee of Aimee O’Brien Photography.
Aimee and I met up last month outside Nevada City, and she snapped photos of me in two outfits.
This is definitely the more casual and comfortable of the two — and it’s what I don for nearly every client photo session.
Dark-colored blouse and dark-colored skinny jeans (no color casts coming from me) and boots.
Boots for two reasons:
1) My feet are notoriously cold.
2) You never know what kinds of critters might be out in nature alongside you as you shoot. (Yes, it’s true! I almost stepped on a snake once, and of course, I was wearing Converse tennis shoes at the time, not boots.)
I’ll be sharing more of my head shots and more about me in future blog posts. A big thanks to Aimee for making the experience both easy and fun!
The A Family
One of the most common questions I receive is: Do you photograph newborns?
Truth is, my response is typically no…and I go on to happily recommend three photographers who are absolute PROS at taking photos of newborns.
Why?
Because when most people think of newborn photography, they imagine photographs taken indoors with beautiful wraps and headbands and backdrops and miniature beds and baskets and of course, lots of adorable poses.
When my daughter was born in 2015, that’s what I was envisioning, and so I reached out to photographer Kathleen Galloway who has photographed many newborns.
But as a photographer, I don’t do that kind of newborn photography.
I much prefer (and have come to adore) this kind of newborn photography.
The outdoors kind with just a few simple items: a blanket or two and a basket and a baby dressed in neutral-colored clothing or wraps.
The kind with siblings close at hand, often loving on their new baby brother or sister.
That’s what this session at a private park in Auburn was all about.
Lifestyle newborn photography is what it’s often called, and I absolutely dig it. Especially for families that are expecting their third, fourth or fifth child.
Less stuff, less stress.
And more emphasis on the baby, the kids and the family — and the love they share.
The K Family
This is the second time I’ve photographed this family of five, and it was such a treat to spend time with them again. (Repeat clients rock!) We met up at a park in Lincoln, and when I first saw them, I immediately thought what a fantastic job Mom did dressing everyone in various shades of blue, dark brown, and mustard yellow/tan. Especially given that she only scheduled this photo session one week earlier! (Don’t worry, I shared this compliment with her.)
This family is so kind and easygoing and fun! Thank you, K family, for another enjoyable evening together. Let’s do it again sometime!