The Moreau Family | Bywater Hollow Lavender Farm
In July, I photographed this lovely family of 12 out at Bywater Hollow Lavender Farm* in Lincoln. It’s so pretty out at Bywater Hollow, no matter the season.
Celebrating “Papa” Moreau’s birthday during the photo session was one of my favorite moments! I’m pretty sure it was the kids’ favorite, too - what with all that bubble blowing and skipping and laughter.
I rented a 70-200 mm lens from Action Camera, specifically for these kind of far away type shots. So glad I had it with me for the dock photos.
I’m thankful for sweet families like this one who trust me to take their extended family photos.
*FYI: It costs $50 to take photos at Bywater Hollow, and payment is made directly to the farm.
Spring Preschool Pics | Tutor Totter Preschool
These are probably my favorite preschool photos EVER! It was my first time taking photos of this group with a black backdrop, and I love how when you use a simple background like this, all eyes are on the child - and her wonderful facial expressions!
You might be wondering if I took these photos inside or outside - and if you guessed outside, you’d be right! I set up my backdrop right underneath an overhang, and because the sun was behind the building, it was completely shaded.
Here’s another set of images from that same morning.
I can’t wait to take more of these types of photos using the black backdrop!
Wyatt | Class of 2022
In late May, I photographed Wyatt, then a senior at Del Oro High School.
We met up at Griffith Quarry in Penryn, which is a great spot for senior photos - especially for those seniors who love nature and being in the outdoors.
Wyatt wore his cap and gown over a button down shirt, vest, and slacks, and later on in the session, he changed into his Boy Scout uniform.
Being a former scout myself, I know how hard Wyatt worked to earn ALL.THOSE.BADGES, which is why I made sure to get a close-up shot of them.
Photographing seniors has quickly become one of my favorite types of sessions to do! I like that I’m nearly always one-on-one with the senior (or the senior and his mom). I get to chat with the client about school and extracurricular activities and their future plans - and as an introvert, I’m more at ease interacting with just one or two people as opposed to a group of 12 or 14. Plus, I love that there is a ton of variety during senior sessions - a handful of outfits (usually 3-4) and different spots to shoot within one location.
I hope to have the opportunity to take more pictures of high school seniors in the future.
Fall Preschool Photos | Tutor Totter Preschool
For the past five years, I’ve taken photos of the adorable preschoolers at Tutor Totter Preschool. I’ll be back there in late September for more photo fun, but in the meantime, here are some pictures I took in October 2021.
This “golden” field near the preschool works well for headshots. I take at least five photos of each child, and then deliver three or more images in each photo gallery.
Parents can view the images online and purchase prints and high-resolution digital images directly from their gallery. And there is absolutely NO COST or FEES for the preschool or homeschool group.
I’m looking forward to photographing this sweet girl and her classmates next month!
Looking for a photographer to take photos of your Auburn/Colfax/Roseville/Rocklin preschool or homeschool group? I have some weekday availability in mid-September or early October. Email me at jennieharlessphotography@gmail.com for pricing information or to schedule a date.
Another Spring Mini Session | Bywater Hollow Lavender Farm
I’ve loved photographing this family over the past few years. This was their first time at Bywater Hollow Lavender Farm, and the kids enjoyed collecting chicken feathers and dipping their toes in the pond.
Bywater Hollow is such a gem of a property, complete with two ponds, a dock, a canoe, and two big lavender fields.
It’s always a hit with clients!
This year, I photographed three families (I blogged about the E Family here) and one recent college graduate.
The weather was quite stormy on Saturday, but the forecast said it would stop raining prior to the first session time, so I crossed my fingers, and lucky for me, it was dry for both sessions. Phew!
I’ll share photos from my other two lavender sessions soon.
Red Truck Baby
I know it’s July and beyond HOT here in Northern California, but how cute is this baby girl?! Right!
Red Truck minis are always a favorite with families, and last year, I had the privilege of photographing several littles under the age of one.
I’m not sure yet if I’m going to offer Red Truck Minis again this December. Stay tuned to my Facebook page for my mini session announcements.
Spring Minis | Bywater Hollow Lavender Farm
I was delighted to take photographs of this wonderful family of five again!
This time, we met up at Bywater Hollow Lavender Farm in Lincoln. These photos were taken the first weekend in June when the lavender fields were in full bloom!
Bywater Hollow is a beautiful place year-round with a variety of backdrops and settings - the dock, canoe, wood fencing, two ponds, etc.
In the fall, the deciduous trees put on a colorful leaf show, and for a short time in the spring, the trees lining the driveway are filled with pretty pink and white blossoms.
Bywater Hollow is only open for photography on certain days of the week, and there’s a fee to shoot there (the cost starts at $50), but my clients feel like it’s worth it!
I’ve taken photos at Bywater Hollow Lavender Farm many times, and I love it! If you’d like to schedule your next photo session there, click on the “Contact” tab or email me at jennieharlessphotography@gmail.com, so we can chat about what you have in mind.
Happy 50th!
This lucky couple celebrated 50 years of marriage in November!
Their daughter hired me to capture images of the two of them and their closest family and friends who had assembled to celebrate their golden anniversary.
A good-looking group, am I right?! (Thanks to Dan - on the far right - for delivering the punchline to the joke at this exact moment!)
I also took photos of each individual couple/family.
Seriously, everyone in this family was so welcoming and kind. Kind people are definitely my kind of people.
Most of my clients opt to take photos at a local park or near a body of water, but if you have property, consider taking photos on your land! I’ve found that families tend to be more relaxed, more comfortable, and just generally happier in and around their home. And happy, fun-loving clients make for beautiful images!
Lavender Mini Session | Bywater Hollow Lavender Farm
This adorable couple joined me for a maternity mini session at Bywater Hollow Lavender Farm last June.
It’s the prettiest place for maternity photos, baby photos (6+ months), family photos, or even spring school photos. I even photographed a cake smash there one year.
And I know you might be wondering if I plan to offer lavender minis again this year. The answer: YES! Follow me on Facebook or sign up for my quarterly newsletter to be the first to learn the date and times!
Class of 2021 | Placer High School Senior
I was SO fortunate to photograph some really awesome high school seniors last year, including this Placer High School grad.
If you read my last blog post, you might recognize the location. Yep, it’s Veteran’s Memorial Park in Roseville again.
Love the leading lines of this bridge, and she wore such a pretty floral dress. It worked great with her green cap and gown, too.
A more casual look is nice, too.
I love that she brought along her camera since she enjoys taking photos!
And we can’t forget the college t-shirt, which she cleverly wore underneath her sweater, so she didn’t have to run back to the car to change.
I’m looking forward to photographing more high school seniors this year!
Class of 2022 | Placer High School Senior
This Placer High School senior saw these senior portraits I took last year and requested that we do her portrait session in the same location. Of course, I was happy to oblige.
Location is one of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to senior portraits.
What tops location? Outfits! As in, what should I wear - and how many different outfits can I don during my session?
My answer: 3-4 different outfits!
This range seems to work well for most seniors. It gives the senior and her family lots of variety in their photo gallery, and yet the session doesn’t run too long.
Here’s what I recommend: A casual outfit, a dressy outfit, your cap and gown OR your sports uniform and your college t-shirt, if applicable.
This young woman wore a cream-colored blouse and denim jeans for her casual outfit.
She donned her Placer High School softball jersey and brought along some sports gear: a ball, glove and bat. I LOVE when seniors incorporate their interests and hobbies into their session.
I always come to a session with a list of go-to poses in my head, but when I saw her softball glove, this one popped into my mind.
Of course, I had to see it in black and white, too.
Which do you prefer: Color or black and white?
She also wore this pretty red floral dress, which paired nicely with the orange-red hues in the sunset.
Such a fun night with this beautiful young woman and her mom!
I’d LOVE to photograph more 2022 seniors! Email me at jennieharlessphotography@gmail.com to book your senior portrait session.
Turning Two
This little boy was the CUTEST!
His mom reached out to me a few months before he turned two requesting a photo session on their property in Auburn. Photographing a 2-year-old boy - and his horse- outside in the foothills? Sign me up!
He didn’t want to wear this TWO hat more than a few seconds at a time, but I managed to grab a few shots of him with it on.
The apples in his hands are really for the horse, but he loved carrying them around. And when you are photographing a 2-year-old boy, you just roll with it.
Mom and Dad were SO patient with him and the horse - and me running around them trying to capture pictures of their active son.
The light was REALLY pretty coming through the trees as the sun was setting.
An hour after delivering their photo gallery, Mom sent me this email:
Hi Jennie!
I’m lost for words! These pictures are absolutely stunning & better than I could have ever imagined!! I’ll cherish them forever.
A million thank you’s!
M
So grateful for clients who take the time to thank me for my work.
With a happy heart,
Jennie
Lavender Mini Session 2021 | Bywater Hollow Lavender Farm
I love photographing families at Bywater Hollow Lavender Farm in Lincoln, especially during the lavender season (mid-May to mid-June).
The lavender is, of course, beautiful and smells amazing, but the ponds and dock make for pretty pictures, too.
These photos were taken in June 2021, and I plan to offer lavender mini-sessions again this year, most likely the first weekend of June. Sign up for my newsletter to be the first to learn the date and times.
Homeschool Sessions | The C Kids
I look forward to photographing these SWEET kids every fall! They are part of a local homeschooling group, so not only do I take pictures of these five, but I also photograph about 5 other homeschooling families that same morning.
This time, we all met up at the School Park Preserve in Auburn.
I schedule 15 minutes for each family, which gives me plenty of time to take individual and sibling photos.
It’s quick and easy - and the moms and dads are pleased with their kids’ school photos! (Plus, some of the families use the sibling photo for their holiday photo cards. So smart!)
Doesn’t get much better than that, amiright?!
Class of 2021 | Whitney High School Senior
I know I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: High school seniors are so much fun to photograph!
This young woman’s mom reached out to me on Facebook, and luckily, our schedules lined up and we were able to squeeze in a 1-hour photo session one week before her high school graduation.
Seriously, this beautiful young woman made my job so easy. She said she wanted some “candid-type” photos, so I made sure to capture some of those as well as more traditional posed shots.
It’s always good to have a headshot - you never know when you’ll need it for a job application, a study abroad application, or a college leadership application.
I know many seniors - more so women than men - like to have the option of 2-3 outfit changes during a photo session. And I’m all for it!
In my experience, seniors like to bring: one CASUAL outfit, one DRESSY outfit, their cap and gown, and sometimes, their COLLEGE t-shirt.
Congratulations to the class of 2021! Juniors, Seniors, and even recent High School Grads: If you’re interested in senior portraits, please reach out to me! I’d LOVE to capture this special time in your life.
xo,
Jennie
Pajama Minis | December 2020
Seriously, these pajama sessions are my favorite minis of the year!! The kids are happy, the parents are thrilled, and I have so much fun behind the camera capturing the fun!
There’s always some jumping…
…and some reading…
…and sometimes, a little wrestling, too.
More reading…
…more jumping…
…and some hugging!
Jumping…
…and snuggling…
…and posing…
…and being sillly…
…and of course, more jumping!
Plus, even though it’s not pictured here, I bring real cookies for the kiddos (and fake milk bottles)!
I’m thinking I’ll offer these pajama minis again in November/December 2021. Follow me on Facebook or sign up for my newsletter to be the FIRST to learn the date!
Red Truck Minis
I am SOOOO behind on blogging! Let’s just pretend it’s Christmas in July, okay?!
So many cute kiddos and their families joined me for Red Truck Minis in November 2020!
Two dogs, including the adorable Gus (pictured above), joined us, too!
A big thanks to this couple, who own the beautiful red truck, for letting me borrow it for a few hours.
In case you’re wondering, I WILL be offering these mini red truck mini sessions again in November/December. Be sure to follow me on Facebook or sign up for my newsletter to be among the FIRST to learn the date/time. These spots will go fast!
Class of 2020 | Placer High School Senior
This young man graduated from Placer High School in 2020, but like many others in the class of 2020, he never got the chance to don his cap and gown and receive his diploma in a graduation ceremony.
Luckily, his mom realized the importance of documenting him in his cap and gown. In January 2021, Collin and I met up at Placer High School. Have you been to Placer High School in Auburn? The PHS campus is so old (it was founded in 1897!) and awesome. I especially love the Spanish architecture there!
I took photos of Collin in his graduation garb as well as some in his everyday attire.
I love to play with artistic angles and crops when photographing high school seniors.
Which version do you prefer - color or black and white? I think I’m in the black and white camp!
I adore shooting on stairs - and the windows on top are so pretty! And then there’s this tie-dye jacket that Colllin adores. Tie-dye is so popular right now!
Senior sessions are really, really fun for me! I love being able to capture a young man or woman’s personality and interests through the use of setting, clothing, and props.
Do you know someone in the area (Placer County/Nevada County/Sacramento County) who is graduating this year or in 2022? Send them my way!
Homeschool Sessions | The M Sisters
Gah, isn’t she THE MOST adorable little girl?
Seriously!
And she’s one of the luckiest, too, because she has, count ‘em 1-2-3-4, yes, FOUR big sisters!
This was my second time photographing the M sisters and they are sweet as can be. I hope to take pictures of them again in the fall!
Homeschool Sessions | The K Kids
For the past three years now, I’ve photographed five to six families from a local homeschool group. It’s always scheduled in the fall (usually October or November) and the location is in the Auburn area. I select a different location each time so that the photos don’t look exactly the same each year. I take individual shots of the kids, as well as a few sibling shots. Here’s a look at the individual photos from the K kids.
Parents receive three images for each child in their gallery, in addition to three sibling images. They can select their favorites and choose to order prints + products or digital images - or a combination of the two.
All prints + products are made by Miller’s Professional Photo Lab (they do superb work!) and then mailed directly to each family.
I’m excited to take more school pics this coming fall! If you’re part of a homeschool group and are interested in photos of your children, please email me at jennieharlessphotography@gmail.com for more details and pricing.