I was super excited to be able to photograph my dear friends Thea and John’s baby girl – Stella.  She was five weeks old on the day of this shoot – having been born on Christmas Eve, the most precious gift either of her parents had ever received.  This little one is beautiful and could not have been more of a joy to photograph.  In true Life Writing fashion – I could not cut down the number of photos on this shoot to something reasonable – she is just too cute not to share.  So you get a lot!  From inside, to outdoors, to a nap – enjoy this little girl with her parents.

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Thea and John – congratulations – you have a beautiful daughter!  And ps, happy birthday Thea!!

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Three of my favorites in a row . . . then we’ll go in some kind of order:

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“Children are a gift from the Lord;
      they are a real blessing.”

Psalm 127:3

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Come back Sunday evening for the full Venzor Family Photo shoot, until then – happy weekend!

]]> http://www.lifewritingphotography.com/blog/2012/02/a-real-blessing-teaser/feed/ 1 http://www.lifewritingphotography.com/blog/2012/02/the-places-youll-go-jenny/ http://www.lifewritingphotography.com/blog/2012/02/the-places-youll-go-jenny/#comments Mon, 13 Feb 2012 01:11:40 +0000 janie http://www.lifewritingphotography.com/blog/?p=6197

My beautiful baby cousin (yes, the youngest in our family) is going to graduate from Chamberlain High School in four short months.  It is so exciting and so unreal to see her at this point in her life.  She is such a integral part of our family – fun, athletic, bold, sensitive and incredibly beautiful (on the inside as well as the outside) – and I know that I am not alone when I say that I am so proud of her!  This week she found out that she’s been accepted to the University of Florida – GO GATORS, and has also been accepted to USF – so we will see what her final decision is in weeks to come.

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As I sat here thinking what to write – way too many things went through my head to really get anything coherent out there.  So, instead, I am going to share the words written by Dr. Seuss in his book, “Oh the Places you will Go.”  - It’s the whole book quoted below (so feel free not to read it if you’re not interested).  I really like the words – they kind of lay out that though things may not be perfect, you can succeed.  I hope that  they’ll encourage Jenny and others as we move forward in this journey called life.

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Jenny – I love you.  I am excited for the adventure that lies ahead of you.  My advice is to soak in the moments to come, treasure the people around you and live life to the fullest.

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Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the [girl] who’ll decide where to go.

You’ll look up and down streets. Look ‘em over with care.
About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.”
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
you’re too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

And you may not find any
you’ll want to go down.
In that case, of course,
you’ll head straight out of town.

It’s opener there
in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.

And then things start to happen,
don’t worry. Don’t stew.
Just go right along.
You’ll start happening too.

OH!
THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

You’ll be on your way up!
You’ll be seeing great sights!
You’ll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.

You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed.
You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don’t.
Because, sometimes, you won’t.

I’m sorry to say so
but, sadly, it’s true
that Bang-ups
and Hang-ups
can happen to you.

You can get all hung up
in a prickle-ly perch.
And your gang will fly on.
You’ll be left in a Lurch.

You’ll come down from the Lurch
with an unpleasant bump.
And the chances are, then,
that you’ll be in a Slump.

And when you’re in a Slump,
you’re not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself
is not easily done.

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.
Some windows are lighted. But mostly they’re darked.
A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin!
Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?
How much can you lose? How much can you win?

And IF you go in, should you turn left or right…
or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?
Or go around back and sneak in from behind?
Simple it’s not, I’m afraid you will find,
for a mind-maker-upper to make up [her] mind.

You can get so confused
that you’ll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles cross weirdish wild space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
The Waiting Place…

…for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or the waiting around for a Yes or No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for the wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.
Everyone is just waiting.

NO!
That’s not for you!

Somehow you’ll escape
all that waiting and staying
You’ll find the bright places
where Boom Bands are playing.

With banner flip-flapping,
once more you’ll ride high!
Ready for anything under the sky.
Ready because you’re that kind of a guy [girl]!

Oh, the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done!
There are points to be scored. There are games to be won.
And the magical things you can do with that ball
will make you the winning-est winner of all.
Fame! You’ll be as famous as famous can be,
with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

Except when they don’t
Because, sometimes they won’t.

I’m afraid that some times
you’ll play lonely games too.
Games you can’t win
’cause you’ll play against you.

All Alone!
Whether you like it or not,
Alone will be something
you’ll be quite a lot.

And when you’re alone, there’s a very good chance
you’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.
There are some, down the road between hither and yon,
that can scare you so much you won’t want to go on.

But on you will go
though the weather be foul.
On you will go
though your enemies prowl.
On you will go
though the Hakken-Kraks howl.
Onward up many
a frightening creek,
though your arms may get sore
and your sneakers may leak.

On and on you will hike,
And I know you’ll hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are.

You’ll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You’ll get mixed up
with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life’s
a Great Balancing Act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU’LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So…
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O’Shea,
You’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So…get on your way!

Do you hear me,
I’m talking to you
Across the water across the deep blue ocean
Under the open sky, oh my, baby I’m trying . . .

Boy I hear you in my dreams
I feel your whisper across the sea
I keep you with me in my heart
You make it easier when life gets hard
I’m lucky I’m in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
They don’t know how long it takes
Waiting for a love like this

Every time we say goodbye
I wish we had one more kiss
I’ll wait for you I promise you, I willI’m lucky I’m in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
Lucky we’re in love every way
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home somedayAnd so I’m sailing through the sea
To an island where we’ll meet
You’ll hear the music fill the air
I’ll put a flower in your hair

Though the breezes through trees
Move so pretty you’re all I see
As the world keeps spinning round
You hold me right here right now

I’m lucky I’m in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again

I’m lucky we’re in love every way
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home someday

Lyrics from “Lucky” by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat

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So, I think that I have a problem.

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Actually, I know that I do.

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What is it?  Well, I tend to fall in love with my clients and want to be friends with ALL of them – but some just live too far away (like these two in Atlanta)… or, maybe some just don’t think I am as cool/fun as they are.

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Tara and Stephen (pronounced Steph’n) were one of those couples that I would seriously like to be friends with.  They are cool (I know that sounds cliche, but they are).   They are really fun (and funny), really easy going, super good-looking (which makes photographing them incredibly easy) and seriously one of the most preciously in-love couples I have ever photographed.  Just wait until you see the rest of this shoot . . . or better yet, their wedding photos. You too, will fall in love with them!

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Tara and Stephen,

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Thank you,  THANK YOU, Thank you!

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For flying me home from Peru to photograph your wedding, for sharing your story, your lives and your smiles with me – and for being a true testimony to love!

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{heart},

janie

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PS…lot’s more from their downtown St. Petersburg, FL engagement session to come tomorrow!

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It is hard to believe that this beautiful family has NEVER had professional family photos taken before.  It was definitely over-due.  I was so thankful that Emilia contacted me and gave me the opportunity to capture them, as they are – in what could not have been a more gorgeous, sun-filled evening shoot.

Corey, Emilia, Blaise and Cam – THANK YOU.  I hope that you enjoy these memories and that you return for many many more future family photos.

Enjoy.

PS…If anyone EVER asks me again what to wear to a shoot, I might just direct them to this post.  Emilia put together the perfect color scheme that brought everything together.  I always tell people to choose a family of complementary colors and then diversify a little bit, throwing in stripes or plaids or other prints on one or two people, but not on everyone.  They nailed it.  And Cam’s suspenders could not have been cuter.

So, I seriously wish that I was going to be a guest at Chelsea and Bill’s October wedding in Arizona because I am confident that it is going to be a blast!  This couple is SO fun, as you will see from the following photos.  Bill makes Chelsea laugh and she makes Bill laugh.  They are super-playful in their expression of love to one another and I could not have had a better time playing on the beach with them as we celebrated their engagement.

Chelsea told me that she LOVES black and white, so you will see a lot of BWs mixed in with the soft colors of the evening.  I have to admit I was a little weather-worried, as I arrived and the wind was blowing (cold for FL even in Jan) and the sky was grey.  But, the sky ended up clearing into a beautiful evening.

Enjoy . . . and laugh, or at least smile, as they certainly know how to do.

Haha…below is our “failed” attempts at a jump, catch and spin. 

{Save. The. Date.}

Congratulations Chelsea and Bill!  I wish you lots of love and laughter in your years together.

Ahhh {deep inhale. release}.  I am home.

I felt the thick, damp air as I walked out of the airport last Friday morning.  I had the familiar tastes of mom’s coffee and dad’s french toast as I was welcomed to breakfast.

I experienced the soft, smooth, beach sand  between my toes that day as I was refreshed in one of my favorite places to be – by the ocean.

And, as I photographed this engaged couple, I felt the familiar weight of my camera in my hands and I heard the laughter of myself and clients as we together wrote life memories to be cherished forever.

Don’t get me wrong, our six months in Peru have been great – and I am looking forward to four more really fun ones – but – “there’s no place like home.”

“{Tampa,FL} – January 23, 2012 – WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding Marketplace, is excited to announce Life Writing Photography has been selected to receive the prestigious WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2012 for Photography!

The esteemed annual awards program recognizes the top local wedding vendors from the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism within the wedding industry. While many industry awards are selected by the organization, Life Writing Photography was selected based on its stellar reviews from past newlywed clients.

Life Writing Photography is recognized as part of the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire local vendor community, comprised of over 200,000 wedding professionals throughout the United States and Canada. The Bride’s Choice Award recognizes the best local wedding vendors across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, based on their overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

“WeddingWire is thrilled to honor the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Community,” said Timothy Chi, CEO, WeddingWire. “Since the launch of the Bride’s Choice Awards™ program four years ago, thousands of outstanding wedding professionals have been recognized by the bridal community for their supreme service and dedication to the wedding industry. It is with great pleasure that we congratulate Life Writing Photography for their continued professionalism and commitment to enriching the wedding planning experience for engaged couples.”

We are happy to announce that Life Writing Photography is one of the very best Photographers within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Project Wedding, Brides.com, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for taking the time to review our business on WeddingWire. Thanks to their positive feedback we were able to receive the WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ for 2012.

How are the winners determined?
The WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards ™ recognizes the top local wedding professionals from the WeddingWire Network that demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism. Unlike other awards in which winners are selected by the organization, the WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ are awarded solely based on the reviews from over 1.2 million newlyweds. Awards are determined by a combination of four factors: Overall rating (quality), total number of reviews (quantity), review performance from 2011 (recency), and consistency of reviews from year to year (consistency). This year’s recipients represent the top 5% of WeddingWire’s vendor community, across all service categories and all regions throughout the US and Canada.”

- press release written by Wedding Wire

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As stated above, the award is given to the top 5% of Wedding Wire vendors based on reviews from their wedding clients. Thus, I have to THANK each of my 2011 brides who took the time to write raving reviews!! I LOVED working with each and every one of you and cannot thank you enough for the opportunity to photograph your wedding day. You are what makes Life Writing Photography what it is!!

2011 brides – each of you are uniquely gorgeous! Here’s your shout out:

The following bride {Stacey} you have not gotten to see yet . . . her April 2011 wedding will be published soon . . . we are waiting for a surprise, but here is a glimpse:

PS… If you have ever had photos taken by me and have never written a review (it does not matter how long ago your shoot was), please consider doing so. It takes 5 minutes and tremendously helps Life Writing Photography (plus, I give a free 5×7 for each review, so it is so worth it!)

Here are directions for where to post:

……….~ If you were a NON-WEDDING client (family, engagement, senior portrait session): (1 review, 1 post) Google Places Page

………..~ If you were a WEDDING client: (write 1 review and post to 2 places) Google Places Page and Wedding Wire Page.

Again – THANK YOU to ALL of you who took the time to write a review.

~ Janie

It’s the rainy season here in Peru – the time of year that they discourage tourists from coming.  But – Kenzo and I have found it to be the most beautiful season since we arrived in August.  We’ve been taking advantage of weekend time off to hike in these breath-taking Andean Mountains that surround us.  These photos are from a day trip to the ruins of Tipon just outside of Cuzco.  Tomorrow morning you can check out our Peru blog to see and read a little more about the day.  Enjoy!

(PS…to clarify – for those of you who did not know (or potential clients who are really confused), my husband and I are living in Peru from August 2011-May 6th, 2012.  I am still booking photography sessions and weddings for anytime after May 7th 2012.  I will also be in town this coming FRIDAY!!  And have one evening slot available on on Tuesday, January 31st and plenty of daytime availability while I am home (until Feb 5th).  Let me know if you’d like to book a session!  Because I moved out of the country, I do not currently have a cell phone number BUT you can email me at janie@lifewritingphotography.com and I am very quick to respond!)