Groundhog Day! (South Jersey Photographer)

 

Dear Mr. Punxsutawney Phil,

I would like to let you know that shadows are good. Please do not be afraid of your shadow this February because I have some exciting plans for spring and I really don't want 6 more weeks of winter! LOL! Seriously, though, if I could convince that little bugger to bring on spring faster, I sure would! I have been inspired by two amazing Texas photographers and their use of the colorful, unique places around them. I started driving differently around my town, looking at the incredible backgrounds I never knew were there. With a new vision in my brain, I am seeing the potential of so many new places that are a few minutes' drive from here. But today is one of those days where your jeans freeze instantly on your legs and moving actually hurts! You know what I mean if you've stepped outside lately around these parts of the country. Gray skies, flurries, bitter cold. Not fun. It's frustrating to be so ready to shoot but you can't! So I'm begging Punxsutawney Phil to embrace his shadow and bring on some nice weather! I can't wait to post up some new work and shoot at the fun new locations I have discovered!

What's in your (vacuum) bag? south jersey photographer

I finally had some time to do a little spring cleaning in the studio. I moved all the equipment and props from one side of the room to the other, and gave it a gooooooood vacuuming! I had to smile as I watched what was filling up the vacuum. I can honestly say that the vacuum bag consists of a little dust and mostly GLITTER!! You know, glitter, the stuff that makes little girls sparkle!! I was so amused by this concept of having the prettiest dirt in my vacuum that I had to write about it!

I am about to hang a new backdrop and steam out the wrinkles for my next shoot. What's in the works? Well, there's a first birthday, a second birthday, a third birthday, two weddings, and a sexy valentine for some lucky guy...

I have enjoyed this winter so far. Did I just say that?? Wow. I had so much to do and I feel much better being stuck indoors when outdoors is cold and miserable anyhow. I am still working on several projects but I have completed the homemade pinhole camera I bought myself for Christmas! It took days to build since glue had to dry before you could move on. The camera takes...... drum roll, please...... FILM!!! I shot the first test roll and well, not too shabby for a cardboard camera in the year 2010! I am so excited about its old school look. For those of you who still love an occasional roll of film in your life, I use a lab called Viewpoint Photo located in Marlton, NJ. (856)596-8118 It is the last best place to process film and get quality prints. The two shots above are from the pinhole camera! One is a "quadruple exposure!" Enjoy your day!!

The Un-Blog

Happy New Year to all! Being an avid Facebooker, I have seen many of you sticking to your resolutions and making all the wonderful changes you said you would! Kudos to all!

I am calling this post the Un-Blog and I will explain why. When I first started blogging, I thought it would be fun and easy. I usually love talking and sharing. But I found that the things I wanted to say were quite personal and I had to filter the feelings I wanted to really write about. But today, since I am in rare form and it's a new year, I'm going to tell a story that most would say I should not have been so open about.

It starts with another photographer's blog. I enjoy seeing other photographer's work so much! It's an obsession, but a healthy one! The talent is intoxicating and the inspiration is priceless! I love reading blogs to see how my colleagues and I are living the artful life.

I recently read a New Years blog written by a talented photographer who was making a list of all the people she wanted to thank for "really" helping her "get where she is today." I got instant chills. See, I thought about that list of people I would thank for getting me where I am today, and well, there's no one on it. Sad, but true, I can honestly say that other than the man who built my lovely website, I have no one to thank for helping me to get where I am today. The reason, I chose to write about this is because when you see the work I will post from this holiday season, you will know that I did every single bit of it by myself, from start to finish, with no help at all. I think that's something to be proud of! And so that is why I am being brutally honest in this post. I do see how far I still have to go, and I realize that getting there alone will be a long journey, but I have been trekking down this road alone for years and I don't plan on stopping anytime soon. There is so much I still want to learn and maybe someday, I will have some people to put on that list! I look forward to that.

Where Did The Day Go?

I often wonder about this whole Daylight Savings Time thing. I drove home from Cliff Mautner's studio yesterday around 5:15 and saw the sky fading into night over the course of my drive home. His place is only about 20 minutes from here and in those few fleeting moments, I welcomed evening from my car. Only problem is, I still had so many hours of work to go at home! But my body saw the night and became tired and ready to chill out! I know Daylight Savings serves a purpose, but I feel like I rush around now to get things done before I lose the light!! I have to start my days earlier and I want to end them sooner. I must say I am a fan of cozy candle light evenings, but I miss the summer sun so much! You could photograph well into the 8:00 hour and still have warm light to play with. Now, I have to make it a point to go outside by 5:00 so I get to see the day turn into night. I have this crazy obsession with the last light of every day. I always make it a point to bid farewell to the day and say thank you for gracing us with light! I find myself going out to see night-fall so darn early now. I am not so sure I am a fan of this new time. Might as well embrace it, we have a whole winter ahead of us! But one thing is for sure: I can't wait to "spring ahead!" (And yes, losing an hour of sleep is so very worth gaining more hours of wonderful light!)

Happy Haunting Part 2

There's just something about Halloween that makes me think of my childhood home. I can clearly remember the old man across the street who always grew a pumpkin patch in his back yard. We would sneak over there and sit our little bums down and wait for hours as the night fell for "The Great Pumpkin" to arrive. I remember the warm orange glow from the windows of the houses as twilight darkened the autumn skies. I remember the sliver of moon that hung over my best friend's house. I even remember seeing the man in the moon! I didn't care for much candy even back then. It was the spirit of the holiday that found a place in my heart from way back then until now.

My house today has very much the same feeling as my childhood home (by design of course). The only thing missing for my daughter is that old man's pumpkin patch that stole my heart and gave me the fondness I have today for Fall. I hope my daughter collects these childhood moments in her soul and tries to show her own children how it was for her to grow up in her childhood haunted haven! Happy Halloween to all!

Happy Haunting Part 1

I never thought I'd be too busy to enjoy my favorite time of year, but this month has CREEPED by so quickly! I just wanted to post a SPOOKY fun session with two very cute but scary witches! What fun it is to do Halloween sessions! Anything goes as far as color and effects! I love to have this much fun with photos! I am working on more Halloween projects right now and this week is full of haunts! I hope to have more posted soon but until then Happy Haunting!!

I love That Song!

There's this great song about Jack and Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas movie and how they'll have Halloween on Christmas.....(blink182) I just love that idea because I have been spending my October designing the most wonderful custom holiday cards for Christmas! But I am the biggest LOVER of Halloween on the planet! So in order for me to not miss the spirit of Fall, I have decided to have Halloween on Christmas every year! I know that may not work for everyone but it's just right for me!

I am already shooting for holiday cards but that doesn't mean you can't still do a Halloween session! And of course, getting an early start on your holiday photos will make life much easier during the season. Just think of all the extra dozens of cookies you'll be able to bake since your holiday photos and photo gifts are already done! And then you can swing by my house with all those extra cookies and hang out with me ;)

Call me soon to book your session! December 10th is the latest booking date I can promise holiday delivery! I can't wait to see you!