Ft Myers Photographer | Mommy Blogger | Mother's Day

 

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

 

 

Last night for a Mother's Day treat my sister, my mother, and I went out for dinner and a movie.  We had so much fun and documented the night by taking a selfie of every new moment!  :)  We laughed until we cried (as we usually do when we get together) at some of our crazy antics. It was a really good night.  We saw Mom's Night Out.  It was a great movie that most all mothers would find hilarious because most all mothers have felt the way the lead girl felt.  She was a "Mommy Blogger".

(I didn't even know that was a word or a thing...but I googled it and sure enough, not only is mommy blogger a word but there are thousands of mommy blogs out there...and they even rated the top 100 Mommy blogs!  Oh my goodness!  )

I'm still not quite sure what a mommy blogger is but I am a mommy and I am blogging...so...I guess that makes it a mommy blog.  Since I am writing a Mommy blog, I wanted to include a picture of my own family.  I am not usually in front of the camera all though I ham it up when I am.  My Mother tells me I was born smiling for the camera:). 

 

Back to the movie...

 I found this movie touching and heartfelt as just recently I have been reflecting on my role as a mother.  I lamented to my husband that when they were all little I used to be a good mom. I was organized and planned ahead.  I didn't put my life on hold, I still went everywhere with all four of them in tow.  I seemed to have more patience and instead of yelling when I found them covered in peanut butter on the only room in the house with carpet, I took pictures.  Its not peanut butter smeared everywhere, its the arguing and fighting and bickering that drives me to the point of no return.   I have a 14 year...that should explain a lot!  I have twin 12 year olds and a nine year old.  Two girls, two boys.  So needless to say, at least 3 people in my house know everything at all times!!  It is usually not me or my husband!  LOL. I am learning everyday, some days I get the lessons better than others.  Some days my patience wears thin and I have a "MOMENT".  Then I spend twice as long as I spent losing my patience feeling guilty for losing my patience!  UGH!  I have been told it will get better once they are grown and become my friends again.  Til then, I will try to breathe and live the moments..and of course document it all with lots of pictures!  Maybe if I take pictures it will make it cuter!  I'm going to try it!!  :)

Fort Myers Photographer | Life and why pictures are important to me.

I am going to take just a minute to blog my thoughts and feelings at this moment as they are tender and near to the surface.  I am currently in the process of editing several amazing sessions with some really wonderful people...if you are one of those anxiously awaiting, they will be posted soon I promise!  I just need life to give me a breather so I can get to them!  It will happen. They are all quite adorable and I cant wait to get all your smiling faces on here!

Anywho...with that being said I wanted to share a reason why pictures are so important to me.
Yesterday I attended a memorial service for a friend of mine's father.  All though I have known the friend and her mother and her daughter(and have even photographed them), I did not know their father.  At the service we were asked if anyone wanted to share their feelings for the amazing man who had passed.  Those who did gave such heartfelt memories that my heart was overflowing.  I wanted to share my feelings but just couldn't get the courage to stand.  I knew that if I did I wouldn't be able to get through it without breaking down and since I didn't even know the man...that might have seemed strange.  So, I just sat still and took in the other messages and left my message unsaid.  That evening at my home we had two very intense and scary incidents that could have had very different and tragic outcomes.  As I gave thanks that night to my Heavenly Father for his love and protection, for literally cradling my loved ones in his hands,  my thoughts from the memorial service came back to me again.  I felt they needed to be said.  So I am going to say them here.

I was asked to put together a video presentation tribute to the life of a man I did not know.  His family sent me pictures and I began to piece together a life.  I was given song titles to use and I as I put these pictures in order I saw a man I never knew, I all though I never met him, I knew the kind of man he was, because of pictures.  I saw a man who loved his wife, I saw a man who tenderly held babies in his arms, his own, grand babies and great grandbabies.  I saw a man who proudly served his country and loved those he served with.  I saw a man who loved his family (he endured family photos regularly lol).  I saw a man who like to laugh and play and be silly.  The family told of how this man loved his hair, and although I didn't see that...I did see that he had nice hair!  :) I saw a man who went from a beautiful baby boy to a matured and handsome man who had endured a lifetime filled with its share of joys and hardships, but still smiled at the camera every time.  He had a sparkle in his eye that was caught on camera that showed his zest for life. Pictures ARE worth 1000 words.  In this case, pictures showed me a man.  They showed me a life lived.  They showed me one more reason pictures are so important!

Fort Myers Senior Photographer | Samantha

I love to do Senior sessions!  I especially love to do them at one of my favorites spots, Koreshan Park.  There are so many different settings all in one spot.  It is a little bit of walking but I enjoy the walking time because I use it to chat away and get to know my senior a little better.  Samantha is a cheerleader for her high school and she is a country girl. 

 I love this shot!  She looks so stunningly beautiful and serene! 

 I absolutely LOVED her belt, her bling jeans and her boots!  She is too cute! She was a little quiet at first but her smile warmed the camera right up and radiated throughout the shoot!  I just love how her session turned out!!

I think this one might be my favorite.

Or this one.

It is hard to pick a favorite because I really loved them all!  Thank you Samantha for letting me be part of your story!

Fort Myers photographer | Family time!

I spent the majority of the day on the computer editing ( A SUPER CUTE SESSION FOR a STORE SIGN), and trying to figure out more about blogging (which I had NO success with). I am now tucked in bed with a bowl of caramel popcorn, one kid rubbing my feet and one kid brushing my hair, watching an old movie calked Stargate....yep, life is very good!  :)  Hope you are enjoying your Monday evening!

Fort Myers Photographer | Colin and Maddy

Last weekend we had the pleasure of meeting this adorable couple!

 

They have had an absolutely whirlwind couple of weeks!  Including finishing school, getting married in Utah, coming to Florida for a east coast reception and moving!  All things that cause large amounts of stress but this couple was so much fun to be with and the love they share was radiant!  Colin was a one man show at times and kept the crown entertained and his beautiful bride beamed with her love for him! 

 

 

We were invited to the home of Colin's parents for a reception.  What an ideal location for an outdoor wedding reception.  Everything was beautiful, the food was great including the mini cupcakes from  Cupcakes in Paradise.  ( www.cupcakesinparadise.com) They were mini, so I had to try all the flavors!  My favorite was French toast!  WOW!!!! I also loved the Snickerdoodle, the red velvet, the mango, the honey....well, lets just say I did not taste one I did not like!  If you need cupcakes, this is the place!  Not to mention...its by the beach:)!

   

 

While we swept the bride and groom off to do pictures by the river, the guests were able to sit back and enjoy live music by Mike Imbasciani.  He was absolutely incredible!  He is an amazing  17 yr old musician who plays blues and classic rock.  Check him out at www.mikeimbasciani.com.

 After Colin finished his entertaining(he did juggling and dancing) we took off for the beach to do a few more shots before the couple headed to Orlando that night to board a plane at 8 am!!  They were beat...but it didn't stop them from laughing, playing, smiling and having a good time!

 

I love what I do!  I love being a part of amazing moments!  It allows me to experience new love and reminds me of  my own once new love and how it has grown!  Life is good!

Wishing Colin and Maddy a happy, successful, love filled future! 

 

Fort Myers Photographer | DONE! I'm a blogger!

I am so excited to have finally gotten this off my to do list and onto my doing/done list!  However, I am technically challenged so please bear with me as I try to work out any issues and learn my way around this new medium!  :)
www.jandbphotoreflect.blogspot.com

Fort Myers photographer | Pets!

     Pets are amazing!  They love unconditionally and without question.  We let them into our families and into our hearts and then we are no longer complete without them!  That being said, I have never ventured into the niche of pet photography beyond my own two pets...Oreo and Rolo....

Photo by J&B PhotoReflect

Even with my own pets, I had to enlist the help of my kids to get pets dressed, posed and paying attention.  The kids did a great job and even took the photo below.  They were so excited that I was using it on my new blog!  :)

 

Photo by J&B PhotoReflect

A few weeks ago I was asked for the first time if I would be willing to try to do family photos with a dog.  I am usually always willing to try new and exciting things and I think the pictures turned out very cute and so did the client.  Here is what I got....

Photo by J&B PhotoReflect

Photo by J&B PhotoReflect

Photo by J&B PhotoReflect

I figured I had done it and done ok and that was that, but then someone else booked a session for family photos with their dog!  Pets are just like kids I photo...wiggly, excitable, and willing to behave for treats!   I am excited to try again and hope this client is just as in love with her photos of her family!  I'll post next week and let you be the judge...:)