Reflection in the new year...

January is typically a slower month for me and it's nice to have a break after the crazy spring/summer/fall portrait season and the hoopla of the holidays.  I recently came across a photography contest where the prompt word was SELF.  I do not typically enter contests (mostly due to lack of time :) but this prompt stimulated me to give some thought to the word...  I came up with my thoughts on SELF and put together a quick collage on what it means to me. 

SELF - Soul Energy Love Family

Happy New Year!

Phew!  The craziness of the holidays is finally subsiding.  The new year always brings a fresh feeling for me, a time to re-group, look back on last year and plan for the next.  2011 was the busiest ever for JHS Photography.  Dozens of new clients, branching out to more commercial work and happily seeing some familiar faces as clients came back for their 3rd, 4th - even 7th session!  

So far, 2012 promises more of the same.  I am already booking baby sessions for late winter, family portraits in the spring and senior portraits this summer!  On a personal note, my youngest will be graduationg from high school this spring.  Yikes!  Where does the time go.  We have a multitude of events coming up - starting with the Springfield Colleen Contest last weekend.  Meg did not make it to the next round, but we couldn't have been prouder of her poise and presence last Saturday.  All of the contestants were amazing - I definitely do not envy those judges!

22 contestants - 5 from East Longmeadow!

That's all for now - along with planning comes new ideas (learned a new collage technique today - so FAST and EASY!) and a renewed commitment to maintaining my website and blog!  Stay tuned.....

Happy Holidays!

I am again late in posting.  Time flies when you are having fun!  Here are a few holiday cards from this season.  I am finally wrapping up for the year and am more than ready to enjoy the Holidays!

Critters

I cannot believe it has been almost 2 months since my last post!  Where does the time go ?!?  Soon I will be posting some senior portraits - what a phenomenal season!  Over 50 seniors in the past 12 weeks.  But during my many shots in Forest Park, I came across the heron on multiple occasions:

And this little guy was crossing the road one day on my way out:

Forest Park is such a beautiful park - Springfield has done an excellent job in creating an oasis for us all to enjoy!  Happy Fall everyone.

Boston

This senior portrait season has been record breaking!  My seniors have been fabulous this year, great smiles, great outfits, great locations.  But I did have time to break for a quick trip to Boston with MY senior for her to shadow at a video production agency and a time out on a boat with a fabulous view!  Now, back to the editing room....

Back Matter

It is always a good day when you learn something new.  I recently shot a portrait for a soon to be published new author!  I learned that the information on the back of the book is referred to back matter.  This is going to be a new children's book featuring a dog who starts out as 'bad to the bone' and then....  Well, I don't want to ruin the  story (due to be published in October).  Here are a couple of shots from our session.  The dogs were very cute, but not too keen on having their picture taken!

So Precious!

Well, a busy spring has segued into a whirlwind and wonderful summer!  We had an amazing early vacation on the Outer Banks in North Carolina with picture perfect weather and a place right on the beach...  So relaxing.

I hit the ground running when we returned.  This is a 7 week old infant that was in the studio recently.  I was very excited to try out the new hammock I just finished knitting!  What a sweet baby, he slept almost the entire session - even with his 2 brothers and cousin around.