Congrats Dave and Jenny!!  They get to have a FREE session with me that is all about love for them!   They also get a 16×20 gallery wrapped canvas of their favorite image from the session!!   2nd place went to Joe and Roberta, 3rd place was Andy and Becky, and 4th was Jared and Bri!  2nd place wins a $100 print credit, and 3rd and 4th place win a $50 print credit on any booked full session (does not apply to mini sessions).

And because I can’t post without a pic… here’s one of my Bodie from yesterday.  I was testing out a blanket and a lens… but, he’s darn cute isn’t he?!

Email me at JenniferMauren@gmail.com to book your mini session today!

It takes time to develop technical genius… and when it comes to computers and codes and such… well, I’m still waiting for that “genius” status.  So I appreciate you bearing with me while I worked some things out!  BUT!  We’re ready to vote people!!!  You are allowed one vote per computer.  You have one week to vote!  Voting ends next Wednesday!  Why Wednesday?  Because I leave for vacation Friday morning and I want to announce the winner before I leave!  “But Wednesday is a strange day to end a contest?”.  Yup, you’re right.  But, it’s my contest and my rules   LOL!  Here are your couples!  Spread the word!!

P.S. – stay tuned to the blog today for summer MINI session announcements!

“Never say never”, right?  When I first started in photography, I was very happy with family portraiture (including (but not limited to):  children, families, babies, newborns (still my fave), maternity, etc).  But, when a dear old friend (I won’t say how old, lest we give away too many secrets) told me she was getting married and wanted bridal portraits done, I wanted to do it.  Mostly, I wanted to be able to use my gifts to capture her.  Her wedding is Thursday, and she now lives in Vermont, so last night was our ONLY night to shoot.  Well, if you live in the Sarasota/Bradenton area, you know what the weather was last night.  NOT GOOD.  Dark, cloudy, stormy… blech.  I thought it was clearing up so we waited it out a bit, but at some point, my faithful friend just said “Let’s go for it”.  So in her wedding dress (that most would be fearful of getting wet) she braved the drizzle, and the wind, and the flat out rain at some points.  I had such a great time shooting.  I love getting to let out creative energy, and we certainly did that last night.  I grew a bit as a photographer last night.  I couldn’t be happier that it was during a shoot with a great friend.  Kendra, you are stunning!  Lu is a VERY lucky man!  Here’s a peak at some of the faves…  I have more editing to do on the rest, and may come back and share more later because I love them that much.

Last week I had the PLEASURE of capturing this precious sweet sweet baby girl.  She was a feisty one!  But, ultimately I won… I almost always do.  I have my ways, tricks, and techniques to get little ones to slip off into dreamland.

P.S- I am working on the post for the voting for my “It’s all about the LOVE” contest.  Bear with me as I endeavor into techmology I’m not familiar with!  LOL!  It will be up soon!  Get your voting fingers ready!

I’m baaaa-aack!!  Sunday was my first shoot officially back from maternity leave and it was GREAT!  It’s wonderful to be shooting again.  And, while I did have to leave my precious little one at home, I was heading to a shoot to snuggle someone else’s sweet baby, so it made it a little easier!  This is the beautiful Miss L.  She was a little peanut and her mother had the most amazing story of her pregnancy!  I forgot to ask if I could share any of that here, so, we’ll just say that little Miss L was quite the surprise!  She may be tiny, but she is full of spirit!  She looks adorable in pink, and it’s a good thing because I have a feeling she is going to be one heck of a girly-girl!  See for yourself!

I’ve been planning this contest in my head for weeks, and it’s time to roll it out!!

As many of you know, I lost my Mom in September.  When we were planning her memorial service, and were gathering photos it really hit me.  The only photos of my parents together were at random functions for a snapshot.  Not exactly wall portrait worthy.  Most of the photos of my mom alone were of her scowling at my dad in the “how dare you take a picture of me looking like this” fashion.  I, myself, have found myself following down the same path.  I’m either always behind the camera or putting my hands up in front of the lens saying “No!!  Not when I look like this!!  I have baby weight to lose/no make up on/bad hair/pimple on my face/ugly clothes on/etc”.

Exhibit A:  while the snapshot clearly shows my parents love for each other, it’s not exactly wall portrait worthy.  It’s all that’s left. I converted it to black and white so that the other objects of various colors wouldn’t distract from my parents.  I have many similar photos of Richie and me.  I plan to do something about that!!

I tried DESPERATELY to have a family session with my Mom, Dad, brothers, Richie, and Carter.  I even had a WONDERFUL photographer giving up time from her vacation to shoot it.  …but Mom’s health took a serious turn for the worse very suddenly and it was unable to happen.  I was distraught.  We were supposed to have the session on a Monday evening, when it was unable to happen, another great photographer (and friend) offered to shoot her and I the next Monday so I could have a couple pictures of her and I together.  I was pregnant and she was not going to get to meet this baby (Boden), and I wanted at least one picture of her and I together when I was pregnant.  She passed that Saturday.  I never got the picture with my mom that I had so clearly planned in my head.  I was going to be facing her, giving her a kiss on the forehead (she was shorter than me) with her arms wrapped around me.  I wanted her hands on my belly.  Giving Boden a hug (so to speak).  I’m still crushed over the loss of that moment.  I still start crying when I think about it.

I think the last portrait of just my parents was done by Olan Mills in 1987.  …and I don’t even think they purchased it.  As with all life events, I believe it’s how you grow from the experience.  So, I’m using my business, my blog, and my talent to prove a point.  It’s become my new motivation this year to give as many “moments” as possible to my clients.

The love of the parents is worth photographing.  It’s just as important to have photographs on your wall showing the love of a Mom and Dad (and not just of your adorable children… and they are adorable).  You are the reason the family exists in the first place.  Let’s not forget that!!

June 18th is my parents anniversary.  They would’ve been married 34 years.  So I’m honoring that day with a contest and giveaway.  Here’s the scoop!

1)  Submit your photos (snapshots are fine) to me via email to JenniferMauren@gmail.com  Give me a little snippet about the couple.  The couple MUST be married.  All entries must be received by Sunday June 13th.

2) On Monday June 14th Voting will begin and will end on my parents anniversary, June 18th!  Send all your friends and family to the blog to vote!  The couple with the most votes wins!  The winner will be announced on my blog on Saturday June, 19th.

3) What do they win?  A session with me!!!  The session must take place in July or August 2010.  The session is for the couple ONLY.  No kids.  No exceptions.  It’s all about the love, baby!   Specifically, by “winning” the contest you win a session with me and a gallery wrapped canvas (sized 16×20) of your choice of favorite image from the session!!  There will be a 2nd and 3rd place prize as well!   2nd and 3rd place will receive a print credit to use on a future session with me!

Here’s the fine print:

As much as I try, this is a contest over the internet so things can try to win unfairly.  I will be monitoring to try to ensure it is running as fairly as possible.  If I believe someone is “stuffing the ballot box” unfairly they will be removed from the contest.  Remember people, it’s about love

The couple MUST be married.

The winning couples must sign a model release so I can feature the images (images may be featured on some/all of the following:  facebook, this blog, my website, and/or in print for marketing materials).  The couples will be required to sign and comply to the terms and conditions of the session contract with Jennifer Mauren Photography.

The session must take place in July or August of this year.  The session must take place within Manatee or Sarsota counties.

If you have any additional questions (or to book a session yourself) please feel free to contact me at JenniferMauren@gmail.com

I’ve been a bad photographer mommy.  I’ve had quite the “to do” list, and I made myself get through a good portion of it before I could edit pics of Bodie.  So, here on the day he turns 8 weeks old, I’m sharing pics of his first few days.  They aren’t fabulous portraits, just snapshots, but I love them, and I LOOOOVE the subject.  Boden is sweet, snuggly, sleepy, and just so many answered prayers!!   I need to take some pictures of Carter too, but he’s a bit more difficult in front of the camera so I choose the easy photo subject right now.  I have plenty more to edit from his newborn session (about 150 to be exact… yeah, I overshot a bit).

I love portrait photography, but sometimes just capturing the moment is all I want.  That’s what these are about.

I rented a macro lens, and this is one of the first shots from it.  That was a FUN lens, and I’ll be purchasing one of those soon!  Loved it for newborn detail shots!!

This swing was a fave of Carter’s and Boden is loving it too.  I just love the curled up hands in this shot.

Say it with me “Awwwww!!!”

Are you married?  When was the last time you had a photo (or portrait even) taken of just you and your spouse?   Go ahead and think… I’ll wait.  Yeah, that’s what I thought.  Stay tuned to the blog this week for an amazing blog contest!!

Also, are you a fan on facebook?  You should be!!!  I’m announcing a special for facebook fans ONLY right now!  Go go go!!  It’s a limited time offer!!  Just search Jennifer Mauren Photography and “like” the page!!

Did you think I forgot about this place?  Heck no!!  But, life has been busy (boy, is that the understatement of the year!!!)

1)  Let’s start with the first and foremost!  Boden Cooper Dunlap is here!!  ON his due date (not like his tardy brother who was 12 days overdue).  He was 8# 14oz and 20in  long.  He had his 6 week check up yesterday and is 13 lbs 11 oz and 24.5 in long!  He’s growing like CRAZY and is already in a size 2 diaper and is outgrowing his second set of clothes!!  You know, mom’s always say that “it goes so fast” and with him, it literally does!!!  I am editing his newborn pics, but here’s a snapshot or two from his first days.

2)  The next question is always… “How is life with the new baby for the rest of the family?”  Well, Carter LOVES his little brother, but is testing my patience with not wanting to listen.  Some of it is normal 2 year old shenanigans, some of it is fueled by mom having to divide her attention.  All normal.  All COMPLETELY frustrating!!!  LOL!

3)  Miles for Moffitt!!  In a little over a week me, my dad, my cousin Kim (who is flying in), my brother (only one, the other is fishing a tournament that day), a cousin and her fiance, and a spattering of other friends are going to be walking/running Miles for Moffitt.  I ran this race 2 years ago when mom was still in the hospital recovering from her surgery to remove the cancer from her colon.  This year we do it in honor and memory of her.  I’ll have Boden with me, and not sure if I’ll bring the “big” camera… but rest assured, there’ll be some sort of camera there and I’ll share photos!!  If you’d like to donate to Miles for Moffitt, we have a donation page set up for “Songbyrd’s Army” (that is what we’ve named ourselves).  Go to this website:  http://www.active.com/donate/milesformoffitt2010/songbyrd and you can either donate, or register for the event there!  Make sure you choose Songbyrd’s Army from the drop down box if you want to register for it!!

4)  Stay tuned in the next week for an AWESOME contest for a FREE SESSION!!  I’m brainstorming the details, but I want to give back and have some fun shooting, so don’t go too far!

5)  I am “back” from maternity leave for shooting June 1st!  So, if you’d like to book your sessions, drop me an email at JenniferMauren@gmail.com and we’ll get a session booked!  I’m loving shooting my new baby, but am excited to get back out there and shoot some newborns, children, families, and seniors too!

5 on friday!!

1)  Carter has started to say “I love you” unprompted.  Melts me everytime.  He seems to do it in the proper context too, which melts me even more.  This week I was typing an email to a friend who lost her dear daughter at just 9 days old.  I was crying as I typed the email, when Carter walked up to me, pulled on my sleeve, and said “Mama?  Yi Yuh You” (Mama?  I love you).  He then climbed in my lap, put his head on my shoulder and repeated it 2-3 more times.  He’s a heart melter, for sure!

2) I’ve mentioned on my facebook (and in the #1 above) about the Gilmore family.  Mara and I were due about a month apart.  We were so excited to be pregnant together.  Mara’s sister Megan (Carter’s swim instructor) and I had our boys about 3 weeks apart and it was looking like Mara and I would have our children about that distance apart too.  Well, Mara had to deliver early due to a life threatening condition called Hydrops to baby Grace.  Baby Grace fought and fought for 9 days and passed away on Sunday night.  Many many prayers to the Gilmore family!

3) I guess since I’m 32 weeks, it’s time to come to grips with the idea that there will be a baby coming home with us soon.  We have the nursery all set to go (as it’s Carter’s nursery) but Carter’s big boy room is still a cluttered office/workout room.  Yeah.  We better get moving on that.

4) For all wondering, I am shooting sessions until mid-March.   I am due March 23rd, but went 12 days overdue with Carter and have a funny feeling that will be the case this time too.  My mom was never less than 2 weeks overdue with myself and my 2 brothers, so I’m planning on April   I’ll be resuming sessions about the first week of June.  I’ll definitely have the blog fired up to share pictures of the new baby and some other fun stuff!!

5) I went on vacation after Christmas to North Carolina.  It was dual purpose.  We stopped in Charlotte because that’s where my sister-in-law and her family live!  Also, my cousin, Kim, lives in Raleigh.  We usually make stops at both places, but this year was special exception.  Kim (who is way more like a sister than a cousin… our mom’s raised us as sisters, not just cousins) delivered a healthy baby boy on Dec. 23rd (yes, you’ll see pics of him here soon, I promise).  So Richie, Carter, and I drove to Charlotte and then I left the next day to head to Raleigh by myself to help out Kim and take some pictures.  I managed to squeeze in time for a session with new big sister, L, and her cousin, E!!!  These girls kept me moving, that’s for sure!!  L is a PRIME candidate for bribing, and let me tell ya, we did plenty of that!!  Here’s some of my faves from their session!!

These 2 girls, may be super active, but they adore each other!

First up, is the fabulous Miss L.

Next up was little cousin, E.  She has that BEAUTIFUL china doll face!!  Just scrumptious!!

I’ll be back soon with some of the new little brother’s session!  Enjoy H family!!