Mini sessions are a BIG DEAL. They’re a big deal because I do not offer them throughout the year. It’s a great way to get in front of the camera for a few minutes, get some AMAZING photos of your kids, your family, or even if yourself! I have decided to offer them this fall as harvest mini sessions. I styled the stage to be pumpkins, straw, corn stalks, an old fence, and a wood floor. I love these, I love how they came out, and I love how much fun it was to design it. Styled shoots make me super happy! I love them. If I could do them ALL THE TIME, I would, easily, in a heartbeat! I wanted to incorporate some white pumpkins. I dont know why, but I feel like they are just so chic, and fancy. And luckily, one of the little ladies that showed up had on WHITE with CHEETAH! So stinkin’ adorable! I can’t stand it. I do however, pride myself knowing that my clients are by far the best dressed, ever. Way to go everyone, keep it coming! I adore the attention you give your families. It makes my job super easy! So, check out what I did this fall, and remember this will happen again NEXT FALL! (Ya know, and christmas too!)

“You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy, when skies are gray.
You’ll never know dear, how much I love you, please don’t take… my sunshine away.

The other night dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreampt I held you in my arms.
When I awoke dear, I was mistaken, so please don’t take.. my sunshine away.

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy, when skies are gray.
You’ll never know dear, how much I love you, please don’t take… my sunshine away.”

This is the MOST requested song I sing to my girls at night before bed. They love it. They love this song SO MUCH, they requested it be played at our wedding in September. Their exact words were, “Mommy, can you and Daddy dance with us to our own special song?” … the words that bled from my heart with total and utter love, “OMG YES, YES WHAT SONG?” So, You are my Sunshine is kind of a thing in our home.

We don’t always have good days, but we don’t always have bad days. As parents, it takes patience, stength, and at times we just need to walk away.

Children don’t always want to smile, they don’t always want their photos taken. As a photographer AND a Mom. This is super hard and has always been challenging. Our children will smile for everyone else but us. It’s just like the old saying, “The Shoemakers children have no shoes”. Yep, this photographer doesn’t have that many photos of us. We don’t always have the time to set up the tripod, the timer, and hope for a good photo. So, we drive around, pull over on the side of the road for potty breaks, we find beautiful fields of flowers. We meet farmers, and we TRY our best.

It’s not always a perfect experience, and sometimes I get upset, because I really, really just want those pretty pictures of my babies. Then I get home. I unload my cards, I preview the photos. I sit here and smile, because even though my babies didn’t cooperate THAT WELL, they’re beautiful because these photos are THEM. 100% THEM. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I look at these pictures and I smile for a few reasons. Want to know why? Well, I’m going to tell you anyway…

1. Toni doesn’t like to wear dresses. Instead, she’s wearing capri’s, a white undershirt tank top, and a tunic.
2. Gianna is wearing the dress we bought her for her preschool graduation. She will be in Kindegarden this year. This makes me so proud, and so sad for her to be growing up… so fast.
3. They both chose which bow color to wear. Their favorite colors are pink and purple. This is their individuality shining through.
4. Toni did not want to smile, all she wanted was ice cream. Her saddness was pure, the kind kids have when their biggest battle is what kind of ice cream they want, and if they will get it.
5. Gianna, lifted her hand up and played with her hair like I told her to. She is always wearing a toe ring on her pointer finger, because I gave it to her to wear to feel pretty. She felt so, so very pretty.
6. And lastly, the sunflowers were $0.50 cents, the owner of this property was selling them at a stand with a metal box for the money. His phone number was listed and said something like, “call us if you have a question, we dont bite!”. I left $5.00 in the box, and grabbed 4. I spoke with him and he said I could visit any time I’d like to take pictures in front of his flowers. He is the sweetest man, ever.
7. The girls were standing in the dirt, because they were terrified of the bee’s. Honestly, they screamed bloody murder. I explained to them they just want the pollen and that they’re trying to make honey. But you know, kids don’t listen very well, and they would NOT go back into the flowers.
8. Pink flip flops, because thats just how they roll in the summer.
9. The blurry yellow and green was Toni’s flowers that she didn’t want to hold. So I held them and made this work beautifully.
10. Last but not least, this is proof that I am able to get beautiful images of my children, even if they aren’t happy about it. It works because they’re beautiful, and nothing can ever change that. Unless of course, I have ice cream with me at the time of the shoot.

I got to do something extremely special today. I got to shoot my very first newborn in the hospital. His name is Brandon Christopher, Jr… and he is my new baby nephew! I can’t tell you how amazing of an experience this was, having two children of my own I remember being in that hospital bed, and feeling so warn out. As a photographer, I couldn’t take a lot of pictures, I just wanted to sleep and hold my baby. I didn’t think about documenting this moment. Now, I do have a lot of iPhone pictures that to this day I love, because it’s the memory that was captured, and really that is what is important. Now, being on the other side, I feel like I am able to get an outside look for the new mommy and capture this experence how it was, and preserve these memories for her, the daddy and the little baby. I wish I had a photographer come visit me, and give me images like this. I really hope she loves them, and kisses that little baby face each and every single day! (who am I kidding, I know she will! (And I’m pretty sure everyone else will too). So, I know you’re excited to meet him! I am proud to introduce to the world, the new Brandon Christopher, Jr.

Welcome to the world sweet baby boy 😉

It’s not everyday you get to take pictures in a place that you grew up! I love Patiot Park, however it wasn’t always called that. When I was a kid, we called it the “The Municipal Complex” or, as us kids referred to it as – “The Pit”. Thats right. It was a giant hole. We were told it would be an ice skating rink one day. That idea obviouslly fell through, but today its beautiful. There is a gorgeous lake that is stocked with fish for families to come together and do some relaxing, kick back and teach your kids how to fish. It’s a beautiful place with benches to honor your loved ones who have passed. They even have a K9 memorial, which always takes my breath away. Not only that, but the playground is right there, and back in my day (dusts the shoulder off) it was a WOOD playground. Now it’s really awesome, has super bright colors, it’s just a greay place for family!

So on this particular day, I got to photo a beautiful family, (with a super smart Mom!) Yep, she was the winner in my “Guess what is it contest!”. I shot a ring on something that noone could guess! I had guesses like an ice cube, a water filled zip lock bag. Nope – all wrong. She was the ONLY one who guessed a gazing ball! So, she got a free session!

So here it is! She has SUCH a perfect family! Enjoy!

I am SO excited about this summer’s boudoir marathon! Back in January we had an amazing marathon at the Chelsea Hotel in Atlantic City. I went ahead and got a suite for the night and it was PERFECT! Having the extra space to get hair and makeup done, while keeping the bed area clean and uncluttered for photos was amazing! Now, it’s summertime and what a better idea than to have a boudoir session at one of the most amazing suites ever? If you don’t know about the House of Blues Suite you are truly missing out! It’s pretty pricey but totally worth it! It has a very eclectic feel and its just perfect for a boudoir marathon! We will have pink champagne, munchies, girly music and a lot of fun! I can’t wait, it’s only in a few weeks, but its going to be EPIC!

If you’ve thought about having a boudoir session done, THIS is the time to do it! I only offer these two times a year (one winter, and one summer)!

They make the PERFECT gift for your husband, boyfriend, fiancé, or partner! (Even if you’re single, they’re super empowering and an super fun night out with friends!)

To book, email Lauren@bokehlovephotography.net

xoxo,
Lauren
Bokeh Love Photography