Happy Valentines Day!!! I have to admit, I’m not a huge fan of this (commercial) holiday, I am not one who gets too excited about jewelry & roses or fancy dining. I am just not a flower and diamonds kind of girl…I much prefer daisies or a colorful spring bouquet to roses, and I really prefer “just because” flowers any other day of the week. Over the past 16 years of being together, my husband has always found the perfect balance and has always been so great to me. I typically do get flowers on Valentines Day because he firmly believes that just because I say he doesn’t have to or shouldn’t spend the money he better in case its one of those “she says no but means yes” moments, but truthfully he is just a wonderful husband! With all that said, the thing I can say that I do love about Valentines Day is the reminder to slow down and count your blessings for all those that you love and who love you. Valentine’s Day doesn’t just have to be about that “someone special”, it should be a day to just pick up the phone and say “I love you” to all those that mean so much to you, something we should really do on a daily basis. I try not to make Valentines Day too commercial in our house, we try and limit the candy and all the sweets that seem to naturally be a part of this holiday with my girls. Tonight we will continue our tradition of having home cooked lasagna & movie night as we have done for the past 16 years. Its something that got started way back when we first starting dating and has continued for so long now that our girls even look forward to it. As I was trying to decide what movies to watch tonight, these two came to mind so I thought I’d share a clip from each, please excuse the horrible quality and subtitles from the youtube links….. Hopefully these will put a little smile on your face and be a gentle reminder that love it truly all we need. So go enjoy the day with those you love, Happy Valentine’s Day!!!!
I must admit its been awhile since I updated the blog, that doesn’t mean things have not been super busy at the studio, in fact just the opposite! The fall holiday season was busier than ever, and my typical slow January where I get to catch up hasn’t exactly been slow, and for that I am thankful! I have so many new ideas and things I hope to unveil in this new year I can hardly sleep at night. I beyond thankful that I am able to do what I love and meet so many wonderful families, documenting their family story.
So it is time to catch up on some of the wonderful families and babies I’ve had the opportunity to hang out with over the past few months. Meet baby *S* she was absolutely perfect at the session, she was so sleepy and bendable it was wonderful. She has the most wonderful, parents and is blessed to have a *big* brother who is equally as beautiful as his baby sister. He was such a little gentlemen at the session and I have no doubt he is going to be a huge help to his parents and have so much to teach his baby sister. It was so wonderful to spend a few hours with such a beautiful family inside and out.
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Wishing you and your family a very Happy & Healthy 2011! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to photograph your children and babies this past year. Tampa has the most beautiful families inside and out and I am truly blessed to be doing what I love. It seems over the past few weeks I’ve gotten the news that lots of my little newborn clients are now going to be big brothers and sisters so I look forward to seeing you each as your families grow and I look forward to photographing many more new families around Tampa Bay in the new year.
I thought it might be fun to do a few “New Year Photos” of my girls, well lets just say it was not so much fun, lol…. those noise makers if only I could pull the squeakers out…. My idea of Peace, Love & Happiness didn’t get executed as planned, but it makes me laugh just to look at these images, so I thought they might put a smile on your face too….
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Well I survived the holiday rush, the one I’ve come to know so very well that begins in September and wraps up, well about yesterday, December 20th…. In the past few months I’ve had the opportunity to photograph the most beautiful babies, children and families in Tampa and the surrounding areas and even a few families visiting the Tampa area from out of state. I’ve seen some familiar faces that have become my friends over the past few years, I’ve watched families expand, babies grow up into big brothers and sisters and I’ve met some new wonderful families in this past year. It has truly been an honor working with each and every one of you and that you chose me to document the most important moments in your lives. It was a busy holiday season, and at times it felt a bit like Santa’s Workshop designing all the beautiful Christmas cards, and ordering all of the canvases, beautiful wall portraits and gift prints that are sure to put some smiles on some very special grandparent’s faces. I must admit that I am a bit sad the season has ended in my studio workshop however I am beyond ready for some rest and relaxation with my hubby & three little ones. The days and nights are late for me during the *season*, our holiday photos are always the last to be taken, often when my creativity is drained and I am physically exhausted and this year was no exception. I almost passed on a holiday photo card for my family this year and on cards all together, and as I approached the last possible opportunity to take them I made myself get out there and do it, and I am so thankful I did. The conditions were not perfect, I bought these cute little dresses for my girls from crewcuts never considering the temperature because we live in Florida and its never “Freezing” here, well as you all know last week was COLD, FREEZING COLD! I had my heart set on using the girls’ pink gingerbread playhouse as the backdrop and not using my studio so I had to scrub the first session because it was way to cold for my girls outside. So finally it warmed up just enough, well not really but it was a bit better in the high 50s than days previous and to show my girls I was a team player I went out without a jacket on so I could freeze with them…. I had a plan and I knew I had to work quick and believe it or not my girls were pretty cooperative and things were going great until…………….my camera died, well I don’t think I have to put it out to pasture but it certainly is in need of an extended hospital visit. I have back-up equipment that I always bring with me to my sessions, just in case something like this happens however, it was my better camera, my fourth child I sometimes call it, so I decided it was a sign to call a wrap on the Griffin Family Holiday Session, after-all it was cold, my girls had done fairly well, at least they were all standing in the same frame which is a victory, so with just a handful of images to work with I designed our 2010 Christmas card, which happens to be my favorite to date. It didn’t come out as I had envisioned it in my mind, but I think it fell perfectly into place. Sometimes things happen for a reason and sometimes you just have to go with the flow, and sometimes they turn out even better than you hoped for. Seems like that has been the theme for me this past year, many things did not go as planned, and I’ve realized some things happen for a reason, however 2010 turned out to be better than I could ever hope for. Thank you to each and everyone of you who chose Jennifer Griffin Photography to capture your precious children and freeze time, I hope the images I created will put smiles on your face for many, many years to come. I wish you each a very blessed holiday season and new year.
*front*
*inside spread*
*back*
Oh – and no worries about my camera! Santa came a little early, like 10:30 the next morning early (I love overnight delivery) so with a new camera in hand, I didn’t even miss a beat. My old camera (aka the fourth child) will be spending the holidays with Nikon this year.
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xoxoThis sweet baby girl has been featured on my blog a few times now, I have gotten to know her and her family well over the past year. I first met mom & dad at the maternity session and immediately feel in love with them. They are the most beautiful people inside and out and I will never forget the joy they expressed while waiting on baby Grace to make her arrival. Since her birth I have photographed Grace four times now, and each time I fall more and more in love with her as well. She is has the same sweet personality as her parents and a love for life just like her parents. It is such a joy for me to watch the babies I photograph grow up and start walking, talking, and letting their personalities shine. Baby Grace just celebrated her first birthday and it was my honor to photograph yet another milestone for this beautiful family. We decided to go on location and let Grace “explore” as most one year olds do not like to sit in one place. Tampa has many beautiful locations for me to chose from as a photographer and to make the session even better we chose to incorporate their favorite family activity of reading together! I hope many many years from now, they will look back at these images and remember when little Grace used to cuddle up in their lap and that baby Grace will see the joy and love that her parents had for her….
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