WARNING:  If you are trying to avoid craving sweets…. do not scroll down!! 

I was so happy to get to spend a short amount of time at Giovanni’s First Birthday Party!!  The party was held at the adorable Cafe Fontana in Mapleshade, NJ.  Gio’s creative and talented mom put together the goldfish themed party complete with delicious (and many homemade!) sweets, bowls of goldfish, personalized place cards and fully packed party favor buckets for the kids!  I consider her to be a mad party planner and think that she should go into business!  Wouldn’t you agree?

I wish that I could have stayed longer as I’m sure it continued to be a wonderful party.  That said, I am glad that I got to be there long enough to see the kids get their faces painted and catch a few smiles from the people that snuck some treats in before lunch (myself included!)

Happy Birthday, Giovanni!  At one, you are already a really awesome little dude!

Giovanni was passed around a lot that day but really lit up when he got to crawl around on the floor!

I’ve gotten to photograph Dana, John and their amazing baby boy, Oliver, before he was born and soon after.  Now that he is 6 months and growing, he continues to get more and more adorable.  It was a pleasure to get to spend an afternoon with Dana & Oliver.  Though I don’t know that I could fully capture the “joy of motherhood”, I think this comes fairly close.  Look how happy she is! 

View their past portrait sessions here:  http://melissahassey.com/2011/06/maternity-portraits-2/

and here: http://melissahassey.com/2011/09/its-a-boy-newborn-portraits/

Anyway, Happy Birthday Mrs. Mullany!  I hope you had a Phantastic time celebrating!! 

The birthday girl gets some love from the Phillie Phanatic:

There’s always one wild person that really gets into dancing with the Phanatic….  Cross it off your bucket list, Dale!

….and this is the fun and goofy group of Hope Afloat women with the birthday girl (that’s my mom in silver).

http://fototails.wordpress.com/2012/01/02/a-letter-on-my-doorstep-portraits-are-more-than-paper/

This morning I woke to an anonymous, absurd and angry email regarding my pricing.  At first, I was hurt.  I work very hard to ensure that my clients are happy and that I provide and capture moments that they can treasure forever.  Though I know and understand that my pricing may be too much for some, I like to think that the photographs themselves are priceless.  And, honestly, if I could do this for free all of the time, I would!

My second reaction to the email was to laugh.  This person really took the time to write an angry email using curse words and childish comments.  Wow.  I had to smile as this was my first official “hate mail” and I’m thinking that means that I am moving on up.   Ha!

Anyway, the post by this photographer helped to put things back into perspective.  I’m not smart enough to cure cancer , I’m not steady enough to be a surgeon, I’m not funny enough to be a comedian and make you laugh but hopefully I’m just talented enough to help families preserve the precious moments that they have with each other.  All I’ve ever wanted out of any job is gratification and the knowledge that I can do something that means something to others.  Being a photographer gives that 100 fold!  The letter below is certainly proof.

There will be no portrait photos in this post.  This letter wasn’t mailed – it was at my doorstep when I got home a couple months ago.  I read it, I cried, and read it again – probably a hundred times by now.  It wasn’t easy to read – and honestly, as much as it validates what I do for a living – I wasn’t sure I was going to share it either – Until today, when a past client said that my print prices were too expensive.  If you choose to read through the letter, you will know why I’ve finally chosen to share it.

July 2nd, 2011

Jeanine - 

Today I am writing for a couple of reasons.  I have some quiet time at the moment and need to get a couple of things off my mind.  I will leave this for my husband to deliver to you when he is ready.

You photographed my wedding, you photographed my first pregnancy and my first baby.  I contacted you awhile back to photograph my 2nd child and family.  After getting prices and realizing I would want all of the pictures as we love your work – I decided against spending $500+ – which is what I normally spend for portraits and prints with you..  Please know it is not because I don’t value your amazing eye, or how much we love the experience.

That week that I decided to NOT do a session with you, this is how I spent some money.

On Sunday I called and cancelled our session.  Monday I went out and got my hair cut ($39+tip), and colored ($65), Thursday I had my nails done ($24), my family went out to dinner at a somewhat expensive restaurant for no particular reason costing us $79 + tip.  This was just 4 days since canceling our session, already totaling over $200 for un necessary things.  My nails only lasted about 2 weeks, my hair is gone, and seven weeks passed when I got the phone call from our doctor.  It was not something I expected and the cancer has spread very quickly.  I will be leaving my husband, my 6 year old girl and my now 2 year old – not by choice.  It is very hard for me to talk about it which is why I need to write you.

I watch your Facebook page and your posts about the value of a photo and if I could give back all of those things that I purchased this few weeks after I cancelled my session with you, knowing what I know now, and have that session, well… I would do it in a heartbeat. 

Now my time is done and there are no more chances for me.  The next time someone cancels a session – my wish is that you forward this letter to them.  Time is fragile, it is gone before you know you had it.  If you charged $200 for one print it wouldn’t be enough for what it is actually worth.  I cringe to think that my priorities were a manicure over a memory to pass onto my babies and husband.

My love and thanks for what you have given us from past photos.  I am so sorry that I did not see it as more than paper until now.

Karen L.

We first met at the Doylestown Inn for some portraits of Kristin and Chris separately with their guys and gals.  From there, we headed down the road to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church for a beautiful Mass/ Ceremony where they first saw each other.  The reception followed at Fonthill which is a gorgeous and historic location.  Also, I can’t say enough good things about their catering team…. very efficient!  The reception was a blast!!  There were so many people on the dance floor and lots of adorable kids running around too!  A really wonderful wedding overall!

Congratulations, Kristin & Chris!!  I wish you much love and happiness in your life together!  Thank you for allowing me to capture these moments for you.

We did everything together it seems and I have some really great memories from those times.  Cari is 3 years older than I am and so, officially, she was really my sister’s friend.  Even still, I tagged along everywhere just like any annoying little sister.  One memory that stands out is when I begged to go to Cari’s birthday party.  Everything was going great until her parents went upstairs.  Suddenly the lights went off and scary movies were playing.  I even remember getting locked into a hallway with a boy for “7 minutes in heaven”.  It was more like 7 minutes of AWKWARD!!  After that I decided that I wasn’t quite ready to grow up just yet.  I was still happy climbing trees and playing with bugs (I think I still am).

Here are a couple of photos of us and some of our siblings….

As for the portrait session, it was great!  Chad (the dad) had the great idea of photographing at the Eastern State Penitentiary, a location that I have always been fond of for it’s history and peeling paint/ textured walls.  Jordyn & Luke (the adorable kiddos) were great and I think that they had a lot of fun exploring this creepy space.  Towards the end of our time there we were told that we actually weren’t allowed to photograph there.  Go figure!  Well, at least we got some portraits in before we were reprimanded.

It was great catching up with Cari and photographing her family.  It’s always amazing to see someone from your childhood.  It’s a great reminder of where you came from and how time has passed.  It’s funny, we used to pretend we were married with kids….

There is certainly an irony to them being so happy in a penitentiary…. but I just couldn’t get them to stop smiling. 

After my initial meetings with Julia & Michael, I knew this was going to be a fantastic wedding!  We have lots in common… like our love of beer, music and (Julia) just about anything URBN/ Anthropologie  (ex:  her adorable BHLDN dress).   Their intimate ceremony was held outside just before the rain started.  The food was delicious, the crowd was excited and the playlist…. well, it was killer! 

Also, I have to add that I was super impressed with Julia for waking up that morning and going to a Lithe Method class.  Not only is it impressive that she worked out on the morning of her wedding day but if you have taken a lithe class you will know…. it is challenging!!

Congratulations again, Michael & Julia!  Thank you for being so much fun and for allowing me to capture these moments for you.  It was a blast!

It rained.  So what!?  At Terrain, it doesn’t matter.  The location was somehow even more romantic with the rain.  They offered umbrellas and the bonfire continued to flame on!

Sparklers to end the evening!!

What type of photography do you do? and how would you classify it?

Primarily, I am a portrait and wedding photographer. I am particularly interested in capturing people, relationships and telling a story.

In your opinion, what is the most important thing to keep in mind about portraits?

When photographing portraits, it is important to be honest and open minded as well as to develop a relationship with the client. In my opinion, capturing the best light and most interesting composition is secondary to creating an enjoyable experience for the subjects.

Each portrait session offers me a chance to grow and learn more about photography, myself, the people that I am with and life in general. Developing a relationship with the subjects and making them feel comfortable is very important to me. I am always open minded to other people’s situations, personalities, cultures, interests and so on. It is heartwarming to me when a person opens up and lets me into the private moments of their lives. It makes me feel that what I do is important.

What are some challenges that you face and how do you overcome that?

Some of the challenges that I face as a photographer are often in regards to lighting, weather and location. Uncontrollable elements constantly keep me on my toes and challenge my creativity.

Staying fresh, inspired and creative can be difficult. I try to approach each portrait session as a unique challenge. I have to constantly push myself to see things in a new, different and unique way. I chase light and reflections and am always looking for a new way to capture a location/ situation/ person(s).

How do you come up with the ideas and settings for your photo shoots?

I am drawn to locations with texture and personality. Particularly, I am drawn to urban settings. I love a location where there is proof that people have been there or that time has passed.

In addition, locations that are significant to the subject is always very important. Finding places that they feel comfortable in or represents them well is always a priority. I strive to have my photographs tell a story or capture a time in someone’s life.

Often times choosing a location is a collaboration with the subject(s). Again, with getting to know them a little bit and understanding what they want to capture through the portrait session, I can often suggest places based on that information.

Some days, I will just walk around areas that I may like and take photographs. Then I store ideas away for a client that I think would fit that particular location. There are lots of venues and locations that I look forward to working at in the future!

What type of lighting do you use and how is that achieved?

Choosing how to light a subject is dependent upon many factors such as what the effect I am trying to achieve is as well as how the location lends itself to creating that effect.

I often prefer to use natural light. Photographing just before sunset often gives a dreamier, more saturated and gentler light that is often ideal for portraits. I also love to find unique and dramatic light through windows, streetlights at night, car lights, etc.

In certain situations I use my on and off camera speedlites (Canon 580 EX) for fill flash or backlighting to achieve a particular effect. Speedlites are ideal for me since I tend to work fast and move around quite a bit. This system allows me to move the lights around without wires or bulky/ heavy equipment. To trigger the speedlites, I use a wireless transmitter system that syncs the lights to flash at the precise moment that I press the shutter.

I also, at times, use softboxes, umbrellas, reflectors and gobos (which block the light).

How do you attempt to create eye catching photos?

Creating an eye catching photograph has a lot to do with trial, error, effort planning and good luck! I always am looking for ways to see things in a unique way or taking the ordinary and making it extraordinary. An eye catching photograph is usually a combination/ perfect storm of composition, subject, lighting and exposure. This can be something that is well thought out in advance or something that happens organically. Often times it is about being in the right place at the right time…. with a camera!

I do feel that the more practice and time that one spends photographing and pursuing the craft, the more likely they are to create eye catching photographs.

How do you incorporate your subject’s personality and style into your photos?

Again, getting to know my client and asking them questions about themselves is very important to me. Finding out what they are passionate about, what their personalities are like, what is important to them, etc… I have a list of questions that I like to ask before the portrait session to help to better understand the subjects.

As the client reveals aspects of their life, I often reveal aspects of mine as well. This is often how we become friends. It is a two way relationship. Though it is their life and relationships that I am photographing it is my eye and personality that is capturing it.

Ansel Adams once said, “There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer.”

In the case of portrait photography there are at least 3 people: the photographer, the viewer and the subject.

Please describe your style in a few sentences.

Through photography, I aim to capture natural moments that tell a story in a unique and interesting way. My style is unrehearsed, patient, quirky, passionate and fun.

“If I could say it in words, I wouldn’t need to photograph.”

- Lewis Hine