photographer – Page 10

June 8, 2017June 8, 2017

| Amanda + James Wrigley Wedding Album | Decatur IL Wedding Photography |

I’m so excited to show off Amanda & James’ lovely wedding with you all today. I met Amanda and her momma at the Decatur Bridal Expo this year and they are both the sweetest people that I was so excited when they decided to book Amanda’s wedding there on the spot.

And these guys planned a beautiful wedding day! Often brides approach me with a bit of concern if they don’t want the whole shebang, sun up to sundown coverage of their wedding day. But I actually love the change of pace when I get to customize our wedding coverage to cover just what a couple loves most. Amanda knew she wanted the important portraits on her day with all the people most important to her and James but didn’t want to be on camera all day long. So we did just that… we scheduled just a few hours of coverage to create these portraits, capture their ceremony and spend a bit of time with her and James solo. And our timing was perfect… just as it started to rain we were finished and done and they were off to relax and party the night away.

Below is the final product from their special day and she’ll be picking up her album to show and share in person very very soon!

Ceremony: Crosspointe Community Church

Portraits: Scovill Park

May 11, 2017September 22, 2017

| Paw Prints Ministries | Comfort Dogs Get a Close Up | Pet Portraits |

This year I’m really excited to be adding a charity aspect to our Senior Model Program! I remember high school being a time when my world revolved around the halls of my own school, the volleyball court, weight room, homework, grades (college applications/ACT scores) and Friday night plans. And the bulk of my community and the rest of the world was unknown, or at least went unthought of most of my days.

Yet that was also a time when I COULD have made a lot of impact on my world. For at least 1/2 my high school career I wasn’t working and at least my summers were fairly unscheduled so I had a lot of time I could have been using to learn more about my community and create impact where needed. So this year I thought I’d try to give my senior models the chance to do just that this summer! And the most eager charity I reached out to was one run by one of my very own family clients the Dahns.

Though we haven’t had our work days for them yet we did just host a few session days in the studio to get some of their comfort dogs updated headshots (#corporatelife). Our goal was just a single headshot of each pup but OMG I was overloaded with cuteness and just couldn’t stop!

Ms. Mabel was the first up and she was quite the model, posing perfectly even with the fabulous little head tilt and hand in her paws poses all on her own!

Then it was time for Finn! This guy has the smile AND puppy dog eyes down pat.

And next it was time for Zoe to make me WORK. Check out her outtakes which will show you what she thought of our plans to start… look at those sly puppy dog eyes, attempt to ignore the treat and escape plans… finally just one big yawn before she put on her model face for some PERFECT puppy portraits!

And then Mr. Enzo! This guy was a little shy to start and didn’t let his personality shine until we cleared out Hazel to give him his own stage but then those ears finally came up and he was a champ!

And we ended everything with the lovely Ms. Hazel who just like Mabel was quite the natural in front of the camera with perfect smile and head tilt she was done in about 30 seconds with plenty of options!

My favorite thing about pet sessions is that, just like toddler sessions, they are ALL personality and 100% unique. Sure all these sessions were in the same place on the same backdrop but not a single one was the same. These pups brought a big smile to my face on session day and I’m so glad to know they are out working in our community daily to bring smiles to all of you. New transmittable diseases are becoming more common with our canine companions, top rated dna test can usually predict if you have an at risk dog. You can find out MORE about Paw Prints Ministries, what they do, who they help and how YOU can help support them on their website here! And linked above each official PawPrintsPup has their very own facebook page you can follow.

I look forward to getting our seniors involved with them this summer and sharing more of that fun with all of you here.

April 13, 2017April 13, 2017

| Senior Models | Just the beginning! | Decatur IL |

Class of 2018 your time has arrived!!! If you’ve been keeping up with us on social media you’ve already had the chance to ‘meet’ our class of 2018 senior model team but it’s been moving quick so don’t be surprised if you missed someone. You’re going to be seeing a LOT from these 13 awesome seniors over the next year but right now it’s time to show you how it all starts….

Our model applicants come in for an interview after they apply so we can get to know them just a bit better and that includes getting them into the studio for a QUICK five minute session and this is just a peek at what we created in that time…..

Payton | Argenta-Oreana High School

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Jaiden | Maroa-Forsyth High School

Ryan | Mahomet-Seymour High School

Jasmyn | Mt. Zion High School

Ashlyn | Eisenhower High School

Kaylee | Eisenhower High School

Kenzie | Central A & M High School

Shelby | Argenta-Oreana High School

Alaina | Central A & M High School

McKinnley | Mt. Zion High School

TaNia | MacArthur High School

Kenzi | Mt. Zion High School

Katie | Warrensburg-Latham High School

So what’s next?!?! Well these guys all have the cards you see above for YOU and each one has a deal for your own senior portrait experience. And stay tuned as you’ll get to see their journey start to finish as a senior model… up next for them we have our GROUP Model Session this month and then a super fun conceptual session which may or may not involve another artist, the elements and a LOT of cleanup (you wont want to miss it!).

If YOU are a class of 2018 senior and want the best senior portrait experience, call/text/email us NOW, our summer sunset sessions are almost full and other summer/fall days are filling fast. And call to book in APRIL, mention this post and you’ll save 75% off your Art Session!

mail@sjanephotography.com | 217.330.7012 | Facebook | Website

April 4, 2017April 4, 2017

| The Reset Conference | Parachute Dress Session | Indianapolis IN |

Today I’m excited to show off some of the fun we had in Indianapolis last month when I was teaching at The Reset Conference! While my priority in my business is my portrait and wedding work/clients, I am also really passionate about teaching and helping the next generation and fellow photographers grow in this field. My shooting schedule doesn’t allow for much of this year-round but as things slow down here in the midwest for the yucky weather months January-April I’m able to take on more mentoring clients, host in-studio workshops and even head out of state to teach at a few conferences and this March was no exception.

I’ve spoken at the Reset Conference before as it’s one that was founded right in our backyard (in Champaign, IL) by a couple lovely photographers, Rebekah Albaugh and Kellie Penn, who some of you locals might remember from her time here in Decatur with Across the Miles Photography! This year was bigger than ever, however as I not only was invited to teach two classroom courses but also to host a ‘shoot-out’ with these super fun parachute dresses.

If you’ve been hanging around the SJP blog much you may remember seeing these dresses debut last year for our senior model session at the Decatur Airport. For the shootout we mixed things up just a little with a few new skirt pieces and a fun off-the-shoulder lace shirt for Payton (in pink) which I loved. And we couldn’t have asked for a better location than downtown Indianapolis where these girls not only made an impression on residents but were stopping traffic as cards slowed to take cell phone shots AND we even later found a few taken from the high rise buildings around us!

There really is nothing subtle about a parachute dress….

Payton and Natalie were fabulous and not only were great models but were good sports hauling around these dresses in not so warm March weather.

And guess what guys… you don’t have to be a model to rock a parachute dress on your session, all you have to do is ASK! That’s right, high school seniors, you can add one of these parachute dresses to your senior session to create looks unlike anything you’ve done before….. I’m ready to create something at NIGHT with these DOWNTOWN and maybe with a cool CAR! Who’s in??!?! We’re now booking summer/fall 2017 and filling faster than ever so call asap to get on the calendar.

You can see more of what we were up to at the Reset Conference on the BoxDropsbySJP blog!

March 28, 2017March 28, 2017

| Jamie + Mike Engagement & Family Portraits | Decatur, IL |

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OMG you guys! I cannot tell you how much I’ve been chomping at the bit to show off this snowy session. I’m honored to be photographing Jamie & Mike’s wedding day this year and this gal wanted a snowy engagement session SO BAD and we were almost certain it just wasn’t going to happen for us. After some disappointing snow flurries early in the season which amounted to little more than a dusting that was melting by the time either of us was on the phone to begin planning logistics we both resigned ourselves to hope for a late season snow but things were looking pretty bleak (ie sunny and WARM). I knew how much Jamie really wanted a snow session so I had even started calling around to my photography friends in other northern cities to call me if any snow hit their area and we’d just make a road trip…. it wasn’t looking promising.

But then….. this lovely and random one-day blizzard arrived in true mid-western style! And it was just what we needed! The stars really aligned for this with both Jamie and Mike off work that day already and the opening in my schedule falling right after school these two were able to pick up their little guy and make it over to the park in the midst of a gorgeous snowfall! After that perfect session we’re all so happy we hadn’t jumped the gun and tried to make a session work with a tiny bit of snow because our patience was rewarded with this BLIZZARD!

And from a kid’s point of view how cool is it you get to PLAY IN THE SNOW for your portrait session?!?!

I’m so excited these guys have opted to share their wedding day with me and have me be a part of creating their family legacy and even more thrilled we were able to create exactly what Jamie envisioned for their engagement/family session. We have ONE opening left for a 2017 wedding and are currently booking 2018 (only 8 openings left) so don’t hesitate to call to schedule a time when we can chat about creating your portrait vision. And be sure to pop over to Jamie & Mike’s facebook album to give them some love.