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I'm quite enjoying a little bit of calm after the busy wedding season, I must admit! I've been able to take on these family sessions until the end of July and flex my crazy animal noise muscles.
Nic and her two children were the perfect models for me, both gorgeous and willing!
Mackenzie and Harris are as cute as they come, bright eyed and entirely ready for anything I suggested, even if it meant kissing!
Gorgeous!
I love the ease in which children can handle tree climbing. Somewhere along the line adults seem to loose the ability to hold on and look completely at home. Harris asked if I wanted to climb the tree too, I quickly declined. I can promise you those photos would not have been nearly as cute as these!
How beautiful is Mackenzie?
Small boy facials = priceless.
Thanks so much for allowing me to take these images of your beautiful children, Nic!
I've had a bit of experience with kids in my time, mostly because I've had so many myself. They just keep coming out so cute it's really hard to stop!
Some interesting facts you won't know about me:
I've spent 54 months pregnant (that's 4.5 years) and I've spent another 50 or so months feeding. Our six kids and us produce 112 socks a week to wash, hang and match up. Sadly many of the socks never find their mate and spend the rest of their lives at the bottom of a drawer, longing and hopeful.
By the time Charlotte, our youngest, turns 20, we'll have been the parents of teenagers for 20 years. I hadn't done the math on this fact before we decided to have #5 and #6. Ah well. Good thing I like them so much!
So I GET families and I love photographing them, especially in their home environment. It really adds the squishy 'awwwww' factor, I think.
This is Lisa and Matthew and their adorable little guy Oscar.
But what! There's more! Check out 4 week old Finnbar! Super gorgeous!
I have to admit that I snuck a few cuddles in too, he seemed ok about that!
Oscar has only just turned two, and he's full of energy and life. It's kind of funny how still a small child can look in a photo, because in real life they're all over the place! That's great reason #243 to get photos of them.
Lisa and Matthew are such happy relaxed parents!
The stuff that matters:
Every small boy likes trains. Well, every small boy I've ever met anyway!
Thanks guys for inviting me into your home to photograph your beautiful family. I can't wait to show you your lovely big canvas!
Who remembers Angie? Angie is probably one of my most famous brides, her pretty pink wedding dress and dainty legs still grace the home page of this website. Go on, look. I'll wait for you here.
Ok. You remember now? James and Angie were married in 2008 during our first official wedding season. This is them now, still looking fabulous.
Angie was keen to book in a family shoot because now there have been two more added to this gorgeous family since I last saw them. Hamish and Georgina. Seriously cute! We spent some time taking a walk around Grandad's farm while the children stopped and played and at times had to listen to my fairly average (at best!) animal noises. I wonder if that is what the look on Georgie's face is about... "Seriously? You call THAT a cow noise?"
The Wool Shed, always so much cleaning to do...
Coming to the farm is exciting, but being able to go for a ride in the Land Rover takes exciting to a whole other level.
Heart melt. Right there.
Angie and James, thank you so much for asking me to capture the beauty in your gorgeous family. You and your kids are entirely wonderful!
For everyone else, there's still time to book in YOUR family. Taking bookings for June and July only.
I'm so grateful. Like really REALLY grateful. For you. For those of you who repeatedly come back to look at our blog, for my brides and grooms who email and book, and for being sweet and crazy and beautiful and doing all of the crazy stuff we ask you to do. Thank you. Without you guys I'd still be taking my camera with me when I go to buy milk, on the off chance that something amazing might happen that I could take a photo of - for real, that was me a decade ago.
Summer 2011/2012 has been our most exciting season yet and I can hardly believe that it's over for another year, it went by so quickly!
SO BRING ON 2012/2013!
Next season is almost full. I know that there are still plenty of brides and grooms who haven't yet booked their wedding suppliers, or perhaps haven't even set a date. So here's a little update on how things are looking on our calendar as of this moment:
November 2012 to March 2013 - the only Saturdays available at this moment are January 19th, February 2nd and March 30th. There is the odd Friday available, but they're becoming harder to come by too. If you want the pickings of the dates, think either Spring or Autumn.
It's shaping up to be a really awesome season! We've got some gorgeous couples, and starting in September it's all on again!
In the meantime - don't forget we're offering portraits for June and July, so before things get all weddingy around here again, drop us an email info@jessicajones.co.nz and get that portrait session booked!
Laura and Mark grew up in Motueka, a small town a little way out of Nelson. They were both the same age, with mutual friends, but neither of them remember ever meeting the other. That is, until they got set up. I say HORRAH for a matchmaker that can spot a couple like this and hook them up.
During all of our emailing back and forth, I got the feeling from Laura that they were a fun and energetic couple. I figured a wander through town stopping at some bright coloured walls would fit them perfectly. I think I was right!
Check out the gliding grace of Laura and the utter shock on Mark's face as she floats away.
Swapping places and Laura is not in the slightest bit impressed that Mark is leaving without her.
Then we got our 'gansta' on. Laura works in early childhood, and is probably the least gangsta person you'd ever meet.
Then off to the tree. Perhaps they were a little bit disappointed after the trek up the hill to find this spindly tree, but when they saw the images on the camera they totally got it - and promptly apologised to the tree for ever doubting it.
I asked if they could dance. "We can do the robot!"
Here they fully embrace "The Tree".
Beautifulness!
Laura and Mark, thank you so much for coming over and having this shoot with me! And thanks for all the laughs! See you soon!
She was the checkout chick, back when they were both still in high school, and he came through her checkout. She liked the look of him. Soon they were friends and sometime later he asked her to the school formal, and that's about when things turned from just a friendship, to something more serious. Together for years now, it's time to take the next step and get MARRIED! Bring on November!
How's this for a gorgeous couple?
Before we headed off to the countryside, I suggested we should spend a little bit of time in Pollard Park. The light was still a little bit harsh out, so I thought the trees would be just perfect. I know we're officially in winter now, but the autumn colours are still hanging around and making me happy!
Then as the light relaxed a little, we went out to the old buildings and long grass.
Alice and Ben, I had such a great time getting to know you both! The wedding is going to be GORGEOUS!
Time flies. Have you noticed? Nearly three years ago this was me. This moment with my gorgeous Charlotte, only an hour or two old, is probably one of my favourite images of all time. Not because it's artistically brilliant, but in that moment, right there, I was in another realm of happiness, and this image reminds me of that every time I look at it. Time sped, and that tiny little girl grew quickly.
Same tiny girl, not quite so squishy anymore and who sometimes confuses which brush is for what purpose, still makes my heart sing. Only 18 months on from the previous image, and look at how much has changed. Every moment they're learning, growing, and experiencing life. I cheer on their developments, I applaud every new achievement, and yet, these images are a time capsule for me. They transport me back to some of the most precious moments of my life. They are worth more to me than the family silver.
Now, I didn't come here to brag about how gorgeous my babies are (ok, well, maybe a little bit). I wanted to tell you that I'm going to be offering family/children portrait sessions for the months of June and July. You'll know that we don't usually shoot portraits anymore, simply because weddings are pretty well all consuming over the Summer period, so this is rather out of the ordinary.
I want to capture your family and children and the beautiful stages that they are in now. Don't wait to loose those extra 5kg, or when the baby can walk, or when your toddler will follow instructions, because before you know it time has flown by. Sessions can be in your own home capturing the essence of your family at home, or outdoors where we can go run around and have some fun.
If you're keen to get more information, drop us an email at: info@jessicajones.co.nz and we'll send you our prices and information. The photography session is $175, and packages for prints and canvases start at $300, with the $735 package setting you up for Christmas.
There will only be a limited amount of sessions available, and only in June and July.
