"What greater thing is there for human souls than to feel that they are joined for life - to be with each other in silent unspeakable memories."

George Eliot

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My name is Jennifer Mendoza Stanelle. I photograph families, at all ages and stages.

By families, I mean everyone from couples, to babies, to senior citizens. My goal is to create a portrait with you that captures where your family is in this moment in time.

Visit my Portfolio pages for samples of my work. Keep in mind that if you choose to work with me, your photos will not be reproductions of what you see there. Your portraits will be as unique as your family. Just like you, my work is always evolving.

Follow me here on the blog (posts are below). You can also join me on Facebook or Twitter. In addition to photography, I am interested in being the best wife, mom, sister, friend, daughter and member of my community - locally and globally - I can be. I don't claim to be superwoman, by any means. It's a crazy juggling act in which I'm doing the best I can. Occasionally, I will blog about things that relate to those topics as well.

And to answer one of the questions I get asked most: You can call me Jen, Jenny, Jennifer, Mendoza or Stanelle. I get and respond to them all!

Photos of me by Elle Photography.

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I’m not afraid to admit to you one of my deepest fears. If all goes well, it is bound to happen. It is my girls becoming ‘tweens and teens. I have fretted about how I will handle it since before they were born. Seriously.

Last week, I met an amazing 11 year old girl who gave me hope. Sweet, smart, talented, athletic, mature and self-confident. Wow. I was so impressed by how at ease she was with herself and how gracious she was with me. I wish I’d been that together at her age. I pray that my girls will be.

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Here are highlights from a session I had with a  sweet tree-climbing, spiderman loving big brother and his spunky princess of a baby sister.

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Big brothers rule. Thank goodness, K seems to use his power benevolently.

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I often joke with CM that a princess’s life is pretty boring. I mean, what do they actually DO? Miss L informed me that they dance with princes all day. Then she showed me her moves.

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That is the first of Thomas Jefferson’s “10 Rules to Live By” that confront me every day at the bottom of our steps. While I could deliberate, tweak, add, subtract, and otherwise edit this new version of my blog until the end of time, I decided to seize on the theme that has been present in my photography endeavor from the start. That is, the best time to act is NOW. There will be some minor changes in the next few days, but I’m proud to start off year two of Jennifer Mendoza Photography with my new and improved blogsite.

I hope you will find it to be more useful and easier to navigate than the previous version. This one does a better job of being a one-stop-shop, as a portfolio site, blog, and proofing/ordering site (coming soon). And the best thing about this site? Bigger pictures! Hooray for that.



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I'm a photographer, not a hair stylist.

Posted on January 14, 2010

VC has needed a haircut for longer than I care to admit. I don’t know what it says about me, but I’m not the kind of mom who’s very intent – or good – at styling and accessorizing my girls’ hair. Finally, at lunch one day, I could take the bang mask no longer. I grabbed kitchen scissors and…

I got about two good snips in and she hasn’t let me near her since. She’s no dummy. Eventually I will get a professional to fix it, but when else in life can you get away with a hack job like this and still look so adorable?

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  • Dolores says:




Being the youngest child of my family, and married to a first-born, I used to find it bordering on the ridiculous when my mother in law would lovingly say, “there’s just something special about the first one.” I’m not getting myself into trouble by posting this. T’s mom has long known how I felt by my eyerolls and elbows to T’s side.

But, I have to admit, it’s true. Not that the first is better or more loved. It’s that this child made you parents for the first time, and in the most traditional sense, a family. Right or wrong, so much of the joy, fear, excitement, stress and love that comes with that shift gets associated with your first child.

That’s what I was thinking about when I met this sweet and calm new family. Welcome to the world, baby A!

Three generations…

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First, Happy New Year to all! I am very aware that 2009 was not a kind year to many. I am filled with gratitude that I was able to start a business that I LOVE in such a tumultuous time. Huge thanks to all of you who have worked with me, encouraged me,  spread the word for me and generally cheered me on. Exciting things are coming soon as I approach a year since launching this blog which quickly (more quickly than I expected!) turned into my business.

May 2010 be a good year for all of us. May we cherish every good thing, especially the people, in our lives, and may the bad be bearable, short-lived, and meaningful in the long run.

Here is a sneak peek from my first session of 2010! I know since mom and dad are on my Facebook, that they are anxious to see them! You may remember this little guy from here.

This time, big brother joined us. And, oh my goodness, they were so sweet together! I swear I did not ask them to pose for any of these. I just plopped them on the grass…

Baby B is one very loved, and kissed, little boy.

This one with mom made me want to cry. I just know (and LOVE) that feeling.

Lastly, a couple of big brother. As a friend of mine says of her daughter, this look feels like a little preview of the teen years…look out!

And then just like that, he’s back to little boy.

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I had the priviledge of photographing a special day in the life of a remarkable family. The P family welcomed home their “husband, father, and hero”. All the words I can think of right now to express my admiration and appreciation for all military families and this one in particular, fall short and have been said a million times. To put it simply, I am humbled and honored to realize the sacrifice that every member of a military family makes. I was thrilled to be invited to capture this happy event for them.

After months of counting down the days, those last few minutes seem to take an eternity.

It was a cool and windy day, but everyone had their special outfits on that they were not about to cover up with jackets. Here are some friends waiting for their daddies.

Every one is mingling, congratulating each on other on making it to this day, trying to be patient. Then all of a sudden, here’s the plane!

Not sure if you can see it on your screen, but I love the hand pressed up against the round window.

They get in formation when they de-plane and before their families can smother them with hugs and kisses.

And, finally…

I hope that I’m not out of line for mentioning this, but I have to tell you that while her husband was away and she was caring for their three gorgeous kids, this beautiful mama somehow managed to complete her doctorate. Incredible! I can barely keep up with email when my husband’s gone for more than a day or two.

Helping with Daddy’s bags, and ready to get out of there and have him to themselves. Can’t blame them.

Thanks again for letting me be a part of this day, Mrs. P(hD), ha ha!  I hope you love these as much as I loved capturing them for you.

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Whew. October and November were so busy. I’m incredibly honored and grateful to all of the families who trusted me with their family’s portraits this year. Now that the Holiday Mini Sessions are all complete, I have just a few more sessions to fit in this month and then I am taking a couple of weeks to enjoy my family and get ready for 2010. There are a lot of exciting things in the works, including a new blog, travel calendar, and a big giveaway! Please stay tuned!

Since so many of my recent sessions were intended to be surprises for Christmas, I can’t share too many of those pictures. That’s all the excuse I need to squeeze in a few of my own family. My girls are lucky to have great relationships with all of their grandparents, great grandparents, and even one great-great grandmother! I cherish every opportunity we have to bring the generations together. These are from Thanksgiving weekend.

VC and her “Papa”

CM and “Memo”, her great-great grandmother.

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  • CJ says:




Miss “Inependent” is turning one this week, and although I heard she was walking, I was surprised by how mobile she already is. Not just walking, but running! This bitty thing made me work! I had so much fun chasing her around in Ortega and Avondale. While I love going into a family’s home to photograph them on their turf, I also have enjoyed exploring our historic neighborhoods on recent sessions.

Many thanks to Let Them Eat Cake! for letting us make a bit of a mess!

I love how you can glimpse Mom and Dad watching attentively from inside and outside the bakery window.

Share this…  share on facebook share on Twitter …and a few more pics from this session will be on the JMP Facebook page (Follow JMP on Facebook).



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When you give someone the gift of a portrait session you are

…giving them an opportunity to record, preserve, and CELEBRATE themselves and their families.

…giving a gift that they will have and cherish for years to come.

…giving them the experience of a photo session where they get to be themselves and then see how beautiful that really is.

Gift Certificates can be purchased in any denomination and can be sent either to you or directly to the recipient.

This is also something you could register for if you are expecting a baby.

Contact me to register or purchase a gift certificate today!

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