Anyone who books a Fall session (September through November) with me BEFORE September 1 will get $100 off their session fee.

Fall has been my busiest season in the past, with so many wanting portraits for holiday presents and cards, not to mention taking advantage of the cooler temperatures. Just like all of you, in addition to work, my time in the fall is FULL with school, sports, holiday and other activities so it is a great idea to plan ahead. In order to qualify, I will ask for a 50% deposit and a  tentative commitment to a date and time.

For those of you who took advantage of my holiday offer in the past, this means you could get a full session for the same price of last year’s mini-session.  Whereas the mini-sessions tend to be geared more towards getting “the” image for the Christmas card or Grandmother’s gift, a full session is an opportunity for us go farther and get a wider variety of images, in addition to that great group shot.

And because I hate to post without an image, here is what my calendar from last October looked like. If you want to get on it for this year, you better claim your spot now! For investment information, scroll over the Details tab above and then click on Services.

For this family, the baseball field is a second home. So it was a natural location for their portraits. We braved an impending storm, and a not-thrilled to be photographed ‘tween, and managed to squeeze a fun session into their busy as usual day. This group had such a great dynamic about them. They are a team unto themselves.

Honored in 2009 as an Outstanding Alumna of UNF, Jen is passionate about giving back even while she works tirelessly for her business and her family. What I love about Jen is that she is so positive, encouraging, optimistic and yet real. She acknowledges challenges yet looks for possibilities. I always enjoy talking with her and getting her perspective on art, business, family, and the intersection of the three. Jen reminds me that focusing on relationships is the key to surviving, and succeeding, in both business and personal life even during challenging times.

It was a joy to photograph Jen’s three beautiful kids. Each of them has a distinct personality which I hope I captured. We met at a friend’s riverfront condo which provided colorful, amazing backdrops to these equally colorful kiddos.

To find out more about R. Roberts Gallery:

Located in Historic Avondale

3606 St. Johns Avenue, Jacksonville FL, 32205

904.388.1188

http://www.rrobertsgallery.com/

We squeezed in the above session just before the skies opened up. With the one below, we were not so lucky. We did manage to get a few good shots in anyway, which I will share soon. In the meantime, here is a grainy, rain spotted, little gem. I love how this family made the best of the situation!

Happy Independence Day, everyone!

After many moves myself, I believe the title above is so true. I imagine military families would especially understand this. The crew of the USS Vicksburg were able to make it home just in time for Memorial Day. The G family were one of the many anxious to be reunited. Here are a few of the “befores”.

They arrive! Everyone has to strain to find each other, and then wait several exciting and torturous minutes while they go through safety and ceremonial procedures.

Finally, hugs and kisses for everyone.

Congratulations, G family. I hope your Memorial Day was wonderful, and that Father’s Day will be even better.

]]> http://www.jennifermendoza.com/2010/06/home-is-where-your-family-is/feed/ 0 http://www.jennifermendoza.com/2010/06/new-life/ http://www.jennifermendoza.com/2010/06/new-life/#comments Thu, 10 Jun 2010 07:49:54 +0000 Jennifer Mendoza http://www.jennifermendoza.com/?p=2750 Be warned: this is a LONG one!

Between the beginning of summer and the near demise of my computer, I have let the blog sit idle lately. I thought it was worth backtracking a bit to share some of the images from one of the most amazing photographic opportunities I’ve had so far, capturing the birth of a child.

This was mama’s first baby. She was so sweet and concerned for all her visiting friends and family that she barely got any sleep for herself before the main event. I was a little worried for her. I kept thinking, “Sleep! This might be your last chance to get decent sleep for a long while.”

In addition to her husband, doctor, and great nurses, mama had a doula to guide and care for her.

I needn’t have worried. After finding the strength she needed to push for 3 HOURS, baby boy arrived with the sun.

I sometimes think that I overuse the word honor to describe how I feel about being invited into the homes and lives of my clients. In this case, I’m at a loss to think of  better word.  What an honor to be there, to be asked to capture this monumental moment in a family’s story. I’m still amazed.

Okay, I know I’ve been giving this family lots of blog love today, but I just had share a few more of their family shots. They are some of my favorite ever. That I’ve shot, that is. On the kitchen floor, cat and kid going this way and that. Lots of tickling, chasing and jumping. I love it.

In case you missed it, here’s more about this fun family.

I’m not sure why, but I let the inability to think of a neat category for these people, along with being super busy, keep me from getting started. I finally decided to give this series a more equal-opportunity title: People I Admire. The criteria is simple and self explanatory. I think these are people that you should know about.

I’m not a person that believes in heroes. At least not in the “put this person on a pedestal until a flaw is revealed”, celebrity-worship sense. Up to this point in my life, if anyone ever asked who my heroes are, I had one simple answer. My mom. But, as I reflect on that, I realize it’s not because I think my mom is perfect or invincible. It is precisely because I know that she is all too human and I’ve been a intimate witness to what she has accomplished in spite of that. These days, wearing many hats as most of us are, I find myself looking all around for examples. I mean tangible examples, not just people in history or on television, of people around me who are juggling their roles with grace and getting great things done in the process.

With that definition  in mind, I hope that through this series you and I will get to know some amazing people in our community, and the work they are doing. I hope that we can learn a little bit from them about both their motivations and challenges. I like to learn that admirable people have challenges, too, not so that they can be humbled and I can feel superior, but so that I can be encouraged and know that I can still do great things despite my many, many flaws.

If you know anyone in Jacksonville who should be included in this series, please put me in touch with them! In the meantime, I’ve got quite a list of great people in mind already.

So now, let me introduce you to the beautiful Melissa Johnson…

Melissa owns Yoga Ananda, a center for holistic wellness in Avondale. But that’s just one of her many hats. She is also wife to Jay Johnson, and co-owns another business with him, Aubrey Digital Home. Together, they are the proud parents of (almost) two year old Griffin. And in her spare time, she is moving into another new career as a doula.

Yoga Ananda started in 2006 primarily as a yoga studio. It quickly grew (literally, more than doubling in physical space), to include massage, accupunture and herbal medicine, reflexology, nutrition consulting, and so much more that is continually evolving.

Melissa wanted her own business in order to “create her own reality.”  That started out meaning the freedom to set her own hours (no early wake up calls), but has grown to creating opportunities for herself and her family, forming relationships with amazing people she would not have met otherwise, and providing valuable services to the community. Through Yoga Ananda, she is teaching the community about alternative paths to wellness, and she is a part of the change she sees in the city she grew up in. “[Jacksonville] is opening up to a higher consciousness and the people are the driving force. Our clients (the people) are the main reason for our success and they have fed my soul more than any paycheck ever could!”

One of the things I hope to learn through this series is how people successfully manage family, work and community. How the three can compliment each other, rather than compete as they often do. Melissa credits her mother, husband, and son for making her work possible, more meaningful and yet also helping her to keep a good perspective on how much and how efficiently she works.

When I have dedicated time parameters to family and business it helps focus my energy to be my best at one or the other during that time. So because I have family balance I have work balance and can try to be present for both at that time. And Griffin just makes me a better person all the way around…he teaches me patience and how to let things go and that really helps in my business life. My husband also with his support of everything I do encourages my success. He really makes me think that I can do it all and lets me know that I am doing a good job.

And when asked what is the most pivotal element that allows her to juggle both family and business, she cited her mother, a recently retired business owner herself, without a doubt. Her mom set the example of entrepreneurship, and now plays a large role in caring for her son while Melissa and Jay are attending to their businesses.

Finally, I asked Melissa for advice for me and others like me who struggle to balance it all. Here is what she had to say and what I’ve been giving a lot of thought to over the last few days.

Set parameters and stick to them. Dedicate time to the business and uninterrupted time (even if it’s a couple of hours at a time) to family. Make sleep a priority. The work will still be there. Be okay with letting things go…so what if the dishes or floors aren’t clean that week or maybe you have to cancel a meeting to be with the family. Go easy on yourself. Give yourself permission to not be perfect all the time. If it doesn’t seem worth all of the balance efforts and if you don’t enjoy it in your soul – reconsider!

Thank you so much, Melissa, for your insight and friendship!

For more information about Yoga Ananda and Melissa’s Doula Practice here is all the pertinent info:
Yoga Ananda: A Center for Yoga and Wellness
4154 Herschel Street, 32210
www.YogaAnandaStudio.com

Check out more of my headshot work at http://jacksonville-headshots.com/

Okay, I know it’s such old news by now, but since I am just emerging from the stomach bug that came to visit our house, I wanted to share a couple pictures from my Mother’s Day of the two who I have the honor of being Mom to. I had spent Friday night and all of Saturday sick as a dog, but for some reason my body decided to give me a break on Sunday long enough to cautiously enjoy the breakfast the family made for me and my visiting mom, and an afternoon at the beach. The grossness came roaring back on Monday morning, so I’m thankful for the reprieve I was allowed.

I hope you all had a wonderful day celebrating and being celebrated, remembering and honoring yourselves and your moms. I am ever grateful for the many mothers and mother figures in my life.

I’m excited to share some new stuff I’ve been working on. That will be coming very soon! In the meantime, please check out my new sister site, Jacksonville Headshots. If you or someone you know could use some great photos for your business cards, website, dating site, or even social networking, please consider giving me a call.

ATLANTA DATES: I will be available for sessions in and around Atlanta from June 14 to 18, and again from July 5 to 11. Call or message me if you are interested in discussing or reserving a time slot!

MOTHER’S DAY is THIS Sunday. Do you have a present yet? Gift certificates are available in any denomination and can used towards session fees, or prints (for future or past sessions).

This grandmother called me a few weeks ago in anticipation of her daughter’s visit and her two grandchildren being together at her Ponte Vedra home. I’m always thrilled to get to photograph not just one, but several branches of a family’s tree. Lots of family means lots of pictures, here are a few of my favorites.