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I am honored to be invited into the homes and lives of amazing families through my job. The H family has so much going on, but it is clear that family is their priority. They have three boys. One in utero, one with special needs, and one with a brand new puppy. As if that wouldn’t be enough to keep you busy, they are in the midst of a MAJOR home renovation. So major that when I arrived I wasn’t sure where the front door was!

You know what’s important to them when the first things to be done at their house are the playroom, pool and outdoor play area. They even have their own ball pit!

Unfortunately, our shoot got cut short by a health scare that was both terrifying yet normal to them. Full plate, I told you. I can’t even imagine. Still, in the short time I got to spend with them, it was clear that this family is full of love and optimism despite their challenges.

K and M, good luck with the weeks ahead. I hope to get to pick up where we left off, next time with the new baby in the new house!

It’s been such a busy few weeks that I’ve not posted as much as I would have liked. These are from a mini session on the beach that I did recently near Fort Lauderdale. This shoot was late in the morning and it was HOT! We had to hide out under the pier to have any hope of finding shade. Miss E is beautiful, but wasn’t too keen on getting her picture taken by me! Thankfully, Daddy helped me bring out her smile.

So serious…

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JACKSONVILLE – Just a few slots left for Holiday Mini Sessions! See Investment page for details.

ATLANTA – One Day Only – Saturday, October 17 – until 2010! Contact me at jenmen@gmail.com

With all the H1N1 warnings out there, it’s hard not to watch your kids for the slightest sign of the dreaded flu. It seems that the bugs that have invaded our house are just the average back-to-school variety. Above is CM keeping herself and us entertained earlier this week. This was on the second day when she was getting back to normal…day one was not so cheerful.

I describe myself as having a green heart and a black thumb. The summer heat has finally broken here so we got out in the yard to clear out all the debris of what we attempted to grow last season, and the weeds that came up instead. It’s so nice to go outside to play and not instantly break a sweat.

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JACKSONVILLE – Just a few slots left for Holiday Mini Sessions! See Investment page for details.

FORT LAUDERDALE – Meet me on the beach! Only mini session slots remaining on Oct 4. Email me NOW to claim one!

ATLANTA – One Day Only – Saturday, October 17 – until 2010! Contact me at jenmen@gmail.com

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Obviously, I believe in the importance of capturing moments, recording memories, and preserving them for the future. And while “a picture is worth a thousand words”, words are still incredibly and uniquely powerful. There are so many things that I want my children to know, big and little things that I want to tell them. I often want to write a thought or a story for them down, never to actually make the time. Something about putting pen to paper, in our digital age, is a barrier to me. I started out collecting random notes. I’ve tried to maintain journals for them. I haven’t had much success with keeping up with any of these.

But then there’s email. I can do that. I already do. All the time. Maybe too much. I decided to start email accounts for both CM and VC so that I can send them notes. Big ones about the things that are really important to me. And incidental ones about little things, like how they made each other laugh this morning. I can attach pictures (of course!), jot down the recipe to a meal I made for them, document interesting little things in their lives in a matter of minutes. I’ve also shared the address with their grandparents and a few special people in their lives so they can contribute as well. They should have quite an inbox by the time I actually tell them about this!

Dear VC, sometimes I worry and feel guilty that your diet is mostly composed of grapes and raisins. But right now all you need is one of those tiny little boxes, and you’re content! It’s hard to argue with that and I’m happy to provide such a simple pleasure. I love you and your sweet little pursed lips…Mommy

I’m very excited about this idea. It’s not mine originally. I saw it here. But I love it so much that I wanted to share it with you and encourage you to do it as well. I wished I’d done this when I was pregnant! I think that the ability to savor a moment frees us up to enjoy the next one, and that this will help me do just that.

I have a lot of fun sessions coming up in the next several weeks. I will get back to posting about other people’s children and families very soon!

And now, some business to attend to…

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JACKSONVILLE – Just a few slots left for Holiday Mini Sessions! See Investment page for details.

FORT LAUDERDALE – Meet me on the beach! Only mini session slots remaining on Oct 4. Email me NOW to claim one!

ATLANTA – One Day Only – Saturday, October 17 – until 2010! Contact me at jenmen@gmail.com

I am booking now for Saturday, October 17. This is the only day that I have free in Atlanta prior to the holidays, so book NOW and don’t wait until the last minute!

See the investment page for options, including Mini Holiday Sessions. Another great option is to get some friends or extended family together and split the session up. This is also a fun way to get pictures of grown-up siblings, cousins, best buddies, etc, which also make wonderful presents. I’m always willing to work out custom packages. Contact me to come up with something that works for you.

I know these pictures aren’t exactly relevant to the post, but I can’t post without photos and I just happen to love these random ones from last week…

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BOOK NOW for Holiday Mini Sessions! See Investment page for details.

A few spaces still available for the Fort Lauderdale families! Contact me at jenmen@gmail.com

Not being a native to Florida, it took me a while to come to grips with the fact that the only real fall colors we see here are on the little decorative flags people hang on their houses and maybe the faux foliage that you see in classrooms and gift shops.

However, school, football, and soccer have all officially started. So, yes, it is fall!

If this time of year at your house is anywhere near as crazy as it is at mine, then this also means that the holidays will be here before you know it! To help you get a jump start, I’m offering HOLIDAY MINI AT-HOME SESSIONS! No Santa. No props. Just beautiful timeless pictures of your kids and family just in time to use for cards and presents! See the Investment page for details. These will be available through November 15 and SPACES ARE LIMITED so book now!

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Spaces still available for the Fort Lauderdale and Atlanta families! Contact me at jenmen@gmail.com

JMP is on Facebook! Become a fan to see expanded galleries from shoots and find out about special events and offers.

I’m thinking about one more working trip to the ATL this fall, possibly in mid October. This would be just in time to get pictures for the holidays! If any of you out there are interested, please leave a comment, or email/call/facebook me so I can gauge the interest level and work on setting dates.

As with the upcoming Fort Lauderdale trip, I’ll throw in some extras to my basic packages. If those don’t work for you, contact me and we’ll come up with something that does, including splitting sessions with friends if that is more convenient for you.

Speaking of facebook, I created a fan page. I’ll use that to share more albums, events and other tidbits. Check it out and “become a fan”!

I really enjoyed this recent shoot for a number of reasons. First, that it was an opportunity to catch up with an old friend I went to school with (gotta love facebook). She was as genuine and easy to be around as I remembered her, as is the rest of her family, which was great to see.

Second,  was that I got to capture an amazing moment. Little Miss A took her first “official” step right in front of my camera! To get that, and mom’s reaction, was awesome.

Another cool thing, we went to a park that sits in front of the house that J’s grandmother lived in when he was growing up. He has a lot of memories of the house and park. I love that they picked a location not just because it was pretty but because it meant something to them.

I like the tear and smile in that last one. The line between crying and laughing is so thin with children.

And last, but NOT least, that hair!

Remember this sweet baby? Five months have passed since I last saw her, and I was amazed at how much she’s grown and changed. I couldn’t believe how much more she looks like her mom now!

With her proud big brother!

It could be a pool, a puddle, the tub, a creek, or the ocean. My girls just love being in and near the water. Well, CM has gone from being terrified to loving it now that she has learned to swim. VC already can’t get enough of it.

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