This session was SO much fun! Madison has incredible style and totally rocked it during her session. I wanted to do a more dramatic/retro look with makeup on one of our models…and Madison was totally up for it and the results? Well, all I can say is WOW! And BTW, our senior portrait sessions are customized to you! And part of that means you can choose 1 or 2 locations. So maybe you are more of a nature girl…but also want to add a bit of funk to your photos…we can do urban too!
And another Olive Avenue Photography 2013 high school senior model rep! We lucked out with such a gorgeous day…you look stunning, Vanessa! Thank you for being so great to work with. Senior portrait sessions that take place before July 31st save $50 on their session fee!
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Here is the beautiful, Emily, who has taken (and I am sure passed) more AP tests this week than I’ve EVER heard of anyone taking. Olive Avenue Photography senior portrait sessions are booking now…check out our web site for more details or click ‘contact’ at the top of this page to book your session!
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Hey class of 2013…it’s time to start booking your custom senior portrait session with Olive Avenue Photography! All of our portrait sessions include complimentary professional makeup service! Stay tuned for more of our gorgeous 2013 senior model reps…
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A big share today with this lovely mommy and her babes…and just in time for Mother’s Day. When I got the request to do a session that captured the love between a mother and her children…I was floored. No one ever asks for that. I usually have to beg moms to get in the photograph. But that is exactly what Sam wanted. In recent months, several families she knew had received difficult news of illness with loved ones in their families. And often when this happens, the rest of us take a breath and realize how precious and fragile our lives are…so she booked a session with me. We spent a glorious evening under the buttery sunlight surrounded by the sweet perfume of apple blossoms…and I snapped away.
A remarkable thing happened after our session…with Sam’s husband’s reaction to the photographs. He said that they reminded him of the movie ‘The Tree of Life.’ Now I have only seen the first 10 minutes of the movie. I couldn’t handle it. The death of a child was just too much for me. Sam told me she couldn’t finish it as well. But her husband did…and it changed him. “Those photos were some of the best I’ve seen of the family. Ever. Definitely the best photos of you. Some were hard to look at because they were almost exact copies of scenes from the Tree of Life. Same time period, so the clothes were even the same. Hard to look at without tearing up”. Somehow, with never seeing the movie…our session turned into something that was even more meaningful to this family. Of course now I realize that I must put on my big girl pants and see this movie. I know it will break my heart…and who wants to feel pain if we don’t have to? But if it helps me to embrace my life and the blessings I have more tightly…it will be more than worth it. Life is so very precious. How lucky were are to have moments like these. Thank you, Sam, for asking me to do this…it was truly an honor!
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So magical & artistic. A perfect family for you.
Stunning photos of my beautiful niece and her beautiful children, I’m actually a little misty eyed just from looking at them. A nice bit of magic in a crazy day…
I am thrilled and honored to share that I am part of a small group of photographers and mothers participating around the world in a project called “Letters to Our Daughters.” Each month we will be blogging photos and a letter to our little girls. I will be linking to another photographer in the group each month and they will do the same…so feel free to follow our little ‘chain’ of links…there are some incredibly talented ladies participating and I am so excited to see their posts as well. So now to begin…letters to my daughters. One at home and one waiting in China. This month’s letter is to my girl already home…as today is her birthday…what a special way to start
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My Love,
Happy Birthday! Five years ago today you came into the world. I wish I could say I was there to hear your first cry…but I was not. We didn’t meet until you were 6 months old. But another woman was there. And though I think of her often…it is today I think of her the most. I owe her more than I could ever repay. She has given me my greatest gift. You. She loved you enough to give you life. She sacrificed her body for 9 months and carried you inside her. And I know she is thinking of you today. Remembering the baby girl she gave birth to five years ago. I know nothing about her…but I think I can guess a few things just by knowing you. I can guess she is beautiful. I can guess she has a strong will. I can guess she is has a good sense of humor. I wonder if you got your cute little ears from her? I wonder so many things. And I know she wonders about you too. And I wish she could see the girl you have become. I wish she knew the absolute bliss it is to watch you grow and just be you every day. What it is like to be loved by you. I feel so lucky that I get to be the one who does…but it makes me sad that she doesn’t. You are such a bright light…and everyone who knows you is taken by it. And I know part of that light about you is from her…and I love her for it. Though we may never know her…she is still apart of you. And a part of our family. I love you more than words can say. And I thank God everyday that I get to be your mommy. I am the lucky one.
Mom
Now here is the fun part…follow the link chain and go check out Rashmi Pappu | Alexandria VA, Washington DC!
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Oh my. My sister and I are sitting here balling our eyes out! This is amazing and what an INCREDIBLE woman you are to share this with us but most importantly your daughter! I am honored to be in this group with you and can’t wait to get to know your sweet princess more!
This is beautiful and worded so wonderfully. I share these same feelings.
Oh Jess! Such profound words you’ve shared. You are such an inspiration — as a mother, friend, and photographer. I am so thrilled to be participating in this project with you and to get to know you and your precious girls even more. What a beautiful family you have. xoxoxo
Five sentences in and I could no longer see through the tears. I am moved so profoundly by this letter as I am a child of adoption. Every year on my birthday, my mom and I take a moment to celebrate my birth-mother so your stunningly written letter is particularly special to this happy reader. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to read this, and so happy to be a part of this project with you.
What a captivating love letter. No doubt your sweet daughter will treasure this always. So glad to be collaborating with you. xo
Jess, it’s an absolute privilage to be in this project with you. I adore this first letter to your sweet girl and I’m already looking forward to reading the next one. <3
I am covered in tears wth no tissues on sight! Your little girl is a lucky one! I’ve never met you in person, Jess but I can feel you have an enormous heart filled with love. This letter took my breath away and so did the beautiful image your paired it up with. You are an inspiration. I am so excited for your new little girl to arrive to her loving home. She doesn’t know what a beautiful life awaits her. Oh, and I don’t want to forget to say Happy 5th birthday to your sweet big girl!
Oh Jess, you brought me to tears. She is going to treasure this letter forever. Happy Birthday sweet girl! Lots of love – xoxo
Jess, I started tearing up at your third sentence and then the tears kept coming. Your sweet and beautiful child is the lucky one too. Happy Birthday to all of you. xo
Jess, this is so special, and heartwarming and heartbreaking all at the same time – you made me cry such happy tears – your daughter is so blessed to have you – Happy Birthday to your little 5 year old sweetie x
just beautiful.
Your words have touched me so deeply today… Your love for your daughter is beyond words, and I love that you share it with your readers. Happy Birthday to your sweet Miss P.
Happy Happy birthday to your sweet little girl Jess. I am in tears reading your letter. What a special gift she is indeed.. and yes, i can so imagine her birth mama thinking about her today too.. wondering how she is doing, and how she looks, and how she talks. I can’t wait for you to bring her sister home soon. I am so grateful to have met you because of this circle of letters. xoxo
Today is it…your last day of 4. Tomorrow you wake up as 5. Here are my last snaps of you. I loved 4…so much. But I have a feeling 5 may be even better. Bye-bye 4…
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Disneyland purchases: t-shirt, light up balloon, Minnie Mouse hairbrush…pirate set.
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Disneyland. What can I say? I felt like I was 9 again…except not only did I feel the magic and joy…I saw it on your face. Can’t wait to go back.
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There are so many reasons to love you. One is how you played that dang accordion the whole trip. For some reason the incessant sound similar to a dying cat made us smile. Especially when there was a room full of Barbies and Polly Pockets to play with. You are such a cool kid.
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“I don’t want to have my picture taken. I want to go to the beach.”
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At the pier in San Diego (which I like to call Deb’s Pier, hee). You were so happy to be reunited with you sweet pal, Alexa. You 2 held hands for 7 days straight. I was so happy because of the dreamy light.
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Sooooo. I was gone a bit spending time with my family. But there was a bit more to it than that. On Sunday morning we woke our girl up and surprised her with a trip to Disneyland for her birthday! This was in conjunction with a work trip for me (more on that later). Here she is hearing about her big birthday surprise for the first time…
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Someone got their very first mani-pedi today! This is the start of a whole week of birthday surprises for our girl. I will actually be taking a blogging break for a bit to spend some time with my family…but will still be continuing with the last of 4 project. I will update things in a few days!
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How about this cute little guy? It was so fun to photograph him as I have known his mommy and daddy a LONG time. In fact, I think his mom was my first ever play date over to my house! Feeling a little old here people!!! Anyway. Things are looking gorgeous out right now with all the spring blossoms and everything greening up. I love photographing babies born in the fall/winter at this time because it’s often the first extended period they’ve spent outside. So fun to see them light up with the wonder of it all!
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A gloomy spring day. I think we are all coming down with something. Again. Another reminder…to slow down.
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Just a little sneak peek of the my first official Red Thread Session! See the full sneak peek and more information on celebrating adoption through photography and Red Thread Sessions HERE.
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Just for fun…
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So incredibly adorable!
I adore your work! New fan here from Ashland, Wisconsin.
You have some mad drawing skills Jess! Love the first picture. So adorable.
Love! Love the photos, love her, and love you . Miss you tons.
She is deliciously cute and that first photo is magnificent!!
Shawna
Sometimes I fail you. Like today. I promised I would be home to tuck you in. But I was late. I had a session and then a client consult and it ran over. You waited up for me…reading in the half light. I also failed because I didn’t have time to take a ‘real’ photograph of you today. I slunk in late…and snapped this. When you are a mom someday…you’ll understand. Some days…no matter how we try…we fall short. It’s the worst feeling. As your mommy I want nothing more than to be perfect in every way for you. Spend the perfect amount of time with you, have the perfect amount of patience, feed you healthy, perfect food and the list goes on. But I am human. I fail. But I suppose that is an important life lesson as well, isn’t it? People in this life will fall short…they will hurt you. They won’t be what you need. So. I guess as your mommy, it’s my job to teach you a bit of that as well. Thank goodness, we can also teach you forgiveness.
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Blanket. You had each other at hello. And then there is thumb. Hiding underneath. Your little buddies. We’ve talked recently about letting go of thumb before kindergarten. But who knows…since I think I sucked mine longer than that…and only cayenne pepper could seperate us, ha! I’m not in a real hurry though. It’s how we first saw you in the orphanage. You had no toys or possessions…just that thumb. I love that thumb and remember we were so grateful you had it. Had something for a little comfort when you were oh so alone. And blanket. Oh my. Thank goodness I had the mind to run and get a backup before they stopped selling them. It’s so much a part of you. These are the images that pop in my mind most when I think of you baby girl…
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Jess, those are BEAUTIFUL pictures. and they made me cry. Elizabeth’s blanket is her lifeline. And I have no hurry to force her to get rid of it:)
Oh my goodness…that first image. Absolutely priceless.
As mothers…we often want to give our kids what we didn’t have. That is the deal with this dollhouse. I bought it for me her. I LIVED for playing with my dolls as a kid…and I always dreamed to have the biggest dollhouse they made. It didn’t happen for me for one reason or another. But I wanted it to happen for her. I told her today how I used to ‘feed’ my dollies my Easter candy…glad to see she decided to carry on the tradition. I play with her now…but it isn’t the same. How lucky you are little girl to slip into a dream world…and really be there. I’m sad that I forgot how to play like that. But it gives me such joy to hear you upstairs chatting away and having adventures with your little friends.
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There’s nothing quite like hiding around the corner, listening to a child’s pretend play chatter. Love these images – a little peek into her world.
alexa was sitting like that putting her doll house together for when her special visitor comes, eek! all i could think was, “ouch, my ankles.”
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The top one, those eyes, heart melter….
These are perfect in every way. Love them!
One of my favorite things about you is how intentional you are in photographing your daughter. Her beauty is a reflection of your beautiful momma-heart!
omg.
Four years old. The year we first saw the posed, awkward smile. That we love.
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So cute! Happy Easter!!!
Wow, Jess. These images are…not technically very good. They’re grainy…not perfectly in focus. The light? Not the best. Yes. But sometimes in life…there isn’t time to move into the perfect light. Sometimes we need to crank the ISO to 2500 and just go with it. Sometimes capturing the moment is more important. And this was one of those times. I saw a print on pinterest that says “my kitchen is for dancing.” This house so needs that on our wall. Because our kitchen has turned into quite the ballroom lately. Except you won’t find any fancy dresses. More than likely we are in our jammies. With wild hair. Lana Del Rey has been her music of choice lately (probably because she know’s I’ve been into it)…and when I hear the first track blaring from the kitchen…I know it’s dancing time. As we twirl and dip…I know both your daddy and I get a glimpse of the future. Of the amazing woman you will be come. Someday you probably won’t want us as your slow dancing partner anymore. So we dance. In the kitchen. It will never get old. Never.
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LOVE. Kitchen dancing is a long-standing tradition in our family. What a wonderful post.
So true – I need to crank up the iso more for photos like there – the only spot my 8 year old “Tebows”….
Love it!!!
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