Today, I am trying out a mobile blog editor – so of course I had to test this all out. If one had ever visited my personal blog, it would seem dusty and abandoned. I visited the other day and noted maybe 2 posts in all of last year! I hoped to keep this blog a lot more active, but with all of my hopes it’s not nearly as active as I want.

Call it writer’s block, call it being too busy, too tired or social media overload. Fact is, I am more active on Twitter (jperryphotos if you care to follow) and Facebook (Jacqueline Perry Photography). In thinking about why, seems that maybe it’s the ability to post from the iPhone, and on the go when I’m in between doing other things. I rarely visit either from the computer these days.

So today I went in search of yet another mobile app to fill a void in my life. Gotta love how apps can make everything better! There really is something for everything. Anyway, after getting it loaded, configured and set up, I think we may have something here!

I am posting from the passenger seat of our car as I head home for a visit (sans camera – but that is for another post I’ll tentatively title ‘i just thought you could bring the camera & take a few pics’). My son is begging from the backseat to play some racing game on here, as I try to explain this really isn’t a toy, it’s a work tool. That’s not going over so well, so I am bracing for meltdown soon.

Anyway- I vow to be a more active blogger, and spread my social self around a little better. Till then I’ll stay in pursuit of that ‘One App to Rule them All’ so I can post everywhere at the same time!

Now to test photos & post and I’m golden! I also want to see how phone quality pics look on a real computer, so forgive me if my photo looks all kinds of bad. It looks perfect on my 6 inch screen!

First, a pic of my favorite ring ‘black rock’, next proof that the passenger doesn’t get to control music. Clarence Carter…really? And he’s not even strokin’.

I decided at the beginning of the year that I would start a photography newsletter of sorts to give people tips on taking their own photos.  It may seem counter-productive to the business, but everyone already owns their own camera, and what I offer is a more of a luxury purchase.  You come when you need it, and when you don’t, you make due with what you already have. We all have any number of face lotions, creams & treatments at home, but going to the spa to have someone else rub it in is so much better, right?  Same here.

So, I’m not completely oblivious to the point that people take their own photos, and I’m sure some people are happy with what the camera puts out, and heading to the local drug store for their prints — but for others, you’d like to get a little more out of the camera.  After all, these are your family memories we’re talking about here.

Hopefully by the end of the month I’ll have my first monthly installment of the yet unnamed newsletter ready.  I plan to cover topics ranging from letting go of the automatic flash (yes…you CAN turn that thing off!) to online photo storage, scrap booking, and other ways to preserve your photos.  Sign up below if you’re interested, and fear not, I’m not going to use your emails for mailing out anything other than the newsletter.

If you’ve seen some of my work, you will recognize this Little Miss from previous sessions.  She always gives the most serious expressions–far beyond her years, and those eyes!    They the most beautiful color of blue-gray, and they seem to pick up the colors in just about any background.   I had too many photos to choose from, so this is a large share!

This next one is actually one of my favorite photos of the session, I just love her expression. Little does she know she’ll take the “let me fix that ponytail” stance many times before she’s doing her own hair.

I think this pose just comes naturally to girls!

To be honest…the state of “Baby” scared me a little…Baby had already been through the ringer – one arm hanging on by a safety pin, and a little bit of artistic hair colored on, but she loved her just the same as if she was brand new.

Thanks Shirley & JoJo for allowing me another session w/the Little Miss!

And if anyone is into scrapbooking, you absolutely MUST check out Shirley’s Blog – her designs & books are amazing. If you are like me & have the photos but haven’t done anything with them yet, you must check her out!

When Andrea came to me looking for photos to surprise her husband, she wanted to go all out.  Like most of us women, she’s always the one taking the family photos, always behind the camera, rarely in front, so we wanted this session to wow him.

I think we got the job done!

I know he loved the gift, thanks again for helping me break in the new backdrop!

When I met Jamila and Marcus at the gorgeous fall location we had chosen, the historic Yates Mill in Raleigh, we were all surprised to find that it was closed for construction.  As we headed back up the trail to the parking lot making plans for our re-shoot, we spotted a collection of early 19th century mill tools & stone grinders on the side of the path & stopped to take “just a few” shots.

Anyone who knows me & my camera knows that I never end up doing just a few, and we ended up doing our session there on the path to the mill anyway, having a great time.

I love this photo probably the best – I’m a fall person & the leaves were just starting to fall that day.  The pathway was perfect!

Jamila & Marcus, thanks for being able to see the vision on a deserted path – I absolutely look forward to your wedding in a few months.

I had such a great time with Allie & Alan a few weeks ago doing their engagement photos.  Engagements are new to me, so I was very excited to do this session.  It had been raining for a day at least & we were about to cancel for fear of soggy ground, and I’m so glad we didn’t.  About an hour before our session, the sun came out & the day was a perfect early fall day.  I think we all started out with a bit of nervousness, but by the end of the day, these two were like pros in front of the camera.

Allie & Alan, thanks for trusting me with some of the first photos of your new life together.

Having trouble deciding what to wear during your shoot?  Sometimes the biggest hurdle in preparing for your shoot is what everyone should wear.  First of all, you don’t want to come dressed as someone other than yourself.  Take your own style and kick it up a notch or two.  Everyone doesn’t have to match perfectly, they just have to coordinate.

For example, take the photo below.  Mom, Dad, two girls.  Everyone as their own style, but as a family, they still look nice together.  The colors are nicely broken up – from Dad’s yellow tee, to Mom’s yellow scarf.  Everyone has a bit of yellow thrown in, and some blue or gray.

This weekend I was able to have one of those shoots that you always dream of – the bride says “just do what you do” and everyone is laid back about it.  I’ve known Shirley for years, and I was so happy that she & JoJo decided they wanted me to capture their special day.

Shirley’s rings were heirloom passed down from her grandmother.

These two are perfect together, and I wish them years of happiness.

When Donovan was a baby, I took photos of him every day, and if I missed a day, I’d just double what I took the next time I had a camera in hand.  These days, he’s much faster, and much more likely to make strange faces or run and hide, or try to talk his way out of a photo-op. Every year around his birthday I do try to do more formal photos though.  All summer I really can’t remember too many shots I’ve gotten of him, which makes these even more special.

The more busy I get, the less I have the camera in my hand around the house, but I am going to make more of an effort this year to keep up – after all, 4 is the last of the carefree years before school & life really starts to get in the way.

That’s not to say everyone is always as happy about these little photo get togethers that I love so much.

But he is still young enough to fall for bribes from Daddy

Whatever the deal was, his mood begins to change.

And eventually, Daddy holds up his end of the deal & takes him to play in the lighthouse.

I hope everyone had a great summer – Donovan’s birthday always means that summer is coming to an end & cool weather will be here soon.  Enjoy these last days of warmth.

It has been a hot, hot August. I know Shirley had been watching the weather in anticipation for this day, and when it arrived….it was just as hot as all the others!  With no break from the heat, I knew we’d have to stay inside as long as possible.  Shirley’s beautiful lace dress was also very heavy, and down here in NC, you don’t wear heavy in the heat very long!

We started with inside portraits, and reluctantly moved outside, but if I do say so myself, Shirley acted as if she had been doing this for years and didn’t even break a sweat in the 93 degree weather.

The bride & groom’s daughter also joined in for the shoot.  Isn’t she beautiful?

Thanks Shirley for knowing how to keep things classy & cool in the hottest possible weather!