Fall Mini-Sessions | Vina Castellano

In the fall, I hosted TWO days of mini-sessions! In October, I photographed five families at Vina Castellano Vineyards, a beautiful Sierra Foothills winery located in Auburn. I’d taken photographs of two of the families before — I’m so grateful for returning clients — and the other three were new-to-me families.

The grounds were really pretty with a lot of variety: vineyards, golden grass, rock outcroppings, green grass, a pond, and more.

In fact, all five of the photos below were taken in different areas of the 8-acre property.

And the lighting that afternoon and evening? Oh my, it was SO beautiful!

I hope to shoot at Vina Castellano Vineyards again!

The E Family

The J Family

The K Family

The O Boys

The P Family

Maria & Bryce's Wedding | September 2018

Maria and Bryce were married in early September in a small town outside of Placerville. The couple opted not to have engagement photos done, but I suggested we meet up a week or so before their big day at their wedding venue. I love meeting each couple in person before their wedding day. It gives me a chance to get to know them a little better, both individually and as a couple, walk through the venue with them, and talk about the plans they’ve made for their special day.

And then when the wedding day arrives, the couple is more comfortable with me (which is SO important!), and I’m more relaxed and excited as well.

Maria & Bryce’s wedding day was filled with smiling and laughing and celebrating…all while sporting Converse tennis shoes! :-)

The soundtrack to the reception was today’s country music (I was in heaven — if you know me, you know I adore country music). I enjoyed capturing the first dances, as I always do, but my favorite part of the reception was when one of the young guests, a girl of maybe eight, started a dance-off with one of the groomsmen. Both of them had impressive moves — it was awesome! They even started breakdancing…say what?! So cool.

And then surprise! At the very end of the evening, as if not to be outdone, the groom broke out his breakdancing moves — and you guessed it — the crowd went wild!

Congrats, Maria & Bryce!

The T Family | Griffith Quarry

As a photographer, I’m constantly on the hunt for new locations! In fact, it’s one of the things I really love about my job. Sometimes, I will learn about a location on Instagram or Facebook (a local photographer will mention where she did a recent session) or I’ll stumble upon a new spot while on a hike with my family. Occasionally, a client will request that their photo session be held at a particular location.

That was the case with the T family. Mom asked about a specific location where they’d hiked with her son’s Boy Scout troop, and although I’d driven past it several times, I’d never parked my car and explored on foot. What a gem I’d been missing out on!

In late November, I met up with the T family at Griffith Quarry in Penryn, and they gave me a tour around the place. The more we explored, the more it became clear what an awesome location this is!

Moss-covered granite boulders + wood split rail fences + open grasslands + beautiful light + a sweet, loving family of three = one VERY happy photographer.

Here’s a look at some of my favorite images from their hour-long session:

Thank you, T Family, for a fun photo session!

Want to take some family photos at Griffith Quarry? Let’s chat! Email me at jennieharlessphotography@gmail.com.

The D Family | Bernhard Museum

This adorable family of four was so much fun to work with! Earlier this fall, we met up at the Bernhard Museum in Auburn for a Sunday morning session. (I don’t shoot a lot of morning sessions, but mom Heather told me that her kids are happiest in the morning, and so we made it happen! And boy was she was right!)

Seriously, aren’t they the happiest and most beautiful babies?!

And yes, their eyes are just that blue! There’s no Photoshop magic happening there.

Speaking of Photoshop magic, I will let you in on a little secret. See that image above? The straight-out-of-the-camera image looked slightly different.

The little girl was looking off to the side (which is totally normal for a 3-year-old!), so we just did a little head swap and voila…she’s now looking at the camera!

And when I say “we,” I really mean Retouchup. (I have no head swapping skills to speak of, so for me, outsourcing is the way to go.)

Anyway, I say all of that, to let you know that if your munchkins are really wiggly during your photo session and looking anywhere but the camera, don’t despair. When I snap photos of kids, I almost always overshoot, knowing that there might be a head swap or two in post processing.

Thank you, D family, for allowing me to capture these special moments for you!

Want to take some photos at the Bernhard Museum, too?! Let’s chat! Shoot me an email at jennieharlessphotography@gmail.com.

The L Family | Fall Photos

We’re really lucky to live right next door to this sweet family of four.

This was a bittersweet September night for them; their son was heading back to college in the morning.

And I can’t believe their youngest is already a senior in high school.

I felt so honored to be able to capture this precious time in their lives.

Why You Should Bring Your Dog to Your Session

"The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind."

--Theodorus Gaza

So true, right?!

I grew up with dogs. In fact, I don't remember not having dogs in my family. My childhood memories and photos are filled with two sweet dogs -- a big, black Newfoundland named Bear who swam with us in the lake and protected us like we were her puppies, and Happy, a hyperactive golden retriever (read: spaz!) who chased his tail when he got really excited.

My family today includes my husband, two children, and a dog named Rudy. (Yes, he was named after the movie; my husband is a huge Notre Dame fan!)

Dogs are family, too, which is why I encourage you to bring them to your session.

Here are three past photo sessions that included dogs.

Let's capture some photos of you and your dog!

Click the Contact tab above or email me at jennieharlessphotography@gmail.com to schedule a photo session.

Amor, Santino & Hannah

Amor, a longtime friend and fellow choir member from my old church, contacted me requesting that I take photographs of her son and his girlfriend at Folsom Lake.

As you'll see, I took a lot of photos of the couple, but I also snapped a few of mom and son together.

In addition, I took a handful of individual shots of Santino who will be a senior at Casa Roble High School (go Rams!) in the fall. Hello head shot for the yearbook!

Mom brought along two props (a pillow and football), which we used during their session. 

As I do before all sessions, I emailed a questionnaire to the family, and Santino filled it out. One of the things Santino mentioned in the questionnaire is that he loves his girlfriend's smile. With that in mind, I focused on capturing as many of her grins as possible.

Enjoy the rest of the summer, Taylor family. Hope to see Santino play football in the fall!

Bartkoski Family Mini-Session

At the end of each year, I create a Facebook post wherein I share my favorite photo from each session I've done. Then, I -- and many of my clients -- ask people to vote for their favorite photo. The individual or family who receives the most votes earns a free mini-session!

In January, the Bartkoski Family won the free mini-session, and I was delighted to photograph them along the Bear River (again!) earlier this month. (You can see their November 2017 session here.) 

It's always a fun time hanging out with this family of four. Mom Christa does such a good job coordinating all of their outfits before each session.

What's her go-to store for cute kids' clothes that coordinate?

Old Navy!

It was a pleasure, B family. Let's do it again sometime!

Spring Mini-Sessions

In early May, I had the opportunity to photograph these four awesome families out at Folsom Lake. The weather was beautiful, the lupines were gorgeous, and the lake level was high.

All of the families showed up on time or even early to their mini-sessions -- surprisingly no one got lost on the way into the park -- and I had such fun photographing all the kids -- both big and little.

A huge thanks to the moms and dads who worked their magic behind me, coaxing their kids to smile and giggle as I snapped away.

Senior Photo Session | Jessie

I've known Jessie since she was a baby, and so getting the opportunity to take senior photos of her was such an honor and pleasure.

Jessie is such a fun-loving, sweet, funny, respectful, musical, and intelligent young woman with a super bright future ahead of her. (Kudos to her parents who have done an amazing job raising her!)

Fun fact: Jessie taught herself to play the ukulele by watching YouTube videos.

Before each senior session, I email a questionnaire to the teen, asking them for input about their session -- everything from location to music preferences to must-have shots. Jessie said that it was really important to her to have a few photos with her dog, Oliver.

And Jessie also requested that I take photos of her wearing her Seattle University shirt.

Jessie's mom brought along a few photos of Jessie as a baby. Isn't this one adorable?!

Old Roseville is such a cool place to take senior photos, especially for those clients who prefer an urban setting. All of the images shown here were taken within a few blocks, and we just walked from place to place.

I was totally digging this blue wall!

I love that Jessie brought matching bow ties for her and Oliver!

Jessie and I both spotted the shadow of the palm tree on this wall at. the. exact. same. time. I thought it was important to photograph her next to this wall, not only because she was born and raised in California, but also because in just a few months, she'll leave the palm trees behind and head to Seattle to study engineering.

---

A big thanks to Lea Buehler for doing Jessie's makeup!

Second Shooting | Nevada City, CA

In March, I had the opportunity to second shoot for wedding photographer Athena Kalindi (@athenakalindi) at the Miner's Foundry in Nevada City. (Did you know Nevada City is a destination wedding location? I had no idea!)

I'd never been inside the foundry before, but after seeing it online and in person, I get why it is booked nearly every weekend for weddings and events.

Not only is the inside of the venue special, but there are a handful of cool exterior walls -- perfect for photo ops of the bride and groom.

A big thanks to Athena for allowing me to shadow her and shoot with her. She was so kind and patience, and unbelievably generous with her knowledge of wedding photography. (I now use my DOF preview button to quickly and easily change my focus settings, thanks to her!)

I'll be second shooting again in June -- this time up in Tahoe.

The Killinger Brothers

These brothers were so much fun to photograph!

Both boys were so cooperative and loving -- tickling and hugging one another for the sibling shots.

During the session, we walked down toward the river, and the boys discovered a large puddle outlined in rocks that formed a heart. (Valentine's Day was just a few days before.) The puddle was a bit deeper than we realized, and the younger boy accidentally fell face first in the puddle. His shirt was drenched, but luckily, it was light in color, so you couldn't really tell. Plus, I had already gotten lots of great photos by that time.

The boys' mom wanted photos of them, so she could print and frame the images and surprise their dad (her hubby) for his birthday -- and to celebrate his new job.

Unfortunately, they couldn't keep it a secret from him, but he loves them nevertheless!

Want to surprise someone in your life with beautiful images? Photos make great gifts for Mother's Day and Father's Day! Contact me now to schedule a session!

The Liotine Family

So much love for this family of four.

We've known each other pretty much forever. Well, since elementary school, which now that I'm 39 years old, feels like forever ago.

When Steve approached me about taking photographs of he and his family, I was super excited. (I never like to push my photography on any of my friends, but if they ask, I feel super honored. Because there are SO many talented photographers in our area.)

We met up a few weeks before Valentine's Day for an outdoor shoot on my neighbor's beautiful property. (My neighbors are so awesome about letting me use their land; having a spot to shoot just down the road is super convenient.)

The members of this family are huge Disney fans, so when their youngest son asked to include his Mickey stuffed animal, my answer was a resounding "Yes!"

I'm not even sure how many times they've been to Disneyland (and Disney World), but it's probably more than the fingers on both my hands.

Am I right, Liotine fam?

Glad you guys get your Disney on throughout the year because I know it makes you happy!

Thanks for a fun session, friends!

P.S. I'm a huge fan of great quotes, and Walt Disney uttered so many inspirational words during his lifetime. One of my favorites is: If you can dream it, you can do it. All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.

More Valentine's Mini-Sessions

Photographing little ones is lots of fun!

Thanks to these cute kiddos (and their moms and dads and grandmas) for joining me for Valentine's mini-sessions in my home photography studio.

I hope to offer some more holiday/seasonal mini-sessions later this year. Stay tuned!

Valentine's Mini-Sessions | The Knox Sisters

This was my first year offering Valentine's Mini-Sessions, and I'm really glad I did. In mid-January, I set up a mini-studio in my home, complete with lighting, flooring and backdrops.

Then, of course, I HAD to shop for props and Valentine's Day goodies for the kids. You know, just doing my job. (Thanks to Hobby Lobby and Target for making that part so easy!)

And these cutie patooties? They were a photographer's dream -- with their huge grins (mom and dad were total pros at making them smile big!) and loving hugs and adorable matching outfits (times two!).

I'll be sharing more Valentine's mini-sessions here soon, and I hope to offer them again in 2019.

Celebrating Two!

Such a fun party celebrating two sweet girls! 

Last fall, I also had the opportunity to take photographs at a birthday party for not ONE little girl, but TWO, both of whom were turning 2! (And they are cousins -- how fun is that?!)

As you can see, it was a farm-themed celebration, complete with a petting zoo!

I had a blast taking photographs of these two special girls and all of their guests.

If you're planning a party for your little one this year and you'd like me to document the celebration, let's chat! Contact me for more information and rates.

Preschool Photos

This cutie -- smiling beautifully at the camera -- made my job SO easy! 

Now that the holidays are over and my photography workload has slowed down, I thought I'd tell you about a really cool opportunity that popped up last fall.

In September, I was asked to take photographs of the preschoolers at Tutor Totter Preschool. My son attended Tutor Totter Preschool for two years before heading off to kindergarten, and he loved it there! Really, we all loved it there!

So, of course, I said, "YES!"

What fun it was to meet all 30 of the preschoolers. They are such cuties! 

A big THANK YOU to Tutor Totter for inviting me to take their 2017 fall photos. It was a pleasure!

Second Shooting | Loomis, CA

I'm so thankful for opportunities like this to learn more about wedding photography.

This past summer, I had the pleasure of second shooting for wedding photographer Colleen Riley. Here are a few of my favorite images from that July day!

I hope to photograph a few weddings this year, too.

Family Update 2017

This is us: Our family of four in the fall of 2017.  (Thank you to Chloe Photography for these beautiful images!)

NOAH | Noah is five and in kindergarten. He is loving school! He is officially "reading" and the child development major/former educator in me is thoroughly loving watching this process unfold. Seeing him blossom and bloom in the areas of reading and writing is simply the best. Noah played soccer in the fall and scored a few goals. When the season came to an end in November, he was disappointed; he genuinely wanted to keep playing. Recently, he came to me and said he needed more sports in his life. So, he's all signed up for a 6-week basketball class starting in January. Noah is currently obsessed with the music from the movie, Sing. In fact, at least once a week, we'll find him pounding away at our piano and belting out "I'm Still Standing." I see piano lessons in his future.

The week before Thanksgiving, Noah created an "I am Thankful For" turkey at school. On the feathers of the turkey, he wrote what he was most thankful for:

• My dad
• My mom
• Good dreams (How sweet is that!)
• My friends
• Maui (We spent a week in Maui in October.)

Yes, he neglected to include his sister, but he does love her. And I think most days, he is thankful for her -- except when she gets into his LEGO bin!

We are so thankful for Noah. 

BETHANY | This little 2-year-old girl loves to go, go, go -- nonstop. Bethy climbs on counters and jumps off chairs and she is happiest when she is at gymnastics "nastix" class, swinging on the rings. She dances to "Hair Up" from the Trolls movie as often as she can. She sings "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep" over and over, along with the ABC song.

Her car seat now faces forward, and she's become quite the backseat driver. It's not uncommon to hear her yell "Faster, Daddy, faster!"

Beth loves to eat. Fresh eggs from our chickens are one of her favorites! When she really likes a food like pizza or spaghetti or black olives, she'll say "lishis." When she counts aloud, she's likely to say 1, 2, 3, 9 and 10.

Her favorite phrase right now is "try again." I hope it's a mantra she carries with her for the rest of her life. 

BRIAN | Still fighting fire. Still cheering on the Notre Dame football team. Still misplacing his sunglasses on a regular basis. Still secretly planting flower bulbs in the yard for Jennie every fall. Experimenting with yoga. Cooking with his new pellet smoker. Working on his bachelor's degree, one online class at a time.

JENNIE | Still super thankful to be a mama -- and a mama who gets to be with my kiddos A LOT. Still taking photos of my kids and other people's kids. Still serving as a Little Free Library steward. Still biting my nails. Loving a new practice: once-a-week heated yoga. (And really loving that they have free childcare.) Enjoying teaching monthly art lessons in Noah's classroom. Dreaming up our next travel adventure.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

The Woodbridge Family

Such an adorable family of four! 

Such a sweet family of four with two beautiful girls! I initially met Mama W through a local mom's group and then got to know her more when both of our oldest children attended the same preschool.

I love that we took the W family photos on their property. I'm sure these images are that much more special because they include their beautiful front yard and backyard -- and a walking trail that runs adjacent to their property.

Oh, and their dog, Linus, was present for the photos. He wasn't interested in sitting (and staying) for any of the posed shots, but in the top left photo, you might have caught a glimpse of him. He's naturally part of the family, so I'm glad he was there in the mix.

I feel lucky to be able to work with so many local families every fall!