With snow covered yards, it's hard to think about Easter portraits.  However, it's just around the corner.  We will begin our Easter portrait sessions with our baby bunnies on Saturday March 21st, just a day after the official start to Spring! 

Why do Easter portraits?!  There are three top reasons people love Easter portraits.  

1)  It's traditional!  Pictures with Santa, school photos, and Easter are the BIG three 'have to do' portrait moments for most parents!  Don't forget,  most grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc are looking forward to their prints of the big three photo moments each year!

2)  An opportunity to get your child(ren) all dressed up in the colorful, fun, beautiful spring attire.  As our lives become more and more casual, it is not often we have a reason to get our children dressed up!  Easter remains one of the last 'dress up moments'.  Take advantage of this increasingly rare opportunity, and savior it for a lifetime through portraits.

3)  Add some baby bunnies, and what could be more adorable?  Most children love our fuzzy, little and friendly furry friends!  Every now and again, a wee one will be scared.  No worries!  Our bunnies love to be placed in basket next to your little one, and this distance usually will ease your wee one's worries.

Each year, we try hard to balance a beautiful spring look for our set, with being neutral enough to look good for all of Easter's colors.  This year we have a nice neutral blue/green with gray set that, I believe, combines the colors and 'outdoor' look one anticipates with Easter portraits, with a neutral palate to blend with most any Easter outfit.  We have named it 'Tuscany Veranda'.  

So, don't miss out!  Nancy Jo Photography specializes in children photography.  Rest assured, she will capture a moment, or two, or three..... that you will love and cherish forever.  This is a great opportunity to get amazing portraits at a very reasonable price.  

Our Easter Special price is just $50, and includes the 15 minute session and portrait package of 1-8x10, 2-5x7's and CD image of your favorite pose.  

Please note, due to the demand, we do require prepayment at time of booking.  Also, each session is limited to 1-2 children.  If you have more children, we still want you to come:)  We will just require you book back to back sessions.  

If you have any questions, please feel free to call Nancy Jo at 919-570-1009

Thank you and we look forward to seeing all the excited children, adorable outfits, and delighted parents!

Photography covers a wide array of subject matter, and then many subcategories of those.  I am a portrait photographer, that is I photograph people.  I admire and love landscapes, commerical and the many other arenas photographers choose to photograph.  However, I need human interactions to be inspired.  

Now to muddy the waters even more, there are many subcategories of portraiture.  Some photographers specialize in newborn photography, family photography, high school seniors, weddings, etc.  However, it appears in talking with other professional photographers, the least populated field of portrait photographers is children.  When I tell other photographers that I, like many of them, photograph all portraiture but specialize in children and families, I often get in return that look for pity.  Some of my closer photographer friends will even verbalize what I expect all those that give me that look of pity are thinking....which is....... ARE YOU CRAZY?!?!?!??!  They say, kid's are often difficult to control, to pose, to sit still long enough to capture a print worthy photograph.  They create messes in their britches, on their shirts, and if you get close enough, on the photographer!  They are noisy little creatures, emitting sounds that sometimes sound nearly unhuman.  They are quirky, often doing their own thing regardless of your needs or wants.  They have amazingly short attention spans.  And..... they remind me.... did I mention they make messes?!    My answer is yes, you are correct in all of your points.... but so what?!  I haven't had one child make a mess bigger than I can clean up.  I quite love that they are not posable creatures, but rather do their own thing.  It is more of a challenge artistically, but truly quite fun!  Their noises do not bother me, most of the time.  When they do, it's nothing a little Tylenol won't fix:)  Yes, they have short attention spans, but heck, I do too.  It makes us work well together, as neither of us will get bored.  I like their quirks, and ability to express themselves regardless of the camera in their face.  It allows me to capture their true, unique, and wonderful personality.  And, I add, one other bonus.  They don't seem to mind my singing.  Every other adult I know that has ever been subjected to my vocal ability (or lack there of) has not been so accepting.  They think that I sing the 'Wheels on the Bus' wonderfully!

So go ahead, call me crazy!  But let me show you the results of this craziness..... I think you will be jealous at all the fun I actually have:)

This beautiful princess is Danika!  She is spunky, lively, entertaining, and such a ball of fun to photograph.  I would say that she comes to life in front of the camera, but that wouldn't be true.  She is full of life all the time.  She just knew I wanted photographs of her being fabulous, and she was right.  Here are the results!

She said, "I know you want to take a picture of my beautiful eyes"!  And of course, I did!

Now Miss Danika has quite a range of dramatic emotions.  Here is her sweet and sensitive side.

Then we finished up with the beautiful self posed portrait!

But the dramatic expressions are not limited to just the girls.  Let me introduce you to Oz, just three months old during this session.  I will be honest, most babies are basically happy little creatures, as long as they are fed, dry and loved.  However, Oz is absolutely the happiest little guy I have ever met.  He smiles constantly, and even at three months old, captivates you with his variety of facial (which often ended up encompassing his entire body) expressions.

 

Just looking at these photos brings a smile to my face!

I had to shoot quick, because his face is in constant motion and the cuteness is never-ending!

Then finally, we finish us with the grand finale..... The serious (or as much as this happy little guy can get) portrait.  

We often do a combination of studio and outdoor photography sessions.  Little Miss Addison made the most of both of them!

Usually when we are photographing children, we will use a 'eye catcher'.  In this case, it was a piglet hand puppet.  As with most items we use, the interest is quickly lost.  So my lovely assistant set down Mr. Piggy and we continued on with the session.  It wasn't too long before Addison had to investigate Mr. Piggy firsthand!

I could go on, and on, and on about all the entertaining experiences I have had as a child and family photographer.  However, as a child photographer, I remember that attention spans are short, and interest wanes quickly.  That said, I will close with little Jackson, photographed just last week here in studio.  He was fast, curious, sweet and so very entertaining.  Our sessions with little ones are usually relatively short, as that is the way most require.  However, with little Jackson we went thirty minutes over before we even noticed the time.  Even then, he was still happy and giving me lots to capture.  

We were having so much fun, that Sandy (our studio poodle) had to join the fun!  Jackson loved it!

We had to be quick because, although he was not yet walking, he could crawl as fast Flash Gordon!

 

But of course, he was a mannerable young man, and remembered to say goodbye before leaving.

So, go ahead, call me crazy!  But photographing children, with all their smells, smiles, screams, and giggles is a constant source of joy and wonder for me.  I guess it's better to be the crazy kid lady, than the crazy cat lady, right?!

Thank you to all of the Mom's and Dad's who entrust me to capture these fleeting and precious moments in their child's life!  I am truly blessed to do what I love, and love what I do!

And.... if you really want a laugh, call me up and have me sing 'The Wheels on the Bus'.  

Nancy Jo Photography
Located in beautiful downtown Wake Forest
We specialize in children, family, wedding and high school senior portraiture
www.nancyjophotography.com
919-570-1009 

Everyone has gifts.  Everyone has talents.  I believe that I have been gifted to be able to do what I love.  I also feel that with these gifts, I have a responsibility to give to others.  The way in which I have been called to do so, is to photograph children with life threatening illnesses.  My deepest hope is that these photographs will help these children to remember the courageous fight they won in overcoming their illness.  However, sometimes that is not the case.  My hope then, is that these photographs provide precious memories of each child for their parents and loved ones that are grieving them.  

A little background may be helpful.  I am a registered nurse by profession.  As a result of this, I am comfortable in a hospital setting, and with the many special needs and equipment children with life threatening illnesses often come with.  I have photographed these amazing children in the Neonatel ICU, Pediatric ICU and general pediatric areas of the hospitals.  In addition, I have been invited into the homes of these families and was able to capture those special everyday moments in their lives.  

With each child I have been blessed to meet, I have been encouraged, inspired and quite simply awed by their bravery, courage, and most of all.... their love!  These children struggle daily to live, yet smile easily.  These children hurt, yet hug readily.  These children face fears daily, but laugh quickly.  How can one so little, face so much, and still bring sunshine into each day?  I am in constant amazement, because each of the children I have been blessed to meet in this journey has brought sunshine to others.  Each in their own way.

I would like to share the story of two of these extraordinary children.

First, I'd like to introduce you to Princess Warrior Azalee.  

At the age of five, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma.  I was lead to her shortly after diagnosis.  I was following one of my other amazing children on Facebook.  Due to a typo, I landed on Prayers for Azalee's page.  She had just 800 or so followers.  I read her story.  Immediately I messaged her mother and offered to photograph Princess Azalee on this journey.  Amanda, Azalee's mother, responded quickly.  She wanted to make sure I realized that they lived in Baton Rouge, Louisana.  I didn't, but it didn't matter.  After a few more messages, my wonderful assistant and I decided that we were called to meet Azalee and her family.  Within a week, we were in the car on a road trip to Baton Rouge.  When we arrived, Azalee and her family greeted us like family.  

We spent a few hours photographing this amazing family, and then joined them for a traditional Lousiana Gumbo.  The next day, we said our goodbyes with hugs and smiles.  During that short visit, Azalee and her family touched our hearts.  Their strength.... their courage..... their love were (and still are) an inspiration to us.  

We continued to keep in touch with Amanda, and prayed daily for Azalee and her family.  Azalee fought a courageous battle, and smiled everyday of her life.  Sadly, she was called to her heavenly home on November 18, 2013.  She is missed.  Behind my desk hangs a portrait I took on that trip, and reminds me daily what COURAGE looks like.  It looks like a beautiful little girl, in a pink shirt, black leggings, flowered flip flops and a smile that will light up your day.  

Her name is Azalee and she will always be remembered by me, and the hundreds and thousands of others she inspired in her courageous battle.  

The next hero I would like to introduce you to is Bryson.  

Bryson was diagnosed with Spina Bifida while still in utero.  At 28 weeks gestation, he and Mom underwent fetal surgery to repair the opening in the lower half of his back.  He was born at 34 weeks, and has defied the odds everyday of his life.  I first met Bryson and his family when he was just a week or so old.  I photographed him in the NICU and UNC Chapel Hill.  

There was so much uncertainity.  There was so little known about what to expect.  Yet Bryson's family knew that he was their special blessing and God had provided a miracle and would continue to do so.  

They were right.  

Bryson just turned three.  

He has underwent dozens of surgeries and procedures.  He is paralyzed from the waist down.  He has daily therapies.  The simple things, like eating, bathing, and playing are challenging for him.  Yet.... he smiles!  Yet..... he laughs!  Yet.... he loves!   Bryson calls me 'Jo-Jo', and let me tell you, hearing that from this precious little boy will light up my day!  My family and his family are very close friends, and he is a blessing not only to me, my husband and my son, but every single person that knows him.  He has an outgoing personality.  He is so very loving.  God made him perfectly Bryson!  Many children his age are anxious with strangers.  As is our nature as humans, we are curious.  When Bryson wheels around in his tiny wheelchair and smiles, it engages people.  They tend to look.  When they do, instead of being shy and timid, Bryson clearly says "Hi!".  He pulls people in, and makes friends everywhere he goes.  Despite the struggles Bryson faces every single day of his life, he is happy and spreads that happiness everywhere.  It is truly an honor to be a witness to the power of God's miracles daily in the life Bryson.  It is truly an honor to call this amazingly strong, courageous and handsome young man my friend!

It is but a little thing, but it is a thing I can offer.  Portrait memories of these brave little people, fighting for their lives, and their loving families battling right next to them.  If you know of a child with a life threatening illness whose family would like photographs of their little warrior, please have them call me at 919-570-1009.  This offering I make, as a way to pay it forward, and to tell their amazing stories of love, courage and determination.