JM Images will only be accepting two models from each or any school.

We can start the post with a few wedding day images!  You can also view Mikki’s bridal images here.

Mikki was just stunning.  Stunning.

The reception was held at The Corinthian in Sharon, PA.  After most of the events of the evening were finished Mikki and Justin took a little personal time. 

Mikki and Justin were not sure exactly what I had in mind for the day after shoot.  I was going to walk down to the creek for a little shoot with them, then Mikki text me and said there was a special place that she and Justin liked to visit.  I was up for anything, so I said no problem and off we went. She had the perfect place!

Mikki is up for anything it seems.  Actually, she trusts me.  I like that.  It makes life so much easier when your client has full trust in you.  Images seem to be that much more beautiful.

I wanted to post these after I took them back in late July but Mikki said Justin would peak and it would ruin the surprise. (Although, Mikki said that she is sure Justin went hunting for the dress as it was being stashed at her soon to be in-laws house)

The wedding was yesterday, September 3, 2011.  Almost five weeks I had to wait.

I am looking forward to blogging the wedding pics! I won’t have to wait for those!

One last shot.

Actually, here is the last shot.  I was not going to put this in as it is not the best exposure. ( I did not look at my histogram after the sun peaked back out. My bad) But I love this image even though the highlights are blown out on the left side of her dress.

A lot of new changes this year.   With the new studio and trying to keep up with the photo sessions, designing the walls of my studio, getting ready for the onslaught of the 2012 senior class treading water may be a more accurate term.

I am not complaining mind you, I love the fact that I am busy with the finishing touches in my studio all the while tripping over myself during the senior sessions and maternity sessions.

I just wish things would return to “normal” for just a day.  Although I suppose “comfortable” might be the term I am searching for.  I will say I have been having a lot of fun the past 15 days or so.  Different requests from kids for their senior pictures and requests for images I had been working on over the winter.

I did get to go on location this week for session for a long time friend of mine.  I met the mother back in 1987 while on an overseas youth trip.  20 (something) years later I am photographing her daughter.  Talk about time flying!  This portrait was a nice diversion from the studio and local work I have been doing lately.

Now, back to the grindstone.

So I was wandering around an antique Store and I came across a couch.  really nice couch.  Figured I needed it and really wanted it for a few sessions I had coming up.  Plus, every photographer needs a couch.  As I was waiting for a price on the couch I looked over and noticed a really cool, really beautiful vintage wedding dress. I normally don’t check out dresses but being a wedding photographer I notice wedding dresses.  I looked at the dress and thought of a girl I photographed a few years ago and hoped she would fit in the gown.  While I was deciding to buy or not buy the dress I remembered my notebook I keep in the event ideas pop into my head.  I write them down and put them away until I have time to work on new things.  Figured it was a good time to freshen up the portfolio.  So, I picked up the dress and the couch and made arrangements with Marissa and here is a sampling of what we came up with.

Enjoy!

A few years ago I (re) opened my photo studio.  I had taken a few years off of shooting.  I considered it a recharging of sorts.  Having done that I was at the beginning again.  I had no clients, no leads, no “ins”.  I was starting from scratch. (again)  One of my first seniors was a girl by the name of Sara.  She was my kind of subject, as in, go out and shoot and see how it goes.  It was a fun shoot and the images worked out great!

Some time went by and I got a call from Sara.  Seems she had found Mr. Right and was getting married.  Awesome!  I was stoked!  You can see a few of the images here.

Well, coming almost full circle, I was lucky enough to photograph Eden Rose this afternoon!  Eden happens to be Sara’s darling little girl!

Once again, Sara just let me shoot.  What a treat!

I was going to mention to Sara and her husband Logan that the next step will take us full circle. (Their grandchild)  :-) But I thought better of the comment as I did not want to rush the years ahead of them as they tend to go by way to quickly.  I think it is better that they just hug and hold their little angel before she grows up and is to big to hold like this.

Hello there soon to be seniors!  After the PIAA State Championships this weekend look for Evyn and ask for her Jm Images card!  There are more goodies involved than what is on the card, but the cards are small and putting all the goodness on them is, well, just not possible!

Ohh my…. do not forget the new, rebranded, cooler looking (dare I use the term ‘swanky’?) “joe shot me” t-shirts that will be included in your session!

Evyn was on my short list of Ambassadors when I met her two years ago during Cross Country.  As the last weeks of her Junior year wind down we got together and rocked a few images to knock the dust off of my senior shooting.  (Or get me wound up for the upcoming Senior Summer) Either way the session went great and Evyn will be ready to hand out cards to her friends with a great offer on the cards!  (Just look her up at school and she will be more than happy to pass along a card or two)

The 2010-2011 PIAA wrestling season for my son came to an end Friday night. It was a tough end to a rough grinding sophomore season. Trey seemed okay with all of it. He was not happy to have the season end without a trip to Hershey, the location of the Pennsylvania State Championships, but he rebounds quickly and keeps everything in perspective. He is good like that. He thinks through challenges and works on finding what can help him advance the next time.

That is my son.

(This is Trey in his first wrestling tournament at age 5. )

(and this is Trey after his first wrestling season age 5. )

Me? Ahhhh, I have other issues. I did not fair so well this year as a dad of a wrestler. It finally hit me this season that Trey is fighting his own battles.  He is going into competition and going it alone.  I have come to understand  this season that Trey is doing exactly what all fathers inspire their boys to be, what we want our boys to do.  They learn to become men.  Tough transition for me.  My job is to protect Trey from harm and help him fight through battles.  I have learned this year that he is fighting his own battles and learning from every win or loss.  I have learned (the hard way) that I cannot fight his battles for him like I used to when he was 4 and 5.   (There is a story about a certain play ground in Brookline, a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, where I had to actually defend myself and Trey from an overly aggressive father of a 6 year old.  But that is a rather old story and one I would rather not bring up today) It is truly a bitter sweet moment.

(2010-2011 Sophomore year)

I hope that the next season is a little kinder to me than this season was.  I know Trey will do fine and will progress on the mat without my help.  He did a fine job this season without my help.  I am not worried about Trey coping with these issues.  I hope I can keep wandering the back walls of the gymnasium and not have my heart jump out of my chest as he is walking out onto the mat for battle.  I hope I get to the point where I can sit in the stands and just cheer for Trey (not have my heart in my throat) and enjoy each match and watch him grow into an even better man on and off the mat.