photography – Jessica Michelle Photo

Golden Hour Self Portraits – Port Jefferson, NY – Jessica Michelle Photo

I’ve been doing self portraits every other week to document this final pregnancy and last weeks was so magical and came out exactly how I wanted and above my expectations of doing self portraits! Here is 24 weeks, a little over half way done and growing by the second it seams. I feel like I was showing a little extra since these were done the day after Thanksgiving where I think I devoured about 34 meals over a one and a half day period.

I want to take someone here to shoot soon, before they mow it down! SO lets set up a session for you, your family or your sweet little one – you won’t be disappointed.

More maternity sessions can be seen on the Maternity tab

Moe’s Fall Maternity Session – Stony Brook, NY Long Island – Jessica Michelle Photo

I had the pleasure of getting to capture Moe & Ignace at Avalon Nature Preserve and Duck Pond in Stony Brook a few weeks ago. Moe thought that she had missed her chance at 37 weeks pregnant to do maternity photos but took a chance and gave me a call. I was so happy I was available to squeeze them into my schedule. They were both so fun to work with and Ignace was quite a funny guy! We decided on an evening session and the park was absolutely beautiful when we arrived. The golden hour sun made all the fall colors really pop and shine. After a little walk though the park we decided to get Moe into one of the dresses I have and do just a few more near the pond. She was STUNNING!! And we even had some guest waddle into a couple of shots.

Tips to capturing the Holidays! – Jessica Michelle Photo – Long Island Photographer

You can’t always be so lucky to be married to a photographer like my husband – so here are some tips to capture your holiday festivities! Wether it with your smart phone or dslr you got as a gift this past year make sure to take it out and really capture the family moments together.

Follow the light

Nothing is worse than a poorly lit photo! Take the time to stop, observe and adjust the exposure to make sure your getting what you want before moving on. On your phone this can easily be done by tapping on the screen and moving the exposure slider up or down. Light can come from so many different options – like your bright christmas tree. Explore your surroundings and really take it all in.

Capture the candid moments

Sure the kids holding up their presents with big smiles on their faces is a great memory too, but the best is watching them open them and seeing how they react when that is going on. Watching grandma & grandpa interact with the kids, big hugs upon arrival, reading a book or just sitting together taking in the time together. Capturing the unposed can be just as good or better as the posed ones that everyone always gets.

jessica michelle photo 365 day project documenting everyday port jefferson long island new york january 2017 day8_jessicamichellephoto_365dayproject

Take an adventure & play

Getting outside or doing something not only yields better light but makes for fun memories had and captured! Last year during our winter break it SNOWED! For us the kids had never seen, touched or played in the snow having lived in California on the coast. Watching them suit up and dig in and have a blast was something i’ll never forget. Don’t limit yourself though getting out also means meeting santa, taking a fun holiday adventure to the tree farm to cut down your own tree or getting hot cocoa at the local coffee shop. Cocoa mustaches are completely adorable.

day7_jessicamichellephoto_365dayproject day6_jessicamichellephoto_365dayproject

Change up the perspective

Take the chance and give your little ones a moment to capture what they want – you may be surprised when they come back with at least one or two cute shots. Get down low and on their level and shoot. Shoot from above, though a window or door. Get creative and change it up a little.

jessica michelle photo 365 day project documenting everyday port jefferson long island new york january

Get in it the frame

I have to admit this is a really hard one for me a lot of the times. Not because I don’t want to be in the frame but because I get SO caught up in taking all the pictures! So while everyone is gathered around take a moment to set up your camera and set a timer or hand it off to another person and hop in the frame. Because you were there too!

edit4688-2 — You might even be surprised when you do hop in the frame and can’t monitor whats going on!

Lastly at the end of the day, the best photos are the ones you take…the ones just for yourself. All of the happiness captured, the meals shared, and the time spent together they are the memories that make up this season. So, do your best to take the photos that matter to you, but more importantly — also take time and put the camera down to experience it for yourself.

Olivia and Dillon – A girl and her puppy – Jessica Michelle Photo

I have know Olivia and her amazing family for 10 years now! It all began when I had just moved to San Francisco after graduating from photography school and happened upon getting a nanny job with their family. Olivia was just two and a half and I had never nannied before or driven around San Francisco. Let’s just say they both took some adjusting to. I ended up nannying for them for FIVE years and they became like family to me. I couldn’t have asked for a sweeter family to work for and grow close too. After moving on we always kept in contact and close – Miranda was one of the first to come hold my Emily after she was born even. Olivia later accompanied Emily in being a flower girl at my wedding. Now living on opposite coast it’s harder to see each other ( thank goodness for Facebook!). When I was in the Bay Area last month for holiday sessions I was able to squeeze in a little session and hang with Olivia and her sweet little labradoodle puppy Dillon. I could not be happier with how they turned out – these two are like peas in a pod!

Ada’s Fall Themed 1st Birthday Party – Stony Brook, NY – Jessica Michelle Photo

Ada had her adorable fall themed first birthday party last month at Old Field Club in Stony Brook. Big sister Mable and her were dressed in rose gold and white coordinating outfits that were just the cutest! It was so fun to see how much Ada had grown up since her Fresh 48 session I had done when she was just born, Mabel too! Mom really went all out with the festive pumpkins and fall themed center pieces to the amazingly done cake that looked like a basket of apples. Ada had a great time celebrating her first year of life with all of her wonderful family and friends.

A Sunset Family Session – Hempstead Lake Park – Long Island Family Photographer

Family session taken at Hempstead Lake Park on Long Island by Jessica Michelle Photo Long Island Family Photographer

I photographed the Lee family at the beautiful Hempstead Lake Park last month and it was just gorgeous! After several reschedules due to this wonderful spring rain we finally had a sunny forecast and could carry on with our session plans. When we stared the session the sun was perfect and golden just starting to set on the day. I couldn’t have asked for better weather than we received for the Lee’s family session. The two girls were completely adorable and gave me some great smiles.

Enjoy!

Elizabeth’s 100th Day Session – Long Island Child Photographer – Jessica Michelle Photo

Elizabeth’s 100th day session celebrating her first 100 days of life.

The 100th day after a child’s birth is a significant milestone in the Asian culture. This was something new to me and was so intriuged to learn more about it when Elizabeth had her session back in February. Unfortunately it was common back in the day for babies to pass away due to sickness and poor living conditions, so the 100th day is celebrated for having survived this difficult period. It’s also a celebration of the parents who survived the first 100 days since it is known to be the most difficult period. I think we can all attest to that! There are many traditional customs that are practiced on this day such as eating red bean cakes for good luck, to the baby being placed belly down and grabbing at different objects placed in front of them that represent different career paths for when they grow up. Whichever one they grab will be the career that they will choose.

We had so much fun with Elizabeth and her family during her session, she is absolutely adorable.

Enjoy!

{August – 6 months} Family session at Avalon Nature Preserve in Stony Brook – Jessica Michelle Photo

I had so much fun with August and his parents last month. They were visiting family here on Long Island and while in town wanted to do a session! I may have called him the wrong name most of the time but we really had a good time and got a lot of great smiles from him.

Enjoy!

All the wonderful mommas – Mother’s Day 2017 – Port Jefferson, Long Island NY Photographer

I wanted to share some of my favorite images of mothers that I have captured over the past few years. They are the reason for why I do what I do! From maternity mommas to be to seasoned moms of many.

I asked a couple of the moms what they loved best about being a mom and got some wonderful responses. For me its the never ending love and affection from them no matter what – even if I have been “mean mom” they always love to love on me. Im never without a big or kiss or snuggle every day. More answers below from some of the beautiful mommas I’ve captured.

Happy Mothers Day to all the mommas out there

fun_long_island_family_photography_session_port_jefferson_new_york_mothers_day_outdoor — Witnessing all the firsts.
Watching the brain grow, milestones, developing
Connection like no other
Tiny kisses and hugs full of love

Loving_long_island_family_photography_session_port_jefferson_new_york_mothers_day_fresh_48_newborn — The simplest answer, both the best thing and the saddest thing is that especially at this age, she wakes up a different person every day. More aware, more in control, more engaged, but less and less of my tiny baby. I can’t wait to see who she’s going to be tomorrow, but it sucks saying goodbye to who she was yesterday.

grandma_long_island_family_photography_session_port_jefferson_new_york_mothers_day_in_home_newborn_session — Sometimes I even get to photograph grandmas with their sweet grand babies.

Why printing your photos matter -Jessica Michelle Photo – Port Jefferson, NY

It could be because I love photography and seeing the history of my family but it is just as important for you too, for you and your family. In this day of digital everything, printing out photos is becoming a long-lost idea. Technology will change again and again and again and things will get lost as it isn’t meant to be sustainable, it is just data on a disk unless you make a hard copy – A PRINT!

I was set to write this post at the beginning of February but it didn’t happen. We finally closed on our house and have been working on getting it ready for move in! Then rolled in the plague and winter break and I’m finally getting around to posting on this very important topic. Why printing your photos is oh so very important.

What inspired me to create this post was my grandpa, Fred Egenberger: USN Seabees, he passed away just over a year ago at the end of January 2016. Since his passing and visiting my grandma a few times I have collected many MANY photographs. Some I know very well and some I have NEVER seen. Photos of my grandma as a child with her mother, my mom as a newborn, pictures of me from summers and holidays spent at their house. I have boxes and albums full of photos and it is nice to be able to show my children who our family was. It allows me to see the life that was before me and remember my past and my families past.

It could be because I love photography and seeing the history of my family but it is just as important for you too, for you and your family. In this day of digital everything, printing out photos is becoming a long-lost idea. Technology will change again and again and again and things will get lost as it isn’t meant to be sustainable, it is just data on a disk unless you make a hard copy – A PRINT! I am always asked “Do I get all the digital files?” “Will my gallery be here forever?” or told “I just want them for Facebook, Instagram, etc” but none of these are permanent. Prints are forever and can physically handed down to the next generation and the one after that. You can’t hand down your Facebook or Instagram – who knows if they will even be around in 5-10 years… remember MySpace?!

What you can hand down is a physical print in all of the forms it is offered in.

I urge you to get prints of your photos from your sessions even if it is just one, please order prints! When you order prints though me you receive archival photos printed on high quality paper and is printed by a professional lab that makes sure the print looks exactly like the image does on the digital file. My favorite product to offer satisfies both the want for the digitals and the ability to have prints. It is a keepsake box with all the images from your session printed in 4×6 size and all the images on a custom USP drive so you can share them digitally.