Where the Wild Things are is one of my favorite books and contains some of my favorite quotes of all time…..
“Let the wild rumpus start.”
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Inside all of us is Hope.
Inside all of us is Fear.
Inside all of us is Adventure.
Inside all of us is… A Wild Thing.
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I’LL EAT YOU UP
I LOVE YOU SO
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“I have a sadness shield that keeps out all the
sadness, and it’s big enough for all of us.”
~ WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE
Jeanine Thurston Photography ~copyright 2014
There is no place to compare our children to others. Not to others in our household, not to others in school – because there is not one child out there like another. They love different things at different times, they learn things at different speeds. Their minds are so busy with taking in every bit of information, categorizing it, filing it, re-filing it and this is a never ending process. WE CAN encourage and lead by example… and we can accept that some children will learn information in different ways. Finding what they excel in and celebrating that can give them encouragement to work on some of the things that they maybe aren’t learning as quickly. Every child has something that can be celebrated… find that in your child.
Today, start a list… by listening. For a week keep a piece of paper on your counter and start writing down things that your child says, what interests them and make a collection of who your child is right now. Do this yearly, monthly, however often you can and put it with a photo when you are done. This is the most amazing memory book you can ever assemble – it allows you to see who your child is – a snapshot of their personality. Then take a day and celebrate all the things that make your child amazing and unique.
January 2013
About a year ago we decided that we would do a calendar project to benefit a children. We finally have our first calendar complete. It was our first year – and after all of the work and organizing put into it…. Jenny up and says… “so… are we doing this again next year?” Of course me… “I think so.”…. Jenny “Because if we are, I think I need to start on that NOW.”
Ok… enough said I think with that – it was obviously a huge project and took a ton of people, organizing, prop shopping and construction, photography time, editing time. But in the end – yes, my first thoughts is OF COURSE we will do it again for a 2014 calendar because it was just way too much fun not to.
We had great little subjects who participated.
Then of course we had a few very gracious vendors that supported some of our shoots too.
Anything But Vanilla was amazing with some cupcakes in the “Everything nice” shoot. She makes some of the most amazing flavors of cakes & cupcakes I’ve ever tasted.
Cake Pandemic – Christine Godsey Black 720-235-2008 made us a BUNCH of pies for the Little Jack Horner shoots. They were so yummy, and looked beautiful… that is before the boys dug in and destroyed them upon command!lol
Kimber at Kim’s Designs is my go to tutu vendor. Amazingly creative and custom makes tutus for our shoots. I can’t say enough about her work.
Dizzie Izzie makes amazing pedi-skirts and much more. The kids just love twirling in them!!!
And then my thought catcher & arranger and set designer too: Jenny Bonfiglio
THE STORIES.
PRINCESS & THE FROG
SUGAR & SPICE AND EVERYTHING NICE
LITTLE MISS MUFFET
BED IN SUMMER by Robert Louis Stevenson
RAPUNZEL
LITTLE BOY BLUE
LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
JACK AND JILL
WYNKEN BLYNKEN & NOD
LITTLE JACK HORNER
For each copy of the 2013 Calendar sold between October 20th, 2012 – February 1st, 2013 a portion of the proceeds will be donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
PURCHASE YOUR 2013 STORYBOOK CALENDAR BY CLICKING HERE!
In this – I speak only for myself, I can’t say that every photographer feels the same; however, after photographing for over two decades it is how I work best.
Let the artist create.
As an artist – inspiration is a beautiful thing. When you schedule a portrait session – tossing out ideas that you like or maybe sending a photo that you adore is a great direction to give a photographer so that we know the style that you like. Brainstorm with your photographer about themes and the things you love best about your child, you as a couple, your wedding so that we get your energy and what makes you excited and happy. But I have to say – my best images and best sessions have been when the client then comes in and says… do what you do best. Personally it opens my mind faster, and allows me to create images that I love and in the end – the result is typically the showcase images you see on the walls or in the albums, or submitted into professional photographic competitions. While a real professional photographer can re-create nearly anything he or she sees – it takes away our art and becomes nothing special to us. I don’t like copying – I get asked a lot to do shots by another and typically nod my head and do a quick shot and then move on to images that are how I see it best. Nobody has the same body type, no child is the exact same, and no image should be copied. When I shoot – I read personalities, most of the time I develop shots in my head based on the subject’s natural expressions or the way they react back to me – and THAT is when you get the best images out of an artist.
So story boards are great for inspiration – but replication to an artist is tying their hands…. and wouldn’t you rather have something completely you and unique anyway?
Photographer: Jeanine Thurston
Maternity portraits can be a full portrait session or even one of our Thursday morning Quick Takes sessions… but don’t let it pass you by. It is an amazing thing that your body is creating a new life and is a miracle to remember for sure. Check out our galleries on our website FOTOTAILS for ideas of what you like best – formal, fun, wraps, studio or outdoors with a vintage look too. Plan your maternity portraits around 32 weeks “give or take a couple weeks.” It is a beautiful way to remember your pregnancy!!
We can help you plan it however you want. Some even like to make it a mini-makeover day to feel extra nice and pampered before the new addition to your family.
A few weeks ago we posted on facebook that we were doing one day of “tutu” sessions for little girls, their families & friends. One day quickly turned into three and it couldn’t have been more fun! Absolutely in love with hundreds of images from those shoots! Dizzie Izzie pedi-skirts and some fantastic tutus from Kimber… then add some cupcakes from Anything But Vanilla and some accessories and it makes for some pretty fun filled days of photography.
Check out some of the images on these little videos!
SUPER happy to say that I’m now carrying Baby Jack tab blankets at our new studio in Denver. Both my kids LOVED their tab blankets – in fact they wore them completely out because they carried them everywhere. They are super soft and have the great sensory tabs and nice and small so your kids can tote them around without taking up much room at all. If you are interested, we will have some available at the studio or if you see one of the designs here that you like, call me and I can let you know if I have it in stock and can also take orders over the phone or online. Any questions: (720)566-9770 or e-mail us at info@fototails.comPlease wash on cold delicate & tumble dry solo to prevent from shrinking. Ribbons may fray and stray after normal wear and tear so please moniter children carefully!
$23.00 + tax (& shipping)
Fototails Photography is participating in the International Charity Model Search to select North America’s Cutest Kid and to raise funds for the non-profit Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Foundation. (NILMDTS.org)
Is your child North America’s Cutest Kid? We’ll give you the opportunity to prove it! The grand prize winner will win a $2500 savings bond, a $2500 travel package, and a $100 Target gift card. The second and third place runners up each will win a $500 savings bond and a $100 Target gift card.
Model Search Special:
$45 entrance fee includes a 30 minute model session with Jeanine Thurston and one image submitted to the international gallery.
Finalists will be determined by online votes. Each vote is $1 (no limit on the amount of votes you can cast), and all proceeds from votes benefit Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDTS.org). Every family member who registers their information on the Charity Model Search Website will also receive 1 complimentary vote. The top 5 paid votes, and the top 5 complimentary votes in each region will move on to the final judging round for a total of 50 finalists.
Grand prize international winner and runners up will be determined from the 50 regional finalists. The winner and runners up are selected by photography experts.
Call 720-454-7608 or email wendy@fototails.com to enter your “Cutest Kid” in this exciting contest.
*Contest open to residents of the US and Canada. For more information, visit http://www.charitymodelsearch.org.
Jeanine Thurston 