2019 Tulip Sessions in Southern New Jersey

I love tulip sessions! I have done these just about every single year since I started photography. They sell out every year and just about every year, we win an award for our photography. This is something I love and hold dear in our beautiful Garden State!

This lovely family from Gloucester County hired us. I can't take the credit for the styling in this, it's all mom! Thanks Mom! You did a fantastic job with this! If wanting to know where the little guy's outfit came from... wait for it... it came from Amazon!!!

I could not get over how sweet this dynamic duo is with one another. We definitely have a little gentlemen in our presence!

I love shooting at my little patch every single year! The pop of color truly shines. I love the spring light. I just really love my little magical place. It's private property and the family who owns it, lets me get to cherish it, every year!

NOTHING is better than getting true captures in South Jersey. Love a genuine smile over a fake "cheese" smile, any day!

With every season, it's my attention to give you the best! That means lots of fun and twirls!

Nothing like a magical twirl. Her face is priceless! Southern New Jersey Portrait Session!

Mr. Handsome Sauce.. hamming it up for the camera!

I hope you enjoyed this little "sneak peak" into the series. I loved working with this brother and sister combo! I hope to see them again soon!

Happy Shooting, my friends! -Dee Shooting Star Photography,

See you again, South Jersey!

Pick those beautiful tulips.. little lady!

Maternity Photography

Top 5 Reasons to Have a Maternity Session

If you're expecting a little bundle of joy, congratulations! This is an incredibly special time in your life, and what better way to capture and celebrate it than with a maternity session? Here are the top five reasons why having a maternity session with Shooting Star Photography LLC is a must:

1. Documenting the Miracle of Life: Pregnancy is a beautiful journey, filled with anticipation, excitement, and love. A maternity session allows you to freeze these precious moments in time and create lasting memories of the miraculous journey your body is going through. From the gentle curve of your belly to the glow in your eyes, our talented photographers will capture the essence of this remarkable chapter in your life.

2. Celebrating Your Changing Body: Pregnancy brings about many changes in a woman's body, and these changes deserve to be celebrated. Our maternity sessions are designed not only to capture the beauty of your growing belly but also to capture the strength, grace, and confidence that radiates from within. Embrace your unique physical transformation and cherish the stunning images that showcase your maternal glow.

3. Including Your Partner and Family: A maternity session is an opportunity to involve your partner and other family members in documenting your journey to parenthood. By including your loved ones in the session, you'll be able to capture the connection, love, and joy that surround you during this magical time. Whether it's an intimate couple's shoot or a family portrait, these images will create cherished memories for years to come.

4. Creating Heirlooms for Your Child: Your future child will love seeing images of their parents during the early stages of their life. Maternity photos serve as a tangible connection between you, your child, and the beautiful anticipation that filled the air before their arrival. By investing in a maternity session, you're creating heirlooms that can be passed down through generations, providing a glimpse into their own unique history.

5. Artistic Expression and Empowerment: A maternity session is not solely about capturing standard poses; it's an opportunity for artistic expression and self-empowerment. Our experienced

I love maternity photo shoots in Ocean City!

A collage of our maternity sessions over the past year!

 I noticed this year that I haven't done as much maternity photography as I have liked... and well.. I sincerely want to change that! And changes will be made, South Jersey! I am wanting to move forward and do what I love and what I am passionate about and while I continue to grow and going forth, that excitement  is with maternity photography.  It is my favorite type of photography besides capturing  families and children and I enjoy capturing the essence of this special moment in life! In a effort to book more for big beautiful bellies for next year, I am offering a special for 2017! This is for early bookings in 2016 only.  10 files for $250 and 20 files for $300.  

This will include an  unlimited wardrobe selection and changes within your hour shoot. Within my maternity captures, I also like to include family. This is for immediate family only. However, we ALWAYS go in with a play with every session and get the family portraits out of the way.  

Then we do portraits with mom and her kids, then dad and his  kids.. then dad and mom together and then mom's formals for her maternity session and to capture this time in your life.Also, if you do not have any children and would like to incorporate your furry pet child... bring them along!! I love working with animals!We may even bring a little organic treat for your furry love muffin!As I look into 2017,

I want to thank every customer that has come our way to make this a very successful year and to make their session one of the most fun sessions they have ever encountered.  I love when folks walk away with a wonderful overall experience!If you know anyone wanting to have a maternity capture in this stage in life.

Let them know of my offerings! I have over 30 gown selections and it grows on a weekly  basis.  I have styles and sizes for everyone!!!  We also include any little girls that will be included in the session, their dress as well and we also have numerous head piece offerings! Until we meet again folks!  

Happy Shooting!!! 

Dee 

Another session in the books!!

From Vintage to Vibrant: A Two-Year-Old’s Style in a New Jersey Tulip Photo Shoot

As a photographer in South Jersey, I've had the opportunity to capture some truly beautiful moments. One of my recent favorites was a two-year-old photo shoot set in a New Jersey tulip field. The spring photoshoot was full of fun and energy, and the little girl was the star of the show. In this blog post, I'll share some of the highlights of the session and the beautiful moments we captured.

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The Two-Year-Old Star of the Photo Shoot

As the photographer for this two-year-old photo shoot, I was excited to work with such a lively and spirited little girl. She had an attitude that was infectious, and both her mom and I loved it. She was full of life and energy, and I knew from the start that she would be the star of the show.

One of the things that I love about working with young children is their ability to express themselves freely. This little girl was no exception, and she wasn't shy in front of the camera. Her personality shone through in every shot, and it was clear that she was having a blast.

One of my favorite moments from the shoot was when she was playing with the tulips. She was so curious and playful, and the joy on her face was infectious. Another moment that stood out was when she was running through the tulip field with her mom. It was a beautiful moment that captured the bond between them perfectly.

Throughout the shoot, I was constantly inspired by the little girl's energy and personality. She was full of surprises and kept me on my toes, which is exactly what I love about working with young children. It was an absolute joy to work with her and capture her spirit on camera.

Overall, the little girl was the star of the show, and I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to work with her. As a photographer in New Jersey, I'm always grateful for the chance to capture these special moments, and this photo shoot was definitely one of the highlights of my career.

Setting the Scene in a New Jersey Tulip Field

As a photographer in New Jersey, I'm always looking for beautiful locations to set the scene for my photo shoots. For this two-year-old session, I knew that a tulip field would be the perfect backdrop for the spring photos we had planned. The field we chose was located in New Jersey and it was in full bloom with bright, vibrant tulips. The colors of the flowers were absolutely stunning and they really added to the beauty of the photos.

On the day of the shoot, we were blessed with perfect weather - plenty of sunshine to light up the field. The warm, natural light was perfect for capturing the little girl's joyful energy. The tulips provided a colorful and unique setting that really made the photos stand out. It was such a pleasure to capture the little girl playing amongst the flowers and having fun. The tulips were a great way to add an extra element of whimsy to the shoot.

As a photographer, I always try to find locations that are both beautiful and practical. The tulip field offered plenty of open space for the little girl to run around and explore. It also provided some great photo opportunities, with the tulips adding a touch of magic to every shot. Overall, the tulip field was the perfect setting for this two-year-old photo shoot. I'm so glad that we were able to capture these special moments in such a beautiful location.

The Vintage Outfit: Elegance and Simplicity

As I planned this two-year-old photo shoot, I knew that the outfits were going to be an important aspect of the shoot. For the first part of the session, we decided to go with a vintage outfit. The outfit was a beautiful white dress with lace details, and a small flower crown. The simplicity of the outfit was perfect for the tulip field, and it allowed the little girl's personality and energy to shine through.

When I first saw the little girl in her vintage outfit, I knew that we had made the right choice. The outfit was elegant and timeless, and it really brought out her natural beauty. The lace details added a touch of sophistication to the outfit, and the flower crown was a beautiful accessory that tied the whole look together.

One of the things that I loved about the vintage outfit was how it looked against the backdrop of the tulip field. The white dress was the perfect contrast to the bright colors of the flowers, and it really made the little girl stand out. The simplicity of the outfit allowed the focus to be on the little girl's personality and energy, which was exactly what we wanted.

Overall, the vintage outfit was a great choice for the first part of the photo shoot. It was simple, elegant, and timeless, and it allowed us to capture some beautiful moments with the little girl. From playing with the tulips to snuggling with her mom, the outfit was versatile enough to work in a variety of settings. As a photographer in New Jersey, I'm always looking for ways to bring out the best in my subjects, and the vintage outfit was a great way to do just that.

The Transition into an Anna Triant Dress

For the second half of the photo shoot, we wanted to switch things up and showcase a different style for the little girl. We chose to put her in an Anna Triant dress, a beautiful pink dress with a fun and vibrant pattern. As a photographer in New Jersey, I'm always looking for ways to add a pop of color to my photos, and this dress was the perfect way to do just that.

As soon as the little girl put on the dress, her energy level skyrocketed. She loved the dress, and it showed in her body language and expressions. The vibrant colors of the dress looked amazing against the backdrop of the tulip field, and it really helped to add an extra element of whimsy to the photos.

As we continued the shoot, I could see the little girl's personality shining through in every shot. Her energy and joy were infectious, and it was clear that she was having a great time. The dress allowed her to move freely and express herself, which made for some amazing photos. It was a joy to see her having so much fun and being able to capture those moments on camera.

Overall, the Anna Triant dress was the perfect choice for the second half of the photo shoot. It allowed the little girl's energy to shine through and added a pop of color to the photos. As a photographer in New Jersey, I'm always looking for ways to showcase my subjects in the best possible light, and this dress was a great way to do just that.

Capturing the Perfect Moments

As a photographer, my ultimate goal is always to capture the perfect moment. During this two-year-old photo shoot, there were so many amazing moments to capture, and I felt honored to be able to capture them. From the little girl's playful energy to her sweet moments with her mom, there were plenty of opportunities for beautiful photos.

As the shoot progressed, I was constantly inspired by the little girl's energy and personality. She kept me on my toes, and I never knew what she was going to do next. But it was that unpredictability that made the shoot so exciting and allowed me to capture some truly beautiful moments.

One of the things that I love about photography is being able to capture the essence of a person. And with this little girl, it was clear that her personality was what made her so special. She had an infectious energy and attitude that was impossible to ignore. It was an absolute joy to be able to capture that on camera.

Overall, capturing the perfect moment is what makes photography so special to me. And with this photo shoot, I felt like we were able to capture so many beautiful moments that this family will treasure for years to come. I'm grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of it, and I look forward to capturing more special moments in the future.

Final Thoughts on the Photo Shoot

I've been fortunate to capture some truly special moments. This two-year-old photo shoot in a New Jersey tulip field was definitely one of them. From the moment I met the little girl, I knew that she was going to be a star. Her energy and personality were infectious, and it was an absolute joy to work with her.

One of the things that I loved about this photo shoot was the versatility. We were able to showcase two different styles with the vintage outfit and the Anna Triant dress. Both outfits were beautiful in their own way, and they allowed us to capture a variety of different moments.

The tulip field was the perfect setting for the photo shoot, and it really helped to make the photos stand out. The colors of the flowers were absolutely stunning, and they added an extra element of whimsy to the photos!

Final Thoughts

I LOVE photography! It is my dream to do and to capture these memories for folks!!! I will be honest, this age is the most difficult to photograph! I find that if you encourage your subject to interact with the environment then you can definitely get some great photographs!!! This session was a ton of fun as mom was up for anything. We drove to 4 different locations within a few miles of one another to give a little fun variety.  Which was near me in Salem County, in South Jersey!!! I LOVE where I live! Lots of country, lots of nature and forest!!  We started in our garden, then took a nice drive up Route 40 and then looped around to a field off of 45... and then made our way to the Nature Preserve near East Lake!!! It was a fun day!! I hope mom enjoys her very colorful photos!!! I just delivered these to her mailbox!!! I will post some more shoots soon!! Been very busy and my focus has been editing albums and getting them out the door!!! I am also scaling back real soon! I can't take on the workload that I have been currently undertaking. I will be going down to one per week starting NOW! My year is almost full, so you may want to book soon! Also, have a very Happy 4th this weekend!!! We will be celebrating our son's 5th big boy birthday!! Very excited for our family gathering!!! 

Happy Shooting my friends and New Jersey!!!!  Can't wait to share some upcoming plans and concept shoots with you!!! 

Dee  

New Year, New Goals!

Shooting Star Photography New Year Goals

As we step into 2016, Shooting Star Photography LLC is thrilled to announce our new photography goals for the year. With a focus on growth, creativity, and client satisfaction, we are dedicated to reaching new heights in our craft. Our goals for this year include:

1. Expanding our Portfolio

We aim to diversify our portfolio by exploring new photography styles and genres. From portrait and landscape photography to event coverage and commercial photography, we are committed to broadening our expertise to cater to a wider clientele.

2. Elevating Client Experience

At Shooting Star Photography, client satisfaction is of utmost importance. This year, we aspire to enhance the overall experience for our clients by offering personalized service, efficient communication, and exceptional results that exceed their expectations.

3. Embracing Innovation

Embracing technological advancements and new photography methods is crucial to staying at the forefront of our industry. We plan to invest in the latest equipment and techniques to deliver cutting-edge visual content and innovative solutions to our clients.

4. Community Engagement

We are determined to give back to the community by participating in local events, sharing knowledge through workshops, and collaborating with fellow artists. By actively engaging with our community, we hope to foster a supportive and inclusive environment for aspiring photographers.

5. Sustainable Practices

As stewards of the environment, we are committed to integrating sustainable practices into our photography processes. From using eco-friendly packaging to minimizing waste during photo shoots, we strive to lessen our environmental impact and promote eco-conscious photography.
Through these goals, Shooting Star Photography envisions a year filled with creativity, growth, and meaningful connections. We look forward to capturing memorable moments and creating stunning visual narratives for our clients while pushing the boundaries of our artistic capabilities.
Here's to a captivating year of photography ahead!
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My little sunset baby.

Rainbow baby birthday wishes!

My daughter in her trenchcoat!

Brother and Sister Photo Shoot at Elephant Swamp, NJ.

A few years ago, my husband introduced me to digital cameras. It was this tiny Nikon point and shoot. I couldn't get a picture in focus. My photos always looked like a mess and were totally out of focus. I mean like total motion blur and could see the motion type of blur.I use to get so frustrated that I would tell hubby, "here, you take it. I can't work this thing and it's making me angry." Prior to this, I dabbled in film with a Nikon from the 1970's/early 1980's. I loved taking photos with that camera, but I hated loading the film. Again,  I would get frustrated. It wasn't until I got to explore the depths of South Jersey that photography became a learning process for me. I'd see my friend Carla take some pretty amazing photographs of landscapes and my other pal, Barry would talk about framing and light. He has a way of taking right out of camera shots that are pristine.At this time, I became a student, but I thought I was cool. I upgraded from the "blurry" digital camera to another point and shoot a Linux.

Then things got a little more serious though. I dabbled in HDR (god how awful was that fad), learned framing and my photos got better (I still did landscapes etc.).I then purchased another camera and my first dslr. This camera really pushed me to learn. My husband purchased it after our daughter was born to try and capture some moments for ourself.

Tis the New Year and New Learning!

The funny thing is... This was just a little over a year ago. In fact, the date that I got this camera was 10-11-2014. It's been a complete whirlwind since this time. From photography classes, to learning photoshop and Lightroom, to workshops. It's been an insane learning curve this past year.I normally tire on things. I conquer and then move on to the next thing. I think photography has kept my interest because you can't conquer it. It's virtually impossible. There's so many aspects, avenues and genres you could never get bored with it. From crazy lighting, to boudoir, landscapes, weddings, studio work, styling, props... It's an pretty incredible creative outlet, in which you could never truly get bored.

There's always something to learn or to try and master that you could live 10,000 lifetimes and still be a student in this game.I think a lot of photographers give up due to frustration and it's frustration on all levels. They see others' work and say to themselves, "I can't compete with that." And it kind of takes ahold of themselves. Or they see this market as overly saturated and basically throw in the towelOthers are too cheap and don't value what they bring to the table and their expertise. You will get burned out doing $50 sessions. I mean that's a fact. Now, when you factor in transportation meaning wear and tear on your vehicle... Plus gas, insurance, props, your software, camera , a little over 30% goes to Uncle Sam and then countless hours editing...

Fall Sessions Are Coming to Life

Well.. You basically paid the customer to take photos of them. You actually lost money. That's a fact and reality. I think others give up because they do value themselves, but find it hard to compete with others, nor do they have a proper marketing strategy. They struggle with getting the word out.Now, when I started my business in February of this year, I focused on 2 things. One was.. Be different.Stand out.I can look at a loads of photographers in my general area and they basically all look the same. It's like looking at big mushy jello sticking together... I have trouble differentiating from one to the other to be honest. My goal was to not be like them. To be me and do something different to stand out.My work may not be everyone's cup of tea, but one thing I do have going for me is that my style is pretty unique in South Jersey. You can look at my work and be like..

That's Shooting Star's, that's Dee's. And I'm busy. Always busy. I also think that a lot of photographers forget to shoot for themselves because they are wanting to please their customers, but in doing this, they are playing it safe. I think photographers get burned out because they lose that creativity for what brought them to this profession in the first place.And boy, trust me. I was there this past fall and Christmas. I am still trying to get caught up on work and I can see how folks get burned out in this business. It's important to to have rest and have time for yourself. You need this to keep sane. It's a very demanding profession, but most normal folks don't see that.

We spend countless of hours behind a computer screen daily and it can be daunting. There are times where I've been going 14 hours straight and still don't see an end in site. I'm on the computer daily and there are times where I'd like to go complete Office Space on it. I truly do.I've learned to limit myself and my time on the computer. I'm only permitted up to 4-6 hours editing/day and that's it. This has helped to keep my sanity during this busy season and of course on days I don't have sessions.

Crazy Photography Days!

On sessions days, I may be lucky to hit 4 hours, if that sometimes.This year has been a tremendous whirlwind. I've had time to reevaluate things moving forward. I've decided to not take on too much work. This past fall, I was so busy that I even had to turn multiple potential clients away. I hated doing this as I don't like having to say no to people. So some I did fill in when I know I shouldn't have because it was too much.I've learned my limitations and I'm not afraid to say, "No" and this is okay!A few changes going forward. Limited session dates, stylized sessions. Girls in amazingly crafted ball gowns all handmade. Boys dressed to the "t" in vintage wear.

New concepts and locations. I am really excited moving ahead in my business.  I hope you can come join me in the New Year! We are going to be servicing the Main Line/Philadelphia Markets as well as Delaware!!! Big things, going forward!! Stay Tuned!!! 

Happy Shooting, my friends! _dee