Merry Christmas!!! South Jersey!

Right now, it’s Christmas Eve/Christmas. 1:57am December 25th to be exact. The artist in me. I guess I am an artist... is screaming for John Hughes, this 2018 Christmas. I went on a tangent today. Watching National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.Hughes was only in his mid to late 30’s when he did this movie. I can’t fathom that even to this day. It seems harder and harder in this generation to get ahead. As a young lad, he was a true talent of his generation. I mean the Breakfast Club, He was just 34 years old.He was the epitome of the 80’s. I don’t care who you are, his films are true Americana classic. He instilled humor into the American psyche. I know most of us have a special film of his that’s true to our hearts and even today, resonates with the youth.As I watch National Lampoons, I see a lot of his hometown’s references. Chicago teams plastered everywhere. I get it. His love for his city and I love how he incorporates this vibe in most of his work.This is how I feel. I love Philly and I love South Jersey. It took me awhile to get there. I wanted to live far away in my 20’s and I did for a period in my adulthood. As I got older, I moved back home. When I had kids of my own, is when I started to truly appreciate it. Philly has grit. It has some style. It has a string of some pretty incredible history. I feel in love so much that I published a few books about South Jersey.I LOVE EVERY BIT of it and I love to show this in my work. It’s where I feel the Hughes connection, as I feel close to where I was raised and I try and capture the local essence. I also switched schools/ high schools like Hughes and felt like an oddity trying to fit in, in my teens. Just as he did. This is why I love him more. Still connected... even though he was disconnected, as he got older.All I can say is, I am truly looking forward to 2019. I felt 2018 was kind of a dud. I feel myself growing as an artist this year. It’s time to take risks. I no longer live in fear. Which may be a good or bad thing.I hope everyone had a great day with family. As family.... it's all that matters.Even in Home Alone the takeaway is family in the end :)

South Jersey-Fall Family Sessions are in full swing!

South Jersey-Fall Family Sessions are in full swing!

We've been very busy over here in South Jersey land. The weather has been absolutely beautiful this past week. We're getting that yummy fall light that every single photographer dies for. The kind of light you want to reach out and eat because it's so delicious!!! And the kind of light that makes you look gorgeous!!! We're sold out for the year! What a blessing, right? It's been a great year with our clients. I have loved every moment of it! We did originally keep this weekend open in the event of Halloween and also for potentionally peak foliage. It turns out, that it is looking like peak foliage this weekend. Hopefully, if the weather holds out!!! Every year around Halloween, it seems like we get a little rain as cooler weather starts to fly in. However, some years we get very lucky with gorgeous weather through November! Let's cross our fingers for this year! If you would like to book this special day we reserved aside, we would LOVE to work with you! The place we chose has beautiful light and a variety of different scenery. If we don't get a frost, there are wildflowers!!! We'll also provide dresses, hairpieces and make you and your family shine. We love making our clients feel like a million bucks!!! It's our job to capture your love and realness! If you are interested in booking a session, all info is provided here! All you need to do is show up and smile!!! Or let us even make you laugh to get that gorgeous smile!! My job is to make you and your family feel important and to capture unique moments for you to plaster all over your walls! https://shootingstarphotographyllc.bigcartel.com/product/2018-fall-sessionsWe would love to see you!!! Any questions, feel free to reach out!!! Happy Shooting my friends! DeeShooting Star PhotographySouthern New Jersey, Philadelphia and Delaware photographer  

Fall Sessions are HERE!!!

 Hi South Jersey!!! Boy, do I have some fantastic news!!!!We have decided to launch some fall mini sessions in the peak height of the 2018 foliage season! These sessions will be held the weekend of the 27th~!  These sessions are a steal at only $200!!! The location will be in beautiful Woolwich Township- Swedesboro, New Jersey. This setting has optimal lighting. Great foliage and color will and should be at full height of the fall season in Southern New Jersey.These sessions will include dresses, between 15-20 minutes of shooting time. An online proofing gallery and two fine art edits. Guaranteed to be perfect for your Christmas cards!!! These are also great for folks who do not want to invest in a full session and maybe do sessions a few times a year and wanting that ONE epic capture. These are a ton of value and I promise the location does not disappoint! I hope to see you here! I truly love the light here. It's amazing and I can't wait to see the colors that will be produced this fall!!! It should be truly magical!!! That's always my goal to provide the BEST to my clients!  More information can be found here! Please feel free to reach out with any questions!!!!  We're always here. Right now, it's our busy season. So please allow 24-48 hours to get back to you! We do try and reach out quicker. https://shootingstarphotographyllc.bigcartel.com/product/2018-fall-sessions Thanks Again! Dee  

New Jersey Beach Sessions

Magical New Jersey Beach Sessions

I truly love the beach and one of my favorite sessions to do. From June until September this year, that is basically all I did besides lavender sessions. The New Jersey shore was my home and I honestly don’t mind it one bit.We did sessions in LBI, Atlantic City, Ocean City, Sea Isle, Avalon, Stone Harbor, Wildwood and Cape May Beach sessions are our most coveted sessions and they tend to sell out quickly.My go to look is generally pastels. I love adding beautiful color to beach skies. So I usually ask clients to stay with a general color theme when they come into our sessions.

Twirling adds movement and fun to your Ocean City, New Jersey photo shoot!

I love baby blues, pinks, yellows and lilacs for the beach. Lavender is ultimately my favorite. I love how I can edit around this color and incorporate all the lovely beach tones. I even provide the wardrobe for this color scheme so as to make everything look perfect.For something dramatic, like maternity photographer, black can even be eye catching. However, wouldn’t suggest an entire family in black as would be too harsh for an entire family.This little lady killed her beach session this year. She’s wearing a cute little romper from tutu du monde and holding a lantern.These lanterns are a huge hit. I have a ton of them with different light combos.

Jersey Shore beach sessions offer a wide variety of fun backdrops for the whole family!

New Jersey family beach sessions can be gorgeous for several reasons:

1. Scenic Beaches: New Jersey boasts a stunning coastline with beautiful beaches. From the sandy shores of Cape May to the vibrant boardwalks of Seaside Heights, there are numerous picturesque locations for family beach sessions. The natural beauty of the coastline provides a visually appealing backdrop for photography.

2. Golden Hour Lighting: The lighting during the golden hour, which occurs around sunrise or sunset, is particularly flattering for photography. The soft, warm light creates a magical ambiance, casting a beautiful glow on the subjects and the surrounding beach scenery. This lighting enhances the overall aesthetics of the family beach sessions, resulting in stunning images.

3. Diverse Landscapes: New Jersey's beaches offer a diverse range of landscapes. From wide stretches of sand dunes to rocky cliffs, each beach has its unique features. This variety allows photographers to experiment with different compositions and capture a wide range of images, adding depth and interest to the family beach sessions.

4. Candid and Relaxed Atmosphere: The beach setting often evokes a sense of relaxation, making it easier for families to feel at ease during the photoshoot. When people are comfortable and relaxed, it translates into natural and candid moments. These genuine interactions and expressions create heartfelt and beautiful photographs that capture the essence of family bonds.

5. Playful Activities: Beaches provide a playful and interactive environment for families to engage in various activities. Building sandcastles, splashing in the waves, flying kites, or playing beach games can result in joyful and lively moments. These activities bring out the genuine happiness and connection between family members, making the images vibrant and full of life.

6. Seasonal Changes: New Jersey experiences distinct seasons, and each season offers a unique atmosphere for beach photography. Whether it's the colorful foliage of autumn, the blooming flowers of spring, or the sun-soaked days of summer, the changing seasons provide different moods and backdrops for capturing beautiful family beach sessions throughout the year.

Pastels are the best at the Jersey Shore for your beach session!

Overall, the combination of New Jersey's scenic beaches, beautiful lighting, diverse landscapes, relaxed atmosphere, playful activities, and seasonal variations contributes to the gorgeousness of family beach sessions in the state.If you are a photographer and working with little children, this can be a lifesaver. The kiddos get fascinated with them. It also adds some artistic pop to your images.Try them out in your next session! All you need is a lantern and battery powered lights and voila!

Happy Shooting, my friends!

Dee

Shooting Star Photography-Southern New Jersey, Philadelphia and Delaware photographer

Ferris-Go-Wheel Dreaming

First off, my love is beach photography and city/urban shooting. All photographers have something they love to shoot and both these environments are my jam.I really just love capturing these environments. I find it easier to bring in the colors I want to showcase compositionally. I love pastels and I truly think this color scheme thrives in a beach or city environment.One thing about the city, is it offers a Mecca of great architecture and scenery. I love the hustle and bustle and no color casts on faces generally as buildings act as natural reflectors.Beach the same thing. I generally choose locations with soft even light as beach light can bounce off waves and the sand and most photographers can't do beach photography well. They most often struggle with overblown highlights. My goal is no hot spots on your face and to capture you in the most beautiful light :) I see it all the time... and it's my biggest pet peeve in this industry.So... if you want the BEST out of me...and to highlight yourself in the best light... do a beach or urban session! It makes your skin truly yummy and you really do shine!!I typically have my spots I love shooting at the Jersey Shore. One of them, is this spot below. I find it truly magical and I'm sure you do, too. I love the colors and the light:)Hope to see you next year for your beach session!Happy Shooting, my friends!