NJ Princess Fairytale Session

The Magic of Winter Princess Portraits in South Jersey

There's something truly magical about being a little kid. Dressing up in gowns and feeling like a real-life princess or prince—the kind of magic that makes memories last forever. That’s what I aim to capture with every portrait session. Every client that comes to me, whether they’re a little prince or princess (or even a grown-up one), I want them to feel like the most important person ever. My job is to make everyone shine through my lens, and honestly? It’s the best job in the world.

Winter Wonderland Challenges

Now, let’s talk about winter sessions. If you’ve ever looked outside in the middle of winter in Glassboro, NJ, you know it’s not exactly the lush greenery of a summer meadow. Winter sessions come with their challenges, especially in wooded settings where everything has gone to sleep for the season. Trees are bare, the grass has lost its luster, and the whole world can feel like it’s draped in a gray blanket. But, for me, that’s where the fun begins.

Creating magic in the dead of winter takes some planning. Dress colors become crucial—they need to pop against the muted backdrop. For this session, I channeled a little "Cinderella" inspiration. A soft blue gown with intricate details was the perfect choice to bring this winter scene to life. To combat the lifeless surroundings, I added fresh flowers. Yes, fresh flowers in the middle of winter! Call me crazy, but those pops of color added just the right amount of magic to make the scene come alive.

Fairy Tales in South Jersey

And can we just pause for a moment to appreciate how a fairy tale can unfold right here in South Jersey? This wasn’t some enchanted forest in a faraway land. It was Glassboro, in the heart of winter. But with the right vision (and maybe a few strategically placed blooms), a wooded area can transform into a scene straight out of a storybook. That’s what I love about photography—the ability to see magic where others might only see bare trees and frosty air.

Why I Love Winter Sessions

I’ll admit it—winter sessions aren’t for the faint of heart. It’s cold. Like, the kind of cold that makes you question your life choices as your fingers lose feeling while adjusting your camera settings. But there’s something uniquely beautiful about winter light. It’s soft and pastel, creating a dreamy, ethereal look that fits perfectly with my editing style. Sure, I might be bundled up like I’m going on an Arctic expedition, but the final images are always worth it.

Having all four seasons here in the Philadelphia area is a blessing. Each season brings its own challenges and opportunities, and I genuinely love working with all of them. But there’s something about winter—maybe it’s the way the world feels quiet and still, or maybe it’s the pastel tones of the light—that just speaks to me. Even with frozen toes and a chilly nose, I’m here for it.

Bringing the Magic to Life

One of the best parts of my job is seeing the kids light up during their sessions. Even in the cold, they’re twirling, giggling, and embracing their inner prince or princess. This little one was no exception. She channeled her inner Cinderella beautifully, and the results were nothing short of magical. Every time I look at the photos, I’m reminded of why I do what I do.

Photography is about more than just pictures; it’s about capturing moments, emotions, and stories. This winter session was a reminder that even in the bleakest season, there’s beauty to be found. It’s about finding those moments of magic and making them last forever.

Wrapping It Up

So, there you have it—a little behind-the-scenes look at one of our winter princess sessions in Glassboro, NJ. Sure, winter sessions come with their challenges, but they also come with their own unique rewards. Whether it’s the soft, pastel light or the joy of creating magic in an otherwise muted world, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Happy shooting, my friends! And remember—magic is everywhere, even in the middle of winter. You just have to know where to look.

Happy Shooting my friends!

To book your magical princess portrait shoot, get in contact with us!

The Magic of Childhood

The Magic of Childhood

I love talking about people’s childhoods. When it comes to photography a lot of my childhood, I like to bring forth and to create a story. In my eyes, my childhood was magical and I wish that today's kids could enjoy the same childhood. 

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Wildflowers and moon watching at a gorgeous photo session in Mullica Hill, New Jersey.

My kids are at the ages of 7 and 4. They are now starting to inquire and ask how my childhood was and the things I did. Almost everything I talk about, my kids say they wish they could do this stuff today.

In a way, I feel bad for my children. I feel they are missing out on a real childhood. Everything just seems so planned and no surprises. With my childhood, I’d come home from school, do my homework, then head on out until the lights came on.

There was no need for texts or phone calls. You’d pop into a friend’s house and say hey, Mrs. so and so... is Jenny home? Jenny would come to the door and you’dsay, “come on, let’s go ride our bikes.” The next thing you hear is Jenny saying, “bye” to her mom and her mom screaming back, “come back before dark!” And off we went!

It was a time before the internet. We’d ride our bikes, usually in a big group. Head up to the school. Maybe play some basketball, or suicide (it’s a game with a tennis ball). When those Street lights came on, it meant it was time to head home. Have dinner. Wash up. Go to bed.

Through all these activities, it was very rare to see any parents around...

Weekends, we’d go the the mall, movies, dances, sleepovers (a ton of them) or roller skating.

If winter, you’d find us at Flower’s Hill.

Love my little monkey!

Snow portraits are the best!

If it was summer, we’d explore the forest, make forts, go crick stomping, hit up every friend’s pool, play knock knock zoom zoom, jailbreak and flashlight tag.

Of course there was sports, but today things are very competitive. We joined mostly to be social and to be with our friends.

Our only rule..was to stay out of trouble and to be home when the lights came on.

It was frowned down upon to be home and play video games all day long. We were generally encouraged to explore and be kids. I know some parents use to go as far as locking their kids out of the house until it was nighttime when I was growing up!

In a way, I feel sorry for how things are these days. It’s all about play dates and parental supervision. Sleepovers are rare, unless the parents REALLY know each other. Popping in, or stopping by, without a text, or a call is frowned down upon and basic blasphemy to do to anyone.

In my day, if you traveled to an area and knew someone and DIDN’T try to stop by... you were considered rude. It was okay to just show up and knock... if they weren’t home, it showed effort on your part and was respected.

Kids are now left at home to their own devices. Whether it be reading, video games etc. they miss the exploring and natural curiosities of just growing up and learning things on their own. I feel these kids are missing out with bonding with friends and exploring their own environments.

Don’t get me wrong, kids still do things, but I think they lose the social connection and there’s a big disconnect. Some kids are struggling with anxiety and lacking how to be social.

We didn’t need Facebook or the internet because trust me, if you did something bad... word somehow got back to your parents and hell would be leashed.

I mean kid parties now.... Parents are required to stay there. In my day, drop off, have fun, get picked up... or walk home afterwards..and that was that.

What the heck happened? Now, if kids did this stuff these days, most likely cps would be knocking. This is the crazy past, but it is what it is.

I understand a lot of it is becausebad things happen to little kiddos and there are bad people in this world. However, statistically we’re much safer than we ever have been. Due to technology.

So I guess my question would be... what happened? And why the shift?

More kids are staying indoors more than ever and obesity is going through the roof because of it.

Do you think things could ever go back the way they were? Even on a small scale?Or are we just all doomed? 😂

New Jersey Beach Sessions! Jersey Shore Beach Photographer

We truly love New Jersey Beach Sessions! It's actually our number one requested session to do each year. We've sold out every single year, since we started these. This year, we are actually teaching other photographers how to shoot at the beach and that was sold out within hours. We're even sold out this year for family, children's or maternity sessions (2019). There's no wonder they call me the Eastern Coast "Beach Queen" when it comes to stylized beach portraiture.It's honestly our goal to capture these beautiful pastel beach tones. I can't tell you how many photographers struggle with beach lighting and working at the beach. Elements alone are against us. From the wind, to the sand (that can seriously damage equipment), to very extreme harsh lighting due to the light bouncing off the sand and water. What we've done, is to find locations that work in our favor. We can manipulate light to work with us and we fly with it.  Shooting Star Photography travels pretty much throughout the entire central to southern coast of the New Jersey Shore. We do sessions from LBI, Avalon, Stone Harbor, Margate, Sea Isle, Cape May, Wildwood and everywhere in between. There are even some neat beach areas we enjoy on the western shores of Jersey, the Delaware Bay that we like to utilize for our sessions. It's honestly what is important to our client and what they are looking to do.  Beach sessions our favorite session that we do. There is something calming with working at the beach. I enjoy it being my office for the day!  The cool winds blowing off the ocean, the gulls a gawking. There's something very peaceful about the Jersey Shore.  

 Our social media game is strong and we're waaay behind on blogging sessions. This is from our 2017 Jersey shore beach sessions, just to give you an idea. However, I always recommend folks checking us out on social media for our latest and greatest work! Happy Shooting my friends! DeeShooting Star Photography   

New Jersey Winter Wonderland Sessions

This time of year is THE BEST to have a session!!!!! Winter light is extremely soft and pleasing. It makes your skin look soft and beautiful. My subjects look more magical, due to the pastel light. I know it may be a little cold outside, but if you can withstand it, this is honestly the best time to have a session. When you approach the spring and summer months, lighting becomes a bit more harsh, especially in the spring. Spring light can be a bit more difficult to work with as there are no leaves on the trees, so it's hard to filter the light. You sometimes end up with a more harsh light, depending on the location. For winter sessions, we have you covered. From furs, capes, winter dresses... we have it all! The locations we choose in winter are a bit different from our offerings in the spring and summer, due to better lighting conditions this time of year.  

Why is a winter photography session the best?

Winter light casts a magical spell on portraits, making them truly enchanting! As the sun hangs low in the sky, its gentle rays filter through the crisp winter air, creating a soft and ethereal glow. The quality of this light during winter is like no other—it's delicate, diffused, and creates a beautiful luminosity on the subjects. Photographing portraits in winter light feels like painting with light brushes, adding a touch of warmth and a hint of romance to every image. The low angle of the sun offers long shadows, adding depth and dimension to the portraits, accentuating the contours of the face and creating a captivating interplay between light and shadow. So, grab your camera, bundle up in cozy layers, and let the winter light work its magic on your portraits!

How are process works: We take care of EVERYTHING. Honestly, all you need to do is show up. I have an assistant (my mom) and we get you dressed, get your headpieces going. Then off to shooting in this beautiful winter light. You tend to find us traveling all over the Delaware Valley Region. From waterfalls, to the pine tree forests.. to city this time of year.We tend to be a stylized emotive storytelling photographer. We kind of sit back and help direct you, but we want you to have real moments between one another. Especially, with families, as that is our goal.

We capture REAL smiles, not the, "say cheese" kind. Every location we choose, we style around it. For example, I am sure you don't want to wear something extremely formal on the beach or black.. it won't look right. You want to go for those pastels, lights, brights.. and jewel tones. Black is more suited for city, or forest conditions.  NOW is the time to book your winter session as our spring through fall is booked out. We would love to work with you and give you an amazing photography experience!!! 

Happy Shooting, my friends! Dee

Shooting Star Photography

Southern New Jersey Photographer      

2018 Reflections

Wow, this was a crappy year for me. Professionally, it was wonderful. Except for the stress of my personal life, that carried over to my professional... that part wasn’t fun at all. In fact, it was what folks would classify as nightmares.As I reflect on 2018, I realize I haven’t lived at all.. this year or honestly, the past few years. It was all work, work, work, with very hardly time for family or anyone. My friendships truly suffered. My physical health went to poo, too. My life was me and my customers. Boy, I love my customers... but there’s more to life![video src="https://shootingstarsouthjersey.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/1080p.mov" ]It was until I almost lost my mom and then my husband, in 2018, when I woke the heck up, out of my slumber and it made me really look at MY LIFE. I’m now thirsting to live it.You only live once. Your family will not always be here. Your kids will grow up and grow up fast. I look at my 7 year old, turning into a little man already and the time just whizzed on by. My little baby girl... isn’t a baby anymore. I see everyday those baby cheeks slowly going away and she’s turning into a young lass herself.It’s time to pause life. Whether it’s reserving a night, during the week, where you turn off all electronic devices and go out as a family. Or stay home and get out the board games. It’s a necessity to be present and make those memories. Otherwise, life will get you by the balls and you’ll lose your sense of fun and bewilderment. You’ll just be getting by. As that’s what happened to me.It’s time to shake things up next year. Professionally and personally, things are already in place to do new things. Try new things and I can’t wait for 2018, to be a year of the past. So... hello 2019, it’s nice to finally meet you:)