Ari and Garrett | Preview

I am absolutely loving the change of weather! Driving around with iced coffee, t-shirt and shorts and the windows down! It's absolutely perfect! I wish I could be outside everyday.

Spring is my favorite season! *Note: if you pay close attention you may notice that I claim every season as my favorite.. what can I say? They change just in time, always keeping me exhilarated!!*

Anyway, this weekend I got to do a shoot of Ari, who found me through facebook and then realized that we went to school together way back in junior high and high school! Her and Garrett were really easy going and up for anything - thanks so much guys!

I got to bring my sister in law along on this shoot and she got some great shots. Her shots and more coming tomorrow!!

For now, enjoy!

Gregory Lawrence

This family is absolutely amazing!

Kelly has known my family since when she was in first grade, making me still a few years away from the days of going to school. Throughout the years I have many memories of her, but getting to do her family photos of her brand new baby boy (3 months, but still pretty darn new compared to you and me!) is definitely at the top of the charts.

As she's now living out in Texas arranging this shoot was more difficult than we would have liked, but as we were both really determined to find time to do these photos we made it work (I got up before 8am on a weekend!!). And I'm so glad we did.

I also got to use my owl hat, really meant for a 1 year old, but it was perfect for them as Gregory's nursery is all done up with owls.

Enjoy!!











Gregory is absolutely blessed to be raised by these two as his parents. Their love for him is already so very evident!!!

Family Photographer | San Luis Obispo

I had such a fun time today with this family! Lots of girls in this family!!! It was such a blast hanging out with them, so much energy and adventure! And could they be more gorgeous?! Look at them all!



It was a struggle at times to get them all looking the right direction at the right time, but at least they always looked cute!






Many more cute ones are coming!

Website is here!

I'm so happy to say that thanks to USA Motor Host my website is live and beautiful!!

Check it out and let me know what you think:

www.MelissaJeanPhotography.com

More tweaks will be coming in the next few months as I finalize the look I want, but there's been a lot of hard work up to this point by USA Motor Host and I couldn't wait to share it any longer!

Happy Monday everyone!

Magnolia James

Adorable.

Everything about this family is perfect. I love their baby girl, their house, their style. They're awesome.

And don't you just LOVE that name?? Magnolia James! She sounds like she has a great future with that name =)

Here is a sneak peak of their adorableness. Enjoy.





The rest of the pictures are just as perfect! =)

A little something sexy

This is a post I have been waiting quite a while to share, but I am VERY excited to be sharing it now! The only hesitation has been that I can't fully post these shoots - boudoir.

At first, getting into boudoir was just because a friend wanted to. It involved photography so of course I was happy to oblige. It wasn't until we started that I realized how great it felt to be part of this self confidence inspiring adventure! This is one of the things that led me to photography in the first place - making people feel beautiful. Make them see that they are beautiful.

Beauty inspires confidence, and confidence unveils beauty. The way I see it that's either a catch 22 or a never ending ladder of beauty. I prefer to make it the second. So don't wait to lose those extra five pounds, or think maybe next year. Now is the time. I'm offering three different packages at this time from the minimum shoot, to a shoot including a custom created calendar, to a shoot with a custom album.

So let me know if you're interested. It can be as tame or as spicy as you'd like, and I promise, just leaving the shoot you'll feel confident and sexy. So just wait until you see your photos!

And what better time than with Valentine's Day coming up??

And of course, what's a blog post without photos:

New Beginnings

A brand new year and I got to start it off (at 9AM! Yikes! Early for me!) with a maternity shoot for my very own sister!!

But first, I also did a shoot for them WAY long ago, about four years, in San Diego. Here's my favorite image from that day:



She's only 6.5 months along, but since she lives up in Northern California I don't get to see her often so this might be the only chance I get!

She and her husband have decided not to find out if they're having a boy or a girl until delivery. They also are with holding any potential names.

It's their first baby and they're more than ready. A little over a year ago they got a puppy who completed their family for a short time. Then a few months later my sister got a kitten. Now with baby on the way they have their dog Dory, a kitten named Upsilon and a tiny black kitten named Friday the 13th. I think baby-no-name will be quite a perfect completion to their family!

I'm hoping to make it up to see my sister sometime before she's due to get some real good maternity shots. But I'll definitely make it up their for the birth!!

In the mean time, here are some of their maternity photos to enjoy. It was a perfect morning for the shoot and we got done just as it started sprinkling!












We thought this looked like a spinning wheel from ... Snow White? Some Disney movie! Either way, we knew we had to get a picture with it!






So exciting!!!I can't wait until March when she's due!!!

Puppy Photographer | Gunner!

This little (ok, he's not little) furball is quickly moving up my list of loves. Except for when he drools... which he does a lot.

But still!! And look how good of a model he is for me!

And my new lens is pretty fantastic too! =)




"Hello! You have a snack for me??" *Sniff, sniff*



Love!

Mini Preview of Baby G

There is so much I wanna say, but since this is just a mini post I'll just leave you with this:

Kelly and Jesse are very blessed parents.





This next one I love. Absolutely love love. I can totally tell he's smiling (G loves naked time!) but others might not be able to tell, so just so you know. This is not a scream of unhappiness but of pure giddiness!



And I am a blessed photographer =)

Changes for 2011

This first year in photography has been a great year and I've already improved a lot! I can only imagine how much I'll grow and experience in 2011. It's really exciting to me and I'm taking every opportunity to learn.

However, for the new year my promotional pricing is ending. For those of you who may have been considering booking a session but haven't gotten to it yet, you have one last chance to sign up for a session with the promotional pricing.

I'm calling this my Last Chance Promotion. If you'd like to sign up email me and let me know when you're looking to sign it up and what sort of session and we can work out the details.

However, these sessions must be scheduled with me before the 20th of January, and the actual shoot date must be before the 20th of February.

After the 20th of January and scheduled shoots will be for normal pricing. I've listed the new pricing below. In the upcoming year I am also expanding my product selection as I've found a great print company to go through. So check back for those prices as well!

Thanks everyone!

Melissa Jean Photography Pricing Guide 2011

All sessions will have a preview posted within 3 days of the shoot.

A high res CD with images will be mailed within 3 weeks of the shoot.

Portrait Session - $125

One person, roughly a one hour session

35+ edited images from the shoot

Family Session - $150

Up to 5 people. Additional $25 per person beyond 5

Roughly 1 hour session

50+ edited images from the shoot

Boudoir Session – Starting at $150

Several different package options available

Please email or call to discuss which package is the best fit for you

Engagement Session - $250

Outfit changes optional. Multiple locations. Anywhere from 1-3 hours.

75+ edited images will be provided on a disc.

4x6 brag book with 25 images from the shoot.

Weddings – Starting at $1,000

Several different package options available.

We can customize your package to fit your needs and budget.

Call or email me and we can plan a time to meet and discuss the options.

Maternity/Newborn Package - $250 (Indiv. $150 each)

Maternity Session in 8th or 9th month, with immediate family.

Newborn session within the first two weeks, also includes immediate family.

Watch Me Grow Package – $325

Newborn, 6 month, and 1 year session, capturing all the many stages in your baby’s first year

Additional session (maternity or additional baby shoot) can be added for $100 each. (Originally $150)

Misty and Casey | Templeton

Misty is a friend of mine way back from grade school. She's now living up in Nor Cal so we don't see each other very often. But for the holidays she and her boyfriend were going to be down here and we set up a time to meet up and do pictures. Since they were going to be for their holiday cards I agreed to keep them hidden until after Christmas. But it was such a great shoot I wanted to share it now.

Don't they look great?? Misty and Casey have been together for 5 years now, and they really are an adorable couple.