My Little Sister is All Grown Up | Jackson, MI Senior Photographer

If someone would have told me when I was eight years old that I would be photographing my baby sister's senior pictures one day, I would have thought they were crazy. But here I am seventeen years later, my little sister is going into her senior year of high school and I just photographed her senior pics. I have to say it's definitely a little weird, not only do I feel old now, but for once in our lives we will be in the same stage...college. I am pursuing my second Associates degree in Graphic Design and she'll be working on getting her Associates as well. Since there is an eight year difference between the two of us, she'll always be that curly haired little girl that I grew up with, but looking at these pictures I realize that somewhere along the way she grew up and now she's an adult. Congrats for making it this far Jess! I know you'll do great this year and I can't wait to come to your graduation.

It's a Shore Thing | Jackson, MI Senior Photographer

This was by far the longest senior session I've ever photographed, but I had a blast doing it! She's my cousin so I kind of got to have a mini work vacation. We did her photos on Lake Michigan so I got to spend the day at the beach, hanging out with family and photographing her senior photos. This girl should SO model, I barely had to give her any direction at all and I'm in love with practically every photo I shot. Narrowing it down to these four was almost impossible :)

Also while I was up there, we decided to do a spur of the moment family photo because they hadn't had one since their son was three years old!! Even my own family's guilty of not doing a regular family photo, I really can't stress how important it is to get them done (and I'm not trying to drum up business either, go to whoever you want, I just want you to have them done). You're never guaranteed tomorrow and I know I would feel absolutely terrible if my family didn't have anything recent to remember me by. Okay, getting off my soapbox now lol.

Gosh this session makes me feel old, I remember when they were born and now Nicole's a senior in high school...that's just crazy!

Anthony - Class of 2012 | Jackson, MI Senior Photographer

This had to be one of the most unique senior sessions I've ever photographed. Anthony plays on his bowling team and wanted to do photos at the bowling alley, which of course I LOVED the idea. I really enjoy when people come to me wanting something completely out of the norm. I talked to the alley to make sure that me being there photographing was going to be okay and they didn't have anything going on at that time. Everything was a go! I learned SO much stuff about bowling that I would have never known, it was really awesome. Did you know those lanes aren't just polished, there's actually a layer of oil on them?! Me either until I walked barefoot down one haha.

Sandy Puc: Creative Edge Kids Tour

This was the fourth tour of Sandy's that I've been to and they never cease to amaze me. You'd think that she'd run out of things to teach us about, but no...every time I come back with an abundance of new knowledge that I am anxiously waiting to implement. This time the tour was about how to create AMAZING children's portraits with a focus on newborns to toddlers.

But that's not the only thing she talks about, she also helps photographers build their business to help them become more successful. She has an online "university" with video tutorials and a site called Certify with Sandy, which pretty much helps you step by step get certified as a Master Photographer with the Professional Photographers of America. This is a BIG deal because not many photographers take the time to do it and you're tested. It's like taking the BAR exam for lawyers, but in photography.

She's such an incredible person, I can't believe how she does everything that she does!! She's like Super Photog! She's got a pin-up tour coming around in September (but it's not coming to Detroit so I'd need to go to Chicago) and I'm hoping to catch that one as well, but if I don't she'll be back in the summer of 2012 so I'll be at that tour.

On a completely unrelated note, on the way home from the tour there was an amazing storm that was rolling through. So I pulled off on a country road and sat there for two hours playing with my camera and capturing lightning images. I adore storms, there's just something about them that calm me down, but I LOVE taking photos of the lightning. If you've ever tried to do so you know it's not as easy as it sounds. Here's a few of the successful ones...

Back 2 School Bashing

First of all, if you missed this game you missed probably the most intense game you would have ever seen. The entire game the score was only separated by a couple of points. One minute Jack Town would be up and the next jam Little Steel would take the lead. The halftime score was 71-72!! It came down to the very last jam with Vicious Velma defending the Jack Town Derby Girl's and scoring the last two winning points, ending the bout with a nail biter.

Final score of JTDG 128 - LSDG 126.

I really hope you don't miss out on the rematch against the Killamazoo Derby Darlings on September 17th. For more information check out the Facebook event page!!

A Lullaby Moment

I have been crazy busy lately photographing bundles of cuteness every couple of days!! I think I'm starting to get baby fever...with all these little ones, how could you not?! There's just something about how perfect each and every newborn is that just makes me melt. I could definitely just photograph newborns all day, every day.

Keep checking back because I will be running a discount for the Baby Steps Collection coming up in November.

Fall is for Family

I did this last year, but I've decided to switch things up a bit for this year. I was at a Sandy Puc seminar and she talked about how she managed to raise $10,000 for a cancer charity in Colorado. As amazing as it would be to raise that much money, I'm just not at her level of clientele, so I've set my bar a little lower...$1,500. Relay for Life was literally just last weekend, but I really want to get a jump start on the fundraising for 2012. So this is what I'm doing for this year's Fall is for Family: A mini, 15-minute session and one 11x14 print of your favorite image for only $80 (Typically $125). Additional prints will be available for purchase. Session will take place at Ella Sharp Park in Jackson, MI on October 8, 2011. Please bring printout to the session. All of the proceeds will benefit the Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society. Only 20 spots available, so buy yours early because these will go fast!!

Please call Natty J Photography to set up your appointment time. Appointments will run every 15 minutes between 2p-7p.

P: 517.499.9380

E: nattyjphotography@yahoo.com

W: www.nattyjphotography.com

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE YOUR PORTRAIT VOUCHER

*No refunds will be issued if you do not show up at your scheduled appointment. Event will be reschedule for inclement weather.