Mommy and Me Mini's...or anyone else you love for that matter :)

When: Sunday May 3rd, 8:30 am-11am, rain date Sunday May 17
Where: 
New Jersey Botanical Garden at Skylands Manor (it's beautiful here and there are bathrooms!!!)
http://www.njbg.org/events.shtml

Details:

Each group will be photographed for 20 minutes. (Groups limited to 5 members only, larger groups email for details).

at least 6  high resolution jpegs, with printing rights via download. 

Investment:

$150 per group, at least 6 high resolution jpegs with printing rights, prints available a la carte

Reserve your session:

To reserve a space please like Jamie Kaminski Photography on Face Book  and message me 

or  email jamiekaminski@icloud.com with your preferred time

 *The $150 session fee is due day of. Checks payable to Jamie Kaminski or cash please

*Images will be processed by Tuesday the 5th so you can print and frame in time for Mother's Day (with the exception of  needing a rain date)!!!!

Follow JamieKaminski on Instagram to see my photo a day project

IT TAKES BRAINS to light it up blue!

I have been quiet the last few months.  I was rendered quite speechless by a terrible unexpected loss in my inner circle of friends. I have thought a lot about my mortality the past few weeks and that of those closest to me. Just yesterday I had the scariest Mommy moment of mine to date...as my youngest son, Quaid, who has Autism, bolted out of a restaurant into a parking lot...I was right there.. I was watching him.. I caught him. On that day... for reasons unknown it all ended well,  I still quiver, I am eternally grateful. My husband and I have been doing some serious soul searching and reevaluation of what our days look like, I suppose that is the gift of being smacked in the face. There was a time when I thought Autism was the biggest challenge. I have learned it is but a different path, the challenge was recognizing that we ARE capable of walking within, around and through it.

Its hard for me to get motivated to light it up blue and cheerlead for Autism Awareness... I deal with this everyday and truth be told the 2nd of April sort of annoys me...why is it this conversation pertaining to a childhood epidemic is discussed only the day after April fool's? This is no joke in my life. It it with unconditional love that I embrace who my child is and advocate like a wild tiger on his behalf, but I will not concede that Autism is a gift or that he or I are "extra special" and that is why we were "chosen" for this path. While I  consider myself quite spiritual and pray to a God I believe in daily for strength and wisdom, Autism is a neurological disorder. A disorder rooted in science. While I would not trade my kid for the world, I do not wish Quaid's struggles on future children. It is in that vain that this year, a year when I listen closely to my mind and my soul about mortality, purpose and legacies big and small I register for,  It takes Brains http://www.takesbrains.org and donate my brain tissue, when I no longer need it. Perhaps someday my tissue, along with my families will shine a light on the science. That...that makes me glow on the inside.

*follow me on Instagram #JamieKaminski  to see my iphone photo a today...what started as a response to sorrow  has evolved into a necessary part of each day for me. A moment to pause as everything including my thoughts always spins too quickly.

My World

I wouldn't dare share my Christmas card before Thanksgiving...because Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday... ok it ties with St.Patrick's Day, but anyway.... I am sharing these.... as there was a wardrobe change after and one photo in particular that sums up what I was looking for. There is always ONE photo for me..ONE that offers a glimpse of their personality.The ones here are good, but hopefully when you see my final you'll be able to see the difference...but check it out even a little family photo tripod action, I'll take it.

Backyard Bliss

Now this was a beautiful day for a wedding! Ya know what the best part of a backyard wedding is? Well let me tell you....This bride didn't like the forecast for the original date SO she pushed everything back a day.  That was a first for me ...but a perfect idea! I think her smile tells its all. This blended family united under brilliant blue skies. All of the details could be appreciated, especially her fun dress that sparkled in the sun! There was swimming, yard games, football, bouncy houses and endless trays of yummy food. You see the kids all around the dessert table? Yeah they couldn't wait! The paper lanterns offered quite the challenge and excitement, but for the few that went up...it was so darn pretty....and maybe a few small fires.  Congratulations on becoming husband and wife and a  family of five, it was a pleasure to capture your day!!!

Because every chapter matters

I really enjoyed doing this shoot, of not only a very warm and enjoyable family, but one with young adult children. We tend to consider family portraiture as something we do when our children are tots, but as a mother myself let's face it...these kids...well they are your babies forever! This 20 something plus years of marriage and 20 something year old/teen kid place...I can only imagine the well deserved sense of accomplishment to recall the memories that were created because two people fell in love...all this! This appears to be a yet another sweet spot in parenthood...and this place is also a milestone. This place is worth the pause and documentation. Side note...this shoot served as some firsts for me... two participants were stung by hornets...but as a photographer it was helpful that they were in the most discreet of places and they marched on...what troopers! Also at one point I did indeed temporarily loose my shoe and one helpful individual jumped down into the above marsh on my behalf...must make a note not to where my beloved summer flip flops while on a shoot. Life presents many chapters and its important to tell your whole story...not just the first few chapters. Thank you for trusting me with this chapter.

Sharing a handshake, that shakes your soul

The images from this shoot will remain private per the wishes of the family, but I took a moment to photograph this 100 year old birthday girls hands because after speaking to her I realized sometimes more than a smile or a face... looking at her hands that have loved and worked for a century well..it's pretty impressive. I asked this birthday girl about her very first memory...it was her younger brother coming home from the hospital after a successful surgery. I asked her about her first job...Woolworth's for 12 cents an hour...she used her older sisters working papers to get a job before she was allowed to legally work te he! She really lit up when speaking of her story. I became a bit enamored with the notion that these lovely hands still have so much to offer this world in term of history and spirit. They drive me to want to not only share my story but LIVE my story. It shook me up in all the right ways. I was honored to have shared a handshake with such a beautiful soul!

Happy Valentine's Day B n D!

     

“When someone blushes, doesn't that mean 'yes'?” - The Little Prince

but of course....it appears so. Here's to the beginning of your love story, sealed with a kiss....or two. Happy Valentine's Day!

Laughter + Love = PERFECTion

just a quick few tonight because I am terrible at waiting and I'd much rather edit a few photos then fold my ridiculous mound of Sunday night laundry....it's like I can't concentrate on anything knowing I have some photographs to edit, enjoy and share...
ok so I think it's pretty clear...he makes her laugh...like REALLY laugh...you can sorta hear it right?...And he....well he LOOOVES her...look at him! More to come but I had to get these out!

My family portrait...serene background..nope not today

First things first a Very Merry Christmas from my family to yours! 

I am so grateful to all the families I have watched grow and the new one's I met this year!

So many of my clients worry about the backdrop of their photo shoot or what happens if its rains on their wedding day because the "place" is kind of plain inside. I did MY family portrait, self timer and all in a particularly ugly outdoor basketball court right down the road from my home. 

I choose it for several reasons...

• We could shoot mid day the best time for my guys, but have dramatic side light like late afternoon
• this was past the beautiful fall foliage and the ground was muddy so the concrete was helpful in keeping my guys clean, 
• the court is quasi contained helping keep my boys and our dog Sweetie inside the frame, 
• ...but probably my MOST important reason was to illustrate that photographic artists see a space differently. That is one of the reasons why you hire a professional. I see light, shadows and textures. It means very little to me "where" we are. 

I shared so many images above so you could see the behind the scenes chaos....kids are chaos. Mine probably define chaos..so please know that I do not expect your children or family members at a wedding to necessarily "comply". I photograph life and life is very disorganized but it's pretty beautiful! ...Especially when you jump in the frame.. like I forced myself to do. Now I am SO happy...THRILLED really.. to have the above family portrait with ALL of us. So next time Jump in! My hair was ridiculously lousy that day...so I threw on a hat. There's always a reason to stand to the side, but your most important reasons to jump in are in the frame... waiting to hold onto the magic of this precious moment in space. I blinked and Gavin and Quaid are 7 and 5..magic I tell you! Who knew it would move so quickly.

Patterns of Play

I am embarking on a new art project documenting the patterns of play created by my youngest son. My interest in this project stems from his difficulties with imaginative play. My son is known for lining up his toys, a red flag for the Autism Spectrum Disorder he is challenged with. In my new series, "Patterns of Play", I aim to slow down, reach his eye level and glimpse into his creativity. While I have no dispute with his diagnosis, the notion of what is consider imaginary seems limited by the neuro typical who have defined what proper play looks like. This is our collaboration. It should be noted that I never disrupt his setups.