Plus, to commemorate the day, a photo of their daughter, who I hope loved her first day of school.

Thanks Warter family for braving traffic (including the shutdown of I-5) weather, and scheduling conflicts to make this session happen!

So, I feel like I need to say thank you for the glowing praise. Each review on Google Maps goes a long way to helping me gain quality new customers which grows my business. I’ve already had new clients come specifically because of what was said. So anyone that posted a review during the contest (6-8-10 through 7-31-10) watch your mail boxes, because I will be sending you a $50 gift certificate. For some of my oldest customers this is nothing new, I have always rewarded referrals with free photos and discounts on future sessions. So please, keep sending your friends and family my way and earning a little somethin’ for yourself.

There can only be one winner of the 16×20 canvas though, and this was a hard decision.  Here’s the winning review.

By Michele – Jul 9, 2010

We’ve worked with Irene for a long time now, and can attest that every experience with her is convenient and rewarding. She knows what we want before we want it. It’s nice to know that we can ask her to capture a memory and not worry at all that the essence of what we value will be communicated in her work. And whatever creative idea we have, she’s able to make it happen. The quality is superb, the price is great, and the experience is fun. We’ve recommended her to countless people and wouldn’t hesitate to do so again.‎

Thanks Michele for referring people over and over. At last count I have done 5 weddings from your referrals and sold prints to dozens of extend family members and friends across the country.

If you’ve had a positive experience as a wedding I’ve shot, or I’ve done portraits for you, please add your reviews to google maps, and tell your friends. Thanks again to everyone to who wrote a review.

I just made this as a promo for the studio, what do you folks think? I’d love some feed back. I have a feeling this is the first in a long series…

Click on the link above to view!

Here’s a few images from her session.

After our session, Pareesa received 50 Rep Cards with a coupon for free wallets to pass out to friends.  If you know Paressa, ask her for a card! Or if you like what you see, call or email me and let me know you saw Pareesa’s photos and would like to book. You’ll also receive 16 free wallets just for booking.

Now is a great time to schedule your session while space is still available! Call 425.367.4781 to book.

For more information about packages and to view more images please visit our Senior Portrait Site.

Lucas pauses for a brief moment mid cake. Look at those eyes!

Moments before cake madness, Lucas found a birthday hat. He was so excited to hold it, but wearing it was another story…

What a beautiful family!

Austin

Courage is something most often found in an unlikely situation. It comes to many people in unexpected ways, always in the nick of time, and usually without any surplus.  Austin was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at 16 years old due to infection caused by multiple abscessed teeth. What began as a toothache quickly turned into something much worse.  Austin, who at first didn’t want to say anything about the pain in his mouth,  passed out in class and then, he wouldn’t stop bleeding.

Upon being admitted to Children’s Hospital in 2007 the diagnoses was quick and the treatments aggressive. What had started so small quickly spread, causing additional complications including blindness in his left eye.

“I could taste and smell the radiation” Austin said.  For three days he endured treatments on his eye. A special mold that covered his face was made. It targeted the cancer behind the eye that was causing the loss of vision. Additionally there was 10 days of radiation before he could be discharged on Oct. 28, 2007.

But his trip home was short lived. On November 3, Austin was readmitted because of complications from the chemotherapy. The intensity of this treatment had caused tiny punctures in his intestines. This lead to leakage of intestinal fluids and the inflating of Austin’s stomach.  The doctors explained that the only way for him to heal was to  stop him from eating anything for over a week. This meant more then no solid foods, he wasn’t even allowed ice chips.

“IV’s were coming out of his everywhere,” explained Austin’s Mom, Renee. Austin’s weight dropped from his healthy 140 lbs. to 103 lbs. “Through it all Bobby was there to help him; Bobby lifted him up.”

That wasn’t all. Bobby sacrificed all of his free time to help his parents, take care of youngest brother, and keep Austin company in the hospital. Later, as Austin struggled to rebuild muscle tone, it would be Bobby again that would challenge him to make it to the next level. Using his training in physical therapy, Bobby was able to help Austin in ways the therapist couldn’t.

Austin wasn’t the only one leaning on his older brother, the entire family had to come together and rally around Austin during the times when things looked bleak. Support also flowed in from friends and Austin’s school, Marysville Mt. View High. Regularly cards, balloons, and photos were sent to lift Austin’s spirits. Extended family also lent a helping hand by holding a benefit concert. But in the end, it all came down to family.

“My family kept me going. I just wanted to prove I cold get through this.” Austin said. Then his mom smiled and added, ” We saw his determination and fought harder.”

The network of support especially helped when Austin’s hair loss began. Nurses and doctors early on nicked named him “Goldy Locks” for his strawberry blond hair. When he began loosing it, his family and friends rallied again. Bobby and others shaved their heads.

After missing a year of school, struggling to learn to walk again, and continuing treatments, Austin is on the mend. He’s returned to school, somewhat of a celebrity, and has plans to graduate in June and attend collage soon.  He’s still the same quiet, guitar playing, thoughtful guy, he was before his diagnosis. If it weren’t for his  “I hate cancer” wristband, you may never know what heartache the last three years have included. A short chat with Austin quickly reveals what he has gained though his illness. He has none of the classic symptoms of self doubt that plague most teens. Instead he extrudes a cool confidence that can only come from facing one of life’s worst case scenarios and being able to come through it all stronger and ready for the next challenge.

Thank you Austin, Renee, and Bobby, for meeting with me and allowing me to share your family’s story with the world. I only hope my photos of Austin do him justice!

Additional photos provided by Austin Hoerner.

Vandy and Jason are my friends. They live up the street and over the years we’ve lived in Lake Stevens I’ve been a Cub Scout Leader for their son, they’ve watched my kids, and we’ve all shared in the joy of watching our families grow. Through everything the Dodge family has been one of most photographed clients. That has a lot to do with the birth of their two youngest girls and Vandy’s borderline obsession with scrap-booking.

For this shoot we wanted to do something on location and mix it up. For the session I focused on getting individual portraits. Together the images I think will make a really nice wall grouping. Vandy did a great job with coordinating the kids clothing with colors that will work well in their home. Because we are friends and I have been in their home many times, it was easy for me to visualize as I shot exactly where I think the group of photos should go and what sizes they should be printed at.

It’s easy for people to think, “Wouldn’t it be nice to have photos up on the wall.” Often the thought stops there, unfortunately. That is where I come in. With new clients I suggest an in home consultation, or at the very least a consultation at my studio where you bring in photos of your house. This allows me to shoot with all the information I need to design images that will not only be lovely and full of emotion, but also complement the decor that my client’s have worked so hard to coordinate. These consolations are a great time for us talk about what kind of shots we will do, and for my new customers to get to know me. Especially with children I believe that a pre-session consultation is vital. Allowing a child to get to know their photographer before hand will guarantee less meltdowns, better images, and an experience that everyone will enjoy!

For this shoot it really helped to draw on the relationship I already had with each child, relationships that have been fostered over many photoshoots. Chyenne is so comfortable with me and in front of the camera that I could have asked her to stand on her head and smile and it would have happened! I’m sure this ease in front of the camera also has something to do with her Mom always having a camera too. These same kinds of relationships are easy to build with new clients during a consultation. After the first session I do like to touch base with each client prior to the shoot and go over the goals and ideas we share, but because a relationship already exists, we can use email or a phone call to accomplish the same thing.

The next step for Vandy and Jason (and all of my clients post-session) is a photo screening. This is actually a very fun date night activity. Clients come to my studio, we pull out the projector and look through all the photos from the session. We eat popcorn, laugh at the “outtakes” and order prints and frames. Clients go home happy knowing that in just a few weeks* time their home will filled with great photographs they will be proud to display.

Here’s a few of my favorites from the session:

*Orders take between 1-2 weeks for completion (depending on size products and frame choices)

I must say right off the bat I’m not normally one to do muted tones and light saturation, I just think it’s cliche’. That being said, I also feel that if you’re going to do a cliche’ style, do it better then everyone else! I’m pretty proud of the results. The next image is full color on the same background.  I can’t quite decide which I like better, so feel free to add your two cents in the comments.

Finally, this shot is a collaboration between Peyton’s Mom, Grandma and myself. They had the idea, I had the camera. I really like it cropped square and with the slight border. There is a lot going on in the image, but I don’t think the different elements compete. The spotted background is my favorite part.

Thanks to Rachael and Josh for opening their home to me and allowing me to take over their living room! If you are pregnant or just interested in having your child photographed, please call 425.367.4781 to schedule a personal consultation and photo session. You can also view more cute babies at Irene Jones Photography Online.