Dance like a photographer's watching

I am still in the "catch-up" phase in my blog posts, and was deciding on what to write about this week. In the spirit of audition results being announced today, I thought it was fitting to feature DanceWorks Boston. 

Since the age of two, dance has been a staple throughout my life. As many dancers who grew up on marley will agree, realizing your lifelong hobby 'career' is coming to an end is a tough pill to swallow. Lucky for me (and anyone in the Boston area!) there is an organization called DanceWorks Boston - a community of non-professional dancers who rush out of their 9-5 careers to hit the dance floor and rehearse for a performance. Here's a little bit of information from their website:

DanceWorks Boston was founded by Director Lisa Mara in 2010 with the mission of providing a performance outlet for advanced & technically trained dancers (18+) who want to continue choreographing and performing after college and into their adult life. Our mission is to provide a professional, yet fun & flexible environment for dancers of all styles to come together as a community. A place where dancers find a balance between feeling challenged in the studio, but not overwhelmed by the commitment.

Read more about DanceWorks Boston here! 

Getting to know the dancers over the 13 weeks of one-hour rehearsal blocks and having the opportunity to dance with them was truly a blessing for me, as I was not quite ready to put my tights into storage. But no one can prepare themselves for tech week - the most exhausting and exhilarating week leading up to the show. During the breaks in between the dances I was performing in, I tiptoed into the stage area and snapped some shots of my incredibly talented friends.

 

 I can honestly say that I am stagesick looking at these pictures, and I hope I can find a similar company in my new home-state of Arkansas. While my feet are no longer stepping onto the rehearsal floor or gliding across the performance stage with DWB, my heart is certainly there with some of the most incredible friends I could ask for.

Best of luck to all of the new and veteran DanceWorks Boston cast - I look forward to watching your final performance videos on YouTube in January!

-J

Mother/Daughter Time (Part 2)

There are few things I love more than playgrounds, baked goods, and the fall leaves of New England. Lucky for me, Jess and Maddyson, an adorable mom-daughter duo, were happy to indulge my love for all of these things (and photography) during their photo session! 

I had a blast shooting Maddyson. She is a spunky, smiley girl who kept us running around the park right behind her! 

We stopped at a few more places for portraits...

...and ended the day with something sweet (as if this pair wasn't sweet enough).

Thanks for sharing your day with me, Maddyson and Jess! It was great to romp around the park with you and take in the beautiful fall scenery. 

 

 -J

Back to the Blog

The holidays have come and gone, and I find myself sitting in a new house, in a new state, in the middle of the summer. My external hard drive, filled with photos from the last eight months, seems to be the only proof I have that time travel doesn't exist (yet). 

There have been so many photos and blog entries swirling around in my head, and yet nothing seemed to be coming out of the keyboard. I keep getting stuck on one very important entry. The one I've been putting off ... the one I am typing now. 

I often used Skype to 'visit' Nana and talk to her. The last time we spoke, she told me I made the best eggplant parmesan in the world, and that she was 100% supportive of my husband and I moving to Arkansas to follow a new opportunity. 

January 16: I rushed to my parents house to book the last tickets on a flight to Orlando, hoping the snow storm wouldn't delay their arrival to Florida. I booked mine for the next morning, and helped them scramble out the door. They were by Nana's side at 6:30, and she passed around three hours later. 

I missed my Nana by 14 hours. 

But, you know? Life has a funny way of showing you what is most important. I was immediately enveloped into the arms of my family in Nana's kitchen. We laughed, cried, prayed and hugged. And I, of course, took pictures. 

 

Nana's last few months were spent surrounded by her family and friends. Just days before she had passed, she was out and about at the casino in Tampa. In fact, she seemed to have a stronger spirit about her - she was happy. 

July 26 would have been her birthday. It will also be the day I return home for the first time since I moved to join my family for our final goodbye to the woman to brought us all together. 

Rest in peace, Nana. I love you. 

- Spunky (the nickname she so appropriately gave me as a child)

Mother/Daughter Time (Part 1)

Friends are awesome - but friends with cute kids are the best (especially when you're a shutterbug). I've had these photos 'on tap' for a blog for a couple of weeks, and I am so excited to finally share them with you!

Part 1: Christine and Lydia

Christine is a dear friend of mine - we've been the super close for over four years now and I can't even begin to count the memories, laughs, serious conversations and awkward moments we have had together. I spent a ladies' afternoon at her home in Bolton, MA with her and Lydia (almost 3) while her men, (Brian, her husband and 7-year-old son, Austin) were busy with work and school. Christine's yard was a perfect place for a photo shoot - I couldn't help but snap away!

 This last photo is one of my favorites - Lydia is saying 'hello' to her little sister (due January 2013). I'm sure there will be an upcoming post of the new arrival around Valentine's Day!

Next week - mother/daughter time: part 2 with Jess and Maddyson!

See you then,

-J

 

FALL in Love

I have to admit - I am a sucker for the seasons, but Fall is definitely my favorite. In the last few weeks, I have really enjoyed the beautiful changing scenery of New England. As soon as the leaves began to turn, my husband and I called up my cousins (who have recently moved from Florida) and set a photo-date to explore Harold Parker State Forest in North Andover, MA. I couldn't have asked for a better day - or better company!

Here are some of my favorite snaps of the fall foliage:

...and some not-so-natural beauty we saw along the way:

If you live in the area, I highly suggest you check out Harold Parker State Forest. Whether you stop by to run the trails or paved paths, or leisurely pass through taking pictures, it certainly is a scenic spot!

What are some of the most scenic places you have been to? I'd love to hear about them :)

Next week, I will be highlighting some of my recent mother/daughter sessions this Fall. Thanks for stopping by!

-J