A couple of weeks ago my grandparents were visiting from North Carolina. They only make it up here once or twice a year, so we always get together for pizza at a local restaurant while they're here. My grandparents, mom, stepdad, my son and I were just finishing up dinner when my mom said she wanted a four generation photo. Like most people, we protested. I hate being in front of the camera, and I think my grandparents just like giving my mom a hard time. A few minutes later, as we were leaving the restaurant, my grandparents and I asked where we should stand for the photo. I could tell my mom was upset when she said, "Never mind, we'll do it another time." We all hugged and got in our vehicles. As I was headed to my grandparents' hotel, I called my mom to see if she wanted to stop real quick and do the photo. I felt horrible as she said, "It's ok. I'm the only one that cares about it." We really should have just taken the picture. I do care about having family photos, especially considering that my grandparents aren't around much. I just needed to pull my head out of my butt and get over the fact that I hate how I look in photos.
     Over the weekend, my mom and I went shopping for her birthday and we touched on this subject again. As I was listening to her talk about how lucky we are to still have my grandparents still around (and the fact that my 98 year old great grandma died last year), I realized how selfish we'd all been. I have a photo of my son with my great grandma from when he has roughly a year old....he's almost four. I also have a photo of my grandpa, mom, my son and me (four generations) from around the same time. It's sad to think that the last family photo like that was done about 3 years ago.
     You think it's annoying when your mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, ect pull out the camera and want to take your picture? You hate that you still haven't lost that 40 lbs of baby weight you put on? Do it anyway. I have learned far too well this year that life is precious. We all take for granted the time that we have with our loved ones, but the truth is that we could be gone tomorrow. And if we did leave this world tomorrow, don't you want to leave those memories for your family?
      I am terribly guilty of this myself. There are TONS of photos of my son. TONS. But, how many with me or my husband in them? Not many. If I were to die tomorrow, I want my son to remember me. I want him to look back on photos of us hugging, kissing, playing, whatever, and remember feeling my love. Get in there. Take that photo with your awkward haircut or extra 40 lbs of baby weight. Do it anyway.

Photo copyright Megan Leigh Photography

• First, send me a photo along with your activities and high school to: jaynereecephoto@aol.com. I will review your information and email you back letting you know if you have been accepted as a senior rep.
• Once you have been accepted, we will discuss scheduling 1 of 2 sessions. That's right- you get TWO sessions!! The first session is for the referral cards you will be handing out. Your second full session will be for your personal use. 

• Customized senior rep cards featuring YOU to pass out to your friends!
• After 2 referrals have been booked & paid for, your full session is free!
• 3-10 referrals that have booked & paid for their session gets you 10% off prints. (Possible free prints!!) 
• 10+ referrals that have booked & paid for their session gets you a $25 gift card of your choice.

• Love to be in front of the camera!
• You and your parents must agree to promote only for JRP for your senior portraits from the time of acceptance through the entire 2013/2014 school year.
• You are responsible for sending JRP a minimum of 2 referrals. (That's how you get your second session free!!)
•  Hand out your referral cards to friends and tell them how to contact JRP. Easy peasy!

I'm so happy to tell you that I've been accepted to sell My Redhead Design Frames! These eclectic and whimsical frames are made from quality material and use Benjamin Moore paints from a husband and wife team. Sizes start at 2.5x3.5" and go up to 24x36", although custom sizes are available too. They are only available through professional photographers. Below are sample photos of products offered (photos are from My Redhead Design Facebook page).

I'm sure you've heard it before- professional prints are better than ones you'd get at a retail/drugstores. But- I'm probably one of the few photographers to admit that I didn't believe this statement either not too long ago. I'm sure most of you are thinking, "it's just a photographer's way of getting more money"; so, I think it helps to see the difference. Seeing how different each photo lab is, and sometimes how much they mess up your photos was a real eye opener for me. Now, please don't think that I'm telling you to only buy prints. That's not the idea here. When you purchase a CD from me, you have the release to the photos, which means it is your decision how/where you print them. But sometimes having a little more information on a subject can open up new opportunities.

                      photo by fotoflare.ca                                     photo by Jayne Peterson Photography

 
     photo by Erin Noie Photography               photo by Sylvia Cooke Photography