Jen's Blog

New Blog

2010-03-09T20:41:00.001-08:00

Hi Everyone!

Just wanted to let you know that I have a NEW BLOG. Follow this link to join me:

http://jenniferalderphotography.com/blog/

Hope to see you all there :)

Boudoir Photography- the hottest trend out there! (Northville, MI, Boudoir Photographer)

2010-03-03T16:53:00.001-08:00

Well, it is time. Yes, finally time to do a blog post that has some additional information about Boudoir Photography Sessions with me. And I am even going to end it with a Sexy SPECIAL.
Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of this post to see the deal of the month.

I have been receiving a ton of boudoir photography questions from soon-to-be clients this year. They want to know, "what a session is like" and to hear more details and... perhaps to see some sample images. On my Main Site, there is a brief one page description of my Boudoir services but I do NOT house a gallery of images with women wearing lingerie there. I have always felt that the images taken should be kept private and were meant to be between you and your significant other only. Ok, and maybe your BFF or sisters cause you want to show off how hot you look. LOL!!! For this reason I have NOT displayed boudoir images on my site in the past. But, more recently, I have had a dramatic increase in Boudoir clientele and really need a spot to show some image samples of my work.

What I decided to do was contact an out of state model/actress friend of mine and have her do some modeling. My site will now have a gallery of boudoir images with her as a primary model- but it will be accessible by password ONLY. It is strictly for my Boudoir clientele to view as a reference. Since she is so beautiful (and does not object to her images being displayed) I am going to share a handful of them here on my Blog, too!

Is she GORGEOUS or what?? :)

Are you local and wanting to get some images like this taken?

If yes, read on.... Here are some of my most common questions:

1- Why get a Boudoir session?

They are awesome anytime gifts for your significant other; however, anniversaries, b-days, and holidays are when they are given these as a gift most frequently. Men LOVE these images and you will love them one day, too... to look back and say, "Hey- that was ME!"

2- Is it just a private female session?

Yes, I will at times bring a female assistant to help with holding reflectors, fixing stray hairs, moving stuff around, etc.... Make Up artists (female) may also be called in for styling assistance. The session is completely private and so is the delivered product. I understand that there are very limited amounts of female boudoir photographers with artistic ability- and that your significant others are relieved to here you visited one for the photos!!!! GIRLS ONLY.

3- Where are the sessions held?

On location. I travel to you, in the comfort of your own home. BUT.. I also will meet at a hotel. I get a great price from the local Marriott properties and am able to keep sessions affordable when booking there. In fact, you can book a session with hotel use and a Makeup artist for just $100 more.

4-What is included in the price?

The session cost is $550. This includes a full session (1-2 hours), on location, with several outfit changes, all retouching of the images, a private slideshow set to music and a high quality black leather matted 5 X 7 album that holds 20 prints. This new album of sexy images is meant to replace his old "Little Black Book." Sessions held at hotels with Make up artists are $650.

5- What sort of Add ons are available?

Fine Art Canvas can be purchased for bedroom walls.

Textured Prints are always available
DVD of resized images or Calendar can substitute the leather album option and may also be purchased in addition to the album.

6-Can you remove stretch marks, cellulite, and other undesirable flaws?

Yes, within reason- all of these flaws are greatly reduced or eliminated. I spend hours and hours making my clients look their best.

7-Do you offer Boudoir Parties- for groups of friends?

By request only. Minimum of 5 attendants. And, I encourage music, a glass of wine and lots of fun props! :)

8- Will you help me decide what to wear and show me how to pose?

Yes, and yes!!! Happily. Oh, and by the way.... my work is classy- not trashy. 18 and + only.

Last, but certainly not least, the Boudoir SPECIAL of the Month for March only:

Attend a Mini- Boudoir Session !!!!

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

Livonia, MI

Marriott Property

30 minute session

(1-2 outfit with optional strip down- time permitting)

Appointment times:

3pm, 3:30, 4pm, 4:30, 5pm, 5:30, 6pm
Changing room available

Cost is just $250

CD of 5 resized, retouched digital image files are included

Prints may be purchased, if desired, via the a la carte menu

-OR-

Take $75 off the total price of a single hotel session ($650 reg price)

Boudoir session must be scheduled by March 31, 2010

Send a note to: jenlynnalder@aol.com or on Facebook to book your spot today. Don't wait, spots are limited!!!! :)

Winter Wedding (Northville, Michigan, Wedding Photographer

2010-02-28T20:25:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone! So, it is officially the LAST day of February, wow ! Where does the time go?

I have been crazy busy with wedding clients, boudoir sessions, models and so much more. I have a workshop coming up in Late May. Oh, and did I mention that I am LOVING it? YEP, I am. ;)

Anyhow- On Feb 13th Renee and Jeremy B. were married in SE, Michigan. They had a beautiful Winter Wedding. It was a total delight to work with such a FUN group. I adored this group and their families and hope to work with them in the future for sure!!!!

Tressie Davis assisted me throughout the day- I just love her. Not only is she great company but she has tons of creative vision so we are a great team. Here are a just a few dozen shots from our Winter Wedding (from start to finish!) I wish I could share them all... but there are just TOO many. Enjoy !

And here are Tressie and I in action (me on the left, her on the right).

Thanks a ton for stopping by everyone! Stay tuned for posts from a very fun upcoming project :)

80's Fashion Fun & A Wedding Teaser !!! (Northville, Michigan Wedding Photographer)

2010-02-20T09:44:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday I worked with a beautiful couple on their Winter Wedding Day. Here is a little "teaser" ... there will be so much more to come over the next couple of weeks.

And yesterday I worked with a very fun model, Jackie who hired me to take some artistic & fun 80's themed shots for her portfolio. She brought roller skates, neon accessories and the perfect leather jacket. We had lots of fun. Check her out:

Thanks for driving 3 hours (each way!) to work with me- you braved the cold weather verrrry well, Jackie! hehehehe!!! It was a delight working with you.

Oh, and you should all check out her radio show on Saturday + Sundays at WGRD 97.9- and become a Fan of hers on Facebook. She is a very beautiful and cool person to know. :)

Online Photo Editing Lessons

2010-02-15T16:40:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone!

Some of you are aware that I offer limited one-on-one Photo retouching lessons via email. Currently I am working with a wonderful group of students. They all have different levels of experience and are individually working on topics unique to their needs. I would just like to highlight A LITTLE of what we have been working on this past couple of months. I'm really proud of them all. Have a look:

Topic: Eyes & Emotion
By: Tori Gonzalez

Topic: Mood/Dramatic Editing

by: Aimee Eisaman

Topic: Basic Portrait Retouching

by: Kevin Jones

Topic: Expression

By: Lynne Fried

Topic: High Key Portrait

By: Aimee Eisaman

Topic: Posing Exercise to follow a Portfolio Review
by: Jodi Walsh

Topic: Perspective

by: Aimee Eisaman

Topic: Texture Application & Overlays

By: Lynne Fried

**Please respect copyright laws. The above images are property of the photographers listed with them, do not copy or use them in any way.

I am also working with Esther, and will have work to share of hers soon, too! Right now she is completing exercises with my sample images. Stay tuned. Great job guys and gals! It has been a pleasure working with you and I am looking forward to the rest of our lessons together.

Currently, I am NOT accepting new students. But....I will have 2 openings at the start of next month! If you would like to sign up for some, please send me a note: jenlynnalder@aol.com or on Facebook. Topics and cost information can be viewed directly on my Main Site.

Be sure to check back in here at my Blog! I will be posting some new images very soon.

Camera For Sale

2010-02-11T05:19:00.000-08:00

Good Morning everyone,
I just wanted to take a minute and let you all know that I am selling one of my camera bodies: the Canon EOS Rebel XTi. It's in really great condition. Reason I am selling is because I upgraded. It is a terrific, easy to use camera for those starting out in the digital world- photographers or parents!!! It also serves as an affordable +reliable back up camera.

Here is what you get:
Canon EOS Rebel XTi Body
Canon 18-55mm EFS Lens
Battery
Battery Wall Charger
Canon Neck Strap
Original packaging w/ user manuel, cds, and other documentation
Originally paid about $900. Asking $400 plus shipping.

The camera was purchased in 08/07- so it is 2.5 years old... It was used as my primary camera for 1.5 year and as a rare backup to my Canon 50D for 1 year. Email me if you want it or know someone who may! jenlynnalder@aol.com

On another note: I have been crazy busy with Online Editing Lessons this winter and loving it. I am currently working with 5 students and am welcoming more. See my Main Site, under the Workshop & Lessons for Photographers tab for additional information. Hopefully in a day or two I will be able to update my Blog with some current student sample work. Stay tuned!

Also, on Saturday I will be shooting a winter wedding. And next week I have a fun 80's themed model photo shoot. Be sure to keep stopping by..... I know I have been lazy with my posts this month, but they will be picking up very soon.

Have a great day!!!

Images in Fun Places

2010-02-07T02:37:00.000-08:00

Recently some of my photography work has been added to some pretty cool places. I just want to take a minute and share some of it with you.

The first image is of the very beautiful and talented Pearl Aday (Meatloaf's daughter). This photo is featured on the front page of her website. I absolutely love Pearl and am thrilled to have one of my pictures there. It was taken at an evening performance on the island of Aruba last October. She is accompanied by, Scott Ian, the terribly talented Anthrax guitarist (and her significant other). They put on a killer show.

Pearl has recently released her debut album,

Little Immaculate White Fox- go buy it! She rocks. :)

Some of you may also remember this image of my niece, Melanie. It was taken a couple of years ago but was recently given to Mid Valley Mentors of Salem, Oregon to help with fundraising charitable promotions. Currently, this image accompanies a slide show that plays in between movies at the movie theatre in Salem for the Mid Valley Mentors. Text of the slide show mainly highlights shocking statistics and points out "the power of one" to help. It reaches out to the community and asks for help for kids who are in less than ideal situations.

The director contacted me to create some compelling portraits in order to attract attention to the establishment. I did also create half a dozen new images for them last month. The web site is newly launched and will be adding my images to it in the near future. If you are an Oregon resident, consider donating or giving time to such a great cause.
Wesley Berry Flowers, located in SE Michigan, really creates beautiful flower arrangements and bouquets for weddings. They contacted me for a few photos I had taken of their products to use in upcoming print advertisements. Keep an eye out for it.

And... if you are in need of a great florist, visit them today by clicking Here
Thanks for stopping by! Have a great Sunday everyone.

Class of 2011 Senior Rep Search

2010-02-05T13:33:00.000-08:00

Happy February everyone :)

Its that time of year again. Yep, time to start looking for some GREAT students to be my Senior Reps. I am so excited. Working with Seniors is such a blast.

If you are graduating in 2011 and are currently a high school senior, you could be chosen to receive LOTS of good stuff. During the next month I will be looking for a couple students from the following cities: Northville, Novi, Livonia, Plymouth, Farmington and South Lyon. Basically Senior Reps pass out small cards with their photo/my info on them to their friends at school. I can't wait to work with some FUN Seniors who want unique, beautiful images!

In return you get:

$150 Senior portrait Session for FREE to take place in March or April at a variety of fun location spots with lots of wardrobe changes.
Discount on your print purchase

Images uploaded to use on Facebook

Blog Feature

If you are interested in applying for consideration, please email me at jenlynnalder@aol.com before March 1, 2010.

Include the following info:

Name

School

Activities

Why you would make a good rep

Describe your personality in a paragraph

Attach a current photo

Include contact information: email, phone, address

(you must have parent permission)

Boudoir Appointments

2010-01-31T08:04:00.000-08:00

I have been busy working on a couple of Boudoir Sessions this month! Valentine's Day is just around the corner.... and, as you can probably imagine, the little black books that are included with the session make amazing gifts for husbands, fiances, boyfriends/significant others.

If you would like to book a Boudoir session but are a little anxious, relax! I am a female photographer with a female assistant. (all girls!) I coach you through posing, help with styling selections (what to wear and how to style hair/Make up), retouch the images to give you that perfect finished look.... oh, and I keep it CLASSY + PRIVATE. Images from these sessions are great gifts for: Birthday, Anniversary, and just because....

Ms. "H and Mrs. "S," I am working on the beautiful images from your January sessions right now. They will be ready for viewing next week. Two wonderful ladies- and two terrific session results! So excited for them to see!!!

February is just around the corner! I will be working with 4- 5 different students on Image Retouching Lessons --which is so much fun. For those of you who do not know, I also have an education and arts background.... so, I have a teaching certificate and love to work with students. I will try to post completed lesson work here on my blog at least once or twice. If anyone is interested in more lesson info, please visit my Main Site.

And... yes, it is winter, but YES I will still be shooting outdoors. I have 2 new model shoots lined up and a Valentine's Day wedding. Also, I am meeting with a future bride next weekend and taking some sweet sibling portraits indoors, too! Stay tuned for fun upcoming updates!

Winter Fun with the "K" Family ( Northville, MI, Family Portrait Photographer)

2010-01-23T19:22:00.000-08:00

Winter: a freezing, snowy, relatively dark season lasting for what seems like eternity here in SE Michigan. Late January (after the holiday hype has fizzled down) and pretty much all of February (with the exception of Valentine's Day) can be brutal. Folks begin growing tired of shoveling driveways, warming up cars, dressing in multiple layers of clothing and watching out for icy pathways as they walk from place to place.

But... with the right attitude, this time of year can actually be a time for wonderful memories to be made. ENJOY the snowy season- just embrace it. :) Take in the beautiful sights of the snow with your family. Capture it in photographs. Yes, I know it is cold out there, but the pictures will be treasures- and the kids will LOVE every minute of it. Sound like a good idea to you? Book an appointment and let me do the work. You will adore the results.

The "K" Family definitely has the right attitude. This river was still flowing at parts but you can see the snowy background.

3 year old, Ellie, was super excited to get her hands on the snow! Isn't she a doll???

This area of the river was frozen over ..... Pure beauty.

Aren't they a cute family? Warmly dressed, great attitudes and good looking, too! Some people just make my job easy.

Absolutely full of energy and sweetness, this child is....I hope to work with her again one day.

This family loves to have a great time with one another. They actually PLAYED in the snow and I grabbed some candid captures of them. Fun, fun, FUN.

Thanks for meeting up with me on a chilly but amazing winter day, family "K". It was wonderful to meet and work with you. Nicole, you did a great job dressing and your little model. Jim, good call on the rocky river location! And, Sarah, thanks for sending them my way. Be sure to keep in touch- loved working with your family!!!

***Note: Winter photo shoots only take about 30 - 40 minutes. I do have some spots open if anyone out there would like to schedule one. Send me a note at jenlynnalder@aol.com or on Facebook. They are great for families, couples, models and kids!

Grand Prize Winner (Detroit, MI Model Photographer)

2010-01-20T07:06:00.001-08:00

Yesterday evening I received the following email:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
1/19/2010 Photographer Jennifer L. Alder of Northville, MI, has won Grand Prize for December in the prestigious photography contest sponsored by Betterphoto.com, the site's founder, Jim Miotke, announced Tuesday.

More than 17,200 entries were submitted to the online photography contest, which attracted contestants from around the world and featured 10 separate categories.

Alder's stunning image, "Set in Stone", garnered top honors after being submitted in the Digital Darkroom category. All of the winning images can be viewed at BetterPhoto.com's contest page

The contest is conducted each month. Categories include Nature and Landscapes, Animals, People, Elements of Design, Digital Darkroom, Travel and Place, Flowers, Details and Macro, Catch All and Monthly Theme. Judging is performed by a panel of professional photographers.

Model: Joan Brooks

What a huge surprise and honor! I learn and am inspired by much of the talent and photographers that are active at Betterphoto.com. Joan, the model pictured above, is really fabulous to work with. She is a model from Ohio who drove up to collaborate with me in late October.

Another of the images from our time together won first place (Photo of the Month) in the Black & White category at Digital Image Cafe last month as well.

Photoshop Fun: Colour and Texture (Detroit, MI Photo Editing Lessons, Online)

2010-01-14T07:14:00.000-08:00

January has actually been a pretty busy month for me! Whenever I get overloaded I take time out for some post processing fun. I want to keep the "art" alive in my work. So, the past couple of nights I went back and revisited some images from older sessions that I had not edited before. My intent was to slap some texture and unique colour toning on them and transform them into works of art.

Want to learn how to do this? Sign up for a quick & easy email lesson. See my Main Site for more details. Oh, and while you are there go ahead and check out the mini-workshop I am having at the end of April, too. Limited spots are available. :)

And a few non-portrait images as well:

This is easier to do than it looks! Seriously. You CAN do it as well.

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you enjoyed the show. :)

High School Friendships (Northville, MI Senior Portrait Photographer)

2010-01-13T14:06:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to share a handful of quick shots that I took of these wonderful young adults last weekend. You will recognize one of them as my volunteer model in the post below (for the non-profit organization in Oregon that I am working on). The young lady is my girlfriend's daughter, and these are her friends. I could not resist grabbing some shots of them all. ;)

Thanks for stopping by and helping a great organization, you guys! It was great to hanging with you! :)

A New Project

2010-01-11T23:55:00.000-08:00

What sort of projects does she do, you may wonder? Well, to tell you the truth, I am pretty much drawn to causes that help kids (especially) and members of society in desperate situations. That is the cause I am writing about in today's blog post, one that helps kids.

I was contacted a couple of weeks ago by a non-profit organization in the Portland, Oregon area to provide images for a group that helped youth so it was really a "no-brainer " for me to take part in assisting the cause. The organization helps kids and teens who are struggling (sibling gang members, parents in jail, drug problems, etc...) get into positive programs and around people who CARE. It also has a sister program that helps another area of society, which I will address next week.

This program was in need of new promotional images to use on their website, newsletters, posters, etc.... and, well, I was more than happy to help out. They wanted an image of a male and female that were compelling. Melanie was my child female model because the director liked her look ;) The teen male subject, Kyle, was suggested by a friend of mine. I went ahead and edited the images to be a bit moody. And, I should add that my main intent was to make them sort of "compelling"....

I am showing them in black and white treatment but will also be presenting them in color. When the organization publishes them, I will be sure to provide a link so you all can view it. Also, stay tuned ... I am shooting one more model, (an adult male) for the sister organization next week and will be sharing it here on my blog as well.

Thanks for stopping by! :)

Student Work on Display

2010-01-09T18:39:00.001-08:00

Good evening everyone! It has been longer than usual since I have updated my Blog. Despite the cold weather, my schedule is actually slammed! I am currently working on 2 projects: The first is an artistic fashion collaboration between myself, a local make-up artist and 2 models. The 2nd is creating images of 3 different subjects for a non-profit organization based in Oregon. Stay tuned for more details. (hint: One of the subjects will be my niece, Melanie)

I also have upcoming Boudoir Session work that I will be doing (but not sharing on my Blog) for privacy reasons. The past two weeks I have met up with several brides -to-be and talked amazing wedding details!!! And, I have that winter give-a-way session to take care of in a week or two. Oh, and last but not least.... I have been working on lessons with 2 fabulous students.

The first wonderful lady I am working with is Aimee Eisaman, from PA, who runs Digital Darkroom Photography. Her web site is newly launched- check it out. She also is active on Digital Image Cafe, Betterphoto, and runs the Phello Photographers Club over at BP,too! The two of us are currently in the process of completing a 9 session online lesson package. Most recently she just finished a portfolio review and was introduced to a Senior Portrait/Modeling Lesson. Have a look at just one of her earlier assignment images below. The focus of this particular lesson was off center composition.

Image copyright: Aimee Eisaman DO NOT COPY

Another one of my current students, Lynne Fried, is just starting out her 3-lesson package. She is a really sweet person and does lovely work with her camera. She is a California resident, member of Betterphoto and also has her own photography business. Check her out at: capturetoday.net We spent some time on portrait retouching using specific tools and PS Layers in our first lesson. Below is an example of what we have been up to:

This is her "BEFORE" shot:
This is the "AFTER" Version of the same image using only select PS Tools + Layer blending, based on her personal preferences:

Image copyright Lynne Fried, DO NOT COPY

Thanks for stopping by everyone! Hope you are all having a GREAT New Year and staying warm while you are at it. Stay tuned for more updates here on my Blog. I have lots of fun projects coming up and you won't want to miss the details. :)

**Note: If you would like to sign up for an online lesson package with me, please send a note to: jenlynnalder@aol.com

See my Main Website for lesson and workshop information. Thanks! :)

Lessons and Workshop Area on my Web Site (Detroit, Michigan, Photography Lessons)

2010-01-01T12:19:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone! I hope that 2010 will be an amazing year for all of us. :)

I just wanted to take a few moments to let you know that I have officially added a new little spot on my web site. This area houses information about Lessons and Workshops. As some of you know, I do have a background in Arts and Education from U of M, with a secondary teaching certificate... and I LOVE to teach photography or photography tricks in PS to those wanting to learn. And, now it is official. Visit my Main Site today to check out the new info.

The lessons are one-on-one, done via email and skill levels cater to beginners through business owners. Lesson topics include Photoshop technique, creative vision, in the field exercises, portfolio reviews, and so on.

Visit my Main Site and then simply click on Lessons& Workshops at the bottom menu for additional information. Lessons are affordable and fun. Space is limited. I will be starting new work with 2 or 3 students this week but still am currently accepting a few more. During the winter, I prefer more indoor work... and so the amount of students I take on is greater. :)

If you would like to sign up, send me a note on Facebook or at jenlynnalder@aol.com

By request, I am also offering a workshop on April 30-May 1st here in SE Michigan. The enrollment is VERY limited (like 3-4 participants) so if you want in on it send me a message: jenlynnalder@aol.com This workshop will be small, personable, fun and have LOADS of talent. I have already lined up wonderful models and artists for a collaboration and cannot wait to get started. Once again, you can view more info on the new area of my Main Site.

If you would like to set up a workshop on a date other than April 30-May 1st, I am accepting topic and time suggestions now. I will most likely put another one together very soon. Perhaps a Trash the Dress or even an Urban Kiddie shot... stay tuned.

Thanks to Elise C. and Joan B. for being the lovely models in the artwork posted here today. :)

The "F" Family Sneak Peek (Novi, MI Family Photographer)

2009-12-30T09:45:00.000-08:00

Wow- Last Blog post for the year 2009.

This has been a wonderful year. I cannot even believe that it is almost over. I am blessed with an amazing family and am very, very thankful for that.

I think that the "F" family is quite fortunate as well. Working with them as an extended family group was an absolute delight. They are kind, hospitable, funny... and a great looking gang, wouldn't you say? Have a look for yourself:

Here are some of the kids by themselves....

Oh, and this was just for fun.... these two are just the cutest 18 month old children ever :)

Thanks so much for having me take your family images! I am working on the remaining pictures and will have more to share in about a week. Hope you enjoyed your sneak peek!!!

Happy New Year everyone! Stay Safe !!!

*Special thanks to Jessica for being my assistant on this shoot. :)

Mom & Son at Christmastime ..... a sneak peek ( Detroit, MI, Family Photographer)

2009-12-22T20:07:00.001-08:00

It was a blessing to meet up with a beautiful Mom and her handsome 7th grade son, E, yesterday. Even though it was freezing outside, they both were lots of fun to be around. Have a look at a few from our mini-shoot:
I do have more images to share with the two of you! They will arrive soon. The bond you share is so wonderful. Thanks for meeting up with me and I hope you both have a VERY Merry Christmas. :)

I am almost ready for the holiday myself. Ok, I admit, I am not done wrapping gifts yet and I still have some baking to do. lol. I am making great progress though so, bear with me. Hope all of you are enjoying this festive season.

Thanks for the behind the scenes pics, Jes... you done good. ;)

Have a wonderful Christmas everyone!!! :)

Oh, and PLEASE remember to give this time of year- so many people out there would REALLY appreciate it.

Christmas Give-a-way Winner (Metro Detroit, Photographer)

2009-12-21T11:45:00.000-08:00

The holiday season is one of my favorite times of the year! I am so blessed and thankful for my family and friends. I decided to do a give-a-way session (valued at $750!) for a family in need this season and asked all of YOU to nominate someone you think deserves it. Wow- I was blown away by the entries this year. Thanks for sending them in ... and I encourage ALL of you to donate your time, gifts or services this season.

You can go ahead and read who the winner is below, but since all blog posts need a pic... here are some snapshots of my cat, Tigger. My fiance and I rescued him a couple of years ago. In the first one he is "pretending to play" with his toy. But you will see what he is really up to in the images that follow....taking position on the couch and knocking down candy canes! LOL. :)

The winner was choosen at random and was sent in by: Sarah K.
And she nominated her friend: Nicole & family.

Here is a little of what she sent in:

Hi Jennifer-

I have the perfect family for you... My good friend, Nicole, has had a really hard year...really hard. A year ago when her 13 year old sister was babysitting her daughter Ellie (3 year old cutie), Nicole and Jim's house caught on fire. The fire damaged enough where Nicole and her family had to move out for about 10 months so the insurance company could come in and repair all of the damage.

Nicole is an assistant in my group at work, and is probably the hardest working person out of everyone. She support about 15 people, and doesn't think twice when someone asks her to do something- she is ALWAYS going above and beyond. Her husband works for Sherwin Williams as a painter consultant. His name is Jim and he is a riot! ......... All of their family pictures were lost in the fire last year. Nicole was totally devastated. Nicole and Jim really want 2010 to be a "New Year" but they deserve so much more. Nicole is one of the best people I have ever met- and if I could put into words how amazing she is, and Jim and Ellie truly are... you would know just how much she needs this give-a-way.

So.... congrats, Nicole. You and your family won the family winter portrait session. Get in touch with me now or after Christmas to schedule a date! I can't wait to meet and work with you all.

And... now I am off to see a holiday movie with my nephew! Have a wonderful day everyone :)

Oh, Baby! (Northville, Michigan Newborn Photographer)

2009-12-15T23:31:00.001-08:00

You may remember my beautiful cousin, Nicole, from this post. Her baby shower was not too long ago! Well, she finally had her little princess.

Meet baby Ariel. If you follow me on Facebook, you could have already seen a few of these images because I posted the preview over there. Anyhow, she is just a little doll.... seriously, adorable is an understatement. She is just perfect.

My sister, Jessica, came along with me on this shoot and helped handle the baby + move equipment around. I am very thankful for that. Thanks, Jes! Have a look at what we were up to:

The nursery is decorated in the zebra theme with pink accents and so I decided to bring that theme into some of the images...

And here she is in a tiny tutu.... oh so sweet. Less than 4 days old and wide awake for almost all of her session. I do love those beautiful blue eyes, don't you? Lucky we got to see them. :)

hehehe.... she already knows how to pose for the camera. LOVE it.

She is very alert for such a tiny baby! And oh. so. cute. :)

I did a bit of classic photography as well. What a blessing this little girl is. Hope you enjoy the pictures, Nicole. :)

Snow Shoot with Elise (Northville, MI, Model Photographer)

2009-12-13T08:12:00.001-08:00

I am just going to be totally honest with you all. Winter is NOT my favorite season. I love warm weather, colorful leaves and flowers in bloom.... none of which are present this time of year.

But one thing that I DO enjoy about the bitter cold few months we have here in Michigan is how pretty the snow looks. As a result, this year I have decided to do at least a handful of photo shoots that display winter. The snowy backdrops are just too amazing to pass up.

Here are some images from my latest shoot with Elise, a 20 year old local model. We met at a field/woodsy area and were aiming to produce some artistic images. She did her own styling, although we collaborated on concept.

She loves textures and fun color toning....and anything artsy in general.

Just want to point out that she is laying IN the snow... wearing only a sleeveless dress on a 30 degree day. We were freeeeezing!!!!! But I love this image:

Doesn't she have a fabulous look?!!?

We left the woodsy spot and I noticed that the light at a nearby field was just beautiful. So... we stopped and took a few more:

Then, I saw the blue sky and part of a different golden field and made Elise hang around for a few more artsy shots. lol. We had to work fast though because the wind was much stronger in this area and (again) it was quite chilly. She was so fun to work with.... very dedicated!

Thanks for making the 2 hour drive, Elise... and for braving the cold. I had a great time with you guys! Keep in touch. :)

Holiday Give-a-Way

2009-12-07T16:09:00.000-08:00

I am thankful for so much this holiday season and just want to take some time to give back. Starting now... I will be accepting nominations for a person/family in need. I will be giving away one Winter Portrait session + CD of retouched images + 11 X 14 mounted print to a lucky winner.

Please nominate someone you think REALLY deserves a break this holiday season. There are lots of folks out there who have recently lost jobs and just cannot afford the luxury of custom photography right now . I know there are many single moms out there struggling just to make ends meet and would love some beautiful images of their children. Or perhaps you know of someone that just needs a bit of a boost spiritually... send me a story: jenlynnalder@aol.com

This is a $750 value and the ONLY time of year I do such a large give-a-way.
I am really looking for a family or individual in need out there that loves (or at least tolerates) winter weather and would enjoy some art !!!

Rules:

1- You may not nominate yourself
2- Winner will be notified on Dec. 21st (the first day of winter)
3-Winner must book and receive portrait session during the month of January and be willing to have fun at an outdoor location.
4- Please include name and age of those nominated and a picture, if possible (photo not required)
5- Only one nomination per person
6- You must provide a reason why this person is in need.
7- Please include YOUR name and contact number, along with the nominee's name and contact number.
8- Deadline for entries: Dec 19th.

Good luck everyone!! Happy Holidays!!

Modeling in December (Northville, MI Model Photographer)

2009-12-05T05:29:00.000-08:00

Well...it has been awhile since my last Blog post. The holidays keep me VERY busy, so be sure to cut me a bit of slack. ;) If you are a client of mine- know that I am "officially" caught up with all holiday orders and if you do not yet have your products, they are in route!

Yep, I am still plugging away with model shoots.... despite the cold weather. LOL. But, in my defense, I will mention that most of the time goes into planning and a lot less time goes into experimenting in the field when the temperatures are like 30 degrees. Yesterday it did snow, but it has not really accumulated here and so you cannot yet see it in my images. The shoot which you are about to preview was originally supposed to be a snow shoot. I still felt that the woodsy area we planned on using had a bit of a fairytale feel to it and was pleased with the pale color it flaunted, so we decided to proceed without snow.

I was fortunate enough to meet up with Tressie Davis and Jacqueline for a very chilly and fun photo shoot at a local park area yesterday afternoon. I have previously worked with and just adore both ladies. Have a look:

Blended in some textures here:

Isn't she lovely??? I love to work with this lady- she is not only talented and beautiful... but she is a TROOPER. Never complained about being cold and we were outside for an HOUR. I did not show any shots of this- but she was actually even barefoot for awhile. I am going to stop with image sharing from the woods because Tressie was shooting with me and will be showing more in the future. Trust me, hers will rock!! I saw exactly what she was shooting out there and loved it. You can view some of her shots here. :)

And here are just a few of my standard close up work...

And here we are. Tressie:

And myself:
Thanks for a wonderful time, ladies!! And thanks to all who stopped by my Blog... I hope you enjoyed. :)

Boudoir Sessions Available (Northville Michigan, Boudoir Photographer)

2009-11-27T22:23:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! I hope that each and every one of you had an amazing Thanksgiving. I did. My fiance, Ryan, and I had a wonderful family dinner at my Aunt Jo's house. It was a beautiful day- great food, the best company ever and Soooo much to be thankful for. My family is a blessing. And so is my relationship with my fiance. I think successful relationships are a gift- they should be appreciated and celebrated. I believe that certain people are in our lives for a special reason.

This is one of the reasons I do boudoir photography.
BUT..... I do NOT post pictures from these sessions on my website and/or blog. I respect that the images taken at these sessions are for the eyes of your significant other only.

I have recently added information to my site with my "G- rated" image below:

Boudoir sessions are popular these days! Females WANT to give their significant others classy, sexy images of them. Why not? Oh, and for those who are a bit anxious about modeling lingerie.... now, please... keep in mind that I do retouch images ;) NO worries. Little flaws are all erased. LOL.

We can schedule these sessions at a nearby hotel and/or your home. I even do very limited amounts of Boudoir Session Parties- please inquire!!! You and a small group of friends can all get in on the fun. :)

With every Boudoir Session a "Little Black Book" (5X7 black leather album of photos) is included. These make INCREDIBLE gifts. They are perfect for his:

Wedding gift
Valentines Day gift
Anniversary gift
Christmas present
Birthday surprise
or ....just to celebrate womanhood

Did I say they make INCREDIBLE gifts? They do! Guys Loooooooooooove them.

Oh, and .....Yep, I am a female so that means you can feel extra comfortable taking these pics with me. I do not show them to other people or display them anywhere. And I have some fun props to use as well. You will look amazing in the images. :)

I also have stylists available who, for a small fee, can bring out your beauty like you would not believe. Lots of optional talent available. Send me a note to plan your session today.

Don't wait- availability is limited!!!

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* Coming up pre-holiday blog posts- probably a couple of model sessions, a newborn shoot, perhaps a family or two...... and probably some sort of holiday give-a-way. Stay tuned. December will be busy for me but I will do my best to keep you all posted.

Kelsey in the Country (Ann Arbor, MI Model Photographer)

2009-11-24T16:59:00.001-08:00

A few days ago I met up with one of my favorite models to work with, Kelsey. You may remember her from this shoot. This time I got to work with her as a blond. ;) We met out at a farm area that had lots of open fields. I wanted to give her some western sort of images for her portfolio. Have a look:

Yea, can you say GORGEOUS???

Kels also brings a lot of enthusiasm to the shoot. I think I was laughing the entire time. Seriously.

Great to see and work with you again, girl. Hope you enjoy the pictures. Keep in touch! :)

** Yes, it is true. I will be holding a mini-workshop (2day) in late May for photographers. It is limited to the first few people to sign up. The focus will be on working with models/stylists, location selection, posing, perspectives and communication IN THE FIELD. This session will be beneficial to photographers who do creative Senior or Bridal photography as well. Cost is $700 which includes the model/stylist fees and lunch both days.
Send me a note for more info. at jenlynnalder@aol.com or on Facebook.
Thanks!!!! :)

Modeling with Maria (Northville MI Model Photographer)

2009-11-22T16:22:00.001-08:00

What a treat it was to work with local model, Maria A. She was looking to add a little zest to her modeling portfolio so we got together recently and worked on some less traditional shots. Have a look:

Isn't she gorgeous?? I just love her eyes.

Her cousin rocked the makeup application, too! Loved the blues.

Maria has been dancing for years and also does choreography

And ...I think she looks great in pink.
Loved working with you girl. Keep in touch!

Alexandra (Detroit Michigan Model Photographer)

2009-11-20T06:12:00.000-08:00

So yesterday afternoon I met up with an amazing model named Alex. I had been wanting to work with her for quite some time and after a few rescheduled dates we finally got the opportunity. Isn't she stunning?

I wanted to give her a couple of standard black and white head shots for her portfolio:

I had an artistic urge and just went with it on this one.... a bit of Photoshop drama, I suppose.

And here is a mini-series of the shots we took in a nearby alley.
Thanks a ton, Alexandra, for hanging out with me yesterday. It was fabulous to meet and work with you- can't wait to do it again! Loved it :)

*Oh, and I thought it would be a good time to mention this. By request, I am going to be holding a 2day in-the-field sort of "mini-workshop" in late May for photographers. It is limited to the first few people to sign up. It will be an actual hands on workshop focusing on working with models/stylists, location selection, posing, perspectives, and communication. This session will also benefit anyone who does creative Senior Portrait Photography and untraditional Bridal work.

Cost is $700 per person, which includes the model/stylist fees and lunch both days.

If you are interested in signing up, just send me a note at jenlynnalder@aol.com or on Facebook.

Have a fabulous day everyone! :)

Dedicated Modeling (Ann Arbor, Michigan- Model Photographer)

2009-11-16T10:06:00.001-08:00

You know you are working with a dedicated model when she shows up in a mini-dress to work outdoors in 40 degree weather (and never complains!!). Amy C. did just that... she hired me to take pictures of her in the snow actually- but this November has been warmer than most. LOL. She did an amazing job. Her stylist and boyfriend joined us for our alley shoot and we all had a really good time. I tried to work as fast as possible because she was shaking a bit.

Here is what we accomplished in our short time working together. I tried to give her images a little dramatic edge:

Doesn't Stacy do a great job with hair? And here are some cleaner headshots- isn't she beautiful?? The last one is just for fun ;)

I hope to work with you all again sometime! Keep in touch :)

It's a Girl ! (Detroit, Michigan Event Photographer)

2009-11-09T22:34:00.001-08:00

My beautiful cousin, Nicole, is expecting a little princess! Yay! She is due in mid December. My sisters, Mother and myself hosted a baby shower for her this past Saturday. It was lots of fun. We are so happy for her and hope she had a fabulous day. Although I was playing a hostess role, I did still try to grab lots of quick shots so that she could have them as a keepsake. Check out some of the images below.

The theme was It's a girl/Fantasy where we had a princess castle cake, hanging fairies, butterflies, pink boas and a glass bulb centerpiece. The colors were pink and silver. For games and lunch, the guests were seated at 4 large round tables (of 10) at my Mom's home.

And here is the amazing Princess Castle Cake, made by my Mom! Although it was hard to watch her cut and serve such a beautiful creation, the dessert tasted absolutely amazing. Loved this:

We wanted to have a couple of games where the guests could interact with Nicole without being too cheesy or complicated. The good ole "measure her belly" with pink yarn game was our first choice. I did offer a hint to the crowd that she was pretty tiny and not much yarn would be needed for the circumference of her waist ;)

In the end, there were two winners- and both of the 2 winning ladies guessed it exactly. wow!

The second game was a "Mom's favorite recipe" game whereby each guest received a Recipe Card and was asked to share a favorite recipe from their Mom (or as a mom themselves) with the Mom-to-be. The cards were collected and placed in a small book for the guest of honor. The winning guests at this party game were the three who included chicken as the main ingredient- because chicken is Nicole's favorite food. Winners of both games received leather photo albums, boxes of artistic note cards and a Yankee Candle jar.

After the games were completed, Nicole and her Mother sat together and opened gifts. There sure were a ton of them!!

And Megan acted so helpful by recording the gifts per guest so that Nicole would have an easier time with thank you cards. What a cutie she is. :)

When the gift opening was over the guests all enjoyed a late lunch. On the menu was chicken breasts, Caesar/Greek salads, potatoes, various fruits, fresh breads- chocolates, jello, and cake.

And here are a few more candids of the fam/guests-

Ok, there were no pics of me here so I yanked this one off of Facebook,cropped, changed to b/w. I am not positive which relative took it, but thanks! :)

A great day, it was. And we are all excited to meet this little princess of yours, Nicole....
Thanks for stopping by !!!! Stay tuned for future posts.

I will have some new model & boudoir stuff to share over the next week. :)

The lovely Allison.... (Detroit Mi Photographer)

2009-11-09T10:30:00.000-08:00

Last week I meet up with Allsion H. She is a pre-med student at U of M and is also just starting to put together a modeling portfolio. We worked together on a mini-shoot and she did a terrific job. Oh. and those eyes are hers are just magical.

Check out some of the shots:

Again, she humored me with an artsy shot :)

Leesa, an aspiring photographer from Lansing also met up with us on this shoot. I agreed to let her shadow me for the evening- and she was a terrific assistant, too! She will most likely be accompanying me on some future shoots as well. Here is one taken by her (edited by me):

We all had lots of fun! So great to meet you, ladies! Keep in touch. :)

Ohio Beauty (Michigan Model Photographer)

2009-11-03T00:50:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! Thanks for dropping by. I cannot even believe that the month of November has started. WOW! The warmer months seemed to just fly by this year. Most of you know that I mainly do on location, natural light photography so this means that my sessions will be limited for the next 4 months or so. YES, I will still take clients- but not as many, LOL. I will mainly focus on newborns, boudoir, winter weddings and select family/child sessions during the "off season."

I will also be giving photo editing lessons via email. If you are interested in signing up, do so quickly- spots are limited. Send me a note at jenlynnalder@aol.com for more info.

For the month of November, I will mainly be working with models. I have half a dozen or so scheduled shoots with local models and am just super excited to start. It IS cold out there...but (at least for me) still tolerable, so keep your eyes open for new session previews over the next few weeks. Please have a look at some shots from my most recent session with Joan B. She is a gorgeous model from Ohio who hired me to take some updated head shots and some creative images of her.

And a couple more artsy/dramatic images....

Hope you enjoyed the show! Stay tuned this weekend for some upcoming shoot previews!

Photo Editing Lessons

2009-10-30T08:37:00.000-07:00

Meet Joan- an absolutely fabulous model who hired me earlier in the week to do some updated head shots. She was fantastic enough to humor me with the artsy shots, too... I loooove working on my art. :)

So what makes this image "Art?" Well, there are lots of reasons but to begin with- it did not come out of the camera looking this way. LOL. I did work in Photoshop to give it this final finish. This image has already brought me some terrific feedback from many amazing photographers + viewers out there. And, "wow" this week I have really been swamped with emails/facebook messages that are inquiring about my one-on-one email photo editing lessons. I just thought it was a great image to use in my post today.

Some of you know that I do hold a teaching certificate and am selectively willing to share knowledge with those who desire it. Eventually I will update my website with a section of information pertaining to these sessions but for now- here is the scoop for anyone who wants to know.

I accept LIMITED amounts of students per month due to time restrictions but currently DO still have some availability for November.
Lessons are given once a week via email and are 3-part in format
Hands on application + evaluation from me personally for every lesson.
Lesson topics are custom designed per client desire and open to all skill levels
Lessons are completed using Layers in Photoshop Elements, PSCS2, PSCS3, PSCS4 or Corel...especially for color toning and use of textures!! (like pictured below)

Please send me a note for complete price list and/or a list of sample topics
I can be reached at jenlynnalder@aol.com or on Facebook.

Have a terrific Halloween weekend everyone! :)

Autumn Beauty (Northville, Michigan Children Photographer)

2009-10-28T18:05:00.000-07:00

OK, I confess... I worked this session a little faster because today is Mom's Birthday and I know how much she wanted to see them....

Oh, and for the record, Miss "L" was a total doll. You may remember her from this session with me (a former Little Punk Contest winner from 6 months ago!)- she has really warmed up to the camera and was soooo great to see + fun to work with. I REALLY enjoyed my Autumn children sessions this year. The colorful sights and excited subjects brought tremendous energy. Have a look:

And some extra artsy ones...

Happy Birthday, Mom! It was awesome seeing you and your mini-me again! Stay in touch :)

Cuteness Cubed (Northville, Michigan Children Photographer)

2009-10-27T14:04:00.000-07:00

So I finally had a chance to meet up with 3 of the cutest kids around. Bad weather set us back a couple of times but Mom was able to make the trip from Michigan's west coast last week. Yep, lots of fun!! It was colder than we anticipated but the kids did GREAT. I cannot wait to work with them again in the future. They were very cooperative and I love the colors Mom dressed them in. Have a look-

And little Miss "L" is up next.... stay tuned for her Autumn images. They will be coming soon :)

I hope you enjoyed the show!!!! Thanks for stopping by :)

Autumn in Michigan

2009-10-23T11:37:00.000-07:00

Yay! Autumn color has peaked here in Michigan. Being in Aruba for nearly two weeks at the start of October was bittersweet for me this year. Yes, I was able to sit on an amazing white sand beach of the Caribbean and soak up the sun BUT...I had to miss a big chunk of my favorite season here. That is the truth. It is just absolutely gorgeous outside (when it doesn't rain all day, like today for example, LOL).

Believe it or not, I actually had an opportunity to step outside for an hour or two the other day and grab some pictures of it. I have been swamped with trying to catch up so it was really a treat. These images are simple though...and were all taken within 10 minutes from where I live. Oh, and I have been feeling artsy lately, so these were quickly photoshopped and meant to be painterly in appearance. Enjoy them!

Thanks for letting me share.... stay tuned for some terrific upcoming shoot posts!!!

Miss Chelsey T. (Detroit, Michigan Child Photographer)

2009-10-22T04:52:00.000-07:00

Good Morning everyone!

I wanted to show you a handful of images from my mini-session with 2 year old Chelsey T. the other day. If you are a Fan of mine on Facebook, you may have already seen these ones but Chelsey's parents do not have accounts on the social network so I am putting up their sneak peek here as well.

I grabbed these shots of her with the last light of the day- and it was getting cooooooold but she was a good sport. She stayed super warm in her pink hooded coat which is more than I can say for myself.

Oh and sitting in the yellow chair was her favorite thing to do. ...of course, that is if you don't count munching on a mini 3 musketeers bar that I bribed her with. (per Mom's suggestion) LOL.

Isn't she a little cutie pie??? I hope you enjoyed the preview! Lots of fun stuff coming up over the next 2 weeks with me so stay tuned for more posts. :)

Enjoying Autumn Sibling Style (Northville, Michigan, Custom Children Portraits)

2009-10-18T20:43:00.000-07:00

Autumn. The most beautiful of seasons by far! Sigh.

I met up with two **adorable** sisters a couple of days ago to do custom portraits in the park. Autumn colour is out in full force this time of year and provided an absolutely gorgeous backdrop for our session together. The girls, Adrianna and Maya, are just 2 years and 8 months old, yet they arrived at this shoot like old pros. They were complete angels - a total delight to work with.

I sent Melissa (Mom) some outfit inspiration prior to the shoot via a link to Mini-Boden; we also discussed the importance of dressing the children in layered clothing with cooler outdoor temperatures. Accessories and fun color & pattern can really add a lot to already cute pictures. In addition to Mini-Boden, she was also inspired by The Children's Place. Catalog Fashion is a great place to find wardrobe ideas for photo shoots- and both of the above mentioned places have super cute outfits for boys, girls and babies. Mom did a terrific job of dressing her children for our scheduled shoot.

It gives me such joy to transform ordinary photos of kids into affordable wall ART. Enjoy the results-

Sister Love....

Fun with colorful leaves....

And just plain young, blue-eyed, Autumn cuteness...

I hoped you all enjoyed the show. Are these girls CUTE or what? I have too many favorites to even list. If they were my girls, these pics would be enlarged and all over my walls... or I would be passing them out for holiday gifts to the family. What treasures!!! I am looking forward to seeing them when Maya is old enough to walk for a fairy fantasy session, too.

If you have not booked a Custom Autumn Portrait Session and would like one... send me a note: jenlynnalder@aol.com or on Facebook. I have a few time slots open over the next couple of weeks and may just be able to still get you in. Yay!!

Stay tuned for upcoming Model, Boudoir and Photoshop lesson posts. They will be coming very soon. :)

And the winner is...

2009-10-12T22:29:00.001-07:00

Congratulations: Melissa Pembroke! You have won the Autumn Photo Session for your two girls on Sat. Oct 17th. Your lucky entry was drawn at random from a ton of wonderful contestants.

You also will receive a complimentary 11 X 14 print of your choice from our session and a 10 %discount off additional prints ordered or 50% off a session CD. Please send me a note on Facebook or via email to discuss location and wardrobe ideas. I can't wait to work with you all. :)

Thanks for stopping by everyone. Stay tuned for more updates about my trip to Aruba and a handful of fun sessions this month!

It's Contest Time.....

2009-10-03T20:51:00.000-07:00

The amount of emails I receive asking me to do contest "give-a-way" sessions never cease to amaze me. I love my clients and fans! You all are the BEST and to show my appreciation, I am having another CONTEST. Yep, you heard that correctly. I will be giving away a portrait session + print to one lucky winner.

The fabulous Autumn weather is rolling on in and the glorious color of Fall is staring to show. The temperature is also starting to drop. During the winter I do very limited outdoor sessions. SO... This is probably your last chance this year to win an outdoor portrait session with me. Don't miss out on your chance to win. Contest is open to kid(s), family, couple, individual and also fantasy concepts.
To enter:

Simply send an email to jenlynnalder@aol.com or a note to me on Facebook
Put a link sharing this contest on your web site or facebook page for others to see and learn from.
Tell me why I should pick you (or the children you are entering)
Include a recent photo
All entries must be received by 10/10/09

What the winner gets!

A 30-45 minute on location custom portrait session
(1) free 11 X 14 print
7-12 artistically enhanced photos to choose from
Blog feature and/or private slide show set to music
10 % discount off additional prints
1/2 off image CD, If desired
winning session will be held on Saturday, 10/17/09

Good Luck Everyone!!!

Prints from this session will make awesome wall hangers and fabulous holiday gifts!

Skaterboy (Northville Michigan, Children Photographer)

2009-10-01T06:51:00.000-07:00

Happy October everyone.

Here is just a little peek from my mini- session yesterday. :)
I was having fun with the Fall colors and light- and, of course, the totally cool skaterboy. lol.

And I know it is early, but there IS some Autumn color out there. I love finding it. :)

Here are a couple of artistic ones.... he tried SO hard to be serious and not smile. HAHA! I didn't say a word. I think it is kinda cute/funny when kids do that, especially first graders. :)

Thanks for stopping by! I am off to a very busy day... hope you all have a good one :)

New York Bound... (Detroit, Michigan, Model Photographer)

2009-09-28T20:54:00.000-07:00

I recently met up with a beautiful 19 year old model, Erika G, who was a contest winner of mine last month. She is a local model represented by a few Michigan Modeling Agencies and needed to update her portfolio before she headed out to New York next week. She won a mini-session- but when I showed up to meet her I knew a mini session was just "not gonna cut it" LOL. First of all, her wonderful Mom was there ready to do make-up (on location) with cases of products and Erika had a TON of outfits to sift through.

We did lots of updated head shots because they were requested by her agencies. And a few outfit swaps for fun. Plus we hit a couple of locations. And ...you can begin to see why the standard 30 minute mini-session with 7-12 image norm was gonna get walked all over. LOL. Close to 2 hours later we were done.

The first set of images were taken with her wearing the skinny jean/layered jacket combo that we had originally planned on shooting her in and was meant to represent a casual sort of commercial clothing catalog look. They were captured at one of my most favorite Historic Villages - And she actually smiled once ;)

And then we moved on. Here is the fun/edgy/graffiti location we visited. I know it is TOTALLY opposite of the first set- but that is how we wanted it. Lots of variety. And, oh- would you even believe me if I told you she was wearing her Grandma's dress? Well, she is. Yep, I am 100 percent serious. It was grandma's- then Mom's- and now hers. How hott of a family can one have? OMG. LOL. So, I did some funky/dramatic editing on these as sort of a family tradition ;)

Yes, Facebook friends... this IS where that giant spider made himself know. LOL. ;)

And here are quite a few more updated comp card head shots. She is wearing the standard black V. The first is my fav but, I mean, she can't really go wrong...

Pure beauty.... seriously... see what I mean????

I just LOVED working with you Erika + Mom. And thanks, Stephanie for sending them my way. I cannot wait to work with your family more. SOOOOO much fun and full of beauty - call me when you need anything at all.

And if you all have not checked out my Latest Autumn Portrait Special, please read down to the next blog post for more details. :)

Autumn Mini Special (Northville, Michigan, Photographer)

2009-09-27T09:53:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

If you follow me on Facebook, you may already know that I have decided to hold a special in mid October to celebrate Autumn and its amazing colour. The date I have picked is Saturday, October 17th. It will be a one day special ONLY. It is the most fabulous time of year to get photos taken.

Check out the very beautiful Lauren in these pics taken during mid October last year.

See what I mean? AMAZING color- I absolutely love it. :)

Want to know more about the Special? Ok, here is the scoop:

Who: Individuals, couples, child, siblings, family, and even fantasy outfits are ok (Halloween)
Date: Saturday, October 17th
Place: Local State Park Area (Novi/Northville Area)
Time: 5 slots available, starting at 10am and ending at 4pm

Cost: Only $199 (and that INCLUDES a $100 print credit!)

What is included?

30-45 minute on location, park mini-session
10-12 retouched, artistically edited images in a slide show or blog feature to choose from
A $100 print credit to use on the desired print sizes of your choice and/or towards a session CD.
10% off additional prints ordered via the a la carte menu
Up to 3 re-sized logo images for use on Facebook, Myspace or other social networks (if desired)

Minimum purchase requirement does not apply. Nonrefundable $199 fee must be received via mail to hold your spot. If it rains, the date will be rescheduled ASAP, in October. Not valid with any other offers.

*Send me a message on Facebook- or send me an email: jenlynnalder@aol.com to hold your spot. Do NOT wait- session spots are limited and will fill up fast. First come, first serve availability policy applies.

Fun in the "Country" (Detroit, Michigan Children Photographer)

2009-09-24T21:45:00.000-07:00

I know, I know.... I am slacking a little bit this month when it comes to updating my Blog! The truth is, I am swamped with editing, odering, updating my web site and shooting fun new sessions. But, I want to take a few minutes to show some new images I have worked on with little Ms. Melanie. I love working with kids- very fun stuff!

Please stay tuned for more updates this weekend. Enjoy!

Strike a pose (Detroit Michigan Model Photographer)

2009-09-19T08:33:00.000-07:00

Happy Saturday everyone! I just love weekends. Typically I spend them working with clients and visiting family... but this weekend I had two sessions have to reschedule. The flu is going around- and I am hoping not to catch that bug. No thanks! lol. Well, I decided to take the time (Fri + Sat) to just catch up!! So far, so good. I have finished a wedding session, placed an order, answered my emails and am now blogging Part II. of my session with the totally gorgeous, Carla S. wearing a one-piece short outfit that she brought along for variety.

Check out some more of our work together:

Technically these last two images are in outfit number 1- but that red wall just didn't seem to fit in with the nature shots. Isn't she gorgeous?? I just had to include them.

Thanks for a great shoot, Carla! Keep in touch :)

Any models or people who want to play model for the day--- send me a message!
I would love to set up a shoot with you and have lots of fun ideas.

Beauty in the Park (Northville Michigan Model Photographer)

2009-09-17T18:48:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, it has been a little longer than usual since I have last blogged. I took a break for a few days and have just been swamped .....

On Wednesday I met up with a super gorgeous model, Carla S. She drove up from Ohio to work with me at one of my favorite park areas. I had been REALLY wanting to shoot some of the deep field yellows and greens of the season on a bright sunny day. She has lots of modeling experience from runway and catalog fashion to music videos. Below are the images from our time together:

We also we fortunate enough to get to shoot in a heavily wooded area. A pile of chopped wood also caught my eye and she agreed to humor me when I insisted she go sit in it. lol. I had a ton of fun on this shoot and seriously have too many favorites to name. ;)

(although I LOVE photoshop, this one was done in camera ....)

I just loved this shoot. Oh, and for a very brief period of time we also worked together with her in a different outift. So... I do have like 5-7 more images of her to share with you in the future, too. Stay tuned for more. Hope you enjoyed it!!

Four Fabulous Fairies (Metro Detroit, Fairy Photographer)

2009-09-09T00:27:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday I felt truly blessed. I mean, it is not everyday that one gets to meet up with four little angels out in the woods for a fairy shoot! Right?? What FUN. And, oh my! These little girls were just precious. They are BFFs, too, which just made it extra fun. LOL.

If anyone out there has a little girl or is having a party for their child, consider having me visit for a photo shoot! I offer Fantasty Party Sessions for groups of 6-12 girls. Contact me at jenlynnalder@aol.com for more information! SO much fun. :)

Have a look at Sunday's session below:

Thanks ladies! I had SO much fun with you. I hope you enjoy them Moms, Dads and Auntie. And, despite the bugs- it was sooo great working with you all, as always. ;)

*****Note: Now that these sessions are completely edited, I am now on a little business BREAK. Be back on Friday or Saturday. :) *****

Artistic Photography (Northville, Michigan, Photographer)

2009-09-08T00:36:00.000-07:00

You may recall that I posted an image not too long ago here on my blog that had my niece holding a bouquet of black balloons. She was my assistant that day.... because her Momma and I had actually planned a last minute shoot. I had been meaning to shoot with my sister since like, oh, I don't know, forever??!?

She does have lots of fun snapshots from me though. You know- those super quick head shots and "cute smiley" ones with her kiddos that I take every time I see her. LOL!! Keepsakes for sure, but pretty common as far as photos go. So this time I wanted to do something different. Something fun. I ended up with a few pretty simple photoshop ideas and used her as the subject.

Hope you get a kick out of them, Jes. Love ya!

Oh, and I do give Photo editing Lessons via email. If anyone is interested send me an email at jenlynnalder@aol.com for more info. I have availability for late Sept or October and would love to work with ya!!! ... OR, If you would like to be the subject of some fun artwork, let me know and I will book a session for you. :)

A year has gone by.... (Northville, Michigan, Children Photographer)

2009-09-07T11:00:00.001-07:00

Yep! A full year has passed since I have photographed baby Brennan. Some of you will remember him from this picture. Anyhow, he is growing up to be a very handsome and sweet young boy. I can never believe how much kids change in just one year.

Here are some shots I grabbed of him at the park the other day during our little mini session ;)

And here is one image from yesterday's fairy session. I have LOTS more to share...

Happy Labor Day, everyone!! Thanks for stopping by :)

Welcome Home, Mr. & Mrs. Birmingham! (Detroit, Michigan Wedding Photographer)

2009-09-05T21:13:00.001-07:00

Welcome home, Beth and Steve! I hope that the two of you had an absolutely amazing time on your honeymoon in Italy. It was so wonderful to spend your wedding day with you. Everything was just beautiful and I am certain it will be a day you remember forever. (and I hope that the rain we had really DOES bring you good luck)

While you were away I had a chance to work on some of the images from your special day. Of course, there are many... many more to come in the next couple of weeks! Enjoy the preview:

And here is one for some old friends of mine (wait, we are not getting old yet, are we? lol. xoxo) The rest of your images will be placed in a private gallery on my Wedding Site over the next couple of weeks. I will let you know as soon as it is ready to go. :)

And, thanks, Ryan for helping me with everything during the first half-I appreciated it.

Images were taken at:
Hilton Garden Inn
Our Lady of Victory
Northville Hills Golf Club

Trip to the Zoo

2009-09-04T09:57:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, I have pretty much blogged ONLY about client related things this summer. My awarded work and personal activity sharing has been "oh so neglected"... Sorry! I have just been crazy busy. Here are just a FEW of the snapshots I took at the Detroit Zoo yesterday with my nephew, Dylan. It was a hot and crowded day to be there...but we had a fun few hours. :)
And, of course, one from the Dinosaur Exhibit that ends this weekend.... Dylan's favorite was the life sized T-Rex at the end of the trail. He has been a dinosaur fan since he was two years old.

Remember, I am in no way claiming to be a great animal photographer- these were just fun shots ;) LOL!! Thanks for stopping by!

Just a bit of a hint...

2009-09-02T02:24:00.000-07:00

I went on a little shoot yesterday- here is a little hint as to what I was up to.....
it was with Mel's momma ;) How Fun!!!

Yes, I will admit that Melanie was my assistant rather than subject, but I just couldn't resist this shot. It makes me feel happy :)

Stay tuned for more.....

The Contest Results are in, and......

2009-09-01T05:31:00.000-07:00

As some of you may know, I was holding a little portrait give-a-way contest to end the summer season... and to start off Fall in a fun way. Last night was the deadline for entries to come in. I picked two winners at random. Here are the results:

Congratulations, Holly Rottier, you are a contest winner!! I look forward to meeting you with 1, 2 or all 3 of your kiddos for a custom portrait session. I am quite touched that you are willing to drive across the state just to work with me. :)

Check out the picture she sent in:

And.... Ms. Erika George, you got your entry in JUST in time... and won!!! Yep, I went ahead and picked two winners for this contest. I love that you are looking for some new images for your modeling portfolio, especially a headshot. Can't wait to work with you!!!

Here is the pic she sent in:

Please contact me on Facebook or via email ASAP to set up your September appointments.

Thank you to ALL of my contest participants and to everyone who spread the word about the contest. There sure were A LOT of you this time around. Keep your eye out for an upcoming Mini-Session Special I will be having soon. I would love to work with each and every one of you.

Fantasy Session: Mermaid Style (Northville, Michigan Artistic Photographer)

2009-08-28T01:44:00.001-07:00

As you all may recall, this summer I started to offer Fantasy Sessions to my clients. These sessions are very unique, artistic and fun. They are for both children and adults. My most recent fantasy shoot was with the totally **GORGEOUS**, Kelsey S. She had fabulous makeup work by the very talented, Lindsey S. You will notice that she has hand painted scales on her! Fun, fun, fun.

Believe it or not it was pretty cold when we shot, but Kelsey never complained once. She is a model/actress/singer and was really terrific to work with. Her goal was to get some artsy, fresh images to update her portfolio. Check out a bit of the work from our shoot below:

Stay tuned! I have an upcoming session with 4 little fairies in a couple of weeks. More fantasy stuff is on the way. I am also going to be posting wedding images, a model shoot, some kid/family stuff and will be introducing some tasteful boudoir images to my blog soon as well.

And-- as always--- if you would like to book a session or sign up for a PhotoShop Lesson, send me an email at jenlynnalder@aol.com or on Facebook. Thanks!

Portrait Give-a-way Contest

2009-08-26T19:56:00.000-07:00

Yep, you read it correctly! To finish off the Summer and start the Fall in a fun way, I am having a little contest here on my Blog. This contest is open to your kid(s), families, couples, friends and singles. In other words- entrants of any age or group can win! All you have to do is send in your name. Read more below.

The winner will receive:

a FREE on location 30-45 minute mini session
10-12 edited images in a slideshow to choose from
(1) 11 X 14 print of your choice
10 % discount off additional prints + 1/2 off the image CD if desired
Extra prints can be ordered via the a la carte menu

To enter:

send me a message at jenlynnalder@aol.com or on Facebook
include name and photo of entrant(s)
Tell me why you should win the session and your favorite types of pictures to have
Spread the word about the contest!!! Link my Blog to your facebook page so others can find out about it, too.

Contest Deadline is August 31st at midnight. Good luck everyone!

Recent Sessions

2009-08-24T14:20:00.000-07:00

August has been such a fun and crazy busy month for me! But I am not complaining- I love it.

Yesterday evening I worked with the beautiful Kelsey S. We had planned a Mermaid Fantasy shoot in a local pool with fun accessories and help from a great hair stylist/makeup artist, Lindsey S. I have a lot of favorites from this shoot- and not enough hours in the day to edit them. Stay tuned for more:

Friday afternoon + night I shot a wonderful wedding. Mr. and Mrs. Birmingham make such a fabulous couple and it was a delight to spend time with them on their special day. Mainly I took candid, traditional images- and I will have some to share in a week or two- but here is a quick artistic shot just for fun:

My nephew, Dylan, is getting ready to start the 4 th grade. I cannot even believe how fast time flies. Anyhow- he thought it was cool to jump in a picture during our mini shoot, lol, so I am posting it here. A child having a good time in an image always puts a smile on my face. Of course, I took a lot more...we were there to test a new location. :)

Enjoy the day everyone-thanks for stopping by and send me a message if you would like to book a session. I do have openings in September for families, kids and individuals.

Summer Beauty

2009-08-19T22:58:00.000-07:00

A couple of days ago, I met up with a beautiful woman who hired me to take some casual updated headshots. She needed them because she will be judging Miss Michigan USA (and is actuallly a former Miss Colorado herself) - how cool is that?

Have a great time, Nicola, it was so fabulous working with you. I hope to work with you again in the future. Check out a handful of our shots together-

If anyone out there wants some digital head shots for their web site/business needs, please gimme a call. I would love to work with you! :)

Christmas Specials (Detroit, Michigan Family Photographer)

2009-08-17T19:53:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know, it is still summer! But......

I was sitting here editing some images from a wonderful family- and it hit me.
Christmas family portrait sessions are coming up very, very soon.
And, yes, I am totally serious. They really should be done within the next 10 weeks if you want them edited, printed and ready to go by the holiday! So, I have decided to run a fabulous little special for all of you holiday loving/beautiful photo gift giving folks out there. I have the best clients ever. :)

Here is what you will get:

30-45 minute on location mini-session
10-15 proofs to choose from, artistic editing included
4 included gift prints (sized 8 X 10, 5 X 7 or 4 X 6)
1 set (24) 4 X 6 press printed holiday flat cards

Cost of this promotional session is only $250 !!

Refer a friend and I will throw in an additional gift- just ask :)

Available the following 3 dates ONLY :

Saturday, September 19th ,Thursday, September 24th and Saturday, October 17th

Reserve your spot today-I also still have limited full sessions available for Sept and Oct.
Contact me at: jenlynnalder@aol.com or on Facebook

"S" Family Sneak Peek (Northville, Family Photographer)

2009-08-15T21:51:00.000-07:00

I met up with a totally fabulous set of parents recently to take some updated family/kids pictures. They suggested colorful images in a nature setting which showcased their beautiful little girls. Ready for your sneak peek, Mom and Dad? Here ya go!!!

Your GORGEOUS little "M & M's" ....future heart breakers for sure ;)

I know that you love colorful images, Mom... and don't worry...
your finished slide show will have about two dozen images that will be almost
ALL in color- but here are a couple different finishes- just for fun.

A muted colour and a soft black and white.

And this is a 20 X 30 storyboard of your little sweethearts that I just couldn't resist sharing :

Hope you enjoyed the preview!!! I will contact you very soon with a

private gallery password where you will be able to view all of your finished images.

I had a ton of fun with you all! Be sure to keep in touch...

On a side note: Just in case anyone wanted to know- Pansies are EDIBLE... So no worries if you little one sticks one in his/her mouth. LOL. They actually have a mild minty flavor! I learn new things from my clients all the time. :)

A Glance at Art

2009-08-14T12:44:00.000-07:00

It is so easy to get behind on a blog- sheesh! August is a busy time for sure :)
I just had to take a minute to share this artsy fantasy image with you. WHOA!

It is by: Janice Windrum, from our 9th Photoshop Lesson together.

The focus was impact/dramatic art with required story telling elements,toning and texture per my lesson request (digital art). She desired to learn a little about selective desaturation for this image as well. I was seriously blown away by her Fantasy creation and am super excited to share with you all- I had no this sort of art was inside her just waiting to come out. What fun!

**this image was a BIG WOW for me... this sort of digital art is not easy to do. She totally surprised me with her final result. Very cool.

If you would like to sign up for online photoshop lessons with me, send me a note at jenlynnalder@aol.com! Thanks for stopping by- and watch for more art from me... it is a project I intend on dedicating a ton more time to this winter. :)

Summer Family Session (Northville, Michigan- Family Portrait Photographer)

2009-08-05T23:11:00.000-07:00

Have I ever confessed to you all that I L.O.V.E. my job? If not, I am doing so- right now! I do, I love it... a lot. I feel blessed to be able to create beautiful works of art and freeze moments with my camera that families can cherish for a lifetime. :)

On Wednesday I met up with the Clay family who hired me to update their family pictures. I went to school with both Mom and Dad... so it was awesome to see them after 15 years! And- a bonus- I got to meet their 3 little angels. These boys were so good. They were so cute. And they were an absolute pleasure to spend time with. Thanks to Facebook for making the meeting up so simple. I have had a wonderful time reconnecting with old friends this year and look forward to more of it!

Mom wanted a posed family picture to enlarge for their home so I took several varieties and also some of the kids on their own. Take a look at this little peek!

Hope you enjoyed the peek, Lori and Clay. I have about 10 more for you that I am putting the final touches on Your complete slideshow will be ready very soon... I can't wait for you to see the rest.

For Miss Melanie...

2009-08-03T22:49:00.000-07:00

The past week has been full of rescheduling for me! Bad weather, a bad hairstylist, and a bad cold for my poor clients ...But that is ok! I am totally certain that all 3 sessions will work out-soon- and fabulously- of course! I will have lots to share in the upcoming weeks. In the mean time I thought I would show you a handful of family snapshots I took this evening.

My niece, Melanie (whom I am sure everyone recognizes by now, LOL!) had her hair cut and was super excited about it. OMG- Doesn't she look cute? And older.... with bangs? Please keep in mind that it was super windy and tough to keep her newly cut bangs where they were supposed to be... hehe. She was hanging out with her little brother Johnny, their cat, and a couple of neighborhood friends when I dropped by- just before the the sun went down. Have a look.....

Thanks for letting me share! Hope you enjoy, Jes! :) Check back in a couple of days- I will have more to share very soon.

Welcome August!!!

2009-08-01T20:19:00.000-07:00

Wow- I seriously cannot even believe it is AUGUST already. This summer is going by so so fast. whew! I am excited about August because there are some fun sessions and awesome clients on my calendar. Stay tuned throughout the month for several family sessions, a beautiful wedding, an engagement session, a pre-bridal session, and some work with a new model. I work with the BEST people- I cannot wait! And wait until YOU read the special below... good stuff.

So, this month is the first official month that I am offering "Fantasy Sessions"
They run $150 and print collections/a la carte ordering can be done separately. I will meet you in a picturesque nature setting for a fairy, fishing hole, princess, tea party or teddy bear session. These sort of sessions are very artistic and unique. The images make FABULOUS wall hangers- perfect for Holiday gifts... and now is the time to schedule- before school starts up again! Remember, I can only do a limited amount of sessions per month- so get in touch with me ASAP if you would like one of these done!

The below image has a bit of an edge filter on it for fun. Scroll down a few posts to see more of these little cuties. I will work with siblings, individuals or even young adults for fantasy sessions!

For one week in August ONLY, I am offering these sessions for a reduced price- a limited time promotion!!! Your session must be booked by August 9th to receive the special price. The session doesn't have to take place in August- it just must be scheduled.

The special is 50 % off the $150 session fee and a free 8 X 10 print of your choice.

That is a savings of $100.00!
(I will also waive the $300 minimum purchase requirement and offer session CDs for 1/2 price)

This is a HUGE promotion.. so if you are looking to book a fantasy session- don't wait!And, please, spread the word! If you have a neighbor, family member, or friend who has kids that LOVE to play dress up- let them know. :)

Have a great day- and stay tuned. I will update again in a few days...

Park Mini-Shoot

2009-07-28T07:27:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of meeting up with Tami a couple of days ago for a mini-shoot in the park and just wanted to share a few from our time together with you all. She is a beautiful person on the inside and out- I had a GREAT time working with her!!!
Yep, that was REALLY what the sky looked like. It was sort of a stormy weekend around here. lol. I thought it made for a cool moody field image though and Tami was such a good sport!

Thanks for stopping by everyone....Have a great day. :)

Student Work on Display

2009-07-25T19:36:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!
I am taking a few moments this evening to feature some work samples from recent lessons I have given. The first 3 images were done by Aimee Eisaman in a texture assignment. She tried out her artistic ability on people, plants and animals!! I am really proud of her- she was very eager, experimental, dedicated to learning, and open minded the whole time. It was her first lesson with me. See below:

Terri Scribner just finished up her third lesson which focused a bit on close up portrait editing. She spent quite a deal of time learning about the little details and continues to get better as the days go by. She is a delight to work with!! Here is a sample of her work from our recent lesson-

And, Janice Windrum has been working on making natural images "pop" a bit by using color, subtle texture and composition/framing without applying quick actions. Her work in PS Layers is really evolving into a fabulous technique. I think this was an image from her 8th lesson:

I have so much fun working one-on-one with students interested in Photography and Photo editing. All skill levels can be worked around. If you would like to sign up for lessons, please send an email to jenlynnalder@aol.com or message me on Facebook.

Trash the Dress- Part II.

2009-07-23T19:47:00.001-07:00

Some of you may remember that I posted images of a gorgeous bride in a field/woods setting a few weeks ago for a Trash the Dress shoot. Well, the two of us also went in to a lake... and I promised to share a handful of shots with you all. Here ya go! Enjoy...

Thanks for stopping by! Believe it or not... Jacquie's dress was NOT that trashed. A simple hang+ shower + air dry and it was almost as good as new. :)

Stay tuned.... I have some new Student PS lesson images to share- and a couple of fun weekend sessions coming up! I cannot believe it is the end of July already! W.O.W. - this summer is seriously flying by...

3 Brothers (Detroit, Michigan Children's Photographer)

2009-07-19T20:20:00.000-07:00

Today I headed over to a local Historic Village with my nephew, Dylan. It was a very cool trip... on it I ran into an old friend from high school. How FUN is that?? It has been fifteen years since we had seen one another. Kelly was there with her 3 boys and I was delighted to see all of them. Dylan bonded quickly with her kiddos, and even though it was a relatively quick visit- we all had a fabulous time. Meet "E," "G,"and "C." Ages 9, 6 and 4.

You know me... I always have my camera in hand. ;)
Check out some pics I grabbed of her boys:

And their "funny faces" (suggested by "E," the middle child, haha!)

I cannot even imagine what it is like in a house with 3 boys!! I grew up in a home with 3 girls. lol.

Totally different, I bet. It was so terrific seeing you all! Please stay in touch :)

Fairy Sisters (Detroit Michigan, Children Photographer)

2009-07-18T10:20:00.000-07:00

I just want to say a big thank you everyone who sent me messages about the below Fairy image! I am thrilled you all enjoyed it and would LOVE to book more sessions like this in the future. Creating unique pieces of art for parents to hang in their homes gives me a great deal of pleasure.
I have been editing like crazy and have a lot more to share with you today. Older sister, "A," was a little more willing to let me take her picture towards the end of the session; therefore, there are a handful of extra shots with just her in them. BUT little "J" did super, too! These two children were so awesome to work with- very smart, sweet and well mannered.

ENJOY, Julie- I kept it as "artsy and candid" as I could. It was a ton of work. lol. ;) I went ahead and edited this session as a Full session rather than a mini because I simply could not narrow it down. It was one of my favorites so far for sure...

They had wings, wands, flowers, balloons and fairy dust! SO much fun....

Hope you enjoyed the show. :)

Fairy Sisters Sneak Peek (Detroit, MI Children Photographer)

2009-07-16T23:57:00.000-07:00

I had a mini-fantasy session today with these two ADORABLE little girls, "A" and "J"
We met in a local woodsy park area and played a fairy game. They were such a delight to spend time with.

Stayed tuned for more, Mom... I know you like the artsy stuff and so it will take me a little longer. I had such a terrific time with you three today. Enjoy your sneak peek! :)

I am actually going to be adding a new section to my website called Fantasy Sessions.
If you have children that love to play dress up... this session will be PERFECT for you. I will offer fairy, tea party in the park, princesses, fishing pole, teddy bear, cowboy and more!

The sessions will be on location, unique, artistic images that will be ideal wall art for your home and precious keepsakes for years to come. I will begin booking these sessions in August- more details to come.

Little Rockstars, (Detroit, MI Children Photographer)

2009-07-15T12:14:00.001-07:00

A few days ago I met up with the winners of my Little Punk Sibling Give-a-way. You may recall these two children from a picture Mom sent in of them:

Well, the same two kiddos came to meet me for a session but they looked just a little different than the above "formally posed" picture shows them to be. LOL.

As you can see from the above image, I got to hang out with two little rockstars- and they had the personalities to match the clothes. LOL!!! They had me laughing the whole time. Mom said, "that is who they are..." and I was honored to capture their silly moments. I love that they were so comfortable with me. Check out "D" and "J" below:

And "J" just LOVED the balloons.....

Hope you enjoy the images, Mom and Dad!! I had a lot of fun with you all. There are a few more images to come... I am putting them in a slideshow for you which will be ready later today. Keep in touch! :)

More Lessons!

2009-07-14T11:15:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to take a minute to let a couple of my Photoshop Students know how awesome I think they are doing.

Janice is working on lesson 8/9 and has come so far with her PS Skills. She is getting dangerous in the darkroom..hehe ;) I am hard on her, but that is only because she lets me be. lol.
Check out the result from our latest lesson in high key portrait work -

And Teri is currently working on Lesson 3 of 3. Check out her image below from lesson 2- it was completed right after she learned how to use PS Layers and to how integrate selective/subtle texture to a portrait. She is brand new to textures and layers and really did a terrific job. She keeps getting better by the day :)

This was the texture she used in her image:

Yay, you two! It is so awesome working with you both and I cannot wait to see how you continue to grow. I am impressed by the determination you both have.

Are you looking for help with Photoshop? I do have time available for 1 or 2 more students next month! Send me a note on Facebook or email if you would like to hold a spot. Oh, and STAY TUNED... I have some images from my latest little punk session to share soon and those water images from the Trash the Dress shoot I promised as well. :)

Senior Portraits + Family mini session

2009-07-12T21:52:00.000-07:00

Ok, so today I met up with an amazing family. I had a Senior Portrait session booked with the beautiful Ms. Whitney. She is so full of energy and an absolute delight to be around. I could of shot images of her all day. We hit a couple of great locations and I did my best to give her images filled with nature, color and happiness.

Check out some of my favs:

Isn't she GORGEOUS?? Yep, she is. We had a lot of fun and I cannot wait for her to see the rest.

And here are a couple from the relaxed family mini-session before the grad shoot: (Mom and Whitney look so much alike!)

Stay tuned for the remaining images! They should be ready within 7-10 days. And there are a LOT more of them. I can't wait to work with you all again someday! :)

And if you are a High School Senior looking for some FUN, unique, wonderful images for your Senior Pics send me a note! I have still have some spots open.

Mini- Session in the Park Special

2009-07-10T18:24:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

Yep, I am finally blogging about the special being talked about this past week over at Facebook. Here is the deal- for TWO DAYS ONLY I am going to be offering a $50 "mini- session in the park special". The dates of the special takes place in about 2 weeks, on Saturday, July 25th- Sunday July 26th. (My birthday weekend, yay!)

Mini-sessions are available to:

1- Families
2- Kids (Individual or in groups)
3- Couples
4- Individual adult
5- Individual + a pet (dog...)
6- Friends

Here is an image from a mini-session I had with my niece, Melanie, this afternoon:

I cannot even believe I am typing this, but a mini-session costs just $50. Yes, you read that correctly....JUST $50!!! For only $50 you will receive a 30 minute session with me at a park in the Northville area! I will photograph a quick session and then assemble a mini- slideshow (7-10 images) from our time together. $50 deposit must be mailed immediately to hold your date.

Images will be retouched, a mix of black& white + color + artistic edit, and placed in a private slideshow on my web site. Prints will be available to order from the a la carte menu. Or, if you prefer... CDs will be available for only $199. There is no minimum order requirement from this session- order whatever you like! Orders must be placed within 14days of their posting date.

I am limiting this special to about the first 5 clients per date who get a hold of me per date! Don't wait!! Contact me on Facebook or at jenlynnalder@Aol.com to reserve your spot.

And I will end this with one more from today's mini- session. I look forward to hearing from you soon :)

Trash the Wedding Dress- Part I.

2009-07-08T17:15:00.000-07:00

So, it is officially July. My birthday month. Yay! I hope everyone had a fabulous 4th of July holiday and is soaking up this beautiful summer weather. I have been crazzzzzzzzy busy lately with Sessions and Photoshop Lessons. I played catch up today and will be shipping a few orders out tomorrow. Also, I will be announcing a mini session in the park SPECIAL very soon... for kids, singles, couples or families. Stay tuned.

Today I am going to share some images from a Trash the Dress Shoot I had with the beautiful Jacqueline recently. We worked in the woods, a field, and IN a lake. There are so many images I enjoy from this session. Below are some from the woods and field; I will post some from in the lake when I get a little more time. Enjoy!

And some from a nearby field:

This session goes down as one of my most favorites. I cannot wait to share the second half with you all. If anyone would like to book a shoot like this with me this summer, contact me ASAP. I can still fit you in. :)

Trash the Prom/Bridesmaid Dress Session, Detroit MI Wedding Photographer

2009-06-25T01:57:00.000-07:00

I had such a FUN time with Chelsey and Chrystal on this Trash the Dress Photo shoot. These two ladies met up with me to "dirty up" some old bridesmaid dresses they had laying around the house. To be totally honest with you, I love the concept of getting another USE out of such pricey gowns. You can sit in the grass, lean up against a tree, lay in the sand, walk in the water- anything to get a good picture- because it no longer MATTERS if the dress gets dirty.
(Note: Almost all dresses can be restored to original condition with a simple dry cleaning).
And, of course, you look amazing in the images. If you have an old wedding gown, bridesmaid dress, or prom dress and want to do a Trash the Dress Session- send me a message. I would love love LOVE to book a date with you.

Chelsey and I met last September. We have worked together a handful of times since then and she has pretty much become one of my muses.... such a fun model to work with. She is local and for hire if anyone is interested. Her posing, dedication and ability to emote are fabulous- and she keeps getting better. Her girlfriend, Chrsystal, joined us for this shoot. It was her first time and she really did a great job. The three of us visited a graffiti area, some railroad tracks and a small stream. Check out some of my favorite images below:

A few from the Train Tracks... And yep! A train DID come while we were there.

Here are some from the water spot. Yes, we were ALL in the water, myself included...at least waist high. Considering it was 90 + degrees when we shot, the water felt pretty good. Aren't they beautiful??

There are a handful more images as well... I am working on the final touches and will put them in a gallery on my website for you two to view very soon. Hope you enjoy them. :)

Award Winning Work

2009-06-21T21:19:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone!

I hope you are all having a fabulous Summer so far. This weather and the extra time with family is so amazing- I look forward to it each and every year.

I have not taken any time recently to show some of my awarded work here in my Blog, so I will do that this post. As most of you know I am active in a handful of photography websites: Betterphoto, Digital Image Cafe, ScrapinWillies, Deviant Art, and OnExposure.

Below are some images which were recognized with a "Winner" or "Finalist" or "Photo of the Day" (depending on which site it was on). I was also featured in Betterphoto's Digital Darkroom monthly newsletter recenlty. Another image was in Times Square, New York, as Kodak's Photo of the Day.

If you are looking to take 1 on 1 PS Lessons with me via email, please contact me ASAP- I had one spot open up for July and have another available opening in August. Sessions are 1 day a week.

I am also currently booking: High School Senior, Children and Family Sessions for July and August... but dates are filling up fast. Send me a note to hold your spot today!

Thanks for stopping by!! Be sure to check back in soon- I have a fun Trash the Dress shoot coming up with some lovely ladies ...followed by a beautiful outdoor family session, my Little Punk contest winners and a couple of High School Seniors over the next 2 weeks. Stay tuned. I am very excited about all of these sessions and cannot wait to share the results with you!

Engagement -Session, SE Michigan Photographer

2009-06-17T00:35:00.000-07:00

I met up with a fabulous couple- Jaime and Scott a few days ago. Let me tell you, they have some TERRIFIC chemisty. :) It is easy to see how happy they make one another and I was honored to spend time with them. Check out a handful of my favs from our "urban location" below:

I love the way he looks at her! :)

The 3 of us also took images in a "nature" setting. Those images will be ready soon, Jaime and Scott. Hang in there.

I cannot wait to work with you again... maybe one day in the future. A sexy beach shoot, wedding and kids? Lol. ;)
Keep in touch!!! I had so much fun with you two!

Baby's First Year Sneak Peak, {Northville, Michigan Baby Photographer}

2009-06-15T16:42:00.000-07:00

I had a session on Sunday with beautiful Miss "L" and it was so much fun. Her parents purchased a Baby's First Year package with me and this was our first scheduled shoot together. She is 3 months old now- and so well behaved. I love those big brown eyes- omg! I had time last night and this afternoon to work on some of the images. Check a few of my favorites out below:

And her big sister "A" came along on the shoot, too! When I say "big" I mean almost 2 years old. Don't you just love those curls? So super C.U.T.E.

I am currently working on the rest of the pictures, Mom and Dad! (There are about 8 more.) The slideshow will be ready in just a couple of days. Watch for a message from me. :)

I cannot wait to work with you all again...

It's Wedding Season....

2009-06-09T23:34:00.000-07:00

I was totally honored to spend last Saturday with Sarah & Marshall K. at their wedding. They make a beautiful couple and are surrounded by love from family and friends. It was such an amazing wedding! Check out just some images I captured on their special day:

There is more to come you two! Hope you share a lifelong happiness together. :)

12 days old... Detroit, Michigan Newborn Photographer

2009-06-09T20:48:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I was fortunate enough to meet up with PRECIOUS 12 day old, Sawyer. It was absolutely fabulous meeting him and his family. He modeled a couple tiny hats for me and we stuck him in a basket for fun. :) And for those of you out there that know his momma I am just gonna let you know that she looked terrific... and very happy.

I am being totally serious when I say that in the 2 hours we spent together shooting, he allowed me about 10-15 minutes to grab these shots. So, I think we both did pretty good, what do you think? Isn't he Cute?

I hope you enjoyed the images Mom and Dad! How proud you must both be. Keep in touch... I would love to work with big brother Owen one day in the future, too. He reminds me a bit of my nephew, Dylan at that age. :)

Little Punk "Give-a-way" ...Sibling Style Winners, Detroit, Michigan Children's Photographer

2009-06-08T19:27:00.000-07:00

I would like to formally announce the winners of my Sibling give-a-way portrait session! I was SO impressed with the entries I received. There are a ton of terrific kids and proud parents out there for sure. I appreciate all of you taking the time to enter my contest! I hope to work with you sometime in the future, too!

OK, So...two different ideas came to my mind for this particular promotion, and so I have picked 2 winning sets of siblings. Yay! I am very excited about both of them.

The first set are brother and sister- Mom has never had their pictures done professionally "outdoors" and so I am so eager to work with them. I am hoping we can set up a great city location with lots of bold color, texture and fun outfits. Does that sound good to you, Mom?

*Picture submitted by mother... not taken by me.

The second concept will be done with these sweet sisters.
Mom most enjoys classic, candid images of her girls deep in play and also ones that display their beautiful eyes. I am interested in doing a fantasy type shoot with these little ones... have them dress as fairies and play on a trail in the woods... or set up a tea party in the park. Nature will provide a beautiful backdrop.

*Picture submitted by Mom, not taken by me.

Winnings parents contact me ASAP to set a date for you photo sessions! I have a couple openings for June and/or July.

I cannot wait to hear from you and meet your adorable children.

Proud Teacher

2009-06-04T20:09:00.000-07:00

Yep, I REALLY am. After finishing 5 lessons with Janice I absolutely must take the time to blog about her progress.... at least a little bit. She had originally contacted me to learn how to manuever Photoshop a little bit better. Her experience was minimal. She owns PS CS3 and has many "actions" which she was familiar with. She knew how to apply the actions but that was about all. She also wanted to add a little more art and drama to her images.

So, she signed up for the 9 lesson plan with me. LOTS of fun. So far we have approached basic tools of PS, PS Layers, Texture, Dramatic portraits, Black and white close ups, eye enhancements and more! We do one lesson per week via email- and she already has a TON more control over the final outcome of her images. She has learned a lot of shortcuts and is finding her way around the software very nicely.

Here are some of her completed homework assignments:

I am amazed at how far she has come in about 1 months time and look forward to our 1 on 1 scheduled lessons each week. It is a goal of mine for my students to be able to achieve final images that look like my own final images. And I am pretty picky, LOL. I will answer any questions my students have and openly share information. :)

Check out her website at: http://www.janicewindrumphotography.com/
She is also now on Facebook! If you like what you see above, add her!
There is a lot more where these came from... she is very talented.

Oh, and if you are interested in signing up for some 1 on 1 Photoshop Editing Lessons with me, please send a note to jenlynnalder@aol.com. I take 1-2 students per month, lessons are one day per week. Pricing can be found on my Main website Specials tab. Thanks! :)

Little Punk "Give-a-way" ...Sibling Style, Detroit, Michigan Children's Photographer

2009-05-27T15:51:00.000-07:00

Yep! It is true- back by popular demand is another give-a-way contest on my Blog.

The little punk give-a-way I offered a couple of months ago was a lot of fun and brought relief to a couple of very cool Moms out there. Taking good pictures of small children is NOT an easy task. I shared the results of the sessions here on my Blog so just scroll down if you did not have the chance to see the fabulous outcomes. Two very cute little girls with beautiful image results. I was so glad to help!

And.... Lately I have been receiving a bunch of emails from parents asking me to "do another one for their kids!" Notice I said "kids" .... as in plural. So, I am guessing that when these parents try to get pictures of the kids together they come out something like the one below? Hah! Well, OK then, my mind is made up! I am doing another give-a-way... starting NOW, but this time it is for siblings only.

All siblings must be under the age of 18, minimum of 2 kids required to enter.
The family of the winning siblings will receive:
*A totally FREE on location session in the Northville area to be scheduled in June.
* A feature on my blog, with a complete slide show of images to enjoy. There will be images of each child alone and some of all kids together as well.
* A FREE (11 X 14) wall print of the GROUP as a keepsake from our session together
* 10 % off the purchase of additional prints, if desired. I also offer contest winners a huge special on CD purchase.
ALL entries must be received by Sunday, June 7th. Good luck everyone! I can't wait to meet my little punk siblings winners.

To enter, please send the following information to me at jenlynnalder@aol.com OR on Facebook:
*Your name
*Name and age of each child
* A recent photo of them together (or the best you can come up with!)
*Why your kids should win the give-a-way
*Your favorite kinds of pictures of your kids(examples include: black and white, color, artistic, candid, smiling, serious, nature backgrounds, city backgrounds,in groups, close ups, etc...)

I will announce the winning entrant on Monday, June 8th!

Dancing with her shadow...

2009-05-23T00:20:00.000-07:00

I was able to capture this candid image of my niece, Tiffany, a bit before sunset this evening and just wanted to share it with you guys. If any of you have or know another child with autism who is in need of a new photograph, please contact me. I am looking to donate a session with an 11 X 14 print free to a family with an autistic child under the age of 18.

You can contact me at jenlynnalder@aol.com. Thanks! :)

Due to popular demand: I am also going to be having another "contest give-a-way" after the holiday weekend. Stay tuned for more information. I am really excited about this one.

Happy 9th Birthday, Dylan!!!

2009-05-22T00:27:00.001-07:00

It is sooooo hard to believe that NINE years ago today my sister called me to tell me it was time for her to have a baby! That baby, my godson, has grown up so quickly.... and is really an extra special kid. :)
He is one of my best friends, super intelligent, compassionate, caring, a fabulous artist and music lover... and he even goes on photo shoots with me. Just a terrific kid to be around overall.

And this is what I get when I try to take a picture of him these days... LOL!!!
Can you tell I overwhelm him with my camera. hahaha. It's a good thing he has a giant sense of humor ;)

Happy Birthday, Dill! Love you lots!!

Little Punk Winner # 2, Northville, Michigan Children's Photographer

2009-05-19T00:02:00.001-07:00

I finally met up with Little Punk Winner # 2 yesterday afternoon!!! The weather was amazing and the child was a DOLL. Mom did a great job of dressing her cute, bribing her and making ME laugh. ;)

Miss "Lex" has not had the best luck with photographers in the past. I wanted to keep it very laid back with her this time- and I think it worked out very well. She was rewarded a ton throughout the shoot and warmed up to the camera pretty well. Same as last Little Punk Session, I ended up doing a full session...and ended up with a ton more than a "Mini-Session" usually includes. Mom was anxious to see the results and also wanted an image for her father prior to the end of the month so I worked through the night. Check them out:

And, I am just gonna say, this little girl is a spitting image of her momma....wow!!

I just loved her hat, bubblemaker, sucker and smile, too! LOL. So much FUN. Thanks a ton you two- it was fabulous seeing and working with you. Hope to meet up with you again someday!! :)

More Spring Stuff...

2009-05-09T13:01:00.000-07:00

I am really loving this Spring weather. It just seemed like winter was SO long and I am seriously thankful for every minute of sunny blue sky weather that comes my way right now. LOL. I knew it was supposed to rain here this afternoon for a bit so I rushed over to visit with my niece, Mel, this morning... and of course, we had to go on a little photoshoot.

She agreed to help me as I practiced with some new equipment, but I knew she really wanted to play with the kids so we worked really fast. We did get a ton of great final images in just a very short period of time. Check out a couple below. Both of them are treated a bit soft and artsy cause I have just been in that kind of mood lately. :)

And a Happy Mothers Day to all Moms out there!!!

Hope you all have a beautiful day :)

Spring Texture Images

2009-05-07T07:52:00.000-07:00

Spring is here and with its arrival are many beautiful blooms. Take a minute to capture them!!! I like to play around with floral images and texture for quick creative exercises. It find that it helps keep my inner artist alert. :)

Here are a few basic texture images that I just created from pictures I took this morning. If you struggle with applying texture to an image or using Layers- sign up for a custom email lesson.

Go have FUN and try to do some, too.

Little Punk Give-a-way Winner # 1

2009-05-04T00:25:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone-

You may remember that not too long ago I was hosting a Give-a-way session for your Little Punks?? Well, the weather finally cooperated and I was able to meet with the first winning family. What a FABULOUS day and amazing winning little girl. It was an absolute delight working with this little one. :)

Miss "J" is only 2 years old. She won a free session + print with me not too long ago. Usually when I meet with kids of this age I kind of "test the waters" and see what they are comfortable with. I want the child to have a GOOD time on the shoot- I want him/her to feel natural and comfortable with me and my camera. Sure... it takes a lot of patience, but I have experience working with kids and so I do know how to guide them properly. That is fine by me. My goal is to get wonderful pictures AND for everyone to have a positive experience. She had lots of energy and loved being outdoors so I pretty much let her take control of the shoot- I followed her around and played games (hide and seek, flower picking,bird watching,layed flat on my stomach in the mud, etc...LOL!!!) and it worked like a charm. What a cutie!

Here are more pictures from our shoot (WAY more than usual for a mini session but I just could not resist) Even though I had not seen this family in like 15 years, I do know them as members of my old Church and Mom went to my high school. It was the first time I had met her daughter,Little "J," and she was just SO dang cute and cooperative. Honestly, she held my hand and explored the location most of the time.
Plus, Liz told me while I was shooting that she had tried to get some picture of Miss "J" the other day in a group setting and it was a bit frustrating. I hope these images put a big smile on your face Mom and Dad(and grandparents).

And here are some with the tutu I brought along... cute stuff for sure :)

With her grandparents looking on...

And a bit of art...

Send me a note which image you would like to have me print for you, Liz :)
I am so in LOVE with this set of pics. What a delight this session was. Thank you both! I am so thrilled it worked out for us all. And.. YES! You may order whatever other prints you would like- see my a la carte menu for sizes and cost.

I would LOVE to work with "J" again in the future, so remember to call me next time she or anyone else in your family needs some pics. Fun, relaxed, and beautiful. :)

Using Creativity in PhotoShop

2009-05-01T21:29:00.000-07:00

Tonight I felt an urge (as I often do...) to create something artistic. I dug up an archived image of my niece, Melanie, and started playing around in PS. I had no clue what I wanted to do or how it would end up looking. The more I started working with the image I kinda wanted it to take on an innocent and mysterious childhood sort of mood. So, with some textures, toning, Layers and a bit of time this is what I came up with:

"Imagination sets us free..."

And I was playing around with High Key work in PS Layers on this one:

These were just "quick" edits... but I encourage everyone to get creative with their photography. Photoshop is a fun place. Ya know, in the past I have had a lot of people in the past ask me to give them Editing lessons and have declined due to time constraints. My schedule has changed a bit these days... and....well...

Recently, I have decided to offer limited one-on-one Email sessions. So, if you are interested send me an email: jenlynnalder@aol.com and I will design a lesson - or group of lessons- just for you. Yep, it is TRUE :)

Individual Lessons are "3-part" and custom designed to the client- for $150 each. I offer lesson bundles of 3, 5, 9 as well. When purchased in groups the price of each lesson decreases by a bunch. See the "Specials" tab on my Main Photography Page for more Information on this.

I am actually starting a new 5 pack lesson session with a client in on May 4th. The focus of our group of lessons is: Dramatic editing using PS Layers and Textures. Perhaps one of the images from a teacher/student session will make a blog appearance in the future. Fun stuff for sure- stay tuned. :)

Oh.. and FINALLY, I will be shooting one of the winning "Little Punks" kiddos this Sunday, if it doesn't rain....so stay tuned. I can't wait.

Awarded Work

2009-04-29T22:46:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to take a minute to include a handful of images that have been awarded over the past couple of weeks here on my Blog. The first one actually received a second place win at Betterphoto in the Digital Art category. Another BP Finalist and many Digital Image Cafe Photo of the Day images are shown below. It is always an honor to be recognized amongst such amazing talent out there!! Check them out:

Thanks for stopping by! I will have some more new images to share very soon. I am SO excited that Spring is here and have several fun things lined up. :)

Sneak Peek Miss"D"

2009-04-26T21:46:00.001-07:00

I had a terrific Senior Portrait Session with a FUN young lady a couple of days ago. Just wanted to share some of my favorites- she had 3 wardrobe changes at different locations...so there are more pictures than usual today- about a dozen. Thanks "D". It was awesome meeting you and your parents.You are soooo beautiful- and I wish you the best of luck in Tennesee at Med School next year. Stay in touch! :)

Hope you enjoy your preview!!! Your complete slideshow will be ready within the week.:)

Senior Portrait Package Specials

2009-04-21T14:38:00.001-07:00

Senior Portrait Season is quickly approaching and I have AWESOME package deals to offer you. Check them out below... there are some seriously BIG savings! Specials are valid for all packages booked now through May 31st.

I also am including a total digital package for the first time. You can print unlimited amounts of each image, you get ALL of the slide show images, you can use them online at Facebook/Twitter/My Space and it is also a terrific way to hang on to the images for years to come. And right now- it is on special! :)

Please contact me ASAP to hold your date- these sessions fill up FAST. I can't wait to hear from you. :)

Sneak Peek Miss "S"

2009-04-20T11:08:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I worked with a wonderful client and I just wanted to give her a little peek at what I have been working on since we went our seperate ways.
Miss "S" drove several hours just to work with me. She is a very creative, upbeat, fun person to be around. LOTS of positive energy. Thank you, Miss "S" for hiring me to produce both some classy and creative images of you. You were a delight to work with.
Here are a handful of my favorites so far:

I will finish up the remaining images and put a slideshow together for you within the week. Hope you enjoyed your little preview! :)

A Few Firsts

2009-04-16T01:45:00.000-07:00

Hello All!

I know I have not been very active with my Blogging this month. Basically I have been laying low. The dreary weather has kept me inside a lot.... and I have had to postpone a few shoots this month. The second half of April should be a fun one. Keep your eye out for some images from a couple of great sessions I have planned for this weekend. Oh, and if you haven't noticed yet- this is my FIRST post on my NEW Blog. Hope you like the larger images and new design. It feels much more "Me."

Another FIRST for me happened last week at 1x (onexposure). The below image received "Screeners Choice"status. What a thrill. I adore the artistic talent at that site and must remind myself to take a little more time for my art... so that I can share some over there. :)

"Where art thou..."
Model: Chelsey R.

They also published this image a couple of days ago:

"Hide & Seek"
Model: Kayla G.

Another "FIRST" for me was a POTD win for the Monthly Theme category at Digital Image Cafe . Kinda cool. :)
The cafe also recognized two other images of mine as POTD this month so far.

"Personal Space"
Model: Kayla G.

I have also been hired to work with 2 new models and stylists for the FIRST time very soon! Yay!! Life is good. I love working with new people...especially when Make-up and Fashion are involved.

And I have my FIRST scheduled Little Punk Give-a-way Session this Sunday! Wish me Luck!

Senior Rep Casting Call

2009-04-09T00:55:00.001-07:00

Hello Class of 2010!!
Guess what? I am looking for a few fabulous upcoming SENIORS to model as my Class of 2010 Senior Reps throughout the local area.
If selected, you will earn:

a totally free on location Senior Session with me
a set of free rep cards (with YOUR photo and my info to pass out to all of your friends!)
a free artistic slide show on jenniferalderphotography.com
10 % off your print/package order
a $25 credit for each of booked session I receive from your recommendation!

Who I am looking for:

2010 students in good academic standing
positive role models
energetic and friendly personality

Your job:

distribute all rep cards to friends/peers in order to help me recruit new 2010 clients
post a link to your session slide show on Myspace/Facebook/Twitter, etc... so that all of your friends can view the totally artistic, cool and beautiful YOU.
say great things about me and our session together :)
have fun with the session, follow basic wardrobe requests and be open to location suggestions
spread the word about JenniferAlderPhotography Senior Portrait Sessions to your friends, family, coworkers, teammates, church groups and more!

Your school location can be in any of the following cities:
Novi, Northville, Plymouth, Ann Arbor, Livonia, Westland, Canton, Walled Lake, Wixom, Farmington, Commerce, and South Lyon districts.

To apply:
Send me the following by Friday, May 8th-

Email to jenlynnalder@aol.com
Your name, age, school, and any other basic info (Ex: sports, job, interests, etc...)
reason why I should pick YOU
Recent Photo (if available)
Thanks everyone... I can't wait to hear from you!!!

Little Punk "Give-a-way" Winners

2009-04-01T22:09:00.000-07:00

I absolutely loved receiving all of your stories and pictures for the little punk give-a-way session! I had dozens of entries- and hope to get each and every one of the entered kids behind my camera one day. If your child did not win the free session this time, take advantage of my Spring Special-let's set up a date! (See the pink special in the right hand column of my blog)

I actually wrote out each child's name on a little piece of paper, folded them up, and dropped them into my fiance's baseball cap. He drew the winning name. Well, actually, he drew TWO names... and then just told me to do them both. LOL. It worked out fine because I had planned on giving away 2 sessions (one winner and one referral) anyhow.

And the little punk winners are:

Miss "A"

and Miss "J"

(above photos were sent in, not taken by me)

Congrats!!! I have some FUN things planned for us. Despite the fact that others have not had the easiest of times photographing these little punks , I am staying optimistic!! ha! Both little ladies are 2 years old... the whole terrible two thing is a rumor, right?? ;)

Winners- please contact me ASAP to set up an April shoot date.

If you are a parent who is frustrated with getting your children photographed, give custom photography a try!!! Get outside, on their level- and have some fun. Be patient with the kids- and perhaps become a little more open minded in deciding what a "good picture" is. A devilish smile or pouty expression can make an adorable image!! OR give me a call and book an appointment today. I love working with kids, have lots of creative ideas and am very patient. :)

Awarded Work

2009-03-29T00:11:00.000-07:00

Awards Received

Hey everyone! I try to find a few minutes of free time each month in order to blog about my images which were recently awarded at the various online competition sites I belong to. Check out some of the awards I was fortunate enough to obtain this month:

"In the Doghouse..."

Finalist, BetterPhoto.com

Emotional Moment

Finalist, BetterPhoto.com

Beautiful Bride

Finalist, BetterPhoto.com

"Broken Past"

Winning Image, Scrapin Willies

"Believe"

Photo of the Day, Digital Image Cafe

Thank you Dylan, Joyce, Jessica, Chelsey and Kayla!! :)

Check back on April 2nd to find out the winners of my Little Punk Give-a-way!!! Also, there will be some GREAT April specials you won't want to miss! :)

Celebrating Spring

2009-03-24T19:14:00.000-07:00

Spring is "officially" here. Yep, I live in Michigan so Spring weather can really mean a variety of things. I am most thankful for the days when the sun is out- shining brightly- with a subtle breeze and a warm temperature. I have noticed a splash of color fighting to be seen on the ground and tiny limbs in the woods. Ahhh... and that light. Yes, finally, it stays light outside past 5pm. I contacted Kayla Glazier, one of Michigan's most gorgeous models, to accompany me on a Spring photoshoot. Our first location was at a woodsy area of a nearby State Park.

So fresh and uplifting after such a long, cold winter.

If Kayla looks familiar to you it is because I had featured her on my Project: Model Blog back in December. Or, you may have seen her at a local runway Fashion show, acting or in magazines. She is actually on the COVER of Birmingham Magazine with an impressive 7 page spread, too- for Spring '09. I think she will go a long way in her modeling career and always have a fabulous time working with her. She is one of my favorites for sure!

We also drove out to an abandoned building for some shots -Check out below:

I am looking very forward to working with all of you this Spring, too. :)
Oh, and remember to keep those Little Punk Give-a-way Entries coming in... I will announce the winner on April 2nd.