Saturday, December 19, 2009

Flashbacks and Memories

Every time I shoot a high school event, it makes me think about the times when I walked the halls of my high school. Yes, I am going to pull a "in my days" story time with you. So, just kick back and enjoy!

In my days, homecoming dance was right after the homecoming football game. We would freeze our butts off cheering and then cram everyone inside a sweaty gym. It was awesome.

In my days, we nominated just a homecoming queen, not a king. The girls would have their picture taken for the local newspaper the week prior to the event. Everyone would cut the clipping out, because it was the closest any of us would ever come to making front page news.

In my days, the night of the big game, you really felt like a celebrity. A candidate would ride on the top of a convertible car, while being driven around the football field on the track-n-field lanes. Every girl took her time to decorate the car and poster for the event. Her heart would fill with joy and nervousness as she waved to the crowd in the stands.

In my days, I was nominated my junior year for homecoming queen. I couldn't have been more proud to have been one of three girls to represent my class. However, when the time came for the announcer to call the names of the winners, they totally messed it up. They called the winner first and then all of the runners up. This was completely backwards. The anticipation died at that moment. I received first runner up, so I was the last to be called and by that point the attendants were all out of flowers. That was even more awkward. The week following the dance, I receieved flowers to my homeroom class, with a letter apologizing for the mix up. It didn't bother me. I was just happy to be a part of such a big event.

Thanks for the walk down memory lane. Now here are some pictures from the homecoming dance at Seacoast Christian Academy.

For more see www.jhalsteadphotography.blogspot.com





Getting Down



Girls just wanna have fun

Sunday, December 13, 2009

My Little Mud Princess

For the last two days, it has done nothing but rain! I can't stand the cold, but what can be worse than cold, is rain and cold mixed together. However, today we woke up to a warm sunshine! With this warm weather I decided that there were things I was very thankful for and things that I would never do again.

I am thankful that God blessed me with 5 beautiful children to kiss and love on every day. I am so incredibly grateful for a husband who still makes my heart skip a beat when he calls me, looks at me, or touches me. I am thankful to have a home, not just a house. I am thankful that I have the freedom to praise my God in public and worship with my whole life.

I realized that I never want my children to miss out on a day of laughter. I never want them to think that their mom couldn't have fun or let loose. I never want to sit on my rump and do nothing while the sun is shining. I want my kids to remember that one day they ran through mud puddles and got REAL dirty!

So today, we sang Miley Cyrus' song "Party in the U.S.A" at the top of our lungs while we drove to and from church. We raced each other on our bikes and laughed when Addison beat us all. We delivered cookies to our neighbors. And yes, we ran through mud puddles!

www.jhalsteadphotography.blogspot.com

My Mud Princess

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Merry Christmas Marciniaks!

Over Thanksgiving break, my sister-in-law and I decided to team up and take some Christmas photos of her family. Amanda is a child and family portrait photographer as well. She told me that she had taken everyone else's photo, but her own! So, she brought her lights, camera, and backdrops to Tennessee. All I had to do was snap a couple shots.

We didn't get started until almost 8:00 at night, so her son was ready to crash out. When this happend, we had to find a way to make him laugh... and that we did. Amanda is hanging on to a rubber toy ball under Jeremiah's shirt. Once squeezed, it made fart noises on his belly. Every time she did this, he cracked up! So were we! Here are just a couple of them!

Marciniak Family

A & J

J & J

Amy is a diva for her senior pics!

I'm crankin' out the senior sessions this season and this girl is rockin'! I have known Amy for 4 years and watched her grow from a young lady to young woman. Amy decided to turn it up a notch when it came to her senior session. She went shopping for that "perfect" outfit that would scream.... "I'm outta here!" She chose her amazing purple prom dress from her junior year and some others that are secrets...waiting to unvail when I finish editing the session. Look for more of Amy to come. Here is a sneak peek!

A-3

A-1

A-2

Addy's 1st Christmas

I love being able to capture a baby's first Christmas. The Chitwoods and I, spent this Christmas in the San Marco area. Mom wanted to recapture a photograph that had been taken on their wedding day. They had been married at this cute little historic church and park just near by. Looking back at the photographs while editing, I couldn't believe that Addy is already 6 months and sitting up. Soon, I will be snapping shots of her walking! Mom planned some of the cutest outfit changes too, complete with pjs! I have made a Christmas present box to sit my little ones in this year. She loved to eat the paper, so I learned that next Christmas, I will do this in fabric. If you are still in need of Christmas photos, please contact me soon!











Callie was the center of attention

Little baby Callie danced into the hearts of shoppers at St. John's Town Center last Saturday. We went to take family pictures in front of the big Christmas tree. On the way back to the car, we decided to let her walk and do her thing. I just snapped right along her side. She was so entertaining! Everyone stopped and commented on how adorable she was. Look how much she has grown in a year!

Christmas of 2008

Christmas baby

Christmas of 2009









MK is graduating!!!

It's finally here! The big day! Mary Kathryn is graduating high school!

This girl rocked her two senior sessions! First we did some studio work, then we headed around Jacksonville, finally we took some awesome shots in St. Augustine. This made for over 200 proofs! That is insane! Here are a few of my favorites. It was very very hard to narrow it down to just a couple, so sorry if I run a little more here. Enjoy!

Jewerly provided by Amanda Barnhart with Shelley's Shoes n Things in River City Town Center.
Make up by Jamie Halstead with J. Halstead Photography

A ray of sunshine

Senior Pics

Senior Pics

Senior Pics

Senior Pics

Second Shooting with Limelight Photography

I had the privilege to photograph with Limelight Photography (http://www.stepintothelimelight.com/). I enjoyed the experience and learned a ton from their photographer Sarah. I would do it again in a heartbeat! Here are some of my samples of work from the wedding.



Church



Aisle




Bible 2 BW

Bible

Flowers

Bride bw

Program

Rings

Ceremony BW

Kiss

Bridesmaids

Bride and friends

Candle

Cake











Party

Snug as a bug in a rug... that is baby James!

Precious little James was the first "boy" newborn session I have ever done. I learned that boys, even with out the bows and tutus, can be the cutest little ones to photograph. He was the first newborn session I have ever had that the baby slept for the entire session. It wasn't until the very end did he decide to waking up to eat and then poop and pee all over mom and blankets. We all got a good laugh out of it, but it was a sign that we are all done! Thank you to the Hem family for allowing me to come into your home to photograph your new little bundle of joy. A special big thanks for the quesodillas and mini-sandwiches while we worked. You both were great! Here are just a couple of my favorites from the session.

Special Delivery

Comfort

James

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Bankston Family = a ton of laughs!

The Bankston family's daughter purchased a gift certificate from me to give to her mom for Christmas. Kathy came up with some creative ideas for her family for the photos. One of her ideas included loud hawaiian shirts, fishing poles, and stockings... need I say more! I tried my best to dodge bunny ears and tongues sticking out! So, in the end, I encouraged them to let loose! We took pictures at a boat marina in San Jose area. Enjoy!


Let loose!!!!

Aunts are the best!

So handsome

AHhhhhhh!

Bankston Family