These big sisters may just have been the sweetest, happiest, most enthusiastic kiddos I’ve ever photographed! They were up for anything I suggested, and we all enjoyed running, snuggling, jumping, dancing and exploring together. One of my favorite things about maternity sessions is that they allow me to really get to know a family before the chaos of the newborn session. I only hope that baby brother is as easygoing as his siblings!
If you are looking for a Methuen maternity photographer, please contact Sarah Jordan Photography. Sarah Jordan is a lifestyle photographer serving the greater Boston area, specializing in photographing newborns, babies, families and children.
I didn’t plan on doing a 365 Project again this year. In fact, I had consciously decided against it. Taking a photo of my life every single day is rewarding, but can also be time consuming and at times stressful. So I entered 2013 with the intention of recording just one photo per week.
That plan lasted all of 2 days.
That’s how long it took me to realized that a 365 Project really doesn’t HAVE to be time consuming – or stressful! This year, I gave myself permission to miss a day here and there if inspiration didn’t strike. I also forced myself to let go of the notion that every image had to be photographically perfect. The goal was to capture images that reflected my family as they are right now – with true emotions, natural settings, and less time with Mommy behind the camera.
I’m proud to say that not only was this year’s project a success, but it was actually enjoyable! So much so that I’m going to continue daily photos for 2014, too.
This year was filled with so many amazing things that I want to remember forever – birthdays, recitals, my big baby belly, vacations, and, of course, a new family member! There were also lots of quiet, in-between moments that are somehow just as significant. Last year, I compiled all of my yearly images into a big album for my family to enjoy. That book has been well-loved this year, and I can’t wait to get the 2013 edition!
If you have a little time and want to see everything big, pretty and with background music, check out the full slideshow!
Although I’m still incredibly behind on posting all of my sessions from last fall, I thought that I’d try to be better about blogging my newest sessions now that I’m back from maternity leave! I’m sure I’ll fall behind again at some point, but, well, I’ll do my best…
I’ve had the honor and privilege of photographing this family since they were a family of three. Now they’re expecting a little boy in July, and I couldn’t be more excited for them! That little guy is going to have two amazing big sisters, and I’m sure they will all enjoy adding more trucks and dinosaurs to the house 😉
In these last few weeks as a family of 4, I find myself watching my little guys with a new realization – they are no longer babies. That may sound a bit silly, since they have grew out of toddlerhood awhile ago, but there is nothing like a new baby to emphasize just how grown up your other children are. While I am a bit nostalgic for those days of babyhood, mostly I am just proud of the little boys they are becoming. I love listening to their conversations, laughing at their nonsensical jokes, and watching each of them carve out his own unique personality, interests, and talents. At the same time, I am unbelievably excited to find out who their little sister will be, and how the boys will react to her. My guess is that they will thrive in the role of big brother, and will enjoy helping us care for her. At the very least, they will certainly take it upon themselves to make sure she has a thorough knowledge of trucks!
I am so incredibly grateful to my friend Erica for helping me capture our family as we are right now, just before our world is turned upside down (in a good way!).
Well, here it is! My little girl’s nursery is everything I wanted it to be for her – soft, calm, pretty, and filled with meaningful little things for her to enjoy. It’s hard to imagine that just a few months ago, this was my office – green, pretty dark, cramped, and filled with photography stuff! I can honestly say that I don’t even mind that my “office” space is now in the midst of toy central in the family room – I can’t wait to bring my baby girl home to a room of her own!
A few of my favorite things:
*The dresses above the crib were mine (thanks to my mom for saving them all these years!), and I love how sweet they look on the wall.
*The little plate on the tall dresser with the last stanza of the poem “Song for a Fifth Child” by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton. My mother had the same words displayed on her her wall when I was a child, and I remember reading them every night while getting my hair blown dry before bed.
*The small Beatrix Potter bank on top of the stack of books on the shelf was saved from my own nursery
*The dressers that I found on Craigslist fit with the feel of the room perfectly! I love that they work well in her nursery, but they can also grow with her in future rooms.
*The framed pink flower photo on the shelf is a j.imprint taken by my fabulous friend Michele, of Pinkletoes. Check out the link to see how you can contribute to a great cause by purchasing your own j.imprint!
Baby girl shouldn’t be coming home to this room for at least a few more weeks now, so in the meantime I am enjoying reading, rocking, snuggling my boys and daydreaming in here. Soon enough, it will be filled with the sounds of a newborn, and I doubt it will ever be this neat and peaceful again!
Exactly one year ago today, I began the most intensive personal photography project I’ve ever attempted – a Project 365. For all of 2012, I captured one image a day that reflected something about my life. Most photos involved my two little boys, since, well, my life basically revolves around them 🙂 Of course, there were times that I wasn’t with them (like my sister’s wedding in Mexico!) and days when I chose to capture a different subject in my life, but looking at the completed project makes me acutely aware of the depth of my love for my family.
I’m not gonna lie – some days this project was just plain hard. There were days when it rained all day, the kids (or I) were sick, and it got to be 5pm before I remembered to drag out the camera bag. But then there were others where photo ops seemed to throw themselves at me all day long! Our family vacations, daytrips, days when the boys were happy and the sun was shining…it was often hard to choose just one image!
I learned a lot in the past year, and the lessons were not always related to photography. I learned to slow down and look around. To notice the little things – pockets of beauty where I least expect to find them. I learned the importance of capturing memories for my boys, since life can change in the blink of an eye. It’s already a bit hard to look back at the first few images of 2012 and remember just how dramatically they’ve grown in the past year.
Although I won’t be doing a Project 365 for 2013, I will continue to bring my camera wherever I can. Watching my boys as they viewed this year’s slideshow for the first time was absolutely wonderful. They laughed, squealed, and smiled as they relived the memories of 2012. In fact, they’ve been talking about our adventures for the past hour, and we are already planning out an amazing 2013. THAT is my inspiration. I will continue to shoot with their giggles, happiness, and love in mind.
For those of you curious (and patient enough) to watch my culminating project of 2012, I present to you….
**The slideshow will take a minute or two to load (more if you are viewing on a mobile device), so turn on your speakers, sit back, and wait for the show to begin!
Cindy says: Sarah,
I cant express how much I enjoyed watching the slide show. I watched it twice and I told David he couldn't jump in to view it half-way....he had to start at the very beginning. :-) You have a beautiful family and you and Simon really are blessed! I look forward to future editions of Project 365! It brought us a lot of joy! xo on 07.27.13 @ 12:56 pm
I’m very excited to share this fun new event with all of you! If you or someone you know is pregnant and due in May, June, or July, you’ll want to get in on this amazing offer. Book a newborn session for any of these months, and you’ll qualify for a complimentary mini-maternity session on April 28th!
Brandy says: SO excited this pic won, it's my fave of yours! Love the runners up too! And may I say, brilliant marketing idea on your part? So creative! on 02.1.12 @ 8:21 am
Casey says: Very exciting! Three of my favorite SJP pics made it to the top three! Looks like everyone has the same good taste :-) on 02.1.12 @ 9:53 am
Nana Chris says: Although I am a bit partial to the precious little boy and his sister :), the top three are all awesome pics along with the other entries. This was a lot of fun.......thanks for doing this, Sarah! You are one incredible photographer!!!! on 02.1.12 @ 2:39 pm
Voting is now OPEN for the 2011 SJP Pic of the Year! All images were nominated by my clients, and I have really enjoyed reading the little snippets about why each image was so meaningful to them.
The winner will receive an 11×14 canvas print of the winning image, and a $500 Sarah Jordan Photography gift card to be used towards a 2012 Premium Session. Two runners-up will each receive a framed 6×9 print and a $100 Sarah Jordan Photography gift card to be used towards a 2012 Premium Session.
*Voting is monitored by IP address, so no multiple voting.
*Polls close at midnight on January 31st
*I reserve the right to disqualify entries or terminate/modify the contest if necessary.
To see the images larger, please visit the full gallery HERE!
IMAGE 1:
“This is probably my favorite picture in the world. I can’t help but ponder what he is thinking/dreaming about. I also look into his eyes and realize that he has his whole life ahead of him; that his life has just started and the possibilities are endless. You took a perfect picture of innocence and wonder. The picture also displays to me the true meaning of comfort and security. ” – Mom
IMAGE 2:
“The reason we both picked this image is because it really captures the love Avery and Griffin have for each other while still showing their fearless personalities and boundless energy. Every time We look at this picture We say to each other ‘Red Light! Green Light!'” -Mom and Dad
IMAGE 3:
“This image is my favorite because you captured Dylan’s bright blue eyes, adorable nose and all of his gorgeous features that are changing every day.” -Mom
IMAGE 4:
“We picked this photo because it shows the love between these two and when most people see it they aren’t even sure if Cooper (dog) is real! About a second after this shot, Quinn tipped over behind Coop so it really was a once in a million. They love each other and we love them both so much. So happy that we have this image forever.” -Dad
IMAGE 5:
“I laugh every time I look at it, remembering how I was in the crib trying to hold him and his monkeys up! The pic fits him, he is a monkey. He is always climbing on or over everything!” – Mom
IMAGE 6:
“Family get-togethers are, shall we say, interesting when you have a biracial child. My Filipino family thinks she looks white and JUST like David. David’s Caucasian family thinks she looks totally Filipino and JUST like me. It never fails when we look at a picture of our daughter – in one shot she’ll look just like me, while in the next she’ll have an expression that is totally her dad’s. But it’s the very rare photo where she actually looks like BOTH of us at the same time. We also love this picture because it’s a family photo, but with us looking at our daughter as she looks at the camera – while she hugs us. That’s our family in a nutshell!” – Mom
IMAGE 7:
“I chose this picture because it captures the innocence and beauty of Lucy. Her eyes just simply captivate you. The morning light and the colors are so electrifying, Lucy appears angelic. Glancing at this photo, you can’t help but smile and think, ‘What a happy child!'” – Mom
IMAGE 8:
“This is one of those moments frozen in a photograph that truly represents our 3 year old son’s whole hearted enthusiasm on being a big brother. His 1 week old sister is calmly asleep in the crook of his arm, and he is simply beaming with joy to proudly show her off to the world. Their lifelong sibling relationship is still in its infancy, but capturing it in this picture is pure magic to their parents.” – Mom and Dad
IMAGE 9:
“When I look at this picture, I see joy… pure and simple. My newly turned one year old baby girl sat in that blue chair thrilled, optimistic, and filled with love. It was a crazy first year for all of us, filled with colic, infant colitis, a tough economy, exhilarating highs, challenging lows, and the typical trials any baby & parent would face. It wasn’t an easy road to her presence in this world, but she came, like she was meant to all along. Emma is filled with so much life- a vigor and passion I can’t explain. She was born that way. I think of that photo constantly and how it completely captured Emma- her smile (“I’m such a happy, daring, energetic, & loving girl”), her little feet kicking (ready and raring to hit the ground running), her auburn hair in the sun (a connection we share), her eyes (smiling and taking everything in)…” – Mom
IMAGE 10:
“This photo will always bring me back to the time when my son was small enough to fit into my planter! A time when a 7 lbs 4 ounce, chubby cheeked little man stole my heart forever! To me, this picture completely captures the innocence and purity that encompasses being a beautiful newborn.” – Mom
IMAGE 11:
“We chose this image, because you really captured the essence of the boy. He looks happy and a little bit mischievous all at the same time!!” – Mom
IMAGE 12:
“Mother of three…mother of three. Those words kept ringing in my head for months before Gavin was born. How do I manage being a mother of three?? Is there enough of me to give to ALL of them?? I knew I would love this new baby, that was a given. But there were days when the thought of a new little one in our lives just consumed me. What I wasn’t sure of was would Harrison and Elizabeth love this new baby when we brought him home and we had to “keep him”. Could we survive the chaos? Could I still be as connected to Harrison and Elizabeth as I was before Gavin?
This one picture captures what I finally realized. There is enough love and as a family we can survive anything as long as we huddle together.
I love the way this picture captures exactly what we’ve become (my kids and I)…closer. My older two hugging me exactly where they always seem to hug me when we snuggle, with Gavin in the middle soaking it all in. So unfazed by these two “big kids” that have captured his heart and in turn he has captured theirs.” – Mom
IMAGE 13:
“Loads of Love” – Mom
IMAGE 14:
“This picture is so special to me because you have captured one of the earliest connections between Nathan and Emma. They both truly adore each other. I think there’s no greater bond than that of siblings and this picture speaks volumes as to the love they share. It melts my heart!” – Mom
2011 was a whirlwind around here! A good kind of whirlwind, filled with smiles, hugs, adorable kids, and lots and lots of laughs. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that Sarah Jordan Photography would grow so quickly, and I am immensely grateful to the many families who trusted me to capture their lives in images. As I wrapped up the loose ends from the past year, I thought it might be fun to share a slideshow of some of the most memorable images from 2011.
Click below to enjoy the show!
***PS – If you had a session in 2011, don’t forget that submissions for the 2011 Pic of the Year are due by Saturday! There are some awesome prizes up for grab!
Looking back through the images I’ve taken in the past year makes my heart swell a bit, because each photo evokes memories of the the families I had the pleasure of working with. I have the awesome honor of documenting some of life’s most important milestones – engagements, births, high school graduations – and all of the amazing little moments in between. In fact, it’s those “between” moments that sometimes mean the most. A smile, a smirk, an airplane ride on Daddy’s leg, giggles between siblings, a mother’s gaze…I get to capture it all.
Thank you for an amazing year, everyone. I can’t imagine my life without you in it!
It happens every year. You think and think and think, then shop ’till you drop, and STILL, that “perfect gift” you chose for your sister (or mom, or friend…you get it) sits on the shelf collecting dust. Personally, I love gift-giving at the holidays, but our family has started to place a higher value on experiences and memories than “stuff.” Of course, there will be a good number of boxes under the tree on Christmas morning, but the things I’m most excited about giving and receiving include a trip to NYC, dinner out, and, of course, lots of photos. There will be albums, prints, maybe even a mug or canvas for special people around me. Because photos never fail to bring a smile to the recipient.
You can spoil your own loved ones with the gift of photography this year with beautiful, personalized, wrapped (if you’d like) gift cards to Sarah Jordan Photography. Email me for more info, and together we can create a perfect holiday gift.
Cindy says: Sarah, I cant express how much I enjoyed watching the slide show. I watched it twice and I told David he couldn't jump in to view it half-way....he had to start at the very beginning. :-) You have a beautiful family and you and Simon really are blessed! I look forward to future editions of Project 365! It brought us a lot of joy! xo on 07.27.13 @ 12:56 pm