Jennifer Swanepoel Photography

Andy + Danielle

2011-12-19T21:14:00.000-08:00

Andy & Danielle were married on September 24, 2011. I was honored to be selected to photograph their day!

2011 Holiday Mini Sessions {Orange Park, FL family photographer}

2011-12-19T21:04:00.000-08:00

Season's Greetings!

I've just wrapped up this year's Holiday Mini Session season. A handful of families took advantage of this once-a-year session created just for the purposes of getting fantastic images for their Christmas/holiday cards. These were shot in areas around Jacksonville, Florida, including Jacksonville Beach, Ronnie van Zant Park, and Spring Park.

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

Frazier Family {Jacksonville Equine Photographer}

2011-09-10T10:03:00.000-07:00

I have always loved horses. I never had one, and only very rarely had the opportunity to ride one. Now, however, I live in a place where many people have horses. This past week I had the pleasure of photographing my friend with her horses and her children. The shoot was so much fun, and I hope to continue doing this sort of work!

Chris Summer Portraits {Green Cove Springs, FL photographer}

2011-07-14T09:04:00.000-07:00

A photo session can take place anywhere. This is the fence in my backyard, and my little boy who likes to make faces.

Eric & Diane: Married! {Coral Springs FL wedding photographer}

2011-06-10T07:50:00.000-07:00

Sigh.

I love weddings.

Especially weddings of friends. As a photographer, on one hand I LOVE photographing friend's weddings, but on the other hand, I'm so busy "watching" for the good photos that I miss what is happening! I'm often surprised when I go back and look at the photos. My mind is so consumed with shutter speed, aperture, composition, and exposure, that it's like the "emotion" side of my brain shuts off.

Kind of a bummer.

But then, I just LOVE being able to give my friends images of their day, to trigger their own memories of the emotions they were experiencing.

I love you, Eric & Diane!

Maria & William {Coral Springs, FL wedding photographer}

2011-05-22T21:31:00.000-07:00

Defining Myself

2011-04-10T06:26:00.000-07:00

Hello my dears! I don't have any photos for you to look at today, however I do have some stuff to talk about. Last night I watched a portion of the Jasmine Star presentation on Creative Live, which is to help wedding photographers grow their business. One of the things that struck me was how we as photographers need to really think about WHO our client is, who WE are, and how our websites can communicate and attract the people we want to work with.

I have had a myriad of clients. All ages, races, and shapes. But that's not what Jasmine was referring to. She was referring to the personality of her clients, the things they liked, the level of education they had attained, the things they value. She said she thought that all of her clients would be friends with each other, were they given the opportunity to meet! I thought about that a lot. She also said that it was important for her to like her to clients, and her clients to like her! I believe her words were, "If I'm going to spend 8 hours with a bride on her wedding day, I want to like her!"

(Truthfully, I've never had a client I didn't like, so I must be on the right track!)

But it got me to thinking. What kinds of weddings do I want to shoot? Do I want to be primarily a wedding photographer, or a portrait photographer who shoots a handful of weddings? Because that's what I am right now. I have three weddings slated for this year, and with my workflow the way it is, it's probably all I can handle. If I was doing mostly weddings, I wouldn't be able to do a great deal of portraiture, because of the time involved with wedding shoots and album design.

Of the weddings I have done, my very favorite one was a wedding that was held in the backyard of a family estate. The bride and groom exchanged vows under a tree where I imagine the bride played as a child. It was the sort of tree that could easily have held a tire swing years ago! The cake toppers were superhero action figures (Batman and Catwoman.) The groom's father officiated the ceremony, and the tenderness and sweetness which exuded from everyone was tangible. There wasn't anyone there who wasn't deeply invested in this couple's lives. Nothing was done for "show" and everything had meaning. (NOT to imply that the other weddings I have shot were showy and meaningless. Not at all!) You can check out their slideshow here!

This is the sort of wedding I want to shoot. The down-home, do-it-yourself, homemade wedding. Jasmine Star's target wedding client is the highly stylized, fashion-minded bride. And I'm glad that's her style, because that stuff STRESSES ME OUT. Jasmine is outgoing, energetic, and fabulous! I am also fabulous (so I've been told!) but in a more quiet, reflective, observant manner. My style of wedding photography is that of a fly on the wall. If you gave a fly on the wall a camera and just let him do his thing, he would get the same sort of photos that I get. (This is, of course, assuming that the fly knows how to operate a Nikon and has figured out how to bounce his flash off the ceiling.)

I could probably make a lot more money shooting weddings if I chose clients like Jasmine's. But I think I'd get burned out from wedding photography, because it's just not ME. Something else she said, and I will probably butcher this quote to pieces, was something like this: "If we go head to head on Photoshop, you will win. If we go head to head on photography, you might win. If we go head to head on being Jasmine Star, I will win." Her point was that too many photographers have the same camera, have the same shooting style, went to the same schools, are members of the same organization, but no other photographer can be Jasmine Star. We need to capitalize on being ourselves, knowing who we are as photographers, and once we do that we can build the business we dream of.

I love to shoot outdoor weddings.

I love to shoot at-home weddings.

I love to shoot weddings with lots of personal touches.

I love to shoot small weddings.

I love to shoot unique weddings.

I love to shoot images of the bride twirling in her wedding dress.

I love to shoot images of all the tiny details of the day.

I love to shoot couples who are madly in love with each other.

I love to shoot couples who value what I do as a professional photographer.

I love to shoot couples to trust me to capture their memories.

So, yes. I would love to be primarily a wedding photographer, with a handful of portrait clients. This dream is the complete opposite of the reality of my business as is it today. So I am going to try and start actively seeking out people who are having weddings like I have described above.

You know what else I would love? To shoot a wedding at a tiny New England inn. Much like the Dragonfly Inn on the show "Gilmore Girls" which is my all-time favorite. So if there are any "Lorelei Gilmores" out there, who own an inn and are having a wedding, please have your brides call me! That would be so much fun.

Much love,

Jen

HOPE Women's Center Annual Banquet

2011-04-07T16:16:00.000-07:00

One of the charitable organizations that I like to support is the HOPE Women's Center. They provide resources, counseling, and ultrasounds to women who are experiencing pregnancy, considering abortion, but are wanting to make an educated decision. The HOPE Women's Center empowers women to choose LIFE. Every year, they hold a lavish fundraising banquet, which helps them to raise a significant portion of their annual budget.

The speaker for this event was the lovely Pamela Tebow. She was encouraged by her doctors to abort the baby she carried inside her. She chose life. Her son is Tim Tebow, superbowl champion. She travels all over, telling her story about the power of God's love and in HER decision to choose LIFE. It was my pleasure to photograph this event, and here are a few samples from the evening. The event was held at the Signature Grand.

T Family Session

2011-04-04T07:06:00.000-07:00

I had the distinct pleasure of photographing three of the handsomest young men you ever did see. :)

It's New! It's Big! It's Never Been Done Before!!!

2011-03-24T15:44:00.000-07:00

Well, it's never been done before....by ME.

Mother's Day is fast approaching! I don't know about you, but I always have a bit of a hard time figuring out what to do for all the Moms in my life! My mom, my mother in law, grandmothers, aunts, friends who are also mothers....

Anywho. For the first time ever, I am offering a "Mini Session" just for Mother's Day! The session is a little shorter than my standard session, and comes with an 11 x 14 wall portrait and Four 5 x 7 prints, perfect for giving as gifts! It's a great time to get a picture of just the kids, or of mom with the kids, or any combination of people you choose! (If there are more than 6 people in the sitting, there will be an additional $10 per person.)

Here is the promotional piece I will be sending out in the mail shortly, but I wanted my online friends to have "first dibs!" So, if you're interested, please give me a call! 954-282-1252 and we can discuss the details.

Have a great day!

Baby M {Boynton Beach FL photographer}

2011-03-23T11:11:00.001-07:00

Meet Baby M! She is 5 weeks old and is a complete sweetheart. Such a good little model!

Suzanne and Peter

2011-03-18T10:51:00.000-07:00

These are my wonderful friends Suzanne & Peter. They have been married for 28 years. She has the brightest smile. He always knows how to bring it out of her.

Oh yeah. They live near a lighthouse. Awesome.

Eric & Diane: Engagement Session

2011-03-13T10:29:00.000-07:00

He asked her at sunrise.

On that particular bench, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

Where they meet every Saturday morning and have breakfast together, because he works nights. The end of his day is the beginning of hers; they share the overlap watching the sun waken from her sleep, stretching her golden arms out over the sea and into the sky.

And she said "yes."

Spring Break Special!

2011-02-21T08:14:00.000-08:00

Spring Break Photography Special!!

Have you been waiting for "just the right time" to have your family portraits made?

Well, I will be running a special for portrait sessions the week of Broward County school's spring break-- March 13-19. Check it out! Limited spaces are available, so call me today to claim a spot!

Wedding Albums

2011-02-12T10:44:00.001-08:00

Your wedding album is perhaps the only item from your wedding which will last for generations. There is nothing like the feeling of lifting your book off the shelf, holding it in your lap, and gazing at the pages in front of you, reliving every moment of your special day. Here are some samples of wedding album pages I have designed. I am currently in the process of researching different album companies, so that your pages will be beautifully printed and bound, made to last for generations.

Squires Family Session {Coral Springs FL Photographer}

2011-01-30T07:08:00.001-08:00

Last weekend I had the great privilege of meeting the Squires family! Mr. Squires had been searching online for a photographer, this website came up, and the rest was history! Chuck, Amy, and their 6 kids are a wonderful group of people, and I'm so glad that they chose me to take their family portraits. Here is a selection of some of my favorites from their shoot!

Engagement Session: Catreece & David {Coral Springs FL wedding photographer}

2011-01-22T15:24:00.001-08:00

Well, today was my first photo session of 2011, and let me tell you, the year is getting off to an AMAZING start! We went to my favorite Coral Springs location, Orchid Park. The day was dreary and overcast-- which makes my photographer's heart happy because overcast means no one is squinting, and the lack of direct sunlight (surprisingly) brings out the warmth and richness of all the other colors.

Anyhow. Catreece & David were so much fun! We were all laughing so much it's a wonder I was able to press the shutter button at all! They both have such lovely smiles, and a love for each other which obviously comes through in their photos.

They even taught me a new word. Spontabulous. They truly embody the word. A combination of spontaneous and fabulous.

Thanks for a fun session! Good luck to you as you continue your wedding planning!

Family Beach Photo Session

2011-01-08T12:34:00.000-08:00

This is one of my favorite families to photograph, EVER! They helped me get started in my photo business, and they are single-handedly responsible for bringing me the MOST new clients. I photographed their son's wedding, their other son's senior photos, and they were actually the very first people EVER to have me do a "real" photo session! When I think back to that day, I am very embarassed. I knew nothing about posing, even less about photoshop, but from their encouragement (and opportunities to practice!) my business and abilities have grown exponentially. Thank you, Doug, Janice, Austin, Jason, & Megan! I'm looking forward to bigger and better things with you all!!

Krysta- Modeling Portfolio

2010-12-12T14:15:00.000-08:00

Meet Krysta! She is a lovely young lady who is hoping to get into modeling. She and I went to downtown Ft. Lauderdale and had a wonderful time searching for fabulous locations. We found a great blue fence, some steps of a bank to double as a storefront, and a restaurant with incredible bright red chairs. I can't wait to take another client out there! SO fun!

Day in the Life of a 4-Year Old

2010-12-08T18:37:00.000-08:00

Dolores & Doug: Fort Lauderdale wedding

2010-12-07T15:45:00.000-08:00

Dolores & Doug were married on a gorgeous November Florida afternoon. The ceremony was held at Assumption Catholic Church in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, and the cocktail hour and reception were held at the historic Riverside Hotel on Las Olas Blvd.

The bridal party were elegantly dressed all in black, and the bride carried a bouquet of roses. Dolores & Doug exchanged vows underneath the brilliant light of the intricate stained-glass windows.

The cocktail hour was held on an outdoor terrace. Stars twinkled above and the lights of Las Olas Boulevard glittered below, while a delicious November wind scented the air as guests chatted and enjoyed a glass of wine. Then all retreated indoors to the lavishly decorated hall where a delicious dinner was served, and the DJ (John DiLorenzo, On Stage Productions) kept the tunes spinning for hours and kept the dance floor full!

Dolores & Doug, thank you for allowing us the honor of photographing your wedding! We are proud to present you with your first family heirloom. With love,

Jennifer Swanepoel Photography

A Lamp Unto My Feet

2010-11-11T06:41:00.000-08:00

Psalm 119:105 "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."

While my "professional" photography is most often portraits or weddings, when I take pictures just for ME, my subject matter can wildly vary.

I shot this photo in a cathedral in England. I don't remember which one, only that while I was standing as far forward as I was allowed, a ray of light burst through the stained glass windows and lit the white pages of this bible in a brilliant way. Of course, the camera can't record the same levels of light and color as the eyes/brain can, so this image in my "mental" photo album is much more stunning than what you see here.

But I just thought I'd share it. Enjoy.

2010 Holiday Cards are HERE!

2010-11-08T13:10:00.000-08:00

(Design courtesy of Jamie Schultz designs and MpixPro lab.)

It's that time of year again! The time of year to get your family all in one place for the annual portrait which will go out in your Christmas/holiday cards. You could go to a department store, pay a few bucks a sheet and have portraits that look just like everyone else's, or you can take a snapshot, upload it to Shutterfly and use a cookie-cutter template to create cards that look just like everyone else's, or you can schedule a Greetings! session with me to create unique portraits of your family and receive custom-designed cards which do not look like everyone else's! This year I will be using designs by Jamie Schultz to create YOUR individualized holiday cards, and I'm so excited!!

Sound intriguing? Here are the details:

Session fee: $350. This pays for a professional portrait session in the location of your choosing, 50 custom-made cards with envelopes, and an 11 x 14 wall portrait, printed on the highest-quality photo paper and mounted on mat board, ready to frame. Need more than 50 cards? Awesome! Cards are available in additional sets of 25. (Cost will vary depending on the size of card selected, but will range from $45-$55 for each set of 25 cards.) Contact me for more information! Session fee must be paid at the time of booking, and we will schedule a private image viewing session for you to select the photos for your cards and your wall portrait.

Call soon! There are only a limited number of sessions available. I look forward to hearing from you!

-Jen

Introspection

2010-11-06T16:04:00.000-07:00

This is my son. He will be four years old in a couple of weeks.

He is always moving. Always.

He is always making a sound of some kind. Always.

This is a rare moment.

Photographer's Nightmare!!

2010-11-02T16:24:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a nightmare I had last night!! I hope I don't scare off potential new clients by sharing this, but bear with me! I dreamed that I was photographing a wedding. (It wasn't any of my REAL clients. Some pretend dream person.) I arrived at the hotel, which is where the bride was getting ready. I photographed her and her bridesmaids, and all was well. Then it was time to head to the church for the ceremomy.

I went downstairs, and waited for the valet to arrive to retrieve my car. I could see my car in the parking lot. I could see my keys in the locked case. I waited for HOURS. The valet never showed up. I missed the ceremony!

Then I arrived at the reception location. My memory card failed. I paniced, and glanced wildly about for my 2nd shooter to get him to dig out my spare memory card. But he wasn't there. I had forgotten to tell him to show up!!

I pull out my backup camera, which in the dream was a dinky point-and-shoot. Not what I would ACTUALLY have for a backup! I took a couple of pictures and the battery died. No charger, of course.

I'm walking backwards, shooting the bride and groom coming into the room. (Not sure how I'm doing this, since my memory card failed, there was no assistant to bring me the backup card, and my backup camera stopped working.) I fall into the cake. The bride's father becomes very angry with me for ruining the cake. I'm thinking, "If you're mad about that, you're gonna REALLY be mad when you find out I'm just pretending to take photos." I make up my mind to go tell the bride that something has gone horribly wrong, and then I wake up at 2:47 AM.

When I wake up, I send an email to my 2nd shooter, verifying the details of the event. I start browsing a camera rental website, pricing out different models so I can be sure to have backup equipment. Then I go back to bed, because I have to get up to go to my other job at 7 AM. I desperately wish I could do photography full-time. I go to work, then I get home from work, and immediately put into action a new marketing technique. I sign up for a free trial of a productivity tool and am loving it already.

Dreams are not to be feared. And if I am going to make this dream come true (NOT the dream of the terrible, horrible, no-good, very-bad wedding; rather the dream of being a FULL-TIME, kick-butt, fully booked, Top Ten Wedding Photographer,) then I have to stop sitting around and waiting. I have to TAKE ACTION.

Big thanks to many people who have inspired me so far: Dane Sanders, David Jay, Jasmine Star, all of whom offer WONDERFUL advice and mentoring for people like me, who are starting a photography business and needs LOTS of help!

Watch out world. Here I come. Armed with my Nikon and a wacky sense of humor. RAWR!

Kids' Portrait Session {Coral Springs FL Photographer}

2010-10-09T13:50:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I had the privilege of photographing two very energetic little boys! My clients had found a new location, a park with winding paths, interesting sculptures, and wildlife. (The garden in front of the Coral Springs art museum.) Their mother has taught her boys to appreciate nature and to explore. How I wish more families were like that!! (Not that it doesn't make for a challenging portrait session! One of my favorite things about my job is that I learn something new on every shoot!) I played "peek-a-boo" (or, "tok-a-day" as he pronounces it,) around a marble statue to get my favorites from the day!

Infant Session: Caitlin {Family Photographer}

2010-09-30T17:53:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I had the singular pleasure of photographing my high school BFF's new baby girl!! Sheryl & I had lost touch for awhile, but recently reconnected. Such a sweet journey to go from being high school pals to being grown-up women with kids, husbands, and houses!

Sheryl, your daughter Caitlin is a gloriously beautiful baby. I hope you and your family enjoy these photos!

Sarah Senior Portrait {Coral Springs FL photographer}

2010-09-03T20:11:00.000-07:00

I had a ton of fun working with Sarah for her senior photos! We did it in two separate shoots: we were rained out of our 2nd location on our original shooting date, so we went back the following weekend to finish up. She rocked it out!!

You Might Be A Photographer If..

2010-08-20T14:21:00.000-07:00

OK. So who doesn't just love Jeff Foxworthy's "You Might Be A Redneck" jokes? Well, I'd like to bring you the first installment of "You Might Be A Photographer."

If you...

Halt the process of eating breakfast-and-getting-everyone-ready-for-work-and-school, and

Make your child stay sitting at the breakfast table for an extra 5 minutes, and

Lie on the kitchen floor to get a picture of said child's feet dangling from the breakfast chair, sitting on a pile of phone books, then...

...you might be a photographer!

To me, this is a classic image of childhood. Too big for a highchair, yet too small to sit at the table unaided.

Why spend a ridiculous amount of money on a plastic booster seat which will only end up gathering dust in the garage or cluttering up a landfill? Phone books arrive with regularity at most American homes, plus they're recyclable.

End soapbox.

I was ten minutes late for work this morning, but it's OK because I captured forever this moment of my child's morning. One day he will be tall enough that his feet will reach the floor. His knees will probably bump the table. This is a precious image to me of my son.

And that's what my photography is all about. Capturing moments which would otherwise go unnoticed, lost in the fabric of space-time.

And yes I am a dork. I used the phrase "fabric of space-time."

Resistance is futile.

Mandy & Ryan {Auburndale, FL wedding photographer}

2010-08-10T11:50:00.000-07:00

I had the honor of photographing Mandy & Ryan's intimate garden wedding in Auburndale, FL. Mandy & Ryan were a lot of fun and FANTASTIC to work with! They really let me play around with their "formal" portraits afterwards and didn't even blink when I started hauling Mandy's mother's furniture out of the house down to the lakeshore. Thanks Mandy & Ryan for letting me part of your special day!

Portfolio Slideshow

2010-08-10T08:16:00.001-07:00

Testing my slideshow feature...

Mark & Joy {Coral Springs, FL Family Photographer}

2010-06-13T17:24:00.000-07:00

Mark & Joy asked me to photograph their family at the beach before they moved away to Georgia! Deerfield Beach is the favorite local beach, filled with lots of highly photographable areas-- wooden lifeguard stands, rock pilings, piers, benches, dunes. We arrived at the beach just as the lifeguards went off duty so I had fun posing them up on the steps! And then the kids loved climbing around on the rocks.

Mark & Joy, I hope these photographs help you to remember fondly your time in Florida!

Austin's Senior Photos {Coral Springs FL photographer}

2009-11-19T17:30:00.000-08:00

A few months ago, I had the privilege of photographing Jason's wedding. This month, I photographed his little brother's senior portraits! We went down to Pompano Beach to do most of the shots, and finished up at his home with his dog, Jack.

Portrait Session: Kayla

2009-09-18T09:50:00.001-07:00

I had a blast photographing 8-year old Kayla! Wish her luck; tomorrow she is meeting with a talent agent to get into commercials! Her mom called me needing some photos for a portfolio for her. Not having a studio, I went to their house and shot these in her yard and even in her playroom and stairwell! It was a lot of fun. Kayla is a NATURAL in front of the camera! Good luck, Kayla!

Megan & Jason {Cable WI wedding photographer}

2009-09-10T17:09:00.000-07:00

So my 2nd wedding ever turned out to be a destination wedding! Jason's parents are friends of mine, so they flew me out to Wisconsin to photograph their son's wedding. I had never been to Wisconsin before. This Florida girl was enamored with all the Christmas trees just growing by the side of the road! (I'm sure a similar awe is felt by northerns who come down to my neck of the woods and see palm trees in everyone's front yard, lol!) I was also astounded to learn how COLD it can be in AUGUST! (For us Floridians, August is *the* hottest month of the year. Up in Wisconsin, it was downright chilly! Could have been a winter day for all I knew!)

Jason & Megan were a lot of fun. They were completely relaxed in front of the camera and everyone in their bridal party was incredible!

Jason and Megan

2009-09-04T08:40:00.000-07:00

I had a great time shooting Jason and Megan's wedding! The ceremony and reception were held at a ski resort in Cable, Wisconsin. This Florida girl was enamored with the Christmas trees just growing by the side of the road! (I'm used to seeing palm trees everywhere. I'll trade my palms for pines any day!)

With a couple like this, who wouldn't have fun? As a photographer, it is my DREAM to have subjects who are willing to be themselves in front of the camera!

This last shot is one of my favorites, photographically! Jason and Megan released butterflies at the reception. This one found a home in the bartender's tip glass.

Behind the Lens: The Making of a Family Portrait

2009-08-23T19:27:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the special features section of Jennifer Lee Photography! Here we see in full detail the ~~shenanigans~~ excitement that comes from being behind the lens during a family portrait session.

This afternoon, I went to do a photo shoot for a dear friend of mine. She wanted mostly photos of her 2-month old son, but also wanted a few of the two boys together, and a few of the boys and her together.

Her husband even made it easy for me-- he hung a black backdrop in their living room! I felt like I was in a real studio!

Sounds easy, no?

Sometimes, big brother doesn't want to be in a picture.

My poor friend. I felt sympathy for her. All she wanted was some nice photos of her children together. After much ~~begging~~ earnest attempts at getting big brother to smile, I suggested we ~~bribe with balloons~~ let Big Brother go play for awhile and try again in a few minutes.

Big Brother along with my son were having fun playing with balloons. As you can see, I scooted my friend's chair closer and closer to the balloon action, hoping to catch a spontaneous moment in which both brothers and Mommy were together in a photo.

This carried on for quite some time. We finally ~~arm-wrestled~~ gently placed Big Brother into the chair next to his mother and brother.

Oops. Digging for treasure, it would seem.

Hey, this one's not bad!

...only, there must be something spectacularly bizarre (and stinky) up on the ceiling, if you look closely at Baby's face.

Well, my friend now has a collection of slightly off-beat photos of herself with her two children. But life IS offbeat, so we may as well record it that way!

Although, there's a lot to be said for something like this...

Preview- Newborn Photo Shoot!

2009-08-23T14:13:00.000-07:00

This is my very favorite shot from today's newborn photo shoot. The baby is nearly two months old now, so I don't know if he's still technically a "newborn," but anyhoo. It was fun! This is my friend's baby. I went to her house today and we had a fun time. Her husband set up a black backdrop in the living room for me, but I found that the photos I took in the baby's room came out better because of the abundance of natural light streaming through the windows.

My Son

2009-08-23T13:58:00.000-07:00

Yes. Another photo of my son. I can't get enough of these! (He was blowing a kiss to me. How sweet!)

Wedding: Jessica and Steve

2009-08-15T10:06:00.000-07:00

I shot my very first wedding a couple of weeks ago! I had such a marvelous time, and I learned a whole lot.

Anyway. The bride and groom were thrilled with the pictures, I had a wonderful time, and I am looking forward to shooting my second wedding at the end of the month! Here are a few "sneak peeks."

(Please excuse the fuzziness. I'm still trying to stumble on the right way to resize images for this blog so that I can both protect my images AND show the images at their best. This is not it. Does anyone have some magic numbers? I'd appreciate it. Mmkaythanks.)

Jessica & Steve {Coral Springs FL wedding photographer}

2009-08-09T16:55:00.000-07:00

Today was a historic day for me! It is my very first gig as a wedding photographer!!! I have been wanting to do this for so long, and I had such an incredible time! I learned a lot to take with me into my next wedding (which is later this month!!) and I am excited to see what the future holds!

Fleeting Moments

2009-07-24T18:59:00.001-07:00

My Dad came over for a short visit this afternoon. After watching him play with my son for a few moments, I decided it was time to grab the camera. I'm glad I did.

Toy Project

2009-07-19T08:04:00.000-07:00

Here are some more shots from my current toy project. I'm trying to take "portraits" of my son's favorite toys. I think it may be an interesting way to document his growth. Every year I'll do a new set. This is a fun project!

He is in a "pirate" phase right now, and he just loves to play with his pirate ship. He'll come up to you and announce, "I AM a pirate! Arrr!"

It's just the cutest thing ever.

We Love Pixar

2009-07-07T10:53:00.000-07:00

I was inspired by my friend Carrie to take some photos of my son's favorite toys. I plan on doing some more, but I desperately need to get my camera fixed. The autofocus doesn't work at all, and my metering system is all wonky. (These photos were taken in a bright, sunlit room but my camera thought it was dark and made me use ridiculously long shutter speeds to get these.) I plan on framing these and hanging them in his room, and every year doing new "portraits" of his favorite toys.

Maternity Portrait Session

2009-06-07T11:59:00.000-07:00

This morning I went to a local park with a very dear friend of mine who will be having her second baby VERY soon! We're hoping to go out to the beach to do a few more later in the week.

Engagement Session: Jessica and Steve

2009-05-17T12:24:00.000-07:00

This morning I woke up at the crack of dawn to go with Jessica and Steve to the beach to do an engagement session at sunrise. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day, and Jessica and Steve were just so darn cute together!!

Playing In The Rain

2009-05-14T11:21:00.000-07:00

Down here in south Florida, we get these little rainstorms that come and go quick as a wink. It started raining, we got out the umbrella to go splash in the puddles, and then the rain stopped. (I really like the reflection in the window in the 2nd photo!)

But it's still fun to play with an umbrella when you're 2 years old.

Now. Can someone please tell me why my photos look COMPLETELY DIFFERENT when I look at themin Photoshop compared to how they look when I post them online? Is it something to do with color spaces? Can someone please explain it all to me? Both of these look much darker in my web browser than they do in Photoshop.

Who Is She?

2009-05-13T10:30:00.000-07:00

{Updated September 10, 2011}

Jennifer is a photographer specializing in Family & Equine Portraiture. Able to capture the bond between family members, friends, and horses and their riders, Jennifer creates family heirlooms.

Jennifer's artistry and creative photography really captured the true essence. The pictures are nothing short of stunning. She captured every moment beautifully and I was in awe to see and relive my son's most important day through the lens of Jennifer Swanepoel Photography. Her attention to detail captured moments that without her dedication and professionalism we would have otherwise missed. I can't thank her enough. I would highly recommend her to photograph any important event! -Janice Millican, September 2009

She has been photographing people, animals, and events professionally since 2009. She uses Nikon equipment, and utilizes post-processing techniques to enhance the images, making them of highest quality. She produces pieces of art rather than just photographs.

Wow! These turned out wonderful! We had such a blast with you yesterday, I can't wait to see the rest! -Genna Frazier, September 2011

Jennifer is one of the most creative and talented photographers I have ever met! She photographed our daughter Jessica's wedding and was kind, sensitive to our wishes, and produced over 300 amazing photographs that we all loved! Check out her website! The pictures are posted there and you will see what I mean! -Janet Brockway, August 2009

Your portrait session will be tailored to meet your needs. If you are interested in hiring Jennifer for your next photo session, please call at 954-282-1252 for further information.

Visit us on Facebook: Jennifer Swanepoel Photography

We look forward to working with you soon!

Pricing Information

2009-05-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

(Edited January 23, 2012)

Here is some basic pricing information for family portrait sessions. If you like what you see, give me a call and we'll set up a consultation and can go over the finer details.

Portrait Session:

Session Fee: $150. This fee is due upon booking the session. You will receive a $35 credit to be used on prints from your session. Approximately two weeks after your session, I will come to your home to do a private image viewing. At that time, you will see all of the final, edited images from your session and will select the prints and products you would like.

A complete price list of all available prints and products can be provided upon request. We offer a variety of print sizes and products, such as canvas gallery wraps and albums in addition to standard prints.

Additionally, for any image that you purchase a print, I will provide you a complimentary digital image suitable for sharing on Facebook or displaying on a digital photo frame. You are investing in a luxury product by Jennifer Swanepoel Photography, and in order to guarantee the quality of the prints and products you select, it is essential that they all go through the professional lab I partner with. To that end, I do not make high-resolution digital files available for purchase, but rest assured that I archive files from my clients, so you can always come back to me for prints later on.

To contact me, please feel free to e-mail or call.

Jen@JenSwan.com
954-282-1252

I hope to hear from you soon!!

Just Goofin' Around

2009-05-12T20:32:00.000-07:00

I find that I get much of my photographic inspiration in my own backyard.

Today was a beautiful, sunny Florida afternoon. After splashing in the pool for awhile, my son wanted to put on his cowboy hat and play in his castle. You just never saw anything cuter than a 2-year old boy with swim trunks and a cowboy hat.

Then the clouds rolled in. It looked like it was going to start pouring, and I thought I heard thunder rolling in the distance, but alas it was not to be.

Help me choose a business card!

2009-05-07T12:17:00.000-07:00

Hi there! I am designing business cards and I need some help! Please give me an honest critique of both of these. I am just starting out in my photography business, and for now, I just want something I can carry with me so that when I am approached during photo shoots (of which I have several lined up,) I can have something to give out with my contact information.

Are the photos good? Should I change the font? Color? Include more information? Take something out? Try a different technique? I appreciate all the help I can get! You can either leave a message in the comments, or DM me on Twitter. (JenKSwan.) Thanks a million!

Photo Shoot: Butterfly World

2009-05-03T11:15:00.000-07:00

I went to a local attraction today, Butterfly World in Coconut Creek, Florida. I was hoping to get some great shots of butterflies, but the little guys were just so eager to fly around and they wouldn't keep still for a portrait. However, I think I got some great botanicals! I would welcome constructive criticism from my fellow photographers, as I am constantly striving to improve my art. Enjoy!

Photo Shoot: J.C.

2009-04-24T13:06:00.000-07:00

I got to photograph this ADORABLE little boy yesterday! Fortunately, his mother has excellent taste in living room furniture resulting in a lovely setting for the indoor portraits. She also has a green thumb and planted the wildflower garden where he is sitting in the first portrait. This was so fun! I learned a few more photoshop tricks while editing these, so not only was this a great photo session, it was a learning experience as well!

Photo Shoot: Backyard

2009-04-20T11:51:00.000-07:00

More from the backyard photo shoot! I gave my son my old Nikon N65 camera body to play with. He was having so much fun imitating my movements with my camera, that I couldn't resist snapping this one!

Photo Shoot: Primary Colors

2009-04-09T21:31:00.000-07:00

Just playing around in the backyard before my friend came over with her son to do his photo shoot. My son was playing with this yellow umbrella. He was very upset with me when I confiscated it to become part of a photo shoot!

I like the play of the colors against each other. The only adjustments I made were to boost the saturation in the blues and yellows, and I increased the exposure a tiny bit.

Photo Shoot: J.C.

2009-04-09T12:46:00.000-07:00

I did a mini-photo shoot in my backyard with a friend's little boy. Here are two of my favorites: