An example of what to wear...

I am always being asked how a family should dress for photos. There are so many options, it can be overwhelming. Some families like to match but many do not. There are pros and cons to matching. I usually recommend that families be coordinated but not necessarily matching. Coordinating allows individual personalities to be expressed and makes for a more dynamic photo. It can accomodate different ages and body types so everyone feels comfortable and confident which is very important when taking photos. Here's an example of a family I recently photographed who looked great for photos.

Now, if I could get my kids to cooperate for photos like these girls...amazing!
For more clothing tips, click here.

Playing catch-up

Oh man, I am glad last week is over! My boys and I got the flu and my husband had to go out of town on a business trip! We made it through and we are all well now. So, I've been trying to get caught up on everything. I am afraid I am going to be a day late getting the K family their photos. Here's a sneak peek though and an extra image for your patience! I had so much fun photographing this family. My stomach hurt afterwards from laughing so hard. They were so adventurous and sweet...and I got a little taste of what life with two boys will be like in a few years...it'll be about the same--they still won't want to sit for pictures anyway.

Sneak peek--one year old Miss J

This little cutie was great...independent, sweet, loved to "talk" on her phone...so fun!

Enjoy this sneak peek W family!

Internet Woes

Ugh. Our internet out in the country stinks! It goes out everytime there's a slight breeze. So as you can imagine with all these storms, I am really getting frustrated. Hopefully, this will won't be a problem for very much longer. The ball seems to be rolling...
Anyway, I have had these ready for a couple days but I couldn't keep a connection long enough to get them online! Here's one for the H family!

Completely Candid

My boys and I found this creek on a walk one day. At first the only thing they wanted to do was throw rocks into the water. But then they explored and eventually sat down side-by-side to look at a duck. They were being very still and whisperingto each other so they wouldn't scare it away. I had to capture this sweet brotherly moment. I love their muddy, wet, rolled-up jeans--it's so them. I can't believe I actually thought rolling up their jeans would keep them clean and dry! ha!

New York Trip

My husband and I just got home from a wonderful vacation in New York City and the Niagara Falls area. Here's a few shots I snagged on our excursions...


Niagara Falls


Niagara Falls


Lady Liberty

Holiday Mini Sessions

Baby, it’s HOT outside! But that means it’s time to book your portrait session for your Christmas and holiday cards.

HOLIDAY MINI SESSIONS

Option A:

Saturday, September 26th at the Dallas Arboretum

$100 includes 1 set of 25 cards with envelopes and
30-40 minute session for up to 4 people. $25 each for each additional person.
10-15 finished images from which to choose
9am-12 noon

Or

Option B:

Saturday, October 10th in downtown Frisco

$100 includes 1 set of 25 cards with envelopes and
30-40 minute session for up to 4 subjects. Additional subjects $25 each.
10-15 finished images from which to choose
9am-12 noon

Additional prints from may be ordered from these mini sessions.

Both session types are available as a Digital Package for

$250 which includes the session and the final images on a CD

(no cards come with the digital package).

The cards are custom designed with your input.

5x7 one-sided, but upgrades to two-sided and tri-fold are available.

DEADLINES:
The cutoff for holiday sessions is November 3rd. Orders must be placed by November 13th to allow for holiday season delivery. After this date, there will be a $20 rush fee for orders needed in time for holiday delivery. After December 1st, the rush fee is $50.

As usual, sessions are already booking up for September, October, and November...so call ASAP to reserve your date!

469-693-1108
jessica@jessicastarrphotography.com

Available times for Sept 26th (Arboretum)
9:00...filled!
9:45
10:30
11:15 ...filled
12:00...filled

Available times for October 10th (Downtown Frisco)
9:00
9:45
10:30
11:15
12:00

Where's the photographer?

Here I am!! I have been a bad blogger this summer. We've been having fun and having my two boys at home every. single. day makes things extra fun! Although, I am looking forward to preschool starting up again so I can have at least a couple days to myself.
If you're wondering what a urban/downtown session may look like, here's an example:



Here's Miss N from a recent session. It's always so good to see her and her sweet parents. Her dad was such a trooper--Thanks for the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon maneuver you did for these shots!
Some more from this session...lots of sneak peak pics to make up for my blogging absence.

Moms of boys may relate

A while back I found myself sighing that sigh of momentary defeat as the mother of 2 boys. The boys were being boys--perfectly sweet, absolutely grimey, rough and tumble, 100% boys. My mom was nearby and heard my surrender. She said, "These boys are little angels, you know...they just sometimes crumple up their halos and stuff 'em in their back pockets." After hearing that, I gathered up the wings and halos and followed the boys around outside digging in the dirt, collecting horse apples in their dump truck, standing on the fence mooing at the cows, and playing with sticks and just being little boy angels.

6 month old, Cole

I love chunky babies! This guy is a perfect little rolly polly. He loves playing with his toes so we had to capture that on camera!

Newborn boy and his big brother

I photographed big brother as a newborn and now I had the opportunity to photograph his new baby brother. What a privilege! And they couldn't be cuter!

Matthew McConaughey, move over!

This little lady-killer is one year old Nathan. He is just so handsome and all relaxed and kickin' back with his little sleeves rolled up. Matthew McConaughey better watch out!

Minis Part 2

Here's some peeks of the second set of mini sessions. I am not finished with all from the second round yet. So "C" family, you're next!

One year old, Lucy

Here's a sneak peek of Little Lucy. I will probably add another one tomorrow... but here's one for now...

By the way, if anyone knows why all of a sudden, I can't click on the images to make them bigger in a new window, please let me know. It's driving me crazy!

Family Minis... Sneak Peeks...

Just a few quick sneak peeks! Check back because I'll just add the to this post as I get more done. If you don't see your family it's might be because I haven't got to ya yet or it might be because you already have access to ALL your images (check your email).

I had a blast with all these families and making a fool of myself for the kids. I can't wait for round 2 this weekend!

Mini Session openings

I have two 30-40 minute timeslots I need to fill on April 19th. I will be doing outdoor mini sessions in McKinney. The available times are 2:30 pm and 4:00 pm.
In order to fill these spots I am offering them at the special price of $35. They will be given to the first two people who email me at jesslyn_ag@yahoo.com

ETA: the 4:00 has been filled.

Look whooo showed up to get his photo taken during the mini-sessions!

I was waiting for the next family to arrive for their mini session, when I heard this guy above me say,"Yooo hoooo! Take take my picture!" So I did. Then, the family arrived, he flew away, and I forgot about it until I got home and was checking the images!

Sweet Miss A -- it was too hard to choose!

Well, I have been a sneak peek slacker...So to make up for my serious slack-off, I am going to post not just one, but three pics for Miss A's family! Lucky! Miss A is 6 months old and a Baby Plan client and a living doll! She can be seen here showing off one of her newfound talents--sitting up.

Generations Family Mini Session test shoot with my kids

I took my kids to the location to find some good potential spots for the upcoming mini sessions. They loved this spot with a very natural landscape.

Announcing New DIGITAL PACKAGES and CUSTOMER LOYALTY Program

My husband keeps telling me that we live in the digital age. . .I suppose it's time I got with it. So I am announcing my Digital Package. This package includes one session and the final retouched images (about 20-30) on a DVD with a Print Release. I maintain the copyright but this release will allow you to get an unlimited number of prints made at the sizes you wish. The cost for this package is $425. You are welcome to order canvases, birth annoncements, holiday cards, albums, etc through me for the regular posted prices.

I will continue to offer my regular sessions and prints for those who wish to order prints through me as usual.

The Customer Loyaty Program rewards returning customers with $50 off all sessions. This discount is not applicable to the Baby Plan or mini-sessions. However, if you have bought a Baby Plan or mini-session in the past, then you qualify for the discount on future sessions, of course!

SHARE the LOVE

February is the month for love so why not share it? During the month of February, You can share a session with another family or even 2-3 families. A session usually lasts up to 2 hours and you may share the time/cost however you like as long as each family has at least 1/2 hour dedicated to them. You may want to share the sessions with your best friend or your sisters. Say you decide to share with your sister, you could do half the session of your kids then we could get a few with her kids and your kids together and then some with just your sister's kids for the second half of the session.

Limit 5 kids please when overlapping, $25 for additional kids. Sessions must be booked in February and they must take place in Feb. or March. Call or email to book your session today!

May have trespassed for these...

I was driving on a newly opened portion of road yesterday, when I almost fell out of my seat while turning to look at this awesome barn. I was so excited I had a hard time containing my squeals of delight. It was amazing, you can even tell that it was once painted Barn Red!

Just as we were about to leave and climb back over the gate, my husband saw a police car parked right next to our car. Oh boy. We decided to hang back behind some trees to see if he was waiting for us or if he was catching speeders. Luckily, about a minute later, he went after a speeder. Phew!