Falling for Family!!

Fall is such a beautiful time of year!!  And, in Nebraska we are watching the clock as our season is quickly changing to winter....wishing we could keep these beautiful leaves glued to the trees just a little while longer!!  :)

The neatest thing happened this week with business!!  Two years ago, I took a flight to visit a friend in Alabama.  As I was returning to Nebraska, I had a connection with a little bit of a wait.  If you know me, I am the type of person who is not too shy with strangers.  A lovely family and I struck up a conversation about Omaha and where they were traveling from and where they lived in the city.  It turns out that we live relatively close to each other and the subject of photography came up.  I passed along my business card to Carol Ann (the mother) and we continued to board our flight.  Two years later, she called me and said she still had my card and wanted some family portraits!  Lovely!!!!  Talk about the power of a business card...and a fun story to add to this photography journey!!!!

After laughing over the coincidence, Carol Ann decided that she would like to take portraits at Fontenelle Forest in Bellevue in hopes of capturing the last bit of fall and a nice display for her home.  I agreed and looked forward to taking pictures in a new venue!!

It turned out to be a beautiful day with a beautiful family!!  They are embarking on a daughter who is graduating and a son who is working his way through early teenage years.  Her husband enjoys walks in this area over his lunch hour, so the memory of this photo is a milestone and very personal.  Here is a sneak peek from the day.

Thank you for choosing Red Umbrella Photography and it was a pleasure to get to know you all a little better!!  I appreciate the wonderful day and I look forward to crossing paths again real soon!!! 

~Jodi 

Blog is updated and ready for viewing! As always thank you for stopping by to take a look! Please note: All photographs and graphics on this site are the property of Red Umbrella Photography, and may not be used for any purpose without permission. Most of the pictures you will find on my website are available for license. If you are interested in using one of my images for your website or print materials, please contact me at tjstandish@live.com

A New Blessing...

What a fun month!!  One of my close and beautiful friends gave birth to a healthy baby boy named Otto!!  She asked me in the early summer if I would be willing to take pictures during his first few days of life.  To say that I was excited would be an understatement!  All of the sleepy pictures that I see on photographer blogs and Pinterest would become a reality behind my lens!  Oh boy!!  Literally!

We decided to start with a few family portraits while the day was still warm.  Otto's big brother is getting used to the idea of this baby, but he is doing great!!  I had the privilege of photographing him last year and it is incredible to see how much he has grown and changed in one year.  This childhood stuff passes us by so quickly!  This is what makes this job so awesome...the ability to "savor" life's moments.  

Here is a sneak peek...

I love this family so much!!  And, Frannie, I must stand on my soapbox for a moment and say, you look amazing...if I didn't know you, I would not believe that you were 6 days post baby!!  Incredible!

NOW, for the "star" of the day...

One of my FAVORITES!!!  I think he might be smiling courtesy of "mom's" touch.  :)

Thank you Otto and family for such a great experience!  You are such a blessing and I wish you all health, happiness, and many more blessings.  Looking forward to watching you grow even more this year!!

XO,

Jodi


Blog is updated and ready for viewing! As always thank you for stopping by to take a look! Please note: All photographs and graphics on this site are the property of Red Umbrella Photography, and may not be used for any purpose without permission. Most of the pictures you will find on my website are available for license. If you are interested in using one of my images for your website or print materials, please contact me at tjstandish@live.com

A Garden View!

I seriously am still trying to wrap my head around the fact that it is September!!  This summer has been a whirlwind of fun!!  And, I am still having a blast!  It is time for senior portraits!!!  First one up, Erica!!  She wanted to take photos early to be sure to have a nature backdrop before the leaves start to fall.  Her choice?  Lauritzen Gardens!!  I was elated because I knew it was a going to be a gorgeous opportunity (plus a field trip for me...I have never had a chance to visit the gardens!)!   Erica is a beautiful senior and it was a fun late afternoon shoot!  She loves her purple prom dress and it was picture perfect when she put it on and we were surrounded by purple flowers!!!  This makes a photographer just get giddy inside!

We spent the early evening walking through various gardens, embracing a mountain of photo opportunities, and getting to know all about the person that Erica is and what her future holds!  Aside from being beautiful inside and out, she is excited for this year and the milestone that lies ahead!  

I wish you a great year Erica and have a blast in college!!!  It goes fast, but what a ride!!  Here are some of my faves from the day!  Thank you so much for choosing Red Umbrella Photography to capture this moment, it was a pleasure!!!  I can't wait to hear where the journey takes you!!  :)  Your future is soooo bright!!

Hugs, 

~Jodi

Photography Idol

I stumbled on a challenge!  I follow Chic Critique on Facebook and to my surprise they are hosting a contest called Photography Idol!!  Chic Critique is fascinating to me because they really give photographers a chance to put themselves out into the world and expose a creative edge!  Who knows what the future holds, but I am going give this challenge a shot and submit one of my favorite images!

Blog is updated and ready for viewing! As always thank you for stopping by to take a look! Please note: All photographs and graphics on this site are the property of Red Umbrella Photography, and may not be used for any purpose without permission. Most of the pictures you will find on my website are available for license. If you are interested in using one of my images for your website or print materials, please contact me at tjstandish@live.com

Summertime=Family time!!

It is officially summer!!  Nebraska is hot, hot, hot!!  Through a nice referral, I had the pleasure of photographing the Pochinski family!  We planned a photo outing a month ago and the day arrived.  Temps were supposed to climb to 104 degrees on Saturday, but mother nature held out as our morning consisted of overcast skies (yes!!), 75-80 degree weather (we were not melting...double yes!), and a cool breeze!!  I met them at Walnut Creek recreation area and enjoyed capturing a beautiful family!!  Erin and John have an older daughter and twins (boy & girl).  The twins are adorable and I know I was not the first to comment on how much they look like their parents!!  Life is just amazing in that way.  Thank you Pochinski family for allowing me to capture a glimpse of your life as your children grow and keep you on your toes!  :)  Here is a sneak peek from the day.

We started off the shoot with a baby praying mantis landing on a tot's back...this baby made us all stop for a moment and soak up a bit of nature and...nurture.  

Aren't they the cutest??

A simple sweet moment.

Big Hugs,

Jodi

Blog is updated and ready for viewing! As always thank you for stopping by to take a look! Please note: All photographs and graphics on this site are the property of Red Umbrella Photography, and may not be used for any purpose without permission. Most of the pictures you will find on my website are available for license. If you are interested in using one of my images for your website or print materials, please contact me at tjstandish@live.com

Sister Love

Back to the family!  Yes!!! It has been a great month!  Last weekend, I was able to travel to Wyoming and attend my high school reunion.  It was a fun time to indulge in distant friendships and fit in plenty of family time!  I loved every minute!!!

One of my dear friends asked if I could squeeze in a photo shoot of her girls and I was beyond excited!  I got the opportunity to photograph them both one year ago (their youngest was a newborn) and it was so much fun to look through the lens and smile at how much they have changed in such a short time!  Val and Carson were great subjects and I loved their temperament.  We decided to take pictures in the park before our reunion picnic.  Thankfully, after the fires in Wyoming, the state was blessed with lots of rain!  The day was beautiful with green grass, blue skies, and cute little sisters!!  Dylan and Kelly, thanks for allowing me to capture another milestone in your family's life!!  Your family is beautiful and incredibly special!!  Plus, I had the best time hanging out with you all over the weekend festivities!!!

Here are a couple of my favorites...

Love you all and can't wait to see you again soon!!  Thanks for the smiles!!!

~Jodi


Blog is updated and ready for viewing! As always thank you for stopping by to take a look! Please note: All photographs and graphics on this site are the property of Red Umbrella Photography, and may not be used for any purpose without permission. Most of the pictures you will find on my website are available for license. If you are interested in using one of my images for your website or print materials, please contact me at tjstandish@live.com

All because two people fell in love...

Happy Friday everyone!! 

In honor of this patriotic week, I felt it was appropriate to blog about the awesome open door that I walked right through!!  Almost a year ago, dear military friends of ours approached me about photographing their daughter's wedding.  I blushed and of course, said yes!!! 

Before I get to the photos, here is a background story.  Enough time has lapsed.  Now, I can officially say that our relationship/friendship with this family goes way back.  My husband and the father of the bride worked together, while the mother of the bride and I became battle buddies during their work obligations.  That's life in the military.  New friends.  And, if you are lucky, a tight bond too!  Throughout this journey, I got to know the rest of their children (teenagers at the time).  It has been extremely fun to watch and hear about all of them growing up with families of their own.  Should I feel old?  Nah, I actually feel like the age gap has been bridged!  Our paths continue to cross in this lifetime and the situation always brings a smile to my face as I watch God direct our journey/friendship.  Coincidence?  Nope, God's perfect plan.  Ok, so let me gush once more.  When I started this note by saying dear friends, I actually want to say FAMILY.  :) And, that is exactly how they made me feel when I went to be part of Michelle (their daughter) and Stephen's (now, son in law) special wedding at Camp LeJuene, NC!  

That's right, Michelle married a marine!  Hoorah!  Stephen!  Thank you for your service from the bottom of my heart.  He had recently returned from a tour in Afghanistan to claim his bride!  They are an adorable couple and make a great match!  It was awesome getting to know each of them a little better and the extended family surrounding them.  Love and support was a common theme over the weekend.  One thing is for sure.  The Army has taken me places I never thought I would get to go!  It was a privilege to travel to beautiful North Carolina and capture young "military" love!!  As I photographed these two, I couldn't help but revisit my own young romance internally, but that is a story for another time!!  Hooah!!  :)  

Soooo, here are a few of my favorite photos from the weekend.   There are so many to choose from that I just grabbed a few for a sneak peek!  I appreciate everything and thank you again.   I wish Stephen and Michelle a lifetime of good health, many blessings, and ultimate happiness!  Love you!

The Details....

Mother of the Bride and Father of the Bride with groomsmen...

The Bride with her Man of Honor and bridesmaids...

Ahhhh....the ceremony...

Military tradition and romance...

I love this photo....ha!

Let's celebrate!!!

What a night!  Stephen surprised all of us with his serenade to his beautiful bride!  What talent!  I was totally impressed!!

I would love to post the entire wedding for you all to see, but take my word, it was a romantically majestic day!!  May we all have a day that is so unique, we get to make it our own!  

Congratulations Stephen and Michelle!!  

Blog is updated and ready for viewing! As always thank you for stopping by to take a look! Please note: All photographs and graphics on this site are the property of Red Umbrella Photography, and may not be used for any purpose without permission. Most of the pictures you will find on my website are available for license. If you are interested in using one of my images for your website or print materials, please contact me at tjstandish@live.com