Allnut Wedding
January 2, 2012
I had the pleasure of photographing Marisa and Joey’s wedding on August 19th. I’ve started to write about their special day several times but could never really figure out what to say. It was such a beautiful, fun wedding and being with the bride and her bridal party from the beginning of their day was wonderful. There was so much laughing and loved shared throughout the day… everything was perfect and I was honored to capture it in images. Enjoy!
Here are a few of my favorites from the morning:
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Bride and groom see each other for the first time… get your tissues ready!
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Then we headed to the rose garden at Syracuse University for some formal portraits with the bridal party and a few of the happy couple before officially becoming Mr. and Mrs. Allnut.
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Now off to get married!
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And then for some more photos, mingling and partying!
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Congratulations Marisa and Joey! Here’s to many, many happy memories to come! And happy 2012 to you all!
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Sentimental
September 13, 2011
For whatever reason, I’m thinking a lot about how my photography has evolved over the years.
I miss taking FILM photos so much and I miss printing my own photos in the darkroom so much I can’t stand it sometimes. Truth be told, I’m not a huge fan of digital photography. I tend to think that many professional and semi-professional photos now are more about what can be changed and manipulated in an image than they are about capturing what’s special and beautiful about a person or place. I feel pretty strongly that oftentimes photography now is not about creating art – quality art – but, rather, about making money. (Don’t get me wrong, making money at photography is my dream but I want to be able to make money making images that are genuine to my art style).
What I have loved about my photography for years (and when I say years, I mean YEARS… I got my first big, manual, interchangeable lens camera almost 21 years ago and have not stopped taking pictures since then) is that I don’t do poses. I don’t do cutesy, fad shots. I do photos that capture a person’s unique personality…
I’ve spent a few years thinking that I need to change that. Or that I need to find a way to incorporate the “in” style of portrait photography with “my” style. I’ve rethought this recently, though, as I’ve felt increasingly frustrated about not knowing how to/not wanting to “market” myself as that kind of photographer but feeling a need to do so.
Photographing people (and places but mostly people)… especially kids and families interacting with one another is a very spiritual experience for me. It always has been, I just didn’t always realize that’s how I experienced it. When I photograph kids, I feel let into the magic of their worlds. I feel gifted an opportunity to capture a moment in time when they’re simply being themselves. You can’t manipulate that with enhanced color and kitschy props to be more beautiful and special than it is. Why would you want to?
So, I’ve decided that being true to my art is the thing that makes me happiest and that makes my images special and different. This is all to say that I would love to photograph children and families all day every day.
But… I’m not going to put your baby in a basket. If you want your sweet little one to wear a hot pink tutu in her photos, that’s fine – bring her to the photoshoot in it, but I’m not supplying it as an “extra” prop and I can’t promise that it’ll even make into the photo. I’ll make sure that the color in your photos is nice, that the lighting is metered properly, that black/white photos have rich tones, but I’m not going to make little Johnny’s grey eyes turquoise blue in his close up.
These are the moments I want to capture:
Hannah counting lemons in her backyard.
Jimmy playing in the park.
Anna… simply being Anna.
David learning about a leaf.
Peyton’s mommy kisses.
Sweet touches.
And those moments you just can’t get back…
So special.
August 30, 2011
This is one special little boy I got to take pictures of on Saturday. We did some pics in honor of his second birthday and I had SO much fun! Here are some of my favorites of him and his beautiful family:
Actually, before I get to the pictures… Did you know that I’m going to be doing a mini-photo session marathon this weekend in Syracuse (Liverpool)? You really can’t beat this deal: $50 for a 30 minute candid portrait shoot, a CD with 30 fully edited high resolution images and $25 off a full portrait session anytime in 2012. I won’t make your child’s eyes some crazy blue color and I won’t pose them so they look stiff. But if you want artistic, high quality portraits that capture the true essence of your little one’s personality and/or your family, be in touch SOON to book your 30 minute session for Saturday or Sunday. You can reach me at joslynsmithphotography@gmail.com .
Now… pictures:
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My letter to Jess Weiner.
August 10, 2011
This has nothing to do with photography, but I wanted to post this for those of you who are looking for a link to the letter…
Dear Jess,
I need to write you because, for the second night after reading your Glamour article, I can’t sleep. Actually, last night wasn’t too bad… just restless. But tonight after learning of your newest endeavor, Conscious Weight Wellness, sleep has completely eluded me.
In reading numerous responses to your article, I feel that most all of the bases have been covered in terms of big-picture things I would like to say to you. (I trust you’ve read this blog post by Deb Burgard, Ph.D.) Instead, I want to share with you how I am personally affected by what you wrote and by the new language that you’re employing around your journey toward health. While this is your journey, our paths have crossed and, therefore, your journey and mine intersect in ways that are feeling really confusing for me now.
I keep going back to June 16, 2007. You and I were both in Albany for an Ophelia’s Place conference. Dianne Neumark-Sztainer keynoted and then you and I presented. I can’t help but laugh now when I think of the title of our talks that day: Yours, Decoding the Language of Fat. Mine, Countering Mixed Messages about Weight and Health. How ironic. You have a huge public presence, so this day is probably a blur to you. But, for me, it was a significant, emotional, affirming day. It was my first full-length presentation sharing about my experience with an eating disorder. I was excited to really present, proud of myself for coming to a place where I valued my story enough to share it, and very sad because it was the eighth anniversary of Andrea Smeltzer’s death due to her thirteen month battle with bulimia. I was acutely aware of the unfairness – to the world – of the loss of Andrea. It was especially moving for me because Tom and Doris (Andrea’s parents) were also in Albany, and while every year I send special thoughts/words to them on the anniversary, it was the only time I’ve been with them during part of that day. Your response to my presentation is part of what encouraged me to keep sharing my story. You told me that my story has value. That my message needs to be heard by everyone. Do you remember?
I believe wholeheartedly that, to this day, you will tell me that my story has value, that it needs to be shared. That you and I now have different stories to tell. And that that is ok. And I would agree with you. But, Jess, the language you are using, the way in which you are choosing to tell your story now… this new part of your story… has the potential to silence me and others with similar experiences. That silence can be deadly (I know you know this) and that’s why I cannot not offer my experience of reading your article.
When I read the article, I immediately sent a big “thank you” out to the universe for the point I’m at now in my recovery. Two years ago, I had to go back into treatment. As is typical of eating disorder recovery, I have gone back and forth between doing very well taking care of myself and doing very poorly taking care of myself. I’m currently doing well and feeling solid in the truths I know about my body. So, your article has confused me and hurt me and made me doubt myself a little. But it hasn’t caused me to relapse. Had it been published eight or nine months ago, it would have, at least, thrown a major kink into my health efforts. At most, I would have relapsed. Not because I would have believed what you are saying, but because my eating disorder was a little stronger than the part of me that knows what’s best for my body. And, at times, my desire to turn back to my eating disorder for comfort and control has been strong. This article would have been a great excuse. I am sure it’s not your intention, but I can’t help but wonder how many people will be triggered. Intentions and consequences can be very different things.
Once I remembered that I really do know how to take care of my body and that I don’t need to reevaluate that knowledge based on your words, I then thought, “Oh shit. Maybe Jess is relapsing.” I thought the “maybe” part because you are JESSICA WEINER. And, really, how could that happen? But the reality is that it can happen to you the same way it happens to all of us… a little unexpectedly, sometimes masked by a health seeking desire, sometimes when we’re speaking loud and proud about how we are well… finally, sometimes in the midst of major life changes, sometimes simply after a rough day. Sometimes because things are really great and we let our guard down. I pray that is not the path on which you’re headed (or will be headed), but I’m concerned. I am especially concerned because I know from experience that when one is in the midst of or headed towards a relapse, one rarely recognizes it.
As much as I hate to admit it, I’m sometimes confused living my life with one foot in the eating disorders world and one foot in the Health At Every Size® world. In my mind, the two coexist perfectly. In the real world, it doesn’t always work that way. Sometimes it’s easy to be in both worlds and sometimes it feels like I’m doing splits trying to be present in both at the same time. Because the Health At Every Size community has been quite vocal in response to your article and I don’t really have anything to add to what’s been said, I need to speak on behalf of the me that has come dangerously close, more than once, to losing my life because I listened to stories that told me I needed to lose weight to gain health.
My experience of you writing this article is akin to what it might have been like if Gloria Steinem had all of a sudden decided that women didn’t actually have anything important to say… Oops, she was wrong after all. Carry on, men. Continue doing what you do best – making decisions for us all. It’s kind of a comical thought, right? A week ago, it would have been amusing to think of you promoting a new weight loss trend. It’s not comical or amusing anymore. It’s reality. I know it will be very easy for you to say that you are not, in and of itself, promoting weight loss. You are only promoting weight loss within the context of ensuring that one is and remains metabolically healthy. That one’s value is not based on his/her weight but that person’s health might be. This is my question to you: How is that any different than the majority of weight-focused programs in existence? When have you ever heard that your value as a person is based on your weight? Have you ever heard that? I have never heard that. At least not from programs that are marketing to those they think need to lose weight. The problem is that these are the messages that are implied. Jess, they’re implied in your current efforts too.
And, so… where does this leave us? It leaves me in awe at your abilities as a businesswoman. It leaves me sad. And it leaves me determined to speak the truth that I am working so hard to experience and truly know in each cell of my body: My body (and each person’s body) is a miraculous, wise vessel for which I am thankful. My body has the amazing ability to respond in a way that lets me know if the food I am eating is nourishing it in the way that it needs to be nourished, if the way in which I am moving my body is filling me with life energy or depleting my physical and mental resources, if the relationships in my life are supporting me or keeping me distanced from feeling fulfilled, if my environment is health promoting or stress inducing. My body has, quite literally, added and held on to fat in order to keep me alive. On my healthiest days, I am immensely grateful for that.
I have no way of knowing how much weight my body will hold or what shape my body will take in the coming years. What I do know is that my body is wise. So, I am going to nourish it with food and movement and compassion, and trust that the size and shape it holds is the size and shape it needs to be in that moment for me to be my wisest, healthiest self – physically, emotionally and spiritually. I am finished with the battle.
I hope for those who hold you in such high esteem, as I have for so long, that you can reframe your message and move back into a place of self love that includes nurturing and nourishing your body and your soul in healthful, kind ways and letting your body be as it is meant to be. That is the gift the world needs.
With love,
Joslyn
P.S. “I know I’ll never be skinny, and I’m fine with that, but I’m still focused on losing more weight – 30 more pounds is my goal – so I can stay out of the diabetes danger zone.” Seriously, Jess? W.T.F.
One year olds!
July 3, 2011
In May I was lucky enough to get to photograph Kate’s 1st birthday party. And last weekend, I did photos of Lucas for his 1st birthday. These were extra fun photo shoots for me, because I photographed each of these cuties when they were itty-bitty. I love chronicling kids as they grow and change.
Some pics from Kate’s special party day:
And here’s Lucas in all his glory:
New Website!
May 29, 2011
I’ve finally gotten around to updating my website with something sleek and clean that lets me showcase more than one picture on the splash page! Check it out, let me know what you think and book your session soon!
www.joslynsmithphotography.com
There will also be a site completed soon for my painting and sculpting work, As You Are Art. The two sites will be linked. I’ll let you know when the other one is up and running!
Sisters
February 26, 2011
When I was in AZ over the holidays, I was so, so, so excited to take a very quick road trip with my mom to L.A. to see my dear friend Andrea and her girls, Kylee and Brielle. I met Andrea when Kylee was 5 months old and she and I were both working as consultants at a bridal store. We clicked almost immediately and have stayed friends. I adore her and wish we lived closer. She’s such an incredible mom and her daughters are simply amazing. Watching Kylee grow up over the years has been a delight and I can only imagine what the next years will hold for her. Brielle entered the world a little early on October 15. Getting to meet her for the first time and photograph the girls together was very special for me. Here are some of my favorites.
Favorite, favorite:
Kylee: (Soon, I’m going to do a post with pictures of her when she was a toddler, because they’re still some of my faves.)
Brielle:
And she’s awake!
Sweet, Sweet Seamus.
February 23, 2011
I love my sweet nephew Seamus so much, and it’s painful to live across the country from him. I got the best Christmas present ever, though, when I got to be with him (and the rest of the family) for his first Christmas. He is such a happy, amazing little guy which made it both harder and easier to leave him. He’s in very good hands with my brother and his wife. Before I left, Seamus and I (of course) had a little photo shoot. Note his very cool scarf, made especially for him by his Auntie JoJo.
Results:
Think they like each other? Snuggles for Daddy…
Yep, I’m really THIS cute:
And when I wasn’t behind the camera, Seamus and I got to play a little too and, thanks to Clay, we have some pictures together also (doesn’t happen often):
Peyton
February 21, 2011
When I was in Arizona over the holidays, I was lucky enough to meet my mom’s neighbors who I’ve heard so much about. Their daughter, Peyton, is four days younger than my nephew and she’s amazing. See for yourself…
And one of my all time favorites:
