Julie Marie Portraits

Happy Weekend! | Julie Marie Portraits | Rochester, NY Photographer

2012-02-04T13:17:00.000-05:00

Pretty in Pink | Julie Marie Portraits | Rochester, NY Children's Photographer

2012-02-01T21:29:00.001-05:00

Hope you all are having a great week! I wanted to share some photos of my gorgeous niece from this past weekend! Can you believe she's only 4? And check out her outfit....I would so wear that dress! (I probably wouldn't look too cute in the tights, huh! ) She is absolutely beautiful and so sweet!

And I had to share one from our Pittsburgh trip...Jakey with his cousins! He had the best time seeing them!

They're Engaged!

2012-01-25T08:02:00.000-05:00

They're Engaged! I was so excited when my bff's little sister called me and asked me to photograph her engagement photos. (and a little bummed that I have a prior commitment and won't be able to photograph their wedding) Anyway, I met her fiancé a couple of years ago at the lake, and there was just something about the two of them.... They are such a fun couple, great looking and so full of life! Just look at the pictures below...you can see how they just love each other and can have fun together! I couldn't be happier for them! Congrats M & K!

Oh, and let me add that it was FREEZING out when these were taken, but they rocked it!

This picture below is one of my favs ever! I just love the yummy creamy light coming in this alley way! It's like they're just glowing!

And I have to say....I'm on M's side for the pix below... Go Rockets! (my alma mater)

Get your Valentine's Ordered! | Julie Marie Portraits | Rochester, NY Children's Photographer

2012-01-24T21:17:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited to show you the Valentine's Day cards that Kristi of Kristi Young Design created! I absolutely love them and can't wait to get some! Kristi is so unbelievably talented, and I love that her designs are one of kind! I know it's still January, but if you are going to get Valentine's, now is the time to get them ordered! Just email Kristi at nyoung@bex.net. Also, check out her blog to see some more of her fabulous designs!

A Star Wars Birthday Party - Jack turns 6 | Julie Marie Portraits | Rochester, NY Photographer

2012-01-23T23:38:00.002-05:00

My nephew turned six a little over a week ago, and I was so happy to be able to drive home and celebrate his birthday with him! The last time I got to celebrate his birthday in person was when he was 2.....we then moved to Delaware. I was a little sad on his birthday because I couldn't believe he was already 6....i clearly remember the day he was born, and my oh my how the time has flown by!

So, can you guess what this year's birthday party theme was? You guessed it.....STAR WARS because my nephew is obsessed with it! My sister told me she was going to have a little party for his birthday.....little as in 21 5 & 6 year olds, plus a couple younger kids and Jake. I kept asking her what she was going to do because she knows how to plan a party, but she kept saying she wasn't sure. Well, on the Tuesday before his party, my sister spent the evening texting me on different ideas for the party, and sure enough....she pulled off a spectacular 6th birthday party! And to top if off....Jack said it was the BEST birthday ever!

Check out those cookies.....so cool & such a hit!

The most awesome Star Wars cake ever....made by Dakota's Custom Confections

Look how happy Jack is!

Not sure what my niece is doing here....?

Star Wars Printable Masks from Bessiepooh's Birthday
Custom Star Wars DIY banner from Christyland by hand
Death Star Pinata from Out of this World Pinata
Star Wars Candy Lightsabers from extramoneyformommy
Star Wars Custom Cake from Dakota's Custom Confections (she's on facebook)
Star Wars Cookies from Stephanie Bean
Handle Ice Cream Pops
Fun striped straws by kikkerland
Lightsabers made from swim noodles, silver and black duct tape
Round saucer snow sleds purchased at Meijer and personalized with Sharpie Paint Pens purchased at Michael's Crafts
Custom table skirt fabric Sewn by my seamstress
Photography by Julie Marie Portraits

Happy Monday Y'all! | Julie Marie Portraits | Toledo, OH Photographer

2012-01-23T08:14:00.000-05:00

Hope you all had a great weekend! I can't believe it's Monday again, but oh well!

CHeck out these cuties who you've seen before on my blog! They're getting so big, and they are OH SO HANDSOME! They braved the cold and had some fun in the snow!

Happy Weekend! | Julie Marie Portraits | Rochester, NY Photographer

2012-01-20T09:22:00.001-05:00

Happy Weekend, Everybody! Check out these two who belong to my cousin! So, so stinkin' cute and so well behaved!

Happy 2012! | Julie Marie Portraits | Rochester, NY Photographer

2012-01-06T15:54:00.005-05:00

Happy New Year 2012, Everybody! Hope you had a fabulous holiday season! We got to spend Christmas in Ohio with my family, and we had the best time! It was so nice to be home and just relax....and let all of my family chase Jake around while my hubby and I just sat and watched! :)

As all of you know, we moved to Rochester in October, and everybody kept talking about the horrible winters that Rochester gets...well, for some reason, we must have brought them some good luck because we've had a really mild December and January thus far. In fact, on New Year's day, Josh, Jake, Dexter and I went for our first 2012 walk outside. It felt a little weird to be walking outside in 40+ degree weather on January 1st and no snow!

Which now brings us to today.....another incredibly warm day for January! And, well, you guessed it...that meant time for some new updated photos of my on-the-go-at-all-times 21 month old little Jakers! I must say...he really is impossible to photograph right now, but M&M's do the trick to make him stop in his tracks! I'm thinking we need to buy stock in M&M's because he now knows his colors because of them, they've helped him calm down from the temper tantrums that seem to occur quite often, and we're hoping they'll help him with potty training when that begins (very soon)!

Jakers @ 21 months with his shaggy hair and blabla doll. And check out Jake sporting a bowtie! New favorite shirt from Somebubby Chapman Apparel.

I'm not sure what he's doing, but this look sort of cracks me up!

And without M&M's - this is what photos look like....no cooperation at all, but oh so fun! :) Have a great weekend!

An Atlanta Bar Mitzvah | Julie Marie Portraits | Atlanta, GA Photographer

2011-12-21T20:23:00.000-05:00

I recently traveled to Atlanta, GA for a weekend to photograph this spectacular bar mitzvah! I met this family when I started going to Marco Island, FL with my hubby's family a few years ago, and I was thrilled when R's mom asked me to come down to photograph the big day!

How handsome is he!

And can you say beautiful family!!! The bottom left photo is one of my favs ever! I love how this picture captures them.....so full of love!

The party then took place at the King Plow Arts Center. What a great venue!

Loved all of the photo booth gear for photos!

Loved the red hair, too!

R cracks me up...as I was going through editing the photos, I kept laughing every time I'd see the picture below (in the middle) - i was always getting a thumbs up or something from R!

The night was full of dancing.....the music was for lack of better word...AWESOME! It was music that I grew up on....I loved it how all of the kiddos were dancing to it and singing along!

Thanks, B, Family! I hope you enjoy!

What Didn't Get Blogged Part 2

2011-12-20T14:57:00.000-05:00

Yes, I'm playing a little catch up from early summer.... I'll let the pictures do the talking for this gorgeous Virginia wedding.....

What Hasn't Been Blogged Part 1

2011-12-20T13:06:00.000-05:00

Wishing You All.....

2011-12-19T20:11:00.000-05:00

Happy Holidays! I have some sessions to blog, but I thought I better wish you all Happy Holidays before 2012 gets here!

A Weekend Project?? | Julie Marie Portraits | Rochester, NY Photographer

2011-12-01T21:32:00.004-05:00

Hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving! We spent Thanksgiving in Pittsburgh and had a great time visiting with family!

I wanted to share with you what was going on in our neighborhood. I'll give you a little background on it...we live in the Park Avenue area of Rochester, and we absolutely love it! It has beautiful old homes and lots of restaurants and shops that we're able to walk to. It's a very quaint area. I especially love that Jake and I can walk to get a coffee and cookie everyday at the coffee shop just down the street! Anyway, our neighborhood had their 18th Annual Park Avenue Holiday Open House. I wasn't really sure what to expect, so I took my time on venturing out to check it out. I was amazed....there were so many people down here and all of the merchants were open for folks to stop in and shop, eat, and just mingle.

So, because I wasn't sure what to expect, I went out with out a camera, but I did have my iPhone and was able to get a few pix.

I think my favorite thing was this newspaper wreath that was displayed in a store's front window. How fabulous is this! We were walking by, and I stopped to check out the beautiful (very full) wreath in the window and realized it was made out of newspaper.

Doesn't it look great? The other side is a dress made out of newspaper.

I tried to get up close to see how it was made....I'm thinking this could possibly be a weekend project to try?

And this was too funny.....we had just walked down the street and we saw Tigger & Big Bird walking down the side walk. Jake was excited, scared and not sure what to think. He wasn't into talking to Tigger at all, but he was somewhat excited to tell Big Bird hi & bye. As you can see, Jake is squinting in the photo...that's because my iPhone flash is soooooo bright. It's not the best picture, but I think Big Bird & Tigger look great!

Just a glimpse of the traffic lined up down the street looking for parking.

Next year, I will be prepared as I know what to expect, and I will be out there earlier to do some shopping!

Have a great weekend!

Gobble, Gobble Says the Turkey!

2011-11-20T21:12:00.001-05:00

I thought we'd kick off Thanksgiving week by making some rice krispie turkey pops! Check out the link to see the recipe. I saw these on a post on Facebook, and I thought it would be something fun for Jakey and I to make.

So, we pulled up a chair....

And he waited patiently for the candy corn to get opened.... He LOVES candy corn! In fact I had one bag left over from Halloween that I was going to use for the turkey pops, but two guys in our household...( by the names of Dada & Jakey) ate all of the candy corn this week. Luckily, we were able to walk over to the store today and find some candy corn on clearance for $.49/bag. Great deal, huh!

So, while Jake ate candy corn, he watched me do all of the work, but it was fun listening to him say, "Gobble,Gobble" every time we talked about the turkeys.

Overall, they were very easy to make. Obviously, mine do not look as good as the ones shown on the link, but it was something fun for Jakey and I to do together.

Hope everybody has a Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Veteran's Day! | Julie Marie Portraits

2011-11-11T11:56:00.001-05:00

Happy Veteran's Day! Thanks to all who have and are currently serving. A special thanks to my dad, Richard Schmucker, for serving and fighting for our freedom. What a great day it is to live in the United States of America!

My dad's old uniform

Jake's Haircut | Julie Marie Portraits | Rochester, NY Photographer

2011-11-11T08:17:00.001-05:00

Last night we ventured out to get Jake's haircut. I got on the website, Kids Out and About, to look for children's haircut places and found Haircuts for Peanuts. It looked really cute online, so I thought we'd give it a try!

On Jake's previous haircuts, either Josh or I would have to sit with him to get his haircut, but not this time! He got up in the chair and didn't even try to get down once. They had a flat screen tv on with cartoons, balloons, candy (Jake's favorite M&M's) and it was painted really fun with bright colors and murals on the walls.

Overall, a cute little place for kiddos to get haircuts! And before I forget....if you haven't been on Kid's Out and About, you should check it out. What a great site! I have found it useful so many times especially being new to Rochester!

A New York Hurricane Wedding Affair | Julie Marie Portraits | New York Wedding Photographer

2011-11-01T15:04:00.000-04:00

They say that rain brings good luck on wedding days, so does a hurricane count for that as well?

I had the pleasure of traveling to Rhinecliff, New York to photograph one of the most beautiful, intimate weddings ever! Oh, how I love a small, intimate wedding with so many details! I would photograph a wedding like that every day of the year if I could! The kicker with this wedding, though, was that it just happened to fall on the weekend that Hurricane Irene hit!

Let me just say that I was a nervous wreck because I had to leave my husband and my Jakers home alone during the hurricane. I pleaded with my husband to leave and go visit his family in Pittsburgh, but he said they'd be fine and not to worry. Ha! However, when I showed up at the Rhinecliff Hotel, most of my worries subsided as I was blown away at how gorgeous everything was in Rhinecliff, NY. What a fabulous little town it is, and it lies right on the Hudson River!

So, in between the raindrops falling, I was able to get S&L outside to do some photos before the ceremony began. What a classy couple they make and let me add that they were so, so nice! They were up for anything and just went with the flow. I think I was more anxious about the hurricane heading our way than they were. They just wanted to celebrate their special day, and a little hurricane wasn't going to stop this from being a happy day!

Side note: After the wedding, I took off driving to get out of New York in hopes of avoiding the hurricane. Let me just say that it was one of the worst drives ever. The rain was so intense that I couldn't really see anything, it was windy and the roads all had puddling water.....I was probably pretty stupid for driving as far as I did, but luckily, my sister stayed up late making sure I was ok driving and found me the only available hotel room in the area that I was near. Needless to say, the room went for over $400/night, but they were generous and gave it to me for $250 since I was checking in after midnight...what a steal, huh! (umm, no!) After the power went out at 2am, I really couldn't sleep plus my cell phone didn't work, so I packed it up and started home. I finally made it home to see my boys, and then I think I took a 3 hour nap after that. What a fun, crazy weekend it was!

May The Force Be With You.... | Julie Marie Portraits | Rochester, NY Children's Photographer

2011-10-29T20:22:00.005-04:00

Happy Halloween weekend, everybody! We've had a great weekend in Rochester thus far! My niece, nephew and sister came to visit, and we had a Star Wars Trio photo shoot this afternoon. Last year, Jack, Julia and Jake dressed up as superheroes, and my mom used that photo for her holiday card. This year we wanted to surprise her with the a new theme - Star Wars. So, for all of you that receive a holiday card from my parents, you know what it will look like this year! (and in case you're wondering...last year's photo shoot with the 3 J's was also 100x easier because Jake wasn't even crawling at the time) This year was a different story......he barely stood still for even a second, and we had to bribe him with M&M's!

After the photo shoot, we packed into the car and went down to the National Museum of Play. They were having a special Halloween party there. The kids had the best time...they got to make some crafts, get some tattoos, play on the exhibits, and they even got a little bit of candy!! We can't wait to go back!

Halloween 2010 - much easier to take the photo b/c Jake just sat!

And I had to share a photo of my sister and her kids, Jake aka Yoda and Jake, my hubby & I!

Can He Be 18 Months Already? | Julie Marie Portraits| Rochester, NY Photographer

2011-10-14T21:56:00.000-04:00

A Fun Beach Session! | Julie Marie Portraits

2011-10-14T21:40:00.001-04:00

First Boudoir Session | Julie Marie Portraits| Rochester, NY Photographer

2011-10-12T20:25:00.001-04:00

I just wanted to share my first boudoir session. Miss T is gorgeous, and I had so much fun! Here's just one! Thanks, T!

Truce With Food - Check It Out! | Julie Marie Portraits|New York Photographer

2011-10-12T15:08:00.002-04:00

One of my former brides, Ali Shapiro, is an amazing entrepreneur in the Philly area. She has created an amazing business, and you've likely seen her on NBC as well as heard about her if you're in the Philly area. Anyway, with her business, she has started a program called, Truce with Food! With the upcoming holidays, this new workshop sounds like the perfect thing that I need! Y'all should go check it out as she's offering a virtual workshop, so anybody can attend! And....I can't forget to mention how excited I am that my photo is on the cover of her workbook below and there are a couple of others on her website!

Happy Weekend! | Julie Marie Portraits | Rochester, NY Photographer

2011-10-07T21:29:00.000-04:00

Bittersweet Goodbyes|Off to New York

2011-10-07T08:52:00.001-04:00

We've had a crazy last few weeks in our household to say the least! We just recently found out that we're relocating to Rochester, NY with my husband's work! It literally happened on a Tuesday, and my husband had to leave the following Monday! Yikes.....It's kind of a bittersweet thing for us. I'm extremely excited to go there because that means we will be so much closer to our families. We, also, will no longer need to hop on a plane to go visit my family! :) However, I'm very sad to leave all of my wonderful clients that I've had the pleasure of photographing these past two and a half years. Without my clients, I'm not sure how I would have survived the move to Delaware being that I was without the comfort of seeing my family on a regular basis. Thank-you to all of you for your support, friendship and kindness!

So, with moving, that means my blogging will go to the wayside for the time being yet again. I have so many weddings and family sessions to share with you, but I just have not had the time to sit down and blog. My plan is to get settled into Rochester and eventually update you all with the fun sessions and weddings that I've had since April!

And since I can't do a blog post without a photo....check out this cutie! You might remember him from last year......so big now and so full of personality!

Happy Holiday Weekend! | Julie Marie Portraits | Delaware Children's Photographer

2011-09-03T08:46:00.001-04:00

Hope everybody has a happy & safe holiday weekend! I had to share this little cutie with y'all!

And a few of my little man who turned 17 months on Thursday. We celebrated by eating lots of popsicles, singing and dancing!