September is Hunger Action Month. I am excited to support Mobile School Pantry in their efforts to provide nutritious, healthy grocery items to students and families at low-income schools throughout South Florida. When students have bellies full of healthy food it affords them the ability to concentrate and learn with a higher level of self-esteem.
With Public Schools still virtual, the work of Mobile School Pantry is more important than ever. There are a number of ways you can help. First, you can volunteer. Check out the Mobile School Pantry website. There are opportunities to volunteer each week, but during, September, Hunger Action Month, it’s “all hands on deck”. Second, you can donate directly. When you make a $100 donation to Mobile School Pantry during September, you will receive a complimentary Mini Session as my gift. Just show proof of donation, and your complimentary Mini Session can be scheduled anytime during the remainder of 2020.
I have a lot of time on my hands. Time that I would be spending creating portraits for parents and campers at Camp Starlight or creating portraits for clients. I’ve realized that I can’t stop creating just because the traditional clients are fewer during this crazy time. There’s a new client now. ME! I am choosing myself as my next client. The toughest of all my clients. Never satisfied. It’s never good enough.
But I’m doing it. I’m facing my fiercest critic and creating photographs for myself, and you know what I’m finding? My passion. That spark that’s hiding under years of running a business. Years of creating for others. The feeling is warm and familiar and it really wants to come out and play. The passion I discovered almost 14 years ago, photographing my Owen for the first time. I was home and a first time mom. And now I’m home again, three kids, and I’m discovering a new beauty in my kids as I start creating for the most important client of them all. It’s sparking joy and I’m all here for it.
Let’s all give ourselves permission to be creative. Creative moments are as important to our health as diet and exercise. So here it is. A simple creative photography challenge. Use your phone. Keep it simple. Let’s hold each other accountable and spark some creativity.
ps- A huge shout out to Claudia, an amazing teenager and the brains behind Splattering Smiles. All money raised from her sale of these amazing custom painted T shirts goes to Whole Family Mental Healthcare; supporting mental health needs during Covid-19 and beyond.
Photography has organically woven itself into the culture of camp. Twice a day, in the morning and evening, around the flagpole, just a few minutes is set aside for “sibling pics”. They are my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE times of the day to photograph and I took ownership. Fresh faces, the smiles, the light… perfect combination, and 9 times out of ten my own three kids we’re in the line waiting their turn. Now usually it takes large bribes and maybe even some tears to get them to cooperate with me for photographs, but during the summer at camp, in the spirit of tradition, they joyfully and eagerly oblige for a photograph. Sometimes even twice a day.
This is a different summer for sure. Camp didn’t go on as planned, but I’m grateful for the 10 days I spent at camp with my kids. During the summer, each of our experiences are very different. Coming together and sharing a camp experience is incredible. No words really.
And in the spirit of camp they happily obliged me a sunset sibling pic almost every night.
Have you ever seen two more handsome brothers? Truman & Beckett brought their “A” game to their custom portrait session. Big brother Truman is making the move to Upper School at Pinecrest and I’m so happy to be included in the celebration.
Custom portrait sessions are available. Let’s chat about it.
Owen spent the first two weeks of quarantine in an arm cast due to a skateboarding accident and somewhere in between now and then Charlotte broke her ankle and wore a hot pink cast for two weeks. Cast is already off. Way too much time spent in doctor’s offices during this pandemic, grateful none of it Covid related. Fingers crossed the next time I walk into the pediatrician’s office is to pick up our health forms on the way up to Camp Starlight. Sleepaway camp or bust!!
I took these portraits of Charlotte right after her cast was put on, while it was still clean. I only had to bribe her with a seven dollar Disney Doorables toy from Amazon. Truth be told I would’ve paid more. And of course, any excuse to show off my quarantine DIY project:hand stenciled carport/patio. Stencil by Royal Design Stencils.
I’m excited to share this favorite “senior portrait” session at my Downtown Hollywood natural light portrait studio and on the rooftop of one of my favorite parking garages. Sunset portrait sessions on the roof of the parking garage are a FAVORITE! The modern simplicity of the portraits are timeless, which is always a goal. (notice her “2018” tassel)
We are in the thick of graduation season. The virtual graduation pictures are a nice addition to social media. From pre-k to Graduation school: the event looks different, but the pride, joy and celebration lives on.
Family or “graduation” Portraits are perfect to commemorate this occasion. (And Moms if you have all your kids under one roof, you can definitely get a jump start on a holiday card).
Starting Monday, May 18, I will begin scheduling custom family portrait sessions within the tri-county area (Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach). All portrait sessions will be coordinated with your health, safety and comfort in mind.
I look forward to collaborating and creating once again.
It’s a crazy world out there folks. In times like these curling up on the couch with your littles and taking comfort in a good book is the perfect medicine.
Meet Lauren Bercuson. Lauren, a media specialist is passionate about children’s literature. It was with this passion that she founded Happily Ever Elephants . a blog dedicated to Children’s Literature. Lauren has curated lists of children’s literature titles to teach and explain certain topics/themes and these can all be found on her blog.
Want to talk to your kids about feelings? Lauren’s got a list of books for that.
Want to talk to your kids about gratitude? Lauren’s got a list of books for that too.
In these uncertain times, a book can explain complicated issues to kids better that I certainly can. Now would be a great time to check out Lauren’s list of books about Hygiene as well as her list of resources for parents on “virtual learning.” Which is quickly becoming a reality for us with school aged kids.
I had the pleasure of collaborating with Lauren on new branded photography for the Happily Ever Elephants website, marketing and social media. If you’d like to see more from Lauren’s branding session click here.
I started Courtney Studios in 2007 dedicated to creating a custom family portrait experience with the end result being beautiful portrait art; tangible prints and frames to touch and feel. Portraits that would “make your heart skip a beat and take your breath away every time you walked into a room.” I wanted to cover my home with custom family portraits of my own children, didn’t everyone else??!! Well, yes they did and do, but as time and technology marched on, digital files are becoming a “want” of my clients. I’ve heard you and I’m listening. I resisted for as long as I could and I’m happy to now offer digital files as part of my Custom Family Portrait packages. My passion still lies in designing and creating portrait art to hang and enjoy, but now offer three portrait packages each including digital files.
Your edited, high resolution digital files will be presented in this beautiful acrylic USB by Design Aglow.
I photographed Brooke and Parker for the first time 9 years ago, so of course I was thrilled to see them again. This portrait session was just for mama. Every mama deserves to have beautiful portraits of her AND her kiddos. Being both a Mom AND a photographer I’m rarely in pictures with my kids and I truly value the ones I have (which admittedly most are iphone selfies).
Excited to announce that I will be once again offering Natural Light Studio Portrait sessions on weekends. I just couldn’t stay away. Get in touch for more information.
Happy New Year! The end of 2019 was extremely busy and exciting. Love connecting with old and new clients. I have so much to share over the past three months. Keep checking out the blog for client sneak peaks and upcoming events.
This family definitely has a piece of my heart. This was our fourth custom family portrait session together. Always a fun time, these three kids keep me on my toes. The bright colors of the Miami Design District are a fabulous backdrop for their custom family portrait session. I love this one particular street; the multi-colored windows, great natural light, and minimal traffic are PERFECT.
The Miami Design District is a hidden gem of a location for custom family portrait sessions. Now that the holidays are behind us and 2020 is well underway, it’s a great time to schedule a family portrait session without the pressure of sending out holiday cards or ordering gifts. Now is the time to do it for YOU…for your family. You love your family, you love your house, and you’re tired of looking at the blank walls. Together let’s create beautiful, one of a kind custom portrait art that celebrates your family and turns your house into a home. Whether it’s on the streets of Miami or any of the hundreds of great portrait spots throughout South Florida, let’s create custom family portraits that showcases the beauty that is your family.
“Her work is distinct and holds a special place in our home.”- Marcy Hirsch -
“Courtney's photographs had a huge impact on NCLR and helped us raise over $1 million in December 2014. Her work is beautiful and engaging and shows the central goal of the fight for marriage equality -love."”- Ace Portis, Major Gifts Officer, NCLR -
“Courtney truly captured the uniqueness of our family and created beautiful, original works of art that we will treasure always.”- Darlene Giol -
