I first met Caleb in 2016 at Lehrman Community Day School during their annual school portraits. When you’re photographing 400 students for school portraits you only have a few seconds to make a connection with the kids. Every moment counts. Caleb definitely made our moments count during each one of his school portraits over the last 5 years. He’d bring an extra hat or accessory for a few extra poses. Caleb is truly an awesome kid. So when I find out that his favorite holiday is Halloween of course I had to make a visit.
As I’ve gotten to know Caleb and now his mom Carla I am so excited and proud to support Calder and Caleb’s Awesome Foundation. Calder and Caleb’s Awesome Foundation is really making a difference in our community. Donate $100 to Calder and Caleb’s Awesome Foundation from now until November 15 and receive a complimentary mini session at the studio. Perfect way to support an amazing cause and get your holiday portraits done. WINNING! Email or call for more information. courtney@courtneystudios.com 954-558-6893
“They say it’s your birthday…..” and somehow through it all, the fact that this month marks the 13th anniversary of Courtney Studios, wasn’t on my radar until a “Happy Anniversary” message came through on LinkedIn. This business that I started 13 years ago as Candids by Courtney, nourished and grew has really taken a back seat since March.
This is for sure an interesting time to run a small business. Shut down in spring as non-essential, heading into summer which is traditionally a slower time for my industry in Florida and heading straight into facilitating my three kids’ “eLearning” experience (which in itself is a full time job). I completely forgot about my business birthday. Coming off of 7 months of extremely slow growth (and I’m being very generous here), it’s time to start from scratch and ask myself some really important questions about purpose. What does the future of Courtney Studios look like? How can I, one small business, effect real change?
Baby steps. I commit to support non-profits and causes that fuel my passion. So my 13th Anniversary falls nicely in line with my support for Mobile School Pantry this month (Hunger Action Month). Make a $1o0 donation to Mobile School Pantry and receive a complimentary mini session. My gift to you. The mini session is good through the end of the year. A mini session gift certificate is always a great idea.
Mobile School Pantry needs our help 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.
Celebrate my 13th Anniversary with a donation to Mobile School Pantry. Together we can make a difference.
See you soon,
courtney
ps-and because I’ve been dying to share this custom family portrait session on the blog here it is. These three crazy kids planned this beach portrait session as a gift for their mom’s 50th birthday. I was lucky enough to spend two summers with these sisters at Camp Starlight and I am so grateful to spend an evening with them during this very “non traditional” summer. You can see more from their custom portrait session here.
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.
I’m two days late with my official Star Wars “May the Fourth be with you” post. The studio website is just recovering from it’s own bout of “coronavirus” – Malware! The Courtney Studios website was infected with malware and after a week of back and forths between Bluehost (my hosting company) and SiteLock (my new security company) we are back in business. I did send out a Studio Newsletter last week, you can read that here.
We are in week WHATEVER of quarantine, and I’m trying to take the time to create and be creative on the daily. Some days are easier than others, and some days it doesn’t happen at all. Let’s face it, my kids aren’t as cute and cooperative as they were when they were toddlers. The days of cute candid images of my kids playing are OVER. Sometimes is takes serious bribery, and I’m not ashamed to pay their price.
However, on May the Fourth (be with you) Charlotte, 8, was a willing participant and gave me a few minutes to photograph her in this custom Princess Leia inspired costume. She wore it proudly ALL DAY .
To see more of my personal antics at home, I’d love it if you took a minute to follow me personally on instagram @courtneyortiz and while you’re at it, make sure you’re staying current with studio @courtneystudios.
As soon as non-essential business is given the green light to open, I will create art with you again.
Owen let me know that he needed an updated headshot for his YouTube Channel. (Show him some love!) Of course I was more than happy to oblige. My camera and creative muscle have been collecting dust since quarantine.
Give me all the sunset photoshoots. We spent 5 minutes outside. It was perfect. Grateful for these moments and grateful that he still trusts me to take his picture.
I look forward to stunning sunset family portrait sessions in the near future.
So how’s it been going over there? Things have been going surprisingly well here in the Ortiz household. The kids have complained very little about being home, and everyone’s still alive after two days of virtual school FTW!!! We’re all healthy, weather’s been beautiful, we’re stocked on the TP…I’m lucky. And grateful.
Finding the gratitude and stillness through all of this.
I made a long “to do/project” list that I’m slowly chipping away at. I have tons of beautiful client portrait sessions from this fall that I’m eager to share on the blog.
And most important I’m going to focus on photographing my kids. Working on photographing for me. I’m on a hunt for the spark that photography lit in my heart 13 years ago.
So here’s a little glimpse into what’s been going on in my family room…LEGO MADNESS. Charlotte is a builder/creator and has been working on this for three weeks (started before the quarantine). Grateful for an activity that keeps her busy for hours, in an area that can’t be seen when you walk in the front door. My glass is always half full.
Sharing just a few pictures I took of Charlotte’s build, if you’d like to see more you can view those on facebook.
Thank you for coming on this journey with me. You’ll be seeing more personal posts on the blog so keep stopping by.
“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 -
