vintage style shirts at Target!!! ($6.99 FTW!)
Stella's adorable tunic dress is actually a piece I picked up last year at Genius Jones.
For some reason I just see the same face on her at 16, when I'm still trying to get these first day of school shots. "C'mon Mom! Hurry up! You're embarrassing me!"
We’re well into the third week of preschool and as a parent I couldn’t be happier. Stella no longer cries when I leave. In fact, we’re working on getting her to say goodbye. She’s so excited to run out onto the playground that she leaves me in the dust, but I’m fine with that. Both kiddos love their teachers, and after being a teacher for 7 years myself and now being on the parent side, I truly appreciate how special that is.
Stella’s adorable tunic dress is actually a piece I picked up last year at Genius Jones.
For some reason I just see the same face on her at 16, when I’m still trying to get these first day of school shots. “C’mon Mom! Hurry up! You’re embarrassing me!”
This family was in town from Argentina. Out of all the amazing photographers in South Florida, she asked me to document their vacation! What an honor and privilege. I have so many from this session to post, but the colors and light in this series had to be shared RIGHT NOW!!!
When we moved into the beach house, on Hollywood Beach, for the summer, my husband and I came up with a “beach bucket list.” Things we wanted to do and restaurants we wanted to eat at during our three month stay. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to do everything on the list, but we came very close. On our last weekend on the beach we finally rented one of the surrey bikes and ate at Las Brisas. Two major things on the list. I’ve lived in Hollywood for most of my life, and growing up had always wanted to ride one of those with my family. At 33 years old, married with two kids. I finally did it!
This has been an incredible week of firsts for my family, and more so for my 22 month old daughter, Stella. First week of preschool (photos to come), first night in our new (albeit temporary) home, and her first night in a “big girl” bed (after night #2 it isn’t going all too well). It’s been quite a lot of transition for my little one and I’m definitely feeling my share of mommy guilt. But it’s nothing a little extra love, an extra strong cup of coffee (I slept with her last night), and time won’t fix.
So I have a few personal posts coming up in the next few days documenting the first days of school and our last days on the beach. My family have left our beach house and are now in Victoria Park. This is our last stop until our new home is ready in Monterra (a new development in Cooper City). But we’re excited about our stay in Victoria Park, a very cool neighborhood in east Ft. Lauderdale. In fact, we’ve always wanted to live here. And now we can cross that off our bucket list before moving out to the suburbs.
I might not have slept well the last few nights, but life is good. I’m very lucky. (The luckiest in the world!)
As I mentioned before, the kids started preschool this week. Both for the first time.
The Friday before school started was “Meet the Teacher.”
I attempted a quick session with my kids before we left, but as many photographers can tell you, attempting great portraits of your own kids can be painful, for both the photographer and the kids. This image is a keeper. Lenny had to tickle Owen to get a smile.
Usually I get something more along the lines of this…
I probably had to bribe him or threaten something terrible.
Waiting for school to open. We were still living at the beach, and we left 30 minutes early for a five minute drive. So of course we had to wait. (In case you’re curious. Owen’s tshirt and shorts are both Crewcuts by J Crew, and Stella’s adorable ensemble is by Matilda Jane Clothing! haha)
Stella’s favorite part of her classroom was the slide! She went up and down a dozen times. My favorite part was the delicious natural light pouring in through the wall of windows.
Owen’s classroom was full of exciting things to encourage exploration, learning, and play. (and also full of natural light!)
Building light sabres out of magnetic blocks.
Our good buddy Jake and his dad!
We’re all super excited for the upcoming year. The teachers we met are warm and caring and the preschool is child centered and a perfect place to foster our kids’ development both cognitively and socially. It’s really a privilege to be there!
I have to blog this family in two parts. This session was back in MAY (I’m so emabarrassed, that I’ve let this slip through the cracks). We’ve already had our second session together. If you notice, Mom is pregnant. She had her precious baby girl “E” two weeks ago tomorrow. One of the perks of my job, is developing relationships with my clients. Really becoming friends. This mom is an amazing (times a million) graphic designer who specializes in high end branding. You’ve probably seen her work. We’ve started collaborating on some projects. Some on her side, and she has started helping me with my own branding. Really creating a consistancy across the board. We’re taking what I already have and making it better. The new business cards were delivered this week. (LETTERPRESS!!!! They deserve their own blog post) And I’m currently in the process of a complete website update. So there’s a lot going on, and I really owe it to her. Thank you so much. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of respecting someone professionally, and knowing that they in turn respect you.
So I present my very good friend and her family two months before their new baby arrived!
Love a mom and dad who aren’t afraid of a little PDA.
This was the second of three newborn sessions I had last week. A record for me! Over the years I’ve really changed the way that I approach newborn sessions. I used to lug around a bean bag chair, heating pad, and white noise machine. And although pictures of newborns in contrived positions and poses are beautiful at times, I came to the realization that it just isn’t real life. I wasn’t enjoying newborn photography because I was putting such pressure on myself to get these “perfect” shots. And the reality of it is this…..any new mom can tell you those first few days at home with a newborn can feel anything but perfect. Any photographer can tell you that the chances of having a “perfect” newborn session are slim to none. So now I go into newborn sessions with nothing but my camera, and I have a new found love for them. I love capturing the bond between a new mom and her new baby. The cuddling, the calming, the comforting, the feeding. They are all such precious moments that are too quickly gone. Those are the images I want to present to families. Images that in 10 years will cause a mother to close her eyes, and be able to remember exactly what it felt like to hold that bundle, the feeling…the smell…the sounds.
Congratulations Patchen family!!!!
Just a quick reminder that tomorrow is the Matilda Jane Trunk Show and School Supply Drive to benefit Kids in Distress. Also, the Hollywood Gazette is holding it’s annual “Best of Hollywood” contest. courtney ortiz photography really appreciates your vote for Best Portrait Studio/Photographer. Take a couple of seconds to make sure your vote counts. Click here to participate! (look for the “CONTEST” tab on the right of the screen)
Super excited about this Thursday. Courtney ortiz photography and The Haircut Hangout are hosting a Matilda Jane Clothing Trunk Show and School Supply Drive to benefit Kids in Distress. I can’t sing enough praises for Matilda Jane Clothing. Just a couple of weeks ago, a girlfriend of mine complained that she had a hard time finding appropriate back to school clothes for her 8 year old daughter. Matilda Jane Clothing is the answer. Beautiful, unique, and well made pieces that allow little girls to be just that…..little girls; in sizes 12 months to tween 12. MJC is very exclusive and only available for purchase through trunk shows. During this month of August, courtney ortiz photography and The Haircut Hangout have been collecting school supplies to benefit Kids in Distress. Come to the trunk show and bring a donation of school supplies and you’ll entered in a raffle to win prizes from courtney ortiz photography, The Haircut Hangout, Hair Industry, L-Bows Creations, and other local businesses. Mark your calendars…..The Matilda Jane Trunk Show and School Supply drive is this Thursday, August 19 from 12-6. It’s a great way for us all to get ready for school!!
We only have two weeks left here on the beach before we move to our next stop, Victoria Park in Ft. Lauderdale. We’ll be living there while our house is being built. But in the meantime I have lots of new beach pictures and sessions to share. It’s been an unbelievably busy summer both professionally and personally.
I love when friends come visit us at the beach. One of my favorite things about living here!
There’s something really special when I start to build relationships with clients. When their kids start to recognize me and feel comfortable in front of my lens. This is one of those families.
Mason just welcomed a new little sister into his home. Mason is an amazingly gorgeous little boy, full of spunk and energy with an insatiable love of baseball. The arm on this 22 month old, could put quite a lot of grown men to shame.
After a week in the hospital, baby sister Marlow came home to a gorgeous nursery. Who needs a mobile when you can stare up at this?
My favorite shots during newborn sessions are ones like these. Completely candid displays of affection and emotion.
While on vacay I got to visit with my cousin, and fellow photog, Kym Drum. Kym‘s a portrait event photographer in the Greenville, South Carolina area. We did a mini session on the streets of downtown Hendersonville.
Kym has an amazing collection of vintage cameras. I thought it was only fitting to use them in the session!
“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 -
