Studio J Photography Blog

Old Times, Fun Times

I was talking about old T.V. show favorites, and came across this portion of an episode of Laverne and Shirley, and old favorite along with Gilligan's Island, Happy Days and Mork and Mindy.  Here's a clip for you!

WEST High School, Tomorrow is your day!

Tomorrow we are celebrating WEST!  Our 8 hours sale for Normal WEST class of 2010 is tomorrow and we can't wait! 

Here's a few images from one of our West seniors!!  We can't wait to meet the rest of you!

Mini Models Casting Call!

We are looking for some new little faces to feature for an event we have coming up at the studio.  In particular, we are looking for 2-3 individual girls aged 5-12 and a sibling group of girls in the same age range.

We'd love to see you!  Please drop me a line at info@studiojphotography.net if you are interested in being our showcase for the next event!  This one is FUN, FUN, FUN - we will share the details when we receive your email.

This particular event is for girls only, but don't worry boys - your turn is coming!  :)

Hey Heyworth! Watch out for the class of 2010!! | Bloomington Senior Portraits

Heyworth HS, watch out!  You've got some amazing seniors coming up this year, we've met a few of them already this season!  Adventurous, fun, easy going and all-around great! 

Having your Brain Picked - literally!

As my friend Steffanie so obviously said on her Facebook page she is going in soon to have her brain picked - literally.  To us that know her, this comment is humorous, true, and very real - Steff has a brain tumor.  Her surgery is scheduled in two weeks.

Why am I writing this?  Because I want to tell you more - you see, there's more to this than the brain tumor, or the O.D.B. (Old Dirty B*****d, if you didn't know what O.D.B. means), as Steffanie so fondly calls her tumor.  The O.D.B. is just a part of the bigger picture.  In the bigger picture you find much more - dedication. The dedication to find resolve, find focus, the dedication sticking to your guns and knowing what is right for you.  And the dedication to giving of yourself and your beliefs to create the best scenario for everyone you can. 

Learning and researching her O.D.B., Steffanie has gone through a lot.  She isn't one to sit around and do nothing, nor is she one to be o.k. with something in her brain that isn't supposed to be there.  So, with a lot of research, and a lot of 'no' answers in our area, Steffanie has found a surgeon in California that will operate to try to remove the tumor.  I swear, if I ever need extensive research done, I am going to call Steff!  It is only through her perserverance that this surgery is taking place- and taking place with the best surgeon for the type of O.D.B. she has and for where it is located.

Steffanie and I met when our (now) 6 year old boys were in preschool together.  She's a great mom, a great friend, a person who is down to earth, and a dedicated Christian.  One of my favorite things about her is her star-gazing.  Not night sky star, but celebrity star.  Steffanie is my celebrity-chaser friend.  I get a kick out of it, since I occasionally enjoy reading People magazine, though usually on an airplane.  In no way, shape, or form, though, do I have what it takes to be Steff,  she knows the business and what is going in with her fav stars!

Just like many 30-something moms out there today (and I will admit, I am one of them), Steffanie adores the Twilight series.  The books, the movies, everything about it!  She can name the actors (I can't - not being a celebrity chaser, but if I wanted to know I can defer to Steff!), she knows their family history, their jewelry, costumes, everything about it all.  She has read the books many times, and fondly reserves one set of books for reading and her other set to collect.  If I had to bet, I also would guess that she has the most autographed items over anyone else I know.

Living with the O.D.B., Steff has taken an altered perception of life than that which she previously had.  As she said to me one day "We all know we have one life to live.  For me, I know that the life I have to live is limited, therefore there are things that I am going to do that I may not have done before.  If I am going to live this life, I am going to live it." One of the things that Steffanie has done- she signed up to go to a Twilight convention that will be in the Chicago area this fall.  Guest appearance include (character names) Mike Newton, Dr. Carlisle Cullen, Jasper Hale, and Eric Yorkie- from the Twilight movie. She bought her gown for the vampire's ball, and she is about set to go.  With the convention also comes an auction, with proceeds to benefit a not-for-profit organization.

With all that is happening, and through the research Steffanie has done, she wrote a letter to the head people putting together the convention introducing the American Brain Tumor Association, and asked that the organization be consider as the beneficiary of the proceeds from the auction.  I quote from her email to the organizers of the convention:

I suggest this as I am a Twilight fan/wife/mom, 34 years old, and have a low-grade glioma brain tumor.  I am having surgery on June 29 in San Francisco.  I am trying to get the word out to people that although most think of brain tumors as something "old" people have, this type of tumor affects many individuals in my age group, often parents of young children as I have.  There is very little awareness about this disease in the media, and it is my hope that more awareness will be brought to it.

Well, with a bit more perserverance on her part, she did it! They are donating the proceeds to her charity, and even better- Steff is going to be accepting the check at the Twilight convention, on behalf of the ABTA.

Dedication - from the get-go Stephanie has been dedicated to trying to make the best decisions about her health.  She has been dedicated to doing her research to make well educated decisions, and she has been dedicated to base those decisions upon the opinions of many physicians, radiologists, and neurologists.  Steff has also found a new dedication for an organization that exists to promote brain tumor research and offering information and support to brain tumor patients and families.

So, if you are attending, please give a huge round of applause to Steffanie when she walks up to accept the check.  Steffanie - a friend, mom, wife, sister, daughter, neighbor, counselor, organizer, dedicator, and celebrity chaser!

Here are the details of the convention, and if you scroll down to the Charity Breakfast section, there's another star listed.  :)  We love you, Steffanie!

http://www.creationent.com/cal/twilight_il.htm

Shout it From the Rooftops, University High School! | Bloomington Senior Portraits

Sometimes it's fun to go on an adventure with your senior portraits, and this young lady was willing to go exploring a bit!  What better than to see your own home from the top of a building?  It was a beautiful evening, a great personality, and a lot of fun during this session!

If you look closely, you will see another spectator in one of her images.  :)

West High School, the summer has begun! Bloomington Senior Portraits

Get ready for summer!  Senior portraits have begun, and I am so excited to share with you some of our class of 2010! 

Meet Shelby, a wonderful young lady who is just a joy to spend time with!  We had some fun at grandma's house in the front and back yard!

 

The Biggie! Our Grand Prize Winner!!

A round of applause goes out to this little fellow who is our GRAND PRIZE WINNER in the Baby and Child Portrait Contest Every Child is a Masterpiece.  As the grand prize winner, he will receive a $250 College Saver CD from First Farmers State Bank, - a wonderful prize for any child as this CD is designed specifically for college savings (and to all parents out there, check it out!).  Additionally, he will receive a $250 gift certificate from us.  

With an amazing response from our community, we have raised and brought awareness to a great organization. 

Watch for the GRAND TOTAL, coming soon!

Announcing the Round 3 Winner!!!

Round 3 of Every Child is a Masterpiece has proven to be one of the best rounds yet!  With an amazing response of votes, we have to shout out a thank you to all of the participants, the hundreds of people around the country that have voted in the contest, the amazing area businesses that have contributed to the contest, to First Farmers State Bank for their generosity over and over again in support of The Baby Fold and for the portrait contest through their gifts to each participant and for the grand prize donation.  To all of you - THANK YOU!  Your generosity and support of The Baby Fold is outstanding!

The Baby Fold is often the last, best chance for at-risk children in our community.  For over 100 years, The Baby Fold has responded to the challenges in our society that threaten the well-being of the area's most vulnerable families.  Through the expertise of over 250 agency professionals and community resources to provide a spectrum of care- including adoption, foster care, special education, residential treatment and family support services- The Baby Fold remains committed to never giving up on a child.

Every child is a masterpiece.  Here is your winner for round 3.....

Round 3 Prizes

We are happy to tell you that round 3 is finished in our Baby and Child Portrait Contest to benefit The Baby Fold.  With over $3500 already raised so far in the contest, we want to thank each and every one of you that voted for your favorite image(s).  TOMORROW we will be announcing the winner! The lucky winner this month will be in the running for the GRAND PRIZE, a $250 College Saver CD from First Farmers State Bank. The College Saver CD is a unique way to save for your child's future, in that deposits can be made in the future at any time, in amounts of $25 or more.

The lucky winner for round 2 will receive the following prizes, generously donated by Bloomington-Normal area businesses:

One (1) Kids Haircut, Cookie Cutters, 115 Susan Drive Unit B, Normal , IL, (309) 451-3400, www.haircutsarefun.com

Gift Certificate, Carl's Ice Cream, 1700 W. College Ave., Normal, IL (309) 454-7732,    www.carlsicecream.com

Two (2) Happy Meals and Four (4) Extra value Meals, Bloomington-Normal-McLean        McDonald's , (309) 663-4181,  www.mcdobski.com

Gift Certificate, Pinstripes and Polkadots, (309) 821-9408, Contact: Sarah Gesiakowski,  www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com

One (1) 6 piece box of Chocolate Fruit, Edible Arrangements, 2205 E. Oakland, Bloomington, IL   (309) 661-0100, www.ediblearrangements.com

One (1) headband and flowr clip, Frostings, Contact: Stephanie Frost www.frostingsboutique.com

One (1) Family and Friends Bowling Party, AMF Circle Lanes Bowling Center, 1225 Holiday Dr., Bloomington, IL, (309) 663-7402, www.amf.com

One (1) Little Hands Keepsake Kit, Uppercase Living, Contact: Jessica Frerichs, (309) 829-6416, email: mfpd@netoptioninc.net, www.uppercaseliving.net

Two (2) Adult tickets to The Dan Tyminski Band at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, 60 North East Street, Bloomington, IL

One (1) 2 hour introductory class, Upper Limits Rock Gym and Pro Shop,
1304 W. Washington St., Bloomington, IL  61701 (309) 829-8255  www.upperlimits.com

One (1) Gift Certificate, Usborne Books, Misty Lay, (309) 261-3609 www.mistysbooks.com

One (1) Gift Certificate, A. Renee, 306 N. Center St., Bloomington, IL (309) 827-3524 www.arenee.com

One (1) 30 minute massage, Bright Bodywork, 901 E. Grove St. Ste. U, Bloomington, IL (309) 820-8795

One (1) Gift Certificate, Garden of Paradise Restaurant, 1412 E. Empire, Bloomington, IL (309) 828-8080

One (1) Baby Sling, The Sling Connection, Lincoln, IL (217) 828-0872 www.theslingconnection.com