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
Thank you to my amazing clients, old and new, who generously donated to Mobile School Pantry during this month. September is Hunger Action Month and there are still two days to take action. Make a $100 donation to Mobile School Pantry before the end of the month and receive a complimentary mini session; for yourself, or give as a gift.
“Mobile School Pantry is a 501(c)3 volunteer driven, non-profit organization established in 2013 to help alleviate hunger through the provision of nutritious food to children and their families at Title 1 Schools in South Florida. Our Pantry affords the chance to reach a greater number of schools and families, allowing us to serve those who are unable to access a food pantry in their neighborhoods with little burden for the school.”
Volunteering with Mobile School Pantry on Fridays is incredibly rewarding especially mid pandemic. The music is great, the company greater, and the cause; feeding children in our community…the greatest.
Hunger Action Month is over in 2 days, but the need in our community is ongoing. Volunteers are ALWAYS NEEDED. If you’re thinking about updating your family portraits, make a $100 donation before October 1, and the custom mini session is on me.
“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.
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.
The Exceptional Theater Company’s (ETC) Annual Spaghetti Dinner and Show was AMAZING. This year’s production of Wizard of Oz did not disappoint. ETC is a theater program for teens and adults with special needs, with locations throughout Broward County. The theater experience for the actors allows them to be the best, confident versions of themselves, and its beautiful.
February 24, 2020 was the last time I attended a Bloom meeting at Fort Lauderdale High School. Bloom is an after school, student-led program that meets on Mondays, that is until Coronavirus came to town. These after school Bloom meetings hosted and sponsored by Taylor’s Closet create a safe space for girls to feel loved, share their stories, and realize how special they are.
During these crazy times Taylor’s Closet has taken Bloom online with Bloom at Home. Bloom at Home is an online iteration of the after-school club. Updated every few days, their online portal is an opportunity for the community of teenage girls in South Florida to stay connected and be encouraged during this uncertain time.
What’s totally amazing is that Bloom at Home is available to EVERYONE! Does your teenager need a pick-me-up? To sign up for Bloom at Home text JOIN to (844) 207-1036. Every week your teenager will receive a few texts with a link to inspirational messages and fun activities for them to do at home.
Do you know of a non-profit that could benefit from custom photography to tell their story? Send me a message. I’d love to know more about them.
This past Saturday, February 8 was the 6th Annual I EXTRA Love You Portrait Day. I EXTRA Love You is a portrait exhibit that showcases all that is EXTRA unique in people with Down Syndrome. This year’s exhibit will be on display starting Saturday, March 21 at Art Serve in Fort Lauderdale, on World Down Syndrome Day.
I’m grateful for the day my friend Daniela came to me with this “great idea” she had. Daniela was 10 when her brother Alex was born with Down Syndrome. Alex, now 20, is a yoga instructor and and shares his love of yoga with people of all ages and abilities. Daniela is an advocate for her brother and the Down Syndrome community as a whole, and I’m proud to collaborate and bring her vision to life. A vision that started with 25 people and over the past 6 years has grown to the 60 people who participated in Saturday’s portrait day.
I hope you will join us at the exhibit opening, Saturday, March 21. More info to come. Perfect for the whole family.
I’m really lucky that I have time to volunteer. Being able to do what I love to support organizations that I love is an amazing gift, and it’s really cool. Nothing beats spending time with the actors at Exceptional Theater Company. There are no words to describe their passion and excitement for the theater, because you have to feel it.
ETC is a theater program for teens and adults with special needs, with locations throughout Broward County. The theater experience for the actors allows them to be the best, confident versions of themselves, and its beautiful.
If you’re not doing anything Saturday, October 12, bring a friend and buy a ticket to ETC’s Third Annual Hero’s Gala at the Renaissance Fort Lauderdale. I’ll be there! Open bar! It’ll be fun and you’ll be supporting an amazing organization at the same time. Win Win!!
And if you’re looking to schedule a custom family portrait session give me a call.
I’ve been giving my time to Taylor’s Closet since 2012. Taylor’s Closet is an amazing non-profit in Fort Lauderdale whose mission is to create a community in which girls will be empowered to live happy, healthy, and productive lives, realizing their God given destiny, right there in the hallways of their high school campus. Taylor’s last “Bloom” meeting at Fort Lauderdale High School was at the end of May. To see more of this amazing after school program click here.
“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 -
