Meet Blanca and Joaquin. We spent the morning exploring the Miami Design District during their custom family portrait session. Their mama, Angela, is a clean beauty advocate with Beautycounter, the founder of Ama Consulting, and a friend.
I don’t venture into the Miami Design District for family portrait sessions very often, so it was fun to see what was behind every corner. The Design District didn’t disappoint. Lots of amazing natural light, big bold colors, and on a Tuesday morning, not many other people (which is always a plus!).
Halloween is just a few days away. Your family portrait session must be scheduled before December 1 to guarantee Holiday Delivery. Holiday mini sessions in Downtown Hollywood are Sunday, November 17. There are still a few appointments available.
total number of images published this summer at Camp Starlight.
570 campers,
50 days,
263.07 miles walked,
621,701 steps
I’m the first to say, “Quantity is definitely NOT quality,” but I wear that number as a badge of honor.
Each day, step and shutter click was an opportunity. An opportunity to remember another name. I cried during performances, cheered during games, and celebrated accomplishments. I gave every camper a little piece of my heart. I loved those genuine smiles. The way you smile at a friend.
“My Favorite” images of summer 2019 are now on my website HERE. After two summers at camp, my favorite images are more about the people in them rather than the photograph itself. These only skim the surface. With 107,515 images to comb through, I’m finding new gems everyday.
I promised myself I’d be in more pictures this summer. These are a few of my favorite.
As the excitement builds for our upcoming trek to Camp Starlight, here it is…a kind of BEST OF SUMMER 2018. I ain’t gonna lie, I could look at camp pictures all day. So this was a fun project to work on throughout the past 10 months. And honestly, this doesn’t even scratch the surface of images that take my breath away. But this tells the story, and hopefully stokes the excitement in you for the summer ahead.
In less than a month, I’ll be back to do it again. This time some of those smiling faces that come bouncing off the bus on arrival day, may actually be that excited to see “me”. And that makes me feel pretty special. Something really incredible happens during those 7 weeks. My experience was unique in that I got to experience ALL of camp. Not just isolated with one age group, gender, or activity. I was with every age group, every gender, every sport, every activity…EVERY DAY. I saw it all. Incredible and exhausting all at the same time.
Emery’s beautiful blue eyes pierced my soul. She turned one and we celebrated with a lifestyle portrait session at home using props and toys that are personal to the family.
I love getting in a client’s home and creating family portraits that are genuine and authentic.
“Sparks of Joy” is a common theme these days as I’m trying to “KonMari” my life, closet, desk, Charlotte’s room…and then I thought, “How can I KonMari my business and only do those tasks that “spark joy?” Sure I can outsource business tasks, but if I really wanted to get down to the nitty gritty I knew I had to look beyond just emails and quickbooks, and WHAT I was actually photographing. I started my business 12 years ago because taking photographs of my son and friends’ kids sparked joy in my heart like none other. And seeing my work hanging on a client’s home is beyond thrilling and satisfying. I definitely felt like I had a calling. Since 2007 (12 years) I’m grateful and excited for new opportunities to expand and grow. Weddings? Sure! Professional headshots? Yes! Product photography? You got it! Trying something new and succeeding is quite a high. It’s also a lot of moving parts.
But if I’m really being honest with myself do all of these different photography genres spark joy?
Child and Family portraits is truly my jam. Building relationships with families, watching kids grow up and using that as inspiration in my photography does more than spark joy…it lights a fire.
I’m excited to announce that starting again in 2019 I will be photographing Children and Families exclusively.
Creating art and celebrating the beauty and love in families “sparks joy” in my heart and truly makes me…”click!” The celebration of love and art started in 2007 and the party is still going strong.
The day I returned home from Camp Starlight my sister had a baby. My brother had a baby one week later. Griffin. He’s beautiful. Griffin’s first newborn portraits were taken while in the hospital. While his mama rested, I was able to capture portraits of my baby brother with his first baby. Hospital room window light is definitely a favorite and I took advantage.
A week later I hung out with them at home for the first official newborn portrait session. Photographing my brother’s baby fills me with gratitude. Grateful to do what I love for the people I love.
My approach to newborn photography is simple and natural. Any props used are yours and unique to you. Reach out if you have any questions. I’d love to chat about it.
I am currently taking appointments for family portraits both in the studio and on location.
On Friday, I head off for a two month adventure of a lifetime. I’m packing my bags and heading off to…
SLEEP AWAY CAMP.
Yep, you heard that right. I’m heading off to Camp Starlight (along with my 3 kiddos) to head up their media team.
I went to camp once when I was 8. Camp Summit in North Carolina. It was the best two weeks of my life. I always wanted to go back. Camp Summit no longer exists and life happens as it may. I never did return as a camper or counselor. Until now…I’m the 41 year old camper. This is my kids’ first sleep away camp experience and feelings range from “a little nervous” to “wishes she was already there”. What’s not lost on me, is the privilege to see and hear my own kids’ camp experience in real time and photograph it. It’s an incredible opportunity. But it’s not just my own children’s experiences, it’s the lives of 560 boys and girls. As a photographer at a summer camp, being a mom is the biggest role I’ll play. I’ll photograph each child as my own. As an artist, and a mom, I want the parents at home, who are hitting “refresh” on their computers to feel and see and hear the same things through my photographs. It’s a huge responsibility and I’m 100% up for the challenge.
The Starlight media team consists of three photographers (including myself) and a videographer. The next 8 weeks will be a creative journey the likes I’ve never known. Between telling Camp Starlight’s daily story and creating visual content for social media and marketing, I’ll be CREATIVE and CREATE EVERYDAY!! All the best parts of being a photographer wrapped into one without the daily grind of running a business. I will grow as an artist and a photographer.
I’ve spent the last week packing my three kids for the best summer of their lives. (BTW, packing three kids for 7 weeks away from home ain’t no joke!) Thank goodness for Excel spreadsheets and advice from experienced friends.
Follow my journey on instagram @courtneystudios and @campstarlight_official.
A mini version, of our Personal Brand photography package. Choose up to 10 edited images, with unlimited usage rights, from a variety of poses and expressions that showcase your personal brand.
As a portrait photographer in South Florida, I capture love. True Love. Love between siblings, spouses, partners, parents and children, and the confidence of loving yourself enough to update your professional portrait. As an artist, it’s always about the love.
Love is love and it always wins.
I capture love and create heirloom portrait art. Art that will take your breath away and make your heart skip a beat each time you walk into the room. Love is pretty powerful like that.
What does your love look like?…I’ll show you.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
courtney@courtneystudios.com
954-367-6821
See you soon,
courtney
ps-My loves below…daughter Charlotte, niece Hazel, and daughter Stella.
We are in the home stretch in the Christmas Countdown. Things are finally starting to wind down in the studio. It’s our busiest time of the year and I’m truly grateful for each client who walks though the doors. If you missed the chance for a family portrait this fall, January is a great time to get that on the calendar.
Need a fantastic thoughtful gift? Gift Certificates for portrait art are PERFECT! All amounts available. Contact the studio today.
courtney@courtneystudios.com 954-367-6821
Here are a few of my favorite portraits taken over the last few weeks. More blog posts to come in the new year.
“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 -
