2009 December | Phoenix Wedding Photographer

Monthly Archives: December 2009

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Bridal Shoot at The Boojum Tree | Phoenix Wedding Photography

28.12.09 – 9:39 am

Location. Location. Location.

It’s as important to wedding planning as it is to real estate. Every bride and groom want to find the perfect backdrop for their wedding day – and in a city the size of Phoenix, there are plenty of options for an amazing wedding venue. Although a good photographer can create a beautiful image just about anywhere, the right location can bring your photographs to an entirely different level.

I was thrilled when the lovely Keri Doolittle invited me to join awesome local wedding photographers Kimberly Bee and Tina Burnham, along with some beautiful models, for an afternoon at one of the valley’s most stunning wedding venues. The Boojum Tree is a hidden jewel, tucked away at the end of a little street, and full of more photographic yumminess than we could possibly capture. Every time I turned a corner I stumbled upon yet another deliciously vintage, lush, romantic spot. Tremendous variety, quirky, unexpected touches, private hideaways…

It was, quite seriously, a little slice of photography heaven.

I saw this phone booth and thought ‘Are you kidding me?’. How to make a wedding photographer happy….give her a stunning model, a beautiful dress and a vintage red phone booth. I tell you, I was giddy!

The flowers were BEAUTIFUL!

One of the things that matters most to wedding photographers is light, and The Boojum Tree has the most beautiful light almost everywhere – it’s like magic!

Oh – the shoes! The hoes! I leave almost all bridal sessions and weddings with the inexplicable urge to go shoe shopping!

Credits:

Many thanks to all the amazing vendors who made this session so incredible! You all ROCK!

Venue:

The Boojum Tree – Phoenix

Flowers:

Endearing Floral Design @ Thee Wedding Warehouse

Dresses:

Jennyvi Dizon

Jewelry:

Two Sisters Jewelry Boutique

Hair/Makeup:

Tina Burnham

By Jeanette LeBlanc | Posted in weddings | Tagged boojum tree, phoenix, scottsdale, wedding | Comments (20)

Tamara | Phoenix Maternity Photography

20.12.09 – 8:00 pm

I was in the bookstore at the mall, crouching down to get a book off the bottom shelf. When I stood up I saw another mama next to me, wearing her toddler son in a brown hotsling pouch. I just happened to be rocking my own pink and green Pucci print hotsling at the time, six month old Julie along for the ride. In the manner of mothers recognizing common ground (it doesn’t take much when you are a stay at home mama eager for connection) we began to talk.

We chatted for a bit and exchanged names. She paused for a second, smiled and said “Oh, I think I read your blog”.

I tell you, people, it was my first (and only) glimpse into of the rush of celebrity. Someone recognized my name, knew who I was. Holy-freaking-cow, I was actually cool enough to have readers! Went straight to my head, it did.

Then I came crashing back down to earth and remembered all the things I had written about recently. All the personal things. All the goofy things. All the not-so-pretty things.

I had been chronicling my life online for so long (since before there were even blogs, let alone facebook or twitter. true story.) that I tended to forget that real people could be reading. Not just my mother, or nameless, faceless, far away people, but actual, local, run into them in the bookstore kind of people.

Totally freaked me out.

Luckily, I got over it, and a true friendship was born. And even though I never seem to have time to write anymore, I’m pretty sure she still reads my blog.

And that still makes me feel pretty dang cool.

Urban maternity photo session in downtown Glendale, Arizona | Jeanette LeBlanc Photography

I normally head to downtown Phoenix for my urban photography sessions, but Tamara lives on the west side of town, so we went with downtown Glendale this time – and I was not disapointed!

Urban maternity photo session in downtown Glendale, Arizona | Jeanette LeBlanc Photography

We happened upon this spot toward the end of the session and I was in LOVE! The perfect backdrop for the perfect mama to be.

Urban maternity photo session in downtown Glendale, Arizona | Jeanette LeBlanc Photography

By Jeanette LeBlanc | Posted in maternity | Tagged downtown Glendale, phoenix maternity photogapher, urban photography | Comments (20)

Katie & Alex | Nova Scotia Photography

14.12.09 – 3:00 am

{For more information about my 2010 Nova Scotia Photography Sessions, please visit my facebook event page, or this blog post. Contact me for information on special rates and packages for Nova Scotia Photography Clients}

She lived in the suburbs, but that didn’t matter. Her mother owned a super cool bright yellow Sunbird, and wonder of wonders, Mandy was allowed to drive it into the city. It doesn’t really matter where you live, we figured, as long as you have wheels.

A small town girl, newly arrived in the big city, I was making do with more primitive modes of transportation – the bus, and my own two feet. But when Mandy came in for the weekend, my status was instantly elevated. Not only did we have a ride, but it was cool enough to get us attention and - when you are 17 and ready to take on the world – what else really matters?

We circled through the downtown streets, windows down, taking in the energy and life that was only just becoming available to us. Up and down, round and around Mandy drove, through maze of narrow one way streets. We’d park to stroll the waterfront or peek in the doors of bars that didn’t yet offer us admission and then hop back in the car to look for people (known, cute or otherwise intriguing). We were about to start university, high on the possibility of life. In that bright yellow car, the world was at our feet.

We lost touch, Mandy and I, for more than a decade. But then came the miracle that is Facebook, and we reconnected to share memories, stories of our kids and our lives thus far. Then I announced that I would be doing Mini Sessions while I was back East last summer, and was so excited when Mandy decided to reserve a spot. I couldn’t wait to see her and meet her kids.

She pulled up in a maroon minivan – that yellow two-door long gone – and my old friend stepped out. While the kids played, and I snapped photos, Mandy and I realized that even when time passes, the people you know well don’t really change all that much at all. There we were, in the same field where we had first met – over twenty years ago - as gangly teenagers. Cliché or not and children aside, it seemed as if no time had passed.

We might be driving different vehicles now, but best as I can tell, the world is still at our feet.

Child photography session in Cheverie, Nova Scotia. By Phoenix-based wedding and portrait photographer, Jeanette LeBlanc

Cheverie, Nova Scotia is – quite literally – a photographer’s paradise. I take thousands upon thousands of photographs every summer i spend at home.

Child photography session in Cheverie, Nova Scotia. By Phoenix-based wedding and portrait photographer, Jeanette LeBlanc

Note: I am currently booking limited sessions and weddings in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick for summer 2010. Please contact me at info@jeanetteleblanc.com to be placed on my announcement list for finalized dates.

By Jeanette LeBlanc | Posted in children, nova scotia | Tagged annapolis valley photogapher, canada, halifax photographer, nova scotia, nova scotia child photography, nova scotia photographer | Comments (15)

Hayden | New Brunswick Newborn Photography

08.12.09 – 4:17 pm

I mentioned that I’m way behind right? As in, six months behind? Sigh.

Just about every summer we escape the Phoenix heat and head back to Eastern Canada for a month or more. The trip home is always a gift. Time with family, relaxed country living, photography heaven, picking berries, swimming at the beach by day, roasting marshmallows and stargazing by night – it is exactly what we all need to bring us back in alignment and to remind us of the simple pleasures.

This past summer was extra special, because we made it in time to welcome my nephew Hayden. I was actually present for most of the labor (my past life as a doula still comes in handy every now and then). Hayden didn’t come exactly when anticipated (babies are unpredictable like that), and had a longer than planned hospital stay, but I got to stick around long enough to manage a mini-newborn photography session when he arrived home from the hospital.

We found some miscellaneous blankets and fabric scraps from my mother’s sewing room, grabbed a nursing pillow, moved an ottoman near a big picture window and voila – a makeshift photo studio was born! While Hayden snoozed and my mother and sister acted as a makeshift backdrop stand – I got to snap these priceless images. I always love newborn photography sessions – but this particular session will always have a special place in my heart.

So, since we’re playing ‘better late than never’, indulge a proud first time Auntie for a moment and check out this adorable wee baby.

Newborn Portraits

Newborn Portrait Session

Newborn Photos

Images from Newborn Portrait Session

My brother called this one ‘the spring roll’ shot

Images from Newborn Portrait Session

Mollie (the dog) actually had her own babies (5 of them!) the week before Hayden arrived. She was awfully curious about the new addition.

Images from Newborn Portrait Session

A few shots from the hospital (clockwise: my parents meeting Hayden for the first time, me and my new nephew, the proud father, and the little guy himself)

Photos of Hayden in hospital newborn images

By Jeanette LeBlanc | Posted in newborn | Tagged new brunswick photography, newborn photography, nova scotia newborn photography | Comments (8)

Just the facts…

02.12.09 – 4:02 pm

Things I know for sure

I am the worst blogger ever. Period. End of story.
I would apologize and say I’m going to change. But I might not probably won’t, and I’d hate to tell you a lie.
I’ve been so busy my head is spinning, but holiday order deadline is almost here so I’ll be coming up for air soon.
My family will be VERY glad to have me back.
I’ve got the coolest, most beautiful, utterly stylish, totally inspirational, utterly incredible clients in the world.
They make it worth staring at the computer for hours upon hours at a time.
I’m a photographer. I get to pay my bills with my camera. How cool is that? I still get giddy thinking about it.
Big changes ahead in 2010 – a new assistant, studio manager, new products, new partnerships, new direction. Watch out Phoenix – ya’ll should stay tuned. Seriously.
It’ll probably be June by the time I get around to blogging about it, unless you nag me.
Life is good. Very good.

And since no blog post is complete without pictures, here’s just a bit of what has kept me busy over the past few months. Check these out, and then re-read #5 above….see what I mean?

This family was amazing! I was so in love with these girls!

Phoenix Family Photography

Little girls in pink rain boots…. Who wouldn’t be utterly charmed?

Phoenix Child Photography

Um…so I probably don’t have to tell you that I was totally giddy when I saw this one. Did a little happy dance…for reals.

Phoenix Engagement Photography

Happy Mama-baby shots always make me smile.

Phoenix Family Photography

Ah, baby Max….I melt.

Phoenix Newborn Photography

A beautiful bride in a vintage phone booth at an incredible location….What more could any photographer want?

Phoenix Wedding Photography

These kids were a RIOT. The first year of my annual summer Nova Scotia Photography Sessions (yes – I’m a Snow Bird….once the temp gets over 100 degrees…I am OUTTA here!)

Katie and Alex