What has been going on around here...

I almost feel like I should start this blog post like a confession... forgive me fans, it has been 4 months since my last blog... 

I have so many fun sessions and pictures to share since my last post, that I am not quite sure where to start! 

Let go in order...

Back in October, I helped capture a fundraiser for a great TV show called Driving Jersey. Just two Jersey guys, trying to show the real side of our great state. 

It was an awesome night, full of great entertainment. You can see more about this event at: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.422015041190933.96195.308748459184259&type=1&l=22e14ce7d3

In November, I made my pregnant sister hike through the woods to get some images (just kidding, these were taken in her yard): 

I also did a few holiday sessions in November, they were some of the most fun I have had to date with my camera in my hand! 

There were two wonderful babies born at the end of the year:

I have captured some great moments during baptisms:

and, through the last three months, I have been documenting one of those adorable newborns growing...

I even snuck in a few pictures of my own children! (and got a sweet new logo!)

Check back for more soon! And, you can usually find all of my latest on my Facebook page:

www.facebook.com/meredithannphoto 

Help-Portrait, Sandy Edition

As someone who aspires to be a GREAT portrait photographer one day, I admire Jeremy Cowart's work immensely. He gained even more admiration from me when I read about his charity, Help-Portait. 

When I first explain to people what Help-Portrait does, it seems trivial, maybe even frivilous as a charity. But, if you take the time to read the letters of gratitude from the people who are recipients of a portrait, you get it.( http://help-portrait.com/about/stories/notes/ ) Those notes, and the letters on the site will bring a tear to your eye. 

When Jeremy posted on Facebook that he was trying to put together a special Help-Portrait event for people who were impacted by Sandy, I wanted to help in any way that I could. While my efforts at finding people to participate in the event fell short, it ended up being a great day. 12 people from the greater NYC area met on 8th Ave to have makeovers, get their portraits taken by Jeremy, and then attended a red carpet premiere of a Broadway show. 

I was able to spend about half an hour taking it all in at the studio. Here are some behind the scenes pictures from the day. 

Getting to watch such a professional at work was amazing, and getting to be there for even some of this great event was an experience I won't forget. 

Jeremy took the time to listen to each person's story, and made each participant feel like he was there just for them. This wasn't about making them feel like "charity cases", this was about giving these people, who had their lives turned upside-down by Sandy, a chance to smile, and to have that smile saved by a true artist. 

I cannot wait until December 8th, which is the official Help-Portrait day this year. I am hoping to be taking photos of some really deserving people that day, and only hope that I can do half as much for them as I watched Jeremy and his team do for the ones they met yesterday.