Candy Corn, colored leaves, and cool weather snuggles...yep, Fall is my favorite season!

Listen, dear friends, if you have embraced Fall and you are fully on board with sweaters and leggings, all things pumpkin spice, some fun Fall decorations on your porch, and finally enjoying the great outdoors (after a HOT summer), then you are most definitely my people!💓  Also, extra points if you like candy corn (specifically Brach's Autumn Mix)!!

Ok, ok!! On to September's fun sessions!  

🍁My sweet friend, Rachel, called me and said "My Dad needs headshots fast!!" Got it done and he was a champ!🍁 Jennifer's extended family session made my Momma heart VERY squishy with memories of my own two when they were little! 🍁Annette set the bar for "ideal client" with her outfit selections and fun props for her branding shoot! (Also, I got to keep the flowers!!) 🍁Erin's family, and their love for their sweet 17 year old cat, Dexter, left me knowing that I was always meant to do Journey's End sessions.🍁Photographing the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Columbia golf tournament, for second year, showed me, once again, how much love, grace, and charity there is right here in Columbia. 🍁I really enjoyed getting to know Jonathan at his headshot session!  His images were some of my favorites this month.🍁Gotta keep my last session for September under wraps just a little longer - you'll see it in November's blog after the 2023 Columbia Debutante Ball!                  

Bring on Fall!! I'm definitely here for it!!

I am, most definitely, channeling fall!🍂🍂🍂August, you nearly melted me and now we can't be friends anymore.😏 I'm sure I'll be over it by next year, but for now...bring on the pumpkins, cooler temps, shorter days (yes, I said it) and cozy sweaters!

So, I've been down this road before of "to blog or not to blog"...and I keep asking myself "Janice, why in the world are you still carrying on this blogging business when practically no one is reading it?".  Well, for starters, I'm just stubborn.  I set out to create a once a month blog for 2023 (after not blogging for a couple of years) and I'm not backing down now. And then there is the part of me that loves choosing my favorite images from each session.  Even though I post a sneak peek, I get to choose additional images for the individual collages and it just makes me happy.  Okie doke, all done here. 

Well, go on...scroll through, you know you want to see my faves!😊 

Rabi Erik Uriarte from Tree of Life Congregation. Such an interesting fellow who let me ask ALL the questions and so gracefully corrected my terminology!  

Mrs. Guerry turns 99!  One of my favorite people (and a Decade Project participant) had a wonderful party to celebrate her birthday, surrounded by her adoring family!💗 

From time to time, I have a client that brings a collection of outfits and I like them ALL!!  Cortney arrived in the yellow dress and she absolutely wowed me!  She is as bright and sunny as that gorgeous dress and I enjoyed every minute I spent with this Realtor from Coldwell Banker.

I've been photographing pets and their owners for Journey's End sessions for about 2 years now and every single one of them hits me right here💓, but none more so than Meghan and Diesel.  Knowing that I was there in their last few hours together, and that the images I created for her would likely be the last ones they would have together - well, let's just say, I was humbled and honored to be there. 

July was "Elementary, my dear Watson"

 

I'm always looking for my next fun (just for me!) creative photography project.  With the long, hot summer looming ahead, the idea of doing an air conditioned studio project was OH SO attractive and, with my very own Sherlock, and Pirate, right under my nose...well, look no more!   Believe it or not, we already owned ALL the things for these two looks (and you thought you knew the Sanfords!!), so all it took was a tiny bit of coercion to get my husband to model for me.  Read that as me saying to him "This will be fun and then we'll go get lunch!!" He's so cute!!

I did get to have some very fun days outside in July with two beautiful families, and headshots on a couple of very humid days where the guys looked cool as cucumbers and their photographer was having a meltdown.🤣  

You know how much I love my Senior Models and July brought my first Senior session with Mykiah, my Senior Model for 2024.  She was so fun and relaxed, and I can't wait for our fall shoot.  I think you'll get to see the yellow bicycle again!!

I finished the month, in Florida, with my absolute favorite personal trainer, who you might also know as my daughter, Halie. She's a personal trainer and nutrition coach - coaching both in person and virtually!

Enjoy the rest of your summer, friends.  I've got some fun shoots lined up for August that I already can't wait to share!😊

I know I'm a little biased but I think he just makes THE BEST Sherlock Holmes!!😍

This guy!!  He just WOWs me!  I still can't believe he agreed to do this for me!😉

This sweet family, with their darling toddler and cute fur baby...oh my goodness!  So excited for all the excitement coming their way!💙

Need some painting done around the house?  Call Lawrence with Wow 1 Day Painting!  He's the go-to guy in Columbia for all your painting needs.  You can find him @ Wow1day.com

How cute is this family?!!  I mean, honestly!!  With the curls, and the giggles, and the adorable sleepy baby.  Just give me all the families with littles!💖

Ready for new window treatments that actually look great in your home AND make your life easier?  Robert is the guy to call with Budget Blinds of Forest Lake.  

I'm so excited to work with Mykiah this school year as my 2024 Senior Model!  We've already got plans in motion for a cute shoot in the fall, followed by more, more, more!!

When my daughter, Halie, said "I was thinking about doing some new headshots when you come to visit in July"...well, say no more. This momma was on it, and we shot these in her new home gym!😀 Halie is based in Jacksonville, FL, and trains clients in her gym and virtually.  Still looking for a trainer who is the right fit for you?  Reach out to Halie for a consult!  You can find her @ liftitwithhalie.com.  She really is as cool as she looks, even if she is my kid!😎

Erin & Halie | Family Photography | Janice Sanford Photography

Do they always get along...ummm, no.  I used to describe their relationship this way "They are either best friends or they cannot be in the same hemisphere".  If you have more than one child or a sibling yourself, you may well relate to this!  But the thing they do know is that capturing memories is important to all of us and so, when we knew we were all going to Ohio for Christmas, the plan for this sweet little sister shoot was hatched. Indulge me, if you will, I have to get just a little sentimental. (What kind of Mom would I be if I didn't?!!) I look at these images, and in my mind's eye, I can still see the little girls that carried baby dolls to church, the teenagers with after-school jobs, and the college students trying to figure out life. Every one of those people turned them into the daughters that I'm so happy to call my own.💗 Scroll till the end so you don't miss the laughter!😍  

 

Baby Grace | Newborn Lifestyle Session | Janice Sanford Photography

Babies are an absolute marvel, and it's crystal clear at first glance that  Baby Grace's parents are absolutely head over heels for their tiny miracle.  As a parent, it takes only one split second to remember the way you felt when you brought that first precious, perfect, tiny human home with you, and you were just so incredibly humbled that God trusted you with this little person's care. And just like that, the amazing journey begins.   💕 

 

Winchester Family | Lexington, SC | Janice Sanford Photography

There's nothing sweeter than a new puppy and if you let me know that you'd like to include your pups in your family session, you will get a resounding YES from me.😍  The Winchester Family includes not only the sweetest 4-legged family members but two of the most wonderful young adults I know!  You may recognize Kate and Carson from my previous posts, as Kate is one of my Senior Models for this year and her brother, Carson, was a JSP Senior Model 2 years ago. They are two of my favorite people!

The Winchesters are a family that truly enjoys being together. There was so much laughter and joking around during their session. This family is just a pleasure to be with.