And stay tuned, Lindsey and Brian’s amazing November wedding from the Paradise Valley Country Club is coming up next…

Me and my 3 loves at The Polar Express a few weekends ago (image taken by a friend):

Studio Coordinator Kelly Gill and her beautiful family (we’ll share their c-u-t-e family session on the blog soon after holidays):

Associate Photographer Jenny Bishop below and her adorable family (image taken by their family on Thanksgiving Day):

Intern/Newly Hired Assistant Nicolle Rein Moshiri and her equally adorable family (image by family friend):

And last but not least, announcing our newest associate to join the JBP team Suzanne Searle and her beautiful boys :-)

I consider myself very blessed to have such an amazing team and appreciate all that they do!

We just wanted to take a moment to let you know that we will resume the normal blog publishing schedule soon (with some ah-ma-zing weddings & adorable family photos) and provide you with some deadlines for when all orders need to be in:

Print Enlargement Orders: December 14th

Disc of Images: Dec 14

Holiday Cards: Dec 9 (these will be drop shipped directly to you)

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New Portrait Bookings: We are booked for all shoots through the end of the year now and will be accepting new session bookings starting in January 2012. Jennifer Bowen has a few limited openings still in January (all 4 weekends are already booked), but is more open in February. Associate Jenny Bishop will have some session slots available that can be reserved in January and February. Plus we will be announcing a new associate who is joining the team as well soon! {For planning purposes, please keep in mind that we typically book sessions 1-3 weeks out in the early part of the year.}

New Wedding Bookings: Yeah for all the Christmas proposals coming! If you are considering us for your wedding photography, we would love to hear from you. Please know that we are mainly accepting fall 2012 weddings. Jennifer Bowen is fairly booked up March-May, however Jenny & Suzanne (stay tuned!) will have available spring dates. Be sure to check with us for your specific date to see who is available. When contacting us, we need to know your city & state, date and venue if you know it, as well as any other pertinent details about your wedding. We share most of information and pricing via consultations, either in person or over the phone, so we do encourage setting up a time to meet so we can hear more about your wedding. For more FAQ about our wedding photography, please click here.

Studio Holiday Hours: Please know the studio will be closed December 18-January 1 for a much needed break with our families. I try to take off 2 weeks every year after our crazy fall season to recharge, rest and spend quality time with my husband and kids so that I am fresh and ready to go for the new year ahead. I will have some access to email during this time, but we do appreciate your patience with our slower response times.

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Happy Holidays!

Jennifer Bowen Photography

From all of us at Jennifer Bowen Photography, we wish you a safe, peaceful, happy Thanksgiving. I hope this finds you spending time with loved ones, enjoying good food, and maybe watching a little football. But mostly, taking a moment to reflect on what you truly thankful for.

To my husband Chris, thank you for being the amazing father that you are. For loving our children with all your heart, for all the fun and humor you bring to their lives and being there when they need you. For all the adventures you want to give them, the guidance you provide, and all the dirty diapers you change. Thank you for working so hard for your family, because I know what hard work means to you, and why its so important to you. Thank you for all the laughter that gets us through the days and years, for getting me and allowing me to be 100% me, and for being such an extraordinary partner to walk this life with. I love you!

One morning we went to breakfast and Morgan was a little restless and Shannon was trying to console her, in all the ways a new mom does. She sort of calmed down and Shannon was holding her on her lap while eating at the same time, when all of a sudden, Morgan reached around and wrapped her arms around my sisters neck, buried her head into her shoulder, and closed her eyes. Clearly she was tired and just needed to snuggle deep into her mother’s chest and be held. But what I most remember about that moment is the look on my sisters face when Morgan did that. Shannon slowly set down her fork, her face softened in a way I’d never seen, and she just hugged Morgan back for a long time, without moving, without eating. It touched me so much at the time, the way two people could need each other that much, and respond to each other in that way. It one of those memories that burned itself in my heart. Soon after I had my first child, I thought back on that, and came to appreciate it more fully, because I finally understood the depth of that love. I knew then exactly what my sister was feeling, not just what her face showed to me at the time. The intensity of a love that manages to put everything else in life in perspective.

From my own experience with motherhood, it has transformed me on the deepest levels. It challenges me, humbles me, humors me, hurts me, drains me, and fulfills me. Sometimes all of those emotions happen in one day. It taught me patience, showed me the depths in which my heart could feel for another human being, and broadsided me with the realization that I will forever wear my heart on my sleeve. It’s also proved that The Magic Eraser is the best invention ever created. :-) Chris and I often recall the drive home from the hospital with our first born Jordan. We felt fear (can we do this on our own?), surrealism, excitement, and an overwhelming sense of protection towards her. With Alex, our second born almost 4 years later, the fear was replaced with mostly just excitement and pure joy – and the knowledge that my heart did not have to split in half to love two of them as I imagined, but that it multipled and expanded with even more love.

Being a mother has also made me appreciate some of the sacrifices my own Mom made along the way, and mostly, appreciative that the overriding feeling she has always given me is the knowledge that I am truly loved and accepted by her. Mainly she showed that with unspoken gestures, daily hugs and I love you’s, and giving me encouragement that I could do anything I set out to do if I tried. But also by choosing to be a mother first, and not a friend, through all my formative years; someone who firmly said no when I needed it, disciplined me when I deserved it, and was always there to listen to me and help me make decisions when I needed her to be. She is my first memory; and to this day, that memory of napping with her when I was two still conjures up feelings of security, warmth, love and affection. I guess because of that, I feel that providing those nurturing traits to my own children is “the root of the root”. (as EE Cummings might say). So thank you Mom.

This year, I wanted to share some of my favorite images I have taken over the years of mothers with their children. I know there may be others I have inadvertently left out, but I wanted to get this post up in time. :-) I wish all the mothers of the world a very Happy Mother’s Day.

Above: One of the strongest, most amazing mother’s I have ever known – Christine. Featured with her twin sons and daughter Olivia Ann Hoffmann (Aug 11 2004-Dec 10, 2010)

And lastly, a picture of me and my mom, back in 2004 when I was pregnant with Jordan, and one of my very favorites of my sister, niece and daughter in NYC 2009

My Jordan

Her best bud and our neighbor’s daughter Ella

My niece Sierra above and nephew Hunter below

Our neighbors and friends The Kersten’s

Chris with our Alexander (clearly grumpy and past naptime here)  and our friend’s daughter Quinn

Quinn’s parents Jon and Margo

Jordan and Ella

And the adorable Welch familyIncluding gorgeous Hannah

And her equally cute brother Sam And one last one of Sierra and Jordan sledding. Love this!

I wish everyone a peaceful Christmas filled with joy and love.

-xo