J HALSTEAD PHOTOGRAPHY

All of me....

2012-02-14T09:49:00.004-08:00

All of me
By: Matt Hammitt (From Sanctus Real)

Afraid to love
Something that could break
Could I move on
If you were torn away?
And I'm so close to what I can't control
I can't give you half my heart
And pray He makes you whole

You're gonna have all of me
You're gonna have all of me
'Cause you're worth every falling tear
You're worth facing any fear
You're gonna know all my love
Even if it's not enough
Enough to mend our broken hearts
But giving you all of me is where I'll start

I won't let sadness steal you from my arms
I won't let pain keep you from my heart
I'll trade the fear of all that I could lose
For every moment I share with you

Heaven brought you to this moment, it's too wonderful to speak
You're worth all of me, you're worth all of me
So let me recklessly love you, even if I bleed
You're worth all of me, you're worth all of me

Courageous...The Dance Remembered

2012-01-29T07:17:00.000-08:00

****MOVIE SPOILER***** If you haven't seen this movie yet, this YouTube clip has a beautiful scene from the movie in it. Don't watch it if you don't want to see it yet or you don't like movies spoiled for you. Instead...go rent it for a buck at Redbox and call it a date night!

"When you are ready to dance....this is what you do.
First you put your right hand around my waist like this.
Then you put your other hand out like this.
Then you sway back and forth to the music."

Those of you who know me, know that my children are the most important thing in life to me. I have 6 incredibly beautiful children and all of them are equally special to me in their own way. I hold no favorites and I try to give each of them their own opportunities to grow and be themselves, whatever that may be. However, after watching this movie, my heart was sickened with the thought of ever loosing one of them, especially my daughter Addison.

If you haven't watched the movie Courageous, I am going to tease you a bit with a portion of the storyline. The main character's daughter dies suddenly in a car crash on the ride home from school one day with one of her friends. The daughter is 9 and just a bundle of joy. The scene first plays out that the dad and the daughter pull up to park outside a building to wait on his friend. The daughter's favorite song comes on the radio and she begs her daddy to turn the song up and come dance with her. He refuses, fearing that he might look like a fool or be embarrassed. She proceeds to dance alone, as she teaches him how to dance while he sits and watches from his truck. The daughter dances in the sunlight with this beautiful smile that just penetrates any parents soul.

Fast-forward to the end of the movie. The clip I have included in this blog is from the end of the movie. The dad has lost his daughter, and realizes that the moments he had with her, he took for granted. No matter how big or small in life, we must never look past spending time with our children in the small moments. The dad comes back to the same area as before and dances his portion, alone, in the sunlight remembering her words....her face....her beauty.

This little girl from the movie reminds me of my Addison. My daughter is only 5, but has the same heart and spirit as the character from the movie. Addison dances for the Lord with such joy and passion. She has child-like faith that could move mountains. Her smile lights up an entire room. After I saw this scene in the movie, my mothers love met my photographers heart. My daughter was playing in our back yard this evening and the sun began to set. I ran in and grabbed my camera and told her to just dance and be herself. I couldn't imagine ever loosing her. My heart would literally break into pieces.

I learned from this movie that we shouldn't settle for just being "good" or "ok" parents, but rather that we could be more! God has called us to be more! Our children deserve more of us...more of our quality time...more of our leadership...more of our love. And when my daughter asks me to dance with her...I will not sit back and watch...I will dance with all of my heart and soak of every moment with her.

Jeremiah 24:15 "As for me and my house....we will serve the Lord"

The Greens: Rebeccah & Chad

2011-10-25T19:03:00.000-07:00

The lovely Green couple held their ceremony and reception at the beautiful Ocean Breeze Conference Center located on Jacksonville's Mayport Naval base. It just happened to overlook Jacksonville Beach. There were several military honored throughout the evening who were both in uniform and out, so it made the night even more special by seeing so many proud soldiers present. Stunning wedding decor, food, and service coordinated and provided by Adair Currie with Your Wedding Weekender as well as the Ocean Breeze Conference Center. Thank you again to Bella Blue Photography for allowing me the opportunity to come and second shoot for your wedding! Always a pleasure working with other photographers! Here's a brief look at my shots for the evening!

Brittany & Aaron's Wedding

2011-07-12T10:35:00.000-07:00

Nothing makes me happier than taking photographs of people in love, other than, taking photographs of the people I love who are in love! Brittany and I worked as an awesome dynamic duo for FSCJ's Campus Voice Newspaper. Through many late nights and long hours of editing oh and lots of line dancing, Brittany and I became extremely close friends. I remember one day she sent me a text asking me, "How did you know that your husband was 'THE ONE" for you to be with?" That's when I knew that she was head over heels for Aaron. At that time, I didn't know Aaron all that well, so I started drilling her with questions. Slowly but surely, this conversation headed down the path of understanding their relationship and being absolutely excited about their love.

Brittany was one of those brides you just love! She is an art major, so she has an extreme eye for detail. So for me and my camera, we fell in love with every single one of her efforts. Her proud husband spoke to me before the ceremony began, "Doesn't everything look great? She did everything herself!" As you can see, Brittany didn't miss a thing. Their ceremony was intimately held on their family property under a huge oak tree. The ceremony began with the couple to remove their shoes to imitate standing on holy ground as stated in the Old Testament of the Bible.

The couple held the reception under a beautiful large white tent with all their family and friends. Chick-Fil-A is Aaron (and I believe now Brittany's) favorite place to eat. They catered the meal. There was also a candy table set up for guest to make their own sweet treats. Brittany and Aaron both are avid rock wall climbers so their cake had a groom and bride climbing up the side of several rocks. Perfect for these two! Guests were given mason jars to drink their sweet tea tea from and to take as party favors.

I hope you enjoy the sneak peek from their big day!

-Aaron and Brittany-
I love you both and I pray that God is blessing your marriage greatly! I am so thankful that you chose me to be a part of your big day. Congratulations to you both!

Shooting with Bella Blue Photography

2011-07-12T09:58:00.000-07:00

Wow! So I realize it has been a really really long time since I blogged. It was fun reading back through all the old posts and seeing how much my photography skills have grown in a year.

This past weekend I was privileged to shoot a wedding with the lovely Bella Blue Photography. The ceremony and reception were held at the Hilliard Mansion located in Hilliard, Florida. It is the perfect venue for an outdoor ceremony, but only if the weather is graciously in your favor. When I pulled up the sky was black and the rain was pouring down. I sat in my car debating with myself on whether to unload or to stay hidden until it all passed. Once arriving to the house I was pleasantly surprised at how beautiful the inside of the mansion actually was. Thanks goodness because the rain showed no signs of letting up....until about 10 minutes before the ceremony was supposed to begin! Since I was second shooting, I hung with the groom and groomsmen prior to the ceremony. I have learned that the guys have it so much easier than the girls when it comes to getting ready on the wedding day. Brooke, the bride, had planned such cute details that I hope to add here soon. Their colors were a ocean blue and silver. Perfect for this garden wedding.

I loved being able to assist another photographer and have fun while doing so. It also helped that this couple was absolutely adorable!!! I look forward to helping their company again in the future! Enjoy my little peek at their big day!

BLACK FRIDAY SALE

2010-11-26T09:54:00.000-08:00

Welcome Mr. & Mrs. Campbell!

2010-04-11T19:04:00.001-07:00

Richie Campbell and Stefanie Richardson were married Saturday, March 27, 2010 at First Baptist Church of Jacksonville Beach. Their reception was held at the Majestic Room. The food was absolutely incredible! Richie began their reception with prayer, but soon sang to his bride. He wrote and composed a song about his feelings and their relationship. He sang this to her prior to them taking their first dance. How romantic! I am currently uploading the video now to youtube. Once it's there, I will post a link. Enjoy!

Spending the day with my Rylan

2010-04-07T13:28:00.000-07:00

This spring break, we decided, that we would allow our children to pick a day to spend with one of us (my husband or myself). My oldest son, Rylan, picked to spend his day with me. Rylan will be 11-years-old in October and is a 4th grader. He's growing like a weed, reaching my shoulder. He has a super gentle spirit and loves to be creative and artistic. I could see him having a piece of artwork hanging in a gallery somewhere one day. He constantly picks up trash, which he kindly tells me that it's something he wants to turn into his own creation. He is at that age where he wants to know why things happen and questions everything, but not to be defiant, instead it's because he wants to understand.

We started our day at a pottery painting facility, "Doing Dishes" on San Jose Blvd. They were so sweet and very helpful! Rylan is into anything that has to do with aviation. He tells me that he wants to go into the Air Force and I tell him, "Over my dead body!" He had his heart set on painting a plane before we ever left the house, but when we got there, we couldn't find one. He settled for a speed boat and began painting. The people who run the facility came by and gave him compliments on his boat. He noted that he really wanted to paint a plane. She went to the back and brought him out a plane. Dude was stoked! So he ended up painting two pieces instead of one.

Rylan has wanted to try snow crab legs as long as he has been old enough to read a Red Lobster menu. The day has finally come! Since neither of us had ever had these before, the waitress kindly taught us how to use the tools. As she tackled the first snow crab leg with a "snap-crackle-pop", Rylan just about fainted. He shuttered and said he was about to be sick. See, Rylan has trouble killing a fly, or eating a chicken wing. I don't know if it's just that he has a light stomach or couldn't imagine an animal being hurt, either way, he didn't eat but about two bites. He said it still looked like an animal and he just couldn't do it. I cracked up!

I enjoyed my day with Rylan, not just because I was able to go and do some things I love too, but because I feel like I am preparing him for the future. See, to me, days like this prepare him for what his life will be like with a future date, girlfriend, friend, or wife. The Lord gives us our children to teach them His way and His path for their lives. I know that my husband and I are here in our children's lives to show them how to love their future spouses by loving each other first. One day Rylan will make a good husband and father; I just know it!

Rylan was so adorable. Before we even left the drive way, he said that he was nervous. It was like he was going on his first date!

These pics are taken with my iphone.

Rejoice the Awakening

2010-03-23T20:51:00.000-07:00

Composed of former members of the band Mouths of Lions, Rejoice the Awakening is a group of guys who love people and love what they do. They strive to give people hope through their everyday lives with the music they create. A hope that transcends the world we know. Rejoice the Awakening is a new and upcoming Christian band that is setting out for their first tour this summer. They are more in the genre of Metalcore/Post-Hardcore. They have been playing in various local venues like Jacksonville's Murray Hill.

Band members:
Nick Bailey-Vocals
Aaron Davis-Bass
Dylan Young-Guitar
Sean Burns-Guitar
Patrick Garren-Drums

Become a fan on their Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Rejoice-the-Awakening/306641287124?ref=ts

Or listen to their music on their Myspace page:

http://www.myspace.com/mouthsoflions

Brittany Rae Baker Rocks!

2010-03-23T20:43:00.000-07:00

Nothing but raw talent pours out of this girl. Brittany is an art major transfering to the University of North Florida in the fall of 2010. She is into film photography and has the ability to draw or design you an incredible piece of art work. I hope to have her come to do a mural on one of my walls in the near future. Look for more of Brittany soon.

Hair and make up by: Jamie Halstead
Location: Apline Grove Park in St. John's County

Bridal Glamour

2010-03-23T20:37:00.000-07:00

It was another amazing shoot out with the wonderful Faythe Mesic Hall and her team of incredible make-up, hair-stylists, and models. Here is a small teast, but so much more to come!

Fashion shoot group:
Model: Victoria
Lead Makeup Artist: Sonia Garza
Lead Hairstylis: Sonia Garza
Wardrobe: Faythe Mesic
Dress: RiverCity Bridal (designer name available upon request)
Stylist Assistants: JoJo and Margo
In this photo: Victoria Gesell

Fashion shoot group March
Model: Jessica
Lead Makeup Artist: Faythe Mesic
Lead Hairstylis: Faythe Mesic
Wardrobe: Faythe Mesic
Dress: RiverCity Bridal (designer name available upon request)
Stylist Assistants: JoJo and Margo

Fashion shoot group March
Model: Rachel
Lead Makeup Artist: Faythe Mesic
Lead Hairstylis: Faythe Mesic
Wardrobe: Faythe Mesic
Dress: RiverCity Bridal (designer name available upon request)
Stylist Assistants: JoJo and Margo

Model: Lisa
Lead Makeup Artist: Sonia Garza
Lead Hairstylis: Sonia Garza
Wardrobe: Faythe Mesic
Dress: RiverCity Bridal (designer name available upon request)
Stylist Assistants: JoJo and Margo

Beautiful Ballerina

2010-03-18T19:59:00.000-07:00

The next three days will determine everything for Katie. She is traveling to Palm Beach Atlantic College in South Florida to audition for acceptance and a scholarship. She is a dance major and has hopes and dreams of opening her own school of the arts. Katie has been dancing for 7 years for several different schools, companies, and organizations. Today we took some creative portfolio shots in the 5-points area and then finished with some traditional studio pictures that she needed to present to the college in a portfolio at the audition.

Katie- I am praying for you! The Lord knows your path and He knows if this is where you belong. I pray that He will keep you safe in your travels and that He will give you peace about what ever should happen. You are a beautiful and talented dancer! Good luck!

Ayden's Arrival

2010-03-16T16:50:00.000-07:00

Ayden Jerimiah Carey was born just 6 days ago weighing in at a tiny 7lbs 2oz. He entered this world via c-section at Shands hospital in downtown Jacksonville. I know I say this after every newborn session, but he was the absolute easiest newborn baby I have ever photographed. He snoozed the entire time and only woke up when I tried to make him a nudy-booty! He sports a tiny fro-hawk. He looks like a mini-Jonas brother. What a cutie he's going to be when he grows up!

Enjoy these adorable pictures taken in my studio!

Congratulations Brooker & Tory Blanton!

2010-03-13T20:40:00.001-08:00

Tory Stanley and Brooker Blanton tied the knot at sunset in Treaty Oak Park located in downtown Jacksonville. Their reception was held immediately afterwards in 5-points area at the Church of the Good Shepherd.

Here is a quick sneak peek of their wedding! Enjoy!

Welcome Mr. & Mrs. McQuade!!

2010-03-07T19:00:00.000-08:00

Ryan McQuade and Hayley O'Reilly tied the knot Saturday, March 6th at Fort Caroline Christian Church in Jacksonville, Florida.

Their reception location was at the Firefighter's Hall on Stockton Road. Food was provided by Hayley's family. We all had rave reviews of the seafood pasta. Music was provided by "Deland Entertainment" and video documentation of their special day was shot by "We Cover Weddings". (Look them up on Facebook and become a friend). Hayley's hair and makeup services were compliments of her sister and maid of honor, Gaynor O'Reilly. I would highly recommend all of these vendors again if you were planning your wedding.

Hayley chose to rock her dress the next day with a session in San Marco. She chose to pop the hot pink from her wedding colors.

Ryan and Hayley... I hope you have a blast on your honeymoon! Bring back lots of warm weather! I love you both!

Junkyard Babes

2010-03-03T16:17:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Faythe Hall Mesic and her wonderful team of make up artists, models, and photographers, we had a wonderful shoot. I hadn't realized that I didn't post these on the blog, but did every where else, so here are the shots. I had a blast working with such talented people and connecting with many other photographers. This just makes me excited for the March shoot!

Model: Sarah DeLucca
Hair: Faythe Mesic
Makeup: Faythe Mesic

Model: Tara
Hair: Sonia Garza
Makeup: Erin Foster

Model: Sammi
Hair: Sonia Garza
Makeup: Sonia Garza

Model: Jamie
Hair: Sonia Garza
Makeup: Sonia Garza

Model: Kymbr
Hair: Faythe Mesic
Makeup: Faythe Mesic

Model: Elizabeth
Hair: Sonia Garza
Makeup: Faythe Mesic

Model: Tiffany Ashley
Hair: Sonia Garza
Makeup: Erin Foster

Adkins family welcomes baby Noah!

2010-03-03T11:33:00.000-08:00

I had the honor of photographing Noah's older brother Ethan when he was only 8 weeks old, so when Cheri "mom" contacted me and asked if I would take Noah's pictures, I was estatic! I love doing this because I get to see how much everyone has grown.

3-week-old Noah looks very similar to Ethan except, Noah has his momma's beautiful red hair. We decided that we wanted to do a session that was unique to Noah and different from his big brother. Since Ethan had done a studio session before, we chose an outdoor session for Noah instead. Thanks to the beautiful weather and Noah being a trooper, we got some awesome shots.

(Here is a link to see Ethan's pictures when he was first born:
http://jhalsteadphotography.blogspot.com/2009/01/adkins-family.html)

Here are some of my favorites!

Garcia Family

2010-03-02T18:29:00.000-08:00

Not only was this weekend beautiful, but for me, it was very productive. My son's birthday party was Saturday, Sunday I had two sessions, and two of my classes ended this weekend. I jumped in my truck after Sunday church lunch, turned the key over, and nothing! There is nothing more frustrating than being in a hurry or having something important to do and something go wrong. Luckily, it was just a battery cord, but it threw off my entire afternoon. I always tell myself that the Lord had a reason for this to happen. Sometimes He has to slow me down in my tracks.

My first of the two sessions on Sunday was with the Garcia family. We met up at Jacksonville Beach. It was beautiful and sunny, but also windy and chilly. I actually photographed their daughter, Danielle, for her senior session.

There are more of these to come, but here is a sneak peek.

Blue + Belly = BOY!

2010-02-24T20:44:00.000-08:00

Ayden Jeremiah will be entering the world very soon! He's due March 13th, but as for now, he has decided to come into this world mooning everyone. He has been breach for a couple weeks now. Mom, Nicole, is going weekly to appointments waiting to hear news of either a baby who has decided to cooperate or to find out that she is being scheduled for a c-section.

Having your first child comes with many nervous moments by itself. Having your first child and learning he's breach and that you are a likely candidate for a c-section is even harder. Nicole is doing great! Supported by her partner, Lori, the two of them are keeping a positive attitude and know that what ever comes their way they will make it through.

Nicole is some one very special in my life. She lived with us for several months, so she feels like family to me, like a daughter. I was there the moment she learned that there was a plus sign on the pregnancy test. I feel like my own daughter is about to have a child. And to see all that she is going through, just worries my heart. I know though, that the Lord will be her strength and her refuge.

We did a couple studio shots first, then hit the hay field for a little rustic look, but landed in Downtown for the final shots. Enjoy and look for delivery and newborn shots of Ayden's big day!

Danielle "Rose" Garcia

2010-02-20T19:03:00.000-08:00

Beautiful.....that was the word of the day! God blessed us with perfect sunshine for a wonderful senior session.

She is known by her family and friends as Danielle, but her classmates call her Rose. She looked amazing! We held her session at various locations around Jacksonville Beach. Rose will be graduating from Seacoast Christian Academy in May, and has hopes of pursuing a career as a paramedic. She is also the captain of the flags team at her high school and is currently working very hard on her spring performance. She enjoys photography as hobby and plans to continue to grow in her creativity. Her family is so proud of her!

Welcome Mr. & Mrs. Ames!!!

2010-02-16T07:43:00.001-08:00

Katie and Dixon married at Arlington Baptist Church, in Jacksonville, Florida, on Saturday, Feb 6th. Katie's curls and cowgirl boots were perfect for the special day; while Dixon sported sweet shades and pin-stripes. The reception location was at the Navy Officer Club at NAS Jax, overlooking the incredible St. John's river. Katie and Dixon spent their honeymoon at Disney!

Jake's graduating!

2010-02-07T11:57:00.000-08:00

Watching your own children grow up can seem like such a long and slow process, mainly because you are there for every waking moment. You might notice a growth spurt, because you had to toss out a pair of jeans that are now too short, or a sudden ability to do something that used to be very challenging, but for most part, things happen gradually.

On the other hand, I have the opportunity to watch several other children grow up really fast: my youth group kids, my middle/high school students, and all the kids that claim me as their "adopted mom". It seems like I go a week or a month without seeing one of them and the next thing I know, one is getting married or the next one is having children, and another is graduating from school.

Jake would be one of the kids. I have known he and his family since we first moved to Jacksonville 8 years ago. I have watched him grow from a boy to a young man, so when I look at him and his photographs, it leaves me with that "oh my goodness, you are still 10 in my eyes" kind of feeling.

Jake is graduating from Stanton College Preparatory School this May. He is talented and brillant. I know his family couldn't be more proud.

Congratulations Jake!

Richie and Stefanie are getting hitched!

2010-01-19T06:59:00.001-08:00

When ever I photograph a wedding, I offer a complimentary consultation before we ever take a single picture. During this time, I always learn how the couple met and their details of the big day. But the most important question I ask is to the groom... "So, how did you ask her to marry you?"

Note, I do not ask the bride for two big reasons, first because I love to see how the bride's face lights up as her groom re-tells the story of how he asked her and second I love to give the groom the opportunity to explain how he led up to the decision to actually ask her. So may times we get caught up in all of planning that we forget to recall why we made this decision in the first place.

When I sat down with Stefanie and Richie to hear how he asked her, my heart melted. Richie had planned to ask her on their anniversary. He had already purchased the ring, had it tucked away in a safe spot in their closet, and told everyone to be aware that it was coming. Richie is a country music artist and is pursuing a career in the industry. He and Stefanie had gone to a location that could have been a potential place for him to play at. The owner's wife inquired if Stefanie was Richie's wife? Richie laughed and poked fun at the idea, but said no.

Later that evening afer returning from the night out, Stefanie approached the subject again. She explained to Richie that she would love to be his wife one day. Richie left the room and returned with a ring. That's when he asked her.

He said to me, "I never thought I would ever get married. I was content just being on my own. I was going to pursue my music and do my own thing. Then she came into my life."

It was the sweetest thing I thought I had ever heard.

Richie and Stefanie are getting married at First Baptist Church at Jacksonville Beach on March 27th, 2010. There reception will follow at The Majestic Room. There engagement session pictures were taken in St. Augustine, Florida.

Click on photos for larger images. www.jhalsteadphotography.blogspot.com)

Life gives us amazing miracles

2010-01-06T07:49:00.001-08:00

I have been blessed to have had 6 children in my life, one of which, I never had the opportunity to hold in my arms. I feel like this is one reason why I can empathize and sympathize with other women and families that I photograph. I know the joys of carrying a baby and the pains of delivery. I understand the grief of a loss and I appreciate the good and the rough days of parenting or potty training.

When Stephanie told me her incredible story, my heart ached for her. I met her two months after I had just lost my unborn child and she had just had her first child. She explained to me that prior to having her son, she had lost a child as well. The pregnancy resulted in damaging the whole right side of her reproductive area. The doctor explained that she may never have children at all and if she did, it would be a miracle if she or the baby made it past 6 or 7 months.

She soon found out she was having her first son. She was only able to carry him until 7 1/2 months. Her placenta had been detached from the lining walls and she had begun to hemorrhage. Via emergency c-section, he arrived weighing just under 4 pounds. He was a miracle.

The doctor advised her to not have any more children. It could threaten her own life and the baby as well. Once finding out she was pregnant with her second child, she was faced with a horrific decision of whether or not to have the child. This pregnancy brought even more challenges: gestational diabetes, work, full time school, and the demands of a toddler.

She and the baby were seen by the doctor on Friday and schedule for a c-section on Monday pending the results of her amniocentesis test. She arrived Monday morning to learn that her fluid levels were too low and she was being admitted to deliver right then.

Alida Mikell was born 5 lbs 10oz at 5:35pm. Mom and baby are doing great! She named her after a character from one of her beloved childhood books. Because of the emergency c-section, I was unable to enter the delivery room, but the hospital was gracious enough to allow me into the nursery during her bath and blood work. Dad was so proud! They now have a son and a daughter! There are photos here from her maternity session and her delivery.

Tory & Brooker

2009-12-29T13:58:00.000-08:00

I feel like I have a new theme to my engagement sessions... COLD WEATHER! It was 32 degrees when I left my home today, but it didn't take long for Tory & Brooker to warm things up. Tory's deep chocolate brown eyes and incredible smile would melt any guy's heart; Brooker just happend to be the lucky man. He had a way of saying just the right words to make her smile during the entire session. We started our session walking the streets of St. Augustine, but quickly made a pit-stop inside a cute little breakfast coffee shop to warm up.

Tory and Brooker have a beautiful outdoor wedding planned for Saturday, March 13 at the historical Treaty Oak Park in downtown Jacksonville. We finished the session by taking a walk through the park to get some ideas for wedding day pictures. The couple has pictured a romantic candle lit sunset wedding. I cannot wait for their big day to get here.

www.jhalsteadphotography.blogspot.com

Brotherly Love

2009-12-29T13:45:00.000-08:00

My little brother, who is not so little anymore, just had his second son November 21. My brother and I have managed to have two children within weeks apart from one another. His first son was born 6 weeks before my Ethan and his second son, 8 weeks after my Brooklyn. It's exciting to go through my pregnancies with my sister-in-law and my brother. My family came in for the holidays, so I took full advantage of my new nephew. I grabbed some props and gave him his modeling debut. He has my brother's curls! I hate that I live so far away from family, but I loved that I was able to celebrate Jaxton's first Christmas with them.

www.jhalsteadphotography.blogspot.com

My Brooklyn is 3 months old

2009-12-20T15:51:00.000-08:00

There are times when I feel like I wished I could speed up time, kind of like that movie click. I would have a nice little remote control that would enable me to speed through things like doing laundry or the dishes. However, I would never rush through one minute of my time with any of my kids. Every time I look at my youngest daughter, Brooklyn, I feel like it was just yesterday that I was bringing my oldest son, Rylan, home. 10 years are between the two of them, and not a moment I would want to just see fly by, but it's happening whether I like it or not. God continually reminds me of how wonderful He is and how incredibly precious time is.

My daughter Brooklyn has already had many challenges in her short 3 months of life. She is still struggling with weight gaining issues and has been battling a cough and fever for the last week. But, she is smiling and laughing out loud. She coo's and just rolled over to her stomach today, all by herself. Her face lights up when you talk to her.

Here are her three month pictures! Enjoy!
www.jhalsteadphotography.blogspot.com

Katie & Dixon

2009-12-19T10:22:00.001-08:00

Let me take you back 6 hours ago....

It was 6:30am and my truck temp read 37 degrees!!!!! Katie & Dixon were meeting me at Jacksonville beach come rain or shine or even cold cold cold weather. We had to postpone their session two weeks ago because of freezing rain, so we were determined to do this one. I wore four layers on top and even leggings under my warm up pants, a hat, and gloves. They only wore a shirt and jeans. I didn't think that was very fair, so I brought a long a blanket for them to snuggle up with. Despite the cold and the nasty wind, we had an amazing session.

Dixon cracked me up! Dixon, I will remember the secret word for the wedding day, just in case we need reinforcements. He and Katie did a great job at hiding the fact that their toes and fingers felt like they were about to fall off. Katie has the most incredible smile and beautiful blue eyes! I cannot wait to capture her in February for their big day.

Their big day is Saturday, February 5th. So look forward to more of Katie and Dixon.
View this at www.jhalsteadphotography.blogspot.com

The Campus Voice Christmas Party

2009-12-19T10:08:00.000-08:00

There is only one thing better than hanging with my staff for Christmas, and that's hanging with my staff and beating the pants off of them at bowling!

Check that score.. 153 ... ya baby!

We had such a good time. We went to Moon River Pizza, which is down the road from Murray Hill, and then headed to Jax Lanes West for bowling. Thanks to Ben and Tj for the office microwave, Zak for the ginger bread house, and Brittany for my new book. You guys have made this first semester rock! I can't wait to see what we accomplish this next semester.

You can see more at www.jhalsteadphotography.blogspot.com or check The Campus Voice fan page on Facebook.com.

Flashbacks and Memories

2009-12-19T09:30:00.000-08:00

Every time I shoot a high school event, it makes me think about the times when I walked the halls of my high school. Yes, I am going to pull a "in my days" story time with you. So, just kick back and enjoy!

In my days, homecoming dance was right after the homecoming football game. We would freeze our butts off cheering and then cram everyone inside a sweaty gym. It was awesome.

In my days, we nominated just a homecoming queen, not a king. The girls would have their picture taken for the local newspaper the week prior to the event. Everyone would cut the clipping out, because it was the closest any of us would ever come to making front page news.

In my days, the night of the big game, you really felt like a celebrity. A candidate would ride on the top of a convertible car, while being driven around the football field on the track-n-field lanes. Every girl took her time to decorate the car and poster for the event. Her heart would fill with joy and nervousness as she waved to the crowd in the stands.

In my days, I was nominated my junior year for homecoming queen. I couldn't have been more proud to have been one of three girls to represent my class. However, when the time came for the announcer to call the names of the winners, they totally messed it up. They called the winner first and then all of the runners up. This was completely backwards. The anticipation died at that moment. I received first runner up, so I was the last to be called and by that point the attendants were all out of flowers. That was even more awkward. The week following the dance, I receieved flowers to my homeroom class, with a letter apologizing for the mix up. It didn't bother me. I was just happy to be a part of such a big event.

Thanks for the walk down memory lane. Now here are some pictures from the homecoming dance at Seacoast Christian Academy.

For more see www.jhalsteadphotography.blogspot.com

My Little Mud Princess

2009-12-13T13:52:00.000-08:00

For the last two days, it has done nothing but rain! I can't stand the cold, but what can be worse than cold, is rain and cold mixed together. However, today we woke up to a warm sunshine! With this warm weather I decided that there were things I was very thankful for and things that I would never do again.

I am thankful that God blessed me with 5 beautiful children to kiss and love on every day. I am so incredibly grateful for a husband who still makes my heart skip a beat when he calls me, looks at me, or touches me. I am thankful to have a home, not just a house. I am thankful that I have the freedom to praise my God in public and worship with my whole life.

I realized that I never want my children to miss out on a day of laughter. I never want them to think that their mom couldn't have fun or let loose. I never want to sit on my rump and do nothing while the sun is shining. I want my kids to remember that one day they ran through mud puddles and got REAL dirty!

So today, we sang Miley Cyrus' song "Party in the U.S.A" at the top of our lungs while we drove to and from church. We raced each other on our bikes and laughed when Addison beat us all. We delivered cookies to our neighbors. And yes, we ran through mud puddles!

www.jhalsteadphotography.blogspot.com

Merry Christmas Marciniaks!

2009-12-08T17:33:00.001-08:00

Over Thanksgiving break, my sister-in-law and I decided to team up and take some Christmas photos of her family. Amanda is a child and family portrait photographer as well. She told me that she had taken everyone else's photo, but her own! So, she brought her lights, camera, and backdrops to Tennessee. All I had to do was snap a couple shots.

We didn't get started until almost 8:00 at night, so her son was ready to crash out. When this happend, we had to find a way to make him laugh... and that we did. Amanda is hanging on to a rubber toy ball under Jeremiah's shirt. Once squeezed, it made fart noises on his belly. Every time she did this, he cracked up! So were we! Here are just a couple of them!

Amy is a diva for her senior pics!

2009-12-08T17:24:00.000-08:00

I'm crankin' out the senior sessions this season and this girl is rockin'! I have known Amy for 4 years and watched her grow from a young lady to young woman. Amy decided to turn it up a notch when it came to her senior session. She went shopping for that "perfect" outfit that would scream.... "I'm outta here!" She chose her amazing purple prom dress from her junior year and some others that are secrets...waiting to unvail when I finish editing the session. Look for more of Amy to come. Here is a sneak peek!

Addy's 1st Christmas

2009-12-08T14:00:00.000-08:00

I love being able to capture a baby's first Christmas. The Chitwoods and I, spent this Christmas in the San Marco area. Mom wanted to recapture a photograph that had been taken on their wedding day. They had been married at this cute little historic church and park just near by. Looking back at the photographs while editing, I couldn't believe that Addy is already 6 months and sitting up. Soon, I will be snapping shots of her walking! Mom planned some of the cutest outfit changes too, complete with pjs! I have made a Christmas present box to sit my little ones in this year. She loved to eat the paper, so I learned that next Christmas, I will do this in fabric. If you are still in need of Christmas photos, please contact me soon!

Callie was the center of attention

2009-12-08T11:22:00.001-08:00

Little baby Callie danced into the hearts of shoppers at St. John's Town Center last Saturday. We went to take family pictures in front of the big Christmas tree. On the way back to the car, we decided to let her walk and do her thing. I just snapped right along her side. She was so entertaining! Everyone stopped and commented on how adorable she was. Look how much she has grown in a year!

Christmas of 2008

Christmas of 2009

MK is graduating!!!

2009-12-08T09:40:00.000-08:00

It's finally here! The big day! Mary Kathryn is graduating high school!

This girl rocked her two senior sessions! First we did some studio work, then we headed around Jacksonville, finally we took some awesome shots in St. Augustine. This made for over 200 proofs! That is insane! Here are a few of my favorites. It was very very hard to narrow it down to just a couple, so sorry if I run a little more here. Enjoy!

Jewerly provided by Amanda Barnhart with Shelley's Shoes n Things in River City Town Center.
Make up by Jamie Halstead with J. Halstead Photography

Second Shooting with Limelight Photography

2009-12-08T08:26:00.000-08:00

I had the privilege to photograph with Limelight Photography (http://www.stepintothelimelight.com/). I enjoyed the experience and learned a ton from their photographer Sarah. I would do it again in a heartbeat! Here are some of my samples of work from the wedding.

Snug as a bug in a rug... that is baby James!

2009-12-08T07:57:00.000-08:00

Precious little James was the first "boy" newborn session I have ever done. I learned that boys, even with out the bows and tutus, can be the cutest little ones to photograph. He was the first newborn session I have ever had that the baby slept for the entire session. It wasn't until the very end did he decide to waking up to eat and then poop and pee all over mom and blankets. We all got a good laugh out of it, but it was a sign that we are all done! Thank you to the Hem family for allowing me to come into your home to photograph your new little bundle of joy. A special big thanks for the quesodillas and mini-sandwiches while we worked. You both were great! Here are just a couple of my favorites from the session.

Bankston Family = a ton of laughs!

2009-11-28T14:43:00.001-08:00

The Bankston family's daughter purchased a gift certificate from me to give to her mom for Christmas. Kathy came up with some creative ideas for her family for the photos. One of her ideas included loud hawaiian shirts, fishing poles, and stockings... need I say more! I tried my best to dodge bunny ears and tongues sticking out! So, in the end, I encouraged them to let loose! We took pictures at a boat marina in San Jose area. Enjoy!

Fall fun with the Chitwood family!

2009-09-27T08:27:00.001-07:00

After looking through the pictures from this session, all I can say is, "Awwwwwwwwwwwww... she is so stinking cute!!!!" Addy (as her parents call her) has the most beautiful blue eyes that just grabbed my attention from the moment we started. We did two session in one to mark her 3 month milestone. We first went to FSCJ's North Campus for some fall photos and then headed to my house for a couple studio shots. Her mom had the most adorable tutu and shirt designed for her photos. Here are just a couple samples from our session this weekend.

Zoe has arrived!

2009-09-06T15:59:00.000-07:00

This bundle of joy just arrived in time... at least for me. Her mommy and I had due dates that were very close together. We were unsure if I was going to even be able to do the newborn session because I have started having contractions and huge swollen feet. We made it though! Zoe Elise was cute as a button with beautiful brown hair. She absolutely loved being tightly wrapped in her soft blanket. Here are just a few samples of her big debut!

A New Beginning

2009-08-22T14:31:00.000-07:00

There are times in your life when you look back at moments and just feel like you are there again. I know that the day my dad got married will be one of those kind of moments. My dad has been single for over 25 years, waiting on who God would provide as his wife. On August 1st, 2009, my dad became a husband and I gained a step mom! I don't think I have ever seen my dad look so happy! Here are just a couple photos I took at the wedding. Please enjoy!

Callie is 10 months!

2009-08-19T18:04:00.000-07:00

So I am a little late on blogging this one because of my trip to Indiana. But Callie turned 10 months! We decided that we should hit the zoo to play in some water and smell (or eat) the flowers. We are just a couple weeks shy of having her 1st birthday and one year session at the beach. I got word from her daddy that she is walking now with no help!

Amazingly beautiful Genny!

2009-08-19T17:55:00.000-07:00

Genny is a young, beautiful, talented girl who I met through a friend. She is going to school for sport's photography herself, but in the meantime, would like to have some experience in modeling. We hooked up to do some headshots a couple nights ago. Boy did she blow me away! She was a natural! When I placed the make up on her eyes, it was as if they came to life! I know when the time comes, Genny will have no problem finding work. Look for her again soon, because we are trying to plan a beach/swim suit session too! Here are a few samples from the session. It was so hard to choose what to post in my blog because they were all soooooo good!

Happy Birthday Ty!

2009-06-30T20:14:00.001-07:00

This little man was a mover and a shaker today! I can't wait to post the photos of him actually wearing all of the cake. He wasn't interested at first until he got a small sample in his mouth. Birthdays are so much fun for me! Especially when a lil' boy is turning the big ONE! Happy Birthday Ty!

Welcome beautiful lil' Addilyn!

2009-06-30T19:45:00.001-07:00

What a precious little girl! She is only 1 week old in these photos and hungry as a grown man! I decided to try some new ideas out, so there are only two photos here so far, but more to come. Her mommy makes invites and many different stationary type items. See her blog at www.dennettesdesigns.blogspot.com Congratulations Mana and CJ on your new arrival!

Creativity is pouring out!

2009-05-03T19:04:00.000-07:00

A former student of mine is trying to go to college for something in the makeup industry. I contacted her and said that I would like to help her build a solid portfolio to submit to the college. Last night we got together and created some amazing photos! She is brillant and talented and just beginning! Many thanks go out to the ladies who came and allowed Keri to just try and stretch herself to a new level. If you are in need of makeup services please feel free to email me and I will put you in contact with Keri. jnhalstead713@yahoo.com

Congratulations Taylor!

2009-03-22T18:19:00.001-07:00

My girl got FIRST RUNNER UP and MISS PHOTOGENIC!!!! Beautiful and stunning Taylor took home two awards at the Miss Providence 2008-2009 Pagent. These are her thank you cards that I designed for her! Congrats again Taylor! If you click on the photo you can see it in larger size.

Callie is growing!

2009-03-22T18:16:00.001-07:00

Well little Miss Callie is now 6 months old! She is growing like a weed! We decided we were going to do a happy spring session with her. It' amazing to see her go from newborn to half way through her first year. She has the cutest cheeks!!!

Mary Kathryn is stunning!

2009-03-22T18:10:00.000-07:00

This beautiful young lady calls me up and says, "My mom really would like to have a new photo of me to hang up on the wall." So I did more than that! We did an entire modeling session with her. She was so much fun to work with! I plan to do a senior session with her in the fall. Enjoy!

Rock the dress and new couple's session!

2009-01-26T19:04:00.000-08:00

This girl was incredible! I was fortunate enough to do both a rock the dress session and a couple's session with her. The two of them had so much fun rolling in sand, and playing on monkey bars that it seemed like they were kids again. I hope you enjoy!

Here are some from the couple's session:

Adkins Family

2009-01-01T12:53:00.000-08:00

Christmas break has been proven to be both busy and inspiring to me. I met an amazing family last week and was able to share in a newborn session with them. I was so surprised when Cheri gave me a call and asked me to photograph her "Ethan". I explained to her that I had an "Ethan", and then asked what his middle name was? "Michael" she replied. I was floored! Who would have thought that we would name our children the exact same thing, "Ethan Michael". He was so adorable! I was incredibily intrigued at how focused he was on me. For being only 8 weeks old, he was so already lively and alert. He was so patient and cooperative that I couldn't have asked for a better newborn session. I fell in love with some of the photos of the parents interacting with Ethan, because they showed so much joy and love for their new baby! I hope you enjoy these!

Merry Christmas Callie!

2008-12-16T09:44:00.000-08:00

Callie looked so adorable in her little frilly dress for her Christmas photos. I just thought I would share a couple of these. She is now 8 weeks old and such a happy baby!

Best friends graduate together!

2008-12-16T08:39:00.000-08:00

Ashley and Andrea graduated in May of 2008 and came to me with a desire to have me take their senior photos. They both were beautiful models! They both had incredible eyes and was willing to try some new ideas with me. There are more sessions planned with Ashley and Andrea this spring!

Megan's Graduating!

2008-12-16T08:24:00.001-08:00

What an amazing and inspiring senior girl! This girl is passionate for the Lord, rocks at just about any musical instrument there is, and is intelligent and funny! I am so grateful to have the opportunity to photograph Megan. Her smile and personality just poured out of each photo! Here are just a few of my favs!

It's Christmas time in the Halstead's house!

2008-12-08T08:10:00.001-08:00

WOW! I look at these photos and cannot believe how big my own children have gotten since last year. Each of my children are so unique! When I look at these photos, I can't help but get sentimental. They are my world! I love that each one of them are at their own stage in life that is completely different from the other. Rylan, my oldest, is becoming such a little man. (Not so much little though!) He is so compassionate and creative. Jaylen is my jump start every day! Jaylen wants to do be doing something at all times. He is the one who inspires me to live each of my days to the fullest! If I could have a 10th of his energy, I would be set for life. Ethan started school this year for the first time. It is so amazing to see him become social, making friends, and being excited about learning. His passion in life right now is to be the best UNO card player in our family, and for a 4 year old, he is surprisingly very good! Addison has probably changed the most in the last year. She will have full conversations with you about her day, what she wants to wear, and how she feels. We had a day of pampering on Saturday, doing nails and hair. Now she walks around telling everyone to look at her pretty pink nails! I believe I have created a monster!

Heart Gallery Update

2008-11-11T20:04:00.001-08:00

Here is another beautiful young boy just waiting to be adopted. I was told that he was into skating, so I decided to take him to one of the most well known skate park's Kona. From the time he got out of the car, you could tell he was excited! He ran from one end of the park to the other, telling me all of the things he wanted to do when he came back with his skates. I asked him if he wanted to find a family and he said no. I was really surprised by this because every child I have asked this question, says yes! He said he loves his foster parents and would be very sad to leave them. Kenny's foster parents are a lot older and know that they are not enough for Kenny and what he will need in the coming years. They are praying that family that already has children will take Kenny and make him a part of their family. I wanted to just scoop this boy up and take him home. He was polite, respectful, and extremely well mannered for a 10 year old. I pray that Kenny finds a good home for him to be able to transition into soon! For more information on Kenny check out the website. www. heartgalleryjax.com
Jamie

Florida vs Georgia Game

2008-11-01T18:30:00.001-07:00

WOW... I am speechless! I just spent the entire day tailgating at the Florida vs Georgia college football game in Jacksonville, Florida. My job was to find interesting stories of people tailgating. Seems pretty easy, right? Well.... it was day I will never forget! I have never been to one of these games before and was really excited to be taking on the assignment. Me and two other staff members started the day at 10:00am, but only to find ourselves stuck in traffic. We missed our parking lot that my friend was saving us a FREE parking spot in! It took us an hour to get back to the parking lot. So we actually didn't begin our adventure until 11:30. We walked from WJCT parking lot, through R.V. city, down the entire back side of the stadium, clear down to the Jacksonville Landing, and back. We walked for close to 6 hours looking for amazing stories to write about. I did manage to be standing in the best spot possible when the Gator's quaterback, Tim Tebow, came off the team bus. We managed to get free lunch and dinner along with free drinks, peanuts, and chips. I came to the conclusion that you could come to this game and not spend a single dime all day if you wanted to. People were extremely generous with their food and drinks, even their TVs on their RVs. I had an awesome day!
Jamie

Callie is 2 weeks already!

2008-10-18T18:27:00.000-07:00

This is the first of many sessions I will be doing for Callie. Her momma has the "Watch Me Grow" maternity, birth, newborn, and one session per month for the each year package I offer. This is the same baby I photographed in September for her big arrival! She was so precious and wanted to be wide awake during the whole thing. I have never seen a two week old move so much and be so alert. It will be so much fun to watch her grow in the next year. So check back often to see updates.

Heart Gallery Update

2008-10-18T18:13:00.000-07:00

God continues to grow me and mold me every time I have a session with a child from the Heart Gallery. When the day began, I spoke to the caseworker and set the session to be at the zoo. My email had informed me that I was taking photos of a little 6 year old girl. My mind was spinning with cute little photo ideas that would be easily done at the zoo. When much to my surprise and complete enjoyment I met Aier. Her name is a beautiful as her smile and warm as her soul. She was incredible teenager! She had her hair pulled tightly up in a 1990's mohawk and had her iPod jammin'! She was ready for me to make her feel like a movie star! I was stoked! If you would like more information on Aier and her story, please visit http://www.heartgalleryjax.org/. I have another session schedule with a 10 year old boy very soon, so check back for his photos. As well as November 8th and 9th will be the Salut Our Soldiers Day and the FSS and the Heart Gallery will be hosting a day for the military families. The gallery will be on display for all to see, plus I will have a booth stationed there. Those that come and find me receive a free photo session for the Christmas holiday!

She's here!

2008-09-19T12:30:00.001-07:00

Words cannot express the joy I felt taking these photographs. This was my first birth photography session and one that I will continue to cherish and remember forever. Mom came in on Monday morning to be induced because she was a week over due. She had a few contracts and some minor changes but for the most part, Monday had no progression towards delivery. So they gave mom a sleeping medicine so rest for the night and then try to tackle things again first thing in the morning. Tuesday morning brought lots of walking! Finally the doctor decided to break her water and give her the pit to try and help move things along. Sure enough, here comes Callie Braden, 8lbs 3oz, 20 inches long, born on Tuesday, September 16th in the evening at 8:35pm. She was beautiful! Mom and dad were so happy to have her finally here! Congratulations Bri and Bryan on your new addition to the family! Thank you so much for allowing me to capture your most intimate moment.
You are in my prayers,
Jamie

Fitness For Life!

2008-09-13T20:16:00.000-07:00

So you wanna be motivated to get into better shape? Then set a photo session half way to your goal! This incredibly amazing man is my husband! He has been working out for 45 days on a program called P90X. He will be turning the big 3-0 next month and decided that the next 30 years of his life was going to be in good health and in shape. He has done so well! I am very proud of him! He asked me if I would take some photos of him to add to a group that he belongs to. I couldn't pass up the chance to take photos of my husband. So enjoy! Jamie

Heart Gallery of Jacksonville, Florida

2008-09-11T11:32:00.000-07:00

Great news! One of the kids I have photograhed has been placed with a family! Praise God! This has been an amazing experience for me. Getting to know young people who are in foster care and having the privilege to photograph them in a way that portrays their personalities and reflects who the individual is on the inside. I now have had the privilege to photograph 5 children, however, I have two more planned for the month of September and several more coming our way. Our governor, Charlie Crist, just did a huge unveiling of the state's largest Heart Gallery in Tallahasee, Florida. Jacksonville was named the largest Heart Gallery in all of Florida with over 500 children photographed. If you are looking for more information on the Heart Gallery or would like to learn about how you can adopt a child that is in foster care please see their website at http://www.heartgalleryjax.com/. Check back later on for more photos of new children needing families to love them!
Jamie

Megan

Joneisha

Alexis (Has been placed with a family!)

Mikal

Douglas

Amanda & Jason

2008-09-08T06:22:00.001-07:00

This was a very special session to me because Amanda is my sister-in-law and best friend! She is beautiful to photograph and so was little Jeremiah. He will be due in October unless preterm labor strikes again. We took these photos in two locations. One was at a small park in Chattanooga, TN and the other in the studio. It was nice to try a new outdoor location, since most of my sessions are in Florida, it was nice to be able to take a different approach to what we photographed. There was so much character in every fence post, barn door, and flower. It was hard not to pull over and take a picture in some stranger's yard. There are a lot more photographs to edit, but these were some that stood out to me right away. Hope you enjoy! Jamie