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Brown-Eyed Girl Photography bio picture

I wish....

 .....to capture memories for you or your family that you'll treasure for a lifetime.  I specialize in on-location maternity, infant, child, family & high school senior portrait photography using only Canon equipment along with natural light which, to me, provides the most beautiful images.  I am also available for freelance work and have recently provided images for Schertz Magazine including several cover shots.  I primarily serve the Texas communities of Schertz, Cibolo, Universal City, Garden Ridge, San Antonio and surrounding areas and look forward to hearing from you soon!

Blessings, Jana

 

I am....

....a wife & mother of 3 boys who is hopelessly addicted to reality tv, 80s music (particularly Duran Duran), Dr. Pepper and shopping for antiques, bargains & shoes (my closet is proof of this fact).  I'm just a regular, somewhat crafty gal who longs to take beautiful photographs, make beautiful things and surround myself with them.  Nothing makes me happier than making others happy and providing beautiful portraits for clients is just about the best thing I can think of so I hope you'll allow me the chance to do the same for you.  Take a look through my blog & at my website and if you like what you see, send me a note and comment on my blog if you'd like.  I'd love to hear from you!

Gilded Nest Art Event

In late July I was lucky enough to be able to attend another art event at the home of Shea Fragoso & Debbie Murray and they asked me to snap a few photos for them during the event since they’re always busy playing instructor & hostesses.  Well of COURSE, Ladies, I’d be honored!  My neighbor, Deirdre, and I make the trek up I-35 to Dallas and spent the weekend with 30 other incredibly crafty, funny, talented & nice ladies.  Our weekend began with a trip to Canton for a day of shopping.  I’d known about Canton for years but had never been able to go yet and I was completely in awe at the multitude of booths & shops there!  Holy smokes.  We left our hotel and boarded a swanky party bus Debbie & Shea had provided for us.  Picture this…..homemade scones & cookies, Audrey Hepburn movie playing, Starbucks coffee & frappucinos and goodie bags for everyone.  One word can describe the way I felt……pampered. 

The girls who participated in the bag swap swapped their creations on the bus on our way to Canton.  One-of-a-kind funtional but pretty shopping totes!!!

We arrived in Canton around an hour later and I hit the ground running w/friends Shannon, Valita & Deirdre.  It was HOT but we didn’t really care!  We walked and walked and there was just no way we could see all of it in one day.

There were many super cute booths & stores there, lots of antiques mixed in with new things, and plenty of eye candy to look at & buy!

One of my favorite booths was one filled with nothing but vintage fabrics, doilies, samplers, embroidery, etc.  I could’ve spent HOURS there.

We Gilded Girls were treated to lunch at a booth called Gypsy Pearl which was filled with lovely jewelry, antiques and goodies and yes, more goodie bags!

I managed to sneak into a photo at Gypsy Pearl too! 

On Saturday we met bright & early at Shea’s home to prepare for Colleen Moody’s bird doll class.  I must admit that I was a bit intimidated about taking this class since I’ve never attempted anything like this before and I don’t sew however she was such a great patient instructor and by the end of the day we all had beautiful one of a kind dolls.  This is Colleen’s class sample doll, isn’t she lovely??!!

My birdie in progress…….

Everyone hard at work on their dolls……..

Their home is SOOOOOOOO lovely, everywhere your eyes land is total beauty……

Then on Sunday was Shea’s Hope Bracelet class where she taught us how to wire wrap & create stunning pieces of jewelry.  I had dabbled in jewelry making years ago but it had been quite a while since I’d done it so I was a bit, um, rusty to say the least but we all completed 2 lovely bracelets that I actually love & wear!! 

We took a group photo sunday morning but some girls were missing……Earleen, Annette, Debbie and me.

I was lucky enough to win a door prize……one of Colleen’s dolls!  I love her so much!!

Right as everyone was leaving on late sunday afternoon, Shea’s cutie pie daughter sat down in the floor & began to devour one of Grandma’s Red Velvet cupcakes.  I couldn’t resist this adorable photo op and I secretly wanted to plop down & join her!  What a way to end the weekend!! 

Thank you Debbie, Shea & family for such a lovely decadent weekend!!  I love my class projects and will always cherish the memories you provided for us.  Thank you for allowing me to photograph your event & most of all, thank you for your friendship!

August 21, 2010 - 10:17 am Colleen - Jana, Your snaps turned out beautiful. I'm so glad I got to meet you, hopefully next time we can spend a little more time together. It was a crazy, busy, wonderful weekend wasn't it? Hope to see you soon!! xo~Colleen p.s. Glad you are enjoying your girls!!!

August 21, 2010 - 10:12 am Alisa - Wonderful photos! It was so good to see you again, Jana!

August 21, 2010 - 9:17 am A Gilded Life - Jana~ These photos are just breathtaking! Thank you so much for taking the time to create such stunning memories for everyone! You rock, girl!! xo Debbie and Shea

Summer Update {Brown-Eyed Girl Photography}

Hello All!  I haven’t abadoned you, I promise.  I would NEVER do that!  I do have some pretty darn good excuses for my lack of blogging lately though, I really do.  This mama has been a traveling girl lately which is so nice but rare for me, I think I’m making up for lost time or something…….all those years I stayed homebound raising 3 little boys.  It’s odd to be able to travel as much as I am lately but I’m not questioning it at all, just enjoying it, thanking God I have a supportive husband & soaking it all in.  After a crazy busy May & early/mid June I attended Paper Cowgirl because my good friend Jennifer Stewart was teaching there and I’d always wanted to go.  Thankfully this year I was able to make it work so I made the trek up to Waxahachie which I promptly found out I’d been mispronouncing all these years!  I’d been saying WAXahachie like you wax a car but found out that the WAX is said like the word rock…..wocks……Waxahachie.  However you properly say it, it’s a quaint cute town with a darling downtown shopping area and I’d certainly love to go back someday!  The event was awesome too and it was so nice to see so many Silver Bella friends there! 

You just have to love a good ol’ Texas event where even pistols are blinged out in glass glitter!!!

Sweet Jennifer with her class sample for the Patriotic Banner class I took, I loved it!

July was full of visits from friends, concerts, weddings, family, senior & 50th Anniversary sessions & another trip to Dallas later in the month.  If July 1 was any indication as to how the rest of the month was going to go then YOWZA.  I spent the day in rainy San Antonio with my friend Jodi and we got to hang with her very favorite band, the All-American Rejects.  Don’t believe me?  I have proof and yea, it looks like I put the guy next to me asleep……..ah well……..

I usually don’t get all crazy fan-girly but even I must say that was on amazing crazy experience!  I mean really, it’s not everyday a regular Joe mom like me gets to hang with a rock band.  Heck, they even took us on a tour of their amazing tour bus.  Don’t be hatin’.  I was able to hang with Jodi again later in July at her beautiful wedding reception in Austin at the Umlauf Sculpture Gardens which were so beautiful & amazing despite it being an ultra hot & sticky July Texas day.  I loved seeing her so happy and it was wonderful seeing old friends again……

Gotta get a pretty ring shot!!

I did a military family shoot on a balmy summer evening at the lovely Japanese Tea Gardens which is always a fun but interesting experience.  Going there is a total crap shoot because you never know how many people will be there or how many other photo sessions will be going on at the same time.  I’ve gone there when the place was vacant & have also been there when it’s packed and at least 5 other photo sessions are being held, you just never know!  This particular evening was quite crowded but we managed to find secluded spots to shoot.

Next came a shoot I was excited about since it was a bit different than most others I do.  I’d been asked to shoot a 50th Anniversary party for a sweet local couple.  Friends & family came in from near & far to celebrate their special day with them and their daughters hired me to preserve the day in print for them.  I was quite honored to be a small part of their day.  The mother was especially touched since all of the family hadn’t been together in quite some time, she was brought to tears which of COURSE made me cry too.  I can’t help it.

The wedding topper off their wedding cake, 50 years ago to the day.  Beautiful.

July ended with another trip north up I-35 to downtown Dallas and the next Gilded Life event at the beautiful home of Shea Fragoso but I’m going to stop here because that event deserves a blog post all it’s own!  I was honored to be asked to photograph the event for Debbie & Shea and thankfully I’ll be able to share some of the images here with all of you!  Check back soon & I’ll share some of their lovely eye candy with YOU!! 

**I still have a couple of time slots left for the Boudior mini-shoots I’m doing at my studio in downtown New Braunfels this saturday.  I have a 2:00 & 3:00pm time slot left so please reply here or contact me via the contact form above if you have questions or would like to book your own session.  You can find more information here.  They’re going to be SO much fun so don’t miss out!!**

Meet Brandi!

Brandi and I hit it off right away and had such a fun evening walking around taking photos together.  She was my first 2011 senior session and it made me realize how much I truly enjoy shooting seniors!  I love a girl who’s confident enough to show up alone for her session in a rockin’ pick up truck, who’s also disciplined enough to put herself through school her senior year of school online and is sporting a Guns N Roses t-shirt.  I knew right away we were going to have FUN.  We walked around and chatted about concerts, music, the  military life and just girl stuff in general all while taking lots of pretty pics.  Talk about a nice way to spend an evening!  Hope you enjoy your sneak peeks, Brandi……..you’ve got a great head on your shoulders and will be a major success whatever you decide to pursue and I’ll be cheering you on all the way. 

Quick reminder about my Boudior sessions coming up next month on the 21st.  Pro make-up, safe secure studio usage, champagne, fun times, pretty pics, all of your images in high resolution on a disc for you to have forever and $50 in print credit all for $300!!  3 spots are taken so call or reply soon if you’re interested so you don’t miss out!  These make great birthday, anniversary or Christmas presents for your honey.  I did this for my hubby for our anniversary last year and he was thrilled since he knows how much I don’t really like to have my picture taken (although I adore taking pics of others, go figure!) so if you’re looking for a gift that’ll knock his socks off then this is IT!

Boudior Sessions! {Brown-Eyed Girl Photography}

Belle has arrived!!

Last week Mr. UPS man delivered one of THE most exciting boxes that I’d gotten for a long long time.  He brought me one that contained my new Ephiphanie bag!!!!

I had been coveting one of these beauties ever since Maile made the announcement of her exciting new business venture so it was very thrilling to be holding her vision in my hands!  Of the choices she offers, I selected Belle since I normally go for the practical color!  This time I thought I’d choose something different and fun plus I loved the outside pockets, I’ve already gotten so many compliments on her.  Here are some of the other styles & colors available…….

Belle has more than enough room for my 5D with the battery grip and large lens attached, my flash, 2 extra lenses and other accessories I lug around and even with all of that, there is a bit of extra room inside, enough that I could easily fit my wallet & cell phone in there and just use it as a purse. 

Somehow I just feel more fancy toting this back & forth to shoots & the studio rather than my industrial rather manly Canon backpack I previously used!  I will keep my backpack too because it’s nice to fill that up and throw it on my back and keep my hands free when traveling with the boys in tow however for day to day use I love my Belle!  It was obvious that a artsy girl designed these bags due to the little “extras” such as the blingy camera charm that hangs on the front, the bright green protective bag Belle arrived in and the cute little inspirational cards tucked into the pockets just waiting to be found……

 I think that Belle and I are going to get along very very well.  :-)

On a business note, 2011 senior sessions have already begun!  I shot my first senior session yesterday and really love pro-active parents who want to book their kid’s sessions and get them out of the way before the busy senior school year begins and activities resume.  For those of you who BOOK your senior session before Sept. 30 (it doesn’t have to be shot before then) I will include 50 free photo “411″ cards which are cute little business cards with the senior’s photo on one side and information on the other which can include phone #, email address, myspace or facebook profile link, etc. that they can hand out to friends.  This is a $40+ value so call today to book your senior’s session and don’t miss out on this offer!