Welcome Home Andy! { Virginia OPLove Photographer}

Welcome Home USS Oscar Austin!
As some of you already know, I recently became a member of Operation Love: Reunited (http://www.oplove.org/). A few weeks ago I had the honor to photograph my first homecoming at the Norfolk Naval Base for USS Oscar Austin. Being a marine wife, I know the waiting, the disappointment and the excitement of seeing the one you love again after a long time.  Being able to photograph this memory for someone is extremely a huge honor and I am so glad to say I am a member of this group.

I had the great experience of shooting the homecoming of this amazing ship and watching the reuniting of hundreds of families as I shot the reuniting of one couple particularly. It was awe inspiring. A wonderfully emotional awe inspiring morning. It was such a cold day waiting for the ship to come in, but to see the emotions that was running through the place was all worth it. What a wonderful holiday gift! This preview is from a wonderful couple who had been apart during their marriage almost as long as they have been together as a married couple. Erica and Andy, even though I just met them that day, seeing how they reunited with each other, made me proud even more to be a marine wife and to see how much our service men and woman mean to this country.

Thank you so much Erica for choosing me to be your oplove photographer! It was so great to meet you and Andy, Welcome Home! Thank you so much for what you have done for our country! Enjoy your preview. I can't wait for you to see the rest!

Operation: Love ReUnited is a non profit program that offers free photography sessions for deploying, deployed, and returning military families. If you wish to participate in a Pre-Deployment, Deployment or Homecoming/Reunion Session, please go to http://www.oplove.org/ to locate a photographer in your area or email me at jackieransonphotography@gmail.com  to schedule a session with me.

Day 21

So I started my Day 21 really really early this morning. My first picture was actually right at 12:00 midnight! I wanted to take a picture of the moon for the lunar eclipse. I want to add that I have NEVER done this before and I really don't know what I am doing when you photograph the moon, let alone a lunar eclipse!

Here is what our moon looked like at Midnight (right before I passed out)

I set my alarm for 2:45 a.m. so I can get up and get my tripod out and ready for the lunar eclipse. Walked outside and saw it a bit cloudy, but tried my best anyway to capture it.  IF i get to see another lunar eclipse, i want to read up a little more on how to get a better shot, but for my first time, I thought it turned out okay~

3:00 a.m.

And then when I was driving home from work tonight I saw how big the moon was STILL and thought I would take just another one, this time, it was lower and right between my trees in my back yard
(Taken at 8:30 p.m. tonight)

So only FOUR days til Christmas! I can't believe it!

A Quick Catch Up

Sorry I haven't updated everyday. These past five days have been really crazy for me. Thank you for those of you who understand and looked forward to seeing all my pictures.
Day 17- every child needs one of these
Santa's Magic Key

Santa's Magic Key
"Twas the night before Christmas
I'm excited as can be
This year mommy told me
About a very special key

You can shimmy down the chimney
Or you can tiptoe through the door
Use the magic in this special key
To find cookies, milk and more!

 Day 18 - Today was a day of the perfect love, the perfect couple and a perfect wedding.  I wasn't going to show a wedding picture for my 25 days of Christmas, but i was really under the weather this day and didn't take any others. AND I just couldn't resist this one :)

Keep a look out for their real sneak peak coming soon :)

Day 19- Christmas lights, and candles and peppermint candy canes...These are a few of my favorite things...

Day 20- Being deployed feels like a lifetime of waiting.. but when you finally get to see the one you love walk back into your arms, its oh so worth it.  Welcome Home USS Oscar Austin! From my oplove session that morning. This makes me proud to be a photographer and a military wife all at the same time!

more of this sneak peak later in the blog~

Day 16 and a Snow Day

I saw this done before and thought I would give it a try whenever we had snow.. And today it was a beautiful snow day!

"The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event"

The schools were closed today due to the weather and after I got off of work early, kylie and I went out to play in the snow-

To be young and carefree again~

Natalie wasn't feeling too well today or I would have brought her out in the snow as well, but she did get to see it for the first time (that she realizes) through my bedroom door.. it was priceless her reaction, i wish i could have gotten the squeals in my pictures.

"Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things."

Day 15

I finally designed my Christmas Cards and got them back today.. so guess what Im doing tonight- that is after baking 2 sets of cookies for Kylies Christmas Party tomorrow..

 

wonder if its going to snow.. there are alot of schools already closed and i don't see anything outside?! guess we shall see. 

Only TEN DAYS TIL CHRISTMAS!! TEN! Are you ready?- me not so much...

Day 14

Have Yourself A Bokeh Little Christmas...

(my first time doing shapes- could be better)

Day 13

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas... wow really only 12 days til Christmas? where is the time going?!

Days 10, 11, & 12

I've been away from the computer for a few days. But that didn't mean I didn't take my picture of the day.  Thanks for those of you who keep watching for my pictures.

Day 10~
Santa Baby..

Day 11
We went to visit my parents for the weekend and mom made this super delicious pecan caramel apple cheese cake.. i think i might have found a new recipe :) thanks mom.

 
Day 12
My parents gave us a new ornament for Christmas :)

ONLY 13 days til Christmas!

Day 9

my dog roxie and some bokeh ~ at least she sits still while i wanna take pictures of her :)

Day 8- A little Bit of Music

I was asked a few weeks ago if I was interested in playing my flute for the 4th and 5th grade choir at the elementary school my daughter goes too.  As a person who can't really say no, I picked up my flute from the corner in the bedroom, full of dust and played. I haven't played in a long time and I am really glad that I said yes, even if it was just for a small elementary choir Christmas program, I enjoyed it and it made me realize how much I really miss playing and how much music really has meant in my life.

A little bit of music~

and for those of you who want to know what i played- its "somewhere in my memory" from Home Alone, gotta love John Williams!

Day 7

Day 7

Handful of Kisses~

 I wanted to give a bit thank you to everyone who is keeping up with my 25 days of Christmas and for those of who doing it as well.  Keep it up!

Madelynn Christmas

There are three little girls that don't like to make my job easy, my two daughters and my niece Madelynn. I always have a hard time with them wanting to look at me and my camera. At least sometimes, you can get some cute shots even when they aren't looking. Here are my favs from M's shoot~

look Aunt Jackie a Snow globe! :)

Day 6- Brrr its Cold Outside

Day 6- Today I felt two things all day, coldness and lonely.
Drinking hot cocoa with whip cream and marsh mellows in front of my Christmas tree in my husbands Marines cup.. made me feel better :)

Day 5 of 25 Days of Christmas

Day 5~ Christmas time is full of little kids and great sweets, especially candy canes. My daughter had a tough time focusing on the camera as she just wanted to eat one of these candy canes. Of course I had to give her one afterwards, but not until i got these two shots.

 

 

Remember to check out the others :)

Day 4

DAY 4~
Sorry that I didn't get to post my day 4 on day four, but i was busy with making cookies, taking my girls christmas pictures and going to a christmas party at one of my bf house.  But that didn't mean I didn't get a take a picture of the day.

My daughter helping me make cookies- she couldn't wait for them to come out.

Day 3 of 25 Days of Christmas

Day 3- The love of christmas canes :)

Day 2 of 25 Days of Christmas

Today is not  just Day 2 of my 25 Days of Christmas Challenge but also my amazing husbands birthday! So before I post my picture of the day I want to wish him a very happy birthday!
You are not just a amazing husband and US Marine but a wonderful father and best friend. I am so proud of you and I don't know what our family would be like without you. I love you and Happy Birthday!!

 Now on to the photo of the day!
Day 2
Oh Christmas Tree- Please Sparkle for Me~

Its still early in the month, if you wanna join me in the 25 days of christmas challenge please let a comment with your name and blog, flickr or facebook album link and I will link you HERE. Those of you who are reading my blog, please visit the others as well :)

Day 2 Special- 10% off Christmas Cards (only until 11:00 p.m. tonight)

25 Days of Christmas- Day 1

Day 1 for my 25 Days of Christmas Challenge

Red and Gold Christmas

If you would like to participate in the photo challenge, please let me know and I will link your blog! :)

The Following People Have Decided To Do the Challenge. Make Sure you check them out and follow our blogs :)

Kristina McNabb
Nikki Gilbert
Laura Ruiz  
Amanda Huff
Christina Rasmussen
Jessica Yates
Becky Gallego 

Cheryl K  

Stacie H 

Shelley Bordner 
Mary Woestehoff 

25 Days of Christmas

25 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

I've been thinking about doing this all year long.. Its called The 25 Days of Christmas Photo Challenge (If you wanna join me, please let me know so I can tag you for others to watch your photos as well). Since Christmas is MY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR, I want to be able to show my love for this month and holiday in photos. And since its only 25 days- I think I can handle it :) Today is December 1st.. and my first photo...will have to wait til I get home tonight, but keep a look out!

ALSO since this is such a joyous and giving holiday, I am going to have a daily special- so make sure you keep an eye out for those as well.

I hope you enjoy this and want to join in the fun! Merry Christmas to Everyone and Happy New Year!


DECEMBER 1- DAILY SPECIAL: 25% OFF ALL PRINTS 11X14 OR LARGER

Sweet Kinsley {Baby's First Year Plan- Virginia Photographer}

Three short months ago I photographed this beauty~

Now look at her! Three Months Old Kinsley- more beautiful than her newborn portraits and look at that hair.. oh and did I mention her eyes!! Can I say gorgeous, baby?! Thank you mom and dad for getting the year package! I love photographing baby K and I can not WAIT til i get to photograph your newest addition!! EKK I'm super excited for you guys! But first a sneak peak into Kinsley's 3 month portraits! Happy three months and First Christmas sweet baby!