Jen Amato Photography Blog

Year: 2011

  • Florida Beach Trip!

    Every year all of our friends get together to go the beach. Most of us have been friends for over 10 years! We typically go to Destin or the Fort Walton area, but this year we went to Pensacola. Last year, you may remember our Bahamas trip? Instead of Florida, all of our friends saved up for the Bahamas to see our friends Tim and Dana get married!

    Although my website it typically for adventures in my photograph business- I like to share a piece of me every now and then. At 26, I am happy where I am in life. A business that I am proud of, newly married, a house that we are slowly turning into a home, a wonderful family and a group of friends that remind me how important it is to just relax and be a kid again. Sometimes it takes going on vacation soak this all in. Time away from the weekly hustle and bustle to just reflect and pray.

    I look at these photos and realize how much we’ve grown up over the past several years – all of us have big boy/big girl jobs that were waiting for us back home. But when we go to the beach, we cut up and have fun! This was an awesome vacation and I hope we continue to do this. Marriage, babies, you name it — I just pray that we all stay close and never forget about our yearly summer vacation!

    Here’s a few from our trip :)

    Morning #1 at around 6:30am, I woke up and just relaxed on the balcony  – – soaking in the sunrise.

    Ready for the beach!Randy’s candid shots he always takes in between!Going to dinner!Cobalt was amazing! If you are visiting Pensacola, FL area- check it out! The sunset dinner was fabbbbulous!Me and the love of my life ;)Being 10 years old again and writing our names in the sand!Crazy looking storm that passed right over us!!

  • Trouard’s & Danton’s :: Family

    Last week I photographed the Trouard’s and the Danton’s! Sabrina and her sister-in-law, Marguerite combined a session so that they could get updated photos of the kids and some of all the little cousins together! When I first saw Marguerite, I knew she looked familiar from growing up in River Ridge. I love getting the chance to see people I remember from way back when, and now we are all grown up! It really is such a small world. The kids did awesome for this shoot! I loved seeing all of their little personalities come through! It was a beautiful morning and we were able to get some pretty sweet light :) This time of year, I try and shoot in the early morning hours between 8-10am!

    Here are a few of my favs from their session:

  • Gardner Joseph :: 1st Birthday Party

    Wow!! This 1st Birthday Party was INCREDIBLE!!!! Every now and then I get asked to photograph parties and special events. This one in particular was a real treat! I drove to Baton Rouge a week or so ago to document Gardner’s 1st birthday party. You may remember that little cutie from when I took this 8 month photos at the Rural Life Museum.

    I was excited when his mom, Rachel contacted me about his birthday party. I knew it was going to be fabulous and I sure was right! I walked up to the house and it was like as if I was flipping the pages in a magazine. The party was a Circus theme and there were so many beautiful details. There was a magician, a caricature artist, a clown who made balloons and painted faces, pony rides, a popcorn machine, cotton candy, chefs in the kitchen cooking gourmet food, party favors, a gorgeous birthday cake…. the list goes on and on!

    Gardner will have so many photos to help remember his special day!! It was so much fun! Thank you Gardner & Rachel for giving me the opportunity to capture your little one’s 1st Birthday!

  • Happy Birthday Mom!

    Yesterday my family went to Sunday mass at Immaculate Conception on Barrone and brunch at Jackson on Magazine to celebrate my Mom’s birthday. We missed Randy though, he had signed up for an RC Race a month or so ago and didn’t realize it would fall on the same day. So, my mom…. I can’t imagine my life without her, she has motivated me to be the person I am today. It’s funny how as I get older I find myself becoming more and more like her. She loves to entertain, enjoys the simple things in life and strives to be a better person day in and day out. She has given so much of herself to us four kids that I wonder where she found and still finds the strength to do it all. It doesn’t matter if its midnight and we need something – she’s right there. I can remember getting really really sick about 6 months ago. I woke up in the middle of the night feeling like death. I got hit with a 24 hour flu bug and it really knocked me out. Ya know those times when all you need is your mom? I called her up and she was over in 5 minutes. She is so selfless, loving and kind. Anyone who meets her loves her. She’s sweet to everyone, just one of those plain out genuine souls. Just don’t mess with her kids! She jokes about that all the time and would put up a fight for us.

    No matter how old we get, we still need her. Everyday. She’s someone I look up to and who I can trust. When the day comes, I only hope to be half the mom she is. I always dream about having a little girl – she looks like me and sounds like me when I was young. I hope that one day I can have a daughter, so I’ll know what it feels like to have one of my own. So I’ll finally understand the connection my mom has with me.

    Mom, thank you for being you. For loving me and understanding me. You’ve always let us four kids be us. Never judging us, never pushing us to be someone we’re not. You let our gifts lead us to where God wanted us in our lives. Thank you for remembering that even though my job gets busy some weeks and I don’t get to see you that much- that I’m still right here loving you guys. I’m just trying to chase my dreams and make you, Dad and Randy proud. Thanks for the motivation and for being such a great role model. You’ve made me a better person, I love you!

    Enjoyed our Sunday outing yesterday and another home cooked meal tonight at my parents to celebrate my Mom! I love getting the chance to spend quality time with my family :)

  • Chuck & Rebecca :: Wedding

    Chuck & Rebecca married on July 23, 2011! Preparation was held at the Roosevelt Hotel, the Ceremony was at Immaculate Conception on Barrone and the Reception was back at the ballroom of the Roosevelt. Overall, the Wedding was beautiful! My assistant, Kacie and I had a great time capturing all the details and documenting such a fun Wedding! The flowers were beautiful, the band was entertaining and we always love when our couple’s have a photobooth!

    Thank you Chuck and Rebecca, I’m sure you guys had a great honeymoon! I hope these photos will allow you to relive your special night! It was a blast!

    There’s some slight rain in that first shot of the Roosevelt sign. A Wedding Day shower is always nice – means good luck!! :)