Communion Photos

Tuesday, February 8, 2022

Spring is almost here and that means it’s time for your little one’s First Communion and Communion photos. It’s a touching milestone and one that deserves all the attention of a photo session. One of my favorite locations for capturing girls is the rose garden during sunset. So beautiful!

About First Communion Photo Sessions

I offer Communion sessions at pre-scouted locations throughout New Jersey during the spring, summer, and fall. I capture at numerous gorgeous NJ Arboretums (permit fees required and are additional) as well as free parks. Locations depend upon your preferences. We work together to find you the perfect location for you.

The session is exclusive just for your child. Each personalized session is approximately 30-45 minutes and includes 10-12 hi-res beautifully edited fine art images. The session is $350 plus tax. You are welcome to bring a bouquet, a bible, rosary beads and any other items you would like to include. There is an additional fee to add family members, please inquire.

Communion Photos – Session Reservations

I offer a limited number of communion sessions throughout the spring and summer months. So, be sure to book your session early. In case of inclement weather, we simply reschedule for another day. To inquire about available dates, please email me at jacqueline@jacquelinebellefleur.com. The full session fee is required at time of reservation to hold your date. All session payments may be made at jacquelinebellefleurphotography.bigcartel.com.

Please note, some parks are busier on the weekends, so please consider weeknights when the parks are less crowded.

For information on available sessions, please visit investment. Communion galleries may be viewed here.

“Sometimes you will never know the value of the moment until it becomes a memory.” ~ Dr. Seuss

“If you don’t think photos are important, wait until they’re all you have left.” ~ Missy Mwac

Spring Maternity Sessions

Tuesday, February 8, 2022

Spring Maternity Sessions in the forest clover are so GORGEOUS! The yellow clover is a bloom that only last for two weeks and is one of the most beautiful and breathtaking blooms of the year.

Maternity Session

There is nothing more gorgeous than expecting mamas and I love capturing them! This moment is so special. A stunning capture of mama-to-be is such a sweet way to begin your newborn baby album. Let’s capture your new joy from the very beginning.

A mother’s joy begins when new life is stirring inside…when a tiny heartbeat is heard for the very first time, and a playful kick reminds her that she is never alone.

Details

The maternity session is typically held between 7 and 8 months or when you feel most comfortable. A fuller belly always captures better. The session is approximately 45 minutes. Once the maternity session is booked, I am happy to discuss your style, walk you through the best rental companies for dresses, as well as what I recommend for you to bring. We discuss hair, make-up, and manicures too. Sessions may include spouses, significant others and/or soon-to-be siblings.

Where?

Maternity sessions are held on-location, all year long. Locations are chosen based on the time of year and the beauty of the location. Some locations capture better during specific seasons. There are a number of area parks that charge permit fees. Most permits range in price from $65-200 per hour. My fee does not include permits. I am, however, happy to secure the permits. There are nice locations that are free as well. In the event of inclement weather, we simply reschedule as close to your original date as possible. Please keep in mind that rescheduled sessions almost always need to take place on a weeknight, so please be flexible. All sessions take place 2 hours prior to sunset for optimal lighting.

Investment

The maternity session fee is $495 (plus tax) and includes 15 hi-res images via digital transfer. Travel fees apply for locations outside of a 20 minute radius of Cranford. Clients booking a newborn session along with a maternity session will receive $100 off of the newborn session – please inquire.

Reservations

If you are ready to book your maternity session or have further questions, simply send an email to jacqueline@jacquelinebellefleur.com or call 917-750-0188. Once a session date is mutually agreed upon, a retainer of $200 plus tax is due upon booking to reserve your date. A link for payment will be provided. I am willing to hold your scheduled date for 48 hours, but your date will not be guaranteed until your retainer is paid in full. The remainder of the fee ($295 plus tax) is due on the day of your session.

“Sometimes you will never know the value of the moment until it becomes a memory.” ~ Dr. Seuss

“If you don’t think photos are important, wait until they’re all you have left.” ~ Missy Mwac

To view my maternity sessions, please visit the blog.

My favorite resource for maternity dresses is Sew Trendy.

First Birthday Cake Smash

Wednesday, January 26, 2022

The First Birthday Cake Smash is such a beautiful way of capturing memories of perhaps one of the biggest milestones of your little one’s childhood. Cake on the nose, cake on the toes! There’s nothing better. Let’s capture it and create a gorgeous album of memories – a coffee table must! Now booking sessions for March (limited availability), April and May!

About the The First Birthday Cake Smash

This is one of my favorite moments to capture! A sweet little one, a delicious cake, and a whole lot of fun watching someone take his/her first BIG MESSY, little bite of cake.

DETAILS

The 1st Birthday Cake Smash takes place in my Cranford, NJ studio. The session includes my time and talent to capture your fully-edited final images. And, I provide carefully and personally selected props such as handmade swags, balloons and paper flowers to match your backdrop/color selection. Clients may bring any additional props they would like to include.

The session begins with more formal photos of baby and ends with the smash. You may change birthday baby if you desire (up to 3 changes). You will need to provide an outfit for your little one for the actual smash (I can always help with recommendations). The Cake Smash is for the birthday baby ONLY, sorry no sibling or parent photos. Once a theme is selected, it cannot be changed due to prop purchases. Due to the recent increase in allergies, I require clients to bring their own smash cake. Please, before you order a smash cake, discuss the details with me. I have been smashing cakes with babies for 11 years and have some advice that I would love to share with you to make your session the most successful smash.

THEME

Our exclusive and most popular Heidi Hope hand-painted backdrops are beautiful with plenty of adorable and gorgeous choices. For girls: carousel, hot air balloons, lavender fields, ballerinas, Paris, carnival and unicorns. For boys: sailboats, airplanes, hot air balloons, and carnival. If those drops aren’t your style, no problem, I have lots of others to choose! And sometimes, I just work with favorite colors instead of themes.

If you are interested in a first birthday capture without the cake and balloons – sans smash – please inquire.

Reserving your session

If you are ready to book your session or have further questions, please contact me at jacqueline@jacquelinebellefleur.com.

Visit the blog for more cake smash photos. Two great resources for finding very simple cake smash outfits and cake toppers are Amazon and Etsy. My favorite vendor for girls dresses is Tutu Du Monde.

Easter Bunny Sessions

Monday, January 24, 2022

It’s almost spring and that means it’s time for the Easter Bunny Sessions! Hippity Hop! The real BUNNIES are back. And they are the most popular, adorable little creatures of the year.

2 DAYS ONLY! Saturday April 2 & Sunday, April 3

Each session is 20 minutes and includes 8-10 hi-res digital images edited to perfection. The full session fee is $365 plus tax. A $100 retainer is required at reservation and the balance is due two weeks prior to the session. The final images are sent via digital download.

The Easter Bunny Sessions are held in my studio in Cranford, NJ. The sessions are best for babies at least 6 months (or sitting up) up to children 10 years old. Each individual session is for siblings only, no shared sessions with friends or relatives.

Reservations

These sessions are very popular – they sell out quickly. Please contact me at jacqueline@jacquelinebellefleur.com to reserve your date and time for your session. Once your time is secured, you’ll receive a link for retainer. Please submit the retainer within 2 hours of reservation or the time slot will be reopened to another client – no exceptions. Because these sessions sell out so quickly, I am unable to hold sessions without payment. Thank you in advance for your understanding. No refunds/no exchanges.

Safety Measures

Due to COVID, I will offer a very limited number of sessions this year. I am fully vaccinated. I am requesting that all children ages 5 plus and adults are vaccinated to enter the studio. The studio windows are open for air flow. We clean and disinfect all props in between sessions. Let’s keep everyone safe.

This Year’s Set

I always like to put together an inspiration board for petite sessions. The backdrop for this year’s Easter Bunny Sessions is NEW and spectacularly spring – pastels of pink, yellow, blue and green. Add a blue seersucker suit for boys or a gorgeous pastel tutu dress from Tutu Du Monde for girls. The set includes lots of flowers and a cute little white bench – perfect for sharing with a little furry bunny!

PLEASE NOTE: We are animal SAFE! Children under a certain age will not hold bunnies, but sit next to them. Some children do not wish to hold them and that’s ok! We pet and kiss them. If you have questions, please inquire. Bunny holding is at our discretion. Please respect our process and our safety for all.

The pictures above are from the 2019 Spring Easter Bunny Sessions. The set and the bunnies are new and different every year. Please reference the inspiration sheet above for this year’s backdrop.

Senior Sessions

Monday, January 24, 2022

Senior Sessions are a celebration of what’s been achieved and what’s to come. And, that’s why it’s a family session too! This family celebrated their gorgeous senior with the family and her bestie! These captures will be a great album of memories! Catch them in photos now, before they head off to their new adventures and it becomes more challenging to get everyone together. Senior Sessions may include family and/or friends, it’s up to you. I’m happy to assist in capturing your ideas for the session and choosing the best location.

Our lives are before us, our pasts are behind us, but our memories are forever with us.

The best thing about memories is making them.

Session Info & Reservations

I have two packages for Senior Sessions. Please feel free to email me at jacqueline@jacquelinebellefleur.com for packages and pricing.

My favorite clothing and brands for teens is Anthropologie and Free People. There are lots of other retailers for teens, but photo worthy clothing takes a special outfit. Look for that inspiration piece to build your outfit!

For more teen/senior sessions, please visit the blog.

About Jacqueline

I am so proud to say that 2021 marks by 11^thAnniversary as a small business in New Jersey. My specialty is modern portraiture for newborns, maternity, family and children (including babies, communion, cake smashes, and high school seniors) and I capture sessions throughout New Jersey, NYC or in my studio in Cranford, NJ. Studio Sessions are for newborns, babies, small children, and fine art portraiture for older children/teens.

As a small business for over a decade, I have been honing my craft while capturing life, landscape and stage photography for over 35 years. This is not my “hustle” or hobby. It’s so much more. It’s my livelihood and my labor of love. I pride myself in providing my clients with the best quality images, products and service. I understand the importance of memories and skillfully capturing them and work under the philosophy of “I capture for my clients what I would want for myself.”

My captures have graced newsprint, magazines, online social media and television shows such as US Weekly (multiple times), BET, The New York Times, The Pittsburgh Post Gazette, The Wendy Williams Show, and USA Network on The Cromarties among many others.