Welcome Back....Finally

It has been a long time coming, but finally, I am ready to get back in the saddle again.  Many of you, my friends, followers, clients and colleagues know that in October in 2010 I was diagnosed with Stage 2 invasive breast cancer. The long and short of things is, while it took much longer than I thought, today I am healthy, strong and so happy to be living life to the fullest!
With all that behind me, it is time to start doing what I love most and what I was always meant to... creating really beautiful portraits.

Here is just a quick peek of a recent session at Raritan Park in Far Hills, NJ

Enjoy!

The Cupcake Session

So the day we did The Cupcake Session, was the same day of the anniversary of my mother's death 7 years ago. As I did this session with adorable C. I was reminded of the promise I made to my mother the day she died.

I spent years listening to my mom, in my young and naive view, harrass me about what I was doing with my life. I worked in the financial industry, lived in New York City and was very successful. But mom was always on me saying, "You hate math and finance. Why are you there? Why don't you do something creative and artistic? That's where your real talents lie." Really, I heard this so much I think I may have been saying it in my sleep.

Mom passed away three months after my son was born. And while it was an incredibly difficult time. I was given a true gift by being able to spend the last 6 weeks with her. She was surrounded by her family on her last day. Towards the end of that day, I went outside to photograph the sun setting over the water. And when I came back I made a promise to mom.

I promised her that I would do "something" with the gift for photography that I had been given.

Here I am, 7 years later, doing exactly that. And all I can think is "Oh boy...Mom was right!"

Little C. and I had a fabulous time with these cupcakes from Brownie Points Bakery in Summit, NJ. We had Red Velvet, Mint Chocolate Chip, Chocolate and Vanilla (ok, we didn't eat all of them. But we did have our fair share). And I thought of Mom....that she was right and that she would be proud of me today.

I love you mom and I miss you. Put in a good word for me upstairs.

Your daughter,

Gail

'Scuse Me While I Get This Text.

I love coming up with fun ideas for sessions. These three kids were great! (I say kids trepidatiously - young adults is more like it). But we had fun and they were willing to go along with some creative ideas. In fact, K., the little sister, was instrumental in helping to pull together the style and concept of our session. She has quite the flair and energy. I totally loved her.

During our session, I asked them to all pull out their phones and pretend to text (because that's all teenagers want to do all the time anyway (lol!)) - but I think they really were texting their friends (one even texted him mom who was sitting in the room with us!) Later I had the boys doing the overprotective big brother thing. Those were so cute and fun, I was laughing the whole time I was editing. It really works out great when both I and my clients come to a session willing to get creative and playful and go with it for just the moment.

Enjoy the portraits we created together and Peace Out!

Gail

More Look Ma...No Teeth!

I've said it before and I'll say it again.....I love the "Look Ma....No Teeth" sessions. I love them because the kids are so proud of themselves - they finally feel like they've reached the big time being a big kid now. I love them because they are never shy about showing off their big toothless grins. And I love them because this is such a short window of time in their lives.

I have been watching this little boy grow up over the last few years. I think he is totally adorable, funny and gorgeous. And I think he may be even cuter with no teeth!

Sisters

Sisters. When I was young I remember what a pain it was having one. She was always getting me in trouble, always complaining about me, never letting me hang out with her and her friends (they were older, so obviously cooler). And she never wanted to let me wear her things. I used to think, "Boy it sure would be nice if I only had brothers."

Then, of course, were the good times. The family vacations, the Christmas holidays, turning the living room into a world of FisherPrice toys (the castle, village, airport, etc) playing with our barbie dolls all day long, the playing outside from dawn till dusk during the summertime. Those times were the best and I couldn't imagine NOT having my sister around.

Now that I am older, it's funny.... but sometimes I still have those same feelings. I can't stand when my sister tells me like it is and says things to me that no one else in the world would be able to get away with. And then.....there are the times that I am so glad we have each other. She knows me and my history like no one else. And there is great comfort in that.

My sister doesn't live close to me, so I don't get to see her as often as I would like. But we talk all the time. She knows that I am here for her no matter what. If she called me and said she needed me, she knows I would come running to her side. (I would go and have gone running to her side even though she didn't ask me to. Because she is my sister and I KNEW she needed me there.)

When it comes down to it, a sister is going to be the best friend you will ever have. She will know what makes you tick (and what pushes your buttons). She will tell you the truth when no one else will dare. She will let you know that come what may...she will always be there....to lean on, to cry with, to laugh with and to help you live life to the fullest.

Sis...I miss you lots. Give me a call tonite so we can chat.

Peace and Love,
Gail

TCFW

Too Cute For Words, that is!

I had the opportunity to photograph this young woman recently. She will be a senior and will be heading off to college and hopefully a fabulous, wonderful musical career.

She was just too cute....the gorgeous smile, fabulous dimple, green eyes, beautiful blond hair and a personality to match. I had such a great time photographing her. The other plus was we got to pull out some fun new backgrounds that I recently acquired. I am LOVIN' the look! When she's a huge success I hope she lets me photograph her for the cover of Vanity Fair!

Oh...and little sis jumped in on the action too! I think she is going to follow in her sister's footsteps. She was so cute and a little firecracker too! I loved her!

Back 2 School is Back 2 Cool

It's August and we still have about 5 or 6 weeks before school starts. But let's be serious, we are all thinking about that first day of school. Some of us are dreading that day (the kids more than the moms) and some of us are silently (or not so silently) looking forward to that day.

One of the great traditions of each school year is the school portrait. Every year, we get our kids dressed in their best and send them off to have their image captured as one more year in their lives moves forward. Sometimes we are happy with the result and sometimes not. I find that, (okay....I'm a professional, I do this for a living, I've taken lots of classes, workshops, etc) I'm usually okay with what comes home. But what I always think in the back of my head is...this is a nice picture of my son, but it certainly doesn't reflect who he is as a person. That type of image is not what you get with the traditional school portrait.

To capture that essence of who your children are really needs a portrait experience. Time spent with your children, getting to know them, having fun with them, letting them be a little silly, letting them play and run around (cause that's what kids are about).

This year, we are all talking about the school budgets (most of which have been cut). Those of you booking a portrait experience by September 30th, Gail Cushing Photography will donate $25 of your creative fee to your local PTA. And one lucky mom from the school where the most sessions were booked will receive a really cool, custom-designed Back 2 School calendar. So hurry, call 908-868-8023 to book your children's portrait experience and help keep our schools as fabulous as they have always been!

Keep Cool!

Gail

Barefoot in the Garden

One of the best parts of summer is being able to go barefoot. Barefoot in the garden, barefoot on the beach, barefoot at the pool.....I love my feet feeling the earth! We get to enjoy this sensation for such a short time.

As August approaches, I realize that soon school will start - along with homework, football, soccer, music and theater classes - and the time for running barefoot will be gone for the year.

I love photographing my clients outdoors and barefoot! Sometimes the little girls I photograph bring the cutest shoes (and I am such a shoe freak!) but I still make them take them off and run around letting the grass get in between their toes! And I take mine off too. So we are all running around barefoot and having fun!

There are still a few short weeks left to summer and just enough time for you to still take off your shoes for a Barefoot in the Garden session. Clients booking their sessions before September 15th will receive a complimentary set of holiday cards along with their wall portrait order. Because even though it's still summer, it's never to early to start planning for the holidays. Call soon, sessions are booking quickly. 908-868-8023.

So Much To Be Excited About!

There is just so much to be excited about these days! Let's start with the great session with the W. girls. There was just tulle, tulle everywhere! I LOVED it!!!! (It made me wish I had a little girl. I don't think there is any chance my 7 year old son is going to let me dress him in tulle and play princess for a day. LOL!)

Then, for those of you who have been following my blog for a while, you may have noticed a big change. I have changed the name of my business from GSC Photography to Gail Cushing Photography. There is a lot of work involved in making this change but I am very excited about all the great things coming down the pike. A BIG SHOUT OUT to Barbara and Betsy at Different by Design. They helped me with a huge labor of love....my new logo! Don't you just love it! I do. It's fun and fresh and a little sassy - and a great reflection of me and my photography style. Kudos to you Barbara and Betsy for hanging in there with me and creating this awesome logo for me! You can check out more of their work at www.differentbydesignnj.com .

So keep following my blog....there is going to be new stuff happening over the next couple of months. I'm excited....aren't you?!

Down The Shore

So I was sitting here this morning "Down the Shore" (a truly Jersey phrase) contemplating all that down the shore means to me. Here I am drinking my coffee, watching the sun come up over the water, trying to catching what little breeze we are going to have on what is going to be a hot and humid day, and all I can think is....this is so NOT what is being broadcast about New Jersey on TV these days.

This is what Down The Shore is for me.....

- Slow mornings with a cup of coffee, saying good morning to the ocean - before anyone else gets there.
-Taking a walk along the boardwalk at Seaside Park or Island Heights.

-Going to Mrs. ObCo's for fresh donuts first thing in the morning before they sell out.
-Watching the sailboat races on Barnegat Bay on Saturday mornings from the bulkhead.
-Crabbing off the pier in Island Heights and trying to figure if fish heads or chicken skin is the best bait.
-Waiting till after the first full moon in July to go crabbing because that's when the crabs will be over 5 inches.
-Watching my husband and son play in the waves and body surf together - knowing that this is what my husband's father did with him and what my son will someday do with his son.
-The annual family gathering and days filled with so much laughter and good conversation.
-The whole family building sandcastles together.
-Coming home from a day at the beach and pulling together a fabulous seafood meal with lobster and crab and corn on the cob and eating till we're stuffed!
-Grabbing a seat under the tree with a glass of wine and having some quiet conversation after a full day of activities.
-The Fourth of July Bike parade in Seaside Park - with all the families and their decorated bikes and the kids riding as fast as they can past the fire truck's gushing fire hose - while the mom's stand back trying to figure out how to get past without getting soaked.
-Arriving Down The Shore and going "Once Around the Lagoon" before we head to the house.
-Staying at the beach all day till that "perfect light" arrives and just watching the beauty that is The Jersey Shore.

My summers are filled with moments that will take my breath away for years to come. They are calm and beautiful and special times that I know I will never forget.

I will be doing a limited number of "Down The Shore" sessions this summer. Call and book your session soon. 908-868-8023

Peace and Love,

Gail

Taking the Indoors Out

We had a little bit of fun last week. I have this cool, funky chair I got at Home Again, a totally awesome furniture consignment shop in New Providence. I love this store and have gotten some really cool things there. You should check it out. (http://www.homeagaindesignnj.com ).

My little friend, C. and I took my chair out into my garden to have a change of scenery. I loved the idea of taking something and putting it where you normally wouldn't see it. And then I had a little more fun creating a beautiful work of art for her that looks a little like the Anthropologie ads! She is such a cool, hip little girl! Love her!!!!

A World of Smiles for One From Your Child

This month I am working hard to raise money for WorldVision, an organization that is dedicated to bettering the life of children and families in impoverished areas of the world.

By booking a mini-session before June 15th, I will donate 50% of your creative fee to WorldVision. As a thank you for helping me raise money for this great organization you will receive a 5x7 gift print (an $85 value).

You can find out more about WorldVision at www.worldvision.org and can book a mini-session with GSC Photography by calling 908-868-8023. We CAN change the world...one smile at a time.

International Competition

A little over 4 years ago, I joined Professional Photographers of America (PPA). This organization is dedicated to helping professional photographers learn, grow and continually improve in their chosen art form, not only in artistic and technical aspects, but also in ways that help photographers grow their business. It has been an incredibly inspirational resource for me and joining PPA is one of the best things I have done since I have decided to become a professional photographer.

Each year, PPA holds its international competition with thousands of professional photographers from all over the world participating. Images scoring a certain level of points earn merits that we photographers need in order to obtain our Craftsman Degree from PPA. Earning the Craftsman designation is a goal I am pursuing. This year...I'm ready to compete among this esteemed group of professionals and earn those merit points.

It is a daunting proposition....putting images that I have created and that I love in front of a group of very demanding judges for their critique. (Not something for one who can't handle criticism well). In striving to be the best professional photographer I can be and in preparing for participation in this competition I have taken numerous technical workshops, read countless books on art and photography and lighting and posing and the entire process of creating beautiful and impactful images. I have mentored with some of the best photographers around and have found a network of colleagues to provide support and advice and sometimes even a kick in the butt.

Choosing the images was also a challenging prospect. Of the thousands of images I have taken, I can only enter four. The following four are what I feel are the best of my work to date. I have met with competition advisors asking their thoughts, opinions and advice, have shown them to my closest champions, have worked with these images to take them to their highest level for show.

And now....I'm ready.....
Ready, good or bad what the judges say. (of course I hope for the best). I know my work can stand against those of the best in the business.

But participating in this competition is not just about having my work judged...it is another step in my learning process as a professional photographer. I will listen to the judges comments (I am having the critiques videotaped and I think I'll have a glass of wine before I watch those tapes! LOL!), I will learn from them. I will see the work of other amazing professional photographers and learn what makes what they do special also.

Am I nervous? Of course, it is not easy to put one's art, one's self on the line for others to judge. But I am doing it because I want to create the most beautiful images I am capable of...and I will never stop striving for excellence. Carpe Diem!!

Wish me luck! And have a fabulous day!

Peace and Joy,
Gail

Competition Image #1: Pinkalicious


Competition Image #2: Sand and Sea



Competition Image #3: A Trio of Love


Competition Image #4: Serene Light

Look Ma...No Teeth!!!!

I have been waiting patiently for J. to give us the okay to photograph him. Finally, we got the go ahead for one of my favorite type of sessions....the Look Ma...No Teeth! Series. I love how kids at this stage feel so cool and grown up just because their front teeth have fallen out. (Puts a kid's view of the world in perspective, doesn't it!?!) We got to do this session with one of my favorite props, my mushroom seats. They are just very fun and whimsical and out of the ordinary (and when you put them together and lie on top of them, it's like you are flying!!!! )
And when one of your best buds comes along for the session....you get some real giggles and laughs out of the day!

Thanks, J.! You are the BEST!!!!!! (So says me and B.)

A special rite of passage

First Holy Communion is a very special rite of passage for children in the Catholic Church. And so it is important to document this auspicious event. At the same time, as a photographer specializing in children's portraiture, I cannot help but also want to document the fun and excitement that these young children are experiencing. The sacrament of communion is a solemn affair, but the age and innocence of these children is also something to be revered and treasured.

As we move away from communion season, I am proud of the images I have been able to create and I feel a certain privilege to have been included as a part of this very special time in the lives of these children.

The beauty of a child's smile, the sound of a child's laughter, the wonderful, uninihibited energy of a child....these are all things that remind of of what is right with the world and should not be overlooked or underestimated.

These images of S. make me smile. We had fun outside on a gorgeous afternoon. S. got to romp and play and have just a bit of fun, along with appreciating the wonderous occasion of her first holy communion.

Peace and Joy,

Gail

The Cutest Little Girls

I recently had to opportunity to photograph a dance class for Elefante Music. What a fabulous time we all had. The girls aged 3 - 5 all had a terrific time dancing and playing with their teacher! I had a fabulous time watching them turn, twirl, curtsy and pirouette. The room was bright and airy, the teacher was wonderful, the girls were adorable! (makes me wish I had a little girl to dress up in a ballet outfit and send over to Elefante's Dance class! - Oh well, coach/pitch baseball has its benefits! Back to the baseball diamond for me.)

These Took My Breath Away!

Communion Season is in full swing and the big event fast approaches! I had the privilege of photographing V. at our church and came away with some truly breathtaking images.