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!!!!