Even though several years has passed since this tragic day, I have to say that as an American, I always think back on this day at that bewitching hour of what I was doing when I heard the news. I had one kid in college and one in high school.    They called because they were just as scared as I was.  They wanted to come home.  Naturally, I told them to sit tight. I hope they never have to witness that fear again.
I will again say a prayer for those who lost their lives on that warm September day.  Hopefully, we all should.

  Hi Friends!

The best time of the year is here!  BACK TO SCHOOL!  Yes, I did my yearly walk down to my neighborhood elementary school.  Okay, don't call me weird or anything, but this is the same school that I went to,  my kids went to as well as my husband!  So, it is a little tradition of mine to walk down to the school on the first day and see all the cute kids dressed up with those fresh hair cuts!  The dogs aren't too happy with seeing all the little kids crowding them, but it is something they need to get used to.

I have had a rash of the cutest baby sessions lately.  They all seem to be in the 9-12 month range.  Although I just love to photograph these little ones, I hope to see more of the younger ones soon.  Parents occasionally want to wait until the child responds to their voice with a reaction.  I personally love the opposite.  Just that innocent looking baby looking directly into the camera.  Even sleeping is cool! 

These two babies have something in common..... drool! 

Kayla Smith looking like runway material!

Kayla dressed in her finest summer sun dress! 

 Colin Lynch could not stop smiling.  He actually put his feet in these rings and thought it was the funniest thing! 

Keep 'em comin!

donna

 Oh how sad!  It is the end of August and I must have missed summer!  It went by with a blink of an eye!

I am a little behind friends with my postings I have to admit.  Due in part to being a bit busy, a bit lazy and a terrible summer cold.  Plus, my Dad's health is not so good so I have been dealing with that as well.    But on the exciting cool news side of things, the beach sessions this year turned out soooooo awesome!  I will be posting some more soon.  Below is a session that was done about two weeks ago.  The Pennant family and I met on a great warm summer night to do some really fun photographs.  Dana and I used to work together years ago when I was at the Courier Times.  I photographed her lovely wedding to George O'Neil years ago and they now have two adorable kids. 

Think outside the box friends for family photographs.  Of course traditional is nice, but it doesn't always have to be that way!  

Take care and enjoy whats left of summer!

d 

Hi Friends!

Sorry for the delay in blogging.  The studio has been bogged down with beach sessions.  We will be posting some really great images soon.

In the last few days a few folks have mentioned that they don't need to go to a "professional" photographer because they now have a digital camera and can do it themselves. " Hmmmmm," I thought!  Does that mean the rest of the world thinks that way?  I went on the site "Craigslist" and did a little searching for folks looking for photographers.  Wow!  I can hardly believe the amount of people who will take a chance on a college student for $500 to photograph their wedding!  The biggest day in your life and you leave it to a student???  Okay, it is true that money may be an issue.  But when all is said and done, the cake is gone and the flowers are dead, what do you have left?  If you needed brain surgery, would you shop around for the cheapest doctor?  Hey, how about that student from ABC Medical College who got a C plus in stiching up heads!

My point here friends is this:  Some things are better left off to be done by our studio. If you are planning an event and would love coverage, please talk to us.  You might be genuinely surpirised!

Anyway, here are some family photographs taken of the Goldman Family.  The weather outside here in the park was a balmy 94 degrees and we were all melting.  But the kids pulled through and we got some fun photographs.  This is the second Goldman session.  I photographed them two years ago when the kids were little wee ones!  It is great to see them again!

Stay cool and pray for soldiers!

d

 Last week I met two wonderful young ladies who wanted to do something special for their Mom's birthday.    So, under humid storm approaching skies, Ashley, Katie and of course Chloe (the dog) went outside and had a great time doing some fun photographs!  I am sure that when mom sees the entire group tomorrow, she will be a very happy gal.  What a great gift! 

"Everyday, men, women and children sleep comfortably in their beds at night because somewhere out there a U.S. soldier is watching out for them." 

Friends:

Yes, I am a little late posting these.  As many of you already know, my son Jason is entering the U.S. Marine Corp.as an officer.  He has just completed his Officer Training and Bootcamp at Quantico, Virginia.  The training was divided over two summers.  Upon completion of his senior year at college (this year) he will commissioned into the Marines as an officer.

I went down to see him at graduation and it was tough to hold back the emotions.  I am proud of his decision to serve this country. I am proud of him.  He is my hero.

donna

HEY FRIENDS!
I just received word that my studio was nominated for FOX Philadelphia's HOT LIST Best Photographer!  Awesome!  I need your vote!
Simply, click on this link: http://myfoxphilly.cityvoter.com/SecureVote/Register.aspx?entry=18739

You will be asked to put in your email.  The next time you check your email, you will have to confirm your vote.  Thats it!
I appreciate your time!
Take care and stay cool!
Donna

Did you know that President Jimmy Carter proclaimed National Grandparents Day in 1978 to be the first Sunday after Labor Day! 
So to kick off the awareness of this forgotten holiday, the studio is having a wake up the grandkids contest!  Thats right, if your kids, age 14 or under send us an email with a brief 300 word paragraph about why they think their grandparents are the best out there.  The winner of this contest will receive a $50 gift certificate to Oxford Valley Mall and the grandparents will receive a complimentary family portrait session for up to 20 people along with a 11 x 14 wall portrait!  WOW! 
Here are the simple rules:
1.  Spelling is a plus.  Everything has to be spelled correctly.
2.  No help writing this from the parents.  Please folks, lets be honest.
3.  The email or handwritten letter can be sent to the studio at LEREPHOTO@comcast.net or
 Donna Lere, 1313 Lord Sterling Road, Suite 3, Washington Crossing, PA  18977
4.  Deadline for submission is August 25th.

Also, each child that submits an entry will receive a complimentary 8 x 10 photograph credit to be used towards their next session with the studio.  (Only one per family please!)

So, parents, when the next time you talk to your mom and dad, think of the last time you had a family portrait done that included them!  Then get the kids off the couch and have them sit at the kitchen table to write us a paragraph!  One day maybe thirty years from now, you life will sparkle just a bit when the phone rings and hope that the voice on the other end of the phone is that child that now bounces around your house.  Imagine how excited you would be if your grandchild called and said that they wanted a photograph taken of you!

Slow down parents.... Think of what is important. 

Good luck to everyone!
Donna

As a little kid I remember thinking that as soon as the 4th was over, the summer was half over.  I just received a back to school sales brochure yesterday in the mail!  Is anyone out there thinking of school right now? 

I just returned from picking my son up from Marine Corp Officer Boot Camp.  I will post a little on that the end of the week.  Right now, we are bit busy catching up because the studio was closed for two days. 

Stop back later in the week for more news.  Stay cool during this heat wave.  Get out that sprinkler!
d

Happy 4th of July!

When I was a kid, I felt like the 4th was the greatest part of the summer.  A holiday right in the middle of a heat wave!  Yep, relatives would come over and I could run around and go nuts.  My mother didn't yell at me because the family was around.  My grandparents came up from South Philadelphia and even though we were supposed to eat hamburgers and hot dogs, somehow there was a pasta dish in there.  My Italian grandparents would park themselves out back under a tree and observe all day.  It was basically a non-stop eating fest. My German grandparents (my dad's) who lived locally, would only come over for coffee.  (As we Italians say... "Coooooofeeeee".)  I never new why and I didn't ask. My Nana would always reach into her purse and pull out a buck and shove it into my hand.  "Don't tell your mother." she would always say.  As a little kid, I remember both set of grandparents had their strong points.  While my dad's dad had a sense of humor and a laugh that would make a room light up, my mother's father was more like Tony Soprano.  You kinda tip toed around him. My Italian grandmother used to talk about my grandfather behind his back in the kitchen while cooking and my German grandmother would just voice her opinion about her husband (my other grandfather) right in front of him.  It was all too comical.  

Towards the end of the night, all the adults were sitting inside at the kitchen table talking and talking.  I was never allowed to be in the kitchen area.  My mother would yell "OUT!"  I guess it was grown up time.

Years later my German grandmother had a stroke and ended up in a nursing home.  At first, I visited often, but as time went by, I slacked up on the visits.  About a month passed and I went to see her.  Not informed at the front desk of her new room, I walked past it until a nurse stopped me and told me.  I turned around and proceeded to walk back a few steps.  It was then I realized that the woman who was slumped over in the wheel chair in the hallway was my grandmother.  She watched me walk right by her and couldn't say anything.  I didn't even recognize her.  I said "HI Nana!"  There was a tear in her eye.  How bad did I feel for walking past her? 

When I left, I held her hand.  The same hand that used to squeeze a buck into mine. 

It is true, you don't remember days, you remember moments.  I wish I had my camera with me.  So, Happy 4th of July to everyone.  You too Nana.  I still carry your change purse to this day.   

d