Jenn, her best friend Joey and a Special Story

These beautiful photos are of a very special "couple". Jenn and Joey have been together for well over a decade and shared many memories, and Jenn wanted to immortalize her love for her companion and sweetheart Joey (and his little brother Rudy).

I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Jenn last year when I photographed some of the dogs for the rescue she helps to run, A New Beginnings Pet Rescue. Bill and I set up our equipment in the back of a busy PetSmart in Orlando and photographed as many little ones that we could...the experience was hot, sweaty and furry, but we're proud of the photos we took and of the connections we made with the people of the rescue.

People like Jenn amaze me. She skillfully and lovingly rescues, fosters and adopts four-leggeds that need a forever home. She GIVES her time completely and that is a beautiful thing, to give. She and so many others give so much of themselves to these animals and they all deserve a bright shiny gold star to wear everyday. Like myself, many of us can only handle one pet...for Bill and I it's our Jenny that we "adopted" last May.

We found Jenny at Animal Services in Orlando. She was laying quiet and still unlike most of the other dogs begging for attention. We took her out into the "yard" and she chased a ball. She was kind and gentle but seemed so sad. She played for a few minutes and then went and laid underneath the bench in the yard.

Bill and I spoke to her like a person and she seemed to hear just what we were saying. Jenny came home not long after that and she has so quickly dug such a deep place in our hearts we are not sure what we'd do without our Jenny...

So when I heard from Jenn to take photos of her and Joey, I was so pleased. However, the shoot was bittersweet. Jenn had just received word that Joey's health was deteriorating and that he wouldn't be with her much longer. She wanted pictures, she wanted MEMORIES to see with her eyes, not just with her heart. We photographed this shoot at Lake Lily in Maitland, with Jenn, Joey and his little brother Rudy. Jenn wanted some shots of all the things she considers special...Joey with his favorite toy (a paper towel roll), their walks together and their car rides.

Jenn is a stand-up chick and one that I admire. They've been lucky to have each other for so long. I hope Bill and I are fortunate to have our Jenny girl for at least that long.
Here is our Jenny now...happy, WELL-FED and spoiled...hmmm I guess we should get a family picture soon!!
Until next time...
Much Love & Many Blessings!
Rachel & Bill

Signs and Whispers

They are all around us...the tiny whispers from the wind, the sun, the trees, the ocean, the thunder...and the quiet. After a busy day I found myself driving home, missing my family, wondering about my mom, hoping my dad was safe and praying that my babies don't miss me as much as I do them...I never want them to feel this emptiness. I drove parallel with a storm in the distance and I turned the radio off. After I did it, I laughed at myself and thought, "why would you turn the music off?"

And then it hit me...I need to hear the world's music, the quiet, the rush of a passing car and the far off thunder. I needed to SEE the view I caught in my rear view mirror of the setting sun and the silhouettes it created off the City Beautiful's landscape. I smiled a lot, I cried, just a little, because I remembered the times I rode with my Mom and Dad in the Monte Carlo...all of us in the front seat together, sandwiched close and full of love. Mom drinking a cold Coca-Cola out of glass bottle and Dad with his arm around her.

Mom and Dad used to try to get me to take my headphones off, or whatever it was I had in my hand to keep my mind occupied. They wanted me to be still and SEE the world, really SEE all the tiny things that with my young eyes I took for granted. Dad would pull off the side of the road and point out a marvelous cloud, Mom would smile at the setting sun and I'd roll my eyes.

I suppose as we grow up, we grow out too. A landscape I would've never noticed or a sound I would have never heard, I now see. I now hear. My parents are no longer together and as a child them NOT being together just never seemed possible, so it's hard to know they no longer share the love for each other they once did.

Growing up in Ohio, Memorial Day weekends were always a time for family. Grilling, Frisbee, lawn darts, swimming, laughing, bonfires, fireworks and time together. I'll soon be 31 years old and I find it so hard to swallow at times that those moments were so fleeting. Much of my family is split and gone in so many different directions, as life often does. Yet it still hurts my heart and soul that we're not all together.

Memorial Day is meant to be in observance of our dedicated military men and women, which much of my family is or has been and I'm proud of each of you and thank you a million times. However, each time I hear MEMORIAL DAY, whether it be an over-zealous commercial for a furniture store or as a salute to our troops, I REMEMBER...and I remember in abundance!

So for all the time Mom and Dad wanted me to stop and see...I hope that they both know how much they really did teach me to SEE. So much so that now I strive to help others SEE and preserve their priceless memories.

Happy Memorial Day! Be Safe!

Rachel (and Bill)

One of our latest weddings! Mrs. Pagan should write a book about beautiful weddings on a budget! She is a mastermind and a now a beautiful wife! Congratulations Jared and Vivianne!

 

I narrowed my search for boats once I saw the "LoriBlu" boat...for my friend Lori, who's obsessed with any and everything water and beach related! Of course...I had to put my own creative spin on a regular "shot"! See, Lori -- still think about you all the time!!

XOXOXO

 

This photo is one of too many favorites taken at last weekend's powerboat races in Cocoa Beach...our assignment was to cover any and everything about the races and how easy it is to be so close to NASCAR on water :)

Celebrating Spring's End and the Beginning of Summer

 

Here we go...another end, another beginning! Our summer is all about LOVE! We love each other, we love our friends and family, we love our clients and we love what we do! Starting June 1st, Thirteenth Moon Photography is proud to say we'll be FEATURED on page ONE, UNO...the first one of THEKNOT.COM! Of course it's the first page for Central Florida vendors but still FIRST PAGE AND FEATURED...we're stoked and ready for the opportunities to arise from such a blessing! We've had a busy winter and spring and even though our weddings slow down a bit, we're going to use the next month or so to regroup, rest and sprout up again by August!! Much Love & Many Blessings! The Team at Thirteenth Moon