Maggie was the winner of a silent auction prize package that included one of my portrait gift vouchers, at the Feed Milwaukee Charity Gala. I was so proud of her for coming to the studio and challenging any fear about being photographed. She overcame that with the knowledge that she’s at a place in her life that deserves to be documented and recognized – and that it’s the perfect time for her to be photographed. Now I’d like to share her experience in her own words:
“Hi! I’m Maggie Gonzalez. I was the lucky winner of one of Jennifer’s photo shoots, in a raffle at the Feed Milwaukee Charity Gala. As a wife, step-mom, and professional youth mental health social worker, I can assure you I don’t do a lot for myself. I’m a caretaker by nature, and this photography session was something I could do just for me! I loved the experience. More on that later.
This year was an important year for me, because I achieved a professional milestone I’m very proud of, and became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. This is a goal I’ve been working on for about 4 years, which included having to accumulate client contact hours, and ended with a *huge* exam. There was a lot of studying and time spent on these goals, and I passed my boards on the first try!
The experience of working with Jennifer and Katrina (hair and makeup artist) was very fun and easy. I felt like I was being pampered and felt very “attended to” during the whole process. I loved my makeup and Katrina was open to making sure I felt comfortable in my make up as well, making minor changes as requested. Starting the shoot and “getting the hang of” posing took a little while for me to get used to, but Jennifer was reassuring and knew how to make me feel comfortable. It’s clear she has a knack for reading people’s insecurities and making sure they are comfortable. No one wants to look “stiff” in their photos!! Soon, I felt very at ease and felt like I was able to control my face and body, in the shoot. Jennifer was a cheerleader and motivator, as she guided me through the photography shoot.
The reveal was a very professional and well-orchestrated part of the process, as well. Jennifer included a little “getting ready” video which was a unique addition to the photo reveal. The presentation of the actual printed photography had high impact and I certainly wanted to buy every photo she had available to me! I expected to love them all, and of course I did. It was difficult for me to narrow down the original 20 images, to the ones that I could afford to purchase. I ended up leaving with several beautiful images, and am so happy I decided to document this stage in my life. I deserve it!”
