Millie Dee Photography is happy to announce another Exclusive Themed Session this year.  Motherhood Portrait Sessions, aka Mom and Me Portrait Sessions are coming to Millie Dee Photography Studio, Landing, NJ.   This is a timeless classic yet edgy, yet fun and simple portrait session for Moms and their beautiful children.  When I ask new clients what draws them to my work, 8 out of 10 times, they say things like, because your images seem timeless, because of the simplicity or 'clean lines'. 
Don't you feel there is just something elegant and beautiful about simplicity?  Simple blue and white, black and grey, black and whites...I love all of the simple and timeless combinations of the jeans and t'shirt combination that are reinvented every few years because it's such a beloved look. When you add this classic look with a studio lighting set up, you end up with something very cool.    
Sometimes I feel I should be a bit more trendy, I know the boho look is 'all the rage' right now, then I think, nah-let someone else do that one, I'll stick with the timeless pieces, the studio - lit portraits that you will still proudly display 20 years from now. 
It has been one...crazy...year and Moms!  I'm one of you!  It's been very hectic to say the least!  I'm sure many of you have read the same articles I have seen about moms having to leave the workforce, or moms having to take a big step back in their career to take care of the kids and their studies at home for virtual learning.
Moms - If you haven't realized this yet, the world would fall apart without you!  You already have 101 jobs and now, the kids being home and having to help them with their school work on top of everything else you're doing is consuming; it's a time zap, it's an energy zap sometimes, too, yet I know there's no place you'd rather be, right?  
Amongst these crazy times, how's your self care going, Moms?  Self Care is so important, however, you have to chisel in the time to get that done, right?  What is your favorite form of self care?  A luxurious bubble bath?  exercise? yoga? meditation?  dancing? driving around and blasting the music? Shopping at Short Hills? Mani/Pedi?  Buying some flowers?  There are many ideas on taking care of yourself.  I'm going to suggest, how about a day out of the house, out of your slippers and with the kids doing something fun like a photo session?  
You deserve this!  Just think - this is a perfectly good reason to have your makeup and hair done, pack up the kids and come to the studio for a photo session.  We will create an unforgettable portrait experience that you and your kids will talk about for many years.  Let's get you guys in the studio for a little while; forget about the news, about school work and come shake off all of the 'ugh' from this past year.  We will sing and dance around at the studio, capture some smiles and practice our serious faces, too.  Spring is almost here.  It's time to get out...of...those...pajamas and into your favorite pair of jeans.  
Whether your home is filled with bright colors or deep colors, We will work with you to create a unique look for your images so when your portraits are printed, they will match the decor in your home.  
We know Mother's Day coming up, so we're taking portraits at the end of March so there will be plenty of time for editing and ordering prints or other photo gifts for Mom and Grandparents.  I'm even going to be so bold as to say this would make a great Father's Day gift, too.  Wouldn't Dad love a beautiful framed portrait of his wife and kids?   But really, laughter, putting your makeup on and  wearing your favorite pair of jeans are all little bits of self care, you deserve it!   You will never regret having great portraits taken of your children. 
 There is limited availability for these sessions and I believe they won't last.  If you're interested, please fill out the inquiry form below, the "Motherhood Session Form"  or call the studio 973.805.FOTO (3686). 
Thanks, Dee       

Your pregnancy marks a momentous occasion in your family's life. You're bringing an entirely new human into the world.  The maternity session captures all of the anticipation, the joy and the love you're feeling during this time.  Your baby belly is something that not everyone gets to experience and it really only shows for a short time during your pregnancy, although, it may feel like forever.  This time, these brief few months of your life are a game changer.

There are few things in life that bring pure joy; babies are one.  Pregnancy is another.  Now that I am a mom, and am done with my pregnancy experiences, whenever I see a pregnant mother, it sparks a feeling of joy.  Becoming a mother is entering a new world; it's speaking a language that no one understands but mothers.  We can give each other a look or a gesture and know exactly what the other is saying in their mind; I guess it is almost like a sisterhood.  It is a 'hood; motherhood; parenthood. 

Your family is growing.  A baby changes your family exponentially as it doesn't just change you into a mother and dad into a father, you're also creating Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Nieces, Nephews and creating promise of another generation.

The photo session is a great excuse to get dressed up, take a day off from work, have your hair and makeup done, bond with your partner and then when you're session is done, go out somewhere to eat!  You're all dressed up, hair and makeup is on point, Go!  Enjoy the rest of your day. 

At Millie Dee Photography, we will take good care of you; helping you to feel your best on the day of your photo session; Let's work together to create an experience that you will love and that feels unique to you and your story.  We'll take care of wardrobe, hair and makeup and guiding you through the session to create beautiful portraits that you'll be proud to show off and display throughout your home.     

With Covid still amidst our lives, and not being able to see too many people, this makes a great gift for moms to be as it is a way of celebrating this time.

Make a call to our studio:  973.805.FOTO (3686) or visit our website:  www.milliedeephotography.com and tell us your story, let's create a unique experience for you.

These are the beautiful people in my life.  These were the women when covid hit, and we were all starting to get on zoom, we would have a thursday night girls night out on zoom with of course a drink of our choice.  I'm not a big drinker, sometimes I'd choose a red wine, however, alot of times I'd just choose chamomile tea.  Anyhoo, enough about me, this post is a little about THEM.
We met at our girls' dance studio many years ago and as our girls are now all teens, we have a little more freedom, however, some of us have a little more teen angst with our girls as well and it's these women that I can talk to about everything going on.
These  gorgeous souls decided we should have a brunch at my new studio, so several weeks ago, that's just what we did on a cold Sunday morning, we met at the studio for brunch and after a little champagne (oh yes I did!), I dressed them up and took their pictures.  
I dressed them each in pieces from my client wardrobe and had them pose all which ways and they didn't truly understand the vision I had at the time, however, they just saw the end result, their editing images and they seem thrilled.  
If it's one thing about my photos, I've learned, once I'm done editing and send them off, it's like sending off a piece of your heart and soul.  You have a vision, you spend time creating not just at the studio with backgrounds, but getting the right emotion from your subject.  You can never just tell someone to smile.  They always smile with their mouth and not their soul.  It...has...to...come...from...the...soul!
Once you're at the studio and get in front of the camera, you start to understand the process.  It's at first a getting to know you phase and realizing what makes this person tick, what will make them laugh, confused, sad, emotional, etc.  It helps to have a vision, however, sometimes, the mind goes blank, too.
For many sessions, I write things down and plan it out ahead of time, It's all part of my process as a professional.  I never want to disappoint a client.  Clients pay me for my vision, for my creations, for their experience with me, not just to shoot and burn some digitals.  It's a "whole thing".  
What style is the client looking for and do you think as an artist that their style is the way to go?  Yes, they're paying you, Yes, it needs to match their style, but what if you level up a notch or two?  That's what I'm here for.  
So my dear friends, allowed me to get them dressed and in front of my camera and trusted the process.  I'm so grateful.  They've never seen me work before, it was like a take your friends to work day for me!

Honestly, how about these eyes? I have her dressed in a body suit and fabric wrapped around her for a skirt and this almond colored background seems to work on EVERYONE I put in front of it.  It's one of my new favorite backdrops.  She's a teacher, however, I'm not going to use any names here, I like to keep anonymity on behalf of  my clients whenever possible.    

Honestly, not sure which I love more from this one.  I just love her eyes in these....And the hair...I wish i had HALF of the amount of hair!  

And this one!  Doesn't she look like she has a lot to tell you?  The eyes are the way to really see a person, right?  
Maybe that's why I love these women so much; I just need to look at them, and I know or atleast i THINK i know what they're thinking.  There's such a wonderful connection here.
I'm so grateful for these gorgeous women in my life and that they allowed me to share what I do for a living with them.  
They inspired me to get a project going for Women - we all deserve a great experience getting beautiful photos taken of us.
I just had a headshot day and one woman was so excited just showing her the photos on the back of my camera she was so excited and said she had such a great experience.  
Agreed, pictures ARE a great experience!  Enjoy life!  Celebrate Life!  I hope this has inspired you if not to get a nice photo of yourself taken, atleast to reach out to some friends and tell them how grateful you are to have them in your life.  Kind of like the old Elton John Song, "I hope you don't mind that I put down in words how wonderful life is that you're in the world".  No truer words spoken.

I offer a client wardrobe.  What are the benefits of a client wardrobe?  Well, first off, it's something new for the client; I'm guessing it's something she does not have in her wardrobe.  It's usually something a little more glamorous or edgy for an every day wardrobe, plus toward the end of the second trimester, when the belly is showing beautifully, sometimes mom isn't feeling quite herself and although she probably is excited about her pregnancy, she at the same time, is also realizing she doesn't have much control over the way her body is growing and her clothing may not be fitting her the way she'd hoped, so my maternity wardrobe is made for this time in her life.   
Clients don't need to spend time and money on wardrobe pieces they may only wear once or twice; my maternity sessions include access to all of my wardrobe pieces.  I even have a few pieces of clothing for Dad and the kids incase we need it.
Glamorous and fitted gowns to show off that gorgeous baby bump are just one small piece of the Millie Dee Photo Session Experience.  Hair and Makeup are now automatically a part of your session as well.  These additions to the session experience along with a pre session design consultation are key elements to creating maternity portraits that you will love to show to your family and friends.  
We want to get all of the details perfect for you.  This is a special time in your life that not everyone gets to experience.  Perhaps its your first pregnancy, second or last; each pregnancy offers quite a different experience as a Mom and should be documented and celebrated not just for you, but to share with your family and your children as they grow up to remind them of the special place they've always held in your heart. 

So, I get a message from a woman, a recent graduate, who just became a doctor and she wanted to celebrate her commencement with some headshots.  We emailed back and forth for a while and I could feel her energy in the words of her messages.  I told her I was so proud of her accomplishments and I hadn't even met her yet.  

She walked in and my assistant and I had Pomp and Circumstance playing over the speakers for her.  As I was getting out the iron so we could iron her gown a little bit, we got to talking and come to find out, the house she grew up in was around the corner from my house; we at some point were neighbors for a brief time.  What a small world, right?  Anyway This woman is just beautiful and dynamic and we had a blast during her photo session and when she looked into the camera, she blew..me...away!  I just think everyone should know a little bit more about "Dr. Tricia", so I asked her a few questions...  

WHO ARE YOU, WHAT IS YOUR CAREER?
I am Dr. Tricia Rampersad Clinical Psychologist, YouTuber and Podcaster of The Core Behavioral Therapist. I also am a model and actress.

WHEN & HOW DID YOU DECIDE ON YOUR CAREER PATH?
I was laid off from Corporate after 9-11. I then took the first job after I was laid off and it was for a New Jersey
Non-Profit. My placement was at a homeless shelter for single teenage mothers. I saw one of the mothers left her toddler with another mother, while she went to get high on drugs. The next day the mother was tested positive for cocaine. Therefore, the staff of the shelter reported her to child protective services. I witnessed them ripping the child from her mother’s arms and remembered it clear as day. The cries, devastation and anguish. It broke my heart. That’s when I knew I wanted to help girls like the mother and the child. I felt a calling and decided to get my Masters degree in Counseling & Clinical Psychology. I then got a
specialization and certification in School Counseling.

WOULD YOU CONSIDER YOUR CAREER YOUR PASSION OR
CALLING? Both. At first it was a calling that developed into a passion in different spheres of my life.

WHAT ARE 2-3 THINGS WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOU?
I traveled as Missionary at orphanages, churches, cities and rural villages preaching, praying and helping those in need with food, clothing, school supplies and toys. I also helped women in rural villages with sex education and menstrual hygiene. I did this work in India, Africa, Brazil, Nicaragua, El Salvador, the Philippines and many more.

DO YOU HAVE ANY HOBBIES? I love to dance, read, travel,play games, sing, pottery and DJ (I love music).

IF YOU COULD TELL YOUR YOUNGER SELF SOMETHING,
WHAT WOULD IT BE? “You have a huge calling on your life to help people and help heal those who are suffering. Hang on because it is going to be one joyous ride.” 

DO YOU HAVE A MANTRA? OR ANY WORDS TO LIVE BY?
Matthew 6:33 “Seek first the Kingdom of God and all his righteousness and these things will be added onto you.” 
“If you do what you love, you never have to work a day in your life again.”
“I am the head and not the tail.”

WHAT DO YOU DO EACH DAY OR A FEW TIMES A WEEK
FOR YOUR OWN WELL BEING? 
I worship to songs, talk to God (pray), I play with my Golden Retriever, make sure I post something that I am
passionate about, when it comes to advocacy, on my social media, I walk or go on my elliptical for at least 30 minutes and I chat with my mom and sister. I also make sure to at least do a mindfulness exercise, such as breathing for a minute. It relaxes me. Walking allows me to also pay attention to nature and my 5 senses when I am walking around nature.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST GRATEFUL FOR?
How God changed my life in the Philippines. I never saw impoverished children be more happy to see me and my friends when they have nothing. These children had smiles on their faces, ripped clothes on and were barefoot, but still clapped and hugged on me because they were happy we were there to help. I cried for about 20 minutes. I am grateful also to my father, mother and sister. My parents were immigrants from Trinidad and Tobago. 
We are Indo-Caribbean and they sacrificed a great deal for me. My father died when he was 57 from cancer while I was obtaining my doctorate. It was one of the most painful times of my life. But I am grateful in his short time here on earth with me, he was my biggest inspiration and cheerleader. I only wished he were alive and that I made him proud of me. He would tell me I can do anything if I put my mind to it. I am also grateful for my parrot. I grew up with him.

ANY LAST THOUGHTS? 
Believe in your dreams no matter how long it takes. If it is a calling or passion, God
placed it in your heart and will bring it to completion. Run your own race and do not compare yourself to others. Comparison is the thief of joy. Love one another and do something kind for someone.

My last thoughts are that I'm so grateful she called ME for her graduation celebration photo session.  Dr. Tricia, I wish you all the best and more success than you could ever imagine for yourself.  Much Love!  xoxo

I'm going to write a bit and add photos later, but I just felt the inspiration to write, so I'm going to blog.
I just read a facebook post from my college roommate, who later would become my co-worker.  Of course this goes back to the years when I was a college student and then young apprentice up in Boston.  New England will always hold a piece of my heart for many reasons, one of them is my old roommate and another is the job we had.  

We went to school to become funeral directors. Yes, some of you already know this about me, to some it may be a surprise.  During our college years, both my roommate, Lauren and I were biology majors even before we got to funeral school, so we had a science background and many of our fellow students struggled with chemistry and biology classes.  We always felt an obligation to help them, in fact we worked as tutors for the entire campus, not just for our major.  When I say the word 'obligation'  I mean it as a sense of pride.  I was proud and honored to be able to help my fellow classmates with their struggles.  I wanted them to succeed and was there to serve, teach and help them through their struggles. We helped a lot of students both inside and outside of tutoring jobs - other students knew we were more than happy to help them study.

One grateful student asked if we wanted jobs after graduation.  Lauren took him up on it, I went back to Jersey and after thinking about it for a bit, I reached out to them and after my interview, he basically said, you had the job before you came in the door, just let us know when you want to start.

They knew I was a hard worker, intelligent, energetic had a positive attitude and wanted to help those around me.  At this job, I worked days and nights, was on call many nights, worked through snow storms, the hottest days when I could feel beads of sweat dripping down my back under a black suit waiting for families on the sidewalk across from Fenway Park in Kenmore Square where one of our funeral home facilities were located; watching all of these cars trying to find parking for the Red Sox game, I was working. (Just for the record I'm a big Yankees fan, although I just love baseball and Fenway Park was always a fun time, although it's no Yankees Stadium!)

Getting back to the job, we were taught that customer service is KEY!  Our boss was a great man, and wanted to make sure that all of his families were more than taken care of, sending them cars to be picked up at their home, the cars were always sent to the car wash at the end of every day, ready for the next family early the next morning.  In fact, god forbid you locked the keys in the car, we were instructed to smash the drivers window if needed so the family isn't waiting or in any type of distress during their time of grief.  The counted on us for everything during the wake and funeral and we delivered.  

If a piece of furniture was scratched or ripped, it was fixed or replaced immediately.  The quality service and goods offered to our clients were the best...the highest quality...it was nothing but the best for our families that we served.  He wanted these grieving families to trust and expect that we had everything taken care of.  If you're in the service industry, you know it can be stressful and adding being a funeral director on top of it, well, you only get one chance to have a funeral and have every detail right.  We took our jobs very seriously for these grieving families.  Our boss and managers had every detail covered and covered over again.  

This was my first career job.  The jobs I had before that were waitress and bartending jobs, which are also service jobs.  I truly believe people should have to serve as a waiter for atleast 6 months of their life, as its an extremely humbling experience and will show you how to treat people, how to be more human, more caring, you'll understand the obligation, the pride and the responsibility we have to all take care of each other.

This leads into my current career as a newborn photographer.  I want everything to be ready when that new mom brings her brand new baby to me.     I want her and dad to worry about nothing!  All of the details are planned out before baby arrives, many times they even visit the studio to see the amenities in the lounge area that I offer for them while they're here.  If parents allow, and they always do, I and my assistant change the baby, we will feed the baby if baby isn't nursing, we will provide a comfortable space for mom to nurse, I will provide a warm comfortable calm environment for parents to rest in during the session.  I will have hair and makeup take care of Mom if she'd like before the family portion of the session, I will have food drinks, as I know from nursing two babies myself, you get really thirsty when breastfeeding your baby.  I will help you out of the car, ask some questions that help me understand the baby a little better. 

After the session, when mom and dad return to see their photos, I usually get to hold baby again for a bit while they sift through their printed images and make decisions on what to purchase.  I'm right there with them, answering all of their questions, we've already discussed some ideas they may be looking for so they're not overwhelmed and exhausted making decisions.

I will order the prints for them, their wall art, their gifts for grandparents, and anything else they decide on.  The great thing is, the digitals they receive will allow them to create their own projects when they ever get the time that is scarce as a parent; however, The great customer service experience I offer comforts my clients, knowing that they won't be spending hours on the internet looking for the best canvas or print company and hoping for the best.  My clients are confident that I've done all of that work for them already and greatly appreciate my service.  My raw file digital images can be handled by professional printing companies that work exclusively with photographers to ensure the right colors and clarity for your portraits whether they be small or wall sized art pieces for your living room, nursery and grandparents.   

I offer props and wardrobe for my clients that are from high quality vendors that have been referred to me by my mentors or other professionals.  Safety is very important to me, so it goes without saying that my assistant and I wear masks the entire time we are hosting a family at the studio.  My assistant is my second set of hands, which is a great help not only with newborns, but in making sure mom and dad are taken care of and if they come with a sibling or pet, my assistant checks in with them, too.  I also check in with nurses several times through out the year to ask of any news on the newborn front in regards to safety regulations, make sure I have the latest information.

As I mentioned, I work with mentors, right now all classes are virtual, however, I cannot wait to go to in person classes with my mentors and coaches again someday. I'm in constant contact with them currently, we're always discussing everything that surrounds a newborn photography business, such as new products for clients, a new service idea, the latest colors, backdrops, props and fashions for babies and moms.  This is all an important part of offering the best and highest quality service for my clientele, that I call my Millie Dee Family. 

I've always been in some type of service industry related job; what I do now is no different, only this time the business is mine.  I own it, my name is on it and I think back to the days of my boss and his high and strict standards for our families at the funeral home and still hold myself to have these same standards for my own business.  Serving the people in my world is an innate part of who I am.   There is still a sense of caring, personal service, obligation and responsibility and I take a lot of pride in saying that I serve every client this way.   

All babies hold a special place in our hearts but when I first learned about Rainbow Babies, my heart grew a little bit more.  I had heard the term before, however, I wasn't fully aware until a friend called her baby a rainbow baby and I learned Rainbow babies are babies that are born after the loss of an infant or a miscarriage.  

Why a "Rainbow Baby"?  Where did the term come from?  Rainbows are seen many times after a storm.  The storm represents the mother's loss, the parent's loss, their family's loss.  When you may feel that all hope is lost, your joy has turned to shock, sadness, anger to name a few of the many emotions that I can imagine being filled with is all part of the grieving.

The strength, hope and faith I can only imagine these mothers have that are determined to grow their family is tremendously strong and deep.  I can't imagine the steps it takes to bring yourself to a place where you're ready to try again.  I can only imagine the questions and precautions taken for that next big step of deciding to be pregnant again after such a loss.  When I hear these stories from moms and dads, I'm always in awe.  Every story is different and SO personal and for them to want to share their story is not lost on me.  

As a photographer, I try to make every picture tell a story.  I think this one speaks for itself.  The mother was gracious enough to share part of her story so I can capture a vision we developed for her children's picture. 

What I didn't know is that if another baby comes along after a rainbow baby, they also have a title, they're a Golden Baby to represent the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.  Although baby doesn't have a golden swaddle, there is a bit of gold in her headband.   

Babies represent joy, promise, innocence warmth and new beginnings.  These parents will always have three children, they'll always be a family of 5, they'll always find ways to include all 3 babies in their family journey, as represented in some of the thousands of words this photo depicts. ... I used to be a grief counselor a very long time ago, however, I still search for the right words to say sometimes...

Much Love and Gratitude to this family, for sharing part of their story.


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