Jen Madigan Photography

Thankful Thursday

The other day I was driving home from work, and Josh was behind me in his car with Einstein. As we pulled onto our street, I looked in my rearview mirror and just had to smile. Hanging out the window, big ole' ears flapping in the breeze was my fuzzy little buddy Einstein. He was having the time of his life, enjoying the beautiful spring day...at that moment I was wishing I had my camera with me (although driving and taking pictures....probably not a good idea). Seeing my favorite pup so happy, which in turn made ME happy, reminded me to take time to appreciate the little things in life. Some of my favorite "little things" at the moment:

1. Getting a ride to work (thanks Josh). It's not so much about the early morning drive, but I love the days when I don't have to drive home!

2. Naps - wishing I was in kindergarten again when they MAKE you take one every day!

3. Tulips - a sign that spring has sprung! I love seeing these as I drive around town.

4. The Pit. Mmm...BBQ.

5. Getting to snuggle with my buddy Einstein when he gets cold in the middle of the night and looks for warmth.

I hope your Thursday is going well - I also wanted to mention that there's only ONE MORE DAY of the 50% off session fee special! If you're interested in booking, please email me at madiganphotography@gmail.com. Hope to hear from you soon!

And as I've mentioned before - every post is better with a picture, so here's a photo I took of my cousin Maddie while we were at my grandma's house for Easter dinner.

Feeling inspired...

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Suess

Last night I attended an event at West High which featured the talents of a special group of students, one of whom holds a very important place in my heart. This event allows the students to show their friends and family the powerpoint presentations they've been working on for months, and this year's theme was Heroes. It was very interesting to see who/what all the students chose to feature, which was everything from service dogs to military personnel. The students also perform several songs, and it was great to see them singing (and kazoo-ing) proudly for everyone (I admit it, I got teary-eyed when they sang Imagine...something about that song just gets me every time).

I was sitting there last night watching the kids singing and enjoying themselves and I couldn't help but be reminded of how inspiring they all are. Every day these kids face challenges that most of us have never had to overcome, and they do it all with a smile on their face, loving life, and never complaining. Wouldn't it be great if we could all be more like them? It's definitely something we can all (myself included) work on. Stand up and be proud of who you are, love your life despite the challenges that may come your way, and above all don't worry so much about what others think of you. Be yourself.

And because a picture of Einstein makes every post better, here's a sunny picture on this rainy Friday... (and also HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my dad!! Hope it's a great one!)

Hanna and Joey

When you first see these pictures of Hanna and Joey, you might think they are a head over heels in love newly engaged couple...or maybe even newlyweds. You'd be wrong. This gorgeous couple has actually been married for 4 years and are still as much (maybe more) in love as they were the day they tied the knot.

I met Hanna and Joey back when I was planning my own wedding, and their marriage reminded me of what I had to look forward to when I wanted to pull my hair out with all of the pre-wedding stress. Hanna was there to lend an ear when I needed to vent about table arrangements or flowers, and Joey was there to remind Josh that it would all be over soon.

Hanna and Joey have the kind of love that everyone wants in their relationships, but not everyone is lucky enough to find. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure they would say their relationship isn't perfect (and really, is there such a thing?) but they have the ability to laugh with (and at) each other, which in my opinion makes all the difference in the world. My session with them was incredible, partly because they're so gorgeous, but mainly because they have an undeniable chemistry that really shines through in these photos.

Hanna & Joey - I hope you like the rest of your preview! Thanks again for a fantastic session.