Rebecca Grace

This little one is such a doll.  At 4 weeks old, she (of course) did not want to sleep for long.  :)  But, in that time, I managed to get off a few shots I personally adore.  I hope that her mom and dad adore them as much as I do!
We went to a little park....not sure if it was a hiking trail - but found a clearing and went to work.  :)  Tried out a few new things I got for little ones.

  

Xz

While planning for my vacation this year, I always try to find time to see some friends that live down there.  My friend Connie and her family have been down in Florida for some time.  We always have kept in touch, whether it was through email, or snail mail.  Now, FB and text.  We planned a day to hang out, but I found out that her oldest daughter Xz, would not be there while I was!  But, as luck would have it, she was going to be in NY!  So, I immediately set up something, so I could take some photos, and get to hang with this extraordinary gal.  :)  To see her grow up into a young lady is amazing.  She is talented, and gorgeous!  I cannot wait to photograph her Sweet 16 next year!

         

Sands Point Preserve

Sands Point Preserve.
I love the place.  It is up north, in the town of North Hempstead.
It has a little of everything!  A beach, some woods, grass.  Sun.  Shade.  Trails.
I have been there a few times now, and I still have yet to see the entire place.
Before I went on vacation, I had the pleasure of shooting one of my good friends boys.  And OH how cute they are! :)  Tyler and Nicholas, you forever have a place in  my heart!

                   
             

American Cancer Society Fundraiser

So a little bit ago, (really a little bit since my posting has been virtually nil) I posted about Florence, and the ACS fundraiser.  I was able to do two sessions to benefit this great cause.  Thank you to the Leach Family, and Yajaira C. for your donations!  I hope that next year, I can continue to do sessions in June to benefit it.

                

GOALS

October 2, 2010. 

That was my very first session after I made the decision to make a go at this photography thing.  My little friend Gary, helped me decide that I really did want to do portrait type sessions, and not just parties and weddings every now and then. 

Since the decision, I have made a Facebook fan page, and it currently has jumped to 214 likes from just 176 two days ago!  I actually realized that people were not seeing my posts from LasSana Photography aka Lena Messana Photography on my wall like I originally thought.  So I have to make a post from my actual site for it to pop up so people can become fans!  Thank you Jessica of AJ NICK PHOTOGRPAHY” for helping me realize that, and for showing others my page!  Us photographers have to work together, not against each other!  (Something Jasmine* taught me).  Now, I am working hard a few nights a week to put the site out there. 

I have a few goals that I have set in place as well during this time, that by the end of 2011 I hope to have accomplished.  Posting them here makes it seem real.  Now I have something to prove, if it is only for myself. 

*Set up a Facebook fan page – CHECK!

*Set up a price list – CHECK!

*Switch from Nikon to Canon – CHECK! (Although I kept my D40x and the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 yummy lens)

*Get a logo – CHECK!  (Thank you Mike!!!!)

*Set up a website – still working on this one.  It is so hard to choose which way to go!

*Obtain new lenses:

 -50mm f/1.4 – COMING SOON!

 -24-70MM F/2.8L

 -I would also like to have a wide lens… undecided at this point.

*UPGRADE to Full Frame with the 5D MarkII  (Hopefully by Christmas), keeping my lovely 7D as my backup and hanging with family camera. 

And there ya’ll have it!  The only thing that was not on the agenda was the business name.  I am not sure if everyone saw the change!  I am trying to find a way to incorporate that into my Facebook page, as it is telling me Lena Messana Photography is it!  So if LasSana Photography pops up…that would be me! J

And for those of you that did not get to see this adorable little one – here is a sneak peek! 

Reach for the Stars!

It is so hard to believe that my vacation has come, and gone.  It was two years of planning, and now it is over. :( My family went to Kissimmee, FL.  This year, we rented a house instead of just a villa.  It had 6 bedrooms!  I seriously could get used to that!  But at the prospect of cleaning a house like that on a daily basis would probably blow my mind!  I do not know how people do it.  (Get a maid!!)

I feel like I have been away for so long, as it has been a little bit in between blogs.  I have been super busy, so I really need to figure out a way to make sure that I blog a few times a week.  

This post is special to me.  It revolves around a very special woman, Florence, who I have known for many, many years (That would be a whopping 31 years!) .  We went to P.S. 97 (The Forest Park School) together.  From first grade we have stayed in touch!  Since 2004, Florence has been through hell and back.  She has beat Cancer, more than one time.  I will not get into the full synopsis, but she is one strong cookie.  To help kick off my fundraising for her team, Reach for the Stars - I had put out a photography sale.  Half price Half sessions, with 2/3 of the proceeds going to ACS.  I was able to send $100 to the American Cancer Society, thanks to Yajaira C. and the Leach family for participating in this event!  I hope that next year, even more people will take advantage of this special sale, because the proceeds go to great cause, and you will have pictures to last a lifetime!  And even though Relay is over, it is not too late to donate!  

You can do that here:  http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY11EA?px=4218551&pg=personal&fr_id=29438

I will also be doing this for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in August/September of this year!  Look out for this awesome event!

To kick off this event, I did a photo shoot with Florence and her children.  

Flo, you are a special person.  Even though I don't hang around as often as I would like, know you hold an extra special place in my heart!  Love you bunches! xoxo

New name/logo coming soon!! :)

And the WINNER is???!!!

May is still not officially over in my book!  I still have two sessions left to finish editing.  One a party, that should be quick, if I ever can find the time to get to it!  I go on vacation at the end of this month, so anything that is hanging out, I must have done!  I am glad I warned everyone that it is a little busy right now...so it will take a little longer than my usual time.

A little while ago, I hit 100 likers on my Facebook Photography page. (Just in case you don't already like it... :) http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lena-Messana-Photography/116656341727525)

That 100th liker was the winner of a free HALF SESSION!  It turned out to be Liza.  I went to High School with her, and we were cheerleaders together!  What a better way to celebrate #100 than to take Liza out with her beautiful daughters, Liana and Olivia.  It was a very overcast day, with some mist.  We decided to go out and do it anyhow, just as long as it wasn't raining.  :)  We stayed by the Forest Park Bandshell, and got some shots done!  I won't lie...  I was messing with my new camera for the first time in crazy overcast weather.  :D  

These girls are seriously gorge!  ALL THREE!   

Stay tuned!  I want to do something with my 200th liker...  so keep em coming! :)