Movie: Sex and the City

So, have you seen it yet?! Oh, my goodness...I've just come from seeing the movie Sex and the City - what a wonderful movie! Those shoes (oh, my goodness; those shoes)! The fashions! But more than anything, the enduringly beautiful friendship between Carrie, Miranda, Samantha and Charlotte!

Unless you've been living under a rock, the series and now the movie have followed four friends who met in their twenties and are now in their forties (and dare I say even 50 [Samantha]!) through all the trials and tribulations of life and love while living in New York City.

The series was never really about sex, although it did have a lot of sexual innuendo in it. Okay, okay, it was about sex too... And it certainly made a statement about The City, but it was ALWAYS about love; my favorite subject! The love between the four women as friends and the love between the four women and the men in their lives.

The whole series was a delight to watch as was the movie - I won't give anything away, just be sure to go see it. I will say though, that Carrie's analysis in the end was about labels and how we can be so busy labeling everyone that we forget to look beyond the label to the true person beneath. That spoke volumes and is a profound statement I think might behoove all of us to consider...just a suggestion...

Love those women! I'll miss them...

xo, Joanne Bartone, Photographer

It is high-time for inclusion...

Although I try to keep my personal opinions separate from my business, with this one issue I simply cannot. One reason is because it's an important issue regarding discrimination, which is wrong, and another reason is because it overlaps with my business... In celebration with Gay Pride month, it is with tremendous love in my heart that I will take the risk and take a stand to fully voice my support for the G+L community as a whole, and many friends and "family" with regards to their desire to have their love recognized and supported with civil unions, commitment ceremonies or same sex marriages. What ever you want to call it, it's all about LOVE! I never have, nor will I ever discriminate against any people or their love for one another. In fact, I believe that if we had more tolerant and loving attitudes towards one another and would support one another under the "umbrella" of understanding, compassion, love and everyone being a citizen of the UNITED States of America, perhaps more G+L relationships might endure and the world would probably be a better place. It is 2008, after all and really, isn't it time people? Isn't it long past time to call for an end to discrimination? I think so. So I "raise my glass" to the G+L community and all their supporters who have made great progress here in the US in New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Washington DC, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, California, and abroad in Spain, Netherlands and Belgium. May the strides for inclusion and acceptance continue world-wide and may your lives be joined in love and your love live on forever! In love and support, Joanne Bartone, Photographer

long time no blog...!

LOL! My good friend Heather would probably have my head on a platter for not blogging for so long! It is a good thing she's still on pregnancy leave or I'd really be getting some crazy big grief!!! I have been sooooooooooooooo busy since my last post...there really is so much to update you on... - From early November through mid December I pushed hard to get a lot of work wrapped up for my 2007 clients. Many wedding story designs were completed, with a number of the wedding story books arriving and being delivered just before Christmas! I made a LOT of my clients happy, which always makes me happy in return! There is still a few more of you that need to get your "homework" done, but we are progressing nicely and I'll be cracking the whip again on those of you that need to get selections in to me soon! - My holidays were wonderful! I spent quality time with my family and friends and still have a few friends I've yet to see but will be making it a point to see them before my 2008 season starts. - I know of at least three, no make that four new babies that were born from October through December! Wow; busy Spring for some of you!! ;-) LOL! The circle of life is a beautiful gift that never ever ceases to amaze me. It is profoundly beautiful and I got to photograph at least two of those little gifts! Too sweet... - I'm in the throes of organizing my work space for my up-coming 2008 season, something I really wasn't able to do in 2007 having moved into my current residence late November 2006, then having hurt my back badly on January 1 (2007). I was down for the count the whole month of January in '07, but no one really knew about it except for my close colleagues. I never missed a beat throughout my 2007 season and didn't say anything to my dear clients because I didn't want anyone to have to worry that perhaps I might not be able to fulfill my obligations to all of you. And no, it had nothing to do with drinking! It was actually one of my cat 's fault; one of those unforeseen at home accidents that you never think will happen to you. Fortunately for me that it happened in my off season so I had time to rehabilitate via physical therapy, chiropractic, massage and LOTS of rest before the start of my 2007 season and throughout, which really helped. It is just recently that I finished my physical therapy but am doing great now, so look out 2008! - I'm also in the throes of planning; planning for some new and exciting changes and offerings - stay tuned! So...2008...it's going to be another wonderful year! Subject of one of my up-coming journal entries...until then! xo, Joanne Bartone, Photographer

Henne Jewelers and things to cherish...

I'm a visual person, as you all know, so consequently I'm always observing the subtle messages I see around me. I love the impact that images have on us and how they inspire us to think, or be, or feel. There are lots of powerful messages in images, whether they are in advertising or in our own family photos. This ad for Henne Jewelers caught my attention when I first saw it months ago. I felt it to be such a powerful message that I've wanted to share my thoughts on how it has inspired and excited me, so I'm finally taking the time to do just that. Before I do, I want you to know that Henne Jewelers is not paying me to endorse them in any way. I'm talking about them because their messages are clear to me. Take a good look at the ad... What do you see? I see a LOT of things... First of all, the message they are conveying is very clear to me through this ad: Henne Jewelers cherishes their clientèle and they want to be your "Jewelers for Life." Well, we share the same philosophy; I want to become your photographer for life! I don't know about you, but this is the type of people I would want to (and do) do business with because they get it! These are good people who have a time-honored service they proudly offer and have been providing as a family to their clientèle for many generations. That is really something! This means they care and they want you to come to them because they will take care of you and the heirlooms you purchase that you will likely pass down through the generations of your own family. In the ad you can get a sense of what those family heirlooms might be: your mother's or grandmother's string of pearls - I've seen many brides beautifully adorned by their grandmother's or mother's jewelery, specifically pearls, which are always lovely pieces for a bride to wear on her wedding day..."something old"...something borrowed, or given... And then, of course, there is the "something new"...the engagement and wedding rings; THE most important symbols that mark the beginning of your joining your lives and the creation of your new family; the family that Henne Jewelers wants to be a part of for all your life. They get it; and you can trust them. It's all right there in that one little ad. Amazing! The first thing that caught my eye in the ad is the photograph of Jack and Nancy Henne on their wedding day in 1966. You know; it is a photograph; I'm a photographer...it was only natural that I was drawn to that element of the ad first. Nancy has on a lovely necklace that I can only guess may have been given to her by Jack or perhaps it was a family heirloom. This one photo represents an important moment in Jack and Nancy's life and adds a personal touch to the ad: these are the people that stand behind their business, carry on the family business and tradition and that want to serve you well. What a great photo! There is one more thing to be "seen" that may be a little more subtly noticed in this ad... "Some Things are Cherished for Generations." Such as Henne Jewelers clientèle, the jewelry they offer, the family business they run and THE PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THEIR WEDDING DAY! There you have it; subtle as a brick! I hope that point isn't lost on you, the viewer, and my clientèle too, as you view this most powerful and important ad. Your wedding photography is just as priceless as your jewelry! Quality photography will evoke emotion and will allow you to recall many of the important moments in your life forever, be it on your wedding day, a birthday, on your anniversary or perhaps on a typical day in your life. But, the most important point that I'd like to make here is that after your wedding day has long passed the only thing left to help you recall your memories are your photographs which you will be able to enjoy for many, many years and for many generations to come. In fact, next to jewelry, I don't think I know of any thing (not person) that is more cherished than wedding photos! Honestly! Quality photography by a professional, reputable photographer who cares about their clients and wants to be their photographer throughout their lives (and that statement sums up my philosophy and the type of person I am in a nutshell!) may appear to be expensive but if you look at it as an investment that will last you over the next fifty years, or more, you will understand that it truly is a priceless investment not unlike your jewelry. Hopefully both will be cherished, passed down for generations and enjoyed throughout your lifetime together! So, Henne Jewelers gets it! And they get a big fat A+ for this ad from me because I get it too! My hope is that you will be able to integrate these messages in your own experiences. And my wish is that you will allow me to become your photographer for life; it will be my honor and pleasure and I can assure you that I will cherish your wedding day as much as you do! That is how important you and your photography are to me. And while you are at it, go try on a few rings at Henne Jewelers too! You won't be sorry in either instance. Thanks for indulging me! Love, Joanne

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!

Today is the day Love is celebrated! Let's be bold and daring and celebrate love EVERY day instead of just once annually! To everyone, everywhere... I wish that you all experience love today and every day in some small way, be it through family, friends, that special love in your life or an act of loving kindness that you may offer to someone who really needs it. Happiest of Loving days! Pay some love forward! BIG love, Joanne