Jennifer Milota Photography

Road Trippin Cross Country! You got me Dallas

2011-05-05T15:37:00.001-04:00

Due to my hectic schedule and a million things going on with the current trip I am on (back east), I have not been able to post anything! So much going on that I can't even begin to get into it. I am very fortunate to have found the work space that I recently acquired. Getting back to the road trip though. My next stop on the road was good 'ol Dallas. I had never been to this part of Texas so I was anxious to see the difference in people and scenery. The drive was about an hour and a half and to be honest, I don't remember much of it at this point. I do remember a quick conversation with my mom trying to figure out the best place to stay near Amarillo. That would mark the beginning of my trip on Route 66. I drove through the city and had absolutely no idea where I was going as usual. This lead me out of town and then a quick U turn got me back on track. Seeing the skyscrapers loom over me brought a smile to my face. I've always loved big cities. I don't think I could reside in one but I could definitely work in and visit one. I found a lot that was decently priced and parked. Then began my walking adventure. I was still attempting to wear my chucks on a daily basis which was not the brightest choice I must admit. They are not the most comfortable shoes to walk all over in but they became a part of my road trip style. I couldn't resist taking a couple self portraits in the tall glass buildings. Another signature of mine. I even grabbed up a few shots while crossing in the cross walk. To my pleasant surprise, the pictures are completely in focus :o) The Nieman Marcus building was a lot of fun, all decked out with store front interactive decor. Who wouldn't stop for a cute little robot with a camera? Not me! The stars were a sight to see especially since they were made by local children. I'm always a sucker for displays with purpose. It didn't take long for me to find the huge, abandoned hotel that I couldn't figure out if they were trying to save or to demolish. I think I walked around that building at least twice. If only I could have gone exploring inside. Now that would have been fun. I kept walking and eventually ended up in a rougher part of town. Not my brightest moment but I was fine the entire time. I am very lucky that nothing has ever happened to me while I'm out exploring. It then began to get closer to nightfall and I was then on to my next mission; finding a Starbucks. Now, you would think in a city as big as Dallas it would not be a problem finding one or even just a coffee shop open past five. Nope, they all closed when the working man went home. Le sigh. I did come to find that they were filming a tv show in and around the lot where I parked my car. I believe the name of the show was Chase. I had never seen it but I hear from the crew it's "alright." They were all so nice and helpful after they found out that I not a paparazzi but just a traveling freelance photographer. After getting the call from my friend that she was off work, I then proceeded to head to her place for a much needed dinner and relaxing time. It was good to see a fellow alumni from my school being that I hadn't been able to see much of anyone after we all graduated. Kristen and I had a little fun with my now boyfriend; Matt, on the phone. This would again became a regular thing with the phone calls and video log shout outs. The long hours on the road were starting to get to me and I was getting more and more ready to be home. We ended the night with a movie and then much needed rest.

On to the Land of Ten Gallon Hats and That Good 'Ol Rodeo; Eastern Texas!

2011-03-06T04:47:00.000-05:00

Howdy ya'all! I know it has been quite some time since I have posted but I can't even begin to tell you how busy I've been! I was fortunate to join my mom on an amazing cruise recently and ever since I have been just been trying to play catch up and keeping insanely busy with all the editing and work. Picking up where I left off though. After I left the music world of TN, I then headed west to eastern Texas to stay with my best friend of over ten years. I had not seen her in almost three years so you can imagine how excited we both were for me to finally get there. I intended on getting up much earlier that day but the exhaustion was kicking my butt hardcore and the fact that the drive ahead of me was to be extremely long. Fourteen hours and almost 809 miles to be exact. That two hours of sleep would come in handy. Traveling through six states in one day was pretty awesome but not having time to really stop and explored killed that completely. I did stop in Louisiana to check out an old dirt road just passed the railroad tracks. I stumbled across a few houses and an abandoned school bus. As I was taking pictures it again occurred to me that I was in south and the chances of me seeing an alligator were a lot higher at this point lol. This thought encouraged me to get back in my car and continue on my way. The scenery in Alabama was actually quite beautiful. I was tempted to stop and snap up some scenery shots but the off and on again rain and long road ahead of me kept me stuck in my seat. Seeing my very first bayou was pretty kool. The bridge seemed to carry on forever and at this point the sun was setting and the exhaustion started to kick in. My best friend kept me slightly entertained and about every two hours asked if I was there yet. lol. The highlight of the conversation was our southern and valley girl talk. Well it was entertaining to the two of us at least :o) As I hit Texas I began to liven up and get much more excited. I still had a little bit of driving to do but I was so close. I had to post that I had made it safely to Texas on my fb of course which I am very, very happy I did because this one status started another amazing journey. Curious? Well it involves a very cute boy from the east coast and the conversation that would turn into shout outs on my video logs and then into something so much more :o) Our story is pretty unique and awesome at the same time. He was to be a big part of helping me to survive my tom tom going crazy, random dirt roads, getting lost and praying I didn't get shot. I remember being on the phone and then yelling out; "Tom Tom! What the duck are you doing now?! (yes, I really do talk like this) There is no road there!!! Stop it! No! Wait, what? Ahhh! No 3G..... 1 bar..... no service! Matt? Matt? God if you can hear me now, please don't let me get shot! What is that now?! I'm so going to die tonight!" Not dramatic at all right? lol. Despite being extremely nervous, exhausted and fed up with my screwy gps, I was still laughing hysterically. I find that I tend to laugh at myself a lot. Hmmmm. Eventually I did arrive safely and yes, alive at my best friend's house. It only took her a minute to come running out of the house and nearly tackle me. I think she missed me or something :op I collapsed onto the couch so ready to pass out. The video log would have to be done from my phone while I was out in the thicket since I had no internet available to me. My best friend and I had way too much fun recording the video and Matt even got his very first shout out :o) This would be the first of many. I spent the next few days just enjoying seeing my best friend and relaxing. The social center; aka Walmart didn't provide as much entertainment as I had hoped but at least I was able to get my terrible haircut fixed and get back to civilization for a quick minute. Although we joked about it, I was praying that her mother-in-law would not cook up some squirrel stew. I don't make this stuff up people, it really does happen in their neck of the woods. As much as I make fun of the thicket and Texas I do enjoy visiting and experiencing a world so different from my own. I didn't pick the camera as much as I should have but spending time with friends was more important at that time. After taking the family photos it was then time to have our sad goodbye. I'm never really sure when I will get to see her again but we're as close as sisters so I know we will make it happen. I am happy to report that my best friend is pregnant! We're keeping our fingers crossed for a little girl since she has her two boys already. Can't wait to find out! Ohhhhhh!!!! And I became an auntie today! I can't wait to meet that adorable niece of mine :o) No ADD here lol. I left the thicket and headed up north to Dallas to stay with a classmate from photography school. You will just have to wait for those pictures though ;o) This girl needs some sleep! Enjoy these pics and watch for many more to come! I am back to working on the blog and photos now so keep a look out for those new posts :o) Thanks guys!

Road Trippin Cross Country! Oh That Nashville Charm!

2011-01-12T03:40:00.000-05:00

So I guess December is deer season. I should have known this from living in Western MA but alas I forgot and was reminded in the most creepy and slightly humorous way. I left NC bright and early in the morning because I was trying to get to my brother's place in TN and to Nashville well before dark. I was still also trying to get my self portraits for the trip done somewhere secluded and scenic. People tend to look at you a little strange when you sit on your car and take pictures. The morning sky was gorgeous so I was determined to take the pictures that morning. I went off on another random road and spotted a little path going up to a field. Since my friends went off roading all the time in MA I had picked up a few tips. Yes, I drive a small car that has no power but where there's a will there's a way :o) Oh yeah, I did it! lol. I was amazed my car made it up the hill and was able to even back up and find a nice spot. After about 30 mins of messing around with poses and such a hunter dressed all in camo except for the nice bright orange hat, made his way towards me. My body tensed up as he came closer explaining to me that he could have shot and killed me being that it was deer season and I was in a field. I thought I was safe due to the fact that there were plenty of houses well within eye shot but it's the south and none of that matters. The hunter was your typical hillbilly southern folk dawned with yellow teeth and a loaded rifle. He stopped about 5 feet from me and eyed my car, me, my camera, car and then me again. At this point I was screaming in my head that this was the end, I was going to die. No joke. He questioned me about why I was there and what my story was. I gave him the slim of answers and prayed hard that he would just go away. After three more identical notations about how he could have killed me, (my car is white dude and you didn't see that?!) he slowly turned and walked just far enough away for me to feel slightly safe again. I could feel him gawking at me as I made my way down the hill. The trek down was a lot more interesting than the trek up which made for nervous giggles the whole way. Go rolla go! My car amazes me sometimes. The rest of the road to TN was actually kinda fun except for the one really bad accident I came upon. This was almost a daily occurrence sadly. I think the most fun of the trip was the curvy road that reminded me of the routes back home. I passed many cars because this was what I was so used to driving and was very comfortable with hugging the curves. It sure put a smile on my face! The abandoned gas station was not as good as I had hoped but I did get a few pictures out of it and the adult movie store across the street did add to it all. Rest stop for serial killers maybe? Ekkk. I arrived at my brother's place at about two so we had to hurry and get on the road to Nashville. I was so exhausted from the drive and lack of sleep that I slept the entire way. I was however awake long enough to catch the giant icicles protruding from the rocky walls next to the road. Those reminded me of MA. I was really starting to miss everyone back in New England at this point. I woke up just in time to see the beginnings of Nashville. Wow! It was huge! The excitement jolted me awake but I was still a little out of it when my brother asked me for directions on where to go next. We just decided to park and wander around. Exploring was one of my favorite past times after all. The lights, the music and the people, I was in love! That Nashville charm had seduced me and I was hooked. I don't know if I could see myself setting up my business here but the thought did cross my mind. Singers do need their head shots and promo pictures...... We were bummed that the Grand Ole Opry was not within walking distance so did not see that unfortunately. I did however see a Lady Gaga license plate lol. People amuse me! The 911 sign was amusing to me as well for some reason. I don't think I've ever pocket dialed the police thankfully. The shops were the most amusing of all and I got a good giggle out of way too many little things. We grabbed dinner at the famous Wild Horse Saloon and even got a "show". The guy in the brown sweater dancing in the middle of the group was great. I think he got more into the line dancing than anyone else in the group. Yes, I did take video :o) Thankfully it wasn't too late when we got back but I didn't get to bed until about one that morning. Very typical of me. The next day's drive would completely drain me but I couldn't resist peeping the pictures and working on getting my website back online. I crashed out knowing that morning would come way too quickly.

Road Trippin Cross County! Giant ornaments and old friends in NC

2011-01-02T03:02:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone! I just had to put out a blog post just for the fact that it is indeed 1.1.11. So crazy to think we have now reached a brand new year and have said goodbye to good 'ol 2010. Last year was a crazy and busy year but I know 2011 will bring so much more. I look forward to what the near future holds! Now back to the journey log.... The next stop on my trip was in Charlotte, NC. On this day I was faced with over 400 miles and at least 8 hours of travel. This was quickly becoming my typical day. I was sad to say goodbye to my friend Kevin and to the beauty of DC but I was eager to see my friend Shea who I hadn't seen in years. It didn't take long for me to track down a Starbucks and get my java fix. It's always a lot of fun to talk to the various Bux employees that I meet along my journey. I loved working for Starbucks for the people I worked with. They always make the experience that much better. Notice how Starbucks employees are almost always happy? Best part time gig I've ever had :o) Miss you guys! Anywise, I grabbed coffee and hit the road. With the speed limit getting up to 70 and the roads clear and sunny, I knew this could have the potential for some fun and photo explorations. I started noticing all the troopers along the way and watched my speed a lot more carefully so as to keep out of trouble. Getting there slightly sooner was not worth an expensive ticket. I spotted an abandoned motel off to the side but knew it would be too much of a risk whereas it was so close to the road. I later would abandon that fear to get the pictures I craved so much. Not always wise to follow a passionate photographer's example lol. What can I say? Abandoned things are like magnets for me and my pictures reflect that. It didn't take long for me to spot the row of cars in a field just off the highway. I just had to figure out how to get to them! This took me on a very random and interesting adventure. Usually when I go off on the random side roads I am more likely to find abandoned houses and buildings. I knew the cars were somewhere near the highway so I just went where my intuition and kept driving. I was not able to find the cars but I did manage to find a house and something that almost resembled a small abandoned town. The house was not as interesting as I was hoping and after I headed up the stairs I heard what was most likely a person so I quickly and quietly got out of there. When walking back to my car I caught the attention of a local and paid no mind to it because I didn't plan on staying around any longer unless I found another location worth my time. After navigating my way down several rural street and almost giving up and turning around I found the little "town". I also had passed that same local and he decided it was in his best interest to follow me. Since I was traveling alone this made me a little nervous but it turned out to be a harmless "country boy" from the south that just had to see what my story was and to hit on me. I thought it was hilarious especially when he told me that the "country folk" around these parts don't care if I poke around and take pictures and that I would be left alone. Good to know. He drove off with a big grin and I went on to photograph around the "town". It took me at least a good 30-40 minutes for me to find my way back to the highway but it was worth it. I did find out what a silver alert was thanks to google and seeing it about every 15 mins. As quoted from my twitter; "So I found out today what a silver alert is. Old person on the loose! On a more serious note, there is an older person on the loose. " Yeah, I'm horrible but at least I have fun lol. I finally reached NC and was stuck in horrible rush hour traffic but was excited to finally be close to my destination. She practically mauled me when I got out of the car but it was so good to see her. The rest of the night was filled was old stories, way too much laughing and giant ornaments. Great night indeed! Shea and I did my daily video log and I finally crashed out late only to wake up a few hours later.

*Last four pictures are from my cell*

Road Trippin Cross Country! Washington DC

2010-12-30T04:39:00.001-05:00

New York was great but my very short stay in Albany shot me back to reality with a few hours of sleep and waking up to an alarm blaring at 5 AM. I said goodbye to my friend and debated on whether or not to get coffee or hit the road. The road was calling my name so I headed into Albany and towards the toll roads. Snow fell all around my car, bringing out the little kid in me :o) This also meant a little early morning fun sliding around since there were no other cars on the road. Before completely starting the trip for that day, I did my video log from my phone. It was obvious that I was exhausted and not ready to drive the seven plus hours down to Washington DC. It only took me being on the toll roads for so long before I went off to explore the less traveled routes. This paid off in a big way when I stumbled upon an apple orchard and abandoned livestock building. The chilling winds reminded me that I should not stay out for long as the snow teased me with slight flurries every now and then. While wandering around the livestock building, I couldn't help but get the chills as though there was someone there. Creepy huh? I was determined to get as many pictures as I could before getting too freaked out. There came a point though where the feeling was overwhelming and it was time to leave. *There are many more pictures from this location but I am leaving those for my site!* I hurried back onto the road to continue on my journey. PA was a lot of fun. Since I am Pennsylvania Dutch I was on the look out for anything that represented my heritage. Sadly I did not see anything due to being on the main highway for most of the time. Thanks to a much needed bathroom break, I discovered this unique farmhouse that was actually for sale and had a little bit too much fun on the back roads. I kinda fell in love with the PA countryside. I started noticing the time and figured out that I needed to get back on the road as soon as possible. Thankfully I made it to WA DC safely despite the horrific accident I came across and the fact that I get lost in a cardboard box and DC traffic pretty much sucks. I spent the next day exploring the freezing cold WA DC. If it weren't for the warmth of the Botanical Gardens I don't think I would have survived the cold. Underneath my layers and gloves I was still shivering. My friend Kevin couldn't believe I had been outside as long as I was. The Library of Congress was incredible and I wish I could have snapped a few pictures of Thomas Jefferson's Library. Some of the books were just fun to see. Sunset fell upon the monument as Kevin met up with me and I grabbed the last pictures that I was able to. After grabbing a delicious peppermint white eggnog mocha, I said goodbye to Kevin and hit the streets to check out the White House and all the Christmas lights. I came across Sara Bareilles practicing for the tree lighting the next night. Quite the treat considering she is actually from my home town and she's just pretty much awesome and has a great style. Unfortunately the battery on my camera died and it became too cold for me to be standing around any longer. I navigated my way back to the metro station and headed back to my friend's place with the incredible view you see in some of the pictures below. Leave it to me to get off on the wrong stop and have to go back the way I came. I really need to figure out how not to get lost lol. SIDE NOTE; DC pretty much has one style and that is business. I was the only female wearing jeans and definitely the only person sporting chucks. I was ok with standing out in the crowd but I was starting to miss the diversity of California. I fell asleep without effort that night considering my legs were cursing my name and I didn't have enough energy to even yawn. There were to be many nights like this for the rest of the trip.

Road Trippin Cross Country! The Big Apple!

2010-12-21T15:00:00.001-05:00

Two posts in one day what?! Yes, it is true :o) After I left CT I headed down to the big apple to catch some city shots. A friend of mine who is currently overseas is a big fan of the city so I told him I would try to get some pictures for his walls. During the drive I noticed that all of the sudden the roads were turning white. It was snowing! I always get a little excited over seeing the first snowfall but I was also making sure I drove extra careful. It took about four hours to reach the train station and another 30 minutes to find parking in the garage, but soon I was in the city ready to explore. Everyone was hustling about the streets trying to get out of the cold. Stylishly bundled up from head to tow of course. I dawned my pretty awesome "fur" hat for awhile but looking up was becoming a problem so I had to ditch that and brave the cold hatless. Since I hadn't done my video post for the day I was on the hunt for a Starbucks with room. Amazingly I managed to find one seat in a Starbucks near Times Square. I felt a little silly doing the video in public but why not? Since they made my drink the wrong size I then had two mochas to guzzle down. Yeah for caffeine! Once I finished up the video it was then time to hit the streets again and have some fun. I love the city! I don't think I could ever really live there, but work there? Oh yes! The holiday decorations that adorned the city definitely helped to put me in the Christmas mood. Who can resist huge Christmas trees and giant ornaments? Rockifeller Center was amazing. I wish I could have gone skating on the ice but I had both my camera and video camera to worry about and the line was way too long anywise. I did get yelled at by one of NYC's finest after standing on a bench to get a better shot of the tree with the video camera. Little did he know I had been doing it on the other side to snap the pictures of the birds. Hee hee. Since I didn't have a plan I just wandered. Times Square was the usual hustle and bussle. I did spot a Buddy the Elf look alike posing for pictures. Pretty funny considering I had just watched the movie the previous night. One of the highlights was seeing the gorgeous stang drive by. I was in love! It didn't take me long to spot the sailer and nurse dancing away on the streets. What a cute couple. Throughout the rest of the day I kept moving trying to stay warm. The NYC Library was amazing. I managed to snap a picture of the gentlemen on his phone and the girl on her mac in the old phone booths. Too bad I couldn't have gotten a more direct shot. After nighttime had fallen and I was purely exhausted from all the walking, I headed back to my car and then hit the road to Albany to get a few hours of sleep. What a day!

Road Trippin Cross Country! The Beginning of My Journey Home

2010-12-21T14:32:00.004-05:00

Hey everyone! I know it has been far too long since my last post but as you read in my last entry I was working way too much and sleeping way too little. Well part of that has changed since I hit the road for my cross country road back home to the great state of California! I packed up everything I owned, stored what I couldn't fit and obviously shouldn't bring, and hit the road to NH to visit my model and friend Jay to say my goodbye and handle some print business. I just don't understand why Jay shook his head at my pj ensemble. I thought my pink flannel snowboarding and skiing bunny's outfit was pretty awesome lol :o) Thanks Mom! Unfortunately my time in NH was cut short due to work conflict and the fact that I had left a very important bag in storage that I needed for my trip. I was none too happy with my previous landlord rushing me out the door when I was moving out (new tenants where literally moving in before my stuff was in the trailer). I'm surprised that I didn't forget anything else! I'll never forget that rainy trip to my storage unit. The east was being hit with a nasty storm and I was caught in it on the freeway while towing a good sized trailer with a Ford Ranger. Yeah, I was just slightly nervous especially when the trailer caused the truck to swerve and nearly tip several times. *Deep breaths!* If I never have to do that again I will be ok with that! From NH I headed back to Western MA to collect that bag and yes, my snowboard. Would have been a lot better to have grabbed the boots too. My poor little car was already stuffed to the max and I just was praying I could get everything back safely. After saying more goodbyes to my amazing coworkers and collecting my last check, I headed down to CT to stay with my friend Josh. It was a nice little break from no longer working two jobs and gearing up for the long trip ahead. What a better way to spend it then to hang out with a chinchilla and very entertaining people? I was gonna steal Cheecher but I don't think Josh and his roomate would appreciate that. Sadly we didn't to take the pictures we had planned on but Josh and I did manage to sneak in a little photo shoot. It was freezing out and the wind chill was even colder. It didn't take long for both of us to look at each other and agree that we were done. Some of the only pictures I have from the first few days are only from my cell so why not include them? Many more posts to come!

What I've been up to....

2010-11-05T16:09:00.001-04:00

I have been a busy girl these days between the two jobs and all the editing I've been doing. Some days I don't know how I even have time to eat or sleep lol. I would rather be busy then doing nothing of course :o) My model and client J. has been keeping me especially busy with our 10 in one shoots. I posted up a few of the images just as a teaser. If you are a fan of my photography fan page on facebook you will have a seen a couple of these images already. The best one from the shoot is posted on there as my default. I am very happy with how these came out. The shoots were almost too much fun and J. has some of the best ideas. I mean who suggests going to a graveyard and wearing oil and chains to make an amazing picture?! That picture is causing quite the stir and I already have people requesting the image for purchase. There are still too many images to edit and post up but I wanted to make sure I let people in on some previews. The other pictures in the previews are from when I was traveling around and exploring along with the Big E. Between all my jobs and editing I hope to get the site re-vamped, new pictures up and make it viewable via cell phones very soon. Keep posted for new work very soon! Thank you for the support :o)

Band Promo; Silent Season

2010-10-13T18:18:00.001-04:00

Last month I shot this awesome band called Silent Season out near Boston in one of the most awesome locations. We started out by the practice spot and the docks and then headed to a huge abandoned factory. My jaw drop when the guys brought me to this location. I was like a kid in a candy store. You should have seen me running around with big eyes lol. The entire shoot was hilarious to say the least and so much fun. I think I have more fun with bands because it's a group of guys that do what I say. What more can a female ask for? :op They guys were good sports even through me giving them all nicknames to remember names and laughing when I told them to be quiet. We all know that I have a hard time being serious during shoots :o) I'm really happy with the shots and how everything with the post-production came out. Good luck on your show on Friday guys! Check out their music on myspace.
www.myspace.com/silentseason

Charity Event Photos!

2010-09-15T01:43:00.000-04:00

This is by far going to be my largest blog post as of yet. Event photography tends to take up more space on my hard drive than anything else because there is always so much going on. This particular event was so much fun to photograph and I was running all over the place. I put up about 60 pictures but that's nothing compared to the 255 I have edited down for the original 616 photos! Did I mention that I love being a photog? Not only did I get to hang out with Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, but I also got to meet some incredible people. I've worked with a lot of rock bands so it was a nice change of pace to work with blues and easy listening bands. I actually have taken photos of two of the members of the first band featured; Brookline Drive so it was nice to see the new band and sound. I have to admit that the box for a drum beat is rather creative and their sound is pretty awesome. I look forward to hearing more of their music in the future. The next band was a cover band and a lot of fun to watch. The singer kept trying to get my attention to steal some pictures lol. Obviously it worked. The little girl taking pictures was too cute to pass up capturing. I figured that Senator candidate Susan Dawson should snap a picture with the two nice officers that came to look over the event. It was quite entertaining when Bugs and Daffy went over to dance and have a little fun with them. Next to play the stage was the amazing singer Jeremy. He is currently on tour in Japan. I had the pleasure of meeting Jeremy a couple of weeks prior and I have been quite taken with his talent on both occasions. The bass player that accompanied his set is also on tour in various countries. Alex took the stage by storm when he went out front and did an amazing solo. Have to say this is the first bass solo I have ever witnessed. The talent just kept coming as the fellows played the blues. One of the guitar players had such personality as you can see from the pictures. As the night rolled on people were up and dancing and enjoying the warm summer air and flowing music. The two drummers that played that night were a little on the younger side but were so talented! I can see them going far with their skills. The final guitarist is one of the nicest and more motivational musicians I have ever met. Jo kept the show going with drummer; Matt (both out of Boston), to end the event. I think Jo had a little too much fun with the drum line made up of people from the crowd and Ms. Susan Dawson. Sue kept up the best she could and laughed through Jo's silly antics. For my first time photographing an event I feel this one went exceptionally well and I had a blast doing it. I wish Sue luck and all the best with her campaign and it I want to thank her for sponsoring such an amazing event. All proceeds at the end of the night were donated to charity. Good fun for a good cause :o) Thank you to everyone who came, the amazing and talent bands, Bugs, Daffy and the Falcon Mascot from Springfield and Six Flags, all the volunteers that worked the event and to Justin and Tim from Alliance Group for putting the event on. I look forward to the possibility of working with a few of these musicians in the future. Now it's time for bed being that I have work in a few hours! Good night everyone :o) Enjoy the pictures. (All photos are copywritten by Jennifer Milota Photography, if anyone featured in these photos would like to purchase prints or digital files please contact me via e-mail; jennifermilotaphotography@gmail.com)

RIP Apollo AKA The Coolest Grumpy Old Man Rabbit You Knew

2010-09-13T18:02:00.001-04:00

Today marks a sad two week anniversary of one of the hardest days in my young life. My 15-17 lb French Lop rabbit; Apollo, passed away in my arms. Apollo was more than a pet to me but a member of my family. Born on Super Bowl Sunday when the Patriots took on the Giants and also the day I was in a bad car accident. He was to be my birthday gift to myself and a gift to my daughter as well. It's too bad that as soon as we brought him home that he developed his feisty personality and bit her within hours. My daughter than feared the furry beast and kept her distance lol. I was able to get two or three photo shoots in here and there which I cherish more than ever now. When I came to the east coast for school, Apollo stayed with my family until I was able to bring him over via my flight back during spring break. He was such a trooper through the various moves and places he stayed while I was away. I of course just had to bring him into my school and do a few shoots and just show off my "giant" rabbit. I don't think anyone will forget the "unofficial" Hallmark mascot for the class of '09. He caused quite the stir every time I brought him in. He was featured in my final portfolio in a fashion shoot with my friend and model; Molly. To this day she reminds me of the scar she has since dawned from Apollo. Ouch! Sorry Molly! Even though he had the personality of a grumpy old man, he affected the lives of almost everyone that came in contact with him in one way or another. This includes my three roommates in the Amherst apartment. The boys came to love playing "mop the rabbit". What is this you ask? Well since Apollo loved to hang out in doorways and since one of the ways to get to my room was through the bathroom, he would just hang out in that doorway. Well when they guys needed to use the bathroom they would use the mop to scoot Apollo back into my room. It was anything but cruel and pretty entertaining. I don't think that rabbit liked anything that cleaned up messes (vacuums and brooms included). The picture of Apollo and the mop was taken just days before his passing. I knew the roommates would miss him a little as well when I was going to be finding a new home for him so I intending on giving them a print of this. The print now hangs on the bathroom door in that apartment. Many people have asked what happened that day and to be honest it will never really be explained. My friend and I took Apollo out for a quick photo shoot before I was to take him to his new home, a llama farm. I knew I would miss him dearly so this was my last little thing to remember him by. I'm not sure if it was the heat or just some internal problems gone worse, but as soon as I got him home from the shoot he could barely move. I did everything I could to try and help him but at that point there was nothing anyone could do. So I just held him for three hours and comforted him before his time came. It was horrible but I am glad the he is out of pain now. My friends and I imagine him eating carrots in bunny heaven now :o) It's a nice thought right? Even two weeks later I am finding the memory of him a little hard to bare but it will slowly get easier. He was by far my favorite pet and had helped me through so many rough times here on the east coast and back home. Always by my side and providing entertainment just by his sheer size. Always in my <3 and never forgotten! RIP Buppers aka Apollo, I miss you!

Photos of Apollo and I taken by Hassan Peters www.hassanpetersphotography.com

Thank you Hassan!

Support my cross-country road trip this December!

2010-08-09T22:30:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone! As of last week I have decided to go on a cross-country road-trip to go be with my little girl and family for the winter. I was originally going to be flying back but since I will be needing my car why not drive? It will be an amazing two weeks with me first heading south, then west, then north, west again, and then finally south down the coast to northern California! I have already started to plan out locations to stop and photograph along with people to stay with. I am so excited because I get to see both of my brothers. One of which I have not seen in over a year. I will also be seeing various relatives that I haven't seen in years. I will be leaving MA in the beginning of December so I get to see the beauty of winter all over the country. One of my goals is to photograph at least one abandoned place in each state I go through. This could be a challenge with weather and directions but when I set my mind to something I make it happen! In order for me to do more with this trip and to make sure it can happen I am looking for sponsors. What does a sponsor entail? Well for everyone that donates $50 or more, they will get an 8x10 of their choice from the trip. This includes pictures from my trip back which will be during the spring and the more northern states. One thing to consider is that my 8x10's go for $75 a print so people would be getting a deal. Also, the more money a person donates, the more they will get in return. I will be including my sponsors in my trip and have little surprises for them along that way that will be exclusive for only them. As the trip gets closer I will have developed everything fully. During the trip I will have a way for people to follow me and see how the trip is going. This will include blog updates from the road, twitter updates, fb updates with mobile uploads, and even a video. Considering I have very random ways of entertaining myself on the daily, I can only imagine how I will be during those two weeks :o) I am very excited for this trip to say the least. The pictures should be amazing and the memories will last a lifetime! The most rewarding part of all of this will be the smile and hug for my beautiful little girl at the end of the line. Spending my winter in California is going to be incredible. If anyone would like to sponsor me you can send checks, money orders or use paypal. You will need to include the note "roadtrip" and make sure that I have your information. Anything will be greatly appreciated! My paypal e-mail is jennifermilotaphotography@gmail.com
On a side note, the pictures featured in this posting are from my trip west to east when I moved to MA almost exactly two years ago. It's hard to believe that I have been on the east coast for that long. Some of the pictures were taken by my amazing mother but almost all that do not feature me were taken by me. Hard to believe that I used to shoot on auto! Oh the horror! lol. So grateful that my talent has grown by leaps and bounds. Any other questions or even suggestions on locations feel free to e-mail me. Thanks everyone!

Time to Rock Out!

2010-08-09T17:20:00.000-04:00

It's alway a good time when you combine photography and music. Two out of three of my passions isn't a bad thing :o) I didn't realize just how much I missed being out of the band scene until I came back across these images. A lot has changed with the band and I wish them all the luck in the world as they are just about to come home from their tour in Texas. I have a sneaky suspicion that I will be doing photos again for them shortly. There is one thing I have to point out so they don't get mad at me. They do have a new guitar player so the kid in the hat is no longer with them. I hear the new member of Dark City Drive is awesome though. Feel free to check out their demo and myspace at www.myspace.com/darkcitydrive . The beautiful singer that is also featured in this post is Ms. Ali Rose. She has since developed a new and edgy look but I fell in love with this picture of her. And finally we have Mr. Rod Black himself. Singer of the hit Canadian band; Jet Black Stare, he is always a delight to have around. Let's just saw we never have a dull moment. Well enjoy these rockin images and your week!

Scott and April

2010-07-30T20:31:00.000-04:00

I am very late in posting these pictures but they were a must. This shoot with Scott and April was so much fun! We got to run around a beautiful resort on a windy yet gorgeous day. I fell in love with the little shack with the cute signs. This made for an adorable backdrop. Now if only we had some fishing poles :o) Right after the bell shot was taken, April rang it, startling both Scott and me. It was pretty funny actually. I think we had a little too much fun with the sword as you can see for yourself. Why not? The pool table and golf green were nice additions to the shoot. I don't think we stopped laughing for most of the day. They were an awesome couple that I would love to work with again. You can tell that they really do love each other. Happy belated anniversary guys! When we did the entire family shoot it was definitely a little bit of a challenge being that both the boys were pretty young. It was a lot of fun as well. I think these pictures are actually some of my favorites from the shoot being that they are so candid. Supposedly there was a water snake near the dock so we did not stay at that location very long. Of course you know I had to get at least one reflection shot :o)

Virginia Fun

2010-07-23T22:09:00.000-04:00

So I went through and started to edit some of the pictures from my birthday trip down to VA again. I had forgotten about some of the fun candid moments I had captured. My daughter definitely stole the show the entire week. She had a lot of fun with her princess camera. I don't think she put it down for more than five minutes. Gee, I just don't know where she gets it from :op We wandered around Jamestown for a day as a family and these are the images I was able to take while constantly running after my daughter. The first picture is on of two that I absolutely fell in love with. I had seen this character for a brief second in the window and when I to go ask his permission for a picture, he had disappeared. This put me on a manhunt for about 30 mins. The result was more than worth it. I have the other picture on my sight which is identical but in color and vertical. The second picture is another favorite because it has the most beautiful little girl of course. We got to play dress up for about two minutes before she got bored and wanted to explore more. I was fascinated by all the historical details as you can tell in many of the pictures I took. The heart lock was a nice addition. Now if only they had a heart skeleton key to match. One of the last places we were able to check out was the botanical gardens which were gorgeous. I'm a sucker for roses of course so that day was a lot of fun. My mini-me hammed it up with her camera as usual leaving for some great pictures on both ends. She can always make me smile :o) All of these images are for sale with the exception of the portraits. Contact me by e-mail (jennifermilotaphotography@gmail.com) to inquire about prints. Thanks guys!

Awesomely abandoned factory in NY

2010-06-29T19:37:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone! Here are some long awaited photos that I wasn't sure if I was going to put on the blog. Since getting the new Lightroom I have since re-edited all of the factory photos. This abandoned find was random just like most of the rest. I was working in upstate NY on little to no sleep when I came across this huge factory along the route to my next hotel. I was determined to find an entrance beyond the fences and after three times of turning around I found an open parking lot. The weather was so hot and I was already sweating by just getting out of the car. I got my camera all ready to go and went exploring. My ride at the time was the most interesting Chevy HHR. I dubbed thee the shaggin wagon because it reminded me of an old woody wagon. I do have to say that this would not be a car to purchase. The windshield came down a little too short so this made driving difficult at times. The roomy vehicle did come in handle for all of my photography equipment for Lifetouch. Usually the equipment takes up my entire car. I looked up at the factory looming over me and tried to figure out what would have been made there. Rumor has it that they made Cabbage Patch kids. The asbestos was ridiculous and coming out of the windows as you can see in the pictures. I didn't dare venture into the cold depths of the building. The cold air was coming out from the different openings chilling even with the hot sun beating down on me. I ventured around the property for about an hour. The entire time I was little creeped out by all the random noises coming in all different directions. I hope to go back to this location and photograph with some models in the future. Enjoy the pictures and follow my blog to get future updates! Thanks everyone!

Abandoned World NY Series Part 3 (Final part of series!)

2010-06-19T00:15:00.000-04:00

It's here! The third and final post of the series! And the location is....... a TB hospital in upstate NY. I had been searching for this location for hours and had gotten so lost along the way but was more than determined to photograph this location. The clouds that day added to the erie presence of the hospital. What amped up the creepy feeling was the wind blowing pretty hard causing doors to slam shut. Every time a door crashed open or closed I jumped just a little. Not gonna lie, I may have yelped a time or two. My skin was crawling the entire time. Being that I am sensitive to buildings such as this I was almost expecting to spot something a little out of the norm at least once. I didn't see anything but the feeling of not being alone was constant. I was loving the lighting in the hallways although I almost was not brave enough to continue down them. Graffiti and debris were everywhere. It is always sad to see what people do to old, abandoned buildings such as this. I go venture out to preserve what may no longer be there in a few years. I think that there were a few rooms I did not get the chance to see but I hope to go back again one day when it is not as windy and maybe with a friend. There was a moment where I standing in one of the hallways trying to figure out my next frame when a door slowly creaked open and stopped. This was about five feet from where I was standing. Creepy! It was about that time that I decided to leave. I had to check out the roof first though. There wasn't much there except for lots of bricks laying all over the place and lots of gravel. The little tree growing from the roof was a random edition. I was so happy to have found location but almost happier to run down the dark stairways and out of the building. I turned to take one last look and picture before heading back to my car and off to my client meeting. I hope everyone has enjoyed this little series. There are many more pictures to come from my abandoned adventures. Follow my blog and get updates! Thanks for all the support guys!

Abandoned World NY Series Part 2

2010-06-11T19:18:00.000-04:00

Part two is here! Who's excited? I am :o) Maybe I'm really that much of a photo geek lol. Ok so this was my second random find in NY. I went down the road I thought the third and final destination was on and was obviously wrong yet again because this is what I found. I would love to know the story behind the ruins of what I would imagine had been a small family home. It looks as though once the house was considered burned down that people yeah threw a bunch of random stuff on the fire. If that wasn't strange enough, there had been a fire across the street as well. I was very intrigued by the windows on the longer building. The textures of the peeling paint made for excellent photographs. I walked around the property to explore everything I could. The walkway to the front of the heap was very intriguing. It adds more to the story. If you look closely at the other house you can see stuff just crammed all over the place. I halfway just wanted to get closer and check everything out. It didn't look very safe though. It looks as though there was a car in the other heap across the street. Vespa maybe? lol. After about a half hour I got back on the road in attempts to find the ultimate location. Keep posted for the third and final post :o)

Abandoned World NY Series Part 1

2010-06-08T17:50:00.000-04:00

So while venturing out into the beautiful upstate NY, I stumbled across three abandoned properties. The first two were completely random finds while getting lost trying to find the third and ultimate location. I'm not going to reveal that location until the third and final post of the series so you will just have to check back for that one :o) I promise that it is well worth your time. Ok, so about this location. I was aimlessly wandering and had passed this house and couldn't resist hitting it on my way back after going about a half an hour out of my way because I am stubborn and alway way too determined to find my destination. While my GPS was yelling at me to turn around (I think my Tom Tom hates me at this point lol), I pull over and stealthily make my way to the house. After the hitting the grass on the property I was surprised at just how awesome the house really was. My first thought of course was; "I wonder if I can get inside?" My love affair with abandoness with in full affect at this point. I first took a picture with my phone and immediately uploaded it to facebook. People usually know what I am up to just by my mobile uploads. With how much I travel it's a lot of fun to share what I see and do. The picture caused quite the stir. I had several comments and even people asking me how much the house was. Two of those people were from all the way in Cali. Go figure. It was sad that the owner has let the house just sit there in such poor condition. With a little TLC I'm sure it would be a beautiful home. I resisted my urge to find an entry and walked around the house. The exterior of the home was very interesting. Then I spotted the barns and abandoned cars. I was in love with this property! The old truck was one of my favorite parts along with the wagon wheel as you can tell by how many pictures I have up of that. The Buick was pretty awesome too. Every time I photograph an old car I think of the large print hanging above my dad's desk that my mom took. I don't know what kind of truck/car it is but I will always love that picture. Plus it reminds me of home <3 If you look at the bar door pictures you can notice two faces. It looks as though the face on the left is looking at the crazy face on the right. I think I spent about 45 minutes just wandering around taking pictures. What a great start to a crazy day. Keep posted for the next two parts of the series! I'm off to edit some more and then cheer on my Lakers in game 3.

Lighthouses and fun in Maine

2010-06-01T23:36:00.000-04:00

So I'm slacking just a little with all my pictures and posts but in my defense I took way too many pictures all in one week! lol. This was about a month and half ago when my friend Brandy and I took a day trip out to Maine to check out the lighthouses. It was quite the adventure to say the least. It started out with me hitting the gps and putting us off track by about two hours. If that wasn't enough the keys then got got locked in the car and was jerry rigged open by two awesome strangers. Too bad we never got their names. Oops! It was pretty comical. I know know you can make a makeshift slim jim. The first lighthouse was in Cape Elizabeth. Beautiful and windy, we were able to get some very nice pictures. I couldn't ask for a better sky. The tiny carnival was a nice addition to my shots along with the lab running along the beach. This day made me realize just how much I had been missing the sun, sand and water. Cali is always on the back of my mind. East coast beaches are so different and of course you don't get the amazing sunsets like we do back west. Sigh. Moving on. The second lighthouse find was a little further south in the town of York. There was no way of reaching the lighthouse so we just took pictures from the shore. By that time it was extremely windy and cold. Like good little photogs we kept snapping away to make sure we had what we needed. It was an extremely long day in which we were very happy to make it home safe and sound. Oh and yes, I did attempt to rescue some styrafoam (sp?) from the waters. Only because I thought it was something else of course lol. I'm such a dork. At least I provide my friends with entertainment :op

Taking New England by Storm (literally!)

2010-05-29T14:08:00.000-04:00

As I'm sure many of you had heard, New England got hit extremely hard by a storm Wednesday night this past week. It began with some pretty awesome lighting and within an hour became a full blown nightmare for those of us residing in Western MA. I had planned on going for a run that night but due to my ipod not being charged I held off. It was thanks to the dead battery that I was not caught up in the insane wind, rain and lighting. I could have ran back to the house just in time to witness the tree falling over on top of the power line though. It was bad enough inside just hearing everything and seeing the lights flicker about three times before they finally went out completely. I'll be the first to admit that I was a little scared. Being alone in the dark in my friend's house in a bad storm. Uh yeah. I called home to let my family know what was going on and then I realized that my friend could actually be driving in the middle of it all. I was right. She was almost too terrified to understand. All I could think to do was try my best to calm her down over the phone. The bad bits of the storm soon passed and all of us awake on the street wandered out of our homes to see what the damage was. Being that there were puddles everywhere didn't help my nerves of a live power line just inches of me and my car. You can see how close the line was in one of my pictures. My poor Rolla. I watched in disbelief as people drove right under the live wire. The transformer was on the ground and could have easily been hit if someone wasn't paying attention. Thankfully no one did. My friend finally reached the house after a nervous police man put up the caution tape. She was extremely shook up but safe. We just shook our heads as one girl drove under the caution tape only to discover the mess. If we weren't so upset we would have laughed a little more at this stupidity. My thoughts kept wandering back to the Hallmarkers trapped at the school with no power as they scrambled to complete their final portfolios. I could only imagine if this had happened to my class. It would be an extremely long night for so many people. I sat at the door and watched as sparks fell from the line from a little fire that has developed. According to the fire department, we would be fine. Usually fire and live wires don't mix but I was gonna take their word for it. I eventually fell asleep after about three that morning. The couch actually felt comfortable. When morning hit, my friend and I went outside to see the calm after the storm. It was pretty crazy as you can see in the pictures. Trees and branches littered the streets. Many of the trees had actually been uprooted taking some of the sidewalk with them. We decided to catch up on a little more sleep and then to wander the streets to document everything. Greenfield was officially in a state of emergency. Residents all the area had no power and could not even leave their streets. I didn't dare move my car even though the lines were no longer live. My little car would not make it through the mess. Seeing a tree on top of a house, a new Honda smashed and car eating trees was almost unbelievable. It looked as though a tornado had hit Greenfield. The next day they finally began to clear our street and put up a new pole. There wasn't any power when I left for Boston but I'm hoping that it doesn't take as long as Tuesday as they were predicting for some areas. I am very thankful that everyone was safe and no real damage was done to the house or our cars. Gotta love New England!

MMA Fighters Shoot

2010-05-15T20:41:00.001-04:00

This week has been such an excitedly exhausting week for me. After spending a week with my family in Virginia I was in CT for a day and then headed back to Western MA for about three days before I headed east to Boston. This shoot was anticipated for a couple of months now so you can imagine how excited I was when my friend; Rodrigo told me to come on out to photograph him while he was doing his MMA training. I was hoping to photograph some other fighters as well but not counting on it so you can imagine my smile when the coach; John of Wai Kru in Allston, MA, tossed the fighters one by one into the ring with me. I was a little nervous being around the guys because this was my first time working with fighters but it turned out to be a lot of fun. The guys couldn't help but cat call each other as they posed for me. I was about to run out and grab some strawberries and whip cream for the calender lol. I left the shoot laughing and grateful that I didn't have to do half of the work these fighters do for their training. They work out insanely hard for hours a day. I have a lot of respect for them being so dedicated. Is it bad that I wanted to kick back in the gym and eat a Snickers? Yeah, I'm horrible. :op The fighters were anxiously awaiting these pics and so I wanted to make sure to get them edited as soon as I could and get them up. So here you go guys! The fighters are as follows; Adriano Mello, Rodrigo de Almeida, Alex Corbett, UFC fighter John (Doomsday) Howard, Oscar Rosario and Bernardo Fanti. In the group shots the guy second for the left on the top row is trainer Nick Drummond. I think Nick gave me the hardest time of all the guys during and after the shoot. Good group of guys though. I have no problem going back and working with all of them again. I hope to in the future. A big thank you goes out to everyone putting up with me during the shoot while they were training and getting ready for upcoming fights.

Happy Mothers Day

2010-05-09T18:30:00.000-04:00

Happy mothers day everyone! Make sure to appreciate the mothers in your life on this special day. I have to say, my mom is pretty awesome. She did survive myself along with my two older brothers. That is a true accomplishment! lol. She is my best friend and keeps me grounded even in the toughest of times. I love you mom! While visiting the fam down in VA I was able to do a quick family shoot. I'm pretty happy with how the pictures came out despite my daughter and father being pills. Make it that much more interesting and the result so much more rewarding though. I was very grateful to spend an entire week with everyone. My life has become quite the adventure in the past couple of months. I'm in a different town almost every night. I'm working on the travel journal when I get the time. So about the following pictures.... The first was just a cute idea I had in mind. The scrapbook paper is a bit distracting but I loved the designs. The lady to the far left is my father's mother, then there is my mom, me and my adorable daughter. I then went on to make the little series with the words Live, Laugh, Love and Learn. One of my favorite series of words. Then we have the standard family picture. This is a rarity since my dad hates pictures as you can most likely tell from his expression. Then on to more of the cute idea pictures. Pairing pictures. Gotta love my brother and his wife. They are sickingly cute together. The last of the shoot was all about my little model of course. She was hamming it up big time in from of the camera. The last picture in the set is one of my faves because it explains the relationship with my brother pretty well. It's all fun and games and then we finally get it right lol. Bottom line, my family is awesome and I love em. I hope everyone has enjoyed their mother's day. I pray for a safe trip for my family back to Cali. Keep posted for new pictures weekly!

Army Boy Harley Shoot!

2010-05-05T01:54:00.000-04:00

I had the pleasure of getting to take pictures of James and his gorgeous gal; a 2001 soft tail Harley. I'll be the first to admit that I like my street bikes but this girl made me change my tune. I wanted to jump on and steal her away on this beautiful and sunny day. James definitely kept me laughing as he stood back and admired his girl and was so excited that she was having her picture debut. Models such as him make my job a lot more fun. The most random moment was when I look over and notice him gone. It took me a minute to notice that he was doing combat rolls in the grass lol. He's awesome, that's all I can say :o) I couldn't help but play around with the reflections in the shiny chrome. The reflection self-portrait shots are becoming a bad habit at this point. Why not? We ended the shoot with some fun shots of James around the barn. Yes, the barns have graffiti on them. Only in the sticks of MA. I knew I would use this location one day. All in all, I'm really happy with this shoot. I'm in the process of editing pictures from my birthday weekend with my amazing family and of a wonderful couple that hired me while I'm visiting in VA. Many more blog posts to come in the near future so follow my blog to catch me in my traveling photog act!

Abandoned Drive In Adventure

2010-04-27T12:30:00.001-04:00

While checking out places to live in Central MA, my friend Brandy and I went exploring at this awesomely abandoned drive in. I had seen the entrance many times before while traveling but never stopped. Well I guess the curiosity got to me and I gave into my love affair with abandoned places. I'm figuring out that I have many love affairs at this point. Coffee shops being another of course :o) Big surprise but I am one at this very moment. Mmmmm white mocha! Ok, now back on track. My ADHD gets the best of me at times. lol. This place was so much fun. The concession stand being a personal favorite location to shoot. Brandy got some great shots of me around the stand. She is quite the budding photographer herself. She is currently attending the school I graduated from; Hallmark Institute of Photography in western MA. Amazing school FYI. It's always fun to go back and chat with the instructors. One of the many random surprises the drive in had to offer was that the film cameras were still there. I would think that they would have taken those out. I wanna go back and get some better shots of the cameras. The day was gorgeous as you can see. Wearing my new camera tank felt so good. I still didn't manage to get a tan but oh well. I did have to be careful of my new ink so as not to expose it to the sun too much. You probably can't read it but the shirt says; The camera made me do it. Perfect for me huh? All in all the day was pretty much amazing. Any excuse to shoot and I'm there of course. Well I am off to get ready to head to NY. This week I have already been to CT, Western MA, now in Central MA, about to go to upstate Ny, back to CT and flying out to be with my beautiful baby girl and family in VA for my birthday. Gotta love this crazy life of mine! Keep posted for new pictures very soon! We ventured out to ME the following day and the shots just plain amazed even me. *Never stop shooting*

All photos of me taken by Brandy of Brandy Marie Photography (Thanks girl!)

And a side note: I guess my blog was one of the top blogs the other day in Albany, NY! Thank you to the people of Albany for all the traffic! Also I guess I'm getting notice in Germany as well. Have to say that's pretty awesome.

Buried in the Leaves

2010-04-23T04:54:00.000-04:00

While staying in CT, I stumbled across this awesome abandoned cabin next to the old prison. Since the prison was closed for remolding I went off the beaten path next to it. This little cabin was rather interesting. I think it was rather just a room because I did not see a spot for a bathroom which I believe to be vital in any living situation :o) The woods are right there though.... lol. The most awesome part of the cabin was the National Geographic Magazines still on the shelves. I can't imagine them to even be picked up without ripping apart from the elements. I was amazed to see that they were even in tact and somewhat readable. The day was gorgeous and the lighting amazing. Couldn't ask for a better day to wander around the woods and shoot. I'm starting to have a thing for doors and my shadow I guess, considering I tend to photograph those two things quite often now. Old doors are just very intriguing to me. The final picture is of my newest tattoo. I have branded myself with my own brand you could say. It is a rendition of my logo with shamrock on the top of the key to represent my daughter who was born on St. Patricks Day. She motivates me to do more with everything in my life and to be successful so it only made since to integrate something that represented her in this tattoo. This one means so much to me as it symbolizes my business, career and hopes for success in the future. My new life :o) Now off to bed just in time for 5 AM! Big shoot tomorrow afternoon. Very excited for that and the concert to follow.

Taken by Brandy of Brandy Marie Photography

Find beauty in every day and any way

2010-04-14T20:16:00.000-04:00

While visiting my friend Manny by Boston I got to walk around this scenic reservoir and just relax while snapping a few pictures. The day was gorgeous with the sun beating down after months of bitter New England winter weather. We just had to be careful not to step in the nice presents the geese left all over the trials. I can't say that I am the biggest fan of Canadian geese as they have proven themselves rather mean in the past so we kept our distance as they nipped at the grass not far away. This bridge and path was definitely my favorite spots to take pictures. Unfortunately much of the ground was soggy from flooding so we turned around not far after we got off the second bridge. With the reeds and water it kinda reminded me of the beach. This made me miss the California coast that much more. Sigh. One day I will be back to hang out on the beach with my family and friends. Until then I get to travel all over the east and capture the scenery there. Not complaining of course :o) After the reservoir, we headed to the skate park for a little fun. It had been years since I had last visited a skate part so it was a little blast from the past. Kinda funny to remember me and my round little belly scootin along on a skate board just wanting to take part. Now my baby is five and ten handfuls and I couldn't love her more. The day ended with a good beer and the beautiful sunset. I couldn't help but to run and grab the camera several different times so as to capture God's painting of the sky. All in all the day was pretty great. Enjoy the pictures!

My exhibit!

2010-04-14T16:55:00.000-04:00

Alright, so this posting is way passed due I know. Here are the pictures from when I hung my exhibit at Senator Rosenburg's office in Boston, MA. Since this was my very first exhibit I was excited to say the least. The staff was more than accommodating and welcoming as soon as I walked through the door. After all of the prints were hung I just stepped back and had a moment. Being the total photo geek that I am, seeing my work all hung anywhere but my home was amazing. 25 pieces of me covered the senator's walls. Needless to say I was just a little hyper. Those who know me well know that this is a vast understatement. You couldn't wipe the big smile off my face for anything. I even made sure to sport my logo shirt that my mom had made me. The exhibit is still hung at the State House in Boston in Senator Rosenburg's office if anyone is interested in viewing my work in person. It's one thing to see pictures upon the screen but when they are all framed, matted and hung, it's so much better. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this exhibit. Hallmark Institute of Photography, the followers of this blog, my various fans all over the states, my family, my awesome friends and of course that gorgeous little fairy (my daughter) :o). The past couple of months have been pretty insane and all of the support has been an incredible help. My blog reached over 1,300 hits in just under four months! Incredible feeling. Well I am off to do more editing.

Senator Rosenburg and staff

Bound To Stand concerts and promo

2010-04-03T15:25:00.000-04:00

I got to shoot a few more concerts for Bound To Stand along with a quick promo shoot. I have been working with this band for just over a year now and have seen immense growth in all of the guys. This week they have been working especially hard to reinvent themselves with amazing results. I was completely blown away by the new style, sound and moves last night at their concert. I was only doing video at that concert but I will have brand new pictures of the band very soon. They have a concert tonight that I know everyone is looking forward to. I am very blessed to be good friends with such an amazing group of guys. I am fortunate enough to get to document their process as they work harder than most people I know to make it in the music industry. They have the drive and definitely have the talent to make it. Things have been happening so quickly. My literally dropped at the sound of the new songs as they hit the stage in Holyoke, MA last night. They will be playing at LC's Lounge in Worcester, MA tonight. If you're anywhere near there you should stop in and hear these guys play. They are in the studio recording all their new stuff during this time so we hope to have it all out on the myspace. Well I'm off to shoot the new shots for the band!

Exhibit hung tomorrow!

2010-03-21T14:51:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone! I just wanted to remind everyone that my exhibit is being hung at the State House in Boston tomorrow morning. I am very excited to see my work framed and hung up in the three rooms that make up Senator Rosenburgs' office. It's so hard to believe that this day is just about here. At this moment I am going over my bio to put with the exhibit and trying not to sweat it. My work should speak for me but the words in my bio I hope represent me nicely as well. I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone involved in making this exhibit possible. Rita (the wonderful woman in the senator's office that set all of this up), Senator Rosenburg, Hallmark Institute of Photography faculty and staff, my sister-in-law Rachel, my wonderful models and friends, the most important model; Lilly May (but of course lol), and last but not least, my amazing mother. If I have forgotten anyone I am very sorry. I know I may say it in almost every posting but thank you again to EVERYONE for your continued support. I wouldn't be anywhere close to where I am and where I am going to be if it weren't for all of you. If anyone needs further information on the exhibit please do not hesitate to ask via e-mail (jennifermilotaphotography@gmail.com) or by phone if you have my number. The Senator's office welcome anyone who wants to come view the exhibit. In fact it is encouraged. If anyone does go please, please, please provide any feedback you have or just let me know you went at all. Thanks again everyone!

Just wanted to include one photo of me with my cam of course :o)

Happy birthday to my baby girl!

2010-03-17T20:43:00.000-04:00

I just wanted had to put a little shout out to my beautiful little girl on her 5th birthday! I can't believe she is 5 already! Where does the time go? I'm so proud of how much she has grown and how smart she is. Now if only we could get rid of that attitude lol. I look forward to seeing how much more is to come in the year ahead. I am anxiously awaiting the family reunion in Virginia for my birthday. Counting down the days! I included some pictures of Lilly on her birthday last year. Happy St. Patty's day ya'all!

New show date and more pictures....

2010-03-12T13:09:00.000-05:00

Unfortunately the show is being put back by a few days thanks to my work schedule. I can't complain too much because I am working a full time job again and it's the following Monday that the pictures go up. The new date of the exhibit is Monday March 22nd. The funny thing is that my favorite number is 22 so maybe that's a good thing :o) Lately I have been very busy with getting the prints ordered for the show and shooting concerts and band promos for Bound to Stand. I'm very proud of the band and how far they have come in the past two months. I look forward to what they can accomplish in the future. You can find their music on the following link; http://www.myspace.com/boundtostand I have a ton of new concert pictures from the band but I know that has been a lot of what makes my recent posts so I wanted to switch it back to some scenery shots. I took these pictures back in the summer at an insane asylum. I can not disclose the location but I hope to be going back very soon to do a shoot. I love old, abandoned buildings. They always make for very interesting settings. Well I am off to edit the pictures from the promo shoot with the guys. The work never ends and I'm ok with that!

PS- I have no idea what the black stuff was on the wall but it definitely ups the creepy factor!

Sold my first print and secured my show!

2010-02-25T15:27:00.000-05:00

So to some people it may not seem like much but I have sold my first print and it feels incredible! The best reward was Arron's reaction when I handed over the print. He asked me to help him pick out a frame so he can put it up. I've been in the talks with a few other people who are interesting in future purchases. I even had a lady who I never met who was talking my work up and wanted business cards. Now that's a good feeling :o) My show has been secured for the 19th of March through June. Hard to believe that in just under a month my work will be displayed at the state house for people to see. Well below is the print that sold. I'm off to caffienate and get some work done before I model for a Hallmark friend of mine.

Rock show with DMD, Sever the Skies and Unveil Tomorrow

2010-02-15T19:21:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone! So yet again I got to rock out at a concert with some of my favorite guys. Dead Man's Dossier, Sever the Skies and a newer band (at least to me), Unveil Tomorrow. It was a good concert with a ton of energy. I know I was pretty tired at the end of the four shows that went on so I can only imagine how the members of the bands were doing. The night was filled with music, jokes and good company. I have to admit that I always have a little too much fun at these shows. It's amazing the different people you tend to meet and network with. The show was at The Elevens in Northampton, MA. Unfortunately the lighting at this venue is not easy to work with unless you have a speedlight. I do not have a speedlight at this time so I do what I can to make the pictures work. Some of the shadows worked in my favor for the more contrasty shots such as the ones of the guitar player Gabe. I think one of my favorites is Morgan (lead singer with dreads), with his back to me. It adds a very interesting view point to the mix. The flyer I took a picture of was actually in the woman's bathroom and I figured why not? I look forward to working more with all of the bands in the future. Thanks for having me guys and putting up with a camera in your face!

Selling prints straight from my site now!

2010-02-05T07:40:00.000-05:00

I am so excited to announce that I am officially in business for prints on my site! I do have various pictures up with 11x14 for a print size but if there is a certain size you would like to request or even a certain picture please let me know! jennifermilotaphotography@gmail.com Also feel free to leave a comment on my feedback page! Thank you so much as always for all of your support everyone! www.jennifermilotaphotography.com

Hanging with the band Bound to Stand

2010-02-01T23:03:00.000-05:00

Last Thursday I got to rock out at a concert with the band Bound to Stand. It was pretty awesome to be hired a year after I had met the band. They were the first band I ever photographed and have been hooked on band photography ever since. I've seen my concert photography grow in leaps and bounds and I have to admit this has been my best as of yet. I know that with each concert I will only continue to grow. A small fun fact about Bound to Stand. Three of the four band members are named Nick. Well one is spelled Nic. Wanna make sure and get that right for you guys! Their front man; Gabe has an awesome voice and can go from a screaming melody to a rock ballad. They are slowly getting their name out there and booking venues in MA and CT. This show was at the club Up or On the Rocks in Hartford, CT. The first floor boasts a stage, bar and lots of fun band memorabilia. It looks as though it was fashioned after The Hard Rock Cafe. I couldn't get enough of the lit up guitars hung up on the walls. That's pretty apparent considering I have five pictures of just them. I had a hard time choosing just what pictures to post. This is actually one of my bigger posts with the picture count at 22! That's actually my favorite number so I'll go with that :o) I am very excited for these guys. Not only have they helped me with my photography but I see them going far in the future. You can check them out on myspace at the following address; http://www.myspace.com/boundtostand (I really wish I could hyperlink the links I put up, anyone know how?) Well I wish the guys of Bound to Stand lots of luck for the future. I know there will be a promotional shoot coming up very soon so be watching for that. I'm now off to attempt to try and get some sleep. Gotta keep that day job going right? Thanks again Bound to Stand for having me as your photographer again!

Fashion shoot with Kwaku

2010-01-29T21:25:00.000-05:00

Last Sunday I had the pleasure of Kwaku modeling for me. It was his first time ever being a fashion model and he was loving every minute of it :o) We first went to a cute, little park in Worcester, MA. It was very cold so K was a good sport in taking off his warm jacket to pose in his suit. He was a little nervous to stand out on the ice but after I started walking on it he decided to be brave and attempt the feat himself. They don't have snow in Africa so this was a huge change for him to experience his second New England winter. I still have yet to get used to extreme hot and cold conditions and I've been here a year and a half. Makes me miss California a little more with every colder day. Today it was a brisk 8 degrees and tonight it could dip into the negatives. You will find me wrapped up in my five blankets lol. But back to the shoot..... At the park we shot on, around, and under the bridges that I fell a little in love with. The iron hearts in the railing were very intriguing to me. What made them a little more special was the fact that I actually knew one of the people that had helped construct them. He's pretty awesome himself of course. Props to you Matt! From the park we headed to the town hall closer to the center of town. If it was not the town hall and you know that then please feel free to correct me. The building was great. It even had a little outdoor skating rink. If it hadn't been covered with snow I just might have tried sliding across. Ice and me have many bruising stories but at least I make it fun. The shoot all in all was a success and very much worth bearing the cold weather to do. Well I know that K is all anxious to see these so I will get them all posted up! Thanks again Kwaku for being the newest Jennifer Milota Photography model!

Castle on the Hudson

2010-01-25T22:37:00.000-05:00

While coming back from Jersey and taking a ton of back roads, I found the castle on the Hudson! I was so excited that I immediately had to pull over and wander down the train tracks to get a closer look. The castle was an amazing site. I kept trying to figure out how I could make it out to the island. After some research and help from my awesome Mom, I found out that they actually give tours of the castle and island. This spring I hope to go on the tour and get some close up pictures. The pictures after the castle are of the bridge next to Fort Montgomery. It was nice to stretch my legs and be out of the car after a long trip. Alright well I am off to bed. It's been a long and exhausting day. I started my new job as a secretary and six comes very early in the morning! Good night everyone!

Published back home!

2010-01-19T18:33:00.001-05:00

I want to do a big THANK YOU to the band St. John and the Sinners back in Humboldt County, CA for the credit on the pictures featured with the article in the Tri City weekly newspaper. It is a small accomplishment but it means so much. The have been voted as the top band which is awesome. I had the pleasure of listening to them play this past summer while photographing the concert. I decided to finally put up some pictures from that concert in spirit of the article. My heart goes out to their singer; Courtney in light recent events. I pray for a speedy recovery for her. www.saintjohnandthesinners.com/

Website back to original domain!

2010-01-17T16:55:00.001-05:00

So I am very excited to announce that my site now has it's original website address again! I am very happy with the new look even if it runs a little slow at times. Flash can be a little tricky. People may have to hit refresh a time or two but it's worth it. Thank you for the constant support everyone! The uplifting comments make my day every time I hear one! Here is the new and improved http://www.jennifermilotaphotography.com I hope everyone gets a chance to check it out and likes the new changes.

New website up!

2010-01-14T21:37:00.001-05:00

I have a new website! I'm very excited for this! It might have a few glitches but I'm working on that. It looks so much better than the one I developed in school and has new work on it that no one has seen. I hope you all will take a chance to look at it. I apologize if it runs a little slow. Flash can be difficult at times. http://www.wix.com/milotaphoto/Jennifer-Milota-Photography
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Just a little motivation in a down economy

2010-01-12T12:54:00.000-05:00

These days I've been finding it very hard to not be frustrated with the state of the economy. I know that I am by far not the only person feeling this way. In fact, it seems as though many college graduates are in the same position as I am. Spending a fortune on school and having to take any job that comes our way just to pay down our massive loans. While school is becoming more and more expensive, student's are finding it harder and harder to reach their dream careers. Take all Hallmark Institute of Photography for example. We have this amazing education and obviously have talent to have passed but most of my class is struggling to find a job in the photography industry. Granted the photography industry is very challenging and competitive as it is but the economy has hit harder than ever. Many smaller studios and even schools such as Hallmark have sold out to other bigger companies. It's a scary reality that we are now facing. My dream is to break into the magazine world. I am hoping to reach Rolling Stone in about ten years. How incredible would that be? I know with a lot of hard work, dedication and determination I can achieve this. Nothing happens overnight. Right now is such a discouraging time in my life but I have to keep in mind that something better is waiting just around the corner. My talent is slowly getting notice and my name is being spread throughout my area. All I can do right now is continue to work my butt off and keep making new contacts. I appreciate all the new and continued support from everyone across the country.

Sunset in Jersey with a little creativity tossed in...

2010-01-02T18:43:00.003-05:00

While at a family gathering I ventured off onto the property and found this amazing little spot. The chair was a most unusual extra but it definitely added to the setting. I am such a sucker for sunsets and sunrises that you can imagine my delight in the outcome of these photographs. I spent about an hour just wandering around soaking in the beauty of this location. It's amazing just how caught up you can get in things especially when you are a photographer. I see the world in a whole different way then a lot of people I know. I have been receiving many new compliments on my point of views when it comes to my photography. I do believe that there is good in everything, you just may have to look a little harder sometimes. I did get my boots pretty soaked from the snow but it was well worth it. Notice how I'm having a little bit too much fun running in the snow as my last picture. The snow tends to bring out the kid in me :o) Where I'm from, we don't get a whole lot if any at all so until I've lived in it for years, I'll chose to enjoy it. Well I hope everyone has enjoyed looking at my Christmas series this past week. I am very grateful for all the continued and new support I have been receiving. All the feedback is very much appreciated! Thank you again and hope everyone's holidays have found them well.

Cape May Carriage Company and horses

2009-12-30T15:06:00.002-05:00

Good afternoon everyone! I hope everyone is keeping nice and warm on these frigid winter days. Right now it's a brisk 25 degrees. A nice improvement for yesterday when it was 10 degrees out! I regretted even stepping out the door. Anywise, today's post is from the same day as yesterday's post but a lot more fun. I got to hang with the hee-haws at the Cape May Carriage Company. If you're gonna be in Cape May at any point I suggest booking a carriage ride from here. The service is great and the people are very friendly and fun. Plus they have many options for rides and tours of the town. Cape May is beautiful in the winter but even more so in the summer. You can get more information or to schedule a carriage ride go to this address; www.capemaycarriage.com It is well worth the time and money! Now on to the pictures! The first one was a fun experiment with the horse's eye. I believe this horse is named; Oreo. I'm having to look in the Cape May Magazine (the carriage company was featured in an article!), to try and figure out names lol. Hopefully I'm getting them all right. The second picture is of Oreo as well. Very friendly horse. The next picture is of April, a big bay clydesdale. We had to bribe her and the other two horses with fritters to get them to come a little closer. They weren't too happy when we ran out though. The spotted horse in the other pictures I couldn't find a name for but was one of my favorites because of the pictures and interaction. I believe Knight is the other horse in the picture with April. Notice how April is licking the electric fence. I've heard that the horses do this now and then especially during the winter. Maybe it's to warm up their tongues? The final horse was the one pulling our carriage through town. Sam was a pretty awesome horse :o) They had put the jingle bells on him for our ride. It was a nice addition to the experience. Something even my sister-in-law has noticed is that I tend to take pictures of my shoes during a lot of shoots. I couldn't resist the horse shoe with my Chips. I'm a city girl but also a country girl at heart. I just had to include the picture of her and I on the ride. Such a fun day! I hope to be back in Cape May someday very soon!

The architecture of Cape May

2009-12-29T12:48:00.002-05:00

After arriving in New Jersey at 8:30 in the morning on no sleep, I was ready for a day of exploring Cape May. I knew nothing of the town except for the fact that it was once the playground for the rich and celebrities during the summer months. There is even wreckage from a ship not far from the shore. I unfortunately did not speak up about getting out of the car when we passed by. The day was so cold that when we were outside all of us were shivering. It was the first time I had seen sand and snow in the same place. I come from the northern part of California where we rarely see snow. All of the pictures of the houses were taken from the carriage as we went into town. I fell in love with Cape May and have even considering moving there in the future. You never know where I will end up!

Christmas!

2009-12-28T16:48:00.002-05:00

I had the opportunity to spend Christmas with my brother and his wife's family this holiday. Just like turkey day, it was a wonderful time. Here are the pictures from Christmas morning. Pokie, the family dog was as cute as can be and so much fun. She tends to steal the spotlight at times. My brother received the final pieces of my Grandfather's train set from my mom. This was a very special gift. He intends on refurbishing the entire set. I look forward to seeing it go around the Christmas tree at their house in the future. He did find a ton more tracks at an antique store so it could end up going around the entire house if he really gets into it. Everyone seemed very happy with their gifts. I ended up with a very nice coffee press (comes in handy for those rushed mornings), and expresso beans. Being the coffee nut that I am it made my day. The light up ducky from my daughter was also a nice edition. The best gift of all those was being with family even if my daughter and parents were still in California. I had them in my heart and thoughts of course. The week was amazing and I have at least three more posts yet to come this week of the beauty I was able to see. I hope everyone checks in to see those posts as well. I promise that they will be well worth it! I hope everyone had as enjoyable holiday as I did! Many blessing. Oh and yes, the last picture is of me passed out with my stocking on my foot. I had been so drained from traveling the seven hours down days before on no sleep and I think it had finally caught up with me fully. My Grandmother had made all of my family's stockings and they are very cherished. The first picture is of the toy my daughter sent to my brother. He had been teasing her about giving him one of her toys so she picked one out to wrap up and send to him. It was a very cute little joke. I'm sure this won't be the last we've seen of this toy :o)