As parents of a child with Down syndrome (Ds) it captivated us to look into familiar eyes, for our Ds Appreciation Portrait Event, doing our best to capture the true beauty of each person for who they are. After we finished our long but thrilling day, we rushed home to review the photographs. Warmth filled our hearts to see how amazing these special Gifts truly are. It allowed us to reflect on how much one extra chromosome has changed our lives, entirely…for the better!
We have been so privileged to go on this exhilarating roller coaster ride of emotions and self reflections to end-up in a new world almost everyday. What an adventure she has taken us on so far!!! We know that it’s only the beginning and we can’t wait to see how else she will help us evolve in this short life that we live. Only a few are chosen to be a part of this special adventure. We are the LUCKY ones!
We have never seen as much beauty in life and the pureness of a moment until our daughter “rocked our world”. She has opened our eyes and hearts to a whole new existence that is filled with more joy and love which can never be expressed in words or actions to its fullness. FickleZeal was born because of Lana and all her glory. To be honest my favorite subjects are people with Down syndrome. It’s photographing their incredible beauty and going on the journey of awe and wonder with them. Each shoot is new and each person is unique. More than that each one of them brings out an inner part of me that I didn’t know existed. They awaken a better me!
Andre decided to get some video clips with our point and shoot camera just “cause”. And that just “cause” has turned into this lovely behind the scenes tribute to our day and every lovely person we photographed.
Thank you all for coming out and allowing us to capture your beauty! Photographing you gave us such joy and excitement. You are all dear to us!
April 9th, 2010 at 8:36 am
OH WOW! That was the most beautiful video I’ve ever seen! It made me cry!! And the last time I cried was with you! Thanks girl, I guess you just bring that part out
I love what you do Jenna, I love you! You are truly a blessing to the entire Special needs community! No one else could ever do what you are doing like you do!! Not only in that video did I notice the amazing angelic children but also the amazing angelic photographer! You have a love for these kiddos that I can relate to and truly admire! Great job girl!!!! You are awesome!!
April 9th, 2010 at 10:29 am
WOW! Tissue alert, that was beautiful! Thank you for sharing, you and Andre are such a talented wonderful couple.
April 9th, 2010 at 7:27 pm
That was so beautiful! What a great talent you have been given! I found you from Heidi, Mr H’s mom! I am a fan of him too!
April 9th, 2010 at 9:56 pm
Mr H was so cute. I still can’t get over him. Thank you for your compliment Stephanie! More will come to this blog about little Henry.
April 9th, 2010 at 10:00 pm
yes, tissues are needed. isn’t that the beauty of the unexpected joy and awesomeness that our kids bring us and our loved one. Thank you Vickie! Andre and I do enjoy being creative together and I couldn’t do it without him. He worked diligently on this video… yes, he makes me look good!
April 9th, 2010 at 10:02 pm
k, Kristi are you trying to make me break out the tissue?
Thank you! I just LOVE what we’re doing! I love what being a part of this journey has brought to my life. I’m truly lucky to be able to reveal the beauty in our kids. Oh, I love my job!!!
April 12th, 2010 at 2:34 pm
I’m so inspired by you and Andre. You guys have such beauty with in and show both your subjects and your own beauty in this piece. I know it was so much work. You are exhausted with your own 3 busy children and running a business, but this work, when you look at… it’s so meaningful. I got to explain to my own son that I think “I’m the luckiest” because I have him. With so many children both with DS (and a host of other “reasons”) being thrown out, I’m so thankful to have Lana in my life to remind me just how beautiful the human spirit is.
April 14th, 2010 at 11:27 am
Found your site via Mr. H’s blog. Absoulutely beautiful video and pictures! I just wish we lived in your area because we would love to have you photograph our sweet angel =)
April 18th, 2010 at 8:33 pm
Dear Jenna and Andre,
We wanted to thank you so much for the opportunity to participate in your Down syndrome Appreciation Portrait Event. It was a perfect spring morning that day; a little crisp to begin with, and just enough breeze to add movement to the hair. There was an immediate love connection between Miss A. and the both of you – she knows genuineness when she sees/feels it! I loved watching you work; I loved seeing the finished product even more! Huge Talent!!! Sharing that moment in time with you was an experience we will always remember and treasure. Thank you for sharing of yourselves.
Katrina
May 24th, 2010 at 3:14 pm
In this world of “self-absorbed” (of which I myself by the nature of my imperfect “human-ness” am disappointedly in part, a creature), your pictures and video of your daughter and your recent projects-calm me, re-set my inner compass and squeeze @ the self centeredness that sometimes dominates my moments. Thank you for sharing. I myself love photography and have always felt, that beauty isn’t what the world sees it as. It is NOT in the 6ft tall 90lb giraffe-like model human gliding purposefully across stage, nor the animal attraction of Hollywood’s unclothed, “finest”- rated on looks alone…. it’s the quiet inside beat of a truly selfless heart. A heart surrendered to do the extraordinary-without thinking…
Thank you, you made my day…
June 1st, 2010 at 11:16 pm
Wow Jenna, that was beautiful!! The song, the kids, the work you do, the way you love them while you are taking their pictures. Its amazing and I have never seen anything like that. I am very proud of what you and Andy do for a living. Its truly amazing what the two of you do together and I can just see the love coming out of each one of your pictures. Lana is a beyond beautiful little girl and she is blessed to have some a awesome family as well as the rest of you are lucky & blessed to have sweet Lana. Keep up the great work. The world needs more people like the two of you to show this side that we normally don’t ever see. I cried watching this video. Andy you did a super great job.