Are you interested in having gorgeous, unique, and totally stunning senior pictures this fall? Do you want your senior portraits to showcase your personality and attitude? Are you interested in senior portraits that DON’T involve posing in front of a backdrop?

Photography by Janiece is now offering senior portrait sessions to Elko High School and Spring Creek High School seniors! We specialize in fun and funky portraits that show off your individuality, your moods, and your sass. Schedule your session now to take advantage of beautiful fall portrait weather.

Photography by Janiece (PbJ) is also looking to hire two senior reps per high school! As a senior rep you will receive a discounted senior portrait session, a set of 50 complimentary 411 cards (these ultra-hip cards are like business cards for seniors with your cell number, myspace info, or whatever you need to help people stay in contact with you after graduation), and 16 wallets. Plus, for every senior you refer to PbJ you’ll receive a cool $15 cash.

I’m looking for a boy and girl each from Elko High School and Spring Creek High School. I want to work with friendly, energetic teens who are willing to show everyone they know their senior portraits from PbJ and share the exciting news of our recent move to this area. 

Want us to do your portraits but not quite sure about the senior rep gig? That fine–I’d still love to help you have an awesome senior picture session with memorable and unique images. Plus, bring a friend along on your session and you’ll each receive $25 off your session fee and a complimentary set of wallet prints featuring the two of you.

Don’t wait to schedule your session because space is limited! Call me at 738-8527 or drop me an email at photographybyjaniece@gmail.com. I can’t wait to meet you!

One of the challenges for me with this move from Spokane, Washington, to Elko, Nevada, has been finding new places to do my portrait work. I had several "regular" locations in Spokane that I knew how to work in. Once I was able to chat with a client about what type of feel they wanted for their images, selecting one of those was fairly easy and we’d design the session from there.

I’m still pretty new to Elko, though, and it’s so fun for me to feel my way around town. I took my oldest daughter, Bailey, out last evening to capture the beauty of the sagebrush fields in this area. There is so much potential here! I’d love to do family portraits out in the dunes among the sage–what a perfect setting.

Of course, I couldn’t resist a few close-ups!

The sunset in particular was spectacular. 

These portraits were all taken within a five minute walk of my home–how lucky am I? 

I’m realistic, though, in knowing that as much as I search, I’ll never find all the good portrait places without enlisting the help of the locals. So you who have lived here in Elko or Spring Creek for a while, where do you think would be a great location for family portraits?  Add a comment to this post with your idea for a great location here in Elko. One week from today (September 10) I’ll select a winner from the comments who will receive a complimentary mini-session with Photography by Janiece. Let’s hear those ideas!

I know September just started, the kids are barely back in school, and Christmas is ages away. I know! Believe it or not, though, now is the time to plan for holiday card sessions. If you want that perfect family portrait to send out with your Christmas cards this year, I’m probably not the photographer for you. But if you want a fun, playful, unique, and wonderful family portrait that captures your family’s personalities and relationship quirks, I definitely fit the bill. My card sessions are fun and playful–they’re less about saying "cheese!" and more about capturing true interaction between family members.

Does your family love to spend time on the water? Book a session with me at the lake–we’ll play on the beach, get a little wet, and have a blast. Are you a ranching or farming family? I’d love to come to your property and photograph you in a field, near your barn, or with your favorite animals. If neither of those options strike your fancy, think of the things that make your family unique–my job is to capture those traits and help preserve memories.

Some dates to keep in mind for this fall:

The absolute last day that you can schedule a session from which to order holiday cards is November 15. Since I already have very limited availability for this fall, I have two dates for portrait sessions open in September, two dates in October, and one in November. Those times will fill up rapidly so contact me today (email: photographybyjaniece@gmail.com or phone 775-738-8527, 509-209-3435) to book your family’s time. 

Card orders must be placed no later than November 22 so I can get all the orders in by Thanksgiving and ship out cards to clients no later than December 1st. The earlier the better for these orders, as my print lab tends to get very backed up this time of year.

Print orders desired by Christmas are due by December 5 so that I can guarantee Christmas delivery. This includes all canvases, albums, or other specialty items.

After all that business talk, I just have to share the beautiful cards I’m offering this year!

Click here to view a larger version of this poster or visit my website http://www.photographybyjaniece.com and enter the password "holiday" in the client proofing area to view each individual template. As stated in the flyer, these cards are completely customizable as far as colors, fonts, and greetings.

If you are not immediately taken with any of these designs, I can custom design three cards based on your family’s clothing choices, location, and style preferences for a $75 design fee payable up front. After you select which of those three you want, you may make several changes to get a truly custom and unique card.

Finally, if you prefer to send individual photos with your Christmas cards, I am now offering individual files priced at $75 each. Digital files are available only with a portrait collection purchase (no exceptions).

Full sessions for this fall are $100 for up to two hours with between 25-40 proofs to select from. If you’re interested in only a family portrait (without individual portraits of your children or sibling groupings) consider a family mini-session for $50. A mini lasts 30 minutes and you will receive 10-15 proofs to view and order from. 

I grew up in small towns in Idaho and Wyoming, but I had totally forgotten what fun a local county fair could be! We took the girls to the parade yesterday before the start of the Elko County Fair and they had a blast. Compared to a few parades we’ve been to recently, they got quite a candy haul from all the floats!

My younger daughter thought chasing down candy was the greatest thing ever. She even stopped the parade at one point (sorry, folks!) because she ran in front of an oncoming float to scavenge.

I’m now taking clients in the Elko and Spring Creek areas for family portraits, senior pictures, and maternity and newborn photographs. Please give me a call at 738-8527 to schedule your Christmas Card session today!

A few weekends ago (two days after our family unloaded our moving truck here in Elko) I had the honor of photographing my husband’s brother’s marriage to his beautiful bride. I’m still playing catch-up from all the editing that got put on hold with the move, but I do have one to share for now. More will be coming soon, I promise!

I’ve entered this print in the Elko County Fair under the Wedding Portrait category. Wish me luck!

If you’re in need of a wedding photographer in the Elko area, give me a call. I have very competitive wedding packages available that all include a disk of your images. Call me at 738-8527 to schedule a consultation!

Whew, that was a fun move! After a week of packing, cleaning, and saying goodbyes, a week of traveling, putting our things in our new home, then going to a family wedding, and yet another week of opening all the boxes and putting our belongings away, we’re finally almost finished.

So far, I love our new home. It’s wonderful to be together as a family getting settled in to a new place. I’m still on the hunt for a good preschool here in Elko for my four-year-old, but otherwise we are fairly well organized–so much so that I’ve gotten to exlore and play a bit!

Our new apartment complex has some lovely areas for children’s portraits:

My daughters and I also discovered a local park today located just behind the Elko Municipal Pool. The play structure offered several wonderful locations for pictures and I certainly had fun playing!

Soon I’ll be introducing my Holiday Card Session Specials for October and November–if you’re in the market for a Christmas Card portrait in Elko, give me a call! I’ll be offering both card and digital file packages with my holiday mini-sessions, which will be offered on a very limited basis. You can reach Photography by Janiece at 775-735-8527.

To my Spokane clients, I will be available for family holiday sessions for one weekend in either October or November. Please email me with interest or call me at my Spokane number, 509-209-3435.

We’re off on a new adventure! Tomorrow is the big day for my move to Elko, Nevada, with my family. We’ve made wonderful friends here in Spokane and will miss all the people who have touched our lives.

Thank you to my clients over the past year. You’ve helped take Photography by Janiece from a dream to a living, thriving business, and I’m so thrilled every day that I get to work at a job that I love. I know I’ve got the best clients around–thank you all for welcoming me into such precious times in your family.

We’ll miss the fabulous city parks, the unique places to eat and shop, and the gorgeous seasons. Spokane has been wonderful to us. We’ll miss you.

I first met this family just a little over a year ago. They were the first people to respond to my first portrait photography ad on Craigslist, making them my very first official clients. Sure, I’d done many, many photoshoots for family and friends, but they were my first experience in the business world of photography. I was so lucky! Not only are they a beautiful family, but they were warm and welcoming and generally made my transition from photography hobbiest to business owner soooo easy.

Now a year later I had the opportunity to photograph them again! Recognize them? They’re all featured prominently on my website and they were part of the wedding party for my most recent wedding. It was so fun to work with this family again, to see how big and independent their kids have gotten, and to just generally play and have fun. Here are a few of my favorites.

And because I just love outtakes and the personalities of all these children I photograph . . .

I think they were done. 

Thanks for a great session, B family! I’ll let you know as soon as I have your proofs ready to view.

I was honored to photograph Jessica and Ty’s wedding last night. After living in Spokane for the last three years, I just can’t believe that I had no idea that Mirabeau Park even existed–what a perfect location for this beautiful wedding! The weather was gorgeous and the bride radiant. What more could a photographer ask for?

the bride waiting with her father

the ceremony

man and wife!

the wedding party–so beautiful!

in love–this first one is absolutely one of my all time favorite images.

details

toasts–I love the photojournalistic feel of the reception shots. Wonderful!

the first dance

Thank you, Ty and Jessica, for having me at your wedding. Enjoy your honeymoon!

Saturday night session was wild! Three active boys aged 4 to 11(ish) with their parents. And their parents, the brilliant people that they are, wanted action shots of their sons! They were so smart to request portraits reflecting true life around their house, and I had a lot of fun capturing them. This is my talented friend who recovered my chair for my (the chair that I WILL take to a session in the next week) and we just now were able to work out our schedules to get together. It really was such a treat for me. 

Naturally, after a session like this I have quite a few outtakes (these guys loved to ham it up for the camera) but I’ll just share this one. Poor guy got stuck in the mud in the middle of the session, but with that handy waterfall right there, it was no problem!

Enjoy your sneak peek, guys! I’ll let you know as soon as you proofs are ready.

I just can’t stay away! I took my girls out for some photo fun tonight and couldn’t resist sharing a little of my fun with you.

Turns out I will be available via internet for the next few weeks, so fire away!

Speaking of available, are you a senior in the Elko, Nevada, area looking for a photographer for senior pictures? Mention this blog when you contact me to receive a free set of 16 wallet prints with your completed senior portrait session! 

This is it, guys and gals! Photography by Janiece is officially going on hiatus as of today until I can get everything set back up to practice business in Elko, Nevada. We’re moving in a few weeks and the internet in our home will be turned off today. I have to pack and get everything ready, so I won’t be posting or have regular access to email.

I do have several shoots already lined up that I will complete–sneak peeks and galleries will start to be available after August 20.

Thank you to each and every one of my clients over the past year. It’s been an honor to work with you and photograph your families at special times in your life.

C and R, you guys have been sooooooo patient on waiting for these photos. I promised more of a sneak peek ages ago so here the finally are to tide you over until your gallery is ready at the end of the week. I grabbed my favorites from the actual ceremony that really told the story of your beautiful wedding. Thank you so much for allowing me to be part of it!

The flower girl was a little nervous . . .  

The groom getting his first glimpse of his bride  

The bride’s grandparents as she came into view–particularly poignant since she was wearing her grandmother’s gown. 

And finally the bride! 

A few more favorites . . .  

What fun! While I was at the beach with my husband’s family, my brother-in-law and his cute fiancee asked me to take a few engagement photos for them. How could I refuse with such a gorgeous couple?

I’ll be photographing their wedding next month, so you’ll probably be seeing a lot of these two. Thanks so much, D and T!  

This past weekend I had the treat of photographing my gorgeous friend with her beautiful family. What a fun session for me! Cheryl and I worked together one summer eight years ago as camp counselors and we’ve stayed in touch ever since–though she does a much better job than me at that most of the time! It was a real joy to photograph her with her husband and kids. Thanks so much, guys!

This girl is a total natural in front of the camera! She knew just how to move and was soooooo easy to work with.  

Next up was the second oldest sister–Miss Personality! I found her ticklish spot to get this image–I love natural expressions like this so much. 

Doesn’t this little guy have the most amazing eyes? Such a dream to photograph! 

The "baby" of the family really made me work for the shots of him. You never know with a one-year-old how cooperative the child will be, and this little one just wanted to play. Luckily candids can be just as beautiful as more posed shots. He’s sooooo cute! 

Heehee, and this is when you know it’s time to let the kids take a break from shooting!  

Thanks Cheryl, B, and family! I had a wonderful time working with you. Your proofs should be ready soon. 

Whew, my three-week-long business vacation is over, so watch out for a flurry of posts and sneak peeks in the next few days.

The beach with my husband’s family was wonderful–lots of room for the kids to run and play, the best clam chowder in the world, and actual adult chit-chat time! This vacation really couldn’t have been any better.

To crown it all off, the whole fam (minus one) trooped down to the beach on the morning of July 5 to take a family photo. Would you believe that all 12 children were little angels while I ran back and forth between my tripod (with camera set to timer mode) and the family? They really were, as you can see below.

Of course, my girls’ favorite thing to do on the trip was get good and wet (and dirty), get cleaned up, and then do it all over again.

My favorite part of the trip? Having my family together again. My husband was away for the entire month of June, so we really enjoyed our family time!

I’m stealing a bit of time from my vacation tonight to post a sneak peek for this wonderful family. The older daughter was in ballet with my Bailey this past winter and it was wonderful to work with them. They were truly up for anything and I had a lot of fun playing with their little angels. Thanks so much, guys!

Here are a few of my favorites from the session–enjoy! 

and more of an outtake, but I just laughed so hard at this one I had to share. . . 

I will be away from my computer for the next week during my family’s vacation. All emails will be returned after Monday, July 7. Thank you for your patience!

Clients often ask me where a good place for portraits is, and lately I’ve come up with an easy answer–anywhere!

This portrait of my Bailey was taken in a tiny little plot of poppies by the side of a road. We didn’t have to make a special trip or find an amazing location–we just stopped off on our way home one evening. You can find spots like this all over the place when you start looking for them. A photographer friend calls them photography "pockets"–small little areas with gorgeous light and possibilities. When you’re scheduling your next portrait session with PbJ, think about the spots at and around your home that can turn into wonderful little location pockets!

I’ve been spending a lot of time this summer (in between photoshoots and weddings) over in Missoula at my parents’ house. Since we’ll be moving away in August and putting much more distance between us, it’s really been wonderful to spend all this time together. And here in Missoula there are all these beautiful fields just calling to me to come take children’s portraits! Who am I to resist gorgeous fields of wildflowers and grasses? The girls and I have had a great time discovering new places to play and dance.

I’m really going to miss these fields! They would be perfect for family portrait sessions–lots of space for kids to run and play between shots. 

Whew, what a blast this session was! Two year olds generally make me work hard for good eye contact and expressions, and this little guy was no exception. It was great fun, though, to go "exploring" with him and coax these great looks from him. Baby sister was pretty sweet, though she wasn’t too sure about sitting on the grass. But I really enjoyed just playing with this family and getting a few shots along the way.

Thanks for the chance to photograph your family, Emily and Jeremy! I’ll let you know as soon as the rest of your images are ready for viewing.

Today I had a wonderful time photographing my very first solo wedding! I’ve worked with this couple and their adorable little guy many times before, but it was a huge treat to get to shoot their wedding. Luckily for us all the rain held off until late–what a beautiful day!

 Randy and Christina, enjoy your honeymoon! Look for more sneak peeks when you get back.

This is just a quick little post to share a whole bunch of portraits I’ve taken of my girls over the past few weeks. They’ve been so good to me in between all the craziness that has been our life this spring!

I love this picture of Bailey. It was taken at my new FAVORITE location in Spokane, behind the Corbin Arts Center. If you ask me, this place is just idea for portraits of just about any kind! 

And since I was trying for a matched set of my girls, here is the one of Nat from that day . . . Just after I took it she spied an ant on her dress and freaked out, but I got the shot first!

I think my favorite thing about this location is this little path. I love the way it winds through a photo, leading your eye directly to my adorable subjects. (and no, I’m not biased AT ALL!)

And just for fun, I have to share this one of B, jumping for all she could.

And Natalie with her dandylion wishes . . .

And this one just makes my heart happy! We went with a friend to her grandparents’ farm up north of Spokane in Deer Park yesterday and enjoyed the fields and fresh air. Beautiful!

But the main reason for the visit to the farm was the kitties! Nat was completely in love. 

And to sign off, I have to share some sad and exciting news. I am no longer booking any sessions in the Spokane area, as I’m booked solid through August. My husband has accepted a job in Elko, Nevada, so we will be moving there around August 15 and starting fresh.

Of course, I plan on taking Photography by Janiece with me, doing portraits and wedding photography in Elko. Spokane has been very good to our family, though, over the last three years and we will miss it when we’re gone. And that doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of how we’ll miss the people of Spokane, the friends we’ve made here that we will cherish. Thank you all!

Recognize this adorable little guy? Yup, he was featured in the last blog entry. I went back this week to do a little smash-cake mini session to celebrate his first birthday. I’ve just got one to share for now, but stay tuned for more!

P, I should have the rest of the proofs ready for you to view later tonight. Enjoy! 

What a joy it was to photograph this beautiful family! We’ve had a few hiccups in getting to this session with springtime illness and uncooperative weather, but finally last night everything came together for this fun session.

This little guy is not quite one and oh-so-cute! He has the sweetest little smile, when I could coax it out of him!

I could really see the love this little family has for each other, as well. Mom and Dad clearly dote on this cutie (who wouldn’t?) and he just eats it up.

I love to photograph connections like these–I’m always so thrilled after a shoot like this that I GET to do this as a job!

Thanks so much, D family, for sharing this evening with me! I’ll let you know when the rest of the portraits are ready for viewing.

Friday night last week was super fun for me–I got to play with a great family and take photos in the process. I loved this session because we did a combo of traditional posed portraits and some more fun, playful ones that make for a great mix. Plus, it’s always wonderful for me when families are willing to play a little.

So thank you for the chance to photograph you, G family! I’ll let you know later this week when your proofs are ready to see.

I had a very special session last week. One of my friends had me come to her home to photograph her mother. What an honor! After doing these portraits I’m just itching to seem my own grandparents (and my husband’s) so I can sit them down and get their images recorded for posterity.

Isn’t this a beautiful lady?

Sue, the rest of the proofs should be ready in a few days! Enjoy.

I had a quick little mini-session last Saturday night with some of my long-time clients. It was great to see them again and "play" a bit with a new location and vibe for this session. Urban is sooooo fun for me to do! Urban settings make for some very unique and playful family photos, as well.

A very nice young couple that was enjoying this perk kindly vacated it for us to use. So fun! 

I love to play with a little sunflare on the right shots! (pssst, that’s what the shining circles are in the lower part of the photo. Some feel they detract from an image, but I love the artistic look they give.)

This little guy is growing up sooo cute!

And finally, as a photographer, you know it’s time to end the session when you get this look:

Hope you enjoy them, S family! I’ll let you know later this week when your proofs are ready.

Thank goodness for no snow on Saturday! I had a shoot scheduled with a wonderful family up north of Spokane (with some of the family members coming in from Seattle) and was sooo worried that we’d be unable to do anything outside. Luckily, the weather held, though it was a bit chilly, and we got some really great images.

And can I just say, what a gorgeous family! They were so much fun to work with–I love laughing my way through a photoshoot. Of course I have a lot more editing to do, but I promised to share a few portraits right away. Here’s your sneak peek!

Thanks again for allowing me to take your family portraits! I’ll be in touch by the end of the week with the password to your private gallery!

So there’s this one part of running a photography business that I secretly just LOVE. Of course, I am grateful every day that I have a job I love, that people actually pay me money (!!!) to take their portraits, that I get to work from home and still be a stay-at-home-mom to my two sweet girls. Really, being a photographer rocks!

And as icing on the cake, there’s this one little small thing I get to do every time someone places an order with me. Naturally I do final touch-ups to all the ordered images and make sure that everything is absolutely perfect before I hit the little "send" button which transfers my photos to my awesome print lab. I carefully go through the invoice and make sure that I’ve ordered the correct sizes of everything. Then when I get the prints from my amazing UPS lady, I rip open the box like it’s Christmas morning and carefully inspect each print for flaws. And if (as was the case with my most recent order) there’s a mistake on any of the prints, I instantly contact my lab and ask for a replacement.

But almost my favorite part of the whole process? Packaging those prints to hand-deliver to my clients! Those who’ve worked with me in the past have seen several incarnations of my packaging as I changed my logo, my colors (slightly), and my business "look." I’ve been working hard to "brand" Photography by Janiece over the past year and have finally discovered exactly how I want to present orders to clients.

Isn’t it pretty? I love dressing my orders up with fancy touches–this is a custom portrait business, and I want to make sure my clients feel that from start to finish. The very best part, though, is delivering a package like this to a client and watching them tear all that hard work apart so they can gaze at the portraits of their loved ones, preserved for a lifetime. Yup, I really have the best job around.

***Please be aware that due to some technical difficulties with my primary computer, my internet access is sporadic at best. I appreciate your patience as my computer is at the *spa* getting all shined up! Please don’t hesitate to contact me at (509) 209-3435 with inquiries and to schedule your free mini-session! 

What a fun session today! You may recognize these beauties from a session I did back in October. Their mom had me back today to do some ballerina portraits–all three older girls are in ballet at a local studio. And of course, littlest sis has to get in on the action, too!

the biggest sis–so graceful

the next biggest sis–full of spunk

the littlest big sis–loves to perform

the littlest sis–heehee, what can I say?  

all the sises

Thanks so much for letting me do such a FUN session!  

Sometimes when thinking about a good location for children’s portraits, the most unexpected places can produce really striking results! I took my girls for a little walk today in a more rundown part of town and found some great location.

For baby or milestone-type portraits, this location would probably not work. But if you’re interested in modern portraits with a fashion feel, consider getting away from the parks and green spaces that abound in Spokane.

When you call to schedule your free mini-session, we’ll discuss ideas for possible locations. Call me at 209-3435!

Have you seen the pinwheels all over town in the past week? There are over two thousand of them on the lawn at Sacred Heart representing the babies born there last year. There are dozens and dozens at child care centers, preschools, and community services buildings. You can read this article, this article, or this article to get an idea what they are for.

Preventing child abuse–that’s a rather ambitious idea but one that is completely attainable. Unlike childhood illnesses such as cerebral palsy, leukemia, or juvenille diabetes, child abuse is 100% preventable. As one of the articles linked above says, the goal of the "Our Children Our Business" campaign is to raise awareness of child abuse and ways to prevent it. This is my small part.

I’m sure that many more photographs of pinwheels will be appearing around here in the next few days.

Do you know of a special child that deserves a treat? Let them play model for a day and take advantage of PbJ’s FREE portrait mini-sessions during our Fresh Faces Campaign.  

I’m so excited to start handing out these cards!

To get the word out about my Fresh Faces Campaign and the FREE mini-sessions I’m offering this spring, I’ve ordered these postcards to carry with me. So often I see adorable children (everywhere I go, it seems) that I would love to photograph. Curls, red hair, sass, sweetness–there are so many things that make children precious and special! So now I’ll have postcards to give to parents to invite them to try PbJ. If you know of anyone who would love a free mini-session, please direct them here! I’ve set aside a good amount of time for this over the coming month. 

With spring slowly creeping into Spokane, I’ve decided to run a special, one-time promotion to attract new faces for my website, blog, and marketing materials. The Fresh Faces Campaign features 20 minute mini-sessions, to be held in downtown Spokane or on the South Hill, for free. Yes, that’s right, I’m looking to attract a diverse and beautiful selection of babies, children, tweens, teens, and everyone in between for showcasing online. Mini-session participants will also receive one complimentary 5x7 with a signed model release.

This promotion is open to past, present, and future clients. Due to the nature of a mini-session, we can only do either group or individual shots, as they are too short to fit in a huge variety. A mini-session would be perfect for getting a few outstanding images to give as gifts for Mother’s or Father’s Days–both coming up in the next few months! PbJ’s standard portrait policies will be in effect.

Rather than the typical 25-35 images to choose from that you get with a typical session, mini-session participants will receive 5-7 poses to select from, and they will be held at one location with one outfit.

If you’ve been waiting for good weather to get your portraits done, now is the time! You can’t beat an offer like this. I’ll be doing a limited number of mini-sessions each week, and preference will be given to clients wanting to book a week day. Call me at 509-209-3435 or email me at photographybyjaniece@gmail.com to schedule your session today!

Can you handle two blog posts in one day? I just have to share this image with you today.

 Spring is almost here, I just know it! I saw little baby flowers blooming in the grass, trees are buddings, and I know you all want to get outside and play in the sun. Maybe if we all "think spring" we can make it happen!

Oh, and don’t you love my new chair? I got it for a steal (free) and a friend of mine just finished recovering it for me. It’s my new favorite photography prop! I can’t wait until I get to drag it out into a field for portraits. Or take it to the lake–can’t you just see this gold with the gorgeous blue water?

I’m booking for April through August now, so please visit http://www.photographybyjaniece.com to view the options! Don’t miss out on the wildflowers this spring–book your session today. 

Mmmmmm, burgers and fries, fresh huckleberry shakes, deep fried oreos, mmmmmm.

Sorry, my brain stopped working there for a moment. Back to the task at hand–Spokane!

When we first moved here two and a half years ago, one of the first questions we asked our friends was "Where is the best place in town to get a hamburger?" In all cases but one, the answer was, of course, The Onion (the one person who replied differently apparently prefers his burgers by the bagful). Whatever your preference, though, you really can’t go wrong at The Onion if you’re looking for good burgers, bottomless fries, and of course, massive onion rings!

My girls love the fact that they get to color,

have a geography lesson,

and run out with balloons! 

My favorite part? Visiting a local, family friendly restaurant with excellent food and enjoying some family time! No, I’m not being paid to advertise for them, they don’t even know I’m posting this! I just wanted to share one of my faves of Spokane.

I’ll ask you again, what are YOUR favorite things to do in this city? Any must-visit places on your list when friends and family come to stay? Tell me about them! 

I love living in Spokane. I moved here with my family two and a half years ago when my husband started law school at Gonzaga, and we all have really fallen in love with this city–the people, the parks, the atmosphere, and everything else that makes Spokane such a jewel of the Inland Northwest.

I love the shopping in Spokane. With everything from major national chains Pottery Barn to local places like Boo Radleys in the downtown area, I could wander the streets for hours. And who doesn’t love the amazing park system we have here, with neighboorhood parks scattered so thickly that any real estate listing in town could include "near a park" in the home’s description.

What I want to do is find the local places and businesses that really make Spokane unique. Where is the best place for a burger and fries? What is a good location for, say, kite flying? This is where I need your help, readers! I’m still a relative newbie when it comes to all things Spokane, so I’m looking for suggestions and nominations on what you consider to be the best of Spokane.

I’ll show you one of my favorite places–you’ve probably driven past this location dozens of times on your way to the northside. The first person to comment and correctly identify this location gets a FREE session with Photography by Janiece to be held in April 2008 (new clients only, please). Hint: This location is not really a traditional destination.

Let’s here those guesses! And while we’re at it, tell me the places you think are the greatest in Spokane!  

For the last few weeks, I’ve been sneaking off with another photographer friend to a special place that I don’t believe many people know about. It’s perfect for portraits, with lots of open space, shade and sun, interesting stone structures, and, come summer, what will be a beautiful area with grass and tall plants. I’m talking about the abandoned section of Liberty Park located just off Third Avenue where the freeway cut through the formerly 40-acre park in the heart of Spokane. Updated and landscaped in the early 1900s by the famous American landscape architects the O