This is the blog of Baltimore Maryland Photographer, Jodie Holstein-Otte.
Please also visit:
portfolio/portrait site |
workshops for photographers
Jodie's work has been in many local publications such as BabySteps and
Modern Babies and Children, but also in larger publications such as Parents,
Baby Talk, American Baby, InStyle, People Magazine, the New York Times, and
on Fox News in Baltimore. She has been published in the Big Book of Babies
by J.C. Suares, and is known nationally as the photographer behind the
Similac Infant Formula ad campaigns 2009 and 2010. Her work may also be seen
in books, publications, and teaching material for medical professionals.
Jodie began as an artist painting traditional portraits by hand in pastels
and oils many years ago, and portrait photography became a natural
progression. She strives to maintain realism amongst these days of digital
processing and creates images full of warmth and peace with classic rich
tones using both natural light and studio lighting. She is known for her
simplistic natural approach to studio lighting in her book
Studio
Lighting Naturally. Her nature work has been seen on greeting
cards across the United States and in local gallery showings and exhibits.
Contact: jodieotte@verizon.net
| 443.299.2752
I can’t begin to tell you how happy I am in the new studio. I feel like I have so much new to work with now… It’s so much easier to utilize both studio and natural light in the same session. Here’s an example - check out this gorgeous new family, pregnancy and newborn.
I might not be able to post to my blog every day, but I am trying to keep it interesting :) I love to share client work… but I do like to share my personal stuff here as well, because I need to force myself to bring out the camera during non-work time. My original love was photographing nature, so somehow over the past 2 years, I have lost track of that…
I shared our spring project a few weeks back - we took some eggs from our chickens to hatch… We have our first batch of 14 hatching as I type ;)  I woke up yesterday morning at around 4 a.m., half dreaming I was hearing chirping. I stumbled down the steps and looked in the incubator. I saw nothing unusual but could actually hear peeping. This meant that one of the eggs pipped through its membrane and was breathing air from the air sack. Even though it was a day away from due date, looked like something was going to happen.
I fell asleep on the couch, and Dean checked on the eggs before going to work and told me he saw a hole in one of the eggs. Yep, we had an external pip!
Almost 12 hours later, my stepdaughter, Ally, came over so we could go to her riding lesson, and it was perfect timing. The first egg hatched out! Since then, we have had 8 more fully hatch, and signs of a few more hatching… 9 out of 14 so far… not bad for my first hatch!
Here’s progression of the first one to hatch…Â I’ll post more pictures later when I can take them out of lockdown and once they get fluffy…
Amazing! I was wondering how those chicks were doing. 
Wow-so beautiful! I love how you made these images so magical. I can’t wait to show them to my 9 yr old when she comes home from school today. She is hatching eggs in her class and recently took an interest in photography. I can’t wait to show her your perspective and how you saw the event through a photographer’s and artist’s eyes!
I like this journalistic post. Nothing like gettting back on the path. Hope you find more time to catch some of the little moments in life. Enjoyed this post.
wow, how amazing! I’ve never seen an egg hatch before - this is so cool!
We have an awesome creator if something so cute can come out of an egg like that. Thank you for sharing all of this with us.
naawhh! thats so cute!
Very cool Jodi! Great images of the hatching. I can’t wait to see what color eggs you get.
congrats! we just heard out first little “peep” this evening so i’m thinking sometime tomorrow we’ll have a chick or two coming!
aawwwwww, the birth of a little chick. So beautiful. Welcome to the world little chicks.
You definately exceeded in keeping it interesting. So happy you have been able to go back to your initial love of photographing nature. Yours is one of the few blogs I have found that I love coming back to again and again. Thanks for sharing.
Wow, these are incredible.
so jealous u have done this- love the photos and can’t wait to see more!Happy Mother’s day to Mother Nature
Oh I just love these!
I would love to know how you incubated them. Do you have an incubator or did you make a homemade one? Thanks.
Between shoots last Friday, I walked around and took some quick snaps of the studio property. Everything is starting to bloom and become green, and I am so excited to be utilizing these 8 acres for portraits this spring/summer.  I already have a few sessions to proof done outdoors with children, but in the meantime, here’s a little quick tour in photos…. For the photogs - these were again with my Nikkor 135 mm/2.0 I truly love this lens!
Breathtaking…just as lovely outside as in!
Wonderful colours & so lush, just beautiful!! I can’t wait to see your outdoor sessions Jodie, I’m sure they will be amazing
Wow! Just stunning!
Lovely images. What a great place to shoot.
These are just so beautiful. You manage to capture the splendor of Mother Nature, the exquisite light, the serenity, the simplicity. I feel peaceful and uplifted just looking at these shots! Thank you for posting such incredible images for us to enjoy.
Gorgeous!!
The colors, the light….just gorgeous!
Wow Jodi, what an inspirational place to shoot. I love the deep colours and the 135mm lens, I may have to put it on my wishlist or at the very least rent it for a weekend to try it out.
So beautiful!
gorgeous!
these are breathtaking…love every shot!
do you have one of those “what’s in my bag” sections? I’d love to know what lens you used for most of these shots…such amazing bokeh - gorgeous!
Jodie, you always find beauty around you and I love that even when you aren’t in the studio, you are out capturing the world around you. Just love these images, esp. the rocks on the steps. And the gnarled tree trunk base, just perfect!
Well here we go, yet another gorgeous little one! My favorite has to be the ones with the hat - not many little ones will leave a hat on, and she did
It’s definitely springtime, and now we finally are able to get outside and enjoy it completely! We’re finally back outdoors riding, and what a lovely surprise at Muddy Creek Meadows last night. Erynn and I went for our lessons, and one of the horses had a brand new baby boy…. and then… someone mentioned they saw a new lamb - apparently, nobody knew a lamb was coming, and there it was, freshly born… yes, it’s spring… and more babies on the way!
We needed a counterpart to the original baby on saddle - so here we have a Western Saddle with the teeniest little sweetheart! She is so tiny, I had to have a closeup with this one. She’s on her Mommy’s saddle… so sweet!
By the way - Photographers - I shot this image during my most recent workshop at my studio. My attendees were able to experience all the secrets in posing as well as post processing here… We have 3 seats left in our June workshop - please go to http://www.jodieotte.com/mentoring.htm for more details!
Absolutely gorgeous, Jodie!
Brillliant and beautiful! You amaze and inspire me with every image
Amazing Jodi. I hope to attend one of your workshops, June is too tricky for me right now, but my turn will come.
Oh how lovely! I’m still kicking myself when I signed up for but then couldn’t come to your workshop. I am going to come one day!
Have mercy this is cute.
I love horses and I love babies and I love photography, so this is like heaven!
Absolutely gorgeous Jodie! You are such an inspiration.
~ Petra
Gorgeous!!! I CANNOT wait to attend your workshop
LOVE IT!!!!!!!
Every horse lover will adore this! So beautiful in every way.
Seriously gorgeous!!!
So cute!LOVE!
Dear Jodie, I love your pictures, the light, the composition, the colours it is just amazing your pictures are truly a work of art. I wish you al the best and who knows maybe in the future I will be able to follow one of your workshops.
Kind Regards from Monique, The Netherlands.
very cute baby.
We are going to have to plan a trip to baltimore. Would love to attend one of your workshops one day! Truly amazing newborn portraits
When I was about my daughter’s age (she’s 10), I found a robin egg that my dog had just knocked the nest down. The egg was still warm. I ran into my house and held it over a lightbulb and I saw a heart beating. As an animal lover, I wanted to hatch that egg. I got an old aquarium and an old lamp and set it up in my room (the lightbulb for heat), and even though the light was so bright and annoying while I was trying to sleep at night, I was determined to hatch this egg.  Every day, I would carefully hold the egg up to the light and see that little tiny heart beating. So exciting! Of course, I had no idea what I was going to do when that egg hatched, maybe I would crush up worms and try to feed it by hand? It didn’t matter, I was determined to help this poor little baby bird.
I woke up one morning, and the lightbulb had gone out. I held that tiny egg up to the light, and the heartbeat was gone. I was crushed.
A few years back, my daughter tried to rescue a robin egg, and I knew how she felt, but there was no hope for it, and I told her that… but she tried to keep it warm… in a box… no amount of compassion she had for animals was going to save it, but she finally gave up when it started to stink… lol!
Whether we are discussing baby humans or baby animals, the miracle of life is simply amazing. While my son (age 13) acts all calm and cool about the whole thing, I know both of my children are pretty fascinated as well, and I am so happy to be able to share the experience of new life with them…
Can you believe, Day Four of our experiment with hatching chicken eggs, and we have already seen life by candling the eggs (holding them over a very bright light)! There is slight movement. I am not sure whether that is the heart beating, but that would be my guess, as it is a pulsating appearance. So far, we can definitely see that 13 of the eggs do indeed have life in them. We’ll check again in a few days and see if we have more.
The workshop where I was teaching last week was fantastic! I thought I would do a “big share” of some pictures I took while there.
We stayed in the Perry Cabin Inn. I have to say, the hotel staff was incredible. We arrived Sunday evening, running late… Dean and I had 20 minutes to run into the room, change, and be ready for the meet and greet. Wow… it was like a tornado hit the room, but we had to get going. When we came back to the room, all our clothes were picked up and put away, the bed was turned down, slippers on each side of our beds, bottled water on each side, etc. etc.
It was fantastic meeting all of the photographers and fellow speakers, and Marsha Mifsud (who organized the entire Savvy Sisterhood Workshop on the Waterfront) was just as sweet as I thought she would be. She sure knew how to treat her speakers and attendees!!!!
It did rain the first two full days we were there, so I didn’t take a lot of photos at the actual inn, but here are a few - view of part of our suite, and view from the balcony….
When I do get out with what little traveling I do, I love to capture the feel of my surroundings. What may look ordinary to some, I want to make extraordinary in pictures… here are random shots mostly from Talbot Street in St. Michaels, but also from the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and surrounding areas…
Photographers:Â For these images, I believe all were shot with the Nikkor 135mm/2.0Â This was the first time I have brought that lens out; I have to say, I love it, and it will probably be my go-to lens this spring and summer outdoors at the new studio…
Very nice…being from Maryland, now living in Florida, it was nice to see pieces of home. I miss the Eastern Shore. Thanks for sharing…
WOW Jodi, just WOW. Your photo’s make me want to get in the car and drive. What beautiful saturation of color and interesting subjects (but that laughing thing kinda freaks me out a bit - lol)
STUNNING images!! I very much wish I could have attended the workshop! It looks like it was a great time.
Thanks so much Rosemary - the laughing head freaks me out too. It makes me uncomfortable to look at her, and I don’t know why - that’s why I posted it… didn’t know if anyone else felt that way. LOL!
Very cool
I love all of these images!!! You have such a gift for seeing and capturing all the details! I had so much fun there and I learned a lot from you especially about the business side of things and setting goals and such. Thank you so much for taking the time to teach.
Looks like an amazing place. That dog has got it made. Thanks for sharing these.
The Workshop was fabulous and thank you Jodi for sharing. Your photos of St.Michael’s are amazing. When I got there on Sunday and walked around with my cousins, we realized after we were far away from the car that I forgot to bring my camera out, I missed some wonderful shots. I will have to catch them on my next visit.
LOVE your work Jodie, your pictures always have that WOW element!
Wow Jodie!! Amazing capture of the place, it look so beautiful. I especially like the beer shot! Yummy! 
You’re work is always inspiring… you make the most mundane things come to life… I really need to keep the camera in my hand at all times… I need to start having fun like you do
Fantastic photos!
You inspire me! I love the use of DOF to increase interest in some of the images. These are simply breathtaking!
Amazing photos Jodie! I just stumbled upon your website. My wife and I live in St. Michaels and own Keepers where are shop dog Redford comes to work with me everyday. I’ve never seen him look so handsome as in the photos you snapped of him, thank you! We are very proud doggy parents. Keep up the good work.
Gorgeous. Yes, as absolutely stunning this baby is, she will have you all fooled in these pictures. She is up there as one of the top two most difficult newborn sessions I have ever had!  This was the session that I didn’t get out of my studio until midnight…. yes, sure was!   Could you guess this was the case? She just looks so precious, doesn’t she?…
Amazing!!!
wow, beautiful, and your right.. you can not tell
Her skin just seems to glow. So gorgeous.
Ohh sigh..this is amazing! so tender!
gorgeous! you definitely couldn’t tell…..she has beautiful skin, too. love the 2nd set of images!
Beautiful Jodie…had the same yesterday…tiring but rewarding after its done
I love the picture of her hands Great job!!!
He is so handsome. The pictures are beautiful!
Excuse me, I meant she is so beautiful.
Gorgeous, Jodie! She is adorable!
They look great as usual! Here’s to some super easy newborns for you!
Perfect!!!!!
Simply inspiring! I look at this site daily since I discovered it, not to copy but to be inspired. Exquisite work!
So cute. Simply cute.
Okay, it’s no secret we love animals here… Last year, we bought chicks, and it has been really a great experience raising chickens. They are SUPER easy to care for, don’t require much at all. I have to say they are way less complicated than dogs or cats or even guinea pigs by far.
On a whim (isn’t that how I always blame these decisions?), I decided we were going to hatch some eggs. Do we need more chickens? No, but our kids are only young once, why not let them experience things that they may otherwise never experience? Well, as usual, it’s a little out of control…
We have 30 eggs in the incubator now. My goal is to get some eggs of different colors. We have two Ameraucana hens (one lays pinkish eggs, the other blue) amongst other hens, and an Ameraucana rooster, so we know the blue and pink eggs are going to be little Ameraucanas (laying anything from pink to blue to green eggs). I also took cochin eggs (we have one blue cochin) which obviously have an Ameraucana father - our hope is that any hens we receive from those eggs will have olive green eggs - that’s the goal anyway. I also have black and copper maran eggs on the way to incubate. They produce very dark brown, almost chocolate-colored eggs.
Okay, now that you are shaking your head thinking we are crazy, I’ll share some pictures…
Eggs in the incubator - expected hatch day April 27th.
This little mop in the corner is a silkie hen that went broody. We’ve never seen a broody hen before. Wow… they are hilarious! She was broody prior to us going away last week, so when we returned, I decided to just let her try to hatch her eggs. She currently has six under her. I shoo-ed her off of her nest the other day to count, and she growled at me. When she returned, she caught sight of her eggs and started to talk to them… cooing sweetly to them. She then arranged herself on top, and carefully tucked all the eggs beneath her with her beak.  Then, she went back into her trance as you see here… Expected hatching date on these would be April 21st.
Fascinating! But it sounds like a foreign language - all those names of hens I mean! I hear good things about keeping chickens as pets. Pets? Is that the correct term?
How exciting! I can’t wait to see the chicks!
That is really neat! Love that she talked to her eggs. All mamas are the same! Can’t wait to see the chicks.
That is fabulous! What a great experience for your children. We have chickens too. Love their funny personalities and fresh eggs Thank goodness the hubby hasn’t wanted to hatch his own, we already went through that experience years ago with a batch of quails when the kids were younger But experiences like that are what kids remember most. Great job and love the pic of protective Momma hen, lol…..
Fascinating…. Look forward to updates!
My husband wants chickens. We live in a subdivision, but its an old subdivision with no restrictions. I guess they thought the people who lived here wouldn’t even think about chickens. He wants to build a rolling coop. ??? My neighbors are going to freak, but I’m glad to read that they are easier than dogs. My Yorkie has me stressed out! Can’t wait to see those babies!!!!
Everyone thought I was crazy when we purchased day old chicks and ducks for the studio this year. My husband considered keeping some, but we weren’t sure about the cats roaming the neighborhood. Would love to see how you care for them and what the pen looks like. We donated them to a country farm. Several of them were black chickens whose eggs are supposed to be blue.
Looking forward to seeing your chicks when they hatch. I can’t get over how small they start out and then how quickly they grow.
Terri - I wouldn’t use any of these chicks for my studio. I think kids are just too rough with them… not to mention, they require staying under 85-100 degree heat lamps constantly I only have chickens for our fresh organic eggs and for fun at our house… I have the entire coop and run here on the blog — http://jodieotte.com/?p=420
Yes we did… we curled a 5-1/2 week old baby on a saddle. Photographers know how difficult it is to curl a baby over 2 weeks old - well, it’s definitely not impossible.Â
Just sharing a recent super sweet newborn…Â Photographers - this is again, studio lighting, imitating natural light as in my book.
Gorgeous! I love little baby forehead wrinkles…. too cute!
Gorgeous images, Jodie - I love that last one so much!
LOVE LOVE LOVE! Everything you do is fabulous!
Beautiful Jodie! I love the one eye peeking out, very sweet.
Gorgeous! I just love that last shot! I would have thought these were naturally lit if you didn’t say otherwise- amazing!
Beautiful as always!!!
The studio is closed until April 1st so that I can go and teach in St. Michael’s MD (per below)… we will resume with emails and calls then. If it is urgent, please call 443-299-2752. Thank you!
Although I do enjoy being a baby, child, family photographer, my original love is photographing my surroundings. I really miss it. It has been a long time since I took out my camera for my own enjoyment and photographed nature, animals, and/or just things in general…  I need to somehow in my busy schedule make some time for the “me” shots. I love to capture the essence of my surroundings.
At any rate, my husband and I are heading out to St. Michael’s Maryland. I’m teaching photographers at the Savvy Sisterhood Workshop on the Waterfront at the Perry Cabin Inn (the beautiful and amazing Inn used in the Wedding Crashers movie).
I want to blog while I am gone, but not sure if I will have the time or not, so no promises, but I’ll definitely share when I get back.
Until then, here are some images that I took the last time I was in St. Michael’s…. enjoy!
Studio Lighting Naturally books (workshop books) are in stock — see THIS LINK for details….
The book is now revision 2 — same book, a few extras…
If you are wanting to attend one of our workshops — More info HERE, we have a waiting list currently for a future date (it looks like the June/May workshop date is completely booked). The future date will possibly happen in June. Please email jodieotte@verizon.net to get on the waitlist.
Happy is the word to describe this little boy. This is the second time I have had the pleasure of working with A. The last time I saw him, he was 2 or 3 months old.  I remember we wanted him to fall asleep so badly, and mom put him down when he did. As soon as mom put him down, he opened his eyes and smiled HUGELY… He smiles constantly. You can’t help but to smile whenever you are around this sweetheart.Â
What a gorgeous little man. I totally adore that tree shot. Love it!
Aww he is sweet! Beautiful photos….
Oh, Jodie!!! The one in the sweater on his tummy in color….sooooo delicious!!! I just want to squeeze him up!
So adorable!!!
I love your work!!!
Gorgeous!
Beautiful photos! Nice work
Beautiful work as always! I LOVE the tree painted on your studio wall, and i’m so happy i’ll get to see it in person soon
Jodie, these are wonderful. Love his little sweater, and I like the composition of the painted tree.
Love the tree! Love the sweater one on his tummy too!
Just found your blog. Your work is Amazing. Love the ‘tree’ image. Jenna
Stunning!! Just stunning!
Absolutely stunning work. Thank you for sharing!
Beautiful photos! I am really wanting your STUDIO! Love it!
Gorgeous!! The pictures and the little model!
Thanks to all who notified me that the Similac ads we shot are all over Celebrity Babies I had to giggle when I saw the one that is animated…
I very much enjoyed working with the ad agency and our 13 baby models back in November. What was fun about this shoot was that it was a “happy and joyful” shoot - all the babies were so much fun, and this ad turned out like it was with the big grins on their faces… The first ad was more serious and artistic, but these ads just exude the happy side of babyhood…
Spring is here! And with it comes family and child portraits! I’m asked quite a bit if I do family portraits, as many see baby pictures and assume that is all I photograph - no no no, I enjoy working with children and their families as well
Here’s a little tip for what to wear for family portraits. These families had some great ideas, and I wanted to share them with you. Choose a color that you like, and coordinate your entire family with those colors. You don’t want to be “matchy matchy” and match everything exactly, but different styles but in the same color family are an excellent choice! The main thing you want to avoid is clashing patterns. Going with textures as opposed to patterns is a safe route to take, although a subtle pattern mixed with solids is fine.
Beautiful beautiful families
and congratulations to M and A in this next picture — I’ll be seeing them this week with their brand new little one :)Â (yeah, she’s pregnant in this picture and looks gorgeous!)
*********PLEASE NOTE***********
I did want to announce, the new small-group workshop date is April 30th to May 1st. Please see http://www.jodieotte.com/mentoring.htm for more information!
…..here’s just a mixup of some sessions of different ages
Fantastic photos!!
Your work is just SO inspiring! And I am in love with that beautiful studio of yours!!
I just checked out your workshop site! OH, how I wish I wasn’t poor! 
Looks amazing!! I think it’s so great that you’re helping other photographers learn how to not be intimidated by studio lighting. I won’t go near it, I have no idea what I’m doing! Is it wrong to envy all those lucky people attending your workshop?
I just wanted to say that I really enjoy your work! I’m a budding photographer and look forward to displaying images that inspire others…as you are Great job! Carolyn
Three questions that keep popping up in my email box, that I must answer real quick before I spend the next four days straight shooting and teaching.
1. Are you really going to be going to the Savvy Sisterhood Workshop at the end of this month? Absolutely - cannot wait, very excited to get away with my husband, Dean, and spend some time having fun with, what is it, 70 other photographers? something like that? Yes, VERY excited to get away for this. When I was asked, how could I turn it down? That beautiful inn from the Wedding Crashers movie, in my home state so no major traveling, teaching lighting and stuff (which to me is just chattin’ about something I love…)…. a group of super nice photographers…. of course!!!!
2. Are you holding more private workshops at your new studio? Yes, yes, yes…. we are looking at May 1st or 8th as a possible date. Yep, a Saturday for your convenience :) and guess what - the snow will be GONE!  Keep an eye here on the blog, I’ll be announcing final details here shortly.
3. (This question mainly from the parents of the baby models from November’s Similac shoot). Will more Similac ads be coming out? Yes, we shot several different sets, just keep looking in magazines and don’t forget to let me know when you spot them
A formal introduction on the new studio. We still have to finish the office and prop room, but I just couldn’t wait any longer, just had to share.
On a whim in the fall, knowing that my lease was up for the other studio, I was a bit frustrated with dealing with four flights of stairs, parking, etc., and decided I wanted to look around a little for what my options were. I was told to “go talk to Curt” at the mill, and I drove over to the mill, but I tend to be on the shy side, and was afraid to go knocking on doors, so I almost left, but something pulled me to go find Curt anyway. I’m so glad I did. Curt showed me the Miller House, and I loved the building, and just had to make this move.
It’s been a lot of work, especially with the four feet of snow that we had (wow, it’s still not melted completely!), but I am thrilled to be introducing the new studio. We will have an official open house soon, and I will get more details together, but we are full-time up and running again, taking sessions. I’m so excited to start working outdoors as well on the beautiful 8 acres that this studio sits on…
Here it is, in Northern Baltimore County….
Kitchen…
Shooting room…
upstairs hall to bath…
Studio Office…. (not quite done)
Prop Room… (not quite done)
wow, wow, WOW!!! Absolutely stunning! I am so green with envy:)
Absolutely stunning Jodie! Congrats!! I’m only about an hour and half from Balto now! Hope to meet up soon!
you are just amazing! Love what you have done, and in such a short time, and with 3 blizzards to boot!
Congrats!
oooooooh…..how I envy you! just beautiful, your have some very fortunate clients!!
Beautiful, amazing work displayed incredibly well. You should be proud of all the hard work you’ve put into this… I can only imagine.
Jodie, it’s absolutely beautiful! I love the metal signs out front. Ok, actually, I love everything! Great job.
WOW, Amazing! I look forward to the day I’m in your shoes, God bless!
How fun!! So excited for you!!
i adore it.
A complete DREAM studio! Congrats, J!
You have a beautiful studio! Your camera room looks so good - I can’t imagine keeping mine looking like that! Congrats on the new place!
wow….just stunning!
gorgeous. congrats on the new studio. you worked hard all these years and it paid off. luv it!
it’s gorgeous Jodie! love the prints on the front of the building~they look awesome! Great Job!!
Absolutely enchanting - wished I still lived in Baltimore so I could see it in person.
Congrats Jodie it’s beautiful! Enjoy!
Gorgeous!!
Oh la la! Love it! I bet you are relieved to have it done! Looks amazing!
Wow, 8 acres? Sounds like paradise! Congrats!
Wow, wow, wow. What an incredible space. And I just love what you have done with it. your clients are going to feel very special coming here.
So studio is so beautiful! You have always been good at choosing your paint color, as I remember from you sharing that info from a long time ago. I love love love the dark grey color! Do you remember what it is and can share with us?
Wow this studio looks amazing! I love it!
Excellent photostudio and amazingly creative pictures!
Jodi - that is AWESOME - it is a beautiful location and your decor is stunning. What a great place to ‘work’!! Congrats
Your studio is seriously to die for! Looove it!!
ABSOLUTELY BREATHTAKING! THE ABSOLUTE DREAM STUDIO, LOCATION, DESIGN, ARRANGEMENT, COLORS, PROPS!!!!! WOOOOWWW! YOU ARE BLESSED! Cannot wait to see more STUNNING work!
Amazing, simply amazing. I can’t wait to see what kind of magic you work in this space Jodie.
It is so beautiful! I was just wondering if you think you are going to miss those gorgeous brick walls?
What an amazing space. It’s been a lot of fun to watch it unfold and I can’t wait to see the images that come from inside!
Amazing! So very jealous… I want your prop room! haha.
I can’t wait for the images to start rolling out.
Congrats
Ahh…so that’s what heaven looks like - beautiful studio - wish you were in Australia (or I wish I was in Baltimore!)
Congratulations on your new studio! It looks absolutely dreamy.
amazing!!!! That might not even cover it….it’s just beautiful!!
OMG Jodie, your new studio looks awesome. Congrats you deserve it.
your studio is absolutely stunning jodie!
GORGEOUS!!!!! I mean wowo, this is an awesome space!! LOVE LOVE IT!
Oh my goodness what an absolutely amazing space! Stunning work and use of your space. Very, very nice!
Drool, what an amazing studio. Something to be very proud of, congrats.
Wow, Jodie - it’s absolutely stunning! I love everything about it!
So very beautiful, and very *you*. Congratulations!
So AWESOME Jodie!!! I can’t WAIT to see it in person!!! Congrats to you!!!!
super !!!
Are you kidding me??!! AMAZING!!!
I myself am a very passionate portrait photographer and can honestly say that I look up to you. I am 17 years old, just starting out but hope to one day have created such a success like you have. Brilliant work, truely amazing. x
Love the new space you have! I noticed one of our pictures displayed on the walls - very exciting! We’re looking forward to coming back and doing another session with you as the kids get older.
Wow, just WOW. This is my dream. Great studio, and great work!
That is the most amazing studio I have ever seen! Congrats! I am extremely jealous
GORGEOUS!!!!! off to dream big!!!
WOWWW….This kind of studio is only in my dreams! I LOVE everything about it! Congrats to you, and love love love you work!
I love your studio so much.
Your studio is my dream.
I love your work.
You’re so talented.
Just discovered you from the Savvy photographer blog where she showcased your studio! Thanks for the tour… I’ve been looking for a new studio and weighing a downtown loft vs a house to convert… so it was especially fun to see!
Thank you!
Gorgeous! WOW. Soooo jealous! LOL!!
wow.. that’s amazing!
Love your studio and all of the beautiful canvases and art hanging on the walls! TFS! Your work is amazing!
As many of you know, we shot another national commercial ad campaign for Similac Infant Formula in November of 2009. We shot several different ads, and the first new ad has been spotted. We had a live casting call for this ad, and I am still receiving emails every day from parents who are looking to get their babies/children into modeling. I would like to request, if you are reading this, please do not send any more pictures to my email address. We had requested that no photos be sent even when we had our casting call as it was a live casting only. I have had hundreds thousands of photos that were sent to my email address. I do not keep any of these photos on file - we do not have the space for this.  When we have a model casting call, we will post details here on the blog, please keep an eye out for any future opportunities. In fact, we will be doing another model call here shortly. Getting this overwhelming amount of emails, it made me realize that there are not many options for those in Maryland for modeling for children and what options are there, many do not know about.Â
If you wish to get your children into modeling, there are two main things to know.
1. Do not pay for a portfolio for your child. Children change so quickly, a portfolio is worthless, unless your child is already signed with an agency. Only then, a portfolio is necessary. If you wish to contact modeling agencies, a nice snapshot will do.
2. In Maryland, there are two talent agencies.  One is Taylor Royall http://www.taylorroyall.com and the other is Linda Townsend Management http://www.lindatownsendmgmt.com
At any rate, here is the first of several new Similac ads that we shot in November… If you spot any more, please shoot us an email, and let us know where you have spotted the ad.Â
We took the kids out last week to see Theatre Equus in Harrisburg, PA… it was definitely entertaining…. However, after hearing that my 10-year-old daughter was standing up in her stirrups cantering her horse at the barn, the conversation that ensued last night went something like this…
Me: “Erynn, you are not going to stand up on Stormy and canter like Tommie Turvey…”
Erynn: “I won’t, I’m going to stand up and trot her first.”
Photographers: This is all with my Nikon D3 and 70-200/2.8 lens… it’s amazing how you can push this camera in the dark with no flash…
I loved the way this sweet little baby girl curled…. and we had to capture a teeny smirk…
Then, we had a tiny newborn baby boy… so incredibly calm, that’s where the fun began. I love when parents bring interesting props, as I like the challenge of finding a way to work with them.
Is that a lasso? LOL! And I love the the little stretched-out leg on the little girl.
Yep - that’s a lasso… he fit perfectly inside of it
awesome as always!
LOVE the lacrosse pic! Very unique!
Since that is a girl’s lax stick it appears Dad is a cowboy and Mom is a laxer. Good pix
Just beautiful! Unique!
Gorgeous! Love the wood floors on the bottom photo and mom’s expression in the middle one. Beautiful photos!
Amazing pictures - I love them
I love the contrast of daddy and babies texture. Scruffy vs soft.
I just love your Work Your a true inspiration! I’m planing on becoming a professional one day too. To have my own Photo studio would be my dream! I love those hardwood floors! It looks so perfect with a new Baby. Just absolutely amazing!!!
What great ideas! Beautiful compositions!
Oh goodness,these are stunning!
LOVE YOUR WORK!!!
Three newborns in a row… all girls… sweet as can be…
LOVE,LOVE,LOVE!
Gorgeous as always!
how cute lovely pictures - I liked them a lot
Pure sweetness! I usually love the sleeping photos, but this one bundled in the green with his inquisitive eyes are simply perfect. I would definitely need those hanging up in the nursery!
I apologize, my website has been hacked. This is the first time this has happened in six years. The service provider is working on fixing this.
So our new portrait studio is coming along nicely; however, it has been a drag not being able to do all the finishing touches quickly with all that snow closing us down for a while. We are still doing photo sessions of course, but not outdoors. It’s a shame, we now have 8 acres to work on, and it’s completely snow covered…. but that’s okay, eventually spring will come
I’ve been so busy painting and organizing, I have neglected my blog.   Yesterday was the first day in a while I felt like I was starting to catch up. I’m waiting for many print orders right now, as UPS hasn’t delivered in over a week due to the snow. There’s new studio furniture we’re waiting on as well… so for the next few days, I have some blog posts ready - finally! ;)  Beautiful children….
Beautiful as always Jodie
Adorable!
Such lovely colors and sweet children. Beautiful captures. As a former Marylander, and current Floridian, I miss those lovely fall days with rich color and gorgeous light. Great post.
Beautiful work as always Jodie! You know how to bring out a childs personality so well. Gorgeous colors!
Your work is always gorgeous!
These are so gorgeous…your color is beeeutiful!
I love you work.
They are all so beautiful!
Hi Jodi. Love the last one! Gorgeous. Do you mind sharing the apeture on this pic?
Love ,love ,love.
…and guess what? More snow in the forecast for Monday…. And so it continues… having to re-dig-out. Some snaps from yesterday…
My house snow-covered…
Looking through the garage door…
Out back…
Bird tracks…
Dean with the snow blower… what a disaster…
Bored of having to dig out again to the chicken coop, I decided to dig some stairs…
This was our little pond….
The dove I rescued…
Erynn figured out if she crawled on all fours, it distributed her weight more evenly making it easier to cross the yard…
Barrett’s favorite job…
We sure didn’t have a shortage of eggs…
And introducing for the first time…. Drum roll please…. Dean’s beard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL
Wow, Jodie…craziness!!! We looked just as bad down here in DC. I’m so over it! And ready for spring!!! LOVE the stairs you dug…lol…creative! Stay safe and we’ll all pray for a slow meltdown!
Wow, that actually makes me grateful to live in Utah!
I love your window picture!
That is A LOT OF SNOW!!!!! Love your stairs.
Sure is pretty, when you don’t have to deal with the headaches!
I love these pictures. In Denmark we have had snow for a long timw now butwe have a severe lack of beautiful blue sky and sun. Beautiful family you have there.
Fellow ILP’er Danca
I am such a bad blogger right now! I have not been able to keep up. I have, however, been able to keep up a little more with Facebook - so see below if you want to reach the fan page for J. Otte Photography… been showing all sorts of old photos of the historic building we are now preparing as the new studio. It’s turning out lovely - but lots and lots of work between photo sessions. Every spare moment is now being spent on painting and decorating the new place. Photos on the progress have been placed on the Facebook page, will post more here at a later date.
In the meantime, Marylanders, are you about out of your minds? What’s with these blizzards? I’ve lived in Maryland all my life and never saw so many blizzards in one year.  We’ve been rescheduling photo sessions like crazy!
I did manage a few snaps this weekend - nothing spectacular, I think everyone is worn out and sore from shoveling!
Just thought I would take a moment and share —
Nothing like a morning shoveling to the chicken coop… I kept thinking - almost done, almost there… and then realized I had to cut out for the door, and then another path to the feed, and then another path to the door to the run…
My poor puppies couldn’t figure out the snow up to their necks…
My boy… hating his chores…
We were finishing up last night, and we heard whinnying… two Arabian horses slid down our driveway (yes, slid… it was very scarey) and into our front yard… they seemed to like visiting. Dean and I had to put a halter on one and get them back to their owners. One stepped and fell into our little koi pond… Dean said - that would be just right, all the work we put into digging that pond… “Hey, how did your pond break?” “a horse came out of nowhere and stepped in it….” LOL!
So here we go… round 2 of this weeks blizzards - calling for 16 to 24 inches tomorrow night. Wow… and I hear a little rumor more on Sunday/Monday????
Okay, we have been busy busy busy busy!!! My email boxes are so full right now, it’s unbelievable, and I promise, all will be answered and taken care of today. I have a shoot first thing this morning, and I will spend the rest of the day answering emails and phone calls. We finished up our first childrens/baby/maternity photography workshop of the year on Friday (we only have a few seats left for workshops this year - http://www.jodieotte.com/mentoring.htm - Our furthest attendee is coming from the UK - how fun is that! :))
At any rate, the big big news? What is the big big news? Well, I was getting ready to sign another lease for my current studio, and right before we started shooting for the next Similac ad in November, I happened upon another studio situation. It all seemed too good to be true, but there it was, staring me in the face, and I had to make a decision.
Yes, we are moving into the new studio in February. It is about a minute or two down the street from the current studio. We will be using this entire building, and it sits on 8 beautiful private acres. The gentleman who has renovated this building, has done a tremendous job.  Here’s a picture.
Here are two little “storyboards” of the decor going in the shooting area and the coffee-shop-style kitchen…
Needless to say, we’ve been placing orders on furniture, we have 34 gorgeous canvases that will be hung all over the building (I finally have great wall space), I have all new photography sets coming - everything from a shabby chic look to barnwood to stonework, and spring… wow, spring is going to be amazing shooting outdoors. We even have a stream going through the property!
So get ready, while I am still booking sessions right now, most are taking place starting the second week of February and we even have some booking up to August, so please contact us to get on this schedule! We also will be having an open house once everything is in place and settled, so stay tuned for the news.
*****
Also, we’re on Facebook —- http://www.facebook.com/#/pages/J-Otte-Photography-Black-Horse-Studio-Jodie-Otte/121000892458?ref=ts
Come join us for updates on the progress!
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How gorgeous!!! congrats!
How lucky are you!That is a photographers dream studio.
Yay! I cannot wait to see what you guys are going to do with it! How fun.
Looks great, I love that area.
wow, it’s beautifull!
That is unbelievable! Congratulations.
Jodi, Your work is STUNNING! Congratulations and much success in your new digs. So cool to have different shooting zones. I’ve been looking for a couch similar to the one you show above in your post. If you get a sec. shoot me an email and let me know the maker. BTW: The baby on the saddle is breathtaking!!
Best regard to your nice fotos from Louisette in Belgium.
Incredible!! *Jealous*
How beautiful! What a blessing to have this to use for your photography studio!
Your new space looks amazing. How wonderful to have the entire building AND 8 acres. A dream come true. Congratulations!
I loved your workshop! Wish I could see the new studio, it looks awesome! Can’t wait to see more pictures of your progress!
Adorable - love them all!
Very sweet!
Amazing! I love your work! Do you mind telling what size is your softbox? I’m saving money to buy one but not sure which one to get. Thanks!
50×50
Beautiful!
I knew you’re going to say the big mama 50X50. I want that too but do you think its going to be to big for on location newborn? By the way thank you for giving your time to answer my question, appreciate it!
absolutely amazing as always
not too big for on location - go too small, and you won’t have nice light.
Beautiful pictures! I especially enjoy the top one w/ mom and dad. They have such joyous looks on their faces. The little one in the cap is fantastic.