LYNDA RENEE PHOTOGRAPHY
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#FRONTSTEPSPROJECT: Packanack Lake, New Jersey

4/10/2020

 

So. I heard about this amazing project - which started out in Boston, MA - and I wanted to hop on ASAP and bring the project here to the amazing community I live in.

​Packanack Lake, New Jersey.


What an amazing project.

If you haven't heard about it. Let me tell you a little bit about how it all came together.

I went around from house to house - taking these portraits of families on their front steps - while keeping and practicing extreme social distancing. I was basically in the street/sidewalk when I took all of these images you see. Sometimes I was even in the middle of the road. Thank goodness for a great zoom. I asked all the families in my lake community to sign up about a week in advance - if they were interested. Once they signed up, I coordinated my itinerary for driving around and taking their pictures. We have a WEST side and an EAST side to our lake - so I began on my side, the west side. 

Each of these families received a visit from me as well as digital downloads of their images - for FREE.
I volunteered my time, in exchange for a donation from every family that participated. The donations my team and I have set up are for ALL for FRONT LINE employees.

Here are a few places that will be receiving our donations; because during this time, we cannot think of a more beautiful way to give back than to reach out to our neighbors who sacrifice so much.  In line with the objective of the #FRONTSTEPSPROJECT, we will be collecting donations for the following:

 ·        Chilton Medical Center
·        Valley Hospital
·        Mount Sinai Hospital
·        Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS)
·        Hackensack University Medical Center
·        Morristown Medical Center
·        Maywood Police Department
·        Various Essential Workers within the Packanack Lake Community”

My wonderful helpers will be putting together gift baskets and care packages for the amazing people who work at all the above mentioned! As of right now we have raised $840 with more money coming in everyday!

I photographed 55 families on the WEST SIDE so far. I have about 40 more on the east side starting tomorrow. And then one more day next weekend for MAKEUPS! Life happens. I am hoping to visit 100 front steps! 

So, thank you PACKANACK - for hopping on board with this effort that I am so happy to work on! Not to mention - I get to escape my own quarantine home and visit yours....all while putting smiles on your faces while really - I am the one who is smiling even bigger. Thank you for being the amazing community I am so, so proud to be a part of.

  • A little excerpt from the original project's photographer...."The purpose of this project is to bring us together virtually when we might feel isolated. We aim to highlight the faces of our community during a time when we might not see them in passing at the grocery store, coffee shop, on the train or at the gym. Participating in this project is also an opportunity to step up to help those who need it most right now. " - The Front Steps Project​

Featured Families for the WEST SIDE
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"The hearts on our front door are to honor those on the front line, helping us all stay safe and battling this virus. We have lost that sense of urgency of having to be somewhere at a certain time so when we needed to be ready for the picture, the four of us showered and got dressed (much nicer than we’ve dressed in weeks!) in 30 minutes. Our front step also represents our connection to the community, the place we spend time waving and chatting with friends and neighbors as they pass by." - The Stanchak Family
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"We’re feeling unsure of what the future holds, but also looking for silver linings wherever we can. We’re thankful to have this photo to remind us of this time we are sharing together (while still remaining apart from the rest of our family and friends). With Easter right around the corner, we wish our surrounding neighbors safe and healthy days ahead." - The Brown Family
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"Given these challenging times we are all living through, we thank God that we’re healthy and safe. While all of this craziness is happening, we are soaking up every second of our two greatest accomplishments.  We are living for this moment now and we’ll deal with what happens tomorrow, tomorrow. Thank you to all of the frontline workers for your courageous efforts in getting us through all of this. 🌈" - The Galarza Family
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"When we #stayhome we become #strongertogether and hope that sooner than later #thistooshallpass.  #feelingblessed for everyone and everything we have in our lives!" - The Fiorentino Family
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"The Benedetto’s have found the silver lining during this pandemic: BONUS FAMILY TIME...oh, and red wine... (hey, it’s good for circulation 😉)...Cheers! Stock up and Stay home!"
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"When Lynda presented us with this project, I was completely overwhelmed with her generosity and willingness to create more opportunity to help out our healthcare and frontline heroes. Normally technology is something that I shield my kids from. "It's what's running the world!" But now, with this uncertain time, I have nothing but unbelievable gratitude for technology, so I thought we would honor it here. Thank you to all those doers and computer geniuses who helped us have so much ability to connect even when we are so far apart." - The Bauer Family
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“Loving the time together, even with a math teacher mom. Learning to appreciate the true heroes. Lucky to live in an incredible community.” - The Wyatt Family
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"Lots of adjustments have been made in our lives with all that has been going on. We have been trying to juggle a lo:  from work, to school , and always finding time for some fun. Some days have been tough but we are so grateful for our health and the extra time we get to spend together” - The Tower Family

More West Side Families...


If you would like to contribute to this great project and donate any little bit you've got. Go ahead and click on that link below - you will be taken to VENMO (only accepted payment right now) to donate what you can! Just write in the message box - where you would like to see your donation go!
DONATE HERE!

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    Lynda Renee

    My thoughts behind the lens. Little stories behind what I do along with my 48-hour guarantee "sneak peeks" for my clients and followers!

"I had seen her work on Instagram and knew right away she was the person I wanted to take photos of my newborn! Lynda was amazing! She knew all the tricks to make my little one sit perfectly for all of the photos. She made my husband and I feel super comfortable as her studio has everything you need to have a great experience and an amazing outcome for your photos. I loved all of the props she had to choose from and all of the creative ideas she had to make our newborn shoot as unique as we are!
The studio is so cozy, warm, and inviting. She had an area with supplies for all of your baby needs and an area for all of the parents needs. She had many options in terms of back drops and props." - Lindsay, NJ (Newborn Session)

I would describe my experience with LRP as: Comfortable. Easy. Exciting. Memorable. Lynda allows you to feel at ease and be yourself. She comes up with ideas and has an eye for things you wouldn’t think of making the end product so anticipated. And most of all she creates an atmosphere for memories to be made. What I loved most about working with Lynda was how relaxed but driven she is. She makes you feel so comfortable like nothing is going on yet gives her all into getting the perfect picture without you even realizing. If I had to describe LRP Studios I would say: It’s perfect. You feel at home, cared for and welcomed. She has everything you may need from coffee to diapers to a couch with the games on so your husband, if he so chooses to come, can sit back and relax on. It’s clean, organized and filled with pictures and love from her clients, family and friends. It’s beautiful. - L.K NY (Newborn & Milestone Session)

My biggest fear was having a newborn and the unknown of how the session would go as they are unpredictible! 
I chose LRP because of viewing her blog and galleries, reading the amazing client testmonies, and seeing her passion for what she does! She has an amazing gift of patience when working with these little ones! My biggest fear was him not cooperating and when that started to happen, she made me and my son feel so calm. She really let us customize the props we wanted, made sure she knew what we were looking for! When we couldn’t get the family photos done she was so accommodating by coming to our home on a second occasion so we could get them! She goes above and beyond to make you feel special, and well, her work speaks for itself! She loves what she does, she is patient, calm, gentle and accommodating! She is exactly who you want working with your little one when capturing these precious memories! - Nicole, NJ (Newborn Session)

I had been actively looking for a photographer in the area to grow with me and my family. Lynda had a model call for a sitter and after looking at her website, I felt her style was exactly what I was looking for. Her photos really capture personality - which is what I wanted more than anything! Luckily we were selected and after our session, I was extremely happy. I have a family / milestone session coming up this month and can't wait for the results! Lynda as a person is very relatable. She is a NJ mom just like me so we were able to have real conversations. It made me so comfortable to tell her what I was looking for in my photos. She also takes the time to edit and select your photos for the gallery - and even does a reveal session in person to make it personalized!- Katelin, NJ

***** 5 Stars! What made me choose LRP was her availablity, flexibility and price. The experience with LRP that was so unique was the ease of reviewing photos online and downloading afterwards.The most important thing someone should know about Lynda is that it is so easy to communicate with her during and after the photoshoot. - Jaymie, NJ

During a newborn session for my second daughter she made my older daughter feel super special and important during the shoot. This was extremely touching to me because my older daughter went from being the star, single child, sole grandchild on both sides of the family to having to share the spotlight with her new sister and new cousin who are 11 weeks apart! Lynda is caring and compassionate. As a current teacher I see the former teacher in Lynda come out when she works with children. Most of the qualities you want in a teacher is almost everything you want in a photographer, too- PATIENT, calm, enthusiastic about her work, patient, knowledgeable, friendly, loving and oh did I mention patient? - Maria, NY (Newborn Session)

I wanted a fresh take on my photos and had promised to give her the opportunity. She definitly delivered. It was so easy!! Nothing felt rushed or forced. She knows exactly where to place you, and has tons of patience. It was a pleasure. I didn't have to think about anything...except how I'm going to choose my favorites from all the awesome shots she got.She really knows how to get the perfect shots with light, etc. and makes it so easy (even with a 2 yr old in the shots! - Stephanie, NJ (Family/Maternity Session)

I have used Lynda Renee Photography for my wedding and my daughter's newborn pictures. I had no fears for my daughter's pictures but my wedding I was a little concerned that Lynda's specialty was babies not weddings, but I should have known I should not have any fears because the pictures were perfect. I am not someone who likes to take pictures. I needed someone who I knew to gently but firmly take the pictures I needed to remember my wedding. For my daughter's newborn pictures I just knew Lynda was the one to take the best shots of her so we could always see how amazing she was as a newborn. - Krista, NY (Wedding & Newborn Session)

I’m sure everyone feels this way about her (so it may not be too unique) but it’s amazing to find someone who has been a part of your journey of starting a family, adding to it, and everything in between! Lynda is truly one of kind who makes you feel comfortable and captures moments which you will cherish forever! -Melissa, NY (Maternity/Family and Newborn Session)

What a great experience! The studio is beautiful and Lynda was extremely gentle and patient with my newborn. The preview photos were sent before we returned home and came out beautiful. I highly recommend! - Taryn, NY (Newborn Session)
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