Tina Capano-Martinelli, of Vineland, studied nursing in college to make her family happy. But she studied photography to make herself happy, she said.
The 25-year-old hasn’t used her nursing degree, but was a waitress for a while and worked as a teacher’s aide in a preschool during summers. Then in 2011, husband Kevin Martinelli, a union electrician, encouraged her to start her photography business, “Time to Sparkle.”
“I didn’t expect to get as busy as I did, as quick as I did,” she said.
Last year, to give back to the community, she did family portraits around the holidays for five families that were facing tough times. Two of them had survived house fires. This year she wants to do the same thing for 10 families, she said.
“My favorite place to shoot is outdoors. You can’t mimic natural light,” she said.
She often encourages families to have their photos shot in a park setting. They can use the shots for holiday cards, or just for the family album, she said.
Jared Pong, of Egg Harbor Township, said he has nominated a family that just suffered a death of a parent, and Capano-Martinelli has already made arrangements for their photos.
She would like to have all nominations soon, so she can arrange the sessions, edit the shots and get the completed product to the families by November.
“I’ll give them a CD with all the photos. To me, a photo lasts forever. It’s your memories,” she said.
Nominations of families in need can be made through www.facebook.com/timeto.sparklephotography or http://timetosparkle.wix.com/timetosparkle/.
Heart of a Hero scholars
Two Mays Landing residents are among 10 New Jerseyans to win Heart of a Hero scholarships, New Jersey’s First Lady, Mary Pat Christie, announced recently. They are Staff Sgt. James Scott Downing, 29, of the Army; and Airman 1st Class Breanna Michelle Gagnon, 20, of the New Jersey Air National Guard.
Each will receive $10,000 to pursue post-secondary education or vocational training. In June, Walmart donated $100,000 to the program, the First Lady said in a news release.
For more information, visit http://newjerseyheroes.org/
Sea Isle’s Jameson honored
Sea Isle City’s Irene Jameson was honored Sunday for contributions to the community at the 21st annual Women’s Equality Day Tea at the Sea Isle City Community Lodge. The tea celebrated the 92nd anniversary of the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote. Jameson was Sea Isle’s original Polar Bear queen, and the city’s public relations director for 17 years.
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