A I love me some babies :)

Okay, so it's no secret that I am ready for another baby.....but will be forced to wait for just a little while longer I guess. Anyway, my beautiful friend Brianne had a baby boy at the beginning of May, and I couldn't wait to get my camera on him. He is so dang cuuuuute! Don't you agree?



He's such a little GQ man already....and only three weeks old!


This little guy has just captured my heart. It brings back all the memories of when Jaxson was first born. These first few weeks are so precious....and Bri, thanks so much for letting me capture your little man :)



Lots of sneeks coming soon. Three weddings, engagements and some more baby pictures. Stay tuned!

Woot! Finally some pictures to show off.

Meet Alysha and Nate: they are probably one of the most photogenic couples ever to pass by my lens. I met Alysha in January at the Class City Bridal Show. I saw her immediately because she is incredibly beautiful. No joke, I said to myself, "holy crap I would love to photograph her" It took a tad bit of pursuading, but Alysha finally made the leap to have me be their wedding photog, and I am SO glad she did!

I had only talked with the both of them one time before our engagement session, but immediately felt more of a connection with them other than just being the "photographer lady" as I am so called by wedding guests. (fyi, I hate being called this). Anyway, on the day of the engagement session Alysha and Nate came strolling up in their white shirts and dark jeans, "aaagh, beautiful b&w's," I said to myself. (er, maybe I said it out loud?)

Their wedding colors are teal and a mixture of other brilliant oranges, pinks etc; but I am extremely happy that teal is their main color...OBVIOUSLY it's my power color :P

I'm so excited to show off some new work, and what beautiful subjects I had! There is much much more to come in the next week, I've been a little slacking on the editing process as of late. Let's just say I wasn't prepared for wedding season to hit me full force like it has. But alas, I love what I do and can't wait to show off all the beautiful pictures I've gotten over the last couple of weeks.

Hope you enjoy the following: (someday I'll figure out how to make the darn pictures bigger...)

Just devastating....

My dear blog readers, what is happening in our nation?? Every day I turn on my laptop to catch up on the news, I'm reading yet another headline about a father who has killed his family and himself. This is shattering my heart over and over again. I don't think it is any coincidence that all of these tragedies seem to be happening at around the same time.

In most of the reports, it has come to light the father or the family as a whole were having financial issues. The most recent I just read a few minutes ago said the father had a business that was failing and both the wife and the son had health problems. I just do not understand what is going through the minds of these men who are taking away the very life they helped create.

It's also making me realize even more just how terrible economic times are right now. In my own home we are thankfully doing well, but, I hear this through all channels of my relationships, how badly the economy is affecting people. But, affecting people to the point of murder and suicide??

These events hit pretty close to home in the last five days as my step mother learned one of her friends from church had been murdered. She was was 72 and along with her life being taken, so was the life of her precious 3 year old granddaughter. The little girl's father was assailant. As I type this, I am just numb, I have no idea what to think.

I look at my precious Jaxson, sitting the in the living room eating his "special toast" (cinnamon/sugar toast) and he's singing to Dora. I can not for a moment think of harming him. If anything, during these tough times I want to protect him even more. I want to shield him from the emotional strain that can come from poor financial situation. I have to believe that fathers feel the same way mothers do when they look at their precious children.

To me, these unnecessary murders go to show even more the unhealthy emphasis that is placed on money and status. For me personally, it's been a huge wake up call. As someone who often engages in "retail therapy" I have tried to block out the reality that things just aren't the same in this country, but the fact can no longer allude me as I see the pictures of these beautiful children murdered by their fathers. Their dad! The one person in the world who is supposed to be larger than life, with arms big enough to shelter them from the most dangerous of circumstances.

I have found myself on my knees, just furious with God. How can He let this happen? Why is He letting this happen?? I know that most people of faith will say, the Lord has a plan, but I just can't seem to wrap my head around how there can be a beneficial outcome to murdering innocent children. So, this leaves me to believe Satan has taken a much larger hold on people than I, as a Christian, really care for.

So, I implore all of you who are Christians, and even those who aren't, not to give Satan an in. Wrap your hearts and minds around the Lord, delve into what is good and loving in this world. If money is your god, turn away from it and run to the arms of the God who can take care of you.

We as my parents in this earthly world, can NOT stand by and witness beautiful lives being ended because of greed and desperation. If you have children of your own, I hope today, right now, you will go home and hold on to them for dear life. Make a promise to them that you will protect them, and never hurt them.

Father, please send your guardian angels to all of the children who need protection. Come into the hearts of those who are hurting and struggling and give them a sense of peace and hope. I know you can move mountains, You bring light to where there is darkness, and Lord, there is a lot of darkness in our nation right now. Send a beacon, to remind us that love can conquer all and satan has no place here. Protect those who are innocent and need a Father's embrace. Amen.

Finally some pretty weather

Praise the Lord we had some BEAUTIFUL weather this weekend! I had the great pleasure of photoing Jamie & Josh for their wedding :) No sneeks yet...still downloading the 40+ gb of photos! Um, yeah, that's A LOT of pictures!

AND! I got to see Alysha & Nate this weekend. Their upcoming fall wedding is going to be fabulous, and they are probably one of the sweetest and most photogenic couples I have ever met! Sneeks coming from that engagement session as well!

I know I have said this in about every post since the start of the new year but I LOOOOVE what I do! It makes me excited like a kid on Christmas morning to get photos that I know are going to be awesome. I might even enjoy them more than the couple does! If it wouldn't be creepy, I'd hang all of the pictures in my house :)

Hope all of you are having a great start to your week, stay tuned for sneeks from Jame & Josh and Alysha & Nate!

Til Next Time,
J

Faaavorite!

I have begun the editing process for Jenny and Justin's wedding from this past Saturday. I am so excited to show everyone the finished product! Until then, wanted to give you a ssssssssneek peek. I knew as soon as I snapped the picture it would be my favorite. Hope you enjoy! Love love love!!!

It has begun!

This past weekend I had the joy of documenting Jenny & Justin. I met Jenny about a year ago when she booked me for her wedding. Her beeeeautiful green eyes made for AMAZING photos both for their engagement session and her wedding day. I didn't get to meet the oh-so-hot Justin until their engagement session. Despite his shyness in front of the camera, he was able to be totally sweet to Jenny and the photos turned out AWESOME.

After this blah winter, I was so excited to start photoing again. It's like that first sip of ice cold water after a long run, "aaagh, much better". I didn't realize how much I missed it until the camera was in my hand. The break was good though as it gave me time to expand my creatiity and technical knowledge. I am so excited to show everyone the photos from this weekend.

Stay tuned!

~J

Another wedding season upon me

It is a week until my first wedding for the year, and I am so excited! I had most of the winter months off to clean my house, learn some new technical things with my camera and be able to spend time with my munchkin. I am so ready to get back into doing what I love....

I think of the many different turns my life has made over the years. Leaving Fort Wayne to go to a huge university and pursuing my career goal of becoming a counselor was a huge disappointment. The academic counselors fail to mention that as a psych major you'll have a pretty difficult time finding a job unless you continue on for your PhD. All my life I have loved helping people, I've been "that friend". Ya know, that friend that everyone else tells their problems to, that people come to seeking advice, the one who goes out on a limb no matter the situation because they are truly dedicated to their friendships. Either you are a friend like that, or you have one like that....so when choosing my degree in college, it seemed like a no brainer that I should become a psychologist; afterall, I'd been doing it for years already and not getting paid for it.

Well...I am so glad that God had a different plan for my life, that still entailed the knowledge I gained while studying psychology. Now, instead of spending 10+ hours in an office and listening to all the travesties in someone's life (which by the way is still a very necessary profession), I get to be a part of the most important day of a couple's life together: their wedding. On several occasions I have been that listening ear for brides who are breathing into a brown paper bag, totally freaked out because they are about to walk down the isle. Or, I've been the friend to joke with the groom because HE can't believe he's about to get married. Either way, it is truly amazing to document the different weddings I have, but also to build friendships with the new Mr. & Mrs.

I can't say it enough how mch I love my job. Sure, I can get burned out towards the end of the season, who wouldn't after shooting 30+ weddings in a season, but that's how I know this is what I'm meant to do....no matter how exhausted or creatively burned out I am, I can still show up to weddings and get amazing photographs for my brides and grooms. Usually it takes a few minutes for me (at the end of the year) to get my juices flowing, but they come....

I just can not wait for this season to begin. I'm so excited to see how beautiful these ladies look in their carefully selected gowns, and the grooms trying ever so diligently to get that last piece of hair to stand up just right. And, wecan't forget the hilarious bridal parties, the friends who have seen the couples through many milestones in their relationship, the ones who have all the dirt on the rock stars of the day....the best man who tries to hide the fact he's crying watching his childhood best friend say he pledges his life to this woman. And, of course, the tear filled speach given by the maid of honor and reciting secrets she promised she'd never tell.

I can't wait to witness it all again this year. It's truly a blessing to see the carefully selected details of the day: the blue beta fish in a vase for the dinner tables, the 1000's of fresh petals scattered down the isle and up to the alter, the initial pendants on all of the bridesmaids bouquets to the superman cufflinks for the excited groom.

In advance, I want to thank all of you who have handed me the honor and responsibility of capturin your day. I promise you will fall in love all over again after seeing your photos!

Thanks for stoppin' by.

Till next time,
J