Southwestern Love

I recently went to Arizona on a mission effort with my church. We were able to stop at a few amazingly beautiful landmarks along the way. Here are a few of my favorite shots...

Flower Power

I will be unavailable from Saturday, July 17-Saturday, July 24.

I will return any emails or calls as soon as possible.

Thank you for your patience.

Until then, a flower for you...

Photo Fabulous

Don't know what to do with your 8 x 10 photos? Here's an idea for a contemporary photo collage, courtesy of Becky Higgins. Check out her blog post regarding this project... She gives step-by-step instructions on how to set it up!

If you need some photos to add to your collage, and are interested in setting up a summer photo session with me, check out my availability on the right-hand side of this blog and contact me to set up an appointment. Check out my full portfolio at http://www.imagesbyjenphotography.com/ to see if we'd be a good match. I'd love to work with you!

Have a great day!

Biz Cards

I finally got around to ordering my very first business cards last week! It didn't take me very long to design, and I'm happy with how they turned out. The plan is to switch out the pictures periodically. Who can say no to this face?... :)

Front:

Back:

Cowboy Cutie Teaser

I know this is cruel punishment, but here is a single sneak peek for you of one of the cutest little cowboys I've ever seen...

Check back this week to see some more of this handsome guy!

See his Facebook Album here...

Discounted Sessions

In honor of this little guy concentrating so hard to show me his "THREE,"

the next three clients will receive 50% off their session fees.

Just make sure to mention this special offer.

My schedule of availability is listed on the right of this blog,

and pricing information can be found on my website.

Hope to hear from you soon!

Goodbye, Friends

Erin and I met in college our freshman year, ten years ago, assigned as roommates by SMSU. The day I received the paperwork stating that she was my new roommate, I remember holding it in my hands and nervously pacing with the phone outside. Before I hung up during that first chat, I concluded our conversation with a very important question--"Erin, are you a freak??" She said no and then followed up with the same question. I enthusiastically responded, "NO, I am totally not a freak!" Luckily, she agreed... and our friendship began from there. She was not the pink-haired, tattooed punk rocker I had nightmares of rooming with. Instead, she was a very patient, loving, and Godly woman who I am proud to call my friend and my sister in Christ.

Erin, her husband, Kody, and her two little boys are moving to Texas this coming week, and although I will miss them dearly, I know that God has amazing plans for them. Seminary is in their future, and they will be preparing the next few years to make the transition to living life overseas as missionaries. Erin was a very huge influence in my spiritual life, and I will always be grateful to her for that. I have no doubt that she and her wonderful family are going to be a light in the lives of the people they come across.

I offered to take some family photos as a going-away gift. My hope is that they will be able to look back and remember this transitional time in their lives as the beginning of something wonderful...

Erin, I love you, girl! Enjoy!

*and yes, I am wiping away tears as I type...*

~Jen

As always, you can see more photos on my Images by Jen Photography Facebook fan page.

10,000

My two year Blog-iversary is coming up in July. And as of this week, I've had over 10,000 hits on my blog. Whoa.

Two years ago, I challenged myself to be a better photographer... To soak up all knowledge that I could, to practice and practice and practice until setting up a good shot became second nature, and to make myself vulnerable by presenting it to the rest of the world via this blog. And I think it worked.

I'm excited to see what year three has in store for me...

Here's a shot of a pretty weed that I took out in one of my favorite fields...

View more nature shots on my Facebook Fan Page.

Meet Melanie... Finally!

Sometimes persistency pays off, and it's definitely true in my friend, Melanie's, case. You may remember her from her brief session from last December. It was very rainy that dreary day. AND it was very rainy on the day we rescheduled a few months later. Finally, on our third attempt, yesterday, we had sunny skies... at least until two hours into the session. By that point, we were holed up in an abandoned garage while it poured and poured outside. But that didn't stop Melanie from workin' her magic...

A little song comes to mind as I post these:

Sugar and spice and all that's nice... that's what Melanie's made of.

Enjoy.

View the rest of her session photos on my Facebook Fan Page.

YouTube Love

My amazingly talented musician friend, Lee Ellen Starks, asked me to join her on a song for a recent video post. We've sang this one, Many the Miles, around town a few times.

I love us.

You should stalk her YouTube channel. Your ears will thank you.

Hope you enjoy the song... and the outtakes. :)

Moments

I was recently inspired to write a poem.

I haven't sat down to spill out my thoughts in quite some time,

so I mentally detoxed and wrote this poem,

which just so happens to be about photography.

So I am sharing it with you.

Enjoy.

~~~~~~~~

.frozen.

my eyes crave
to capture the fleeting,
that which can be invisible

others pass by
with nary a second glance,
too consumed by the obvious.

they are oblivious of its powers.
but oh, it whispers to me;
enticing, alluring, demanding attention

it stops me in my tracks,
takes my breath away.
there before me…

the moment.

it is beautiful.
it is raw.
it is enchanting.

and I capture it.
frozen.
for me.
for you.
that moment in time.

memories fade,
become vapors in the wind,
but to remember
is to embrace time,
frozen
in a photograph.

hold it tenderly in your hands.
see it with eyes of gratitude.
absorb its significance.
cherish
the moment.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Here are a few recent Moments...

Baby, Oh Baby!

I was blessed recently to be able to photograph some maternity sessions for two very special couples. I know Garrett & Lauren and Ross & Lauren from church. It was so fun to find out that "the Laurens" were expecting little ones around the same time. I've always loved being in the presence of these two couples. They are so sweet to each other and so ridiculously in love that it makes me feel all mushy inside. *sigh*

For me, maternity sessions are like three sessions in one--a Love session, an individual Portrait session (of the beautiful mommy-to-be), and of course, the Baby Bump itself. I get so excited about these!

~~~~~~~

Garrett & Lauren

I had to admit to Garrett and Lauren that I bawled like a baby on the way to their session. I've grown super-close to them this past year, and they just found out they will be moving back to Oklahoma shortly after their little girl makes her arrival in the next week or so. I guess I was feeling a little nostalgic on the way to meet them for their session. I think you'll agree with me, but Lauren was so gorgeous it took my breath away! Check out some of my favorites...

~~~~~~~

Ross & Lauren

We had a beautiful day for Ross & Lauren's session. We got to start off at a new location downtown that I was excited about, and then we headed out to one of my favorite fields for some softer shots. I think my favorite part of the day was watching their reactions as I continually looked at my camera screen and squealed in excitement at what I saw! So many to choose from! Check out this adorable couple who have a handsome baby boy on the way...

Check out the rest of their albums on my Facebook Fan Page.

"Like" me to view new session pix on your Facebook feed!

Also, see more full-sized images on my new website!

www.imagesbyjenphotography.com