Wednesday, August 26, 2015

STATE OF MIND

These past three weeks have been a whirlwind.  As you all know, I have been second shooting with the greatest mentor turned friend, Adina, this summer and these last few weeks have been cray.  Since being a wedding photographer is my end goal through this journey, I feel so lucky to have stumbled upon this opportunity.  Not only do I get a chance to experience the ebb and flow of a wedding day, practice and learn new techniques and to think on my feet, I get to experience a taste of what wedding season feels like, so that when they are my own weddings, I can better prepare myself - because Lord only knows how much more work is involved when they are your own clients.



Looking back even a year from now, I still cannot believe how far I have come.  All my life, I have never been one to take risks, but something happened to me a year ago.  I can't pin  point what it was exactly, but it changed my life and made me a better person.  I've had the chance to meet incredible new people and have encountered even more incredible opportunities and experiences.  Sometimes I have to pinch myself to reassure myself that I am not dreaming.  And as the greatest band in history once said, Never give up on the good times, living it up is a state of mind.  Okay, okay...maybe the Spice Girls weren't the greatest band of all time, but you get my point.

Happy Wednesday!

Monday, August 24, 2015

LIFESTYLE FAMILY SESSION : THE HAYS


The Hays, oh how I love this sweet family!  I have known them for quite some time so when they asked me to do a session for them how  could I say no!  It was a present for their dad (which is why he isn't in them...it was pretty tough keeping it a surprise, but we made it!) so he could have some photos of them on his desk at work.  I even got Mama Hay in a couple!  It was such a wonderful day and I cannot thank you all enough for allowing me to document your love with my camera!  Much Love, J xo.

Here are a few of my favourites...


Happy Monday!

Friday, August 21, 2015

FALL WEDDING INSPIRATION

Last weekend I went back to school shopping with my niece and it brought me back.  Way back.  School shopping/back to school used to be my all time favourite time of the year (besides Christmas).  There is just something about starting new and fresh, another year older and embracing life.  In lieu of bringing in the fall (a bit early I might add, It's getting too hard waiting to wear cozy sweaters and tall boots) I decided put together what my inspiration board might look like if I were to get married this fall.



Happy Friday and Happy weekend!  See you next week!! 

Lovely photos (from left to right) by: Traci Griffin Photography, Joey Kennedy, Byron Loves Fawn, This Modern Romance and Laura Leigh Background image by: Delbarr Moradi

Monday, August 3, 2015

AM I THE ONLY ONE WITH A BROKEN COMPASS?

Sometimes I just can' t think of the right words.  The right thing to say. to write.  Sometimes I feel lost, as if I'm not heading in the right direction.  Like a compass that has lost its way, spinning uncontrollably, constantly asking itself which way is north?!?   Sometimes I get lost in a funk.

I just recently arrived back home from a vacation back home - ha!  I just realized how ridiculous that sounds, but y'all feel me.  I came back with the intention of spending my Monday getting things checked off my to-do list before the craziness of this month passes me by (I have a wedding every Saturday for the rest of August).  I went to bed last night preparing myself for the next day.  wake up early.  go for a walk.  edit photos.  emails.  scheduling. blog posts.  Little did I know, life had a plan of its own.  I slept in - waking up just before noon, wasted countless hours on Facebook and Youtube, wasted even more countless hours watching Doctor Who...scratch that, time with the Doctor is never wasted...cut my hair (always a fan of the diy), had a shower and now here we are.  phew.  that was quite the sentence.



The point I'm trying to make is that life is unpredictable.  Sure we make plans, write lists, work our butts off, but in all seriousness, we never know what is around the corner.  Our brains keep telling us to keep going - to work harder, but the universe is telling us to slow down, take a break - relax.  You were never created to live depressed, defeated, guilty, condemned, ashamed or unworthy.  You were created to be victorious.  Remember that.