Because Life is Beautiful!

New Permanent Blog

2008-03-06T23:17:00.000-08:00

Find me and the awesome new blog at:

www.imagejolie.com/blog

It really is probably the coolest thing ever, and you should go check it out haha.

Rockin' Out!

2008-01-16T10:22:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone!

We are still rockin' out over on the new blog, www.imagejolie.wordpress.com
so if you haven't checked it out yet, you definitely should! Lots of exciting things going on!

However, I sadly can't display the newest cool feature of Image Jolie over there, so I wanted to share with you all here! I know it's a pain in the rear having two blogs going, but I just had to share this temporarily until we can get everything streamlined!

I hope everyone is having an amazing start to 2008!

New Blog!!!!

2007-11-07T15:45:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone!

I just wanted to stop in and let everyone know that I have a brand new blog!

New Blog!

Thanks to some other photographers, I was able to find this new blog which has many more customizable features that will allow me to bring better blog entries to you!

Hope you enjoy!

Shoot with Beckstead

2007-11-01T22:11:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week I had the pleasure of attending a Shoot with Beckstead workshop in Franklin, TN. It was so much fun! Tons of thanks to David Beckstead, Sean and Melanie McLellan, and all the other photographers there who were so inspiring and encouraging!

Here are a few of my favorite shots!

Brandon, Kendra, and Braydon

2007-11-01T16:02:00.001-07:00

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of doing a family session with my dear friends Brandon and Kendra, and their new born baby boy Braydon (who, by the way, is probably the cutest baby I've ever seen!) Here's just a few from their session, I hope you enjoy!

Brandon and Kendra, I'll have the rest of these up online for you to look at soon!

The Beautiful Meghan!

2007-11-01T15:56:00.000-07:00

So, my friend Meghan is pretty much the coolest person ever! We had a blast last Friday taking pictures for her to surprise her mom and fiancee with. She also helped me come up with some new places to shoot around Bowling Green and we had a ton of fun exploring. Thanks, Meghan! I'll get the rest of your pictures up for you to look at ASAP!

Catch up Time!

2007-11-01T15:40:00.000-07:00

So I've been super slacking on my blog postings, but today I'm going to catch up with some snippets from my most recent sessions!

These are some pictures from my session with my friend Chris Westover, who is an amazing musician and conductor! He needed pictures because one of his recent articles is going to published in a music magazine, which is awesome!

Hard at Work!

2007-10-25T23:13:00.000-07:00

So I received this picture in an email today from Clinton, who I second shot Laura and Scott's wedding with. I just wanted to share because while he was taking this (ok not the most flattering picture but...haha)

I was taking this, which turned out to be one of my favorite images of the day! So fun!

I love being a photographer!

Laura + Scott

2007-10-21T12:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was one of the most gorgeous fall days I've ever seen, and the PERFECT day for a wedding! Especially one with such amazing people like Laura and Scott. These two were completely awesome, sweet, and caring and I had a blast getting to share their special day. Thanks a million to Clinton Lewis of Studio Auspex for letting me come along to shoot yesterday!

Shanda's Fabulous Senior Pictures!

2007-10-14T21:31:00.001-07:00

Just a teaser from Shanda's senior session! Shanda, Olivia, and I had an absolute blast today with these!

Look at those eyes! Gorgeous!

New Toys!!

2007-10-12T13:17:00.000-07:00

Just one picture for now, don't want to reveal too many secrets ;-)

Taste of San Francisco

2007-10-05T10:55:00.001-07:00

Don't have a lot of time to post, too much to go see! But I just wanted to share a few pictures from my San Francisco trip so far. Enjoy!!

So I pretty much froze to death and had to go buy warm clothes at Old Navy. No joke.

Congratulations, Molly and Kelly!

2007-10-01T15:27:00.001-07:00

Saturday I got the wonderful opportunity to second shoot with Clinton Lewis of Studio Auspex at the wedding of Molly and Kelly! It was an absolutely gorgeous day, beautiful ceremony, and rockin reception! So fun! Congratulations Molly and Kelly!

East Jessamine Women's Soccer

2007-09-22T19:21:00.000-07:00

Took the 70-200 out for a spin today to watch the East Jessamine Lady Jags tackle the Danville Lady Admirals, and to see my wonderful neighbor Liz play! I've known Liz's family since I was three, and have known her since she was born. It was tons of fun!

Troy and His Trumpet

2007-09-21T08:52:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share a few shots from yesterday of my good friend Troy and his trumpet. Troy is an AMAZING trumpet player as well as an awesome friend and we had a great time taking pictures yesterday.

Also I wanted to give a huge thank you to Amber and Troy Schmidt of Schmidt Studio in Gallery in Lexington, Ky for the shout out on their blog! Amber and Troy are a huge inspiration to me and great photographers! Check out their site and the blog at www.kentuckystudio.com

Gorgeous Sunny Day

2007-09-17T18:56:00.001-07:00

Due to a looong series of unfortunate events (including an ISO mishap...), it will be awhile before I post pictures from the family session on Saturday.

However, I do have some pictures from the gorgeous weather yesterday, as well as the adorable youngest children of the family I shot on Saturday!

These were all shot at the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Kentucky. It was so beautiful and peaceful out there, if I wasn't trying to keep track of a 5 and 6 year old I could have easily stayed out there for hours! And the sky really was that blue! (Made the post processing nice and easy haha)

Car Wreck!

2007-09-15T18:59:00.000-07:00

I'm not going to give too many details because of insurance stuff.

But I just wanted to say that if I was the one that hit someone, I would be making sure they were ok instead of being a jerk.

That being said, everyone is ok. Except the back of my car. And my very sore back/neck.

Coming soon! Family portrait session from today and the GORGEOUS fall weather!

God is Cool!

2007-09-13T11:03:00.000-07:00

Short story from today.

Last semester, I really wanted to be a conductor. Be world famous, travel around conducting honor bands, all state, whatever I could conduct and travel. It would be amazing.

Now, I want to be a wedding photographer.

Today, I (excuse the phrase) sucked up my conducting test and conducting class BIG time. And my teacher was a bit biased and seems to hate me.

Today, I met with an awesome local photographer who told me three different wedding dates he'll let me come along and shoot on.

Sweeeeeeet.

Faux Fall

2007-09-08T15:26:00.000-07:00

So I finally got to get out and play with my new 5D earlier this week! So much fun, and I was so excited with how crisp the picture and color was straight out of the camera. It looks like fall, but really everything is just dead from the drought. It was still 90 degrees. Oh well we can pretend haha. So here's just a few of my favorites!

And, a shot of me with my ShootSac, courtesy of me completely amazing boyfriend!

Also, I got pictures back from the wedding I third shot in July! So exciting!!!!

Why I Want to be a Wedding Photographer

2007-08-29T19:31:00.001-07:00

Ok so I know the title sounds an awful lot like some cheesy essay you'd have to write for school, but seriously.

Weddings are beautiful. I had never been to a wedding prior to this summer, but I've always been drawn to the idea. Probably because I'm a girl. I don't know. But a wedding is just such a gorgeous expression of the love a couple has for each other. The whole day...the bride getting ready, nervously (but excitedly!) taking care of each detail so that it will be absolutely perfect when she walks down the aisle to see her beloved. The groom, standing at the end of the aisle, shaking in anticipation of seeing his Beauty, his love, walking towards him, ready to give him her whole heart. The family looking on in excitement, love, and tears. The entire crowd watching and sharing in the love two people have for one another. The flowers, the decorations, the food, all the little details (that were probably the cause of much stress in the preceding months) all coming together seamlessly to create the ideal story book setting for the couple.

Big weddings, small weddings, formal, informal, the idea is all the same. Two people in love and by Love joined together forever. And some lucky photographer gets to be there to capture it all forever.

Beautiful.

As I flip through the websites of some of my favorite inspiring wedding photographers, I just know that this is what I want to do. I want to capture every beautiful detail in the way the couple deserves. I want to get to know them, and everything that makes them unique. Their hopes and dreams and desires. I want to portray all of that through my photography. Throughout my search of the world wide web, I've come across lots of wedding pictures that are just downright awful. To the couple, I am sure they are cherished, and I wouldn't dare tell them what they've missed out on. But it hurts my heart to know that a couple did not get
the attention or the capture of memories that they deserve. Every couple deserves the best. I know finding a photographer will be one of my most important decisions some day regrading wedding planning. (Probably second in importance only to making sure the groom is there! Haha). I know how I'll want to feel on my day, and some day, I just want to make sure I can give someone else the same thing.

I know I don't have the skill, knowledge, or equipment to pull it off at this moment. I wouldn't dare take a risk with a couple's special day like that. But dang it I will work my butt of until I can do it!

In short, I love weddings.
The end.

The heavens declare...

2007-08-26T10:38:00.000-07:00

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Psalm 19:1

Yikes!

2007-08-25T18:00:00.000-07:00

*Venting ahead...very sorry. It's been one of those weeks.*

So I apologize to anyone who has stumbled across this expecting it to be a strictly photography blog instead of personal. That's what I intended it to be...but it's just not working out right now.

I have GOT to find a way to get this going! I feel like I was going full speed ahead with doors opening left and right....then all of a sudden I slammed into a brick wall!

I have a ridiculously awesome new camera that I am learning how to use. I have spent hours and hours and hours (literally several days straight because I had no energy for anything else) reading through photography forums and soaking in all the knowledge and creative energy I can.

But I can't get any opportunities to shoot anything! I am for real about to start begging (as professional as possible of course haha) photographers to just let me follow them around or clean their studios just so I can be around photography.

I want this so bad. I want to be taken seriously. I don't want to just be that kid that can afford the expensive camera. I just need that chance to prove I can do it.

P.S. Thank you so so so so much to the photographers who have given me tips and shooting opportunities so far. I am still shocked and amazed every day at how helpful the photography community in general is. You all are so amazing and such a blessing!

Just one of my favorite pictures. Not technically the greatest I know, but it reminds me why I love this.

And a beautiful evening followed the rain...

2007-08-21T20:13:00.000-07:00

Today was very relaxing! I got to sleep in, then woke up to pouring rain and a lovely thunderstorm. I love storms! This evening was filled with dinner with an old friend, and then later, Jazz in the Park. It was a beautiful evening, but I was by myself and not a lot to see. But, to fulfill my end of this whole photo blog deal, a few pictures! (All park pictures taken by my crappy 75-300mm lens...I need new glass!!!!)

Mm...dinner

Big Band and Jazz at Ecton Park!

I LOVE this. Always classy, even in a lawn chair!

Too funny. Hoity toity wine glass lady and toupee wearin' (?) UK disguised drink guy.

Awww

Yay musicians!

Old friends. Very sweet.

Day Trips are Fun!

2007-08-20T12:56:00.000-07:00

Not much going on today! I love these last few lazy days before going back to school, where there is plenty to do but I'm still convinced that I have loads of time to get it done haha. I thought for today that I would share a few pictures from my trip to the Newport Aquarium with the boyfriend. In all honesty, the aquarium was a bit lame haha. But we had a fun time in the Newport, Ky/Cincinnati, Oh area!

Enjoy!

First Post!

2007-08-19T17:44:00.000-07:00

It seems as if I've been bitten by the blogging bug! This could get long winded...

My name is Jenny, and I am a 20 year old photographer from Ky. I've loved photography ever since I was little, and only just recently has God started opening doors for me to turn my love into a business! His blessings are so amazing every day! Shooting opportunities are far and few between at the moment, but in the mean time I'm soaking up all the knowledge I can. The more I learn, the more I realize I still have to explore. It's great!

The Brief Bio:
I'm a student at Western Kentucky University with a double major in Music and English (writing option). My family is absolutely wonderful and supportive, especially my dad! (Only the best dads take you to the camera store to look at new lenses and help you start saving to buy them haha!) I am dating the love of my life. We've been together a little over eleven months, and I couldn't ask for a more loving, supportive, Godly, strong leader.

The Business:
I'm working on getting all the legal things straightened out to officially have my own business. The working title for now is Image Jolie-Because Life is Beautiful! (Image Jolie is French for pretty picture!) Right now I'm mainly doing on location senior and engagement portraits, but my main goal is to assist with enough weddings to some day be a wedding photographer myself! The photography community has been so amazingly welcoming, kind, and supporting, and I've managed to find some wonderful mentors already! It surprises me every day how much the photographers I come across are willing to help each other out instead of just cutthroat competition, and I love it!

The Dream:
Lately God has been showing me more and more that I don't have any place to dream small or settle for less than His best for me. Life is too short and filled with too many blessings to be miserable all the time! As I keep trusting my dreams to Him, I know He's going to lead me on the greatest adventure of my life. I'm very seriously hoping to move to Colorado after I graduate college. I absolutely LOVE to travel. My absolute dream for the future? Get to travel around often with the love of my life, photographing people with theirs (i.e. weddings!). And some day have kids. Haha.

Thank you to anyone who managed to make it though all that! I'm going to challenge myself to at least make a few posts a week with some thoughts and a picture or two!

For now, a few favorites! I will always love comments/critiques/suggestions on my photographs! It's the only way to learn!