Back to work....the other work.

Just a quick update:
Things are starting to wind down as my other job kicks into gear....I had a fabulous summer, not everyone gets to travel for their work.....so I am forever grateful for that experience and hope there is more to come in the future!!! Last week, I drove over to Orlando for the Lifetouch meetings....it was fun....it was a meeting.... I stole this picture for my blog, cause you know I don't write unless I have a picture to accompany it, ya heard....this is part of the tampa team! I will have more up in the next several weeks folks!! Have a wonderful Monday!!!!

A Vacation to Remember.

'So, Jess. You are still single..... why?' Really, that wasn't a quote, more of a paraphrase, but Amanda, the sweet gal that she was, even asking a question like that sounded more like 'tell me where you got that outfit Jess'. You feel more than obligated to answer, more so you want to answer such a (ahem) simple question. 'Well, I am picky to a nasty fault. I don't judge friends, but when it comes to the guys I date, I knit pick and gets all awkward'......Amanda 'Me too!!! It was horrible, until I met Dean, and he is perfect to me'. With that being said the unsaid was spoken. We all know noone is perfect AT ALL. But, there is someone out there that fits you, perfect to you. I wanted to give Amanda a big ole Kentucky hug for that reminder, but instead I took out my camera and took pictures. Pictures of an imperfect perfect love. Here are some of my favorites! Thanks for the great reminder Amanda:)

Here is the formal moral. Everyone always frames these, I ask 'why?'...They look picture perfect and happy that's why, right?

Note the stormy clouds in the background: took us an hour to avoid those nasty clouds...but they look good in pictures!

Amanda is all 'I got this shot Dean'

Dean modelled in a previous life.

Proof that hurricanes are serious...notice the uprooted trees in the back!

Of course my favorite is the one that everyone else says 'really? this one is yer fav?' yep, it is!

Hurricane Season vs. Wedding....Round 1 goes to wedding.

It is hurricane season here in good ole Florida. Does that mean there is gonna be a hurricane? Not necessarily. But, you can count on super (ahem) warm conditions, rainy rain rain (almost once a day), humidity (goes along with the rainy rain rain), and possibly a mosquito here and there and everywhere. We don't have as many weddings during that time, for those obvious reasons. There is the occasional couple that will brave the weather conditions, tell grandma and grandpa to drink more water and 'smile'. This couple was one of them. Sarah asked me to join her for a wedding in Oldsmar. And ofcourse, I was up for the task. All in all it was nice day, (mostly because it was indoors with the occasional outdoor picture). Here are a couple I edited. If you wanna see the real deal.....go to www.stepintothelimelight.blogspot.com to see some of Sarah's awesome eye for a shot!

I like this one! Her hair was fabulous!!!

Bubbles, bouncy balls, and boys....

The very last night in Texas was what I would consider a great one (right next to a hot date and 'I am gonna spoil you so bad' dinner). The last night was spent shooting (ok ok photographing) the Johnson family. Now, let me just say this, when I say Kris has her hands full, I would say that is an understatement. You walk into their home and you know that its a man's world. I almost considered putting on a helmet when I saw Zach and his friend throwing a big ole ball around in the house! Yep, in the house, tsk tsk:) ~ ok secretly I love it. Kris, just laughed rolled her eyes and carried on with dinner...cooking for the family, me, Kara, and her baby Judah (who I doubt ate any spaghetti). After dinner, we went over to an unnamed park .....unnamed only because I can't remember, and threw the ball around, took pictures, cried a little (not me this time), smiled and took more pictures. I also had the privilege of having an assistant, shout out to the young fella for blowing bubbles when times got tough. In fact, we should all blow bubbles when times get tough, seems to work. With this economy, would probably see bubbles blowing out of almost every window.

She loves her boys!

A college friend...

I love it when I do shoots for people I know. I get to tell a lil story. Well, here is one big one, ready? Here goes. The first day in Florida, I was fresh blood, not just to mosquitoes, but to everyone. Erin and I walked in with her parents to our new dorm, ready to decorate. Hours later, we walked out to the halls of second floor Hinely. Kara Foster and Tiff Sharp were one of the first girls we saw. Mr. Paul (Erin's dad) gave us this talk (that I will never forget by the way) about how we should be friendly with everyone who walks our way. Well, here walks two BEAUTIFUL girls, talk about intimidated. We said our hellos and introduced ourselves. Gradually, we became good friends.... I found out later from Kara that they thought I was stuck up 'What?! NO!!!! I was just shy!' Come to find out, these girls were the most thoughtful girls I know. Tiff, (pictures below) was SSOOO thoughtful that when she got appendicitis (sorry if that wasn't what you had, bad memory) she stole a bunch of hospital gloves from the hospital, blew them up, threw a bunch around the dorm halls, and sent me one in the 'college' mail with a sweet note about how much she appreciated our friendship. On a blown up stolen latex glove. How kind. I was later pinned for many pranks pulled by Kara and her, thanks guys. So, many years later (won't tell how many) she got married and happened to have two kiddos. No big deal. These kids definitely have her spunk that is for sure. I never told her this BUT I was more than excited to do a lil photo shoot for them, even with the 'active' Braden...can we say Tiff reincarnate:)? Here is a preview.

Ready. Set. Go. What you don't know is, I have about 100 photos of him running.whew! Talk about active:) I love him for that ~

Hey wait Braden, let me crawl up there, oh wait, I am only a couple months old....I can't.

I have these shoes that I don't need, want them?

This one is my favorite...ya'll know how I roll.