Travel Diaries | Joshua Tree, California

If you read my last two blog posts about Yosemite and Big Sur you'll know I was traveling with other wedding photographers in California a few weeks ago. Why were we doing this? Well really you don't need a reason, but we had all signed up for the Heck Yeah Photo Camp hosted by Ben Sasso!

Signing up for this workshop was a total impulse. The workshop with 130 photographers sold out within 3-4 hours! Wow. Why were we all so excited for it? Not only was it in a really cool location, Joshua Tree, but some of the world's best photographers were speaking. Like I said in the previous posts, this trip was very inspiring and reenergizing for me. Just being around that many talented and like-minded people will do that, but I came away refreshed and with a new desire to really build the type of business that I want.

The wedding industry is in an interesting place right now with styled shoots and destination weddings being the new hip thing to do. Add on to that trying to get your work published and what kinds of images these publishers are looking for and it really has changed how photographers approach and photograph weddings. So what then do I want to shoot? What is my goal for my business? Why am I a wedding photographer? Haha, getting really personal now.

I am a photographer because I love creating images and capturing memories. It's my creative outlet in life and I really don't want to do anything else. I am a wedding photographer because I love getting to preserve all of these wonderful, important, and meaningful moments for my couples and their families and friends. A wedding day is filled with so much love and happiness, how could you not want to be a part of that?!

My goal for my business is to get to know and work with couples that value their marriage and quality photography. Simple as that! I love couples that plan a wedding day that reflects and is meaningful to them. Do you love epic views? Let's hike for a bit to get that breathtaking spot. Do you have a piece of land that has been in your family for generations? Set up some chairs and say "I do" somewhere that is meaningful. Find the venue that when you walk in gets you excited and you immediately can picture dancing and having the time of your life with all the people you love around.

I am so excited for my wedding season this year and all of the memories that it will bring! Here are some fun moments and memories from the workshop in Joshua Tree :)

Travel Diaries | Big Sur Coast, California | Destination Elopements

If you read my previous blog post (which you should definitely check out if you haven't) you'll know that I started a road trip with 3 awesome ladies in Yosemite National Park. After spending just a day and a half there, we headed west for the coast!

It has been a while since I've taken a trip with just other photographers, and I have to say I've missed it!! Being around other like-minded and totally awesome photographers is both energizing and inspiring. We all understand each other, the struggles we go through being photographers, and our desire to make many stops and take portraits of each other all day! Most people have co-workers that they're with Monday - Friday in person each week, but I work from home by myself. This trip was a good reminder for me that I need that community and support more often. I am so grateful to each of these awesome ladies and the things that they taught me and the many laughs we shared :) Again, here are just a few of the landscapes, portraits, and random moments driving down the California coast through Big Sur!

Travel Diaries | Yosemite National Park, California | Destination Weddings

If you've been following along on Instagram and Facebook you probably know why I haven't posted anything to my blog in the last month, it's because it has been an insanely crazy month! Between launching the Explore North Workshop, doing a winter elopement styled shoot, and then a busy two weeks in California and New Mexico I've fallen a bit behind.

Time to change that with the first post about that trip, starting in Yosemite!! I got to spend a few days road-tripping with 3 awesome girls, April, Katy, and Hilde, before we all attended a photographer workshop in Joshua Tree. Wanting to take advantage of our time in California, we started in Yosemite! This was my first time there and it will definitely NOT be the last. We were even lucky enough to have a friend of mine, Trevor, who lives and works there show us around the park and catch up with all of his amazing adventures out there. Here are some landscapes, portraits of the girls and Trevor, and just a few random funny memories like when Hilde (from South Africa and first time in the US) walked in snow for the first time :) Lots more of this trip coming!!

Anniversary and "Just Because" Portrait Sessions | Madison, WI

Happy New Year!! I love this time of year. Lots of quality time with family and friends that you don't get to see as often as you'd like, great food, and a time for reflection and goal setting for the new year ahead. One of my goals is to start photographing more anniversary portrait sessions.

You don't need to have a special occasion to celebrate the ones you love and have new portraits taken! I think it's important to have more experiences in life and to make memories with those you love. Make it even more special by having beautiful, professional images taken as well. I had the opportunity to photograph Lori and Jim, who as you can see are just as much in love as the day they were married, and have not had any professional portraits taken of just the two of them since their wedding day! When I shared these images with Lori's daughter, Katrina, she wrote back, "I can’t even tell you what these mean to me, Jen. They’re seriously so, so perfect. I’m literally teary-eyed looking through them. I’m a writer, and I’m at a complete loss for words. Just, thank you."

Take a little time to make memories and make a beautiful memory that others will cherish as well. It can be for an anniversary, or my favorite reason to have portraits taken, just because!

ps - Katrina is the super talented brains behind my website design. If you are looking for new website design you MUST get in touch with her! www.katrinawollet.com

Engagement + Senior + Lifestyle Portrait Favorites From 2015

At the end of each year (well and throughout the year as well) I always go back and look over my images from the year. First, it's just fun to look back at all of the wonderful people and memories from the last year, but second, it really gives me a chance to see if I'm creating the best work possible for my clients. I am constantly trying to improve my skills, creativity, customer experience, and really anything having to do with my photography business! I am so grateful to be able to be a photographer and because I never want to stop means I always want to do my best for all of my amazing clients. 

I went through and pulled some of my favorite images from some of the engagement and portrait sessions from 2015, and it was so tough to narrow it down! There are a million little reasons why I chose these images, and tomorrow I'd probably choose different ones, but I can't help smiling as I look back at this little collection of moments from the past year :) THANK YOU all for a wonderful 2015 and I cannot wait for 2016!!