Author Archives: 365 days of marriage

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About 365 days of marriage

I started this blog in April of 2011. At the time, Bret and I were wedding photographers and it was a way to share how marriage is more about the day to day and so much more than the wedding day itself. For about 5 years, I blogged about the joys and sorrows of the Christian walk, marriage, work, family and friends. I’ve blogged every day since a few weeks after I started. In May of 2015, we photographed our last wedding. Now, I have become passionate about simplicity, particularly in marriage, Christianity, business, travel and life. For a number of reasons, we have become minimalists. I’ve found that having simplicity makes life so much deeper, refreshing and joyful. I hope that this blog will help others see the benefits of living simply.

Day 1761 – Behind The Scenes Of Wedding Photographers At Mountain Branch

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You may think wedding photography is a glamorous job. You may think it’s fun. You may think it’s hard work. It isn’t too glamorous really….I’ve used my pant leg to dry off flower stems….I’ve spilled crab soup on my shoe….and let’s not talk about how gross we are after a 10-12 hour day. But it is SO much fun and it’s VERY hard work. Oh baby do I love it!

Last year, I started to do behind the scenes blog posts. I think y’all like them, right? (Comment below to let me know what you think!) My main reason to share these photos is because they’d never get seen if I didn’t share them here! These are not photos that will end up in the bride and groom’s wedding album. But hopefully they’ll give you a chuckle.

I always have a ton of pictures of Bret and myself after the wedding, mostly because we use each other to test out the lighting. Neither of us really enjoy getting our picture taken.

I mean, I can’t even smile right!

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Hide the teeth?

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Well, I’ll just pretend I’m not watching.

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This wedding, we had a third shooter, Zephan of ZMBmedia! I guess he’s not used to the many pictures we take to test the light, because he didn’t seem to mind having his picture taken! 🙂

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I asked Zephan to take some pictures of me shoot during the day. He got this one of me before the wedding. It’s my current favorite picture of myself. Thanks again Zephan!

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There’s a lot of squatting in wedding photography.

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I LOVE this shot!!

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I can’t tell if this is a yoga pose or if I’m trying to fit in a box.

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A lot of squatting.

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There’s also excitement! Bret and I were SO thrilled with this part of the formals! We were taken on golf carts to this pond. It was only us, the golf cart drivers and the bride and groom! That’s a photographer’s dream right there!

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When we test out the light for introductions, I feel like Bret walks like he’s on the cat walk…every time.

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This is Bret’s “I really don’t want my picture taken now” pose.

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“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t see you standing there…”

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“Oh! You want a picture!”

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“Maybe if I make a cute pose you’ll leave me alone.”

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“No? Ok, well, I’m not looking at you then.”

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“Fine, but this is the last one!”

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“Dang it Jen! Well, I’m going to eat some cake then!”

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I love this moment where Bret is helping Lauren photo bomb the photo booth!

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Now, if you get BOTH of us in front of the camera, we get a little cray cray.

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At the end of the day, all of our silliness and goofing off are worth it to get a shot like this with our couple. 🙂

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Day 1760 – Personal Post – Why I Am Truly Thankful For This Job (And It’s Not For The Reason I Originally Thought It Would Be)

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I’ve been doing photography full time for about 2 and a half years. I still can’t believe it’s been that long. There are a number of things that I’m sooooo thankful for. I used to think the biggest thing would be that I could be my own boss. For the 13ish years that I worked for others, I would see things that could be done better. Sometimes they would take my ideas, sometimes they wouldn’t. It was when they wouldn’t that I would get the most frustrated. I also used to think it would be the flexible schedule. Being able to work until 3 a.m. when I was “in the zone” editing a wedding or taking a nap when I was tired.

But today I was reminded of the best outcome of being a full-time freelancer, the ability to be there for my friends, no matter the time of day. See, today one of my friends was having a really tough day. I sent them a picture to help cheer them up (see below). Then spent the better part of an hour or so texting encouraging things to them. Sending verses. Sending funny videos and GIFs. Calling and praying for them.

If I had a 9-5 job, I couldn’t do that. If I was at my last job (receptionist), I couldn’t do that.

But this is my life now. I can “drop everything” and give that care. I think this is what God intended for me the whole time….that I wasn’t just going full-time in photography, but He was giving me the freedom to be a full-time friend and helper. Just a few weeks ago, I was able to take over “mom duties” and drive my brother around to his school things because of a family emergency.

Are there days I wish I made more money? Oh my gosh, yes!
Are there days I miss the “9-5, boss telling me what to do, don’t have to worry about the CEO duties?” Oh HECK yea!
Are there days I miss paid vacation? Um, like, always?

But! I would take struggling for money, figuring out how to run a business and furthering my education constantly, and vacations that I pay for any day.

Oh and it means that I can do this at my desk any time I want. 😀

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*note that is NOT my hair, it is a wig. I put it on about an hour ago. It is still on.