Meet my teacher...

This old friend taught me everything I know. Meet my teacher...

You can read more here.

New Blog!!!!!!!

Hello friends! I am very excited to show you my brand spankin' new blog!!!! I have been working on it for days and I am so thrilled so see how it turned out! I have been wanting to upgrade to a ProPhoto blog for a while, so this is really so exciting! Check it out here!

I would love for you all to go check it out and tell me what you think! It is now www.jenniferblairblog.com. I am pondering about just blogging from there after this month is over. Photography is as much a part of my life as what I write here, so I think it would be good to have it all in one place. What are your thoughts?

original

“Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it.”
– C. S. Lewis

My mind has been so full of thoughts about where I want my business and my life to go. I have been studying other people's work, researching what it takes to succeed and trying to be purposeful in everything I do. I've let go of the idea that I can't, that I don't have what I need, that there isn't enough money and a million other things. There are tons of people out there. I am just one of the many photographers in my city, not to mention the rest of the world. It's hard to stand out when amidst a crowd. I know that, but it doesn't discourage me.

Images have the incredible potential to encapsulate a truth and capture emotions. My goal it to do just that. I want to show the truth that love knows no bounds, that each person is unique and wonderfully made by the Creator, that marriage is a beautiful thing, that there is merit in little things and so much more. I don't need to worry about being original; I already am. I just need to stay true to myself and encapsulate the world how I see it, not how I am suppose to see it or merely for the sake of being "different".

There will never be another you, so embrace it. Don't worry about standing out in whatever you do, but seek to express truth. That is enough. Don't change who you are to be more "original" or sacrifice truth for the sake of something that won't last.

PS: Don't forget to enter to win these supper cute earrings here!

Goals...

Hi friends! I am over at my photography blog this evening. I have been doing a lot of planning lately and decided to be transparent about my goals for the future. I have been so blessed by many of you in regard to my photography. Thank you for your encouragement and support! It means so much to me.

You can go here to read my thoughts tonight. I'd love for you to add your two cents!

Sponsor in December!

 All sponsorships go to help rescue girls from sex trafficking.

Thank you all who have sponsored The Blair Affairs in the past few months. It has been a blessing to use this to help raise money for missions. From now on, I want to give all the proceeds to the organization I went with to Ethiopia (International Crisis Aid). I have never seen a better ministry overseas. They are doing so much, especially in regard to sex trafficking. I'd love for you to help me raise money in order to rescue these girls.

Each sponsor will get a spot like the one below, and a summary post.

Contact me for more details at jenchristine88@gmail.com 

PS: I just put up another session on my photography blog. It is my favorite session to date! It was themed "A Southern White Christmas." Here are a few!

To see more click HERE!

Trust

My pen filled the page with black words of anxiety. Sometimes it's good to write it all out. I let the heaviness leave my soul as my heart pours out, line after line. I feel rather like a child, pestering her Father with questions.


"Daddy, what about the money?"

"Daddy, how is this supposed to work?"

"Daddy, when will I be ready?"

"Daddy, where are we heading?"

"Daddy, Daddy, Daddy..."

In reply He just says, "Trust Me. I will take care of you."


He asks me to trust Him, and that is all the explanation that comes. I often wonder why I have been led to this place. I am compelled to give more than ever when I have less than ever. My only income is from my photography, and it's just not a whole lot right now. I'd be more than willing to find another job, but He says stay. It doesn't make much sense. Yet, He promises to provide so that His work may be done. He loves the cheerful giver. Though my future is uncertain, I have a hope that endures. I know I am exactly where I am supposed to be. I know I am being prepared for something.

So I can do nothing else but open my hands and let go of all I have. Trust - that's all I'm holding onto.

Dawn and Annie-Sarah

I am so excited to share a few photos from my most recent session. I don't always share them on this blog, but I loved these too much! Everything about this session was so sweet, especially the way Dawn and her sweet daughter interacted. Annie-Sarah was the cutest little girl! I loved her red hair. She had such spunk!

To see more from this shoot you can visit my photography blog and Facebook page! 

I hope you all are having a wonderful night!

Starting the journey...

Starting something new is never easy. As much as I love the thrill of a challenge, I hate feeling like I'm not good enough. It's only been two months since I started delving into photography. I've learned a lot, but there is infinitely more to know. This isn't something you become good at overnight. It takes lots of work, lots of practice and lots of determination. Sometimes I wonder if I'm really cut out for it when I see the long road ahead. Sometimes fear sets in...

Still I know this is the right road, even though I may feel a little intimidated. I often feel afraid to invest my life in this, but I can't let fear hold me back. I know I've been given this opportunity to be used as a ministry. I definitely want to use my photography to further the kingdom by giving away a percentage of what I make and to bless others. I am so thankful that God is leading me on this journey and I want to do everything to the best of my ability. There are so many things I need to learn to balance.

So here I am. My business is growing and my husband and I are investing in it. It's a little scary and wonderful at the same time.

Has anyone been in these shoes before?

Preview

I just had to post this little preview of Tuesday's engagement session! It was a dream come true to push that canoe out onto the lake! {Sigh} Isn't it romantic? Someone please take our picture in a boat out on a lake at sunset! :)

Goals...

I'm over at my photography blog today talking about some goals and self portraits. Read it here.

I wish I was a ballerina

Ballet has always been a love of mine. My childhood dream was to dance in the Nutcracker, but alas music not dance was my intended path. I like to pretend that I am a dancer though. People tell me that I have a dancer's figure. Does that count for anything? :) Even though I don't dance, my heart still has a soft place for the elegance of ballet. The graceful movements of a ballerina coupled with dramatic classical music will always move me to the core.

Photographing Kathryn was a pleasure. She certainly has a natural grace and ease of movement. Nothing about her movements were awkward, but perfectly poised instead. She was just the first of a whole class I did portraits for last week! More ballerina cuteness is coming! I promise. :)


Did you ever dream of being a ballerina?


For more ballet wonderfulness, check out my photography blog.

Femininity

Sometimes I find that I beat myself up for having emotions. By nature, I am a pretty steady person. My emotions hardly ever fluctuate and it takes a lot for me to get upset or offended. When I do get emotional I hate myself for being so silly, but this shoot made me realize that woman's emotions are a beautiful thing. I wanted to be full of emotion because emotions are tied to femininity.

Women have the capability to feel things deeply. Our femininity allows us to have the capacity to mother children, to love and follow our husbands, to hurt when they hurt...to feel what they feel. Our emotions help bind us so tightly to the ones we love that little can break those ties. It is powerful. It's not a bad thing; it's beautiful. 

I would say that I am a "girly girl", but I always equated that with dresses and curls. I realize now that I've been leaving out an important part of femininity. My emotions shouldn't be pushed down inside me when they start to arise. Feeling isn't bad. I may need to control them, but I don't need to make sure they don't come out at all.

I think that being job-less for the past few weeks has helped me realize this. I am a very determined and  go-getter type of person. I like my own independence. I feel bad sometimes for having to depend on my husband for everything and suddenly becoming a full-time homemaker has been an adjustment to say the least.

Through this journey I've become a bit more emotional (and by that I mean maybe crying twice! Ha!). One day I told Jonathan that I was so mad that I was feeling all of these things and He said, "That's how your'e made Jen. God gave you emotions." Now, I see that my emotions are closely tied to my femininity. I am happy now to feel. I love making our home a safe and relaxing place for our little family. My emotions tie me these things and I am glad. God made women this way for a reason! I just never saw the benefit of that reason until now!

Have you ever hated your emotions or femininity before?


PS: You can find more of the photos from this shoot on my facebook page and photography blog!

Home.

I am back home in Jacksonville for a few days and I am so excited. There are so many fun things on the agenda! My sister and I went out to take a few photos. I've been wanting to recreate a shot from Pride and Prejudice for months, something dramatic, full of emotion and with a beautiful flowing dress. The two above are just a little preview of what is to come! I'm so excited to share!

While I'm home we get to celebrate my birthday (a little early), go to an old friend's wedding and a few shoots here and there! I love my family and it is such a blessing to spend time with them whenever I can. My little siblings are growing up so fast! I hate that I can't be a part of their lives like I used to. Sigh, I suppose that is the plight of the oldest of 6!

Well, I'm headed off to talk with my sibs late into the night!


Oh and don't forget to enter the double giveaway below!!! They are such darling things!

Experimenting...

Hello guys! I've been busy working with my new camera to say the least! I have been so thankful that things are picking up! I have a few more shoots this weekend and I'm incredibly excited! It's only been a few weeks, but I feel like I've been doing this forever. I absolutely LOVE it! I want to learn everything! I've been testing out trials of photoshop and lightroom is next. (If you guys have some preferences or tips please let me know!) I have been trying everything. I love that I can take some not-so-attractive places (aka our back yard...if you can even call it that) and take a decent photo.

It's been such a blessing that I've been able to start this up with minimal expense. Sure, I don't have the best website, blog or equipment. In this field it's very easy to compare and want better. While I do want to strive for excellence, I want to stay content and true to myself. I have to start out small and that is ok. I am limited in design work and had to do my own website. That's ok. I have to wait for more lenses because I'm broke. That's ok. I've really been learning about contentment lately...and that God provides in many ways. I got a $60 refund check from the Doctor's Office the other day! Crazy!

Anyway, that's about all the updates from me.

PS: I just finished a 50's inspired portrait and have some photos up on my photography blog and facebook page! Let me know what you think!