It is the final details that can drive ya wild!

I'm in the final moments of this project here.
I have made a LOT of progress in the hopes of launching on time, but I'm not so sure I'll have everything up by Jan 31.  It might be later next week. :)

This has to be the hardest process for me....because I am my own *EVERYTHING* and I found lately that I have had a hard time delegating certain things and getting timely results.  So, I am back to my drawing board getting my own stuff done again. :)  Thanks to the help of a few...I'm off to a good start.

I'm sure this year will hold a lot more changes than this...I like to think of this as phase 1 Revelation.  I think there will be a Phase 2 and 3 in the coming months. :)  But getting this part done is a big step. :)

Embracing who I am fully.

I still can't wait to share....this is so fun for me.
I do love it, it is just really really really really hard work. :)

LOVE YOU!
and I promise, back on FB soon - i miss everyone. :)

the ups and downs....of the journey of light.

Stepping UP.

I think tonite was a good REMINDER of stepping up to the plate, to fill the spot I have here to accomplish.  When I am removed from the familiar, I find God. :)

It is already in my heart to serve....and I've not been in a place in almost a year...where I have been able to walk into a place...and be given an authority to just use my gifts & talents and strengths for serving.

I know this is a new chapter.

I know this is a new strengthening and teaching for me.

I am really wanting to live the life God has for me.

It is really that simple.

As fear leaves, HIS LOVE fills. :)

peace.

An older piece of art...with a light at the end, of a dark place.

Getting closer!!!!!!

I spent a GOOD portion of the day just working my little self...through the new launch details.  There is still so much more to do - and some of this may just come in pieces...but I wanted to be sure a lot of the pieces are in place so it all makes sense. :)

I'm so excited.

I can't wait to share the changes that I've made...and if anything, I'm just excited that I have accomplished something else...with just as much sweat/tears as the first time I sat down to start this business. :)  Most of my battles are very internal...getting my desires & dreams out on paper or in a website or blog...can be challenging, but SO worth it. :)

Have a great nite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A true inspiration!!!!!

Looks like Jack LaLanne has passed....
what an inspiration he was...I know this!  I know we all probably laughed at his juicing commercials - but at 96 years old - what a FULL life...full of fitness and health.  Full of strength in body and mind.  I think he was something special!

He will be missed, but Lord knows - let us hope he left behind a large legacy of people that will take care of themselves! AND inspire others to do so too!!!!

Article on Jack LaLanne

Warm thoughts & prayers to his family and friends!

Jen

The Reflection.

Psalm 34:5
Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.

What I fear most for our women out there...is the beauty that they withhold themselves from seeing.  So I ask God now, teach me about true beauty - both inside and out.  May the ladies I run into...begin to see themselves as you created them.  Amazingly beautiful and radiant with your presence.  I am at a loss for words, so I posted God's word.

I will type it again....

Psalms 34:5....

Those that LOOK to him are RADIANT.....their faces are never covered with shame.

Shame says "There is something wrong with me". 
God says: "I love you, and you were beautifully and wonderfully made".  "You are MY art piece".

May God share his love with you today....I know that you are in need....
so I pray that your needs be met with his love today.

amen.

Fly into new territory.

Peace.

I was learning quite a bit about peace today....
and how great it is to live in that place of peace and enjoy your life.

The first thing thrown in my face this afternoon was....
God created YOU to be yourself, NOT SOMEONE ELSE.

God created me to be the best me I can.  Not compare myself to anyone else.  The only standards that I need to worry about is what God wants me to live up to.  Over the years, I've had various revelations about this - but find that I'm always tested again and again in my Identity Security. :)

It has been a bit hard this season....actually, right now is a bit difficult - but I know that all is going to work out exactly like God's plan intended.  God knows me better than me. He knows I'm hard-headed, but soft-hearted.  He knows that sometimes I wait til the last minute to make changes, but they get made.

Life is about consistent change.
My desire is to move forward on the brightly lit path made just for my feet to walk.

^{Psalms 119:105
105}Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

The word is the lamp and light.  Needless to say, I gots shiny feet.  I don't want to live in darkness, a pit, on shaky ground or in a storm.  I will gladly WALK through those things to experience all the goods and bads.  I've walked through a lot to get here.  I'm actually deep down ready to share my story.

While not like yours, is still MY story. :) 


Take care,

Making the most of what you have!

I'm at a place now....where living with what I have, is making the MOST of the time i have!!!!
I have new choices to use my time in a way...where I can always continually serve others....

I'm going to get involved in a homeless outreach....and some foster/orphanage outreaches....here locally...making a difference with my gifts and talents, my photography and my heart. :)

Now is the time to reach outside yourself and make a difference to people that need love.

They need to SEE love in action.  :)

So, I encourage you today...if you are a funk, a rut, a self-imposed prison - reach out to someone else....and get over yourself by helping others and loving others. :)

I want to make the most of what I have....and what I can give. :)

Take care!

Learning through failures!

Some of the best results I have gotten lately in my photography...has been learning through failures.  I think we get challenged to produce and push ourselves even BETTER when we fail.  Most times I'm usually seeing where I fail...and asking myself, "Do I want to repeat that?".  Sometimes, you just can't help it - because maybe the challenge is soooooooo intricate, that you miss a few details. 

I'm actually THANKFUL right now for my failures.  I can troubleshoot a lot faster now...and solve problems without emotional outbursts.  I have grown so much in so many areas...but can never get to that place where "I have arrived" . I think we all go into each project with a certain uncertain certainty.  We fight through the intimidation and insecurities and find ourselves being as artists truly are.  Flawed and Imperfect! :)

The 3 words I'll post on my wall next....
"decide. commit. succeed".  from the p90X series.  It is a truth that is evident in our lives...in ALL aspects of our lives. :)

have a great week!

Jen

In this season.

I can safely say the true tests are coming over the next couple of weeks....
the internal kind...the kind where my heart is scrutinized, looked at in depth...my motives and purity is examined. My revelations become clearer and clearer.  In this time away, I find that it is quieter....but I know the true test is coming when I sit down to write ....with purpose.

I hope to see you all soon....for now, just wait til the end of January....
it is going to be such a wonderful thing for me to share. :)

Much Love


Jen

What if.

My thoughts are taking me today..........to NYC.

I can see how God can use even the SIMPLEST things to make dreams come true.

Dreams that came from him....and some of these dreams, maybe I get to be a part of someone else's dream and help make it happen.

I just about fell to the floor when thinking of the POSSIBILITY that God could open up....

and I'm actually going to be even more bold and declare that this can and WILL happen.

Our lives have been building to this point.........
and we were not made to sit idly by and watch life go by. :)

This is it. :)

Our first snow....

So the winter season has come....and oh the snow snuck up on us yesterday...leaving us with tattered pieces on the ground today.  :)  I'm always so cold...that i don't like exploring in the snow, but what I did do , was explore with my camera. :)

I decided to try out my new wide angle lens as well as pull out the stops with my old XTI and 28-135 to try to capture a gorgeous blue bird sitting in our tree outside.

I have found that my wide angle looked fine on screen, but the images looked a tad darker on my screen ....but the xti was perfect in my perception of exposure. :) Enjoy the pictures!  That bird was great, only wish i had a super zoom lens...cause all i got was bird butt when i tried to get closer! :)

Peace.

taken with my XTI - and contrast applied in lightroom. :)

this is my perception of a "wintery mix" - green grass, dead grass, snow and rain drops. - wide angle lens

i actually think this is cute, and he few away 3 seconds later! hahahahaah - bluebird - xti

Happy New Year......letz make some things happen in 2011!!!!

We are going for it alllllllllllll this year. :)

Meanwhile, enjoy a couple of images from a New Years' Eve wedding.
I love what she said, SO HONEST and real.

"Do you know why we waited so long to get a photographer?"....
"Because I hate the camera".....

Her tune soon changed when we had some fun and took some beautiful images.  She is amazingly beautiful with a great family, and they partied all nite long celebrating making it official. :)

Congrats!

See you all in 2011. :)

The bride and I - after our mini-low-light picture session!  A must have for all my future weddings, pics w/ the brides and grooms!

You will laugh when I tell you what this is.  A BATHROOM, the only place we had a moment to make some images. 30 degree NIGHT weather, doesn't make the best atmosphere for outdoor pictures. :)

Me and the lovely lady who gave me this referral - posing and silly-facing.  It is who we are. We cannot deny it. :)

A time to dream, A time to live the dream.

Seasons.
There are cycles and changes in our lives all the time.
There are times when we are asleep, hibernating, there are times of growing....
There are times when you get discouraged...and just plain up impatient....
There are times when you spend so much time comparing your life to others...that you always forget that you have YOUR life to live too....
We have all been given a chance to live a dream....
It doesn't always make sense, but it should make some sense to you.
It should shake and quake your heart if you cannot do this dream inside you.
It should make you uncomfortable, even though it is the right thing and the true thing for you.
The unknown usually IS uncomfortable.
All I know is - I'm tasting the next year 2011...and it is good.
I cannot believe the things I'll be walking into.
The things that won't make sense to you, but PERFECT sense to me.
I've spent 34 years to get here.
Wish I could have come here sooner, but you know that timing is everything.
I can't wait for this next year.
May YOUR year be a year of awesomeness, of dreams coming true and happiness and joy, wherever you are. 

Much Love

P.S. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year - from Zak & Jen. :)

Much Love to you!

Jen

Merry Christmas to all...........and Happy New Year!!!!

I am SO thankful to all my friends, family, husband for this year...it has been QUITE a journey!!!
I only expect 2011 to hold more surprises....and more wonderful experiences than ever before.

Thanks to you all for experiencing my $50 special - it was a pleasure to serve you this season, and I sure hope you enjoy all the awesome pictures we were able to create!!! :)   I will see you in 2011!!!!

What is going down SATURDAY NITEEEEEEEE? :)

THIS!!!!!!!!!

Rarmai Dallas-Fort Worth Area Photographer - www.rarmai.com

Jen's Photo Booth Experiences.....

So when I get the FUN honor of shooting "Photo Booth" style...I usually try to see what can happen in the space I'm in.  Sometimes I keep it simple, other times I let myself go on a decoration spree.  This time, it being so close and i mean CLOSE to Christmas - I opted for the Christmas paper and decorations along with my wondeful collaborator Sherry - we created a simple and fun scene fit for all those to enjoy. 

I'm glad to be around the creative energy that is Art Love Magic, because I usually get to have fun without even trying.  It is like watching things happen and just sitting back & snapping.  Other times, I get to direct or zoom in on someone's features if they let me. :)  I understand there is a lot of trust when it comes to the photographer and the client.  I just don't think about it.  I usually throw myself out there heart & soul and see what happens.

So forgive me if I move fast....:)

Jen's Photo Booth Experiences:

"Where you can get tangled up in decorations and not get into trouble!"

"Where snowflakes and sunglasses become a theme of the evening"

"Where you can BE yourself!"  (Eddie's first time in booth EVER!)

"Where friends can laugh and make silly faces all nite"....

"Where hyper-creativity can be cool, like this picture above"

"Where you think you are having a bad hair day, but really it is gorgeous, especially when standing next to Josh."

So there you have some fun pictures and captions from my experiences.
Really, it is not me, but when YOU bring yourself and interact with me is when the Imagery comes to life.

My tips for the rest of 2010:

When it comes to booking your next Photographer
-realize that you bring something to the table too!
-don't hesitate to bring ideas & creativity to the scene!
-what may look "bad" to you, can actually be gorgeous in art.
-embrace your own BEAUTY within.  *****IMPORTANT*****

Have a Merry Merry Christmas !!!!!!

Love Jen

Guess the Celebrity!

so i have NO DOUBT who this client looks like.
What do you think? What are your guesses? :)

She looks amazing. :)
This was from my shoot today.....and boy, was I surprised at the fun and art that I just created for her.
More to come I'm sure, but for now...just check this out. :)
This is her teaser album so far: 

Headshots and Artwork....

Fun Art from tonite....

Just doing some fun art....
having fun...and looking into the future.

and i look much better, than i look right now. :)

A futuristic outlook into 2011...

In this very last month of wildness....
I'm in the process of trying to stay focused on the tasks at hand...
the things to be written, produced, thought about...

Change is the hardest, most fulfilling thing we do....i'd like to say it is easy to stay where I am, but it is not my destiny...I'm meant for more....I've got more potential to unlock...

I'm just ready to live the dreams in reality...more and more.
I can't wait. :)

It has been a long road of 34 years to get here...and I'm thankful. :)

Newly engaged!!!!

and by NEW i mean, when I did their session this week...they had been engaged less than 24 hours or so!  Congrats you two!  So fun to play out in the sun & wonderful weather (before the cold front!) EWW! ahhahaah

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Thanksgiving week...full of family, healing, laughter and thankfulness.
To see MORE:  Ryan and Lauren! *EEEk!*

"Tis the season" *smile*

Tis the season....to be jolly and merry and bright!
I had to start looking at some cards on my store to see what was out there...and in my fun...i found this card that seemed to fit laughingly with this photo. :) It was just one of those cute moments where the mom had bought her some wonderful things from the Funky Finds...and we wrapped her up...and I snapped this face.  So awesome.

I don't claim to be the best, but I definitely claim to have FUN when working. :) 

I hope that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday...to start off the end of this year with fun, family and...we all have something to be thankful for.

To start, I'm thankful for my husband....whom is my partner in love.

Enjoy!

"God loves you, so what does it matter if people don't like you?"....

That was a nice quickie message today. hahaah!  I am always amused at Joyce Meyer and how God uses her completely to speak to those of us that need to laugh...and yet recieve God's word at the same time.  I've been in that place of seeking....so it seems only fitting...that when I hear, I have to laugh too. :) 

There are changes coming soon...and new things coming into light for myself and my business.  I'm looking forward to that next level more and more...it is just the PROCESS of getting there always seems to be so labor intensive internally...that I have avoided it.  So, I'm aiming to ignore the fears and no matter how much it may hurt, strain, poke and prod....I gotta get these things done....or I'm going nowhere.

I don't know about you, but I don't like being STUCK in places where I know my destiny is not.  I don't like hopping on the merry-go-round of situations that keep me going in circles...and never getting anywhere on the path that has been laid out.  I'm optimistic AND trusting God that all things are working for my good....

I've done a lot of years of sowing...into so many lives....and I still do, but now is the time for me to step away for a while and get some things knocked out for my future.  I know that it is all good, and it is all in good timing.  Never fear, when I come back from the covering of the cloud - it is going to be amazing...it is going to be EXACTLY where I needed to be.  Thanks to all my friends for being patient with me. :) 

Until next time....................

I leave you with some little collages I was playing with...I thought they looked really cool!  I have never used templates or anything like that - so this is my first. :)

Some of the ART from Orlando!

So I just now sat down and worked on a few artsy things for Joe & Alex!!!
Here are a couple of yummy things. :)

Congrats again, to yall!

"This means something, this is important"...

I'm really in awe of things that kinda are moving my way.  I had prayed for an opportunity to move into a place where I needed to be, and I got one of my answers.  I know that my purpose is multi-tiered and functional in several areas, but just having this ONE piece fall into place really just lit me up.  So much so - I could not WAIT to get my information out there and going full steam ahead. :)

In good time, I'll reveal that part of my life.
For now, I'm keeping it for me. :)

All i really want is to truly find my place here...so that I can thrive into what I'm called to do - the searching part gets SO exhausting...and then the waiting...and searching...and finally God said, sit down. :)  I sat down...and this week got 1 piece of the puzzle and immediately jumped on it.  I can't tell you the joy inside when it happened too.  I look forward to MORE of this, and soon too.

Before I know it, the dreams I've had will make sense.

Before you know it, I'll be *poof* :) hahaha!

Thanks to all my friends/family that support me - I couldn't do it without you.

Next up....the sky is not the limit. :) - this is me, in "bloom" :) *smile*

and here is me...."behind the cloud" - still shining, but covered by God's presence in order to shine even brighter when my time comes. :)

 took this inside the Orlando airport - and i sat by the window to keep "warm" and take in the light..and all of the sudden...this LITTLE cloud completely covers it.  The light is seemingly gone, but still peering out past it.  God showed me that this is me.  I'm totally covered by him, still shining, but will be even brighter when this next "move" of what i'm doing happens.

He knows I like visuals. :)
Just talking about it gets me excited.

Rock ON.