Purpose {another PSA}

So, I was talking with a friend of mine about purpose, and she was telling me that every single person on this earth was created with a purpose. Now, I have heard this before, and while I believed it to be true, I don't think I ever really internalized it. What I mean by that is, I don't think I have ever put any real thought into what MY purpose was. As my friend and I started to talk a little more, I realized that a life with out a purpose is directionless, and that for a little while, MY life had been directionless. I am not one of those people that discovered photography at a young age, and have been taking pictures forever. No, I did not get seriously interested until about 3 years ago. Since then I have immersed myself into the world of photography. If there is something to be read I am all over it, something to be had, I try my darnedest to save for it. Granted I don't have all the fancy gear, nor an actual studio yet, but I know I will get there. I have come to the realization that this photography thing has got to be my purpose in life. To me, it is more than just a job, business opportunity, or a way to make money. I live, breathe, and dream in pictures. Now don't get me wrong, I know what my other responsibilities in life are and I take care of those too, but for me discovering what I was made for has been priceless. I love to bless people with my pictures. Taking pictures makes me happy.

Ok, you know what's coming next...so I will go ahead and ask. Have you discovered your purpose? Have you discovered the thing that is within your very grasp that makes you smile from ear to ear? When you don't have a purpose I believe you can become unhappy in the mundane. Life can become boring. Directionless. I believe you have got to discover what makes YOU tick, not compare it to others' ticks and then nourish your own tick whatever that may be.

Alright enough of that, I will go on ahead and step down from my "soap box" for now. ***This has been another j'marie photography public service announcement.***

And because it doesn't feel right without a picture attached...Enjoy this rare self portrait of your fearless leader. ; )

“If a day goes by without me doing something related to photography, it’s thought I’ve neglected something essential to my existence, as though I had forgotten to wake up.”

~Richard Avedon

Be Blessed today, and every day,

♥ j

MIA

I'm sorry... I know. I have been avoiding you. Oh blog, sweet blog, you hang around day and night. Light and dark waiting patiently for me to spend a little time with you. And me, knowing that you are beckoning me daily, push you to the bottom of my QT (quality time) list. I don't know why I have been treating you this way. So shady, so shifty, and definitely som-e-timey. Forgive me. I will try and do better....

Promising pictures soon,

~j

Jazzy B

This one is gonna be a star....I can tell. She is a little funky, yet cute. She has her own style goin' on and doesn't care whose lookin'. I had a wonderful time shooting Jasmine today. She came over with her mom (who just happens to be one of my best friends) because she needed some head shots and a body shot for a casting call she was going to. Although the time we spent together was short, it was well worth it, her pictures came out great.

Whenever you are in need of professional pictures and your local JC Penney just won't do, don't hesitate to call me. I will be more than happy to personalize your photographic experience, because after all, j'marie photography is in the business of making people look good.

As for Jazzy B, I can't wait to take her pictures again. Hopefully she won't forget me when she blows up into a star, and I will be blessed once more with the opportunity to take her photos. ; )

Love, Peace, and Hairgrease

~j

The First Cut.

Yes, we finally did it. We cut the boy's hair. I don't think I was really that ready for it. I thought I was. I hyped myself up, looked at all the ways it was unmanagable normally, and dreamed of all the ways it was going to look afterward. But when it came down to it and daddy started to actually cut it, I wigged out just a little. I tried my hardest not to cry in the shop. I was upset. It did not come out like I had imagined. I don't even think he looks like the same kid. He looks older now, not like my little baby anymore. I know it will grow back, and yeah it is not in his eyes anymore, and actually....four days in, I am loving it a little bit more. But like I said before, I don't think I was really all that ready.

Before

After

I know, I know, I am being a little dramatic, but hey this is my little boy, and this was his first cut. I am allowed to be a little dramatic... right?

Much love,

j

Cali Slideshow

So, I had a little free time today to mess with some of my pictures and I realized that I had not posted any pictures from my California trip earlier this year. Well, since most of my family checks this blog, I decided to put together a little slide show for them of my trip. Now, this is my very first attempt at a slide show, I had to go with whatever music the program I am using offered. I tried to take pictures of California in a photojournalistic style. There is no real rhyme, or reason to most of them, no meaning behind them, just me documenting Long Beach in my own eyes. And also becuase it has been a while since my grandpa has been to Cali, I really want to dedicate this video to him. I hope you enjoy gpa. Love you.

`j

**edited to add: I am not sure why the video is so fuzzy, but it took me so long to get it together that I am not going to worry about fixing it... : )

Happy Valentine's Day

I hope you are spending it with the ones you love!

♥ j

My dawg.

Have you ever had some one that was truly down for you? I mean really down. Someone who was on your side even if you were wrong? Well, I got one of those. Meet my cousin Harley. This lady right here is my GIRL! My cousin Harley happens to be one of my very best friends. She is exactly eight days older than me (now that we are both over 28 I never let her forget that fact) and I have known her since birth. We have been through everything together. When we were teenagers, I would see her every summer. Sometimes we would fight like cats and dogs, other times we would defend each other till the end. There was one time she came to live with me and my family, and MAN were we in heaven! We went to a new school together and since neither one of us had made any friends all we did was hang with each other, passing notes in class and laughing at our own private jokes. It was priceless. Harley always has, and always will be my partner in crime, my number one homegirl, my ace boon coon. I love you HD. Take care.

~peace

j