Category: Personal

Last Wednesday night was a memory that I will hold close to my heart forever. We watched the videos from our Wedding for the first time. The Wedding came to life again, it was as if I was seeing it with a whole new pair of eyes. All 15 of us in our itty bitty house made for quite a cozy night, I wouldn’t have it any other way. It was a celebration, it was a time to slow down and remember that this is what life is about. My Mother in Law suggested I cook every Wednesday night. Ya’ll, if my schedule allowed for it and I knew I wasn’t going to get backed up, I would do it every single week for all of us. I would do and it and love every minute of it. I don’t really know what it means to do anything quick and easy though because I am my mother’s daughter. Flowers, table clothes, tea light candles, were put out that night. What I made? 40 handmade meatballs and Red Gravy from scratch. “If you’re going to make the effort, at least do it right.” These are words I heard often while growing up. I always have backup everything too- because I hate running out of anything. HAHA! It starts to become second nature when I’m at the grocery. Gotta get backup! I enjoy going to the grocery, have fun cooking, and love spending time with my family.

In 2012, a few things will be changing with my schedule and bookings so I look forward to slowing down a bit. Until then, 2011 is my year, our year! I am working my booty off and going to challenge and push myself more and more each day. I swear there are some weeks I wonder how I got through it. I am excited about this year, I look at my calendar over the next few months and it’s almost completely booked. Between the weddings, E-sessions, Bridals and the Grow With Me kids- yall keep me busy ;) Thank you x 100!

Work was put on hold last Wednesday. It was fine. Life goes on. I cooked. Cleaned house. Laughed and cried watching our video. Enjoyed every minute of my family being over. Prayed that I’ll have many more days like that night.

So guys, I guess it’s time to share my wedding, a view into my world for a minute. Me on the other side.

I owe a million thank you’s to everyone involved!!

Preparation: My parents house & Randy’s parents house

Ceremony: Our Lady of the Rosary Church on Esplanade Ave.

Reception: Pavilion of the Two Sisters – New Orleans City Park

Photographers: Studio Tran – Beebe Tran, Corine Tran, Leslie Pendleton, Eric Bordelon, & Jason Cohen

Videographers: Blink Video – Melanie Talley & Wendy Saucier

Florist: Erin Steen

Makeup: Suzette Stuprich with UpSa Daisy Salon

Hair: Shannon Diaz with UpSa Daisy Salon

Church Vocals: Aria Mason

Church Organist: Tommy Zanca

Church Trumpeter: Gary Hotard

Reception Band: The BoogieMen

Reception Coordinator: April Laughlin

Girls & Girls Chuck Taylors: Famous Footwear

Girls Button Down Shirts: Men’s section @ TJ Maxx & Marhshalls

Girls Monogram Totes: The Knot

My Dress: Romona Keveza – Town & Country

My Shoes: Badgley Mischka – “Randall Pump”

My Custom made Hair Flower: Etsy – Byrdferth

My Veil: Same one my Mom wore when she married my Dad 34 years ago :)

Bridesmaids Dresses: Jcrew

Wedding Cake: Haydels

Grooms Cake: Holly Bratton with Couture Cakes

Reception Photobooth: Squareface Photobooths

Candy Buffet Jars: Walmart & Michael’s Crafts

Chinese Takeout Boxes: Uline

Sticker’s on Boxes: Zazzle

2nd Line Handkerchiefs: Augie Leopold Advertising

Koozies: Inman Promotional Team

Vintage Signs: Etsy – The Back Porch Shoppe

Old Time Camera’s for Guest Sign In: Ebay

2nd Line Umbrella’s: Luna Bazaar

Guy’s Tuxs : John’s Tuxedo

Guy’s Avitor Sunglasses: Amazon

Engagement Ring & Wedding Bands: Ramsey’s

Randy’s Bass Guitar Wedding Gift: Marcus Miller Fender Jazz Bass – Musician’s Friend

Here are my pieces of advice for all my future couples: I totally hammed it up. I will be the first to admit. When I saw the camera in my face, I smiled, danced or grabbed whoever was next to me to take a picture. I know what it’s like to be the one taking the pictures and I love seeing my couples interact with each other. When they hold hands, kiss or just a simple smile. I was somewhat nervous in the beginning, which is seen on my face a bit during prep. During the ceremony Randy broke the golden rule and chomped gum the whole time, I twirled my hair way too much on the alter. During the Reception, I laughed, cried and danced my rear end off. I look at the pictures and I’m thankful I did bootcamp for 6 months before the wedding came. It really did relieve so much stress all while getting in shape! I wasn’t a twig for the Wedding, I’ll never be a twig. I’m a healthy girl. I’ve gained some lbs since then and I really don’t care ;) Well yes, actually I do. But I’m working on that! I’m happy, we like to cook and enjoy ourselves. It’s what you do when you’re from NOLA. However, I do still exercise and still go to bootcamp. My last words to say are just to soak it all in. I reminded myself a couple of times on the Wedding Day to just chill out, take a deep breath and enjoy the moment. I will remember this day for the rest of my life, I am so happy I have these memories, both my photographs and videos. I can’t stress how important this is. Weddings are expensive, don’t skimp on two very important things. It’s what helps preserve that special day. Make the best of it ;) One last thing- no two weddings are ever the same, it’s all about what you make of them! Every couple has their own vision and their own plans of how they want the day to unfold. The cameras help to preserve that special day. Make the best of it ;) HAM IT UP, you’ll be glad you did!! haha.

Love you guys, hope you enjoy! I had ALOT TO SAY and lot’s of Vendors to thank!! Now you can see what this post took me so long to get up!

My Video Montages – THANK YOU Melanie & Wendy!

Click the links below to view all 4 of our Montages.

Prep Montage

Pre-Ceremony Montage

Reception Montage

Ending Recap

My Wedding Photos – THANK YOU Beebe, Corine, Leslie, Eric and Jason – the 5 of you worked your MAGIC!!! Here are just some of my favs, around 150 – I didn’t want to put too many up and jam up the blog.

Hey Ya’ll! I’m just taking a little break from editing today to share one of my recent craft projects with you! I started this tack board probably about 4 months ago, maybe even longer. It all started when I broke a mirror… BOOO I know! I was trying to hang it and I pushed too hard and there it went, a crack all the way down the center. So what was I going to do with it? I saved the broken mirror pieces which I am sure will find it’s home someday when I use them for another craft project. I was left with the mirror frame and didn’t want to throw it out…. I decided I wanted to make a tack cork board for my office so I can hang up all the cards that my clients mail me.

So here is my process of turning a mishap into art. These are all taken on my iphone- so quality isn’t that good, but you get the gist!

First Randy helped me cut the cork, so that it would fit right in the frame.

What it looked like before I started laying newspaper – nice but just boring..

Day One!! I’m outside enjoying the beautiful sun on the patio table. Started putting down the first few pieces. It’s easy… just cut paper into strips, then paint on the glue with a small paint brush, next just lay strips across.

Day Two!! I’m inside now- about 3 months later, haha! The pieces will hang over, that’s okay- you can cut them off later.

Lexie really enjoys laying on whatever project I have going on….. Laundry, Newspaper, Magazines, you name it!

Day Three!! Another couple of months later.. I am now at my parents house working on this. It’s a Sunday, Mom was cooking, I took the day off, just enjoying the day, being lazy, etc…

Complete! Now it just needs to be hung!

What it looks like hanging in my office. I have some of my clients save the date, Christmas and thank you cards up there too ;)

So as most of you know who have been following my blog for a while, Randy and I live in a cute older little house in the neighborhood where we grew up. Both my parents and my in-laws live less than 2 minutes away :) We’ve taken this house room by room and did what we could afford at the time. First it was the den, hallway and our bedroom. (Took paneling down, ripped up the carpet, refinished the wood floors, put crown molding up, new doors, new knobs, new blinds, fresh texture, fresh paint, all new closet doors, new front door) You get the picture… our house has had a major face lift. We then moved on to the kitchen, which some of you may remember. This was our biggest expense and totally worth every penny. I have really enjoyed cooking dinner with Randy in our kitchen and sipping wine together after a long and stressful day. It’s the place where we get a chance to actually talk about our day, talk about life and future goals/plans.

Next we re-did the laundry room and my office, which was right around the time we did the kitchen. Well almost a year later since the kitchen renovation and 6 months of being married, we decided it was time for the bathroom to get freshened up. So here it is… all our stages are below. It’s been so relaxing to take a shower in there now, knowing we have a fresh new tub, floor and cabinets. Our house is finally starting to feel like home where we have put so much of our time and love into it.

Special thanks to my brother Jimmy for getting this project rolling for us. He is a great contractor and knew just what to do next. With his dedication to get it done and our style thrown in there, I think it came out great. We love our painter Matt who is in Randy’s band. He is the only person I would ever recommend to paint. He’s painted something for just about everyone in my family. His business is Perfectionist Painting… and he is just that… a perfectionist!

To be completely honest, it takes a lot of patience to renovate a house. It’s not the easiest circumstance, especially when last month I shot over 20 sessions. It was tough to juggle it all. There are bound to be arguments and tiffs along the way about this paint color or that tile, etc..  In the end, it’s all worth it though. It only brings you and your better half closer, makes you communicate more and learn how to problem solve. After being with Randy for almost 10 years, I can honestly say the main ingredient is communication.

So here’s our process from start to finish. We are just about done with our house. We have one more bedroom to renovate, the garage outside would look great with new siding and I would LOVE to paint the bricks. One day at a time…….. one day at a time :)

Happy Thursday Ya’ll! Be on the lookout for 5 photo posts next Mon-Fri from my shoots this week.

Oh, my favorite part of the new bathroom, is my makeup organization now!

Partied out. Yep. That’s how I feel right about now. This is the first night I’ve been home sitting here doing nothing in about 10 days. When I say mini vacation that I scheduled myself, I meant it. It’s almost been a marathon of how much fun I could have. Exhausted. I’ve never been so exited to be sitting here in a clean house on a Saturday night with nothing to do and nowhere to go. I also just got back from the grocery store, needless to say it’s all fruits, vegetables, milk and protein. I think I’ve eaten so much, I might turn into a big fat Italian meatball. Well now that I’ve gotten that out of my system, I’m looking forward to a new start. That involves healthy food, water and lots of exercise.

I really can’t believe it’s 2011. Where did last year go? It feels like the blink of an eye. Looking forward to thumbing through my images from last year and pulling my favorites out. It’s crazy to think how much I’ve been shooting lately – I am forever grateful to each one of you who has asked me to photograph for you. I never in a million years thought I would be where I am today. I look forward to photographing the 24 Weddings I have booked for this year, my special ‘Grow With Me’ kiddos and all the new people I’ll be meeting this year.

In 2010 I married my best friend, road tripped to Vegas, LA, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Napa, San Fran, and witnessed our best friends Dana and Tim marry in the Bahamas. I captured some sweet moments behind the lens, and also experienced what it was like to be on the other side of the lens. Learned that a handful of the brides I’ve photographed are now expecting their first child :) Watched my business mature to a new level, made some great new friends, watched the Saint’s win the Superbowl, laughed, cried, gotten sick a few times, called my mom to help me out more times then I can think of, experienced turning a house into a home. Had fun remodeling, decorating, buying and refinishing. Enjoyed picking out our first Christmas tree. Gotten in 2 wrecks this past year, one was the other persons fault – one mine. Cried some more. Read some amazing books. Worked my butt off. Edited more hours than I can count. Celebrated, danced and enjoyed the company of my loved ones. Gained some more responsibility, turned 26. Planned and organized as best as I could. Set some new goals for 2012. Grown richer in Faith and really enjoyed going to church every Sunday. Prayed and given thanks for everything I’ve been so fortunate to receive.

Here’s a toast to you all- I thank you for your kind works and comments over the past year. For allowing me to follow my passion of photography. For checking back to see what’s new, for supporting me and being my friend. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.

Here’s how we rang in the new year last night. 5 couples, Tony Angello’s Restaurant for dinner, laughs, jokes, reminiscing about when we were young and first became friends, toasting to a new year! At midnight, we were still at the restaurant, so we headed outside with our champagne and watched the fireworks!

Much love, happiness, health, success and blessings to you all in 2011!

Love, Jen