A few years ago I attended a workshop that gave me access to a private forum with photographers all over the country. It was my leaping point for photography and I’ve learned business, marketing, photo critiques, the works. Late last year, those on the forum decided it was time to hold our own workshop! We’d get together, party, and generally teach each other what we knew.

So… last weekend 17 of us ended up in New Orleans for the first annual OPF workshop. I’m not even sure I can describe how amazing it was. Everyone left their ego at the door and it was 4 days of collaborative teaching, shooting, & sharing of knowledge. It was great to meet all of my online acquaintances and turn them into best friends all over the country. Plus, I’m pretty sure there’s a video of Kelli & I singing Vanilla Ice at the Cat’s Meow somewhere on the internet that I hope never surfaces. 🙂

In addition to my Lightroom demo, here are a few of the amazing photographers that taught:

Kelli France – in person sales

Matt Nicolosi – business & pricing, off camera flash (OCF)

Kylene Cleaver – natural light, & demonstrated her awesomeness at boudoir sessions

Adrienne Griffin – business & pricing, senior sessions

Timothy Pham – host & OCF

Photo of the city taken with my phone & fish eye lens:

Our awesome models (regular camera):

Half the fun was taking pictures of people taking pictures:

These last two were taken with my phone as well:

  • […] are truly some of my best friends. If you remember, last year (or 1.0 as we like to call it) was in New Orleans. This year was a smaller group in San Fran & Yosemite and we had a blast. Here’s a few […]

  • Haley - February 7, 2011 - 10:34 am

    how did I miss this post?! love your work. love your personality more. so glad we are friends. xo

  • Matt - February 2, 2011 - 9:22 am

    Ahhh… good times. It was great finally meeting you and the rest of the gang. I had a ton of fun and look forward to 2.0. Thanks for the fun recap!

  • Kylene Cleaver - February 1, 2011 - 1:10 pm

    So AWESOME!!! I can’t wait to OPF. 2.0

  • lindey Magee - February 1, 2011 - 12:09 pm

    fun post jess! love the shots of my bennett, thanks for sharing :o) it was fabulous to meet you & i so appreciate your lightroom insight!
    xoxo

  • Julie Sowers - February 1, 2011 - 11:21 am

    Fun!!!!!

  • David Terry - February 1, 2011 - 11:06 am

    Looks like fun Jess!

  • Jeremy Hall - February 1, 2011 - 10:27 am

    Sounds like a fantastic event. To say I am jealous is an understatement! Congrats on having a fun outing, but more importantly a great network of fellow professionals with which to grow & share.

  • Karen - February 1, 2011 - 10:13 am

    LOVE these pics, Jess! it was so fun meeting you and i cannot wait til next year! you have to tell me more about your fish eye lens for your camera!

This was my super cute pre-Christmas wedding couple. Although it was cold outside, Tara was a trooper and their wedding day was fabulous! I took their family formals inside the Joseph Smith Memorial Bldg after everyone had warmed up with a little hot chocolate. Something I’ve never done before, but I love the way the images turned out.  After formals, we braved the cold and spent some time photographing just the two of them. We ended the night on the 9th floor of the JSMB with their dinner & reception. Such a beautiful day and an awesome couple!

  • jami - February 2, 2011 - 11:23 am

    So beautiful! So glad I got to second shoot with you, my favorite is the Christmas tree shot, I knew when you took it that it would be amazing!

  • Kylene Cleaver - January 28, 2011 - 10:12 am

    Oh Jess these are just lovely! I simply adore images at the Salt Lake temple. One day soon I will have to come out and second shoot with you 🙂

  • Karen Bourne - January 28, 2011 - 7:02 am

    The pictures are all beautiful. I really like the one of them on the couch sans hot chocolate (the hot chocolate one is cute, too, but the other one is just so classic and beautiful). I also love her colors…so warm.

Did you miss me? I’m finding January to be busier than usual. This is both good & bad as I’ve worked & met with some great clients, edited crazy amounts of photos, and been designing an overhaul of my business, yet had little time to update the bloggity-blog. Poor thing. Anyway, I’m off to good ol’ New Orleans for a photography workshop (I’m teaching a class! Ack!) but will update you on all the goodness when I get back…

Just to make you baby hungry, here’s two from a newborn session this last week:

  • Mike Grace - January 21, 2011 - 11:30 pm

    Have fun! We all look forward to seeing your photos from the trip.

The holidays are such a perfect time for a proposal. Now that things have settled a little, we’re all back to “real” life, I want to hear your story! And, to kick of the New Year, I thought I’d hold a promotion:

January Wedding Promotion: If you book your wedding with Picture Me Mine before January 31st, you’ll receive a complimentary upgrade to a 16×20 canvas gallery wrap! They are seriously gorgeous! Plus, after all your hard work, you really deserve a gorgeous piece of art hanging in your new home.

** the fine print: Wedding package must be valued at $1500 or more. Non-refundable $200 retainer required before January 31st in order to hold your date.

The in-laws have left, daddy went back to work, so I guess its back to “real” life. I’m not ready. I really could take next week off and just lounge around in my pajamas. 🙂

I loved Christmas this year. Our Christmas season included cookie making, player piano caroling, relaxing at a cabin, snowmobiling, shopping for presents, opening presents, train rides, Santa Claus, looking at lights, Christmas parties, delivering treats to the neighbors, watching movies, learning to sit up, playing with new toys, work projects, writing Christmas cards, and of course, taking pictures. Its been busy, but oh-so-enjoyable.

  • Fan of Photography - January 13, 2011 - 7:19 am

    Now I feel like I spent Christmas with you! LOL
    Thanks for sharing…Love them all!!

  • Karen Bourne - December 31, 2010 - 12:18 pm

    I love all of the pictures. I’m glad you had a good Christmas.

With Christmas only a few days away, can I tell you how excited these guys are for the man in the red suit to come?

This post is in support of Go{4}Pro‘s About Me Contest. Check it out! And, I now have an “About Me” Page on my blog as well as Wedding, & Portrait Pricing. 🙂 Makes them easier to find, eh?

Hi! I’m Jess. Thanks for stopping by! You want to know something about me, huh? Let’s see…I’ve been married for 7.5 years to the most amazing man I’ve ever met. He even proposed to me on our first date (ask and I’ll tell you the story sometime). We have 3 very toe-head blonde children who stretch and challenge me on a daily basis (Teething? Again!?). We might be done having children. That’s kind of hard for me to say, but it makes me eat up every little moment of my baby. She’s already too big too fast, and I don’t take enough photos.

I love people. I love relationships. I love being silly & having fun one moment, and being seriously & emotional the next. I love clean, bright, & timeless photographs. I love connecting with my clients. With so many amazing photographers to choose from, the best way I can market myself is me.  My personality, my way of doing things, my loud, silly, and sometimes unconventional methods.

I’m based out of Lehi, UT and serve the greater Salt Lake City area.

I also love gourmet cupcakes – chocolate ones

Snuggling my kiddos

Mountain Biking

and my Nexus One.

Let’s be friends!