A weekend to remember

How lovely it is to spend time with family. Amazing what a weekend can do to a person's heart, what it can do to my heart. It took a couple of days to rekindle a fire that slowly was burning down; life got in the way and I lost sight of the end of the road, I forgot to look up and remember the darkest hour of the night lets us know that daylight is almost here.

A long drive as a passenger gave me time to talk to God and listen to His voice, ask and wait for answers. I find it amusing that His timing is not my timing and for that I am grateful because when I get my answer I know that God send it to me.

The faith of a 9 year old boy reminded me there is no way age has to do with how big our faith is. Only God can give you that faith. How can a small kid have such a big and beautiful heart? I have the blessing of having him as my cousin and I want to have his faith when I grow up.

Getting older sometimes makes you forget what illusion feels like; what it is like to feel butterflies in your stomach when something makes you happy. My 12 year old teenage cousin reminded me this weekend how beautiful it feels to get excited for even the littlest of things; her lovely smile gave me courage to dream big again and the need to feel thrilled about my work.

What a difference a weekend makes in a person's life, what a difference it made in my life. I am forever grateful of the beautiful family I am blessed with, I cannot wait to see how you keep challenging me to become a better person.

The Assignment

I don't even remember how I stumbled on Lukas VanDyke's blog. Fast forward a couple of months later I had the pleasure of meeting a lovely girl called Susannah Green VanDyke at a P31 party and when she mentioned her last name I remembered the connection! We chatted a little and told her how much I loved a video they have were they use a typewriter!

Last week they posted a photography assignment and even though it was a cold, windy day, I convinced my best friend to be my model and I had fun photographing her.  You can see the original post here.


                                                  1. a

                                   1.b

                                                   2.a

                                                   2.b

                                   2.c

                                                  3.a

                                                   3.b

 
                                                   3.c

                                                 
                                                   3.d

                                                   3.e

                                   3.f

                                                    3.g

                                                   3.h

                                   4.a

                                                   4.b1

                                                   4.b2

                                                   5.1

                                   5.2

                                   5.3

                                 
                                   5.4

So did I have a gorgeous girl to model for me or what?? Thanks Sis for helping me out! Happy Sunday!!

Permission to be BOLD

Last week I was getting ready to go to Vegas for WPPI (an annual photographers convention), I was finalizing the details with some of my photographer friends to have them as guests during the week I would be absent. I asked 6 amazing, beautiful, God-loving girls to share something with you; I wanted them to share what was in their heart at the moment and their entries literally changed my life! Thank you girls!!!

I read each and everyone of the words in the documents they sent me, and I have to say that I was amazed, grateful, blessed by their hearts. I have only met these girls online in the Pursuit 31 community on Facebook, and yet with the way they opened their hearts to me and to you out there reading this, I felt I knew them for a very long time. They talked openly about their faith, how they are trusting God to do great things in their business, and right then and there I felt I was letting them down. The pain grew bigger when God helped me realize that I was letting Him down too.

I left for Vegas, but my heart was pleading for a way to make things better. I didn't want to hide my love for my God, I wanted to be transparent in my blog posts, I wanted to be able to write freely and openly about my struggles, my joys, my ups and downs, my blessings and my learnings along this way, but I knew I couldn't do it alone. I prayed for an answer and what I didn't know is that my prayer was going to be answered the week I came back home.

Yesterday I was blessed enough to be part of a big announcement from a photographer who I admire, not only for her work, but also for the way she writes boldly about her relationship with God. That girl is Scarlett Lillian, from Scarlett loves Stephen photographers. I "met" (read stalked) her blog, her Facebook and after being part of a webinar her husband hosted last year, I was more interested in really knowing her.

Scarlett published a book in which she shares her heart, her prayers, her journey through building a photography business with God as her CEO. There as I was still lying in bed in the morning I jumped out and turned my computer on to witness a new chapter in her life. I watched the video, read her welcome letter and tears filled my eyes because she was giving me something I longed for, permission to be bold like her and write my heart out for everyone to read.

Even though this post is getting long, I want to thank Scarlett for sharing her heart like this, for pushing the bar higher in our relationship with God; I want to thank her husband Stephen too, because he's been an incredible man standing behind her, encouraging her to get closer to her Heavenly Father and to publish this book. I am blessed to be able to share this with you! I hope to meet you soon and have an authentic Mexican dinner!

Without further due, here I share with you a video where Scarlett herself tells you about her book.
Don't forget to visit www.choosecommitprosper.com Enjoy!!




Promo video for the book Prosper by Scarlett Lillian from Scarlett & Stephen on Vimeo.

How many hats can one head hold?

By Amber Knauss 

Amber Knauss is a mom, a wife, a photographer, a probation officer, but first and foremost is a Christian.  She loves classic movies and the style and grace of old Hollywood, and is an avid reader.  Amber is the owner of Golightly Images and loves doing fun photo sessions and creating lovely images for families. 

___

Overwhelmed: The dictionary describes it as to overcome completely in mind or feeling; to cover or bury with a mass of something. For an example, see picture of author.  Or go look in the mirror.  I’m making an educated guess that I am not alone in this feeling.  The problem, for me, isn’t that I CAN’T say no, it’s that I DON’T WANT to say no.  I truly want to take pictures of a beautiful wedding day.  I want, with my hearts greatest desire, to be the best mom and wife I can be.  I want to help out with my kids school activities.  I want to create lasting images for families.  I want to be the best employee I can be.  So I end up juggling too many hats and become a jack of all trades, expert at none.  Perhaps learning to say no would help this outcome, but then I don’t think I would be living life to it’s fullest, and I wouldn’t be taking advantage of all the desires God has placed in my heart. 

How many hats do you wear?  Mom?  Wife?  Sister, daughter, friend, confidant, artist, photographer?  Any many more.  Philippians 4:13 tells us “I can do all things thru Christ who gives me strength”.  I believe we can juggle all the hats that God puts in our heart to wear, IF we wear one hat first.  And that hat is Christian.  If we put God first, everything else will fall into place.  Romans 4:20 states that “yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God”.  Matthew 6:33 tells us to “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you”. 

Being overwhelmed is not a new concept.  In biblical days, did the women not juggle more than we could ever handle in one day?  They didn’t have the conveniences of electricity or grocery stores, or running water.  If they needed food, they had to plant it, grow it, harvest it, cook it.  And God promised that if we put Him first, everything else will fall into place.  I’m not here today to tell you to learn to say no.  I’m simply going to suggest that we learn to put God first, and then everything else will fall into place.    The will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you.

You can check out her blog and portfolio at www.golightlyimages.com or follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/golightlyimages

After V-Day

Valentine's Day has come and gone. Many celebrated with their significant other, many decided to hide until the day passed and others, like myself, decided to spend time with good friends over dinner.

Though marketing sells that this day is only for those who have a couple, let us never forget that we also celebrate friendship and most importantly that we don't need one day to show people we love and care for how we feel about them, how much we appreciate them. To celebrate love we don't need expensive gifts and we don't need a specific day in the calendar; all we need is a little moment each day to say a loving word, writing a sweet note, going an extra mile to show we care.

And to all my single friends out there, remember that your future spouse is out there getting ready for the time you two meet; don't waist your time and get ready too, you never know when you are meant to meet.

Happy Wednesday!! 

Jess

Stopping, Regrouping and WPPI :)

There are moments in life when you just need to stop, take a step back, regroup and step back up to the stage again. Though I needed a longer regrouping time than I thought, I am back again with batteries fully recharged and ready for what comes ahead!

Today marks the final countdown to the best wedding photographers conference in the US - WPPI {Wedding Portrait Photographer International} -. Four more days and I will finally be able to meet my Pursuit 31 friends, attend classes from amazing photographers I admire, assist in photo shoots with a very talented couple, walk two huge rooms filled with top vendors in the photography world and much more!!

If in a single weekend I learned SO much, I can't wait to see what will I learn in a whole week! If you read this and you will be there please leave a comment and let me know, I'd love to meet you!


Hugs,
Jess

El Anfitrión Ausente / The Missing Host

San Francisco Día 3 / Day 3


ES. Espero que hayan descansado lo suficiente para seguir caminando y conociendo la ciudad. Hoy tenemos que tomar los últimos dos tours del paquete y caminaremos por el famoso barrio Chino. ¿Listos?

Después de desayunar nos dirigimos a la bahía para tomar el tour que nos llevaría a conocer el puente Golden Gate.  Cual fue nuestra sorpresa que al llegar la neblina tenía cubierto por completo la vista hacía el puente. 

EN. I hope you had enough rest to keep walking and learning about the city. Today we are going to take the last two tours from the bundle and we will walk through the famous China Town. Ready?


After breakfast we went to Fisherman's Wharf to take the tour that would take us to the Golden Gate Bridge. Imagine our surprise when we got there and the heavy fog had the bridge completely covered. 

ES. Por lo menos vimos un pequeño arco del otro lado del puente. 

EN. At least we saw a little arch from the other side of the bridge. 

ES. De regreso en Union Square abordamos el último tour que nos llevaría a conocer las famosas casas Victorianas. Ya arriba del autobus me encuentro con este lindo anuncio de Tiffany & Co. y no pude resistir la tentación de fotografiarlo =) 

EN. Back in Union Square we boarded the las tour that would take us to the famous Victorian houses. Up in the double deck of the bus I found this lovely Tiffany & Co. ad and I couldn't resist to take a picture of it =) 

ES. Parte del ingreso de la comunidad hotelera es destinada hacia el fondo para fomentar las artes, es por eso que encontramos diferentes tipos de murales que decoran los laterales de los edificios.

EN. Part of the income from all the hotels is destined to the art fund to impulse the arts, that is why we find different types of murals decorating the sides of the buildings.

ES. No estaba segura de incluir esta foto, pero NUNCA había visto un baño público como este!

EN. I was not sure of including this picture, but I have NEVER seen a public restroom like this one!

ES. Llegamos al Barrio Chino! Lleno de color y tradición, por unas horas nos sumergimos a un pedacito de China.

EN. We got to China Town! Full of color and tradition, for a couple of hours we submerged ourselves to a little piece of China.

ES. Dando vueltas por la ciudad vimos diferentes tipos de arquitectura.

EN. Walking around the city we saw different kinds of architecture.

ES. Las famosas Siete Hermanas. Se acuerdan del programa `Full House´?

EN. The famous Seven Sisters. Do you remember the show `Full House´?

ES. No les encantaría tener una moto como estas??

EN. Wouldn't you like to have a motorcycle like these??

ES. La luz en el rostro del maniquí era muy tenebroso, como sacado de una película. 

EN.. Lighting in the face of the mannequin looks creepy, like out of a movie.  

ES. Después de caminar todo el día nos merecíamos una cena clásica americana y ningún otro lugar mejor que Lory's Dinner para un ambiente de los años 50. 

EN. After walking all day we deserved a traditional american dinner and no better place than Lory's Dinner for an authentic 50's feeling. 

ES. Este día se ha hecho largo y por lo tanto los dejo para que descansen. Recarguen pilas para la próxima semana porque no se imaginan lo que viene! 

EN. This post has gotten long, so I let you rest for tonight. Recharge batteries for next week because you don't imagine what is to come!