Often as a photographer, it’s easy to forget to shoot for yourself or make little projects for yourself that reignite the heart, but it’s so important.  As a matter of fact, it’s vital in order to continue as an artist to find ways to be inspired.   I can’t tell you how many times I’ve talked so openly about my ideas and never followed through.  Then those ideas sit in a catalog in the back of my brain categorized as Maybe, Someday, and Scratch.  Well this time, I finally got of my lazy butt and went for it.  And I have to say, I couldn’t feel more satisfied with myself.

Remember the fictional character, Ophelia, from William Shakespeare’s Hamlet?  I’ve always been inspired by paintings, drawings, and other photographs that were inspired by the same character.  The image is generally serene, feminine, and ethereal sometimes dark, even.  I wanted to have a small group of work that resembled that kind of beauty and emotion.  Well, I shamelessly and proudly used my niece for such occasion.  It sort of came to me on a whim. Since she was already in town for a few days, we whipped up the set the night before she had to head back to school.

I have to say, when I look back at these impromptu images, I proudly punch my fist in the air for following through with one of my silly ideas and I want to kiss my niece’s facefor being such a beautiful and delightful spirit.  Thank you Miss A. for being my muse!  I love you!!

If there is one thing I’ve learned to love, that’s falling in love with long, voluptuous, sexy and sometimes, drag queen eyelashes.  That courtship began when a dear friend of mine from Artistic Enhancements bound those fantastic things to my eyeballs.  Not only does having long lashes look great in photos, but people notice and you get great compliments for looking pretty.  And who doesn’t love getting compliments for looking pretty? What I love about having eyelash extensions is that it’s low maintenance beauty.  Sure, you have to keep up with them in that you will have to refill them once or twice a month, which is no different than keeping up with your manicure.  What I mean is, you don’ have to put on a lot of makeup, or even wear any at all, and it looks like you just rolled yourself right out of bed looking amazing.

I have worked with Tara and Alexis at Artistic Enhancements over the years  and they are both skilled and talented ladies when it comes to eyelashes, airbrushing, and other aesthetics.  They will be displaying a booth at this year’s Women’s Expo at the Devos Place this month from the 8th-10th.  Be sure to come down and say hi!  And be sure to also Like them on Facebook. 

I love the sparkly, exotic things in life especially when I’m on my way to my favorite shopping places.  I dream of the day of owning my own studio and if I had it my way this is what I would be furnished with!

XO

It’s been awhile since I last wrote on this blog.  As matter of fact, unless I check my archives, I can’t remember when I wrote last.  So why today?  Why now?  Well, simply, I have some things to say.  The past few years of my business have been an eye opening and even more, a heart opening experience.  I have been able to go places, see beautiful things, and meet beautiful people. Within that time, I have had many moments of self reflection, especially this past year.  For the past 6 years I have been a wedding and portrait photographer and I have learned a lot from this business.  I’ve had a chance to connect with many of my clients on a deep level and even better, reconnect with people I have not seen in years.  It’s amazing how time flies and how the years just past by in a blink.  During my times of self reflection, I have come to a hard truth and have been scared to admit for sometime, but I’ve built up the courage to say out loud that I will not photograph weddings for my business anymore.  It’s not that I don’t like them and I certainly don’t hate them.  I just don’t feel as passionately about weddings as most of my colleagues are and their images are proof of their enthusiasm.  I enjoy shooting weddings but I prefer a more sidekick approach which is second shooting for other photographers, in which I will continue to do so.

With all that being said, I am still photographing.  My camera is not sitting down.  As a matter of fact, I am very excited and happy to announce that I will be photographing boudoir and glamour photography.  What does this mean?  It means I will dedicate my business and life to making beautiful images of everyday women and helping them appreciate a little bit more of who they are and what they do.  My heart just swells just typing that out.  I have always been inspired with people in general, and I’ve always wanted to connect with them more on a deep and profound level.  At the same time, I am fighting for women on their definition of what beautiful is.  I will always disagree with women who badger themselves in how bad they look and only encourage how wonderful they are.  Confidence, encouragement, appreciation, acceptance, friendliness, respect, kindness, and authenticity are the core ingredients of what beautiful is.  I want to photograph any and every woman who can understand and relate with me on the kind of beauty that I speak of.  Photographing them is the best way I can express that.

Glamour sessions are beauty sessions for women who prefer an option without wearing sexy lingerie.  Boudoir is more edgy and has a more sexy, risque appeal, but it’s also quite a bold act to make for yourself.  That’s why I love what the genre stands for.  Why not seize the moment and embrace yourself as  you are right now?  Be brave!  Be courageous!   The truth is it’s scary to put yourself out there and see yourself in such a bold way.  One day you’re going to look back and see those crazy, sexy, gorgeous pictures of yourself and say, “Wow, I was one sexy B****!!”

For more information on my Boudoir and Glamour sessions or just go for it and book a session, please email me, emerycophoto@hotmail.com.  I would be happy to go over the details about my sessions.

To all of my clients, friends, and family, thank you for supporting me and being a part of my journey.   I hope you understand my decision and that you continue to stay by my side as I continue to do big awesome things for my little business.

Xo,

Jaz

My dear friend’s son turned 1 year old back in June, so they invited some friends and family to join the party.  I love cute messy faces.

When I was a little girl I had a next door neighbor whom I was close to.  I would definitely say that at the time she was my best friend.  We  were both the same age and went to the same elementary school and played often together.  We were not neighbors for a very long time.  As we got older, Jen and I sparingly remained in touch and we would both catch up briefly with our lives.  We even at one point dated the same kid, of course not at the same time.  But my story, here, isn’t really about that.

It’s more about when we were little, we would get mad at each other and I can never remember for any reason why.  I do remember when I wanted to play with her she would still be mad and in order for me to convince her to play with me it generally required a bribe or maybe an incentive, such as, I would offer candy like a Snickers bar or Kit Kat or Nestles Crunch so we can be friends again.  This usually did the trick.  However, by the time we would get home from school I would tell her I didn’t really have the candy.   She usually was disappointed but not quite mad at me.  It didn’t work all the time, so I would actually have to give her a real candy bar just to show some truth that I had them.    Nonetheless, I believe I owe it to her that if I say I have something to give I should give it to that person.

So that is what this one photo is all about.  It’s on my List of the things to do and having to stuff this fun-size bag of candy into a Christmas shoebox and sent to her home in Middleville last week which, ironically, arrived in time for her birthday.  That’s not why I sent it.  It just happen to show up on that day.  I still haven’t seen her in many many years but that doesn’t mean that an old friend doesn’t deserve something sweet.

Jen, I am so happy for you and your family and what life has to offer and Happy Belated birthday!!  And I wish I could put a candle on your bag of candy.

I am a super huge fan of Howard Schatz. I idolize him. If you are not familiar with his work, as most people may not, he shoots the most amazing, the most stunning, and the most vivid portraits underwater. I love him and I wish he was my mentor and best friend. He’s even on my List to meet in person someday.

Over the summer, I finally had a chance to photograph the neighbor kids underwater at their pool. I love that they were so enthusiastic about it too. I may have had a few technical difficulties, but I have to say I’m pretty happy how they turned out for my first time. And, clearly, I am no Howard Schatz.  I’m far from him, but he’s a huge inspiration to me for my first time shooting underwater.  I dedicate these virgin images to him.

Hello, my name is Jesamin, and I’m a magazine whore. It’s so bad that I told myself I wouldn’t purchase anymore magazines for the entire month of August. The only magazines I receive are the ones that I’m subscribed to.  To be honest it’s pretty hard…to not buy more magazines that is.  It typically begins at the line at the grocery store where I will pick up a publication and sift through it while waiting to load my groceries on the conveyer belt.  Or sometimes I will just head straight to the books and magazine section at the store and hang out for a few minutes before, during, or at the end of shopping.  What really grabs my attention is a great cover…(Thank you wonderful photographers) and then sometimes there maybe a great cover article that will entice me  as well.  These two things are what gets me in to trouble because some how, some way, this wonderful, flexible booklet filled with amazing images and fun articles ends up in my suitcase, in what I call a purse, onto my dinner table, towards the coffee table, and sometimes next to my bed, to at some point, a pile underneath more magazines.

The magazines that I have accumulated over the years began consuming my workspace and then every other nook and crany in the house.  I’m hoping that my husband hadn’t noticed but if he has, he’s been kind enough to not mention it to me to my face that I have a serious problem.  I’d hate for my addiction to become an episode on Intervention or,  God forbid, Hoarders, where everyone would see me bust out into an ugly cry and I continue to say, “I don’t know how I got here!” and then accept the gift of rehab to get my life back in order.

I’m glad to say that I’ve recognized my problem for quite sometime and that I’ve made the personal decision that I need to take care of my issues…no pun intended.  Therefore #108 on my List is to recycle all my magazines including my Shape subscription to 2003….I know…I know.

So the other night, I find this little guy hanging out on my door, which took me by surprise since our yard is generally occupied by bull frogs not tree frogs. In my decision to find a better shot, I ran for another lens to swap with. When I came back, my new friend quickly disappeared but not for long. He had moved on to the dining room floor before I grabbed a piece of paper towel, caught him, and moved him back outdoors.

Copyright of Emery & Company Photography

Copyright of Emery & Company Photography

Last Friday afternoon was spent with my good friends, Sam and Jenn, at Sam’s house completing one of my things to do on my List and going out to lunch.  While we were together, I talked them into just letting me photograph them in the front yard.

These girls just make me laugh, smile, and pee my pants…all at the same time.  They, for the most part, were troopers about the idea and seem to have really gotten into it in a very non-serious way.  That’s what makes it so great because I make a point to not take everything too seriously, and I am one of those people who will laugh first and apologize later because that’s just how I naturally react to things.

To really sum it all up, Friday afternoon was filled with silliness and laughter, which is how afternoons spent with friends should be.

In the meantime, Sam’s cat, Hamilet, showed us how it’s really supposed to be done and when I got home, Cider left me a wonderful present.  Don’t worry.  It didn’t come in the gross, lumpy form.