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Simply Jessie Photography 2012 Schedule

Jessie — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 18:04:38 +0000

We are moving to the West Coast! The last 4 weeks have been full of packing, planning, more packing and getting super excited. Chicago, don’t freak out below is my schedule for when I will be here in the Midwest and I want to see you!

Chicago Schedule 2012

April 6-8

May 4-6

June 8-10

July 19-23 *extending for family portraits!*

September 31 -October 2

September 20 – 24 *extending for family portraits!*

We are still taking a limited amount of Chicago Wedding Commissions if your wedding is on any Friday or Sunday of these dates. If any of these dates suit your fancy email jessie@simplyjessie.com to reserve your spot! I have limited availability so first come first serve!

California Clients – mention this blog post and get 15% off your engagement session or family session. Moving special through May 1!!

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Midwest Blog: Clover and Bee

Jessie — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 20:38:12 +0000

I’m very excited about my new guest series “ City in a Garden” with Clover and Bee Wedding Blog. This blog is a must for the Midwest Bride. It is complete with their Best of the Midwest Wedding Guide and an online magazine, C&B daily full of style and bursting with inspiration. Add it to your reader, its in mine!

You can also follow Clover and Bee on Twitter and Facebook too!

Proud to be considered as one of the Best of the Midwest!!

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New Fabulous Website!

Jessie — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 17:09:34 +0000

I am so very excited so introduce you this morning to our brand new website! It is totally updated with new loves to droll over and cute little ones! It goes hand in hand with my passion of telling people’s story honestly and uniquely through the lens. I do not have galleries full of “the best” shot of the day but a much more intimate glimpse into each love story and family’s life. I tell stories. Stories of relationships and connections through images.

You can contact us directly through the website through our [contact] page as well as read our philosophy and story on the [about] page. There is a link to our fabulous blog as well as direct links to Facebook and Twitter. (I’m thoroughly addicted to Twitter and would love more company!) The blog, Twitter and Facebook are great ways to follow the daily musings and latest shoots here . And its just fun.

Come get to know us a little better! www.simplyjessie.com

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Creative Space.

Jessie — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:31:37 +0000

I’ve been thinking a lot about how creativity is born. In any creative profession, there is a delicate balance between business and art. They can compliment each other and also wage war. There is a moment that you decide to risk the art you love the most for the hope to do it every day, where you put it all in, and risk losing what you love the most in pursuit of a career that you truly love and believe in. You go from beloved hobby to a creative professional making a living. It’s exhilarating, powerful and terrifying. You risk it all.

I’ve had many conversations with photographers about this delicate balance. To succeed you must pull back on the business end to allow creative space for yourself. It is so important to feed the creative in you and no one can tell you how that happens. It is different for each artist. For some it is being alone in the quiet to find rejuvenation and new flow of creativity. For others its being among the hustle and bustle of others, watching and feeding on the energy of others. For some its books, traveling,the outdoors, music, dinner with friends or reading the newspaper.

As I continue on this journey I realize how so very important it is to feed my creativity. I am learning how to give my self the space to grow, to change, to fail, to be inspired. If not, my business will fail and fade into the background as one of many. Without allowing and feeding my passion I will tire and become mediocre. I will stop pushing to be the best, to reach higher , to risk more for what I believe in, for my calling. So put down the bank statements, the emails that don’t seem to have an end, the bills, the marketing, the phone calls and go read an inspiring book, see the others around you and to let your passion recharge. Photographers, this is what your business is built on, and it is important!!

On that note, I’m going to take a walk. I mean come on, its 75 degrees in Chicago on April 1!!

Our studio. We have work space with computers and paperwork out of ears, along with a sofa to sit , read, and chat it up with our clients.

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Wedding Proofbooks : Products 2010

Jessie — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:04:00 +0000

I’m upgrading and changing things up for 2010. In the next few weeks I will preview several new products that Simply Jessie Photography is adding. I have been searching and searching for a modern simple proof book, and I finally found it. The 11×14 book contains multiple image contact sheets bound together with a spiral coil, a frosted cover and black cardstock back. They make album design so much easier as you can compare your favorite images in print. All wedding packages come with this fantastic proof book!

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It is 2010. Here is something new… blog-a-roids.

Jessie — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:07:49 +0000

We love the images and the stories we have been fortunate to capture over 2009. So, we wanted to give something back, something fun.

We call these our Blog-a-roids. When you are featured on the blog, you get a set to share with family and friends. Quite honestly because you are awesome and now pending fame.

My desk after making.. all of 2009's blog-a-roids.

The stacks and stacks.

Here is a sample.

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Meet Eric.

Jessie — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:18:07 +0000

Meet Eric. He is my love, my business partner and a creative genius. He is why Simply Jessie Photography exists. Why you may ask since it is my name in the title? Because he believes in me. He is a dreamer, a visionary and entrepreneur. I know it’s a little weird to talk about our relationship when talking business, but it is with our love story that this business started and why our doors stay open.

Eric is our creative director. He has created everything that you see and appreciate visually. He has done all of our branding, font selection, business cards, teasers, outdoor sign, studio layout, color selection, website development , etc etc… see what I mean? Oh, and did I also mention that he is a fantastic photographer? When we shoot a wedding, he is my wing man, firing off lots of candids and keeping us all on our timeline. He is also our studio photographer. He is an experienced product photographer, well versed in headshots and onto his new and upcoming project “Profiles”. (its coming soon, but I’ll let him do the big unveil)

I know, I know… it leaves you with the question… What in the world do I do?? But that is for another day.

It’s true. He’s a rockstar.

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Ravenswood Art Walk 2009

Jessie — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:49:50 +0000

This past weekend, we packaged up carefully all of my fine art botanic prints…. and Eric designed beautifully our display at Ravenswood Art Walk 2009. This art exhibit had over 2,000 attendees, 184 artists and 43 venues…phew! It was blocks and blocks of artistic talent all out for all to see. There were dancers, painters, sculptors, photographers, graphic artists, chefs, etc etc! We had a great time meeting and greeting the neighborhood and new friends. Thank to all who came out to support what is so close to my heart.

This group of dancers was Jeezebelly. They were awesome!

This year Ravenswood Art Walk had a special exhibit, The Blago Project. It took place in the former wire tapped offices of the Friend of Rod Blagojevich. The exhibit was rooms and hallways filled with Blagojevich as the inspiration.

This was my favorite art from “The Blago Project” by Bianca McGraw made of cardboard and synthetic hair. Gross but awesome.

Last but not least is Simply Jessie Photography’s exhibit!

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Open House Photobooth.

Jessie — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:56:42 +0000

The Open House was a great success , thank you for all those who attended, helped and most of all….. who dressed up for the Photo Booth! Eric and I have had this idea for quite some time so it was alot of fun to finally see all mustaches, pirate swords, and red tutu’s in action. Everyone who participated got to choose from our box of props and take 5-7 shots. We then emailed them the pics for free and use however they like! It was so much fun. Lots of laughter and ridiculousness which I personally love. We hope to bring this to some Friday nights so stay tuned!!

Here are a few favorites of the day!

And of course Eric and I participated as well…..

Favorite of the day!!! Thanks to Mary Ellen and Matt!

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Quieting my soul….

Jessie — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:15:38 +0000

My newest venture is teaching a Photography Portfolio Workshop at Chicago Botanic Gardens for eight weeks. Last Monday was the first class where I met a variety of talented aspiring nature photographers. I designed this class to help these individuals develop their own nature portfolio to show off. Each student has a theme or focus . They vary from, water, lines and textures, leaves ,fall flowers etc. They turned in their first assignment last night and I have already been blown away by the glory of nature and the talent of these students. They are each on their unique journey to express what they see to a camera lens. I feel humbled and privileged to help them in their next steps of this journey. My class is broken into two parts. First part, is technical instruction and critique, and the second hour is shooting time in the garden to develop their portfolio and complete their next assignment.

WhatI learned in the hour, was not mind blowing fine art, but was about myself……that my soul has not been quiet for quite some time and apparently does not know how. That morning started off with over preparation and plenty of time,but turned into traffic to the MAX, wrong turns,hurrying to my classroom, organizing my things and having 5 min before meeting the class. When the second hour of our time came to go out with our cameras and be inspired …. I found this hour WAY harder than the rest of my morning even compared to the stopped traffic on I-94. My iphone kept ringing, and buzzing with new emails. I just found my self listless, wandering and uncomfortable. I was uncomfortable to be silent, to be still, to let down and to just be.

My life for the last few months has been NUTS. Moving into this new space, painting, designing, advertising, efficiency, new sights, new everything!! Don’t get me wrong, I am NOT complaining. It has been more than I could have dreamed up for myself, yet…. in that only one brief hour at the garden, I panicked in the presence of quiet.

I am looking forward to the next seven weeks of this class, to stretch me, inspire me and to quiet me. I am looking forward to Monday where I am once again uncomfortable in the quiet where I know is home for me, to get reacquainted with nature and with myself. Funny how for me they are so intertwined….

A few from my wandering….

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