Richter Family

There is something oh so special about capturing a family’s journey through multiple seasons of life. I took Jake and Jenna’s engagement photos six years ago…my, how their family has grown! They now have two precious littles: Emma Grace (2 years) and Lily Kate (10 months). See below for more from our time together, and keep scrolling for a throwback of their engagement photos! :)

For the sake of keeping it real…how cute are these candid moments?!

Back to the precious moments…

Now let’s take a walk down memory lane, shall we?! Here are a few of my favorite photos from Jake and Jenna’s engagement session in August 2012!

Thanks for asking me to capture another season of life, Richter family. ♡

Jess

Cameron Mayes | Senior Shoot

I photographed Cameron's brother's senior photos a few years ago (click here to see) and was thrilled that the Mayes crew asked me to photograph another son's milestone. Something about "repeat" families (for lack of a better word) is the absolute sweetest. I typically prefer shooting outdoors, but we had a chilly weekend and the forecast was nothing but COLD WIND, so we opted for a cozy indoor spot. It turned up to be a wise decision 100%! We had great natural light to work with and it totally suited Cameron's laid back vibe. He also has an interest in photography (which explains the Polaroids)! This really inspired me to push out of my default editing box...I had a blast exploring new looks and tones. So pleased with the results and hope you enjoy them too!

All the best,

Jess

LA City Guide | TRAVEL

LA City Guide | Travel

One of my bestest girlfriends, Hannah, has traveled the world, yet her adventures have never landed in California! With both of our work and travel schedules, it was totally miraculous for our calendars to agree, but when we found an open week to hit the road...we knew this girl trip was meant to be! I'm wildly grateful to have been her West Coast tour guide. :) Here's a list of the top places I wanted her to experience for her first time in LA. Enjoy!

Malibu Farm

My absolute favorite part of blogging has been the genuine friendships I've made...I never would've thought! I "met" Jackie through Instagram over a year ago and let me tell ya, she's as sweet as they come. Beautiful inside and out!!! It was such a treat to meet up with her in real life. Do yourself a favor and click over to her blog Dash of Panache. I absolutely adore her even more after squeezing in some hang time!

Shop my gingham top and Jackie's floral embroidered top

Salt & Straw | Venice Beach

I knew Hannah would fall in love with the quirky flair of Venice Beach...and we couldn't resist Salt & Straw...a favorite ice cream stop!

Shop my embroidered tunic and kimono

Living Like Locals | Malibu

Views from our front yard...

Alfred's Tea Room | West Hollywood

Hannah's first encounter with boba in her tea...she decided she's not about that life. :) But Alfred's Tea was a win nonetheless!

Shop: my metallic skirt and Hannah's off-the-shoulder dress

Dream Big | West Hollywood (read more here)

Shop: 'Dream big' tee, metallic skirt, similar headband

Malibu Cafe at Calamingos Ranch

Our self-timer selfie attempts...

Shop my tank dress (under $20) and cropped sweatshirt (under $30)

Piuma Rd Sunset | Malibu

My favorite sunset spot in the world...also pictured here.

Shop my tank dress (under $20) and cropped sweatshirt (under $30)

Charmlee Park Hiking & Point Dume Exploring | Malibu

Shop:

Jessica's swimsuit: Top, Bottom

Bottega Louie | Downtown LA

Shop:

Hannah's black off-the-shoulder dress (under $30)
My floral velvet burnout off-the-shoulder dress

Griffith Observatory | Hollywood Hills

Shop: metallic skirt and similar headband

Much love and thanks for stopping by!

Jess

10 Tips For Smoke Bomb Photography

In a world of proper family photos, glamorous senior pictures and traditional headshots…when a client wants to trash her prom dress with a smoke bomb shoot...it’s BOMB. Smoke bomb photos have become a fad over the last several years, but this was my first experience with them! Neither Whitney nor I knew what to expect, but we had a blast! *no pun intended*

I photographed Whitney's senior pictures in the fall, but once she landed on her school of choice, she wanted a fun college announcement in addition to her senior photos. She's headed to TCU (go frogs), so purple smoke bombs seemed like the perfect way to share her exciting news.

If you're interested in shooting with smoke bombs, here are some tips from what we learned.

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10 Tips For BOMB Smoke Bomb Photography

1. Stay away from crowds or groups of people. You need some open space to pull this off!

2. Avoid hot and dry climates. It only takes a spark to start a fire, so use caution and common sense.

3. Avoid windy days! A slight breeze is probably doable, but stillness is preferable.

4. Smoke bombs are little grenades. No matches needed...just pull the ring to ignite! Holding it can get warm, but not too hot.

5. Smoke bombs come in a variety of colors. They can easily stain skin and clothes, so wear something you're okay with getting dirty.

6. The smoke lasts 60-90 seconds. That may not sound like enough time, but it's plenty if you have your settings ready. Get some test shots and your model in place before you let it go!

7. Purchase a few extras in case something doesn’t go as planned. We used 4 smoke bombs in 3 location spots in 2 different outfits.

Okay, so you understand the logistics. But what happens when the smoke bomb goes off?

8. Discuss a plan before you ignite. Who holds the smoke bomb? There are two options! Either have the model or an assistant hold it. We had Whitney hold it and I gave her specific direction as needed.

Even though Whitney looks poised and elegant in these shots, it can be a bit chaotic to navigate looking natural while holding a grenade. It’s a lot for your model to think about, so either give clear and encouraging direction, or consider having an assistant hold the smoke bomb.

9. I found the main key with Whitney holding it was to have her keep it primarily down and away from her face. Having a cloud of smoke in front of a subject’s face may be artistic and ethereal, but not what I was going for. It was important to me for Whitney’s face to still be the focus.

Have your model walk or move around so the smoke is constantly moving. It will accumulate into a cloud if it's held in one spot. The subject will disappear into a cloud of smoke if you're not careful.

10. Have an assistant handy. If your model feels more comfortable hands free, have your assistant circle around the model or wave the smoke bomb up and down out to the side.

HOVER OVER IMAGE AND CLICK "PIN IT" TO SHARE TO PINTEREST!

With love,

Jess

Pebble Beach x Photo Diaries

It seems I collect more photos than I'd ever be able to share, but here's a few from my recent girls trip to Pebble Beach. I've gotten so many questions like, "Why would two single girls go to Pebble Beach?" The area is beautiful...Carmel-by-the-Sea, Carmel Valley, Pacific Grove, Monterey, Big Sur...it's all right there together and Pebble Beach is a central location for all of the above. Plus, it's private, quiet and I find it to be one of the most beautiful spots in the U.S. to rest and recharge. The people who live and stay in Pebble Beach tend to be older and established...if there's young people around, they're typically with their families and I quite like that.

To see more from our trip, visit...

Carmel Rose (featuring Carmel-by-the-Sea)

Why 2017 Is Going To Be Epic (featuring Big Sur)

Be A Light Of Life (featuring Pebble Beach)

Blaire and I visited this time last year, too! We actually filmed our first video blog everrrr on that trip. Take a peek here or press the play button below!

And to take a trip down memory lane, click here to check out my other travel posts and video blogs...I had a blast looking through them at the end of the year and remembering how fantastic 2016 was! 2017 is off to a brilliant start, my friends!

Much love,

Jessica

Rickey Family | PHOTOGRAPHY

When I ran into this sweet family at Bread Winners today, it reminded me that I’ve yet to share their Christmas photos! I photographed them for the first time in 2012, did Maddie’s senior pictures in 2014, Liam’s senior portraits this past spring and updated family shots this fall! Families that have made the journey with me over the years have a special place in my heart. I always have a blast photographing them! Their laughs are contagious…can you tell?

Much love,

Jess

Gift Guide for Graduates

Let's hear it for the class of 2017! Graduation is quickly approaching (not to mention Christmas break YAY), so I’ve selected my favorite gift ideas for the senior in your life. Whether it's high school or college, these picks will getcha headed in the right direction.

Keep scrolling to shop my roundup below and enjoy my latest senior shoot, too. Meet Whitney Lewis, queen of her senior class...as far as I’m concerned. :) She has big plans and an even bigger heart...a combo nothing can stop!

Jewelry tops the list of graduation gifts for the girls in your life. Nothing says classic like pearls, so I suggest these pearl stud earrings, stranded necklace, or bracelet. So grown up!

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I love ALL of these jewelry ideas, because they're not just great for grads, they're perfect fits for all of the special gifts you're looking for...mom, girlfriend, best friend...you name it, we "will work for diamonds." Am I right, girls? :)

A Michael Kors watch is a perfect investment piece that will last your girl years to come. This leather strap Tory Burch is a bit trendier, along with this square-faced option! I love the idea of this diamond pendant necklace (rose gold--fan favorite!). This bangle even makes it on my personal Christmas wishlist!

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For a personlized touch, these monogram earrings are super cute. I especially love the mid-century flair in this pair.

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She's going to need to keep all of her fabulous jewels organized. For a public display of her jewelry affection, this Parisian Heart collection is...heart eyes. As for jewelry mirror displays, this is a great option for also holding some bathroom essentials, nail polishes and knick-knacks. Since she'll want a full length mirror for her dorm room or apartment (obviously), this jewelry wall safe is perfect for both needs (because they are NEEDS).

Smaller options include this jewelry case...IDEAL for hiding your treasures away. I love how it zips closed to keep everything secure. I'm drooling over this jewelry portfolio...amazing for travel AND dorm room (also love this light pink one). For a smaller travel option, Marrakesh got it right (under $50 too). 

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I personally LOVE the idea of of sending your daughter off to college with a few art pieces...a daily reminder of who she truly is, even in the midst of uncertainty, stress and hard days. I included a few of The House of Belonging pieces in my One Stop Christmas Shop post. Here are a few of my favorites...

#1 - You are beautiful. You are strong. You are a woman-turned-warrior trained by the King for the very battle that is in front of you. YOU'VE GOT THIS.

#2 - You were born to blaze new trails. Pioneer great adventures. Reclaim new territory. Take daring risks. You were born to tell an original story. Be God strong and foolishly courageous. Let faith not fear be your guide. Always remember to give God room to prove Himself faithful. You were born for such a time as this.

#3 - Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders / Let me walk upon the waters wherever You may call me / Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander / And my faith will be made stronger / In the presence of my Savior

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Matching iPad case, bluetooth speaker and earbuds...say no more! She'll probably even study better with these essentials.

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Speaking of studying...these furry lap desks are perfect for late nights sitting up in bed working on that last minute paper (or last minute blog...maybe I need one)! This mini fridge will stock the caffeine for the following early morning. And nothing says "adulting" like a grown-up robe...get it monogrammed, too!

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To keep the matchy theme alive, these polka dot desk accessories match this beauty organizer, so your girl needs both. These stickers will be adorable adds to her notepads and journals, so she also needs these, please. Don't forget the Kate Spade pencil pouch and matching planner...because, matching. AND she can't oversleep for class, so this alarm clock should help.

Every girl needs a nice planner...this floral one will keep her days in order. For the one who actually can't live without a plan, she'll love this "master plan" journal ("big plans planner" is so cute too!). No better time to jot out a bucket list for the future than NOW. This gold art deco-inspired journal is just straight up PRETTY. I also love the idea of a leather-bound Bible for a new beginning and new season. Get it engraved with her name for an extra special touch!

Senior trip coming up? Map it out with these luggage accessories. Bon Voyage!

Much love and happy shopping!

Jess

Perfect Color Palette | Family Photos

Meet the Buchanan family! Scott was the first professional drummer I ever played with as a little 14-year-old keyboardist. Since then, his family has grown and multiplied. :)

Jenny is a total #girlboss…she wears LipSense and literally everyone buys it. Her mini-me is Karli (matching tutus—I die) and the boys (Jake and Noah) are PRESH. Needless to say, this family is near and dear to my heart—and so are their pictures! Enjoy our fun!

If you're not sure what to wear for family photos, take notes from this crew...denim + neutrals + pink. It's such a cute color scheme! Perfectly simplistic and leaves plenty of room for personality, as you can see! (Hover over a photo to PIN the idea!) Here's another color scheme I loved from a family shoot this season.

*TIP: Patterns can work (see this post for a great example), but generally speaking, if you think it might be too much going on...it might be. Prints always come across more prominent on camera than in person.

Much love,

Jess

Stop and Picture It | PHOTOGRAPHY

HAPPY WEEKEND, friends! We’re exactly 7 Saturdays away from Christmas Eve, if you can believe that. 🙈 There’s much to be done before then, including family photos to wrap up and deliver to clients! If you missed the memo, I’m a photographer on the side, so this time of year is especially busy for me!

One of my favorite things about photography is that even in our busiest seasons of life, photos freeze our moments and let us relive the sights and sounds—feelings and emotions—as often as we like—as many times as we wish. No matter how overloaded your schedule may be this holiday season, make an effort to stop and picture it! You'll be glad you did. 😊

Now...meet the Webber family. Gorgeous as all get out with fun personalities and energy to match!

NEW THIS WEEK:

Pleated Maxi + $500 PayPal Giveaway

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No family photo shoot would be complete without candy bribes! ;)

Much love xo

Jess