A little bit about…
Jess and I met back in a high school photo class. Ahhhh, the good ol darkroom days. She was the gorgeous new girl I was crushing on. We both had a love for the camera and later on, each other… it was only natural that things play out this way. She was my muse then and aside from the kids [new favorite things to snap away on] Jess is still my favorite person to photograph.
We were hobbyists, snapping away for mannnny years before deciding to make it our career. It wasn’t until after getting married ourselves that we had a huge appreciation for our photographer and the moments of that day. That was a pivotal moment in our lives and looking back now jumping in to photograph the biggest of days for others like us turn out to be the best decision ever!
We started with shooting couples getting married… which evolved to their families as they began to grow and continued to branch out from there. Thing about photography is you can take a camera everywhere you go… and when you are into it, you do. It’s been an amazing ride and over the past 13 years we’ve done it all.
In 2022, After hundreds of weddings and amazing adventures Jess decided it was time to set the camera down. She’s moved on to other creative ventures and is no longer photographing [more on that later] … I continue to rock the camera and explore new techniques. Photography will always be a part of me, something I love and cherish. New chapters continue to be written… but lets not get ahead of ourselves. This new chapter of our lives began with one massive leap of faith. I call it “Navigating by Heart”
Navigate By Heart
Back in summer of 2018 we decided it was time to switch things up a bit… we were at the peak of things, shooting wayyy too much. Weddings every weekend, fri/sat.. sometimes sundays. We had just hit the 10 year mark with our business and starting to feel the burn out. Soooooo we took a year off to get re-inspired and try something totally new! We rented out or house in Southern California, hit the road to travel the United States with our kids in our RV.
We spent the following 2 years living our NEW “American Dream”- wandering and exploring, seeing all there is to see. Each day full of new sights, foods, and adventures. I will come out and say it, road schooling wasn’t easy… but it was massively rewarding and these kids saw and did more than many do in a lifetime. Instead of reading about it in a book, they were doing it.
Being on the move in the house on wheels brought on a whole new set of challenges and living in 200 sq ft. on top of each other wasn’t always easy… but at the end of the day there’s nothing that cant be solved with a campfire/ game night / or dropping in for a visit with friends / family we hadn’t seen in years. Those were some great days and moments I cherish.
New Chapter Beginning
A lot has happened since we left in 2018… We lived a lifetime in the 2 years on the road and just before the world flipped upside down and COVID hit, we purchased our dream home. A cabin on a river in the mountains of glorious WNC.
Timing couldnt have been any better. Fatigue was setting in from being on the go for 2 years and we were looking for a sign to show us the final destination. After 2 years on the road traveling 12,000 miles through 30 states… we found our new paradise and settled in the most magical of places we saw in the US to begin the next chapter.
Then COVID hit. everything came to a halt. No weddings, no commercial, no “work”. We gladly quarantined on the river. Swimming, fishing and kayaking in the backyard. It was during this COVID downtime that we all did soul searching. The adventure had led us here… now what??
Jess kept on creating and working with her hands during the lockdown period. Crafting jewelry at night and enrolling in massage therapy classes at the local JC during the day. Putting full energy into massage and energy healing in the past year, Jess decided it was time to hang up the camera and no longer photograph weddings or events. She’s found her new love and is putting her healing touch to full use. I’m in the process of building her a beautiful massage studio on the river where she can cultivate her Inner Song and further develop intuitive healing abilities.
The camera will always be a part of me and in even more so in the uncertain times we trudge along through, I feel the need to continue to tell stories and capture the beauty and inspiration that surrounds me in our new home. I’m still pursuing my dreams and inviting the artist in me to bloom. I’m writing and editing a film on our experience over the past 3 years as well as rocking the cam for adventurous couples looking to have the best moments in life captured in creative ways by my artistic eye :)
2022 Brings on the new!
In 2022 I began focusing on shooting photo + video simultaneously. I took on a dozen special days. That’s it. I’ve learned how to keep balance of family time and living our new dream in the woods AND be totally stoked on each and every person I meet and shoot along the way. YOU are important and your day is special and something I look forward to, not a number!
I strive to keep challenging myself as an artist to try new things with my camera. In fact last year for Christmas I got a new mirrorless cam !! Something I’m excited to dive in to 2023 shooting with and am more inspired than ever.
With this new camera I’ve committed to fully jumping into the video / cinema game now. I’m now offering complete coverage for my couples by shooting hybrid [photo / video]. Thriving in the moment making films as well as shooting stills simultaneously. Take a look at my hybrid coverage packages and portfolio :)
Life is full of twists n turns. We are living these uncertain times with an open heart willing to take on whatever opportunities the universe will throw at us. Navigate by heart! There is no doubt in my mind that when paths cross there is a reason. I dont know how you found me… but you are here for a reason… so [don’t be shy] reach out, say hi ! <+>
Justin
Music lover, drummer, old school punk,
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Skate deck collector – yah he has a LOT!
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Burrito aficionado, aka “Burrito Boy” prefers a burrito to be the size of his arm.
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Photographer, true artist, captures the essence of his subjects and grabs the beautiful moments that most mater in between. Don’t be surprised to find him rolling around on the ground with a prism and camera in hand. Thats when he’s getting his most magical shots.
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Best dad he plays endlessly with the kids and will lay in bed and stroke their heads until the fall asleep at night.
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Has always been an excellent husband that treats me with care.
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He is an all around great human, friendly, happy, everyone around him loves him and he can strike up a conversation with anyone.
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He is sensitive and openminded a cancer sign through and through.
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This man is full of ideas, seriously FULL of ideas that never stop, games, apps, businesses, philanthropy, inventions. I have no idea where he comes up with this stuff.
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Connected to the source, I love that he can gaze up at the stars in wonder and feel connected to the universe. Oh and I should mention he believes in aliens and every conspiracy theory out there.
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Thrives on helping others, if he could lift a person up everyday of his life he would, he is the guy that would literally give you his shirt off his back.
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This complex human has been my favorite human since 1999, it was the day he smiled and set those lovely amber brown, almond shaped eyes on me in high school photo class. My heart was stollen and from that day it was his to keep.
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Thank you for being my friend, my lover and my fellow adventurer.
We would not be complete with out you.
~Jess
