YAY!! Julie the pictures are fantastic!!
You are amazing at what you do. You truly have a gift for photography and for working with people. You are so bubbly, fun, and creative! Your positive energy is contagious 
Thank you for working hard to make us feel so special on our big day
~Holly
Thank you so much!! You captured the feelings of everyone one that day with your lens, it was a amazing and beautiful day. We are all so happy that you were part of this, you have such a great art and talent. It was alot of fun. [mother of the bride]
Wow, you did an amazing job at capturing the essence of Jay and Holly and their love for each other! These are some of the best shots of a wedding I have seen. Thanks for sharing a glimpse into their day! Look forward to seeing them all.
Jill Lipinski
Simply Natural Floral Design
smilinj8@sbcglobal.net
Julie,
I love coming back to your website and seeing the new postings ..Honestly, I love coming back to your website and looking at the old postings…over and over and over!!!
I have to say, with this wedding, you OUTDID yourself!! Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful…from the expressions on their faces to the colors to the textures! I don’t know how they will ever choose!
I would love to put you in my pocket so you could always be with me when I’m out with my camera!! Kelly
Receiving and reading comments, to me, is like curling up on the couch with a bag of Sixlets, in all their colorful glory, melting chocolate in my mouth, watching the National Treasure, or The Notebook.
Like, seriously, I have the BEST.JOB.EVER. These are just a few of the recent comments I have received on the blog. Why am I posting them here then if you can scroll down and read them under a post?? Because most people won’t click on the comments to either read them or post one themselves. BUT, PLEASE DO! I LOOOOOVE reading your comments! Not because I need a pat on the back, but because I truly care what people think and I just want to know if they are as happy with what I did for them as I was when I was doing what I do! Sometimes I’m just not sure what people are thinking, like especially the parents when they see a not-so-traditional pose their children are in, or the wedding party when they have to hear me “get mean” and try to keep everyone in line. I get so many people- including those in the wedding party and the B&G- coming up to me at the reception thanking me for helping to keep everyone paying attention so they get through pictures and are able to have a great time celebrating with friends. That’s when I breathe a sigh of relief. Only then.
{these are some images took featuring the work of BLISS salon in Bowling Green.}
As much as I LOVE every aspect of my job (well, maybe not EVERY aspect) but most of it.. I am feeling like I am just not doing my clients the justice they deserve. Yes, everyone is happy with the end product, such as albums, prints, etc, but I feel like my customer service is lacking and there is soooo much more I want to do with JPP with very little time to do it all.
{ARE YOU STILL WITH ME, READING THIS?}
With that being said, I have prayed really hard for quite some time about where I want my business to be in the next few years, what I want people to experience working with me, and what I want to change. I wake up in the middle of the night tapping Brian on the arm “Are you awake?” I am now. “So, I was thinking”. Uh-Oh.
My mind heavy, I ask him to pray with me about all the things that have been happening with JPP, all the blessings, and the not-so-fun-stuff. What have I had laid on my heart?? To focus more on what I love most about what I do…shooting weddings and getting to know couples… and slow down on the other stuff. With that said, this next year I will not be booking seniors, babies, families, etc. My website will reflect these changes, and will show the work I am most wanting to shoot…weddings, couples, and especially more destination weddings and shoots.
The last two weeks I got to spend helping my very good friend Jason Rob Tivey build his portfolio and get his business off the ground out west. I think I found my forever shooting buddy. Like, I want to take him everywhere with me because ‘he gets me’. Everyone commented on how well we worked together and got along. I had an absolute blast with him and as much as he learned from me, I learned alot from him, too. I realized how much I really want to help others even more and “bring it” to each session I take on. Yeah, I can shoot sports, families, children, but that is not where my passion is. I want to travel, I want to learn, I want to teach, I want to give. I want to give more. I want to share what God has given me and hope to encourage others to do the same.
If you still want to call me for a family shoot, pricing will be alot different and I will be happy to try to fit it in, but don’t be disappointed if I give you the name of a few photog friends in the area who would also do a FABULOUS job!
Wow, did I really share all that? Did I really say I wasn’t going to photograph families and babies and such?? Oh my! Yes, to give my VERY BEST to my wedding couples, I must focus on them completely.
I’m scared, really scared. But I know I have God and my family and my awesome friends and uber cool clients and all the understanding in the world. And, if that fails, I have Sixlets.
Love, JP
3 CommentsI didn’t have a lot of time with Jessica and Joel, but we made the most of it in downtown Toledo and, when you get what you need, that’s all that matters! Let me know what you think by leaving your comments below!
do these guys got it or what??!
I think this next one is my FAVE of the day
No, wait.. maybe this one…
Yummy lighting just before a rain fall.
And just as we were finishing up at the old train car the rain comes in.. These two were troopers waiting for me to get this shot as it started coming down.
Can’t wait for the wedding next month!
Love, JP
5 CommentsI’m not perfect. Far from it, actually. I procrastinate- if I know I have to be somewhere at 10 and it takes me an hour to get ready and 30 minutes to get to my destination, guess what time I wake up?? 8:30am- to shower and leave by 9:30. Then, I answer one last call or email and I am 10 minutes late. Habitually. Even if I PLAN on leaving 15 minutes early, wake up 15 minutes early, somehow I am STILL 10 minutes late. Go figure.
I don’t always say the right thing at the right time. I try, but somehow it seems to come out wrong, and I kick myself later.
Sometimes, I’ll wash a towel with a dark load of laundry.
Sometimes I start to run a bath and forget about it, running in there to see it about to flow over.
Sometimes I cook perfectly golden brown grilled cheese for everyone else, and then when I cook mine last I forget about it while I’m washing up some dishes or putting some away, and mine gets burned.
Sometimes I forget to tell my wonderfully patient husband how much I love him.
Sometimes I let my kids go to bed without a hug from me. Even as teenagers, it just doesn’t seem right to allow that.
Sometimes I forget to put the cap back on the toothpaste. No, wait, I never forget to do that. I do, however, not always wipe the sink down after. Shame, shame.
I talk with food in my mouth, I put my elbows on the table.
Sometimes I forget to make the bed. No, wait, I NEVER forget to do that. That’s the first thing I do when my feet hit the floor.
My desk is a mess, but I know where everything is (most of the time). I have laundry that don’t fit in my dresser drawers or closet. I have shoes everywhere.
I love blurred, sometimes fuzzy pictures that show motion or emotion. I love light leaks in photos and over exposing to get blown out images I can tweak and make my own.
But…
My husband loves me, my kids love me, and my God loves me. I am fortunate enough to have wonderful clients who also don’t mind some of my imperfections.
I’m not perfect, but I’m perfectly me.
Kind of reminds me of the song by Francesca Batistelli FREE TO BE ME. “I got a couple dents in my fender, got a couple rips in my jeans…”
Here is what comes out of an imperfect person- my perfect little family.
From left to right: B. Evan (19), Gavin(17), me, Brian, Brianna(23), Geoff (the fiance), Julian (2.5) and my baby Reid (16).
I loooove white. It just reminds me of purity and peace. I actually want to be buried in a white dress and have everyone wearing white at my funeral. (FYI) No black please. i wear it every weekend to weddings. Seems kind of backwards, doesnt it? I want to photograph an ALL white wedding. I’d do it for FREE.
I. LOVE. LAUGHTER.
Reid, Gavin, Brianna, Geoff, B. Evan, and “the girlfriend” and newest JPP team member- Emily 
This cute couple will be married on October 1st with God’s blessing!
Don’t you just love the way Geoff looks at her? Adoring!
So, there you have it. A little more about me. Hope it doesn’t scare anyone off. Maybe the next post will be all positives about ME! lol, Nah…I’m just… ME.
Love, JP
7 CommentsWhen I started thinking about what to write in this post I stopped, and thought, and wrung my hands together, and sighed and…
Shawna and I became friends when our husbands were on a ship together in the Navy. We were stationed in Norfolk/Virginia Beach area, both of us away from our families. I don’t even remember “getting to know” Shawna, I just remember always being friends. We spent our weekends out dancing (great way to stay in shape!) and taking pictures of each other and video taping ourselves to send in care packages to our guys. She had my back, and I had hers. The military can be tough for wives whose husbands were sent on multiple six month deployments, but we stuck together and kept each other strong.
During the second six month deployment, I came back to Ohio to give birth to our first son, and Shawna moved back DC area to be with family so as not to be alone. I moved back to Virginia Beach, Shawna didn’t. I never heard from her again until a few months ago when she found me on Facebook!
We quickly decided 18 years was waaaay too long to have not seen each other, so I got on a plane and flew to see my long, lost friend! We had so much catching up to do, and, being girls and all, well, we chatted until we talked ourselves to sleep!
It’s funny because when I met Shawna she was the one into photography and I had admired her for that. Now, the tables are turned and it was me taking pictures of her! Still so beautiful, inside and out, here is my friend…
I was luvin’ the warm, yummy sunlight
Shawna uber sweet, totally rad, intelligent daughter, Cheyenne. More to come of her soon!
I think this next one says Facebook profile pic all over it, don’ ya think??
I think Shawna took some kind of magic pill and stopped time somehow while we had lost touch, and I just kept on aging! No fair!
Cheyenne took this one of Shawna and I in downtown DC.
Gosh, girl, I just love you so! Thanks for hangin with an old friend. I have a BAZILLION photos to edit from the trip and will be sprinkling the blog here and there with the images. Keep watch!
Love, JPP
2 Comments
Feature Friday (now being called Feature FABULOUS in case it doesn’t get posted on a Friday!) I started thinking about how lil’ ol’ me can help out my fellow Toledo area wedding professionals, especially all the great photographers we have in this area, and VOILA! Feature Fabulous was born! I have been compiling a list of questions, and as I interview each wedding professional, I add more to my list, trying to make it fitting for each business, showing personal and professional sides and growth of each featured friend.
I will be featuring those in all aspects to weddings. Photogs, videographers, florists, make up artists, stylists,venues, you name it!
If you would like to nominate someone to be featured here on the JPP blog, just leave a comment or send me an email to julie@jp-photography.net
Today I am super pleased to bring you Sarah J of Sara J Photography. Here, you can get to know her a little better!
You have grown your business so quickly over the last few years. What do you contribute most of your success to?
I know, sometimes I have to stop myself and remind myself it’s only been a five and half years! I would have to say that my constant referrals contribute to my success. It means the world to me when couples refer me.
Do you have a goal in mind of how many shoots you like to do a year?
Yes, I like to try to reach 30 weddings. [and as many newborn/family sessions that come along!]
You are known for your cute, fun, artsy designs and such that you put into alot of your little projects. What is your background in art?
I studied fine arts [specializing in painting & photography] at Bowling Green State University. I have always leaned towards the creative aspects of school rather than the studies and in my high school years, I was always drawing and sneaking out of study hall to be in the art room. Once I hit college, and pretty much lived in the art building, I knew I was in the right spot. I began in graphic design because I wanted to be able to get a job after graduation….you know what I mean if were an art student. I slowly decided the computer wasn’t quite for me and focused more on my fine arts. Although I took a lot with me from my design classes – as well as one of my best buddies who is now working with me – I appreciate design and still use it in my day to day art.
You have a wee one at home. How is it running your business while caring for a preschooler?
I won’t lie, it’s tough. My son is four and is my world. Some days I think I have this whole single mom/business owner arrangement down packed and other days I realize it’s all in my head…haha. I make time for him, for me and for my business. During the busy season I block off Tuesdays & Wednesdays as ‘our weekends’. I figure every year will be different from the previous because of his school, activities and my schedule and I’m sure it will get more difficult as he grows. But at the same time, I have wonderful friends and a supportive family who is there when we need them! I tell people I work from home but work the third shift, it’s my favorite time to edit and respond to emails.
I know you have had a separate office space to meet clients outside of your home. Where is that and how has that helped you?
My office – aka, my little room is located downtown Maumee, Ohio. It’s perfect for me and my business right now and is basically used as a meeting place. It has helped me keep business separate from home yet still hold that personal feel.
With Toledo having so much great talent by way of awesome photographers, what do you feel sets you apart from everyone else?
Oooooh a little tough one! I suppose it would be my personality with a mix of my creative eye. It’s always been pretty easy for me to make someone laugh and I stress when I meet new couples that we need to feel comfortable around each other, have fun and be able to be ourselves… [and also - growing up I wanted to be a clown....does that say enough?]
Do you like to follow a set schedule during the day/week? Do you schedule a day off or shoot whenever asked?
I try to keep a set schedule. It does get tricky with out-of-towners or clients with tight schedules, but it’s just part of the business. I would rather shoot multiple sessions in one day than shoot multiple sessions spread out during the week, which is something I will be doing more of once engagement session season comes around.
There are a lot of reasons or things people enjoy about their jobs. What is one thing you LEAST like about it?
To be honest, the money part. I don’t like taxes and I hate reminding couples of payments. I wish I could just leave the room when it comes time to deal with the money part and have someone else take over.
What keeps you busy in the “off” season in NW Ohio?
My son definitely keeps me busy!! I also use the time to update my samples/portfolios/website. I have other personal “winter projects” that are still waiting for my attention and of course a little R&R.
What tips or suggestions do you have for someone just starting out in this business?
It’s not an easy business to simply just start. You’ve got to have the time, the cash and the talent. It’s not just about having a good camera. There are more skills involved and knowledge needed to consistently create a good creative business. Research & photograph as much as possible.
What is something you would like people to know about you or SarahJ Photography?
I truly love what I do and have a blast doing it.
What is something you are looking forward to this wedding season?
I’m always looking forward to new places, new people, new colors, new styles, even new babies! I have fantastic couples this year that will take me all over Ohio and into Michigan for their big day with unique stories and personalities!
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?
This is hard for me – mainly because I didn’t ‘see’ myself doing ‘this’ 6 years ago. Time changes so quickly. What we want and what see isn’t always the case. That being said, I can only hope I will be doing what I’m doing now. I love being part of so many lives all because two people fell in love.
Check out some of Sarah’s work by clicking HERE.
Or visit www.sarahjphoto.net
Thanks for sharing Sarah!
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