It’s not that I don’t WANT to blog, nor is it that I have nothing to blog (by far, I have about 20 events to post!). I just haven’t made the effort to make the time , and I don’t want to rush and not write effectively. I’m not a writer, you see. I tell stories with my images. So, why not just post images, you may ask? Well, then there’s that. We have been so busy trying to just get the sessions ready for clients to view (Thank God for Jaylene, I’d be so lost without her rockin’ out these sessions I so madly shoot each week!) She’s such a gem and a HUGE asset to JPP!
I don’t make resolutions because I never keep them if I try to make them. So, I’ve made promises to myself this year.
First promise: to blog more often. Which means~ I need to change my workflow a bit (and Jay’s). Which leads me to promise number 2: get better organized.
It’s not that I can’t find anything on my desk (it just may take me a minute or two!) It’s not that our files are not organized on the computer or in the cabinet. ( I just have so many of them!) It’s not that our workflow isn’t working (it just could use improvement!)
So, promise number 3: work smarter and not harder. It’s okay to say “no”. To shoots, to volunteer work. I got a bit too burnt out and if I can’t give something my all I am going to have to say ‘no”. Which leads me to promise number 4: better customer service.
I have always prided myself with great customer service, but I feel like this year I have not lived up to the standards I had created for JPP. I took on too much work and couldn’t give each client 100% of me. Of course, I’ve had satisfied customers, but I KNOW I can do better. That is what I live for. That is what I want JPP to stand for. There are many great photographers out there… what sets us apart from the rest?? Gotta have great service as well as a great personality to go along with great product.
On to promise number 5: better quality and more unique products. Every year for the past few years at JPP I have tried to come up with at least one new concept.
We were among the first to start shooting real time brides (meaning on the wedding day) in the alleys of downtown Toledo. I am {famous} for driving around and not really watching the road, but looking right or left for unique locations in which to photograph our {friends} ~ as in clients! Echo and I found the alley off Washington Street first, and now you can hardly drive down there and not find someone shooting there, which is awesome. Toledo has so much to offer! Like the “blue door” Sarah J and I found while she was still with JPP. That blue door is one of the most requested locals to date! Thanks Sarah!
Two years ago I introduced our copper floating image frames done by a local artist exclusively for JPP! Those still sell like hotcakes!
This year I have two new products/ideas launched! The first is our new Custom Designed Canvas Collages! With the help of a local artist done exclusively for JPP, these art gallery pieces are already getting raves at Bridal Shows and my goal is to get one in every one of our clients’ homes this year! (pictures to come soon of these gems, or be sure to catch us at the Wedding Dreams Bridal Show at the Pinnacle January 17th!)
My next new product idea has been in the works for the past year and a half. It took so long because I wasn’t sure how to launch it, or how to share the idea. I am still not sure how to explain it, but I’m gonna try my best:
Well, let me start with an image:
That’s right. Check HIM out.
With all the fuss being about the bride usually during the planning and on through the wedding day, I thought it was time to shed some light and focus (literally) on HIM. The guy. The man of her dreams. After all, without HIM there wouldn’t be a wedding, right?
HIM. That’s the name of this project/product/session. As with some of our other sessions (UNVEILED, fREE tO bE mE, Intimate, Just Shoot Me, ) I wanted a name that would stand out, be unique, and say JPP. (thanks Nicole for helping out with this one!)
HIM. That’s what it’s all about. Capturing HIM in his natural habitat. Just being HIMself. Hanging out, doing ‘what he does’. Getting him to do a photo shoot before the wedding (or sometimes even after) puts HIM at ease in front of my camera, so on the wedding day he is totally comfortable with me and knows I’m gonna make it fun for HIM and not a chore to be making photos on his wedding day. He’ll learn how to to be himself and act natural. Let’s face it, most guys do not like being photographed. But by showing HIM he can look and feel like a rockstar I’ve got HIM in my corner. My secret?? Whenever possible I have his girl come with us on the shoot and give him some ‘eye candy’ to look at, so I get that sexy look in his eyes from him looking at her. Of course, if he wants to do it as a gift for her (the way she does an Intimate /Bouduoir sessions for HIM) we make that work too.
I have a book published and am working on a second one, Abercrombie style, if you know what I mean *wink*, a counter to our Intimate sessions with her. For now, check out some in our first edition of HIM.
So, what do ya think? Since most of my blog readers are women, tell me… would you like your man to do a photo session for you? Almost all of the wives of these guys featured said they would love it as a gift! Leave me some comments with what’s on your mind!
I promise. I promise to have the best year of my life this year. I promise to have better relationships, especially with my Lord and Savior. I promise to be salt and light more. I promise to get healthier. I promise to strive to be a better wife and a better mother, and a better friend. I promise to become a better photographer. I promise to do my best to keep these promises. I promise.
Love, JPP
6 CommentsI started a new tradition this year ( I LOVE traditions!) Since we just moved into the neighborhood last year I hadn’t had a chance to get to know many of the neighbors very well, so I invited a few of the ladies over for a cookie bake. Two of them said ” But, I don’t bake!” but agreed to come anyway and we had a blast! We all agreed it is is defintely something to carry on every year! Check out some of our happenings from a couple nights ago. We had tons of cookies to share with friends and family who came to call these past couple days!
When preparing for the cookie bake I immediately went searching for my mother’s two traditional recipes that she made every year for the holidays..Date Nut Bars and Butterhorns. I love that she left me her recipe box and all the recipes written in her own handwriting. It is so special to me and something I share with my family every year, as I hope Brianna will do one day as well.
A bit of our Christmas decor
This morning our teenage boys woke up us by climbing in bed with us. That hasn’t happened in a loooong time! Then, we gathered around the tree to open gifts, but not before praying and remembering the reason for the season, and thanking our Savior for His most precious gift to us, His son, Jesus Christ.
Christmas at our home..yeah, it’s pretty wonderful.
1 CommentThere’s a few lines in a Darius Rucker song that sings maybe later we”ll walk down by the river/lay on a blanket and stare up at the moon/it may not be the French Riviera/but it’s all the same to me as long as I’m with you/ may be the simple life but that’s okay/if you ask me, baby, I think I got it made/ Cuz I got a roof over my head/the woman I love laying in my bed, yeah its alright,its alright…. when I lay down at night I thank the Lord above for giving me everything I ever could dream of.
That’s pretty much how I feel. It’s alright. I’m good. I’m blessed. Take a look below at some of those major blessings in my life.
My kids, from left to right below: Gavin, 16. Geoff (Brianna’s fiance). Brianna, 23. Their son, Julian 2. Reid (my baby) 15. And Evan, 18.
If you know me, you know family means everything to me. Is it weird to be in love with your kids? Well, I AM! I am so blessed beyond measure to have these amazing young people surrounding me daily.
And, the wonderful man who helped fill our home with all this love and laughter, tears and troubles, triumphs and joy…
Do me a favor… go into the other room, grab hold of your child’s face, no matter how little or big they may be, look into their eyes and tell them they are your world!
Blessings,
JP
5 CommentsIt never fails…. the week before Christmas I am STILL shopping. I know, I know.. some of you shop on Christmas Eve, don’t you??! Well, every year I vow I am going to be done shopping the first week in December so I can wrap, rest, and relax the final days leading up to the celebration of Jesus’ birth, and every year… I’m STILL shopping a week before… days even, and Brian is wrapping on Christmas Eve. (That’s our deal-I shop but he has to wrap it all!) I even make that part easy for him though; I’m a “brown-paper-packages-tied-up-with-strings” person. He wraps and I tie the strings, ribbons and bows.
So, this year to keep my vow, Brian and I decided to simplify things…we’re giving mostly gift cards and gift certificates. (Wait, Jesus only received three gifts, right?) Our children are older and Julian is so fun and easy to shop for (I just walk down the aisles and he throws things in my cart!) and the teenagers always want something other than what I get them. I swear they take my joy away now that they just tell me what to get.. it’s no fun! So doing gift cards it is. They can take their cards and shop at all the good sales the day after. Oh, I’m sure we’ll get them a few small things to open-like underwear and socks- they HATE that!
While I wa sthinking about all this, I’m reminded that others might like this as well. And in meeting with some of my brides lately that may be on a little tighter budget, “LIGHTBULB!” Why not offer gift certficates to everyone from JPP! Kinda like on a Bridal registry or “want list” Friends and family can purchase gift certificates through JPP that can be used for albums, prints, canvases, future sessions, etc. Help the bride and groom be able to get the album of their dreams. Help a mom to be celebrate the gift of life with a maternity or newborn session. Give your neighbors a gift certificate for a family session.
Oh, and there’s a little something in it for the buyer of the GC… for every gift certificate purchased the giver will receive a GC from JPP! It may be a $10 GC to Panera, $25 movie card, a gift certificate to JPP for themselves, etc… It’s ALWAYS better to give than to receive, at least for me!
And, since every post is better with a picture… here is a gem from our trip to Washington State about 5 weeks ago.
Don’t ya just love nature??
Call or email for your Christmas Gift Certificates soon! Includes a box and ribbon for pretty wrapping! (or, I can have Brian do it for ya! *wink*)
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