New Adventures (and less clothing)
This week has been incredibly exciting for me! I had an amazing opening reception for my Artist-in-Residence at CRUX (huge thanks to everyone who came and purchased- the whole evening kicked some serious ass). Even more exciting than that, this weekend I officially launched a new extension to my business!
Intimate Empowerment Portraits by Jenn Spain Photography
Sensual, compelling portraiture for soulful women.
That's right, ya girl has launched a boudoir business! This is something that has been in the works for a long time and has FINALLY come to fruition. For as long as I have been a wedding photographer, my brides have been asking me to shoot their boudoir photos. And I always jumped at the chance, but not having a studio made it... complicated. My clients would either have to rent a hotel or Airbnb themselves or wait until I lined up enough clients to make renting a studio for the day worth it. So maybe it wasn't so much "complicated" as it was a "giant pain the ass", but you get the idea! Long ago I had taken over the spare bedroom in our house to use as a studio, but I was mostly shooting headshots in there.... it was really barebones and not much to look at. But with the blessing of my dreamboat husband, I put a few coats of this gorgeous, lush green paint on the walls and bought some new furniture to transform a boring room into the perfect space to create these Intimate Empowerment Portraits.
So why am I calling it "Intimate Empowerment Portraits"???
Because what I'm offering is intimate. Treating yourself to a boudoir session is one of the most incredible acts of self-love that you can give! You are making the decision to show up for yourself and to love and celebrate your body in it's truest form. Choosing to show your vulnerability and sensuality in front of the camera can be an incredibly EMPOWERING act! Finding beauty in yourself is both freeing and cathartic all at once and your body is SO FREAKING WORTHY of celebrating! Got an ass that has helped you climb mountains while you brainstorm how to smash that glass ceiling at work? CELEBRATE IT! Got boobs that have nursed three babies??? CELEBRATE THEM.
So, what does the session entail??
Glad you asked because you're in for a real treat! My sessions last approximately two hours- 1 hour in the makeup chair and 1 hour behind the camera. Hair and Makeup is included in the cost of the session. You are also treated to a complimentary champagne split and you have access to my collection of bralettes, kimonos, sheer dresses and lingerie. Also included in your session is 10 5x7 prints and a "little black book" (a beautiful 7x7 hardcover book of your images designed by yours truly).
Do you have to get naked?
No. For that matter you don't have to do anything that makes you uncomfortable. The only consent you have to give is to yourself! I will be there to help guide and direct you and to remind you how gorgeous you are.
Does this mean I'm not shooting weddings anymore??
Hell, no! Just try and stop me! I LOVE weddings and will shoot them til I'm dead. This is just a chance for me to jump into a medium I've always loved and longed to do. Weddings and creative portraits will still very much be a part of Jenn Spain Photography.
Do you offer boudoir for men?
Nope.
OK, cool! As soon as I lose a little weight I'll give you a call!
HOLD UP!! What?!?! Girl... NO. You are already the perfect weight and size to have intimate pictures taken of yourself. We are not here to celebrate some idealized version of yourself! We are here to celebrate you exactly as you are, right freaking now. Curves, lumps, bumps and scars are all markers of the full and beautiful lives we've lived. Come as you are. You'll feel empowered as hell by the time you leave.
So, babes. Are you as excited as I am??? I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to seeing all of the incredible women who will be coming through my studio fall in love with themselves. Ready to do the same? Hit me up!
xoxo
-j
James and Megan
This past Friday I had the honor of shooting the beautiful wedding of James and Megan. This sweet and playful couple each come from large and devoted families and it was so incredible to witness the absolute love that blessed their union. The only thing that outshone their family's love was their love for each other. They each kept the other laughing and I absolutely adored capturing their joy!
I mean, just look at the JOY on their beautiful faces! Of course, they both have killer smiles to boot.
I'm an absolute sucker for gorgeous details. They have such wonderfully unique wedding bands and I love that they match. Megan's shoes were stunning and I gushed over them no less than 300 times. The crystal embellishments were spot on and they were the perfect accessory for Megan's Old Hollywood look!
Megan was positively GLOWING and my lens couldn't get enough of her beautiful face!
Their ceremony was held at Megan's parish, St John Eudes, in Chatsworth. Megan and her father made one of the most beautiful entrances I've ever seen and it just about took my breath away. This image just melts my heart and the look of love in their eyes as they prepare to walk down the aisle is so beautiful. I hope they both treasure this image for many years to come.
One of the things that have always struck me about religious ceremonies is the beauty of it's rituals. I love to think about the many, many couples who have recited the same vows and had the same blessings bestowed upon them. I think there is something so moving about that and it was incredible to watch how connected Megan and James and their families are to their faith.
Following their ceremony, in an act of absolutely beautiful familial devotion... Megan, James and a few other family members stopped to see Megan's Abuela at her nursing home. While she was unable to make the ceremony, she was waiting expectantly in her wheelchair when we arrived. She marveled at Megan's beautiful dress (she used to be a seamstress), admired their rings and kissed their hands. It was such a lovely moment and I will forever be touched by their efforts to include a beloved member of their family. I could see how much it meant to sweet Abuela too.
After they said goodbye to Abuela, it was time to head over to Dream Palace Banquet Hall for the reception!
One of the great things about this venue is that they have incredible in-house lighting all through the hall. Every wedding photographer's dream is a beautifully illuminated dance floor!
If you thought James had a playful personality before the reception, wait til you see him in celebration mode! What can I say? The man knows how to eat cake!!
One of my favorite images to capture at weddings is a shot of all the guests with the couple! With such gorgeous lighting, how could I resist finding a moment to capture everyone celebrating this beautiful couple??? Spoiler alert: I couldn't.
Congratulation, Megan and James!!! I wish you all the love and happiness this world has to offer!
Before you commit to that New Year's diet....
Listen, I'm all for resolutions that help you become your happiest, healthiest self. You only get one body in this life and taking care of that shizz is important. But there is something else that is so, so important and that is.......
PUTTING CAKE IN YOUR MOUTH.
Just look at this gorgeous beast. Those perfectly even lines of frosting. Those stunning orchids and that gold sign declaring that I am indeed, this cake's favorite. There is plenty to share! I'll eat the right side and you can eat the left.
Oh, whaddup girl??? How you doin'? You need a ride? I can give you a lift in my mouth.
Ooooooh!!!! Look at these little baby-cakes! A different flavor for everyday of the week and perfectly sized to go directly into my mouth-hole.
Well, aren't you a dark and mysterious vixen! Is that dark chocolate underneath those fresh cherries?? Are you wearing gold dusted pomegranate wedges?? Stop talking and get in my mouth!!!
What? You don't think think these little beauties are cake??? FIGHT ME!!!!
Oh, sweet lord there are THREE of you. Don't fight, don't fight. I'm a modern woman... there is plenty of me to go around. I promise to treat you all equally and love you each individually (in my mouth).
A classic white adorned with patriotic colors and two hopelessly in love cowboys?? Giddy-up straight into my face!
Look at this sumptuous beauty with her purple roses and frosting looking like watercolors? She knows she's gorgeous and she knows that you know it too. You can put this cake in your mouth right after me.
And now here are these perfect little angels!!! I keep one tucked in each cheek in case of an emergency! (Like running out of cake).
My darling! Did you think I was going to forget about you and that delectable chocolate crumb??? Never! NEVER. Now get in my mouth!!!!
Holy crap, I am THIRSTY. You thirsty? We deserve something spectacular to wash this cake down our gullets.
Oh, there it is. That's the stuff. Ahhhhhhhh.
xoxo
-jenn
365 Days of Art
I've always loved the start of a New Year. Once a year we give ourselves permission to start fresh and try again. The New Year traditionally has been a time for my closest girlfriends to gather and create vision boards for ourselves- to dream and map out the things we want for ourselves. Changing lives and chaotic schedules have gotten in the way of that this year but I've still taken some time to set both a resolution and a personal challenge.
My resolution is simple: Do Better. Whatever I'm doing, be it work or my relationships... just do them a little better. Push myself a little further, love a little harder. Do what I've been doing but, ya know, BETTER.
I'm also challenging my artist self this year to make and share a picture every single day- no matter what. I've followed a few photographers over the years who have done this challenge and I've adored watching the growth they made. The idea is to spend 5 minutes with your camera, every day, outside of work or gigs and make a picture. Of anything! It just has to be every day.
I'm now 9 days into this challenge. I would love for you to join me on my Facebook or my Instagram to follow along. Until then, here are my first 8 days of images. Enjoy!
Garden Love Story
For the first time in my adult life, I have a backyard. And with it, a newly ignited passion for gardening.
Shining PinkA beautiful, flowering succulent.
This passion is a return to my roots, really. Growing up, my parents kept the most beautiful backyard. My dad sculpted the land, creating cascading stone walls and paths that my mother filled with the most beautiful flowers and sculptures made from rocks and driftwood. Most early mornings in the summer I could find my mama outside, drinking her coffee and tending to her gardens.
FlowerwebI'm not the only one tending to my garden...
I see now, what called her outside morning after morning. It is an almost meditative practice- centering and simple. In gardening, you give to yourself as equally as you give to the plants. Your effort returns to you as beauty and it feels GLORIOUS. You get your feet wet and your hands dirty and holy shit there is something so satisfying about getting dirt under your fingernails.
As a photographer, all of this speaks to my soul. In the planting of flowers I've given myself an abundance of material to play with. When I first started really getting into digital photography, it was because I felt a desire to do close-ups of plant life. My first major lens purchase was an 85mm macro and my fondness for photographing flowers spilled over into insects and then nature photography.
Eventually people caught the attention of my lens as well and as photography became my occupation, nature photography became more of a hobby. But with life absolutely teeming all around my home and my gardens having my attention every morning, it has been easy to pull out my trusty 85mm and tend to all the little beauties in my backyard. I water my plants, ask them how they're feeling. I find out if they're happy with their place in life or if their next door neighbor is being a total bitch and hogging all the sunlight. In return they give a happy artist something beautiful to be enthralled about.
So there it is. I've become a crazy plant lady. I'm absolutely cool with that.
And so is my camera.
xoxo
Jenn