Yet I'm Thankful

This is the time of year for reflection and thanksgiving. The season has changed. Some of you  know that this year we closed the door to our store front location. Many of our clients were disappointed and concerned. I was smiling...it was a time for a major change and face lift in our pursuit of photography. My wife and I breathed new life into this portion of our business that we love and wanted to see grow. We clipped and trimmed back the branches in some areas. I'm thankful and excited about the year to come. If you haven't visited our website late drop by.

For everyone reading this have a blessed thanksgiving!! Live Better & Smile More!!

Pink Ice Ball Photo Booth

On Saturday evening we captured portraits of the ladies  of the Pink Ice event, the Eta Eta Omega chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. The ladies and their partners were superbly dressed. The music was fabulous. The entire evening was delightful. We were pleased to be a part of such an event. Thanks to all.
Visit them here: http://www.etaetaomega.org/events.html

Iyana's First Shoot!!

Affirmation Asap

So this morning I was sitting in my studio(Mapping out my day) when my phone ring,I didn't recognize the number. Still I answered,LOl. It was once again a returning client(Troy2davent)."Man J I need A favor" quoting his words. Troy wanted me to to Put together some head shots for (http://www.ozonemag.com/) Ozone magazine which he would be featured in next mouth. The Catch. He need them yesterday(ASAP). Once again I was humble that in the heat of the moment. I would be called on for such a task and its also affirmation that I'm establish.
Sometimes you can't plan your day. Let the man up above handle the schedule.

From Mother To daughter

I am still alive! I realized that I have not posted for a long while. The reason for this is because Simmone and I have been busy portraits, Deejay and video Productions. Busy season.
We had the great pleasure of Documenting Shay and Terry's wedding Last year. Now a few mouths later we were also was giving the pleasure of doing Shay's daughter Senior portraits.

~WALKING INTO MY DESTINY!!~

I do it! People stop by my studio all the time. Many of them tell me that I’m always changing something.

I just smile. They need to understand that I’m evolving, forever changing. Life is funny like that. You never stop dreaming or learning.

A few weeks back I celebrated being a store front business for seven years. A long SEVEN YEARS. I remember when I first open. I did it on a dare from a friend of mine. When the doors opened, I tried to be everything to everybody. Some of the people associated with me preyed on that. It took me a while to realize that I had to cut my own path through this wilderness. Believe me there were deep valleys and even higher mountains. I learn a lot, and I lost some things, made a few friends along the way. Kept moving on. I do it… For the brothers that feel like their back are against the wall.

A dude I know from back in the day. Said to me “I see you getting Money now.” I responded by saying “I provide a legitimate service for our community.” What he doesn’t know is, all the business that I turn away because I now specialize in quality not quantity. I do it to show brothers that we have to choose how we react to curtain situations. Every Dollar is not a good dollar. When I down sized my business and cut back on my hours of operation, some associates called me crazy. A good friend of mine told me this…’Be strong & even wiser’.

There is a saying that says ‘to whom much is given, much is required’. Having your own business is hard work if you are to do it right. You learn a lot along the way. I have also learned that you will have some ‘stuff’ to deal with like, judgment from the onlookers who haven’t a clue what you have to deal with. Now I try not to envy others for what they have, because I don’t know what they had to do to get it, or what they had to give up. Nobody likes working hard, I know I don’t, but I get so much gratification from knowing that what I have, I worked for it, it was not handed to me. “Walking into my destiny” takes motivation, effort, and the will to get up and to keep walking even when it is hard to do so. I am proud to have a business partner, a life partner that keeps walking.

The Art of doing me.

My goal is to be a master photographer. So I hold myself to a higher standard. I am not interested in being some fly by night print studio. No I'm not priced to compete with Walmart or any mass production studio. I want my work to be hung on the walls of my Client's homes.
So please understand that you are making an investment. These portraits are created to be framed, not to be placed in a photo bin or taped to the refrigerator.

Spoken Words

This month was a very busy month for me. Me and Simmone give the studio and website a major face-lift. I felt like I gave birth!
Well! I'm very proud of this picture. Why? Not because of the award. Last year I had the opportunity to do portraits of my Bishop. Bishop Merton Clark. He spoke into my life. He told me that communication and being more verbal would bring growth in me.

This was a very profound moment for me. All my life I had a problem with voicing my feelings. I was the Big Strong silent Guy. Not realizing that keeping quiet was making me feeble. People say that I'm always smiling.
So I left that day with a smile on my face. But I decided to open my mouth and started to speak to people and networking. I've made friends online and in person. I still smile all the time but now it is after I have spoken.
Thanks every one for your support.
I said all this to say that, we as men & women need to start to speak into our children's lives. Encourage them and support them also. Tell them that they can achieve their goals and dreams. Believe me you will see a change in them. It worked for me and I'm 35! Be their encouragement.

The Winner in me wont let me quit.

Inspired not Expired (Personal)

Today I did something I don't do often. I went to church without my better half. She had to work. I've only done this twice. The night before my mind was heavy on issues, my family, friends and business. I was overwhelmed with life.
Earlier that day my sister called me to check on me because she hadn't seen me in a while. Lol, she said I was acting like the “Jefferson's.” Sis I Love you! I didn't tell her but I wanted too. But I just have been focusing on me. The change began with me.

In early Dec. 2009. My brother texted me a message from prison. Don’t ask.That's another story. But the message cut me deep. Yet the message was the truth. He said: “Damn Bro. You've CHANGED, you not down for me anymore?. What happen to am I my brother’s keeper?.” He said more but you get the jist of what I'm saying. Keeping it real is what kept me away from the house of GOD for so many years.

So I responded: Bother I love you. We are flesh and blood. I'd give my life for you. Yes I have changed for the better."When I was a child I spoke as a child I understood as a child I thought as a child; but when I became a man I put away childish things."

So I went to church today and I saw and felt something. I was standing there and a friend from my pass walked in. I had inquired about my friend for many years but our life had taken us down different paths in life. This friend and I had run the streets together and went to church gave life to god together. We had turned our back on god also. Now many years later, our paths have brought us back to the house of God. I broke down. At the moment I learned how God works. This inspired me to a new level in my worship.

Once, God put his mark on you and his word in your heart. You can run, deny you’re calling, but you know TRUTH. The path of Truth will bring you home. God will leave the light on for you.

Many might say my blog should be about my business. Yes and that is a small truth. Yet my business would be nothing without GOD. Real talk.