What I didn’t expect was to go and have my whole world opened up. To find the inspiration to act on our dreams, and to even start having a dream. To get out of my own head and my own way. And maybe more than anything, to come in contact with 43 other like minded individuals who are amazing and beautiful dreamers who get where we are and where we’re going, and who I know will support us no matter what (just as we will support them!). I didn’t expect to go to this conference, and come home more in love with my husband. Seeing his confidence grow and his true personality come out, and hear him get excited about projects he wants to work on was so inspiring.

I didn’t expect any of it, but holy cow, I am so thankful for every single bit of it! I am so thankful to Jen & Steve Bebb for following their “What If…” to put on this conference, and for supporting artist-preneurs. And for the other innovators: Chris & Sarah Rhoads, Jesh de Rox, Dan O’Day, Whitney & Jesse Chamberlain, and Justin Lyon, for being an inspiration not just through words, but through their actions and the way they live their life. The honesty, humility, and authenticity of everyone there was so refreshing. And amazing…a word I keep using over and over, but hey, it’s true

And besides all that mushy stuff , we just had a dang good time! We talked and we hung out and we ate and we laughed and we talked some more. Chris and I are really kicking each other for not taking more pictures while we were there (realized as I was prepping these images that we don’t have any of us with other people! Boo!), but we just wanted to share a little bit of the crazy with you all!

Ok some of these are blurry. But that’s another thing I learned…it doesn’t always have to be perfect Sometimes, it’s just about the moment and the memory, even if the technical is not always there. And it was freaking dark, ok?

That’s all for today, folks Check out the What If Conference website, I’m pretty sure there will be info announced about future What If’s very soon! And I know we will be doing everything possible to be there

Off to chase some “What if’s”….

“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”   –Seneca

Well, you might just do something to inspire yourself.

Just got back from an amazing week, and we will most definitely have more to share later.

What. if. ?

As Steven, our groom from this past weekend, put it…we added a little bit of cool to the logo. In the form of the one and only Chris Creed

Chris and I have been running this business together for a few years now, but until a few months ago, it still just had my name on it. Well the truth is, I couldn’t do this without him. I am so incredibly blessed to have this man be the love of my life. He has been so supportive of my business and my dream, and along the way it has turned into our dream. It is so cool to be able to do this together, capturing other people’s love stories from our joint perspective. To get to work together, and support each other. And it was time to make it official I’m not gonna lie…it was a little scary at first! This business started out as my baby! From the days when it was just me as Image Jolie (oh geez…) then to Jennifer Creed | Photographer (with Chris shooting with me!), we have finally become Jen & Chris Creed | Photographers.

Most of our clients have heard me joke about how during sessions, Chris will come up with these ideas for a shot, and I kind of step back (super confused and having no idea what he’s talking about), but when I see the shot, it just blows me away! It is so awesome to see how differently we see different situations, and to get both our unique perspectives! Chris is so amazing at really “getting” the emotional connection between our couples and being able to relate to people.

Exhibit A

We are super excited to be beginning this new chapter in our business and our lives! We had the changes made to the logo earlier in the spring, but then had some things come up (in the form of a temporary teaching job last spring for Chris) come up that threw off our announcement schedule a little. But now we are officially launched! A couple changes to take note of: If you’ve got us bookmarked, make sure you update our links to www.jenandchriscreed.com for the website, and www.jenandchriscreedblog.com for the blog!

We also have a brand spanking new Facebook page! Chris and I are currently the only ones who “Like” it, so we’d love if you would come and join us We will be giving away a $25 iTunes gift card to one of our new fans on Friday, August 12th, so make sure you get in on that!

To end this post…here’s a shot of Chris hard at work this weekend, and just a few of my favorite shots of his in the last year or so He has no idea I’ve been working on this post tonight, and will likely be embarrassed when he reads it, so please feel free to leave him some love in the comments!

Here’s to the continuation of an incredible journey! I love you, husband!

And thank you all for your amazing support over the years! We love you all!

So I guess I’ll just start with this: my parents are pretty much awesome! There are quite a lot of things I wouldn’t be without them (ya know, like the whole existing thing ). But one thing I got from them is my business sense. My dad has owned his own business since I was in middle school, and it’s always had an impact on me. Mix my dad’s entrepreneurial spirit, my mom’s common sense, and loads of their support, and you’ve got a lot of what has gotten my business to where it is today.

But this post isn’t about me I am super excited to announce that my parents are starting out on a huge adventure, and opening a Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt in Lexington, KY! They have been hard at work at the franchise process since approximately last July, and are now getting super close to opening. They first got hooked when we took them to Menchie’s here in Nashville; it’s pretty much the most delicious thing ever! One of my favorite parts about it is that Menchie’s frozen yogurt is made with real, certified live and active yogurt culture. They also have a TON of flavor options that will circulate through their store, including regular frozen yogurt, no sugar added, dairy free, and low carb. Not to mention all the delicious toppings!

I am so proud of all the hard work they have put in, and everything they are planning to do to serve the community through their store. This project is the result of tons of prayer, and I know they are going to do amazing things. It has not been an easy journey so far, but their faith and prayers have gotten them to this point, and it has been such an inspiration and blessing for us to watch their faith grow during this journey.

I feel like I am starting to ramble (currently writing this while waiting to watch the Royal Wedding, and scheduling it to post later!), so to wrap things up….here are a couple pictures of the construction progress (up through April 15). They are even farther along now, and I can’t wait to post a finished “after” picture soon!

If we are friends on Facebook, you’ve probably seen me post about this, but if you’d like to “Like” them on Facebook, we would definitely appreciate the support! Check it out at http://www.Facebook.com/menchieslexington!

Congratulations mom and dad, we love you!

(and Chris!)

I just wanted to put  up a quick note and apologize for the lack of blogging lately! We’ve been preparing a lot of fun things lately as we prepare for spring wedding season to start. I fully intend to get back to blogging next week, and you can expect to see more of Blair and Cody’s engagement session, more of Steven and Tracy’s engagement session, and a fun personal post! So get excited

Thank you all for being awesome, and enjoy this beautiful weekend!

Happy Pi Day! I was never much of a math kid, but couldn’t resist a little blog post celebrating π in all it’s 3.14…-ness!

It works out perfectly, because last week, Chris and I ate at the delicious Pi Pizzeria in St. Louis! We first ate there in 2009 upon a recommendation from one of Courtney’s bridesmaids, while we were in town for Courtney and Clayton’s wedding, and have been dying for an excuse to go back. So, when a deal came up on SniqueAway (super fun travel website!) for the Moonrise Hotel right across the street from Pi, we decided it was the perfect time for a spontaneous get away We had a great trip, filled with lots of business brainstorming and goal setting and plenty of relaxing!

But back to the pizza…seriously the best pizza I’ve ever had! Their cornmeal crust, tomato chunk sauce, and fresh mozzerella is to die for! They are also a “green” restaurant, and serve many organic ingredients. Plus, it’s a super trendy and fun atmosphere! If you’re ever in St. Louis, you have to check it out!

(And, more π details for your Pi Day!)

And some shots of our super awesome hotel! Definitely the most fun hotel I’ve ever stayed in. They even had a chandelier in the lobby that was Chihuly blown glass. So fun! (And, it would be a great place for a unique wedding reception!)

Happy Pi Day, and have a great week, everyone!

But, I do have a little bit to share today Owning your own business is fantastic. All the struggles, hard work, and worry are totally worth it for the freedom I have to own my own time and be able to create. I love that I get to spend time with people in love, planning one of the happiest events of their lives. I was kind of spoiled by self-employment freedom as I grew up, because my dad also owned his own business (have to give a lot of credit for my business savvy-ness to him!).

But one thing that I, and most others who own their own businesses, don’t want to happen is to have the business become my life. Yet it’s so easy to see your nights disappear into editing, time spent with your spouse turn into time in the same room on various electronic devices, and conversations to become dominated by business related talk. It’s so easy to let it take over, and balance seems hard to achieve.

Back in the fall, I was desperately feeling that lack of balance. Some weeks, I would hardly leave the house, and would always be at home working. No good! So I decided I needed to find a hobby, something non photography related to help me find some balance in my life. When I was younger (approximately 4th-7th grade), I used to ice skate. Costumes, competitions, 5 am ice times…the whole nine yards haha. So I decided I would sign up for a skating class at the local ice rink.

Let me tell you…it has been amazing! Fabulous exercise, helps recharge me creatively, and it’s just fun! I honestly felt a little bit nerdy about it and didn’t tell anyone for awhile, but then came to realize that this is something I’m doing for me, and there’s nothing to be ashamed of. Chris has also been supportive and wonderful, as usual! (His personal challenge for this year is to become better at guitar, even though I think he’s amazing already ) It’s so great to have an excuse to be out of the house and doing something for myself a few times a week, and I love having the personal challenge! Plus, I feel like having something else to devote some time to outside of photography, has really helped me to focus and grow when I am doing business related tasks. Win-win

So what’s the point of this somewhat rambling post? Having fun is good for your soul! I challenge you to do one thing this week that will be a step towards achieving balance in your life. Fellow photographers out there reading: I know we didn’t get into this to be chained to our computers all the time I definitely don’t have it all figured out by any stretch of the imagination…but trust me when I say that it feels awesome to take some time to do something different once in awhile! Maybe try picking up a sport or hobby you loved when you were younger…never hurts to try!

No post is complete without a picture, so just for a fun, here’s a shot from our recent shoot with Phindy Studios! (More on that later this week )

So…go out and try something fun and new this week! And don’t forget to report back and let me know how it goes

Happy Wednesday!

Today I posted some of our favorite images of 2010 on our Facebook fan page! You should most definitely check it out and comment on your favorites! I am hoping to make more use of the page this year, and be able to interact more with everyone who “likes” it. Not quite sure how that will be accomplished yet, but I’m excited!

But this post is more for the light hearted and personal 2010 really was a great year! Chris graduated from college and we took a leap of faith that brought us to Nashville, which we LOVE! We got to travel to several exciting places. The business is growing. We’ve made lots of awesome friends!

One thing I didn’t do so well in 2010 was document our personal life. It’s hard for me to realize that it’s not just my client’s lives that deserve photographing! So, while resolutions are something else I tend to balk at, I do resolve to do a better job of that in 2011. I think the most telling images of our lives, the images that document what life is really like, our found on our iphones. Less than stellar quality and all, it captures the little things that make us smile, or that we want to remember. So….I pulled just a few of the images from our life in the past year in no particular order to share with you! (Including but not limited to: Chris graduating, our wrecked car, the Nashville skyline, Chris’s brother leaving for the National Guard, my adorable cat, Andrew Peterson and Garth Brooks concerts, us in New Orleans, seeing Harry Potter at midnight with wonderful friends, and our Christmas tree. Chris should thank me for withholding some of the more ridiculous pictures of him )

Apparently I can’t insert two different galleries, so the above also features a few “prettier” favorites that come out of my folder of personal images also! Most of which, I believe were never blogged So also enjoy this little sneak peek into our lives from 2010, featuring a trip to Cape Hatteras, a trip to the Nashville zoo (where an alligator thought he might try to eat Chris), some of my favorite art shots from New Orleans, and our Christmas card shoot (done in the snow with the self timer, ftw!)!

Sometimes it’s a little messy, and maybe not fixed up enough for the “professional” blog, but that’s life. And I love it! In 2011 I hope to be able to get to know our clients even better, so that they truly are like family. And I want you all to get to know us, and to be transparent and real. That is my dream for 2011.

Thanks for sticking with me through this rambling post, and for always being awesome!

Happy 2011!

Blustery, beautiful, fall Monday. I love fall! Most people seem to come alive in spring, when things are bright green and new, but fall has always been my favorite time. Gorgeous blue skies and cool temperatures rev up my creativity, and the smell of crisp fall air brings a smile to my heart.

We are coming up on four months of living in Nashville, and I am still loving every moment of living in this beautiful town. We have been blessed with so many amazing opportunities and met some of the most encouraging and fabulous people I’ve ever had the opportunity to know. They are definitely changing the direction of our lives for the better! From photographers to musicians…old friends and new, we are having the time of our lives.

Some of the people influencing me personally recently are the people involved with Songs for the Cure. This is not the first time I’ve talked about Songs for the Cure on here, and probably won’t be the last A huge shout out to Lindsey Brown and Tonja Rose for getting me involved, and to Nile “Big Daddy” Peaytt who heads up the organization. I’ve met so many wonderful kids…kids who always have Hope, no matter what the circumstances. Tay, Alex, Ireland, Savannah…and tons more. Although I enjoy every minute of the time I’ve spent photographing shows and benefits for Songs for the Cure, I’ve always felt a little tug, as if I’m not quite sure what I’m doing is actually doing anything to help the kids. But I’ve come to realize that although I don’t have much money or time to give…I can give photos. And more than that, I can use those photos to spread the word about these beautiful kiddos and childhood cancer. If even one person reads this blog and sends up a prayer…I know that that prayer will be felt. So that is my hope

So…I have some photos to share from two different 30 Days of Hope events! First, some images from the benefit hosted by World Cup of Tea in Franklin to raise money for Ireland Lane:

And next…some images from the fabulous Songs for the Cure show at The Red Rooster, to raise money for Tay and Alex. I absolutely LOVED this show. If you aren’t familiar with Nashville…you can almost always find writer’s round shows going on around town. Various song writers will get together, and take turns playing songs that they wrote that may or may not have been cut by artists who put them on the radio. In our short time in Nashville, we’ve heard the writers who have written hits for artists like Rascal Flatts, Gary Allan, The Beach Boys, Garth Brooks, and tons more. I have to say that I prefer hearing the original writers over the big names any day There’s just something about hearing the song as it was originally intended…with the thoughts and feelings that accompanied the original writing. Who cares if it’s not the pretty, marketable face? This is what’s REAL. And I love it!

So…a few more favorites! These writers are so amazing, and many of them were there because cancer has touched them or their families. So wonderful for them to be supporting such a wonderful cause!

Some of the Titans cheerleaders came out to support Tay and Alex too!

Love it when everyone jumps in on a song during a writer’s round…so fun!

The wonderful Jo Dee Messina was also there!

So fun!

If you have a minute, please send up a prayer and/or good thoughts for anyone affected today by childhood cancer. I know I have the best, most caring readers in the world You all are fabulous! To see more photos from the various shows and events, be our friend on Facebook!

If you missed it, don’t forget to see Amanda and Jim’s sneak peek from their beautiful fall Kentucky wedding posted late last night! Also, we still have some space available for our fall mini-sessions October 23 and 24th! Contact us for more information

Have a great week everyone, and be blessed!

As I mentioned the other day, Songs for the Cure is something I’ve just recently learned about, but man, I am definitely getting sucked in by these kids, and the enthusiasm of the Songs for the Cure team! Lindsey and Tonja were (I believe) the main organizers of last night’s event, which specifically benefited 3 year old Ansley. She couldn’t be there last night due to chemo treatments, but there were videos projected all night of Ansley doing her favorite thing in the world….dancing. So adorable!

Chris and I were so happy to be able to help out and volunteer last night! An amazing group of artists and songwriters including (hopefully I’ll remember them all…) AJ Masters, Rob Harris, Deanna Harper, Sherrie Austin, Matt Warren, Tonja Rose, Adam Wheeler, Greg Johnson, Noah Gordan, and Rand Bishop came out to perform and support Ansley, and it was really an INCREDIBLE show! So much talent.

Here’s a few favorites!

And this is lovely Ms. Ireland. Ireland is another Songs for the Cure kid who came out last night and painted fingernails to raise money for Ansley. So sweet! September 26 at World Cup of Tea in Franklin is a fundraiser for Ireland by Songs for the Cure…contact me for more information!

I hope everyone is having a fabulous weekend! Say a prayer for all these kids and their families, and remember, there’s always HOPE!

Love,