I can’t believe it’s already July! I love June because it’s the start of summer and consistent warm weather, but when July hits, especially the 4th of July, I feel like summer is on a downward spiral. But summer lasts until the end of September and then comes BEAUTIFUL fall! I need to keep reminding myself of that. 🙂

But maybe it’s the trips to the beach and boat rides with friends that keep me wanting summer to stay longer and not go so fast. Or maybe it’s the evening engagement sessions and mounds of beautiful weddings. Or maybe it’s the celebration of JFP’s birthday!?!?!

Ok, it’s probably not the birthday celebration of JFP, but it’s definitely one of the highlights of the summer season. I’ve officially been in business for three years now and it’s exciting and rewarding to see how far I’ve come in just a short amount of time. I guess you could say JFP started early with my drawing experiences and accompanying my mom (who’s also a wedding photographer) on her wedding jobs. But instead of explaining that part of my journey through and through, you can read all about it in the about section of my blog.

So the business side of things for JFP started in 2008 when I moved to Waynesboro, PA. I was 2.5 hours away from my mom, so continuing to accompany and learn from her was out of the question. So I sought out some photographers in my new area who’d be willing to bring me on their team. I first found Mark Cozzoli of Cozzoli Studios in Hagerstown, MD, which is now Imagery by Andrea. Mark and Andrea taught me how to shoot manually and how to handle a number of situations at weddings. After second shooting with them for a few weddings, I worked with Rodney Cool of Aesthetic Life Studio in Waynesboro, PA. Of course I continued to learn how to handle different wedding situations, but I also learned a little about business from his as well. Both Mark and Rodney encouraged me to pursue my own business and their push definitely helped me make the decision to go for it in 2009.

That summer, I did a lot of shooting for free to gain the necessary experience and images for my portfolio (and even shot my first solo wedding that fall! See pictures below!). I mostly shot for friends and friends of friends, and was beyond grateful for the power of word of mouth. Without those friends, word of mouth, Mark Cozzoli, Andrea, Rodney Cool, my mom, family, and Facebook, JFP wouldn’t be where it is today. I never thought it would have grown the way it has in the past three years, especially with our move to a new area last year. I know I’ll continue to learn and make changes in both my business and my photography skills/style, but it’s hard to say where JFP might be in the next three years. I hope I’m traveling less on weekends (except for destination weddings!) and spending more time with my family. I hope I have more systems created so work at the computer is easier. I hope I’m working 100% with ideal clients for my personality and my business. I hope I’m educating others and paying the industry back for everything it’s taught me. And I hope I’m still creating fun, fresh and colorful photography for people to keep and enjoy for a lifetime! Happy birthday, JFP!

And to celebrate the birthday and remember the beginning, here’s a look at my first wedding! My style is still similar, but I’ve definitely learned a lot since my first wedding and I edit completely different. HUGE THANKS to Denise and Stuart for inviting me to shoot their wedding as my first! You guys were so awesome and get cuter with each year. 🙂

I was very much into an antique look back in the day…

This was one of my first all-time favorite pictures! I blew this one up on a canvas right away! Denise made a STUNNING bride!!!

Some of my favorite pictures from the wedding. I think they really help display the fun, fresh and colorful style I go for in my photography.

This picture just screams JFP and I used it in my portfolio for a while. I love everything about it! I now call it my “David’s Bridal picture” and use this idea at many weddings.

Beautiful Virginia in October…

Even back then, I loved the details!

Some of the cutest cake toppers I’ve ever seen! I believe Denise got these from someone on Etsy.

I love these toast and cake-cutting moments!

Ah, I just loved my first wedding and I wouldn’t be where I am today without it. 🙂