I’ve been working on the new website and the JFP rebrand since before 2015. I hired designer Krista A. Jones in December and did all my brainstorming and list-making of ideas over the winter. Then, in February, Krista’s work officially started. The website homepage was first. It included my “refreshed” logo, new colors, new fonts and a new branding element, colorful plaid! It would set the stone for the rest of the website and I bothered Krista with many emails about making it perfect. Since then, Krista has created the weddings and portraits portfolios, and the “adventures page” for the website. We still need to finish the website, but will be moving on to the blog next while we wait for some things. Here’s a little peek at the homepage. 🙂 The blog is very important to me. I receive around 3,000 hits each month so making the blog a priority is a no-brainer. Especially since I learned, and have found true, that blogging, sharing (both professionally and personally) and keeping content fresh on the web will help my business grow. Since starting in 2009, my blogging practices have gone up and down. But recently, I think I’ve found a groove and am excited to continue with that groove with a new blog! I’m hoping to keep up my blogging frequency (at least three times a week would be nice) and to blog things quicker, like getting weddings and portrait sessions featured within a week or two of them happening. I also considered the idea of more series. But I realized that keeping up with too many commitments, like too many blog series, just isn’t in the books for me. So I’ll be keeping things simple when it comes to categories on the blog – weddings, engagements, families, newborns, maternity, personal, business, adventures and photog tips. “Adventures” is something new to the JFP brand. When considering what JFP is and all the pretty pictures and wonderful clients that make up my experiences, I noticed that I’ve been on quite a number of adventures…and it’s been awesome to experience those adventures! A waterskiing engagement session, a wedding ceremony on top of a mountain, a maternity session in the cold snow, and a destination wedding on the white sandy beach of the Bahamas (all seen in the pictures throughout this post)! I love “different” so when I’m given the opportunity to photograph things that are different than the norm, an “adventure”, I experience such a thrill and my creativity is renewed! This is such a blessing in my photography journey and I’m excited to share that and encourage others to consider an adventure, too. So “adventures” is something you’ll see on both the new website and the blog! I’ve had an interest in teaching and sharing photography with others over the past few years. I’ve taught basic photography classes, I held a photography Q&A in my house, I helped plan and then teach during a styled shoot/workshop, and I’ve also included “mentor meetings” in my services. None of them ever lead to anything super consistent, but to this day, I still enjoy helping other photographers. I get to share my passion, help the industry and do some learning myself! So I am HOPING I can be consistent with a new blog series, “Photog Tips”. Every Friday, or at least a couple times a month, I want to share quick and easy tips for photographers and small business owners. Whether it’s about choosing the best light, purchasing your next lens or how to start a photography business, I’d like to share my thoughts! And in turn, maybe draw more photographer friends to JFP and help those that have already been following. 🙂 So, I need your thoughts! What photography or business questions do you!? What topics would you like to see covered in the new “Photog Tips” series? I have a few ideas already, but I’ll need more to make sure I’m consistent! Feel free to leave your question or suggested topic in the comments below. And be sure to check back as the busy season goes on for the official launch of the new JFP brand and website/blog!