In 3...2...1...

I did it. It's finally finished. The moment you have all been waiting for. O.K. the moment I have been waiting for. After 4 long months of planning and preparation my new blog is complete.

Please Click Here:

http://jessicamariephotographs.wordpress.com/

Networking....

It all started with a simple text message. One that read, with an English accent, "I have a brilliant, beyond brilliant idea." O.K. so maybe the message did not say exactly that, I may have quoted that from the "Parent Trap", however, I did have a brilliant idea. An idea that would begin to market my business and my brand. An idea that will hopefully open doors to many future clients.

It was a Friday, I did not have to go to work and I had no homework to do. I did have lots of free time to focus on my photography and building my business and my brand. As I sat in my apartment in front of my laptop I wondered what I was supposed to do next. What am I supposed to do in order to book clients and photo shoots? That's when it hit me. I was going about it all wrong. I needed to be pro-active and market myself, and so I did. With this brilliant epiphany I sent a text message to a friend of mine who is graduating asking if his mother would be interested in any graduation photos. He of course said yes and before i realized it I had just booked my first paying client. A few days later, through various emails to his mother, she had recommended that I get in contact with three other individuals she knew of that would be graduating as well and would also be in need of graduation photos and by the end of the week, after contacting one of these references, I had booked my second paying client.

Tomorrow I have two photo shoots in Park City and I couldn't be more excited. I have started to network, and for a couple hours tomorrow I will get to live my dream. Stay tuned for a posting of the photo shoots next week.

Its my Birthday...

Internet world, I have turned 21!!! Hola!!! I am now old enough to sit at the bars in restaurants and order a Pepsi or water! Which I did, by the way, on Friday. I went to "Iggy's" for dinner with one of my best friends. We sat at the bar because the wait was super long. At first I felt really lame sitting at the bar when we weren't going to order any alcoholic drinks. So to look somewhat cool I decided to branch out and order a Pepsi instead of water. And let me tell you, I felt so cool.

Though my birthday was on Wednesday, the true birthday celebration began on Friday. I took the day off of work and I had no classes and no homework. I began my day by sleeping in till 9:00 a.m. When I woke up I changed into my basketball clothes and then sat around the apartment watching some of my favorite T.V. shows and doing some work on my laptop. Later in the afternoon I played basketball for a couple of hours and I won two games of 21 against my good friend Albert. And no, he didn't let me win cause I am a girl. I truly won!

To top off the birthday extravaganza, I mean seriously this was like the cherry on top, I went to Salt Lake to go to the Jazz game against the Phoenix Suns. It was the first time I had ever gone to a professional basketball game and it was so fun. I absolutely love watching basketball and I love my Phoenix Suns. I was definitely outnumbered in the fan section but I did not shy away from cheering on my boys Steve Nash, Grant Hill, Vince Carter, and Channing Fry. They struggled in the first half, but pulled it out for the win in the second. That's right Jazz fans, we won!!

Dance Like No One Is Watching...

As we waited outside in the cold winter weather I almost could not believe where I was standing, where I was in that moment in time, what I was about to participate in. It was unreal and almost too good to be true. I had been waiting for this day for years and the idea that it finally arrived, the idea that I was about to do something that I had dreamed about doing for years was absolutely mind boggling. I stood in that line waiting for the world to say, "Just kidding Jessica. This really isn't happening." However, despite my doubts and my fears, it did happen and my hopes and desire were fulfilled.

This past Thursday I was a rebel and ditched my classes in order to go to Salt Lake for the day. For on this particular day my favorite show, "So You Think You Can Dance", was holding auditions in the city and I had a ticket to be in audience. It was an early birthday present from a good friend of mine and I was overjoyed to have the experience. I began watching the show when it was in its second season and had always dreamed of being in the audience for the tapings. Now as Season 8 auditions were taking place that dream had finally come true. As I walked into the theater I could not have been happier. For the next five hours I was surrounded by various young men and young women who were chasing after their dreams, I was surrounded by beautiful dancers. It was such an amazing experience and one that I will never forget. I had so much fun and am so grateful for the opportunity I had to be there.

(Sorry for the poor picture quality. This photos were taken with a Nikon CoolPix.)

On Top of the World....

Saturday morning my alarm went off at 6:35 a.m. Half-asleep I reached over to grab my phone and turn the alarm off. As I lay there, trying to find the motivation to pull myself out of bed, I thought of the activities that were about to take place. It had been a long, hard week and Saturday could not have arrived any sooner. I had been anxious for Saturday since the beginning of the week. I knew that it was going to be a great day. A day to refresh, have fun, and not think about school. A day to do what I loved.

At 9:00 a.m. I stepped out of the car, put my boots on, grabbed my board, and with a smile across my face I walked over to lift ready to ride down the runs. For the first time in over a year, I was going snowboarding. With each run the joy I felt increased. All at once everything had escaped my mind and once again I had become one with the mountain. All that mattered in those few hours was me, my board, and the snow. As I sat at the top of the mountain strapping in I felt as if I was on top of the world. As I looked out all I could see for miles into the distance were beautiful mountain ranges. I felt at peace. I felt at home. I was happy. Yesterday was a great day. It was a day of friends, a day of fun, a day of snowboarding, a day to do what I love.

(These photos were taken with a Nikon CoolPix camera):

Find a Way...

..."its always been a long dark road that I've been wandering on. I've never known where it goes but I kept moving on. No I don't want to waste more time following dead end roads, so I'll find a way or make my own."

A good friend of mine gave me this song a few days ago and told me that it reminded him of me. The artist is Jamestown Story and the song is titled "Find a Way." It's an absolutely beautiful song and it perfectly describes the last few years of my life. Since all words seem to escape me tonight, I thought I might let Jamestown Story express my thoughts and feelings. Enjoy! And remember to Love Life, and Be Brave.

"Find a Way"

Summer Lovin.....

Yesterday afternoon I made a trip up to Aspen Grove for a summer staff reunion. It was so good to be back in the mountains that had been my home for four months. It was especially good to see all of the wonderful students and staff that I had the opportunity of working with over the summer.

As we all sat down to eat lunch it was as if nothing had ever changed. It seemed as if the summer had never come to end. We simply picked up where we left off. We sat at the same table, with the same people, and laughed till our sides hurt and our eyes began to water. It was a good feeling. It was the feeling of summer. As I sat at the table with some of my closest friends, memories of the past summer began to flood into my mind. They were memories of friends, love, and laughter. And later, after we had all finished our lunch, I grabbed my camera and took a walk around the camp. With each footstep, a memory would come to mind. It was as if the footprints I was leaving in the snow were the memories of last summer. The footprints of last summer left in my head. A path that would lead to happiness, joy, friendship, love, and laughter.

As I walked around the camp my heart was filled with gratitude. Gratitude for the experiences and the friendships that Aspen Grove had given me. Gratitude for the memories I cherish in my heart. Last summer was special. It is a summer that I will never forget. A summer that holds a special place in my heart.

Snowshoe; home sweet home:

The basketball courts I played on practically everyday:

The swimming pool. The after-work relaxation spot for all us girls:

Day to Day Routines....

-Wake up at 6:00 a.m.

-Get out of bed by 6:30

-Get ready and leave for class at 7:30

-Accounting class: 8:00 am

-Return home by 9:30

-Do homework till 12:30

-Religion class:1:00

-Return home by 2:15

-Do homework till my brain hurts

- Bedtime: 10:00 pm

We all have our day-to-day routines. This one is mine. Well, its my Tuesday and Thursday routines. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday have a completely different routine. Then Saturday and Sunday I get crazy and wing it.

It makes my life a little bit more exciting. I rebel and step over to the dark side of the unknown and the unplanned. Yes that's right, I am a risk taker.

Alright, time to be honest, I'm not really that much of a risk taker. I'm boring and get stuck in my day-to-day routines. I don't take risks, I am not adventurous, and I am certainly not spontaneous. I will admit that I have days where I get so caught up in school or work that I completely forget to just stop and live life. Enjoy the moment that I am in and the life that I am living. Life is more than just school, grades, and work, though these are all important. Life is about family and friends. Its about making your dreams come true. Life is about experiences and the people you share those experiences with. Life is about learning and growing. Its about being loved and loving someone in return.

Its a new year and tomorrow is a new day. Be spontaneous. Take a risk. Tell your story. Live life, love life.

4 school days down 72 more to go.

Day 1....

I did it. I made it through my first day of classes. I have always had strong dislike for the first day of school. I find it to be uncomfortable and nerve wrecking. You are basically walking into the unknown. You have no idea what the professor is going to be like. How the class is going to be graded. And in my case, you have no idea who is taking the class with you. Meeting new people is definitely not my strong point. It is an experience which scares me beyond belief. However, I am proud to say that I have gotten better at it. For example, today I opted not to wear my "Hannah Montana" backpack today because I wanted to meet new people and make new friends, not be made fun of. Sadly, despite by ingenious plan, I didn't talk to a single soul. Now I am thinking that maybe I should have taken my "Hannah Montana" backpack to school. It might have had potential in others starting a conversation with me. Well, no worries. There is always tomorrow and the next day, and the next. And who knows, maybe I will meet my future husband in one of these classes.

Anyways, the first day of classes is always difficult. It comes bearing an unnecessary load of stress because it is the beginning of the 4 long months to come. Four months in which we will experience too much homework, too much studying, too much stress, and far too many sleepless nights. Four months in which we will experience the greatest of joys, the hardest upsets, our greatest achievements or our biggest disappointments and failures. And, for some unexplainable reason, we choose this. I choose this, and I am grateful for the opportunity I have to go to college, to further my education. This semester, despite how difficult it is going to be, is going to be a good one. I am sure of it. One day down, seventy-five more to go.

New Year, New Goals, New Me.....

Another year has come to an end, and a new one has just begun. With the passing of each year, we take a moment to look back on the previous year. We remember the good, the bad, the successes, the failures, the trials, and those experiences that brought us true joy and happiness. For me, as the year comes to a close, I like to look back on my year in order to learn from my mistakes. To give myself the opportunity to learn and grow in the year to come. To become different, to become better and improve.

As I looked back on 2010 and the goals I had set for myself, I was quite satisfied. I had achieved some of my goals and others I neglected. In the winter 2010 semester I improved academically and I spent my summer at Aspen Grove. Meeting new people, making new friends, learning, growing, stepping outside of my comfort zone, making mistakes, and learning from those mistakes. This past summer, I had one of the best summer's ever. However, as some people like to say, all good things must come to an end. Though I did have many wonderful, fun experiences this past year, I also came upon various rough times.

Now, as I have rung in the new year, I am grateful for this opportunity I have to start new, to start fresh. I have been given a clean slate, a chance to start over and improve. With a new perspective I am going to work hard to be different. This year I am going to live my life to its fullest, I am going to embrace life. This year I am going to love life and all that it has to offer. Time waits for no one and this year I am going to work hard to make my dreams become a reality.