The Office - Day 1

Been Up To

Well, I've been working hard, getting clients, creating presets for Lightroom, doing business stuff, keeping on my laundry, exercising, letting my neck and spine go so that now it's in the pinched nerve state. Dumb me.

Let me see though... what's new? JenniferEileen.com is all updated and fresh with my new logo. I have split my companies into two. Jennifer Eileen and Jennifer Eileen Imaging. I have to get working on my JEimaging website. I now have a place to post prints for people to view and order one or a ton of them. There is a link to the photocart inside my website. Um... I finally purchased my Fictitious Name Statement now I have to publish it and purchase my business license so I can open a business bank account.

I am traveling this weekend. Kind of dreading it due to the pain in my neck and upper back as well as gas prices and strain on my little Geo (who is a rockstar with 218,585 miles on it). I've been contemplating donating my vehicle for a tax write off and purchasing a different vehicle. What makes me nervous about that is the Geo's gas mileage is off the hook where another vehicle won't match that so I'll end up paying more for gas. But, a new car will have things that I'd like: a door handle so I can get in and out of my car much more easily, a radio so I won't have to carry around my trusty boombox, and lining on the ceiling that won't be drooping down. Gosh, those sound like good perks. But seriously, I can live with those things as long as I'm saving cash by not spending at the gas pumps.

Whatever.

Things are well. I'm learning, growing, being challenged daily, and looking forward to the wedding season to be up and running so I can start paying off my student loans!

Thanks Brooks for taking all my money for the next 30 years.

Part time jobs....

Any suggestions on what I should do? I just want something for 15-20 hours a week... and it has to be super flexible because of my photography random schedule that I might up and leave for a few days to shoot this and that. Thoughts? Ideas?

Engagements of Best Friends

Are great...

Becky and Chris came to Reedley this weekend. So great to see them! We went out, took pictures around Reedley, laughed a ton, even went to Hume Lake on Sunday to show Chris the wonders of it all. Beloved Stephanie joined us and a new, fun friend Marco came out to spend the night as well. So joyful, so refreshing, so fun.

Just some thoughts...

I've had a lot on my mind over these past few weeks. I've been working hard, trying to make sure I'm covering all of my "business" ventures but I keep feeling like I'm drowning. See, I have to purchase this and that (ie business license, etc.) but with what money? My clients keep canceling so obviously I'm doing something wrong, but what??? And now, I fear that two more clients are going to cancel because I haven't heard back from them for over a week concerning the contracts I sent. (And the contracts stated all the things we had covered and agreed upon.) So what am I missing? Personality? Small feet? I just don't know!

So now I keep having to face each day, working from my home, wishing I were around people. I keep contemplating getting a part time job but where? Reedley is not really full of fruitful businesses to work for a few hours a week. Volunteering? Definitely a possibility but again, the question of where?

I feel vulnerable, nervous, sick to my stomach when I think of the money that I so willingly borrowed and now owe back (plus interest). What's gonna happen? I just don't know.

Thankfully, the Lord ALWAYS provides. Right now I feel in a dark place and I feel alone but I keep having to remind myself that I'm not actually alone, someone is there with me while I roam around in this darkness. And light will be at the end of the tunnel and all of the unknowns will fall into place... always does.

So through this I praise God! I praise Him for these struggles, for the unknown, for the trials, for the lack of money and the need for it in order to accomplish all this business stuff, and I simply praise Him for creating me, loving me, dying for me, and allowing me to call Him Father.

Tim & Jessica... Proud parents to be

Today I got to shoot some friends of mine from Carp who are expecting a little boy in June. I had a great time but whenever you're getting pictures taken it always feels sort of awkward until after an hour or two when you don't even realize the camera is there. But I think we got some great shots and it was so good to see both Tim and Jess again.

Peter and Linzi Engagement Shoot

They flew me to Chicago... what?! It was one of the best few days that I've had in a few years. I loved being there, shooting them, talking with them, and being apart of this memorable moment. It was the very best and Peter and Linzi are PERFECT for one another. It really was an incredible time for me. Thank you guys for being so great!

Industrial class

I realized that I haven't posted ANYTHING since I was at home over Christmas Break. So, let's see... the children here are more wonderful everyday and I am going to miss them so incredibly much. Lots and lots of funny things happen. I really should write them down.

But this is what we're here for... pictures right? These are from my class. It's been so fun and I love what I can capture with the use of technology. So there are pictures from a drop tank, splashes, as well as spills, and two that we really threw into the air and took pictures of.

Hope you like as much as I do.

Shooting the Cousins

This is the oldest of the set of three that came over today.  I think her image is absolutely lovely.  And, might I add, today was quite an enjoyable one "shooting" my cousins.

The middle child had to go first, but her image is beautiful.  She's a stunning girl.

The boy is the youngest, a rambunctious child.

The "Family" Christmas

On Thursday evening all 20 of us got together for our annual Christmas party.  This is the first year we took a group picture.  In fact, I don't know if we've ever taken a group picture with everyone in attendance.  But '07 is the lucky year.  Anyhow Reedley friends, thanks for everything!  You guys are pretty great.