Reflections by Jess Photography

Reflections by Jess Photography and Red Thread Sessions

2012-01-23T19:32:00.000-08:00

I am very excited to be working with Red Thread Sessions to provide no session fee sessions to families expanding through adoption. This non-profit agency helps new parents (and birth mothers as well) team up with photographers in their area to capture precious first days together. Sessions are available any time in the first three months after the adoption is finalized and can be used for a birth session, homecoming, or new family session. Please visit click on the icon above to visit Red Thread Sessions and learn more about this awesome organization.

Reflections by Jess Photography: More Fun With Fruit Loops

2012-01-14T12:26:00.000-08:00

I've been photographing Corbin since he was a newborn, and couldn't believe how much he changed in between our last session and today. He looked so big, and was such a smily guy! We played with Fruit Loops, the antique wash tub and some other things. His favorite part of all of it seemed to be trying to escape from his shoes. :) More to come after their viewing session.

Reflections by Jess Photography: Fun with Fruit Loops

2012-01-10T11:04:00.000-08:00

Miss K came in to the studio to play today. She loved the cereal and surprised us all by actually eating it! This was an idea I've had in mind for a while now, so I'm pretty excited to finally be doing it. I'm looking forward to editing and sharing more soon.

Knoxville Newborn Photographer Reflections by Jess: Eight Days New

2011-12-29T12:20:00.000-08:00

I'm still taking on newborns during my mini vacation and had this pretty lady in the studio today. She is eight days old, and was wide awake through our entire session. She was so laid back and thoughtful looking and was content to just look around. I have a feeling this is going to be a massive gallery, looking through her images I had a hard time narrowing down which ones to post here because I had so many favorites.

Thank you for another great year!

2011-12-22T17:16:00.000-08:00

Thank you to all of my amazing clients who made 2011 a fantastic year. This year has been filled with one amazing opportunity after another, from the new studio to the chance to work on some great projects, and the introduction of in person viewing sessions and new products. It is amazing to me how much progress has been made this year and I am excited to see what 2012 has in store. I have a few ideas in the works that will start in January, but for now I am just being thankful for everyone who made this possible.
For the next two weeks my time belongs to these two awesome little people

and enjoying every second of the holidays with our little family. I hope that each of you has a great holiday and I look forward to jumping head first into 2012 with you in two weeks.

Knoxville Newborn Photographer Reflections by Jess: Meet Miss K

2011-12-22T17:06:00.000-08:00

Miss K was such a cutie! She definitely let us know what she did and didn't like. Her mom was amazing, she was moving faster than I do most days. Miss K gave us lots of great facial expressions and tiny half smiles.

Knoxville Newborn Photographer: Meet Miss B

2011-12-22T16:56:00.000-08:00

This little lady made everyone wait until she was ready to make her big appearance.

She had such sweet red hair and her parents brought a great ladybug outfit to coordinate with their maternity session theme. We already have a few ideas in mind for a Valentine's Day session, I can't wait to see how much she grows and changes between now and then!

Reflections by Jess Photography: Cookies, milk, and mini sessions with Santa

2011-11-12T06:39:00.000-08:00

Santa is coming to the studio on Sunday, November 27. These sessions will be much more than typical Santa photos. We will have Santa set up with Christmas tree and fireplace and will also do less traditional Santa poses, such as your child at Santa's feet opening a present.

Every child registered will receive a small (age appropriate) gift from Santa, and cookies and milk will be available.

You can receive $10 off your session with either a non-perishable food donation for Second Harvest Food Bank, or a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots. Additional donations will earn additional discounts or free prints.

Sessions are available between 11am-6pm. As of right now only seven spaces are left.

Reflections by Jess Photography: Introducing Ms. T!

2011-11-12T06:29:00.000-08:00

Miss T was the most patient baby I have ever seen! She was content to let us try so many different set ups and looked absolutely adorable in the little tutu her mom brought. She was also the first little girl after a string of boys, so I was excited to break out the pink again!

Reflections by Jess Photography: Fall fun with Mr. A

2011-11-12T06:20:00.000-08:00

After some technical difficulties the blog is finally functional again! For some reason I could see my posts, but no one else could.
I love working with repeat clients! It was a lot of fun to meet Mr. A, his mom, and grandmother for some fall fun. He has amazing blue eyes and the most adorable smile! I'm already looking forward to seeing them again for Christmas!

Reflections by Jess Photography: Fall Mini Session Info

2011-10-03T06:46:00.000-07:00

These are on location sessions to showcase great fall colors. You have two options for mini sessions: the print collection that is $30 and includes one 5x7 or the digital collection that includes five digital files. Additional portraits can be added to either collection at your viewing session.
Spaces are limited, email today to schedule your session.

Knoxville Newborn Photographer: Updates and canvas winner

2011-09-13T07:52:00.000-07:00

   I'm back online after a week long vacation, and catching up on emails and voicemails. I had a great vacation with my family, and really enjoyed the "unplugged" time. Sometimes it is nice to take a step back from everything and just soak up some family time.
   I have just finished responding to all the emails and messages from last week, so if you haven't heard from me please let me know.
   This weekend the website will be down as it gets a makeover and becomes iPad/iPhone friendly. The downtime should be only a couple of days. Email should be fine during the transition, and the Facebook page will be available.
   The winner of the canvas contest was Wendy, and the portrait of her adorable boys. The canvases should be in within three weeks, and I am excited both to give it to her and to hang it in the studio.

Reflections by Jess Photography: Senior Session with Hannah

2011-09-03T12:30:00.000-07:00

I truly love what I do, and cannot think of a session lately I haven't enjoyed. Some sessions really stand out to me as ones I know I won't forget. This was one of those. Hannah was so laid back and fun, and we had a great location! I posted a preview of this one a few weeks ago, but wanted to share a few more here. Some of you will remember this as the session where I was spit on by a goat :)

I love this truck!

This picnic table turned out to be a little less sturdy than we thought, but it created my favorite capture of the day.

This was an awesome pine forest, I think we could have spent the entire session shooting in there.

I love this one, everything came together perfectly. Thanks Hannah for such a fun session!

Reflections by Jess Photography: The canvas contest has begun!

2011-08-25T07:53:00.000-07:00

The canvas contest has begun! Go check out the contest gallery here:
Reflections by Jess Photography

You may also tag yourself, or use the posted image as your profile picture. As always please do not crop or alter the image. Thanks!

Fine print: This contest is in no way sponsored, sanctioned, or coordinated by Facebook, which is a registered trademark. To vote you must "like" the page, then click "like" under the image you would like to vote for. Please note that clicking more than once will "unlike", not vote again. Canvas will be 16x20 inches. If you have any questions feel free to call or email.

This has been a whirlwind month of sessions and I am excited to see who wins! Good luck to everyone!

Knoxville Newborn Photographer: Mr. J's Newborn Session

2011-08-24T19:11:00.000-07:00

Here's a slideshow from Mr. J's newborn session. Enjoy!

Knoxville Newborn Photographer Reflections by Jess MIss L's First Year

2011-08-14T19:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was able to photograph Miss L's first birthday party. She is a frequent face on the blog, as I have done several sessions with her family this year. It has been amazing to watch her change between each session! Here are a few images from the past year:

Knoxville Newborn Photographer: Happy Birthday Miss F!

2011-08-14T18:39:00.000-07:00

I was able to photograph Miss F's first birthday party this weekend. Her family was amazing to work with, everyone was so happy and excited about the day. (It also didn't hurt that she had a heart melting smile just like her mom!). During the party one of her little friends stood on his own for the first time and I was able to capture it for his parents. Being able to capture special moments is one of the most amazing aspects of what I do. I love that they will always have a photograph of that moment, and I love that I was able to be there and capture Miss F with not only her parents, but also both of her grandmothers. Days like this make me very thankful to be doing something I love, and also very thankful for my amazing clients.

Knoxville Photographer: Miss A, the birthday girl

2011-08-14T18:33:00.000-07:00

One year old's are the most active sessions I think I do, and also one of the most fun! This little lady explored every inch of the shooting room, and some of the best images of the day were of her crawling around on the floor, completely outside of what we were trying to get her to do. It was a great reminder to just go with things and that just like in life some of the best moments are completely unplanned. Happy birthday Miss A, I look forward to working with your family again!

Knoxville Photographer: Mr. H is 9 months old

2011-08-14T18:26:00.000-07:00

It always amazes me the difference in my tiny clients between sessions. This little man is no exception. He was so happy during our session, especially when we were singing Yo Gabba Gabba songs. He loved his little stuffed Brobee and the ride on truck.

Reflections by Jess Photography: Meet Mr. J

2011-08-14T18:13:00.000-07:00

I love repeat clients! I have worked with this little guy's family a few times now, so of course I was very excited when his grandmother contacted me about a newborn session. He was so laid back, and his big brother was awesome as usual. I'm looking forward to working with them again soon!

Reflections by Jess Photography: Senior Session

2011-07-16T11:03:00.000-07:00

Here's a preview from today's senior session at the World's Fair Park. She made it super easy during the session, but tough to pick just one for a preview! I'm sure there will be more on the blog after our viewing session. We had as close to perfect weather as you can get in mid-July and even a nice breeze. I'm excited for them to see the rest!

Knoxville Newborn Photographer: Meet Mr. B

2011-07-13T18:00:00.000-07:00

Mr. B was great to work with! I was very spoiled today by laid back babies who were wide awake, but still content to be posed. This little guy looks wise beyond words. He always looked deep in thought, like he was contemplating something very important.

Knoxville Newborn Photographer: Meet Mr. C

2011-07-13T17:57:00.000-07:00

Today was my first day shooting in the new studio. I loved that I could utilize a tone of great natural light, and realized that all the time spent finishing the floors was well worth it.

Meet Mr. C, the first baby photographed in the new space. He was such a laid back little guy. He stayed awake through our entire session and was content with everything. His mom was awesome to work with, she had the best John Deere tractor props!

I'm also pretty excited about the snuggle nest, I finally broke down and made one. I think it turned out fairly well for a first attempt.

Reflections by Jess Photography: Les and Lora's Wedding

2011-07-13T17:42:00.000-07:00

I had the best time photographing Les and Lora's wedding. Lora was the most laid back bride I have ever met and was fantastic about not sweating the small stuff. These two are so perfect for one another and I am glad I was able to be a part of their special day. More on here after they get to see them when they return from their honeymoon. Congrats Les and Lora!

Reflections by Jess Photography Canvas Contest

2011-07-08T13:57:00.000-07:00

Let’s have a contest!

What better way to celebrate a grand opening than with an awesome contest! I’m adding several more canvases and large prints to the walls and have decided the best way to do this is with a contest. Between now and August 24^th for $50 you get a portrait session and an entry in the contest. As always other portraits will be available for purchase.

One image from each session will go into an album on Facebook (you can also use this as a profile picture if you would like) on August 25th. The image with the most “likes” on September 4th will be made into a 16x20 canvas for the studio wall, plus the winner will get an identical 16x20 to keep at no charge. This is a $200 value, yours for free!

These sessions are on a limited first come first served basis. Session fees must be paid at the time of booking.

Details:

Sessions can be in studio or at the location of your choice.

Sessions prior to the start date cannot be used for the contest; they must take place between July 13^th and August 23rd.

Event images are eligible for the contest, however normal event rates apply.

Email for details.

Reflections by Jess Photography Fourth of July Fun!

2011-07-07T08:36:00.000-07:00

My attempt at focal shift fireworks:

I took a much needed break from everything for the 4th and spent the day with family and friends. We had a cookout, a giant water balloon fight, and did a ton of fireworks. It was nice to have a day to relax, and now I'm back to finishing the last of the renovations on the new studio. We're almost finished!

Reflections by Jess Photography is teaming up with Inspiration Through Art

2011-07-03T06:38:00.000-07:00

I am very excited to share with you all that I am now a participating photographer with Inspiration Through Art (formerly Littlest Heroes Project). For those who are unfamiliar with the program you can learn all about it on their website: Inspiration Through Art. They provide children diagnosed with a serious illnesses or disability and their families with free photography sessions.

This is an amazing nonprofit organization, and I am very excited to be a part of it! Check out their Facebook to see some recent sessions and learn more about the program.

Reflections by Jess Photography: Big News!

2011-06-26T17:55:00.000-07:00

Thank you!

Two years ago today I turned my hobby into my business and Reflections by Jess was created. These first two years have been an incredible journey. I have worked with so many amazing people and I've had the opportunity to be a part in capturing many special moments. I would like to thank all of my clients for your business, support, and most importantly the trust that you put in me when you hire me to capture these memories.

Two years ago I never imagined things would have taken off this quickly. If you had asked me then if I thought I would primarily be a studio newborn and child photographer I would have laughed. This was not the direction I envisioned, but I am so glad it is the one I found. I can honestly say I love what I am doing and cannot imagine doing anything else. I am thankful every single day to have the chance to do what I love.

Changes

Now on to the big news! I have found a new studio home. The studio in West Knoxville has been a wonderful space and a great learning experience. The new studio is located at 2244 Western Avenue. It is a two story 1930’s era house complete with a wonderful brick fireplace, an amazing amount of space and wonderful locations for outdoor portraits within blocks of the studio. Best of all the large windows in the shooting room that will allow me to take advantage of amazing natural light in addition to studio lighting.

Renovations are under way right now and I am hoping to be shooting again by July 9^th . I am so excited to show off this space to all of you, a lot of hard work has gone in to making it just right.

I have many more exciting changes in the works over the next couple of weeks to make your experience even better. Keep an eye on the blog and Facebook for details (and some great specials!) as things are finalized.

Reflections by Jess Photography: Stormy Sky

2011-06-24T13:44:00.000-07:00

Lightning 6.23.11

Starry Sky 6.22.11

Thanks to three days of heavy storms here in Knoxville I have had plenty of time to work on capturing lightning. This is something I have always wanted to do, but have had little success with. Those who know me know that patience isn't really my best virtue and it is definitely required to capture lightning. After three very frustrating nights (and cinnamon hot chocolate thanks to my wonderful husband! It gets cold standing in the rain even in June!) I finally captured a couple. I think this may be a new addiction!

Mr. L

2011-06-23T07:37:00.000-07:00

I met Mr. L a few months ago and his family came back for another session last week. He was quite excited about the John Deere tractor and the motorcycle. I think the only thing that topped those was the red balloon!

A day on the farm with Mr. C

2011-06-23T07:31:00.000-07:00

I have had the privilege of working with Mr. C's family three times now. They are truly amazing people and are so happy that just being around them can brighten your day. Our adventure on the farm included a fantastic barn, a tractor, and loads of open space (truly a photographer's dream location!).

Meet Miss P

2011-06-23T07:27:00.000-07:00

Miss P is the daintiest little lady I have worked with so far! She managed to stay awake almost the entire time, even though she was exhausted. When she yawned her mouth made a perfect little "o" shape. It was very sweet!

Meet Mr. A

2011-06-23T07:23:00.000-07:00

This was such a fun session! Mr. A and his mom and grandmother were great to work with, and I absolutely adore his hair.

Engagement Session

2011-05-29T17:17:00.001-07:00

I had a blast doing and engagement session today. We had a great location, and beautiful weather, even if it was scorching outside. I've gotten very spoiled by working in the air conditioning, but the wonderful colors of outdoor sessions make the heat worth it. I'm really looking forward to photographing their wedding next month.

Reflections by Jess Photography Newborn Session

2011-05-27T19:18:00.001-07:00

I have so much to catch up on here! Starting with this adorable little guy. Mr. C was 6 days old at our session and was the most alert little guy I have worked with so far. He woke up right after we started and managed to stay awake through our entire session!

Reflections by Jess Photography Vacation Update

2011-04-18T07:21:00.001-07:00

I will be on vacation from 5/2-5/12. Orders placed and paid for by 5pm on 4/26 will be shipped before I leave and I will begin processing orders again on 5/13. Please note that there will be a longer than normal response time to email and voicemail. Thanks!

2011-04-17T17:05:00.000-07:00

Meet Mr. E. He made me laugh through our whole session and throughly educated me on the difference in all the different kinds of Transformers. He had such a great personality that really came through in his portraits!

Miss L's Easter Mini Session

2011-04-17T17:00:00.000-07:00

I was very excited to work with Miss L again. Her parents are fantastic to work with, and she makes the most adorable faces! I know when I have a session with her I can count on gorgeous outfits and great flower headbands. I'm already looking forward to her nine month session coming up soon.

Reflections by Jess Photography Meet Mr. C

2011-04-17T16:54:00.000-07:00

This weekend was very busy with mini sessions for Easter. I was excited to see some familiar faces again, and to meet new ones.

This is Mr. C, also known as "the baby in the sock monkey picture" by many people who email asking to recreate that portrait. He is such an adorable little guy! The first picture is from this weekend, and the second is the famous sock monkey picture :)

Three month session preview

2011-04-06T08:07:00.001-07:00

I'm really behind on blogging, but hope to catch up this week.

This little lady made the best faces! She has the most adorable little grin. Our session was a lot of fun, everything from tutus to bunny ears :)

Reflections by Jess Photography: Want to win a custom photo card?

2011-03-15T06:48:00.001-07:00

Learn more about Maxim and the giveaway

I am also happy to be participating in a fundraiser to bring Baby Maxim home from Russia to his forever family. This fundraiser is to assist in the adoption expenses, and one of the prizes is a new iPad!

I have donated a custom designed 5x7 card, made with your images, that will be emailed to the winner with complete printing rights. This can be an announcement, advertisement, Easter card, anything you would like.

Meet Mr. L

2011-03-11T19:46:00.001-08:00

Meet the precious Mr. L. He was three weeks old in these portraits. He made us work very hard for every single shot, but the results were definitely worth it! His family was amazing, especially his big sister who was incredibly patient through the entire thing.

Reflections by Jess Photography Valentine's Day Session

2011-02-14T05:40:00.000-08:00

These sisters are just precious! She kept asking me what my name was and telling me great stories about dogs.

Reflections by Jess Photography Miss L is 6 months old

2011-02-14T05:31:00.000-08:00

This was my third session with Miss L. (For a look at the first session look on the blog header, she's on the left) Her mom brings the most adorable outfits, and their family is so great to work with. Miss L might disagree about the tutu though, it made her a little mad! :)

Mr. H's Three Month Portraits Reflections by Jess Photography

2011-02-14T05:28:00.001-08:00

It has been a busy couple of weeks, and I am finally updating the blog! Remember Mr. H? I cannot believe how big he has gotten in just three months! He made the best faces and was so much fun! I love working with the same clients and seeing how their little ones grow and change.

Reflections by Jess has found a new studio home

2011-01-27T10:06:00.000-08:00

I am very excited to finally share big news! I have found a new studio home. Reflections by Jess Photography will now be shooting at 9080 Barbee Lane (just off South Peters and Ebenezer)

The shooting room, with plenty of space for mom and dad to relax during a newborn session, or to fit the whole family in for a family session.

Spacious waiting area for viewing, paperwork, and consultations.

This is a big step and I am thrilled to have finally found a studio home. It has been a long search, but definitely worth it as I think you will all be as impressed with the space as I am. I will begin booking sessions in studio on February 1, 2011. For the month of February I am offering a special of 50% off sessions to celebrate the move. All session fees for the month will be $25 and the first three sessions will receive a bonus 5x7 print with their order.

Thank you to all of my clients who have made this possible, and I look forward to working with you in the new studio!

365 Project Day 12-14

2011-01-14T21:03:00.000-08:00

This hangs in my living room. It opens to hold a candle and makes nifty shadows across the ceiling.

Introducing an "Alex Cool" sandwich. He created this on his own, it consists of four slices of bread, nutella, peanut butter, then grape jelly on top. Somehow he managed to eat 3/4 of this, and was so proud of his creation.

A candleholder, handmade by someone from my husband's side of the family in a glass factory in West Virginia. I love how the colors change in the light.

365 Project Day 9-11

2011-01-14T20:52:00.000-08:00

This little guy was my grandmother's. It's a rock (that looks like a jellybean) with legs and eyes that I have been fascinated by since I was a little girl.

After thirteen years he still finds new ways to make me even happier all the time.

My favorite sculpture thing. I looked forever to find a 4 person one to replace our 3 person when Alex was born.

365 Project: Day 8

2011-01-08T17:13:00.000-08:00

Two weeks ago I would have called this guy Outer Space Man, but thanks to the latest obsession of my 4 year old I now know that he is Mr. Freeze. I'm strangely fascinated by this odd little guy, which is a good thing because I *always* have to be him when we play Batman.

By the way, Mr. Freeze would never ask Batman and Joker if they wanted to go have lunch. Suggesting that he would is grounds for dismissal from the Batman game and being replaced by his older sister who "plays better".

365 Project: Day 7

2011-01-08T17:10:00.000-08:00

Elephants make me happy. I especially love this one and the intricate carvings on its side. It was made from one solid piece and has a smaller elephant inside.

365 Project Day 6

2011-01-08T17:07:00.000-08:00

When I decided to take on the 365 Project I made a couple of guidelines for myself. First, I was going to try not to stress about perfect or artistic pictures everyday, or do extensive editing. I knew if I tried to do that there would be no way I would stick with it. The second was that I would try to not make every one a picture of my kiddos. Looks like I could only stick with that for 5 days :)
This wasn't a planned shot. I was actually working on something completely different when Alex stumbled in wrapped in a fleece blanket. When I said good morning to him he signed "I love you" without saying a word. This kid melts my heart.

365 Project Day 5

2011-01-08T17:04:00.001-08:00

Anyone who knows me will understand why this counts as a picture of something that makes me happy. My wonderfully worn out Adidas sandals make me one of the happiest people ever. I wish I could be one of those people who will sacrifice comfort for cute footwear, but probably 300 days out of the year you will find me in these:

365 Project Day 4

2011-01-08T16:57:00.000-08:00

I have been taking pictures daily, but have been bad about uploading the post to go with them. This was Day 4:

I have never been happier to see the UPS truck than I was today. Amazon was incredibly fast with this one, less than 24 hours between when I placed my order and when it was in my hands. I am beyond thrilled to be able to download books instantly, and looking forward to catching up on a lot of reading.

365 Photo Project Day 3

2011-01-03T19:15:00.000-08:00

Day 3 of photographing what makes me happy. Random Monday night trips to Kripsy Kreme make me a very happy person. :) The only thing better is seeing my little guy running around in the little paper hat for the next few days, telling me all about how he will own a doughnut shop when he is big and bring me one every single day.

Reflections by Jess Photography 365 Project Day 2

2011-01-02T19:14:00.000-08:00

Day two of the 365 Project

We have been doing one renovation project after another since we bougth our house ten years ago. On one of the first ones we did we were digging in the back yard and found several of these bricks around an old shed we eventually tore down. Joe was pretty excited about it and kept one. All these years later it still sits on the patio table. Every time I look at it I think about how many crazy things we have accomplished together.

Reflections by Jess Photography 365 Photo Project

2011-01-01T20:23:00.001-08:00

I stumbled across the 365 Photography Project today and was instantly very intrigued. I have bookmarked several blogs of those who have completed the project, and decided since it is New Year's Day this would be the perfect time to start one of my own. As my business grows I find myself spending less time with my camera when I am not working with a client, and this seems like the best way to keep that from happening.

I will likely put several days into each entry as time goes on. For the first one I looked around the room I was in for the first thing that made me smile. This is a bonsai tree made from crystals given to me by a great friend over a decade ago. My goal with the 365 Project is to find something that makes me happy each day and photograph it.

Reflections by Jess Photography News and Updates for December

2010-12-23T15:22:00.000-08:00

I am now officially on Christmas break. Any orders between now (12/23 6pm) and Monday 12/28 will be processed on Tuesday 12/28. I'm looking forward to a few days of too much food and lots of family time.

I would like to thank all of my clients that have made this a fun holiday season. It has been chaotic at times, but I have met a lot of great people and caught up with several repeat clients. I truly love what I do and a huge reason why is all of the great people I get to work with.

I am completely booked through the end January, with the exception of newborn sessions which will always be squeezed in because of their time sensitive nature. For a newborn session please contact me as soon as possible to make sure we can find a date that works.

Reflections by Jess Photography Meet Mr. L and Ms. A

2010-12-23T15:18:00.000-08:00

I have been swamped with editing, sessions, and orders and have neglected the blog. Here's a peek from a session at the Knoxville Botanical Gardens two weeks ago. These guys were hilarious. He kept sticking his tongue out at me and she had the most adorable little laugh. Mom was great too, so much fun watching them run around and play even though it was pretty cold out there. I'm looking forward to doing a longer session with them in the spring.

Reflections by Jess Photograpy: Meet Mr. N

2010-12-09T16:55:00.000-08:00

Today I got to meet Mr. N and his wonderful mom and dad. He was six days old today, and was one of the most alert newborns I have ever worked with. He was such a trooper through our session, and just plain adorable.

It always amazes me when the unplanned shots turn out to be my favorites. Mr. N needed a break so Dad picked him up. As soon as he did Baby N settled and there was such a sweet moment. This is one of my all time favorite shots.

Reflections by Jess Photography Christmas Card

2010-12-08T06:58:00.000-08:00

Here is another example of a custom Christmas card. There is still a little time to order before Christmas. They are 5x7 cards on high quality stock paper. Only $35 for 25 with envelopes. If you are not local and need overnight shipping add $11. Orders placed by 3pm EST will go out the same day.

I have a busy few days coming up finishing up the holiday rush. Saturday will be my last outdoor session for the season. In studio and sessions in your home or other indoor location will be available until I resume outdoor on location sessions in time for Easter portraits. Thanks to all of my fantastic clients for another great year!

Reflections by Jess Photography Family Mini Session

2010-12-06T07:38:00.001-08:00

Here are a couple of previews from yesterday's family mini session. It was freezing and snowing off and on. Luckily, this family was very easy to photograph and we were done before we all became popsicles. I loved their dog, all those wrinkles are just adorable.

The Knoxville Botanical Garden has quickly become my favorite place to shoot, because there are so many different elements and beautiful structures.

Reflections by Jess Photography: Three Generation Family Session

2010-12-01T17:27:00.000-08:00

This was the largest family I have worked with so far. There were ten people, spanning three generations. It was awesome just to watch them interact and be a part of the happiness and laughter that followed them.

The grandparents are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary this month. Happy anniversary Mr. and Mrs. S, I can only hope that in another 48 years my husband and I are still holding hands and smiling like the two of you.

Reflections by Jess Photography: The New Website Has Launched!

2010-12-01T13:40:00.000-08:00

The new website is up and running at www.reflectionsbyjess.com I'll be working all the bugs out over the next few days and replacing the portfolio galleries.

All client galleries are back up and open. New galleries are also uploaded. If you do not see your gallery please email me as soon as you can.

The new shopping cart is a little different. You will click "add to cart" for all of the images you want to select, then choose sizes and packages at the end. If you have any questions about the new ordering process just give me a call or email jess@reflectionsbyjess.com

Thanks to everyone for all of your patience during the upgrade. I am definitely not a tech person, so this was another major learning experience for me. I hope you enjoy the new site!

Reflections by Jess Website will be down today

2010-11-30T09:50:00.000-08:00

The website will be down today as I wait for the new site to go live. Hopefully it will be a brief outage and the new site will be up and running late this afternoon. I will be unable to upload galleries until after it goes live, but all current galleries will be reopened by tomorrow and will be extended to compensate for the down time.

Reflections by Jess Photography: New Website to launch next week!

2010-11-27T06:34:00.000-08:00

I am excited to share with everyone that next week Reflections by Jess Photography will be unveiling a new website. I have had several clients ask about an iPhone or mobile version of the site and that is finally happening. The new site will also be a bit more streamlined, making finding the information you are looking for a little bit easier.

I am hoping for a seamless transition and no downtime, but have been assured that if downtime happens it should be less than 24hrs. No galleries will close next week because of the transition, so if your gallery was set to close it will be extended to Monday December 8 at no charge.

Stay tuned for more exciting news and announcements, there are several more upgrades in the works over the next couple of months!

Reflections by Jess Photography Art

2010-11-23T17:01:00.001-08:00

A couple of artsy shots from the last little while. I'm fascinated by old buildings and structures. This is the inside of a broken down silo made from really neat blocks.

I'm looking forward to fun family time over the next few days with a lot of cooking and great food, then back to editing on Monday.

Reflections by Jess Photography Session with K&T

2010-11-23T12:19:00.000-08:00

I love working with people I know well. These kiddos are very special little people in my world. Their parents were the maid of honor and best man in our wedding and now they are our neighbors. We wandered around the garden yesterday exploring leaves and trees and even managing to capture a few portraits along the way. Here are a few previews from our session:

Reflections by Jess Newborn Session Meet Mr. H

2010-11-21T11:52:00.000-08:00

In the hosting trasnfer I lost a couple of recent blog posts. Here is Mr. H, and adorable little guy who was such an easy baby to work with. He was two weeks old when these were taken. I'm looking forward to working with his family again.

Reflections by Jess Photography Engagement Session

2010-11-17T19:00:00.000-08:00

This session was a very special one for me, so prepare yourself for a sappy blog post. I don't do very many weddings and engagements, as I typically prefer working with children. Today I was working with my sister and her fiance on an engagement session. It was a great day, we explored most of Ijam's Nature Park, finding a quarry and a fantastic silo. They were great sports, even climbing inside the broken silo. We walked many miles today, but have great portraits to show for it.

I am very excited to be photographing their wedding at Graceland next October, and even more excited that my sister has found someone so great to share her life with. They balance each other so well, and are going to have a blast no matter where life leads them. I can't say enough how proud I am of both of them.

Family Fun Reflections by Jess Photography

2010-10-29T18:00:00.000-07:00

This session made me realize how much I enjoy working with older kids. I love the little ones also, but I don't get the chance to work with teens as often. It was a nice change of pace. This family was great, they were troopers as we went all over the place. They didn't even laugh at me when I stood in the middle of the road to capture a shot, or when I called his insrument a tuba (I was a little short on sleep that day!) Here are a couple of previews from our session, and look for more in the family gallery on the website, http://www.reflectionsbyjess.com/

Fun Fall Session

2010-10-29T07:19:00.000-07:00

I met this family last weekend and their two little guys were great to work with. I'm hoping the baby shoe that was lost during our session turned up! We explored all over the park and found some great leaves. I hope to work with them again soon!

Last sessions before winter

2010-10-25T06:30:00.000-07:00

I will be booking a limited number of on location sessions for November (I currently have two weekend dates still open) before stopping on location for the winter. On location sessions will resume in March.

During this winter break I will be booking in studio sessions only. I limit the number of sessions I do during these months, so I suggest booking early. Newborn sessions receive scheduling priority. Every effort will be made to schedule those within the first ten days of life.

Thanks again to all of my clients for another fantastic year! I have plans for several exciting changes coming in the spring, so stay tuned for more details.

Meet Miss K

2010-10-19T16:33:00.000-07:00

This session kept me laughing the entire time. Miss K taught me a great song about a kitten. A kitten in a bucket to be more precise. She had made the song up earlier in the day, and it was quite catchy, I've been singing it all week!

Holiday Mini Session Information

2010-10-14T16:41:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe, but the holidays are right around the corner! A mini session is a great way to capture holiday memories.

Mini session are 30 minutes long and include (25) 5x7 custom portrait cards, a $35.00 value. Cards will be personalized with your message and portrait(s) of your choice. These can be individual or family sessions and can include the props of your choice. You will still have a password protected gallery and the option of ordering additional portraits, cards, or portrait gifts.

On location mini sessions will be on Saturday 11/13 at the Knoxville Botanical Garden. *Note* this is not the same as the UT Botanical Garden. If you need directions please call or email. The cost for the on location mini session is $50 if booked by 10/31.

In studio mini sessions will be on Saturday 11/20. These are also half hour session, and are suggested for those with infants. The cost for the in studio mini session is $60 if booked by 10/31.

After 10/31 the prices will increase, so book early for maximum savings. Email jess@reflectionsbyjess.com or call 865.748.7483 to book your session today!

My favorite little guy

2010-10-11T19:23:00.000-07:00

I'm dreading the day when one of my children asks me where all the pictures of them are, and I have to tell them they are still in files on the computer. I take thousands of pictures of them, but the majority of the time they stay unedited and unprinted, despite my best intentions. I resolved to do better with this and started with a studio session with my daughter a couple of months ago. Today was my son's turn. He was pretty apathetic about the entire thing, only getting really excited in the shots with his dog.

A Fantastic Couple's Session

2010-10-11T17:50:00.000-07:00

I know I say each session was a lot of fun, and they really are. Every once in a while though I get the chance to work with a couple or family that really stands out. This was one of them. I couldn't wait to start editing and see all the great moments we captured.

On Saturday I did a couple's portrait session and from the moment they arrived it was evident they are just absolutely mad about each other. They were all smiles and stolen kisses. They seemed like newlyweds, but have been married over two years.

Here are a couple of previews from our session, I'm already excited about working with them again!

Facebook Policy

2010-10-10T16:57:00.001-07:00

Facebook is a great way to share images and to keep up with the latest specials and announcements. The official Facebook page for Reflections by Jess Photography is www.facebook.com/reflectionsbyjessphotography. Click to "like" to stay up to date on announcements.

Many clients ask for their portraits for Facebook. In order to allow clients to share their images a Facebook policy has been created. When posting previews on Facebook I will be happy to tag the client who signed the release.

With a $100 portrait order I will be happy to upload the ordered portraits and tag the client in them. These are for web use only, will have a logo in a corner (not the same as a watermark, it will not cover important areas of the image), and may not be printed.

If you have any questions about the Facebook policy, or any other policies, feel free to call or email me at jess@reflectionsbyjess.com.

Thanks again, I truly appreciate each and every one of my clients!

Meet Mr. B

2010-10-10T06:21:00.000-07:00

I got to meet Mr. B and his parents last weekend for a newborn session. He loved being in the washtub and on the fuzzy blanket. He made the best faces and his mom and dad were great. I hope to work with them again very soon!

Reflections by Jess Photography is offering a special of 50% off newborn session fees through 11/28. Call or email today to book your session.

Family Maternity Session

2010-10-07T13:00:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I had a great family maternity session. The little girl was so sweet, the mom would tell her to give her sister a kiss and she would kiss Mom's stomach. It was precious! The weather was really nice for us, one of my favorite parts of fall sessions!

I'm looking forward to working with them again soon!

Visit Reflections by Jess Photography at http://www.reflectionsbyjess.com/ to book your November session today!

New Art Photography on www.reflectionsbyjess.com

2010-10-03T13:13:00.000-07:00

Meet Mr.D

2010-10-03T12:56:00.000-07:00

This portrait really captured Mr. D's personality. He was a really cool little guy, telling me all about his cousins and family, and showing me his awesome skill of jumping off the big rocks during our session. When our session was over he asked if he could give me a hug. Such a sweetie!

Cousins at the Botanical Gardens

2010-10-03T12:40:00.000-07:00

These two cousins were a lot of fun to work with. It was hard to believe that she was actually quite a bit older than him. There were three generations there for our session, the grandparents organized it while the little boy and his family were here visiting from the west coast. They enoyed wandering the garden paths together.

They were a lot of fun and I hope to work with them again next summer when he comes back to Tennessee.

Visit www.reflectionsbyjess.com or call Reflections by Jess Photography to book your fall portrait session.

Miss L at the Botanical Garden

2010-10-03T12:23:00.001-07:00

I'm working on catching up the blog with the sessions for the past couple of weeks. I have a lot to catch up on!

Miss L is a future ballerina. She and I did demi and grand plies (if you don't know what this is you have to google and imagine me trying to do these almost twenty years after my last ballet class and a lot off loss of coordination later. It was definitely and interesting sight!) She was so funny telling us all exactly where she wanted to go and what she wanted to do for each portrait.

Visit www.reflectionsbyjess.com to book your session today.

Father and Daughter Session

2010-10-03T12:14:00.001-07:00

This was such a fun session! These two were hilarious together, laughing and playing around the entire time. It was a great day for portraits, not quite as hot as most of this summer has been. Miss A was an awesome kid, full of smiles and very photogenic. Her dad was very funny and kept both of us laughing the entire time. I'm hoping to work with these two again very soon! There will be more in the family gallery on my site, www.reflectionsbyjess.com
Here are a couple of my favorites from the day:

Half the Sky Foundation

2010-09-29T08:15:00.000-07:00

I am very excited to announce the dedication of my "Dragonfly" print. This is one of my favorites, and I am glad to be able to link it to something useful. From today forward every purchase of "Dragonfly" will support the Half the Sky Foundation, a group that provides care for China's orphaned children. You can read more (and support!) the foundation on their website, http://www.halfthemoon.org/

Each 11x14 print will be printed on metallic professional paper with backer board for lifelong preservation. The price of each print is $50, with 20% of the sale price ($10) going directly to the foundation.

To order email jess@reflecitonsbyjess.com or by mail:

Reflections by Jess Photography

P.O. Box 12721

Knoxville, TN 37912

I am always excited to support great causes. I have a few others I am working out eh details on right now. If you have a suggestion of a foundation or charity please feel free to email me at jess@reflectionsbyjess.com .

What is a portrait worth?

2010-09-28T08:44:00.000-07:00

It has come to my attention that a disgruntled former client is posting unfounded articles about my business on Google. I am a firm believer in facing things head on and wanted to address the issue with my current and potential clients.

I am going to remain professional and not lower myself to the standards of the author, both by addressing these issues using my real name instead of a pseudonym and by refraining from any name calling or fabricated claims. I am fully aware of the author of the articles and will be taking appropriate action to protect my business from slander.

The articles claim that one must "mortgage their house" to afford an 8x10. My 8x10 portraits are priced at $10, below industry standards in our area. I work hard to make my prices affordable for all. My photography is something I enjoy, I love providing my clients with a fantastic portrait they can treasure for a lifetime, at a price anyone can afford.

One thing I do not do, which is what sparked these articles, is give my work away. For each hour I spend shooting with your family there is also time spent in post-processing, order production, packaging and shipping. I utilize a professional printing company to ensure each client has a professional quality portrait that will last a lifetime. It is true that at box stores you can have prints made at a lower price, but you are also sacrificing quality. This individual wanted me to give original files at no charge so they could have them printed at a box store. Honestly, I want a better quality print for my clients, and only want my work portrayed in the best possible manner.

The articles claim that I am unaffordable and unreasonable, yet the individual that wrote them booked and had a second session with me a substantial amount of time after the first. It was also claimed that my price lists are hidden until after the sessions, which is also untrue. The price lists is located on the website for common sized prints, and clients receive a full price list at the session.

The final aspect I would like to address is the value of a portrait. The articles claim that the author is capable of doing exactly what I do. I will not say this is entirely untrue. Thanks to the wide spread availability of digital cameras and consumer level editing programs it is very possible to capture great images of your family. When you hire a professional photographer you are paying for their time and talent. You are paying for captured memories, something that will last a lifetime. Something I believe is worth investing in, even at $10.

Lastly, I would like to thank all of my clients for their support and business. Each of you has had an impact on me, both in business and personally. I am very fortunate to have such amazing clients and friends.

A Fantastic Newborn Session

2010-08-27T07:29:00.000-07:00

Last week I did a great newborn session with Miss L and her parents. It could not have gone better. She was amazingly cooperative and her parents were great. We were laughing through the entire shoot. I am pretty sure this is one of my favorite shots I have ever captured:

I'm looking forward to working with them again soon!

Holiday Sessions

2010-08-19T12:09:00.000-07:00

I know it is early, but it is almost time to start thinking about holiday sessions. I will be doing something a little different this year. This year I will be reserving two full days for studio holiday sessions at a reduced price. The package will include:

30 minute studio session
(25) 5x7 custom holiday cards
(1) 8x10 print of your choice

For only $60. This is a savings of almost 25%.

If you bring a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots you will receive a bonus 8x10 free! (Another $10 value!)

I am leaning toward one weekend day and one weekday (possibly the first week of November) to best serve the needs of all of my clients. I'd love to hear from you on what days and times would be best. Email me at jess@reflectionsbyjess.com

Studio Session at Studio 317

2010-07-28T07:41:00.000-07:00

I am exploring different options for shooting during the colder months. In my search I came across Studio 317. It is ran like a co-op where photographers can rent the studio hourly. I decided to take my daughter, Skylar, there and do a trial session with her. Up to this point I have always been an on location photographer.

I discovered that studio shotting is an entirely foreign process to me, but something I enjoy and want to learn more about. I'm guessing Skylar will get tired of posing for me, so I am going to offer studio sessions at only the studio rental cost. The rental cost is $20, and I will add in (2) 5x7 prints of your choice. If interested send me an email (jess@reflectionsbyjess.com ) or give me a call at 865.748.7483

Living Social discount was a big success!

2010-07-27T06:58:00.000-07:00

The special on Living Social brought in more than 20 new clients. I'm looking forward to working with the families I have worked with in the past, and meeting the new ones. For those who did not get to participate in this one I will be having another discount day soon.

You can find answers to many questions about the sessions on my website, www.reflectionsbyjess.com under the FAQ tab. If there is anything you need to know that isn't answered by those feel free to email or call me.

Thanks for making this a success, and I'm looking forward to working with you all!

Exciting Discount

2010-07-20T20:27:00.000-07:00

On Monday, July 26, I will be featured on http://www.livingsocial.com . For those who are not yet familiar with the site it is a daily deal site for the Knoxville area. Each day a different merchant is advertised and you can purchase gift certificates and services at a discounted rate.

I am excited to have partnered with Living Social and am looking forward to the new clients (and return ones!) this offer will bring. The official deal will be released Monday morning, but I can say it will be a substantial discount.

Brothers

2010-07-20T20:23:00.000-07:00

This was him at our last session:

This is the second time I have worked with this family. It's always fun to see how much kids change between sessions. These two, and their puppy, were a bundle of energy! We had a lot of fun at the Botanical Gardens, looking at the flowers and closeley examining the sprinkler system pieces. :)

Lady Ophelia

2010-07-14T14:40:00.000-07:00

I'm working on a couple of pieces for the First Friday gallery at A1 Lab Arts in the Old City. The theme is Ophelia, and my beautiful sister was kind enough to volunteer to be my interpretation of Ophelia. I still have a long way to go before they are ready, and are going to be on the back burner while I edit from this week's sessions, but here are a couple fo my favorites so far.

The rest will be visible in the client proofing section of my site, with the password "ophelia" in probably a week or so.

Newborn Session

2010-07-13T20:05:00.000-07:00

I love when I get to follow a maternity session with a newborn one. This little guy is just adorable, and has two very easy to work with parents! He was so cooperative and laid back about everything, even though the humidity was horrid out there and we were all melting.

Facebook Page is finally up!

2010-07-08T12:16:00.000-07:00

I have had several people ask if I would be making a Facebook page for my photography, and I have finally completed it. This will be another place to find specials, discounts, and preview images. The temporary link is http://www.facebook.com/pages/edit/?id=135971676423627#!/pages/Reflections-by-Jess-Photography/135971676423627

The link will be shorter when I figure out how to fix it :P Sadly, my computer skills end with photo editing.

The fountains with Cayden

2010-07-05T08:22:00.001-07:00

Cayden is one of my favorite kiddos to work with. This was our third session together and he seems to get even more expressive every time. He had a fun time splashing in the "clean water" as he called it, and was full of giggles the entire time. I have enjoyed every session I have done with this family and seeing how much he changes between each one.

Meet Tyler

2010-07-05T08:16:00.001-07:00

This was, hands down, one of the most fun sessions I have done so far. We did a senior portrait session at Adair Park.

Tyler was such a good sport, climbing trees and risking the mulberries we kept finding everywhere for the sake of some fun shots. He was hilarious, and very easy to photograph. I hope to work with his family again soon.

Maternity Session

2010-05-31T10:33:00.000-07:00

I haven't updated this in a very long time, so there will be several posts covering older shoots over the next few days.

I shot a maternity session yesterday with a great couple. Happy people make things so much easier for me, especially when it comes to editing. There were so many loving shots of these two that I had a hard time narrowing it down at all!

I'm looking forward to doing a newborn session for them in a few weeks! Here are a couple of preview shots from the day:

This is, hands down, one of the sweetest moments I have ever captured.

New Website Launching Monday!

2010-01-29T17:55:00.001-08:00

I am very excited to be launching my new website on Monday, February 1. This site will be user friendly on both ends, and allow my clients to proof and order their portraits in one location. Another great feature is the built in calendar, where you can check availability and book a session online.

I'm looking forward to spring and warmer weather. I tend to hibernate in the winter, so I'll begin booking sessions again in early March. Look for Easter portrait specials in your email!

My two favorite kiddos

2009-11-23T18:50:00.000-08:00

I'm not biased at all :) Here are my kiddos during our trip to the Pumpkin Patch last month.