Goodbye 2010, Hello 2011

I think I have read my fill, my complete fill of wrap up blog posts from everywhere. Seriously. So much verbal verbosity had gone through me that I threw out on facebook and twitter yesterday to describe your 2010. But in one word. One single word to sum up your whole past year. Because we can so easily hear about one's life if given a thousand words. But how fascinating is it, to be able to know one's life for the last 365 in just a single word. I learnt so much from all of you. So thank you for sharing. Now it is my turn. My year, was saturated.

While everyone is running around cooking up their New Year's Eve plans, and gearing up for the annual countdown to the dawn of the next 365 days, I'm going to admit here that I am a little scared of 2011 creeping around the corner. New years, always mean the bringing of the new. Yeah, that's stating the obvious, I know... but tied up with the word new, are words like unknown. Or change. Or expectation. And to a creature of comfort and security like myself, those words are scary. Because change, expectation, and the unknown can also bring about disappointment. And for a dreamer who dreams and hopes so much...so very very much...that is scary - scary times three.

I'm sighing as I am writing this you know. The sigh is my way of relinquishing the fears, and just keeping my eyes on the hope and excitement of the other side of 2011 stepping through the door. Because sometimes change can be good. Better in fact. And that is my hope for the next year.... the next 365 days...to be good. Better in fact :)

On that note, 2010 was amazing. Crazy, delirious, lightning quick, and noisy, but all round amazing. Most of you won't know it... in fact if you have been following my footsteps the last 365 days, all you probably would have felt from my vibes would have been my extreme busyness and the search for air from time to time... but behind the scenes, it was a year of transition. A year of lessons. And a year of challenge. I felt pushed like I had never been pushed before... personally, professionally, and creatively...and I won't be shy to say that it was hard. Extremely hard. But in looking back, I have learned much, and I am so grateful to be standing on this side of the year with the eyes I now have to look at the world and people in it because it means that I stand a little wiser, and a better photographer for it. And praise God for getting me through in one piece.

So thank you to everyone who filled my 2010. God for giving me everything. Every last molecule of it. He continues to give give give, and I still don't know why. But I stand blessed because of Him. My husband and my family who fill all the in betweens with their love, support, honest reproach, and especially normality - because although I never knew it, I needed it.

And to my clients. Without your beautiful faces, and amazing love stories, what would fill these pages? Absolutely nothing. So for your friendship and trust in my camera to capture your essence, thank you. You are the faces of JSP and have made it what it is today.

To everyone else, happy New Year :) I hope you are exactly where you want to be as we all count down, and hope for the next 365 days. I know I am exactly where I want to be as the last page of 2010 closes.

**Below: From probably my favourite moment of 2010. I was shooting an amazing session at Santa Monica beach in Los Angeles, California earlier this year....watching THIS most beautiful sunset...it was the most incredible I had ever seen in my life. By my side was my husband at that moment. And we were enjoying life. That's what it is all about :) **

And lastly, MY 2010 SLIDESHOW - SHOTS FROM EVERY SESSION THIS YEAR :)

*If I have forgotten you in this slidshow, please forgive me! It's the end of the year, I'm in holiday mode, and I've just dug through 20TB of files to try and include everyone possible. My brain is a little fried :)* Enjoy!! :D For those reading via RSS, you can view the slideshow HERE. Don't forget to press the HD button for proper viewing quality :)

Chronic Romantic

I shouldn't be up at this hour. Let alone blogging! But I can't help it. The thought has been stewing in my mind for the last few days. And sadly, I was not born the type of person who could bottle things in for long. I am THAT person who buys the perfect present and then HAS to tell the recipient before Christmas because I can't keep my excitement in.

What am I rambling about? I'm a chronic romantic. I won't show it. In fact, talk to me long enough, and you won't even breathe a hint of it. But existing in the crevices of my veins, in hidden spaces, I am a chronic romantic.

A chronic romantic. It means that even at the age of 28, I still love fairytales. I still love the fact that serendipity can throw your life into a frenzy, but as a result you 'accidentally' meet your prince charming against all odds. I still love that you can spend years searching, only to realize the one for you was the one in front of you the whole time. I still love the idea of kisses in the rain. I still love that moonlit walks on the beach while the warm summer breeze gently wraps its wings through your hair is one of the most lovely adventures you can go on in twos. I still love the notion that first loves can also be your last. I still love that it is never too late to tell the one you love them. And I still love that you can hope for any of the above while waiting for love to hit you in it's own unique way whether in sentimental glittery, or steadfast determination.

I've spent the past few days lost... LOST in decision. Because frankly I can't make one. I'm elbow deep in submissions from real-life couples for my upcoming workshop in Singapore, and one of the questions I asked each pair of lovers was 'Tell me your love story". Most photographers would look at me with a raised eyebrow and go 'why do you care? Just pick the best looking ones and use them for your workshop'. But you see, when you are a chronic romantic, you can't help but care. You can't help but want to know what draws two people together. What trials and tribulations they have gone through together. What joys they have shared. And how the tides of life join and then lock two souls as one despite distance, or personal differences, or breakups, or even just the weathering of time.

To me? To the chronic romantic? It all matters. Every last drop of it matters.

Hollywood throws at us so many concoctions and portrayals of how love is, or how love weaves through our lives, how love gives birth, and how love departs....but in all honesty, with my job, and the lovers I meet on such a frequent basis, I say it is the real life lovers that win. Hands down. Because they are genuine. Validated by the honest rawness of life . And that is what makes it oh-so-palpable, not to mention inspiring to transcend in photos.

So that is why it is hard. So hard. All because I am a chronic romantic. Who cares.

I have to make a decision soon, but I wanted to tell you that. So that next time if I ask you to tell me about the two of you, or share your love story. It is because deep down in the marrow of my bones, I cherish the story of the union. I love hearing. It makes me smile, and it continues to prove to me that despite all the ugly that can arise from love, it can still be the most wondrous and beautiful experience, and that real true love (though hard), can definitely undeniably last.

Thank you to any of my couples (past and present) who have shared your lives and love story so openly with me, and then let me translate that to the photos that hang on your walls. Please know you have left footprints on my heart.

**Sneak peek from one of my last shoots of 2010. A love story that truly moved me :) **

Merry Christmas 2010 :)

I'm sitting here on our cream coloured sofa, and surrounded by kleenex. ALOT of it. It seems that there is a very unforgiving virus going around, and I happen to have been the recipient of it... TWICE :(

So, while work has halted as a result of this and I am stuck on this couch coughing and sneezing, I thought I'd share with you Project Christmas Tree 2010. Yes, it became a PROJECT this year. Why? Well, because the last two years, my husband and I have had a legless tree sitting in the house. Every year, we plan to find a new way to support the tree - we've used vases, pots, and even a drum seat stand! :) And the drum seat stand served perfect... until we took it out from storage recently, and it fell into an uncountable number of pieces :(

So this year, I waved the white flag and begged Ju for a new tree instead of having to find yet another tree-leg replacement. He said yes! :D So while he was away for work, I started Project Christmas Tree 2010 with a blue and silver theme (which was the same theme we had for our wedding 3 years ago!). 3 hours later, voila! All done! Have a look! :D I'm so happy! All it needs now are some presents to go under it!! hehe ;) ;)

On another note, it is the close for another year here at JSP. I'm contemplating and looking back over the year that has gone, and so much has filled the 365 days. It's likely that I'll write a more reflective post once the new year comes, but for now, I just want to say thank you. We have been to Phuket, New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco, London, Germany, Austria, and next year is looking exciting for shoots in some lovely places which I am truly excited about! With the calendar about 3/4 full already for 2011, I just want to thank all our beautiful brides and grooms who trust us with your most special day - I can't WAIT to see you at your wedding and making some pretty pictures with you. It is YOU who make this job so so so amazing.

To my gorgeous 2010 couples, THANK YOU for making the past year so vastly incredible. I can't even begin to put down in words how much is in my heart for turning 2010 the craziest, fullest year to date. But just know that I have ALOT of love for you, for choosing me of all people, considering how much insane photographic talent that exists out there - it means THE WORLD to a girl like myself. Thank you, thank you, thank you :)

To those that leave me messages and comments on my blog and facebook (but especially my blog because this is my personal space!), please know that there is a bottomless pit of gratitude that goes out to you for reading my writings and looking at my photos, and then telling me your warm and encouraging thoughts. I need it more than you will ever know or understand :) I sometimes feel that I am writing to a big wide open space, all by myself, so thank you for plucking up the courage and leaving me your comments. I love each and every one of them, I read them all, and treasure each word. Thank you, thank you, thank you :)

Merry Christmas, and hope all of you have the most amazing 2011 out there :) Remember to celebrate it with your loved ones, and those who matter the most to you. I know I will be.

xx

~ Jenny

ps: For those that will ask, yes that is our new logo in the photo below. The new brand will unveil sometime next year :)

London Engagement Session: Nadia and Sam

Sometimes love gets a second chance.

At least, I like to think so. In a world where everything is temporal, and few things last the test of time, it is somewhat God given and a miracle when two people are brought together again.

Nadia and Sam were two hearts that found each other in their younger years, in the days where school uniforms ruled, and curfews were a norm. She was the sweet, innocent, and fresh faced girl, and he was the bad boy on the block - complete polar opposites to one another, but like all proverbial love stories, their differences drew them together, and they held on as all dear first loves do. They held on...at least until life decided they both needed serious doses of growing up, and shaping of the soul. It was then that their ropes unwound and their love said goodbye.

Over the years as the orbit of life brought them across to different places and different people, Nadia and Sam despite their separate paths, always remained close, keeping as each other's best friends until a realization one day that even though their love had said goodbye all those years ago, it had never really disappeared. Rather, it sat there patiently on the shelf, waiting for the day that it was time. Where they had learnt their life lessons, grown up, and were better ready for each other. Better ready to love one another.

Sometimes love get's a second chance.

.....and I think that is what makes them beautiful. They are each other's best friends. And lovers. I could see that in every frame, the way they talked to each other, they way they laughed with and at each other, and the way that they smiled to each other.

Thank you Nadia, and Sam for sharing a snippet of your lives with me. It was an honor :) You two are the luckiest.

Enjoy some of my favourites from their sweet engagement shoot in the beautiful city of London - I LOVED the city and will definitely be back with the husband :)

Nadia told me before the session that she is the most un-photogenic girl in the world. Judging from below? I think she is a liar!! haha :)

Their slideshow, to my newest favourite tune. It's a perfect first dance song, for those who are wondering!! :D (Remember to press the HD button for proper quality viewing!! For those viewing this post via RSS, you can view the slideshow via this link HERE. )

Engagement: Paul and Caroline

Just something sweet and simple to brighten up your tuesday with, filled with sun + foresty goodness + wine + balloons and more :)

Enjoy!

See you when the pre-Christmas crazy dies down a little! I hope by then, my full voice will be back too, and I can go back to blogging in its entirety like I normally do! :)

The dog you see in this session is their's :) Brought all the way back from Caroline's home country, Germany :D

Bubbles look so pretty when the sunlight hits them! :D

The sun really was spectacular on this particular day... its been a rare sight of late, and I know alot of photographers are crying because the sun hasn't been behaving, but it was gorgeous during Paul and Caroline's session :D These last few frames were my fave :D








Have a happy Tuesday everyone! :D