jenifriend photography

man work

Jeni — Thu, 02 May 2013 11:16:46 +0000

It’s what Jeff’s been up to, while I’ve been up to my ears in files and boxes and files and paperwork. Not much today, folks…have a great Thursday!

love (my manly man),
jenifriend

week in pictures | instagram

Jeni — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:21:55 +0000

Last week some pretty monumental things happened…

1. Jeff & I attended our first NASCAR race as volunteers for the Knights of Columbus. It was eventful/exciting/loud.

2. We saw Sydvicious. Which is always an awesome experience. My sweet Sister was there too…she made funny faces the whole time.

3. I celebrated. I was introduced to “[my] desk.” In true hoarder fashion, I also saved the cork to the champagne bottle.

4. I finished reading the entire Harry Potter series…in nine weeks…high five to fast readers over here! I’m currently taking suggestions on what to read next!

It will be curious to see what this week holds! Have a great week all!

love (celebrating all of life’s moments),
jenifriend

my oh my how things have changed

Jeni — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:26:19 +0000

This morning was one of those mornings like any other morning. I did my best to stay in bed as long as possible, snuggled in with two pups and my oldest feline confidant. It wasn’t until I heard the keys in the door, reaffirming my sweet love coming home from a long night’s work, that I thought “Okay…coffee.” One load of laundry and a cup of sustenance later, I was sifting through the Internet, reading the news, catching up on the latest. Realizing what today is, my mind swept back to three years ago at this time and I remember how utterly lost I was but how alone I wasn’t. I think back to brazen decisions and reckless abandonment and find myself more grateful to God this morning than I originally (and shamefully) planned to be. How sweet that He should use my own memories to reiterate to me how great I’ve got it…all thanks to Him.

I remember one morning after that month of changes when I was driving to my fresh and not so clean-clean apartment. I looked upwards and asked God, “Is this it? Is it really this easy to just rely on you?” Among the gorgeous Kansas skies full of puffy clouds and blue vastness, I heard a firm, “Yes.” The message was clear. I was on my way to finding my true home.

Three years later, here I am…learning how to make gluten-free pancakes and dabbling in the art of happy homemaking. Here I am…trying to find time for just one more load of laundry and at the same time finish the last book from the Harry Potter series.

Here I am.

love (how it was just that easy),
jenifriend

the newberry/clark family grows one more! | kansas city missouri family photographer

Jeni — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:17:38 +0000

It’s been a blessing to have nieces. For so many reasons to which I have already mentioned in previous posts, but also because of the connection which they hold with other people. Those connections allowed me the opportunity to meet Lauren. That relationship resulted in us building a first year package for her and her family so we could celebrate their newest arrival; a sweet baby girl whose name, at the time, was still under lock and key. We met on a semi-chilly September day last Fall and enjoyed some time in Parkville, together.

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

love (making friends and sharing in their life’s journey),
jenifriend

the kittle family’s newest addition | overland park kansas newborn photographer

Jeni — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:11:24 +0000

I’ve known the Kittle family for quite a while. Zach and Jeff shared in ski trip adventures in high school, while Sara and I met via Ford Hall at K-State. In 2011 I had the opportunity to photograph their oldest son, Liam, for his first year pictures…it was such a blast! After that, our friendship continued to evolve and, when Sara found out she was pregnant again, we took the time to begin planning a one year package so we could document all of the major moments in the new babe’s first year of life. Back in September (I’m dating myself here, in how far behind I am in blogging) I was able to get my hands on Mr. Grayson for the first time. With every newborn session, we’re bound to have a few setbacks. After some coaxing and feeding, though, we managed to get some really great work accomplished. I hope you enjoy!

Have an amazing day, y’all!

love (this family),
jenifriend

the greatest duty…for us…

Jeni — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 14:46:54 +0000

is that of being an Aunt and Uncle.

Give them love.

Teach them completely awkward things to say in public.

Show them how to dance.

Show them crazy when they get ridiculous…because Auntie J and Uncle Jeffrey “don’t play.”

Support the siblings…they are the greatest parents on the planet…but they are human and, sometimes, need a hand.

Always be there.

Never give up on those beautiful babies.

This is the most challenging job we have had, to date. I can only imagine what the next many years hold for us in our roles as The Supporters. It should be a fun journey, regardless.

Have a blessed Wednesday, all!

love (our girls),
jenifriend

growing

Jeni — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:49:05 +0000

One of the many awesome things about our house is that we are continually finding out how the previous owners have left their mark on the property. Each morning I peer out the window above our kitchen sink and see something new growing. The rain is doing it’s job, and our predecessors are showing they had some pretty decent yard style. Each day is a new adventure, as we find something new lurking among the ever-expanding greenery.

Loving our home…

love (floral pretties),
jenifriend

if i had a dollar…

Jeni — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:52:57 +0000

…for everytime I had to withstand something…I would be a millionaire. As the old adage goes, I sometimes wish the Lord didn’t trust me this much.

Internet Presence/Life balance has been trying; I’m sure everyone has ventured down that road. Jeff and I are still kickin’; we are out taking advantage of this recent stint in awesome weather the Midwest has handed us. Jeff has undertaken the voluminous task of re-wiring our living room. While slow in progress, I’m happy to report that I am now able to have a reading lamp next to my side of the bed! You may have picked up on how I was originally referring to the living room and transitioned that into a statement about our bedroom? That’s what a 175+ year old home will throw at you. Curveballs: with practice, we’ll be hitting those suckers out of the park.

We’re fighting through, learning about our home and it’s fancy quirks. Some days are more trying than others, and I know I’m not always the best sport in this game of life. Fancy me to have a smile on my face all the time, but with it isn’t so often a sweet ‘tude. I give big thanks to my sweet husband for not only fighting life’s battles with me, but fighting for me when I’m at my worst and really don’t deserve to be fought for.

Happy Monday all!

love (the good fight),
jenifriend

a wild ride

Jeni — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 16:39:57 +0000

The title of this blog post truly sums up the entirety of the past three years of my life. This morning I spent some time re-reading past blog posts; it’s eyeopening to reconvene with my words and see the change which has swept through my life.

There was that time when I shared the beginnings of our story…
and then there was the continuation of our story…
and then everything changed…
and then God reminded me that I’m not dead yet…
and then we began rebuilding our life…

…and now here we are…in the midst of another hill in the roller coaster ride of our lives.

For many of the past years I saw myself as a full-time Photographer. It was what would be, in my mind, my final occupational destination. And then all of those stories above happened. My course changed direction and I found myself going back and forth, in the in-between, trying to figure out where my place was in the world of photography. Was I a failure? Did I mess something up? Though I had so many questions, I rested in Him, knowing that God almighty would give me all the answers I needed.

About a month ago, those answers came to me by way of e-mail…who knew God was so technologically savvy! Amidst the advertisements for free shipping on Vitacost and a 15% coupon for Home Depot, I saw it. Facing me was the decision of whether I would choose to renew my photography website this year. Staring at it, I heard a simple “No” beat out of my heart. That was it. I took this conversation to Jeff, it was supported, and now…here we go.

My blog will remain open…my work is not done with my writing. I still love taking pictures and I intend to do so and keep you all entertained here. The amount of time I have to commit to photography, though, has changed and thus, I have chosen to downgrade to that of a hobby. What does this mean? Well…I will still be doing a few sessions for those with whom I have created great relationships, but I won’t be taking on many new Clients. I will be staying within the confines of taxation boundaries so as not to disrupt where my morals stand nor disrespect those who work in the photography profession who carry out their living doing as such.

Creatively, I am not done. Those of you who are friends with me on Facebook know I have a separate shop known as A Friendly Perspective. This has links to my Etsy shop, where I design custom silhouettes and various other crafts. For the remainder of the year, I will be re-aligning jenifriend photography under A Friendly Perspective, so that all of my creativity will be labeled under one roof. Eventually, A Friendly Perspective will be left standing, holding within it’s name all of what I do. This year I will transition to a hobbyist, a dabbler and a writer. Thank the Lord for giving me all the answers.

As Cher said in Burlesque, “You haven’t seen the last of me.” Preach it, Cher. Preach it.

love (the changes),
jenifriend

goofballs in the mist

Jeni — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 14:00:29 +0000

Everyday, regardless of the annoyances this marriage occasionally brings to us, we find laughter. We find love. We find a mutual understanding for each others eccentricities and uniqueness.

We appreciate the weird in each other. We get it.

So when Jeff wanted me to join him outside, in the twelve degree darkness, so he could show me a cool trick with his breath and a flashlight, I jumped at the opportunity.

That’s a lie. I was seriously miffed that he asked me to brave that kind of weather. Didn’t he know who he was dealing with? The girl who starts to cry if her ears and nose get too cold?

In true wifey fashion, though, I joined him. I sacrificed my comfort for his need to delight in the weird…and found that his weirdness evoked my weirdness…and I took a picture of it so I’d remember it forever.

love (dabbling in the weird),
jenifriend