JENN STARK PHOTOGRAPHERS

I’m sitting at my desk listening to the never-ending sounds of construction outside the window. I’m sat with my feet tucked under me and my hair still wet on the back of my neck. Dave’s in the kitchen doing something with a frying pan on the stove and whatever it is, it smells pretty yummy. I made a smoothie and just realized I left it on the kitchen counter, practically untouched. I was chatting with of my 2011 brides last night on google chat and she sent me a link to the dress she is having made for her wedding day and I almost fell off my chair it was that gorgeous and just so completely her. The air’s getting cooler, the nights are coming a bit quicker, and Starbucks just sent me an email letting me know that pumpkin spiced lattes are back, now available at a store near you, and I realized that it’s almost September. Dave just came in and told me about my forgotten smoothie and he’s wearing a hoodie with the hood up and I realize even more that yes, I’m looking forward to a season of walking through fallen leaves, scarves, boots, and seeing your breath in the night air. As dreary as the months of January – March are in this part of the world, I couldn’t live away from the constant reminder the ever-changing seasons give me that life is about renewal, death, and rebirth (Repeat.).

And then I realized that I had more to say than to just quickly hit publish and send this post out into internet-land. So I took a break to join Dave in the kitchen, drink my smoothie and watch as he ate a turkey bacon, tomato & lettuce sandwich (hence the good smells from the frying pan).  I’ve been listening to an online web-inar (ie. seminar on the web) for the last couple of days while I work. I do this all the time – photos in front of me, earphones in listening to a motivational speaker or a photographer speaking or teaching – and it’s the best. I’m always looking for new things to listen to, so if you have any recommendations, please let me know! Anyway, this particular web-inar sparked huge controversy when it was first announced and even I didn’t know what I thought about it at first. Really? Really? You’re going to shoot a real actual wedding and stream it live to the whole internet? But can I tell you something? I have never felt more inspired. She was one of the first “big names” I became aware of when I started into wedding photography. And she is completely different from me; she takes amazing photos that are totally not my style. But you know what? She completely owns it. What I love about her is that she knows what she wants and she goes out and gets it. I’m finding that the more I grow in my art the more I am finding myself completely inspired by other photographers who are, actually, nothing like me or what I want to be. What I am inspired by is that they have identified their goals, and they have gone out and achieved them. Their work is a testament to who they are. There’s no greater truth out there that I am in love with so much as the simple fact that we are all completely different. Inspiration lies in finding what makes you unique and running with it, completely unashamed to just be yourself. That is when inspiring stuff happens.

If you’re interested at all in watching along, the program is called CREATIVELIVE and Jasmine Star is nothing like me but is completely completely herself. And I find that inspiring to the nth degree.

And a post without a photo is like peanut butter without jelly. Not absolutely necessary, but so so much better. I’ve got a wedding on Saturday and I won’t lie, I’m pretty excited. Especially excited that it is not being broadcast to thousands of viewers! Because seriously – this is how cool I look while I’m shooting:

- Jenn xx