30 Day Photographer Challenge: Day 16 “Creative Images by Jennifer”
Creative Images by Jennifer, located in Centerville, Tennessee, has been chosen as the featured photographer for Day 16 of our 30 Day Photographer Challenge! After I found Creative Images by Jennifer on Facebook, I fell in love with her work. In addition to “liking” her Facebook page through the Memory Lane Porcelain Portraits Facebook page, I have also “liked” her on my personal page, so that when I log in, I automatically begin seeing the images she has recently posted in my Newsfeed. The problem is, her Facebook page is so addictive! Once I start looking, I just can’t stop!
After doing a feature post on 15 different photographers, I thought I had seen it all. I didn’t think a photographer could show me something different from everything else I’ve already seen. Creative Images by Jennifer has proven me wrong! Jennifer’s work has a certain surreal look to it. Whether it is a newborn session or a wedding, every image has this calming effect on the viewer. In my opinion, it appears as if Jennifer is a very calming presence, and she passes this on to her subjects. They all look so much at peace! Every artist has a different style to their work. Photographers are no different. While some photographers have extreme contrast in the colors in their images, Jennifer’s colors are much more subtle. The entire image seems to just flow. Natural would be the word I would choose to describe her work as a whole.
When I say natural, you may assume that this means she does not use props. In many cases, the use of a prop, while it looks amazing, makes it quite obvious that this image didn’t just happen by chance. However, Jennifer uses props in a way in which it could be believed that she was out for a walk and snapped a picture of something she just happened to come across. An amazing example of this is an image Jennifer posted on her Facebook page on May 21st of a little one named Ensley. In this image, Ensley is lying asleep in a basket, with a wreath of roses on her head. The basket is sitting on lush grass, which is covered by rose petals, the same color as those in the wreath, which have fallen from the huge rose bushes on either side of the basket. In the background, slightly out of focus, we see high grass with white topped wildflowers throughout. Now, if you think logically, you will conclude that of course Jennifer didn’t just come across this. Ensley’s mama didn’t leave her lying in a basket under a rose bush. But, Jennifer creates a world where it appears as if this is exactly what happened. To me, there is no better word to describe it than surreal. And, I want to live in the world that Jennifer creates. I think anyone would and perhaps that is what is so intriguing about her work. Jennifer, can we all come live in this amazing world you’ve created???
Before I move on from the subject of props, I want to tell you about the props that Jennifer uses in her sessions. As anyone who has read these featured photographer’s posts from Day 1 will know, I have a love/hate relationship with props. However, I’m learning to love them again. Jennifer has some really incredible pieces. When you look through her work, you will see old coca cola boxes, a metal tricycle and bicycle, amazing wicker baskets and a carriage, a gorgeous blue sofa (which she sits in the middle of a field of wildflowers! LOVE!) and my absolute favorite, an old rusted truck! I love that the props that Jennifer uses don’t distract you from the subject. Instead, they complement them. I think it also helps that most of the props that Jennifer uses stick with that rustic feel. I have to add this because Jennifer just posted new images as I was proof reading this post. In the new images, a session done with a newborn Baby “C”, Jennifer has posed “C” so that he is lying on his back, half in a very large clear jar. The baby is wrapped in blue and white fabric and beneath him in the jar and surrounding him on the floor, are a rainbow of gumballs! How fun and creative is that?
I have honestly never come across a photographer who uses more locations, props, outfits, etc during one session. Rather than having to choose their favorite pose out of ten poses on the same background or location, Jennifer offers a HUGE variety! A newborn session with seven completely different images is something I’ve not come across before! When you put this into perspective, it’s clear that Jennifer takes her time with her clients, which can only help to capture that calm feeling you get from her work.
Considering the feeling of peace that comes over me when I look through the work done by Creative Images by Jennifer, it is not surprising in the least to see the many recommendations left by Jennifer clients. On several of the sessions she has posted, she says that she has worked with the family for years or that she has been photographing the child since they were first born. These clients are returning to her because she has the ability to not only provide them with amazing pictures, but to create beautiful memories as well. In each session, it’s clear to the viewer that the subjects are having a good time. I know from personal experience that photographing a toddler can be extremely frustrating for the child as well as the photographer. On some photographer’s websites or Facebook pages, you can tell that there was some difficulty because there may not be as many different shots as there are in another session with, say, a newborn. Looking through Jennifer’s work, I have to assume that she either has the ability to smooth over a toddler’s frustrations, or she prevents those frustrations from ever occurring in the first place. For that, Jennifer, we applaud you!
Make sure to check out Creative Images by Jennifer on her Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Creative-Images-by-Jennifer/89232553225 . Or, you can view her website at: http://www.creativeimagesbyjennifer.com/index2.php#!/home. Just a head’s up though, make sure you have plenty of time because there are a ton of images to look through! If it’s even possible for you to pick a favorite, let me know which one it is! There are so many great ones to choose from! And, don’t forget to leave Jennifer some love to let her know how great you think her work is!
Memory Lane Porcelain Portraits 