Brittiany, Gerald and Bryanna (and Aidan, who accounts for the bump!) came out to the studio for some belly photos. We had so much fun! Gerald is also a photographer – he is Fordge Studios in Lloydminster. I was supposed to shoot their wedding this past November, but the stinkers went and eloped in Vegas and then got pregnant within a couple of months, so we decided to roll with it and do a maternity session instead!

My dear father-in-law went into the hospital on the first Sunday of this month and didn’t come back out. He passed away on the 17th. He was 79 years old. The funeral was on Tuesday.

I won’t talk about it beyond that; I’m talked right out and emotionally drained. I’ve continued to work as much as I was able, but being there to support my husband and my mother-in-law and my daughter has been my priority these past few weeks and will continue to be my priority for the next little while.

e-mail is the best way to get me – jjacula@mcsnet.ca – we are in and out of the house, so the phone doesn’t always get answered.

Thank you for your support, patience and understanding! We’ll get back to the business of living soon.

Lakeland photographer to make a bride’s dream come true

Almost every woman dreams about her future wedding – the dress, the cake, the ceremony, the handsome groom, the first dance. What immortalizes those moments, when they happen, is photography.
Jennifer Jacula of Jennifer Jacula Photography, a studio located between Vermilion and Elk Point, Alberta, is giving one lucky couple their wedding memories – free of charge.
“For the past three years, I’ve been lucky to photograph amazing weddings for my wonderful clients. To be chosen as the photographer who will capture your memories for you, forever – that’s a huge honour, and I’m so fortunate to be able to do this as my career and my passion. I wanted the chance to give back,” said Jacula.
In conjunction with Weddings on the Border, Lloydminster’s largest bridal showcase (taking place March 13, 2010 at Lakeland College in Lloydminster), Jacula is holding a contest to award one lucky couple wedding photography coverage with a package worth over $3,000.
“The winning couple will receive a Capture Love engagement session, a disc of high-resolution images from their engagement session, 200 km of complimentary mileage, four hours of coverage on their wedding day and a disc of high-resolution images from their wedding day,” said Jacula.
To enter the contest, couples must submit an entry form, which is available at www.weddingsontheborder.com and www.jenniferjacula.com. Five finalists will be selected by a panel of judges and will be invited to attend Weddings on the Border to find out if they are the lucky couple chosen to win.
“I want to receive entries from couples who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford quality professional photography,” said Jacula. “I think photography is one of the most important parts of the wedding day – and once the wedding is over, photos are all you have left to remember your amazing day by. Those photos are what future generations will have to look at, to see what you were like on the day you got married. It’s more than just wedding photography – it’s documenting your family history.”
The four runners-up won’t go home empty-handed, either – Jacula has something planned for them.
“I’ll be gifting the runners-up with some amazing sessions as well – Capture Love engagement sessions or trash the dress sessions, along with gift cards to be put towards products afterwards,” said Jacula.
In total, Jacula is planning on giving away nearly $4,500 in photography and products. Entries must be received by midnight on March 6, 2010.
For full contest rules and guidelines, please visit www.weddingsontheborder.com or www.jenniferjacula.com.

For more information:
Jennifer Jacula
Jennifer Jacula Photography
780.741.2179
jjacula@mcsnet.ca
 
Rules & Guidelines
1.) You must submit an entry form, downloadable at www.weddingsontheborder.com or www.jenniferjacula.com. Entries must be received by midnight on March 6, 2010.
2.) You must not be subject to any written or verbal agreement or contract with Jennifer Jacula Photography or any other photographer.
3.) You must have a genuine financial need – that is, a quality professional photographer is not reasonably within your wedding budget.
4.) Your wedding must take place on a date Jennifer Jacula Photography is not already booked for.
5.) You must be willing to sign and abide by Jennifer Jacula Photography’s normal contract.
6.) If chosen as a finalist, you must be able to attend Weddings on the Border bridal showcase March 13, 2010 for the fashion show portion of the showcase (6:30 p.m.).
7.) You must meet with Jennifer Jacula and sign contracts to book your wedding by April 13, 2010.
8.) Your wedding must take place within Jennifer Jacula Photography’s normal coverage area (viewable at www.jenniferjacula.com/coverage.htm).

My recent lack of blogging doesn’t mean a lack of shooting – trust me, it’s been a very busy month of shooting some incredible women! It’s just that I keep my clients’ boudoir photos strictly private, which means that unless they say otherwise, their photos are for their eyes, and their man’s eyes, only. Every year, at this time of year, I run a boudoir special. $50 off a regular boudoir session – so they’re just $150 until February 1st. It makes Valentine’s Day into Valentease Day!

A lot of photographers are running their own boudoir specials. Most of the ones I’ve seen advertised locally involve a hotel room and about 45 minutes of shooting time, plus various other things, in a marathon-shooting format. That means the photographer tries to fill the whole day with a series of shoots, one after the other.

I don’t do boudoir marathons. They’re not for me. I’m not knocking other people’s methods, but marathons just don’t fit my style of photography, and here’s why …

I love showing women how beautiful they are. I think sometimes it’s easy for us to forget what amazing creatures we really are; whether you’re an 18 year old college student or a 40 year old mother of four, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. And I personally can’t put a time limit on showing you your own amazingness.

I love seeing women transform before my eyes. In the beginning, most of my girls are shy, clutching the studio robe around them as they listen to my directions. By the end, they’re walking around in their skivvies, comfortable in their own skins, laughing and chatting and confident in their bodies and in themselves. Sometimes the transformation takes 15 minutes, sometimes it takes two hours. But it always happens, and I can almost *see* the moment take place when I look in your eyes. And I just burst with happiness for you! You discovered your inner vixen!

I love getting to know you. Maybe it’s the journalist in me, but I love learning about you – because you’re fascinating. I want to find out about your life, your man, your kids, your job – whatever you’ve got going on. I want to learn your story so I can tell your story. I want your photos to reflect who you are!

I love variety. Short sessions don’t allow for much in the way of wardrobe or make-up changes. With my sessions, we can fit in up to about six wardrobe changes, four sheet changes (I use red satin, brown, pink and white sheets) and set changes – from bed to sexy chaise lounge, sofa, antique chair or even the floor. Whatever works with your wardrobe options and body type! We can work through your wardrobe options, amp up your make-up for sexier look, give you messy bedroom hair. It all takes time, but hey, you’re worth it!

I like clean sheets. Even though we’re not doing anything down-and-dirty on the boudoir set, it’s still the idea of it … so I wash my sheets between sessions. No exceptions. At a hotel marathon, well, if you’re the first one of the day, you’re probably okay. But if you’re the sixth or the tenth woman in the marathon, you’ve just laid down on a whole bunch of strangers’ germs. That spot you just laid your cheek on? Might have had someone’s butt on it the session before. Ew. (Caveat: If you want to bring a friend or two, and make it a girl’s day, I’m totally up for that. Friends can share sheets.

I like to spend time with my family. An all-day or two-day marathon, plus all that photo editing, would mean a lot of consecutive time away from my husband and my daughter. That’s expected during wedding season, but in the “off” season, I like to enjoy the people I love most. So two or three hours of shooting in the evening or on a Saturday or Sunday is just right for me!

So, those are my reasons why I like to give my boudoir girls one-on-one, largely-unlimited time during our sessions. Cuz that’s how I roll.

Also, I got to hold her and snuggle her and smell her fuzzy little head. I *may* have tried to trade my almost-four year old daughter for her – an idea that Kaylie’s five year old son thought was great! Kaylie and Brendan, though, seems to like their new little princess.

Congratulations Kaylie, Brendan and Holden! Billie is beautiful and perfect and I’m going to spoil her rotten. It will be so much fun to see Billie grow and to be able to photograph her as she grows and changes.

The whole family!

The gorgeous girls!

The handsome boys

All the kids – aged 10 to 23!

These two crazy kids had the best meet-cute ever – in a dance class! They both attended as singles, were paired together, and the rest is history!

And a fun little collage …

Ladies, if you’ve got a special man in your life, wow him with an awesome album of sensual photos. Guaranteed to get his motor going!

We can do the session at the location of your choice (your place, a hotel or my studio). Sessions last about two hours and are filled with fun and laughter. You bring the lingerie and sexy footwear, and I’ll show you how beautiful you are through my lens. You’ll leave feeling empowered and sassy!

My amazing albums start at $150, or you can choose individual prints and enlargements – whatever you prefer! Your photos are kept strictly private.

Spaces are limited, so contact me ASAP to reserve your session! (A credit card is required to reserve your spot – see our booking policy at http://www.jenniferjacula.com/bookingpolicy.htm )

You must be at least 18 years of age for a Sassy Girl or Sexy Girl session.

*Mileage fees may apply to locations more than 50 km from the studio. GST will be applied to all products and services.

Coco the dog came along, too!