This is your brain...

So this week has been insane. Multiple sessions, catching up from the rain we had for almost two weeks, a secret project that went amazingly well, finding out I'll be published, meetings with vendors and clients annnnnd editing WITH school....I haven't been sleeping well. I've been up since 3:30am this mornin, because I couldn't fall back to sleep...and then I had a 6am homecoming and then I had an hour long convo with a vendor...and if you feel overwhelmed by all of this....imagine what my brain feels like.

It's like that commercial Rachel Leigh Cook made for a Drug Free American however long ago that was. "This is your brain...this is your brain on drugs..." except I'm not on drugs, unless coffee constitutes as a drug.



But I love my job, I'm not complaining. The whole point of this post was to show you a sneak from the first portion of an engagement session I had yesterday. Kristen & Chad are getting married in July and I am SO excited to share ALL of these images eventually!!!



So here's to more coffee, stolen naps and my determination to become famous....

I Love Book (Not Lamp)

My love affair started as an ADHD child, stuck in a crib with nothing to do. My mom hated that I would vault over the sides and get into trouble (one day, you'll hear the pool story...) so my mom started sticking books into my crib.

Book are my escape. I have a love affair/obsession with books. I'm in Barnes and Noble as I type this and I literally walked around for twenty minutes, feeling covers, flipping pages, grinning ear to ear. I'm on a budget, but I fantasize about the different worlds and perspectives each book offers.

I judge books by their cover.

100%

I mean, if the cover is lame and is so is the name of the book, I won't pick it up. If it seems interesting, I then read the synopsis, which is the third way I weed out books. If it passes THAT test, then I may contemplate a purchase. I have over 300 books at home and I gave away a ton last year. I can't afford to waste space on a lame book!

I have some obsessions, listed as the following:

- The Hunger Gamers
- His Dark Materials
- Game of Thrones series
- Inheritance Cycle
- Anything written by Greg Bernhardt. That man single-handedly made being single bearable.
- I love Bentley Little. That dude is twisssssted.
- Katie McCalister

I'm not a fan of self help books, unless I feel desperate enough to search out a book. I hate non-fiction. Unless it has to do with the Holocaust. I'm a self proclaimed holocaust bookworm and I've even been to two concentration camps. I secretly think I have a little Jew in me. Although....one of the best biographies I've read was Jenna Jamisons...and Chelsea Handler of course!

I unfortunately don't get to read as much as I wish I could, but I adore finding fantastic books that change my life. If you have suggestions, please share!

A teeny tiny break

So today is a break from the giveaway, more for the sheer fact that it's been raining so much that the day seven scheduled item hasn't been photographed yet. Eek! Whatever, I'll make do and hopefully entertain you!

I, personally, would like to contemplate life with you. Sure, we may have never even met before but so what? The cynic in me thinks, "as if my problems are as unique as I'd like them to be??" so you may be able to relate.

So...what to contemplate. I personally love fritos with cinnamon applesauce. What? I didn't admit that out loud did I? It started in grade school, when I had packed my own lunch and it contained both items and I was bored. Naturally, what any ten year old would do, I combined them and fell in love.

I also remember the first time I was able to work with horses. My mom had finagled a volunteer position for me at an equestrian center in Las Colinas, Texas. I showed up, it was FREEZING and I had never ever handled a horse before, minus the carrots I fed to random ones here and there, or the one that bit me in Boston once. So, towards the end of my shift there, I went into a stall of some horse and pet him/her with a twinkle in my eye and hope in my heart. A few minutes later, after I had left the stall to go clean up poo, this horse proceeds to run out of it's stall. Yep, I left the door unlocked and well...that made for an interesting moment!

You may be asking yourself of the purpose for this blog and well, I don't have one. I just had too much coffee this morning.

But because I love doling out advice and it's hump day and we all need a little pick me up...smile.

Smiling at strangers has been proven to improve not only their lives but yours! Say thank you when someone opens the door for you, because it's incredibly rude when you don't. I'm tired of muttering, "you're welcome!" to some dude who couldn't even smile at me as a thanks.

Last but not least, find a hobby. Seriously. I collect hobbies as a hobby, so if you'd like one of mine, I have plenty. I even have a bow and arrows you can bum! I'm also looking for dive partners, so let me know if you're interested!

Finally, I'd like to include a photo of the best waffle I've had in my life. On my last morning in Athens, Greece, this lovely woman near the Plaka made this for me. Yes, that is chocolate syrup. It was even better than fritos and applesauce.

{My Day at the Maze(ish)}

So today was a rare day off for myself, as my days off (Sundays) have been crammed with work and school! When I woke up this morning (after sleeping in!!!) I decide I needed to go to the Dole Plantation, mainly because in the eight years I've been on this island, I've never been!

Unfortunately, when the husband and I showed up, the maze was closed! :( We decided to walk around, while I pretended to be from various parts of the world. Yes, I like to play tourist. haha I pretended I was from Idaho, then from Illinois and then I pretended to be a Michigonian, which David hated, claiming they were Michiganders, which I find utterly absurd. It sounds like a type of goose!

Either way, the hour that we were there was still loads of fun. Enjoy the pictures, especially the ones of Charles, the Chameleon.






Clearly, he enjoys a good photo...(how are we married again?)


My new BFF, Rita!








Too many mimosas orrrrrr just a new perspective?

Why is he making such a face? Because he burped on me....yay marriage?

A beautiful Save The Date!

I thoroughly enjoy seeing what my clients do with my work and this time is no exception! One of my clients emailed me this morning to share their beautiful save the date image they made, which was a hit with their friends and family. If you've done anything with me in the past, show me how you present it! I love pictures of photos on the walls, cards, etc!

This was taken in Kailua, as their engagement photos. Aren't they so cute together?

My One Year Anniversary!

They say the first year of business is the hardest and boy, they weren't kidding! In the past 12 months, I have learned soooo much, because I've been incredibly tireless in my efforts. Seriously, I haven't had a day off in a month. haha

Complaints aside, I've been so blessed. When I decided earlier last year to leave the military for different things, I had no clue what I was getting myself into. I honestly thought that starting a photography company meant

1. Taking pictures
2. Making money

They (I don't even know who would constitute as "they") completely fibbed. So when I had my first difficult client, I almost closed up shop, not realizing that this is a part of growing as a business and as a person. I stuck with it and this year, I'm booked weeks out, with weddings on the books and repeat clients coming back! It's incredibly gratifying and while I try my best to be modest about my success, I would like to take this quick second to thumb my nose at those who thought I was crazy and say

I DID IT.

As a beautiful example, I've made a collage of images I took within the first few months of my company:



Now:









Okay, now that that is out of the way, I'd like to thank you, you who is reading and hopefully smiling. You're probably either new to my work or you've been a cheerleader since day one, but either way, I adore you. You've taken the time to read my blog, which of course, makes me feel uber special! :)

Now on to the good stuff!!! Here's what we're doing! A MASSIVE GIVEAWAY! Each day, a new item will be up for grabs, whether you're a mainlander or Hawaii local, you have the opportunity to win whatever is available! Starting this Thursday morning, check in for the first item!

How It Works:

Each item will have it's own day for a giveaway. In order to qualify to win this item, you have to do three things

- "Like" us on Our Company Facebook

- Send your friends to our Facebook, have them "like" us on FB and post on the wall that you sent them. Every friend that you send = one extra bid on the item! 3 friends = your name in the running four times!

- Finally, post on the blog, telling me that you want to win the item! You'll have to do this for each item you want, so I can be sure only people who want to win an item has a chance.


If you have any questions, please email jenna@creatrixphotography.com !


So happy giveaway people! I hope the next year in business is amazing and successful, with awesome supporters like you by my side!

Helen & Her Beaux | Sneaks

Helen wanted some pictures with her special someone and I was more than happy to oblige!! We went to Makai Pier and took tons of photos, because they were so easy to photograph. They were complete naturals in front of the camera, making the time fly by so incredibly quickly! Great way to spend the afternoon!