two years

It started out with a desire that was hidden. A desire buried deep within my heart unbeknownst to me. Guard by fears. Patience and encouragement by my husband gave my desire to learn photography an opportunity. This opportunity created a space for me to grow. And in growing a business was born. This was two years ago. Two years ago jamie d photography became an official llc business this month. I have written about my photography journey and how it all started. You can read it here.

I must first thank God for being the one who guides and directs our steps. I also thank God for giving me an amazing husband to live this life out with. He is the one God chose for me. I am so thankful that Lyndon understands me and knows me well. He knew the balance of patience, giving me space to practice, and watching me fail, learn, and grow and when to encourage and push me in a direction. This takes love. Over these growing years I am thankful for his love and kindness towards me. I am thankful for this unexpected gift he has given me.

These two years of photographing love, design, life, interiors, and the everyday would not be if not for my amazing clients. Each one of you who are willing to step in front of my camera, thank you! Each one of you who are willing for me to capture your design work, thank you! I want to express how grateful I am for each one of you! Thank you for your trust. Thank you for your support. I know each person has been put in my path for a plan and purpose. Each one of you inspires me with your life, creativity, design and love. It is an honor to photograph your lives and work. My heart is full! Thank you!!!

And if you read this or any part of my blog, thank you! Thank you for taking the time! Thank you for your support and comments of encouragement! I read them! I am thankful that I love what I do. I love creating and capturing moments that reflect the beauty in which we were made. So, today is the first ever give away on the blog…these are my favorite push pins from Anthr0pologie!!! Leave a comment of one thing that you are thankful for and a random person will be chosen and revealed on Monday! ENJOY!!!

 

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Silly, but I’m thankful for my little D40. It’s easy to compare and want bigger and better but it has allowed me to have my own small photography journey.
Congrats on 2 years, Jamie. I love all your work!!

wow these are lovely and so are you! thank you so much for sharing and being so encouraging to those around you – I’m thankful to call you a friend!

Krista

I’m thankful for you Jamie, and that we were so blessed to have such a wonderful wedding photographer to freeze all those wonderful moments from the most amazing day of my life…..THANK YOU!

I am thankful for the chance to be a late bloomer! The chance to find my vocation (albeit in my mid-30’s…we won’t say late-30’s… yet). And so thankful for the fellow photographers (like you!) who have willingly shared their journeys, their mistakes, their triumphs…all in an effort to make this profession more of a community and to pass on lessons learned! I am SO thankful for that!

I am thankful for summertime sunshine. It soothes me soul! :) Love your blog and love your work. Beautiful.

Pat Rozow

Congrats Jamie. U have a beautiful gift from God. It has been a pleasure watching you grow. I am thankful for my children’s cousins in their lives.

Those push-pins are utterly charming! I’m thankful for the new season God has us in with my husband’s new job and starting homeschooling in the fall!

Becky Howell

I am thankful for Christ’s amazing work in my life. It’s startling to think of where I would be without his great mercy on my life. Congrats on 2 years!

Kara Miller

I am thankful for summer foods!

tina

congrats on TWO YEARS, friend! you’re doing such an amazing job w/ your business! i am thankful for God’s grace…my hubby… family…good friends. xoxo

Shannon Odell

I am thankful for a constant family who has loved me for 21 years.

Happy 2 years! I am thankful for the Lords steadfastness, even when I falter and fail, He remains.

Libby

I’m thankful today for God’s gift of modern medicine and skilled professionals who care for my children.

Meaghan

:) so many, not soapy:)

Meaghan

I’m thankful to have found an amazing photographer to capture one of the most important moments of my life. She’s the kindest soul, and has an amazing calm about her. I’m blessed to have found someone who loves photographs as I do; it reminds me of my father, it brings back soapy great memories. Thank you Jamie.

Mary

I am thankful to have gained such an amazing sister and mentor in YOU, jamie d.!! :) xo

Fresh Blueberry Muffins

This summer I have made many treks up to Weaver’s Orchard to pick fresh fruit. It started with strawberries in early June and went right into blueberry picking end of June! I have grown up going blueberry picking every 4th of July since I was in high school, so I talking years of a tradition. I do love traditions and hope to pass the love of them on! Yesterday we made the trek back up to Weavers to pick peaches. At the end of picking peaches the sign for blueberries was still up! I could not leave without picking some! Each bush had about a handful of ripe berries each. We spent some time to get enough to enjoy for the week. This morning I decided to make my mother’s blueberry muffins with the fresh ones we picked yesterday! They were such a tasty treat!

1/2 c sugar

2 c flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

(Stir in large bowl, not mixer)

Make a well in the middle and add:

1 egg slightly beaten

3/4 c milk

1/3 c olive oil (or any oil)

1 c blueberries

Stir together with spoon. Bake 350 for 18-20 minutes. It serves twelve muffins. enjoy!

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I don’t usually call food pictures soothing, but these are. The colors and texture of the wood are lovely. And yummy looking!

Oh my goodness – this looks DELICIOUS! I’ll have to try making these sometime soon. :)

my second roll

Two months ago, I shared about receiving with my mother’s AE-1 film camera. I was so excited to get film in it and start shooting. I first had to discover how to open the camera to load the film. I loaded old expired film that my mom had on hand and began shooting. The roll had twenty four exposures and the knowledge of this number made me slow down. Each year since shooting one of my goals is to slow down. To be present. To allow the moment and place to stir creativity. My hope is that film will create a even slower pace.

After shooting my first twenty four shots I took my camera to my local camera store, Lee’s Camera. I reached into my purse and grabbed out the camera to sit it on the counter. I asked Bill, who I have been working with since day one of this journey to be present when I rewind the film. I was cautious. I wanted to make sure it was done properly. As he began to show me the steps Bill asked me if I already cranked the rewind button. I was confused as I thought I came to him to rewind the film. Bill graciously informed me that the film never loaded properly. Here I am concerned about unloading the film when my first mistake was loading it.

I felt disappointment hit my heart as I realized the moments I thought I captured were gone. One by one the different images went through my mind. One particular moment was one of Myla sitting outside on her big pink ball. She was eating carrots and bouncing on the ball outside by herself. The light was soft and her hair was down. It was a day that my heart was heavy and desired another baby for her to have a sibling to play with. When I feel this way I pick up my camera and shoot. She is growing way to fast and the best way for me to slow that down is to capture each moment.

I left the store with the camera reloaded properly, thanks to Bill’s assistance. And I decided that this was a good mistake to learn and that I will make mistakes again too. Below are several images from my second roll of film, or my first properly loaded roll. I am hoping to reload the camera with film recommended by Jonathan Canlas and keep documenting the everyday.

Woodberry Kitchen is a favorite place to eat in Baltimore.

For these images, you can tell that I scanned them into my computer.

The photograph on the left makes me laugh so hard! The one of the right not in complete focus.

Focusing on the AE-1 is all done manually.

 It was lovely to be barefoot all week at the beach. I  only wore shoes when we went to the grocery store.

Myla found Lyndon’s harmonica and loves to make music on it! She is wearing her favorite dress in these photos.

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Seven of Twelve

This month we headed to the beach not for a day but for a week!! This was the first time in sixteen years we have been back to the Outer banks in NC. For us, it was Christmas in July as this week family vacation was my mom’s Christmas present from my dad. We all meet in Maryland, packed three cars full and I mean full and then car-vanned down to NC.  Seven plus hours later we arrived and vacation began. It is always work getting ready to leave for a week and it is always worth taking time to be refreshed. It took several days being there for me to really crash and let myself unwind. It was so refreshing to not have a plan but to enjoy the beach, the sound of the waves, walks on the beach, and meals and conversations with family. And I need to add read a book or two or three. For the first time since Myla has been born we were able to sit on the beach and read a book. I brought several to read with hopes of maybe completing one. However I finished two that were half way started and completed a third from start to finish! The books inspired me to keep growing and learning as a photographer and business owner. We returned home and jumped back into the business of the everyday. Here are some pictures of our time together.

 

Thanks so Aunt Mary for snapping this picture of the three of us!

Remember you have a little over a week to get this month’s picture!!

 

Once the car was unloaded we immediately went to the beach.My 90 year old grandfather, Pa joined us for the week!The first two mornings at the beach Myla was up early so we enjoyed walks on the beach together!

Aunt Laura flew in from CO for this family vacation!

For my birthday I wanted some pictures taken. Lyndon snapped these for me. it was drizzling on and off all day long.Each family was assigned two days of cooking breakfast and dinner. Lunch we all were on our own. Nobody was ever hungry!We also started reading Charlotte’s Web out loud to Myla.Myla drank this lemonade as a treat, but I tasted it and would not recommend it at all!I LOVE this picture of my mom and Myla playing together.A competitive game of bocce…Pa plays once a week. His team did win!Uncle played in the sand with Myla making castles and big holes!Myla even got up on the board to catch a wave!!!

I love watching Myla play with my dad…it reminds me of my time with him.

My mom caught a crab…they move fast!

Then it was the night for family photos on the beach…I only took four shoots and this seemed to make everyone happy.

I wanted you to see all the expressions of my little girl!These next shots Aunt Mary took over my camera and I am thankful she did!At the end of the week she was boogie boarding all by herself! And loving it!!The last night we headed to the beach to see and catch the crabs. They moved extremely fast!

And we also learned that sparklers are not considered a firework according to NC.

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Sally, thank you so much for your encouragement! I am happy to know that I have been able to inspire you in some way. Enjoy the journey!

Shahido Kempter

LOOOOVE see all the pics of the family! wish i was there with you. soooo fun!
big hugs.. thanks for sharing all the way to CA! shahido

Laura Neumann

I mean…they’re not fireworks, but don’t think for a second they won’t nearly burn the deck down. Love these pics Jame!!

I LOVE all these pictures, Jamie. Such a sweet time with your family.

SO fun! Glad you guys had a week to relax and hang together! What fun. And you’re making me want to be at the beach so bad! 😉

De Neumann

More fun than we deserve! ! ! What a gift from God family is and celebrating that is a great Christmas gift indeed! These pictures are cherished memories. Thanks fam for the best Christmas ever!!! Love you all. grande

Hi Jaime! LOVE the shots of Myla on the beach. Beach pics were always a favorite of mine with my kiddos…it’s just pure joy! I wanted to let you know that I launched my website a couple of weeks ago and started a blog. I put up my second post today and mentioned you at the end. Whether you know it or not, you have been no small inspiration to me in this whole venture. And I just wanted to thank you! I’d love to get together someday and thank you in person! Anytime you’re near Ephrata…feel free to call! :)