Things I Love {MD, PA, WV, VA, Washington DC Photographer}

As I continue my journey to become a super awesome blogger and prepare for my NEW BLOG (predicted to be ready around mid-July-ish), I've been thinking a lot about what kind of posts I want to include in my efforts. I've recently been finding a lot of new and fun things that I LOVE online (and elsewhere) and am always excited to share. So what better way to share than with some "things I love" postings. I know other bloggers do this, too, but there's just no better way to say it or share it. So here ya go...first Things I Love post!

First, who's heard of the super cute handmade shop Love Stitched? I found them on Etsy a little while back and have been admiring their handmade lovelies since. Rosette hair clips, rosette rings and necklaces...everything rosettes! Check out their shop here and check out their latest deal on GroopDealz here.

Photo credit: Love Stitched

Secondly, I love when brides and grooms dress up their weddings with unique and DIY details. Like alternative guestbooks, for example. One of my new fave blogs Oh Lovely Day, just did a post about this and I love the examples they're sharing like the calendar/birthday idea and the fingerprints instead of signatures. Check out the post and super neat-o ideas here.

Photo credit: Oh Lovely Day via their photo credits

And lastly, I love shopping at the outlets. My mother-in-law has graciously offered to take Ally out for a little shopping spree and we're finally going tomorrow! Buying clothes for my baby girl is so much fun - I love looking through all the little dresses, all the ruffles, all the bright colors - so I am super excited for our shopping trip (thanks, Pam!). One thing on our to-find list: a red, white and blue outfit for the 4th of July. I'm liking what the Carter's website is showing so far.

Photo credit: Carter's

I hope you enjoyed the first installment of Things I Love. Hopefully I can pair this with little giveaways sometime in the near future. :)

Spring Time... {MD, PA, WV, VA, Washington DC Wedding Photographer}

So far my spring time has been filled with tons of portrait sessions with great families, couples and kids. After a long winter off taking care of my baby girl Ally and working on/thinking about a few business projects, it's been wonderful getting out and actually shooting. I've also been trying to do some personal shooting...taking pictures for myself and not the rest of the world. It's refreshing and relaxing. Here's something from one of my recent personal shoots:

My Ally girl! Don't you just love her polka dot sun hat? I've been keeping up with her growth and development every month with a little photo shoot. I just hope I don't get all creativity-ed out over the next few months. Not only will I have a shoot to plan each month for Ally, but also a ton of great weddings to prep for. My season officially starts this Saturday with this super cute couple:

Now for my e-newsletter readers who are searching for the discount special of the season...

Prints, even canvases...anything you can order through your online gallery (only)! It's so important to print and display your pictures in your home because if you don't do it now, you'll probably forget about the images, let them sit on their disc or in their online gallery, and never allow them to breath colorful life inside your home. Take me for example...Brian and I got married almost three years ago, there are exactly seven wedding pictures in our home (one was a gift) and that's it...no album, no book lying on the coffee table...and I'm a wedding photographer! I'm telling ya, do it now before it's too late.

And as I've been mentioning in my last few blog posts, get ready for my NEW BLOG coming this summer! I've got a designer working on it now and I cannot wait to start using it! I plan to blog portrait sessions and weddings, but also new fashion styles, wedding detail ideas, pictures of Ally, crafty projects...all kinds of new and neat-o stuff! I not only want my blog to be a place for beautiful pictures, but also a place for inspiration. So stay tuned as my new blog continues to develop. Will you be one of my blog followers? Let me know by leaving me a comment...please and THANK YOU!

And if you haven't yet voted for your faves in Hagerstown, you can do so here. VOTE JFP as best photography studio for Hagerstown Magazine's 2011 HotList! Hollleerrr!!!

Hagerstown Hot List {MD, PA, WV, VA, Washington DC Wedding Photographer}

I am happy and excited to announce that my pictures from Maggie and Bobby's September wedding will be featured in the May/June issue of the Hagerstown Life Magazine! Maggie and Bobby's wedding was one of my favorites because their reception was at the newly opened Barn at Springfield Farm in Williamsport, MD. It's a beautiful venue and I know it's going to become one of THE most sought out wedding venues in the area. I haven't seen the feature in print yet, so I am anxiously awaiting to receive my copies in the mail. YAY for being published locally! Now to strive for national publishing...:)

The lovely Maggie and Bobby...

Along with the feature, I'm also in the running for best photography studio for Hagerstown Magazine's 2011 Hot List! I would be absolutely thrilled and honored to be deemed "the best", so I'm asking for your support. If you'd like to vote for Jessica Fike Photography, visit Hagerstown Magazine's website, read the rules carefully and fill out a ballot. You do need to fill in at least 10 favorites (restaurants, stores, family spots, etc.) across the seven different categories for the ballot to count, so if you're not from Hagerstown, do a little Google searching or ask some friends about their faves.

Begin your voting here! And THANK YOU!!!! Times a million!!!

After you vote, leave me a comment (here on the blog) letting me know you did so I can personally THANK YOU!!!