Hi, I'm Jennifer Blair.
There are few things I enjoy more in life than creating art. My aim is to create as a reflection of the Creator. Thanks for stopping by my blog. Here you'll find my recent work, glimpses into my life and the inspiration behind my art.
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These two! I don't have many words, only because this incredibly couple is close to my heart. Bringing Lauren & Andrew's vision for their engagement session to life in Pensecola was an immense joy. I love when people want something that is entirely unique to who they are. I find it so invigorating to be challenged to create something that is both beautiful and authentic. There are a millions upon millions of beautiful images out there, but true representations of personhood, what it means to be human and in love? I'm not so sure there are as many; and that is precisely what I endeavor to represent with my art. Perfection is boring. Real is beautiful. I hope you can taste how real these two are, and just how much depth there is to their hearts and story.
It's hard to believe the immensity of the things I have yet to post here from Spring and Summer. Today I had to share a few of our adventures from Colorado this Spring. We flew out for my 1:1 workshop and spent a few extra days driving all over what felt like half of the state, which may or may not be true! We drove over to Crested Butte (where we had an anniversary session with Laura Nelson -she's amazing!) then to Telluride, Silverton, Colorado Springs and down to the Great Sand Dunes National Park. We saw as much as we possibly could in four days. I don't get to do as many adventures with my husband, so these memories are so sweet for me. We had a lot of time together in the car, talking about life and dreams. And bonus, we'll plan on using the memories that we created as album art for our upcoming album, which many of you probably don't know. Some of these places were inspiration for writing and have had a big impact on our lives. Travel is incredible that way. It's so refreshing to get away from the "normal" and experience something fresh, let it seep into who I am and harness what truths become vivid for everyday living. I wish I had more poetic words for these images, but that will probably have to wait for the music that goes along with them soon.
I have had the pleasure of knowing Ashley for over six years now. One of the wonderful aspects of social media (back then, blogging) is the opportunity to meet kindred spirits. She is one of the rare, beautiful souls I have had the pleasure of getting to know in real life as well. When she contacted me about doing a session in their home, I was thrilled. They have such a sweet, tender love and knowing their hearts makes it even more special for me. Unbeknownst to me, Ashley & Louis had just found out they were expecting a baby that very morning! When she told me a week later, I almost cried. I love the challenge of infusing meaning and depth in everything I create, but this session goes beyond what I could have devised - it feels like providence to me. I'm so thankful for these two, and for Ashley's sweet friendship over the years.
"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me...
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives...
to comfort all who mourn;
to grant to those who grieve in Zion -
to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of joy instead of mourning,
a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.
They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
They will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations."
(Isaiah 61)
"The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow death,
I will fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."
- Psalm 23
What is the point of "making it" or "having a name" if it doesn't have deep-seeded meaning or lasting impact? I can't get this image out of my mind - of vast sandcastle kingdoms that won't last, that cannot be transferred to beyond the grave. I knew the views of the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado would be incredible, but it moved my heart in such a powerful way. I cannot escape the imagery and it's parallel to life. The sand seemed unending. Peak after peak continued as far as I could see. In a moment, the wind would come gusting through the enormous sand mountains and valleys, changing the landscape and reconstructing the best way to climb to the top. Does that not sound like our world? One moment success is xyz, the next week the world is different, changing the path to the top by something as small as an Instagram algorithm. What if it is all gone tomorrow? All the "names" and "fame" that has been constructed around a grand facade, all gone in a moment. What then when then great sandcastle kingdom has blown away, every piece small granule scattered in the wind?
I've found myself going in a fresh, different direction this year. It is exciting and terrifying at the same time. When I consider just how many other artists there are in my field, it can be disheartening. Beautiful shots are really a dime a dozen. So I've been digging deep. What fuels my art? Surely it is more than merely capturing "beautiful moments" because beautiful moment are everywhere. I have years of experience under my belt now, but I never want to stop reaching, learning and growing at my art. For me it all comes back to vision, my lens for viewing the world and everything in it. I am an artist. It's who I am at my core. Intuitive. Seeking deeper meaning. New ideas flow constantly. Daily inspiration is a must or my soul shrivels up. I view life like poetry, like a piece of music I am working to compose...never finished, always adding another line or refrain. It dawned on me a few months ago, my visual art should represent my musical and poetic bent in more of a real way.
Matt & Alex have had quite the journey to get to their wedding day. After meeting in Chicago they had secret crushes on each other and friends for over a year. Not long after they made things official, Alex was transferred to New York but moved to Denver to be together. Since Alex's family lives in Dallas and Matt's in Denver, they decided to go for an intimate destination wedding with their closest friends and family. The 30a area has a special meaning to them since Alex's family lived there for a time as she grew up.
"There are always flowers for those who want to see them." - Henri Matisse
Art has many forms, and one of the most lovely is floral artistry. Flowers are such beautiful, delicate things that only last for such a short while. They require great care and patience. My sweet friend Shannon from Fleur & Lumière is one of the most naturally talented floral designers I've met. She has a gift for seeing beauty and creating it from a messy array of options. A few weeks ago we met up, she creating as she does so effortlessly, and I merely watched, mesmerized by the process. Surrounded by the beauty of the ancient streets of St. Augustine, this is the story of how an artist creates...
There is something so incredibly romantic about doing an engagement session the day before your wedding. I'm so glad I was able to sneak away to Alys Beach with Alex and Matt for a few moments before their rehearsal dinner. The days before a destination wedding is so full with friends and family coming in to celebrate, so it's nice to get away for some moments alone in the midst of festivities. It's easy to see the eager anticipation these two share about tying the knot! Thank you for allowing me to capture your love, you two!
It's hard to believe I'm actually sharing these images from Michelle and Paul's engagement from last month. We've dreamed of this day for so long and I honestly can't believe it's here. It is such an honor to document timeless memories for my sweet couples, but having the chance to do the same thing for family is almost too much for my heart! Sisters have one of the most special bonds I believe two people can have. She is truly one of my best friends. Thank you both for trusting me with your day. I love you two!
It is such an honor to have this shoot on Style Me Pretty's front page today. It has been a dream of mine for quite some time now. Mozart once said, "Music is not the notes, but the silence between." In a way, images are the silence between moments as well. Throughout this whole editorial, I sought to encapsulate that idea, the beautiful dichotomy between movement and stillness. Colorado seemed a natural and ideal location. Nature itself is a perfect contrast between grandeur and simplicity. It is the the ultimate in-between. It is not too much of one or the other. These ideas were the basis for this shoot. The objective was to create grandness in the simplest way possible, and to express the mystery of "the silence between" in a pensive manner.
Our little family was recently featured in the Pioneer Issue of Cottage Hill Magazine. I completely forgot about sharing some favorites from our session with Sawyer Baird this past May (6 months ago!) for our 5 year anniversary. It is so special to do these sessions now that E is here. I'm so thankful for these images Sawyer captured so beautifully for us! It is fitting to share them now. It was such an honor to share my heart with the Cottage Hill team. God has been so gracious to us and has given us a beautiful story to share - His grace. I'm so thankful for the privilege of journeying with these two in life. (PS: Our Eleanora was so little! She was just starting to walk. Take me back Time!)
None of these images can really do justice to the grandeur found in these mountains. I had no idea how much we'd need this trip and the refreshment it brought us. We didn't rest much during our stay, but how could we waste time with such views to see? We drove through Rocky Mountain National park 3 different times and never tired of taking in it's beauty. Here are a few personal images I took in between our shoots.
I'm so thrilled that my dear friend Kaylie's wedding is published on Style Me Pretty today. Visit their blog to see the full day in all its glory!
I love the romance of Summer. The warm sun and late evenings by the sea entice me. My childhood Summers were spent barefoot, dreaming under the canopy of oaks. The grand landscapes of Jekyll Island feel similar to those memories. It feels like home. It is such a perfectly romantic place to make memories, albeit I'm biased. These two have had such a beautiful, whirlwind romance. McKay flew to a different state to take Allison on a date and it was history from there. A few months ago he proposed on Valentines Day. They are the perfect romantics getting married in such a perfectly romantic place.
Hannah and Aaron hoped for an effortlessly elegant and relaxed feel when they celebrated their wedding with their closest friends and family. Their day exuded a perfectly relaxed timelessness. They created such a beautiful environment for their guest to enjoy the incredible grandeur of the Biltmore Ballroom, where they all truly celebrated this amazing couple. They are the epitome of class and authentic love, as I already discovered during their engagement session in Savannah. Of course, I couldn't help but love their color palate. As Hannah said, "these are my colors." And they happen to be mine too.
This incredible session is so dear to my heart. This is representative of everything I hope to give my clients. It is no secret that I love details, but the why behind them is what I love more. Working with Brooke to create meaningful family heirlooms was a beautiful process. This was her heart behind the details: "Large leafy trees, because of their deep roots and large winding branches. They have great meaning to me because they symbolize be deeply rooted in Christ. Planted of the Lord. Streams, because they are joyful, peaceful and refreshing.
I never want to reach satisfaction with my art. That may seem counterintuitive, but if I am ever able to find it then I will have succumbed to complacency. It can be a frustrating dichotomy between finishing a project and never quite feeling like it is truly complete. Regardless of what I'm working on, I always look back and see ways I could have made it better, created something even more beautiful. Going over the could be of art can be maddening at times, but I've learned to allow my imperfections to push me to better my craft.
Savannah is such a romantic city. The feel I get when walking along the old cobblestone roads is one of nostalgia. Oh, if those streets could speak! It's almost as if I can feel the years that have past and sense the stories housed in the old walls and trees. If I was a writer I would certainly go there to be inspired. Jonathan and I decided to add a few days onto my work trip to celebrate our 5 year anniversary. Bringing Eleanora back again was a joy as well. I look forward to showing her these memories of our time together one day. Whenever I travel my heart feels the dichotomy between taking in the beauty of things behind my lens and the pull to be completely unencumbered to focus on experiencing it with those around me. I took my camera with me on just a few outings and then left it back at our place for the rest. It was the perfect balance between my two worlds. I feel so passionate about being both an artist and mother, and discovering how to do both with excellence. This trip was a huge part of that for me.
Everyone loves surface things. It's easy to show what is on the top, the growing, beautiful things. We love to see what is blooming. We put it out there into the world, not necessarily in a bad way, but it's out there. We see it. Stuff. Achievements. Happy moments. Beautiful adventures. Snapshots and stories of what we can see and quantify. All the things that are beautiful. Our world is obsessed with what grows above the surface. Stay on social media long and you'll see things like "how to grow your platform" or ads saying "you need this" or carefully curated ways to get more likes and acceptance in this world. And it's all based on what you can see. Happiness is found in enrichment, enjoyable things, abundance, leisure, travel, a cute house, a cute family, a cute wardrobe, cool friends and just the right balance between killing it and exploring the world. (Among other things of course.) These things are the measure of success. Do what makes you happy and show everyone your wonderful life, with just a touch of real thrown in so we know it's legit.