handwritten letters. getting lost in a crowd. finding yourself...on a park bench, or through a black cup of coffee. getting lost again. wrinkled clothing. laugh lines. long lines. train lines. the rhythmic rickety of their rails. sunsets in different languages. moonrises in the faces of new people. new smiles...in others and in yourself. a heightened sense of gratitude. a heightened need to live each day with intent. possibility. always wanting to reveal itself to you. possiblities.

I leave today to spend a month backpacking through Europe with my best friend. A trip that is part to-be-determined, part flybytheseatofyourpants, big-city-meets-quiet-countryside. Not always knowing where we'll end up but always saying yes, always making yes our favorite word.

Like a rite of passage, like any of experience with great possibility, I bought a new journal yesterday. You can picture its clean slate. You've all been there. You make that first mark in the lined paper - your first thoughts spill out of you in a handwritten love letter to the world. to yourself. Every time, every new experience needs that clean slate, a new journal. It doesn't always get filled from end to end, but the possibility that lays before it is enough to fund the purchase. Like the adventure it follows, the journal is our greatest rough draft. It's not always perfect & we certainly don't always get it right the first time. We miss our connection & lose our cameras. But the experience is always true. It is true because it is handwritten.

This, to me, is what the next journey holds - an opportunity to live with eyes wide open, to reach with open arms to the spontaneity of a new day, to embrace each sunset as the keeper of a day well-spent. To be inspired in ways I cannot even imagine at this moment.

As I was ticking away at my to-do list this morning, I received a most reminding email from my good friend and photographer Kate Borgelt. We have so much admiration for her that I couldn't help but share a bit of her "Go Live!" email with you:

"I thought of something I wanted to pass along... for what it is worth... Before I went on a trip once... someone told me two things:

1) During a moment while you are away, when you feel particularly happy, particularly reflective and particularly ALIVE (key word here!)... take a photo. Just look straight ahead and take a photo!  Just for you...and on your return put it in a frame and put it somewhere where you will see it daily...so you can be reminded of those feelings, thoughts...and they never die... and live on and continue to encourage/inspire you to live the life you want.
2) That same night (or whenever you can that day- or even that very moment)...journal a letter to yourself... and talk about your perspective, thoughts, life, how it feels to feel so happy and alive...

And when you are back, tuck that letter behind the picture in the frame.

I did this... and I loved it! It was just for me, me, me! And no one else knew when they looked at the photo what it all encapsulated... but was such a good reminder to continue to strive for this... "

We are excited to announce that one of our family photos is in this week's edition of People magazine!  One of our family portrait clients, LaLa Vasquez and Carmelo Anthony, are featured on a page showing different celebs and some of their family photos...

Not that you need a reason to indulge in this week's edition - but why not?!

Hope the week is treating you well!

Jenna, Katie and Matt

Here's wishing you great time with family and friends this week. Below is a little slideshow we put together to bring our holiday portrait season to a close...we are so grateful to all of the families we have had the chance to work with over the past few months!  Wedding slideshow to come soon!  Happy Holidays!

As photographers we are privileged to see the lives of our clients grow as their kids grow - and for our clients, Lala Vasquez and Denver Nuggets NBA player Carmelo Anthony it is no different.  We have been photographing this great family since the birth of their son Kiyan almost two years ago - but it wasn't until this past week that the images were released by the family exclusively to Essence magazine.  

Here are a few of the photos from a recent shoot at their home.  To see a sneak peek into their life, visit Essence online here to see the complete feature.

Hope the week is treating you well and you are gearing up for a great holiday break!

Best!

To all of our blog readers - we want to help someone you love - and we need your help!  

You know someone. You know someone who's experienced a tragedy, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids while holding down more than one job, or is volunteering selflessly despite extenuating personal circumstances. You know someone who can't afford custom photography, but who would cherish it this holiday season. You know someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family's spirit, love, and beauty.

We want to know who they are and give them the gift of photography -- $1150 worth, to    be exact.  

How to nominate:

* You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must    sincerely be incapable of purchasing our services.

* The nominee must reside in Colorado. Tell us who you know, what they're experiencing, and why they deserve this photo session and product. Please include a way to contact both your nominee and yourself as well.

* Email us their story to jennawalkerphotography@hotmail.com no later than December 23rd.

With love,