Welcome To Our World, Truett Everton Lewis

My husband Dave and our two kiddos, Cali (5) and Owen (3) welcome our new addition to the Lewis Family! Truett Everton Lewis, born on April 22, 2013 weighing 6 lbs. 10 oz. and 20 inches long. He is such a sweet baby and we are all excited that he has finally arrived!

I have been taking a much needed time off from shooting portraits and weddings! But I am looking forward to starting up again later this summer. My main focus will be portraits, and I'm in the middle of re-structuring my portrait packages. Until then, feel free to contact me with any questions; I'd love to hear from you! If I don't get back to you right away, I'm probably sleeping off a long night awake with a baby.  :)

Kraft & Jute Wedding Invitations: Simple, Beautiful.

We have been busy at Kraft & Jute developing our new wedding line! We are extremely excited to be finally releasing our new site: www.KraftandJuteWedding.com.

You may have noticed that I've been pretty quiet about blogging this summer; I have many many weddings and family sessions to share with you! But I've been quiet here because I've been spending much of my time managing and developing Kraft & Jute. Oh- and getting ready to have our third baby the end of April too! (it's a boy! Pictures to come soon, I'm sure!)

Finding the perfect wedding invitation and customizing it can be such a time-consuming process. That's why we've come up with the idea to produce some really simple designs that you can easily customize and order with no hassle.

Kraft & Jute Wedding offers save the date cards, wedding invitations, RSVP cards, programs, thank you cards, favors, accessories and more -- all with a natural, rustic look and feel!

We just introduced the new site; we have many many more design and product ideas to implement. We even offer a blank slate with our products so you can Design Your Own!

And just to sweeten the deal, if you are a bride and are wanting to order  - use the code: WelcomeBride15 to receive 15% off your order!

If you are a photographer, please visit our Wedding Referral Page and learn how you can earn 10% off your Kraft & Jute Packaging order with every bride who refers you. Please visit our Referral Page for more information!

How I Deliver Your Photos

I couldn't think of a better way to deliver your disc and photos. It's simple AND beautiful - thanks Kraft & Jute!

Today, the packaging I have created for you is featured at the Paperie Boutique - an excellent resource for packaging ideas for photographers. If you have a moment- check it out! Thanks Robyn & Todd for creating such a great place for packaging inspiration!

packaging for live beautiful photography's clients

Cali & Owen - test shots

During wedding season, my camera and lenses get used and abused. Tonight I needed to test the lenses - so I bribed my kids with cookies. It worked! They make really good camera test models.  Of course, after every shot, they ran back and said, "Can I see it!!??"

Port Farms Christmas: Burchill & Zimmerman Families

Port Farms in Waterford, Pennsylvania was the perfect location shoot for these two families! Lucky for us, it wasn't freezing this time of year (yet! It's coming...) I especially enjoy the photos of the kids - their bright eyes and vibrant personalities.

Test blog post from my phone

Just a fun and random post testing out my phone app posting capabilities... Enjoy!

Kraft & Jute: packaging for photographers

Kraft & Jute began in 2010 after I needed packaging for my first wedding. Plastic jewel cases were not an option (yuck!) and I found lots of other goodies, but too design-heavy, time consuming and expensive. I needed something simple yet beautiful to packaging my disc of images. Using resources from my office, I created a CD sleeve made from kraft paper. Tape didn't seem to be a good solution for holding the sides together and then the sewing machine caught my eye.  "I wonder if I can stitch on kraft paper?" Can I just say, the rest is history?

Kraft & Jute has quickly grown into an international market, sending beautiful kraft packaging materials to Canada, Australia, Europe and more. We are excited to be developing Kraft & Jute Wedding - to make it simple for brides to order invitations, programs, place cards and other wonderful wedding accessories with a hand-crafted, simple beautiful touch.

If you are a photographer or bride looking for something special for your business or event, please contact Kraft & Jute today! We'd LOVE to talk with you more.  hello@kraftandjute.com

Kraft & Jute is hand-crafted packaging for photographers.

Gift Certificate - Amelia J. Moore Photography - Nashville, TN

Personalized Disc Printing

Presentation Packet: Astonish your clients with a beautiful presentation of your work and services

Hand Stitched Business Cards (optional back printing to add contact info)

New Chapter

I'm excited to be starting a new chapter of Live Beautiful Photography. I've learned a million and one (or two?) things over the past few years. Having kids speeds the process of learning, adapting and figuring out how to live life in the most fun and fulfilling way. There's SO MUCH I want to do, but only so many things I can do (and remain SANE.)

One thing I have learned is that I absolutely LOVE portraits. I am especially drawn to senior portraits. With the changes coming up in my family life (more on that soon) I have decided to move in a direction that allows me to focus on creating stunning portraits while also spending as much time with my family as I can. Though I have thoroughly enjoyed photographing weddings the past few summers, I have decided that the time, cost and energy involved in shooting a wedding means less and less time with kids and hubby. I know you probably think that all we photographers do is show up with a fancy camera and snap photos all day; but that's only the TIP of the iceberg! Maybe I'll explain in another journal entry some day, if you really want to know my thoughts.

I'd love for this journal section to be just that: a place where I can jot down my thoughts - or post some fun, sometimes un-edited photos of life through my eyes.

Shelby Cobra

A friend asked if I could take a few photos of a car they are going to sell. I LOVE old cars and was probably a little bit too excited to be taking pictures of it. So here's a little break from weddings and engagements and senior portraits. Here is to a new-found love of photographing classic cars. (My personal favorite classic car? A black convertible Stingray.) By the way, if you are interested in purchasing this jaw-dropping vehicle, please contact me and I will send you the contact information.   ** Oh - PS - I HAD to include my hubby and little kiddos too!

Engagement Session: Kevin & Emily

This post has been waiting too long to make an appearance! Kevin and Emily will  be married in October - and we were able to do an engagement session a few months ago. I don't think you can tell from these photos, but it was a really cool day in Erie (you're probably dreaming of that right now, in this 100 degree heat!). I really enjoy doing engagement photos and cannot wait to photograph their wedding. October will be gorgeous! Thank you so much, Kevin & Emily for putting up with all of my ideas and inspiration - despite the cold evening! I'll see you in a few more months!

           

 

Portrait Session: Jared & Michele

Jared and Michele have been married for five years - and Michele contacted me wanting to do a session - "just because." I love these kinds of sessions; I wish Dave and I would have gotten them done every year - or at least every other year! It's so great to have updated photos of just the two of you. We started in downtown Erie and then headed over the Presque Isle State Park - one of my favorite places. The bugs got the best of us - but I edited out all of the ones where we were slapping bugs...

To Jared & Michele - it was such a fun evening - getting to know you and take lots of photos of the two of you! Best wishes!  ~ Jessica

                     

Senior Portraits: Delaynee Wilcox

I am so excited to share these with you! Delaynee contacted me the end of last year, wanting to do senior portraits - with more of a nature/outdoor flare (cuz that's what I do, right?). It was too late in the season and too cold to get the look she was wanting. So we both waited patiently until the weather and timing were perfect. Last night could not have been better! The sun light was gorgeous - and Delaynee was completely relaxed and we had a lot of fun! It was really hard narrowing down my favorite images, so here are just a few highlights.

To Delaynee and Terri - thank you so much! - and for letting me take my time to create some really great shots. Terri, thank you for keeping Cali and Owen occupied. We went to get pizza after - to reward them for being so good! They were sad when I said you weren't coming with us. I think they really liked you!

                         

Engagement Session: Brett & Kelsey

The weather, for April was so nice for this engagement session with Brett & Kelsey! I'm glad it was warm enough for Kelsey to wear her dress; it's so cute and really helped make the pictures fantastic! They both have very natural smiles and great interaction; it was almost too easy to capture some great moments between these two! I'm excited to capture their wedding in August; until then, enjoy the engagement photos!

                  As for the last picture here - the cat came up to say hello and then started coughing up a hair ball! It looked like she kept hanging around my camera / equipment bag and I didn't want hair ball nastiness all over my lenses. She never did cough up a hair ball.

Engagement Session: Mark & Weilai - New York City

There are so many photos from this engagement shoot to share with you! I wish all of  these places were only 10 minutes away instead 6.5 hours! Dave and I had to consider getting a vacation apartment there, but then we reminded ourselves that we didn't have the money. Dave Ramsey would not approve. Maybe some day! These photos were taken at the New York Public Library, Central Park and Grand Central Station. A huge thank you goes out to my husband Dave for assisting me on this shoot!

Mark & Weilai - I look forward to shooting the great moments at your wedding!  Enjoy your engagement photos  :) I had a LOVELY time with you!  ~Jessica

                               

Engagement Session NYC: Preview Mark & Weilai

This past week, Dave and I took a trip to New York City and explored Manhattan for a few days. While we were there (and part of the purpose of the trip) we did an engagement shoot of Jamestown, NY native Mark - and his beautiful fiancé Weilai. I'm only half way through editing all of the photos - but I cannot help but post some of my favorites so far! These photos were taken just outside the New York City Public Library. Enjoy! more to come very soon...

 

Edinboro Portrait Session: Alex and Cheryl

I don't know about you, but my husband and I had our wedding pictures... and then four years later some family pictures when Cali was born. I would have loved some great portraits of just Dave and I - before kids! I think there would probably be fewer wrinkles and we would actually look awake and "with it." Sessions like these are fun and memorable. Cheryl said that one of Alex's pet peeves is that they have a bunch of photo coasters, with no photos in them. I assured her that she'll be able to fill ALL the coasters after this mini-session!

One of my favorite things about this setting - is that it's right in my back yard. I enjoy looking out my windows and seeing this beautiful forest. I'd LOVE the opportunity to do more sessions back there!

Enjoy the pics!  ~Jessica

           

Edinboro Wedding: Jack & Heather

What a great weekend to kick off Live Beautiful Photography's 2012 weddings! Jack and Heather were married in the same small country church where her grandparents were married 50 years ago to the date - March 24. Heather's grandfather passed away a few a few months before his 50th anniversary, and to carry on his legacy, Heather and Jack are picking up where they left off. How did you meet?

We met in high school in 2000 in computer class. He introduced himself to me as Jack although everyone else called him Hunter, so I confused A LOT of people. We got back together in May of 2010 only this time we both had two children each. I still call him Jack, along with my family and friends, but all of his friends and family call him Hunter...

How did you become engaged?

Jack proposed to me in Jekyll Island Georgia in Sept 2011. He had the kids hold up star shaped signs that said "Will you marry me" and proposed right on the beach.

Jack and Heather: Thank you SO much for asking me to capture your wedding! What a beautiful day; the fire trucks were so fun and really made your photos personalized and special.

I also want to say a huge thank you to my second photographer Andrea Bierer! Please enjoy some of the highlight photos of their day.

Edinboro Wedding Preview: Jack & Heather