“Hey, I bought us a photo session with this really cool local photographer. She’s going to meet us at a park and photograph us for a couple of hours. Isn’t that awesome!?”

And before she could even get to the part about planning outfits and the setting sun, they were like, “Are you kidding me!? I’m not photogenic. This isn’t a special occasion. I don’t want to get dressed up and have some stranger making me feel self conscious for 1-2 hours.”

Which is totally normal, by the way. Even Tina Fey gets nervous about photo shoots. She told me. Okay, I read it in her book. My point is, there’s a lot of pressure when you feel like you have to perform and no one wants to see a bad picture of themselves. It’s like hearing your voice on an answering machine – I do not sound like that.

So I assured them that this was not your typical go-to-the-mall-sit-stiffly-say-cheese experience. No, this would be more like hanging out with your girlfriends; no heavy posing or cajoling. Simply relaxed, stress free and fun for everyone. I asked questions. What do they like doing together? What would make them feel safe? This is the pre-close-up. The time when I start to learn who my subjects really are and what’s holding them back.

“We like to cook and eat together,” Ariana told me. So we decided on a session at home with the idea of sharing a meal in the backyard. Whatever happens, happens. At home, they were safe and cozy in a nest where they were free to love each other and be loved. At home, following a relaxing day at the spa, sitting at an adorably decorated table with mouth watering smells and flavors at each place setting, they found peace. They were connected to each other by things that really matter and shared conversations only they could follow. Synergy.

They slowly opened up and allowed me to see the truth of who they are from deep within. And now they’re exposed. Internet, this is a gift to be allowed to lean in and see. Really see. There is energy, passion, push and pull here. There is vulnerability and power here. There is love and beauty here. See…

One day last weekend I snuck away from the heartaches and headaches of my upside down life to play with The Littles (my neffers and their new friend Maya) at an amazing beach park by my new  house. It was a beautiful, breathtaking kind of day that provided the exact internal healing I needed. I stuck my hands in the Earth and inhaled the fresh Puget Sound air. I listened to the laughter of children and gossiped with girlfriends. It was bliss and it reminded me that even when times are hard…good things and good people happen.

In the midst of all this, I think I discovered the core of why I love being a family photographer. It’s the rawness and expressions of genuine truth that only children know how to show you. It’s the way a child melts into their mother’s arms and the way they squeal with excitement. When they’re angry, you know it. When they’re tired, you know it. And when they’re filled with joy and wonder and happiness….you undeniably know it. Moms and Dads let down their guard around their children too. I see moments and emotions unfold in a way that is so honest and true. They need no coaching to show you how they really feel. It’s love people. L-O-V-E. Love. And when I look out into the world with my lenses and snap a moment of life’s true perfection…I am filled to the brim with a deep understanding of why this gift is so dear to my heart. I can’t help but rush home eager to show the world all the beautiful faces I’ve captured. I love to tell the stories of who we are…who YOU are and why it all matters. Amen.

Family portrait season is well under way and I’m fully booked till mid November. There is still time to get on my calendar and experience the fun, fresh approach of a Jamie Neilsen Photography session. Call or email me soon! Your children will thank you for it.

Why am I telling you this? Because I’ve put it out there that “I strive for excellence in my work and seek to achieve this by being human…” among other things. And these days, I’m feeling a lot less super human and far more just…regular human. I’ve been “doing-it-all” for too long now and I’m finally burning out. I think, perhaps, just maybe, it’s not possible for one human being to work a 9-5 job, plus a growing side job, plus renovate a house without contractors, plus maintain a clean and livable dwelling, plus eat good healthy food, plus sleep, plus be a good wife, friend and family member and still stay sane. Perhaps.

All I really want to do is finish reading the trashy fiction novel I picked up at the airport a couple weeks ago. Something about the completely shallow, dissatisfied and mostly unlikeable characters of One Fifth Avenue sucks me out of my reality and catapults me into a much grandeur scale of unrealistic chaos that makes me smile inside. In between the lines I read that things could be worse and this too shall pass. Unfortunately, the only real reading I’m doing these days is “how to hook up a washer and dryer” and “how to insulate an attic without eaves”. Fascinating.

Oh, it’s not all doom and gloom. I did get to go to Vegas at the beginning of the month. Although, for the duration of my stay, from Sunday to Wednesday, I never stepped out doors. Instead, I spent all day in Summer School learning from some of the best and brightest in the photography industry. I met lots of new friends and took pages of notes…which I haven’t had time to even peek at since I’ve been back. I also got to see my brother, his wife and their beautiful baby girl who came to visit us here in Seattle. Aevlyn has grown so much since I saw her a few months ago! My nephew, Ty, celebrated his third birthday this month too. He is talking so much..so fast…it cracks me up and makes me find new reasons to keep falling in love with him. He has always been my muse and happy maker.

All this is to say, tasks are taking me a bit longer to complete these days and my brain has turned to mush. I’m working feverishly to get back on track and up to speed….at a regular human pace. If I owe you an email, phone call, pictures or some other significant thing that has fallen through the cracks…the check is in the mail…a.k.a. I’m working on it. Promise. In the meantime, enjoy some pretty pictures…

More in the slide show…

Right in the heart of wedding season I find myself reflecting on all the many ways to be wed. Big, small, indoor, outdoor, chapel, backyard, barns and hotels. Some weddings last all day and others just a few hours. My own wedding anniversary is next month and my husband and I weren’t very traditional with our ceremony. Steve and I invited our closest friends and family (and anyone that wanted to show up really) to join us in a park (without a permit) to our wedding ceremony officiated by a family friend who was ordained over the internet about a week before the ceremony. There were no fancy flowers or decor. It was planned in about a month and the day I walked down the aisle lawn, came only a week after I was released from the hospital after suffering from two blood clots in my lungs. Hopped up on pain meds and blood thinners, there was no stopping us from professing our love and stating our custom vows. At the end of the day, it’s the “married” part that matters. Of course, getting married is kind of a big deal and it’s the kind of thing that makes you want to celebrate…and we did celebrate. Our guests followed us back to our basement apartment for a backyard potluck. We rearranged furniture so I could salsa dance with my brother and our best friends stayed well into the evening until we kicked them out so we could…honeymoon.

Bari and Luther are a couple after my own heart. They said “I do” in a private backyard ceremony with their family. And then, when summer finally hit, it was time to party. In a private dining room at Rock Salt on Lake Union they packed the house with their friends and family. Tables were decorated with various yellow flowers and lemons. The clever and cute menus and seating arrangements  were designed by the ever talented Lindsey (daughter of the bride). There was dinner and toasts; laughing and dancing; and so much love for this awesome couple.

As an event photographer, my job is to create a special gift for the bride and groom. After all the planning and preparing for the big party, the coupe often misses many of the details of the day. I try to capture the sweetness of the celebration they might have overlooked and give them a beautiful reflection of the loved ones who joined in the merriment.

Bari and Luther, I was blown away by the kindness and love of your fabulous guests. I had a delightful time celebrating with you and hope you enjoy reliving your reception through these photos. Thank you for allowing my images to become a part of your family’s history. Enjoy!

Coen got to ride his first pony, we bet on horses based on the cool name factor, ate snow cones and popcorn, and lazed around in the shade on a cool patch of grass. It didn’t matter that our horses never won or that Coen spilled blue snow-cone juice down the front of his shirt and pants or that there may or may not have been a missing child incident. We were there to capture real life moments and preserve the memories of their fabulous love-filled life.

It takes a different mindset and some extra coordination to shoot video and stills at the same time but I had so much fun with them and I love how it all turned out. Lucky for you, I’ll be offering this add-on service very soon so you can receive the paparazzi star treatment too! So, check out the cute photos but be sure to watch the video too for all the action packed behind the scenes and in between moments. And then, tell me what you think in the comments! Would you be interested in this kind of hybrid photo shoot? What activity would you want to have made into a professional home movie?

We’re experiencing our first “real” week of summer here in Seattle. The temperatures finally hit above 75, blue skies are everywhere and even though my car broke down on the side of the road yesterday, I’m happy to take things slow, travel by bus and soak up the sunshine. Hallelujah for sunshine!

Unfortunately, Steve and I are still hard at work on our house and haven’t been able to enjoy many summer activities this year. So, I came up with a list of adventures for you to enjoy instead! Get the kids in on it…and please send pictures or links to your blogs! If it were me, I’d wrangle up the nephews. Those boys make me so happy. The pictures above are from this spring so I’ve got a lot of catching up to do.

1. Visit a local u-pick farm. Take home fresh flowers, fruits and vegetables.
2. Camp out in the backyard.
3. Have a sidewalk chalk art show.
4. Make fresh lemonade.
5. Make ice cream.
6. Fly a kite.
7. Play in the sprinkler.
8. Make s’mores.
9. Have a picnic.
10. Make paper airplanes.
11. Skip stones.
12. Climb trees.
13. Make a puppet show.
14. Catch frogs.
15. Play catch.
16. Go swimming.
17. Feed the ducks.
18. Ride public transportation and make several stops.
19. Have a water balloon fight.
20. Wash the car.

Go ahead and bookmark this page for future reference and share it with your mommy groups. Not only is it a great list of fun activities to fight boredom, they’re perfect for photographing. Just be sure to keep your gear out of the water.

Click to view the slide show!

I knew this photo session was going to be awesome but I really had no idea what I was in for. She mentioned an urban dance theme and a beautiful yoga studio and I was sold. I couldn’t even visualize partner yoga before I saw it with my own eyes. The energy between Bernice and Aron was magnetic and I was blown away. Now, I know I say this all the time, but you really should watch the slide show at the end of this post. It’s one of my favorites to date and I think it really shows off her moves. Enjoy!

Click to view the slide show!

It was a tough week to swallow but this beautiful session from last weekend is the light at the end of the tunnel. This job was personal. I spent a couple hours wandering around Fremont with Lindsey discussing her wardrobe options, choosing shoes, fixing hair, discussing personal fears and last weeks date and even mole removals. Like I said, it was personal. In my photographic world, everything is personal and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Lindsey is a designer. She makes things and plans things and is an overall creative, beautiful, funny woman who is ready to take her design business to the next level. She’s working on a website and is all about personal branding just like me. She wants her clients to know who she is, what she does, and why she’d be a great choice for their design needs. I love how we were able to capture so many different looks, styles and emotions. All of this took place within a five block radius and just a few outfit changes. Isn’t she fabulous!? I can’t wait to see her again for a product shoot!

I’d love for you to see more of Lindsey’s Fremont session. Check out the slide-show! The soundtrack put me in a good mood

Click to view the slide-show!