Can You Say, "Slacker!"

Sooooooooo…the blog. The long-neglected blog…oh, what shall I do with you?

Check & Double-Check. Then Check Again.

Mini Photo Shoots

I'm thinking about setting up a day (or two) for family/couples/kids/teens/etc. portrait mini-sessions. I would choose the location and we'd all gather together at that location and each group would get 20 minutes for photos. Cost would be $30. Once all photos have been processed onto my computer, I would provide a gallery link so you can view your unedited photos. Once all images have been edited, you would receive a CD of high-resolution images. Please leave a comment if you'd be interested, or (and this is the preferred method) you can email me. If I gather enough interest, I'll follow up with more information.

JShaw
Email: jshaw.productions@gmail.com

The Piercing Word of God

Here's an image that will be used as the logo for FBC Fenton's Theology Camp 2010. Special thanks to Mike Tharp of Word Picture Company for making my idea a reality.

To the Barber Shop!

Here are some photos I will be displaying at my dad's barber shop.

Thank you, Sarah Rhoads

This is why I do what I do:

"Something amazing happens when we pour ourselves out for others during the creative process... we begin to feel & see exhaustion becoming pure energy and momentum. It is an amazing feeling to pour out [my] heart into those [whom I] love for the sake of that which I feel called to create. It is a way we serve God and serve others and it feels so good."

Even before I decided to pursue photography and videography, I wanted my purpose to be, "Serving God by Serving Others". I have thought a lot about why I'm passionate about photography and here's what I've come up with (besides and including all that is quoted above).

(By the way, these are in no particular order, just the way they came out of my mind)

-I love taking pictures...always have.
-God has given me what many call a photographic "eye".
-There's something...I dunno...AWESOME...about capturing a moment that will never, ever, not-in-a-million-years, happen again the exact same way. In a photo, time stops.
-These moments...these memories...these PEOPLE...are worth capturing.
-They're worth capturing because people are worth it.
-They're worth capturing because photos help your brain remember specific details. Years later, people will look at that picture and remember SO MUCH MORE about what made that day special, and even things that were seemingly insignificant, but now take on a whole new, deeper meaning.
-I love people. I like giving them something special and doing special things for them. -Photography allows you to connect with people and learn about them.
-People are interesting.
(I also enjoy landscape photography)
-Because God's creation is absolutely beautiful.
-You can "see" God in creation.
-You can see God at work in creation.

This list is not exhaustive, but it is comprehensive. I hope after reading it, you have a better since why I'm a photographer and why photography is important to me and important in general.

Thank you all for your love, support, encouragement, and prayers.

God bless.

Save the Date!

My quasi-sister, Barbara Dawn Gosik, is getting married soon to some strange guy named Aaron. I'm not so sure about this one!

Here we are at the Art Museum during our engagement shoot wanderings.

Remember how I said he was strange? Here's proof:

And to top it all off, his last name is Bartholome, which means my sister's name is now going to be Barbara Bartholome. That just rolls off the tongue doesn't it?

In all seriousness though, I'm happy for you two. I pray the Lord will bless your life together.

LOVE YOU!

Olivia and Aiden

No need to tell this girl to pose! She did it all for me!

Isn't she adorable?

Now this guy, on the other hand...I couldn't get him to sit still, but, worse than that, to be even remotely happy to be getting his picture taken. The main picture on the left is a candid shot (I had to be sneaky), I got lucky with the one of him with grandpa, and I had to rely on him being silly with grandpa to get the last shot. All that work, but he really did absolutely love me. He wanted me to hold him as soon as I walked in the door. Then, he sat with me for a while after I put the camera away...smart kid! :)

Siebert Family Photos

Siebert Family Preview

I met up with the Siebert Family at Fenton Park on a very chilly October morning. Despite the cold, I was able to get some great shots for the family memory book. You'll have to wait to see all of them, however; for now, just a preview. :)

Little Warrior Re-Design

Two Previews

Two sessions in Photoshop process. The first is my sister and her fiancee and the second is my best friend.

Sikes Family

Some samples.
What a great family!

Barb "Little Warrior" Honchak

Here's a poster I did for an MMA Champion. Intimidating isn't she?

To the graduating class of 2009: Never stop learning

I know this sounds cliche (and rightly so), but it is, nonetheless, true: This is not the end; it is only the beginning.



Okay, so, as it is, it's only partly true. What it should really say is this: You're at the end of one journey and the beginning of another. And so shall it always be.



Though pain, sadness and trials may come, embrace life's challenges and persevere to the end; you will find such things help cultivate and strengthen the complexity and uniqueness of your character.



Oh, and don't forget to have a little fun (and some R&R) along the way.



May God be with you as you journey on.

Now that wasn't so bad....

Life. A lot of the time, it sucks for a while. But not for long.



Thank you, God.

My journey on the narrow road

If not for the grace of God, this road would be a whole lot wider.

Kelsey::Senior Pictures

Pic Me!

I was encouraged by Cheryl Hudson to participate in this photo contest. (Thank you!) Now, I'm asking for your support. Simply click the link! Thank you!

Tabitha::Senior Pictures

We went to the St. Louis Botanical Gardens on possibly the busiest and definitely the hottest day of summer last year to shoot these. I enjoyed my first-ever Senior Portrait session! Hope you enjoy how these turned out.

You can see the effects of the sun on her face

Surprise!

My favorite

Sometimes you just have to stop and smell the roses