New Year – New Look

With a new year, comes a new look.  One of my resolutions this year was to take more control over my website.  So here it is, the updated and upgraded Jill Kingsbury Photography website!!  Click on the link below to visit the new website and I hope you love what you see!  Please feel free to provide feedback about the changes and what more you would like to see from Jill Kingsbury Photography.com.

www.JillKingsburyPhotography.com

On another note, I am receiving a steady flow of inquiries regarding 2011 wedding photography.  Please contact me via email, phone or through my website for your personalized quote.  I look forward to hearing from you!!

- J

I do NOT have a fear of flying, I’m just a nervous flyer. Maybe…

“Flight attendants, please prepare the cabin for takeoff”.  Hearing those words makes my palms a little sweaty.  Every time.  I’m not really afraid of flying, but I admit, I get a little nervous.  As the plane starts to taxi down the runway a booming voice is in the air.  God?  No, just the pilot.  “We will not be de-icing the plane this evening, so we will have a short taxi before we’re on our way.”  What?  WHY NOT?!  I mean, its winter!  There’s ICE!  And isn’t that BAD?  Ok, maybe I have a slight fear of flying…
The plane starts to go faster and faster, every bump on the runway magnified, and I say a little prayer.  ‘Hey there God.  How are ya?  First of all, thank you for all the wonderful things I have in my life right now.  Yes, I do feel blessed.  Just a quick little request here, if you could, you know, please let us not crash?  And please let there be no ice.  Thank you.  With you, all things are possible.  Like landing.  In one piece.  This is Jill by the way.  Ok, amen.’  We get off the ground, make our way to our first layover, and finally, to Colorado where family is waiting.  As nervous as I may be on that plane, I always remember, the final destination is worth doing the things that I’m afraid of.  So Happy Holidays, and enjoy the beauty and wonder of the season.  I wish you joy and courage to take the risks, whatever they may be, to make your destinations in life.  It’s worth it.

Merry Christmas and safe travels to you and yours this holiday season.

Fabulous Friends

I have fabulous friends.  Really.  And for those who have shot with me before, when I say fabulous, you KNOW I mean to say FAAAABULOOOOUUUSS!!!  ;)

I was finally able to get out and shoot with a lovely friend of mine tonight and we decided to make a trek down to Holland.  Well, shooting turned into shopping, which turned into dinner, which became a great discussion about different styles of photography.  Candid vs posed.  If I had to narrow my style down to a single word, it would be “Life”.  I enjoy documenting life, and all its beautifully candid and raw moments.  Even though I do enjoy posing and putting together a great set for a photoshoot, I truly love to simply watch life unfold through my camera lens.  And capture it.  So thank you Mary, for reminding me what it is I love about photography.

A few of the shots from our excursion… including Santa!!

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Christmas Spirit

So I’ve been a little behind on Christmas spirit this year.  Seems like every year, this city’s decorations go up earlier and earlier and it’s difficult to get into the holiday that has become so commercialized.  But the truth is, Christmas is more than just decorations and black Friday deals.  It’s family and friends.  Love and kindness.  Faith and awe.  It’s laying under the tree and gazing at the lights.  Ice skating in Rosa Parks circle, and if you’re anything like me, hobbling away with lots of bruises and laughs.  Its curling up under a blanket and watching Bing Crosby in White Christmas for the millionth time.  We all celebrate the holidays differently, but the point is, CELEBRATE.  Who cares if you don’t have time to decorate your house with boughs of holly.  Decorate your soul instead.

Liz & DJ {Married!!}

Complete. That’s the first word that comes to mind when I think of DJ and Liz.  Complete:  Achieved.  Encompassed.  Unbroken.  Undiminished.  Undivided.  The whole enchilada.  Hook, line and sinker…  They look at each other and you just know.  It’s a complete love. —   I had the pleasure of sharing a beautiful day with Dj and Liz, as they spent their wedding day enjoying the company of friends and family.  The ceremony was held at an quaint little chapel in Coopersville, after which we braved the summer heat as we dodged moving trains, climbed large rock formations and headed downtown to Grand Rapids to find the very spot where DJ proposed.  Although the forecast was for rain ALL DAY, it miraculously held off (I’d like to believe it was just for us) and proved to be a COMPLETEly beautiful day.

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Wants vs. Needs

I’ve been thinking a lot lately on the difference between wants and needs.  There are plenty of things in life that I want… a new car, chicken peanut curry dinner, bouquet of roses, a very large budget to stock my closet, with a separate allowance just for the shoes…   But the truth is, none of those things matter.  The difference between wants and needs is that needs, or the lack of having what you need, changes your very existence.  They make you truly feel longing, or on the opposite end, content and truly happy.  And they are unique to everyone.  So, just to be clear, here is a list of needs.  By yours truly…

1. Smiles
2. Kind words
3. My family
4. My girlfriends
5. Bubble baths
6. Music
7. Forests to run in
8. Dancing
9. Chocolates (and that’s a NEED, not a want )
10. Hugs – the kind that are so tight that it’s hard to breathe
11. Cheesy jokes
12. A hand to hold
13. A good night’s sleep
14. Perfect moments of laughter
15. Beautiful scenery
16. Inspiration
17. My camera.

So go, find the things you NEED in life, and enjoy them. 

Marta & Eric {Married!}

This summer I had the pleasure of shooting alongside photographer Adam Glanville at Marta and Eric’s wedding.  The day couldn’t have been more beautiful.  With the sun shining and the surroundings lush and green, Marta and Eric, in front of their closest family and friends, promised to love each other for now and forever. 

 

10 Things About Me…

Okay, I don’t talk about myself much.  People call me downright mysterious.  So in an effort to share this knowledge of who I am with others, I have decided to simply write it down.  It’s really interesting to see what people say about themselves, their strengths, weaknesses, interests, and even thing they just plain don’t like.  In a way, it feels like a release.  So to start this off, here are 10 things about me…

1.  I love shoes… Gucci, prada, red, black, heels flats.  I LOVE shoes.

2.  I love camping.  Bonfires, hiking, and wine tasting.  Wait, not everyone goes wine-tasting on their camping trips?? 

3.  I am a work in progress.  I don’t claim to be perfect or complete.  I will never stop growing, creating, learning, and evolving.

4.  I love the smell of a summer rain.

5.  I love a little black dress, and the way it makes me feel…

6.  I laugh.  A LOT.  People often wonder what is so funny, EVERYTHING!  If you can’t find humor in life, you’re not really living it.

7.  I love to run in the forest, hopping over roots and dodging tree branches.  I feel totally alive when I’m running with nature.

8.  I NEED my girlfriends.  They are my rock, they keep me grounded and sane.  They show me who I really am, and I feel beautiful in their eyes.

9.  I daydream.  ALL day.

10.  I will try anything once.  It’s called life, so LIVE it.

Liz & DJ Engaged!

What amazing weather we’re having here in Grand Rapids!  I was privilaged to share a beautiful March day with Liz and DJ yesterday for their engagement photoshoot downtown, what a fun couple!  The sun was shining, the weather was beautiful, and it finally felt like spring.  I’m so happy to be working with them and looking forward to their upcoming wedding!  I just couldn’t wait to post a few of my favorites from their session…

A Grand Rapids Winter Wonderland

So winter is here, and let’s face it.  It’s COLD outside!!  I’ve been trapped indoors for weeks and just couldn’t stand it anymore.  So a simple status update on facebook turned into a Grand Rapids Flickr (www.grflickr.com) photowalk with 21 photographers!  I love it when that happens…  The sun was shining on Sunday when we departed Bigby and a great time was had by all.  Thanks to Molly for initiating the new rule, Flickrintermission. 

Check out my flickrpage for more photos…