Holiday Cards for your Family Portraits

Had an amazing Xpedition, or some Xquisite  family portraits with jenX this year?  Share your moments with your Christmas or Holiday Card.  Let jenX custom design your card, or choose from one of our beautiful previously designed cards below.  Custom Designs and Cards featured below are 5x7, printed on your choice of Pearl, Pebble, Premium Heavyweight, Linen, or Standard, professional quality card stock.  They come with envelopes; and can have your return address pre-printed, for an additional fee, upon your request.  Custom designs also available in additional sizes and folding cards.     See additional custom sizes and pricing here: jenX prices. (Hate to disappoint, but let's plan ahead....No custom designs available after December 5th.)

$44 per 25 

Don't see something you are Xcited about?  Don't be afraid to ask!  I have additional designs available upon request, and am happy to custom design something perfectly unique, just for you.  

Two Epic Costa Rica Xpeditions

In 2012 the lives of my family were impacted for the better.  We were contacted by the most amazing non-profit, Ocean Healing Group.  They are actively "Carving the 'Dis' out of Disability," one child at a time!  Our son Christian was born "differently abled."  He has a neuromuscular disease, CMT, that is classed with Muscular Dystrophy.  This in turn caused him to have a joint disorder, AMC, or Arthro-Gryposis, which roughly means "stiff joints."  He was born with severe club feet, his right hip out of socket...missing a ball & socket all together actually,  and various other troublesome issues that evolve out of having fused joints.  The doctors at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children were so unsure what his abilities would be that when I asked "Will he walk?" they danced right around it with the most vague of answers: "He may walk, he may not walk, he may walk, and then not walk!"  ??? Well, walk he did.  After many surgeries, and countless hours of physical therapy, he got up and went.  He used a wheel chair to go any significant distance, but he could walk!  I was absolutely struck with the realization that nothing would hold this kid back.  Nothing.     In 2012 Christian was in middle school, experiencing all the awkwardness that that right of passage has to offer, and perhaps more.  In spite of his tremendously positive attitude, there is no doubt that it is challenging to be an adolescent who is seemingly a little different than his peers.  When Ocean Healing Group reached out to us, and said they would like to take the family to Costa Rica and teach Christian how to Surf, it sounded unbelievable.  Too good to be true, even.  Although it took a sizable leap of faith, our family decided it was a once in a lifetime opportunity that we would be foolish to pass up.  The long and short of it, is that that boy stood up and surfed!  Here are a few of my favorite images from our Epic Xpedition:  

Not a dry eye in the ocean.  One of the most spectacular moments of my life.  Bar none.  At a time when it would be   easy to feel sorry for yourself, or bemoan the unfairness of life, Christian demonstrated a perseverance that would make anyone take notice.  I can't begin to thank Ocean Healing Group enough for being the vessel to put the wind in his sails at maybe the most opportune moment in Christian's life.  They are a group of the most servant minded wonderful human beings a person could be blessed enough to stumble across.  We immediately felt a kinship, and knew we wanted to continue to be a part of their efforts and their lives.  This past summer, 2015, we were granted just such an opportunity.  The Elmore family traveled back to Costa Rica as volunteers this time.  Again, life changing for the better.  It was empowering for Christian to be in the position to be of service to someone else, instead of the one getting all of the attention.  It was joyous to be back at home with our Ocean Healing Family again.  The Camp is called Shaka, located on the southern Nicoya Peninsula; and when OHG is there, the adventures are called JAWS.  (Just Add Water Surfing)  The adventure branch of my company, jenXpeditions, was able to volunteer photo and video services for the week.    Here is my attempt  to capture what great things Ocean Healing Group is doing for families during the JAWS 24 camp:

Destination Wedding Photographer

Following are some of my favorite images for the beautiful Bauer-Lee nuptials that took place back in March in Aspen, Colorado.  It was a spectacularly good time, and a huge blessing to be a part of.  

Here is the daughter of the Groom, Sloan, trying on the Bride's wedding gown.  Someday this will be priceless.

Bride, Nicole, and Groom, Frank, ready for the fun to start.  

We walked over to the St. Regis, across the street from the wedding site.

It is a veritable cornucopia of beautiful backdrops to shoot in front of.   

This is a pretty spot...Let's get some shots this way...oh, over here too.  Oh wait, it's just awesome everywhere you look!

My favorite thing about the happy couple is just that...they are happy.  No faking.  No "say cheese."  It's just lovely to capture happiness.

Back in front of the Mountain Chalet,  (http://www.mountainchaletaspen.com)

A perfectly quaint ski lodge.  It was not the best time of day for outdoor wedding photography, but who could resist shooting with a blue sky and mountains in the background?  We were gifted the most gorgeous day.

Ring Barer & Flower Girl Love.

I love to catch jumping pictures.  They are just funny.  It takes several shots to get a good one.  Hard to coordinate that many people, in formals, jumping at the same time.  It's a work out.  1, 2, 3, JUMP!  1, 2, 3, JUMP!  1, 2, 3, JUMP!

The Mountain Chalet is walking distance to the Aspen ski lifts.  We had several skiers walking right into our photos.  It was kind of comical.  This nice gentleman was one of the only people who actually stopped to let us continue shooting pictures.  I asked him to go on ahead, and took the shot of him in the picture anyway, to capture what shooting at this location really entailed.  Nice guy.  Thanks for pausing.  

"Because I'm Happy!"

Happy couple just post "I do's" and a spirited dance down the isle.  

Hut one, Hut two...

Nothing to say.  I just like this one.

A nice dinner downstairs, before going back up to the ball room for the reception.  Up and down the stairs in high altitude is no joke for a Texan.  Not the first time I've been grateful for being in good shape while I was on a shoot.  I have often found I don't think I could keep up otherwise.  How do people get used to a lack of oxygen?  I suppose like Texans get accustomed to the heat in the summer.

Coolest shot glass contraption I've ever seen!  The shot glasses are shaped like ski boots, and they actually clip into bindings on the ski.  For the shot that says "ready or not, we're all in this together!"

I loved the bubble exit.  It worked splendidly indoors.  No wind to blow them all away!  Felt like a bubble machine unlike any other Bubble exit I've ever gotten to witness.  

Now, I've shot a lot of weddings, and here is something that doesn't happen every day!  Upon exit, Frank and Nicole decide to run downstairs and jump into the pool!  It was very spontaneous, and I felt dreadfully unprepared.  Fast action and no light is a logistical nightmare for a photographer.  Sadly, I was ill prepared and missed the actual splash.  I may kick myself a little for that moment for a long time to come.  I love and commend the spontaneity, but in hind site, we might have communicated a second longer on exactly where they were going to jump in.  I suppose some moments are only for memories, and not to be captured.

There was also a point were the Bride's dress was over her head for so long that I was concerned for  her safety and wondering if she was going to get air fast enough.  You can imagine my relief when she was discovered under all that fabric, all smiles!

What a crazy-fun unforgettable event.  A big part of me wanted to just jump in too.

Of course the Bridesmaids and Groomsmen must join in.  ...at least the spontaneous ones!

And this marks my first group wedding portrait in a swimming pool.  Likely the last too, which is too bad.  It made for a fantastic ending to an already ridiculously fun party.  More people should consider such a grand finale.

And they lived...

...Happily Ever After!

Thank you for the honor of flying to Aspen to capture a beautiful, unique love story.