Jessica Valle [Life and Photography]

Winnnnnnner.

2011-10-19T20:43:00.000-07:00

Thanks for all the comments! Your input helped so much.
If I look at my photos for too long, I get very confused on what I like.
But you picked the one that I was thinking of. :)

I'm super excited for this new ad.
Yippidee dippidee.

<3
Jess

Vote!

2011-10-18T20:45:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year where I get to make a new ad for The Knot Ohio magazine.
This time, it's been a struggle to decide on which photo to choose.
So, I thought I'd take it to the interwebz for a vote. (The blog and facebook.)

Here are the options:

1. Lauren and Dave - Springfield, OH

2. Amanda and Jon - Columbus, OH

3. Sarah and Kevin - Sandusky, OH

4. Lauren and Dave - Springfield, OH

5. Brooke and Luke - Portland, OR

Pick your favorite.
Comment the number.

Tomorrow night, the decision has to be made.

DUN DUN DUNNNNNNN.

Love,
Jess

Melchi Wedding!

2011-09-28T12:09:00.000-07:00

I have been so crazy busy this year, I haven't had time to blog a lot of the weddings I've done so far. I'll get there. Slowly, but surely!

This wedding was in Columbus! A few months back.
Amanda and Jon are a beautiful couple and their families are incredibly kind.
I loved that their ceremony was on top of a building. Mmmmm.
And her shoes are killer.

Enjoy.

Congrats, Amanda and Jon!

<3
Jess

Kids stuff

2011-08-22T19:32:00.000-07:00

I've been MIA for a while. Sorry about that.
It's a busy wedding season.

I have tons of stuff to post, but for now, here are some kid photos.
And a special promotion.

In

3

2

1....

And these are my nephews. :) EEEEEE.

Get in touch. Book a session.

Love,
Jess

2012

2011-06-30T19:44:00.001-07:00

Well... I'm already getting inquiries for 2012.
And we all know the apocalypse is coming, right?

This is my 3rd year doing wedding photography. It's been a fun ride so far.
This year, I decided to focus primarily on Ohio. Last year (2009), I had most of my weddings out of state, which was slightly exhausting. So I started advertising in The Knot Ohio magazine and got 23 fabulous brides and grooms to book me for 2011. WOOO!
That's pretty much a wedding every weekend for half of the year. BOOM! And I won Best of Photography for 2011 for Columbus. Shazam!

Next year, I plan to book 20 weddings. (Or more. I haven't decided.)
My rate will be $3,400 for 8 hours or $3,700 for 10 hours. (More details if you contact me.)

I've been thinking about hiring a 2nd photographer to build up my business. Although, I'm mostly tempted to hire an assistant to help me with everything.

So let's all raise our glasses to a victorious past 3 years!

And thanks to everyone who has booked me, supported me, encouraged me and stalked me!
I couldn't have done it without all your love and super stalking skills. :)

Love,
Jess

PS. And if you do stalk me, you can totally comment on my posts and I will not bite you.

Nick & Megan

2011-06-30T19:18:00.000-07:00

Springfield, OH

Megan and I have a bunch of mutual friends. Horray! She got engaged to her high school sweetheart, Nick. Through her awesome friend Shawn, we got connected and they booked me for their big day.

Megan and Nick are such down to earth people. I remember when I first sat down with them. We had a drink and just talked. They are easy to get along with. They are friendly and inviting. I love that.

The entire day was beautiful. And SRSLY! 23 bridal party members. It's by far the largest bridal party I've ever had. As a matter of fact, it's the largest WEDDING I've ever shot. So much love here.

Enjoy these photos!

And congrats to Nick and Megan.
Let's have drinks sometime. :)

Love,
Jess

I love animals!

2011-06-24T12:03:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I went to the Humane Society with the Dayton City Paper. I photographed dogs and cats that need to be adopted. There are SO many. It made my little heart hurt.

In a few weeks, there will be an article in the paper. Be on the look out.
And remember that there are tons of furry little friends that need loving homes.

Love,
Jess

Dan & Indi!

2011-06-22T19:13:00.000-07:00

Dan and Indi are such a sweet couple. They found me on The Knot a while ago and booked me for their big day. They are one of those couples that you just want to hug and drink tea with.

Their wedding was in Columbus and it was so much fun. They did a flash mob dance, got in MC Hammer wear and had a wonderful time with family and friends. Indi's dress was FABULOUS. I just loved everything about this wedding.

Congrats to Indi and Dan! I hope you have a wonderful move to Cali! Enjoy that warm weather and eat some good mexican food for me!

Enjoy these photos. :)

Horray! :)

Love,
Jess

Dayton City Paper Cover Shot!

2011-06-21T20:54:00.000-07:00

I recently became a contributing photographer for the Dayton City Paper. Exciting!
This week, my photo is the cover shot for the front of the paper, and it's the cover shot for the article. I also have a couple other photos in there. :)

Yay! View the digital paper here .

A very happy,
Jess

Ryan and Lana.

2011-06-21T19:49:00.000-07:00

I know Ryan from living in Seattle a few years back. He had a beautiful girlfriend named Lana. I love her style and her personality. I love them both!

About 3 or 4 months ago, Ryan contacted me about the big proposal! Needless to say, I was totally thrilled to see two people I love getting engaged, BUT! He also wanted me to photograph it.

So he flew me out last Thursday. On Friday night, I sat in a bush for about 30 minutes while I waited for them to sit on the bench he had picked out by the water. (A big thanks to my friend John for helping me out!) I was shaking like a leaf. There I was, a girl sitting in a bush with a camera, spying on two people. (Thank you Seattlites for not calling the cops on me.) I took some photos from the bush and once he was on his knee, I came out to take more photos. AND SHE SAID YES!

EEEE!

And then we did engagement photos on the pier and around Pike Place Market.
This couple is not afraid of the camera. It's a photographer's dream!

They will have an epic wedding. :)

Congrats to Ryan and Lana!
I am so grateful that you let me be apart of this huge time in your life!

Love,
Jess

Kevin and Sarah! [Engaged!]

2011-06-13T18:43:00.000-07:00

Columbus, OH

Kevin and Sarah contacted me a while back about shooting their wedding in Sandusky. They booked me and I was stoked.

They drove down to Columbus for an engagement shoot. We hung out in the short north and got some Jeni's ice cream. They are a fun couple. Easy to talk to. Easy to like. I can't wait for their big day! It's going to be so much fun. I can feel it.

In 3.....

2.............

1.................

BOOM!

Yippee for ice cream and love.

Jess

Greg & Emily

2011-06-12T19:11:00.000-07:00

Columbus, OH

Greg and Emily had a beautiful wedding about 3 weeks ago.
Her mother found me through her hair stylist, which is a bride from a wedding I shot last year. (Halley & Dave). From the minute I met them, they were so wonderful to work with. I always love it when the bride's mom is just as excited about photos as the bride.

Greg and Emily's wedding was classic and beautiful. Her dress was AMAZING. I just loved it all.

I want to thank the family and bridal party for making me feel so comfortable with them while I worked with them. I had so much fun at this wedding.

Enjoy these photos. (This was the first wedding I shot with my new 5D Mark II!)

Love,
Jess

Dayton City Paper

2011-06-09T11:57:00.000-07:00

I contacted Dayton City Paper a few weeks ago to see if they still had an opening for a photographer. And lucky me, they needed me for a shoot.

I'm so excited to be a contributing photographer for Dayton City Paper. I've done 2 shoots for them so far and I can't wait to see my work published. :)

Yay!!!

And the neighbor gave me these little tiny strawberries. EEEE!
I love our neighborhood.

More weddings will be posted soon!
I have a wedding almost every weekend for the next 5 months. :) WOO!

Jess

Baylee!

2011-05-31T12:41:00.000-07:00

Baylee is now living with us at our new home in Dayton. I'm so excited!! :)
I took her to an awesome groomer in Beavercreek, OH called Doggie Styles Day Spa. I picked them because I saw that they have awesome services like blueberry facials! (Yes, I love Baylee that much.)

Today she went and it was an awesome experience. She got treats, a positive report card, a bandanna and she smells like blueberries!!! We are so happy that we found this place.

If you're in the Dayton area and looking for a groomer, I 100% recommend them. We will be going back often!

A very happy,
Jess & Baylee

I got a new camera. Omg.

2011-05-26T21:08:00.001-07:00

I finally got the 5D Mark II. I've been waiting for over 2 years to get this little bundle of joy. :) I am so excited.

I just wanted to share. :)

Love,
Jess

Dave and Kat's SURPRISE wedding. :)

2011-05-25T14:33:00.000-07:00

Dayton, Ohio
3/21 weddings for 2011

A while back, Kat contacted me with an unusual proposal. She was getting married, but no one knew. Instead of doing normal wedding photos, I would be photographing a "surprise birthday party", but it would be the guests who got the surprise. Of course, I was stoked to be a part of it.

Kat and Dave are so awesome. I love how laid back and down to earth they are. The fact that they did a surprise wedding party said a lot about them. They are so fun to be around.

Last night, I got to sit with them and watch them look at the wedding photos for the first time. I've never done that before. While it was a little scary, it was so awesome to see their reactions. I think my ego blew up about 10 notches.

Enjoy these photos.
And congrats to Kat and Dave!
I loved being a part of your big day!

SURPRISE!

:)

Love,
Jess

My brother totally got hitched.

2011-05-15T18:34:00.000-07:00

Josh and Katie Valle
Springfield, OH

I love my brother, Josh. He is one of the funniest and kindest guys I know. When he was 15, he met Katie. I liked her from the start. We joke that we are soul mates. She is the sister I have always wanted. Her and Josh let me live with them for a year so that I could get my business up and running successfully. They are just the best.

We have been through hard times, fun times, sad times and happy times. 7 years and 2 kids later, they tied the knot. It was a small and beautiful wedding. 14 guests included parents, siblings and grandma.

Get this. Their wedding was less than $800. That blows my mind.
When you have an awesome church (New Hope, Springfield, OH) and when your sister is a photographer, you are bound to have a great wedding. At the bottom of this blog, I will post all of the vendors for the big day.

Josh, I love you more than you know. You have grown into such a strong and handsome man. :) Thank you for supporting me in my photography. I learn a lot from watching you with your kids. You're such a baller dad. Maybe someday, I'll get to buy you a pimp ride.

Katie, You don't understand how much you mean to me. I could cry like a girl just thinking of how happy I am that I get to share the same last name with you. You are a wonderful mother and a true friend. Thanks for being so hawt.

Congratulations, Josh and Katie VALLE!!!!!!

Flowers: Schneider's Florist.
Dress: Grissom's.
Make-up: Lauren Monroe Cosmetics
Hair: Michaelangelos Hair Design
Place cards: Katie and I made them. :) Handwriting: Abra BOYYYYYD! Materials from Crafts 2000.
Shoe clips: Katie and I made them!
Cupcakes: Anne Blackburn
Food: Springfield Country Club
Church: Pastor Kevin Moehn New Hope Church, Springfield, Ohio
Photographer: Duh.

Love,
Jess

Engagements!

2011-04-22T14:13:00.000-07:00

I've been doing loads of engagement photos in the past few weeks. It's really nice to be able to spend some time with the brides and grooms whose weddings I'll be shooting later in the year. And thank God for flowers, good weather and awesome photo locations.

Here are 2 shoots that I've done in the past few weeks.
Three cheers for Spring.

Amanda & Jon
Columbus, Ohio

-----

Angela & Adam
Westerville, Ohio

Love,
Jess

Every Day Art.

2011-04-21T12:54:00.000-07:00

My friend Ellen is ridiculously creative. SRSLY. This girl is crafty, fun and sells her brilliant creations. I'm very excited that we are collaborating! I love her work and I think you will too.

The name of her store is Every Day Art or E.D.A.
She has a facebook page and a website.

She does awesome stuff for brides maids gifts and children.

She also has these AWESOME pillows that I want a million of.OMG.

Check her out. Buy her stuff.
And look forward to seeing more of her work photographed by me, soon. :)

Love,
Jess

Adam and Molly!

2011-04-11T17:49:00.000-07:00

I met Adam and Molly a few months ago when they booked me for their wedding. And I can't even begin to explain how easy it was to photograph them. They are a beautiful couple and they aren't afraid to be themselves. That is a mega bonus for me.

We went to Inniswood Metro Gardens for this shoot. It was packeddddd! So many people out enjoying the 80 degree weather. And TEN MILLION PHOTOGRAPHERS were there. I bet there were 200 SLR's in that park that day.

I am so very excited that I get to photograph Adam and Molly's wedding later this year. I know it's going to be a blast. And their wedding photos are gonna be ballerrrrr.

Enjoy these photos. :)

(Umm...this is my fav.)

Yay! Love!

Jess

Before/After

2011-04-04T17:38:00.000-07:00

A before/after from Lauren & Dave's engagement shoot. :)

That is all.
Jess

Dave & Lauren

2011-04-03T21:15:00.000-07:00

Columbus, Ohio

I think I met Lauren about 6 months ago. She booked me for her wedding and we were insta-friends. She recently opened up her own cosmetic business in Columbus. (Lauren Monroe Cosmetics) She's fun, beautiful and so down to earth. I could eat ice cream with her every single day.

So today, I met her fiance Dave. (He's awesome too.) And the three of us went around Columbus for some engagement photos. It was cold, but it was so much fun to hang out with them. I smell a double date.

So enjoy these 21 photos. Yeah. I am sooooooo crazy about these pictures. So I'm sharing a lot. :)

(The ENGAGE wall returns!!!)

And FYI, Lauren is very far from being a bitch.

Love,
Jess

Sawyer

2011-03-31T17:53:00.001-07:00

Last week I got to photograph little Sawyer. She's 5 months old and her mother (Lindsay) is a friend of my brother and sister-in-law.

Everytime I have photographed a baby with a headband, they freak out and cry. But Sawyer was a sport. She was pretty awesome during the entire shoot. You can't go wrong when you have a cute baby with cute clothes on. :)

If you are interested in a Spring family shoot, it's 25% off for the season. (Originally $200)

Thanks for hiring me, Lindsay!

Love,
Jess

Jess + Wes = Yes

2011-03-29T12:28:00.001-07:00

I do photography. My boyfriend (Wes) does graphic design and web development.
He currently works at Think Patented in Dayton, Ohio.

Our friends Zach and Kristian got engaged a few months back and Wes designed the save the date with my photos. Go team!

Basically, we are an awesome team.
If you're ever interested in having him design a save the date or invite, just let me know.

I love that Wesley Deer.

Jess

Adam & Chelsie

2011-03-28T21:19:00.000-07:00

Springfield, OH

Yesterday, Adam, Chelsie and I ventured into the freezing weather for some engagement photos. It probably doesn't look that cold in the photos because Adam and Chelsie are pros at picture taking. ;)

The next 2 months are full of engagement sessions. And then June hits and BAM! Wedding season begins.

Can't wait for the Maloney wedding!
Enjoy their photossss!

Love,
Jess

Silas Valle

2011-03-08T15:54:00.000-08:00

My nephew Silas is 6 months old.
He is the best.
I haven't taken many photos of him because winter makes me boring.
But there will be lots more in the future. :)

Enjoy.

Don't you wish he was your nephew??? :)

Love,
Jess

A new year wedding!

2011-03-03T14:14:00.000-08:00

My wonderful friend Matt Ison married a beautiful woman named Stephanie. It was in Ann Arbor, Michigan on new years day.

It was a beautiful wedding and the bridal party was huggeeee! 8 and 7. That shows what a friendly couple they are. :) And even though it was freeeeezing outside, the hotel (where the reception was) was modern and awesome! It couldn't have been a better day.

I loved being a part of this great celebration. Congrats to the spectacular couple!

Enjoy these photos.

My boyfriend Wes and I taking a resttttttt! Very necessary.

Love you, Matt & Steph!

Jess

What a great day. :)

2011-01-13T15:16:00.000-08:00

I went to the store to get some laundry detergent. I was passing the magazine section and I was like
"Eh. I guess I'll check and see if it's out yet."
(It wasn't supposed to be out until Saturday.) And there it was.

I took a picture of it with my phone on the stand. :)
(Thank you Instagram for iPhone.)

What a wonderful day.
Pick one up and turn to page 186. :)

Thank you to everyone who has encouraged me and believed in me for the past 2 years.

I've got a big smile on my face.

Love,
Jess

Jim and Lauren Martin

2011-01-05T16:40:00.001-08:00

It was a freezing cold day in Chargin Falls, OH when I shot Jim and Lauren's wedding.
And I was pretty excited that teal was one of the main colors. :)

Jim and Lauren's bridal party was awesome. I really loved working with everyone on this day.

Lauren and I have been talking about her wedding for quite a while now, and it's clear that she is so truly interested in the people around her. She was a huge help when The Knot reviews were needed for me to win The Best of Photography for Columbus. And I am so grateful that I could be a part of this beautiful day.

Jim and Lauren are an awesome couple. And they have great teeth. :)

Love,
Jess

Numero uno and ugly sweaters.

2010-12-05T20:09:00.000-08:00

The race is over.
I had 38 reviews by midnight on Friday. AKA 1st place for Columbus wedding photogs on WeddingChannel.com
Horray!
I'm not sure when they will officially announce the winners, but the numbers are clear.
Super happy and thankful for everyone who reviewed. :)

Check out the site here.

In other news, the ugly christmas sweater party was a success.
But I am very serious about keeping the noise to a minimum for the sake of the neighbors. I'm not sure if this makes me less fun, but whatever. :)

A few photos to prove it.

(This is my roommate. She's neat.)

(Wes and I)

(This is Lionel. He's legit.)

(Me and Mindy. My BFF.)

Loveeeeee,
Jess

The Best of Photography Columbus.

2010-12-02T13:36:00.000-08:00

I'm currently up for Best of Photography for Columbus for The Knot. It's running through their sister site WeddingChannel.com

I've had the most reviews for about a week. Very exciting! But it's crunch time! And everyone is rushing to get more reviews. So let's hope for the best!

Tomorrow is the deadline.
If I win, I'll get a little award by my name on theknot.com, I'll have an award badge for my blog/website and I'll be listed as a winner in the magazine whenever they publish it.

This could really help me for 2011. Who doesn't love a winner? :)
This would be the first award I've won for photography. Neato.

Love
Jess

What's up? Not a lot.

2010-11-30T13:10:00.001-08:00

I haven't updated in a while, so I thought I'd just say that...
it's raining in Columbus. I'm so glad that we haven't had any snow yet.

This weekend, we are having an ugly Christmas sweater party. I'm very excited. I'll blow up this blog with photos from it.

And...
Another year is almost here. That's crazy.
Life is so good.
Glad to have such great friends, an awesome roommate, an thriving career, a wonderful family and such great things to look forward to in the coming year.

Love,
Jess

PS. 1 month until the magazine comes out. :)

Janet

2010-11-17T15:31:00.000-08:00

Janet found me about a month ago on the internet. I was really excited for 2 reasons:

1. She does photography as well, so she knows what she wants!
2. She does 10 minute meals! You can check out her website at http://www.10-minutemeals.com She has a book. She does a television program. She's awesome.

So we spent some time at the North Market. She was fun and full of enthusiasm! :)

I hope you'll check out her website.
And enjoy these photos!

I love new projects. :)

PS. We put up our Christmas tree. I love it.

Love,
Jess

Krach AKA Zach and Kristian.

2010-11-16T10:48:00.000-08:00

Went out with my friends Zach and Kristian to do engagement photos. Pretty much stuck around the Short North. Although, we did find these lofts that made me want to dance. Someday...I want one of those lofts.

A few things:
1. Zach and Kristian are awesome. We don't get to hang out often, but once they move to Columbus, I'm sure there will be fun times. And lots of Dirty Franks hot dogs.
2. They got engaged a month or two ago. And I'll be photographing their wedding next fall.
3. After this shoot, Kristian and I looked through my bridal magazines. (I <3 weddings.) And we watched a lot of "How I Met Your Mother". (I'm addicted.)
4. We had Jeni's Ice cream during this shoot. Heirloom Pumpkin 5-Spice + Brown Butter Almond Brittle = AMAZING.
5. Enjoy these photos.

(get engaged.)

Love.
Jess

It was a good weekend.

2010-11-08T15:10:00.000-08:00

Some neat things I found at an antique store here in Columbus.

(Above: It's a lighter. So awesome.)

And I saw Jonsi and Mountain Man.
Epic.

Watch them here:

Happy Monday.

Jess

I'm gonna be in a magazine. Woohoo!

2010-11-04T20:15:00.000-07:00

So, I've been obsessed with weddings since I was 8 or 9 years old. It's true. And it's just funny that my career is now being a wedding photographer. It's fitting, right? I think that I was most attracted to weddings as a kid because of the dresses. I would go down the magazine aisle with my mom at the grocery, I'd see the bridal magazine and I wanted it. Luckily, she'd buy me one and I'd take it home, cut out the photos and stick them to my walls. Eventually, I stuck them to my ceiling so I could stare at them in bed.

I did this until I was 17 or so. I definitely had my wedding planned out by the time I was 16. And around 19, I realized that weddings aren't just about the day; It's about love and a lifetime commitment. Go figure! :)

I was always a big fan of The Knot. It was simple, clean and modern. And it had all the best dresses. :) Reem Acra was my favorite wedding gown designer. Her dresses made me drool.

So now, I am oh so very excited that I am going to be in The Knot Ohio magazine. I'll have a half page ad starting in January. (See photo below.) I am also on theknot.com and weddingchannel.com

It's not a cheap investment. It's about $4,000 dollars a year. But I've been successful so far with no advertising. I'm very excited about 2011 and the opportunities I will have with advertising with The Knot. :)

I'll be booking 24 weddings for 2011. (I shot 17 this year.)
My starting rate is $2,500.
So glad to be moving up into the normal price bracket for wedding photography.

I'm like a giddy little school girl.
Life is good.
I'm collecting bridal magazines again!
And I am incredibly lucky to have such loving friends and fans.
I am truly grateful.

Love,
Jess

PS. I'm definitely posting photos of the magazine when I have it in my hands!

The Petersons in Maui.

2010-10-31T20:33:00.000-07:00

I flew to Maui to shoot Dan & Jenn's big day.
Rough, huh? ;)

Jenn used to be my roommate in Seattle. She was around when my business first started. I would be in my room, geeking out on my computer and she would gladly come in to see what I was up to and encourage me. She's stuck through me through good times and bad times. She's the kind of friend I want to be.

So, when she told me that she met someone after I had moved to Ohio, I was super curious. And when I finally met Dan, I knew that he was perfect for her. I cannot imagine anyone else who would be better. He is kind, fun, funny and sweet. The world needs more guys like Dan.

So it was an honor to shoot their wedding in paradise. :)
I had a blast and got a nice sunburn.

Here are some pics from the big day:

I couldn't ask for better friends. :)

Love,
Jess

JD & Caitlin

2010-10-19T09:12:00.000-07:00

Seattle, WA
Caitlin found me through a website last fall and it has been nothing but a pleasure since. Again, one of those people you want to be your best friend so you can eat ice cream and make fun of people in the park. ;)

And SHUT UP. The dress she had was killer. I drooled for months just waiting to see it in person.

It's always neat when brides let me be their photographer AND their friend.

JD and Caitlin's wedding was classy and fun. I was very impressed with the fact that Caitlin did a lot of her own decorations. She let her personality shine throughout all the decor. The vows were awesome. The wedding was awesome. The reception was awesome. It was the perfect number of guests where it felt intimate and fun at the same time.

And these photos are just the tip of the iceberg.

Seriously. Boom.

Jess

Brent & Katie

2010-10-19T08:55:00.001-07:00

Went to Grand Rapids, Michigan in September to shoot Brent & Katie's big day. I had only been in contact with them by email until the big day. It's an understatement to say that they are a warm and super friendly couple. And Katie is just one of those people that you want to be your BFF. :)

A big thanks to my wonderful friend Matt for connecting me with this lovely couple. Even though I cried myself to sleep because Matt couldn't make it to the wedding, I still had a wonderful time spending time with the bride and groom and their wonderful friends and family.

Love it.

Jess

1 year later.

2010-10-18T20:27:00.001-07:00

It's been a year since the beloved photo of Eli with the pig. :)

I love Maria. And I love how much she loves her son.
And I love getting to take photos of her son. :) It's a win win situation.

Love,
Jess

Iain & Morgan

2010-10-18T20:03:00.000-07:00

Iain & Morgan had an amazing wedding reception in Chicago. They were married in Greece a few months before, so they had this lovely reception for family and friends to celebrate. This wedding had one of the best toast speeches that I have ever heard. (By the best man.) And I loved the flowers!

I had an fabulous time in Chicago and I wish Iain and Morgan all the happiness in their future together!

Love,
Jess

Matt & Steph

2010-10-18T19:45:00.001-07:00

I met Matt about 4 years ago at a fall retreat. We had a group of friends that used to play poker, euchre and rock band together often. So much fun. But we've also gone through some really hard things in the past few years. My friends here have never let me down.

I can't begin to express how grateful I am for Matt's friendship. And I am so incredibly happy that he found the woman that he wants to spend the rest of his life with! She is beautiful, down to earth and fun. I had so much fun taking their engagement photos.

And I am honored that I get to be there to capture the wedding as well! :)

Three cheers for L O V E.

Jess

Leep!

2010-09-15T16:09:00.000-07:00

Photographed Steve and Catherine the other day. We went to the sunflower field in Yellow Springs, Ohio. It was awesomeeeee.

I'm super excited to shoot their wedding next September! I can tell that it's going to be a lot of fun. :)

I'm leaving on Friday for Seattle. Horray!

Love
Jess

PS.

2010-09-13T11:46:00.000-07:00

I'm going to start doing boudoir photography.
If interested, email me.

The first few shoots will be cheap.

Post #97

2010-08-27T12:53:00.001-07:00

Omg.
I have been traveling so much in the past month, which is why I haven't updated. To add onto that, my computer got a virus which meant I was unable to edit for a while. But thankfully, my friend Wes let me borrow his mac. Why have I never owned a MAC!? I am an idiot.

So here are a few photos from the past month. There are tons more from baby shoots and weddings. I'll try to put them up at some point.

Sorry for neglecting the blogz.

Love,
Jess

A fun little project.

2010-07-21T13:21:00.000-07:00

This is a cover of the song "The Ladder" by Andrew Belle. Sang by me, produced by Michael Johnson. (@mikewho on twitter)

The photo was inspired by a dream I had. Yes, I was photographing Lady Gaga in my dream, wrapping cassette tapes around her and she put one in her mouth. So since I'll probably never photograph her, I took the idea for my own.

We hope you like it.
You can download the song here

Jess

Ty & Jess Swonger

2010-07-20T18:48:00.000-07:00

So...I moved back to Ohio. Actually, I'm moving to Columbus at the beginning of August. I'm a gypsy.

And it was perfect timing because I shot Ty and Jess' wedding in Springfield, Ohio. My hometownnnnn. Sprannnngfield.

Ty and Jess are a super fun couple. It was so easy to work with them. I'm sure you can tell by the photos that they are genuine and so in love. :)

No flowers. No shoes. Just a wonderful celebration of two hearts melting into one.

Congrats to Ty and Jess!

Love,
Jess

The Bowman's. :)

2010-07-08T12:20:00.000-07:00

Flew out to Omaha, Nebraska recently to shoot Sarah and Nick's big day. :) It was terrific. Even through the complications, they were graceful.

A big thanks to the family for letting me be a part of the festivities and for keeping me well fed. :)

And thanks to Jesse for being my bud during this trip. :)

Congrats to Sarah and Nick! :)

Love,
Jess

The Martel's

2010-06-29T13:48:00.000-07:00

Kristin and Ben's big day was full of love from family and friends. When we met up before their wedding they told me that their theme was "community" and it wasn't until I was there that I fully grasped what they meant.

You can tell that this couple invests a lot of time and love into their friends and family. I really enjoyed being around them and their attitude toward life is inspiring.

To the happy couple! :)

Love,
Jess

Congrats, Ben & Kristin! :)

2010-06-13T21:05:00.001-07:00

Today, I had the honor of shooting Ben and Kristin's wedding. (Nashville, TN)
It was so relaxed and full of love.
Couples like them give me hope.

More photos from their big day...in about a week or two.
When they get back from their honeymoon. :)

Love,
Jess

And they're done.

2010-06-08T17:20:00.000-07:00

These pieces are going into Nashville Clothing company in 40 minutes.
Super excited.

But seriously, ready to have them out of my hands. They take up too much room. :)

$150-$200 each.

Mr & Mrs Clem

2010-06-07T13:22:00.000-07:00

I drove back up to Ohio to shoot Dave and Nicole's big day! :) WOOT! Surprisingly, this is the biggest wedding that I have ever photographed. Now I know what it's like to shoot a wedding with 350+ people. WHEWWWWW.

I met Nicole and Dave earlier this year. I did their engagement photos. (You might remember.) And although I don't know them personally, you can tell that they are loads of fun. And their wedding was jam packed with so many people that love them.

It was so great to be a part of their big day.

There is so much love going on this month.
I have 2 more weddings in the next 3 weeks. Nashville, TN and Omaha, NE. Whew. I'm busy busy busy.

Love,
Jess

Allie Persinger! Sneak peek.

2010-06-06T19:41:00.000-07:00

I had SO SO SO SO SO SO much fun photographing Allie.
She is an aspiring musician and she's ridiculously fun to hang out with.

What do I love more than photographing a musician?
Photographing a musician who brings all kinds of clothes and accessories to the shoot. Seriously. She wins.

Check out her stuff here. :)

Love,
Jess

Sharing is caring.

2010-05-28T16:46:00.000-07:00

Share the L-O-V-E.
Save the image, send it in an email to book a kid or family shoot with me.
Or save the image, send it to a friend and let them save.
Either way, sharing is caring. ;)

I also do gift certificates, son.

Love,
Jess

Before/After

2010-05-27T20:41:00.000-07:00

For those of you who like post processing.
And for those of you who don't really understand the kind of work I put into my photos. :)

Everything that is in the photo was in the photo to begin with. I just brought it out and made it more vibrant.

Love,
Jess

Jim & Lauren YAYYYYY

2010-05-25T10:31:00.000-07:00

Had an awesome time photographing Lauren and Jim at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio. Not only did I get to do their engagement photos, but I'm gonna be shooting their wedding in December! Funnnn! I could tell just by being around them for an hour that their wedding is going to be a BLASTTTTTT!

The location where we shot is where they met. How sweet. :)

Super excited for these two love birds. :)

In other news, I made a new banner because sometimes I get bored.
I think that when I go through large changes (like moving) I just feel the extreme need for change. For instance, I've really been wanting to chop off my hair since I moved here. I just love that feeling of newness.

And...It's hot in Nashville.
And I'll be in Springfield, Ohio one week from today! Horray for friends and family!

And to those of you who read my blog, I think you're awesome. :)

Jessssss

Shnashville.

2010-05-21T17:20:00.000-07:00

I moved to Nashville last weekend.

It's neat.

In other news, I had a meeting with Nashville Clothing Company. I get to put my work in both of their stores. I'm pretty stoked. I'll be getting 18"x24" and 16"x16" canvas prints. BAM! So big. I'm so excited!

So if you're in Nashville, you should check that out. Hopefully around June 1st!

That is all.
Love,
Jess

The Smith's!

2010-05-13T23:26:00.000-07:00

Love love love love love love
is in the air!

Chris and Ashlee moved their wedding date just because I was gonna be in Seattle. When I found this out, I was very surprised. And honored. :)

This is the 2nd courthouse wedding that I've shot. I gotta say, as nice as it is to have a big ceremony, this just goes to show that you can have a nice, relaxed wedding day without spending a ton of money on flowers, location and all that jazz.

And you better believe I caught that bouquet!

Three cheers for Chris and Ashlee.
May their love only grow from here.

Love,
Jess

For Un Mundo Cafe.

2010-05-13T17:28:00.000-07:00

This is a new set that I put together for Un Mundo Cafe in Springfield, Ohio.
They are relocating during Memorial Day weekend, so I'm very excited to be the first artist in their new store!

(Above)
"My Portion" - 8"x8" - $40
"Winter" - 8"x10" - $50
"My Tattoo" - 8"x8" - I'm debating on selling this. I sorta want to be stingy about it.

(Above)
"Frosty Window" - 8"x8" - $40
"Melody" - 8"x10" - $50
"Tea, you are my friend" - 8"x8" - $65 (Collectors edition. 4/10)

(Above)

"Shcamera" - 6"x6" - $25
"Shhhhhoes" - 6"x6" - $25

Love these things. So much.

Love,
Jess

Prints on canvasssssssss.

2010-05-11T13:11:00.001-07:00

I now sell prints on canvas.
Woot woot.

Special rates to start this print party:
8"x10" - $50
8"x8" - $40
6"x6" - $25
5"x5" - $22
4"x4" - $20

Shipping = $5 in the US.

You can pick from any of my photos except for client photos. (Weddings, kids, families, etc.) (Unless you ARE a client. Then I can get your own photos on canvas.) But things of stuff or where you can't see faces, I'm cool with.

Rectangle AND square! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS. And I sign each of them like I do on my photosssssssss. Woot.

Email me if you're interested. :)
jessicaevalle@gmail.com

Love,
Jess

Here we go again.

2010-05-09T17:19:00.000-07:00

As of next Sunday, I will be a resident of Nashville, TN.
Is anyone surprised? Because I know my family wasn't.

I'm a gypsy. I move every 1-2 years.
I've been in Ohio for 1. I wasn't getting business.
So I'm outta here.
(Although, I'll be back often for family and stuff.)

Nashville, here I come.

Love,
Jess

PS. My boyfriend wrote me a symphony and had it played by a super awesome symphony. (He's a music producer.) Can you say OMG? 'Cause I can.

All other men are officially ruined for me. For life.

2010. The first year.

2010-04-30T10:20:00.000-07:00

I am officially booked for 2010. (For weddings, at least.)
I wanted to get 14 weddings. I got 16. Amazing.

I am incredibly grateful to all of you who look at my blog and keep up with my work.
I really do not believe that I would be where I am at without word of mouth.
Taking the leap to do this full time was a really big risk, but it was so worth it. And I am very excited to see what 2011 has to offer.

--------------

I took this photo on September 28th, 2008. The day I shot my very first wedding. I was terrified and excited. This couple that I knew asked me to shoot their wedding even though I had never done it before and I had no real training.

I had no idea that this day would change my life for good.

A year and a half later, I book my 16th wedding for the year.
So at the end of 2010, I’ll have shot 25 weddings in 2 years.

That’s crazy.
I’m in awe today.
It’s all starting to hit me.
Which is making me emotional.
Yeah, I kinda wanna cry.
In a good way.

Love,
Jess

I met somebody.

2010-04-29T16:08:00.001-07:00

And I'm sorta smitten. A lot.

Love,
Jess

Tis my day of birth.

2010-04-28T13:35:00.000-07:00

I'm 25 today.
I busted out my Sony Cybershot, which I haven't done in years.
I forgot how nice it is to have a little camera instead of hauling around my SLR.

My friend was driving through Springfield so we hung out for a while. And Baylee begged me for my ice cream sandwich.

25 isn't as bad as I thought it would be.

Love,
Jess

David & Adeola 4EvR.

2010-04-26T21:40:00.000-07:00

Oh, how I love Adeola and David.

Adeola was my old roommate in Seattle. She was the one who comforted me when I was going through heartache and lonely holidays. Yes, we spent Christmas together once, made dinner and saw "Benjamin Button" together. She gave me my very first nickname "Sneakers". She can't explain why. She says it "just fits" me. :)

But I was truly honored to shoot their wedding. David is an awesome guy. So kind and fun. I was so excited for their big day. And it was so much fun to see the union of Adeola and David's extended family.

Love wins again.

Jess

Jessica shoot / Nick & Sarah

2010-04-21T15:05:00.001-07:00

Jessica is graduating from college! Woohoo!
So we had a portrait session. It was fun. Except for the rain. But what else do you expect from Seattle?

And now for Sarah and Nick's engagement photos!

They met in high school, so we used one of their yearbooks for the shoot. The best part is that this photo below was an article they wrote in there about Nick and Sarah. On opposite sex friendships, even! AMAZING!

So much fun.
<3
Jess

Dan & Jenn = Loooooooveeeee

2010-04-21T10:17:00.000-07:00

I was in Seattle for 10 days to shoot 2 weddings, 2 engagements and a portrait session. It was awesome. I have some amazing friends out there who let me stay in their guest room. SO good to have some alone time while I was there.

But back to Jenn and Dan...

Jenn was one of my 5 roommates when I lived in Seattle. She lived across the hall from me. And I love her more than I love chocolate.

When I moved back to Ohio, I heard that she met this Dan guy and I KNEW that I had to meet him. And seriously, he's better than any man I could have ever imagined for Jenn. I am SO excited for them and their lifetime of love. And I'm pretty excited to fly to Hawaii to shoot their wedding. :) Yes, I'll have a Piña colada on the beach, please.

I loved spending time with these two wonderful people. :)
And duh, they took awesome photos.

More from all the other shoots soon.

Love,
Jess

PS. After this trip, I decided that I need to make decisions. ASAP. Seattle might not be that far from the future.

Eeeeeee!

2010-04-14T17:49:00.000-07:00

I am so sorry for my lack of updates! I am currently in Seattle. I had a wedding on Saturday and I have another on Friday! I also just found out that I am shooting a wedding in Hawaii! So exciting!

I will be sure to update as soon as I get back home! On Monday!

Yayyyyy.

2010-03-23T15:10:00.000-07:00

Nick and I hung out.
So check him out.
http://www.lumberjacknick.com

Moreeeee.

2010-03-23T12:53:00.000-07:00

Yay!

The Perrella's. New photossss.

2010-03-22T20:40:00.000-07:00

Me and my computer got in a big fight today. I had many more photos to show you, but my computer decided to not save a good majority of my work. :(

So for now, you have these to drool over.

I'm so excited to show you more. This wedding was raddddd.

I need to rest now.

Love,
Jess

The Perrella's!

2010-03-19T23:42:00.000-07:00

I shot the lovely Rachel Peck's (Now Perella!) wedding on Thursday. It was a radddddd. And we took more photos the day after the wedding.

So enjoy this photo.
I'm flying back to Ohio tomorrow and there will be a ridiculous amount of photos for me to share.
And they are EPIC!!!!!!

Love,
Jess

One more day!

2010-03-14T16:51:00.000-07:00

Thumb warrrrrrrrrrr!
Seattle, WA

Tomorrow I'm leaving for Phoenix! It's going to be in the mid 80's! I am so excited!!!!!!!!

This wedding is going to be epic.
I can't even begin to explain how excited I am to shoot this wedding.

Have a great week! I'll be back on Saturday! So maybe I'll have pics up on Sunday.

Love love love,
Jess

New music on the website!

2010-03-11T19:08:00.000-08:00

Woot woot!
I love new music.
But I really LOVE new music by talented musicians that I know.

Go listen to Ted Rastatter on my website.
He is uber talented.
And then visit his very own website here:
tedrastatter.com

And then get his music on iTunes. :)

Love,
Jess

PS. Arrows makes me so happyyyyyyyy.

PPS. I'm flying to Phoenix on Monday to shoot this girl's wedding. She's a fantastic photographer and we are going to have SO MUCH FUN TAKING PICTURES TOGETHER!!! I can't wait!

O'Sullivan Love.

2010-03-11T00:16:00.000-08:00

I flew out to Sacramento, CA to shoot the O'Sullivan wedding.
I met Sean a couple of years ago through a friend. And I was UBER excited when he he wanted to book me for his wedding.

His bride (Jill) was beautiful. Stunning. And she's definitely one of the most lively people to be around. It poured on their wedding day. But they were so in love and didn't have a worry in their bones.

It was such a fun, exciting day. :)

And perhaps I'll post more photos from this wedding in the near future.

Seattle wants me back.

2010-03-11T00:06:00.000-08:00

I love teal.

2010-02-23T22:09:00.000-08:00

So I dyed part of my hair that color.

And I can get away with it because I'm an artist.
BOOYA! The perks of working for yourself.

Tomorrow I leave to shoot a wedding in Sacramento.
Then I'm off to Seattle to visit friends! So I'll be gone for a while.
But don't you worry!
When I get back, I'll have a million photos to show you.

<3
Have a great week, friends!

Jess

I love my nephew.

2010-02-22T17:43:00.000-08:00

Love is in the air.

2010-02-21T16:23:00.000-08:00

Had a super fun engagement shoot today.
Such a great couple. Srsly.

4 days until Sacramento.
6 days until Seattle.

Thank God.

Un Mundo and shoes on dogs.

2010-02-16T14:49:00.000-08:00

Another week.
Another boring week.

Went to Un Mundo today to read. Hung out with friends.
It was swell.

And then we put shoes on Tucker. Yes. This is what my brother, my sister-in-law and I do for fun.

I can't wait to fly to Sacramento and Seattle next week.

Yessssssssssssssssss.

L-L-L-Life.

2010-02-13T14:42:00.000-08:00

Here is an update on my life.

Any questions?

Priorities.

2010-02-03T15:07:00.001-08:00

Sorry I've been MIA lately.
I've come to the harsh reality that I base my identity in my photography, in my comics and in my current romantic relationship. I know that this isn't the way I should be. My identity should be in Christ and my self worth should not be in any earthly thing.

I am running full force for the Lord in a way I never have.
I mentally stepped away from my photography.
I'm doing what I need to do to get where I wanna be.

I'm continually amazed by the goodness of the Lord and how satisfied I am just resting in his promises.

So yeah. Here's to getting your priorities straight!

Isaiah 54:7-10

For a brief moment I deserted you,
but with great compassion I will gather you.
In overflowing anger for a moment
I hid my face from you,
but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,"
says the LORD, your Redeemer.

"This is like the days of Noah to me:
as I swore that the waters of Noah
should no more go over the earth,
so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you,
and will not rebuke you.
For the mountains may depart
and the hills be removed,
but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,
and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,"
says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

He is.

2010-01-20T01:55:00.000-08:00

Happy Mondayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.

2010-01-18T13:57:00.001-08:00

Bench Monday!

Kids with cameras. Woot woot.

La la la la!

2010-01-16T12:23:00.001-08:00

Because it's how I feel.

SHOES! OMG SHOES!

2010-01-14T15:22:00.000-08:00

I love my shoes.
PS. This is half of my collection. I didn't include my flats, sandals or boots.
PPS. I don't own one set of heels. I'm not that kinda girl.

ALSO:

Because you really are.
Book me. For the love of God and all that is holy. Open your eyes and book me.

Love love love. I want your love.

2010-01-13T07:49:00.000-08:00

Dear Ohio,

Thanks for giving me no work until the end of next month.
I'm so bored, I'll stick confetti on my face.

Love,
Jess

PS. Taking self-portraits is very limiting.
I don't have a tripod.
I'm usually alone.
::sigh::

I do what I can.

PPS. I'm still down for answering questions. Here.

Honestly.

2010-01-12T11:56:00.000-08:00

I'm a big fan of honesty.
So I started doing this thing where people can ask questions. Anonymously even!
Click here if you wanna ask something or if you wanna see what other people asked me.

Bring it. I ain't scared. :)

<3
Jess

Confetti and Benches.

2010-01-11T12:18:00.000-08:00

I don't know why, but I have a thing with "The best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup."

I like to change "Folgers" to...other things.
Today, it was confetti.

"The best part of waking up is confetti in your cup!"

I love confetti. It's colorful. And happy.

In other news, I joined the group "Bench Monday" on flickr. So, you should expect these from now on.

PS. I currently have no jobs until next month. So, my blog is going to be full of stuff that just makes me happy.
Once the end of next month hits, I'll be swamped in client work.
Hopefully.

<3
Jess

I'm all about cameras this week.

2010-01-10T14:39:00.000-08:00

This is my tattoo.
I knew I wanted one for a while. I wanted it to look like a sketch. I didn't want anything too realistic.

To me, it's pressure to keep trying. Keep working hard. Keep trying to succeed.

And I love Lady Gaga. She makes me wanna be weird.
So I drew a heart on my face today.
I think I'll keep doing it.

This is for Stephen:

And the snow is pretty, but still not my thing.
My friend Micah came out with me today to take photos.
We were freeeeezing.
It was like 9 degrees out. Ouch.

<3
Jess

I miss my ginger.

2010-01-09T12:25:00.000-08:00

This is the photo I used in the first piece:

"If you need a snuggle bunny to sleep with, you know I'm just 4000 miles away."
-Stephen

"I love you more than I like pants."
-Stephen

He makes me laugh.

<3
Jess

Happy Friday!

2010-01-08T08:29:00.000-08:00

Hello readers,

Are you alive?
Are you out there???

Don't be afraid to ever comment. I promise not to bite you or call you names. ;)

My photo today was dedicated to cameras.
Fact: I've never shot film. I know nothing about it. It's a pretty expensive thing to learn and do. I never even took a photography class in high school. So I just buy old cameras that I find in stores. I think they are fun to have. Or maybe it's because I'm white and I like things that are vintage.

This photo is just of things I love.

Left: My dad, my brothers and I. And the other one is of me and my dad at easter. :P

To the right is my favorite piece of art that I own. Check out her stuff. She's amazing. ToMonster.net

Bottom right is the good ol' O-H-I-O. Where I currently live. We'll see how long it lasts. Business here is ridiculously slow for me.

I think Seattle likes me better.

Happy Friday!
Hope you all have a great weekend!

Love,
Jess

Snow!

2010-01-07T12:48:00.000-08:00

I have a ridiculous scarf and hat collection.
It's an addiction, really.
Someday, I'll have a closet just for scarves. I promise.

Fact: I was born in Pasadena, CA. I am half Mexican. I was not made for snow.

::High five for moms!::

2010-01-05T09:54:00.000-08:00

My photo of the day is:

I feel like a zombie.

------

Back in the fall, I did a shoot for the Tinker's. They wanted photos for their mom for Christmas. And I couldn't post their photos anywhere on the internet.
Do you know how hard it is to keep photos a secret??
I always want to share.

So, these are a few of them.
We took these shots around the campus at Ohio State University.
I would have done anything to get inside that stadium. But no luck.
But still got some awesome photos.

I got an email from the mom shortly after Christmas. :)
She loved them. HORRAY!

:)
Three cheers for photos for mom!

<3
Jess

Tea, you are my friend.

2010-01-04T14:21:00.000-08:00

I recently joined a group on flickr called 365. Everyday you take a photo and post it. So you should expect photos from me everyday. :)

This tea cup is on my desk and I lurve it.

I am also selling this as a limited edition print.
They are 8"x10"s. Signed and all.
Matted frame.

I will only be selling 15 of them.
The first one already sold.
$65.00 each + shipping.
Email me if you're interested:

jessicaevalle@gmail.com

Loooove,
Jess

PS. I'm gonna be famous someday. That should be a perk to buy, right? ;)
PPS. This is sarcasm. Sorta. ;)

Grant is the man.

2010-01-03T16:00:00.000-08:00

[Do you like the new header?? I think it's fun!]

A few weeks ago, I drove to Goshen, Indiana to take photos for my friend Grant Beachy.
He has a recording studio there and needed some new photos for his myspace page.
So after we took these stellar shots, we went out for Mexican food, shopped around and had some tea. He even got me a tea filter which I have been wanting for SO LONGGGG!

Check out what the designer did with my photos AND check out his awesome business!
Here: Electric Angel Studios

Horray for friends!
Horray for photos!

In other news:
There is frost on my windows and it's beautiful in the mornings.

Mmmmmmm...
I don't like winter. But I do like a good photo opportunity.

Love,
Jess

It's too cold.

2010-01-02T17:55:00.000-08:00

Brrrrrrr....

I'm excited about 2010.

Day 1 of 2010.

2010-01-01T13:46:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! :)

2009-12-31T14:24:00.000-08:00

Happpppy New Year. It's been a fun year.
I got a tattoo of a camera on my arm. :)
I started a full time photography business.
I shot 8 weddings, I think... Georgia, Chicago, Ohio, Seattle.
I moved back to Ohio to be with my family. It's been fun. :)
I ended up with my first love.
Nothing could be better.

So enjoy these photos from the past year.
I'm super lucky to be able to do what I do.

My dad! :)

My favorite things.

For Stephen.

Yayyy!
And if you know of anyone who gets engaged this holiday season, send 'em my way and I'll give them the best wedding photos ever.
(Click to see larger.)

Happy New Year to you all! :)

Love,
Jess

I'm sorry.

2009-12-29T02:12:00.000-08:00

My most sincere apologies for not updating in so long.
Feel free to yell at me. I've done you all so wrong.

The past month has been semi-hectic with the holidays and just trying to get all of my jobs out by Christmas.

Although I don't have any photos to post right this minute, I wanted you to know that I will blog later today. With photos! It's 5:15am and I'm still up. Why? I have no idea.

But I just spent the past 5 hours updating my website. So feel free to check that trash out.

http://www.jessica-valle.com

If you know anyone who got engaged this holiday season, feel free to give out my name.
I'll even give you a hug if you do.

Love,
Jess