Moving Home

Hello friends!

Today is the day!

Today I get on an airplane and leave Germany.

I am going back home!

Back to North Carolina anyways.

What does this mean?

It means I am officially open for business in the United States.

Although my home base is in North Carolina

I am willing to travel for sessions for an added fee.

Make sure you contact me ASAP so we can work out the details and the pricing.

I specialize in:

Seniors

Lifestyle

Sports

Best Friends

Holiday Mini Sessions

Hope Sessions (cancer fundraisers)

Military events (promotions, re-enlistmesnts, special events, awards, retirements, etc)

Make sure to check out my portfolio on my website for more information.

Let's chat about a session, yeah?

Jordan C. | Senior Session | Dunedin, FL | 04 June 2015

Hey dear friends!

I went on vacation this past week to surprise my younger brother for his high school graduation. It was pretty awesome to be able to surprise him with the help of my awesome NCO and my parents (my mom was just glad it wasn't her that I was surprising!) 

My family wasn't happy with the people taking senior photos (it's your generic photo studio and she didn't feel they were able to properly show his personality). So to start off my work in Senior Portraits, I got to practice on my younger brother. It also kind of turned into a mini family session (we don't have a lot of current photos).

Due to the time constraints (I had to fly home later that night), this was a very short session. 

Proud parents of the latest graduate of the Caldwell family!

He's a momma's boy (it's a good thing)

These happen to be two of my favorite photos from the entire session

My family :)

((self-timers are the bomb)

Funny story, this picture actually took a few tries because I had never used a self timer before and I kept slipping on the deck trying to get behind my father.

My parents favorite line is always "Act like you like each other"

Overall it was a fun afternoon and I am glad that I got to take pictures for him. 

Also glad he agreed to be my test subject!

Truth from the photographer

Hello all and happy Wednesday!

I hope this post finds you well! I am working on photography homework and lurking in a FB group that I monitor at the same time (thank god I can multitask). I was sharing some images from Easter this weekend and I realized that they were a lot more grainy then I originally realized and I am rather upset. It turned out my ISO was too high and my F-stop was also too high, but it sparked an interesting conversation with another photographer friend of mine.

She told me that I was too anxious to learn!

She's more then likely right!

Anyone who has known me for longer then a week, knows that when I am interested in something, I focus really hard on learning everything I can about the subject and doing so as quick as I can. Especially since I am now in Germany and away from all my friends and family (although it would be super nice to have someone to practice on!)

I bought a bunch of ebooks to read, and I follow several blogs like The Law Tog, MCP Actions, The Modern Tog, and I am all over Pinterest like it's nobodies business. I am in several photography groups on FB, and I am also taking college classes. I just feel that, I dunno, that I am not really learning a lot or enough or fast enough... I don't know. Does that make sense. I focus little bits of time on certain things, and I don't always remember it. 

That's why I have like 3 working notebooks full of photography notes (not counting school notes)

I know that I will always be changing and learning and growing... and I can be rather impatient.

I want to learn photo editing, but I haven't even tried to touch that yet. I have no idea how to really work Photoshop or Lightroom (I can make contact sheets in LR, but that is about it right now) but I want so badly to learn. I see all these amazing pictures that people share on their photography pages and I want to have amazing photos too. I guess I am envious of them... and I know that I shouldn't be.

Photos like this one prove that I can take good photos, but I think I am really hard on myself when it comes to my work...

It doesn't help that I am so far away from my family and friends. People here aren't used to me, aren't used to me having a camera, and a lot of people (military and civilian) seem to find it weird that photography is my hobby.... which doesn't make sense.

I need new subjects to photograph. I need to build my portfolio!

I need to slow down and take a breath I guess.

Good news- my new business cards came in today as did the computer that I ordered specifically for my business!

please excuse the crappy phone picture. 

These are just one side of the cards, the other side has my contact information 

I can't wait to hand out cards and start using my computer. I felt that I needed one specifically for business (and my regular one doesn't seem to always like to work right). Needed to separate my every day life from my business. Keep everything super organized and everything. 

Maybe I am trying too hard. Trying too hard to learn too quickly. 

Making this a reality

Photography has ALWAYS been a dream of mine!

For as long as I can remember.

It didn't help that one of my friends in high school made this dream her reality and opened her own Photography business.

She's amazing.

She's inspiring

She made my think that I could do it too!

I know that we all gotta start somewhere

I'm starting with my camera, a Facebook page, and this here blog.

I am working towards my Photography degree.

This is my beginning.

I've joined the groups on Facebook

I've talked to some photographers from back at Bragg

I've got that friend I mentioned above.

I've bought books on photography AND running a business.

I've got an amazing support system

A fantastic boyfriend that literally just reminded me to follow my dreams

and never give up.

My parents who have always supported me,

no matter what decisions I have made

Friends and siblings that always stand behind me.

This is one dream that I refuse to give up on.

One I will make into a reality

I know that it will take time and effort 

money and LOTS of patience.

Things don't just happen overnight.

I bet this will be a part time job as well as a full time one

once I leave the military

until I can support myself on it.

That is perfectly okay with me.

I am willing to wait and work for it

Will you join me on this journey?

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to the blog for J.L. McClure Photography! I am just getting this business running an off the ground!

♥ My name is Jenn

♥ I am 22

♥ Lifestyle Photographer

♥ Super Crafty

♥ A nerdy geek

♥ US Soldier in the Army

I've wanted to be a photographer since I was little. I am currently attending college for my degree in Photography as well as teaching myself everything that I possibly can about the art. I've met several wonderful ladies who are inspirations to me and I hope to be as successful as them one day.

I am currently stationed in Germany with the US Army and using this wonderful country to practice my skills in. I can't wait to come back to the States and focus on my Photography business!