Where I'm suppose to be!

Do you ever feel absolutely confident in what you are doing with your life?

Well today, I do.

As I sit here at one of my favorite places to work with a nice hot cup of coffee. Shout out to Hendel’s Restaurant in Florissant, Mo. I cannot help but think this is what I was meant to do. Now I have had about three cups of coffee at this point, so it may just be the caffeine talking. But I absolutely love everything about being a photographer. If you are a photographer, or you dabble in the art here or there, you know sometimes being a photographer is not everything it’s cracked up to be. Everyone has this preconception that photographers have the best, most fun job in the world. (Which I’m not sure I would argue.) But there is a lot more to photography then just taking pictures. First, the client contacts you. You talk about money, you set a date, find a location and hope it doesn’t rain. (I live in St. Louis. ANYTHING can happen.) After you have the fun of interacting with the clients and actually taking the pictures. You have to then edit the pictures. This is the part that I haven’t really been fond of in the past. But lately, while I’m editing I find myself getting lost in the pictures and loving every minute of it.

I’m not sure if it’s experience. If I just have more time to play with editing. Or if I have grown more into my editing style. While I am sure that all of these things have to do with it. I have never felt more confident in my life that this was what I was meant to do.

I am 25 years old and I never thought I would be so content with my job choice. (I hoped I would, but I never thought it would actually happen.) Yes, I am just starting out (Only about 2 years in.) But I am so happy to say that this is my dream and I am so excited to be able to share with all of you, what I believe I was put on this earth to do.

Josie Urhahn & Breanne Jansen are pictured in a fun photo shoot taken at Creve Coeur park.

Note: Please keep clicking to see more pictures from our snow shoot the other day.

A thought...

Do you ever feel the pressure to be better at work or in your business? That you're not good enough? Do you feel like you are never going to get your big break? Do you feel like there are so many other people out there, better or more qualified then you? 

I think these thoughts all the time. Being almost a year out of college, things are starting to feel real for me. I will be 25 this year. I am getting to that time in my life where I am no longer the youngest one. Not that I am saying I'm old or anything because I know I'm not. But, I always got complements for how good my work was, along with how young I was. People were shocked, that I  to knew what I wanted to do with my life at such a young age. How lucky I was everyone told me. Well now I am starting to feel the pressure of this business that I started, actually being a success. Sometimes I just get in my own head to much. Girl problems.

Yes, I still absolutely love what I do.  Photography is my happy place. But that's the problem. We are always comparing our success to other people. We need to stop taring ourselves down and start building ourselves up. You are good enough. Your work is good enough and you are amazing at what you do. 

 

Some of my favorite pictures for interest.

Give me some feedback. What do you like? What don't you like? What is your favorite? 

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Feb 14 <3

I don't care who you are, where your from, what you did, as long as you love me. -NSYNC 

Love is in the air. Well guys, it's that day of the year again. Happy Valentines Day!! 

While I sit here listening to love songs, trying to figure out what to write. I cannot help but think about my wonderful valentine. He is amazing and the love of my life. But, for this day I wanted to take some time to celebrate other people and their love. Of course through photographs. 

I hope your day is full of roses, love, chocolate and the best love song playlist you can come up with. Take some extra time for you and your loved one today.

Until next time. 

XOXO

-Jess 

Thinking Out Loud

Hi!

I wanted to take some time on this Tuesday to say, hey! 

While I sit here in looking at my computer, listening to Ed Sheeran, in my favorite pair of jeans and my blue fuzzy slippers, my hair in a crazy, messy bun, with a super comfy hoodie on, I cannot help but think how blessed I am. 

I have a crazy, loud, amazing family. We are all so close and I could not imagine it being any other way. I fortunately have amazing parents who just celebrated their 27th anniversary together. It's kind of gross how in love with each other they still are at this point. My brother D.J., is this pretty awesome guy. He is the quality control manager at Luxco, a privately-owned producer of distilled beverages and liqueurs. He married, my amazing sister in law Ariel, just over a year ago. She is studying to get her PA degree. My sister Brittany, is an amazing teacher in the St. Louis Public school district in a middle school, Special ED classroom. She is also pretty fun to hang out with. I am so proud of my family, and I thank God, every day for them because I am not sure where I would be without them. 

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Of course I'm going to show you pictures of my favorite people. This is a photography blog!  From the Left Ariel, D.J., My mom, My dad, Brittany & Me

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Mom & Dad 

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D.J. & Ariel 

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Brittany 

I have the best boyfriend that any girl would be lucky to have. We met at Hendel's Restaurant just about 4 years ago. He is the perfect amount of serious and silly. He can always make me laugh when I'm having a bad day. He is the most loyal and generous person I have ever met and make me smile from a simple look. Yes, we have had our ups and downs but what couple hasn't. We have been through so much in the last 4 years together that I cannot wait to continue this journey of life with him and where ever it takes us. 

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Photo Credit: Emily Knowles

I have amazing friends that I would never replace for anything. They are always there for me for a fun night out, a drink after a long day of work, or a fun catch up session at Starbucks. They also let me use them as models no questions asked. They are amazing. Not all of you are posted but you know who you are. 

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Mary Kate & Shay 

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Michael & Charlie 

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Emily 

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  Carri & Brennan 

These are some of my all time favorite photos that I have taken. Maybe they were right when they said, if you really want to know what someone really cares about, look at what they photograph. I love going through my portfolio and finding some photos that I haven't seen in a while and getting to talk about the people I love. 

"Photographs are like wine, they get better with age." -J. Burkowski

Thank you for reminiscing with me today! 

XOXO

-Jess

Top 10 of 2017!

Now that it's January, I wanted to take some time to recap some of my favorite pictures and moments of 2017. I was blessed with so many amazing clients this past year. And I am so excited for the year to come.

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1. This was one of my favorite pictures that I took at a gorgeous Wedding in June. I was blessed to get to second shoot this wedding with a fellow photographer, Heather Gatormann (she is amazing). Now I'm not going to lie I was really nervous when we were going outside in anticipation of this picture. I have never had to take this picture before and I didn't want to miss this moment. I am so thrilled how it turned out and it is definitely one of my favorite pictures of 2017.  

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2. Getting to hang out with Miss Harper, was such a fun day. This beautiful little girl was such a pleasure to get to shoot. I mean just look at that face. 

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3. So I'm kind of obsessed with with this picture. This was from an awesome 80th birthday party that I was so happy that I got to be a part of. The theme of the party was A Night in Tuscany, and I'm no expert, but I think they nailed this one on the head. This picture reminds me of summer nights and candle lit dinners. I cannot wait until it gets warm again. 

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4. Oh my goodness, I just can't. That smile and the face of determination. One of the things that I have learned from taking pictures of kids, is that sometimes you have to wait. You have to let them trust you and then you have to shoot fast. This little guy was so fun.

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5. I love getting messages from life long family friends to get to take their pictures. Note to self, always check out the park before the photo session though. This session was hard because there was no shade and it was really windy. But, as nervous as I was before they got there, I think this picture actually turned out pretty well. I love the colors. 

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6. I have always wanted a fun outside wedding dress photo in my portfolio. This one definitely made the cut. I was squatting down behind a cabin, having one of the bridesmaids holding a branch. Oh...what you will do for the perfect shot. 

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7. This family! They were troopers. They woke up super early, but the fall colors were everything that I wanted and more. What a fun group to work with. 

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8. Can you tell I love kids? I'm kind of obsessed if you can't tell. Look at those cute little eyes.

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     9. This family was a blast. I'm so glad that the weather worked out for us this day because this shoot was definitely one of my favorites I did this year. Blue +Love +Family =Perfect!! 

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     10. Happy 80th Birthday Clara! What a fun moment that I got to capture. I wanted to end on this picture because I love everything about it. The colors, the lighting, her facial expression. This is everything I could of hoped for, for this event. This picture seriously just makes me happy.

If you have any favorite pictures that I have taken this year of you or any of your friends. Please share them with me, I would love to see. 

Talk to you soon

XOXO

-Jess

Welcome, welcome!

Hey guys, Jess here! Welcome to my blog and website. 

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Photo Credit: Emily Knowles Photography 

I decided to ring in the new year with updating my website and trying out this blog thing. For those of you who don't already know who I am, my name is Jessica Schnell. I have a BA degree in photography from Webster University. I graduated last May, in hopes of taking my degree and passion and turning it into my career. I love being able to be a part of some of the most important moments in my clients lives. Or just taking some fun photos for their annual Christmas card. They are what makes this job so rewarding and just fun. For those of you who already know me and have worked with me. Thank you choosing me. For those of you who I will work with in the future, thank you for the opportunity and I cannot wait to work with you. Thank you for being a part of this journey with me as I make it through me first full year of being in this business. 

Have an awesome week!

XOXO

- Jess