Jen Hunt Photography

a journal page

jen — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 19:05:16 +0000

when chris tells me that i’m beautiful i get uncomfortable and squirmy and often call his bluff. when he tells addie that she’s beautiful, she agrees and twirls and lets the words pour over her like warm honey. for the love of all of the little girls in my life, i’ve been drawn to a healthier view of myself and my body. i want to spend less time worrying about how my arms are so twiggy and more time thinking about who they’re hugging. this kind of thought process is in direct contrast to our society’s narrow view of beauty. the kind that says that only cinderella gets to dance at the ball and all of the other common folk have to stand on the walls and watch aaaand talk about how the dancing princess is kind of clumsy and really not that pretty. it’s the kind of thinking that says our teeth need to be whiter, our hair blonder, our bodies skinnier and that our goal should be this sort of physical perfection at any expense. the older i get, the more i stop worrying and am able to relax and know that i’m beautiful and can actually enjoy another woman’s beauty. this happened yesterday at starbucks. i was feeling particularly pretty and sunny as i drank my coffee. then this girl came along. she had the audacity to sit very close to me and let loose her beautiful blonde curls. she stretched out her perfect, tan legs in front of her. i peered at my own. her tan was better. dangit. her skin was better too, i checked. she didn’t even have the decency to appear shallow but in fact seemed nice. i began to hate her. there was certainly not room for the both of us. i’m shallow sometimes. that dawned on me, so i decided something. i allowed her to be beautiful. oh she didn’t know it, but i did. i stopped being threatened and i stopped demanding to be on top. it felt nice. it felt like freedom. it felt grown up. i was glad for her – which was a notable achievement if you ask me.

thanks, sarah xo

melany & tom {married}

jen — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 06:28:10 +0000

wedding season has officially started and love is in he air. i am taking deep breaths and filling my lungs with its sweetness. like the first time the bride catches a glimpse of herself in the mirror or the moment her father takes her arm that indicates it’s go time. i love the inevitable way that flower girls convince themselves that they are the stars of the show and there’s nothing better than the look on the groom’s face when the pastor gives the cue that it is finally time to kiss his new bride.

melany and tom were married uptown at the levine museum of the new south. such a fun place to get married! it’s an interactive history museum and we were lucky enough to get to explore and take pictures throughout the exhibits. the bride was exquisite and the groom looked really sharp and we were honored to spend the day breathing in the loveliness that was their wedding day. i’m off to bed, but check back in the morning for a slideshow of their amazing day that will include their emotional first look.

melany&tom from Jen Hunt on Vimeo.

juliana, nick & little caroline

jen — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:08:42 +0000

i love middles. the middle of a kiss is always the best part and the middle of a meal, when you’re tastebuds are warmed up but your tummy isn’t too full yet. i love the middle of a movie when your mind is reeling with all of the ways the story could go. and who can deny that the middle of an oreo is the yummiest? i love my middle sister (for the record i love my little sister too, but let’s stay focused). and as a photographer, i like moments that fall in the middle. the best pictures are the ones in the middle of a laugh or a tickle, a private joke or a sweet glance.

these guys gave us lots of middles and we loved shooting them. they didn’t wait for us to direct them, they just did what they know how to do. be together. love. and ooze gratefulness for this sweet life they’ve been given.

oh, i forgot, i love new baby teeth that rest right in the middle of a gummy smile!

they weren't afraid to show us how much they loved being together

and this is what we got

shannon mcarthur

jen — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:23:53 +0000

one thing i love about this job, this job that is my second job, is that i get to meet people. short people, tall people, friendly people, shy people, old people, young people. on this particular morning i met one of the talented people. yes, he is a musician. he showed up in a hoodie, his shoes could’ve been borrowed from my dad’s closet, and he brought a guitar. while waiting for the sun we exchanged stories over coffee, then we strolled southend. he sang, i shot. – chris

www.shannonmcarthur.com

mary & eric

jen — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:00:38 +0000

she’s the kind of girl that you want as a friend. she’s loyal, thoughtful, supportive, funny, generous, kind and has a beautiful heart. i know this because she’s my sister, kristen’s best friend. when my sister got pregnant at 20, mary didn’t judge, she loved. and she loved big. that’s just how she is. she loves eric in the same i love you just how you are kind of way. it’s refreshing to be a witness to love like that.

we met these two at a little vineyard in troutman. i love when a couple picks out a unique location for their shoot. it’s of course out of season, so there were no flowers or grapes but mary did bring wine, a picnic basket, fresh flowers, a head of curly red hair, sunshine and the boy she loves. we can’t wait until their wedding this summer!

lisa & kevin

jen — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:26:24 +0000

i am sorry in advance to all of my readers that this offends, but peanut butter and jelly do not belong together. it doesn’t matter the flavor of the sticky, fruity goo, it just ruins the sandwich. fries are not meant to be dipped in ketchup and with all due respect mr. gump, peas and carrots should remain separate at all times. oh, and tell your friend bubba to keep all grits far away from my shrimp. they just don’t mix.

but lisa and kevin, now that’s a different story. they were made to go together. she fills his heart to the brim and he’s the protector of hers. when lisa gets within close proximity, you can bet that kevin’s lips will be meeting hers and she couldn’t be any happier. she giggles at his jokes and he laughs at her funny voices. they are getting married in april and we couldn’t be more excited to spend the day with them. like peanut butter and no jelly sandwiches, they are just meant to be.

and my favorite part of the morning..they changed clothes and it was game on.

annnnnd...a victory bump.

carey & dave

jen — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 05:05:35 +0000

it’s all so beautiful. the way the sunshine and his lips are gently kissing her head. the way she didn’t flinch when he suggested that they use his beloved car for a picture or two. the comfortable way that he pulls her in close and rests his hand on her belly..the space where his daughter and his son (yes, twins!) are preparing for their debut. oh, carey and her belly are so lovely and it’s crazy to think that there are two babies living and growing in there! crazy beautiful, that is.

they are not afraid to work it

it will be a serious crime if one of these babies doesn't inherit carey's dimples

and the winner is..

jen — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:35:50 +0000

so, so sorry that this wasn’t announced on valentine’s day. i’ve been a bit under the weather, boo! but i do know one person who will forgive me, the lucky winner of the super cute apron hand crafted by emily:

congratulations sarah h!

made by emily {giveaway!}

jen — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 23:43:31 +0000

i have a slight obsession with aprons as you may remember from here. my friend emily has her own little etsy shop where her vibrant color choices and delicious fabrics make for some serious swooning by yours truly. she loves what she does, i love what she does, and you will too.

in her words: in the past few years i’ve discovered that i love to sew. it’s relaxing, creative, has a final product – things I need or desire on a daily basis. i love being able to give handmade gifts that i know someone will use and enjoy . . . and when i started sewing aprons a few years ago it was from that framework. my favorite store on earth is mary jo’s cloth store . . . i go there just to walk around sometimes after a stressful day at work. i love fabrics and experiencing the transformation of a yard of fabric into something fun and functional. all of the aprons and oven mitts that i make are from designer fabrics that i am drawn to for their bold and/or contrasting patterns or colors. i get excited when i purchase new fabrics and have new ideas for things to sew and create. ~ emily

all you have to do to be entered is to go here madebyemily.etsy.com and feast your eyes on all of the goodies in her shop. leave a comment on my blog with your favorite item by midnight on saturday, february 13th and on valentine’s day this sweet treat could be yours!

amy, adam & charis

jen — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:14:14 +0000

she wondered how she would be as a mom. i knew she’d be amazing. he hinted about his fears of raising a girl. not a doubt in my mind that he’d be great. baby charis has only been here for three months but it’s obvious that amy and adam were born to parent this girl.

when daddy dresses charis in an outfit that is made up of a onesie, leggings and a hat all which include 3 different patterns and 5 shades of green, amy unashamedly brings her to church. she doesn’t make excuses or even tone down the ensemble for that matter because amy honors adam and the impact he’s already having on his girl to value uniqueness. charis will know the freedom that comes from being an individual and finding her identity outside of the label that’s sewn into her shirt. what a gift. they kiss her all the time. they snuggle her an awful lot. they giggle at her cooing, her funny faces and her bodily functions. i’m lucky enough to get to observe all of this on a regular basis and it makes me smile. i smile because i love them. i smile because my heart feels full for this place that the baby has taken their marriage. i smile because i get to play an intimate role as this story unfolds. and i smile because charis will walk through her life knowing deep down that there is something in her to be delighted in because of the way her parents have loved her.

the next time i walk into their home, i expect to see this next one BIG

my friend, she always laughs like she means it.