Jus Cowland Photography

Just returned from a FABULOUS wedding! Jessica and Shanon are such a beautiful couple!
Here are a few shots! More soon.....

These guys love modeling for me!

Thanks to Jane at Formal Oasis for providing the beautiful dress and tux!

Well, not my website - but definetly a really awesome website designed by my talented and charming british husband Shanee of 595Design. A local massage therapist contact Shanee through a mutual friend and his website, is going live today!! So exciting!! The photography featured on the website was taken by mio, and I think it turned out AWESOME!!

Check him out later today, www.troupmassage.com

Some screen shots!

Sometimes I get so wrapped up in business that I just lose myself and need something to bring me back down to Earth and remember why it is that I do what I do, thanks Tara for sharing your beautiful life and your beautiful spirit and reminding me I've got the same reasons for doing what I do.


The Whitney Clan from Michel Sandy on Vimeo.

On that note, I often wonder is what I do enough? I get worried and I want to quit because I just don't know if we can financially survive, but being passionate about something so much that it melts your heart and sings in your ears and you are so happy... I am happy.

I love what I do, love is what had brought so many things together in my family. It is love that brings a smile to my face, love that let's me look at two beautiful faces everyday, and love that keeps my passion lit.

What about you? Are you in love?

With love.

I haven't posted in FOREVER!

It has been crazy here guys. I've been trying to work on my website, which has become a labor of love. Plus, I've got some other things in the works and I keep giving myself so much to do it isn't even funny!!

Not to worry though, I will definitely be posting here soon!

I am too.
I've got bucket loads to do and assignments that I need to get started on... this is officially the LAST POST here. Please feel free to venture back, but the new blog/site will be up this weekend and I've got NO TIME to blog anymore!

[edited 08/11/08] Well it is going to take a bit longer than I had hoped, so... keep checking by!

What can I say about Courtney? She is beautiful, sweet, silly, and totally into taking pictures! I loved hanging out with her and her mom Sandi! It was so much fun, we took tons of pictures in DT Historic Melbourne and it was HOT HOT HOT! They were great sports about it though, yay!

Sandi does so much for Courtney, she's mom, homemaker, and breadwinner and she's Courtney's 24/7 and just beams for Courtney - rock on Sandi!

Here are just a couple from today's session! Take care and mind the storms that just won't seem to quit!

I can no longer honor any more requests for Portfolio Building Specials for 2008 unless you have already spoken to me or a representative of Jus Cowland Photography, aka the husband.

I'm so busy busy busy!
Hey guys, Christmas is only 156 days, 11 hours, 44 minutes & 24 seconds away!

Get your Christmas Sessions booked by 09/31/08 and your session is only $99!
Choose from this years Christmas Cards as well!
Here is a Sampling from our Vendor, they look scrumptious!


Don't worry, there are more where those came from :)

Have a great day!!

Have I been a busy photographer!
I love that when I say I'm going to do something, and it happens to be free - people want it! :) Of course! Don't wait though, August is right around the corner and I am getting booked up, plus I will be out of town for my BFF (I love that) wedding, no I'm not photographing it - I've got a pretty important job, keep her stress level to a minimum.

Anyhoodle.
I've got TONS and TONS of pictures to post, just haven't had time to do it. Plus my honey and I are wrapping are heads around combining our services and creating one company. I think I will keep my name though and just fall under the umbrella. So much going on! OH! And! I'm getting a new website, I thought all I wanted was a blog, but since my honey is oh so talented, I thought I would use his skills and get cozy on the web.

Well, I can here our lab chewing on something, so better get to it!

Here's an image for the road and then off to bed!
It's my cousin's daughter, she turned 3 on July the 5th! These, of course are the cutest photos!!! She is such a girl, so far off from myself or my daughter - but so funny and SUCH a delight!

How cutie patootie are these girls! This family is so sweet and silly, I love little'ns digging in the sand, playing in the water!

Here is one, but more to come!!






Thanks Tina, Joe, Emily, and Joely for spending time with me on the beach! I had fun fun!

I'm open in the fall, minus my own personal work.

I would like to schedule these types of shoots:
Maternity
Newborn
Engagement
Small Wedding (50 guests or Less)
Family Shoots
Boudoir

If you are interested in receiving a free session and a CDrom of High Resolution Images for you to print at a lab of your choice, please contact me via my "Contact Me" page found via the tab at the top of the blog header.

I look forward to speaking with you soon!

I used to be into paper scrapbooking, but to be quite honest I am crap at it. Not because I'm not a good visual designer, but because of all the STUFF there was! I just couldn't hang. And I'm not one for permanence. One day I found digital scrapbooking and realized I had been doing it all along since 1994! I just thought it was visual/graphic design. I didn't know someone had named a brand around it!

THEN! Whilst looking up info for work on the Adobe website, I came across a web-app called Scrapblog. I almost fell out of my ergo-chair and shouted with joy. I had to wait until I got home to play though, and this is what I made!


Isn't it fantastic! Do you have images you'd love to scrap but just don't want to invest in the paper and stickers and blah blah? I highly recommend Scrapblog!

I had the immense pleasure of attending the graduation of Brittany who I lived next to for quite some time.

Congrats girl, I love you!!

Remember a few posts ago when I talked about my Thrift Store experience? Well, here is a sneak peak at what I got for the fashion shoot this fall!

Not only is Desere` our new next door neighbor (we just moved in), but she's also in my daughters 3rd grade class! Isn't she adorable? Her and her sister Ashley were in my backyard looking at this gopher turtle who has burrowed himself near our fence and I saw an opportunity to grab a shot. Isn't she lovely!

In preparation for my future photoshoot I just the best stuff, check back for pictures.

Also, even though I have a myspace for personal stuff, I've created an account for my photog biz. Wanna be my friend?? Great :)

Jus Cowland Photography Myspace

I'm looking for models for a photo-session. If you are interested, please send an email to juscowlandphotography@gmail.com.

This is a no pay job for a portfolio build. You will be able to get free pictures out of the deal. The photo-session will be scheduled for August of 2008 and will be over the course of one to two days.

I am looking for guys and gals between the ages of 18 and 30.

Again if you are interested, please send an email. Thanks.

Before I gave up television to pursue other activities I used to watch What Not to Wear religiously both American and BBC broadcasts. I loved the show, because it was about bringing out the beauty instead of sheltering it or masking it.

I get a lot of questions, one of them is the infamous "What do you want me to wear?"

The answer?
What ever makes you feel beautiful and comfortable. Sure it can be white and patterns or all black. I'm not going to dictate it to you because these are your memories to be cherished, not mine. Although I love to take pictures, no one likes to be stuffed in a suit they hate or an outfit someone else thought they might look good in.

I'm outta Vegas today. Let me tell you how excited I am! I miss my family dearly! See all you May sessions soon!!!!

-Jus

Oh man do I have a headache. I've been in Vegas for almost a week, unfortunately not to take pictures but to attend a conference for my parttime job... hehehehe the one that currently pays the bills.

Not sure if the headache is from all the thinkin or all the cigarette smoke, but lemme tell you what, it hasn't gone away.

Anyway, the thinking has been nonstop. If you are like me, you can understand how frustrating it is to think and not bring it to fruition. I've been thinking a lot about goals and branding. Who I want to be and how I want to be percieved. I can tell you that I've got big things planned. I've been mentored and been reading a lot and really thinking about where I want to take my business. And I want to take it to a new level.

But I often wonder how it begins, how does one or a business of one or a business of many decide to tackle something new? I suppose a huge corporation would put together an R&D team. I am my own R&D team. So I guess, all I need is a plan.
Hmmm... better get started.

7.5 months until 2009 - awesome.

I never married, well the traditional way. Both times, yes 2x (the 2nd is the keeper), were in or in front of a court house. Couldn't afford a big wedding, and didn't know enough people. Couldn't afford a small wedding and my husband couldn't attend... long story.

My best friend Trish is getting married to her Beau and I've been more intuned with all things wedding. Girls somehow are predisposed to thinking of their wedding day eventually, even if it's the day before - but I don't know if I'd still want one if I could or dare I say a traditional one.

Traditional?
You know, black tux or suit and white dress, and flower girls, and blah blah blah. Nah, I think I would want something comfortable and less traditional, I'd like to break the quo and do something fabulous.

I found this website off my cousins website.  And this picture says it best when it comes to going beyond the traditional wear and decor -Source


And that is what wedding planners can bring to a wedding and reception. Something that is really hard for most of us to do, especially to think outside the box when it comes to our own events. I know it may seem like the wedding planner can be really expensive, but when it comes down to it - they tend to work with you on pricing considering they will still get paid. You might not have a lavish and lux wedding for a budget minded bride, but I guarantee it will be original and well worth the time and effort and reputation of the hired professional.

Think outside the box; white dress? black suit? bouquet? photographs?? Be creative, and really express who you are the day of your wedding, it will be yours to seize.

Speaking of photographs, have you ever wished you could retake your bridal pictures? Maybe you couldn't get the poses or pictures you wanted? Maybe you didn't really like the photographer you hired, but he/she fit your budget? I'm opening the opportunity to redo your wedding photos in September 2008. You and your hubby are welcome to don your wedding gear and take some relaxed and less posed photos for the low low session price of free! That's right kids, free sessions still going on during the 2008 year. Don't miss the chance to get your pictures taken again!!
Happy Weekend!
-Jus

More pictures!
I've got them, I really do! I just have to unwind from all the moving. We're officially not renters anymore! We moved out and moved in and now I can move all my stuff around in my little SoHo loft, well I'm calling it that anyway (smirk) so that I can start whipping out awesome post prod images!

Did I mention you guys rock. Seriously.
Ciao.
PS Music is my life... other life... second life???

Investment

Portrait Packages

Wedding Packages

Could these two be cuter? This couple are awesome to work with! They were up for anything and though we didn't break any boundaries, we certainly will be going further and further at our next sessions!! Take a look, it was such a gorgeous day outside, thankfully it didn't rain until this evening. Perfect image editing weather, drizzly and thundering - gimme a cup-a-joe and my Mac and all is well with the world.

Thanks guys, for letting me be part of your day!

Enjoy!!












view more here

I like to listen to my voice. I don't know why, I think because I have a lisp that I can only hear when I listen to my recorded voice.

I have a photosession with a client who happens to be a friend as well and I must have listened to the message 3 times before I just had to hang up. Trying to catch that lisp.

I have always been one that has to be different from everyone else,; I have a different name, I've been to different countries, I've done different things, different hair, and the most unique thing is my lisp. It isn't a front lisp, the kind if I am really enthused could shower you with spit and lunch, it is a side lisp. Oh, and I'm dyslexic. Oh, and I have a stutter when I get really excited.... wow I'm sharing a lot.

So excited about Sunday! Will hopefully post ASAP I got some lenses to try out and still learning to use them. Plus my friend and I are garage sailing tomorrow to find some things to use for props. She's going to model for me for another session, but she's a night owl, so it may be me on my own :)

Have a great weekend!

her: Mom, I'm waiting...

So did I tell you that my husband and I decided to jump feet first into Adulthood by purchasing a house? Oh yea, it has been a blast!!

Here are some photo's from earlier in the year, enjoy!!

So yesterday my lovely husband turned 34 and though we're not doing the celebrating until next weekend, I decided to do the best I could :)  Here are some pictures from his day, enjoy!

Shots of some Parasurfers @ Cocoa Beach

More Para Surfing

Stix by Dix, a classic

He's the one with the red legs

On the Pitch and on the Run

Break

Milo, such a sweetie

Getting out of the house!
I'm not quite completely over being sick, but I will tell you I'd had enough of being stuck in the house! Antibiotics in tow and the Family and I were on our way to the Scottish highland games! While we enjoyed ourselves, I'm not sure if we'll go back again next year.
Here is how part of our day went:















First we watched a Highlands Pipe Band compete, it was pretty awesome.























Then we got a sausage roll and kettle corn, yuumy. Then we ventured over to watch big husky hurly men throw logs. Here this guy is balancing the log and will then crawl down with his hands to pick up the bottom and then finally throw it. See next image.


















How many photographers can you spot in this picture? how many of them are photographing his butt? Yep, one.



Then, because I just couldn't get a good couple shot of my husband and I with the Florida sun blazin! I took one of our shoes... mmmm love... who doesn't love a roo and a NB love story?











And this is my daughter with too much energy. Does the expression say it all or what?

















Well if it didn't, this one did!

After we played a little in the play ground, which has amazing slides by the way, we bought not one but TWO bow and arrow sets for her and stepdad to play with in the back yard. The weather was hot and sticky, we walked for ages to burn off that sausage roll and kettle corn and then ended the evening with some great food, a slip on a wet floor and a family friendly movie. I'd say this was one of the best family outings of 2008 we've had. PS, she's OUT like a LIGHT!

Have a great family day with your family as well :)

One of my goals this year was to take my camera with me wherever I traveled, even to the store for milk. Since you never know when a good opportunity shows itself, it is better to be prepared. And if today wasn't the day to forget it. Rather, I got rushed and just flat out forgot! We drove to Orlando to a birthday party of an old neighbor, and it was a bittersweet gathering as we just don't see each other enough anymore and we probably won't see very much still - even with our best efforts! But of all days to forget my camera??? Geez! So, better bring-my-camera-everywhere workflow needs to happen! I also need to get better organized so I know what's what!

But you know sometimes life just takes over and we can't do a darned thing about it except smile. My daughter, my beautiful 9year old monkey, put it plain and simple, "It's ok to make mistakes mommie" and I was just enammored. I replied, "you're right darlin, as long as you learn from them". So now that I've said it and officially blogged it, I've got to learn from this mistake and move on!

Speaking of moving, look at this fab news about a husband-wife photography team in my area, I am completely stoked it is almost too much!! They've been featured in our regions edition of The Knot! So super cool! I don't know them personally, but hey we're all under the sun! So cool you guys! Go check out their blog posting here all about it! http://cptphotography.wordpress.com

New trends in wedding photography have taken over the last couple of years, one of them is Wedding Photojournalism.

This type of photography allows the photographer complete freedom and artistic creativity. Long gone are the days of traditional poses and romantic glances, it is now all about life and experiences. Capturing everything with emotion and what the bride and groom may never see because they are too busy either being in the moment or getting ready.

I've been to several weddings in my life and will be attending another one this fall. I have to tell you I have never experienced this type of wedding photography before. I'm almost tempted to ask a few former bride friends of mine to don their dresses again for an even cooler trend: Trash the Dress.

Apparently, this new wave has turned wedding photography into a fun adventure for both the bride and the photographer. Now the rules have really been thrown out. Personally what I think is so cool about this is the fact that you aren't doing anything for show, and by that I mean you aren't getting ready for a wedding or reception and so you aren't worried about your hair getting messy or wearing the right makeup, those worries have gone away and are a thing of the past.

What does happen in these Trash the Dress sessions are brides are able to be free. If they ever wanted to be a fashion model or artistic or just simply have fun and not be so nervous, this is their chance.

How ever it seems that brides don't have to be too worried about really trashing their dresses. 1. Not many brides are wearing hand me down dresses and 2. Dresses can be dry cleaned and preserved after the session!

I'd love to try a trash the dress session! Would you? Check out these areas for what one is like, and if you are interested, gimme a holla and let's go have some fun - oh an my session fees still apply, there are none!

www.trashthedress.com
Paul Johnson Photography
Scarlett Lillian Photo Journal: Debbine: A glamorous bride
Maloman Photographers

My favorite thing, well I should say one of my favorite things about shooting in digital is the fact that you have so many facets of creativity that you can virtually shoot and play. Really for a photographer it is 3 steps, point, shoot, play or maybe it's play, point, shoot, play some more. I like to play when I am photographing someone or a couple. For this little girl, it was her special day. She played recorder for a group of very patient children at the library, and she was fantastic!



This is a picture of a very sweet elf and one of Santa's favorites!

But definitely not a heart breaker.

I wanted to share a photo with you I digitally manipulated. I actually hate that word, "manipulate", but until I think of a better one I think it will have to do.

This is from a theme of images called "Urban, Experiential, Ethereal" this one is Urban Industrialization and was given as gifts to my family. My mom had it framed, and let me tell you it looks awesome. Each family member recieved a 36" x 24" poster. I too thought this was really huge, but it did not look right smaller it had to be this big or bigger. I haven't had mine framed yet, but after seeing how nicely it looked in a black minimalistic frame, it made me want to hurry up and do it!

enjoy.

I was invited by my mom who works in the children's department at our local library to take more shots of one of their monthly rituals, animated story telling - which unfortunately will be ending soon do to developer take-overs.


Collage was made courtesy of Big Huge Labs.

I love manipulating images. I love it, I can't get enough of it! Ever since I found MS Paint years and years and years... uh... too many years to mention - I have been hooked. I am now up to Adobe Creative Suite 3 and am by no means an expert. I learn something new everyday!

I am inspired by people daily and one of my favorite photographers is Jesh de Rox and he is a master at Experiential and unique imaging of his photographs. While mine are far and away from his, I love working toward a commonality. It is very urban, hip, and commercial; looks like an advertisement or a fashion spread. Love it. Wouldn't that be great, fashion? Have to get my studio first!

So take a look at these fab creations!
The first image is the original picture taken from the pool deck of the Hampton Inn in St. Pete, FL.














The second image has a fresh look and brighter colors! Also the building is darker and stands out in contrast to the now very blue sky.














The final image has been manipulated even more to give it a more surreal atmosphere and contrast. There has been some major changes and since I wanted to give it a more retro look I even put in some textures.














I love photography, it opens so many doors to unexpected wonderment and surprise. Each time I open an image I am amazed at my new creation! Well, I'm off to get more inspiration!