Senior Portrait Photography

Unlike a lot of photographers who just pose you and click, I strive to get the real you to shine through in your photographs. Graduating High School is one of the best times of your life and years down the road, you want to look back at your Senior photos and know that who you are and what you were about was captured. I want you to bring whatever screams YOU to your photo shoot. If it's clothes, accessories, items or even PEOPLE {best friends, boy friend, parents, siblings} -- I want to capture what is most important in your life right now. If you LOVE your room, we will shoot some photos there, if you have a favorite hang out or chill out spot, we will go there. Your Senior shoot should be ALL ABOUT YOU and that's what I aim to do!

*Prices shown reflect my portfolio building intro specials!

Senior Package Fee: $275 $155
Includes: Three hours photography time (but I will stay until we have all the shots you desire) at the location(s) of your choice with unlimited clothing changes. Editing and processing of portraits. Online viewing. 100 wallet sized [2x3.5"] referral cards* with your photo, name and grad year on the front. One 11x14 and Two 8x10 metallic finished prints. High resolution digital images of your 10 favorite poses on a disc with usage release. (You can have them printed where ever you'd like as often as you'd like.) Plus bonus gallery of low-res images for web sharing purposes. [*= Referral card bonus! For every booked and paid session that shows or mentions YOUR referral card, YOU get TWO print sheet credits!]

Additional Discs & Prints Pricing

Referral Card Examples







If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask! Find me on MySpace, Facebook, capturedbyjess@ymail.com or by phone @ 940.612.2435!


All prices are subject to change without notice, at any time.
Please view my Payment & Policies information for more details.

A Mother Remembered

So, you know how I told you that when I walk through a cemetery, some stones just seem to call to me and 'ask' to be photographed? Well, I was looking through the photos I took at Ables Cemetery near Bulcher, Texas and stumbled upon a small part of a Mother's heartbreaking history.



I was studying this photo, trying to read what the stone said. Turns out this is the grave of M.F. Jordan, (wife of W.T.) born January 10th 1856, died February 2nd 1885. A couple of photos later I came across this one again...



These are M.F.'s (I want to call her Mary for some reason) children, a daughter who died July 30th 1881 and her son who died February 2nd 1885. I looked at M.F's stone again and realized that she and her son must have died while she was in labor or shortly thereafter and I was just overwhelmed with sadness for her and her children.

And then I thought, how crazy it was that in my walk through the Cemetery I took a picture of both her stone AND her children's stone. So I wanted to take this moment to remember M.F. as well as her daughter and her son. May they rest in peace.

Daisy

My parents got my daughter and my niece a new puppy and Zoey is just smitten with her! I have to admit, she is pretty darn cute - but i am glad she lives with the Grandparents and not with me!

Smoot Cemetery

On the 7th of January my Sister-in-Law and I went in search of a small cemetery she had remembered seeing off the road out in the middle of nowhere a few years ago. We found it and the stones it holds are so interesting!



It's very unkempt and over-grown. There are a lot of small stones that you can trip over if you don't keep a very close eye of where you are walking. The stones are pretty scattered and there are lots of good finds lurking in the weeds.



One of my favorites from Smoot Cemetery was this one. Mirtle May Giles, a girl who died in 1906 at the age of 12. I wonder if the spelling on her grave is a typo or if they actually spelled in in an alternate fashion. Whatever the case, love her name.



These two stones kind of haunt me. The first of the two is the grave of James B Adair, a little boy who died just short of his first birthday in 1860. This is the oldest known grave in the cemetery. The second grave is James' twin baby brothers who died the day they were born, just a year after his death in 1861. I can't help but think of their poor mother Mary Adair and all the suffering she went through loosing three baby boys in just two years time.



This is one of the neatest graves there. The stone is hand carved and the first name on it is split into two lines. It reads exactly:

DAN
IEL
GRIFFITH
DIED
1893



And this is my self-indulgent artsy shot of the same grave. I asked my Mom what she thought of this photo and she said I would probably be the only one to "get" it. =)



Finally, this is the old home that we found just a short skip hop and jump down the road from Smoot Cemetery. It was guarded by a No Trespassing sign, so I didn't bother to jump the fence to get a closer look. There was a ReMax sign out front and after a few conversations with the agent listed on the sign, she claims it is not one of her properties. Blah. I guess I will have to do some digging on my own to get permission for some up close and personal time with this gem of a house!


That's it for now, these were my favorites from the day. I can't wait to go back to Smoot to see what new treasures are hiding out there!

Winter Lulls and Spring Flings

Winter is usually the slowest season for photographer's because of the cold weather and not too many people want pictures with frozen Rudolph noses! However Spring is around the corner and I'm so excited about all of the photography sessions that I am already booking! In the mean time I am working on the "boring stuff" - this blog, my Facebook fan page, spreading the word and looking into an in-studio set up. I can't wait for the fun -- capturing everything that is to come!

Digital Discs & Print Pricing

Most packages include digital negatives and a couple even include prints - however if you need more than what is included in your session fee here is a sizing and pricing list. Bulk print orders may qualify for additional discounts, so be sure to ask grandparents/aunts/uncles if they want to purchase prints as well!


Images on Disc:

Digital Negatives: $20 each $10 each
Your session fee includes 5 high resolution digital photos but this option allows you to buy more of your favorite shots. These include a usage release for you to print as many copies as you'd like at the location of your choice.

Mini Digital Disc: $95 $50
With minimum purchase of $25 in prints.
This option is only for Mini Sessions (one hour or less session time), for one disc of 25 images along with a usage release for you to print as many copies as you'd like at the location of your choice. You pick your favorite 25 images out of all of the edits from the session. This includes the 5 digital negatives that are included with the session price. [Please note that any collages made using photos from your session will not be included, these must be purchased as separate digital negatives or in prints. Thank you.]

Digital Collection: $185 $80
With minimum purchase of $25 in prints.
This option allows you one disc with 35-65 images along with a usage release for you to print as many copies as you'd like at the location of your choice. You pick your favorite 45-65 images out of all of the edits from the session. This includes the 5 digital negatives that are included with the session price. [Please note that any collages made using photos from your session will not be included, these must be purchased as separate digital negatives or in prints. Thank you.]

Complete Digital Package: $250 $110
With minimum purchase of $25 in prints.
With the complete digital package you will receive all of the edited photos from your session on multiple discs with usage release for you to print as many copies as you'd like at the location of your choice.


High Quality Print Packages:
(Packages not included in 15% off sale since they are already reduced!)

Just for Me Print Package - $80 $45
5 Sheets (Your Choice)

Me & Some Gifts Print Package - $160 $85
8 Sheets (Your Choice)
10x13 (E-Surface)

Wall Art Print Package - $180 $100
6 Sheets (Your Choice)
10x13 (E-Surface)
16x20 (E-Surface)


High Quality Prints A La Carte:
15% off Prints now through January 15th!

Sheets: $20 each $12 each
Sheets Include
(1) 8x10
(2) 5x7
(3) 4x6
(4) 3.5x5
(8) Wallets 2.5x3.5
(16) Mini Wallets 1.75x2.5
(1) 5x7 & (2) 3.5x5
(1) 5x7 & (4) Wallets 2.5x3.5
(2) 4x6 & (2) 3.5x5
(2) 4x6 & (3) Wallets 2.5x3.5
(2) 5x5 (square)
(1) 8x8 (square)

Wall Portraits
10x10 E-Surface:
$25 each$15 each
10x10 Metallic/True B&W:
$25 each$15 each

10x13 E-Surface:
$30 each$20 each
10x13 Metallic/True B&W:
$32 each$22 each

12x12 E-Surface:
$30 each$20 each
12x12 Metallic/True B&W:
$32 each$22 each

11x14 E-Surface:
$40 each$30 each
11x14 Metallic/True B&W:
$45 each$35 each

16x20 E-Surface:
$55 each$40 each
16x20 Metallic/True B&W:
$65 each$45 each

20x24 E-Surface:
$70 each$55 each
20x24 Metallic/True B&W:
$80 each$60 each

Why purchase prints from Captured by Jess? Simply put, you are not going to get the quality elsewhere. Sure you can purchase a disc and buy cheap prints from retail photo labs but they are NOT display worthy. In fact, you will be un-pleasantly surprised at how different colors will look and the overall appearance of your portraits in general. Buying your favorite shots from me will guarantee expert cropping as well as premium quality papers and inks. For more details on my prints, please view the pricing and policy page.

All prices are subject to change without notice, at any time.
Please view my Payment & Policies information for more details.

Frank Buck Zoo Visit

My husband and I decided that this year we were going to buy a season pass to the local Zoo because of our daughter's love for animals and because it is one of the only places to take kids in the small town we live in! Our first trip there on the 3rd of January yielded some photos that I am pretty proud of, so I thought I would share them with you here! I know there are several, but trust me, this IS an edited down list!



< :: The Flamingos were being very photogenic! :: >







< :: Zoey trying to make a run for it! :: >





< :: It was cold out so the Zoo was quite serene! :: >




:: We tried to find an Exhibit for Zoey to stay in! ::







< :: The over-head walkway makes a great back-drop for little ones! :: >







I am so grateful for all the photogenic animals at the Zoo! Since we do have a season pass I am sure you'll be seeing their little faces in my blog again! For more photos, check out the animal gallery on my facebook site!

Some may find it strange ...

... but I love cemeteries. The older the better. They are so serene and beautiful. From the old stones, rich history, gorgeous landscapes and magnificent trees - I just love everything about them.

Interestingly enough, photographing in cemeteries runs in my family. My grandmother, starting with her own children moving all the way to myself, sister and cousins - posed us with the stones of family members. I find this more odd than my own fascination with cemeteries. I do not normally photograph people in my shots of cemeteries, save for the last trip to the cemetery where my beloved Grandmother is buried. I took a picture of my niece by her grave, just cause I knew she'd get a kick out of it. This one was for you, Grandma! Love you!


:: Moore Memorial Gardens, Tarrant County Texas ::

Back to my captivation with cemeteries... as long as I've had a camera and a roll of film to shoot with, cemeteries were one of my favorite subjects. Walking around in the quiet tranquillity, surrounded by the stones and your own thoughts - taking pictures came quite naturally there. The scenic beauty was always the main focus of my shots...


:: Coker Cemetery, Cooke County Texas ::


:: Coker Cemetery, Cooke County Texas ::


:: Coker Cemetery, Cooke County Texas ::


:: Coker Cemetery, Cooke County Texas ::


:: Ables Cemetery, Cooke County Texas ::

But then there are always certain graves that beg to be photographed due to their ornate beauty...


:: Coker Cemetery, Cooke County Texas ::


:: Coker Cemetery, Cooke County Texas ::


:: Coker Cemetery, Cooke County Texas ::


:: Coker Cemetery, Cooke County Texas ::


:: Ables Cemetery, Cooke County Texas ::

And the ones that call out to me, all on their own that I feel just want their chance to be remembered once again...


:: Coker Cemetery, Cooke County Texas ::


:: Coker Cemetery, Cooke County Texas ::


:: Coker Cemetery, Cooke County Texas ::


:: Coker Cemetery, Cooke County Texas ::


:: Ables Cemetery, Cooke County Texas ::


:: Ables Cemetery, Cooke County Texas ::


:: Ables Cemetery, Cooke County Texas ::


:: Ables Cemetery, Cooke County Texas ::

I hope by sharing with you my personal allure to cemeteries makes you see them in a different light. They are not scary and morbid places - but beautiful and peaceful places of rest and reflection.

My Step-Dad and I have been seeking out a lot of cemeteries in the area so I will be posting a variety of the images I capture. If cemeteries still don't appeal to you, don't worry - there will be a wide range of my other work posted here for you to view instead! =)

Logo!!

Just added the blog version above, what do you think? I love it!

More Enhancements!

I am having so much fun with these new enhancements I am learning how to do to my photographs! Here are a couple more I wanted to share with you! This is my Sister-in-Law, Ingrid. I took this photo of her on Christmas Eve at a family get together.

{ ORIGINAL }


{ Enhancement :: Green Swirls }


{ Enhancement :: Antique Frame, Maroon }


What do you think? I am in love with them and can't wait to hear what Ingrid has to say!