School Picture Day!

This morning I took the fall school portraits for Vilott Baptist Homeschool Ministry and I have to say that they turned out so adorable! I am currently just scratching the surface on the edits, but wanted to share a couple with you. This is my daughter in the photos, by the way! Didn't want to seem like I was playing favorites with the other parents and giving sneak peeks to some while not the others. So I'll play favorites with myself since I was there and know what the photos look like already! ;)

Vilott Baptist Homeschool Ministry is a very small school that has many students that just weren't doing well in a public school setting, my daughter was definitely one of them. They work one on one with the kids and teach them the way that they learn. My daughter has ADHD and dyslexia and in public school she was just falling behind and frankly herded along with the rest whether she could keep up or not. Here at this school, with the AMAZING people who run it - she is doing so much better academically, socially, behaviorally and emotionally. It is a wonderful school with wonderful people and I am so very thankful that it exists and takes her each day with open, loving arms.

Ssssshhhhhh....

This past weekend I took the two new guys in my life around town on a quick photo shoot as a surprise gift for my boyfriend's mom - so sssshhhhhhh, dont tell her! ;) Here's a couple of sneak peek's - what do you think? Are my two guys handsome or what?

Long time, no post...

So, clearly keeping up with a blog isn't my strong suit! I am definitely STILL pursuing my photography career, it's just being balanced with two other jobs as well. (Hey-that's the single mommy life - right?) I apologize for anyone still visiting this site, I DO intended to get better at posting, hopefully at least once a month - but don't hold me to that! I am ALWAYS available on my Facebook business page (as it's SO easy to update) so you can always see my latest work and goings on there. Here are my current specials for the 2016 Holiday season! Never hesitate to e-mail me at capturedbyjess@gmail.com or shoot me a text or phone call to 940.284.0917.

Children - Camille {North Texas Children's Photographer}

My first Summer Mini session was with adorable little Camille who was soon to be celebrating her 3rd birthday! She was absolutely beautiful and had the most expressive eyes! We had such a fun session - especially when the lolli pop came out!



Birthday Card Designs

{Flat 5x7 Version}


{Die Cut 5x7 Version}

Custom cards, invitations, storyboards - anything - are always available from Captured by Jess!

Summer Cleaning - My Computer! ;)

It's too hot to do housework, so I have been working on cleaning up my digital files the past couple of days. I've got tons of stuff in a mass array on my computer that needs cleaning up so I can get down to business! However, I had to stop and make a quick little collage when I saw this frame! Isn't this tooooo freakin' cute?!?

THIS is why I am organizing my files! ;)
Later gaters!

Captured by Jess Cutest Kid Contest, 2010

To kick off the holiday season, I am running a special photo contest for my Facebook followers! I am proud to announce my first, CUTEST KID CONTEST!



Please read below to find out how to enter, who can enter, how to vote and what you will win! ;)


HOW TO ENTER:
Simply e-mail me (capturedbyjess@ymail.com), FB inbox me (Jessica Hamlet Bilbrey) or post your child's photo on the Captured by Jess business page wall. I'll collect the entries and post them into an official contest photo album here on Facebook.

HOW TO VOTE:
You must have a Facebook account and be a fan of Captured by Jess on Facebook. Once your child's photo is placed into the official contest album, you cast your vote by placing a COMMENT under the photo. Only comments will count and only ONE comment will count per person, per photo. This means you can vote ONCE for as many photos as you like.

EXTRA VOTES:
If you "LIKE" Picture Perfect Props on Facebook and leave a WALL COMMENT saying you were sent by Captured by Jess' Cutest Kid Contest it will count as an additional vote for your child. It is REQUIRED that you add your child's NAME in the comment for it to count however. Send family and friends over with your child's name and each of their comments will count as extra votes as well!

Visit Picture Perfect Props on FB: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Callisburg-TX/Picture-Perfect-Props/122188261151389



WHO CAN VOTE:
Anyone, besides me! ;( Spread the word by posting the link/"sharing" the photo album or photo on your own Facebook wall. Send messages to all of your friends with the link via Facebook inbox or e-mail. The more of your friends who vote for your child, the better chance you have of winning!

Link to share: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=580225&id=371192960343

WHO CAN ENTER:
Anyone, anywhere! You can submit your own child, your niece, nephew - even your neighbor! As long as they are aged 2 weeks - 14 years. You can enter in each child in your household but the contest is limited to only ONE child in the house being able to win.* Parent permission is also required for entry. Keep in mind, your location does not exclude you from entering! I can travel up to 30 miles outside of Gainesville, TX, beyond that will require a traveling fee. Of course, anyone is welcome to drive to me!

HOW TO WIN:
The child's photo with the most single entry COMMENTS will be the winner!

CONTEST DATES:
I will take photo submissions from Wednesday, December 1st through Wednesday, December 15th at 10pm (CST). You will then have an extra 7 days to rack up the votes! Voting will be cut off Wednesday, December 22nd at 10pm (CST). The winners will be announced Thursday, December 23rd!


PRIZES:
First Place will receive a FREE SESSION with a disc of 15 digital negatives including usage release PLUS your choice of hat by Picture Perfect Props!

Second Place will receive a FREE ONE HOUR SESSION with a disc of 5 digital negatives including usage release! (There is a requirement of 15 contest entries for the second place prize to be awarded.)

Third Place will receive a $45 GIFT CARD to Captured by Jess to be used towards the fee for your next booked session. (There is a requirement of 25 contest entries for the third place prize to be awarded.)


This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. You are providing your information to Captured by Jess and not to Facebook. The information you provide will only be used for contestant photo posting by captured by Jess.You must completely release Facebook from anything regarding this contest to enter and acknowledge that this promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.



NOTE: Free prize sessions are subject to scheduling and availability. There is no cash value to the prizes nor are they transferable. $45 Gift Card can only be applied to the session fee of a newly booked session, it can not be used for any prior session(s).


*To be fair to all participants, if you enter -for example- three children into the contest and they come in 1st, 2nd and 3rd, first place will go to your household. Subsequently, 4th and 5th place winners will then be moved to 2nd and 3rd (as long as they are not in the same household as well).

I know, I know, I know.... {North Texas Photographer, Children's Photography, Wedding Photography, Family Photography}

I totally suck a big toe! LOL! I am sooooooo behind on my blog, it is UNREAL! But the good news is the reason I am so behind is because I am SO busy booking sessions! Once the weather got nice, my calendar filled to the BRIM! I am currently up late (oh, 3am right now) working, waiting for a card filled with my latest session to upload and thought I'd take a few minutes to stop by here! Since I don't have a lot of time for a large update, here are some quick peeks at what I've been up to since my last post!

First up was the large family shoot I had! It was back in July and sooooo flippin hot! We managed to make it through the 3+ hour shoot with smiles on our faces and great photographic memories for the whole family!



Next I had the pleasure of shooting an engagement shoot for a wonderful couple and we wound up with some amazing shots for them to treasure forever.



I then had some free time w/o any appointments so I took the chance to do my own little girl's 4th birthday photos (which were months late). Zoey is a total ham for the camera when she *wants* to be. We tried for 4 different outfits and set-ups but she melted down by the fourth. However, I can't complain because I have some great photos of her regardless. This is one of my absolute favorites from the day!



So then September hits and the appointments start rolling back in and first up with Kaylena and her 2nd Birthday photo shoot. She is an absolute little angel and completely gorgeous to boot!



My next session was for another 2nd Birthday shoot, this time with Brayden who is my husband's cousin's little boy. talk about a lil stinker!! Boys, right?! ;) He wasn't too into taking photos but I managed to snag some shots of this handsome little man anyways! ;) I took my daughter's drum set and let him rock out on it, here's a collage with several shots included.



So I started realizing that I was seriously lacking in the teen arena so I wrangled up another one of my husband's cousin's kids, the amazingly gorgeous Hillary, and drove around for 3 hours taking her photos! ;)



October rolls in and I get booked for a family shoot, and little did I know then that my family would soon have a new set of life long friends. We went to the lake (I took my daughter Zoey along with me for the first time) and instantly became fast friends during the shoot. Zoey fell in love with their little girl Stormie and I just adore the whole bunch of them!



The following weekend my Mom hosted a county wide Girl Scouts event at her house and of course, I am wrangled into doing a week's plus worth of work or more! The Halloween Hoedown turned out to be a huge success and I *still* haven't been able to add these edits to my schedule yet, but here's a shot of my Mom and I's little troop!



Next up was my Rockwall Senior Rep, Heather. She is such a beautiful and sweet girl, whom is also still waiting to see her full session. Patiently waiting, I should say because I haven't had a break to add her session into my schedule yet either.



I also offered a day of Halloween Mini Sessions, which as backed up as I already was - I shouldn't have done, BUT luckily there were a lot of no shows so I didn't come out of the day with a huge work load. Only a couple of cuties to edit ;)



Another fortune part of my Halloween Mini Session day was that a long lost friend that I grew up with (and had recently reconnected with on Facebook) decided to make the drive up for the event and I got to photograph her gorgeous brand new baby girl, Naomi!



Next up was my first Gift Certificate purchase session. A previous client bought her best friend a session as a birthday gift -how great is that? And what an ADORABLE little family they were! We had a great time on the family farm with all the old buildings and great rustables all around! LOVED that place! Currently almost finished editing their session! ;)



Next up on my editing to do list is little Mr Fito! He was SUCH a little ham! It took him a little bit to come out of the shy shell but once he did he was such a character! So adorable!!



Next up was a secret session that is a Christmas gift, I can't give away too much and obviously, can't show too much but it was so great, gorgeous subjects with a fabulous location!



I then had a break from my typical portrait sessions and got to do some Motocross photos which was a first for me. It was great being in the thick of the action and watching these guys do their stunts!



After taking a much needed break for the Halloween holiday, I took a drive down to Dallas to photograph the wedding of an Elementary classmate of mine. It was a phenomenally beautiful wedding, the couple was gorgeous and even though the night was long - it was amazing.



After driving back up to Gainesville, I had an hour to spare until my next session which was with Allie and Justin and his family. They were so nice and totally forgave all my brain lapses from my extremely long day before!



The Girl Scouts hand out little poppy flowers at the local Veteran's Day celebration each year and while we were there I snapped this shot of the fly-overs they were doing. It was a very gray and over-cast day so i added in some clouds.



This past weekend I met with another great little family at the park for their session. (Albeit with a late start because I can't remember things anymore with my hectic schedule!!) We've got another session planned for this coming weekend with more of the family added and I can't wait!




So that catches you up on what I've been doing. If only I could catch MYSELF up, life would be a lot easier! I'm looking at another full schedule coming up and prices will be raised soon. Effective December 1st my portfolio building intro rate of $50 is going away. Don't worry - I am still offering a portfolio building special rate but it is now going to be $85. Book your session now to lock in that $50 rate before it's gone!

I've also donated sessions to a couple of local school's fundraisers and I am looking forward to meeting and photographing the winning bidders of those!

As ALWAYS, catch me most frequently on FACEBOOK. You'll see new messages, special and always new photos nearly daily there!

Until next time, with more - captured by Jess....

Mental Blockage - Gainesville, Texas Children's Photographer

So just as I am finishing up the edits from a session I had with a awesome threesome of sisters and their cool Mom - I came to a mental block creativity wise. I usually have ideas soaring when I am making collages but after making a handful I totally had a mental block with their photos. I've since had a huge group session with a wonderful family and I am editing their photos waiting for inspiration to hit again but I thought I'd blog a few of the photos from the Orsburn Girls shoot meanwhile. ;)





As always, the full galleries can be seen on Facebook and MySpace.

This weekend I've got an engagement session and another newborn booked for the beginning of September and a two year old birthday session mid September. I am lucky to have such great clients and meeting new ones constantly! Until next time, with more - Captured by Jess....

Time Flies! - Ft Worth, Texas Children's Photographer

I can't believe the entire month of July went by and I didn't have time for ONE post! However, looking back on the month - my life was pretty crazy and my daily routine was severely changed when my Husband was hurt at work and has been home due to the injury. With all the dramas and regular life occurrences, it took me almost the whole month to complete a session from the very end of June. Bad, bad, bad Jess - I know! But, it's hard to be creative when life is throwing so many lemons your way. I think of each one of my photos as it's own piece of artwork. I like to take my time and make each photo special. Cranking out simple photos with little to no edits is just not my style. Why pay me to take your photos if they look like something you can do on your own? Exactly - you wouldn't. That's why they are each their own little piece of art. ;)

Anyways, speaking of my June session, here are some of my favorites from the shoot. As always you can find the full galleries at Facebook as well as MySpace!



August is looking to be pretty full (thankfully since my Husband is not working!!) - I've got to finish a session with three gorgeous little beauties and their Mom, a whole family tree session as well as an engagement session! I am also looking forward to photographing the auction winner from the session I donated to a friend who is trying to raise money for her father to have a heart transplant. I am happy to say that my session earned one of the largest amounts at the auction! Another exciting bit for later this month is that my little girl will be starting pre-k! I am going to miss her so much - I just wish I could sit in her class everyday and watch her silly antics! Oh to be a fly on in the wall in her classroom! ;)

More to come soon, I PROMISE! lol! I keep saying that-don't I! Well, I will have more time later this month when my baby is at school all day! ;)

Until next time, with more - Captured by Jess ...

Infants Needed for Modeling! - Gainesville, Texas Child Photographer

My Mom is launching a line of hats, headbands and accessories for photographers (or for Mommies who just like their kids to have adorable accessories) and we are needing some infants to model the products.



The baby dolls she's using now for photos are just not cutting it! lol!! For your trouble you will receive some digital negatives (a disc of photos with a print release) from the session. If you are interested contact me here, Facebook, MySpace or by e-mail at capturedbyjess@ymail.com! Thanks!!!

☆ Callisburg's Got Talent! ☆ - Callisburg, Texas Children's Photographer

The Talent Show was soooo much fun! I know I said that already but the photos just remind me of the great night! Speaking of the photos they are all edited and up for viewing at Facebook and Myspace!



If you are interested in purchasing prints or digital negatives from the night feel free to check out my pricing, HERE or drop me a line at capturedbyjess@ymail.com!

I am currently in catch-up mode so expect to see a lot here within the next few weeks! Until next time with more, Captured by Jess....

Hippity Hoppity Bunny Day! - Cooke County Family Photographer

My daughter is lucky enough to have both sides of her family that want to spend the day with her so we were treated to two different Easter celebrations this year. She got to have two egg hunts and just thought she was the luckiest little girl to find so many eggs filled with goodies. I took over 400 photos and thought I'd share a few with you here! So here's some shots of Easter with my family, enjoy!



Flowers from my in-law's beautiful backyard.


The Ugly Doll "Bunny" I got for my daughter, which I have now basically claimed as my own because she says it's "Too old." Anyways, I had to have a mini photo shoot with him because he's too cute!


My daughter Zoey and her cousin Olivia checking out their goodies.


Zoey and her cousin Lexi on my parents rustic farm.


My beautiful niece Lexi being kind enough to stop and pose while egg hunting! =)


This wacky little hen wound up being very photogenic!


Kite flying was super fun for all!


My daughter is so lucky to have such a picturesque place to have Easter egg hunts!


Something else that photographs well, the rusty "junk" around my parents farm. Love it!

I hope your Easter was as good as mine! See you next time with more, Captured by Jess

i♥faces photo challenge entry - North Texas Children's Photographer

Over at i♥faces, they run weekly photo challenges and this week the challenge is "Dramatic B&W". I've never entered a photo challenge before but when I saw this theme, I automatically thought of this photo and said to myself, "Well - you can't get any more dramatic than THAT!" What do you think? Do I have a chance?



This is one of my best friend's daughter, Avery. I did a session with her a couple weeks ago for her 9th birthday. We were doing some shots on a bridge and I noticed this tree around the corner that was screaming at me to photograph. She did an amazing job posing for me and I love how the shots turned out. For this photo I added a textured overlay and then applied a textured border. All the images from this session can be seen in galleries on my flickr, Facebook or MySpace pages if you want to check them out. (Links to the right >>)

There are tons more entries to the "Dramatic B&W" challenge at i♥faces, click their button below to see the other amazing shots!