There is joy in the job I get to do as a photographer.  For me, it is about much more than the prom or senior pictures I am hired to take.  My years of shopping for the perfect prom dress, then dressing up for a themed night with my first love, or a group of my closest friends is long behind me… but I get to live it again and again through the teens who ask me to take their pictures.  And I LOVE it.

The joy comes in part from the opportunity I have to give my couples an experience.  That is why I choose to make my Prom Sessions 20-25 minutes.  I want TIME for the couples I photograph to soak in the night.  I want them to feel pampered, not rushed.  I want the pictures I take to be more than just a snapshot of a memorable night for my couples… I want our sessions to be a part of the memories they make.

I want them to know they are phenomenal, and I want them to KNOW I think so too.

And with the time I spend with my teens and their families, I get to build connections… THAT is what I love most.

I LOVE it when my girls are shopping and they text me pictures of the dresses they are looking at to ask which dress I would choose.  When they do that, I KNOW that I have done exactly what I set out to do.  I want to be more than just the lady that takes pretty pictures of them.  I want to serve them, and love on them, and leave them knowing that I BELIEVE in them.

I want for my kids to know I am HERE for THEM.

They have no idea what it means to me that they feel comfortable reaching out to me.  That is EXACTLY what I want.

I pour into my teens because I have had amazing people who have poured into me all of my life, and I want to pay it forward.

I pour into them because when I was their age I was always trying to achieve, because I was never sure I would be quite good enough, and I want them to be told again and again that they are beautifully and wonderfully made; that they ARE enough.

I pour into them because it makes me happy to joke around with them.  It makes me happy to be loud and act silly and not care who sees me, because I want to show them that our worth doesn’t come from the judgement of the people around us… and the sooner we realize that the better.

And when I pour into them, and we build relationships, it fills MY tank.

I am so grateful for my kids.  Every one.

Love and Blessings,

Lymarie

 

If you want to learn more about the portrait experience at Lymarie Portela Jackson Photography, you can opt in to get a copy of my client guide here.

 

Spots are still available for both the 2017 Roanoke Rapids High School and Halifax Academy Proms:

Sign up by clicking the following links:

2017 RRHS Prom at https://form.jotform.us/61046578779168

2017 Halifax Academy Prom at https://form.jotform.us/62575113212143

 

Do you want a studio session with the set I used with Kristy and AJ in these photos?  I LOVE this new backdrop and am so excited to use it again that I am running a Marathon on Sunday, March 26, 2017.  You can grab your spot for that by clicking this link:   https://form.jotform.us/61957489067170.  I CANNOT wait!

 

Thank you to:

Models:   Kristy Price, RRHS C/O 2017 and AJ Hoscila, RRHS C/O 2018

HMUA:  Tessa Herring

Flowers:  Karen Hoscila from C&W’s Flowers and Gifts