I wasn’t sure if there was a cure for what ailed me but I knew come sleet or high water a trip to the mall was in order. It seems like everyone else had the same idea, in fact, I would have compared it ... Read More »]]> Is it just me or is this winter lasting FOREVER? It wasn’t too long ago I took a little trip to the mall to escape “cabin fever”.  I am the only woman in my house and quite frankly the male bonding experience due to inclement weather was really beginning to take its toll on this prissy girl!

I wasn’t sure if there was a cure for what ailed me but I knew come sleet or high water a trip to the mall was in order. It seems like everyone else had the same idea, in fact, I would have compared it to an ant hill. Ants EVERYWHERE!

In all the chaos, I witnessed a miracle…… The hustle and bustle of it all came to a standstill for me the minute my eyes made contact with the shoe department! All the noise around me faded into the background, my breath was taken away while I swore the sun beamed like a spotlight on a thousand  sparkly shoes that paved a street of gold,  angels broke out in the “Hallelujeah Chorus” and I was cured one pair of 8 1/2 narrows at a time! And yes, a card was born to share with all of you who understand the healing powers a pair of Prada pumps!

Forget ‘Soul Sisters’ we’re ’sole sisters’!

Art work credit: www.blessherheartArt.com

In such a ho hum environment where people go about their morning routine, ... Read More »]]> While wasting time one morning last summer, I found myself sitting in a Waffle House having coffee. An unexpected and unusual trip landed me in a booth with a birds-eye view of the whole joint. I felt comfortable in the retro vibe and lured in by the odd aroma of bacon cooking and the lingering smell of cleaning agents.  There was such a somber mood shared by the staff and patrons alike. We were all in one small place and yet completely alone in our own little worlds.

In such a ho hum environment where people go about their morning routine, I began to dream of how a chance encounter of two young lovers could breathe life into an otherwise lifeless restaurant and warm it from within.

Call me a hopeless romantic, but I believe love can happen in the strangest of places. Could this have really happened here in the past? Regardless, it was taking place in my mind and I knew I had to give “their” story life through a photographic essay form- my favorite! Adding in the skillful eye of a videographer created the avenue to share this story with others.

A special thanks to the perfect couple, Phil and Somer who shamelessly showed their love to the world. To my friend Sean for helping produce my vision and taking it on as if it were his own. And yes, the Waffle House for allowing us to use their restaurant as our stage. Love in a Waffle House

As if decking the Halls, and scheduling everyone’s holiday schedule isn’t stressful enough, it’s that  time of year when all of us seem to be scrambling to find the perfect gift for the people we love, the ones we only get to see once a year if we are lucky! Can I get an Amen? Hopefully, I can help you out in your quest, and you may be surprised that you can find everything you need in a shoebox in the closet and a computer.

It’s no secret how I found my profession and passion. I remember it well, a spring ... Read More »]]>

As if decking the Halls, and scheduling everyone’s holiday schedule isn’t stressful enough, it’s that  time of year when all of us seem to be scrambling to find the perfect gift for the people we love, the ones we only get to see once a year if we are lucky! Can I get an Amen? Hopefully, I can help you out in your quest, and you may be surprised that you can find everything you need in a shoebox in the closet and a computer.

It’s no secret how I found my profession and passion. I remember it well, a spring day 12 years ago I had this overwhelming urge to get the family together for a family photo. No one could juggle their schedules to get together and the issue was dropped. It really bothered me but what can a girl do? Three days later my father died suddenly of a heart attack. I realized at that moment that every “thing” I was ever going to get from my father I owned, and every photo I had of him was already taken.

A few years later, my cousin presented me with a photo of me and my father embracing.  Obviously nothing fancy, but priceless!

You guess it! My gift giving ideas are all about photos!

The digital age has transformed the way we view our photos and has made it incredibly simple to reproduce and share.

One of my favorite sites for digital cards is www.smilebox.com.  Their creations can turn your photos into a mini slide show while having the look and feel of a greeting card. I use this company for every birthday and special occasion.

One of my “go to” companies for professional slideshows is www.emotionmedia.com. You can upload your photos directly from your computer, select your music and it will arrive on your doorstep within the week! E Motion Media will do all the work for you.

For online slide shows visit www.vimeo.com.

If you want to turn a photo into jewelry www.kimbrastudios.com is a wonderful place to visit. For men they have belt buckles, money clips, and key chains. For women, there are necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and so much more! Their designs are made out of sterling silver so need to worry about the “cheese” factor! Simply beautiful craftsmanship!

www.flashbags.com is a great place to make your own photo bags. Want to give someone a tote or a purse with special photographs? Flash Bags are wonderful and don’t break the bank.

And one more idea just for you, if you are giving a book you can turn the pages into a treasure trove by using photo splits to affix old photos throughout the book. Not only is the book a real page turner the photos are a nice added touch.

Turn your photos into gift tags. When you use photo gift tags there is no reason to read the tags just look at the photo. You will be amazed at how much people comment on the gift wrapping. Suddenly, your tag is a gift for the gift!

Let me know your ideas and what you like to do with your photos.

Coming soon a article just for decorating with photos at Holiday time!

Looking forward to getting to know each other better!

Livesay Orchards is in Porter, Oklahoma and is open just about year round with so many fabulous things for families to do and enjoy.  Livesay Orchards is family owned and operated. The Livesays are great salt of the earth people and have had my heart for years. And for good reason they have attracted the likes of Southern Living Magazine ... Read More »]]> Recently, I had the opportunity to shoot a day in a real pumpkin patch. You know the kind that has the vines and pumpkins attached to them, not the fabricated side of the road pumpkin patch, this was the real deal!

Livesay Orchards is in Porter, Oklahoma and is open just about year round with so many fabulous things for families to do and enjoy.  Livesay Orchards is family owned and operated. The Livesays are great salt of the earth people and have had my heart for years. And for good reason they have attracted the likes of Southern Living Magazine on numerous occasions. They are best known for their sun ripened peaches in summer that are absolutely heavenly. The juice is so intoxicating you don’t mind the sticky mess as it drips down your chin.

In the fall things change just like the leaves, there are hayrides, and hay mazes, and of course pumpkin picking. www.livesayorchards.com

On either side of apple trees is the most enchanting pumpkin patch. I watched kids of all ages run into the middle of the patch on a quest to pick their one special pumpkin. There was no rhyme or reason to the madness. Kids chose whatever pumpkin that spoke to them, some loved the big ones that they couldn’t even carry to the almost pocket sized baking pumpkins.

This year I set up my photography smack dab in the middle of the patch and documented the wonderment unfold for the young and young at heart.

This city girl set up hay bales for the perfect backdrop and only missed my heels a few times during the day.

I picked out a few pumpkins of my own and found myself gravitating to the extra bumpy ones and not so perfectly shaped. They were all so beautiful in their own way.

Being a photographer in this day and age, is not the easiest of professions. The ever changing deluge of technology has kept me on the fast track of learning. Instead of pacer car at the Indy 500, it often feels like lift off at Cape Canaveral. I dearly adore my work and embrace any challenge.

This year I had the good fortune of shooting people and places and events that one could only dream of. In doing so, I found myself in situations and experiences I have not encountered in my younger years and  I have to laugh that ... Read More »]]> Fired at Forty

Being a photographer in this day and age, is not the easiest of professions. The ever changing deluge of technology has kept me on the fast track of learning. Instead of pacer car at the Indy 500, it often feels like lift off at Cape Canaveral. I dearly adore my work and embrace any challenge.

This year I had the good fortune of shooting people and places and events that one could only dream of. In doing so, I found myself in situations and experiences I have not encountered in my younger years and  I have to laugh that this old dog is not only learning new tricks but is very capable.

Today marks the day that I was fired from one of my shoots! Yes, I said it, I was fired at 40! In the current economy one may find themselves feeling the need to take on jobs that aren’t necessarily their forte. It’s  hard to turn down money and any work. In retrospect, the job was not a fit for me and obviously not for the client either! My work is extremely personal and although a blow to be “taken off” a project there are certain jobs that just can’t feed a soul like others. Sometimes, projects can feed your soul and then rob you blind~but I will save that for another day. There is a liberation found when we hone in on our strengths and realize that people do like who you are and what you do.

At forty, I think I have finally figured out that square pegs do not fit in round holes, and even if by some miracle they do, it’s not always divine intervention! I am currently, working on a set of greeting cards and one of my “jillism’s” states…..  “It finally dawned on her, silly girl! Don’t look toward the sea for your dreams to come in. Your dreams never fit on a boat anyway. And with that she gazed Heavenward.”

My name is Jill Solomon. This is what I do, and it is enough.