Fancy Shmancy.

I am by no means a website creator wizard so I have found it very difficult to create something to display my pictures to share with people. So, I have gone with a website that isn't some fancy photographer one, but it does displays my pictures and all I have to do is press the upload button! Hopefully one day i'll have the money and the knowledge to put together some amazing website, but for now please check out my pictures at www.flickr.com/jaclynfrancoisphotography. Enjoy!

Summer Job.

Now that the semester has ended and I no longer work at the college, I thought that this would be a perfect opportunity to try and launch my photography business. This summer I have set the goal to be a portrait photographer. Who knows if anyone will be interested at all but I guess I have nothing to lose. I have had a lot of practice lately in this area and feel that I have enough experience now to begin this venture. We'll see how this all turns out.

Latest Photo News.

This semester I was chosen to display 2 photos in the student art show here at Chandler Gilbert Community College. I found out this week from my teacher that one of my photos was chosen by the school to be purchased at kept in their permanent collection! I was really excited about this because it is the first time I have sold a single photograph as a piece of art. I hope that this will be the first of many pictures sold! So for more news in my art world, yesterday I had the opportunity to display 4 pictures at an Art Revival Exhibition put on by the Hispanic Student Organization at the college. I had only found out about it the day before so I hurried at contacted who was in charge to see if there was still room for me. I was so pleased to find out that they were going to allow me to still be in the show, despite my last minute application. At the show they had many different forms of art! There were paintings and photographs hung up as well as people doing live painting which was amazing to watch. They also had a stage set up where 2 groups performed music, poetry was read, and a dance was performed. I really enjoyed experiencing all these different forms of art and was very grateful to be a contributing part of the night. There was one poet who before reading her poem which was written for her mom, told the story of what inspired her to write it. She said that she had asked her mom what love was and responded by saying "I don't know what love is, but I know what it's like to not have it anymore". Her husband had passed away and I thought that was a beautiful was of expressing her idea of love. I am so thankful I was able to attend this event and that people are willing to share their amazing talents with others. I am so blessed.

This is the photograph that was chosen by the school. I guess Brig is pretty famous now.

Amazing.

Part 1

Part 2

This was sent to me by a friend. I thought it was pretty amazing

& wanted to share.

Progression.

In my digital photography class at the college we were recently assigned the task of taking portraits. This seems like an easy enough assignment, but for me this is a challenge. The one area that I have struggled in photography is with portraits. The whole idea of bossing people around and telling them how to pose has been an obstacle since I am a shy person by nature. I had my first session yesterday which was actually not bad at all since I was able to take pictures of my niece & nephew. After reviewing my pictures I was able to see where I might improve which I can use when I shoot my next 3 sessions. I am hoping that through this assignment I will be able to progress as a photographer and not be timid about posing and working with people. We'll see who this turns out.

Easter.

I'm kind of late with this post, but better late than never! This Easter we were able to celebrate with Adam & Jessica. We had a delicious dinner followed by an easter egg hunt for Benton & Emmie. Rather than collecting eggs, Emmie seemed more interested in finding and eating rocks. After that, Benton made some easter bunny cookies which he enjoyed lining up. He even snuck a bite out of one before placing it on the stone to be cooked. We finished off the day with a walk around the neighborhood and scoped out some empty lots where Jessica & Adam could possibly build a home. Overall, it was a wonderful Easter filled with great lessons at church and wonderful time spent with the family.

Family Photographs.

Of Course.

Thank you Jessica & Adam.

I love having a nephew & niece to photograph.

Better Together.

I have finally come to the realization of how incredibly blessed I am, particularly when it comes to my family. As some people know there is no one that I would rather spend my time with than my family. Throughout my childhood and entering into my adult years I have been so blessed with the opportunity to create many memories with my family, from vacations to just being together at home. Since i've moved back from Utah, there has not been an exception to this. I've been able to go to the Phoenix Zoo, Coon Bluff, California and many more places with them. I am so thankful for the memories we've created and continue to create and the friendships that we have, we are truly better together. 

Sunday Laundry Shirt Dress GIVEAWAY!!!!

Sunday Laundry Shirt Dress GIVEAWAY!!!!

My dear sister Jessica recently told me about the cutest blog on the net that is full of photography & handmade goodies (Two of my favorite things)! Browsing through this blog has inspired me to learn how to sew. I have already accepted that it will be a complete disaster at first, but hopefully with a lot of practice i will be able to whip something out that is a fraction as cute as the things that come out of grosgrain! The latest giveaway on this blog is a precious shirt dress that I have been drooling over all day. Her vision in making this was for a single girl in her 20's who spends her sunday evenings in a laundry mat and lives in San Francisco. I meet the first two criteria so I think that's doing pretty well! Check out the blog and I guarantee you will fall head over heels in love with the creativity of the photography and the brilliance of the things she sews!

Project Update.

A Girl Can Dream.

Even though I won't be hearing any wedding bells in the near future that doesn't mean I can't plan a few minor
 details of my future wedding, right? As a girl with a little too much free time I have taken the liberty of picking out my future wedding dress, season of wedding & a couple more things that don't need to be revealed just yet. I got to keep some things a surprise! Anyways, I would like to dedicate this post to my future wedding (fingers crossed). So please, enjoy.

My Dear Aunt Cindy.

It is sometimes hard for me to put the way I feel into words, especially at times like these. So for now I will let my big sister Jessica who I love so much do most of the explaining: 

This morning my sweet Aunt Cindy passed away after a long battle with her health. She had a bone marrow transplant, which led to many complications and finally a hole in her heart. She was one of the most geniune and kind people I have ever known. She served, she loved, she truly cared. I loved hugs from her becuase she let you know you were special and she meant them. I remember spending Christmas with her and her family and how we would all sit and chat for hours. I remember one holiday we talked of the life to come and the joys it would brings, relief from sorrow, happy reunions, and life with our Savior. She would often talk of visiting places she once new, and those she's never been. She was genuinely interested in the lives of others. She showed her love by caring for her family. She always gave of herself. She showed this in the way she took care of her father-in-law (until he passed), her two boys Bryson and Josh, her husband Bill, and her daughter Amber and her family. Her grandchilren adored her. McKenna loved to climb in bed with her Grandma early in the morning and Mason just loved being with her. The day before she died was her son Josh's 16th birthday. They spent the day celebrating together, even though Cindy was in great pain. Even in her last few hours on Earth, she thought of her family first by hanging on just long enough for one more celebration. She loved others more than herself. We spent lovely vacations together, and enjoyed the beach. While going through Kemo, she would often imagine herself in Hawaii (her favorite vacation spot) and plan her next trip. Her quiet ways brought peace to the room. She was truly a choice spirit who taught us all how to love better and how to follow our Savior. She has a great work to do in the next life, but will truly be missed in this one. I love her so much and am grateful for the many lessons she has taught me. I only wish I had the opportunity to say goodbye.

The last time I saw my sweet Aunt was at a family get together at a cabin where we would spend some time during the summer up in Utah. She was sweet and loving as ever and genuinely interested in my upcoming plans I had for my life. Her and my Uncle Bill would always try to set me up with these young doctors that worked closely with Cindy. I loved how much I could tell they cared about me and my future. I am so grateful for each and every moment I was able to spend with her and her family. I will cherish those memories forever and will learn from her many Christ-like qualities. I am so thankful for her example and for the legacy which she has left behind. I cannot wait for the day when I will see her once again. I love you Aunt Cindy.

Making Something of Myself.

After returning to Arizona I once again enrolled in my beloved photography classes. As I have already accomplished photo I & II at the college level, I am now taking an independent study course where I complete one project over the semester that would be suitable for an exhibition. I have chosen to take portraits of my family members but these will not be your ordinary portraits. I am only in the infancy of this project but am coming up with ideas faster than I can shoot. Being back in the darkroom has reignited my love of photography, especially film which has long been a favorite over digital. A day or two back in class I was approached by my teacher to be a lab supervisor. I was currently job hunting so this was the perfect opportunity for me. Being paid to develop & print my pictures is definitely the perfect job. I am just happy to be back where I belong - in the dark with negatives & paper in hand.