One of my favorite songs. Always has relevance when I hear it.  Even more so this week. Thank you, Pandora, for reminding me.  

You say the hill's too steep to climb, chiding
You say you'd like to see me try, climbing
You pick the place and I'll choose the time
And I'll climb the hill in my own way
Just wait a while for the right day
And as I rise above the tree-line and the clouds
I look down hear the sound of the things you've said today

Fearlessly the idiot faced the crowd, smiling
Merciless the magistrate turns round, frowning
And who's the fool who wears the crown
Go down in your own way
And every day is the right day
And as you rise above the fear-lines in his brow
You look down hear the sound of the faces in the crowd

Our beloved McLeod Residence is closing its doors this weekend. Tomorrow is their last night open to the public, and they're having some crazy Halloween party to celebrate.  Thank you, Buster and Lele for serving up some unforgettable parties over the past couple years!

After viewing some of the Huffington Post's candidate PDA slideshows and coming across this sweet image by Callie Shell of Barack reading newspapers while Michelle snuggles next to him, I was curious to see more photos of presidential candidates and their significant others, specifically on their wedding day. Here's what Google found for me:

John & Cindy married May 17, 1980 in Phoenix.  William Cohen was their best man and Gary Hart was an usher.

Barack & Michelle, October 3, 1992.  After putting him off for a month, Michelle finally agreed to go on a date.  They had dinner and saw Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing.  More great photos of their courtship and wedding can be viewed here.  You can't deny these two are head over heels for each other.

The only wedding image of George & Laura I could find.  November 5, 1977.  There had no attendants and their wedding invitations were printed by hand.  Their first date was at a miniature golf course.  The wedding followed three months later.

Mike & Janet Huckabee were married May 25, 1974 in Janet's mother's house.  They were 18 years old. He proposed with a pull tab from a soda can.

Mitt & Ann Romney, March 21, 1969.  They met in elementary school.  She was riding a horse and he threw stones at her (?).

I love this one of Hillary & Bill, October 11, 1975.  She wore a Jessica McClintock dress, bought at Dillard's.   They married in the brick home Bill bought for them when he proposed.  They met in a civil liberties class at Yale and attended a Mark Rothko exhibit for their first date.

Nancy & Ron, March 4, 1952.  Nancy wore a gray suit.  There were only two guests; William & Ardis Holden.

How cute is this? Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter, July 7, 1946.  She was a childhood friend of his younger sister. 

Betty & Gerald Ford, October 15, 1948.  He was late to his wedding because he was out campaigning for his first congress bid.  He won the election three weeks later.

Lyndon & Lady Bird Johnson on their honeymoon in Mexico.  They were married November 17, 1934.

Jackie & John Kennedy held their reception at Hammersmith Farm in Rhode Island on September 12, 1953, with 900 guests.  That's a lot of Chiavari chairs!

Frances and Grover Cleveland were married in the Blue Room of the White House, June 2, 1886.  He was the only President to do so.

George & Martha Washington, January 6, 1759.  He proposed three weeks after they met. Martha wore purple silk shoes with silver lace!

I just got word that one of my images from Breanne & Jimmy's wedding at the Daughters of the American Revolution mansion placed fourth in the Kids category of the 2008 BRIDES / Wedding Photojournalist Association photo contest.  The images were first judged by four award winning photojournalist chosen by the WPJA, then again by the Editorial Department of BRIDES magazine.  You can view the winning images on both the Brides.com website and WPJA.com. Yay!

Taryn & Ben were married at Sunset Hill Park, one of my favorite places in Seattle. They had a small ceremony with close friends and family that honored both of their faiths.  Since part of the view is incumbered by chain link fence, we did our first look and portraits at the Ballard Locks.  Here's Ben waiting to see Taryn.

here she comes!

I caught Ben's mom doing last minute alterations on her son's jacket. 

Stop me if you think you've heard this one before...

There were cute kids all over.  Ben's new nephew, in particular, just made my lens melt.

The reception was held at Volterra's Drawing Room in Ballard, a relatively new event space with incredible food, Swarovski crystal chandeliers, and paintings by Dale Chihuly.  

everyone is a photographer these days!

Congratulations, Taryn & Ben! Thank you for letting me be a part of your big day.  I hope you're settling in and making Milwaukee your home.  Seattle misses you!

I'm away from the office today without access to the Club D pic. I do, however, have Taryn & Ben's wedding and will be posting later. 

There are still tickets left for Get Hitched, Give Hope at the Arctic Club tonight.  I'm dying to meet any blog lurkers out there, so please introduce yourself if you're around. You'll likely find me hanging around Kate McElwee's photo booth. 

 

Photography by Jenny Jimenez (um hey, that's me) is featured on the Daily Candy Seattle blog today in their "Radio Wed" email.  Also featured is old friend Matt Terich, who recently launched Poster Bride, a company that custom designs wedding invitations as arty, collectable silkscreened show posters.

Quick teaser for Sara & Matt.  I'm workin on the rest and soooo happy with how they're turning out! 

This week it's the Drift On Inn Roadhouse and Casino on north Aurora Ave in Seattle (not to be confused with the Drift Inn in East Quogue, Long Island, where I spent a rather un-fun night in 98).  They don't allow cameras anywhere other than the small strip of bar, where I found this guy belly up drinking coke from aTaco Bell cup.  Gotta love Aurora Ave!

In Seattle you can say things like "remember that really hot Saturday?" and odds are people will know what day you're talking about.  Michaela and Nabil were married on the hottest Saturday of this past summer in the most perfect possible setting for it; the garden patio of the Corson Building in Georgetown.  Surrounded by family and friends they were serenaded by TWO incredible songstresses (Amy Blaschke sang them down the aisle & Becky Stark of Lavender Diamond took over after the ceremony and just kept going), fed by one of the best chefs in the nation, Matt Dillon, and for desert was in the capable hands of Molly Moon, who handmade custom flavors special for the wedding.  Freakin delicious.

I love when couples were friends long before the relationship turned romantic.  Michaela worked at Sonic Boom, the Seattle record store chain that Nabil co-owns, for years. They started dating shortly before Michaela left for law school in New York and when they became engaged Nabil did most of the wedding planning on the left coast while juggling his band (The Long Winters), his record label, and the store.  Now that they're married he's moved to Brooklyn so they can finally be together. Those in Seattle are left with memories of their beautiful wedding.

Michaela's in the middle, getting made up.

Don't worry guys, EVERYONE needs help getting their tie on right.  Even custom designed Angel Eyes ties by Angela Holstrom.

watching the guests as they arrive from the attic room.

Michaela's dog, Edith, gives a good sit.

Anna from Pretty Parlor brought parasols for everyone.  They were great for shielding the hot sun (at one point I had to have my assistant hold one over me) and put a great finishing touch on Michaela's wedding attire.

Amy!

Yes, that is John Roderick in the officiant role.

Nabil's mother, Louise, was just beaming the entire day.

vows.

Michaela said she couldn't wait to look through Nabil's "magic glasses" with him.

 

And the party starts!  lavender lemonade ya'll?

Lauren, on the right, had the most surreal purse I have ever seen:

"I love how the garden grows"

Becky's voice makes you feel like you're flying.

On the other side of the building, folks were going wild for Molly Moon's ice cream.  I usually don't photograph guests eating, but had to make and exception for this!

All great days must come to an end, unfortunately.  

Michaela & Nabil - what an incredible wedding!   All the little touches were as unique and creative as you both are.  I'm flattered you chose me to be a part of it.  I wish you both the best in your new life together. Much love!

Simone and I stopped by to say hi to fellow photog Alyssa Rose the other day while we were in the neighborhood and since she was in between clients and can't resist an adorable puppy, she brought us into the studio for an impromptu session!  We had so much fun running and jumping around with all the toys and props she has on hand.  I let Simone gnaw on my Converse as a reward for being so good.  I know, bad reward, but it made for great pictures.  You can see more photos from our pitstop on Alyssa's blog, and be sure to check out more of her pet portrait work.  Thanks Alyssa!

Some lady friends of mine in the wedding industry are throwing a bridal show / breast cancer benefit called "Get Hitched, Give Hope" at the Arctic Club next Thursday, October 23rd.   Not only will you walk away with wedding planning ideas and goodies, you'll be giving to a great cause and drinking with rad ladies in the process.  Did I mention it's at the Arctic Club?  Have you seen that place yet?

I have my ticket and hope to see you there!

I'll admit, I cheated a bit. I shot Troy and Maya's wedding last weekend at the Ballroom in Fremont and since it's on the Club Directory, I killed two birds with one stone.  In addition to running his own adventure travel company and being in the running for Best of Western Washington Man of the Year, Troy bartends at the Ballroom.  It's where he and Maya first met.  When he jumped behind the counter during the reception and starting pulling some  Cocktail moves, I knew I had to use one of the images.  Congratulations Troy & Maya!  Now get off the interweb and enjoy your honeymoon.  I'll save a copy of the Stranger for you!

 

A Practical Wedding is featuring additional images from Beth & Chris' beautiful Orcas Island wedding on their blog today.  Click here to view.

Three quick teasers from recent weddings still in post production:

Sara & Matt:

 

Sarah & Damien:

 

Taryn & Ben:

 

You've seen Nora in the Kids section and front page of photojj.com.  You've seen Bill and Suzanne with newborn Keane in the hospital.  The latest portrait session finally brings the family all together.  Even grandma joined in.

Nora and I had a ton of fun playing around.

She showed off her newly polished nails

and gave me her best pirate impression

The little rascal pulled out her camera and turned the tables around on me!

She did such a good job with her camera that I taught her how to take a photo with mine.  Nora took this one of her dad all by herself!

 

Cute Overload posted one of the puppy pics I took at Manor Lake Labradoodles with a fictitious story about how their butts fused together by the Large Hadron Collider. HA!

Btw, I think one of those pups is still available for adoption.  He's a total heartbreaker.

 

Ok, I'm a little embarrassed to be asking this.  Some nice person out there has nominated me for Evening Magazine's Best of Western Washington contest under the Wedding Photographer category.  There are a TON of other talented photogs up for it and I don't expect anything except exposure to a some folks that otherwise wouldn't have found photojj.com. 
 
If you are happy with the work we've done together and have a moment to share that thought, please hop on over to the Best of Western Washington website (try saying that with peanut butter in your mouth) and cast your vote.  They require a valid email address to prove you're human but promise not to spam you.  
 
If you're feeling super generous, you can find me on Yelp.com too:  http://tinyurl.com/4dj2ro.   If you have to choose one or the other, choose Yelp (choosey moms - choose Jif).
 
 
Thank you!!!