Feature Friday with Jennifer Snavely Photography!

Jennifer Snavely Photography was the winner of our 'holiday traditions' challenge.  Today she is sharing more of her beautiful work, as well as her thoughts on her style, her gear, and advice for new photographers!

1. Please tell us about yourself...

 I’m Jennifer of Jennifer Snavely Photography.  I’m mostly a hobbyist and live in Central Illinois.  I’m married and have two boys ages 9 & 4.  I work full time as a Financial Analyst so I don’t have as much time as I would like for photography but it’s my passion. My favorite thing to photograph is my kids everyday lives.

2. Can you describe your style in 3 words? Why those words?

Coming up with three words to describe my style was harder than I thought.  I think it is evolving and I am just coming into my own style after years of trying new things.  The three words I came up with are Emotive, Loving and Genuine.  I always try to capture my kids raw emotion good or bad. 

3. What sparked your passion for photography?

I think I have literally always had a camera.  I remember Christmas’s and birthdays when I was little getting new cameras.  My parents couldn’t always keep up with getting everything developed so there is still a drawer full at my parents of undeveloped film.  When I was in high school my parents turned a bathroom into a darkroom for me.  I didn’t really know what I was doing and we didn’t have the Internet back then so I learned what I could from books.  I went into the Air Force and completely got away from photography.  I really regret this now because I went to a lot of unique places and really wish I had more photos of that time.  I got back into it full force around the time my second son was born. 

4. What's in your camera bag right now?

  My camera bag is HEAVY.  I have a Kelly Moore Woodstock backpack which I love.  I shoot with a Canon 6D.  Most of the time I use my Canon 24-70.  I also always carry my Canon 135 but don't use it nearly as much as I should.  I also have a Sigma 15mm fish eye, Tamron 90mm Lensbaby Edge 80, Sweet 35 and an old Helios.  I don’t carry these around all the time but always have a couple in my bag.  The Sigma 24 is next on my list!

5. What is your dream shoot or project?

   My dream shoot would be to take my kids to Paris and photograph them on their adventures.  I went over the summer and really wish they could have been there. 

6. What are some of the misconceptions you had about photography and photographers at the beginning of your photography journey? Have they changed, and how?

   In the beginning I was really intimidated by photographers that I loved.  I have come to realize everyone is so open and willing to answer questions. 

7. What advice would you give to newbie photographers? What advice do you wish you'd been given at the very beginning?

    I would tell everyone to take as many classes as you can.  I do a lot of classes on Clickin Moms and other sites on the internet.   I would also say to attempt a 365 project.  I haven’t actually completed one but I have come close and the amount of growth you can see is amazing.  

Find more of Jennifer's gorgeous work here:

Facebook | Website

The Maven Flyer For the week of December 27th, 2016

Welcome to 

 The Maven Flyer

For the week of December 27th, 2016

Here we will offer suggestions for places for you to submit your images

for sharing and competition.

If you have or know of a sharing community or theme, please let us know

by emailing the name, link, and specifics to 

snapmaven.info @gmail.com
Include "Please Add This Page to the Flyer"
in the subject line so we won't miss it.

At this time you will need to visit each page to learn the specifics of the pages 

rules and deadlines for sharing images.

Happy Sharing Everyone!

Snap Maven ~ {holiday}
Art of Storytelling ~ {light in the story}

Clickin Moms~ {Weekly Fave}

In Beauty & Chaos~  {2016 favorite}

The Dark Room~ {Festive}

Snap Love Grow- {Best of 2016}

 Fantastically Flawed ~ Yearly Fave
Picture Me Project~{Include yourself in the image somehow!}

Lemonade and Lenses~{Weekly Favorite}

Mozi Magazine~{Weekly Favorite}

Seniorologie~ {Weekly Favorite (senior)}

Photo Artistry~  {Holiday}

Journey to Artist ~  no theme - on holiday break

Little Bellows~  {Weekly favorite}

Life's Experience p52~{Week 52 | End of the Year}

The Monochromatic Lens~{Weekly Favorite}

Let the Kids Dress Themselves ~ {Fall Fave}

Minimalist Mondays ~ {Freezing Cold}

The Snappy Mama~ on hiatus

The Snap Society ~ {Weekly favorite}

Life Unscripted-  no theme - on holiday break

Dear Photographer~ {2016 favorite}

Sham of the Perfect~ {family documentary favorites}

Fearless and Framed~ {Honestly documented}

Inspire me, Inspired be.- {Weekly faves}

Soul Focus - {winter wonderland} 

Dads in the wild - {Weekly Faves}

Our Weekend Stories ~ {down home}

Share Six- {bokeh}
Photography By Heart- {winter delight}

<<<>>>

That concludes the links for this week!

If there is a link you'd like to see here, please let us know at

snapmaven.info@gmail.com
Include "Please Add This Page to the Flyer"
in the subject line so we won't miss it.

Please allow 2-3 weeks for addition to The Maven Flyer

Same goes for errors, though we hope to get those fixed right away.
Future issues of The Maven Flyer will be posted on Tuesday evenings.

{holiday traditions}

"It was lovely to get a peek at some of your holiday traditions! These are memories your children will savour for many years to come."

<<<>>>

Sandi Harkness - Photographer

What I love most about this image is that it's grandmother and grandchild - they are creating these memories that will last a lifetime.

Natalie Thomas Photography

The look of concentration on both their faces is perfect.  The dog, however, is the final perfect touch.

Jen Kashak

Anything with books speaks to my heart, but what makes this especially lovely is the connection between mother and son.

Desra Ramey- Photography 

The sprinkle on her lip is what makes this perfect - I think littles must eat more than they sprinkle, but that is the best part!

Melissa Butler Photography

The colours in this are bold and bright, but the story behind it is the best part.  Who wouldn't want custom artwork for Christmas?!

<<<>>>

Winner:

Jennifer Snavely Photography

I chose this image as my favourite for the week because it's so very real. There is a lot in the image to draw the eye, but the choice of black and white allows me to focus on the boys, especially the one on the left.  Baking and decorating always begins with the best of intentions around here, and almost always ends in frustration and tears, so this is a perfect representation and I can definitely identify with it!

<<<>>>

Jana O'Flaherty

Photography 2204

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

There will be no new theme until January 1st, 2017. 

Feature Friday with one33 Photography!

one33 Photography was the winner of last week's 'winter light' challenge!  AnnMarie Denis of one33 Photography has been featured on our blog before (check out this post!) so today we're featuring some of her favourite images of 2016!

Happy Friday Mavens!!! I'm thrilled to be back to show you a few of my favourite shots from this past year! I can't believe how blessed I have been to be able to capture so many beautiful moments of my boys. I honestly feel so lucky! I often say, that my camera is an extension of me. It is a driving force in my life and it effects the people around me usually in a really positive way. I often think that photographers' kids are really lucky because they get to do so many fun things based on some sort of vision their photog parent has had. I know that is true for my boys.

My youngest is a little fish, he is happiest in water. There are not many days that go by that he is not in the bath. The bath is his happy place so we spend a lot of time in there. I was feeling like things were getting a bit stale in the photography department with all my bath shots, so I thought it would be fun to switch it up a bit. I'm pretty sure this was his last sink bath because he really is getting too big, but man was it ever a good one! We went out with a bang (or should I say splash)!

I love when unexpected things happen, when it's pouring rain but the sun is shining is a classic example. When this happened on this day, I said to my oldest, lets go dancing barefoot on the street! Barefoot outside? Dancing in the street??? He thought I was nuts, but he loved breaking the rules with me! My little photographer heart leaped when I captured that rainbow flare!

I am driven by the simple everyday moments in my family and I am very passionate about being a presence in their photographic memories. I want them to look back in their albums and see me there enjoying breakfast with them because gosh darn it, I was there too! I want them to see how much I loved being snuggled and kissed and loved on by them. These little everyday moments really warm my heart and make me proud of the work I do by capturing our lives.

Capturing the silly playful relationship my husband has with my boys just makes me happy! I love watching him wrestle with them and I love how involved he is in the upbringing of these little men! I know they will grow up to be amazing because of this man!

I really love water, perhaps it's because all of my boys love it so much, but I feel like a lot of my images involve water! I don't know but I do love this angle of this image, and those feet! I love capturing my boys feet! I'm weird I know!

So I love Joy, connection, water and LIGHT! Give me that golden light and I'm in heaven! This image was taken in my mother in Law's backyard and let me tell you it is this light right here that will get her more visits from us! J/k (maybe ;) )But in all seriousness I love that golden hour light and I love those rich tones it creates in my images. I will beg borrow and steal and most definitely bribe to get to shoot in that golden light! This shot, cost me 6 gummy worms. Candy well spend if you ask me!

​​

This image I just really love because of the giant pop of colour! I love that bold colour and I wish some day I will get to visit Cuba or even Arizona and see all the bright buildings and capture more of that colour. If I find interesting pops of colour, I will often plunk a kid in front of it to capture it.

I also try really hard to capture the not so great times. I feel it's just as important to document  these moments as any other. My son was battling the flu for about 3 days and he really only found comfort in the bath. He loved having the water run over his head and so of course I needed to capture that.

I kinda am obsessed with this hat right now and this was the first snow of the year, so I wanted to capture the details of the snow on his little fox ears and I really loved how he was looking up at the sky so I kept his eyes in the shot. It's a funny little crop but I really kinda love it! It's important to capture those little details of their lives too!

Last but not least is this shot of my son, sticking his head out of the van window, pretending he was a dog as we drove through the tunnel of lights at our local Christmas light display. I mean, this shot is not perfect, but I just love all the bright fun Christmas light bokeh and I love that he was pretending he was a dog. I also love that I have captured a new tradition for us. We loaded up the van, stopped at Tim Hortons for some hot chocolate and then drove through this light show, while listening to Christmas carols. It was a fun night I don't want the boys to ever forget, and now they won't because of the pictures. 

And that is really it for me, to be able to capture all the joy and love that surround my boys and to freeze a moment in time for them is what fuels my fire!

I hope you enjoyed some of my favourites as much as I have! And again, thank you so much Mavens for choosing my image for Winter light! It is always such an honour to have such a beautifully supportive photography community!

Xoxo  AnnMarie

Find more of AnnMarie's work here:

Facebook | Website

Feature Thursday with Lisa Kathan Photography!

Lisa Kathan Photography was the winner of our 'street photography' challenge two weeks ago, and tonight we're taking a peek into her camera bag and her style!

1. Tell us about yourself:

I’m Lisa of lisa kathan photography! I’m a studio and on-location photographer in the far northern suburbs of Chicago. I love to photograph couples, individuals, and small, creative weddings.

2. Can you describe your style in 3 words? Why those words?

I spent much of 2016 trying to boil down my style into three words, even talking to some friends and other photographers about what words they would use to describe my photography. The words I landed on are: simple, authentic, soulful. I think these words encapsulate both how I approach my photography, as well as what I am trying to communicate through my work.

3. What sparked your passion for photography?

I didn't start my career in photography. I was a writer, working in marketing and communications when I lost my job and decided to take a film photography class at a local college. I had borrowed a friend's camera a few times and really enjoyed taking pictures, so I thought it might be a good way to kill a couple months till I figured out my next move.

What I didn't expect was to fall in love with photography! It was like finding the one thing I had been missing from my life, as though I was always meant to do it. Making pictures is where I feel most at home, and when I get to connect with others while doing it, well...it's the best thing in the world.

4. What's in your camera bag right now?

I have a studio in my home, where I’ve been doing a good deal of work these last few weeks (since it’s December!). So my Canon 6D camera and lenses are sitting on a shelf in my studio. But my camera bag has a portable stereo that I use for sessions, some Kleenex, lens wipes, extra batteries, business cards and lollipops for bribing children (and adults if needed!).

5. What is your dream shoot or project?

I have so many projects I want to do this year, like photographing dancers and doing more street photography. Over this last year I had the chance to do a couple unpaid editorial shoots, with professional models, stylists, etc. I would love to do more of these for paying clients! It’s so fun, being part of a bigger team working together to capture a client vision.

6. What are some of the misconceptions you had about photography and photographers at the beginning of your photography journey? Have they changed, and how?

I got the impression that photographers in business were vicious and competitive. I’ve found the opposite to be true!! Some of my dearest friends and biggest cheerleaders are other photographers, a few of whom are direct competitors in my market.

7. What advice would you give to newbie photographers? What advice do you wish you'd been given at the very beginning?

I want to say to newbie photographers, get educated! Most photographers get their start photographing their own life and decide they want to make a business of it. But if you’re serious about getting better at your craft, don’t rely on mimicking the work of photographers around you. Learn about the top historical and current photographers, different types of photography, etc. It’s invaluable in helping you know what makes a good photograph! If you put your effort to getting educated from the start, the process of finding your own voice will go much faster. The other I advice I will pass on from my amazing instructor, Erick Rowe: “Do more work.” Whenever you think you’ve done enough, do more.

I wish when I started my business I had known how hard being a professional photographer is. Building a business takes so much longer than you think it will when you start. There are days your passion will be all you have. You might watch others blast off like rockets, while you’re just hoping to get one more paid client. If you continue to work on your craft, the client work will eventually come…but some days, it takes everything you have.

Find more of Lisa's work here:

Facebook | Website

The Maven Flyer For the week of December 20th, 2016

Welcome to 

 The Maven Flyer

For the week of December 20th, 2016

Here we will offer suggestions for places for you to submit your images

for sharing and competition.

If you have or know of a sharing community or theme, please let us know

by emailing the name, link, and specifics to 

snapmaven.info @gmail.com
Include "Please Add This Page to the Flyer"
in the subject line so we won't miss it.

At this time you will need to visit each page to learn the specifics of the pages 

rules and deadlines for sharing images.

Happy Sharing Everyone!

Snap Maven ~ {holiday traditions}
Art of Storytelling ~ {environment in the story}

Clickin Moms~ {Weekly Fave}

In Beauty & Chaos~  {Weekly favorite}

The Dark Room~ {Festive}

Snap Love Grow- {Weekly Favorite} and {Best of 2016}

 Fantastically Flawed ~ Yearly Fave
Picture Me Project~{Include yourself in the image somehow!}

Lemonade and Lenses~{Weekly Favorite}

Mozi Magazine~{Weekly Favorite}

Seniorologie~ {Weekly Favorite (senior)}

Photo Artistry~  {Holiday}

Journey to Artist ~  no theme - on holiday break

Little Bellows~  {Weekly favorite}

Life's Experience p52~{Week 51 | light}

The Monochromatic Lens~{Weekly Favorite}

Let the Kids Dress Themselves ~ {Fall Fave}

Minimalist Mondays ~ {Freezing Cold}

The Snappy Mama~ on hiatus

The Snap Society ~ {Weekly favorite}

Life Unscripted-  no theme - on holiday break

Dear Photographer~ {2016 favorite}

Sham of the Perfect~ {family documentary favorites}

Fearless and Framed~ {Honestly documented}

Inspire me, Inspired be.- {Weekly faves}

Soul Focus - {journey}and {Winter Wonderland} 

Dads in the wild - {Weekly Faves}

Our Weekend Stories ~ {down home}

Share Six- {bokeh}
Photography By Heart- {winter delight}

<<<>>>

That concludes the links for this week!

If there is a link you'd like to see here, please let us know at

snapmaven.info@gmail.com
Include "Please Add This Page to the Flyer"
in the subject line so we won't miss it.

Please allow 2-3 weeks for addition to The Maven Flyer

Same goes for errors, though we hope to get those fixed right away.
Future issues of The Maven Flyer will be posted on Tuesday evenings.