Category: Personal
Freyday – Why photos are important
January 13, 2012
For the past 15 months, I’ve utilized this “Freyday” blog post every Friday as a way for you to get to know the girl behind the camera. Who is Jessica Frey? I’ve always enjoyed sharing photos of my travels, experiences and sharing with you the publications/awards/etc that I’ve been fortunate to aquire. Today however is a day that hits me hard. I contemplated writing today’s post – and mom, if you’re reading…you may want to stop. I may not be the most elequent writer, but today’s blog post is for me. For me to remember, to celebrate, and to thank.
Today is January 13th, 2012. A day that may seem insignifigant to you (or if you’re Toni and Joe – Happy 1 year anniversary!). It’s been exactly a year since my grandma left this earth and went to heaven. For me, the photo below will forever be ingrained in my mind as a place that held my tears and those chairs in the photo held my shaking body as I cried incessantly for a good hour. With sad memories, it also happens to hold a good memory as the place Toni & Joe held their ceremony just hours prior to this image being taken. It’s Bullhead, Arizona – at the beautiful Laughlin Ranch Golf Club on January 13th, 2011.
Every wedding day is an exciting one for me. It’s a day full of celebration, family, friends – and some great memories. I cherish my job and responsibility each bride and groom has put in my hands to capture their day and to freeze in time those moments, those family members, those friends. My routine in the morning of each wedding is one of getting ready – mentally and with all of my equiment. A year ago, I was getting ready to go meet my bride to start the day and received a phone call from my mom – who was in Texas in my grandmother’s room calling to let me talk to her possibly for the last time. We knew she was ready to go and that after having Alzheimer’s for a few years, a stroke and missing my grandfather – it would be okay to rest in knowing she was ready. Even with the Alzheimer’s, she always knew my voice. To her, I was always ‘my Jessica’ and she will forever be ‘my grandma’. I enjoyed and held on tightly to those last few precious seconds with her, said a prayer – then headed out to start taking photos. The day ran smoothly, the ceremony was sweet…..the location was breathtaking, the food tasted good, and two became one. The reception dinner ended, everyone went back to the hotel and I checked my phone for the first time that day. Voicemail from mom. Oh God. I had missed a call about an hour ago and honestly did not want to hear that voicemail.
What happened next was a blur, and why I want to thank my wonderful friend Jennifer Williams who was shooting with me that day. The joyful,smily, giggle Jessica exhausted after a full day on my feet carrying equipment and working was suddenly replaced with a girl experiencing the loss of someone precious. My pain and sadness was exposed and Jennifer was there to pick me up (or more literally grab my camera as I abruptly fell down when I listened to my voicemail), She led me outside to this private fireplace area, calmed me down, hugged me….and then went to grab me a beer. We sat around that fireplace for almost two hours while I grieved, told her stories, and oddly enough enjoyed a beautiful evening night with a ton of stars, a warm fire and a good friend who was there to listen.
Memories are captured in photos – they’re what we have left to share, laugh at, cry about, smile about. It’s why I do what I do. Thank you for letting me share today the memory of my grandma – and a very personal, emotional wedding day for me. Hug your family, hug your friends, forgive, enjoy the blessings you’ve been given – and look back on your photos with a smile remembering good times with those who love you.
1984 – one of my all time favorite images with my grandparents!
2003 – My graduation ceremony from Texas A&M
June 13, 2004 – my wedding day! 
And, the last photo I have with her….July 4th, 2008 celebrating Aubree’s wedding!
Thank you for letting me share this day with you. Enjoy today, enjoy this weekend and hug your family!
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Freyday – Happy New Year!
December 30, 2011
Hi everyone!! I hope you all had a good break for the holidays – and a restful Christmas and/or Hanukkah! I can’t belive it’s the last Freyday of 2011! Where has this year gone?! It’s been a wonderful year full of amazing/awesome/kind/wonderful/fabulous clients! Thank you everyone for following my blog, my photography….and my life! Your support and comments are always a pleasure and quite often the boost I need on days where being a business owner gets a tad bit overwhelming! So, thank you again for all of your continued support!
I’ll leave you all today with the cover of the 2012 Bakersfield Life Vows edition – many of you will recognize it as one of my all-time favorite images I took this year of Jordyn out in our local almond orchard! It comes out in print tomorrow (Saturday) in the Californian. If you’re local – go grab yourself a paper and it will be inside the January edition of Bakersfield Life. For everyone else, they will be handed out locally around town and I’ll post the online version either here or on Facebook! *Also, you’ll find an interview I did alongside 3 other female wedding vendors – Fairy Godmother, Lady DJ, and Ladies & Gents Bridal! It was a fun experience playing the roll of photographer and model with these wonderful ladies, so check it out!!
Be Safe and enjoy ringing in the NEW YEAR Tomorrow!!! - Jessica
www.JessicaFreyPhotography.com
How are you bringing in the New Year? Tell us in the comment section below!
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Freyday – Merry Christmas 2011
December 23, 2011
Hi everyone! Two more Freyday’s left in 2011 – and we’re getting ready to celebrate Christmas with the Freys! Thought I would say hello with our Christmas card this year — photos I took with a tripod and our Christmas tree a few weeks ago as soon as we got it up! I hope this time of rest and celebration of Jesus’ birth is a time of reflection and peace for you and your families! I’ve been blessed so much this year with amazingly wonderful clients, a busy busy year of photographing in wonderful locations, my health (Eric’s getting there, haha!), Kayla dog, and our supportive family and friends! Thank you all for following my blog, it’s always a surprise to hear that you read it…..and some of you are reading this from another country! So, hello – Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah – and prayers to you for a safe and joyful holiday season!! -Jessica
p.s. If you keep scrolling you’ll see my Pinterest/craft ‘fail’ fun!
I had a crafting night last week with a few ladies and decided I would try my hand at a Christmas felt tree and letters wrapped in yarn. Um, who forgot to mention to me that crafting is hard?!1 The photos on Pinterest made it look Sooooooo easy, and turns out I’m not a natural. If it weren’t for others in the room, I would have failed miserably, but 2 weeks later, I’m proud to show you my felt tree. Well, one of them. I had anticipated that I would create 4 while also wrapping the letters “JOY” and “NOEL”. I got to the first part of “J” and said, um….nope. Not my thing! haha…so, here is the final (Yes, I’m giving up) display at my attempt to craft. Two burnt fingers (booo to you hot glue gun) and lots of laughs = this:
www.JessicaFreyPhotography.com
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Your pictures are too cute! And I think your felt tree looks great. No matter how hard we try they never quite look like the inspiration picture, huh? haha
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admin
Haha, thanks for the craft encouragement Mindy! I guess not too shabby for my first attempt!
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LOVE the pictures of all of you, they’re so cute! And your crafting project is both funny & the finished product is GOOD. The tree is wonderful. Don’t worry, I saw some snowflake tutorials the other day which I tried thinking they would be super easy, uh…NOT! Fail on this end as well. Here’s my secret, not all my projects end up on the blog…haha! Merry Christmas to you Eric & Kayla
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Army Navy Football Game 2011
December 13, 2011
What a whirlwind, awesome trip out to DC for this year’s Army Navy Football game! We’ve missed the past few years and were so excited to see family and friends and catch up with old players, see their new little families…and of course do some early holiday hanging out with my family! Here’s a look at some photos we took of the game. Congrats to Navy Football for 10 years of wins! Proud to be a Navy Football wife 
8 years later boys….take away the beards and you’d be ready to play again!
March On is always impressive to watch and worth getting in the stadium early!
President Obama with the coin toss:
And changing sides at Half Time:
27-21 CONGRATULATIONS NAVY!!! What a great game it was this year – down to the wire!!
A Decade of WINS is pretty fantastic and we’re all so proud!
www.JessicaFreyPhotography.com
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How cool! This looks like so much fun. And 27-24?! – nothing better than a good close game.
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So much fun!!! I love all these photos and it looks like you had a great time. The image of the fly-over is really cool with the planes in the air and on the big screen. Love it!
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Freyday – Surname Fun!
December 2, 2011
This Freyday post has been fun for me to flaunt that “I have my own day…haha, get it? Frey-day…Friday? They sound the same? Get it?” Yeah, I’m sure 99% of you pronounce it Fray. And that’s okay – it’s not phonetically spelled…my life would be easier if it was!
So last week during Thanksgiving, I was sitting around with my in-laws and the rest of the Frey boys and for some reason or another it came up that Frey was actually a viking god. Seriously? Commence the ipad google search. Have you ever done that? Google your surname or first name to see what it meant? Let me tell you – the next hour (yes, hour) this conversation went down I was laughing so hard and the guys were getting pretty excited to hear that they held the history and power of a viking. Eric the red beard? Norwegian blood line…you bet!
I present you now with our Google findings…be prepared to laugh!
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~frey/
It is also possible that in some instances, the name may be derived from the personal name FREY, which was the name of the Norse god of marriage and fertility. As Thursday was named for Thor’s day, Friday was Frey’s day.
*SEE!! It is my OWN DAY!! And yea for marriage and being a wedding photographer.
Frey meaning and name origin
Frey \f-rey\ is of Scandinavian origin, and the meaning of Frey is “lord, exalted one”. In Norse mythology, Frey is the fertility god, and also the most handsome of all the deities.
Frey
The Viking god of fertility, peace, and prosperity.
He was one of the Vanir gods, who were responsible for wealth, and the brother of Freya. Among his magical possessions was a sword that he gave to Skirnir, who in return obtained him Gerda, the most beautiful woman in the world, as his wife.
Lester is a Scottish and Irish surname of Gaelic origin, which is a variant of the surname Lister.
- English: habitational name from Leicester, named in Old English from the tribal name Ligore (itself adapted from a British river name) + Old English ceaster ‘Roman fort or walled city’ (Latin castra‘legionary camp’).
- English (of Norman origin): habitational name from Lestre in Normandy.
- English and Scottish: variant of Lister.
And because we just decorated and took our Christmas card photos last night, here’s a sneak peek at my amazingly well behaved Kayla. She really is SOOO well trained!
*Update on the Mentor Sessions! I’m so excited to start working with some ladies next week! I still have 1 spot available for January, so feel free to contact me with questions or apply here: www.mentor.JessicaFreyPhotography.com
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This is fantastic! I love that you’ve found all this. I googled Saul and didn’t find much at all…boo. But yours, that’s pretty amazing!! And again…Kayla is so stinkin’ cute!!!
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I love the Mickey ornament!
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Niiice catch!! You would see that
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Desirae Shigematsu
Oh I love her!!! That should be your Christmas card. Can you get Rugsby to do that????
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Jessica Frey Photography – Pinterest Crafts!
December 1, 2011
SO…who’s on the Pinterest addiction train?! I thought I’d share my biggest board – the Craft Project board. Or as I should re-name it to:
“Really neat, fun easy crafts I will probably never do, but pinned just in case I find extra time or crafting energy”.
Seriously, this board excites and discourages me all at the same time! I get excited when friends of mine of Facebook post photos of things I’ve pinned that they’ve actually created (you ladies know who you are, you craft fairies!). Anyone else struggling with pin overload?! Anyone want to do a craft day with me in December?!
What are some of your favorite things about Pinterest? Are you a bride using it to plan your wedding? It’s an amazing way to organize yourself and see all at once visual ideas – color schemes – DIY projects, etc.
I have a board for future home ideas….turns out I’m finding a pattern in seeing things I’ve pinned twice! I actually was at a client’s home a few weeks ago, walked in and instantly said “Oh wow….I would totally pin your entire home.” Haha! I loved how she decorated and her color scheme! Then realized, I guess it’s starting to become normal to say wierd things like that!?! no?
The other board I wanted to share is my Sparkles and Glitter board. Yes, it’s all awesome sparkly glittery things I would love to have.
I hope you’re all having a wonderful week! I’ve had some great family holiday sessions recently, have been decorating the house and of course taking care of the hubby who has had back surgery and shoulder surgery all in the last 7 weeks!
****ALSO I have room for one more for the January mentor sessioin if you’d like to check it out and apply, visit here: www.mentor.JessicaFreyPhotography.com
For the ladies I’ve spoken with, I’m so excited to start working with you soon!!!
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3 Comments
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We have a lot of the same stuff pinned on our craft boards. I’ve actually done 1 of mine. We’re having a homemade Christmas this year and Pinterest has been my inspiration. Now, to get those projects going (I haven’t started any :/ )
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We did something like that last year, we’re having fun, and the result was just unbelievable. We haven’t started yet for this year but hopefully we can have one before the year ends.
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I LOVE this post! I’m addicted to Pinterest and StumbleUpon…crazy addicted. I’m probably going to write a post about it too. I adore your home ideas…the colors are FAB! And I’m SO excited your mentoring sessions are almost booked up. YAY for Jessica!
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Jessica Frey Photography – Mentor Sessions
November 28, 2011
“A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle”
Hi Everyone! I cannot tell you how excited I am for today’s announcement! I’ve been hard at work this weekend developing a goal into an action – and the video below will explain what’s going on! After watching it, if I’m speaking to you – check out the website I’ve created for all the details and I look forward to hearing from you!
Thank you to my industry friends and family for their support, and to Eric for working hard with me to get everything perfect for you!
FOR ALL THE INFORMATION AND TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION VISIT:
www.mentor.JessicaFreyPhotography.com
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Jessica…this is FANTASTIC!!! I’m so proud of you
Great video too!! -
I love you
and that video was awesome…but so are both Freys’!
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Thanksgiving – Texas A&M vs Texas Football
November 23, 2011
Gobble Gobble! It’s Football time!!! Whoop!! (And Happy Thanksgiving!)
For all you non Texans out there who don’t celebrate the annual Texas A&M vs. t.u. football game on Thanksgiving, then let me describe to you how excited I am for what may be our last rivalry Thanksgiving game. I”M PUMPED!!! WHOOP!! The annual rivalry is being held at Kyle Field this year and what I wouldn’t give to be there in the student section standing, yelling and kissing my husband everytime we score —- yeah, you Aggie’s know we love that tradition!
(all images from google images – I haven’t been back to a game in 7 years…boo!)
This is my family – Mom and I on the Aggie side and Dad and brother on the Longhorn side. Trust me, it’s led to batles – about 6 years back when A&M won, I’m pretty sure my baby brother and I didn’t speak for 2 weeks. It’s kind of an intense rivalry Good thing we’re adults now and it’s just a game, right……especially since my beloved Aggies are going to totally dominate this year!!
So one last WHOOP! Pass it back Ags! Enjoy the time with your families, friends and having at least a day to rest, breathe, relax and just enjoy all the things in life you’re thankful for!
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Meredith
Hey Jessica, have you done sessions on Campus? I know it is a lot of travel for you, but I think with your eye the pictures would be amazing!
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Hi Mere! Thanks! I was flown out there 6 months ago to do a maternity and family session and had a blast walking back around campus! Was only there for about 6 hours, but would love to go back and do more for sure!
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Freyday – 11.11.11
November 11, 2011
Hi everyone! This Freyday is extra special for a few reasons. As a military wife, I’m very thankful and proud of my husband and all those who have served with him and before him for our country. Today we get to honor and thank those who protect our freedom for Veteran’s Day….actually, everyday we should be thankful, but especially today! Also, it’s 11.11.11. So….that’s special!
The past 3 days, I was able to attend a women’s photography in Santa Barbara with Joy Harmon Prouty from Wildflowers Photography – and we were challenged to write down what it was that made our hearts happy – what we were grateful for. So, today’s Freyday blog will be 11 things I’m grateful for in honor of all things eleven!
11 Things I’m Grateful For:
1) My husband. He’s my hero and I’m grateful for his support in my business and for always encouraging me to push myself towards a success I didn’t know was possible. He continues to amaze me at his strength, courage, thirst for knowledge and his service to our country.
2) The smell of my dad’s Gizzie’s fresh out of the oven….or when I open a package mailed across the country and know that’s what he’s sent to make me smile!
3) Family time.
4) The holidays – including the smell of peppermint hot chocolate on my stove, the first taste of mashed potatoes before Thanksgiving dinner, decorating the Christmas tree while listening to Amy Grant’s Christmas CD, searching for meaningful gifts, and celebrating this life I’ve been given and the wonderful people who surround me.
5) Memories. Those strong thoughts that bring me back to special moments in my life: My grandma painting my nails for me, playing HORSE with my mom and dad and Jason after dinner, a great hot tub soak after Spring Break skiing in Utah, the smell of Main Streat USA – DisneyWorld/Land, the sound of 50,000 Aggie Students in Kyle Field, the sight of Eric coming home from a deployment in Iraq and the butterflies I got at the anticipation of that reunion kiss.
6) Kayla kisses.
7) Supportive photographer friends I now have all over the country! You ladies (and guys) know who you are – your continued support and sharing of industry thoughts has been a blessing!
My church life group. You guys are the glue to the vine for us and are family. Grateful for your community, love and support!
9) New adventures. We’ve had a lot of them in our 8 years in the military – to new homes, new friends and the adventures we have yet in front of us!
10) The gift I’ve been given to utilize my knowledge and abilities to capture true love’s sparkle in my client’s eyes.
11) The way my heart is growing as I dig deeper into the Bible and learn what it truly means to be loved unconditionally by God.
***I would LOVE to hear what you’re grateful for today in the comment section! ***
Here are some of my favorite detail photos from the workshop, so enjoy!
This guy was amazing. He wore his fancy feather leg warmers to show off I’m assuming Seriously…obsessed with this guy!
A little bit of tilt shift Lensbaby action….thanks Sara for letting me try yours out!
With my good friend Stephanie Saul! Loved having this experience with her 
***I would LOVE to hear what you’re grateful for today in the comment section! ***
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Mindy
Love it! Am very thankful for you and Eric
We love you guys!!! -
I was waiting for this post to come out. Great job…I LOVE each and every one of your grateful things and your images came out amazing! I want this picture of us together…please send it to me
I am so happy we got to experience this workshop together as well and I am incredibly grateful for your friendship. Love you my friend! -
I am thankful for my Life Group even when they are miles away! My hubby, and great kids that are such a blessing! I also love the chicken with the black booties!
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I am thankful for my job first and formost, being able to work from home and raise my kids is a blessing! I am thankful for our health, and our home:) I am thankful for such supportive family and starbucks too..lol happy holidays!
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Freyday – Jessica loves Cinderella
November 4, 2011
Another Freyday is here! This has definitely been a fun week for me! First I get to dress up for Halloween, and tomorrow I get to dress up for the Marine Corps Birthday Ball with my man! Kinda wish I could wear a ball gown twice in one week all the time! Seriously, I’m that girl. Who can also throw a football over that mountain.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed Halloween on Monday – I definitely did! It started off with working the Shutter Clique photography table at the Kern County Museum Safe Halloween event! I decided to dress up as Cinderella using items I already had at home (yea for fitting into my 2000 Prom Dress and being able to style a wig!) and had a wonderful time as the kids ran up to me asking for candy and photos For those of you who know me, know I’m a Disney fan at heart and love love love the story of Cinderella! I even tried out in Orlando in 2002 while doing my college internship at Walt Disney World…still bummed I didn’t make it, but life had another journey for me! True story…and one of these days I’ll show off those photos of me working in Toon Town!
I want to send out a huge thank you to my fellow photographer friends who took images of me at the event! The two black and white above and below are from Coy Townson and the rest are a mixture of Jennifer Williams, Tim J Chong, and Ryan Marston. If you were at the KCM event, you can view the photos they took here: Shutter Clique Website. Thanks guys for some great memories…..so now, who wants to hire a princess for their birthday parties?!?! haha….just trying to find a way to put it all back on
Have a great weekend and enjoy yourselves, I’m off to photograph Stacy & Todd’s wedding at St. Francis today!
Getting a sweet hug at Olive Drive Church’s Family Fun night!!
Texting my Prince of course! Photo by Tim J Chong
www.JessicaFreyPhotography.com
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If you don’t want to dash the dreams of little girls, you might not use your cell phone though
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Love it! – you really made the event for us! The kids loved you.
And was that an Uncle Rico reference I detected in your blog? awesome. Thanks again Jess! -
Love the little girls face in the cat costume…and the pic of you and Lucy.
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Jessica- those chairs incite a ton of memories for my family and I also. We’ve shared a ton of meals in that clubhouse and our two young children often sit on grandma and grandpas lap while we chat after dinner. Our family has a house on the 7th hole. Enjoy the memories you have of her and rest in knowing where she is now
Happy freyday!
Thank you, Daniel – very sweet comment & I really do love that fire pit & the place is just gorgeous. Happy Freyday to you as well
Oh Jessica, I remember that day so well. Ironically, this day also happens to be my very dear grandmother’s birthday. I was so heartbroken for you when you got the first call, then so amazingly impressed as I watched you work that day as if nothing was wrong. You gave that bride and groom the same Jessica Frey professional that I have seen so many times on a normal day because you knew they deserved it. It was no shock to me to finally see you release your emotion after the day was over. I’ll always be there to catch your camera and grab you a beer. Love ya friend!
This post really hit home for me. My dad passed away one year ago tomorrow. It was sudden, and I was completely unprepared. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t miss him. I have been debating writing a blog post about him, but I just wasn’t up to it. Thank you for having the courage to share.
Hi Tonya – thank you for commenting and I’m so sorry for your loss. We all grieve differently & I pray your day tomorrow is one of happy memories & cherished moments you can look back on.