My legacy in-the-making is encouraging and equipping you in building
she will be known by
the boldness of her faith
meet jess
With a headline like that I think it's pretty obvious, I'm on a mission...
To be honest though, I wasn't always the bold, spirited, walking juxtaposition I am today.
Glamorous and adventurous. Full of grit and Jesus-supplied grace. Playful and serious. Really into the color black and blaring worship music. Obedient to God and still wild + free. Ambitious in my career and intent on savoring life.
I’ve been the insecure adolescent struggling to find her footing and voice. The fiance battling the pressures of expectation and a devil who wanted us apart. The emerging photographer struggling with tsunamis of imposter syndrome and self-doubt. The wife who’s faced multiple relocations and needing to completely rebuild her business.
Like I'm willing to bet for you, life has taken me on an adventure... BUT GOD.
jvp is about embracing your story, savoring your season and finding your wild.
I relish in looking back, connecting the dots, and seeing the times he had my path all charted out as I failed to trust His timing and course for my life.
So beyond being really intent on providing adventurous couples and brands with phenomenal images, and guiding my fellow photographers into new depths and destinations...
Because the truth is, when we’re confident we not only show up for ourselves, but we show up for others, too. We step into our purpose and really embrace our lives.
That right there is what it's all about for me.
I’m really here to empower, encourage, and inspire you to show up in your life the way God created you to be.
Yes, I’m a wedding photographer and I’m here to capture the important, can-never-be-recreated moments in your life. And yes, I’m a coach and educator here to help you own and run a successful photography business that doesn’t own you.
But to be honest...
After 7-years of long-distance dating and our fair share of storms, Clay and I decided above it all, above the big wedding and fancy details, we wanted to be married the most. Despite the push back and questions we faced from loved ones, we knew we wanted to start our first day as husband and wife in a way that honored us, and the new adventure laid before us.
So we wed at my aunt's kitchen table with my pastor (and my aunt's cat.) No frills, just each other and a lifelong covenant.
Shortly after being married, Clay received military orders to Okinawa, Japan where we spent the next 3 years as newlyweds. Oh... little big detail: Had we not gotten married when we did, I wouldn’t have been able to go with him. My pastor also sadly passed away shortly after. Having him marry us was the one detail that really mattered to me. C’mon, you can’t plan for that!
Our experience profoundly changed the way I saw and understood the concept of a “wedding day” and led me to working with other couples who wanted to pursue the road less traveled, too.
our story
and it went like this...
2010
Met My Husband & Bought My First Camera
Clay and I started dating in 2010; old-school, long distance, military style. We had to write letters to each other while he was in Air Force basic training in San Antonio. He graduated in March, and we spent a week together with our families on the Riverwalk, young and in love. I also got my first camera for Christmas, and took photos of my dogs weekly!
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2012
From Successful Teen to Dealing With Bullies to Finding My Backbone
I graduated from high school and was finally able to get away from a group of mean girls who ironically, taught me a very important lesson: never dim your light or hide in fear to make others feel more comfortable. We have to embrace our identity as children of God; as fearfully and wonderfully made. I vowed to never shy away from His light in me again.
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2013
Dreamt of Living in Florida & Being a Full-Time Photographer
I spent the bulk of the year in college at TAMUT, then joined Clayton for the summer on the emerald coast of Florida (where he was stationed). I spent those summer days strolling along the picturesque 30A, dreaming of running a photography business on those white-sand beaches. I remember telling God, “One day, I’ll live in Florida, and one day, I’ll be a photographer.” Spoiler alert: both happened.
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2014
Won the Miss Texarkana Pageant & Competed in Miss Texas
I spent the year surrounded by college textbooks, tilapia + broccoli, and dumbbells. I won the Miss Texarkana preliminary pageant, and then competed in the Miss Texas pageant (yes, the Miss America Organization one!) - hence the food + fitness focus. I finished 13 out of 67, which for my first legit pageant, I’d say isn’t too shabby! I also shot my very first wedding that year for a friend and was hooked.
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2015
Accidentally *Officially* Started My Photography Biz (Thanks Facebook!)
I officially started my photography business… well, accidentally. I launched my Facebook Business Page before it was officially “ready” -- #doitscared, am I right? But since it already had a few likes (and over 500 in two days), I began taking on clients. My business grew rapidly, and the rest was history. (That's my first photoshoot, pictured above!)
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2016
Graduated College & Named Texarkana’s Best Wedding Photographer
Even though my business took off, it still came with its fair share of challenges. So being named the best in Texarkana was a really proud moment! I also graduated from Texas A&M University, started running my business full-time, and pursued my dream of moving to Florida with Clay.
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2017
Married Clay and moved to Okinawa, Japan
Living on a 60-mile-long island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean is an adjustment for anyone - let alone newlyweds. Thankfully, God made this such a sweet season and adventure for us. I learned how to slow down and savor life, how to put my marriage and husband first, and developed a passion for working with other couples.
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2020
Moved back to Texarkana, AR anddd #Quarantine
Like pretty much all of the world in 2020, we spent most of the year quarantined after a 3-year period of living in Okinawa. But I will say, it felt so good to be back at home. Living abroad really makes you thankful for American conveniences and food - ummm, ChickFilA, anyone? I put the extra time at home to good use by revamping the JVP brand, and introducing the Purposeful Photographer Program.
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ISN’T IT HOW MUCH CAN HAPPEN IN 10 YEARS?
wild
THE TIMELINE
NEXT SET
Magnolia Table recipes
Cooking
Upperroom
Playing on Spotify
Romans 8:28
Favorite Verse
Both = house full of fur
Dogs or cats?
Oat milk honey latte
Coffee Order
Tacos & gourmet burgers
Favorite Food
PREV SET
Riding atv’s in Santorini, Greece
Next Bucket List ITEM
Adventurous meets Glam
PERSONAL STYLE
Music & Nature
INSPIRED BY
HomeGoods
SHOPPING
Smith Wigglesworth
READING
The Chosen
WATCHING
Ya know, in case you were wondering…(you were, weren’t you?). Hey, when you’re exploring remote places of the world together, it doesn’t hurt to have a few things in common.
rapid fire Q&A
The short version of a long story: Clay helped rescue young members of a soccer team that were stuck in a cave - (Google Tham Luang Cave Rescue). It was no easy task and the King was so appreciative he gifted each person involved in the rescue a trip to Thailand. We chose Krabi and the Phi Phi Islands for our trip, and had a blast!
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Thailand
In August of 2019, Clay and I boarded a plane to Bali to meet with one of my favorite business coaches, Maya Elious. I spent two VIP days with her building the framework for The Purposeful Photographer Program, surrounded by the most beautiful scenery.
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Bali
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Hands down our fav place we’ve ever been! We spent three weeks living out of a campervan, so we could wake up to a new sunrise over the mountains each morning, and watch it set over a new mountain, too.
New Zealand
I can’t get enough of how new landscapes force you to get outside and feel small, next to a pretty big God. Here are a few destinations that have left a stamp on my heart.
