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Jennifer Rodriguez-Cruz Photography bio picture

Welcome to the BLOG!

Hi guys!

So glad to see you've stopped by!

I'm Jen, mother to a beautiful little girl (joy of my life) and wife to an amazing husband (love of my life)...aside from my incredible family, photography and my camera are always on my mind. When I am out on my way to the store, going for a walk, or a drive I am ALWAYS noticing the beauty around us...awesome lighting, beautiful sunset, textures or my own little girl making a beautiful funny face! I see beauty in all life's details- the details you will most likely forget over time- the little jewels in a bride's boquet, the twinkle in a little boy's eye, or that little tear drop forming in your eye as you walk down the aisle. These little details will mean so much to you 50 years from now.

I look forward to working with you! If you'd like to book a photo session, or have a wedding coming up please do not hesitate to contact me!

This is also where you'll find the most frequent updates. If you've recently had a photo session or wedding, you'll probably find a few "sneak peeks" here...this is what many of my clients look forward to, while they're waiting for their photos.

101 in 1001

I have been thinking about starting this list for about 2 years now. Having seen it several times before on other photographer’s blogs, and officially being inspired by Melissa Jill and Liberty Tree Photography’s blogs. So here it goes! Let’s see if I can complete all of the tasks on my list! I plan to blog as much of the progress as I can as I go through the list and check things off.

Here is the low-down on it, as taken from “Day Zero- The Home of the 101 Things in 1001 Days Project” :

The Challenge:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on your part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past – frequently simple challenges such as New Year’s resolutions or a ‘Bucket List’. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips, study semesters, or outdoor activities.

Start Date: July 22nd, 2010

End Date: April 18th, 2013

The list:

  1. Sell the apartment and buy a house
  2. Cook dinner at home for 2 weeks straight
  3. Go on a family vacation to Mount Rushmore
  4. Shoot a wedding by the ocean
  5. Shoot a wedding in a vineyard
  6. Take more artsy “just for fun” photos
  7. See the Northern Lights
  8. Do a photoshoot at sunrise
  9. See the sunrise and the sunset in the same day
  10. Attend 3 Wedding photography workshops to further expand my knowledge
  11. Try 3 new flavours of cheese that I have never tasted
  12. Blog everyday for a month
  13. Have a “client space” for meetings where I can also hang my work on the walls
  14. Finish decorating our bedroom
  15. Hang personal photos on my walls at home
  16. Bake and decorate a creative cake
  17. Photograph my Gramma’s garden each season of the year, and make into a slideshow and/or album (gift for her)
  18. Go on a hike
  19. Watch a movie at a drive-in outdoor movie theatre
  20. Rent a cabin by the ocean for a mini family vacation
  21. Finish renovating the kitchen
  22. Go to bed by 9pm every night for a week
  23. Go to an Opera
  24. Take one full week off work at the computer (that includes no photoshop, lightroom, facebook, twitter, blogging, and surfing) AND no using the internet on my iPhone either
  25. Go on a daytrip with a good friend
  26. Learn to ice skate
  27. Take an introductory acting class
  28. Go to a coffee shop by myself and just read
  29. Make lemonade from scratch
  30. Take a Yoga class
  31. Make a Lobster dinner
  32. Do 5 acts of random kindness (0/5)
  33. Read a novel start to finish
  34. Write a short story
  35. Finish painting the apartment
  36. Replace current couches with leather ones
  37. Photograph a formal engagement session, where the girl is in a dress and heels and the guy is in dress pants and dress shirt
  38. Put my daughter into dance or another type of activity that she likes
  39. Spend an afternoon playing Scrabble with my Mom and Gramma
  40. Be a tourist in my own city
  41. Start buying Christmas gifts at least 3 months in advance
  42. Start an antique collection (already have a few, add more to it)
  43. Buy an old film SLR camera and do a photoshoot for fun with it
  44. Get photos done in a photobooth with my husband and daughter
  45. Take a spontaneous, random overnight mini vacation with my little family
  46. Go to a wax museum
  47. Grow a Bonsai tree
  48. Go far enough out of the city on a clear night and lay under the stars and find as many constellations as I can
  49. Get a bookshelf
  50. Get a wedding I shoot featured on the wedding blog “Style Me Pretty”
  51. Go to a live comedy show
  52. Enter a photo competition
  53. Make some kind of “pretty” enlargement of this list to frame and hang in my home with some way of “checking off” each item when complete without taking away from the “prettiness” of it
  54. Go skiing or snowboarding
  55. Play a game of badminton or tennis
  56. See if I remember how to play the Flute
  57. Attend a Ballet
  58. Read at least three books to benefit my business
  59. Go on a train ride
  60. Visit at least two lighthouses
  61. Go seashell collecting
  62. Tweet something on Twitter at least once a day for a month (I struggle with keeping up with Twitter)
  63. Get a bigger, sturdier memory box for Audrina’s keepsakes
  64. Participate in a Bridal Fair
  65. Buy a plant and keep it alive for at least 6 months (separate from #47)
  66. Teach what I know about photography to someone
  67. Visit the Vancouver Art Museum
  68. Do a fashion shoot (photograph it)
  69. Give a 100% tip
  70. Go fishing
  71. Clean out and organize the hall closets
  72. Find a vintage wedding dress and get someone to model it while I photograph a fun, creative shoot
  73. Identify and write down 25 things that make me happy
  74. Pay off debt (other than mortgage)
  75. Develop a welcome packet for wedding clients
  76. Buy a 24-70mm f2.8 lens
  77. Learn and make homemade pasta noodles
  78. Keep track of and blog (preferably with photographs) progress of this list
  79. Do some commercial photography for a local business
  80. Renovate the bathroom
  81. Cook “gourmet style” dinners everyday for a week
  82. Take some “stylized” portraits of my daughter (once she’s more cooperative with the camera hehe)
  83. Start a growth chart for Audrina
  84. Cook a turkey dinner
  85. Start some kind of blog post series
  86. Take Audrina somewhere I experienced as a child
  87. Photograph a bride with a chapel or cathedral length veil (so basically a long, exquisite veil)
  88. Purchase more sample albums
  89. Try paid advertising
  90. Go canoeing or kayaking
  91. Rent a snowy cabin in the winter
  92. Get a Mac computer
  93. Start hanging some of my portfolio in frames in my hallway
  94. Get a macro lens
  95. Upgrade my camera again
  96. Rent a bike and ride around Stanley Park (haven’t taken a ride on a bike since I was about 14)
  97. Organize Audrina’s toys and clear out ones she doesn’t use anymore
  98. Decorate my livingroom
  99. Go for a walk every evening before bedtime with Audrina for a week
  100. Stay up all night just talking with my husband
  101. Start another 101 in 1001 list after completing this one!


Getting married this Fall, 2010? | Chilliwack Wedding Photographer

Hello everyone! Just wanted to make a quick post letting you all know that there are still some wedding dates available for this fall! SO if you or someone you know is getting married soon, be sure to let them know! :)

Please feel free to contact me at 604.798.8574 or info@jenniferrodriguezcruz.com for further details and to book your date before it’s taken!

Looking forward to hearing from you, and being apart of your incredibly special day!

I’ve been BLOGGED! | Chilliwack Wedding Photographer

I am so excited to announce that for a second time, the “Red Shoes” Rock the Frock shoot I did a couple months back has been featured in a blog for the second time! It is such a n honour to receive recognition like this for something you enjoy so much. I want to give a huge thank you to my contest winner, Chelle, for being so beautiful and having such CUTE shoes for our shoot [Michelle is also an amazing local photographer! Be sure to check out her work at her website]…and a huge thank you to the two lovely ladies that featured my work in their blogs….

Whimsical Wonderland Weddings

and

OMG I’m Getting Married!

Be sure to check out both of these Wedding Blogs- they are packed full of inspiration for all of you planning brides out there! :)

Shalane + Dustin // Minter Gardens Wedding | Chilliwack Wedding Photographer

Shalane and Dustin held their beautiful ceremony at Minter Gardens…we had cloudy skies, a hint of sun, and not a drop of rain…here is a glimpse into their incredible day…

Congratulations again, guys!

Shalane, this next one is the first moment Dustin sees you as his bride…

Listening to Dustin recite his vows for her…

I can never choose my one favorite between the veil shots hehe…

Danielle + Trevor [they're married!] // Chilliwack Wedding Photographer

I received an email from Danielle last year, after she found me on google, end of summer sometime, interested in me shooting her wedding. I sent her some of my info and rates details, and she got back to me right away and we arranged a meeting. I first met her and her mom in person at Starbucks…we sat down, talked about all things wedding, how I worked, and looked through some of my work…she booked me immediately, on the spot. We hit it off right away, and I am so glad Danielle chose me to document her precious memories. Some of you who follow my blog may remember their engagement session, back in October…you can view it here.

Here are some of my favorites from their day…

The locket attached to her bouquet has very special meaning to her…

…and just wanted to share what they did with one of their engagement shots [too cute! hehe]…

Congrats again to the both of you! So happy to have been part of your day…hope you two had an amazing time away :)

Be sure to leave a comment if you have a second!

audrina // chilliwack portrait photographer

Well, here I am…it’s just after midnight, and once again I am up late. I am just such a night owl. But this is when I get most of my editing and such done…and it is just so nice and quiet.

For those who are “friends” with me on facebook, you may have already noticed by my statuses that I am super in love with my new lens :) Yesterday I bought one of my dream lenses, the 70-200mm f2.8……and so, here are my my first shots, taken of my beautiful daughter, Audrina.

And here is just how much she LOVES modeling for Mommy, hahahah

“There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again.”

~Elizabeth Lawrence

And that’s that for now! [My little munchkin... :) ]

Don’t forget to leave a comment if you have a second!

“Like” the facebook page for all the latest updates here: http://facebook.com/jenniferrodriguezcruz.photography

bliss.

just thought I’d share this before I head to bed.

Pure bliss.

xo

my girl [summer is here] | Chilliwack Photographer

I just couldn’t help it. I had to share these photos I took of my adorable daughter during the latest beautiful days we have had.

A tear or two actually formed in my eyes while I was going through these…I can’t believe how much she has grown, and how beautiful she is becoming. I don’t think anyone or anything can really prepare you for motherhood…it can be crazy, it can be difficult, it has it’s challenges…but my gosh, it can be BEAUTIFUL. Rewarding. Incredible. Emotional. Joyful. Miraculous….I think we get the point hehe.

The other day I stubbed my toe pretty bad…I bent down almost in tears [I can be a bit of a baby lol] and my little audrina came over to me, placed her hand on my shoulder, and with such a true, genuine look of concern in her eyes, she says “Mommy..?” she gets in closer to make better eye contact with me, “Oh no” and leans in for a the warmest hug. It is the best feeling when your baby starts to care, and give hugs and kisses on their own. Every little stage is so precious.

bring on summer! [marathon] 2 days only! | Chilliwack Portrait Photographer

Hey guys! I’m going to be having a 2 day marathon of 30 minute mini sessions! You don’t want to miss this opportunity- it’s a great deal! Sessions will be held at historic downtown Chilliwack on June 19th & June 21st- book now!

These sessions are limited to up to 4 people, but are open to families, kids, maternity portraits, headshots, just because, or even couples..

Session fee must be paid in full upon booking to hold your spot.

Here are the times available on each day:

3:30-4:00

4:15-4:45

5:00-5:30

5:45-6:15

6:30-7:00

This offer is by first come first served…and 2 days only. Please contact for further details and to book your spot! info@jenniferrodriguezcruz.com or 604.798.8574

Sara + Mark [they're married!] | Chilliwack Wedding Photographer

I would have to say that this wedding had the most mix in weather that I have had yet at a wedding! As a wedding photographer, you basically have to be prepared for any type of weather…well, we got it straight across the board that day! It was quite the adventure! And quite the beautiful wedding! We got sunshine, sprinkles of rain, LOTS of clouds, some more rain, wind, some heavy wind (enough to blow our umbrellas backward to expose the skeleton of them), and a complete downpour! It was lots of fun :) And we had an incredibly in love, cute bride and groom. Just beautiful.

The wedding took place at the Chilliwack Golf and Country Club.

Here are a few shots from the day.

She wore her grandmother’s pearls. I love that. Soo gorgeous!

…and their eyes meet for the first time as bride & groom.

Waiting out the rain on the deck :)

Don’t forget to become a fan on facebook for updates of the latest shoots! –>

http://www.facebook.com/jenniferrodriguezcruz.photography