When families hire me to take their photos, I always hope I leave a lasting, positive impression on them. But so often, the families I come to know and love leave a lasting impression on me. That's definitely the case with the Lin Family.

It's been awhile since I've posted anything here -- for no reason in particular, other than life. This year has been trying to say the least. Between the every day drama that has become our political landscape, and the death of a dear friend, I've had to practice a lot of self care in 2018. That means the blog has taken a bit of a backseat... until this last weekend. 

I've known the Lins for years now, and something about being in my favorite place -- Sligo Creek Park -- with people I adore energized me in a way I haven't felt in months. Honestly, I give the credit to the little one you see, who I'll call C. She was so full of good vibes and positive energy and wasn't afraid to throw out ideas for our session, which I loved! So many of the kids I photograph are shy and need help coming out of their shells (which is totally understandable). But not C. She had no problem hamming it up for the camera, which made my job so easy!

Not only did C remind me how much I love photography, but she made me realize I've got something special literally in my own front yard. That something special is Sligo Creek. It's a place I adore, a place I spend a lot of my time, and a place I like to call my studio. That's why from here on out, I'll simply ask you to call me the Sligo Creek Photographer. 

I love the energy this place holds. I love how its peace and beauty bring people together. And I love what a hidden gem it is for family photos. I plan to spend a lot of time here in the coming months and years. My goal is to create beautiful images that will last for years to come, and build life-long connections with the families I photograph. If more kids like C come into my life, something tells me that's not going to be hard to do :)

Cliff and I have been overwhelmed by the response to our hallway project. Thanks to everyone who left comments on Facebook and Twitter about it! And to all those who asked about buying my work, thank you a million times over. You really know how to make a photographer feel good about herself :)

I never considered opening my work up for sale until now, mostly because I didn't think people would be super interested -- but the internet has proven me wrong. So, for TEN DAYS ONLY, I'm making prints and canvases of my work, including some never-before-published images, available for purchase.

WHAT:
Prints, canvases, and select stationery from my Nebraska and Nature & Landscape collections available for purchase!

WHEN:
10 days only! Now through July 18!

HOW:
Hop on over to the online store to place your order!

WHY:
Because YOU asked!

FINE PRINT: 
Shipping is included in all pricing!
​All art pieces are printed at a local lab here in Maryland
20% of all proceeds will be donated to Lawyers for Good Government

Below are samples of what is available. Click on the photo or go straight to the online store to shop!

Given all the craziness that's happening in our country right now (you know: families being separated at the border, kids being held in cages, affirmative action and unions being attacked, and a Supreme Court vacancy) a number of friends have asked a very important question: What can I, as an individual, do?

The answer? A lot.

We live in a Democracy, which means every individual has a right to voice their opinion and to make their positions known. Going on the record for or against policies you agree or disagree with is fairly simple.

Take last weekend as an example. Tens of thousands of Americans gathered in hundreds of rallies and marches held all over the country to protest the unlawful detention of migrants and migrant children, and the cruel, inhumane separation of families at our borders. Here in D.C., hundreds, maybe even thousands, braved intense heat to make their voices heard.

Public protests are becoming more and more common in the era of Trump, which isn't surprising given the inhumane policies he promotes and endorses. As exciting as protests can be, not everyone who feels strongly about what the government is doing can march. That doesn't mean you can't participate in Democracy. There are so many ways to go on the record against government decisions you don't agree with. Here's one of them:
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Write letters and make phone calls to your elected leaders. Better yet, do it with a group of friends.

That's exactly what I did last weekend when a neighbor and friend organized a letter-writing party for those in Silver Spring who couldn't make it to the rally. This party was both an action of solidarity with marchers and an act of resistance. Together, we wrote dozens of letters and post cards to elected leaders, including our governor, Members of Congress, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and others, calling for an end to family separation and the reunification of families that have been separation, among other things. It was easy, doing it with friends was fun, and we felt good knowing we were exercising our rights as citizens. Special thanks to Kefa Cafe for hosting our party and the Unofficial Handlettering Society of Silver Spring for donating pens, pencils, and post cards!

Doing this on your own, or hosting a party to amplify the number of voices heard, isn't hard and only requires minimal prep work. Keep scrolling for a how-to guide on making your voice heard!

Step 1: Stay Educated
Democracy doesn't just happen because some old guys a long time ago said it should happen. Keeping a democracy alive and well is an active process, and it involves staying informed. Our first amendment guarantees freedom of the press, and now, more than ever, it is important for Americans to value this right -- and use it. I get my news from a variety of sources, including but not limite to The Washington Post, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, NPR, Vox, and The Root. If you haven't already, consider subscribing to a newspaper... then READ it. On a budget? Check out public radio. It's free and every community has a local station.

Step 2: Identify the issue (or issues) you want to speak out on
Given how bananas things have become today, this shouldn't be difficult to do. In case you need help, here are some of the most pressing issues of the day:

• The government wrongly detaining and caging asylum seekers
• The government separating immigrant children from their parents
• Trump appointing a Supreme Court nominee
• The government using the First Amendment as a weapon against unions
• The government engaging in a trade war
• The government taking shots at affirmative action
• The government not taking Climate Change seriously and dismantling environmental protections
• The government allowing people with violent histories to have access to guns

You can also use the tool You Lobby to find specific issues that matter to you.

Step 3: Identify your elected leaders
Every citizen in the country is represented by a host of people, including (and not limited to) a state governor, two Senators, and a Congressman. Not sure who your elected leaders are? There are resources that can help, like this tool from the League of Women Voters or this one from Common Cause.

Step 4: Know what to ask for
This is the only step that can sometimes get tricky -- but fear not. The internet is here to help!

Once you've identified the issue or issues you want to speak out on, it is important to know what to ask for. Asks can be as specific as supporting or not supporting specific legislation, or, if the issue isn't legislative in nature, they can be as broad as requesting your elected leader make a commitment to a certain set of ideals. It is also important to remember that Members of Congress deal with policy at the federal level, while governors, mayors, city counselors, etc. focus on local issues -- so make sure your ask appropriately aligns with the office you're contacting.

There are a lot of tools that can help with this, such as Resistbot or You Lobby.

When it came to knowing what to ask for in terms of ending family separation and reuniting families, I simply did a google search and learned that all of my members of Congress had co-sponsored the Keeping Families Together Act, and that the best thing to ask for going forward (because it involves action my members of Congress can take) is defunding ICE and CBP, the agencies responsible detaining immigrants and separating families, respectively.

To help keep myself and friends on message, I wrote this script. You can use it, too:

Dear (insert elected leader's name here),

My name is Jonna (use your name) and I live in Silver Spring, Maryland. Family separation and the Trump Administration's zero-tolerance immigration policies are inhumane and must stop. Thank you for cosponsoring the Keeping Families Together Act, and for speaking out against this cruelty. Please vote no on any future spending bills unless they reduce funding for ICE. 

Sincerely,

Jonna (use your first and last names)

Step 5: 
Now that you know who you're contacting and what you're asking for, it's time to write your letters or make your phone calls. This is the fun part, and it doesn't take a whole lot of time. As the example above shows, I was able to state my case and make my ask in a total of 5 sentences. 

Step 6:
Send your letters to the offices of your elected leaders. (You'll need a stamp for this. Don't have a stamp? You might want to place a call instead).

That's it! With six simple steps, you, too, can participate in our Democracy.

Need more encouragement? Read what those who participated in Silver Spring's letter writing party have to say:

I was excited that multiple people wanted to show up and write letters together. I wanted to take a stand, but knew that I couldn't handle the rally downtown. When I told a friend that I felt like I needed to do something, she reminded me that I could write a letter or leave voicemails and it was still doing something. I wrote my first letter to an elected official years ago, but it's easy to overlook this important tool in an advocate's arsenal.

I decided to see on Facebook if anyone felt the same way and wanted to get together to express ourselves and advocate for change. Thankfully not only did some local friends feel the same way, but several out-of-town friends said they would also write. 

I looked up some sample scripts for calls and letters on resistbot and 5calls.org to make writing the letters even easier. One friend brought postcards and fun pens, a another wrote the important information on large sheets of paper, and by the end of barely two and a half hours, we had 67 pieces of mail. It was so simple, two little girls even joined in to make sure Congress knew they wanted families reunited! The trickiest part was figuring out a good, age-appropriate explanation when they asked what we were doing.

Writing to our officials is important because we are ultimately their bosses. If we don't tell how we feel and what we want, how can we expect them to know? Like the saying goes, if you don't ask you don't get. All the mail gets counted and tallied so this makes sure they know. Plus, it shows that we cared enough to write.

To be honest, I'd like to do it again soon because there are always causes that need champions. I can't do everything, but I can see if friends are available. Stamps aren't that expensive. Plus, writing as a group was fun and reminded me that I'm not alone in wanting better for my country. I still hope to go to protests in the future, but I'm definitely going to keep writing.

-- Bethany

Our members of congress represent us and need to know how we (their constituents) feel on issues like immigration. That's why I decided to attend Bethany and Jarrod's letter writing get together at Kefa Cafe. Coming together to write letters with templates (and lattes!) at hand made the task much less daunting and lots more fun. 

-- Boosaba

Given the current state of events, it's fair to say that life isn't normal. The First Amendment has been weaponized by an ultra-conservative, vocal minority. Children are being torn apart from their parents and held alone in detention centers. And the rights of anyone who isn't wealthy, white, and male are in jeopardy thanks to a Supreme Court vacancy.

But just because life isn't normal doesn't mean life doesn't go on. In between attending rallies and political gatherings, educating others, writing to our Members of Congress, mourning the direction of our country, and cheering victories when they do occur (like the fundraising goal met for the Girl Powered Planner and the success of Dr. Ron Holt's PRIDE book series) Cliff and I consciously look for ways to bring normalcy -- and temporary distractions for sanity's sake -- to our lives. One of them is through continued improvements to our condo.

This most recent project -- turning our long, winding hallway into an art gallery -- was months in the making, and we're thrilled with how it turned out. Just look at these before and after shots!

I've got to give Cliff all the credit here. This project was entirely his idea, and he encouraged me to display my own artwork in our home -- something I've never done before. He was also the one who did ALL of the taping, priming, and painting, and who changed the light fixtures from those old, ugly flush mounts to something more gallery-esque. 

Being a photographer, we had hundreds, if not thousands of images to choose from to display. We went with a Nebraska theme, because of all the photos I've taken, these ones we both feel a deep, emotional connection to. (Scroll to the bottom of this post to see the eight images we chose). We also purposely chose canvases, instead of framed photographs, because of the experience you get with them. Unlike framed images, there is nothing separating you from the art. You can walk right up to each canvas, see the texture and color, and touch them if you want to.
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It's hard to believe we lived with such a bland space for nearly four years. I love how bold and vibrant our hallway has become, and of course adore the subject matter. Each of these images means something special to us and I'm so glad I get to look at them every day.

Want to see more home improvement projects? Check out what we did to our bathroom and this sweet floor-to-ceiling headboard Cliff made! 

As a photographer of engaged couples and families, I get to see all the ways people share and show love for one another. Some families are especially affectionate and snugly. Some keep their love private and share a peaceful, easy silence while in public. Some laugh and smile their way through life. That perfectly describes this sweet couple, Meghan and Ryan. Laughter is at the heart of everything they do together!

The three of us spent Saturday morning laughing our way through Glen Echo Park. I couldn't think of a better way to spend a weekend morning. Even though it was so early (we were up with the sun!) these two brightened the day with their easy going smiles and soft, rolling laughs. 

Hearing these two talk about meeting each other for the first time is so sweet. Meghan said she knew immediately Ryan would be a special person in her life... she just didn't know how special. The more time they spent together, the more it became clear to them that they were made for each other :)

Meghan and Ryan got engaged a few months ago and will be tying the knot this fall in Richmond, Virginia. They chose Glen Echo Park as the location of their engagement photos because it is where they had their first date. I loved walking around the park, hearing them reminisce about old times, and dream about the life ahead that they will share. 

I want to thank everyone who helped make this session possible, including the entire Silver Spring community, and those who donated to the Community Wellness Fund Inspired by Bethany Meissner.

For those who don't know, my good friend Bethany was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago. Part of her care plan involves acupuncture and massage, but insurance doesn't always cover those treatments. To help ease some of the burden, Third Space Wellness and I partnered to establish a fund that helps Bethany and her husband Jarrod, and gives back to the community.

When TSW and I partnered on this project, we had no idea what we'd get. The generosity of Silver Spring blew whatever expectations out of the water! The fund raised well over $5,000, and triggered tons of community give backs, including this photo shoot! You see, for every $3,000 raised, I promised to donate a photo session to a family of Bethany and Jarrod's choice. I couldn't have picked a lovelier couple! Meghan and Ryan were so easy to work with and so clearly in love! Most special, they are part of the community of friends and neighbors who share life, joy, trials, tribulations, laughter, and love with Bethany and Jarrod.

I wish these two the best as they begin a new chapter in life, and can't wait to see what weeks, months, and years of love and laughter bring! Congrats, you two!

Since moving to DC, Cliff and I have heard wonderful things about the Outer Banks in North Carolina... so, we decided to go! Our trip was short -- two days and three nights, but this place did not disappoint. 

For those unfamiliar with the area, the Outer Banks are a series of barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina. They stretch for 200 miles and are home to unique history and some incredible landscapes. Black Beard, the feared and famous pirate, traveled here; the Wright Brothers first flew here; and the lost colony of Roanoke was, well, lost here. I'm especially fascinated by the thousands of ship wrecks that dot the coast. There are so many that the Outer Banks are nicknamed the Graveyard of the Atlantic, and there's even a museum dedicated to these lost ships. (Unfortunately, it was closed when we got there--but that just means we'll have to go back!)

For two hick kids from Nebraska, the coolest thing was knowing we were on land that's essentially in the middle of the ocean. Smelling salty sea air, seeing dolphins, and coming across a baby seal while walking along the beach were all so special! 

We purposely traveled during the off season to avoid the crowds, and even though it was a little cool and a lot windy, we cannot wait to come back!

The older I get the more I learn to love and appreciate winter. I know it is easy to complain about the short days and cold temperatures, but I adore everything winter stands for. For me, it's a time to rest, relax, wind down, and focus on living in the moment.

​Nothing says winter like snow, and this weekend we got plenty of it. There's always something special about the first snowfall of the season. It's magical and beautiful and it always makes me giddy! The fact that the first snow fell on a Saturday meant I was able to spend my morning with my hands wrapped around a warm cup of coffee just staring out the window. It was so peaceful and tranquil and I loved it!

Another thing that made this year's first snow fall memorable was that I got to share it with friends Courtney-Rose and Adam Dantus! I met Courtney-Rose years ago, and always admired her gentle spirit and easy smile. So when she reached out asking for family photos, I was delighted to oblige!

We actually had this Sligo Creek family photo session planned days in advance, and I had assumed the snow would stop before the shoot even started. But to my delight, it snowed throughout the entire session! I've got to give a huge shout out to Courtney-Rose and Adam for being such troopers. Wintertime snowy sessions make so GORGEOUS photos, but they aren't always easy. Cold fingers and stinging cheeks can get really annoying really fast, but Courtney-Rose, Adam, and their two pups powered through. 

I'm so glad we were able to get together and embrace winter in this way. I adore these photos and hope the Dantus Family loves them as much as I do!

Four months.

That's how long it's been since I've last blogged, and since I last posted anything of significance on Instagram or Twitter. The reason? I needed a break. Between crazy current events and the time suck that  social media has become, there was just too much unwanted noise in my life. 

The stress of it all didn't seem worth it. So I stopped. And I listened. And I used my time differently. 

For me, taking a break didn't mean disengaging from the political reality/hellhole in which we now live. It meant taking a break from my own creativity. For four months, I didn't publish or amplify a single blog post. I didn't post anything on or look at Instagram. I didn't check Twitter. And for one month, I didn't touch Facebook.

Here's what disengaging from social media taught me:

Burnout is not always recognizable.
So much of my photography business is about getting eyes on my website, which means keeping a blog. Even when I don't have photos to share, I feel the need to find something to write about.  That means brainstorming ideas, writing posts, keeping an editorial calendar, amplifying my blogs on social media, and engaging on those platforms as much as possible. It is enough to be a full-time job, except that I already have a full-time job working in the labor movement. Between photos, blogging, general business running, and labor activism, I can easily put in ten to twelve hours a day every day. And that's what I did for months on end. I was so wrapped up in all of this work that I failed to realize how much I was working. I know, that sounds weird, right? But GO became my standard mode. Resting, relaxing, and doing things deemed "unproductive" started to become foreign concepts to me. I didn't realize how extreme my situation had become until I forced myself to stop creating and start living.

There is value and joy in just being.
Not only had I forgotten what it was like to read a book, watch a movie, or just have down time, but I failed to recognize how important tranquil, unproductive moments in life really are. Yes, much of that can be attributed to working too much... but taking a break from social media also made me realize just how much time I spend at the computer. Time that could be spent doing other, healthier things: like engaging in conversation, walking outside, listening to music, or just thinking. That's the problem with social media--even when we're alone with it, it takes up space in our mind. There is something truly beautiful and peaceful about having the freedom to turn inward and tune out the rest of the world. Too much time on social media took this away from me.  

Comparison is a dangerous game.
As a photographer, I look at images. Lots of them. All the time. This includes images of other photographers, no matter their genre. Any good photographer will tell you not to compare your work to the work of others. I've told myself and readers of this blog that many times. But it's always easier said than done. Before I gave up social media for four months, comparing myself to other photographers became a daily routine, and a depressing one at that. Where I saw perfection in others' images, business models, and success, I found only flaws and failure in mine. Taking a break from social media gave me much-needed relief from this self-depreciating behavior and, as a result, I feel more confident in my own self and my work.

Change is okay.
Checking social media multiple times each day became part of a regular routine. Breaking that felt strange at first, but it taught me that change, even in this one, small way, is good. It's healthy.

Creating can be therapeutic. It can also be a shield.
During times of high stress and uncertainty (say, like... now) there is no denying that art, be it writing, painting, photography, dance, or theater, can be incredibly therapeutic. But it can also act as a near-impenetrable shield from life. In the months before I hit my  breaking point, I was so focused on work and churning out content for this blog and my social media channels that I didn't have the time or energy to fully digest the news or engage in discussions or debates about current events. Why does this matter? Because conversations matter. Shielding myself from the raw reality of our world prevented me from growing, learning, engaging, and acting. Since taking a break from social media, I've been able to do deep self reflection, learn from the world around me, and make changes in my personal life that align with changes I want to see in the rest of society.

I am happier.
Less stress. Less drama. Less fucks to give about things that don't actually matter. 

I've missed you, @Yogitastic.
There is one down side to my break from social media: I've missed out on happenings in my community and the musings of my neighbors... including the hysterical rants of brain buyer and yoga instructor Sam, aka @Yogitastic. Seriously, people. If you're looking for a little humor to go with your anger, this is the account to follow.

The blog is a little off kilter these days because... so am I. This year has been trying to say the least. It took me about six months after the election to get my bearings on life, and by then I was so drained and emotionally exhausted that I just needed a break. I'm slowly finding my groove again, and can't think of a better post to share to get back on track than this one.

The Unofficial Handletting Society of Silver Spring is a group that meets the second Tuesday of every month to doodle, handletter, color, and just unwind. I've found the meetings to be incredibly relaxing and therapeutic. I've also learned a lot from this group. Namely, if you come to this club and handletter because you want to find perfection, you're doing it wrong. Handlettering is about finding the joy and beauty in what is not perfect, and accepting that there is perfection in imperfection. ​It's also a great way to meet new people and make new friends :)

I spent time with the Unofficial Handlettering Society of Silver Spring a few months ago to take photos for their upcoming website, and it was blissful. All artistic abilities are welcome, and everyone who meets up is so encouraging and supportive of everyone else. What I loved most was seeing how each person's unique character was represented in the letters they doodled.

Want more? Check out the group's tumblr, follow them on social with the tag #SSLetters, and be sure to join them the second Tuesday of every month at Catylator Maker Space in downtown Silver Spring. The Unofficial Handlettering Society of Silver Spring is free and open to the public.

Special thanks to Amina Ahmed, Christy Batta, and Third Space Wellness for making this shoot possible.

It's insane how FAST this year is going -- and even crazier how fast the summer has flown by. Just yesterday it felt like I was texting my good friend Kathy, praying, hoping, she'd say yes to my idea: a girls' vacation!

August 15 -- just over 10 days from now -- our vacation starts. I'M SO EXCITED!!! For me, this wont be just ANY vacation. I'm actually going to have many first-time experiences... some of which are long overdue. 

Kathy and I agreed to meet in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where we'll go hiking, zip lining, and ride a glass-top train. Not only will this be my FIRST time in Colorado (I know, I know... I lived in Nebraska for 23 years and have never before visited Colorado... the SHAME!). It will also by my FIRST time vacationing with a girlfriend. 

I've mentioned this story before: I grew up in a strict household. Road trips, weekend getaways, and spring breaks without adult supervision were forbidden. By the time I became an adult, I was focused on education and my career (plus I didn't have much money to spare). Now that I've got my feet under me and a little savings, I'm taking advantage of the fun side of adulting. 

The best part? I get to share this experience with a woman I adore! Kathy and I were roomates in college and share a love of all things Nebraska, writing, and food. This is going to be awesome. :D