spotlight :: jk photography

(photos copyright jk photography)

Jen Badalamenti of JK Photography and I have been friends since January 2007. She has been one of my biggest cheerleaders and I cannot thank her enough for that. Once you meet Jen, you instantly know you could become friends with her :: she is warm, inviting, hospitable and genuine. I've watched her work for the past year, and each time she posts new photos, I am amazed at the progress in her skills, the fun angles she finds, and the new things she comes up with. It's awesome watching a friend get better + better at what she does best.

Over the Fourth of July weekend she shot the amazing Sikh wedding of Simrat + Arvinder. Once I opened my Google Reader, I knew I must share these photos with you. It was also a prime time for me to (finally!) do a Q+A with Jen. Enjoy the photos and the interview and if you love what you see here, don't forget to check out her blog. Enjoy!

Pearls Events :: How long have you been in business?
Jen :: I started JK Photography 5 years ago. It seems like yesterday when I was shooting that first wedding; I had no clue what I was doing. I was fresh out of college with a degree in photography and armed with a camera. I can't believe it's been 5 years already!!
This is my first year going full time with my business and I have 44 weddings this year including 3 destination weddings. I can't believe how fast my business has grown!

Pearls Events :: How did you get into photography in the first place?
Jen :: I started taking pictures as soon as I could hold a camera. My dad was always into taking our pictures and I grew up with a camera in my face. In high school I was on the year book staff and took all the pictures for the yearbook (that was back in the day when we had film in our cameras and had to develop and print the pictures in the darkroom!) After traveling through Thailand 7 years ago is when I realized that photography is what I need to be doing for the rest of my life. I finished up my degree in Grand Rapids and started my business here!

Pearls Events :: Who inspires you?
Jen :: I get inspiration from a lot of different photographers through out the world. I am sort of a melting pot of all my photographer idols :)

I would have to say my dad has inspired me the most though. He has always encouraged me to follow my dreams and do what I love. He was the only photographer that I knew growing up and I wanted to take amazing pictures just like him!

As for other photographers that I follow, Jasmine Star for sure, Matt Adcock from Flash Flavor (he is a fabulous destination wedding photographer), and oddly enough, Gordon Parks (who was not a wedding photographer). His work truly inspired me and I hope to one day capture images for Time Life Magazine like he did!

Pearls Events :: What do you do on a non-wedding Saturday in July?
Jen :: A non- wedding Saturday in July?? Do those exist?? I would LOVE to spend the day with my husband, Wally, working in our yard or taking our dog for a walk. Wally has been such a big supporter of this venture I have been on and I would like to do something special for him to thank him for all of his support and love!

Pearls Events :: What is your favorite part of the wedding day?
Jen :: I love the whole wedding day, but my favorite parts of the day are when I am with the bride at the salon in the morning. I love to capture those in between moments when she is feeling true raw emotions before the ceremony, emotions that are written all over her face. She is nervous, excited, happy, and just beautiful!

My other favorite part of the day is when I get the bride and groom alone. It is the first time since saying their vows that they actually get to talk to each other one on one and there is nothing more beautiful than seeing a new bride and groom smile and reflect about what they experienced during the ceremony.

Its at that point when I think to myself "How lucky am I? I get to be a part of this day with this amazing couple and I get to see all of their emotions and reactions with each other as they are enjoying the happiest day of their lives".That is my favorite part of the day and that is what I love to capture :)

Pearls Events :: What did you want to be when you grew up?
Jen :: When I was in 7th grade, I wanted to work for the FBI and be an international spy. Then when I was in college I actually studied forensic psychology and criminal science, but that quickly faded after my first anatomy and physiology class. I think photography was always my goal, I just didn't know it yet. As soon as I could hold a camera, I never put it down!