 Meet Camryn — one of the most driven and accomplished seniors I’ve had the pleasure of photographing! Camryn is graduating from Dickinson High School, and it was such a bittersweet moment seeing his Class of 2025 tassel. It hit me that wore that same cap and gown exactly 20 years ago, as Class of 2005. Time really does fly, and it made this session even more meaningful.  Camryn recently committed to the University of St. Thomas after earning a full scholarship — a huge accomplishment that reflects just how hard he’s worked. He applied to both UST and Texas State, but ultimately chose UST since it's close to home and covering everything. He found his passion for track early on and has absolutely soared, literally! He’s competed in hurdles and high jump, and his dedication paid off. Camryn made the newspaper this year for becoming the district champ for two years in a row. That kind of consistency, talent, and focus is rare.  Camryn is excited to graduate and step into this next chapter. He’s especially looking forward to continuing his track career in college and growing his independence as he starts this new journey. With plans to major in business and computer science. Camryn, you’re going to do amazing things. Congratulations again and enjoy your sneak peek! 
0 Comments
This session was so special to me. Not just because Trevor is graduating (which is a huge deal!), but because I’ve known this young man literally his entire life.  I’ve known Trevor’s mom since we were in kindergarten. We grew up together, shared childhood memories, and have remained friends over the years. When Trevor was born, he became the first baby I ever got to hold whenever I wanted and believe me, I took full advantage of that! He was also my very first “model” back when I was still learning photography. I’m pretty sure he endured quite a few awkward poses and photo experiments. To be behind the camera for his senior session felt like everything coming full circle. Watching him grow into such a respectful, kind, and driven young man has been such a joy, and getting to capture this milestone was truly an honor.  When he was little, Trevor loved riding his stuffed horse named Pancake. He would spend hours pretending to be a cowboy, and those “practice rides” have taken him farther than any of us could have imagined. This fall, he’ll be enrolling in the welding program at Wharton County Junior College on a rodeo scholarship! Not only is that amazing, but here’s the kicker—they came looking for him. He didn’t even apply. That speaks volumes about his talent, dedication, and the impression he’s already made in the rodeo world.  Look for this guy on the back of a bull on WCJC’s rodeo team come fall, he’s just getting started!
Trevor, I’m so proud of you. I can’t wait to see all the incredible things your future holds. To all the incredible moms I’ve had the honor of photographing—this post is for you. Motherhood is messy, beautiful, exhausting, and unbelievably rewarding. It’s the quiet moments—rocking a sleepy baby in the early hours, wiping away tears with gentle hands, packing lunches, and showing up every single day—that often go unnoticed.  I’ve watched first-time moms softly cradle their newborns, unsure and completely in love. I’ve laughed with seasoned mamas chasing toddlers around the studio or wiping noses between smiles. I’ve captured the pride in your eyes as you watch your babies grow—milestone by milestone. And every time, I’m reminded how powerful and beautiful motherhood really is.  Thank you for trusting me with your memories. For stepping in front of the camera even when you don’t feel picture-perfect. One day, your children will look back at these photos and see the love in your eyes—the comfort, the strength, and the warmth that only a mother can give. That’s the real magic.  Today, I hope you feel celebrated. I hope you slow down, even just for a moment, and feel proud of everything you are. From the bottom of my heart—Happy Mother’s Day. 💕 With love, Jessica Maness  This morning, I had the opportunity to photograph some familiar faces—members of our own baseball family! There’s something extra special about photographing families you already know. The connection, the laughter, and easy smiles. They were the lucky winners of the photo shoot we raffled off as part of our team fundraiser, and I couldn’t have asked for a better way to start my day.  We spent the morning out on the farm, surrounded by wildflowers, a beautiful greenhouse, and the most perfect vintage truck that added just the right amount of rustic charm.  Thank you again to everyone who entered the raffle and helped support our team—your generosity means so much! To the winners: Thank you for letting me freeze these moments. ⚾📸   Some families hold a special place in my heart, and the Petersen family is undoubtedly one of them. For the past nine years, they have trusted me to capture their most precious moments, and every session with them has been amazing.  Each year, we find a new location to celebrate the twins’ birthday session. It’s become a tradition that I look forward to just as much as they do! Watching the twins grow over the years has been such a joy.  Not only do they come back every year for their birthday session, but they also come see me for mini sessions in between. It means the world to me that they continuously choose me to document their journey.  This year was extra special because the entire family joined in! From parents to pups, everyone was there, making it one of my favorite Petersen sessions to date.  I am beyond grateful for their continued trust in me, and I can’t wait to see where next year takes us.
One of the most rewarding parts of my job is getting to watch little ones grow, not just through my lens but in real life.. Recently, I had one of those full-circle moments that made me pause and truly appreciate the beauty of time.
This sweet girl I’ve had the joy of photographing isn’t just any baby, she’s part of a family I’ve known for years. In fact, I used to babysit her mom and aunt when they were about her age! I still remember their giggles and the way they played,.
It’s been incredible watching her mom and aunt grow into the amazing women they are today. From childhood adventures to now raising families of their own, it’s a privilege to be part of their journey in a whole new way.
To this sweet little one, I can’t wait to see all the ways you grow and shine.
Meet sweet baby Ezra! He made his entrance into the world in a hurry, weighing 5 lbs 13 oz and measuring 19 inches long. This little guy may be tiny, but he is already so loved by his family.  Ezra’s mother and I share a rare pregnancy complication called cholestasis of pregnancy. Cholestasis is a liver disorder that occurs during pregnancy, causing severe itching due to a buildup of bile acids in the bloodstream. It not only affected both of us during our first pregnancies but returned for her second—and for me, even with my third.  One of the crucial medical requirements for cholestasis is early induction at 37 weeks to reduce risks to the baby. For Ezra’s mother, her first pregnancy and delivery went smoothly despite the induction, but her second pregnancy presented additional challenges. Not only did cholestasis return, but she also developed PUPPP (Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy), a severe and itchy rash that can make the final weeks of pregnancy even more difficult.  During her induction, the medical team discovered that the umbilical cord was wrapped tightly around the baby, requiring an emergency C-section. As if that weren’t enough, she also experienced postpartum hemorrhaging, making for a truly intense and emotional delivery. Despite all these challenges, she remained strong and determined, and now she holds her precious Ezra in her arms.  Through it all, the joy and excitement this family radiates is heartwarming. It was an honor to capture these special newborn moments for them. Welcome to the world, Ezra—you are so incredibly loved already!
There’s something so special about capturing the bond between siblings, especially when one of them is experiencing becoming a big brother for the first time.
Reid’s nursery is decorated with a western theme, making it all the more fun to incorporate those details into his session. I love pulling inspiration from my littlest models’ nurseries, ensuring that their portraits will fit perfectly into their space. Now, this family has the perfect decor featuring their newest addition—a little cowboy in the making!
One of my favorite details from Reid’s session was the deep teal we incorporated. It added such a rich, feel to his images. This shade has officially been added to my list of favorites—I can’t wait to use it in more sessions!
Not long ago, we were capturing this sweet mama’s maternity session. Now, I’m so excited to share that he’s here! Nehemiah Shalom made his grand entrance weighing 8 lbs 6 oz and measuring 20 inches long.
His name carries such a powerful and beautiful meaning—“God’s Comfort and Peace.”Nehemiah is a double rainbow baby, a wonderful blessing after loss. His mama experienced two miscarriages between her youngest daughter and him.. He is a symbol of hope, healing, and the strength of his family.
For his newborn session, we made sure to incorporate things that reflect his family’s story. Since we had the deer sighting during the maternity session, we knew we had to include deer antlers in his shoot! We also included a baby's first golf set (a nod to dad’s favorite sport), sweet sibling poses with his proud big sisters, and of course, simple, timeless neutral shots of just baby.
It has been such an honor to document this family’s journey. Seeing them welcome their first little boy has been so special, and I can’t wait to watch Nehemiah grow!
 One of the most rewarding parts of being a photographer is getting to watch families grow over the years. This family has been with me since their oldest was just one year old.  Most recently, I had the privilege of capturing their newest addition—a beautiful baby boy! They were team green throughout the pregnancy, choosing to wait until birth to find out the gender. The excitement and anticipation leading up to his arrival made this moment even more special.  Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your story. I can’t wait to continue capturing the beautiful moments ahead for your family! 💛  |
Archives
January 2025
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed