Smell the pine trees, OH, won't you just feel the cool breeze!

Usually I have plenty to say and it's accompanied by very few images, but it seems today, I have very little to say and shall I say it, too many images.

In the beginning of the summer I wasn't worried one bit about finding work. As time went on, I became a little un-easy, and then I found myself in an overall panic. A tearful, blubbering, panic.

I was emailing people like a mad woman in search of some assistant work. Then there were the 3 dreaded hurricanes that threatened the gulf and I felt like I was being a bother to people who may have been going through quite a bit already.

Well, recently work has been good. I've (as noted in the previous post) been working three days a week at the Motherhood Center in Houston, I've been working as a substitute teacher at the local high school, and this previous Monday I had the pleasure of working with William Long, photographer for William + Patricia Photography, located in Kingwood, Tx.

William and his wife, Patricia, both graduated from the Hallmark Institute of Photography a year before I did (they actually met at Hallmark!). They specialize in wedding and portraiture, and are also branching out to find commercial work.

The job that I assisted with was for All Starr Carpet and Floor Repair:

We were in a predominately Asian part of town and William's client pointed us in the direction of some fabulous Vietnamese cuisine! Be it that the area is only 20 minutes from my aunt's house (with whom I'm staying), I'll definitely be heading in that direction if ever a Vietnamese egg roll craving comes a long.

Earlier this month, (as also noted in the previous post) I enjoyed the Renaissance Festival in Plantersville, Tx. We camped out with Jodi's friend, Byron, and his "band of (un-related) brothers". 

There were people dressed up, people spinning fire, drums being played all through out the night, and as far as I'm concerned, some relatively decent pictures being taken. :)

(Isn't my twin sister, beautiful??)

Thank you for reading and viewing my blog!

Since this is primarily a photography blog, I would love to have comments to read that could help me better myself as a photographer, and also grow as an artist.

Please have a safe and fabulous Halloween Weekend! (As mom always said, check your candy before consuming all of it!)

And don't forget to Vote (early voting is still going on through 31 different states)!

AND if the weather is as lovely where you are, as it is here, enjoy as much of it as you can.

With love, hope, and peace,

Jessi Hebert

www.JessiHebert.com

You might be a big fish in a little pond, doesn't mean you've won...

Today I woke up, emailed my new boss (I'll elaborate on that here in a minute), drank two cups of coffee, ate some breakfast biscuits, watched Ellen and the View and now I'm writing a blog and afterwards I'm going to mow the grass. I've been extremely thrilled with my life lately. 

A few weeks ago, my uncle Brad threw a Crab-Boil:

Late in the evening my grandfather and his friends stayed up talking about all kinds of things from their medications to their views on the war (which being former Marines you can imagine how they feel about the war) their views on politics and the upcoming presidential election.

They're all very opinionated and as you can tell by their body-language, very hard of hearing. lol

Aaron, my brother-in-law, sitting in a broken chair enjoying his spicy crabs...
As you can see it was a family event: Leah, Gracie, Jodi, and Dad enjoying their crabs....

Brad's not very shy on the seasoning...it's been known to sting every cut on your hand and burn any eye it comes in contact with.

A couple of weekends ago (you can tell I've been needing to post a new blog for a while now) my sister, Chrystal, and her husband, Aaron, needed help cleaning out all of the things that were salvageable in their home in Bridge City, so my mom, dad, sister-Jodi, cousin-Gracie, Uncle Glenn, Aunt Cyndi, cousin-Holly all pitched in and here are some shots from that day.

My Uncle Glenn was using a technique to see what the sex of Chrystal's baby is going to be. He's been right 48 out of 49 times, so if his calculations are correct, she will be having a boy.

It was nice after cleaning all day to relax and be treated to some crawfish etoufee by dad.

New News:

I have recently found a job working at The Motherhood Center in Houston, near the Galleria.

The Motherhood Center is a spa-type of atmosphere for expecting mothers. They have massages, yoga, classes to learn about what to expect and how to prepare for the new baby, organic clothing, bedding, etc. for your new baby, and as you may suspect - photography.

My job is to assist the photographer in the center, Jenny Williams. I'll be editing pictures, helping with photo-shoots, getting coffee, cleaning, helping with the front desk and eventually taking on some photo-assignments myself. 

So far, so good, everyone in the center is really professional and really nice. Especially the owner, Gabby and her husband Gary. 

My regular schedule there will be Thursday-Saturdays.

And since I've been working so close to the Galleria, I've been able to hop on over to my friend, Kylee's apartment to spend some time with her...which is always nice. :)

There is so much more to talk about, but then how could I keep you coming back for more if I gave it ALL away??

Next post teaser:

I will be posting pictures and stories from the Renaissance Festival, I will add more songs to my playlist, I will talk about good movies, food, and tv shows that I'm in love with.

I will change you.

I leave you to your thoughts...

I love you and that's the damn truth.

-Jessi Hebert

www.jessihebert.com

"Cold, cold water bring me round
Now my feet won't touch the ground
Cold, cold water what ya say?
When it's such…
It's such a perfect day"

Visual and Auditory Literacy

Topic #1 : John Nordell, a current instructor at the Hallmark Institute of Photography and a previous instructor of mine, brought to my attention the importance of really listening and looking at movies, television, books, art, and music. Really paying attention to these things and deciding what it is that you particularly enjoy about them, which in turn, helps you to develop a style about yourself...a persona.

As you can probably imagine, what we see and what we hear affect us subconsciously. 

Recently, as followers of this blog are aware, I've been OBSESSED with Netflix. I'm a renting machine...watching and returning as quickly as possible, updating my queue with every good review I read, anticipating the arrival of my new dvds in the mail.

Two movies in particular that have had a good impact on me recently were:

1) Amelie, a french film that really captivates the idiosyncrasies of humans...Oh, the bizarre brilliance!

2) The Pianist - a movie based on a Polish & Jewish pianist (duh) whom, thanks to his gift of playing the piano with such beauty and intricacy, survived the Holocaust. 

You may be wondering, what does any of this have to do with your photography?
Everything. It has everything to do with how I perceive things.

Why I am the way I am is because of what I've learned, experienced and decided to be true.

And well, what I do is very much the same as who I am.

Topic # 2:  The Common Ground Lecture that was held this past Tuesday evening at Lamar State College - Port Arthur. It was a debate between two political analysts, Bob Beckel (democrat) and Cal Thomas (republican), coming together and realizing that what's more important than arguing and trying to change someone's mind, is listening, finding common ground with one another and therefore coming to actual solutions with our country's problems. 

My goodness, this is longer than it was expected to be

Shout-outs/yellers:

-Is anyone who's reading this planning to attend the WPPI convention in Vegas in Feb.?

-Happy Birthday Kylee!

-Happy October everyone!!! 

-Make sure and Register to vote before this coming MONDAY!!

-If anyone watches Samantha, Who? it's premiering Monday Oct. 13th!

-If you want to begin a Netflix membership and would like the FIRST MONTH FREE, go to

www.netflix.com/tellafriend and enter one of these codes before OCT. 31st:

M172468494255

M102408494285

M142498494635

M19246849605

(I have 4 cards to give to friends/family as a gift and the promo code only works once...you see?)

-If you know of any professional photographer who is in need of a talented, hygienic, friendly, dedicated, love-able freelance assistant, please let me know.

-If you are in downtown Beaumont and "jonesin" for a good cup o' joe, The Barking Dog at 493 Pearl St. (by Crocket St.) is the place for you. Trust.

-Everyone effected negatively due to the recent hurricane(s), I'm terribly sorry and I mean that with everything in me.

I love you. 

Have a better October than you did September. 

Do what you want to do and be whom you want to be.

Forever yours,

Jessi Hebert

www.jessihebert.com

P.S. Stop rushing. Take time to realize the good in life instead of obsessing with the bad. Enjoy the cool weather that fall has to offer and the warm sunshine while it still lasts.

It'll lift you up and make you all tingly inside. Just ask Zeus, here. :)