jen mcken + family | winter family portraits

It’s so weird being on the other side of the camera….but it’s been long over due. I come home after shooting other families and think to myself, “man, I wish *I* had images like that” and so while we had the truck set up and before we closed up shop for the year, I sweet talked my step-father to snap a few of us. This was such a low stress “shoot” for us. I know most people stress out for weeks about what they are going to wear and end up spending a ton of money on clothes. Wanna know how much I spent? $15 ….almost our entire outfits came from Goodwill…because I want to remind you, it’s not about what you wear, it’s about having photos of the ones you love! And I have to remind myself that photos are often not for YOU but for the people you leave behind! I want Mallory to have photos of her family…all together so that she can point to the picture and say THAT is my Mom and Dad. <3

These are just a LEEEETLE bit different than our awkward family photos we took of ourselves last week, if you didn’t see those ones, you HAVE to if you need a chuckle!

Greg and I have been together 13 years and he’s just as sweet, romantic and thoughtful as he was when we were first dating! But now I get to see how sweet and thoughtful he is with our daughter! I’m soo thankful that I found a man who has set a REALLY high standard for how Mallory’s husband should treat her one day! <3

I’m also so very thankful that he’s my partner in crime AND my go-to man when I need something built, fixed or figured out. I have very little patience and he has enough for 10 people…thank GOD because he keeps me down to earth! haha! And Miss Mallory, well we couldn’t have been given a more perfect personality type for our family! Thank god she has a sense of humor and can handle our jokes and pranks….and that she’s not shy!

5 Random Facts about us:

Mallory:
1. She is VERY artistic and can make a masterpiece out of pretty much anything.
2. She’s very social and makes friends so easily!
3. She’s a prankster…wonder where she gets that?
4. I feel like she was meant to live at the beach…we’re working on that! 😉
5. She never matches….EVER. She’s my little Punky Brewster!

Jen:
1. I’ve never dyed my hair and once I got high lights, the woman made them too light and I felt like a skunk.
2. I’m more calm and relaxed when things around me are neat and in order.
3. I’m fascinated with social economics and more recently investing. I have no idea where this came from, but I’m trying to learn more and more about it daily.
4. I surround myself with positive people and I choose my friends based on if they can laugh at themselves or not.
5. I often root for the under dog because I feel like that was me once.

Greg:
1. He is obsessed with vintage vehicles (hence his collection of old trucks).
2. In the 13 years we’ve dated, he’s never owned one vehicle for more than 8 months–he gets bored easily. Thankfully I made the cut! haha! But he’s never had a car payment. WOOT WOOT!
3. He loves action based movies which usually result in someone robbing a casino. It’s a standing joke in our house when he picks a movie. We wonder what casino is going to be robbed this time! haha!
4. He can’t sit still for more than 2 seconds. Even when he’s driving on long trips, he is always fidgeting in his seat.
5. When I said I’d love to have a studio space…he built me one while working full time AND shooting with me on the weekends. He’s been my number one supporter on my quest to self-employment!

It’s hard to believe she was born just over a pound struggling for her life…look at her now, 9 years old and full of life! <3

So from my family to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday’s! Don’t forget to put down your phone, get off the internet and spend time with the ones you love….AND…I hope Santa brings you everything you need! <3