For those of you who aren’t familiar with the Rising Tide Society (RTS), it’s an incredible community created for creative entrepreneurs by creative entrepreneurs. Tuesdays Together meetups are a way for local members of the Rising Tide Society to get together, meet new people, and discuss business. RTS has helped me meet a ton of new people in the industry. Being local to both Fredericksburg and Charlottesville, I’m thankful for all of the opportunities to connect with other small business owners in my area. 

Nabeela is one of my 2016 seniors, and she definitely brought her personality into her photos. From the outfits she chose to some of our more fun “show me your favorite pose” shots, I got to capture the real her. In the end, that’s more important than any pose or editing style. I loved exploring some new locations downtown and hearing all about her plans for college. She plans to become a teacher and I just know that she’s going to be the “cool” teacher that students always love. 

My gorgeous, fabulous mom (and twin) turned 50 last week. We decided that one of the best ways to celebrate is with a photoshoot. We brought my sister, Karlisa, along and it made for a fun girl’s day! This was my first time shooting at Mary Washington University and I love the perfect modern backdrops that their buildings provide. 

Happy New Year! Welcome to the new Jontell Vanessa Photography blog! I’ve spent the past few months making changes and figuring out my true purpose and vision for my business. After lots of dreaming and planning, I’m excited about all of the projects happening this year and I can’t wait to share them with you all.