1) What is your photography site, blog url , and any other sites you own that you’d like to share with us?
www.jmeportraits.com
www.facebook.com/jmeportraits
www.instagram.com/jme_portraits
2) What sparked your interest in the photography world, and when did you start first professionally shooting clients?Plus, where are you located?
My interest in photography was sparked when I got this really awesome sony cyber shot…point and shoot!! I had always loved photography, even as a child, but it wasn’t until I got that top of the line piece of equipment that I really fell in love (and I’m totally not joking, I loved that camera). I started professionally working photography in 2006, but I only did it part time. I took the leap of faith to do photography full time in 2012! I live in Houston, Texas and love it!! I am originally from Southern California though, and miss my long walks on the beach. 
3) And we have to ask, our typical question…… WHAT DO YOU SHOT WITH, and what is your favorite lens?
I shoot with a Canon Mark III and my favorite lens is the Canon 70-200. I obviously don’t use it much (aka never) with the newborns, but if I could, I would! My camera bag also includes:
2 5d Mark lll camera bodies
50 mm 1.2 L
85 mm 1.2 L
35 mm 1.4 L
24-70 mm 2.8 L
70-200 mm 2.8 L ll
100 mm macro L ll
4) Let’s have fun… any extraordinary talent, or obsession, that you’d like to share with us? IE: can you touch your tongue to your nose, or do you snowboard, maybe run marathons or like to mow the lawn in your bikini ?
Haaaaaaaaaaaaaa I’m actually really talented at cleaning. I love cleaning. Love the smell of bleach and often joke that I would make a seriously awesome house cleaner…or serial killer. LOL Totally kidding about the last part obviously, but if I wasn’t a photographer I would be one of those organizers that comes to your house and whips your butt into clean and organized shape!!
5) Now this will be fun, seeing that you have worked with so many amazing vendors that we love & adore as well… it will be a hard one for you, but do you think you can give us a TOP 5 list of prop shops that you love “GO TO”? Please share (and include url)… in no order:
1. Adorable Baby Creations : https://www.facebook.com/AdorableBabyCreations
2. Pitter-Pat Crochet Creations : https://www.facebook.com/pitterpatcrochetcreations
3. AprilsYarnables : https://www.facebook.com/AprilsYarnables
4. Crowberry Crochet : https://www.facebook.com/CrowberryCrochet
5. Loopsy Daisy : https://www.facebook.com/LoopsyDaisyBaby
6) Do you shoot on location, or do you have a studio that you work out of?
I have a studio that I work out of, but I do love an outdoor shoot every once in awhile! And I have to give a shout out to my husband at this point. My studio is in our house. We actually bought our current house because of the layout. So for those of you that think you have to rent a high end commercial space to have a successful business, I think you can reconsider that now. Our house has a dining room and an office in the very front, totally separate from the rest of the house. That is where I keep my studio, and I LOVE the commute!!
7) Do you use actions (have a favorite?), or do you process on your own? We’d love to hear about your #1 processing technique that you seem to use on every edit.
I do use actions and am very fond of Son Kissed Photography’s newborn actions, Erin Tole’s actions and DNA Photography’s! And I always use portraiture on my photos!!
8) Share with us your ALL TIME #1 FAVORITE image in your portfolio.
How in the heck am I supposed to choose??!! I decided that 2014 would be the year I learned how to photograph newborns “beyond the beanbag”… I am so glad I set that goal!
9) Do you have any other photography based adventures planned for the near future? For instance, your mentoring.. w’ed LOVE to hear more!
Hmmm…..photography based adventures….I do plan on mentoring! I was a member of several photography growth groups on Facebook and out of respect for the gals running them, I am waiting a couple of months to start mentoring, but I have a running list of photographers interested in mentoring with me, so I’ll be sending out emails/messages around summer time! I have a degree in teaching, so I think marrying my college degree with my hard work degree will work out great!!
10) Any fabulous formative info you can “share” with fellow photographers ? Just starting out or seasoned professionals… we could always use inspiration… so we’d love a “pep talk” !
Oh…what would I have loved to know when I was first starting out….?
1. Please don’t compare yourself to anyone else or try to be exactly like someone. I know it’s easy to do, and a little addicting, watching their facebook page/website, but it doesn’t do you any good and it’s a serious waste of time. God made you an original, don’t die a copy.
2. Specialize. Specialize. Specialize. I used to do it all. And I was ok at everything I did, but I wasn’t great. I wasn’t amazing. There was nothing special about what I did. I was a jack of all trades and a master of none. It wasn’t until I decided to specialize in newborns that my business took off!
3. Set goals for you and your business. Where do you want to be next year? How many sessions do you want to do? How will you accomplish these goals?
4. Lastly, learn how to work your camera in manual. I know it’s easy to get into the habit of buying bigger and better equipment, but taking better photos is not always 100% in the equipment. Sure it helps, but it’s not all there is to beautiful photos!
www.jmeportraits.com
www.facebook.com/jmeportraits
www.instagram.com/jme_portraits