Check Out Aimee DeJarnette’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Aimee DeJarnette.

Hi Aimee, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
I have always loved the storytelling aspect of photography. When I was younger, film cameras were all we had; I couldn’t wait to get my package of printed photographs in the mail, bursting with excitement to see what wonderful stories and memories were waiting in the envelope! I was always thrilled to find some sort of technical error – a lens flare or a light leak was especially magical. My father gave me my first DSLR camera right before I had my first child, and I was amazed at the creative doors it opened.

No longer did I have to wait to finish a roll of film and send it off to be developed – I could instantly see the image that I had created! And like all new mothers with a camera, I immediately set to capturing every waking (and sleeping!) moment of my first child’s life. While I would have loved to have formal photography training, at that point in my life, I was already fairly far along in my day-to-day occupation. In my spare time, I set about to learn everything I could about photography from online courses, reading blogs and websites, and studying other photographers’ work.

As I grew in my own photography journey, I knew that capturing lifestyle images sometimes means creative angles and a need for a very shallow depth of field. While I admire photography that is sharp to infinity, my style is slightly more focused on the subject of the photo, with a softer background giving more emphasis on the central theme of the composition. Even in the great outdoors, there are elements that I’d prefer to make less obvious. As a working mother with four young children and busy life, I know that an immaculately clean house is a lofty goal and everything can’t be photo-ready at all times.

I often say my goal for capturing a family’s everyday moments is to make a pile of laundry look like watercolor! Over the years, photography became more than just a hobby and I began to dream of a future business capturing magical images for others. I knew that I wanted to make beautiful images accessible for all – and while I absolutely still love the storytelling aspects of lifestyle imagery and the delight of a Fresh48 session with a newborn baby and parents, I also had a dream to create a space where I could provide a relaxed, easygoing atmosphere for family portraits.

Over time, that dream grew into Everyday Fresh Light. I still love lifestyle sessions in client homes or in hospitals, but family portraiture is the preponderance of my work today. As the business has grown, the majority of my work is created in our little homestead corner where we have wide-open spaces and plenty of nature as background. For the last two years, we have grown a beautiful mix of sunflowers for sunflower sessions in the natural Midwest backdrop.

Having our own ‘secret garden’ and quiet space opens up so many doors for families in a more inviting setting that can accommodate the inevitable moments when younger children need a little extra time to get ready to have their picture taken, or just want to run about and chase butterflies or pick pretty flowers for mama. Growing our own flowers means picking the blooms that can be part of the session – and it’s never frowned upon!

We have expanded our flower selections to include lavender, marigolds, zinnias, and a large wildflower field in addition to generous sunflower plots. This year, my husband built a beautiful greenhouse and we had a lovely season of holiday mini sessions – and we are looking forward to decorating the greenhouse seasonally for more sessions as well as growing year-round.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like any small and growing business, time is both the most precious resource and the biggest challenge. Balancing time to create a great client experience and beautiful art is a tough and incredibly rewarding challenge on top of my full-time job, parenting our wonderful children, and improving our little plot of Kansas. It definitely keeps things interesting!

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am mostly focused on artful photography sessions that showcase the beauty of Kansas and the Midwest. Families, children, and special event photos – milestones and senior portraits – are the majority of my work. In addition to photography, I also offer custom cards and personal branding services. I love to pull colors together for a cohesive story – whether it be in an individual image or on a platform.

Any big plans?
Our little corner also includes ever-expanding fruit, vegetable, and herb gardens.

While these were all created for the purpose of great photographic backdrops {and for feeding children!} they are also amazing in themselves and the possibilities for increasing self-reliance are endless. We are always looking at ways to expand the Everyday brand – flowers, seeds, and other opportunities are in the works for the future.

We’re always working to balance client needs with internal development and growth!

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.everydayfreshlight.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everydayfreshlight/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everydayfreshlight/