Jessica Otwell Photography, Austin lifestyle photography

Dusty and I just returned from an amazing trip to Africa.  In 9 days we saw more beauty and learned more history than I could ever imagine.  Everything about the trip was incredible from the food to the accommodations, but especially the people who live there.  A very special thanks to our travel agent, Brownell Travel, and to our spectacular hosts / guides, Dylan and Gavin of Africa Inscribed.   We felt so at home and can’t wait to go back to Africa!

My very best wishes to you both, I love you so much sister and new brother in law … remember, all you need is love!

(a special thank you to Adrianne for taking our family photo)

…and I couldn’t be happier!  Not only because this is my beautiful sister Celeste we are talking about, but because she is marrying a sweet, generous, kind, and not to mention, handsome guy (that would be Joe).  I took some photos for them back in December, 2007, when I was home in California for Christmas.  Celeste and Joe had only been together a few months, but they already knew they had something special (and so did I).  They sent the photos I took back home to his family along with a letter introducing Celeste.  You see Joe’s family lives in Goa, India, and he doesn’t get to see them very often.  I felt it was a beautiful gesture, and a true indication of things to come.  Here we are, almost exactly 2 years later, and the happy couple is engaged.  I am honored to be photographing the wedding taking place this Sunday in the beautiful Santa Cruz mountains of California at my parents home.  A Merry Christmas indeed!  Stay tuned

Here is favorite photo from their December 2007 shoot (for any interested photographers out there, this was when I first started.  For this shot I used my rebel and 50mm 1.8).

Unreal weather this weekend in my hometown of Guntersville!  Everyone agreed it did not feel like your typical Alabama days and nights, but we were happy to take advantage of the gifts of low humidity and amazing skies over the lake.

I’m famous!  Sort of… I just had my antique sofa recovered and submitted the before and after photos to the incredible Grace, of Design*Sponge (super awesome design blog that I have been following for years) and she published them!  Check out what she wrote about me

Here’s a little preview photo I took of the new and improved sofa, featuring a cameo by the one and only Elvis P. Otwell.