Jen Jordan Photography

Before having a baby, I never realized the power of community in parenthood.

To me, that looks like reaching out to my fellow toddler mom friends and asking them to babysit - which they always gladly do - and knowing my child will be fed, happy and safe. It means sharing a smile with another mom in the airport as my toddler walks beside me wearing a small backpack full of snacks. It means borrowing pump supplies, strollers and clothes; gifting toys, swaddles and food our kids didn’t like; sharing links and books and advice.

To me, community means that, because so many of us live away from our given family, we’re forging a chosen family, and we’re all in this together.

I hope you’ve found a community in parenthood and if not, please count me as part of yours.

• • •

The Purple Foxes' change of command for outgoing CO LtCol Miller was the most amazing day.

I've been to a lot of changes of command both as a spouse and a photographer. While every Marine Corps ceremony has similar routines and a structure, this one had a number of things I'd never seen. The ceremony was, by far, one of the best attended ones I'd been to, which is totally unsurprising. LtCol Miller had a huge group of flight school buddies in attendance, and former Purple Fox commanding officers stood in line to salute the squadron as they marched by. Check out the details at the ceremony - squadron mascots will never cease to amuse me - and the gorgeous mural on the tail of the plane we shot in front of.

My family will always be a part of the V22 community - I knew many, many folks in attendance at this ceremony - and for that, I am grateful.

Dogs and baby bumps: there's seriously nothing better.

There is absolutely nothing like a flyover.

A MEU flyover consists of an outrageous number of planes. You can hear them coming from miles away, the roar of the engines reverberating through the hangar. The joy in this family's faces perfectly encapsulates the feeling that rushes through you as the one at home, waiting for your loved one to disembark.

How do I know? I was that spouse, waiting in the hangar, watching the flyover.

It's been over five years since I had that moment, my husband returning from an eight-month MEU. The first time I saw the Ospreys crest over the hangars on Miramar, my heart stopped in my throat. I held my arms close to my body and started to cry. I'm glad I was able to get video of it happening and am shocked I was, since I was shaking so hard.

It truly is a feeling like no other.

This family's moment was a little over a year ago but I remember this day as clearly as the day I stood in that same hangar, waiting for my husband's arrival. It's seared into my bones, as I know it is for them.

And I'm so grateful I was a part of it.

A quick bubble break with my trusty bubble wand is a great way to capture pure joy. 😍

"What colors do we wear for our shoot, specifically on the flightline?"

For any shoot, the concepts of color theory and the color wheel are important to remember. There are a few different types of color combinations: complementary (two colors on opposites sides of the color wheel), monochromatic (three shades, tones and tints of one color), analogous (three colors side by side on the color wheel), and triadic/tetradic (three or four colors evenly spaced on the color wheel).

For a flightline shoot, we should keep in mind the colors of the backdrop and the servicemember's uniform. If they're wearing a flightsuit, outfits should coordinate with the uniform's dark green, as well as the soft blues and grays found in the planes and the concrete.

When looking at a tetradic color combination, colors that look best with the green flightsuit are shades of blue, purple, red and yellows. This is why coral, deep purple and maroon all look amazing on the flightline. It just depends what works best with your skin tone, the vibe you're after and what you're most comfortable in.

As always, I'm here to guide you through what to wear; I include a video call styling session where we walk through what will work best for your shoot. I can't wait to see what we create.

Hot take: There is no perfect age to take newborn photos.

Why? Each age brings a unique set of gifts.

This sweet girl was a little over three weeks when we took her newborn photos. Because she was a bit older, she was wide awake and alert the whole time, staring at mom, dad and her big brother.

At three weeks, though, babies can start to develop acne and their alertness can bring unique challenges. Little ones younger than two weeks are a bit sleepier, and who doesn't love a sleeping baby? At that point, though, the birthing parent's physical and emotional recovery may be more acute and they may not yet be comfortable with their new life on the outside.

See what I mean?

Personally, I tell folks that we'll take baby's photos between seven and 14 days, which leaves us flexible if something happens. Regardless of when the shoot happens, it'll still be magical because your little one is on the outside.

“I had a baby and all of my priorities shifted. I had to meet myself again.”

Ariana and I had a long conversation about this during our shoot. Her daughter is just a few months older than my son and our postpartum paths have run so parallel. After she had their daughter, just a few weeks before PCSing across the country, she realized her definition of work had totally shifted. She couldn’t work the same way she had. She took time off to be with their daughter, holding down the fort while her husband deployed. When he got home, she knew she was ready for something more, but also knew she was meant for more, meant to make a difference. Here she is, a toddler mom with an active duty partner, going to school to become an EMT four nights a week from 6-10 p.m.

Yup, she’s a badass.

After meeting this new postpartum version of herself, Ariana realized she wanted to make an impact in the world.

Having a baby literally changes your brain chemistry. Postpartum people, we need to give ourselves more credit for that. We need to re-meet ourselves, to check in and say, “what are my priorities now?” That’s what Ariana did, and I am in awe of the confidence and bravery she had to do that, to say, “this is what I’m meant to do. And it may be hard, but I’m all in.”

As a first-time mom, I identify with this hard. I feel like I’m constantly re-meeting myself, checking in and listening to my body and mind and soul.

My friend, I implore you to do the same. I’m excited to meet all parts of you, and I’m excited for you to meet all parts of yourself, too.

As a pet owner, here’s something I didn’t think about as a first-time mom:

How absolutely amazing it is that one of my son’s first words was our cat’s name, Bug.

Every morning when he wakes up, the cat walks into his room. He looks at him and says, “Hi, Bug!”

Having a pet with a new baby can be a lot of work. But man, seeing our son love on his older fur brother is the best.

So grateful for Kelsi Grant Photography, who asked me to associate shoot for her and this amazing family!

• • •

When three kids from Jersey get together, you can guarantee there will be a lot of very loud laughter, a good amount of cursing and a lot of complimenting coffee.

“I knew that when I married Chuck, I was also marrying Marine Corps Aviation.”

This is why, among other reasons, Ashley and Chuck wanted to get married on the MCAS Camp Pendleton’s flight line. Their “big” wedding is still a year away but this one - the one just for them and their immediate families - was going to be just as important.

Chuck is a Huey pilot who recently returned from their second deployment as a couple. The pair is about to PCS across the country for a non-flying billet.

Ashley, meanwhile, is a badass in her own right. She’s recovering from a kidney transplant, and the road to healing is winding and not without its bumps.

There’s a joke in the military that so many of us marry for Tricare but in Ashley’s case, about to embark on a cross-country move with a new kidney, the phrase is apt: Tricare will ensure she starts her married life as healthy as possible.

Having their “legal” wedding on the flight line felt like the perfect place. Without Marine Corps Aviation, they never would’ve met; Ashley is a San Diego native and Chuck’s orders to Pendleton were a total surprise. Now, they’ll move because of Marine Corps Aviation and maybe one day, they’ll return to this flight line because of Marine Corps Aviation.

I’m so grateful to have captured such an incredibly important chapter in their lives.

• • •

Sometimes, newborn photography is about calm and quiet. Other times, it’s about saying “poop” and “fart” multiple times to make big sister laugh. But no shoot is ever dull, and I’m always so grateful to be in your space with you during such a pivotal season.

One of this little guy’s favorite things right now is to “smell the flowers” - being mindful and deep breathing - and as someone who took a six-week course on Mindful Self-Compassion at UCSD, nothing brings me more joy.

A lot of pregnancy is living in the both/and, feeling more than one thing at the same time.

I’ve talked about this a lot as it relates to pregnancy and postpartum, that we can feel both grateful to be creating new life and in immense amounts of pain. We can be so excited for our baby to arrive and for this season of pregnancy to be over. We can love our child and hate being pregnant.

Pain during pregnancy is debilitating. You’re expected to keep living your life, to stay active and healthy, to put your physical and mental health first. But when you have pain during pregnancy and can’t do the things you know will help, it’s even worse.

Amy and I commiserated a lot about this during her pregnancy, as she was dealing with insane sciatic pain. She knew she needed to work out to keep herself sane, chasing after a toddler at home. But working out with pain that had her doubled over in her classroom was just not going to happen. Eventually, like everything in parenthood, the season passed. The pain subsided enough for her to work out again.

This is the both/and of parenthood: nothing is forever, and nothing is forever. Your baby will become a toddler and won’t be in a sleep regression forever, and your toddler will forgo snuggles with you for a book or a stuffed animal. Your baby will move off the nerve causing your sciatic pain, and your baby will be Earthside and you won’t be able to cocoon them in the safety of your body.

I constantly remind myself of this, the both/and, that every season is temporary, that it’ll all work out as it should. If you’re dealing with something hard, I implore you to give yourself grace for the both/and. Feel it, accept it and trust your intuition. You can do this, and I believe in you and your capabilities.

• • •

Newborn photos with your firstborn and your first babies😍

I will always welcome creatures of all kinds at our sessions, but especially our in-home sessions. I’ve volunteered in a bunch of animal shelters and was the proud parent of an anxious dog (as well as the world’s most outgoing cat) so I’m comfortable with all kinds. Invite them in, and let’s showcase your authenticity.

We just got back from visiting my parents or, what my sister and I like to call, “Camp Grandma and Papa.” I didn’t have to change a dirty diaper for several days, someone else made dinner and my husband and I had our first date night in months. I wouldn’t trade living in San Diego for the world, but definitely cherish those days with our families, where all of us are taken care of.

• • •

Monica and I met a few years ago and I learned very quickly that she is the type of friend who has your back no matter what. She loves fiercely, protects those she cares about and feels so deeply, it’s magical to be in her presence. This baby will be surrounded by so much love and I can’t wait to see the mother she’ll become.

• • •

Recently, my family took portraits with . These are two of the photos, with our son followed by two of his cousins.

We were running 10 minutes late then couldn’t find parking. My toddler is obsessed with a sink plunger (don’t ask) and screamed when I tried to take it from him. My husband dropped us off at the location to continue looking for parking and when I saw Jen, I immediately burst into tears.

Before my husband got there, our toddler refused to be picked up and let go of his plunger. Here’s my baby, running around Alcazar Garden with a plunger, and me in a nice dress and booties chasing after him. My husband found parking and as soon as he got there, Jen told me to take a walk and told him to take the toddler because I was overstimulated. My husband started running around with him and he immediately became giggly, even smiling for some photos.

It was freaking rough.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about what to do when that happens, how all you need to do is breathe.

Friends, I was breathing, because I was so out of breath from chasing after our toddler, not because I was trying to relax. I had zero chill.

What helped me? Trusting Jen, trusting that she was going to make magic, that she’d freeze the moments in time when the toddler was looking and smiling, when I looked joyful and relaxed, when I settled into the moment.

Occasionally, sessions feel like they’ve gone off the rails. I’ve been there, chasing my toddler and his plunger through a maze of bushes. But I also knew that Jen would capture something I’d love and hell, this is our life now: chasing after our toddler and his plunger. It’s absolutely authentic and I know in a few years, we’ll look back on these and laugh.

Trust me: I’m already laughing.

The most San Diego backdrop: a random palm tree in the middle of a pristine white sand beach. 😍

• • •

“I’m so sorry, and I will never do that again.”

I’ve been to a lot of military ceremonies, between photographing them and being a military spouse. But I’ve never heard the honoree apologize to their family for putting their career first.

Laura and I connected nearly a year ago about this change of command that was supposed to be in November, then postponed indefinitely, then finally happened in February. We talked a lot in that year so I was clued in to just how difficult the past few years had been. In August 2020 while stationed on the east coast, her husband Jake flew to a San Diego-based ship headed for the Middle East to take over as second in command, leaving her to PCS across the country with their four school-aged kids solo. Due to a number of unforeseen circumstances, he was the XO for nearly two years then fleeted up and spent just as long as the ship’s commanding officer, a length of time unheard of in Navy circles. That came with multiple deployments and plenty of underways.

Suffice it to say, it’s been a tough few years.

They’ve forged an incredible community here in San Diego through youth sports and their military family. With rain coming and going, every chair in the pierside tent for this ceremony was taken.

And every sailor, Marine and civilian heard Jake apologize to his family for putting his career first, and his vow to never do that again.

Jake was asked to join the ship he was about to command early, leaving his family in Maryland behind to PCS alone, which he chose, knowing it’d be better for his career, for the sake of his future sailors, those he’d eventually command. But he also knew it’d come at a price.

When he looked directly at his family, his voice strained, and apologized to them, you could hear a pin drop.

I thought about how powerful that was for the junior sailors in the tent to hear, to listen to someone in command who they hold in high esteem empathize with the strain he’d put his family under. Hearing that level of emotional intelligence felt so rare; I had chills.

Military life is a true rollercoaster and the best we can do is buckle our seatbelts and hold on, recognizing that this stuff is really hard on everyone. I’m grateful to have heard this powerful display of empathy, this reminder that it’s hard for everyone.

Same pose, four really different photos.

I share these photos to show you that, during newborn photos, we’re really efficient with our time. With one pose, we can get a whole slew of angles and variations. Heck, we’re parents: we know that we have to make the most out of the time we’re given. If baby - or you - didn’t have a great night, that’s okay! We’ll make the most of what we have because what we have is so beautiful.

• • •

I met sweet Addie in early 2022. When we met, she hugged me tightly and snuggled up to me. I was newly pregnant and hadn’t told many people but somehow, Addie knew. Addie brings so much joy to those around her. She loves to dance, bubbles and making funny noises so our sessions involve a LOT of that.

Addie also has CHARGE Syndrome. This is a rare genetic syndrome that involves extensive medical and physical difficulties and affects multiple systems within the body. It’s characterized by problems with vision, breathing and swallowing, hearing and balance.

Addie had surgery last year and Addie’s mom wrote, “I know I will receive comments on ‘I just don’t know how you do it.’ Note that my resilience comes from post traumatic GROWTH. I am her mother and my norm and comfort comes from enduring her struggles with her, advocating for her, and enjoying every moment I am given.”

Resilience is one of those words humans, military spouses, parents of differently-abled children hear a lot. It’s a gift to have; it gets us through so much. But rarely do we investigate what makes folks resilient: hours spent in hospitals, on the phone, emailing, researching, making sure our people have what they need. Addie’s mom’s words are a reminder for all parents, specifically those of differently-abled children: resiliency comes when we endure, when we advocate, yet we also enjoy every moment we are given.

Note: The last photo features Addie’s killer dance moves to “The Wheels on the Bus.”

• • •

Hard pregnancy, easy baby.

I want to lead with that, the words that gave me so much comfort during, you guessed it, a hard pregnancy. I dealt with migraines, severe perinatal depression, full-body rashes (hormones are terrible), the aptly-named lightning crotch, and, at 35 weeks, the death of a friend and mentor. It was a truly horrendous 41 weeks. I rarely felt beautiful and if I was glowing, it’s because the ice from my Sonic cherry limeade had spilled on me.

I say all of this because I wish someone had told me, when I was pregnant, that it doesn’t make you a bad parent or uterus-having person to not enjoy being pregnant. Even if you dreamed of it for years, even if you struggled to get pregnant or paid a lot of time, money, emotional strength to become pregnant, it’s okay to not love this season. It’s okay to marvel at what your body is doing while simultaneously feeling like an alien, like something has taken over. It’s okay to feel out of control, to not know what the hell is going on. (Spoiler alert: anyone who says they do is lying.)

I’m a chronic oversharer (any of my clients can attest to this) and I’m an oversharer because I never want anyone to feel alone. I am so grateful that I had friends - one even pregnant at the same time as me - who also had miserable pregnancies, who validated everything I was feeling, who told me, “hard pregnancy, easy baby.”

Two things can be true: we can be grateful and we can dream for our old lives, our old bodies. We can be so excited and so freaking scared. We can feel prepared and out of control. We can love and we can hate. We are humans with feelings; isn’t that amazing? In the words of Sven from Frozen 2, we feel what we feel and those feelings are real.

If you’re in the midst of a hard pregnancy, it’s okay. You’re not alone. You are doing an amazing job. At the end of this, I swear to you, you will marvel at what you did, making a whole human. It may take a while to get to that point, but I promise you will.

Please know you can do this. You can do hard things. And I am so proud of you.

As a Jersey girl who grew up in an area surrounded by forests, shooting under this canopy of trees brought me so much joy. And to be tasked with photographing an insanely talented photographer in her own right in this location? Nothing better. Dang, I am grateful.

• • •

If you're feeling anxious about how your photoshoot will go, how your children will behave, if you've brought enough snacks, if they'll smile for the camera, I implore you to breathe.

So much of parenthood is throwing something to the wall and hoping it sticks: trying a new routine and hoping that this will be the time they sleep through the night, or eat the vegetables, or take the nap. As a naturally anxious person, this has been so difficult for me to come to terms with, that sometimes, absolutely nothing makes sense.

For this family session, the girls were so excited to be at dad's work (hey, I don't blame them!) in their pretty dresses. We ran the gamut on games: ring around the rosey, red light green light, swinging, throwing in the air, bubbles. While in the moment it may have felt wild, there was so much laughter and joy. Together, we threw something at the wall - games, bubbles, snacks - and saw what stuck. The smiles were authentic, the joy was palpable. What we created together - this family and me - was magic.

So please, take a deep breath (and I may even remind you of this during our session). If your children won't smile, it's okay. If the Spanx are uncomfortable, take them off. We will get the shot because it's your family and it's authentic. It may feel rough, trying new things. But I promise it'll be worth it.

Since being pregnant with my son, I have lived in comfy shoes: Birkenstocks, Chacos, Hokas, you name it. I’ve (albeit questionably) mastered the art of the comfy shoe with work clothes. So for our sessions, I will always tell you to dress for comfort first. Crocs? Absolutely. Reef dress sandals or Rainbows? We live in San Diego; it’s a no-brainer. Live and dress authentically to yourself.

• • •

Happy New Year, friends! Here's what to expect from Jen Jordan Photography in 2024:

- Folks who book maternity and newborn sessions together receive a $100 combined discount!
- Returning clients can take advantage of special deals and packages. Ask me more about these!
- I would love to continue living my pilot spouse life and shoot more families on the flight line, and capture more in-home newborn sessions!
- I'm taking on fewer homecomings this year so if you're interested, please reach out ASAP!
- I will support you in any way you need ahead of our session so if we have something on the books, you know where to find me.

As always, I am so grateful to all of you who have been on this journey alongside me. Here's to a year of continued growth. I love you.

Rain on your homecoming day? No problem.

It's certainly not what you imagined, dealing with weather in Southern California. You planned the cute outfit, did your hair, made the sign. All of those homecoming videos you watched to prepare, none of them had rain. It didn't even cross your mind.

But no homecoming ever goes to plan, I can promise you that.

This dual active duty family - a pro at deployments, celebrating their fifth homecoming between them - was set for the elements. The battalion set up a massive tent for us to take shelter under when the skies opened up, and Jaynie brought a blanket and snacks. The rain came in and out, shifting from nothing to a gentle drizzle to a harder pour. We waited out the company, standing on the rain-slicked asphalt of the parade deck, and as they marched out, the rain slowed to a drizzle. We waited patiently, Jaynie clutching onto their youngest as their older son practically vibrated beside us. Finally, the company broke and Jaynie shouted, "there he is!" Their son broke into a sprint as dad dropped his bag and crouched down, taking the full force of his son's body slamming into him. Jaynie let go of their toddler, walking to dad for the first time as his face split into a huge grin.

All of this to say: the rain didn't make any difference. Their son still found his dad, sprinting at full force once they locked eyes. Their daughter still took sure steps to him, the first he'd seen in person. Mom and dad still got that first kiss, knowing what the other had gone through, with each of them having been on both sides of the deployment coin.

Whatever the elements, it doesn't matter. Your homecoming will be amazing because it's yours.

Being a small part of your family's story - capturing your growing family from bump to baby - is truly an honor. At this family's maternity session, I learned that their oldest signs (so do I!), loves bubbles (who doesn't?) and her favorite singer is Lady Gaga (same). After our session, we were fast friends. When her little sister was born and I visited their home for a newborn session, it was like no time had passed between us. This is why I offer a discount for bundled maternity and newborn sessions; I want everyone to feel as comfortable in their skin as possible.