Taking Chances ~ Jo Jackson Photography

I can't believe we're almost at the end of January and a whole month into 2017! This month has flown by.

For me, this year is all about taking chances and the first of those chances was to enter 50 of my photos into an international photography contest!

12 photobook ideas for 2017 ~ Jo Jackson Photography

We're almost a week into the new year and I would imagine more than a few of you have already started taking photos of your friends and family, your hobbies and passions.
But as the weeks and months pass and the number of photos on your phone or your laptop increase...what are you ultimately going to do with them?

Some should, and hopefully will, end up on your wall or in a frame on your bookcase but not every snapshot should be framed. Luckily for you I have some ideas for photobooks that will give you a way to organise and keep your memories for the years ahead!

That was the year that was, 2016 ~ Jo Jackson Photography

It's wild and windy here today as we come to the end of what has been a turbulent year for so many people.

For my camera and I on the other hand it's been a far more positive year - about exploration and development, about trying new things and changing for the better.

I worked with babies and brides, shot in sunshine and snow,  photographed families and friends, graduations and birthday parties and might have already made big big plans for the new year to come!

Christmas Traditions

One of the best things about Christmas is getting to do all those awesome and special traditions that your own family has.

Wishing you a very magical Christmas!

Wishing all of you a very magical Christmas from my little family to yours!

Special Offer - Canvas Prints

Still looking for a last minute gift idea?

Over at Fine Art America I have a limited number of 8" x 10" canvas prints of my 'Sunrise in Syöte' available at a special price! Only valid until Friday 23rd December and only a limited number of canvases are available!

Don't forget gift vouchers also make awesome gifts and if you buy a photo session for your friend or family member you'll qualify for 50% off the cost of a session for you and your own loved ones! Why not give the gift of memories this Christmas, contact me to buy your gift card now!

Go get your canvas here before they sell out!

Small Business Saturday

Today is small business Saturday - a day to emphasise the importance of working with and buying from small businesses - and as such I want to thank everyone who has booked sessions or weddings with me this year.

It really does mean a lot to my little family and I. <3

I can promise you that every time you buy something from a small business a real person does a little happy dance!

And so, to mark this super day, any full price family session booked today - and today only - will be HALF PRICE!! 

Email me now - jojacksonphotography@gmail.com - to make the most of this very special offer! <3

Give the gift of memories this Christmas ~ Jo Jackson Photography

Beautiful You ~ Boudoir photography, Oulu, Finland

It's been a little quiet around here lately but I can assure you I've been very busy behind the scenes - Christmas mini sessions, Father's Day gift ides and so much more coming your way very soon!

But first, I'm very excited to share a new kind of photoshoot that I'm now offering to clients.

Bonfire Night ~ Family photography, Oulu, Finland

"Remember, remember, the 5th of November,
Gunpowder, treason and plot..."

Having grown up in York I have no excuse to forget Guy Fawkes' Night. He was born in the city in 1570, in the building next door to where my parents used to work- and haunted it too so the stories say!

Here in Finland there are no bonfires to mark the anniversary of the gunpowder plot but that doesn't mean we can't celebrate the evening with some sparklers in the garden!

Happy Halloween ~ Family photography, Oulu, Finland

I love Halloween! I might be one of my favourite holidays.

As a family we have a few little traditions we always do at this time of year and one of the most fun has to be our annual pumpkin carving!

Make 'Em Laugh ~ Children's photography, Oulu, Finland

I was shopping for birthday presents for my husband last week and while waiting in the queue I spotted two t-shirts in the sale that were just meant for a photoshoot!

First lights... ~ Jo Jackson Photography, Nature photography

This week saw the start of the aurora season here in Northern Finland. Sadly I missed the more epic shows earlier in the week but I managed to catch these from my back garden last night.

It doesn't matter how many times I see them, the thrill is always the same. <3

Hopefully this is just the start of another awesome aurora season!

Anniversary ~ Jo Jackson Photography

Today was the day I know my whole family has been dreading for several months now. Today marks a year since my darling Dad left us.

It's been hard, so hard, and I know the pain never truly goes away when we have to say goodbye to loved ones.

Sunflowers ~ Jo Jackson photography

Finally, Rosie's sunflowers are ready to bloom. I know they'll be worth the wait, they always are.

Forest fairies ~ Children's photography, Finland and Yorkshire

Seeing as we were heading into the 'wild' for the weekend it seemed appropriate to take along their fairy dresses and see if we couldn't manage a mini fairy photoshoot over the course of our trip.

Luckily for us the sun was shining, the girls weren't too blueberry stained and there were plenty of pretty places for photos.

So here are my little forest fairies enjoying the trees and the berries near Kuusamo at the weekend. <3

Weekend in Kuusamo ~ Family photography, lifestyle photography, Finland

Last weekend we drove across the country to a little cottage not far from Murtovaara, near Kuusamo. There was cold running water and limited electricity from a solar panel down by the lake but it was just perfect. Open fires, wood burning sauna, the lake right outside the cottage, berries carpeting the forest floor and plenty of space for two small people and a giddy labrador to roam around without disturbing anyone.

The weather was very kind too, it did pour down on the Saturday night but we lit the sauna and after dancing around in the rain, we warmed up inside.

Obviously I took hundreds of photos but wanted to share a few with you.

Summer fun ~ Family photography, Oulu, Finland

Last weekend I got to photograph a family I've known for several years now which is always lots of fun. Their eldest son has been a pupil of mine and earlier this year he left my preschool classroom for the last time before starting school this past week. They grow up so fast....

We shot some photos outside their new house, which is currently being renovated ready for them to hopefully move in before the end of the year, and then moved onto a nearby park but we started the session at some rather awesome graffiti. And I have to admit, there's something rather fabulous about having such a unique location suggested to you by the mum whose family you're going to shoot! :)

Happy Anniversary, Merika and Ilja! ~ Wedding photography, Oulu, Finland

Another anniversary to be celebrated today, always lovely. A year ago I was photographing the marriage of Merika and Ilja - and what a wonderful day it was! <3

Happy Anniversary you two - here's to all the adventures yet to come!

Miia + Iiro ~ Wedding photography, Oulu, Finland

A couple of weeks ago, on a very hot and sunny Saturday, I photographed the wedding of an old friend and her fiance here in Oulu. Miia and Iiro had their wedding ceremony at Turkansaari, followed by a reception at Oulunsuun Pirtti. The 17th century wooden church at Turkansaari is gorgeous, very small and obviously very old but so lovely. It's size meant it was a very intimate ceremony and I felt very lucky to be a part of it.

It was a day full of smiles and love and a joy to capture with my lens.