I just love it in downtown Renton. There is just so much history here and the personality and character that these buildings have is just amazing. While walking around we came across some pictures dating back to the early 1920's and some of the buildings in the pictures were still present and occupied! To learn more about the history of Renton and to see some of the earliest pictures Renton has, click here.

What a treat it was to go and enjoy the sun (it stopped snowing yay!) with two of the most beautiful girls we know! Amy who is 16 and Mina just day's from her 11th birthday were kind enough to spend the afternoon with their dad and step-mommy (that's me lol). We parked near the old Spirit of Washington Dinner Train and began walking around finding new places every few seconds to snap some shots of the girls. We walked around for a few hours, stopping for a break at the Common Ground Cupcake and Coffee shop.

Here are some of our favorite shots of the day. Notice the old brick on some of these buildings... just awesome!

Labels: About John and Jenna, Family, Portraits

I know... I know, It's been over a week since we returned home from WPPI in Las Vegas but John and I have been SO busy playing catch up not to mention coming home to a full schedule of portrait sessions, which you'll see on upcoming blogs. Here is some fun stuff from our most recent trip.

We spent 6 days in Las Vegas for the WPPI (Wedding & Portrait Photographers) convention held at the Paris and Bally's hotel. The trade show itself was awesome. We were introduced to so many new products and I found a new product that could possibly turn into my favorite piece of art! Stay tuned for samples! We didn’t come home with as much stuff as we thought we were going to (thank goodness because our bags were at capacity already with all of my shoes hehe) however we have tons of literature to still go through and may possibly be ordering more stuff in the months to come.

There were so many awesome things to see... hello, it's Las Vegas! My favorite part had to be meeting and hanging out with some awesome people! Being that this was our first time to attending WPPI, we had no idea what to expect. The convention and trade show part was kind of a no brainer. Who knew there would be so many parties? Oh My Gosh, do the vendors know how to throw a good party!!! We went to a handful of them, one of which was in the Celebrity Suite at the Palms Hotel and Casino.

The next night was a party at the Parisian Palace. It was amazing.

We weren't as good as we could have been toting along our camera everywhere we went, but here are a few shots that we did get while in Vegas. Okay so all of these were taken from the balcony of our hotel room (The Platinum).

The view from our room


Me, Steve and Larry


The 4 Musketeers!

Labels: About John and Jenna

Our latest trip to Vegas was an amazing whirlwind of learning, activities and fun. I'm sure Jenna plans to post much more on the trip, but I wanted to tell this little story.

For the short version, watch the slideshow

We arrived in Vegas on the 15th and previous reserved time to shoot at the Boneyard (The Neon Museum), an amazing place filled with retired signs from the Vegas strip. Our friends Steve and Larry and several models made up our crew ;-)

We had been planning the trip for a while, finding models and working out details... some time during that process Jenna got the idea she'd like to put on her own dress and be one of the models. Honestly I didn't really didn't get it or share her excitement thinking what could I do with pictures of my wife in her dress! Still she was so excited about the idea, so much so that it was contagious and eventually she had me excited as well.

The day of we had some models cancel and I decided to shoot just Jenna. Heck she was my wife, in her wedding dress and she was beautiful... add the amazing signs and backdrops and WOW I was inspired. 2 1/2 hours and 1000 pictures later, I had taken some of my favorite pictures ever. See for yourself!!!













Jenna and I actually learned a ton from this shoot, she now has more of the experience from in-front of the camera... this just makes working with our couples better by understanding the experience. And just in case you're interested is a TTD (trash the dress session) Jenna can tell you all about it and how much fun it can be!

Oh yeah, I loved these photos so much... they are up on my wall in my studio!

Labels: About John and Jenna, Portraits, Recent weddings

Yes, we are finally back and we are home to stay... for the time being anyways. :o) We had a fabulous time in Las Vegas and I have so many good times and adventures to share with you all! John and I are both working like hounds trying to play catch up on so much, but I promise that with in the next few days I will post all kinds of goodies for your reading pleasure! hehe :)

Check back in a few day's or better yet, subscribe to our blog and be notified when we post something new and exciting! Ciao for now.

Labels: About John and Jenna

I'm note even really sure how to begin this blog. Over the past few days I have been overwhelmed with so many thoughts, so many emotions. I'm not sure if my brain has really had a chance to begin processing all that I've experienced this weekend.

For the short version, watch the slideshow

We arrived in Tijuana late Friday evening. Not to long after we arrived we all settled into our bunks and it was lights out as a long weekend awaited us and we needed our rest. The home we were building was for a mother of two Teresa, and daughters Litzy (2) and Alison (6 months) who were living with Teresa's father in his 15x15 foot home. Teresa's father purchased the land next door to his home for his daughter and that's where her new home was to be built.

When we arrived we unloaded several van's of supplies and got right to work. Several different work stations were set up, some for painting and some for building. It wasn't long before the neighborhood kids were curiously checking out what we were up to with their heart melting and eager smiles. It was amazing getting to interact with these children. Although I don't speak but a few words of Spanish and the kids no English, no one let the language barrier keep us from getting to know one another. Mostly through gestures, smiles and a few misspoken words ;).

The children couldn't wait to get their hands on a paint brush and paint they did! It was a very awesome experience to take a step back and look over the work site and see not only our friends, but the family of the home we were building, and the neighborhood getting involved. We worked until late afternoon, and when it was time to call it a day not only did we have all four walls and roof up, but we had made some great connections with this family and the neighborhood children. We couldn't wait to come back the following morning to finish the home and to spend more time with everyone.











Sunday we arrived to the home site and got right to work. We finished up the roof, touched up the paint and assembled the furniture. While we were finishing up the home and all of the furnishings we asked Teresa to stay inside of her fathers home. Reason being, she had no idea that we were going to furnish the house and we wanted it to be a surprise. :) Once we were all finished with the home and had the inside all set up we asked Teresa and her girls to join us outside. We all had a chance to tell Teresa and her family (with the help of an interpreter) just what meeting her and her family and what the whole experience meant to us. She in turn thanked us. Even if no words were spoken, the look on her face was enough to know just how thankful she was. I truly was an emotional moment. It was now time for Teresa and her family to enter their new home for the first time. She was give her keys and went in to explore her new home. After a few moments we knocked on the door and she invited us in. Probably one of my favorite moments of the whole weekend.

We said our goodbyes and many hugs and tears were shed. Teresa, her family and the children of the neighborhood have definitely changed my life and I think it's safe to say that we've also changed theirs. To be a part of something so wonderfully fulfilling is amazing. To be honest it is a very different feeling when you know that you've done something to help another, but you walk away feeling as though you were the one benefiting from it... that's how this weekend felt. John and I are both so very grateful to have been part of this amazing experience. Anytime you can do something good for someone else and walk away not sure who got more out of it, you or the ones you helped... It must be a good thing! We certainly plan on going again next year, perhaps with one or both of my step-daughters.

If you would like to know more about how to get involved with a mission such as the one John and I just returned from or a hand full of other missions please click here or feel free to email me directly!

Labels: About John and Jenna

We are SO excited for this weekend! We leave Friday for Mexico with some of our Super Friends (from our small group) as well as 9 other awesome individuals from our Church, New Life.

The purpose of our trip is to build a home for a family of 3 whom as of right now live in a very small house made with cement floors, the walls & roof made from scrap pieces of wood nailed together and a tarp just thrown over the roof. Our mission is to build the Lozada Arispe Family a solid home. New Life Church has teamed up with the organization YWAM which is responsible for building 25,000 homes for families just like the Lozada Arispe family.



It's amazing how little the cost is to build just one home... $6,000! Some Americans pay that in just one month for their mortgage! New Life has committed to building 3 homes for 3 families this year in Mexico alone. Last Sunday our pastor gave us the news that we had raised about 1/3 of that so far. What a blessing! Each one of us going to Mexico are responsible for paying our own way to Mexico however the church and the gifts/donations from our families and friends pays for the cost to build each home.



The trip we are leaving on this Friday is just the first of many to follow this year. Another trip to Mexico is coming up this May as well as many other trips to different parts of the country and world such as New Orleans for Hurricane Katrina relief, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic and South Africa. If you would like more information on how to get involved, volunteer for a trip or to donate to one of these trips please click here.

Stay tuned... upon our return home we'll be sure to post some pic's!

"For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything."
Hebrews 3:4

Labels: About John and Jenna

I first met Tasha and her husband Nate back in 2003 through my wonderful sister-in-law, Misty. Now Tasha and Nate are expecting their 3rd child. Little Colten is due to arrive this weekend. Besides Mommy and Daddy, anxiously awaiting his arrival are his two big sisters Hailee (3) and Cameron (9). Before his arrival Tasha wanted to get some family pictures as well as some pictures of her belly which we did in their home last week. Here are some of my favorite images from that day.











Stay tuned... because I plan on capturing Colten's first few weeks here and you know where those pictures will be posted... here! :)

If you would like to view more and order prints from the Rowe family portrait sessions, please click here.

Labels: Family, Portraits