Are you ready? I mean, are you REALLY ready? This is BIG people. I can’t believe that I’m finally sharing this publically with the world. To prepare yourselves, you may want to set your cup of coffee down, walk away from any sleeping babies so you don’t wake them, find a comfortable seat and brace yourself… because like I said, this is BIG…

WE’RE MOVING! And I don’t mean moving a mile away (like we did two years ago), but like REALLY moving. Hundreds of miles away moving! Any guesses?

How about a hint…

Still aren’t sure?

Where we’re going is nicknamed “The City of Festivals”, and is known for cheese, beer, and sausages. Yup. Basically all things awesome.

Any ideas now?…

Ready?…

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN!

It feels really good to officially announce to you, my lovely followers, clients, and friends. We’ve spent a couple of weeks letting our close community of people know, but it was finally time to reveal this change to you all. If you aren’t aware, I grew up a couple of hours south of Milwaukee (north shore suburbs of Chicago), so this move will take me back to the part of the country I grew up in. I call it: The REAL Midwest. It will also take us extremely close to my mom and older sister (and her family), and a pretty easy drive (or quick flight) to Matt’s family in New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Minnesota.

This is all very new and happened extremely fast for us! Matt, my husband, was approached by the company he works for about a new role that would force us to relocate to one of a few places. Milwaukee, hands down, is where our hearts were drawn. The opportunity Matt was given is amazing and we knew we couldn’t turn it down. Yes, yes, yes, the winters can be BRUTAL, but you’re talking about two people who grew up in Chicago AND Buffalo winters. Plus, we love snow. So hopefully we’ll adapt pretty quickly.

With all that said, this is a very bitter sweet moment for us. We can’t wait for a new adventure, a new city to explore, and to be close to family (SO important with kids, btw), but we are definitely sad to leave the wonderful home Wichita has become for us over the past 16 and 10.5 years. We have incredible people in our circle that we are going to miss in ways I cannot even express. We’re sad to leave our amazing church that we’ve so loved being a part of for the past 5 years. And… my heart is truly devastated to leave you, my clients. You all are the incredible people who helped birth and make my little dream business what it is today. 6.5 years ago, when I first started toying around with the idea of opening JWild Photography, if you had told me that by 2018 I would photograph over 400 sessions and 45 weddings, I wouldn’t believe it. I, at times still can’t. 80% of those sessions/weddings have all been just in the past three years alone, too. Um, what?! I’m so very thankful for how amazing Wichita has been for my business. And I don’t say that lightly.

Now, I know many of you read, ” WE’RE MOVING” and ultimate panic set in…

‘What am I going to do about photos?!’

‘Who is going to take my pictures now?!’

‘So I can’t book you for my wedding now?!’

‘I’ve already booked you for my wedding this year!… Are you canceling now?!’

So many thoughts, and I completely get that. Let me ease your mind a little…

First, I’ve already contacted all of my 2018/2019 couples and assured them that I’m still going to be at their weddings and nothing in the contract is changing. Now I will just have to travel back to Wichita. Nothing I can’t handle. Secondly, if you’re interested in booking me for your wedding, no matter what year, you still can! The best part about my job is that I get to travel (which I LOVE). I’ve traveled for weddings in the past and plan to in the future. So please, don’t let me moving out of Wichita change your mind about booking me. Thirdly, for all of my past clients, I am going to do everything in my power to take photos for you while I’m back in town for weddings. I have a plan all set, I just need to email you all about it, so stay tuned! Lastly, this all means that I am no longer booking any NEW clients for family sessions. If I have never taken your photos before, I unfortunately do not have the time to take on anyone new. I want to leave the little time that I do have open for clients that I’ve been taking pictures of for years. If you were planning to book me this year and I’ve totally burst your bubble, I apologize! But the great part of Wichita? There is an AMAZING community of photographers and I have tons that I can recommend you to! So just let me know and I’ll send some names your way!

We don’t have a set move date, but we ARE taking our time… so, maybe April? Not totally sure, but I’ll keep you all posted! I’ll be around for a bit as we work all of the details out. But if anyone out there knows any great photographers in the Milwaukee area, please send me their info!

So with that, thank you for your love, support, and encouragement over the years. I am incredibly grateful!

(Oh and lastly, if anyone has any tips on how a Bears fan is supposed to survive in the land of Cheeseheads, PLEASE TELL ME. Kthanksbye.)

With love,