My own story is nothing special. Like so many people I grew up in middle class America, went to college, and I spend way too much time watching TV and movies. For me, my obsession with movies and my passion for photography come from the same place. I have been known to use photography metaphors in every day conversation and I often categorize the chapters of my life into theatrical genres. Here’s a few examples:

My “coming of age story” begins Christmas morning 1990. That was the year I received my first camera. Because there were no interchangeable lenses, there was no need to worry about f-stops or shutter speeds. The film was 12mm wide and everything I photographed was out of focus. That camera has long since been retired, but my love of light and composition is unwavering.  Today I have been shooting professionally for over a decade and it never gets old.  Each time I look through my viewfinder there is always a new story to tell.

My “romantic comedy years” began when I met my husband Caleb. We were high school seniors who both worked at the local movie theater; he sold tickets and I served popcorn.  I did everything I could think of to get him to notice me. I came in on my days off, spent my breaks sitting on the floor of the box office, and once I even put a garbage can on my head. Despite all of my goofy antics he agreed to go out with me and just a few years later it was his turn to go out on a limb (sort-of-speak) and he proposed.

The next decade was our “buddy comedy years”. Caleb worked his way through school while I started a portrait studio and gave birth to three kids. Life was busy, complicated, and stressful. Yet we always had each other and we had a lot of laughs.

December 2011 could only be categorized as a “drama”. I was hospitalized after a ruptured spleen and internal bleeding nearly killed me. The months that followed changed everything. I found myself confronted with the hard reality that my busy lifestyle was physically damaging my body, and putting strain on my family in ways I hadn’t realized. After a lot of soul searching and prayer I closed my portrait studio (Irene Jones Photography) and began focusing on what really mattered. Like all the best dramatic movies, my story has a moral lesson. I learned that I am not defined by what I do for work. I am defined by how my work helps others.

Which brings us to present day. I am healthy again; which is a blessing I didn’t expect. With my new found perspective, a more balanced lifestyle, and a desire to help those in need, I am embarking on what I hope to later refer to as my “bio-pic” years. With camera in hand and my family at my side I’m ready for what the future holds.