Tuesday, November 12, 2013

From Couch to Confident

"You dream. You plan. You reach. There will be obstacles. There will be doubters. There will be mistakes. But with hard work, with belief, with confidence and trust in yourself and those around you, there are no limits." ~ Michael Phelps

Greetings!

I honestly have been wanting to get in shape for the last several months and didn't know where to begin or who to ask. Now, I feel inspired and grew tired of people asking me when I'm going to lose weight or if I'm pregnant. Keep in mind that I have been a yo-yo dieter for a long time and I would say since junior high school. Yet one of my coworkers was saying several months ago that one of the girls in his high school had done a 30 Day Fitness Challenge of doing a thousand squats/lunges and this hadn't hit me until today because I had been wanting to train with someone for a while in recent months! So I figured I would begin my 90 Day Fitness Challenge until September of 2014 and this is a goal rather than a "deadline" because I don't want to rush through my fitness routines than grow disappointed in the end. I have picked out six DVDs for 90 days each (one DVD per 90 days) and if I had thought of this 90 Day for 18 Month Fitness Challenge shortly just before the start of the New Year, I would have began with the Shape: Ultimate Bikini Body Workout from January through March than go onto the next DVD. For more information, please contact me at scorpionimages@hotmail.com with subject "18 Month Fitness Challenge" and I'll send you the information of what I had in mind for my Fitness Challenge. Feel free to call me up and say: "Jenn - Jenn, I'm dragging your ass to the gym [or park depending on Mother Nature] today and I don't care what you have to say!" I wouldn't be shocked if you put me over your shoulder and dragged me to a gym to work out until I sweat these pounds and calories away! My fitness goal is to gain three things: Confidence, Energy, and Feeling better about my physical appearance (especially how I appear to other people).

As of lately, I have been working out to Shape: Make-Over Your Butt, Hips & Thighs until my 90 Days is over which is Phase One of my workout and I've been doing the Ballet Sculpt segment of the Shape: Make-Over Your Butt, Hips & Thighs DVD. So far, I am slowly beginning to feel the difference in my lower body! Fro the time being, I figured the warmer weather is slowly approaching I would workout for ten minutes per day until autumn and winter arrives which is when I'll focus on Shape: Ultimate Bikini Body Workout and Self: Sculpt Sexy Legs Fast! My plan is to include circuit training, cardio and Pilates within the 90 Day Fitness Challenge. My specific troubled areas of where I would love to focus on are mid-section (love handles and stomach), working those triceps but over all arms, inner thighs, getting rid of those cellulite and my derriere. Most of all, I would love to have arms like Angela Bassett when she starred in 'What's Love Got To Do With It' and 'How Stella Got Her Groove Back' and abs of steel like Janet Jackson when she had done her 'All For You' tour on HBO in Hawaii! I think they both look amazing to the point that it's not even funny and I know it'll take a lot of dedication and hard work but I'm willing to put in my hard work. I so want sexy legs as well! Over all, I want to be a MILF (Mothers I would Like to Fuck). Exercising at home by using what I have would save me loads of money instead of joining a gym such as Bally Total Fitness, Lucille Roberts or Planet Fitness because I cannot afford a gym membership at the moment (not until I'm financially stable enough to hold down a gym membership and have someone to go with me). Working out at home is very affordable because you wouldn't have to worry as much when it comes to your membership payments if you were to join a gym and unfortunately if you want a personal trainer, you still have to spend extra money on top of your monthly gym membership which may or may not be worth your wallet (depending on your financial situation). I think having a workout partner would be a life saver because when you're feeling lazy or fall off of the band wagon, and you have that friend calling you up everyday encouraging you to get off of your lazy ass and work out (even if they have to come by to your place of residence to throw you over their shoulder to take you to a park just to work out) for an hour that would be fine by me because I know I will be needing that kind of encouragement from people. I hope to reach my fitness goal by the end of September of 2014 because I figured 18 months would give me time to see and feel the results during this time period and I am hoping this fitness challenge would be much of a distraction from my depression if I continue to stay physically active.

In terms of having a diet plan, truth be told, I have not picked out a diet plan that would work for me and I honestly do not want to concern myself over which diet would be best for me. But if I had to choose which diet to with during my fitness challenge and I would honestly choose a low carb diet. Yet I am curious if I can just exercise without the hustles and bustles of having to sacrifice my favorite junk food or even a slice of pizza. I realize you can't simply just exercise and not diet at the same time to look and feel fabulous. In the end, I want to tell people "Bitch please, I feel fabulous!" and walk away smiling. I don't know of any straight person who uses the word "Fabulous" in a sentence. Would I do calorie counting? For now, I wouldn't even bother with calorie counting because it's way too much work and I can't simply be bothered with calorie counting diet. I also have a diet book: Prevention's 3-2-1 Weight Loss Plan by Joy Bauer and haven't had the chance to finish reading the book. In time I'll pick a calorie diet when I'm ready to begin my diet regimen and hopefully the calorie dieting won't drive me stir crazy because I'm counting calories!
Warm blessings,
Jennifer

Friday, November 8, 2013

The New York Exposures

"Exceed your customer's expectations. If you do, they'll come back over and over. Give them what they want - and a little more." ~ Same Walton

Our mission is to provide top quality commercial photography at a fair and reasonable price in the New York City area, while assuring that our clients will receive the highest level of attention, commitment, and professionalism. Scorpion Images exist because of the pure passion we have for photography, we serve everyone and our purpose is to satisfy peoples satisfactory with their photos.

Achieving the nostalgic, intentional look of 35mm film in NYC requires a premium, boutique photography approach. Pricing for full-service analog and digital-film hybrid packages across various specialties ranges from $800 to $8,000+.

These prevailing New York City rates establish the framework for a comprehensive 35mm film and general photography package portfolio:

Category & Pricing Breakdown:
  • Basic / Head shot Session: $300 - $600. Typically, a 1-hour session, 1-2 wardrobe changes, and a small batch of beautifully processed analog or film-emulated digital frames.
  • Portrait & Lifestyle/Editorial: $800 - $1,200. Includes a 90 to 120-minute shoot, multiple NYC locations (e.g., Brooklyn or Manhattan rooftops), and extensive professional curation.
  • Music & Boudoir: $900 - $1,500. Highly stylized sessions focusing on mood, texture, and grain, allowing for dynamic artistic direction and specialized editing.
  • Maternity & Newborn: $900 - $2,000. Often sold as a bundled "First Year Collective" or individually, includes access to curated client wardrobes and film's flattering, soft skin tones.
  • Wedding Packages: $5,000 - $8,000+. Full-day coverage with multiple film cameras (e.g., Minolta X-370 or 35mm point-and-shoots), distinct film stocks like Kodak Portra, and an engagement session included.
  • Elopements: $1,500 - $2,500. 3 to 4 hours of coverage intended for small intimate NYC City Hall or park ceremonies.
Typical Package Inclusion:
Regardless of the category, most high-end film and general photography package feature standard industry deliverables:
  • Consultation & Timeline Planning: Pre-shoot mood board development and NYC location scouting.
  • Processing & Scanning: High-resolution digital scans from a professional lab.
  • Private Online Gallery: Curated digital downloads with full personal printing and sharing rights.
Warm blessings,
Jennifer

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Calling All Talented Individuals!!!

We are currently looking to expand our team of talented individuals in the following fields to work with Scorpion Images:
  • Bloggers
  • Graphic designers
  • Photographers
  • Models (CosPlay, Plus Size, Fashion, etc)
  • Street Team
  • Promoters
  • Writers
  • Photographer's assistant
  • Make-up artists and hair stylists
NotePlease submit your resume and cover letter describing your past experience and/or future endeavors to: scorpionimages@hotmail.com. Please be sure to add one or more of the above fields in your subject along with Scorpion Images! Example:Street Team - Scorpion Images in your subject line.

For those interested, please contact Jennifer at the e-mail provided. A high school diploma and/or college degree is necessary. Please provide a portfolio if you're a photographer, model, make-up artist and graphic design. Have a blessed weekend.

Warm blessings,
Jennifer

Friday, November 1, 2013

Welcome to My Lens: Life, Film, and Finding My Focus

"To me, photography is an art of observation. It's about finding something interesting in an ordinary place... I've found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them." ~ Elliot Erwitt
Hi, I'm Jennifer. To understand me, you have to understand the blend of where I come from and where I'm going. I'm a true child of the world - born to a Panamanian Air Force father and a Chinese mother in Arizona. But my roots are firmly planted in Queens, NY, where my mom and I moved after my parents separated. I grew up living with my grandparents, who immigrated to America from China after World War II, surrounded by the comforting background hum of Cantonese, even if I quite picked up the language myself.

Life hasn't always been a straight path. I have an older sister (a Leo!) whom I never grew up with, which has made our relationship a bit estranged and awkward, a direct result of the distance. I've also navigated heavy shadows in my life - surviving childhood abuse from my stepfather and a traumatic assault at 26. Those experiences, along with other men taking advantage of my trust over the years, left me with deep trust issues. But I don't let those chapters define me; they have shaped my resilience.

I'm a Scorpion/Sagittarius cusp, which feels fitting because I am deeply spiritual without adhering to any religion. I believe in the paranormal, but more than that, I believe in the healing power of art. Photography and journaling (a habit I've kept since junior high) are my ultimate therapy. They allow me to channel my artistic way of looking at the world.

Right now, I am a photography student at LaGuardia Community College, working on my associate's degree. My trusty Minolta X-370 is almost always by my side, loaded with Ilford black and whiteKodak Portra, or the occasional CineStill film. When I need to stock up, B&H Photo Video is my go-to, through K&M Camera is my perfect backup when B&H and Adorama are closed for Jewish holidays.

Outside of taking photos, my life revolves around prioritizing my health, spirituality, reading novels, listening to music, and working out. You'll also catch me representing the Yankees and the Diamondbacks if sports are on, though I'm not a massive sports fan.

On a personal level, I am asexual and I am not a firm believer in marriage. I'm also a mom to an amazing son who is on the autism spectrum. I became pregnant with him following my assault, and I will be the first to tell you that I never had the maternal desire for motherhood. I love children, but from afar! It's a reminder that not everyone experiences the desire for motherhood, and that is perfectly okay.

If you are trying to date or connect with me, please know this: it takes time for me to warm up to you. I have my walls up for a reason, and even if I don't entirely uninterested in the beginning, it's just my way of protecting myself. It requires patience.

This blog is a space for me to share my journey, my journaling, and my film photography. Thank you for being here and taking the time to see the world through m lens.

Best regards,
Jennifer

Beyond The Stars: A Father's Day Blog

"Dad, wherever you are, you are gone but you will never be forgotten." ~ Conrad Hall Good morning; afternoon; and evening friends ...