Talented Thursday

I met the amazing Jillian Tree ( Don’t you love her name?! ) through a group called Pursuit31. It is an amazing group of Christian women photographers who absolutely ADORE Jesus! Jillian has the sweetest personality and is always very upbeat and encouraging. On top of all that goodie goodness she is a photographer in beautiful Sunrise, Florida. She just recently released her brand new website and Facebook fan page, so we decided we were gonna ask her some questions and get to know her better as a photographer!

 Here is the adorable Jillian!

Tell us a little about yourself: Hi! I’m Jillian Tree. I love God. I’m recently married to the most amazing husband ever, David. He also happened to really give me the awesome last name of Tree  :)  I’m a huge romantic, and I LOVE love! I like reading, eating cereal, listening to music, & playing guitar. I get over-competititive when I play games. I speak spanish even though I don’t look like I do at all. I really like going on adventures. Cute skirts, flats & dresses are the best. I use hearts & smiley faces A LOT when I type  :):)

Where is home? Home…this is a complicated one! My family traveled my whole life because of my dad’s job, so I’ve lived in many countries (thats where the spanish came from); but a constant in my life was visiting family in Canada every summer & Christmas. So one of my homes is in Canada, and another is right now, being beside my hubby living in our first home in sunny Ft Lauderdale  :)

What kind of mood are you in right now? A very happy & ecstatic one! Yesterday I launched my brand-new website & facebook page @Jillian Tree Photography. The response so far has been overwhelming & full of love. I’m SO thankful  <3

Did you go study photography in school? I did take a class in high school as well as a few classes at an Art Institute…but I realized I could learn so much more quickly & hands-on through second-shooting weddings as well as taking some awesome photography workshops! The workshops I’ve taken have been amazing: Jasmine Star, Images for a Cure (Kristen Weaver), Kenny Kim, Moore Photography one-on-one, Studio 222 Photography & Alex Michele Photography.

How long have you been a photographer? I’d say it was just about almost a year ago that my really journey started. And in the beginning of 2011 I started really going for it hard  :)

Describe your style in a few words: Romantic, most of all. Authentic, photo-journalistic (is that a word?), warm and fun  :)

What Camera did you start with and what do you use now? I started with a Nikon D90, now have a D700 and LOVE it!

How did you get into photography? I was always teased for taking too many pictures from my friends..but it was mainly when looking for my own wedding photographer almost 2 years ago that I started realizing that I could make it my job!!

Do you remember what your first shoot was like? Main feeling: being nervous  :)

What lenses do you have in your bag? 50mm 1.4, 70-200mm 2.8, 24-70mm 2.8 & 85mm 1.8

If you had to choose just one lens what would it be and why? Amazingness: the 50 1.4  :)

Mac or PC? Mac for LIFE.

Do you have your eyes on any new equipment? Secret: getting an iMac reaaaaaaally soon, and I cannot wait!! Some other stuff on my wishlist for the future.. a macro lens, tilt-shift lens, 35mm 1.4 lens, eventually  :)

Who is a photographer you look up to and why? SO many! Jasmine Star, Katelyn James, Julie Story, Jamie Delaine, just to name a few. They are all so amazing, REAL & inspiring!!

What is the most important thing to remember to get a great image? Shooting & getting it right in camera. Do it right, right then, don’t think you can just fix it up later, it takes so much more time! I’ve learned this lesson myself many many times  :)

If you weren’t a photographer what would you do? I really don’t know. Be the most awesome wife ever? I still try & do that even while being a photographer though..  :)

Have you ever had anything go wrong at a wedding and how did you handle it? Not yet, thankfully…

How do you help your bride and groom relax in front of your camera? Letting them just have fun being with each other & have a moment to relax on their likely-busy day! Getting them to laugh – or atleast, trying to!  ;)

What do you feel is the most challenging thing about photographing weddings?  Crunch time! Often time is limited (either because of light, weather or schedule) and so trying to get as many amazing shots as possible in in those 10 minutes. Also family photos, since I don’t have a loud voice and really don’t like ordering people around…haha  :)

A website or blog you visit often:  Once again, so many. All the photographers I listed above, and many others. A totally unrelated one is this fashion blog www.kendieveryday.blogspot.com, because her writing is light & funny, and who doesn’t like cute outfits?  :):)

Who would you love to photograph? Happy people IN LOVE!! If we were talking specific famous people though, then I’m not sure..

What truly inspires you? Seeing other amazing photographs, loving acts of service, creativeness, joyful people, Pinterest  ;)

Looking back now what would you have done differently in the beginning? Hmm…gone for it harder! There were often times when I was so unsure in the beginning..and I’m still not immune to that – so thankful for my encouraging, supportive hubby who’s always there for me, especially on the days I don’t feel good enough!  :)

What talent would you most like to have? Out of any talents? I like the thought of being atleast decent or good at almost anything…so really, just the ability to pick up something (like cooking, or surfing, a style of dancing, horseback riding, or a random activity)  & atleast be decently good at it right aways would be an AWESOME talent, I think.  :)

What is the greatest love of your life? My Lord & Savior God, then my hubby, then cereal  ;)

What is your greatest fear? This is a personal one! One of them is: ‘Those who are closest to us can hurt us the most’ – avoiding the idea of that quote in either direction, forever.

Something that is overrated?  For me, it’s TV. It can consume your time sooo easily. We have a TV, but only to watch movies on pretty rarely  :)

What’s something you wish you created? Pinterest! It’s so good for getting the creative juices flowing (and writing out your Christmas wish list!!)

If you could have lunch with one famous person dead or alive who would it be? Not to make this question a sad one but the first person that came to my mind was…my great-grandma. She died when I was nine years old, and we were really close. I’d love for her to see me now from the 9-year-old I was, and to have lunch with her!  :)

You’re favorite film of all time?  Tangled!! It’s so cute  :)

What five words would your friends use to describe you? Probably…fun, a hopeless romantic, over-competitive (at games), loving & friendly.

Check Jillian out here:

Website: www.jilliantree.com

Blog: www.jilliantreeblog.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JillianTreePhotography

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  1. Sunny Sheppard Jones says:

    awesome write up! Both of you are fabulous Xx.

  2. Faith says:

    LOVE this interview! You both are amazing ladies going incredible places! :)

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Mississippi Wedding Photographers | Hello@aprilandpaul.com | 601.336.0001 
April and Paul are an award winning husband and wife wedding photography and videography team that creates passionate and romantic wedding photography and films.
They have been chosen as The Knot's Best of Weddings photographers for two years. Though located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, April and Paul love traveling for Destination Weddings and Elopements internationally

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