I am so glad you're here!
Imagine that it's August 2019. Anybody remember what it was like pre-pandemic? In August 2019, I was gearing up for my 3rd year in my position as a school social worker. I was a crazy stressed out mom of a 3 year old and foster mom to two pre-teens. I was having daily tension headaches that were so intense that after months of trying different remedies I went to the DOCTOR (if you know me, I am not a doctor person lol. Also shout out to my colleagues who thought I had a brain tumor and scared me into going🤣). If you would have told me back then that in a year, I'd have started a photography business, be living in a pandemic, and also preparing to go back to school (with masks and hand sanitizer as additional supplies on the list)- I most definitely would not have believed you 😂. And I probably also would have had an anuerism given the amount of stress I was already under lol.
I actually find myself in a much different head space these days than what I would have anticipated. Although the pandemic has been stressful and has literally turned our world upside down, I'm finding a lot of peace in the chaos. AJ in August of 2020 is gearing up for her fourth year as a school social worker in the year of COVID, wrapping up her first summer as a photographer, and enjoying the extra time spent with family. I'm finding that my little fixer upper home is a place that I love to be. There is peace and love here. This is a safe place with cozy couches, cuddly pups, and good company.
All that to say, I'm so HAPPY to be here photographing you and writing to you. I never thought I would get the chance to do anything like this in my life and I'm so, so grateful that I do. and I want to introduce myself beyond the surface of my "about me" page! So, who is AJ of Joy Images (aside from, ya know, a social work/photographer extraordinaire)?
That's ME, I'm AJ! I'm from a small town in central MN. I actually grew up about 10 miles outside of the city, but I claim Staples, MN as my hometown. I grew up on 35 acres of land, a small hobby farm with a couple horses, lots of dogs, and the occasional cat (and one time there were some surprise chicks and ducklings that my brother brought home 😆 ). I always considered myself something of a "country girl", since I lived out in the country, showed horses, and enjoyed things like rodeos and camping! I have two amazing parents, an older brother, and a younger sister. We also had the privilege of growing up right next door to my grandparents- I will always be thankful for that!
When I graduated high school, I ended up coming to Grand Forks for college at the University of North Dakota, and I've been here ever since. My husband of almost six years, Jonny, and I met through mutual friends the summer after my freshman year of college. I wouldn't say it was love at first sight... but let's just say we knew pretty quickly that we were meant for each other 😉. Our first date was him bringing over ingredients to make breakfast for dinner (score- free bacon!). Everyone who has the pleasure of knowing my husband knows that he is kind, tender-hearted, and passionate. He puts other people first and is a comforting and calming presence. He's a driving force behind Joy Images, as he was the one who encouraged me to dive in and then purchased my new camera for Christmas last year. We actually have a running joke in our marriage that I'm like this amazing gift giver (because it's true) and that he won't ever be able to live up to my gift-giving abilities. This year for Christmas I was SO STEALTHY in getting him a new guitar, I even got him to unknowingly search the exact one he wanted on MY phone so I could screenshot 😂. Then I had it sent to the neighbors so he wouldn't see it lol. His original gift to me this year was a really beautiful teak wood flower planter... that got porch pirated. After I got my new camera and spent every waking moment playing with it, he remarked to me that he may have won Christmas this year lol. He may have been right... but I'm not going to tell him that 🤐 you can see more about our love story in this video that was produced in our favorite place: https://www.facebook.com/TheEmber/videos/1584347478272062
Our son is now 4 years old, and let me tell you, he is a TOTAL hoot. If we're not personally friends on Facebook I apologize because you are missing out on his hilarity (also, the age he is in the video above was one of my very favorite stages!). He is super smart and athletic, and, like his mama, LOVES dogs so much that he asks to pet every single one we see. Someday I'll make sure he makes a special guest appearance so you can all appreciate him too 😊
There's just something about Grand Forks that feels like home to me (I'm sure many people who live/have lived here would agree that Grand Forks is just special somehow... it can't really be explained lol). And you guys... like I am NOT a winter girl. AT ALL. Grand Forks has some of the coldest weather in the nation and literally the longest. freaking. winters. ever. But for some reason we stay lol. This place is special. And remember when I said that I considered myself a country girl? NO MORE, FRIENDS. I am all about living close to Target and Starbucks and actively avoiding any type of outside work (pro-tip... that's why you get married and buy him a lawn mower and a snow blower 😂). Although you will still definitely catch me singing along to country music from the 2000's, sorry not sorry 💃. Our days are filled with our little dude's sassy attitude, our two dogs begging to be let outside and also swiping food off the counters and table. Working full time and spending lots of time together as a family and extended family and planning out our future days.
I enjoy yoga and going for long walks (I've recently gotten into listening to podcasts while walking... anyone else?? I used to hate podcasts lol) and I also really like really dark black coffee, good local beers, and red wine (but white is fine too if that's all you have 😉). My favorite foods are soup and sandwiches- I could eat them all day long forever! I like both fruity and chocolaty candies, it just depends on what I'm in the mood for that day. I LOVE to bake just about anything except cookies; recently I learned how to make baklava, and it was incredible (my go-to's are apple pie, lemon bars, and brownies 😋)! I do also like to cook, but my husband is definitely the better cook out of the two of us; ya girl cannot correctly sear a piece of meat to save her life 😂. I've been pleasantly surprised at how much I actually enjoy doing home improvement projects also; we bought our house about 3 years ago now and it was a MESS of a house. We've already improved it a lot and we're working on getting some bigger projects done too so that we can eventually sell and upgrade! Just this summer we had a new roof put on and put carpet in the upstairs. And when I say that I enjoy doing them, what I really mean is I like doing them for like 2 hours and then letting my husband finish them 😁
These days I'd say my life is pretty average (though I suspect it always has been lol). I can't even believe it but I'll have a kindergartner next time this year. I'm really looking forward to seeing where August 2021 puts me. ❤
-AJ