We have winners!!! Thank you to those who entered.  I love a good giveaway! I just can’t help myself.  I’m sure you all just wanna know who wins, not what I plan on doing today or the rest of the weekend…. so I’ll just tell you who wins!

The winners of the FREE engagement shoot are….

JENNY & LUKE

Yay! I’m so excited to photograph you two!  You’ve won:

A FREE 1.5 hour engagement shoot

A CD of all the edited high res images

An online gallery to share or order prints from (perfect for those that are far away!)

AND a personalized custom website! We’ll use your new engagement photos and any old ones that you want. You can share your story, wedding planning info, wedding location, guests can RSVP and MORE!

And if you just love those engagement photos and want to book your wedding you get a slammin’ discount! You will get everything in the wedding package:

Full Wedding Coverage

2 Photographers

Online site to share and order prints (again perfect for those far away!)

CD of all edited high res images

AND a gorgeous 10×10 leather bound wedding album from KISS Wedding Books… seriously you should click on that to see how great these albums are! Check out their blog for more!

All at the great price of $1175!!!

I will be in touch with you soon regarding all of this!!!  Congratulation and thank you again for entering!

Now, if you remember, we also had a giveaway for FREE Senior Portraits.  We never did any voting cause we only had one entry.  And that senior didn’t want anyone else to know so he could win! ha ha.  So the winner of the FREE Senior Portrait giveaway is…

GUY WILLIAMS

Congratulations, Guy!  You’ve won:

1.5 hour session

CD of all edited high res images

2 8x10s

4 5x6s

and 56 wallet prints.

I will also be in touch with you soon!

Thank you again, to all that entered!!!

I don’t normally post so late, but man, I am exhausted and I just cannot seem to catch up this week!  So tonight… I will blog late.  The next couple days I am in serious need of some relaxation and my house could use a good cleaning!  And my toes could use some new polish.  :)

Last weekend was a busy one.  Ally & Tony were married Saturday on some beautiful land just outside of Bonner.  Their ceremony took place up the hill in this little clearing in the woods with a great view of the mountains.  I hadn’t done a “country” wedding yet and was so excited to photograph something different!  After dinner it seemed to start dying down.  There wasn’t alot of dancing and people were beginning to leave.  We wondered off with Ally and Tony to take a couple pictures.  When we came back Ally’s brother was on the dance floor with a couple girls just dancing away.  30 seconds later Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” started playing.  Now, I love Michael Jackson!  His music, his dancing, I love when one of his songs comes on.  Well Ally’s brother apparently knows the whole dance! ALL THE DANCE MOVES!  Highlight of the night!  Just imagine a man dressed up in cowboy attire dancing the “Thriller” dance.  It was amazing! Ally ran for the video camera and started taping.  He even did the “dead” walk into the camera like the music video!!

Then after “Thriller” came the “Chicken Dance” and everyone hit the dance floor.  Some of the best dancing EVER!

Congratulations Tony & Ally! Thank you for letting me be there for your important day! I hope you fall in love more and more each and every day!

Where to begin, where to begin?! Whitney and I have been friends for almost 5 years.  And, on Friday she married Keegan, the PERFECT man for her!  Last winter Keegan, Whitney, my husband (Joe), and I decided we were going to plan a trip to my favorite place, Vancouver, British Columbia.  Keegan & Joe had really been wanting to make a trip to Whistler.  Well Keegan’s birthday is the day before Joe’s, so we planned the trip in March over their birthdays.  So, we arrive in Van go have dinner and just enjoy our condo.  The next morning we get up, have some Starbucks, enjoy a bagel and jump into our snowboarding gear, and head up to Cypress Mountain.  It was miserable!  Vancouver hadn’t had much snow and the Olympics had just ended.  Half the mountain was closed and it was SO foggy you couldn’t see 2.5 feet in front of you, and it was windy and rainy.  Although it was cold so the rain would just barely freeze and coming down the mountain it hurt your face SO bad.  Later in the day the fog cleared and you could see the ocean in some spots.  Joe and Keegan were way ahead of Whit and I.  Usually they didn’t get that far but we kept going until we saw them.  Sitting on the edge of a run over looking the ocean, just waiting for us.  We catch up and sit down.  Keegan makes Whitney stand up and right then and there he proposed! And, well she said YES!

They planned the wedding for just over 5 months later!  Everyone spent days getting this all pulled together and everything looked beautiful!  But we all can agree that no one or anything was more beautiful than the bride, Whitney!   I’m so extremely happy for Whitney & Keegan. I wish you guys the best that life can offer, and lots and lots of love!  Thank you SO much for letting me be a part of your special day!  Enjoy Kauai! Yep, they are on their honeymoon in Kauai!!!!

I love this photo, this Whitney smiling she is so happy, yet trying to fight back those tears! I love it!

Is this not the happiest Groom you’ve ever seen!

And their bridal party…. they’re all up for a good time too!

I love a beautiful dress with pockets! Pockets on dresses are seriously amazing!

I know you are familiar with Molly’s face.  She is one of my closest friends, and so she gets pictures taken of her ALL the time!  Yesterday was her parents 25th anniversary!  Happy anniversary Rory & Mona.  What a milestone!  A few weeks ago Molly and her younger brother Allen decided that they wanted to do family photos to give to their parents as a gift.  We decided to do a few before of just Molly and Allen so they could give them to their parents on their anniversary.  I have heard there were tears!!!!!  So this will be a 2 part post.  Soon, we will do family photos with “Mama Mona” and “Papa Rory”.  So until that time enjoy some of the photos of just Molly & Allen!

If you MUST see more, well then, check out the slideshow!

I’m a little behind schedule! Sorry!  Have you seen Martha Stewart’s tissue pom poms?  They are so cute and fun!  Except I’m making 400 for my good friends wedding on Friday and its kept me quite busy so I’m a little behind on this giveaway.  No worries, you’ll see photos of these pom poms soon!

We have 2 couples up for the giveaway! Jenny & Luke and Andelyn & Jerred!  And, here they are!

Jenny & Luke

Jenny and Luke have been together for a year and a half.  They recently got engaged while they were hiking up the Mission Falls.  If you live in this area and have not hiked the Mission Falls add it to your bucket list friends!   They are the “epitome of opposites attract.”  She’s a Griz, he’s a Bobcat.  She is a city girl, he’s a cowboy. He likes camping, she likes hotels.  But, they make all of this work in such a good way!  And the wedding theme, are you ready for this? Cause I just love it! “Stillettos & Spurs!”  To vote for Jenny & Luke click here!

Andelyn & Jerred

Andelyn & Jerred first met 5 years ago and instantly hit it off!  He was her first boyfriend to take her on a real date, bring her dinner at work, buy her flowers, and the first to take her to a concert.  Almost a year ago Jerred proposed to Andelyn in front of her entire family at dinner.  They now have a baby, own a home in northern Idaho, and are planning a dream destination wedding in Antigua next year! How exciting!  To vote for Andelyn & Jerred click here!

The voting begins today, Wednesday August, 18th. Voting will last one week and end at 11:59pm on Wednesday August, 25th. The winner will receive:

1.5 hour session

CD of all the high res images edited

Online gallery to order prints or share all of your photos with those far away

AND a personalize custom wedding website!  I will use your new engagement photos and any old photos you may want to build your site!  You can share it with your guests telling them your story, wedding planning, location, extra info, and a form for your guests to get in touch with you, or RSVP!

AND if you just love your engagement photos and want to book your wedding you’ll get a big discount on wedding coverage as well!  You’ll receive everything in the wedding package:

Full-day Coverage

2 Photographers

Online site to share and order prints

CD of all high res images edited

And, a gorgeous 10X10 wedding album from KISS Wedding Books!

All for…. $1175

Now go vote for your favorite and spread the word!!!!!!!!

Wow, what a Monday! I still have oh-so-much to do!  I am so excited about this week. SO EXCITED! One of my best friends is about to get married and this is the week of many projects.  I’m making these tissue pom-poms to hang in her reception venue.  I have to make 400! I’m actually doing pretty good on that, haha.  Then Wednesday her flowers arrive and we’re DIYing it.  PS I love DIY! Then I’m photographing all this beautiful action on Friday, and then I have another wedding on Saturday (with horses)!!!

On Saturday, Jon & Krystal drove to Missoula from Great Falls to get some maternity photos done.  I have known Krystal for 10+ years and haven’t seen her in a couple.  I was so excited to see her, catch up, meet Jon and take some lovely pictures.  If you can’t tell in the photos little baby boy is coming SOON! I’m so excited for Krystal & Jon, they’ll make amazing parents.  And, I can’t wait to meet this little baby boy!

If you are just dying to see more, well then check out the slideshow!

Good day!   Life has been keeping me crazily busy… yes, I think crazily is a word  Well, one of the great things about my new website is slideshows!  Every new shoot will end up with a slideshow, I know you’re  really excited now too!  The first slideshow up is one of Matt & Desiree’s wedding a week and a half ago.

I’ve also been a little behind so I’m going to let entries for the giveaways come in for a few more days!  You can find all of the info about the giveaway here. I will now keep accepting entries til 11:59pm Monday, August, 16th.  I will then post the albums to Facebook and voting will begin on Tuesday, August, 17th. Voting will last for one week ending 11:59pm Tuesday August 24th. I will announce the winners August 25th.

Don’t forget to check out the new slideshows on the website!

We all know blog posts are better with pictures, thats really why we read them, right?!  Here is one I took this weekend at a friends wedding.

Last night I came home from camping.  I LOVE camping.  It is so relaxing and just what I needed as the next few weeks are CA-RAY-HA-ZY!  The last few days I just sat on the shores of the lake reading a book and watching Cattie

Now that I’m home, I’ve been working like a crazy little busy worker bee!  My birthday was just over a month ago and for my birthday my husband gave me a SHOWIT site!  SHOWIT is amazing! I have loved every minute of building my very own site from scratch that is everything that is me.  Well, as of today my friends, my SHOWIT site has been launched!!!!!!

So check it out! www.jacilynm.com

Even better! I know so many of you love your iPod, or iPhone, or iPad, or even your droid…. whatever they may be.  I’ve also launched a mobile site, YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Check that out at www.m.jacilynm.com

AND!!!!!!!! Now the blog is set up for mobile too!!! So feel free to browse from your phones, ipods, ipads, whatever!

Oh, and it doesn’t stop there!  Because of this exciting launch I’m doing a GIVEAWAY!  Actually, I’m going to do TWO GIVEAWAYS!!!! WOOHOO!!! I’m going to run a giveaway for a FREE Senior Portrait session and another giveaway for a FREE engagement session/trash the dress/day after! Plus extras!

SOOOOOOO….. here’s how its gonna work:

Send me an email at jacilyn@jacilynm.com with a photo of you (if you’re a senior), or a photo of you and your fiance (if you’re engaged/married) along with a few things about you. So, if you’re a senior tell me about your high school career and where you hope to be after graduation. If your an engaged couple tell me how you met, your engagement, future plans, etc. I will be accepting these entries by email until Friday, August 6th.  On Saturday, August 7th I will put up 2 albums on my Facebook Fanpage. One will have the photos of the Senior entries and the other of the engagement entries.  Underneath your photo will be a small summary of the info you shared with me! Then the voting begins.  Spread the word and tell everyone you know to go to the fan page and your photo and “Like” it.  I will be accepting votes til 11:59pm PST Saturday, August 14th. The people with the most likes win the giveaways and will be announced on Sunday, August 15th!

Now, WHAT DO YOU WIN!!!!!

For the ENGAGEMENT SESSION/TRASH THE DRESS/ DAY AFTER you win:

1.5 hour session

CD of all edited high res images with a print release

Online gallery to order prints from

AND a personalized custom wedding website!  I will use your new engagement photos and any old photos you may want to build your site!  You can share it with your guests telling them your story, wedding planning, location, extra info, and a form for your guests to get in touch with you, or RSVP!

If you just love your engagement photos and want to book your wedding well then you’d get a big discount on wedding coverage as well!  You would receive everything included in the wedding package:

Full- day coverage

Online site to order prints from

Online gallery to share your photos

CD of all edited high res images

Gorgeous 10×10 wedding album from KISS wedding books!

All for… $1175!

For the SENIOR SESSION you will win:

1.5 hour session

CD of all edited high res images

2 8×10′s

4 5×7′s

56 wallets

I also have a senior package where you can book your senior photos with 2 of your friends at a great discount.  If you win the free senior session you can still book with 2 of your friends at an even better discount!  The session would last 3 hours and we’d do pictures of each of you and even some together! Each senior would receive their own disc and their own set of prints for… $280! That’s a steal!

Now if you don’t live in the Missoula area, no worries!  You can still participate!  Either you could make your way to the Missoula area to have your photos done, or we can  make arrangements for me to come to you!

Now send in your entry and/or spread the word! What a great opportunity! And, don’t forget to check out the new website. www.jacilynm.com

***UPDATE*** After some requests I’ve decided to update this.  If you are already married, or already have your engagement photos and are wanting Trash the Dress/Day After photos I will allow you to substitute the Engagement photos for Trash the Dress/Day After!

I know I’ve been quiet lately!  Not alot is happening just the everyday life things, ya know? I’m trying to enjoy this break in work, every minute of it.  The next 6 weeks is pretty busy for me, and I’m so excited!  Family photos, maternity photos, senior photos, 5 weddings, family visiting, camping trip, and I don’t wanna get started on birthdays in this family! By the way, have you noticed how much I use the “!”?  I must really love it or I’m just excited to tell you everything… or both! See there it is again.

So I’ve decided to take a minute to step back and look at where all of this began.  Jacilyn M started 3 months ago, but that certainly is not the beginning.  Just over 3 years ago I bought my camera, as a Valentine’s day gift to myself.  Turned it on, on auto and I was good to go! At the time I was planning my wedding for the end of summer in beautiful Akumal, Mexico.  So I was on the hunt for the photographer that was just what I wanted. Let’s be real here, Joe cared about photography to the extent that it was good, who it was or how good they were didn’t really matter much to him.  Honestly in the beginning I was only looking for what we could afford.  I picked a decent photographer paid the deposit and thought I was good to go.  I was constantly on this awesome destination wedding forum and seeing amazing wedding photography EVERY day.  I decided that well this was MY wedding and I wanted to have the photographer(s) I really wanted!  A dear friend, now a photographer as well, MarieSam, was bringing her wedding photographer with them down to Mexico for their wedding.  Ya, Akumal, Mexico! She has good taste, if I do say so myself!  I thought what a great idea and I was on a photographer hunt!

I found Divine Light Photography and fell in love!  I emailed Brian and Briana asked if they’d wanna come down to Akumal for a week, take some pictures, be as awesome as they are, and have some fun.  They said yes! WOOT!  They were so much fun. They fit right into our group.  I cried when they left, yep I did!  Bringing them to Mexico was one of the best decisions I made, hands down! Oh, see there I go with “!” again.

As soon as I saw my wedding photos I melted.  I wanted to take pictures like that. Our lives were crazy at the moment with the holidays and the number of birthdays we have, too many, really.  After the holidays I started playing around and learning more about photography.  I wanted to go somewhere with it but didn’t think it was gonna happen so fast. A few weeks later a good friend asked if I’d do her engagement photos and possibly her wedding.  I said “Um, sure!”  I went into panic mode learning and practicing every second I had and grabbed Molly for an impromptu shoot.  Then Jacilyn M was born.  I’m still learning more and more every day and loving every minute of it.  Doing something you really love is the best feeling EVER!  So, thank you Brian & Briana for inspiring me to take my camera off of auto and learn how to use it! Aren’t they they cutest photog team you’ve ever seen?!

Oh, and yes I would love to share some of those amazing photos that encouraged me to really start working on my photography!  All of these are done by the amazing Brian & Briana of Divine Light Photography.

Oh and you bet I trashed that dress, it was just too much to pass up!

I love having friends interested in photography.  Photography is something I keep learning more about every day, so its such an honor when others are coming to me for help.  There is so much to learn with photography, always room to grow. I’m always pushing myself a little further, taking a greater risk than I had the shoot before. Its been extremely exciting and fulfilling thus far and I LOVE every single second of it!

So a couple weeks ago a friend came to me after purchasing her new camera asking for some help.  A friend had asked her to photograph her wedding and she was in some need of practice.  I love using my friends as models.  They are beautiful, its a fun time, and a great experience.  It’s comfortable, laid back, and you can really try somethings you might have been afraid to try with a client.  Well since she was doing a wedding I grabbed my wedding dress zipped Molly up in and let her run around for Armanda to take some pics.  Then Molly switched into some regular clothes to do some more.  I love these laid back fun nights. Enjoy!