Jessica Christie Photography

There came a moment about three years ago, where it suddenly hit me, that if I were the adult standing next to me as a child, I would do everything in my power to protect her. This was such a pivotal moment in my life because before that I don’t think I had truly stepped into what it means to be a woman. In fact, I was so disconnected from it.

Most of my childhood and adolescence was spent fighting for love, ignoring my innate intuition for fear doing something wrong and feeling like I wasn’t good enough. Yet at the same time, there was a fire inside of me that felt so compelled to help women. To help them feel safe, seen and as powerful as they really are. All the things I never felt. I suppose I felt drawn to help in this way to try and find it again. Or to help others not feel the way I did.

But when that moment came three years ago, it was like something shifted and my womanhood and femininity came online. I began the process of healing generations of suppression and abuse in my family line. I knew that if I were going to be a mom one day, I refused to pass down what was passed down to me. And that started with reparenting the little girl in me that so desperately needed a female role model.

So I became her.

I became the woman I look up to. I became the woman connected to herself. I became the woman not afraid of her power and femininity. I became the woman who trusts her intuition and follows her heart. I became the woman unafraid of love because that’s her true nature. I became the woman who gives those she loves, including herself, a safe space, a home. I became the woman who knows how to soften and recognizes that her nurturing and vulnerability is actually her strength. I became the woman my daughter can look up to.

A woman’s role in this world is vital. We give life. We are magic. So we MUST do the work and lead the way. We MUST heal. We MUST reconnect to ourselves. We MUST push through the bu****it that has tried to keep us small and untrusting of ourselves. We MUST become the woman that would fiercely protect us as a child. Future generations depend on this.

Being a woman is pure magic. Happy international woman’s day! ❤️

Photos that feel like coming home…🩵

I have been doing photos of this gorgeous woman and her family for over a decade. So of course when she told me she wanted to come to San Diego to do photos with me for her new book launch and new business, my heart almost burst. And not because I’ve been taking her photos this long, but because I knew these photos would be different.

These photos were her becoming. They were the representation of the woman she has strived to become. They were her homecoming. And being the person that had the so very privileged honor of giving her the space to vulnerably open her heart so we could create these images meant the whole fcking world!

It’s never EVER about the photos. It’s about reflecting you back to you through the whole process. From the initial call to the shoot to the final product, it’s only ever been about connection, vulnerability and pouring in the love so deep.

This is the work that moves me. This is the work I feel so grateful to create! ❤️

Thank you Anisah for always trusting me! Thank you for evolving and growing with me! I’ve already said a million words to you about what this shoot meant to me, and I mean every single one! So excited to watch you FLY! ✨Love you so much!

Happy Holidays from me and Marlowe ❤️

On my call last week, my clients told me they just wanted to have fun at their elopement. And I told them that is the ONLY way I do this. Part of the reason I seek out adventure and love photographing elopements is because of the fun! Sure the hike may be hard or the logistical planning may take more effort, but when we get outside and explore, it’s always a good time. Evennn if it is type two fun. 😝 It just makes for the best experience to celebrate YOU!

8 years ago, I photographed my first adventurous hiking elopement in Joshua Tree, and it changed everything for me! When I delivered the photos, I told my client that they were some of the first photos I was really proud of in a long time. Shooting this way mixed all the things I’m passionate about and love in one beautiful package which really just made my work that much better. And now I can never go back to being just your normal, everyday photographer.

So let’s refocus on what getting married is all about. What do you love? What brings joy to your relationship and time together? Why are you getting married? Let’s explore your favorite places. Let’s do your favorite things. Let’s have an adventure. Let’s have fu***ng fun!

Chatting with some potential clients tomorrow about their elopement next year in Monunment Valley. So naturally I was reminiscing about this elopement adventure with Steph & Jon and had to post some of my faves from their day. This is still one of my favorite elopements I’ve ever photographed, so I’m stoked that I hopefully get to go back to this amazing land and do it all over again.

Also…the timing of all of this is also magical as they are expecting their first baby like…now-ish…?? Haha! Coincidence? I think not. ✨❤️

(If you are looking at eloping in Monument Valley, you do need a guide as it is located in the Navajo Nation Reservation.)

Fun fact: that mountain back there…it was the first 14er I ever hiked. And it was the first one Marlowe,my pup, ever did too. She did it when she was only 10 months old and hiked the whole way, becoming a celebrity on the trail. So many hikers were taking pics of her and despite my reluctance to creating a pet instagram, was born per the people’s request. 😜😅

All that to say, I’m very biased about this location. So when Allie and I were discussing places to shoot, I knew we had to go here! It holds a little piece of my heart, and that always makes for magic when I’m shooting. I can’t wait for Allie & Juan’s wedding next year though. They are literally the sweetest and most fun to be around, which also made for some magic! ✨ T-9 months!

PS…if you want to get outside and adventure for your elopement, wedding or engagement photos…I’m your girl! 👍🏼

She said yes 💍❤️✨

Abraham & I have had this proposal on the books for a couple months now - wanting to make sure we did it at sunset cliffs with the Ocean Beach pier in the background because it was where him and Danya had their first date.

To this day, no matter how many proposals I photograph or how much planning is involved, I still get nervous. 😅 And I’m not even the one proposing. I just always want it to go smoothly. And I certainly don’t want to miss the moment. But as my amazing, committed-to-the-bit assistant, , said yesterday, “you already got the perfect shot! It’s already happened.” And it did! 🥰

Congrats & ! Thank you for trusting me to capture this for you! ❤️

In honor of Halloween, I thought it was only fitting to finally share some sneak peeks from & ’s spooky fun wedding last week! These two sure know how to throw one heck of a Halloween party, and I had such a blast celebrating them and their beautiful weirdness! 🥰

One of my favorite things about my job is seeing my clients incorporate elements that are so truly them into their day! Because this is what getting married should be like. And these two hit the nail on the head with that. Stay tuned because their cats, Christopher Robin & Artichoke, also made a special appearance and I will HAVE to share those photos! 😻

Thanks Suzie & Alex for sharing your day with me! It meant the world! 🧡🖤

I probably sound like a broken record at this point. But this is why I do what I do. If you swipe through these photos, you’ll also see Krista & Andy’s engagement and wedding photos. Building this kind of connection, relationship and trust is everything to me. To continue capturing the most special moments of my clients lives. It literally brings tears to my eyes.

And even more, the vulnerability my clients share with me has changed my life. Watching them grow together, work together, learn together. Hearing their stories and how they choose each other and create their life. It’s so inspiring.

Krista & Andy are one of those clients that have taught me so much, and I am so thankful for them! Can’t wait for this little babe to make its presence known in the world because they will undoubtedly be the most badass, fiercest, powerful human with these two as parents! Love y’all! ❤️ Thanks for always keeping it real and forever being one of my biggest supporters! I will come stay with you if there is a zombie apocalypse!

Who needs a wedding when you can get married here? 🥰

Sneak peeks from my adventure with Courtney & Eddie this weekend, hiking up to 10,000 feet in the Rockies. We had so much fun and laughed so much that my cheeks are still hurting!

NOTE: if you are planning to elope in a national park, please do all your research about permits and fees and follow all the rules so we can keep enjoying them and using them to celebrate love. Courtney and Eddie opted to actually get married and exchange vows at their cabin in Estes Park and just do photos in the park to save some money on the permits.

“I am the surf in which the wave crashes.” - A Court of Silver Flames

If there is any storyline that I resonate with, it is that of Nesta’s in the ACOTAR series. Finding my power again has been a journey that I have not taken lightly, and for the first time in a long time (if ever), I am there. Boy does it feel amazing to step into that knowing, that calm, that confidence.

And do you know what I love just as much if not more than finding my own power? Helping others find and see theirs…🔥❤️ I’ve been blessed to do that with for three different shoots now — this last one marking a very transformative moment for her. And sure she can use these photos for her business. But she also gets to use to them see what a rock solid, powerhouse of a woman she is. 💪🏼

This is so much more than photography to me.

Sneak peek from last weekend! You can’t even tell we were melting! 🫠

Thank you Summer & Nick for having me! I loved spending the day with you and your friends & family! ❤️

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