I’ve decided to start a new column called IN THE LIGHT.
I hope it will be a unique way to introduce different artists, bloggers, entrepreneurs and/or inspiring people who will share a glimpse into what makes them come alive. One thing I’m super passionate about is telling stories with my photography and my hope is that this will give me the chance to document people who will in turn, inspire you. The column will feature a different profile each month, where each person(s) will include a list of five “things I heart”. First up: Joanne Encarnacion of Encarnacion Photography.She’s a wife, a mom of two, a fashion lover, a hair guru and she makes up one half of the contagiously charming duo, JOANNATHAN. After years of juggling working in the hair biz and running a photography studio, she took a leap of faith by saying goodbye to hair and hello to photography full time (enter applause here!) when she recently joined the incredible VSCO team! Be sure to check out her and Jonathan’s work and read more about her journey. 

1. MY FAMILY. My husband and daughters are huge inspirations to me. Seeing their laughter, smiles, and their daily growth into amazing individuals are just some of the characteristics that I definitely aspire to be. My husband has such a loving spirit. He’s kind, giving, and caring, something I always try to strive for. When times are tough and situations in life are bringing me down, I think WWJD, “what would Jonathan do”? It’s silly but I do it. My daughters are just. Inspirational to me. That sense of courage that kids have because they do not have anything to stress over is something I learn from them day to day. The curiosity to aspire to be something, to constantly say “I wanna be this or that when I grow up” is so amazing! Their minds are like sponges and their dreams seem to be so endless. Watching them daily is so inspiring.

2. FOOD!!! I swear I work out to eat more. For reals. I love food. I love the creation of amazing dishes. Chefs probably have one of the most awesome jobs in the world, they are not only able to create and experiment in the kitchen, but they feed the soul. I’m always so enamoured by the abilities they have to be able to pair certain flavors together. The most amazing part of it all is it comes from the earth and I get to eat it!

3. FASHION. I love shoes, handbags, and of course clothing. I love shopping! Dressing up is so much fun. I blame it on Sex and The City. Inside, I’ve got a whole lot of Carrie Bradshaw, a pinch of Samantha Jones, a dash of Miranda Hobbs, and a splash of Charlotte York. I often make the excuse of “I am buying this piece for a shoot” and the reality is I’m hoping to use it for a shoot, but if not, its going into my closet.

4. TRAVEL. Although this isn’t something I do often, I do love it. Last year I was blessed enough to shoot two weddings in Hawaii and it was my first time going. Now Hawaii has a special place in my heart. The people, the lifestyle, and the beautiful surroundings allowed me to be free. The funny thing is I was so not a beach person before going and I left there becoming the biggest islander living on the mainland. The people in Maui understood the important things in life: family, home, food, love, and the beach.

5. WALT DISNEY & DISNEYLAND. The man was awesome! He built Disneyland as a place for his daughters to come and play. Disneyland never ceases to amaze me. It’s constantly growing, evolving, changing, and moving forward. It’s a place for you to imagine the unimaginable and be reminded of childhood memories. Disneyland holds probably one of the best quotes in life, “All of our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” Walt Disney was a dreamer and I hope that I can learn to always dream just a he did.

THANKS Joanne for being the first, IN THE LIGHT.