Hey, hey, heyyyyy! My name is Jessica (aka Wayfaring Wanderer) and I am a free-spirited photographer who loves working with couples, individuals, and families who are committed to travel, adventure, and laid-back lifestyles. I've lived in the Boone, NC area since 2005 and I'm known for capturing the spirit of the folks I photograph—the expressions, gestures, and details that are outward expressions of our innermost selves. While I'm primarily a wedding + elopement photographer, I also love working w/ individuals/couples/families that are traveling to the High Country area to getaway to the mountains. I absolutely love what I do and am so grateful to work with some of the most amazing people in one of the most beautiful places EVAR. Let’s go on an adventure!
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wayfaring wanderer blog
Weddings
Engagements
wedding planning
Confessions of a Lazy Travel Blogger
{Random Instagram Image}
Here’s a fun fact: My first blog post
was published on June 26th of 2006. That means that I’ve
been blogging on Wayfaring Wanderer for a little over five years now.
Sheez louise, that’s a long time! When I started blogging, I had no
clue as to what it was all about. Honestly, I don’t even remember how
I learned about blogs or what actually made me start one. What I do
recall is that blogging was something I started doing as a means to
substitute what I was no longer able to do, which was rock climb. Wayfaring Wanderer didn’t even start out as a travel blog, really.
was published on June 26th of 2006. That means that I’ve
been blogging on Wayfaring Wanderer for a little over five years now.
Sheez louise, that’s a long time! When I started blogging, I had no
clue as to what it was all about. Honestly, I don’t even remember how
I learned about blogs or what actually made me start one. What I do
recall is that blogging was something I started doing as a means to
substitute what I was no longer able to do, which was rock climb. Wayfaring Wanderer didn’t even start out as a travel blog, really.
(I’ve talked about why I was no longer
able to do rock climb many times here on WW, so I won’t get into any
further detail about that, but if you’re interested, you can get some insight here: How I Reached A Path of Happy Healing.)
Over the years, WW has taken on many
different forms and has gone through several transformations in the
process of my personal growth. There’s a lot that I learned during
this time, I’ve healed in ways that I never really expected
(physically, mentally, and emotionally), and have had some crazy
dreams come to fruition since the inception of my lil’ ol’ blog. From
my solo journey to Oahu, Hawaii to the all expenses paid foodie blogger
event in San Diego furnished by Sony Electronics, I’ve had a lot of
awesome things happen over the years.
different forms and has gone through several transformations in the
process of my personal growth. There’s a lot that I learned during
this time, I’ve healed in ways that I never really expected
(physically, mentally, and emotionally), and have had some crazy
dreams come to fruition since the inception of my lil’ ol’ blog. From
my solo journey to Oahu, Hawaii to the all expenses paid foodie blogger
event in San Diego furnished by Sony Electronics, I’ve had a lot of
awesome things happen over the years.
Blogging has been one of my most
favorite outlets, but it’s also come with its fair share of struggles
along the way, too. What I love most is how I can look back on where
I used to be, so that I can better appreciate where I am right now.
Without acknowledging where you came from, it’s hard to grasp how
far you have come. At least, that’s how I feel about it. Blogging has
made that possible for me and that’s another reason why I love doing
it.
favorite outlets, but it’s also come with its fair share of struggles
along the way, too. What I love most is how I can look back on where
I used to be, so that I can better appreciate where I am right now.
Without acknowledging where you came from, it’s hard to grasp how
far you have come. At least, that’s how I feel about it. Blogging has
made that possible for me and that’s another reason why I love doing
it.
BAD HABITS DON’T BEGIN OVERNIGHT
When I get all sentimental and start
sifting through my archives, I cringe at some of the old photos and
how I mutilated them in photoshop with unnecessary filters and
adjustments. Now, I barely bother making any adjustments to my images
in photoshop. And my writing, oh lawdy, it was atrocious! However,
with time (and practice), I got much better. To date, I’ve published
537 blog posts, so I’d hope that there were some lessons I learned
along the way!
sifting through my archives, I cringe at some of the old photos and
how I mutilated them in photoshop with unnecessary filters and
adjustments. Now, I barely bother making any adjustments to my images
in photoshop. And my writing, oh lawdy, it was atrocious! However,
with time (and practice), I got much better. To date, I’ve published
537 blog posts, so I’d hope that there were some lessons I learned
along the way!
![It hurts to get hurt #themoreyouknow [pic]](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6039/6318361137_dc77254731.jpg)
{Random Instagram Image}
Back in the day, I used to blog 5 days
a week, which seems completely absurd to me now. I’m lucky if I can
manage to publish one blog post a week. I’ve gone through phases
where I’d blog a whole lot and then taper off to nearly nothing only
to come back again full force. There’s been a lot of up and down when
it comes to blogging for me. It’s easy to get burned out. If you’re a
blogger, you know! One thing I do know is that I’ve never given up on
it entirely. I couldn’t. For some crazy reason, it means too much to
me to keep it going that I couldn’t bear to quit all together!
a week, which seems completely absurd to me now. I’m lucky if I can
manage to publish one blog post a week. I’ve gone through phases
where I’d blog a whole lot and then taper off to nearly nothing only
to come back again full force. There’s been a lot of up and down when
it comes to blogging for me. It’s easy to get burned out. If you’re a
blogger, you know! One thing I do know is that I’ve never given up on
it entirely. I couldn’t. For some crazy reason, it means too much to
me to keep it going that I couldn’t bear to quit all together!
I’M NOT REALLY LAZY, JUST INCONSISTENT
When I go quiet, it’s not for lack of
things to blog about, because I have a list of potential posts that’s
at least a mile long. And I’m always going somewhere fun and taking
pictures along the way, so material is plentiful. In all honesty, I
probably have enough stuff to blog about for the next year if I
planned things out properly! There are so many places I meant to blog
about, but never made the time to do so. Making time is one thing
that is extremely important when it comes to putting together posts,
and that’s exactly where I’ve failed lately. I just haven’t made the
time. It’s not that I’ve been o-so-busy. The truth is that I just
haven’t set aside the time required to get the job done.
things to blog about, because I have a list of potential posts that’s
at least a mile long. And I’m always going somewhere fun and taking
pictures along the way, so material is plentiful. In all honesty, I
probably have enough stuff to blog about for the next year if I
planned things out properly! There are so many places I meant to blog
about, but never made the time to do so. Making time is one thing
that is extremely important when it comes to putting together posts,
and that’s exactly where I’ve failed lately. I just haven’t made the
time. It’s not that I’ve been o-so-busy. The truth is that I just
haven’t set aside the time required to get the job done.
{Random Instagram Image}
Another thing that I let cripple my
ability to blog is just the fact that more eyes are reading my posts
than ever before, and it’s slightly overwhelming at times. You know,
it was easier to blog when you knew that people weren’t reading what
you had to say. However, now that I have regular traffic, things have
changed. As a result, I’ve become slightly more judgmental of what I
produce. You’d think that it’d get easier over time, but that’s not
always the case. The problem is that I need to stop being so
critical, and just put it out there! Who cares who does and doesn’t
like it, right?! Just get it out there so that opinions can at least
be formed one way or the other.
ability to blog is just the fact that more eyes are reading my posts
than ever before, and it’s slightly overwhelming at times. You know,
it was easier to blog when you knew that people weren’t reading what
you had to say. However, now that I have regular traffic, things have
changed. As a result, I’ve become slightly more judgmental of what I
produce. You’d think that it’d get easier over time, but that’s not
always the case. The problem is that I need to stop being so
critical, and just put it out there! Who cares who does and doesn’t
like it, right?! Just get it out there so that opinions can at least
be formed one way or the other.
MY PLAN FOR BECOMING A BETTER TRAVEL
BLOGGER
BLOGGER
One of my main issues with
inconsistency is that I’ve never really come up with a schedule for
my posts. I just sort of do them on the fly whenever I feel like it,
which isn’t the best way to approach blogging. That is, if you want
to build your following and keep people coming back for more. After
all this time, I finally realize that, and I’m prepared to do
something about it. One thing that I need to revisit is the direction
and design of my blog. The current layout is about 2 years old, and
it doesn’t really feel like me anymore because I’ve expanded my
adventures beyond my own backyard. Since I’ve graduated with my
graphic design degree, I think it’s time to redesign WW, so it suits
the type of traveler I am, not the traveler that I used to be 2 years
ago.
inconsistency is that I’ve never really come up with a schedule for
my posts. I just sort of do them on the fly whenever I feel like it,
which isn’t the best way to approach blogging. That is, if you want
to build your following and keep people coming back for more. After
all this time, I finally realize that, and I’m prepared to do
something about it. One thing that I need to revisit is the direction
and design of my blog. The current layout is about 2 years old, and
it doesn’t really feel like me anymore because I’ve expanded my
adventures beyond my own backyard. Since I’ve graduated with my
graphic design degree, I think it’s time to redesign WW, so it suits
the type of traveler I am, not the traveler that I used to be 2 years
ago.
{Random Instagram Image}
While I’m working on the Wayfaring
Wanderer redesign, I will also be working on bringing you more
content consistently. My goal is to blog at least 3x’s a week with
regular features. People seemed to enjoy the “Choose Your Adventure” series I experimented with last month, and I’d also like
to revive “Foodie Fridays” because I’m always eating good food
everywhere I go, and I would really like to share with you. If you
have any ideas, throw ’em my way!
Wanderer redesign, I will also be working on bringing you more
content consistently. My goal is to blog at least 3x’s a week with
regular features. People seemed to enjoy the “Choose Your Adventure” series I experimented with last month, and I’d also like
to revive “Foodie Fridays” because I’m always eating good food
everywhere I go, and I would really like to share with you. If you
have any ideas, throw ’em my way!
So, there you go: Confessions of a Lazy
Travel Blogger
Travel Blogger
I’m far from being perfect when it
comes to blogging, but I genuinely want to be better than I have
been. One of my favorite things to do is share my photography and
stories with you in hopes that it will inspire your own adventures
close to home! If there is anything, in particular, that you’d like
to see on WW, I’d love to hear any suggestions you may have. Please
feel free to share here in the comments or on the WW Facebook page!
comes to blogging, but I genuinely want to be better than I have
been. One of my favorite things to do is share my photography and
stories with you in hopes that it will inspire your own adventures
close to home! If there is anything, in particular, that you’d like
to see on WW, I’d love to hear any suggestions you may have. Please
feel free to share here in the comments or on the WW Facebook page!
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My name is Jessica and I’m a wedding, engagement and lifestyle photographer based in Boone, NC. I’m known for capturing the spirit of the folks I photograph–the expressions, gestures, and details that are outward expressions of our innermost selves. I love working with couples, individuals and families who are committed to travel, adventure, and laid-back lifestyles. If you think we might be kindreds, I invite you to connect with me!
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