The Midwest is known for gorgeous springs, hot summers, and dreamy autumns but we don’t talk about winter. It’s filled with gloomy skies, gray, and cold with a chance of some ice mixed in. Thankfully Lizzie and Bobby had their engagement session in the middle of these days to brighten them up with bright colors and their amazing poodles, Tiger and Millie.

Poodles + Wind. I love this image.


“Maybe you can see the sun rays through the ocean the moment it dips in the horizon” I said as the sunset while snorkeling. Travis laughed knowing I was teasing his logical engineer mind.

But nothing seamed impossible in those moments. It was the bliss of Jamaica being more than a dream, better than imagination.

We ate breakfast feet away from the ocean while parrots talked in the fruit trees above us. I stepped on a sea urchin and Travis fell in love with jerk chicken at the Push Cart. We took pictures of angel fish with a cheap underwater camera for Hughes and Jettie. I drank coffee all day and Travis read 3 books. We jumped straight into the ocean from our one room Rockhouse.

Today I’m bringing a small piece of Jamaica to you. Coffee, your choice of an 8×10 from the gallery, and that green bracelet seen above, which I adored so much I got two. Leave some love, let me know if you’ve been to Jamaica or not. I’ll select a random comment and announce the winner on Friday morning.

ps-couples, if you are looking for a gorgeous place to get married at the most amazing place on earth, Rockhouse is the one.

pss-thanks again to Sara and Loren who had me photograph this wedding during the same trip:)

***Print winner*** You all are so great for leaving all this love, it was a great trip and I’m so glad I could share a small bit of it with you. Jen O!! You are right in the middle of the comments so the print and prize in yours!

  •  -

    I’ve never been to Jamaica but these shots paint such a beautiful picture of it that I think I need to go there now! :-) It would be insanely difficult to pick just ONE 8×10 but I would love to have a piece of your art hanging in our house. Hope you’re all doing well on this gray, midwest day!

  •  -

    Ah, Clary. Almost 9 years ago Alex and I honeymooned in Negril, Jamaica. Thanks for bringing the feel of that magical island back to me. Oh and the jerk chicken. Damn that stuff is good.

  •  -

    Clary, LOVE! These are beautiful and LOVE that you and Travis had some time to relax together :)

  •  -

    Stunning Clary!!! Beautiful! I have never been to Jamaica!! Looks like a wonderful trip!!!!

  • Cara Rotter
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    Clary! Your photos are so amazing! I love looking at everything you do! I have not been to Jamaica, but this makes me want to go tomorrow! Thanks for sharing your amazing work!!

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    WOW! Jamaica looks like so much fun! Love the shots you got from your trip too!

  •  -

    pretty photos and even prettier lady! that photo of you is divine!

  •  -

    WHOAAA….gorgeous!!!!

  • Nicki
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    One of the many things I love about your photos is how purposeful each image is. You once gave me some wonderful advice when you said, “Shoot from the heart.” it is evident that is exactly what you do. Jamaica looks beautiful. I would love to go there one day.

  • Erin L.
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    Eric and I have the opportunity to go to Jamaica this summer, and I can only hope it’ll be a fraction this beautiful! Love your photos, as always. :)

  • Keren
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    Wow! So gorgeous! I’ve never been to Jamaica but it’s on my list now! :)

  • Kara
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    this makes me want to go to jamaica right now…i have never been but hope to get there one day…if not i can just look at these AMAZING pictures…hope you are well!

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    Just gorgeous.. I hope one day when our kids are a little older, my husband and I can go somewhere beautiful like this. The ladder going into the ocean is like a dream. I also adore the photo looking out of the stone window onto the ocean.

  • Janet
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    I’ve never been to Jamaica, but after looking at your photographs, it looks like the most amazing place on earth!!

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    Absolutely gorgeous photos, Clary! These photos belong in a travel magazine or brochure, so beautiful & serene. I love how simple they are, yet they tell a story. Looks like you guys had a wonderful & peaceful time.

  •  -

    Clary, I’ve never been but Jamaican’in me want to go!!!!! (That’s every bit as bad typed out as it sounded in my head but I had to go for creativity ;) ) What an INCREDIBLE experience. And your art? Blows me away. Seriously.

  • Christine
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    So completely gorgeous Clary! It’s nice to see sunshine and warmth during this dreary season. I’ve never been to Jamaica but this post makes me want to put it on my list! Thanks for sharing! xoxo

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    WOW- This looks utterly fantastic!!! What a beautiful set of images and you look so relaxed. That plate of fruit makes me thirsty!! LOVE the red ladder shot. Cheers and happy 2012!!

  •  -

    Love your work and your giveaway…so sweet! I’ve never been but it looks amazing. And that bracelet is fab :)

  •  -

    Wow. Just gorgeous, like a dream; I feel like I was there :)

  •  -

    What a great set of images! I’m in love with quite a few of them…though that catamoran image makes me want to explore!!

  • KRYSTLE A
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    These photos are so beautiful. I am going to Jamaica in 2 weeks for the first time and now I am even more excited after seeing your photos. I am a BIG fan! The first photo makes me want to jump through my computer screen and into that water.

  •  -

    I have never been to Jamaica but your photos make it look glorious. I am glad you had a great time!

  •  -

    Clary, these are lovely. I’ve never been to Jamacia, but your photos inspire me to go there. Ah, to eat breakfast a few feet from the ocean! Looks like you had a wonderful time.

  • Megan
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    We stayed at the Rockhouse almost three years ago and seriously considered not coming back. Your pictures have brought back many feelings the relaxing, easy-going love we shared together that week gave us.

  • Katie
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    My husband and I went to Jamaica for our honeymoon last year, and these amazing photos took me back there in a heartbeat. I can smell the ocean and taste the jerk chicken just looking at your photos. I can’t wait to go back this March to celebrate our 1 year anniversary. Love, love, love.

  •  -

    CLARY!!! You stepped on a sea urchin??? Are you okay? Ouch! Tim and I honeymooned in Jamaica, but we avoided sea urchins. :) Seeing your pictures makes me want a vacation so much. Amazing photos! Simply exquisite, as always. xoxo

  • Lizzie Lynch
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    Clary! Gorgeous photos! Thank you for sharing! xo

  • Polly
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    It’s on my list of places I must visit and use my scuba license! Your pictures are gorgeous!!

  • Hannah
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    Clary these are stunning! I’ve been to Jamaica once and seeing your pictures definitely makes me want to go back!

  • Tessa Wiegman
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    These photos just made me feel so much better on a cold, sunless day! I cannot put a finger on which I love more, but I definitely want to visit Jamaica now! BEAUTIFUL work Clary!

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    I have not been to Jamaica, but seeing it through your lens is a little piece of heaven. Simply gorgeous photos!

  • Elizabeth
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    What beautiful images to cheer up us St. Louisians on this dreary day!

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    Clary- lovely post. It makes me so happy when you post personal work :) Your photos stirred that little sweet place in my heart that I have for some other blue waters, off the coast of another small island, that is so very very essential to my soul. There is nothing better than blue green sea, salt air, and those perfect sunsets with the one you love. So glad you and Travis found that in Jamaica. And thanks so much for sharing it with all of us.

  • Katie
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    Clary, these are lovely! We’ve been to Jamaica for a wedding and can’t wait to go back….but our vacation pictures looked nothing like these =)

  • Kim
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    GORGEOUS! Exactly what I needed on a cold snowy day in Chicago. Jamaica will always have a special place in my heart – its where Andrew and I got engaged :)

  • Sara
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    So, Loren and I decided after seeing these pics that we will get married somewhere exotic every year, Negril 2012, you and Travis free? Great! :)

  • Stevie Nichole Stevens
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    beautiful place. beautiful photos. i’ve never been there but its on the list, NOW!

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    If I owned a piece of Clary art, it would most definitely be one of my prized possessions. It makes me happy to know that even when given the opportunity to relax and soak up time with your family and the beauty around you, you choose to photograph it. It is so easy to let photography slip from a passion to a job…to photograph personal projects less because they feel like more work. I hope to hold on to the deep rooted love for making images after many years in the business, as you have. Thanks so much for sharing!

  •  -

    Clary. I love how you see the world through a lens and how much more beautiful the images are than the memories I carry.

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    Oh how I love when you show up in my reader :) looks like you and Jamaica hit it off. That dippy of your island stash on the bed and the water…ahhhhh…

  • sandy
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    Wow! Although I’ve never set foot on Jamaica, your photos certainly made me want to book my trip! You have a wonderful eye for the details. Simply lovely.

  • Chantel Sutberry
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    I love your Claryness that only you can do…and do so well :)

  • Jennie
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    I love Travis’ comment…you really do make things look more beautiful! We love, love, love Jamaica…we’ve been there twice now, and hope to go back again. Negril is gorgeous, and we love all of Jamaica. I have the million dollar question for you, since we’ve never been to Hawaii–Hawaii or Jamaica?!

    Now you’re making me want to take a warm, tropical vacation without children. SOON!

    •  -

      Jennie, I always love your comments. Negril really is gorgeous! The answer to the million dollar question…Jamaica for adventure and romance but when you go to Hawaii, take the kids!

  •  -

    so jeal :)

  •  -

    These are just dreamy and beautiful! Tommy and I considered going to Jamaica and decide to travel the US this year instead…starting to rethink that after these gorgeous photos of yours. Love.

  • Sarah
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    Sitting by my window looking at these photos makes my heart ache. It’s snowing here and you’ve captured a beautiful place that I’d MUCH rather be.

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    Simply beautiful.

  • Mel Mac
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    umm…yes please…I am sensing a couples trip in the near future =)

  • Cari Walcott
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    Oh my, Clary! I wish I could see the world through your lens every day. GORGEOUS! I love!