Photography is the one constant hobby that I never outgrew! It has even surpassed Volleyball. I grew up on a 100 acre farm in Indiana, by the age of 10 I had a camera in my hand. That’s where I fell in love with nature, animals, and capturing magic.
Life happens …. moved to Florida at 14 and through high school I balanced Photography, school, working part-time, volleyball and boys. Took a nature photography class & Learned B/W developing in a tiny darkroom and knew I had a future in Photography.
Life happens…. Started college for business and accounting, married at 20 and had my daughter Rachael 13 days before I turned 21. My lil angel developed arthritis at the age of 3 and I juggled jobs, hospitals, and zero time for Photography.
Life happens…. My daughter and my lil family fought back and beat arthritis, it was in remission by 6 years old and medically doctors couldn’t explain how. She started T-ball and I got my camera back out. I was now a single mom.
Life happens… Lost my job, and bought a camera on ebay & I started my own Ebay business before it was a thing… created my career for 12 years.
Life happens…. My daughter got married, moved to Missouri and gave me 2 beautiful grand babies. I got an opportunity to go to work for Brown & Brown, changed careers at 42 and relocated to East Coast Fl. Started working out at the gym and playing beach volleyball again.
Life happens…. Helped a friend , rescued cat #2 , ended up in emergency surgery for a cat bite. No more volleyball , so my best friend said get up and come watch him play. I did. You know him as Kia.
My Life Changed Forever. I took a few photos with my phone and it immediately started stirring up my fire for Photography again. I bought a D3400 Nikon camera that I knew nothing about.
Then Hurricane Matthew came through & I went out adventuring in the debris for photos and ended back up in ER with a leg injury.
Got pretty depressed and my friend said come out and take photos, my sunsets and sunrises took off on social media. I taught myself to use that camera.
Another hurricane came through and I called Spectrum out, I met a serviceman who saw me working on photos and mentioned he surfed with his son on his back.
Life happens… almost 6 months later I took a staycation and contacted him to photograph him and his son… you know them as Jorge and Gabe.
THE REST IS HISTORY. Surf photography was just a perfect fit. Friendship, Surfing, Missions, and Purpose.
I was out shooting Jorge and took some photos of Matt Dayton, I reached out to contact him. A few weeks later I was part of a church called RealLife, and I was planning to go on a surfing missions trip to El Salvador with lots of Surf, sutfers, many challenges, and found a whole lot of focus and purpose for this crazy love I have for Photography, Action , Nature and capturing the magic of People .
I came back pretty sick, with a lot of sleepless nights to think, it was there that I decided to do #52weeks #52fundraisers. Volunteering for everything that I am passionate about: child advocacy & adoption, autism awareness, cancer fighting & research, animal advocacy, pet rescue, Make a wish foundation, Community events, Recycling, and more. I am almost halfway through my year & looking forward to my next adventure. I have met 1,000s of beautiful inspiring people, made lifetime friendships, and without a doubt know that I am on the right Path!
“Connecting the dots , one pixel at a time”
So when Life happens, grab your camera, a smile, and embrace the journey! Love and hugs – Joleen. JustABlink Photography
Contact : 941 315 1525
FB: Joleen Skerk
FB: JUSTABLINK Photography
INSTAGRAM: @JUSTABLINK_PHOTOGRAPHY
Photography is my lifelong hobby. I am the Market Security Coordinator and Analyst for Brown & Brown.
I do limited private sessions for Surf, Family, Pet, Special Occasions, Engagement, Maternity, and all things to celebrate Baby and Children. I also love to capture lifestyle photos on vacations & family reunions. I love Corporate events. Kia is my licensed FAA drone Pilot for aerial photography and real estate. I do very select weddings. I volunteer my Photography services for a nonprofit or community program once a week.
Pictures and Article written by Joleen Skerk.
Sunglow Surf 
Thank you Victor for sharing my life journey. You are so thoughtful to think of me. Your friendship and photos are such a blessing to all of us. So grateful we all found this community our place to call Home. #keeponinspiring
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