The first time I met her, the smile she wore was the perfect compliment to her fashionable outfit. Jeni Maus radiated confidence, shining an inner light that made me draw closer to her like a mosquito at sunset. We met by way of her husband, Joel, a local photographer, just around the time she launched her company, FOUND. A few months earlier a wedding coordinator visited Joel's office and when she discovered Jeni designed his office with vintage furniture, she asked Jeni if she considered renting the vintage props and decor to brides for their weddings.

The idea was born.

Jeni researched online for over an hour and after realizing no one else in the country was offering vintage rentals, she walked two blocks up the street and bought herself a business license. She had her furniture photographed, called Amy Squires of Wedding Chicks for a feature on its site, and the rest is history. Jeni now owns the most successful vintage rental company in the world.

FOUND boasts of over 2,500 pieces of inventory, all hand-picked by Jeni. She's extraordinarily picky with her inventory and while she loves the look and style of old furniture, she reupholsters almost extra couch and chair she buys. Having photographed Jeni's pieces over the years (my favorite being my sister's wedding at Sunstone Winery), I love how the mismatched pieces still make cohesive collections.

One of the most inspiring things about Jeni is that in spite of her success (there've been many, including a feature in Martha Stewart Weddings Magazine), she acknowledges her need to surround herself with a business-saavy team. She manages the creative aspect of FOUND and leverages her talent where she can maximize it, not stuck behind a desk crunching numbers. Can I get an amen?

After chatting with Jeni, I asked if she had one piece of business advice, what would it be. She replied, I can't say this enough: Follow Your Gut. I might not always know if I am making the “right” decisions when it comes to business, but I follow my gut (and my heart) 99.9% of the time…..and it has proven to be a good thing for me. Not always easy, not always perfect, but in the end…the right decision.

I recently collaborated with Jeni on a shoot, so I took photos of her at FOUND helping designer Lindye Galloway pull pieces. I'm excited to show what's in store, but for now, I simply wanted to highlight a dreamer, innovator, and wedding creative.

Happy Friday!