Super Mommy

Alicia is my next door neighbor.  She was a little apprehensive, I think, to have her photos taken.  She wanted me to shoot her with her sweet little guy, Cooper.  She just thought she would feel more comfortable being shot like a mommy rather than a super model.  Although, she can totally pull off both rolls!  Mom to 6 kids is Super Mommy in my eyes!!  

My Fashionista!

If I ever want to have help putting together anything cute, This is the woman I call.  She knows fashion and style like the back of her hand!  You can tell by the outfits she brought to her shoot!  What a fun time we had with her and the funny thing is I totally had to talk her into it!  The best thing about shooting her was that she trusted me enough to try some more artsy poses in the shoot!  I love that she was game and I love even more how they turned out!  Simply gorgeous!  I hope her husband likes them as much as I do!

My Merisa

I have been looking so forward to this shoot!  Merisa and I connect in so many ways and she is one of my dearest and best friends.  She has the most beautiful spirit and is someone I can totally trust to have my back!  She is beautiful in every way!  Yesterday I finally got my chance to shoot her and here is what we got!!

Yes, beautiful inside and out!!

This is so Exciting!

So game on!  I've got my studio put together and I've started shooting!  Here's my friend Stephanie.  She volunteered to be one of my first subjects.  She is one of those naturally beautiful women.  Shanna did an awesome job on the hair and make-up.  Here's her before and after shots.  Just loved pulling these up and watching this unfold!  Stephanie really is amazing!  

More to come!!!!

My First Glam

This is my friend Shanna who volunteered to be my first subject.  She also just happens to be my make-up and hair person, as well.  We decided to practice on her and here is the result!  She's stunning and she loved the photos!  Every woman deserves to have her portrait taken feeling beautiful!  Here's a few of the many shots we took!

A New Direction

Lately I have been trying to figure out what I want to do with my photography.  Don't get me wrong, I like shooting babies and brides and families, but what do I have to offer that is uniquely ME?  I've been working on my skills and I do a lot of online education, but I feel like I need a Niche.  After all, everyone who buys a DSLR thinks that is what makes good pictures (How many times have I heard: "I wanna buy a nice camera so I can take good pictures like you..."?).  In my neighborhood alone there are a half dozen people who shoot weddings and kids and families.  Do I want to be a part of that rat race?  Not really.

I recently took an online seminar that was about photographing women. All shapes.  All sizes.  All races.  I was ENTHRALLED!  I watched women have this wonderful experience being pampered and styled with full hair and makeup before their photoshoot.  What really got me, though, wasn't that they were made up so beautifully, but how they felt about themselves.  It was amazing to watch these women transform as they felt they were beautiful from the inside.  They shed tears as they were shown their finished photos that were NOT heavily photoshopped, but were posed in the most unusually flattering ways.  I'm hooked!  This is what I want to do!  I want to give this to women!  I realize that this may not be an easy thing to market, but I'm already experimenting with some of the closest women around me.   I did this with my sister-in-law a few months back.  She had just gone thru breast cancer and was about to have a double mastectomy.  Her spirits needed some lifting and so I had my very first make-up and hair session with her.  It made my day to spend that time with her and show her what everyone else sees in her!  I posted them previously under "My Busy Week".  I wanted to post some of my newer ones that I've just done as quickies.  No hair and make up was done by me and they were some spontaneous shots, but I loved how they turned out.

 Here's my mom.  Isn't she beautiful?  This was impromptu at my sister's house with none of my equipment except my camera.  I think it's gorgeous!

Here's my sister, Sarah. Gorgeous eyes!  Beautiful soul!  

My stepmom came by after her new haircut yesterday.  Her eyes match her clothes!  So pretty!

So I will probably post some of these as I do them.  I need to do "before and afters" on them to see the transformation.  I am LOVING this!!

Sadie and Jason

I thought I'd post some of my favorites from Sadie and Jason's wedding.  They had a beautiful dinner the night before at The Bungalow in Pleasant Grove.  The gardens and reception area around their grounds are beautiful!  It was fun walking around the grounds and getting some really nice shots.

 I always love the shots of the bride getting ready.  She was a gorgeous bride, too!

 Love this one of her mom helping her get ready!

What a beautiful evening, right down to the doves!