I can’t believe it’s almost time for Class of 2012 to graduate!  I decided to specialize in Senior Photography back in the beginning of the school year and it’s crazy how quickly time has passed since then.  I’m really going to miss chatting with all these girls that I have gotten to know over the last several months.  Before graduation though, we have Prom!!  Have you seen how girls get asked to prom these days??  So many cool and creative ways!  As Prom season approached, it got me thinking about what more could I offer high school seniors.

Let me explain a little bit of how this shoot came to be.  Most of you already know that I once thought I would become a wedding photographer.  After about 6 weddings, I realized that wedding photography wasn’t for me.  I loved the getting ready part of the day and details though.  Then it occurred to me that I could document Prom or Homecoming like a wedding.  Why not?  Dresses, shoes, jewelry, getting ready!  All the things that I loved about photographing weddings and bonus, it all has to do with seniors!

You’ll have to excuse me – this post has A LOT of images!  :)

Thanks to Connor, Casey, David, Stephanie and Keimon for putting up with me!

Thank you so much to the Thompson (and Briscoe) family for welcoming me into your home and letting me document Connor’s last prom.  You all trusted me that day, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.  Not just for the photographs, but because as you know, you guys have all become like a second family, right down to little Clementine and Winston.  :)

Have a great week everybody!

Makeup:  Laura Briscoe

If you want to stay up to date with all the most recent sessions, click HERE and “LIKE.”

Wow!  Where have I been?!?!  I took a little break to attend the Seniorologie tour at Serenbe Farms in Palmetto, Georgia and never posted the last part of the Styled Shoot!  Shame on me!  I’m back though, so here we go!!!

Part 3 is the dreamy, ethereal set for the “Dreams of Fame” Shoot.

Who doesn’t want to be girly and in a flowy dress sometimes?!?!  I know that I lean a little more towards the rocker chick of Part 2, but I can’t help but LOVE this too!  Again, Laura & Angela outdid themselves with makeup & wardrobe.   Throw in a little hair by Casey Arnold and we have the most beautiful girls that I could have ever imagined.

Check out the rings I previewed from Part 1!  Just can’t help but love them!  

Ohhhhh!!!  I’m sad now, because this is the last post from the shoot.  :(   I told you all before how much I loved this shoot and everyone that made it happen.   Thank you so, so much Laura, Angela, Casey, Savannah, Gretchen, & Candace.   I couldn’t have done this without you all!  Thanks for making my little vision come to life!

While I was editing the next day, I remembered some shots that I didn’t have time to capture.  I called Laura and asked her if she wanted to do another styled shoot using a theme solely based on those “missing” shots.   She reminded me that the night before, after being so pooped, I said that I wouldn’t do another styled shoot for a little while.  After laughing about how it took me less than a day to plan another one,  she happily agreed!  :)   That shoot will take place next month, but ya gotta wait for that one!

Makeup:  Laura Briscoe

Wardrobe / Accessories:  Angela Jackson

Hair:  Casey Arnold

Models:  Gretchen Fortin, Savannah Roach, Candace O’Neal

If you want to stay up to date with all the most recent sessions, click HERE and “LIKE.”

See you next time!

I can’t believe how many of you stopped by yesterday to see Part 1 of the Styled Shoot!   Yesterday, had the most visitors since I started this website last year!  Thank you everyone!

Let’s get on with Part 2, shall we?!

Just a little on the theme of the styled shoot – Dreams of Fame.   When I first met with Angela, I told her I wanted the shoot to have more of a storytelling element to it.  We talked about several different ideas, but then Angela thought of “Field of Dreams” since one scene was in a field.  Those “Dreams” could be of fame, love, freedom, etc.  I really liked the “Dreams of Fame” the best though.

Everyone has a different idea of fame or in our own minds, a completely different idea on how that looks.  Whether it be pretty, romantic…..or rockstar and dramatic!  We really didn’t end up doing the storytelling part of it so much, but the two looks are so unmistakably different.  I think they are each gorgeous in their own way and I LOVE them both.  I think my inner rock chick can relate to the first look a little more though, but like I said, we are all different!  ;)

When it came to makeup, I really wanted Laura to have the freedom to put together any look that she wanted to showcase.  Between the clothes and the makeup, I couldn’t have asked for a better end result than what Angela and Laura put together.

First up – Candace.  This shot was in the hallway just outside of the suite.  I loved everything about this place and I knew we had to snap a few shots here first before heading out.

I cannot get over how gorgeous Candace’s eyes are.  I think the makeup Laura did really make them jump out at you.

Not to mention, this ridiculous (in a good way) outfit Angela put together!

Love the Marilyn Monroe tee and fur vest and the jewelry by LG Marchezie.  (thank you Linda!)

I adore these next few of Savannah.  Catching her laughing was such a treat!  A little behind the scenes scoop.  I wanted a bit of a wind blown look, so I asked Angela to fan Savannah with my reflector.

hmmm…that was a good idea in theory, but really, all it did was make us laugh.

Note to self, invest in a portable, battery powered fan.  ;)

ahhh, Gretchen with those arms and legs.  I am so jealous!!  Can I please have them?

and I thought you were sending me your arm workout?  still waiting.  ;)

AND the infamous yellow chair.  It might as well be like a “Where’s Waldo” joke…”Where’s the yellow chair?”   LOL!

You just wait.  I’m going to throw all of you off and paint it one day!

will you check out those gloves?!?!  Is there anything hotter?  doubt it.

That’s a wrap on part 2, but we’re not done!  Be sure to come back for Part 3…

If you missed Part 1, or want to check it out again, Click HERE.

Makeup:  Laura Briscoe

Wardrobe / Accessories:  Angela Jackson

Jewelry:  LG Marchezie

Models:  Gretchen Fortin, Savannah Roach, Candace O’Neal

If you want to stay up to date with all the most recent sessions, click HERE and “LIKE.”

See you next time!

If you have ever been thinking of putting together a styled shoot, be prepared to work.  Not a little bit of work either – a lot, BUT if you have a wonderful group of talented people to work with, like I did, you won’t just be happy with the outcome.  You will be elated, like I was!

I love everything about this shoot.  The makeup, the clothes, the hair, the models, the locations…EVERYTHING.  I’m not kidding, I really do.  So much so, that I am going to try to top it in a few months, but you’ll just have to wait for more on that later.  ;)

Back in December, I emailed a friend of mine who happens to be a stylist / personal shopper and has the best wardrobe I have ever seen.  This girl’s shoes alone are to die for, no joke!!  I’m serious.  I wouldn’t kid about shoes.  ;)  I asked Angela if she would be interested in working with me on an idea that I had.  Yay!  She happily agreed!

Next stop, makeup.  At the end of last year, I had been looking for a makeup artist to work with on my senior shoots.  I found Laura on Facebook, emailed her and we met in January.  I knew it would be a stretch for her to do the styled shoot.  We just met and here I am asking her to do a bunch of work and not get paid.  I asked anyway and Yay!  She happily agreed!  Of course, how could she have turned me down?  I mean really, it’s like we were separated at birth.  We are so eerily similar, but in a good way though!  :)

Fast forward to March, location decided on, models chosen, props made, many emails / meetings later – shoot day finally arrives.  Seeing all of your hard work come together, for all us, was such a great feeling.   Part of me was nervous because I knew that at the end of the day, it was up to me to make everyone else’s hard work look good and come to life in these pictures, but at the same time, I was strangely calm and not at all worried.

We met at the Wayfarer Hotel for hair and makeup.  This little hotel was so incredibly cool!  If you ever find yourself in Monroe, Ga, you must stay in their suite!  Oh come on, you know you have been dying to check out Monroe!

So this is where I leave you today, with us all getting ready for the shoot and the behind the scenes.

Savannah & Candace getting their makeup done.

Gretchen’s turn in the makeup chair!

The suite at the Wayfarer.  “We have to go back!!”

On the right, the rings that I HAD to purchase.

I saw these on Etsy and immediately had to scoop them up for the shoot.  Love these little guys!

Shout out to Teri – Thanks for the mirror!  ;)

Lastly, my “dream” team.

L to R:  Angela Jackson (stylist), Gretchen Fortin (model), Laura Briscoe (makeup), Candace O’Neal (model), little ol’ me, Savannah Roach (model) and Casey Arnold (hair).

Ok, so there is your peek behind the curtains.  Now, you have to come back to see all the magic happen!

hmmm - suddenly this sounds like an MTV “Cribs” episode.  Odd.

While the ladies of Sarasota’s Three Kitcheneers are truly gorgeous on the outside, they are every bit as beautiful on the inside. An afternoon with these ladies is filled with laughter and fun. With beauty and feistiness, watch out Rachel Ray & Gordon Ramsey, these girls are super cute AND they can definitely speak their minds! What’s so great about these ladies and why will you love them?  Where do I begin…

They came onto the video blogging scene only four months ago, but their passion & love for food and all things related began long before that.  Assunta, Charlotte, and Megan are collectively working very hard to make the Three Kitcheneers successful, so you would think they probably have time for little else.  Not true though.  They do all this and they have families too.  Assunta is married with two children.  Charlotte has a husband & a baby boy. Megan has a boyfriend and says, “I am the proud pet parent of Coco the Pomeranian and Jasmine the Siamese cat.  They are the little loves of my life.”  Awww, don’t you just love her!  I, seriously, wanted to pack the three of them in my suitcase and bring them home with me!   Not kidding, they could be comedians on the side too!  They had me cracking up, from beginning to end!  I wonder, are they this funny separately or is it their combined effort that makes them at their best?  Either way, you can’t help but love them and I think that’s exactly what will catapult them to stardom.

Oh yeah, you probably want to see more pictures of them, don’t you!?!?!

Assunta is charismatic, full of energy and has a smile that lights up a room.  Best of all, she makes anyone feel like a best friend within minutes.   Charlotte, reserved in the beginning…she is calm and quiet.   You soon realize though that once she warms up, she is every bit as feisty and can she knock out some poses!  As RuPaul would say…Work it!!

Megan is the free spirit, laid back one.  She often hears that she resembles Kim Kardashian, but after being with her a short while, she is ALL Megan.  And let me tell you, Megan has a pair of legs that I think I am asking Santa for on my Christmas list!  Yes, I would rather slap on a pair of new ones than do the work she must have done to get those, but that’s a story for another day. 

I love these of Megan.  We snuck back into the house for a few quick pics.  Kim K. has nothing on Megan G.! While talking to Megan, something she said really stuck with me.  She said that of course, they would love for the Three Kitcheneers to take off and be a success.  However,  if this is as good as it gets and all it ever becomes, that she is truly happy with who she is and with her life.  I love that!  So few people can say that.  Yet another reason why you can’t help but love these ladies!

At the end of the day, we said our goodbyes, packed the cars and we said goodbye to Charlie (the dog).  I flew home the next day and thought about the shoot and the new friends I had made.  Oh yeah…what inspired me??  Really, the whole day did, but I think it was mostly our talk with Megan.  I came away from this opportunity knowing that I am still going to try really, really hard to be successful but at the end of the day, I better be happy with who I am…and truly, I am.

So picture me toasting all of you (Naomi, Assunta, Charlotte and Megan) with my imaginary champagne glass, to all of our futures and what’s sure to be some fabulous adventures ahead!  :)

Three Kitcheneers

Naomi Chokr

Jewelry: Amir Chokr from Diamond Vault

Dresses: Liz Murray from INfluence

Hair & Make-up: Ana Molinari Salon & Spa (Palm Ave.)

Location: Ana Molinari, Molinari Residence

If you haven’t heard of Sarasota’s Three Kitcheneers, don’t worry, I’m sure you will soon enough.  If Food Network doesn’t come a calling soon, I will be shocked.  Mix a love of all things food, add in some humor and a ridiculous amount of beauty and you have a recipe for these lovely ladies.  

Inspired – that’s how I felt after an afternoon with Assunta, Charlotte & Megan, but let me back up a bit though.  I’m getting ahead of myself.  :)

When the call came asking if I wanted to take part in a photo shoot in Sarasota, I knew I couldn’t pass on the opportunity.  I really didn’t care what I was helping with or shooting – sign me up!  I’ve told you about my spunky friend Naomi before, but what I haven’t mentioned is how we are always talking about how if we lived closer we could shoot together.  Well, I’m not moving and much to my husband’s dismay, I haven’t won the lottery yet, BUT Naomi and I finally got to shoot together!

After weeks of Naomi planning, the day came and I arrived in sunny Sarasota.  1st stop, the Molinari residence.  The estate is spectacular.  It was built in the 1920′s and has ties to the famous Ringling family.   As we approached the door, a reddish brown dog with gray over each eye and around his nose greeted us…Charlie was clearly in charge of this house.  :) After we got a tour of the house and the grounds, Naomi and I got to work and began setting up.

The scene was to be a lovely outdoor picnic.  The pillows and sweet treats and all the other handpicked details (by Naomi) transformed the backyard into a magical garden.  I could have curled up with a good book and gotten lost for hours.  

Once the ladies arrived, the fun began.  When you meet them, you can’t help but feel like you have known them forever.  It was like five friends hanging out, gossiping, enjoying the day, well…except three of them looked like they stepped off the cover of a magazine!  You want to be envious of their beauty, but you can’t be because they treat you like a best friend!

Let’s take a look at the Three Kitcheneers -

Come back soon…I still have to tell you how the Three Kitcheneers came to be, why you’ll love them and how I left feeling so inspired to make a difference in my own life.

See you then!

Be sure to check out Naomi’s Blog too for all of her images from the day.   While I shot all of the above images…this photo shoot was her baby…I was just along for the ride.  :) 

Naomi also had help from the following Sarasota businesses:

Jewelry: Amir Chokr from Diamond Vault

Dresses: Liz Murray from INfluence

Hair & Make-up: Ana Molinari Salon & Spa (Palm Ave.)

Location: Ana Molinari, Molinari Residence

I had no idea how close to impossible picking only ten would be!  
I literally started writing down every favorite and my piece of paper is a mess because I kept writing more and more.   So many things were great about this year and the people that allowed me to photograph their lives and memories.   Picking only ten pictures was incredibly difficult, but I narrowed it down as best as I could.   I ended up with 20 instead of 10.  Honestly, it could have been 50 though.  :)
I have noticed that seldom is my favorite the same as a client favorite.   I’m not sure how or why that is, but we all have very different opinions and I’m learning that more and more as I photograph people.   Why I choose a favorite could be a number of reasons: composition, texture, a certain look caught unexpectedly, or the way I got the shot that I didn’t think that I could.  Mostly, it’s how the picture makes me feel.  What type of emotion it has…whether a person is in the picture or not.  I know that sounds strange but I have to look at a picture and have it wow me.  I hope that in the course of this year, I have wowed you a little bit through my work.  It’s been a wonderful year and I truly thank all of you who have trusted me enough to be part of capturing your memories.   


soooo here it goes…My top 20 of 2010:

If you’ve ever heard me mention my friend Ayaila, you know she is a super fabulous event planner.  Everything she touches turns out fabulous and I’m not just saying that because she is a friend!  
This occasion was another fabulous Ayaila creation.   Ayaila wanted to plan something wonderful and memorable for her friend Jamye’s 31st Birthday.  Lucky for me, she wanted a “Diva” style photo shoot for a small group of girls.   The photo shoot was part my vision and part Ayaila’s and I’m so happy with how everything turned out.  It’s so easy though when you have really fun, beautiful people to work with!!  
:) 
Here are a few of my favorites and some of the super creative touches from Ayaila.  

I have been so busy lately that I totally forgot to post some pics from my friend Teri’s graduation party.  It seems like she has been in nursing school forever and finally she has graduated!!  Tomorrow is a big test day for her – so good luck Teri!!