Vintage World Rocks- Online Store

Number one: I LOVE INSTAGRAM.

Not only is it how I share my life most often, this has become the number one way I find clients, models and collaborators. Insta is also how I got my kitty, so...

I found online retailer Vintage World Rocks. They operate out of D.C. and were looking to shoot their first look book. I love vintage clothing and the practical application in modern style. We shot in Georgetown at a unnamed hotel. We worked with a great team of women and had pretty perfect weather. Here are some of my favorite photos here, you can see and hop the look book at the link above.

Styling: Vintage World Rocks

Models: Sarah Armstrong, Christian Gonzalez, Karmin Brown, and Diamond

Hair: Hair Styles by Satira

Make Up: Sammi C. Garcia

Vintage Vagabond Wardrobe House- Washington D.C.

A couple of weeks ago I got to pop into Vintage Vagabond Wardrobe House for their fall preview event. I was lucky that they had a live model that I could shoot with, as she served as the main focal point for the evening. I generally shoot in natural light but brought out my new flash and such to practice.

It was awesome to meet the styling team and see all of the great pieces in store. I really look forward to a planned shoot with them. If the impromptu images ( literally only let them know I would attend the event an hour before hand) turned out this great, then I am sure a little planning could make things epic. I showed up barely introduced myself to the model who was already posing on the store roof top, I started snapping and directing immediately. We started shooting around 6:30 and wrapped at 9 pm.

For the second look we left the roof top and hit the crowded streets of D.C. I wanted to take advantage of the beautiful golden light and the loud colors of the street. We found a greenery on the sidewalk across from the store and used that as an additional backdrop.

For the third look we had a vintage velvet black dress to shoot and the sun had gone down. Time to bring out the flash and make some popping imagery. Most of these were shot in black and white in the halls of the store for a real vintage feel.

The last look we made our way into the store itself and set up shop in what I kept referring to as "the pink room." They had a beautiful vanity that provided plenty of beautiful light for us to work with.

A huge thank you to all the wonderful ladies at Vintage Vagabond Warehouse for inviting me to your event and welcoming me to the area!

Model: Andrea

Styling: Team at Vintage Vagabond Warehouse - 1833 14th ST NW 3rd floor (D.C.)

Hair: Alix founder of The Unicorn Tribe in Alexandria VA

Pinstripes Georgetown Wedding- Ray and Kathy

Ray and Kathy are a couple I met through my husband via USMC recruiting duty. They are a fun loving couple who are blending two families. They kept their wedding intimate but not too serious.

They selected Pinstripes as their venue. During the cocktail hour while we were taking Bridal photos guests got to enjoy snacks in an upscale lounge while bowling or playing bocce ball. Afterwards we headed upstairs to a private ballroom and bar for dinner and dancing.

Kathy and her daughter spent time making the flower arrangements and center pieces All the little details of their family, careers, and snoopy were scattered about so lovingly. From first look to first kiss to first dance, it was an honor to be a part of their day.

Annmarie Garden- Elowen's First Birthday

On Sunday I went to Annmarie Garden to meet with a friend I met years ago while living in California. I was getting to meet her daughter, Elowen, in person and she had picked out the perfect place that really reflected her daughters personality. Annmarie Garden has a fairy lolly that is bright and colorful, with lots of room for creativity and imagination.

This my first, first birthday shoot! I am so happy it was with a little girl like Elowen. It started raining half-way through the shoot and she was un-phased and still brought lots of light to the camera. Not to mention her mommy picked out the perfect outfit that complimented the location.

Happy First Birthday, Elowen!

Huntsville, AL- Boudoir Client

So unfortunately Huntsville, AL is not a town with romantic hotel rooms or B&B options. Everything is about business in that town. So we found a hotel room that had plain white details, little modern pops of color, and black and white art so it wouldn't be so distracting. There was one chair in particular I was worried about, its a green and cream hounds-tooth print but we made it work by shooting in black and white.

Another thing. This session has no retouching! This client was super fit! She ran a race that morning in Nashville before the session. Her back is insanely awesome!

Major shout of to the hair and make up artist Tiffany! If you are interested in booking her, contact me and I will get her info for you. She can also be found via facebook at MUAH by Tiffany (Huntsville, AL)

I will share a few images here but for the most part the images are private.

Sorry the rest of these images are kept behind closed doors, and you're not invited :p

Have a happy and safe holiday weekend!

Germantown, MD- Pretty in Paint with Kat

I met Kat a couple of years ago at a shootout in Charleston, SC. We actually both lived in Beaufort and despite both of our efforts we never managed to be able to shoot together. Luckily for me her father lives near by and she was swinging in town for a visit. Kat can be easily identified as an alternative model. However we wanted to start with something soft and sweet at our local park and then come back to my place and get a little messy.

For the first shoot we simply took to the foot path of the park at Ridge Road in Germantown. For the second shoot we used a Love Is Art kit to get messy have some fun in my tiny living room . Generally the company sell these kits as to use for lovers. They have become my go to wedding gift. However no lovers were involved in the making of these photos, just the love and appreciation of the female figure and fun.

Huntsville Alabama- Kirsten's Senior Pictures

This past week I made my way down to Alabama to shoot my sisters senior pictures. While we bounced ideas back and forth there was one resounding notion that we were sure we didn't want the photos to be traditional. It rained the entire week I was in town. Kirsten had taken the whole week just to be safe. We ended up shooting over the span of two days whenever there was a gap in the rainfall to allow us to do so.

We shot downtown Huntsville at the Depot, and at Big Spring Park. Then finally we shot in a neighborhood called Knox Creek and then over to Toney, Alabama to shoot in a friends barn. We added personal touches and made sure things that were important to her life were included. The biggest importance was that we include our brother somehow and do it tastefully. Here are some of the images.

The last image has nothing to do with our shoot but it was funny all the same. I thought it was a relative image. Anyone who lives in the area has had at least on sneaking out or sneaking in story. In reality she is breaking into her grandmothers home to let my daughter use the restroom. I just couldn't not take a picture.

Throwing Paint in Colorado Springs, CO

Over this past weekend I flew in to Denver and headed to Colorado Springs with a girlfriend I had met when we lived in Lemoore, California. We caught up on how our lives have changed and what directions we are heading. I got to meet her fiance and his son and see how much her kids have grown. Blending a family is tricky. Much like a masterpiece it takes time, patience, understanding of the the craft, and technique. With blended families everyone has their own color, their own personality but its how they come together to create a whole image that is truly beautiful. No one gets to see how messy things are during the process, they only see the framed image on the wall.

This shoot was mostly unplanned and a huge mess that resulted in wild smiles and laughs. How often do kids get to throw paint... and on their parents or their siblings? I want to do more shoots like this for sure! And more shoots with this family!

Vacation Wrap Up

The Little Family is jetting off in their separate directions as we speak, our flight leaves tomorrow. As most of you know we have been at our family reunion this past week and I wanted to share 10 of my favorite images.

It hard to choose favorites, and I am sure in a few months I may change my mind on images but these few images totally highlight the week. Its been fun and insanely hot Texas, perhaps I will choose another season for my next visit.

Germantown, Maryland- Ellen (Musician)

Yesterday I had the pleasure to finally work with my husbands cousin Ellen. Ellen is a talented young girl with a passion for music and production. She is embarking on her senior year and has decided to hit the studio for her first time to record her first album.

We got together with the words -innocent and beauty- in mind for the album cover shot. No word as to which image will make the cover but I posted my favorite 10 below. Ellen hits the studio in a couple of weeks and we want to take this time to wish her luck, but who needs luck when you have skills?