Let me start off by saying two things… first the “Model for A Day” sessions have been so amazing and second they are even better when I get to photograph someone who I have been working with since she was just a little girl.  Well Carlee has grown up into an amazing young woman and I know her family is so very proud of all of her accomplishments.  She is graduating this year from Santa Margarita High School and she is still making up her mind about which amazing university she will attend next year.  Carlee seems quiet and a little shy and so sweet on the outside.  But, watch out, because she was also named Best Delegate in Model United Nations.  Watch out world, whatever Carlee chooses to do in life, she is going to be a smashing success… and with her amazing fashion sense, she will definitely look the part!  Enjoy!

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Check out Carlee’s slideshow to see more images from her session!

Being a teenager is tough!  So much pressure to be perfect and to figure out who you are.  Especially for girls.  One of the reasons I truly love photography is it gives me the opportunity to show all girls how really amazing and beautiful they are.  Okay, and let’s be honest, I really never got enough of playing Barbies….. These gals are my real life barbies that, with the help of Desi and Brittany, I get to dress up and make them feel like a model for the day.  Listen, this isn’t limited to teenagers, I love to makeover women of all ages.

Here is a sneak peak at Ms. Maddie.  What can I say about this absolutely adorable, amazing, fierce, sweet & super sassy gal!  Only that I LOVE YOU MADDIE!!!!!! Make sure to watch her video at the end!  Enjoy!

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Watch Maddie’s slideshow:

2014 has been a year of creative growth for me up to this point.  While I adore working with families, kiddos, wedding parties, event and corporations, sometimes a gal just needs to do a personal project.  In June of this year, I made the commitment to myself that I would do one project every 6-8 weeks just for me.  To have fun, explore a subject, work with a beautiful model, expand my portfolio and so on.

As is usually the case when I get an idea, a name immediately popped into my head, Denyse!  My friend Denyse Angus is an amazing stylist and has some seriously stunning kids.  While she has primarily done styling for friends and family (including me for a family session several years ago), she is as gifted and talented as any professional I have ever worked with.  I shared with her my vision for my first several styled ideas and she set right to work.  Initially we were just going to do it with one model and focus solely on being creative and then, boom, another friend popped into my mind….Deseree Burjakowsky and amazing jewelry designer.  I called her up and asked if we could borrow some of her jewelry for the session.   Please go to her Facebook site and like Autumn Rain Designs!  It is truly stunning. Also, Denyse suggested we use her son Dustin in the background and my story came to life.

Here are my favorite images from the session.  I am also doing a couple of art pieces, that will take some time to create, but I will share with you in the future.  I want to give a big shout out Thank you to not only Denyse & Deseree… but to my beautiful model Ava, the handsome Dustin and to Jeff, Eden and Madison for helping me put this all together and dragging props down to the beach at 5:30 am!  Enjoy!

 

I am a total sucker for teen romances and I can’t get enough of the original brat pack!  I still get excited when a new teen romance comes out and I read all the books my thirteen year old reads!  The good news is I read really fast so my selection is not limited to teen romances and the even better news is it gives me a chance to bond with my daughter and her friends.   Here is the list of Teen must reads for the summer (just an fyi, I haven’t read them all, so I don’t know about the content) from Cosmo Magazine:

The Truth About Forever- Sarah Dessen

The Impossible Knife of Memory- Larie Halse Anderson

Allegiant- Roth

Deadly- Shepard

The Hunger Games- Sue Collins

The Moon and More Sarah Dessen

The Fault in our Stars- John Green

I would love to do a 1980’s inspired session for some senior.  Here is a great look board for one of my favorites, Pretty in Pink. I definitely need to get myself a pair of the pink kicks!:

 

Celebrating Valentine's Day

Nars cosmetic
barneys.com

Nars cosmetic
beauty.com

OPI nail polish
$26 – nelly.com