As an artist I have worked very hard to find my style, everyone has a style but sometimes it takes awhile to recoginize it.  The style I love for my photographs is for them to look crisp, clean and modern.  It is a style I use throughout my life including how I dress and how I decorate.  Every once in a while though I like to step outside my style and try something different and fun!  Such was the case a couple weeks ago when I spotted this really cool vintage firetruck parked at the race track!  I already knew I wanted to pull the color and texture out on... Read more..]]> As an artist I have worked very hard to find my style, everyone has a style but sometimes it takes awhile to recoginize it.  The style I love for my photographs is for them to look crisp, clean and modern.  It is a style I use throughout my life including how I dress and how I decorate.  Every once in a while though I like to step outside my style and try something different and fun!  Such was the case a couple weeks ago when I spotted this really cool vintage firetruck parked at the race track!  I already knew I wanted to pull the color and texture out on it in a photograph, I wanted it to be very edgy and bold which is different then my normal style.  I really lucked out on the next part though because I was able to grab my sister in law and her boyfriend for a 5 min photoshoot as it started drizzling.  They were the perfect subjects because their style is edgy and bold and I knew it would work for the look I was going for!  Sometimes things just fall into place and they were thrilled to oblige me!  We literally spent 5 min on this shoot as the rain started to pick up and I didn’t want to get my camera too soaked.  Thank you to my little brother for being my assistant and holding my lenses under his shirt to keep them dry!

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I think most girls have a routine whenever we have a big party coming up!  We spend weeks trying on dresses to find the perfect one and then it is on to search for shoes and the cutest purse we can find. We also book appts to get our nails done and of course our hair. I like to stop off at the MAC makeup counter and have my makeup done professi... Read more..]]>

I think most girls have a routine whenever we have a big party coming up!  We spend weeks trying on dresses to find the perfect one and then it is on to search for shoes and the cutest purse we can find. We also book appts to get our nails done and of course our hair. I like to stop off at the MAC makeup counter and have my makeup done professionally. After I’ve spent all the time and effort on everything else it seems wrong to just go with my normal makeup routine. It is fun to have someone who knows what they are doing spice up my look for the night!

So how does this relate to photography? Well I don’t think preparing for a party is that much different from preparing for your photo shoot. Oh and a party only lasts one night whereas you will be looking at your photographs for years to come! I’ve already shared my outfit idea board for my photoshoot and after a trip to the nail place I’m sporting a sweet French mani/pedi combo. So I wanted to share some tips on makeup with you that not everyone may know. I’m not giving actual advice on putting on makeup because let’s face it I’m still figuring that out myself! I’m giving you tips on having your make up professionally done without breaking the bank.

I stopped off at the new Sephora store in Spotsylvania Towne Centre to find out the scoop on their policies for makeup consultations! They offer full consultations and express services that I did not know about. A full consult requires the purchase of a $50 giftcard and an appt be set ahead of time. I look at the purchase requirement as a non issue because if you are like me and are going to be spending money on skin care and makeup anyway then you are really out anything. Instead you are getting a bonus of having your make up done! I tend to purchase products they use on me because I love how I look when they’re done but it is pretty easy to keep that giftcard and when you need mascara or eyeliner then you are all set.  What is really great is that if you aren’t interested in a full consult or don’t want to spend the $50 they offer free express services! Ever wanted to try out a smoky eye look or need help with finding the perfect lipstick they can help you for free!!!! So if you are pretty adept with makeup but want your eyes to pop more in your photos I think it is awesome that you can stop by Sephora and they can help you out. It is a great way to put that extra polish on your makeup for your photos.

I heard a great tip at the Fredericksburg Bridal Show for brides that are having professional makeup is to schedule your makeup trial to coincide with a bridal session or engagement photo session.  It gives you a chance to see how your makeup will look in photos before the wedding day! 

I hope this helped and I plan to stop by Sephora before my photo shoot!

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I photographed N about a month ago and gave a quick sneak peek of her in her adorable pink ruffled dress!  Her mom and grandparents loved the photos and I'm back to share more.  N was a total ham and I managed to burn her out in about 30 min.  Ah the joys of being a kids photographer, I can play with them till they get grumpy and then hand them back to Mom and Dad!  N cracked me up because she is not a big fan of bugs and trying to find a spot outdoors to have her sit without an ant or two crawling around was a challenge.  Her mom brought her two pretty dr... Read more..]]> I photographed N about a month ago and gave a quick sneak peek of her in her adorable pink ruffled dress!  Her mom and grandparents loved the photos and I’m back to share more.  N was a total ham and I managed to burn her out in about 30 min.  Ah the joys of being a kids photographer, I can play with them till they get grumpy and then hand them back to Mom and Dad!  N cracked me up because she is not a big fan of bugs and trying to find a spot outdoors to have her sit without an ant or two crawling around was a challenge.  Her mom brought her two pretty dresses to wear and she rocked them both.  She looked just like Belle from Beauty in the Beast in one of them!  We had fun running up and down the marina and through the grass and I was able to get a variety of great photographs of N.  Check them out!

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Sneak Peak of an adorable little girl I photographed last week! I seriously wanted her pink dress for me but I don't think I would have looked as cute!

So I swore last year that this would be my 2nd annual 29th birthday and I would not turn 30!  Well I've decided to gracefully accept the fact that I am no longer a twentysomething.  I"m not going to wallow in misery instead I'm going to have fun and celebrate a new chapter in my life!  I have a new dress, I've lost almost 10lbs (thank you Weight Watchers) and I'm having a birthday party at the local pub.  Instead of drowning my sorrows I will be celebrating with friends and family with whatever hard cider they have in stock :)  I plan to laugh a lot and tr... Read more..]]> So I swore last year that this would be my 2nd annual 29th birthday and I would not turn 30!  Well I’ve decided to gracefully accept the fact that I am no longer a twentysomething.  I”m not going to wallow in misery instead I’m going to have fun and celebrate a new chapter in my life!  I have a new dress, I’ve lost almost 10lbs (thank you Weight Watchers) and I’m having a birthday party at the local pub.  Instead of drowning my sorrows I will be celebrating with friends and family with whatever hard cider they have in stock   I plan to laugh a lot and try not to end up with a hangover.  I’m crossing my fingers for lemon cake with lemon icing because it is my favorite!  In honor of my 30th birthday I’m posting a montage of photos of me through the years.  I am leaving out the really heinous ones because hey it is my blog and I can do that   I am totally including some photos of my little sister when she was a baby just so when I post them to Facebook I can tag her!  I’m sure she will be thrilled, lol!!!  Forgive the quality on some of these photos, they were scans from a couple years ago. 

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I'm waaaaayyyy behind on blogging this session but it was too cute to not share!  I photographed baby Aiden when he was just a couple weeks old and created the announcements for his Mom and Dad to send out.  So when the holidays came around they contacted me to do a family session!  I was super excited because Raeanne and Jodi are really awesome and I wish they lived closer so we could hang out more!  We met in Alexandria since that was a midway point between the two of us.  I love Old Town Alexandria because there are so many great backdrops at every corn... Read more..]]> I’m waaaaayyyy behind on blogging this session but it was too cute to not share!  I photographed baby Aiden when he was just a couple weeks old and created the announcements for his Mom and Dad to send out.  So when the holidays came around they contacted me to do a family session!  I was super excited because Raeanne and Jodi are really awesome and I wish they lived closer so we could hang out more!  We met in Alexandria since that was a midway point between the two of us.  I love Old Town Alexandria because there are so many great backdrops at every corner.  I could spend an entire day wandering around finding new nooks and crannies to shoot in.  Aiden was so big compared to the last time I saw him!  It is funny because for some reason the newborn image is what sticks in my mind when I think of my clients babies so when I see them again and they are so big and different I’m shocked.  Aiden was a really good with the shoot and lasted much longer then I expected, when they are that little I know we are running on their happy schedule!  We got a lot of great photographs and I had a lot of fun editing the photos.

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