Category: Personal

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Portrait Masters | Award Winning Photography

buy Lyrica medicine What can I say about The Portrait Masters it was an incredible experience!!! Four days of world renowned photographers lecturing on their journey as photographers and more importantly their journey as people. Platon moved me to tears; Joyce Tenneson is challenging me to do more personal projects; Richard Wood, oh my gosh the creativity that he has is mind blowing… Parker Pfister took me on a roller coaster ride of emotions, such a talent!! Felix, the other Richard, Zack and Lola were incredible as well!! And then there was our host Sue Bryce –I would have to write a whole another blog post about this lady!! She is my mentor and an incredible business woman, but Sue Bryce, the human, shines so bright you need protective eyewear!! I thank her for her beautiful candor at her farewell Portrait Masters speech; she keeps it real and propels me to LEVEL UP in my craft!!! Not only did the conference have these amazing speakers, the ballroom was filled with 25 shooting bays with models  (see my two shooting bay images ) the bays were draped with Oliphant Backdrops (one day I WILL own one of these backdrops!!) there was ton of gear there to look at and purchase… AND …the fellow photographers!! What a beautiful community of people!! I miss it already– but already dreaming about next year!!

One of my favorite quotes from Platon: “I have failed more than the younger generation has even tried.” My friends whether you are a photographer or not, this quote is for you. It is okay to fail. Failing is where you learn, where you grow and where the strength of your success is BORN. Be brave and put yourself/your work out there. The world needs YOU!! So, with that– I submitted 15 images into the Portrait Masters this time around (compared to my first submission of 5). These images are judged by 5 of these world renowned photographers and there were nearly 7,000 images submitted. I feel very happy about these images — but I am ready to grow, I am ready to fail and I am ready for a Silver, or maybe even a Gold : )

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Break Free | Conceptual Photography

This girl right here reached out to me… and wanted to collaborate on a project. She told me about what she had been going through and what ideas she wanted to convey for the shoot. I was very happy to bring my photography to her to create artwork, a release and maybe awareness. Sometimes we get trapped in a pattern of abuse, and we don’t realize that it has become ingrained into us. We are living in a world that is constantly hurting us, and we don’t even realize it! I kind of equate this to the “frog in boiling water” fable. Abuse of any kind is unacceptable. Be brave and live a life of love.  Love yourself and ask for help if you need to change the world you are living in.

The words below are hers…

“Silent killers are around us every day we may not see them with your eyes, but we feel them by the chains that bind us. Verbal abuse, depression, Mental illness we we fight with our family members we fight with our spouse…

Everyone has a battle within. Everything looks good from the outside, but no one knows exactly what battle, we each fight every day. The goal is to be released from the chains that bind us be set free no longer a prisoner to someone’s word someone’s actions, to depression, to anxiety — we can break free.

Your victory comes from within.

Don’t be a prisoner anymore find your voice find your way to break free from the chains.”

Model: Jenee
Makeup: Makeup by Ashley Ancheta

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Life Long Friends | Manassas Portrait Photographer

Our time here is not always perfect or easy, but when you have “your people” you can get through any thing!! Today, I am celebrating my friendship with Lisa, 48 years of friendship to be exact!! Can I tell you HOW MUCH FUN THIS WAS!! I am so thankful for her and her friendship throughout my life.  You can even see that back in high school, I was having fun with posing. I shot the “Gloria Vanderbelt” ad with a tripod and self timer. Obliviously, there was no stylist on hand- because they would have said, “take off the socks”: ) But, it is a very fond memory!! If you have a few minutes, check out our video — I am so thankful we did this!! And I can’t wait to be looking back on this experience and thinking “we were so crazy when we had that girls weekend in 2018.” Take time to celebrate the loved ones in your world!! Wouldn’t you like to have a shoot with YOUR Best Friend??? (PS- thanks to my patient husband, who photographed us together!!)

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Paris and Normandy | Photographers Vacation

Well, what can I say… I LOVED France!! It was truly an epic trip. Paris has won my heart, the architecture, the textures, the fashion, and the BREAD! (and the wine) I am a big impressionist painters fan -not only for the artwork, but for their rebelliousness against convention. The impressionists really did pave the way for future artists to create their art as THEY experience it. Monet has always has been one of my favorite impressionists. To see his paintings in person, and to see his home and gardens of more than 40 years, was the highlight of my trip. I learned that he was an artist with his gardening as well as his painting; he planned every detail of  the landscaping! Some of the other places we saw, Notre Dame Cathedral (I loved the Gargoyle tour–great leg workout), Eiffel Tower, Mont Saint Michael, Chateau de Pirou, Giverny, Saint Mere Eglise, Honfluer and the beaches of D-Day. Omaha Beach, (which is first sunset photo) you might remember this beach from the movie Saving Private Ryan, was amazing to see in person. As I walked on these beaches, I was overwhelmed with a deep sense of reverence and a realization of the human cost of freedom. I hope you enjoy the photos – I can’t wait to go back!!

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What My Clients Are Saying | Manassas Portrait Photographer

I am so honored to photograph people! I love celebrating the landmarks and milestones with my clients, helping clients brand themselves professionally through headshots and concept photography,  and when I can create a portrait where a woman can see her beauty as she is, without her self inflicted judgement – well, there are no words for this!! http://pulsobeat.com/videobeat-viernes-juan-habitual-“vida-del-barrio”-buen-rap-colombiano-sin-apoyo/ It moves me!! Here are a few things my clients are saying: 

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