What’s so special about You?

Let’s face it. There’s a lot of real estate agents out there. But there’s only one you. A Personal Branding Session produces images for you where we show different sides of you. We let your fun side come out, your business side, your softer side…whatever makes you YOU, we want to capture.

Just starting our session, naturally nervous in front of the camera. This is the behind the scenes image that captured..

This shot!

From this corner in my studio, I got the image below.

What my Client sees looking back at her

We have this shot. She’s relaxed, she’s fun, she’s stylish, she’s someone you want to do business with.

All of the details; the shoes, the jeans, the cup, these details give a message to the viewer. They let the viewer in and the feel a connection to you. That connection makes your potential Client call you instead of your competitor.

A little photoshop magic makes this image perfect!

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Karen is into fitness, eating right, taking care of yourself. How do we photograph that? I thought she should bring a bunch of large colorful vegetables and we position them around her and her around them. They turned out great!

Setting the “table”

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Making sure it looks perfect

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Bingo!

Why would she want an image walking through my side gate?

Because that image inspired this image.

Don’t know what to photograph? You know you need more images, but head shots are the only thing you can think of? Don’t know what you should bring to your session?

No matter the industry you are in, we can photograph you in various poses and backgrounds. I’ve created a checklist that will help you grab everything you need to bring to your session. Plus, I can brainstorm other sides of your life we can capture to create an online presence that really tells your story.

How in the world?

Easy to put together, they said! Has its own carrying case to take with you to shoots, they said, which I promptly thought there’s no way in hell I’m ever taking this on location. Let me show you how easy it is, they said in all the many videos on YouTube showing how it’s done.

Uh, not so fast. Naturally, I put it together the wrong way the first time. Took it apart. Watched the video again. This one goes here, that one goes there. Wait, what are these extra ones for? Took it apart again, figured out the extra piece.

Oh, see this here, it’s for the tension you’ll need to pull the fabric. You just put it in there and screw the wing nuts in. Easy Peasy.

Sure it is.

It’s so easy for me to get that feeling that I’m very familiar with: “This won’t work for me, it always works for other people, how come I can’t put this together?” That very discouraging kind of feeling.

Me, not so much.

My whole photography journey has been like this. Honestly, if you knew the things I’ve had to put together. My storage closet is filled with gadgets, light stands, soft boxes. I even have a little box with pieces of things that I have put together that I don’t know where the little pieces now belong or what I should even do with them.

Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, Bridge, the poles that hold my backdrops. Where does one buy backdrops? How in the world can I get them up there? Even Squarespace where this blog is hosted, (drove me crazy) I’ve had to figure it all out! It’s taken years of frustration, confusion, doubts, fatigue, and even worry. But here’s the thing: there would be an empty closet, no client green room, no makeup room, (they’d be used for other purposes for sure) I wouldn’t know my favorite people that I love working with, I wouldn’t know many of my clients, even this desk I’m typing on wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the fact that one day I opened my the box my previous camera came in and said “I’m sure I can figure it out.”

So, now my current project I did it. I put it together! And she’s a beauty! Quite bigger actually than I thought it would be. What is it? It’s a reflector, of course. It curves and surrounds my client. I can see how someone would feel rather safe in front of it, to be honest. And I can’t wait to get someone in front of it to reflect light back to all the right places.

Aren’t you proud of me?

Do-Over

It doesn’t always go as planned.

For example, there was this one time went I wasn’t able to book my regular awesome make up artist. Darn it! Most of the time I’m able to book one of my awesome backup gals…Nope! Not this time! Aaack!! Still need a makeup artist. There’s gotta be someone out there. Thankfully my Client had someone in mind. Great! She booked her and we were good to go.

But the vibe wasn’t right. Nobody’s fault, but it happens.

And we all know what happens when the vibe’s not right! ha hah!

There’s no shame here, though! I’m happy to reshoot when all indications are that it would be the best for everyone. Sometimes it just doesn’t go right. Just like life, right?

I’m not a heart surgeon, a brain surgeon, or a rocket scientist (I think I actually do know one, though!).

I’m not saving lives with my photography.

Not ending world hunger, not creating world peace (although one could argue that we all feel a little more peaceful when we see a great image of ourselves amirite?), and my photography can’t keep a tornado from taking out a street in Kansas.

It’s photography. And these images are important to you.
And I want you to be happy.
So let’s reshoot!

Once I have determined that a reshoot is necessary, (and that is pretty rare if I do say so myself), I bet I WILL get it right the 2nd time around! That is my goal:

Goal #1. Happy client. Check!
Goal #2. Great images. Check!
Goal #3. And world peace. ;)

Back in 2015

Back in 2015 my studio was a tiny corner in my home office. Back in 2015 my makeup artist was in my dining room. Back in 2015 the behind the scenes images revealed pots on my stove, my dining room walls, and my living room bookcase. Back in 2015 I was giving myself grace to begin something new even though I 100% didn’t feel like I knew what I was doing.

Back in 2015 Betty Fox booked a session with me for herself and her husband. I was nervous with one client, let alone adding another! But grace…grace..

Back in 2015 my client’s clothes were on the wardrobe rack I rolled into my living room. Back in 2015, I made sure that I waited until my husband had left for work and certainly I made sure that my son knew better than to come inside and take a shower during my client’s time.

Just recently, Betty Fox contacted me to get her images. Life had gotten in the way as it often does and she wasn’t able at that time to have them. But she never forgot about that day.

Looking back at this session, I know how I felt. That nervous feeling, that imposter feeling. But I also knew I could do it. I knew that I could show Betty how beautiful she was. I knew I could provide a service to her that could make her feel worthy, taken care of, and loved.

I retrieved her images and I remembered that day, too. We had fun. She looked great! She was able to relax and enjoy herself. And when her husband joined us! It just continued to get better.

I can’t guarantee that I’ll still have images from 6 years back. And while I see the flaws in these images, and my editing style has changed, my skills have grown, all she remembers is herself on that day. With her images now safely in her possession, she will remember them forever.

Are we done yet?

She wanted it to be over. Could she possibly be thinking she was going to hate every second of it? (yup)

She procrastinated quite a bit in scheduling our session! What?? (Can you relate?)

What is it about even thinking about the camera being pointed right at you?

You’re probably thinking all of you flaws, imperfections, all of it will be readily available to be immortalized in a photo!!!

You know, it’s really not like that. I’m looking for your best angle, where the light hits your face, is your hair casting a shadow on your cheek?

Professional makeup does wonders for making your skin look dewy and clear.

And good retouching on my part makes sure those problem areas are never seen by anyone.

Could it be that having your picture taken is right up there with the dentist or giving an oral presentation at work?

But here is where I come in. You’ll have:

• A changing room for privacy

• Snacks and water

• Hair and makeup artist if you want

• Music playing and a fun environment

So, she hung up her clothes, and got in her chair. She relaxed. Luckily, getting your hair and makeup done and conversation helps with the nerves.

We got to talking. Turns out she’s from my home state, just 10 miles from my hometown. We laughed. We lamented the pandemic, we’re both moms, living in the same town, we both have sons (her 2, me 1).

We got some great shots! But 3 tops, that was it. That was her limit. (Can you relate?) No more! (And she brought more than 3!)

And get this!!! She said I made her comfortable in her own skin. Aaaaaah! One of the highest compliments I could ever hear. Who really is comfortable in their own skin while getting their picture taken!

If it’s been a while, chances are you need to update your head shot. Call me today at 818 263 2844.

Getting you comfortable in that skin of yours is my specialty.

Such a Cute Word

I started watching this little freckle on my left thumb probably 15 years ago now. Teeny tiny little freckle that had never been there before. Then, before you know it, it’s not so teeny tiny. Now it’s a little brown spot of a freckle. Harmless, thank God. It’s not anything but a freckle. “Freckle”. What a cute word.

Next thing you know it’s not so little. Wow, just like that it’s more visible. But I move on with my life and then…you guessed it. It became a little bigger. Now it’s reaching across to join up with another little freckle and the 2 of them are going to become one soon. Freckle friends.

Why do I even look at it? I can’t stop it. It’s going to do what it’s going to do. But it’s a reminder. Life is moving, day in, day out, it doesn’t stop for me or anyone. It’s time to be who I’m meant to be, do what I’m meant to do, because, before I know it, that little freckle will be a family of freckles on my thumb.

Every one of my clients have spots, or a little roll here, marks, or wrinkles they don’t want seen. I can take care of that. As a photographer, I can minimize, disguise, and even pose you in ways that trick you into ignoring them. And once that happens, their power disappears, vaporizes right before your eyes. They no longer have any importance to you.

Here’s the thing: Don’t let those little freckles stop you from acknowledging and owning your life today. See them for what they’re worth. They are reminders that, tick tock, you’re still here, another day to grab ahold of, to not let your own inner BS (you know what I’m talking about) keep you stuck.

Call me. Let’s talk about what little freckles you have.

Freckle. What a cute word.

Using the light and the shadows disguises freckles.

2 heads are better than one, making sure she looks her absolute best.

Trust

Okay, I have to be honest. I DON’T KNOW HOW I DO IT! There’s a look in many of my images and for the life of me I don’t know how I got my client to give me that look. But I know it when I see it and I get it. Nearly every time!

I used to get nervous the night before a session. I would go over and over certain poses, remember to do this, tell her to do that. I had notes written to myself. Cross one leg, chin around, drop your shoulder…and on and on.

Maybe 2021 is different. I’m older—ahem! I mean I’m wiser. I’ve accepted this about myself. Maybe it was the 2-3 month period last year where I may have lost my mind when I said I was closing my business. That did give me some perspective about how much I love to create beautiful images that will outlast all of us. I found new appreciation for my studio, located right in my backyard with my client’s very own “green” room and bathroom.

I’ve practiced a lot, I’ve been to workshops, watched a million YouTube videos, read lots of tutorials from other photographers (thank you so much!), and had lots of trial and error. I’ve even won some awards that make me feel super warm and fuzzy inside. I have to acknowledge that I do know a lot and if something stumps me, I’ll figure it out.

I may not know exactly how I get that look, but there’s something that I do know and that is that it’s in me. It’s a gift I’ve been blessed with and I trust that I’ll get it out of you, too. That look. That money shot. That shot where you suck your breath in quickly, and say “Is that really me?”

Trust me. I’ll get it out of you.

My Secret to My Cool Vibe

I don’t remember how it came up in conversation with one of my gal pals, but recently I was told that I had a “cool vibe”. To say that I instantly objected to such a thought is an understatement. And of course, the biggest objection could be heard coming from my own self.

My head is still stuck in the 70’s where all I wanted to be was Brenda Parson (I changed her name here on the off chance that someone from my high school thinks that what I have to say here is is cool enough for them to be reading and they would know who that is.)

It was primarily the clothes. “Plain Pockets” by JC Penneys. The ad said the big difference was the pocket and the price. (I found it on YouTube - hilarious!)

But really the big difference was that one of them made you cool and one didn’t. Duh. I would have done anything to have been able to wear Calvin Klein jeans.

I wish I would have known that it is really all in how you wear it. Just believe you’re cool and you’re cool! However, that point was hopelessly lost on me back then. Nowadays my secret is this: Just do it a little different, whatever “it” is. Switch it up just a little bit. Denim combined with denim is just meh. But wear a denim jacket with black pants, and now it’s cool!

My cool vibe might explain why I’m drawn to a new avenue in my business.

I want to show you how cool you are, I want to create cool, kick-ass, I-don’t-have-to-be-a-model images of my clients that reflect back to them that they are worth looking at, worth listening to, and that they are, you know….cool.

My Game Show Appearance

I was on a game show once. When it finally aired I watched it with almost disbelief. THAT’s what I looked like? That’s how I come across???
(See me at about minute 13 here)
Well…I like her.

She’s fun, she’s charming, she’s cute, she’s happy, she’s funny, she’s sweet.
What’s not to love?

THAT’S how I appear? How is that possible?
How to I think it’s one way, on the inside, and on the outside it’s so different?

This was all welcome news, this realization that I don’t suck like I thought I did.
Until the realization was gone, I was soon myself, back on the inside again.

 Every so often I get glimpses of that other girl, the one on the game show,
the one that people tell me about. But mostly it’s been a life of less-than,
not enough in any category, apologizing for what I missed, the way I dressed (this ole thing?),
what I should have said but didn’t, apologizing for who I am.

 

What a pity. What a shame. What a waste of time.

It happened again recently. I appeared as the first guest on my friend’s podcast.
Instead of a resounding “YES!!” when she asked, I was met with  a round of “Really? Are you sure? (like she wouldn’t be), Uh, what do you want me to talk about…?”

You know the drill: “What could I possibly have to say that anyone would want to listen to?”

But something happened when I listened to the recording.

I didn’t want it to end! I liked that girl! I even liked the sound of her voice! I liked how she came across, what she had to say, the funny parts and the parts full of wisdom!

This happens a lot after a photo session when I show my client their images. They can’t believe it’s them. They have to take a minute to catch their breath, sometimes they get teary eyed. “Really, that’s me?”

Really. It is.

What is perfect?

It’s not perfect and I don’t care. Because it is perfect.

It’s perfect because I love it.
It’s perfect because my client loved it.

Will it win any awards? Nope. The hair in the face is all wrong.

But we didn’t care! (Insert laughter!)

Because it made us feel something when we looked at it.
It told a story (the best images do!) and we couldn’t stop looking at it.

I have a vocal rehearsal tape from a voice lesson over 10 years ago.
In the lesson, I’m being instructed on my way of singing a certain exercise and I’m being coached on how to do it more effectively.

We then move on to another vocal exercise, and after about 2 seconds in my teacher stops, and loudly proclaims “Don’t be judging!”.

My face must have been giving it away. I was judging myself - and I‘m sure it wasn’t good!

Here’s the thing: 10 years later at that point in the tape when I’m rehearsing today, it still catches me. I still need to hear it because, right then and there, in present time, I’m judging myself - and I hear him loudly proclaim “Don’t be judging!” 10 years later, still judging.

Less judging.
More compassion.
More forgiveness.
More self love.

To you and yours.

My Weakness Is Now My Strength

Kick-ass makeup artist Mimica

I love this photo of kick-ass makeup artist Mimica. She’s always been a constant reminder to me of my worth. Do you have friends like that?

I don’t know where I picked it up, the self-loathing that I’ve had to deal with my whole life. Let me take my parents off the hook right now. I know they loved me, I know they continue to love me, and it’s not their fault.

I interpreted all kinds of messages when I was younger and those interpretations haunt me still.I’m tired of it.

It’s heavy this burden.

I want it to be gone. I wonder what I’m like without it. I’ve prayed and asked for wisdom,
I’ve read countless books,
been to seminars,
watched videos,
and even listened to various authors and speakers.

Some of that has been more helpful than others, and I end up rereading my favorites.

Why? Why do I feel this way, and better yet, how do I change it?

This is how.

My weakness has turned into my strength by teaching and showing others about self-love. Now it all makes sense.

This is the photography I really want to do. I can show you that you are not the person that you hate;

I can show you a beautiful person, a fun person, a sweet and kind person, someone that I see through my lens.

I can show you a kick-ass friend, a rock star, a super woman, a survivor. I can show you a sexy woman, an elegant classy woman, a warrior.

Do it for you.

Come to my studio and see what I’m all about. You’ll leave with images you can share, or give away or whatever. But mostly, you’ll have them for you. And you’ll be modeling good self-care for some little girl out there who needs to see that in you.

What do you do when you really F*** up?

I f***-ed up.

Nothing simple, like running out of gas, forgetting to buy something at the grocery store. No, this one was kinda big and it got attached to a belief system. And not a good belief, either. lol

I recently went to Vegas for a photography convention. In 7 years I have never been to one. I wanted to go to the trade show and see all the products and vendors that I’ve been interested in.

I want to begin offering larger prints to my clients and it’s not easy to see what those products really looked like while looking at them online. I wanted to be able to feel and touch and hold the acrylic pieces, the canvas products I had heard so much about. I wanted to see the prints on metal and see if that were something I would love.

Living where I do, it’s easy to hop onto Southwest Airlines and be in Vegas in an hour. I was to spend the day walking and looking around and then be home by dinner. I’ve never done anything like that before and I’ve never done it alone. It seemed so, so, grown up to be going to Vegas for the day for my photography business.

I felt cool.

My flight was delayed an hour. So as I sat on the plane, I got clear on what my purpose was. To keep myself from being overwhelmed, I set an intention.

1. There were 3 labs that I wanted to see for sure.

2. I wanted to come home with lots of brochures and product pictures on my iPhone.

3. I wanted to be much closer about deciding what I was going to offer going forward.

The delayed flight left me with 3 hours to get it done. Easy.

I took a taxi to the beautiful Mandalay Bay Convention Center. It was all great. I found the convention registration area and checked in.

It was official - I had a lanyard and a name tag, I’m a photographer.

But now I couldn’t find the trade show floor.

“Oh, hi, um, I was wondering if you could tell me where the exhibit hall is?”

“Oh that doesn’t start until tomorrow.”

What?

No way.

That couldn’t be.

I asked again to make sure, “Tomorrow? The trade show is tomorrow?” “Yes, that’s right.” “Okay, great. Thanks.” I smiled. The last thing I needed was for them to know that I was wrong.

I kept walking. No way. That can’t be true. I think I asked the wrong question, they must not have understood me right. I kept walking. Finally, seeing some others I asked them the same question and got the same answer.

No way.

It was right about this time that the embarrassment took over. And then the shame. And the belief I mentioned earlier came roaring up.

“OMG, you are not one of the hotshot photographers you so admire.

You can’t come in. You don’t belong. Did you think you were some superstar? HA!

You’re not. You came all this way, went through all the hassle to be here, and you still are on the outside looking on.

You think you’re so smart, seriously, you’re never going to get your business to their level.
C’mon, who are you kidding?”

And on and on. I didn’t really hear words, or voices, certainly not full sentences. It’s more like a general knowing, an understanding that

I suck and they don’t.

Outsider. Not cool. Loser. Don’t let anyone know this is really who you are.

I decided to check online at the website for this convention. There it was looking back at me on my phone screen.

How could I have missed this? It starts tomorrow. I took a taxi back to the airport.

A loser. This F*** up just confirmed the obvious.

That I am not, and never will be, in that crowd - the cool crowd, the confident crowd, the crowd with all the other photographers.

Over the next several days, the belief pecked away at me. "It was just a mistake” I kept trying to tell myself. But it had gotten in me. I was down.

I sulked.
I was tired.
Unmotivated to do much of anything.
For the next several days I kept thinking about it with unbelief. I had done all the necessary steps to be there, was standing in the convention center, and it didn’t start until tomorrow. OMG

I tried to forget about it.
Ignore it.
Laugh it off, mistakes happen.
But it was the belief about my mistake that was taking me down. It wasn’t the actual mistake - it’s what I had decided that it meant.

Here’s where it gets good. Finally. This is what I ended up doing about it.

I reached out.

I’m in a small mastermind circle of other photographers and I told them what had happened. I received their love and agreement that they would have felt the same way. That was nice.
But then, I got a plan. My coach gave me a way out. Told me that this belief needed to be rewired and it needed to be done now.
She promised me that this belief, this strong feeling of less-than, would come back as it has in the past over and over again. She gave me a plan to rewire it. I took a chance, I decided to believe her, and I did it.

#1 was to write down everything good that happened because of my trip to Vegas. It wasn’t ALL bad, nor could it have been. There’s always good to be found.
Admittedly, this was a little hard. My way of looking at something like this is pretty black and white. But there were some good things that happened.
I got caught up on my favorite podcasts as I walked around the airport waiting to come home. One good thing.
I was able to practice the act of getting quiet and setting an intention. Good thing I guess.
I was able to be a kind person to the big dude sitting next to me and listened to what he needed to talk about. Good thing.

However, nothing magical was happening to my psyche at this point.

#2 Then I was to actually write out the entire dialogue of negative crap that enveloped me. This took some doing. Like I said, I really don’t hear voices, no complete sentences. It was just a feeling. So I had to sit with it for a while and let it come up.

And it did. Here’s a sampling:

“You don’t belong here. (Have you ever felt like that?)

Who do you think you’re kidding, you’ll never take images like that anyway, like you’re some big superstar or something. (Have you ever been so mean to anyone like that?

I’m so embarrassed. This is so like me. (Aaack, so mean!)

There you go - this is PROOF that you’re not a player and never will be…”

Have YOU ever felt like a big faker?

That’s how these things go for me. I stay and belong in the low middle of life. (Wow, harsh..)

And on and on. It was a lot. I sat and just let it come up and up and up. Wow.., I would never talk this mean, this snotty, this awful to someone I didn’t like, let alone to someone I did. Wow.

I sat with my list of self-hate and read each statement out loud. I looked in the mirror, at the person reflected back at me and calmly, sweetly, with love asked myself if each statement was true? (Honestly, you should try this.)

Really?

I kept asking myself, looking at myself, reading the hatred until…it lessened. I smiled.

#3 Next and final action was to counter attack the negative voice by coming up with ways I could have made the trip a success - even though. What could I have done instead of putting my tale between my legs and gone home?

This too was hard to think of. The whole act of thinking of this list was challenging my belief system that I suck.

Well, let’s see. I’m a photographer. I didn’t have my camera with me, but I had my iPhone. I could have taken really cool images of the beautiful architecture all around. I bet there was a fountain somewhere, too. Maybe I could have used these images in future marketing pieces.

I was in a really nice casino/hotel. I could have found the spa and gotten a really nice spa treatment. Why? Because I’m freaking awesome and deserve it, that’s why!

I believe it was right about here that I started to feel stronger, better, worthy. The big lie was destroyed, I didn’t believe it anymore. It was an incredible feeling!

Maybe it’ll come back, it might, but now I have a plan, a way to honor myself, forgive myself, and believe in myself again.

We’re all going to mess up. Big ones, little ones. Use the opportunity to check in with yourself to see if you’re telling yourself any big lies about what the mistakes mean.

That’s the kicker.

Business not where you want it to be? Probably telling yourself some lies.

Relationships not where you want them to be? You’ve got responsibility in there and I bet it has to do with your belief about who you are and what you deserve and what you have to give.

Health not so good? How’s your weight? Belief system again.

It’s everything. Our beliefs run our lives.

One of my goals for this year, especially in this new decade, (ahem) I want to finally get over, get beyond, grow so that by the end of this year, at my next birthday, I won’t give a shit about a f**k up. I’m tired of dealing with this crap.

Anyone?

What’s next as I continue to work through this and integrate it into my photography? Stay tuned.

Namaste, peace, and much love.

In her own words

“Boudoir photos … not something I ever dreamed of doing.  I’ll be 64 years old in a month, and have been overweight for most of my life.  My husband of 26 years died 6 years ago, and I was fortunate to find another man who loved me as I am.  I’ve lost some weight, and my body isn’t what it used to be.  Okay, let’s be honest, it never was the kind of body that would pose for boudoir photos

So when Liz invited me to do a boudoir photo shoot, my first reaction was to run.   But my mouth didn’t agree, and before I knew it, I said yes.

On the day of my shoot, I shaved my legs (first time in a year – menopause has its perks!) and showed up for the photo shoot.  I was NERVOUS.  So much so that I was actually perspiring, even though temperatures were in the 50’s.  I was wishing I was in my 50’s too … what am I doing here?  I’m not sultry, I’m not sexy, I’m definitely not glamorous, I’m none of the words that would describe the girls/women who have “those kinds” of pictures taken.

Liz’s studio is a sweet place, clean and beautifully decorated.  There’s a little room where you sit in a movie star chair to have your makeup done, and another little room that’s filled with pretty dresses and blouses and sparkly things you can wear.  All around me are images of beautiful women.  Some from magazines, some from photos Liz has taken herself. There’s a pretty pink upholstered chair and a mattress on the floor with white sheets on it.  Liz tells me that will be for me.  Oh my god, why did I say yes?

Mimica, the makeup and hair artist, arrives, bringing with her a whirlwind of energy.  She has a suitcase full of makeup and brushes and eyelashes and hairbrushes and flat irons and crimpers and before I know it, she’s working her magic on my face and my hair.  I’m surprised to see someone who looks rather pretty looking back at me in the mirror.  We are chatting about life and love, like old friends, and we’ve known each other all of 30 minutes. 

Liz asks me to put on a black silky robe and has me stand in front of a window.  She’s off to the side of me, snapping photos, telling me how to move my head, place my hands, stopping to fluff up my hair, carefully positioning the neckline of the robe as it’s draped around my shoulders, making it look like it accidentally slipped down behind me.  I feel kind of silly, as if I would stand in front of a window, eyes lowered, looking out, with my hand “just so”. Click, click, click.  Liz looks down at her camera and says “Oh wow, you’re not going to believe these pictures” and she shows me one.  I stop for a moment because I’m secretly wondering who is that gentle, pretty woman in the photo.  It’s me.   

Wardrobe change time, Mimica is helping Liz adjust furniture and light and backdrops, also reassuring me that these photos are going to be gorgeous!  Liz asks me to change into a big oversized pink sweater, and asks me to sit on the edge of the beautiful chair.  I comply, following every direction she gives me.   I’d learned to tilt my chin down and hold the phone up when taking selfies, but the direction Liz was giving me was so much more.  Just a tiny bit down, cock your head to one side, minute adjustments, until I’m right where she wants me.  Click, click.  More ooh-ing and ahh-ing from Liz, as she admires what she’s capturing.

Another wardrobe change, this time a crisp white men’s dress shirt, embellished with long strings of pearls, over my strapless bra.  I tell her I don’t think that shirt will fit me and she laughs her sweet easy laugh, explaining we’re not going to button it up.  She plays with the collar, getting it to look just right, as if I’d casually thrown it on.  What’s this feeling I’m having?  Is it, could it be, a little bit … sexy?  Oh wow, that’s it, and I like it!

We continued on, with Liz choreographing every nuance of the position of my face, my hands, my shoulders, capturing the sunlight while it was still at the perfect angle.  And then it was time for the bed.  I’m (almost) feeling ready, so I lay on my stomach, propping myself up with pillows so I can lift my head just so.  Liz continues to direct me.  She’s sometimes on a ladder shooting down, sometimes sprawled out on the floor herself, to get the angle she wants.  My hands are carefully positioned for every shot, the tilt of my head just so.  And then we are done.

The pictures are ready in a few days and I can’t wait to see them.  I’m thinking they are going to be good, and they ARE.  Each one prettier than the last.  This is me?  This is ME???  Damn! I can’t wait to share them with my husband, who ogles them (nicely!) and says, “Yep!  I get to sleep with HER!!!” 

Were the photos for him?  Originally, yes.  But now they are for ME.  They are a reminder of the beauty others see in me, of the woman I am becoming, every day, as I continue to mature and nurture myself.  I’ve come a long way in my almost-64 years.  I like what I see.  And I’m excited to see what’s next!”

 

"You Have Life"

Waiting for jury duty is not exactly where I thought I’d be inspired. There I was, on New Year’s Eve on my 60th birthday, sitting through juror orientation. It’s pretty simple stuff; enter your name here, fill it out in blue or black ink, same ole same ole

After the first “juror city employee lady” came out and explained some stuff, and after a random judge came in and thanked us for being there (that was nice), “juror city employee lady” #2 came out. She picked up the mic, and looked at all of us and said “good morning ladies and gentlemen”.

We mumbled back “good morning”. And that’s when the inspiration in a few simples words was said by this city employee. (Maybe she had said it a few times before.)

In a very loud and spirited voice she said “Ladies and Gentleman YOU HAVE LIFE!”. You woke up this morning - many people did not. YOU HAVE LIFE! Our armed services are working around the globe to protect your life…YOU HAVE LIFE! So, I want to say to you again: Ladies and Gentlemen Good Morning!”

We all sat up a little taller and with more conviction responded back to her GOOD MORNING!

Oh how she impacted me. I didn’t want to be there. Don’t get me wrong, Jury Duty is really not that bad. In fact I find it very interesting. I like giving my opinion and answering the judge’s questions. I met 2 other nice women and we bonded over lunch. But, still, I didn’t want to be there. Not on that day. And yet hearing her say YOU HAVE LIFE with a little twinkle in her eye, she moved me. I do have life and every day should be celebrated, played out in full, whether it’s in a Los Angeles Courtroom where I’d rather not have been, or anywhere else.

I believe life should be celebrated and having a photo session is part of that celebration. Capturing all the different sides of you, all of your life is my way of honoring you and yours. I invite you and challenge you to contact me. Let’s talk about your life.

Rachel and Liz (her sister)

“I don’t need any new shots of me, but I’d love some photos of me and my sister.” Oh, how I’d love to have images of me with my sisters. I applaud Rachel for making this happen with hers. These 2 ladies are so different but very connected. I loved photographing them.

Bonnie Keith

This woman..you just want to be around her. She’s kind and creative, she’s easy-going but she’s no push over. She’s lived a life full of stories, which makes her someone that doesn’t get too wrapped up in the details. And I like her a lot. You would too.

Laurie Rowland

This amazing woman can be found daily at my gym. She’s strong, she’s feisty, and she’s kind. A great combination. And another great thing? She was open to try anything I wanted her to. Now that’ll take you far!

My Turn in Front of the Camera

THOUGHTS WHILE DRIVING TO MY PHOTO SESSION AND FEELING KIND OF "MEH".

"I wonder if my hair will calm down. I hope so.  Today, of all days. I hope I brought the right clothes and, dang it, I I left my favorite dress at home. Oh well.

It's not going to matter.  I've had my photos taken before, so today is no big deal. I sure wish my hair wasn't so poofy.  I hope this doesn't take too long. 

I sure wish my hair wasn't poofy.
Did I remember to bring that dress? No....
My makeup always looks the same anyway. 
What time will we be done...

REALITY

All that couldn't be farther from the truth of what really happened. The session was all about me and, which actually helpmed me to relax.  That helped me to feel better and not worry about my poofy hair. That, in turn, made me feel better. And there, in her wardrobe rack, was the perfect sparkly dress. And I liked hers better than the one I left at home.

And, one by one, my fears and worries seemed to leave. I stepped into someone else that was worthy of all this attention and affection. It felt awesome.

Please read that again: "I stepped into someone else that was worthy of all this attention and affection."  Don't you think that worthiness carried over into the rest of my day? You bet it did!

Even though I'm a photographer and I pose people all the time, I still can't pose myself. So having her there to pose me and bring it out of me made it all the better. This photo shoot was fun! 

Huh. Who knew? 

MY BIGGEST TAKE-AWAY

When I showed images to friends and family I got the love of "wow, you look great!". But then - wait for it...here's what I heard: "what are you going to do with them?" And my favorite one:

WHY??

Why did I need that picture of me in the sparkly dress? Sure, Liz, you look great, but there was always this sense of WHY? What am I going to do with it? 

1. Why not?
2. Because it makes me feel good every time I look at it.
3. Because it reminds me of how I felt the day I let that woman come out and play.
4. Because I'm 59 years old and I LOOK AMAZING.
5. Because I am on my side, I support and believe in me, and I am a shining light TO MYSELF first so that I can then share it with others.
6. Because in this world where life likes to take us down, I look at that image and say to myself "You've got this, girl."
7. And I believe it.

That's why. And here's something that could possibly shock those people even more: Are you read for this? 

I am having that image printed - BIG! It's going to be 30X40 smack dab on my wall in my office! I challenge you to get a tape measure and bring it to your wall and measure how big 30X40 actually is. Now, why on earth would I pay the money to do that and have it framed and then hang it on my wall?? Do I think I'm all that? Am I in love with myself? Am I full or pride, does this mean I'm self-centered? No it does not. 

Listen, I need to talk to you about that. No matter who you are or what you do, if you are an entrepreneur who is out there hustling every day to grow your business, if you are commuting every day in corporate America, if you are a stay-at-home-Mom, you need to be on your side. You need to encourage yourself first before you can encourage others, you need to make sure that your own self-care is very near the top of your list (dare I say at the TOP of that list?), you need to believe in you because how else are you going to do what you need to do to make it if you don't believe in YOU? No one else is going to do this for you. It can be a rough world out there. Who's got your back? You do that's who. Having this photo taken, then having it printed and framed and put on a wall, reminds me that I am worth it, that I AM WORTH it. It's a mind-set thing - that's what this picture, this HUGE picture is all about. 

I wasn't always like this. Even now I can hear this voice in my head thinking that there'll be someone reading this that won't get it and will think that I think that I'm just the best thing ever. Okay - whatever! If there ever was a time to let that shit go, it's when you turn 59 and you look like this in a photograph! Do I look like this every day - no. Do I think that it's all makeup and photoshop? Makeup and photoshop can only go so far. You have to have something going on before the camera ever takes its first shot. Do I want to go around looking like this all the time? Oh hell no. That's not the point. The point is that on this day, right before my 59th birthday, this was me. And I'm proud of this woman. I believe in her. I love her. She's super-cool and really fun and funny and nice, too. And when I walk by this image on those days when I need to bring it, I will look at her and say, "Girl, you've got this."

Julie and Judy

Julie and Judy

These two ladies are truly the definition of "complimentary". Where one is weak, the other is strong. Meet July and Judy, real estate business partners that needed new images to update their social media business presence. Where one is flamboyant, the other is calm. I knew it was going to be a challenge to get them to love their images - but I was up ready for it. And they did!! I believe I am correct in saying they both were surprised at how much they loved them. And boy did we have fun.

Julia

Have you ever known people that you know you should just know them, for whatever reason. Maybe you have mutual friends, their name keeps popping up, you just think to yourself "I should know her." That's how it was with Julia. Julia is a Regional Vice President with Arbonne and we know so many of the same people. I was so happy when she wanted me to provide her with images for her to use in advertising materials announcing her promotion to VP. (And, of course, a beautiful image in a gorgeous dress because you just never know when you'll be needing one. )