3 Maryland cuties visit me in Michigan for a summer water photoshoot

Maryland kids travel to Michigan
for summer photoshoot

Summer photoshoot playing in the flowers
and splashing in the pond

   Brother and Sister. For me, I’ll never know what that’s like. Both my husband and I are only children. And some people may have siblings but they will never appreciate what that could mean for them.
   And then there is this beautiful family. They know the true meaning of family. They have a deep love for each other that also crosses the line into best friends. That’s something I hope everyone can have, whether it’s “blood” or “water” we all deserve to have people in our lives that are there no matter what, thru it all, the good and bad, and the extremely beautiful.
   I met Hannah-Mae and Alexx 5 years ago when the girls came to me to build their model portfolio. We shot together often, making some of my best and my most favorite work at that time, and that allowed us to grow close over that next year.  And then... they moved.
   But 4 years went by and I got a message from their mom telling me they would be making a visit home all the way from Maryland and wanted to book a shoot! And this time they would be bringing along their new little brother- who I think is secretly a superhero, but I know that’s top secret stuff.
   4 years later and my 2 favorite little models came back as amazing, well rounded, shining little women who are now a competitive cheerleader, competitive swimmer, cello player, and fashionista! And that little brother Gabe, he’s a silly, smiley, partially tough guy who has some intense muscles.
   I am SO thankful for them and the relationship we’ve ALL built together. They remind me that there are loving, caring people out there, and being able to photograph them all together sharing those moments made my whole summer. Until next time girls, and my new lil super hero friend.   

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Check out the full Family Gallery

To see more outdoor family shoots check out Stacy's Session

If you want to see another siblings shoot check out Sonal & Girls

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Naked on the Back Roads of Vegas

creating vulnerable fine art

How Jena Malone and Brooke Shaden taught me to strip my life down and be free.

   A few months ago I picked up the oversized As If magazine with Jena Malone on the cover. The photograph was extremely intriguing. That was the only reason why I really cared. Sure… Jena's character on the Hunger Games was kinda interesting, but not enough for me to really want to learn about her as a person.
   And then I read her interview.
   And then I was wrong.
   In it she talked about how horrible Hollywood can be and sometimes you just need to take your top off.
   I thought to myself… isn’t that kind of a typical Hollywood answer though? Let’s all just get naked!
   Then I kept reading.
   She herself was interested in photography, nature, exploring… actually being a very intriguing character herself. And then it got me thinking.
   What would it be like to roll around in the dirt naked? Or take a walk outside, naked.
   Because you’re presently all living in 2016 and the world is totally corrupt and overly sexualizes everything, I can see how you might think, as I did, that this is a bit much. Then I thought about it more as an instinctual thing, more caveman like, more natural, and then I realized. I got her point. Sometimes you just have to strip it all away away and be simple.

   Fast forward a few months after that when I attended WPPI in Las Vegas. Sin City. Ironic? I think not.
   I took a class with the amazing and inspirational Brooke Shaden. The class was on making vulnerable art.
   Now, we learned a lot in the class, but the main point was- what is it in your life or at that moment that makes you feel vulnerable? Embrace that, show that, share that, and you may just get someone in return opening up and living vulnerably.

   Vulnerable is defined as: susceptible to physical or emotional attack or harm.

   How many times do we open our selves up for attack?
   I’ve always been a pretty honest and open person, especially with my art, so I feel like I may actually do it more than most. Not because I want to be attacked but because I have a NEED to express myself. And because my mom always taught me to be proud of who I am and take nothing from anyone, vulnerability wasn’t always a bad thing.
   But… I did realize there’s one thing that makes me vulnerable both emotionally and physically and that’s nudity.
   Clothes physically protect us from harm. Clothes emotionally protect us from harm. Yet I find myself, when wanting to make RAW art , that clothes get in the way. They cover us up and give us a completely different view of people.
   Think about it- don’t we judge people on their clothes and hair right away? Not in a bad way, it’s just a way that allows us to communicate to the world who we are. Imagine if clothes were gone and all I had to judge YOU on was… you. ONLY who you are in your own skin. Pure emotion and truth.
   Feeling vulnerable yet? Yeah… I am.

   So… My husband and I rented a car, drove miles and miles in to the deserted mountains of Nevada, and I became vulnerable and free.
 

   Envisioned and Edited by me. Shot and perfected by my husband.

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View all my Self Portraits

If you like this one check out my self Portrait Shedding Layers & The Revolution

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Check out this short video of us behind the scenes on our adventure!