“Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last you create what you will.”

-George Bernard Shaw

I am a girl of few words.  Anyone who follows my work knows that about me.  I want my images to speak for me.

So, please bear with me as I attempt to put my feelings and thoughts into words.

When I started this journey into the world of photography 8 years ago, I was constantly shooting creatively…for me.  Photography was like oxygen in the midst of life’s trials.  The camera truly was an instrument of healing that God gave me.  I lived and breathed everything photography.  I would take my often unwilling daughters out into a field and quench my thirst.  I was selfish like that. LOL  My girls were my muse…and I miss those days.  I am SO very grateful for where photography has brought me today, and I have been submerged into the building of my brand and my business for 6 years.  It is still a work in progress.

This past year has been by far my most rewarding and most challenging.  I started to feel the “burn”.   I felt like a juice box, where everyone had a straw placed and was literally sucking the creativity out of me.  I knew I needed to re-fuel, or I would never grow as an artist.

On my way home from shooting in Portland this past December, I had an epiphany.  Well, it was a “duh” moment really.  I needed a session where I would have complete creative control and allow myself to be reflected in the scene. My mind was racing, and my creative juices were flowing.  I literally pulled off the hwy into a rest area ,(I avoid those places like the plague..pretty sure that is where serial killers hang. LOL) , and sent a text to my creative director and stylist Danielle of Simple Marie.  Now, knowing she was 36 weeks pregnant, I only asked to borrow a piece that she made a couple years back for the shoot.  Danielle listened, and saw my vision.  She went 110% full steam ahead on this project.  She and I fuel each other creatively…and I don’t know how I got so blessed to be able to work with her.  Danielle sent me a plethora of dress ideas the next morning, and she BLEW MY MIND with what she made in TWO short weeks.   She hears my ideas, expands on them, and over delivers.  Danielle is going to be famous someday…I just know it.

My original vision was an ethereal bridal session with winter tones…in the snow..if I could find some.  I have ALWAYS loved the drama behind a black wedding dress..and well, lets be honest, the odds of my getting to photograph a “real” bride in a black wedding dress are slim to none.  I wanted the contrast of the black against the white.  I wanted to challenge myself with a difficult exposure situation as well…this was supposed to stretch me.

We were having a very mild winter, and there was no precipitation most of December and early January.  Therefore, I was giving up on the idea that we would have any snow to shoot in, and I couldn’t drag Danielle up to the top of mountain at 38 weeks!  The date for the shoot arrived, and when we woke up that morning, I couldn’t believe it.  Huge soft snowflakes were falling.  SCORE.  It was SO cold, but my model reassured me she could handle it!  We all bundled up, and headed to the first location.  The clouds had broken up, and we had little bouts of sun breaking through.  The first look was this amazing taupe and creme tulle dress, a feather bouquet, and a lace crown that Danielle made.  The flower adorned chandelier was also designed by Danielle.  She pretty much rocked my socks.

Just as we were finishing up this set, it started snowing these little tiny snow pellets.  Poor Taylor was fuh-reezing!! However, she was still able to look life-like and warm in the midst of the polar temperatures.  We had two assistants with us holding huge umbrellas to keep my gear dry..THANK YOU Laura Nelson and Amanda Messing!!!  We could not have done it without you!!!

The second set (part 2 feature coming on Monday) was shot after we warmed ourselves by the fire at Callahans lodge.  THANK YOU to the staff for allowing us to use your facility for wardrobe change!  The temperature dropped to around 17 degrees farenheit , and I have to say I have never been so cold in my life.  I seriously thought my trigger finger was going to fall off from frost bite. Not to mention miss Taylor, our model, was in a strapless dress!

Once the shoot was over, and I thawed out enough to look through the images, I let out a huge sigh of satisfaction.  I felt complete and utter contentment.  Not because the dresses were amazing. Not because I had this gorgeous model to work with. Not because of the images.  No…it was because I re-discovered myself as an artist.  I felt that spark again.  It fueled my desire to continue to create and to shoot for myself.  It gave me the confidence to try new things and to encourage other photographers to do the same.

In this over saturated market, it’s easy to be influenced by what you think everyone wants.  Find your voice.  Get out and create. You will be glad you did.

XO