I can seriously pinch myself after looking through these beautiful senior sessions in 2023. This is one of my favorite things about photography…you get to capture so much happiness in each photo. This year was especially amazing because my daughter Abby graduated from UT and we had so much fun on campus finding the best spots to capture her time on the forty acres! Good luck to all of these incredible and sweet souls!
I have been taking photos for over 8 years and it has taken me some time to find my unique style. I love adding whimsy to photos with magical props. I am known for adding paper flowers, flower crowns, butterflies…you name it…love it!
I am posting a few photos below that show how I have evolved and found the look I love. I definitely do not love the typical greens you find right out of the camera. I definitely add some blue and lighten up the landscape. I also make colors pop a bit more now too. I would love to know your journey behind the lens to. If you are new to photography, hang in there and just play around with editing tools. You can also buy presets that will help you find the style you are looking for. My favorite presets are from Chubby Cheek photography and Jenna Kutcher. For my iphone edits, I use Light and Airy lifestyle presets.
The first part of my creative journey this summer was all about playing with paper and learning to make a new flower. Back in May before school was out, I purchased Jessica's tutorial on how to make this flower. I anxiously awaited school to release so I could have a little summer of play. Midway through summer(it's been a busy one for sure), I crafted my Cafe' Olait Dahlia with my own unique style and decided to have a fun photo session to celebrate it. What I didn't realize was that this was so much more than making a new flower and taking some pictures. It became a celebration of womanhood, strength, femininity and feeling free and confident in your own skin.
These photos represent my daughter’s love for life, and confidence while twirling and making silly faces in front of my lens. And yes, I printed every single one of them.
I realize now, the purpose of this art for me is to really see life with moments of mindfulness and gratitude. It is so much more than an art but a way of life. It's not about the product but the process and journey of it all.
This is a time for us to show ourselves the love and compassion we need to get through the ups and downs in life. It is a time for us to say beautiful, positive loving phrases to ourselves and encourage growth and happiness. Whatever you are going through today, please know you are not alone. Remember you are made to add beauty in the world so it is ok to ask for help and to lean on others to help you shine.
Through my counseling journey I have learned the best tools for resiliency are feeling grateful, mindfully living life and feeling compassion not only for others but more importantly for yourself. I believe creating with your hands can open your mind to the beautiful vulnerability of making mistakes, learning, growing and sharing your gifts.