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LOOK

I am currently designing a 20-page book for my IN-Design class.  I share this class with copywriters, graphic designers, art directors, etc., so these projects are designed to allow each of us to tailor the direction of the project to our specific interests.  Being a photography student, I wanted the focus to be more on the photography and less on the design, so I decided to do a makeup tutorial, photographing step-by-step instructions on achieving a specific high-fashion look.  I knew exactly what I wanted, down to the color of the "blue-jay" background paper, which I sought out specifically for this project.  I'm almost done with the design of the book, but I thought you might appreciate some of the images now.

Many thanks to my amazing friends who came together to make this project a reality.  As always, BEN ... Meli (makeup), Frances (model) and Felicia - I really enjoyed working on this project together.  I hope you enjoy these as much as I do! 

  

 There are a total of 14 steps to achieve this look, and if I can figure out how to do it, I will post my final book design on here with all of the photography.  
 

Blah

I'm having one of those days.  One of those days where things that should usually take 10 minutes, take 3 hours to get done.  One of those days where I seem to catch every red light, and the grocery bag rips from the bottom before I can make it to my doorstep.  One of those days, yup, one of those days. 

The end of my first quarter is rounding up, so I'm working 18 hr days, trying to tie up all of the loose ends.  I wanted to share a little bit of the latest with you - and I'm excited to share some fun, more conceptual projects that are coming up.  Happy Friday! 

 

Goodnight, Miami

 
 

Te Quiero, Miami

Sometimes, I have to pinch myself because I can't believe the reality of where I live.  I grew up in a landlocked state, so our yearly vacays to Florida were always the big event of the year.  

The weeks spent in Florida (Naples, PCB and Daytona), were some of the most magical and exciting times of my life.  Each year, in honor of one of many family traditions, we would stop at the same orange stand at the entry of the Florida State line to savor a glass of freshly squeezed OJ.  I'll never forget the unmistakable bite of that first taste, so beautifully tangy and delish.  Afterward, I'd scoop out the remaining pulp from the bottom of my glass and lick it from my fingertips.  Ahhh, life was grand.  

Florida always seemed to smell different, too.  Its strangely familiar scent seemed to lighten the 15hr+ load of being in the car together, and we were once again united by the excitement of what was ahead.  Windows down, the air was fluffy and sweet.  I would lay my head back, open the window, inhale and exhale, and gaze up at the palm trees swaying in the wind as we passed them by. The warmth of the air in my lungs was a far departure from the 20-30 degree weather we always seemed to leave behind.

My friends here find it hilarious that, after four years, I still manage to proclaim my love for Miami on a daily basis.  It's become the source of amusement for many, as it never fails to happen.  But I do feel lucky to live here.  I feel fortunate to share this amazing city with the love of my life, Ish, Pig, Ojos and Kita.  I love that we have our little space in this world, tucked away on 6th and Meridian, next to a quaint cafe, serving the best cafe cubano ever.

I love Miami.  And I'm starting to think that she might love me, too.  Everything seems to be flowing these days, and Miami is the perfect setting for all of these positive changes.  Because I love her, I decided to walk her streets yesterday, hoping to capture just a few of the reasons why I adore her this much. 

 

 
  

 
 

   See?  She's got a lil' somethin' for everyone.

All the Pretty Horses

I imagine every little girl grows up dreaming of having her own horse.  I used to fantasize about owning a jet-black horse with a white diamond on its forehead, and even planned to name him/her Midnight.  Obviously that dream never came to fruition, but somewhere tucked deep inside my heart, I still think about trading in this hectic city life for acres and acres of open land.   Blame it on the Kentucky in me, but I guess it's just in my blood.

The grace, elegance and presence of a horse is powerful, unforgettable really.  Some of my most cherished memories as a child involve my time at the Walnut Way Stables in Shelbyville, where I used to take equestrian lessons.  I found my time spent in the stables, tending to the horses, to be incredibly comforting and peaceful.  

The photo below is an oldie, but I want to share it with you anyway.  While Ben and I were on our honeymoon, we stumbled upon an old graveyard with beautiful horses roaming freely on the grounds.  I couldn't help but spend some time with them, soaking up their beauty with my camera.

Below is one of the friends I made - I am in awe of the colors in his mane.

 

Happy Superbowl Sunday!
 

I'm baaaaacccckkkk!

I know it has been over three months, but I am back and soooooo excited to change the course of this blog.  There were some major life changes that were taking place and I just needed a little break from the blog world until I figured out my steps.  I made a life-changing decision to go back to school to pursue photography as a full-time career.  I have been attending the Miami Ad School (which I will refer to as "MAS" from now on) for a little over a month now and I am feeling more on fire than I have in years.  Ben and I have been shooting a lot together, and I've made some amazing new friends to share in this journey.  

Last night Ben and I went into his new office (YES, new office!!!) to experiment with some studio lighting.  Below are some examples of some of the shots we got.  

I am sure I lost most of my readers after my 3 month hiatus :), but my hope is to share my future experiences and personal growth with anyone who wants to join.  I have also been experimenting a great deal with video and just edited a movie for our precious nephew, Charlie, for his 2nd birthday.  That will be posted shortly.

So for those of you who are still around, thanks for your patience.  I promise many posts with interesting stories and photography and would love to collaborate in this forum (especially if any photographers decide to stop by).  

See below for the latest shots - some of my faves from last night.

 
 
 Much more to come!  Stay tuned - I PROMISE that there is SO MUCH TO COME!