Anyone who knows me knows I love to 'read'...magazines...you know the ones with LOTS of pictures and mini articles.  Maybe that's why I do so well with childrens books where the font is big and the words are few and the photo gets the point across!!  Yep that's my kind of reading. 

Along with reading comes studying and again the best text book for me is...you got it...a magazine.  Poses, style, angles, lighting...so much to be examined when browsing the pages of Vogue.  After traveling back from Africa we stopped over in Amsterdam and I found the thickest Elle magazine ever...now that's a textbook!  Even though it was in Italian it's one of those items that was speakin' my language.

Once in a while it's fun to pop in front of the camera.  My husband second shoots weddings with me so it's also great practice for him to work with a difficult model...uh hem...not saying who that is! :)

My good, Canadian, sister-like friend, Chantelle and I decided to play dress up in a couple of wedding gowns.  I mean a girl, a wedding dress, some makeup, a few curls and the outdoors...let's roll!  Oh and did I mention a gun or two...a little drama never hurt.  Sometimes impromptu is the best way to go, less analyzing, a bit of chaos and then see what happens!!

I may have had some modeling experience but it still doesn't mean I am super comfortable in front of the camera.  It reminds me that my clients aren't models and certainly aren't always comfortable.  As beautiful and confident as they maybe they ALL want direction.  I always get asked 'Do I smile or not smile, do I look at you or not at you?'  Talking them through poses, giving them something to do and somewhere to look is key.  A lame joke here or there OR finding that one thing you know makes them really laugh helps to create the 'real' moment that we all are looking for.

A shoot like this reminds me of all of that..angles, facial expression, extracting that natural smile...and most of all being comfortable! To see the full shoot click on any photo below.