All is FAIR ;)

Last week I heard there was a fair in town and immediately began planning out a dream photo session. I needed more wedding photos (and just photos in general) that expressed my aesthetic as an artist. The county fair was like a gift from the photo gods. As proud as I am of the majority of work I've done this year, only once or twice did I have complete control over the entire shoot. I'm talking wardrobe, hair, makeup, props and location. For the carnival wedding pictures I had exactly that. I called up a few friends, dressed, accessorized and made up, hair styled them and had them meet me at the fair for a night of rides, cotton candy, and LOTS of camera clicking. I had so much fun, and I think everyone else did too, judging by their smiling faces.

Here are a few of my favorite shots! (click to enlarge)

Goooodbye NC!

I am so so excited to announce that my husband and I are finally saying goodbye to the East Coast and relocating to Southern California! North Carolina has been a very interesting experience. As much as I hate to admit it, I really think I'm gonna miss this place. I've met a lot of cool people along the way. I've got to hand it to the NC natives--no where have I ever encountered such politeness and hospitality than what has been shown by the North Carolinians. I'm sad to know that there wont be anymore old ladies in pastels calling me "Shug" after I leave. I never in a million bajillion banana-fillion years expected to warm up to this place, but I have :)

Me and Cody will be traveling by u-haul through EIGHT states and stopping at landmarks throughout. It is my goal to document the whole thing by photographing and  posting a little on here. Doy.

I know California and ALL of its resources are going to open so many doors for my business which is REALLY cool.  Not to mention my sister and her adorable three children (aka my own personal photography guinea pigs) live there :)

Free Milk & Forgetfulness.

It has been a while since my last post, I know. I have been so caught up in photographing and working, I have neglected to document my experiences in my bloggy. Since last post lots has changed. I have photographed TONS more people for free. The response to my free photography project offered to military facebookers was overwhelming to say the least. Word of what I was doing spread through Jacksonville like H1N1.  Before I knew it, I had myself a bucket full of knowledge nuggets and a pretty bad ass little portfolio started.

Anyway, after capturing the love and smiles of dozens upon dozens of Jville locals, I decided it was time to get to business and end the freebies. Why? Because no one wants to buy the cow when your handing out the milk for free! :)

It's all you need ♥

I have very recently discovered that out of all subjects to photograph, couples are by far my favorite. Their enthusiasm for each other energizes me more than a stack of krispy kremes. I know it sounds like I am making this up, but seriously - few things in life bring me the happiness that capturing love on film does.
In this day and age, love stories are thrown on the same shelf as Alice in Wonderland, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. No one believes in love anymore. I, on the other hand, do. I've always felt that my husband and I have something in common with an elderly couple who've been married for 60 years. We met when we were sixteen, and have been diggin' on each other ever since. Photographing proof of true love brings me overwhelming satisfaction. Its my way of shouting "See! See! Hookah smoking caterpillars DO exist! And they're AWESOME!"

Happiness is a warm... baby!

Last Saturday, I did my first two baby sessions. The babies were absolutely adorable and absolutely uncooperative.

I woke up that morning with my mind overflowing with ideas for poses. I learned really fast that if a baby does not want to stay still, he most definitely will not. I couldn't say "Ok, now look up at the camera and give me a little smile!" or "Would you mind sucking your thumb with a little less drool for this next shot?" I learned very fast to relax, appreciate and capture what comes naturally. Once I did that, I got some really cool shots that I am quite proud of.

Above: My first reaction was to stress about Oliver's distaste for modeling. I'm so glad I just went with it, because it resulted with this great photo.

 Above: All Parker wanted to do was wiggle free from his Dad's cammies. I think this picture looks like he's flexing his guns! Cute :) Lesson for the day: When you just go with the flow, it all works out for the best.

First photoshoot! With real live strangers!

 Julia responded to an add I posted on facebook for a free photo shoot. She met me in what I call abandoned downtown Jacksonville. Most of the people who live in this run down military town gravitate toward the mall, or toward walmart. Abandoned downtown Jacksonville is a fabulous area full of brick roads, and vacant bright red distressed brick buildings. I don't even think most people know this place exists. ANYWAY. Great place for photos. Julia and her husband met me there at 9:00am, and we took pictures for about an hour. Probably the most fun I'd had in months. Aside from the fact that my camera was on the wrong setting, causing my pictures to be a little fuzzier than I'd like, the pictures turned out great. I posted a new free photoshoot add on facebook that night, with my new awesome pictures.  Within just a few hours I was completely booked for every weekend in July.

Above: One of my favorites from the Julia photoshoot. Check out my FB for more.

Mandy, meet Nikon. Nikon, meet Mandy.

I have been an artist for as long as I can remember. From the moment I could steadily hold a crayon, I have been doodling on every surface within arms reach. I have always considered myself to be a creator. I've sewn my own clothes, and designed outfits for my friends, I've decorated homes, I've drawn and painted portraits. It was not until Christmas of 2009 that I discovered my love for photography.
    My husband was deployed to Afghanistan last holiday season. We were on one of our sacred 20 minute, 2am phone calls when he asked me what I wanted for Christmas. I wanted to tell him that I wanted HIM to come home to me for Christmas, but that wish obviously could not be granted. Then I casually mentioned that my little pink digital camera was broken, so maybe a new camera would be ok.
    Two weeks after Christmas I received a big brown box from Best Buy. Nestled inside all those layers of cardboard and Styrofoam was a creative outlet that would forever change the way I look at the world. It was not just any camera. It was a Nikon D5000. A big fat DLSR camera, with a big fat interchangeable lens. I immediately began taking pictures of everything, everything, everything.
    Six months and lots of camera studying later, I booked my first client...

Above: One of the first pictures I took of my three year old niece, Lilly.