There's No Place Like Home

Hello my friends!

How are you?  I've been reaching out to so many of you over these past few months, to see how you and your family are doing.  

The number one thing that I've heard during these phone calls, besides hating wearing masks, is that families have been spending more time together, doing things... together.

Some of you have baked bread.  Some of you have done virtual 10ks.  Some of you had babies.  Some of you got pregnant.  Some of you entered a new chapter of your life.

But across the board... I heard that time was spent... together. In love. In reconnecting.  In creating together.  In thriving.  In everything.

Many discovered that all they really need, is in the place they live and love.

Isn't it interesting that when hard times hit, that's when we really figure things out? 

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Dorothy understood that after all of her whirlwind adventures in Oz, that really, the best place was home.

It is my wish that as we enter the new school year, and you are trying to figure out your "new normal",  that you'll discover, after all is said and done and dusted, "there's no place like home".

As you get ready for the new school year, may you have good days where learning together is a joy.  May the rough days bring you even closer together.

With love,

Megan

She started out wanting some mainstream boudoir photos and you won’t believe what she did!!

What a Transformation!

When Robin called me, she wanted to ask about doing boudoir photos, but definitely wanted something different, but had no idea.

With this in mind, we talked about different things, such as what she loves about her life, what she loves about her partner, what they enjoy doing together, and what her hobbies were. 

She loved that she was in good shape, had just quit her job to pursue a business, and felt free.  She loves her husband because they enjoy life together and they are best friends.  They enjoy road trips together, and they golf together.  She gardens, reads, and loves to decorate her home.

As we were engaged in our conversation, I noticed that she got really excited about golfing.  I asked her if she had her own clubs.  She very proudly said she received new ones for Christmas, and she was excited to use them in good weather.

I said to her that we could use the golfing theme for her session, and she was so excited!  She wondered how we could do that, though, because she didn’t want to get a cheesy costume.

Together, we planned her outfit:  a red or black cute bra that would peak out of a button down blouse, tied right under her bust, red plaid hot shorts, white knee socks, and black heels.  We added a visor and some jewelry, and we were practically done.  This was going to be totally unlike any outfit for a pinup shoot she’d thought of!!!

We discussed some other looks, and she ended up with a cute black dress she liked to go on fancy dates with him in, and finally, she wanted to do the classic big bow in front and nude behind… that was sexy and daring.  She loved the idea of her outfits!

Next we talked about how she wanted to feel about herself during the session.  She said she wanted to feel elegant but fun, strong and gentle, and definitely sexy.  I asked her to visualize where she would put her artwork in her home, and she chose over her bed… then I asked her how she thought it would make her feel to see that every single day, as being the last thing she saw at night, and the first thing in the morning.  “It would help me see that I am confident, beautiful, and strong, and that I love my husband, and myself!  What a great reinforcement!”

We scheduled her experience, and then I had Stephanie call her to discuss makeup needs.  Stephanie got a really good idea of what Robin wanted, and was prepared for the day.  Robin was already in the zone, prepping her skin with scrubs and moisturizer, drinking water, getting a massage, her hair done the week before, her mani-pedi done about 2 days before to match the reds, and also ordered all of her clothing and accessories.  I coached her every couple of days with emails and calls.  We really got to know each other well.

The day of the session arrived, and Robin entered my home studio with confidence, and a little bit of nervous excitement.  However, after we did her before shot, Stephanie got her in the chair and started her transformation, ending with gorgeous eyelashes that Robin was so excited to wear.

She got changed into her first outfit, and when she emerged, there she was, the Pinup Girl of her dreams.  She was blown away by the transformation, and said, “I’m ready!”

We did fun poses and laughed a lot!  We pretended to “shoot a hole in one” as the double entendre joke in one of her pinup photographs, and many other fun photographs that are influenced by the famous artwork of Gil Elvgren.  Then we photographed her in her gorgeous black dress, and finally the peek-a-boo giant red bow.

Then it was time to view her photographs.  These, of course, were not retouched, as she was seeing them minutes after her session.  She was really eager to see them, and started to cry as we went through them, choosing her favorites and then we came upon her absolute 5 favorite photographs to create the collection, Hollyhock.

I retouched them, sent her a sneak peek of each one, and then the day arrived to deliver her beautiful artwork.  She was breathless.  When she opened it under layers of protective covering, she gasped and said, “This is even more beautiful than I thought it was!!”  We clinked sparkling wine and enjoyed a light snack of cheese, crackers and grapes, and celebrated her beauty, strength, empowerment, and humor.

The next day was Valentine’s day.  She presented it with a big ribbon on their bed for when he came home from work.  She was wearing the black dress, as they were going to a fancy restaurant after.  He was so thrilled with his gift, and told her that she looks like a superstar!  His reaction was the final confidence builder she wanted, and she called me the next day, crying and laughing because she couldn’t believe that photos like these would make her feel so wonderful!

The reason I give the experience the way I do is because I want women to feel beautiful in their own skin and personal style every single day.  With asking question about what’s most important to a client, coaching her, and giving her attention, pampering her, along with gorgeous photographic artwork, the feelings of confidence, empowerment, beauty and strength are sure to boost my client’s day every day.

And that’s my why.

If you would love information about experiencing this kind of attention and artwork to remind you everyday how amazing you are, please click here.  If you would love to join a forum that encourages, empowers, and helps women rediscover their best selves, click here to join our private Facebook Group.  In there, we'll discuss all kinds of topics pertaining to women, encourage and uplift each other, and sometimes there will even be giveaways!

Being Present is the Best Present This Holiday Season

Have you ever seen this photograph?

It's been all over Facebook and Instagram and other social media sites and apps.  It's very telling.  What do you see going on here?

Your presence is the greatest gift you can give.

Did you know that years ago, before we had a gadget that was approximately 3.5x6 inches, we actually sat around the table at dinner and enjoyed each others’ company?  Or in the living room, playing board games and laughing over stupid jokes and eating popcorn?  Did you know that we went on walks together and explored the neighborhood or new areas?  Did you know that we soaked in the moment as it happened?

Today, most of us are carried away with recording every moment of every day.  We do that through our smart phones and tablets and computers, and we love technology. Gosh how we love freaking technology!

Didn’t Napoleon’s brother, Kip, sing to his bride a song about loving technology? “But not as much as you, you see! Always and forever!”

But did you know that when you are always recording, you are looking at life through a screen, rather than with your eyes, and your brain doesn’t quite work in the same way?  Instead of watching it happen right before you, with awe and wonder and excitement, and all of those good feelings, you’re watching through a screen as it happens, and thinking, I can’t wait to get this on social media so everyone else can see it! 

And we wonder why we feel like we miss out on certain things.

We had actual conversations, about real things, not about video games and our “friends” on a gaming platform.  We could look at each other in the eye and be close, and whisper secrets.  We could write on notepaper and fold it into an origami triangle and pass it to each other in class.  We did things together.  We could touch, feel, hear, see, smell, FEEL… everything.

Today, we are so intrigued with virtual reality, that anything actually depicting reality is scary.  We’ve found virtual safety being the controller of a video game in our hands, because it’s easier to do that than to call someone on the phone and go out for pizza.

Have you looked around at your family at a gathering, and more than half are checking their Instagram or Facebook, because they want to know how many likes they have from a meme they shared?

Think about it.  Here they are, surrounded by people they love, and who love them, but they aren’t getting the serotonin and dopamine levels from those people.  They are getting them raised by literal strangers.  The moment that they pick up their phone to check the latest scores, or text, or email, they are disconnecting themselves from the people in the room.  Twenty minutes can go by very quickly when lost on a device, and looking up, bleary eyed, notices everyone else has gone out for a lovely walk to look at holiday lights in the neighborhood.

We’re all guilty.  Most of us have these devices, and for our children, we have fun, educational game apps so they can be calm and get lost in a world of virtual reality.  We all do it.  I know I do, but I’m making a change. 

This holiday, I’m going to put my phone in my purse, put my purse in another room, and I’m going to enjoy my family members.  I’m going to talk to them, and laugh, and play, and go for a walk, and help prepare food, and clean up, and laugh some more.  My being present will mean so much to them.  But more than that, my being present will help me feel better.

You see, like many people, I deal with depression.  Well, hello, most artists do, ha!  Remember what I said about serotonin and dopamine levels?  I’m so done with raising those because of sharing silly memes that will quickly get forgotten, or sending a text, or playing a stupid “find the hidden object game” and get to the next level.  I’m going to be purposeful about raising my levels and do it the old fashioned way, and really enjoy my loved ones.

I invite you to join me.  Being present will be the greatest gift you can give your loved ones, and yourself.

PLEASE NOTE:  NONE OF THESE PHOTOGRAPHS ARE ONES THAT I'VE TAKEN.  I DO NOT CLAIM COPYRIGHT.  THEY ARE STOCK IMAGES.

Celebrating Life With Her Favorite People

Have you ever thought about what it would be like to have a severe, rare disease?  The only cure is an organ transplant.

Even then, there are complications.  It isn't perfect.  Every day is a gift from God.  Every moment spent with a beloved family member or friend is cherished.  Within each of these is a great miracle.

The miracle is love.  The celebration of life can be any moment that you choose to do so.  You make memories with those whom you cherish.  Every details of the moment is caught up in your memory:  the way the light plays on the leaves and the shadows below; the infectious giggles of your children; the tight cuddle from your spouse as you kiss him; the loving embrace from your mom whose job since the moment she gave birth to you was to keep you safe, happy, and loved.

The common denominator here is the miracle of love.  This beautiful woman has been given another chance by medical experts who were able to save her life.  This session was done to help her celebrate this miracle.

Please share this with all of your friends and family.  Life is so precious.  So is family and so is love.

One more thing.  I know that this is a hard thing to think about, but it's so important to remember and to talk about with loved ones.  Please consider organ donation.  It's very easy to do.  Life is not ever predictable.  Organ and tissue donation is one of the most important legacies a human being can leave behind.  Please visit http://donatelife.net/for more information.

Wedding | Bryan and Aubrie

Engagement Photos were not Aubrie's cup of tea.  Or beer.  Brian was very enthusiastic.  Look at this fun couple who love the Bowie Baysox and the Orioles, and we did their entire engagement session at the Baysox Stadium.

The Wedding Day

July 3, 2014

This was a celebration of Aubrie and Brian and their love for each other.  There were plenty of crack-ups as expected, and plenty of moments filled with love and "mushiness".  This was a day that was enjoyed by friends and loved ones to help Aubrie and Brian start their new lives together.  The venue was at La Fontaine Bleu and it was just beautiful.  The ceremony and reception were hosted by Randall, the Maitre d', and it went so smoothly and beautifully that I am super happy with the images I captured.  Here are just a few.

Enjoy.

Happy Honeymooning in Dominican Republic, you guys!  Thanks so much for having me there to celebrate your very special day.