White House Photography: August 2011

I'm sure by now, you are used to not only finding PROOFS here on my photography website. Each shoot I do seems to be more than just a "photo shoot" to me...and those who know me well, know that when I experience something amazing (and even things that are amazingly painful...but strengthen me greatly)....I SHARE!! It's what I do. It's what God KNEW I would do when He chose to throw all of these amazing (and amazingly difficult) experiences my way. He knew I would not keep my mouth shut..that I would share and lift those around me. And so I share. :-) And I'm going to do it again today. LOL!

The words "I'm not at all photogenic" and "I take horrible pictures" are music to my ears. There is NOTHING better to me, as a photographer, than a good challenge. I may not be the most technically advanced photographer...I will NEVER claim to be such. But I am good at what I do. And the interesting thing is, I don't think it's a result of my photography alone...but a result of THAT, combined with who I am...and who I can see in my subjects. In my daily life, I see people IMMEDIATELY for who they are....I can sense their energy and truly see them for the Divine and amazing people they are. I see how beautiful they are MUCH MORE READILY than they do. And somehow...I am able to use my photography skills to SHOW THEM who they are...and not just on the outside. It's amazing....SUCH a blessing in my life....to be able to take someone who isn't completely sure of themselves...and SHOW THEM WHAT I CAN ALREADY SEE. I do not "Photoshop" (make things bigger, make things smaller, etc.). If that's what you want, there are PLENTY of photographers that will do that for you. I will not. Why? I want you to see HOW BEAUTIFUL YOU ARE...JUST as you are...NO editing. And to this date, I have had 100% success. 100%.

I went out with my friend Brandon this week. The unique way that Brandon and I even met is a story worth sharing....but this is not the forum to do that. God is so good, how He brings people into our lives...RIGHT ON TIME. This was one of those cases...I am sure of it. Brandon is amazing...I sensed it the minute I met him. But like so many of us, I'm not sure he really sees who he is. But I can see him....and I wanted SO BADLY to SHOW HIM who he is. SO, before we headed to dinner, Brandon not too-willingly (want to add that so his guy-friends don't think he was all GIDDY about this..LOL...but he definitely was a good sport) agreed to do a mini photo shoot. And so, we headed out and did just that. And I tell you what...this man has energy that will BLOW YOU THROUGH THE ROOF!! There were countless times when I was shooting, that I couldn't resist shaking my head and saying, "Really Brandon? MY GOSH!!!!!!" He literally RADIATES his true being....a man of strength (physically, spiritually, emotionally and mentally), confidence, passion and LOVE for life. I felt like, throughout the shoot, I kept wanting to show him RIGHT THEN...and say "LOOK AT YOU...LOOK AT WHO YOU ARE! CAN YOU SEE WHO YOU ARE??? AWESOME!!! WOW!"

There are many things I cannot do...but I am good at this. I am good at making people SO comfortable, that they forget they are even doing a photo shoot...and become completely natural. I have so much confidence in what I do, that when I hear people (often) say, "I am not photogenic at all," "I hate photo shoots," "I've never taken a good picture of me," I just smile to myself KNOWING that very soon, they WILL change their minds. I love that. We all have different gifts that God has given to us. I know, that this is one of mine. And I don't mean PHOTOGRAPHY. I mean SHOWING PEOPLE WHO THEY ARE. Photography is just the medium I use to do that.

Brandon was such a good sport..and went from feeling a little awkward (understandably so) to being very natural in no time......and even SILLY. SUCH a fun shoot!!!!

One of the funniest things about Brandon from this shoot, was the FACE he would make to "freshen his smile" when it was feeling stale. I usually have my subjects do the FISH FACE to get the same result. I just about died when I saw that Brandon had a face of his very own. LOL! Love the pic below on the left of Brandon's "smile refresher face." LOL! Pure awesomeness!!!

Love the "I can't believe I'm actually doing this" pics below. LOL! :-)

I asked Brandon if I could use a picture of him that he had on hand as a "BEFORE" shot to do a little BEFORE and AFTER..just for fun. The LIGHT he radiates in the "AFTER" shot is SO RIDICULOUSLY AMAZING!!!! LOVE THIS SO MUCH!!

Brandon is one of the strongest and most beautiful people I have ever met....I can feel it....and in these pictures I can SEE IT. He is on such an amazing, amazing journey...and I know that he will do AMAZING things. I am hoping that these pictures perhaps will act as a visual reminder to him of WHO HE IS. I am thrilled will the results of this shoot and hope that Brandon is as happy with them as I am.

I am so honored to not only have had the opportunity to do this photo shoot for Brandon....but to be his friend. *sigh* OH HOW I LOVE WHAT I DO!!!! I am so very, very richly blessed!

White House Photography

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August 2011

August 12, 2011

{brandon}

August 05, 2011

{end of summer 50/50 deal}