We have a few groups in Jacksonville that get together and shoot for fun every month. This month, makeup artist Faythe Mesic and her team of stylists and models got together for a hot pinup shoot in a junkyard! Oh yeeeeeeaaaah! Just the idea of it is awesome, but I had no idea just how SWEET it was going to be!

Matt says I rocked this shoot and while I really love the images, I honestly feel like I can’t take much credit for how amazing they are. Faythe and her team had the vision for this shoot. They sought out the location, found the models, and organized it all. The makeup and hairstylists made the models look their most amazing and the models really gave their all posing and working the camera despite the miserable rain and the cold. So when I tell you that my part was easy, I want you to understand just how much everyone else put into this shoot to make it rock!

Thanks so much to talented artists Faythe, Erin, and Sonia for an exceptional job on hair and makeup and to the amazing models, Sarah, Kymbr, Tara, Tiffany, Jamie, Sammi, Elizabeth, and JayBee, for being so great to work with (and bringing the HOTNESS!!). Also, it was great hanging out with photog friends and making some new ones at the shoot!

Model: Sarah DeLucca | Hair: Faythe Mesic | Makeup: Faythe Mesic

Sarah and JayBee

Model: Kymbr | Hair: Faythe Mesic

Model: Elizabeth | Hair: Sonia Garza | Makeup: Faythe Mesic

Model: Tara | Hair: Sonia Garza | Makeup: Erin Foster

Model: Tiffany Ashley | Hair: Sonia Garza | Makeup: Erin Foster

Model: Jamie | Hair: Sonia Garza | Makeup: Sonia Garza

Model: Sammi | Hair: Sonia Garza | Makeup: Sonia Garza

Model: Jamie and JayBee | Hair: Sonia Garza | Makeup: Sonia Garza

Model: Jaybee | Hair: Faythe Mesic | Makeup: Faythe Mesic

I’ll just go ahead and put it out there – I am not a very patient person! But I really wanted to make sure I finished the slideshow before blogginh Holly & Kris’s photo session at Jacksonville Beach last Monday. The photos are fun and colorful and playful, but I really had a hard time choosing which ones to post because these two are soooo cute together! Plus they brought their puppy, Ginger, and she has such a sweet face so how could we narrow it down to just 15 images??

This is really one of my favorite slideshows to date! Even though there were times when they got a little camera shy the moments in between said it all. Being photographed is a lot like allowing yourself to fall in love. It requires you to be somewhat vulnerable and let the photographer see who you are, and you have to decide just how much you are comfortable sharing. But just like love, the more you put into it the greater the reward! ; )

Holly & Kris, thank you for letting us capture the real you! We hope every time you see the slideshow that it makes you smile, epecially during the difficult times when you are apart!

Over the weekend, Matt & I had the privilege of capturing some family portraits with our dear friends Lily & Mike and their beautiful kids Zach and Zoey! We don’t do family portraits often (only by special request) but we really enjoyed capturing some sweet moments with them!

Before I share pretty pictures, I want to go way back to 2005. Lily & Mike were the first couple I ever took engagement photos of! Lily was my boss at the time and she knew that I loved taking photos and encouraged me a lot. In fact, I’m pretty certain that if not for Lily’s confidence I would not be doing this as a career today. She and Mike told everyone about me (and now “us” since Matt is shooting also) and that led to other requests for engagement photos, portraits, and weddings. Even though it took me a while to have the confidence to start a business, Lily always saw that potential in me. And so for that reason (and so many others) I love her dearly!

I was really excited to hear Lily say that she is going to get back into photography! She used to be a photographer and photos have always meant so much to her, so I’m so happy that she will once again be sharing her passion and talent with the world! She will be focusing on family photography, so if you are looking for family portraits let me know and I will put you in contact with her!

I know that no one comes to a photography blog to hear me ramble, but I just had to say how awesome Lily is. She has an equally amazing family to match, and Matt & I are sooooooo excited to show you just how stinkin’ cute they all are!

Lily, Mike, Zach, and Zoey – we love you guys! <3

I love how Facebook can bring complete strangers together! I met Alexandra Walker of Elle Photography through Facebook. I’m not even sure how she found me, but we’ve commented on each other’s photos, status updates – you know, become “Facebook friends.” When she asked me about doing her headshots for her new website (coming soon), I was like “Sure!” It’s always fun hanging out with another photographer and, oh yeah, she also happens to be absolutely gorgeous!

We had such a fun time on Friday afternoon. Before meeting up with Alexandra, I had lunch with my friend and fellow photog Steph Owens and she came along to shoot with me. It was just a fun day hanging out with the girls. Alexandra TOTALLY worked the camera! She was just cute and playful and needed very little direction.

I have so much fun shooting weddings and portraits, but I rarely take an afternoon just to shoot “for fun.” Sometimes groups of us photographers will get together and have a fun shoot, but we don’t do it nearly enough. I had such a great time with these gals and hope to do it again soon!

Here are some of Alexandra’s super hot photos:

Last night I was so excited to experience Lily getting her belly decorated with henna! Lily and I did her maternity photos a couple months ago and for this part of her pregnancy she wanted to do something different. I suggested the henna belly idea to her (thinking please, please, PLEASE do it! It would be so cool!!!) and she loved the idea! It was such a beautiful, magical experience watching her celebrate her pregnancy with the beautiful artwork of my new friend, the very talented Faythe Mesic! Faythe is also an expectant mother, and watching the two mommies-to-be have such a personal exchange and bonding over their pregnancies in itself was a beautiful thing!

I really wish I could be here this weekend to celebrate at Lily’s baby shower, but I’m so glad that she invited me over for her henna party! It really was an incredible thing to witness and so nice to spend some time with two very amazing women, Lily and Faythe! And I can’t forget daddy-to-be, Mike. It was nice seeing him, too! : )

If you are pregnant or know someone who is expecting, this is a wonderful way to artistically celebrate the beauty of pregnancy! Faythe also does belly casting, which is such a creative way to document pregnancy. You can find out more information on the Blessing Bellies website.

For Faythe’s make up artist services, visit www.faythemesic.com.

Now for photos!! I’m still so giddy over how cute Lily’s little belly is all decorated up! Congratulations, and we can’t wait to see little baby Zoey! : )

I met up today with my awesome friends Vic and Candi to do some family photos for Easter. Aren’t they a beautiful family?

Vic and Candi are such a smoking hot couple, so we will hopefully be doing a couples shoot in the near future! It’s going to be a steamy shoot, for sure!

Happy Easter everyone! : )