Being around Karla one cannot help but feeling energized and inspired. Herjoie de vivre is completely contagious. When I arrived and she started pulling out brightly colored fabrics like a kid in a candy store, I couldn'thelp but giggle out loud. I felt so inspired as I followed her around with my camera taking in her light and joyful energy. Karla is extremely creative and passionate about what she does. She creates patterns for local clothing designers, and has lovingly and expertly been doing so for over 10 years. I loved being invited into her studio for a glimpse into her colorful world and her creative process! Here are some images from our time together. She is wearing dresses that are her clients' designs.....perfectly feminine and functional if you ask me!!!

Andrea started Take A Smart Step in 2007, to (in her words)," to educate people about money and to help them make the world a better place". She is smart, funny and compassionate and I loved working with her. Our portrait session was so much fun, and reminded me once again why I love what I do. Getting to connect with entrepreneurs like Andrea is so inspiring!

Gay is a soulful artist who was gracious enough to invite me into her lovely studio. I felt so excited to be able to memorialize a glimpse into her creative process. I am always so honored to be invited into someone's sacred space. As an artist myself, I know how vulnerable it can be to invite someone into your studio. It is a precious thing to share though despite that vulnerability, because sharing our process is like providing a glimpse into our own soul. That sharing can only enhance the lives of others and encourage them to do the same (or so I hope). I love doing personal branding sessions like this, because I get to share, though my lens, the beauty of another, and what they have to offer the world.

I love this woman! She is a bright and shining example of living your truth and being fully in your body! She is a psychotherapist and an artist...you can check out her website HERE. She is also an amazing teacher and now trainer of the NIA technique, which is a sensory-based movement practice that draws from martial arts, dance arts and healing arts. It empowers people of all shapes and sizes by connecting the body, mind, emotions and spirit. Jule will inspire you to move and shake and relate to yourself in a whole new way. She teaches classes at Move Studio in Dallas and does NIA trainings worldwide. I am so blessed to have her as a friend and fellow traveler on this amazing creative journey oflife! We did a head shot session in my studio with lights and the whole shebang. I don't normally do this, but she needed some specific images, so we went for it. I of course had to have fun with the whole thing given that shooting with lightsmakes me feel all boxed in and freaked out. I made sure to sneak some great shots of her laughing and being silly in between our "serious" shots! She is a beautiful soul! see what I mean............

Pearl is going to be a famous actor one day... mark my words! She has been telling her mom for years (and mind you she is only 11!!!) that this is what she is meant to do. I believe her, and if you met her in person you would too! It was fun to do a second set of head shots for her while I was on the Big Island last week. She is heading to LA soon, and I am sure we will be hearing about her! I also got the pleasure of shooting some portraits for her lovely sister. I always have the best time with this family! We shot all over Waimea town and ended up at an old warehouse which I fell in love with on this last trip.

Olivia is one of those kids that has seemed beyond her years since the day she was born. When you meet her you wonder how old she really is, and then when you find out, you wonder how a senior in high school can have such a self possession and grace that escapes most adults I know. She inspires those around her with her wisdom, peaceful confidence and unique adventurous spirit. I feel so honored to have known here since she was born (her Mom has been one of my bestfriends since we were 13). This sacred portrait session is to honor her transition from high school to college. It was one of a few I did in Phoenix this week. It seems that whenever I visit Phoenix these days that the rains decide to come. Given that I was only there for a few days, this posed an interesting challenge for me. I HAD to shoot no matter what, so we made it work. We went in search of cool window light and overhangs. Olivia's mom was my trusty assistant following me around with a giant umbrella. I definitely put the weather proofing on my camera gear to the test. At the end of the day, we were all loving our adventure, and the shots that we got made it all worthwhile! I wish I could say here are a FEW, but, I just couldn't stop at a few.

I have known this amazing young woman since she was born. Her Mama and I have been best friends since we were 12. My love runs deep for this one, and I am so honored to be able to capture some portraits for her as she embarks upon her new life as a college student. It has been a fun few days hanging out in my old stomping grounds with old wonderful friends. This shoot is one of three sacred portrait sessions I am doing here, and has been the icing on the cake of an already amazing couple of days. Taylor picked the first location herself, and I was so grateful because it was a very cool spot. Its called Agritopia, and is an "urban farm" in Gilbert. It used to be a family farm and is now an amazing community resource. I picked our 2nd location, which was on the side of a road and in a run off gutter nearby filled with cool rocks-typical!! Yes, I am always luring my clients into these strange places full of color and texture! That's why my sessions are always an adventure!

This was one of the most fun shoots I have had in a while. It was a family affair, and the brothers kept me laughing the whole time. It was early morning and we were cold, but that didn't stop us from having a blast in our head shot session!!I love shoots like this that go off without a hitch and you end up wanting to go hang out for longer and get to know each other! I am so grateful for my job because among other things, I get to meet cool people like this!