Sometimes I am asked by my female clients to shoot a private session for their fiance’ or husband, so we secretly rendezvous to a mysteriously beautiful location and create the most romantic and intimate atmosphere we possibly can. These images are intended for those quiet moments before the wedding, when their partners can see the images privately and reflect on the girl they are about to marry, or sometimes they are created as an anniversary gift just to celebrate the years they have been married. Wives love giving these to their husbands who have been deployed overseas and, of course, the guys love getting them too!

 

First we collaborate on the locations, the wardrobe ( you may want to bring a few pieces of your newly acquired lingerie, fun dresses, or jeans and t-shirts, your guy’s button-down dress shirt, favorite jewelry, and of course those amazing heels you’re dying to show-off!) and then if you wish to indulge, we will talk about providing professional hairstyling and or make-up to create just the right look for your guy. These are tasteful, intimate, and gorgeous images designed for you using the most natural light available. After you choose your 40 favorite images of the day, they will be printed into a little keepsake storybook-style album and bound together with a choice of linen or leather covers. Best part…you remember this day, and get to keep the evidence! I get a kick out of knowing that your man really loves and enjoys receiving these images.

 

p.s. …I love you (p rivate s essions)

It’s the beauty inside you that counts…and, of course, he already knows that!

“my gift is how I see life…my art is telling your story”

Armen has always been a source of  encouragement to “work with my hands” and sculpt from my experiences the art I envision in my head.

I met Armen when I was in eighth grade. She was the older sister of a guy friend. I looked up to her, and was mesmerized by her artsy-ness. She has been my friend since way back in “the days” before Disney came to Florida, and being a naturalist meant allowing nature into your every day thinking,  not thinking “green” to be politically correct. We were the original granola chicks… post-hippies, who never tired of trying to love everyone or everything unconditionally.

And Armen does… her art background is in graphic design. She started her business 28 years ago painting signs, designing business cards and logos, and eventually created her own greeting card line. She collects encouraging, positive quotes about life, and incorporates them into her hand-drawn pen and ink creations, which she then watercolors individually. Armen built her business through personal relationships, not blog updates, and Facebook pokes. Even though she owns a computer, she still has one-on-one conversations with all her clients. She listens and always come up with the end result being a great rendition of what they dreamed, with the clients personality and business attributes built into the project. She created my first business card for me over 12 years ago… and I have had a handful of clients tell me they kept that old card because they loved the photograph on the front with its artistic uniqueness.

Here are just a few of the images of our session together when I was in Florida. These images of the door are included because I love the project she created for an art installation in downtown Orlando a few years ago.  Area Central Florida artists were chosen to create a project about LIFE using the blank canvas of an eight foot paneled door. Each artist chose a word that they would give “life” to, and describe it through their medium. Armen chose the word love, and used the Chinese symbol for love with the quote and description coming down the center of the door as in a scroll. On the back of the door she used tromp loeil and painted quotes to appear as if they were pieces of paper attached with pins or tape at their corners.( It looks so real!)

---

Thank you Armen for this session with me…  I got a great workout carrying that door down the street to your lake, (that thing was heavy!) Armen decided to create these images with me …(not waiting until you’re not so busy, or until you lose that extra ten pounds, or until the next issue that troubles you comes along as the excuses why not to be photographed),…to celebrate her life…. the woman/artist/friend/partner/mentor/loved one to her family that she is now.  She appreciates what she has accomplished in her life, what she has learned along the way, and is joyous and thankful in her celebration of it.

---

There has never been anything artificial about you, and I believe the beauty here is real, inside and out. No Photoshop necessary to show a beautiful creation that God has made in you.  You have been given a gift in those hands to demonstrate your love for life !

Here’s an excerpt from one of her collected quotes that I really like:

“Nothing is ever lost. Not time; for what seems to have passed, lives on in the wisdom of future decisions. Not money; for what seems to have been spent, was only invested. And not love; for what seems to have vanished, has only moved so close you must look within your heart to see it.”    .….unknown source

 

“my gift is how I see life…my art is telling your story”

Becca is engaged!
Being in love…it’s as if there is a gravitational pull, a chemical imbalance until that one is with you, and then all that you are becomes real…and because those moments are shared together, each morsel of life tastes more delicious and every colour appears more vivid.

You know the ad that says: “Life comes at you fast…”? Well in this case, that’s true. We shot these images last autumn as a secret session for Becca’s boyfriend, Dan. Now, he’s her fiance! I have been wanting to post a slideshow sneak-peek of some of those images to show how beautiful she is (obviously to her soon-to-be husband, and to the rest of the world) and today was the perfect day.

Becca wanted to capture all the romance and glamour of the old Hollywood ingenues because many of those old film stars and musicals are her favorites. This 19-year-old loves Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland musicals, Disneyland and reading on a rainy day. Becca is a Southern California native, but she has traveled to over half the U.S. before she was 18. She told me she could make smoothies in her sleep (that’s her job), and that, now more than anything, she prays for God’s perfect will in her future with Dan.

itunes: Sara Barailles( live )…….Gravity

Becca

Becca confesses that she’s had a crush on Dan since she first laid eyes on him in junior high.They together now lead those students in praise and worship at their church. Becca, with her sweet clear voice, sings and plays piano/keyboards, and Dan leads the group playing guitar and singing.

Becca is very special to me. She has been one of the people who loved me unconditionally when I moved here to California. She is truly my friend. She is the epitome of outer beauty, inner peace and joy. She just asked if I would photograph their wedding…I would be honored (no arm twisting necessary) and look forward to shooting their engagement session soon! Thank you Becca…


“my gift is how I see life…my art is telling your story”

 

Why is it that when you are in a tremendous hurry, or you have to be somewhere on time and you are in “late arrival” mode, objects from the universe are placed in front of you, hurling randomly into your path from the nether regions of outer space to find themselves between you and your destination? This was one of those chaotic moments I speak of as I maneuvered through the waves of human life crushing past me on this day in the Jackson Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport. There is an old saying in the south… ” Whether you are going to heaven or hell, you have to connect through Atlanta”. This might be true.
On this day I am traveling to Orlando from Orange County, California. I am in a hurry.( really) I am not LATE. I have plenty of time (20 min.)before the plane takes off. Out of the corner of my eye, (the other corner is dodging airport shuttle traffic, small human engines running from parents, folks older than me dragging luggage and what seems to be the years of taking a slower pace) I notice a man lying on the floor of a gateway in the E terminal reading a book The Shack with his head on a backpack. He is wearing camouflage. Not that once trendy sand camo….real standard military issue camo. Before I can completely stop in the flow of passengers I realize there are about 10 or maybe 15 more dressed accordingly at his gate waiting. Hmmm? I now have 15 minutes.
I believe that there are enough miraculous moments to capture with my camera without ever leaving my neighborhood that could keep me busy for a lifetime. I could spend hours just shooting the sunlight pouring in my window on my staircase, more time than should be allowed. The story is there you have to see it, catch it, and realize that it may be your only chance before the light changes and the moment is gone. This was one of those “story” moments. I wanted to be in it. I wanted everyone to be in it also.
I placed my gear at my gate with a very understanding, reliable looking elderly couple and told them what I needed to do. My gear was in capable hands. (do not ever do this, it’s always against airport security)I grabbed my camera-without an external flash so as to be less obtrusive( and also to prevent camera confiscation)and pinballed back down the terminal dodging bodies to catch these moments. I asked for verbal permission since I had no waivers with me. I am the photo sniper.
I had to wait until the traffic cleared to catch the first few shots. The light was ugly yellow green fluorescent ( pardon my very low resolutions and my camera shake),but the reflection off the floor gave me a great shot for my soldier reading his book. I quickly darted around the gate, asking their stories, telling mine, and asking permission from those not sleeping. I can’t stop. I have 10 minutes.
Ten minutes for the men and women who were all from different platoons. They were brought together to form one team. They didn’t know each other, they only know this was not a drill, or training, they were going off together to work. It was their mission, their job, what they had been training for…soldiers, heroes, just regular folk. Their connection was delayed that day and they had been there for hours, waiting. Checking family updates online, writing loved ones, playing computer games, eating pizza, sleeping, praying, listening to music on their iPods, and waiting. Their destination was Afghanistan. Maybe you have thought about them. Prayed or spoken quiet wishes for them. Theirs is not a job I could do, or want to do. I love these women and men. They are doing this for their families, for us, and for each other. Thank you isn’t enough.
I want to try to thank you, all of you for going there for me. For standing up for what you believe, and for waiting there that day. I got to meet you. You are amazing Americans. You are my heroes. You gave me time with you, and now I know what to pray for you. That is the least I can do, and here are the (21) photos I promised you. Thank you.

p.s. I was the last to board my flight…, but I made it. I trust you all did too.






















































































































Dear heroes,
If you would like a copy of an image of you for your family please get in touch with me through my website contact page, it would be my pleasure to send one to them.
God bless you, -cece










































“my gift is how I see life…my art is telling your story”

“my gift is how I see life…my art is telling your story”

Best friends…

Someone who keeps your secrets, always has a listening ear, who cries with you when your heart hurts, who laughs with you until your sides burst, and encourages you to be a better you.

Someone you may not always see eye-to-eye with or completely agree, but who stands up for you when you haven’t the strength to do so yourself. True friends may not necessarily tell you what you want to hear, but tell you what you need to know, and love you for all your uniqueness.

Alyssa and Jessi are best friends forever. They are tight, almost inseparable. They met in middle school in a bible study, and now in their senior year spend hours together encouraging each other’s dreams and talents. One spends her days dreaming of music and dance, effortlessly scoring college scholarships, and working in overseas missions. One dreams of becoming a human rights lawyer, excelling at softball and soccer, dreaming of visiting Egypt(her favorite place in the world).They both dream of a loving husband someday, a house full of kids and strengthening their faith in God.

I am so encouraged that at this time in their lives they seem so fully engaged with the world’s needs, where they will be used and what directions they will take in life. They pray that “…the world would not be so cynical, but more loving, and less selfish. People just need to be loved.”

I agree… thank you Jessi and Alyssa. I loved the secret place we stumbled upon to shoot your session. You guys were up for “anything” and you were terrific with my insane ideas! You made this shoot for me so much fun! I wish I could show the entire session right here, including all those crazy things we did… it was a day of perfect light, awesome friends, and precious memories.

more of their Senior Portrait session ….




























.

So what’s a Stress your Dress experience? I promised to tell you one day.

It’s taking your old bridesmaid, or prom/homecoming/gala formal gowns and treating them as if you are in your favorite t-shirt and jeans. The same goes for a Drown the Gown session… only we get a little wet at the beach, a lake, or even dancing through a fountain. (trust me, I have had clients dive off docks in their old wedding gowns just to get the perfect photo!)

I came up with this idea staring at the 13 ugly dresses I had clinging for dear life on the hangers in the depths of my closet, each from a celebration of my friends or family members’ weddings where I was asked to be an attendant. All now have the rainbow of threads bearing dust condos from the last time they graced my then thin hips, and sadly never were my taste for fashion.
We abandon any hope we will ever really get to wear them again. They hang hermetically sealed in some space saving envelope until that moment we either heirloom them to our next generation or, perhaps the creative few of us, make Christmas decorations out of them. We think of all the possible reasons to try them on and see if they still fit, hoping to be a dress diva one more time, and be the princess we always hoped to be for one magical moment rather than a carbon copy of the girl standing next to us at the event.

“Look at us… we are beautiful too.” That’s what we would say if we were honest, and then twirl around the room like a five-year-old in the perfect light without background music (except the tune we hear in our heads).

This is how I want you to feel when our sessions begin… like the beautiful woman you are, but I want to capture the young girl inside who’s twitching to get out and dance , twirl and leap with glee like a kindergartner (or at least one with joy and no inhibitions!). Live, laugh, love…like you mean it!




Here’s the recipe:
Sift out old bridesmaids gowns, or those formal gowns you promised yourself you would re-purpose and
“wear again”
Mix in the attitude of your inner child, with a dash of diva
Fold in that comfortable feeling of your favorite t-shirt and jeans
Spread into a vignette of juxtaposed background elements that give us a hint of who you really are
Toast the moments in amber light with a generous sprinkling of waves, silhouettes, and muddy earth
Yield one great “drown the gown” ,”stress your dress” experience………..

NO ordinary girls allowed…..it’s what’s inside you that counts!


Thank you Erin for this session we shot so long ago… as usual you are an amazing, hilarious and spontaneous package, just as adorably beautiful as you were in that tutu when you were a little girl!



“my gift is how I see life…my art is telling your story”

So what’s this all about, this celebration of life, this reason for the season? Why does the holiday exist? This is not just a story to hand down from generation to generation, but a beginning for some of forgiveness and grace.
I love this video, and will always appreciate the message told to us in such a simplistic and truthful way. Thank you to the creator Charles Shultz for these characters, and thank you to my Creator for giving us the message of the birth of your Son Jesus!





From our coast to your coast…we pray you all
have a Wonderful reason to celebrate the season



Merry Christmas!

I hope to share more images with you soon, but my clients’ sessions have been (shhhh….don’t tell anyone) secret Christmas gifts for their boyfriend, fiance or husband! That makes it sort of difficult to share, but I promise to give everyone a peek after the first of the year. If I can get their permission!

I spend time with my clients discovering who they are and what locations I can uncover that would define their story. I listen for the clues, imagine the session in my mind, and then scout out the locations (this can be the best part of my job sometimes!). Together we decide what wardrobe and time of day would be best … we find the most natural enhancing light, and then go for it!

Hopefully if I listened correctly, I will be able to find the setting that you will feel the most yourself in, and the surroundings will become the background of your story, but not the focus. It’s about you, the real you, the you that has favorites, and dreams, and knows your inside story. I want to bring that personality out if I can, and help you appreciate it.

Meet Kristi…she wanted to be captured as she is today…thirty three years young. Discovering things about herself that she never realized (like her favorite colour is brown!). She’s from Iowa, which steeps her in a great love of changing fall leaves, the smell of snow and fresh baled hay, and walk under a star-filled sky. She is the perfect “victim” for an environmental portrait!

For her session with me we traveled to some really great locations to simulate the fields, backroads and barns in Iowa. I placed her favorite chair from her home in an open field to shoot her in a “Stress Your Dress” part of her session (more info on this in a later post). We found some remote railroad tracks ,a once train depot , an abandoned warehouse with splashes of red and yellow peeling paint, but I saved the best for last…a loading dock full of baled hay!! She absolutely flipped out when she saw this and we got the best of her there…right before the thunderstorm that tried to drown us! I hope to have this kind of enthusiasm from ALL my clients!

Kristi has a very infectious laugh that makes you want to join in the moment and giggle with her! Her eyes are a kaleidoscope of colour with deep hazel hues of teal and browns. It’s as if you are looking in the bottom of an antiqued green glass of hot chocolate and the syrupy goodness at the bottom was all that was left. She celebrates each day no matter what crosses her path, and makes the best of any situation. She can see through the muck and rust to the beauty of things. Her favorite quote, “Carpe Diem” describes her…and her images here show that!

If you would care to see more of her session, you can go to my proofs sections of my website www.rapturephotoart.com and click on “Kristi’s Favorites” which will give you an idea of a session with me, and a taste of the 75 of the 190 images that she decided were her favorites for her album.


“my gift is how I see life…my art is telling your story”