STAR sessions... (or how photography session changes you)

Being very interested in various aspects of personal development, I'm constantly on a look out for little things that can help see things "differently" - new angle/perspective in photography, new approach or point of view in life - the variety of things you can do to remain in balance and peace may stun you.

What I'm discovering through my clients is something that's become obvious to me only so many sittings and sessions later...

When you live your every day life, you're bound to get used to certain behavior around you, you set your expectations of people and you think you begin to know what others experience you as.

All this crashes into pieces when you get surrounded by a completely different story, new people, put on something you (almost) never wear, get that hair/make up done by professionals, create a fantasy around your self, let your imagination carry you away for a few hours...

This is not an ordinary experience anymore! This is not a headshot you need for your website, where you present your good looking self in a best way, from best angle and light, but... in a very familiar - "everyday" - way.
This isn't a portrait for the wall either. This is now a trip!
You probably hear a lot about how travel can affect your life - how it creates a more perfect, defined and deliberate YOU.

The Creative Photo Shoot is an opportunity to re-discover something very meaningful to you. Nobody can tell what it'll turn out to be - only you. This work as always unique, unusual and revealing. And the planning is the most important part of it.

It typically starts with choosing a story:
- What will it be like?
- What's the main character like?
- What are the tear sheets that could be used to illustrate the images we want to achieve?

It develops into finding:
- A location;
- Wardrobe with accessories (some can do it pretty well themselves, but a stylist is highly recommended - to let go of anything you do every day, to let someone else help you create a completely new story);
- Type of a look - hair and make up (both performed by professional artists);

The story almost always changes during planing, but what is going on behind the scenes is this: after meeting the client photographer knows their body type, eye color, hair length and all other unchangeable factors that support the whole story. It is very useful to get to know a person too - I will know what type of energy will most likely fill the frame. It's all an inspiration that we build around. There are many sources that may inspire photographer to pitch an idea or two, based on these factors. The story grows not only in your heart, but also in mine. With time it all gets surrounded by the theme, clothes and locations, photographer creates a perfect light to complete the picture. You can probably see by now that during the planning phase - that's when the story really gets created.

Nothing is any more or less important here in this type of session. Badly implemented element can spoil the entire thing, so the photographer is making sure everything is taken care of.

On the day of the shoot a lot of things happen. Subject is dressed and groomed, light is set up, you might think the rest is easy, that's when the hardest work begin both for the client and photographer. They now work on creating the energy. Photographer guides the subject in poses, expressions, and the open heart/mind is very important.

When you look at your choices deciding what you should do, consider that it is a lot of work to put together something like this. A lot of people get involved:
- Photographer;
- Photo assistant;
- Hair stylist;
- Make up artist;
- Wardrobe stylist;
- You (and may be your friend), etc.
Everyone works hard, including you! So you can't be tired on the day of shooting - lots of energy, water, and sleep are an absolute MUST.

The results will speak for themselves. Start collecting those tear sheets, cut pages out of magazines, copy stuff from the internet where you see yourself in - your own unique story is about to unfold!

You can create the photo story around your engagement session, proposal, wedding, anniversary, Valentine's day, or any other occasion that you would like to remember - even if it's for a birthday!

Water.

Probably the most exciting element - Water. Soothing in many different ways - the sound of it, the taste of it, the nature of it.



Model - Teisha Coleman
MUA - Lauren Tyler

Good Morning, mommy

While I was driving my son to school this morning - he zipped up his jacket over the seat belt and couldn't get out of the car right away. The teacher opened the door, he tried to get out and couldn't! I was unable to figure what's going on until he unzipped and I got to see a perfectly tight seat belt under *lol*

What was the moment when you woke up this morning?