I had the chance to shoot with Angie Acosta and her team of instructors from Queen City Dancing Queen, we all jammed out while the music blasted behind us and looking back at these photos... how can you not want to... just dance. These women love what they do and have so much fun doing it! So if you are looking for something to break out of your exercise rut, check it.

I've said it once and I will say it again, I absolutely believe that high school seniors are just SO much cooler than I was at their age... and that is why I love photographing them! It's like getting to hang out with a friend. Sam was no exception to that... we chatted, laughed, and consumed sour gummy worms thanks to her mom and sister who came along too! I loved that she was up for anything from climbing trees to train cars. This is one cool girl and who can best be described in her own words,

"to say that i am different would make me ordinary.
to act like i am different would make me extraordinary."

As I meet and photograph more seniors it is my hope that I can encourage them to embrace the fact that they truly are extraordinary.

Growing up as a competitive swimmer I remember always looking up at my coach when I was pushing through a really hard set or jumping in the freezing water at 6am... and thinking, "Do you know what it feels like to be doing what you are asking me to do??".

Sometimes I feel like I see that same question in the eyes of some of my clients!!  I think its important for people to be able to TRUST that I know what its like to be on the other side of the camera... and I know its not always easy :) Yesterday I had the privilege of having a session for some new business shots with Sharon Clark (of Smitten Photography), and although it was massively uncomfortable to have that big camera pointed at me during certain moments, I have to say that it was also so MUCH fun because I trusted Sharon. I trusted her to know what looked good, even if I felt weird or didn't feel like I knew what I was doing. I trusted her to get shots I would love... and of course, she did (because she is amazing, inspiring and just downright awesome).

Being on the other side of the camera allowed me to think through how I can better serve my clients, and it confirmed my belief that a good photograph is a direct result of a certain connection/trust between photographer and subject. It is a good challenge for me to really focus on making the whole process of working with me a fun/positive/awesome experience. I'm most certainly committed to "being on the other side" on a regular basis to keep those thoughts fresh in my mind.

 So finally.... thank you, thank YOU Sharon for being such a powerful source of inspiration as a photographer that I look up to, but also simply as a friend.

Today I am excited to share some more images from my time in Fort Bragg last week with a few families whose dad's are currently deployed. This visit was different from any others for me because my husband, Ross (currently a large animal veterinarian) has applied for a position with the Air Force being a public health officer and if everything goes as planned I too will join the ranks of being a military wife... and some day, perhaps, a mom. So seeing these strong and beautiful women who are raising their kids without a dad for long stretches at a time, well, it hits home in an all-together different way. I marvel.

I marvel at Tracie because even just spending a couple hours with her I saw that she is an incredible woman. This is a woman who is a devoted mom, one who loves her children with an endless affection, yet she also had the ability to be in front of the camera on her own and let who she is really shine through.

As I was going back through and editing these images I was practically moved to tears by the fierceness of her beauty. It is my hope and prayer that the remainder of her husband's deployment goes quickly and he returns home safely for his R&R in August and finally for good in December... but until then I hope these images of his gorgeous wife and kiddos make him feel close to home.

One of the women that I photographed early on for the BELIEVE (portraits of women) project was miss Sara Bremner. Since then she has contacted me about collaborating on a project for some dance-fitness classes she helps teach, and I was pretty pumped to go to a class last night and check it out to get a feel for what kind of shoot we are going to set up. Let's just say, this is a girl can shake it like nobody's business and now I'm more excited than ever about this upcoming adventure of shooting she and some of the other instructors doing what they do best. If you are interested in some fun classes, check 'em out at Queen City Dancing Queen.

Here are some of my favorite shots of Sara from last summer: