Ahh! Nature

This past weekend, Mike and I stayed pretty busy. It was so wonderful to spend time with him and get many things accomplished also. Friday we got off of work so exhausted we fell asleep early. Saturday was the Home Depot/water bowl issue and we even went to see his family. Sunday however was a wonderful fun filled afternoon.

From the time we woke up we were going. I decided to help with the yard work and helped him mow. I took the front he took the back (I guess it’s a plus to have two mowers huh?) I thought it would be easy, but there were so many ditches and roots to avoid it took a lot longer than I thought it would. It was ok though, I felt accomplished afterward for doing a “man’s” job.

It was time to hit the road after showers and getting the dogs fed and watered. We packed a lunch and headed to the gas station for HUGE bottles of water. Anyone who knows me, knows I hate water and won’t drink it unless I have to. Jammin’ to our 80’s hair bands music we head toward our destination.

I honestly do not have a clue where we were. He said Peach Ridge out past Beaver Dam, and I just went with it. He hunts there so he knows it like the back of his hand. Your probably wondering why we would go out to the middle of nowhere with woods grown up so bad that you get caught in everything, or smacked in the face by a branch for following so closely. We were actually looking for a location for a photo shoot I have planned later this month.

This little trip turned into a nice little expedition. Climbing rock ledges, scouring the land, jumping creeks, and sinking in sand, made for an awesome day. Plus we had our first picnic there and he even marked the spot with a ribbon we had around the blanket (what a softy right?) The only part I didn’t like was the walk across a very unsteady bridge and the climb to the top. Needless to say, the next day I felt it everywhere and slept like a log. I do hope you enjoy the pictures I got of the wonderful nature and scenes we saw. There were no animals but plenty of tracks. They had to hear us coming from miles away. I have a heavy foot and I am not quiet when walking in leaves and dead sticks.

Spring Shooting

I’ve been really busy with work and catching up with family and such on weekends, I haven’t really had a chance to shoot. Well, I made time this past weekend and was really glad I did. Not only was the weather great, but the shots we got were amazing.

I am really excited about being a model and this taking me places. I never in a million years thought it would, but it really is. I have not told too many people this yet because I know they may not approve or even care for that matter, but I have been published and I will be again in May. I was told by my photographer I would be the cover model for the magazine I was published with before in May. A little back story on this one.

I live in a town known as a “Bible Belt Town.” You see a church on almost every corner. Needless to say, there are a lot of religious people in the area and I know a lot of them would not approve. I did a lingerie shoot with John just to keep building my portfolio. I had NO clue it go as well as it did either. The magazine editor asked if I was still shooting with John and when he was told I was, he went to John’s page and looked at some new stuff I was doing. Apparently he liked my look so much with the lingerie he wanted to use me as a cover model. I got the call from John and I was really excited because we had talked about it the day we were shooting my first spring set. I didn’t think it would happen this fast and I really hope this helps a lot. I love where I am from, and I will always have roots here, but if this takes me to places, I want to go.

I cannot release any of those shots because I am not sure which ones are being used, but I can show you the ones I got during the spring shoot. I’m sure there will be more to come eventually.

This post is a very humbling one for me. I really feel I am on the right path regardless of what anyone says. I feel very thankful there was someone out there willing to take their time with an inexperienced model and work with them to get them where they are today. John, this is for you personally. I want to thank you a million times over for giving me this opportunity!! You have no clue what it means to me and I may still be small time, but you got me to where I am today (well with a little help from me of course), and I appreciate it on a daily basis.

Like I have said before, never give up on your dreams, because dreams really do come true.

Branching Out

As most of my readers know, I have been doing a little in the modeling scene.  I have been working with one photographer for this until recently.  I am actually really glad I did some more work with another person and I feel like it was a great experience. 

I actually love being photographed and love what the end results look like.  I love being outdoors or in a studio, for that matter, and getting to put make-up on, and heels, and wearing what I like to wear.  I work in a factory you see, and I find it hard to dress up on a normal basis.

I have never been the “girly girl” but here lately, I believe I am coming to know that side of me.  Mike and I went out to eat at Ryan’s last night, and it took me nearly 45 minutes to get ready.  Before I would have thrown on a T-shirt and some jeans and just gone.  Here lately I make sure I look really nice before we go out.  Even if it is just to eat.  My nails have been painted and I wear make-up more often than not now.  I even painted my toe nails and those are barely existent. 

I guess you could say, I’m getting into all of this because I am hoping my modeling takes me to bigger and better places and I can succeed at something I love doing.  There are days I don’t want to shoot, but I get up get ready and by the time I get to my location I am excited and ready.  I get so excited to see how awesome the shots look, how the edits look, and how well I kept up my end of the bargain. 

Like I said I was working with a new guy this weekend and I am not disappointed in any of the shots I got out of it and believe I will be working with him again in the future to see what all I get then.  Here is some of his work and I hope you enjoy it as much as you have my past few with John.  I guess I could tell you his name so if you are interested you can maybe find him huh?  David Horton is my new photographer and his work is amazing.  Yes, I will still be working with John as well and may even work with a few others when I find the time.  Until then, I’ll keep getting in touch with the “girly girl” I feel I am becoming.

More Mirrors!!

Aside

 

This is another shot I got out in that cold.  There will be more but these are the only ones I can post.  I must be crazy to do a shoot in a dress like that in such cold weather.  Honestly, I am proud of myself and I am glad i am doing something that may come to my benefit later in life and I am chasing my dreams. 

Thank you for your support and let me know what you think!!!

Cold? That won’t stop me!

This morning I went on location for a photo shoot.  It was supposed to be at 8 in the morning, but John said it was too cold and pushed it back two hours!!  Thinking I could go ahead and sleep a little more I was excited, but sad thing is, I couldn’t get back to sleep.  In my time after getting ready I decided to watch some T.V.  Mars needs Moms just so happened to be on and I love a good cartoon movie so I watched it after I went ahead and got ready for my shoot!!  Toward the end of the movie though something happened.  I started to cry watching this childs movie.  Figuring I smudged my make-up I just laid there waiting for everything to dry and then checked it in the mirror.  Everything was fine, which is a plus, I didn’t have to re-apply. 

Finally, the time rolls around and it’s time to go.  Dreading the cold, I slip into my black thigh-high stockings, my little red dress, and everything that goes with it.  I throw some black sweat pants and a button up flannel shirt Mike gave me.  The cold is what I was dreading and I knew it would be a colder one on the river with all the wind blowing and basically the falling temperature.  Two jackets and some snow boots later, I head out the door with Mike and drive to my shoot location!!!

We pull into the parking where John is sitting already waiting on us.  Get out of the car in the blistering cold with all that wind.  Mind you we are downtown in a parking lot right next to one of the busiest places on a Sunday morning.  And here I go, taking of the sweat pants, the 2 layers of jackets and the flannel shirt Mike gave me.  Switch from my snow boots into my open toe, black and grey stiletto heels.  Try walking in those when all you joints decide to lock up on you from the blast of cold air!  For a few shots I have to climb in the back of John’s pick up and stand there and try to fall as I pose for s few shots. 

As the wind is picking up, I shiver, I shake and I freeze.  We got the shots in that spot though and I am pretty sure they are going to come out great if I stood still long enough for the camera to focus.  While in the first parking lot everyone is passing by, looking at this crazy girl in a red dress on a cold day in the early morning.  Did I mention I wasn’t wearing contacts for this shoot and I had to take my glasses off to avoid glare?  So I couldn’t see anything I just looked in the direction I was told and went with it. 

Between shoots I slipped the heels off and walked in my boots.  All you can see of me is my stockings and my boots.  I’m sure everyone thought I was naked under my layers of jackets and looked at me like I was crazy.  We did 4 locations downtown and as I walked from each one, my right stocking kept falling down.  I looked like a scene out of a Courtney Love video minus the drunkenness, smeared make-up, and rock music playing in the back ground.  Can you picture it?  No?  Well it was humorous even though I was freezing and worried about the next warm place I would go. 

After about an hour in the wind and the cold we finally call it before we head to a park a few blocks down.  I think John was just as cold as I was and I don’t think he wanted me to freeze to death while we were getting the shot.  So we jump in our cars and head to the warmest place I know.  HOME!!  But before that, of course Mike stops at the gas station to surprise me with a hot beverage to warm my cold, frozen appendages.  I finally get in the house and cuddle up under a blanket and get real close to Mike and fall asleep watching a movie.  All in all, great shoot (minus the cold and the wind), fun experience, cappuccino, and great photos to come out soon!!!

Oh I forgot to mention, I got a honk!!!