Let me catch you up on the few things I've been doing that I can talk to you about. They're all fun and surprising and make me the slightest bit self conscious as I don't often like being at the center of attention unless it's while debating something I'm super passionate about, but since I'm becoming rather passionate about this, let's all pretend I'm not nervous about sharing it. Faking it until I make it, one day at a time.
One project I was recently involved in was actually something that sparked a bit of magic in me. Friends -- of all different talents -- came together for a shoot on a beautiful property in Harwood, Maryland. Kelsey Mattson (whose work is spectacular, please look at her website and see everything she does!) met the owners of the farm and wanted to do a stylized shoot on the property, and because Kelsey has this magnetic energy to her, everyone she spoke to was more than willing to donate their time. It was more than worth it, and I'm sure what I got out of that Thursday night on the tranquil farm was more than they even realize.
The farm, Harwood Hills Farm, is an agro-tourism location that is the ideal venue for a peaceful wedding. Naturally, then, I stepped into a gown for the night and became a bride. My hair and makeup was done by the brilliant Caitlyn Meyer, the dress was borrowed from Wren Bridal, my ring and earrings from Kajs Jewlry, and I had a stunning bouquet from Crimson & Clover Floral. Kelsey planned and styled the shoot, and the entire thing was shot by Sarah Culver (again, another person whose work I've admired for a long, long time before getting to work with her!).
The other night, I saw three preview images from the shoot and I could not believe how incredible they've turned out! And if those were only the previews... I cannot wait to see the end results! I shared one of the images on Instagram, and wanted to share it here as well because !!!!!! I still can't believe the entire night was real. It was pulled straight from a dream.
Planning & Styling - Kelsey Mattson (@mattsonmade)
Photography - Sarah Culver (@sarahculver)
Floral Design - Crimson & Clover (@crimsoncloverfloral)
Paper Goods - Townley Prang (@townleycreative)
Rentals - Something Vintage (@smthingvintage)
Dress - Wren Bridal (@wrenbridal)
Suit - Christopher Schafer (@christopherschafer)
Jewelry - Kajs Jewelry (@shop_kajsjewelry)
Hair & Makeup - Caitlyn Meyer (@caitlynmeyermua)
Venue - Harwood Hills Farm (@harwoodhillsfarm)
Another thing I've done, on the behest of some of my friends at work, was go to an open casting call to model for a clothing store whose home office and studio just happens to be about ten minutes down the road from me. A week later, I booked a job. A few days after booking the job, I went in and worked with some of the sweetest people, all of whom had talents I stood in admiration of. Here are a few of my favorite images from that day:
So that's a thing! That I'm now doing! How crazy is that? I knew being tall would come in handy one day, haha.
Here's something funny that all this is having me work at: I'm learning to take compliments. I've never been good at it, and I know it stems back to when I was younger. I always laugh and make a joke or a face and move on from the subject as quickly as possible. But I'm learning how to be okay when someone says something nice to say "Thank you," and, in turn, become a little more confident.
I've been asked to come back to the studio to work on another shoot, and I'm excited to get back to working with the great photographer and stylist who helped me through my first professional day in front of the camera. Who knows what it will lead to?
And you know what I've also found time to do again? Read. Maybe soon, I'll get back to writing more consistently -- and spending time with my friends.
It's exhausting, it's exciting, and I'm waiting to see where doing all of this will take me, because I never thought this would be something I had an opportunity to do in my life. I wonder where I'll be in a year's time.
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