Charlene + James | Palm Springs Engagement Session
The drive from Phoenix to Palm Springs isn't much to most people. In fact, most people probably dread that drive. It's nothing but desert, after all. But those miles of desert have done more for my heart than any other stretch of road.
The first time, I was moving from Texas to California — quite possibly the most life-changing thing I've ever done. The second, I was headed home after spontaneously driving to surprise one of my grandmothers and two of my sisters in Scottsdale. I missed home. They were what I needed. The third, from Scottsdale, again, but this time I wasn't headed home. I was simply headed to an engagement shoot. A whirlwind of emotions hit me on that drive. If I'm honest, I was feeling incredibly anxious.
But if there's one thing that will take me out of my head, it's jumping into the true empath that I am and focusing my energy on others.
So, enough about me...
Let's talk about Charlene and James.
These two are something special. I knew we were of-the-same-kind from the moment I chatted with Charlene on FaceTime. She'd just got done working out, but knew I wouldn't give a damn. In case you were wondering...she was right. I'm usually five days in to unwashed hair and wearing the same Harley Davidson t-shirt that has a few perfect holes worn into it. Anyways, Charlene rocks. She's edgy, cool, a freaking babe, and a truly awesome human at the same time.
When we were chatting about their engagement session, I suggested the idea that we Turo a vintage Mercedes convertible for their shoot — and they. were. so. down. Music to my ears!
Fast forward to hanging in the desert of Palm Springs a few months later, and I'm swooning over this couple all over again. James told me a story about time the two spent in Bali after their engagement. Apparently their driver commented something about how he didn't believe they were engaged because of their physical touch with each other. Well, y'all. Try to make it to even the second photo of this post without saying, "HOLY SMOKES THESE TWO ARE HOT." To me, the simplicity of being comfortable in each other's presence communicates more about two people than anything else. You see that in these photos.
You see James' love for Charlene when he comfortably rests his head on her shoulder. You see Charlene's silly side when she pulls her jumper (a.k.a. sweater — Charlene is Australian, and I got a kick out of the word "jumper") over their faces.
These two are raw and sexy and, most importantly, in love.
Bailey + Jordan | A Rainy Day Couple's Session in Brooklyn, New York
Traveling alone is one of my very favorite things. Every time I've set out to explore somewhere solo, it's been an eye opening experience. I love feeling small in a big place. I love going places where no one knows my name.
When my parents told me they were visiting New York City this summer, I knew I had to join them. I also knew I wanted to add a few personal days and photograph rad humans. Bailey and Jordan happened to be those rad humans I was hoping for. They are also photographers — naturally, we've been Instagram friends for awhile now — so when they found out I was coming to town, they were down to shoot. Stoked.
So I booked an Airbnb in Brooklyn and met them the day I got to town. Note: After 15 hours of travel from LA and about two hours of sleep.
It was dreary, rainy and humid. I was exhausted. But that didn't stop us.
I love this session because it's the realest real. Bailey and Jordan work out at that basketball court, they walk in the rain, they live in the neighborhood. If there's one thing you should know about me: it's that the "everyday life stuff" gets my heart beating. These photos are proof you can shoot in the rain. Proof you can wear clothes you didn't go out and buy for the purpose of having your picture taken — and look f'ing awesome. That you don't need your hair and make-up done, the perfect lighting, any of the bullshit (sorry, y'all, New York is getting to me, but I always promise to be unfiltered here) you may have been told you have to do for a photoshoot.
Now that I'm rambling, I'll let you enjoy this set of images. You'll notice some film-y edits in there. I am working on a new offering for those edits. Basically, it will allow us to work collaboratively together to determine an editing style that best represent your story — if you're interested in this concept or the film look, drop me a line! I'd love to hang.
Dre + Jason | Los Angeles Engagement Session
I like the skybefore a storm.It's crazy romantic:the cloudsjust waiting to burstand fill the earthwith goodness.--It was 65 degrees in Los Angeles this Wednesday. I remember it vividly because I was upset that it was 80 back home in Texas — I'm not one for the cold (yes, 65 degrees Fahrenheit is cold to me). But as I was driving up the windy road to the Lower Canyonback Trail, I started to forget about how cold I thought it was.Since moving to LA, I have these moments every now and then where it hits me: I live here.That moment, driving up the road, was one of them.Then I got to meet Dre + Jason.Jason greeted me with a hug (or maybe I greeted him with the hug? ...I'm a hugger), and we started to chat about social media influencers, Mexico and other small talk that I enjoyed more than most small talk. Then Dre showed up — someone else tell me I'm not the only one who thinks she looks like Kourtney Kardashian — and I immediately liked her too. Any girl who takes a tequila shot before their engagement session is my kinda girl.We hiked around as storm clouds rolled in. I barely noticed it getting colder, though. These two are so much fun!When it came time to edit their session, I threw in a few film-like edits. It felt right to me. And I knew they would be down for them.Cheers!B[narrative]
