one of my fave's

Re-sharing one of my latest favorite captures from FRESH's Beauty School; bridal prep.  See other photographer's favorite B/W's HERE.  See more of our shoot HERE & HERE.  Thanks for visiting; have a look around with a warm bevvy and please comment. I'm an urban girl living in a really small town and I welcome your communication!

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something old; something new

I was here and I didn't get kicked out.
That's right, I stayed here.  For the weekend.  Totally legitimate.  I loved it so, that even when I left for coffee, I came back right here to drink it.  And that's only because the Starbucks inside the lobby closes early.
More to come of 'the childless weekend', quite a new concept for me.

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beauty school; goin to chapel

Bells will ring,

thee sun will shine.

Whooooa, I'll be his and he'll be mine.

Goin' to the chapel and we're, gonna get married.

Gee, I really love you and we're, gonna get married.

Goin' to the chapel of love.

Lovely Amanda is about to be a bride and I'm fortunate enough to photograph her yet again.  She brought her grandmother's wedding gown to our Beauty School session.  I absolutely love the personal connections incorporated into your imagery. The antique gown is in such great condition, and the lace so stunning, that she's considering wearing it as her own!  Either way, what a tribute to her grandmother!

I've kept my dress for daughter but feel absolutely fine with her cutting it up and using the silk.  Or not.  I'm just a bit of a romantic and secretly hope she incorporates something ... anything.

Would you consider wearing a gorgeous heirloom gown? 

Photography FRESH Photography

Makeup Artist Makeup by Emily Kjelshus

Venue Sweet Dreams Heritage Inn

Hair Adornments Pink Poppy

Model Amanda McKay

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g[rad] | senior portraits; holly

Holly has the kind of smile that makes it impossible not to smile back.  She is graduating from Gonzaga Prep, Spokane and planning to attend military college.  Her family has a property at Red Mountain where Holly enjoys skiing and movie-dates with friends in our quaint town.  We recently shared appy's and an inspiring movie about Coco Chanel.  

What an inspiring time Holly is at in her life, and with her great determination, she's sure to achieve her goals.  When teaching high school, I would often close the year with the following words of wisdom which I'll direct to our latest g[rad].  Wisdom via Dr. Seuss: 

Oh, the Places You'll Go!
Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.

OH!
THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!

You'll be on your way up!
You'll be seeing great sights!
You'll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights. ...

Oh, the places you'll go! There is fun to be done!
There are points to be scored. there are games to be won.
And the magical things you can do with that ball
will make you the winning-est winner of all.
Fame! You'll be famous as famous can be,
with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

And when you're alone, there's a very good chance
you'll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.
There are some, down the road between hither and yon,
that can scare you so much you won't want to go on. ...

On and on you will hike
and I know you'll hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are.

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So...
you're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So...get on your way!

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beauty school; bridal estate

My friends are my estate. 

Emily Dickinson
UPDATE: SO PLEASED TO BE FEATURED AT THE BOUDOIR PLACE here FOR THIS SESSION

Photography FRESH Photography
Makeup Artist Makeup by Emily Kjelshus
Venue Sweet Dreams Heritage Inn
Hair Adornments Pink Poppy
Models Leah Lindgren [+ her hair - inquire for her salon info] Amanda McKay

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beauty school; bridal sweet disorder

A sweet disorder in the dress kindles in clothes a wantonness: 

lawn about the shoulders thrown into a fine distraction 

erring lace, which here and there enthrals ...

... thereby ribbands to flow confusedly 

winning wave, deserving note, in the tempestuous petticoat

 careless shoe-string, in whose tie I see a wild civility 

... bewitch me ... - Robert Herrick

Photography FRESH Photography
Makeup Artist Makeup by Emily Kjelshus
Venue Sweet Dreams Heritage Inn
Hair Adornments Pink Poppy
Model Leah Lindgren

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highlights: 2011 couples

Julie . Jeffrey featured Style Me Pretty Canada

Becky . Jeremy featured Style Me Pretty Canada

                                                                                                                                                                                                            *

Tracy . Jeff featured Weddings in BC

Ashleigh . Cory featured Weddings in BC

Congratulations 20/11 couples!  You have added much beauty and inspiration to my year.  Thank you for showing me your heart and letting me fall a little bit in love with each of you, through the lens.
* starred image while shooting for Lana Fedora

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beauty school; ms l*

 * body language ahead

Ms L's stunning captures will make likely make the following comments null and void for a few, but that makes the comments and Ms L's journey, as a wife and mother, worth sharing - to my predominantly female audience - all the more.
Women struggle.
We let our minds bully our bodies and we don't always see our own beauty.  In her own words:

I ... consider[ed] cancelling last minute...  Yes there are days when I feel pretty, but there are days when beauty is not even an option ... when I look in the mirror.  I [focus on] the blemish on my face, bruise on my arm, stretchmarks on my body ... Then I remind myself that I have been in front of your lens before and the result ... gave me a different confidence in myself.  
I discovered [what] will be my mantra for today: 

My body is not ruined.  

I am simply a tiger that has earned her stripes! 

So I put my nervous, flawed, excited self in your hands and [let the make-up artist], Photoshop and your amazing talent do their magic.  


To which I respond:  Thank you for the honor of your trust.
Thank you for pushing past your fear to a place of courage.
Thank you for showing us that we are not alone.
Thank you for inspiring me, Ms L.
And Photoshop only works on butts and thighs and skin and waistlines [unnecessarily so]; and not on beauty.  If you know Ms L, please help keep her Valentine's secret, and get her to show you the lovely frames - and some of my favorite - that aren't shown here.
Not everyone respects the art as it should be respected.. In that light, and in response to the former Victoria's Secret model, that recently stepped away from the public to save her body for her husband and honor her convictions, I edited the post.  Read her story HERE.
What do you think of her decision?
photographer: FRESH Photography
makeup artist: Makeup by Emily Kjelshus
venue: Sweet Dreams Heritage Inn 

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