Warren Dunes and Babes

My neighbor asked me, “who were those exotic looking people you took photos of recently?” I immediately knew it was Amanda and Austin. We met for the first time at the dunes and they freaking made dreams come true. Amanda is the most self confident, spontaneous and down for whatever person I’ve ever met and her Jesus looking boyfriend Austin was also there along for the ride. Basically they were a match made in heaven and a photographers dream. We ran out of breath hiking up the dunes, frolicked through the cold beach water, took shots of whiskey and got sand in some not so pleasant places. Magic basically, that’s what we did. Peep these steamy babes below!

Frolicking into mentor sessions like…

I always love meeting people that jump full force into their dreams. They have that no fear attitude and are ready to go full force into something they really feel pulled to do. Meet Natasha. She owns Natasha Renae Photography. She’s an artist and such an incredible human being. She reached out a month or so ago about one of the mentor sessions I offer. She traveled to me from the Indianapolis/Avon area and freaking killed her mentor session. We got the opportunity to work with two sets of couples and it was serious magic.

My favorite thing after these sessions are seeing the photos from the night that each mentee has done. I woke up this morning tagged in her previews and you guys. Holy whoa! I’ve tagged her social media handles below so you can go check them out and show her all the love!

I’m an open book during these sessions and love connecting with each and every person I get to experience these sessions with. I love being a part of their journey as they continue being bad asses. I love that we become a small community, friends and collaborators. I love seeing people freaking go for it. Peak my previews below and make sure to visit Natasha on her social pages!

“I have a history of not asking for help and feel like I should “figure it out” on my own – why? Beats me. Abbey 100% took me under her wing and shared all the knowledge and truth bombs (like I should NOT do this alone 😂) and I am forever changed.”

-Natasha  

Models: Adrienne + Wade and Jess + Adam, Venue: Progreen Garden Center, Welcher home, Social Media: Abbey Elaine Photography @abbeyelainephotography and Natasha Renae Photography @natasha.renae.photography

BoomShakaLaka Workshop!

You guys, it went down Sunday!! Cait, Cait Morgan Photography, and I teamed up to mentor some crazy amazing gals in our first every BoomShakaLaka Workshop! It was truly the best girl gang we could have ever asked for. We loved educating them and giving them the confidence to use their cameras. Even more so we loved empowering them to just go for it, to kick off the dust on their cameras and take epic photos. We can’t wait to see the magic they create with these baby models!!

Are you interested in a workshop? Let us know by commenting!

Mentor Sessions had me like…

“We live in such a selfish society. People believing that the world revolves around them or owes them something. That there’s not enough room at the table for everyone; therefore, her success diminishes my own. Yes, this experience was centered around photography, but it ended up being so much more than that. As we weaved the ins and outs of camera settings, location selection, posing, editing, and my technological inefficiencies I became very aware that I held a spot at Abbey’s table. And for that confidence boost, I am so incredibly grateful!”

-Ashley Leader, Mentee/Boss Babe

I recently rolled out the big news that I was going to start offering mentor sessions. I honestly sat on this idea for awhile, wondering why would anyone would want to learn from me? Second guessing my craft and deciding whether or not my knowledge was valuable for others. Then I thought, heck! At the very least I could pass along some confidence to others to really go for it, to start investing in them. Learn how to connect with their clients and pull out that emotional side of people that allows them to be vulnerable with you.  I learned so much when I interned, when I did hands on photography and wanted to give that opportunity to others who are wanting to better their craft and straight have a dang good time learning!

Ashley messaged me pretty much right away after I posted about these on social media and I couldn’t have had the most rad time with her. She was everything I hoped a mentee would be that would take on these sessions. We started off the day talking business, editing scenarios and then hopped on over to a live session. My personal favorite part! You guys, we had the best weather and two of my fave models to work with. The cool thing is, you don’t become a stranger after the day is over. Ashley and I have texted back and forth screen shots of our photos we took day of and she even popped in a few days later, during an editing day for me, just to see what I thought of some work she was working on. Not only will you walk away with some further confidence to do some magical work, but you’ll gain a community! Here’s some photos of mine taken during our session. I’m super stoked for future mentor sessions and to see Ashley’s images beautifully showcased in her portfolio!

Here’s to rad people and to sharing the love! 

Hair today, gone tomorrow.

It’s amazing how good having family around feels during tough times. Last week my dad’s sister visited and that week felt like one of those tiny moment’s I’ve talked about before. The ones we look for that show us some relief, some good. The week before that my older sister visited and accompanied us to a doctor visit that finally felt optimistic in even just the tiniest of bits. This week my younger sister visits and one of my brother’s came for the weekend from college. My family is the rare kind. The best kind. The kind that is there for each other each step of the way through the good and the tough.

The other night I stopped by home to check on my Dad and to also hang out with my younger sister who flew in. My dad was sitting on his bed when I came in and he said, “check this out.” He reached up, took a hand full of hair and pulled lightly. Small strands filled his palm as he reached out to show me. The hair loss had begun from the second round of chemo. We were disappointed because we didn’t expect it to start this quickly. The day before he had a full epic mustache. The next day it had noticeably thinned.  He took control that next day and made an appointment to go ahead and cut it all. I’ve documented bits and pieces of this journey and it’s always so surprising how each step feels so monumental. We go in for our second full day of chemo next week. We find relief in those few good days in between each session. We find hope within our family.

Styled, Part I

I think the biggest thing I’ve cherished this last year is meeting some super rad genuine people within my small town. I moved away when I went to college near Chicago, did a small stint in Maryland for a few months and ultimately came home to grow my adult roots. My small town will always be my home base, even when I’m coming and going. I’ve loved watching creatives in this humble town of ours come together and create.

Speaking of rad locals. This styled shoot was a dream come true and I couldn’t have made it happen on my own. Lavender and Hops Style Lounge, Vanessa Nicole Planning and Events  and I dreamed up the initial more simplistic idea of a husband and wife styled shoot. Turns out we are extra and wanted to involve three gal models instead and my crazy idea of incorporating livestock (more of that in part II).

Sometimes things just kind of fall together. Jessica’s On Main recently opened their bridal dress boutique and to say we were excited about incorporating their dresses into the shoot would be and understatement. Pam and her team were incredible to work with and the dresses OH MY LORD!

Peep the magic below.

Contact my gals for your wedding or if you just want to treat yo’ self!

Hair and Makeup: Lavender and Hops Style Lounge

Coordinating and Planning: Vanessa Nicole Planning and Events

Flowers provided by: Just Because Flowers, Gifts and More

Wedding Gowns: Jessica’s On Main

Models: Jade Hogan, Hannah Bartley, Samantha Pesich

The Sun Came Out Today

The sun came out today. We finish up treatment tomorrow!

Charmion: boho

Y’all ain’t ready for this bohemian queen. Charmion contacted me with the idea of photographing her in an outfit she recently ordered. I’ll be honest, I was like mmkay yeah sure I’ll do it, but not really knowing what I got myself into. Then I met her. She’s beautiful and such an awesome person. Also the way she moves in front of the camera. Lord help me. See for yourself below.

All the things and all of the places

You guys!! Let’s all give a warm welcome to my blog again. It’s been awhile, but I was determined to write today and to give everyone a little insight on what’s been going down lately.

I’m busy. Which is amazing. Sprinkle in some monumental moments from my personal life and you have straight up chaos. But in the most beautiful way possible. Alexis (Life by Lex Photography) and I jut wrapped up The Hobbyist Workshop this past weekend and I couldn’t have asked for a better first group of gals. Seriously, I always say how I just want to hang out with awesome people in the studio all day every day and we got to do just that! Thank you for attending ladies!

I got to photograph a birth for the FIRST time last week. It was incredible and I cried because life is so beautiful. If that wasn’t emotional enough, this must have been the week for babies because I also got to photograph a gender reveal. I’m not bragging, but I was pretty stoked to be the first (minus the doctors and nurses) one to know the gender.

Remember how I said there are some monumental things happening in my personal life as well? No, Neil and I haven’t set a date for our very own wedding yet BUT we are adulting really hard this week and will be closing on our very own house here in town! Whoop! And obviously I’m not allowed to just have one exciting thing happen in one week. I will be traveling to Morocco with some really great ladies this Thursday (THE DAY AFTER CLOSING ON OUR HOUSE HA!). If anyone needs any photos of really awesome tile and or me riding a camel let me know. I gotcha covered. Holla.

My family just found out we are adding another niece to it. So happy for my older sister and her family. I know the wait was hard, but I can’t wait to be an aunt again and to have a little girl named after me ;). Scott, did you know Abbey is a Hebrew name and means father’s joy? I’m just saying  (maybe someday).

March is gearing up for some exciting things as well. Some more traveling will be mixed in so make sure to get yo self scheduled for any session needs you might want soon!

As for now, I need to go pack up ALL the things for the move AND the trip. So with that, peace and love you awesome people! Maybe my blog won’t be such a distant memory next time!

Photo Credit: Life by Lex Photography

Photo Credit: Katie Basbagill, Bohemian Red Images

Photo credit: Katie Basbagill, Bohemian Red Images

Sam, Cville’s very own bike man

One thing I’m sure of, photography has taught me to see. To look around. Even in the smallest of towns. Through seeing I found that there are so many interesting people to be photographed. So many people with stories to be told.

Many of you have seen him. He’s the guy riding around town on a bicycle with the impressive handle bars. Sometimes he’s in camo, sometimes simply a flannel and converse shoes, but always wearing a mustache. He’s actually twitter famous (@CvilleBikeMan), but that’s besides the point. I’ve been determined to photograph him for months and as fate would have it I got my chance this past weekend.  I rolled up to my studio downtown and he was walking out of one of the local eateries gearing up to take off on his famous bike. I introduced myself and thankfully he didn’t find it creepy when I told him to follow me to an alley to do these photos. We talked for a second. I told him to stop by the studio if he saw my door open and that I would give him some prints. Today, he did just that.

It turns out the Crawfordsville bike man has a name, Sam. He was knowledgeable, a bit of a rebel and not a person to conform to society and how it tells us to define ourselves. He said he has his driver’s license, but prefers to ride his bike for exercise. He talked politics, which I wasn’t all that surprised about. He has two bikes and is looking into a third, sometimes he uses the horn on them. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want him to stop by again.

In the end, if you take anything from this post it should be this. Take a look around. See people. We actually are all very different from one another and there are so many stories to be told. Find the rebels in the crowd, those not afraid to be who they are or are deciding for themselves who they want to be. Be inspired by Sam.