May: Ripe Belly in El Mirage

{Ash-a-ley}

Meet May.   She is a model, a wife and the creator of the organic May Lindstrom Skin.   Becker invited me to shoot with him at the El Mirage Dry Lake bed, and I was blown away by the confident and elegant way May embraced Motherhood.  As we road tripped out to the desert, I could not help but smile when I would look to the back seat and see May and her husband in complete and utter love with each other.   Then we arrived at the shoot location, and May embraced every beautiful curve of this new stage in her life.  She was due any day (and as far as I know still expecting), but I think I told her that my due date guess was either August 1st or August 2nd?    I posted some of my favorites from the shoot below, and at the bottom of this blog post you will find a link to a few more of my favorites that are more PG-13.    Thank you May and Robert and I hope you savor each moment along this roller coaster of an experience.   After witnessing the love you two show towards each other, I know the sweet baby girl that will soon be in your arms will have no shortage of love and affection.  With all of that being said, I'll just go ahead and start with my FAVE!  This sunset was like nothing I have ever witnessed.      

After seeing Robert admire his BREATHTAKING wife from the sidelines, we pulled him over for a few of them together.   

And here is a little behind the scenes action with Becker.    He actually shot pics of May years ago and has always wanted to shoot pics with her once again.   Capturing her in this beautiful stage in her life was perfect! 

Check out some of his favorites from the shoot on his blog HERE.

 I got my new car just in time for my road trip out west, and I absolutely LOVEEEEE it!!    As soon as we started driving onto the dry lake bed, I felt as if I were in one of those car commercials you see!    So fun!

To see a few more of my favorites (the ones that are a little more PG-13) click HERE for the link to the private gallery.

Lola's Going to be a Big Sis! : Ripe Belly

The first time we met Jan and Mike was at Lola's Itty Bitty Session.   That was the first of an entire journey together.   We would have done Miss Lola's entire BirthStory....but unfortunately, Jan didn't find out about it until Lola was already in their arms.   After her Itty Bitty session, we were there to capture her Baptism, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 1 year, and her 1st Birthday Party.   At the birthday party, Jan pulled me to the side and informed me to keep in in wraps.......but.....They were expecting!!!    And she HAD to do a birthstory this time!!!   Here is a quick little sneak peek of one of my favorite families as they anticipate their little boy who is set to arrive within the next month!  :) He will be here before you know it! 

Ryder's BirthStory: Imagine. Believe. Achieve

"Let the beauty we love be what we do." 

-Rumi

"The starting point of all achievement is desire."  Strong desire only creates stronger results.  I give all of me in every shoot that I take on.   I think it is impossible not to when you get to do something you are so passionate about on a daily basis.   I become emotionally invested into my clients, their stories, and figuring out a way to truly capture the essence of the emotions that they are feeling at that exact moment in time.  I make it my goal to document it in a way that whether it be 5 months or 5 years later, the moment they look at those pictures ,they are instantaneously brought back to what they were feeling at that exact moment.  I am constantly planning, thinking, and trying to push myself to the next level and capture the beauty of life.

I never know when the moment is going to happen, and out of nowhere..... BAM!  There it is.....That feeling.  A feeling I had never really felt before and was unsure of what it was.  I can remember the exact times this feeling has happened.  The first time was when I was editing Kelly and Terry's wedding in October of 2009.  I began looking through the images from their day, and immediately felt overwhelmed with a sense of wonder.  A sense of "Did I really do this?"  A feeling that is powerful enough to stop me in my tracks and immediately trigger tears that begin to well up.  That moment happened again while editing this BirthStory.   I took the time to stop in that humbling moment, and take time to recognize it for what it is, a milestone in my creative journey.  It is what it feels like when an aspiration becomes a reality.  It is everything that I have worked towards and have tried to create staring at me through my iMac screen.  The realization that my vision was reached and now transcends into the next chapter of what I hold my creative standard to.    

(Below are a few of those images that triggered that moment.)

Kelly & Terry (2009)

and HERE is their wedding blog

There is nothing more rewarding than witnessing my clients watch their BirthStory or see their images for the first time.  They get a glimpse at the moments they may not have even realized were happening.  Snippets in time they will never get back.  When my clients thank me, I smile, but honestly, I feel as if it should be the other way around.  I hold such gratitude towards my clients.  They invite me into their lives.  They allow me to witness, document and become a part of their most intimate moments.  To Jen, Erik and every other client who has been a part of becoming the photographer and person I am today, shaped the artist I work towards becoming, and allowed me to dream a little bigger....I am forever thankful for you.

Here is Ryder's BirthStory.  Turn up the volume, grab some tissues, sit back and press play.   

Ryder BirthStory from LeLe Photography

Imagine. Believe. Achieve.

Sara & John: Ripe Belly

Sara and John decided to wait to find out if they were having a Mr or a Miss.  I think there is nothing more exciting then not knowing and when mother and father finally see their baby and they are like what is it, what is it!!! And of course there's the excitement of the family in the waiting room with their bets made...  Sara and John choose LeLe to capture the BirthStory of their first child and here is a little sneak peek of their Ripe Belly session.  We started at their home and let me tell you Sara was SO prepared!!!  She had the kitchen table FULL of outfits, details, props and even pictures of parks and local spots she liked.  As I took their pics we chatted about possible locations for the end of their session.  They mentioned a few parks and also Orange Leaf.  I was like, WHAT is Orange Leaf?  They informed me that it is amazing frozen yogurt and how they have a Sunday ritual in which they go there with John's truck, pick their favorite flavor of frozen yogurt, add amazing toppings and then sit on the tailgate and people watch.  I immediately said, "uh yeah, we are going there!"  I told them not only will these pictures be fun, they are unique to you guys and your very own little ritual.  I love incorporating things that are unique because those are the moments and pictures that will remind them of the Sundays they spent together sitting on the tailgate, laughing, talking and just being together.  

you. are. beautiful.

 her wedding veil

Sara and John, thanks A LOT for treating me to Orange Leaf!  Now I am addicted... :)

Sarah & Pat: Ripe Belly

I fall in love with my clients all the time. Sometimes I meet a couple, and within minutes, I feel like they have been lifelong friends of mine. Sarah and Pat are one of those couples.

I do not know what there is not to love about these two:

1.They are "ridiculously good looking".

2.They are incredibly in love. Like seriously in love. The kind of love that makes me know it exists. He looked at her like she was his world, and she looked at him like no one else could ever compare. I could feel their love by simply being in their presence.

3. They are FUNNY. Make sure to check out the outtake collage at the end of the blog. We did not stop making jokes. "Pat, EYES ON THE GROUND!" :)

4. Girl has style. Seriously. I religiously read In Style and Glamour, so I always appreciate someone with a sense of fashion. I love love love pairing outfits together. It's always an adventure looking through my closets (Yes, I have two of them), and pairing together something I hadn't thought about piecing together before. They have an entire room in their home dedicated to "Sarah's Getting Ready Room." An entire room. Accessories, shoes for days, clothes, jewelry, a vanity for hair/makeup.......I need this. :) Sarah really needs it though....she owns the FABULOUS Cha Boutique in Ladue. If you haven't been there, you need to go there. :)

5. And these two are every photographers dream. I think they may have been supermodels in a past life. She rocked out the poses the entire time, and Pat gave the "GQ look" like nobody's business!!! I could not STOP capturing these two.......

I LOVEEEEEEE This one......

Another fave.....

Seriously!?!? Sarah!!!! WORK it!!!!

I need to get a hat like that......

Pure Beauty.

And a shoot is never complete with out a little behind the scenes fun.......

This is how gracefully Pat moves from one pose into the next...... :)

The dog whisperer.....

Sarah & Pat- thank you guys for all of the JM advice. :) I'll be sure to use it next week when I'm in New York. Love you both and can not wait to capture the rest of your BirthStory. :)