....and this is why we're friends...

[SATURDAY]

Okay, okay...I'm going to keep in mind this is my blog, not my novel (which lucky for us all I will never actually have time to write).

But for this post I have to give you some kind of back story about Andrea. I met her in my design class at Ivy Tech when I first went back to school. She quickly became like a little sister to me and our love for live music, photography, and Rice Krispie treasts bonded us together for life. We've done photo shoots together, taken photo classes together, and even lived together briefly before Oliver decided he was on his way to Earth.

Drea is from Honduras and when the Visa goes, so do you. She moved back home with her fam, but we're so excited to have her visit in September.
In the meantime, another chica who is near and dear to Andrea's heart, Shonda, is now having a baby. Since Drea couldn't be here, she asked me to take some preggo shots of her good friend.

Unfortunately, Shonda had pinkeye (we shot a few days ago, which was a few days after Drea asked me, which was a week before the baby was coming...no time for pinkeye to go away).

[SUNDAY]

I wonder if Shonda had her baby yet...anyway, here some of the shots we got that day.

And thankfully Pat is around to help me sometimes. He's also a good test subject :)

Good luck to Shonda!! Can't wait to see Andrea!! 

Carrie & Shaun got married!!

A few years ago I was given an assignment for my black and white photography class. I was to recreate a photograph by a famous photographer. Probably by composition and light, but I just used the seductive idea of seeing the guy through the girls' legs. My "go-to" model, Jamie has a friend who owns a tux (another aspect of the image I was looking for) so AJ shows up to help us with this photo which turned into one of my favorite shoots of all time. May the fourth, at Jamie's sister's wedding, we shot an updated 2013 version of my image.
Here's the original 2010(ish), the 2013 copy, and the next generation.

Before Jamie moved to South Carolina, I did a shoot for her and her sister, Carrie. Carrie's future husband was along for the ride, hanging out with us....but who know I'd be shooting their wedding one day?!

 So on May the fourth, we drove to Terre Haute for Carrie and Shaun's wedding. "We" being Missi and myself....c'mon, who else would I take? She's my favorite ;) We spent the morning at Carrie's Mom's house as the girls rotated hair, makeup, mimosas...

 Here's a few of my favorite shots from the morning.

 Carrie looked beautiful the moment she stepped out of the shower. I mean, I wasn't in the bathroom, but you get what I'm saying.

 All day I was trying to figure out why Jamie was suddenly reminding me of someone. I've known her for almost a decade. Then it hit me...she resembles Sookie. And since I'm hooked on True Blood right now..ahh..got it.

 Carrie and Jamie's mom, Lauretta. So sweet to us all day, didn't expect anything less since I know her daughters that she raised!

While the girls were getting ready, we started shooting the details of the wedding that Carrie had spent so much time planning and organizing. Her "something blue" were these gorgeous shoes that I love! If only I wore heals more..

 Carrie wore the letter "S" for Schoffstall on her right ear.

 As the ceremony ended, Carrie and Shaun grabbed their mother's hands and danced down the isle.

 Goofy photos are always more fun, anyway. Right?

 I don't normally use any kind of colorizing in my photos. But I'm pretty sure I already mentioned how much I love the color of these shoes. It's subtle. I dig it.

 Two of my favorite models, at their finest right here! haha!!

  So there it is. That's a lot of "getting ready" photos, huh? Maybe next time I'll put majority "details" or something.




 I'm still learning to master the blog. Next time I'll give you bigger images :)

Panj Is Evolving

A year ago I (thought I) had decided to be a fine art photographer. Strictly shooting whatever I wanted and finding places to showcase my work. Hindsight, this was really just a scapegoat for not challenging myself, therefore never getting any better. I was being lazy.

After an internship at Nuvo, hanging my photos at Fireside in Chicago, practicing with my lights, and photographing many faces, I have found that I love shooting people. I think the reality of this was setting in a few weeks ago when Missi and I were shooting in Noblesville just for fun. Last year this would have been my favorite thing to do, except this time I felt that I was missing something:  a body.

Around the time Missi told me about this 50's style town "A Summer Place", is about the same time as Jade and I started scheming up a shoot of our own. It all just randomly happened that Jade was going  to meet me in Indy the same day that Missi and I had the chance to drive up to Sharpsville. Her models bailed on her but Jade had enough clothes, therefore "looks", to model for both of us. Plus she is just a natural at modeling, she knows how to pose. Some people think this is easy, but it's not. I really appreciated this because I'm still working on telling people how to pose.

I've known Jade since around 1985. We were both living in Arlington, IN and we always watched "Sweet Dreams" the movie about Patsy Cline. After we moved back to Rushville we didn't hang out, ever..but Facebook is a magical thing (in this case).

I've known Missi for a few years. We met at Ivy Tech and now I call her my Photo Wife. We shoot weddings together, shoot for fun together, teach each other, and someday hopefully we will share studio/gallery space. 

On to the photos! I loved the yellow shoes with the blue dress and green suitcase, but decided for the image as a part of the series it was better in black and white. But see? It is nice in color too...

This is my favorite photo of the day, I think. I started a series a while back called "legs". I don't know why...maybe because I hate my own. But speaking of "my own", those are my thigh-highs she's wearing in this pic. Aren't  they cute? 

 Jade wanted to utilize the tractor. I knew she had a flannel and the guys who own this little "town" suggested the hay. I really love all of the closeups I took that day.

 I really spent some time in Photoshop on this one. Can you tell? It's cute, love her pose, but technically this isn't my favorite. But what I love about it is the color.

 The first thing I fell in love with inside the diner was this gumball machine.

So a huge thanks to Jade for venturing out with us for this shoot. I said I hope it's epic, and in my book it was a huge success.

A Summer Place is in Sharpsville, IN. The owner holds car shows at which time the diner is actually functioning. I definitely suggest heading out May 25th and checking it out. http://www.asummerplace.org/Car-Show-Event-Info---Flyer.html

Growing up in Rushville, Dawson's Standard was about the only place my mom wanted me to go for gas. This is definitely a nostalgic photo for me. :)

 Next to the gas station is the movie theater. This room was also full of vintage items such as a water fountain, popcorn machine, clocks, bicycles, a jukebox, and more.

 Here's the front of the diner with the ferris wheel peaking through. It is one of the few things that are just for show. Even the barber shop in the town is where the owner has his wife cut his hair.

 The front of the theater and the fire truck.

 This isn't helping my milkshake craving...

 Again..I love the gumball machine.

 The guys were working on the police car while we were out there.

I hope you have enjoyed my ramblings about that day and my current evolution as a photographer, and the images from the day posted here and on Facebook. -Angie