Woodruff Family Session

When Karen contacted me, she hoped that we could schedule a session before her husband was deployed to Afghanistan. I did whatever I needed to in order to make this session happen. I can't even imagine leaving my family for such an extended amount of time. Let alone putting my life on the line for our country. It takes a special person and family to live such a selfless & commited life.

I'm honored to have captured these memories !

 Did you know, we have lots of laughs and silly faces included in our family sessions ! 

 And . . . .giggles ! 

And love . . . .

And sweetness . . . .

And adorableness . . . {wait, is that a word? } 

I'm on the other side of the lens . . . ..

Love Yourself NOW . . . . . 

The Love Yourself Now session started around the beginning of this year. I started this new journey in my photography for a couple of reasons. One, I'm always up for a good challenge, two, nothing makes me more happy than to see a smile on my clients face after viewing their session and lastly, because I really feel there is too much emphasis on the negative and not the positive in this world ! 

Photographer aside, well as much as I can push her, little things are more important than capturing that perfect moment, the feeling; sadness, joy, excitement or love. Those emotions are all there for the taking. It depends on us on how we will feel them, or IF we will feel them at all.

For those that know me, I FEEL ALL OF THEM !  I still feel the pain of  the teasing of always being the tallest girl {and sometimes taller than the boys} in class, yes, I'm going to say this, being the last one picked for a team in gym class, the disappointment of not getting the "perfect" job, because you just weren't good enough. . . These are all examples, very real at that, that affect our own thought of ourselves, our self image and self worth. We can get over these feelings and move forward as adults. Telling that little voice that those feelings were from years ago and mean nothing to the person we have become. But, if we are truly honest, they still linger in the backs of our minds, even if for just a second or two, here and there. 

Those are some of the thoughts that have brought me to this point, offering a session to boost the self confidence that we all need. To show so many people the beauty that they posess, to value ourselves and how far we have come and just how much we have accomplished. To take the time to do something for your self, to receive a compliment and see how beautiful they truly are, and to revive our very own spirit and to come alive ! 

I've had great responses to the sessions I have accomplished this far. The women are excited once they schedule their session and once the sneak peeks come out, well for the most part, they are speechless ! I didn't put them on a diet, I didn't give them a face lift or remove 20 years from their face, I cherished them for them ! I embraced their beauty, their personalities, and their worth. The rest just falls into place and I am lucky enough to be the one sharing in their joy !!!

Recently, I have had a couple of potential clients contact me and their biggest concern is this; " I just don't photograph well" or "I'm really not as pretty as the other woman you have done" This breaks my heart ! 

If everyone could just see themselves the way the people that love them see them, it would be a wonderful world. 

So, I've taken on my own challenge and photographed MYSELF !  The before picture is the exact same way I would photograph a client. Clean face, hair pulled back, it's just me. . . .The after picture was taken with a remote that I held in my hand{excuse the cut off of one arm }. It took me quite a while to get my settings, lights, and focus to the appropriate place, but I did it ! I did it to show everyone that is questioning booking a session, to just do it ! 

You will be leaving a legacy your children will treasure and you could potentially be the inspiration to another woman who may have been feeling the same exact way you were prior to your session ! 

Ok, lets add a little flower :) I have to admit, it was fun ! I, for sure, love being behind the lens. But I will admit, I'm pleased with the outcome !

How about some black & white love . . . .SURE, I'll take it ! 

OK, I'm partial to black & white, soooo here's another one ! Thinking this one would be my husband's choice.

It was a bit challenging getting these poses,{well almost right} running back and fourth to view the camera image, trying to get this in focus and on and on and on . . .but I did it ! I did  it because I believe in leaving something for my children and grandchildren,because time is a gift, because I will never be the same as I am today and because I am worth it and so are YOU ! 

First Holy Communion with Ms.V

First Holy Communion carries many different meanings, but it doesn't mean the photo session has to be boring & drab.

Ms. V's mom contacted me after seeing a prior First Holy Communion and wanted to get her daughter in the studio right away. She had already taken her daughter to a session, but didn't like the images, "they just didn't capture her the way I would have hoped for"

I made sure when Ms. V came to the studio we were going to have a great time - which we did.

I love the sweetness & fun in these images. They are honest and true, just how a child should be photographed!

"OH Trish, I love them !!! Thank you so much" these are the responses I live for!

LOVE Yourself NOW session { with Angela}

I introduced the "LOVE Yourself NOW" session at the beginning of this year and the response has been wonderful. My main objective to these sessions is to give back to woman. The moms, wives, sisters and friends that give so much to others and often forget to GIVE to themselves.

Angela was an awesome client and what made it even better was her statement to me "I'm not very photogenic and I HATE having my picture taken." 

This is exciting to me because I couldn't wait to show her just how "photogenic" she really is !!

These sessions are timeless and leave you with a feeling of self worth, amazement and love. Which is exactly what I am trying to accomplish! 

"Is it weird that I keep looking at my beauty gallery? I can't stop, I love them all !! How am I going to decide what to purchase?" 

Mission accomplished !

Oh and did I mentioned, we danced too !

Ms. V's First Holy Communion & a little family love.

About 8 weeks ago I received a letter stating this needed to be kept confidential, the content of the letter touched every part of my heart and reaffirmed {again} why I love photography the way I do, why I always have my camera with me and why I laugh when people ask me "do you go anywhere with out that thing?"

Sorry, a little off topic there, at any rate, I had been requested to set up an appointment with a certain family for their daughters First Holy Communion and the session fee would be paid anonymously. The letter also stated this family was more than well deserving of such a gift and I immediately felt the love.

When I contact the family, they were elated ! For they always pay it forward and are a truly loving family, doing the best they can to make a solid, clean, fundamental life for their family. While in contact I asked the Mom if she would please have the whole family dressed for the session, I wanted to add in a family session along with the Communion. 

This was such a great session, I bet if you ask any photographer, the happiness you see in a clients face, and their excitement for a shoot, and seeing their images for the first time makes it all worth it !
We were all  filled with laughter and a lot of smiles !!!

Love Yourself NOW session { with Agnes}

With loving this new adventure in my Studio, I felt it only right to give my make up artist some love.

She is a marvelous artist with a passion for make up, making people feel beautiful and seeing what some may not see. .

I also felt it appropriate, because she too doesn't feel or see herself as beautiful. {Yes, you heard me right, no lie !} I have known Agnes for many, many years and in the early stages of our friendship I would hear someone give her a compliment and her reply would be a debate. Eventually, after me constantly reminding her, she started to smile and say thank you. 

I knew that I wanted to have a Love Yourself NOW session with her, because I want REAL people, mothers, wives, sisters. People with a million responsibilities, ones that may not give themselves a tenth of the love they give others. We, as human beings, are creatures of habit and we need to be reminded. Reminded of just how important we are to ourselves !!! 

Imagine what could happen if we all felt, I mean really felt beautiful, not just for an hour, or a day, but forever? The great part about this session is that you will ! You will feel beautiful and you will have the prints to remind yourself of that. Whenever in doubt, take a glance at your wall portrait and be reminded of how you FELT on that day !!!! It's not about being glamorous as much as it is about emotion, feeling, needing and desire. Desire to love ourselves just a little more each day ! 

Ladies, we could start a revelation !!! AND just to prove my point, I am working on my own before & after session . . . keep a look out !!!

I hope you enjoy your preview Ms. Agnes xoxoxo

Love yourself NOW session

Love Yourself Now

We each have our very own battles that we deal with each day. I know for me there are many. I battle with my love for food and my determination to stay healthy and strong. Strong for myself and our family, hence my 4:30 am alarm that chimes in my ear to get me out of our bed and off to the gym.

Then there is the battle of balancing parenting and work. Or merely taking time for myself. Somewhere there has to be a couple of minutes for myself outside of soccer, dance, karate, school board meetings and my love for photography. OH wait, then there is the daily household duties that need to be accomplished. Cooking of the meals, laundry, homework, baths, and bedtime stories. You all get the idea here.

This got me to thinking, of course I am not alone in this battle. Naturally there has to be millions of others facing the same battle as I do. When will I ever be good enough to take time for myself. Shouldn't I just love myself NOW? Regardless of what the scale says or what I made for dinner? Yes, this isn't my mothers dinner table, I do serve mac & cheese for dinner and it isn't home made.

Wouldn't it be great if I could have a couple of hours for myself, uninterrupted by I phones or I pads, but merely I, as in me ?? Wouldn't it feel great to have someone else apply my makeup and do my hair ? AND have beautiful images to remember this O so special day ? Couldn't this recharge my love for myself or even make me realize just how beautiful I am?


I hope you enjoy your preview Pam, this was an exceptionally fun session with you ! The beautiful gown as well as your casual jeans & black top!  I love that we didn't transform you into some unrecognizable person. It's still you, but now you will have some awesome images to remember this day by !

 I look forward to showing many more woman just how beautiful they truly are !