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Bubble gum, Pop Rocks, cotton candy, crimped hair, and breakdancing...I'm thinking this is the ultimate session!
I had so much fun with Miss M and Miss M^2 ("squared" for those of us that have been out of school for awhile)! It all started at my place where we got together for hair, lip gloss, and nail polish. It was the perfect setting for my little models to get to know each other a bit and have their first few giggles together. And then we were off, with my little divas, for such a fun shoot. We went to just two locations on Fort Irwin that I thought were perfect for this funky shoot.
One of my resolutions for this year was to style a shoot, one that was just for me. As a photographer, it is always fun to do a shoot for yourself every once in awhile. And I thought it would be so much fun to have a bit of a throwback concept where girls are just dressed up and having fun...because we all know "girls just wanna have fun"!
So here are several of my favorites from the shoot. Thank you so much Miss M and Miss M^2! You both were terrific and you made my week. And at the end, don't miss the slideshow--there you will see the vast majority of our shoot.
Stay Extraordinary Girls,
m
WORK IT Miss M!
So this past weekend, I got to play "thirty-something going on 13". As most of you know, I have been a fan of the New Kids on the Block since I was probably...12?! Actually, when I think back to my childhood, it either revolved around Barbies or New Kids on the Block. And once I found New Kids on the Block, the Barbies went in the box and it was all about Bop or Teen Beat Magazine. Don't judge...all you 30 year old girls know you were the same way! Seriously, those are the two things I think of...oh, and prancing around our cul-de-sac all dressed up with our neighbor Kimmie blasting Madonna's "Like a Virgin" when I had no clue what a virgin even was. But that is a whole other story!
So it seemed fitting after a 20+ year love affair, that I'd fly out the NYC when I heard they'd be playing at Radio City Music Hall! I mean SERIOUSLY, who in their right mind would pass up the opportunity for a weekend in NYC *and* the opportunity to relive their childhood for two hours!
So I jumped on a plane...all by myself...and flew to the Big Apple! I had a fabulous time staying at a friend's house in Brooklyn and she introduced me to everything NY. She taught me about bumping bumpers if necessary to get a parking spot and how NYers like to just shrug or flip a hand (sort of like they are brushing you off) instead of necessarily giving the finger! After my NY culture lesson, she set me loose to explore on my own! Off I went...
I finally had the chance to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. I guess you could say it was on my bucket list...one of those things I always hoped I'd be able to do one day. No particular reason...I just thought it would be cool! And it was. I walked across the bridge and jumped on the subway for the FIRST TIME EVER...ALONE! Lindsey, my friend, was great in guiding me..."just make sure it is the 4 of 5 train DOWNTOWN." And luckily I made it on my first try and didn't accidentally get on the uptown 4 or 5 train! And as I walked up the subway steps (and yes, I saw my first subway rat...blah), I was in the throws of Battery Park. I took a ferry out to Liberty Island and Ellis Island where I was able to trace some of my ancestors that came over from Switzerland. And then, I was off to hail a cab and go to this fabulous department store called Century 21.
Century 21...why don't you have a store in California?! OMGosh. Simply fabulous. And then I met up with Lindsey for dinner at Onieals...or better known to my fellow SATC fans as, SCOUTS! It was just like the show. And yes, I had a cosmo just for you!
And before I knew it, Saturday was upon us. We had fun scouting out the city and doing everything Rockafeller Center had to offer. We went to the Top of the Rock (you'll see some pics of that) and we did the NBC Studio Tour, which I recommend if you go to NYC. I even had the chance to sit in the audience seats at Saturday Night Live! And then that night, it was Radio City or bust!
The concert...SO.MUCH.FUN. The whole thing was pretty much amazing and different from concerts I've seen in the past. I loved the acoustical set of some of their old songs and then towards the end of that set, they started singing a Backstreet Boys song...WHAT?! Get this...the curtain raises and there are the Backstreet Boys! 2 for 1 night! It was a pretty cool surprise even for a girl that was never really into them. It was neat to see them come together for a couple of songs. And the place basically went ballistic. Then the New Kids played some great remixes of classic 80's songs and their own mixed in. That was pretty darn cool. And of course we ended the evening with Hangin' Tough and the place going wild and everyone swinging their arms in sync with each other. And for the first time ever, I was able to watch the actual performers during the concert and not watch the concert off the jumbo-tron! We were that close--YAY!
It was a fabulous weekend. And I feel so spoiled to have the experience of being able to fly across the country to see my favorite group from my childhood days! It was something I will never forget, and I feel so grateful. And THANK YOU to my wonderful husband that didn't hesitate once about the whole ordeal. When I asked him if I could go out there, his response was, "Why are you asking?? GO!" And he had fun playing Mr. Mom with the girls all weekend...from hiking trips to Toy Story 3, they had fun together while mama roamed the big city. So thank you Ryan for giving me this amazing experience! xoxo
And on that note, if they ever do a tour again, I hope to be there!
Hang Tough,
m
**ALL PHOTOS TAKEN WITH POINT AND SHOOT...I'm horrible at lugging "the beast" with me on vacation. So there isn't any artistic value...just sentimental value for me! And Lindsey, thank you for the concert pictures...I was too chicken to try to get a camera in. And I think I was the only one without a camera in the concert!
Me walking across the Brooklyn Bridge--CHECK!
Top of the Rock
Top of the Rock-I love the view of St. Patricks Cathedral from above.
Top of the Rock-Central Park
Oh, and it begins...WOO HOO!
Jordan--they've still got their moves, even at 40...lol
When Backstreet Boys joined them for a song...
Joey Joe and Jordan...
And yes, SOLD OUT with 30 year old women! I think I saw two guys!! lol
Finale-Hangin' Tough
Little Miss Sunshine has been patiently waiting to lose her first tooth. She has seen countless Kindergarten classmates have the thrill of losing their first tooth...and has actually prayed that she would lose one. I remember a couple of years ago, the dentist told her she would probably lose her first tooth when she was 7. She informed me later that week that she couldn't wait for her 7th birthday because she was going to go into the bathroom and pull her first tooth out! I had to explain that is not *exactly* how it happens!!!
Well finally, on Easter Sunday, we noticed her permanent tooth had finally broken through but it was too far behind the baby tooth--never making that baby tooth loose. So, off to the dentist we go. I was so sad that her first experience of losing a tooth was going to be having it pulled at the dentist. Little Miss Sunshine counted the days down until her dental appointment and even dressed up for the occasion. When she heard the dentist recommend we should just pull those two bottom teeth, she lit up like it was Christmas morning and said, "YES! I get to lose my first tooth!!" The dentist started laughing as she explained most kids go into a panic and cry! Not my girl. She was all ready for the "sleepy juice" for her teeth. She didn't move once in that chair as they worked on her and not one tear shed from her eye. She was amazed when they were out, and mama was so proud. Not to mention, I swear she aged a year when I looked at her toothless grin!
So this week, we've been calling her the Toothless Wonder! Here are some pictures of her going to bed on this monumental evening! She had to make a sign for the tooth fairy, which you will see pictured below. And of course we put pixie dust in the window sill and left the blinds up so the fairy would see the sparkle in the moonlight and know there was a payment due at our household! She woke up to four shiny gold coins...
Embrace the magic Little Miss Sunshine...you are loved!
mama ;)
I love the following two pictures because of the meaning behind it...her tooth fairy pillow is the one my sister and I used as a child. Little did I know when I was her age putting my own teeth in that pillow that my daughters would be using it one day!
Just a taste of what is to come! I had so much fun with these two girls when we shot Project: Material Girl last week...LOVE.THESE.GIRLS! And I think they had a blast as well.
And here is Miss M busting a break dancing move. WORK IT GIRL!
And I can't wait to share the rest with you all! :)
Stay Extraordinary Girls,
m
Better late than never!
So I'm not going to lie...I'm completely playing catchup with blogging! On May 17-18th, I had the opportunity to attend Escalate Live, and it was so much fun! It was a lot of fun and very inspiring to hear some of the "big dogs" of the industry speak. But I think what was even more fun (shhh...), was having the chance to see some of my photog friends from around the country and meet new ones! Okay...it was the best part of the whole experience, I'm not going to lie!
Being a photographer can sometimes be a bit of a lonely occupation when you don't have co-workers that you see every day. So when you throw a whole bunch of photographers in one big room and the whole point is to "talk shop", WATCH OUT! We are all trying to get our 10,000 words for the day out at the same time!! And it is so much fun! I felt so blessed to meet up with some lovely photographers that I met at the Jasmine Star Workshop back in November. In the photo with me is Cupcake Queen Gladys to the left in the pic and to the right is the "Love all things Paper" Anda! And sadly, the lovely Julie is missing in the photo :( ...I think it is because she is off stalking Jerry Ghionis (Okay, we all wanted to stalk him afterwards...he was simply that amazing. He has the most insane talent ever)!
Ladies, I loved catching up with you all. And to my new photo peeps that I met at the conference, I'm so glad our paths crossed and I can't wait to follow each other's careers! If you are in the Newport area for the next Escalate, GO. There is nothing like being there in person. And thank you to the gracious Dane Sanders for putting the conference together.
And I'm thinking we need another trip soon ladies! :)
Be Extraordinary,
m
You'll probably want to kill me for this one Jenny, but I know the kids will love it! It's their "crazy face" shot. 
Love this one...cotton candy makes everything better!
