tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53252217063965824762024-03-05T03:47:57.534-07:00Bella Faccia PhotographyBoudoir - Glamour - Beauty - Fine Art NudeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985966586862131710noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325221706396582476.post-7533673267206204692015-01-01T15:09:00.000-07:002015-01-01T15:09:49.661-07:00Creating Space<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Holy Dina, it's been a while since I last stopped in for a chat with you, Blog. I've thought of you often; alas, life has given me a little more than a gal can handle all at once and so you have had to take a backseat.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
In mid-2013 I was handed a personal blow that left me, well, broken. I have spent the past 19 months adapting, learning, loving, crying, and living...and I managed to fit some beloved portraiture into the mix too! 2014 was all about getting my feet back under me, and I'm happy to report that things feel a lot more peaceful these days, and I am ready to dream again.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Every once in a while we all have to 'take stock': what's working, what isn't, what do I need to do, what do I WANT to do, how do I wish to live my days, and so much more. I've been seriously pondering these questions for some time now and, although I don't have all the answers I'd like (not even sure I can articulate all the <u>questions</u>?!), I do know that I am ready to shift my work-life balance, and that it will require some sacrifice. I also know that 'dreaming' things into fruition also requires some 'space'...space to think, create, fumble, succeed...I am on a mission to make 2015 a lot more pro-active in the dreaming/creating category!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnyOKMmVuWH5c0LgAADGwBK6Gfv110-AVEtnzVvFx0rEZrCWjlDBK7xwGQqwl0LGV1q2rkpvAHe-dayPaeQSvhwBgA6Gr7SC6UquhbG2xr6n4X-Zy3OHpANkAAiHuCTdVnQ42fTbDS5Zo/s1600/IMG_7219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnyOKMmVuWH5c0LgAADGwBK6Gfv110-AVEtnzVvFx0rEZrCWjlDBK7xwGQqwl0LGV1q2rkpvAHe-dayPaeQSvhwBgA6Gr7SC6UquhbG2xr6n4X-Zy3OHpANkAAiHuCTdVnQ42fTbDS5Zo/s1600/IMG_7219.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">December 31, 2014<br />As we made our way from Chicago to Calgary, and to a new year with new possibilities.<br />iPhone 5</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
In March 2014, I was invited to become a member of IRIS Photographic Society of Alberta, which I accepted. The mandate of our non-profit is to use photography as a tool to build bridges between communities, people, groups, cultures, and beyond. It has been an honour to participate in activities through IRIS and I am incredibly excited about an upcoming project that I am involved with - more on that in a later post! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Then, a few months ago, I was approached to participate in a collaborative project, 'The Birthday Book Project', and I was and am STOKED about it - more to come later, but there are a few details below! ;)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
So, between my work (I provide 25 hours/week to a wonderful small business doing admin work; Bella Faccia Photography; Bella Forza Portraits), my family (I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to be a full time mom still - putting the kids on the bus in the morning and picking them up at the end of the day), and everything else that life asks of us...I'm feeling a little burnt out. I recognize that it is all perspective and perhaps, at another time in my life, all these things would engage and inspire me...but, given my shell shocked existence over the past year and a half, I am tired. I know that I have to make some changes and, although it is very difficult, I have come to a major decision in this so-called 'balance' we all desire, that I desire...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>I am closing Bella Faccia Photography for (at least) 2015.</b></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
I have a few portrait sessions already booked and I will happily meet those engagements; however, outside of 'one-offs', I won't be booking any Bella Faccia portrait work this year.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
What will I be doing? </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>I'll be concentrating on being present with my family and taking time to choose soul-nourishing activities for me (I think I'd like to try painting!)!</li>
<li>I'll be travelling to Kenya, Africa, with my family on a voluntour with Free the Children! (insert - squeals of delight - here!)</li>
<li>I'll be continuing to provide, what I hope is, wonderful administrative work for people I feel honoured to work for and with!</li>
<li>I'll be providing portrait services through Bella Forza to women (and their families) who are facing or have faced serious illness...Bella Forza feels like my 'life work', from which I can't imagine taking a 'sabbatical'.</li>
<li>I'll be participating with passion in IRIS endeavours, exploring wonderful ways that we might use photography to ignite understanding, passion, and connection!</li>
<li>I'll be looking for, and photographing, 30+ individuals for The Birthday Book Project (visit www.thebirthdaybookproject.ca to enter your email address so that you can be the first to know what we're up to and maybe even participate! :D )</li>
<li>and, amidst the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">fun, I'll be </span>consciously creating 'space to dream'.</li>
</ul>
<div>
I won't lie, this post has been exceedingly hard to write...that said, I know that I am following what feels like my 'best path right now'. I have loved the work I've done over the past five years and I have ZERO intention of quitting...just need to shift my shutter to new horizons for a while.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I think many of my tears are for the opportunities I know I'll be giving up this year, but I am also so incredibly excited for what this new 'space' will allow. May this new day, and year, bring you too closer to your 'best path'. It might take a deep breath, but it's so worth it! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Life may not always be easy, but it sure is ALWAYS beautiful...we just have to look a little deeper sometimes.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
With gratitude to each person and client who has trusted me, supported me, encouraged me...I hope to see you all soon!</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b></b></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b></b></span></div>
<div>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Life - and change - are beautiful!</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>xo</b></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Lori</b></span></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985966586862131710noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325221706396582476.post-15499262167319135542014-04-24T15:52:00.003-06:002014-04-24T15:52:44.565-06:00NEW: Guest Blog Series!! Starting today with Leslie Stein<br />
<div style="font: 11.2px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>I am excited to be starting a new guest blog series, both here and over on the Bella Forza blog too! I have invited individuals, whom I think have great things to say, to share their wisdom and experience here, with us! My goal is to spread optimism, encouragement, empowerment, and hopefully some laughs...after all, life IS beautiful!</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>First up is the fabulous Leslie Stein. We met on-line when we both participated in the Boudoir Body Challenge, organized by another fabulous lady - Stacie Frazier. I was immediately drawn to Leslie's down-to-earth, passionate, and optimistic attitude toward life and I'm thrilled to have her kicking off this new endeavour!</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Leslie wrote this guest blog just for us (love you, Leslie!) and I hope you enjoy her 'voice' as much as I do!</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Life is beautiful! </i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Lori</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>...and now over to you, Leslie...</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<b>Heroes & Villains</b></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeo9cvx3TpnrJ7dstIunUh5ciuxPfv6WiSSlMDJFdNjIqsHGNAgxwcU_act1pMioCWcQQ2dPMPLKdVkR3RW3RD116fGjlhivO1LoTlkvXZsUbqvmz8rrQ5su2_fSGzg3aT8c3F_D4_rBA/s1600/Leslie+is+Wonder+Woman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeo9cvx3TpnrJ7dstIunUh5ciuxPfv6WiSSlMDJFdNjIqsHGNAgxwcU_act1pMioCWcQQ2dPMPLKdVkR3RW3RD116fGjlhivO1LoTlkvXZsUbqvmz8rrQ5su2_fSGzg3aT8c3F_D4_rBA/s1600/Leslie+is+Wonder+Woman.jpg" height="400" width="151" /></a>It’s been coming up a lot lately...the fact that I am pretty much a superhero. I know...you’re impressed. Or wait...maybe you’re not. Maybe you think it’s silly for an average girl to see herself as a superhero. But I do. I am a superhero and not afraid to claim it!</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
In my own life.
In others’ lives.
In the work I do. </div>
<div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
But I don’t do it just for the cape (yes, really...I have a badass cape! I also have a magic wand. Tools of the trade. Don’t be jealous.). I do it to bring out the superpowers in those around me.</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
I inspire people to transform through the facilitation, training & speaking I do inside corporations and the personal growth work I do with individuals via coaching & life adventure retreats. All of it is in service of one thing...helping people become their own superheroes. </div>
<div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
I’d like to say it’s purely altruistic. But it’s not. My motivations are kind of selfish here. It get’s lonely being the only one in a cape. I want a world full of happy, connected individuals who loooove what they do (and who they are!!) so I have people to play with. My very own justice league!! </div>
<div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
And so...I create spaces where people metaphorically go into phone booths, rip off the masks they wear (in the form of roles + responsibilities at home, work, & in their communities), and become the superheroes they’ve always been deep down inside.</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
Fortunately or unfortunately, not everyone is ready to let go of their masks and become a hero. So it’s also been coming up a lot lately that I am a villain. Disrupting the status quo. Saying things some wish were left unsaid. Disappointing people. Not living up to their expectations. Having the audacity to call myself a hero. </div>
<div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
How dare I, right?!</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
Wrong. Me not claiming my awesome doesn’t make the world a better place. In fact, it makes it a sadder place where people think it’s ok to hide their talents. To stifle their dreams. To play small. All for the sake of what...not making other people uncomfortable?! Holy horse manure, Batman!</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
Guess what. Life happens in the uncomfortable moments. In those times when you challenge the status quo & it actually CHANGES! On those occasions you step up & say, “That’s right, I’m a badass. I got this!”</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisonVnYUzlCYm5I98BzAcN5Xv90hhHj1K-yMAqp89bmngM1U6WJ0df1gczdh5z595B_vZTQIV5l38VBSXMmzh4CI1Y8YWGm-0NbW38Q9d8GhI3EzUOOg4UZCAr60u6JBksojxPlk-klPU/s1600/Leslie's+Pic-+Hero+or+Villain.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisonVnYUzlCYm5I98BzAcN5Xv90hhHj1K-yMAqp89bmngM1U6WJ0df1gczdh5z595B_vZTQIV5l38VBSXMmzh4CI1Y8YWGm-0NbW38Q9d8GhI3EzUOOg4UZCAr60u6JBksojxPlk-klPU/s1600/Leslie's+Pic-+Hero+or+Villain.png" height="320" width="213" /></a>You can make magic happen.
You can bring out the best in others.
You can change the world.
When you are willing to dream.
When you are willing to risk.
When you are willing to fail.
When you are willing to just...be...YOU.</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
And so perhaps the real path to becoming a superhero is to realize that along the way you must also be willing to play the part of a villain in someone else’s story. Because when you have the audacity to dream, risk, fail, and be YOU...someone’s not gonna like it.</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
But maybe...just maybe...that is the first step on their path to becoming a hero too. And you made it possible.</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
For more information on how you can work with Leslie to uncover your special superpowers & learn how to use them in creating the life you’ve always wanted, visit <a class="_553k" href="http://www.lesliestein.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.lesliestein.com</a> or e-mail her at <a href="mailto:leslie@lesliestein.com">leslie@lesliestein.com</a>.</div>
</span><br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985966586862131710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325221706396582476.post-63584996803605859842014-04-20T14:37:00.000-06:002014-04-20T14:49:39.228-06:00...and they said, "Welcome to IRIS!"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am really excited to announce that I was invited to become a member of The IRIS Photographic Society of Alberta and that I accepted!</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_suduFgogVqDTBGCxWP6Dl-LsUpd_TD7qlXPB180Xr_ccLjyugfwPgeMiGwjIjvhcrqLx5feHjIWaJeaET6neYrgl5-9nW0R5BcYursSof-yk8XyhhhoQFgLIhObmaPPG2saqcH6TrLg/s1600/Irises+with+business+card+-+ancmt+Apr+20,+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_suduFgogVqDTBGCxWP6Dl-LsUpd_TD7qlXPB180Xr_ccLjyugfwPgeMiGwjIjvhcrqLx5feHjIWaJeaET6neYrgl5-9nW0R5BcYursSof-yk8XyhhhoQFgLIhObmaPPG2saqcH6TrLg/s1600/Irises+with+business+card+-+ancmt+Apr+20,+2014.jpg" height="234" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some lovely irises gifted by Kerry for the 'new members meeting'...she thought them fitting, as did I!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">IRIS, which is an acronym for <i>Inspiring Respect through Images and Stories</i>, aims to promote connection and respect between our communities, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">segments of our population, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">cities, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">cultures, and even countries, depending on the project. The mandate is to use our passion for photography (all IRIS members, of which there are now 11, have a love of photography) as the platform to engage conversation between people and groups of people, to foster a heightened level of understanding of one another, and to provide some photography tips and tricks along the way to anyone interested!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">An example of a recent project was when IRIS members conducted a workshop at an Edmonton seniors' centre, putting cameras in the hands of a few of the residents. The workshop was then followed up with an exhibition of those residents' works...how cool is that!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am incredibly honoured to now be part of this group, a group who have been humbly and generously endeavouring to make our world a little better since inception a year and a half ago, and I am fundamentally moved that I now have the opportunity to participate in deciding on projects and then executing them (we decided on some wonderful initiatives this past week at our meeting...stay tuned!). </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As a non-profit, IRIS relies on a few revenue generating projects each year and also on donations from people and organizations who believe in what we are trying to achieve. If you are interested in supporting IRIS please visit: http://irisphotoalberta.ca/ and click the 'donate' button on the right side!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Over the past few years I have been afforded really amazing opportunities and, on each occasion, I've wondered, "have they got the right 'Lori'?"...alas, I am learning that this is how we grow: by being a little scared, by reaching, by stepping outside of our comfort zones, AND by choosing to be in the midst of people we admire and respect, people who desire to help in building a more compassionate world.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Life - and opportunities to make a difference - are beautiful!</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Lori</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985966586862131710noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325221706396582476.post-44110385026414920982013-09-24T16:44:00.000-06:002013-09-24T16:44:59.173-06:00It's The Little Things<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Don't ya' just love finding things that make you smile, things that make your life a little better?! I sure do, and the following are a couple of things that made me smile today...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I love visits to the local drug store...I can often find a lil' something to perk up my day without spending a lot. I have really fine hair and so "Fat Hair Thickening Spray" was an awesome find (note: I ONLY think the word fat is okay when you are speaking of hair! ...when my son saw me pick it up he said, rather dramatically, 'you're<i> not</i> buying <i>that</i>!' lol - yes, my kids know it's a dirty word! :) )...I love this product! I equally love Maybelline's Falsies Volum Express in Black Drama - this stuff is great and inexpensive!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFkLGGXgeIkU9nlbs2UlWE6GHR3JwVheMq7ns-4Gy4phYVjHx-y21lg7n5fBzPWLgP3f6kYqCgswPWfLyQtlZu-qRX8dkaDXXzJ1YqQC__Sl5m-Pw4ovR7bJ5bHgLXAIz73DbmJY_gERo/s1600/Blog+Pic2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFkLGGXgeIkU9nlbs2UlWE6GHR3JwVheMq7ns-4Gy4phYVjHx-y21lg7n5fBzPWLgP3f6kYqCgswPWfLyQtlZu-qRX8dkaDXXzJ1YqQC__Sl5m-Pw4ovR7bJ5bHgLXAIz73DbmJY_gERo/s320/Blog+Pic2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On my bathroom counter sits a photo of me, taken in '94 by an aspiring photographer in Natal, Brazil. When I look at this photo I am reminded of how I felt back then (and still feel!)...that life is full of promise, opportunities, friendship, and adventure! I love having this visual reminder every morning, it instantly puts a smile on my face and a hop in my step! It also provides a great place to keep the three necklaces that are symbolic to me and that I wear most often...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6lrWoo3jAUEYqufnZ_lTvA-aAPzdhRzkMwbetFhldz5vrxhIzuA8SotSAZKEZS4s3ryKvAJ8Dqenf4Ls0CY53A9_6i5kRlxVdDKn0KpDsbs9wma-ne3xHuUMR8k5ciA6OY2Op4MXC-mc/s1600/Blog+Pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6lrWoo3jAUEYqufnZ_lTvA-aAPzdhRzkMwbetFhldz5vrxhIzuA8SotSAZKEZS4s3ryKvAJ8Dqenf4Ls0CY53A9_6i5kRlxVdDKn0KpDsbs9wma-ne3xHuUMR8k5ciA6OY2Op4MXC-mc/s400/Blog+Pic.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">one was gifted to me by my beautiful friend at her wedding=FRIENDSHIP, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">one represents my lil' family and my acknowledgement of my own personality and nature </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(I'm one of 'those' who thinks astrology is meaningful)=LIFE, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and one I just brought home yesterday and is intended to protect me whilst encouraging peace and compassion=STRENGTH.</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My last fave to include is a Facebook group called The Boudoir Body Challenge. This group was started by Stacie Frazier, an awesome woman and boudoir photog out of Las Vegas, and has blossomed into the coolest and most motivating group I've found in a long while! Ladies, look it up...I'm there with plenty of other women who are simply looking to better their own health, with the awesome added benefit of encouraging everyone else in the group at the same time...zero judgement/110 motivation! There have been MANY tips shared on BBC that have inspired me and two of them I want to share with all of you:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiIGCf8IbZKedpVMeOXKwLaDzAXbduzAJW43dMDzd4pNyibGmzxprLHsZkkMeaOUw4PivfZUMO5pVkjQQ-6nE3F40YsGJ7_XzB23vS0SNdyl9QenK7M3MBeP5ou-ZSbb-CBS2mxxPqQ2w/s1600/Takeaway+box.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiIGCf8IbZKedpVMeOXKwLaDzAXbduzAJW43dMDzd4pNyibGmzxprLHsZkkMeaOUw4PivfZUMO5pVkjQQ-6nE3F40YsGJ7_XzB23vS0SNdyl9QenK7M3MBeP5ou-ZSbb-CBS2mxxPqQ2w/s200/Takeaway+box.JPG" width="140" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1) when eating out why not ask for them to bring you a takeaway box before your meal; this allows you to halve your meal ensuring you don't overeat (com'on, those portions are out of control and I guarantee you I'll eat it all if it's A) yummy and B) right in front of me!)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2) MyFitnessPal is a free online resource that has an accompanying app...did I mention it's FREE?! Yep, free & awesome! I am relatively new to using it but I am really excited about the difference it will make in me having a better sense of my caloric intake/expenditure each day! (I'm not sure how reliable the exercise module is for calculating calories burned, but just knowing how many I've eaten is a terrific first step!)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, what made you smile today? What little thing can you introduce or be grateful for in your daily routine to make your life that little bit better EVERY DAY? Feel free to share in the comments and, if nothing else, go out and find a smile...it's good for your health! :D</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Life - and the little things - are beautiful!</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>xo Lori</i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985966586862131710noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325221706396582476.post-34902499635674485632013-08-17T14:39:00.000-06:002013-08-17T14:39:01.759-06:00Yin-Yang and other truths...it is personal!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I believe that there can't be anything without its opposing force (or complimentary force if you're a<b> 'glass half full' kind of person!</b>): day-night, water-fire, man-woman, yin-yang; therefore, I must also accept that for a person to experience true joy they must also face grief.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have been consciously and sub-consciously contemplating this post since late May when I experienced a great personal loss. This will NOT be a post detailing what happened or why; rather, I simply want to address a couple of things that I hold very dear, and I also wish to express, in writing, that I am Just.Like.You.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have been 'feeling my way' on the social media platform for the past three or four years. On November 7, 2010, in my second blog post here (and second of my life), I wrote this:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"As this blog-thing is new to me, I have spent a lot of time over the past week or so contemplating just what to share, and the possibilities are, obviously, limitless. So, I've decided on some parameters which, when written down, seem to be best encapsulated by 'general goodwill'. I want to share what I am learning, to show what I'm working on, and to elevate the conversation (hopefully) to a tone of positive attitude and caring. So, we may go on tangents (Lord knows I am good at that!), but you may rely on this being a place you can spend a minute during your busy day without hearing me whine, complain or lay blame."</span></blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have believed since day one that social media can inform, uplift, and entertain...but the opposite of all those wonderful impacts is true too. I am proud that I have chosen, and continue to choose, the path of light, goodwill, and generosity everyday (with the occasional slip when something really pisses me off!) :)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">All that said, these past few months have been exceedingly difficult for me and my family. However, the reminders of all that is beautiful in my life and in the world have absolutely buoyed me. I pay great respect to the path I've led, through Bella Faccia and now Bella Forza, over these past few years as I believe that my daily choice to be positive and to encourage women to feel empowered/beautiful/strong has helped me immeasurably in overcoming what has been the greatest heartbreak of my life. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>I BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF OPTIMISM, POSITIVE THOUGHT, and GRACE.</b></span> </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Obviously I'm human and suffer moments (or a tad longer) of acting in a way that is, shall we say, less than graceful; but we learn, we grow, we improve, and we step forward...and we needn't apologize for being 'works in progress' as every individual on earth is learning as they go too!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A few months ago I received a private note through Facebook from someone I haven't met in person, but who is known to me through friends. I am going to believe that the message was meant to be inquisitive, based on this person's support over the past few years, regardless of the crass way it was written. Essentially, this subscriber of mine on my personal page, who also receives updates from both of my Facebook business pages, had learned of my loss and wrote to me asking why I was being 'so disingenuous' with my posts, citing that they had been "too positive given what you are actually living"...the fact is that I am not disingenuous, in fact I feel extraordinary joy that I have been able to see the beauty around me whilst also suffering sadness. I <u>value the quality of sincerity</u> as highly as I value trust, integrity, and goodwill...I wish to express, publicly, that when you read a post of mine - whether it is my written word or something that I've shared - I MEAN for you to read it and for us, collectively, to feel uplifted. That was my goal when I started and I am only more fervent in my pursuit of 'beautiful' now!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I recently read this quote by Rumi: </span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Learn the alchemy true human beings know. The moment you accept what troubles you've been given, the door will open." </span></blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Indeed, I do believe that masking pain, hiding from truth, and living a lie are all terribly unhealthy and unhelpful in living your best life. We should be able to answer truthfully when someone asks us how we are; that said, I also hope that we choose to answer with infinite hope. So, friends, I can say that I have been sad and hurt, and I can say that some days have felt heavy in ways I cannot adequately articulate - not unlike what every human being faces at some point in their lives; however, I can also say that I am full of hope, optimism, and joy for the blessings I experience each day. I am truly grateful for so much that I couldn't possibly list it here. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUwFaZ36RmhlTDeYIC-UJXFuBC0wdFdqQebz5Lo0miESAPK6lgEVc56Fs_QYoqfV3GK306eC_9j28oF6d4F3kQM2SMto6enmLjtOT8isxC3wtynbP5d3p4o-G3Cqb5IvhJo5ENPo9j3w/s1600/Ya+Ha+Tinda+Aug+'13+with+text.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUwFaZ36RmhlTDeYIC-UJXFuBC0wdFdqQebz5Lo0miESAPK6lgEVc56Fs_QYoqfV3GK306eC_9j28oF6d4F3kQM2SMto6enmLjtOT8isxC3wtynbP5d3p4o-G3Cqb5IvhJo5ENPo9j3w/s640/Ya+Ha+Tinda+Aug+'13+with+text.jpg" width="352" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I really wanted an awesome shot of me and my kids from yesterday's adventure...<br />and I got one; this picture makes me smile every time I look at it! <br />© Bella Faccia Photography/Lori M. Maloney</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I do believe that LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL and I am happy to share why with any of you, on any day, and in any venue! In the meantime, let's keep celebrating each other, our talents and foibles!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">With gratitude, </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lori</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985966586862131710noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325221706396582476.post-85022826196848964312013-05-27T17:27:00.002-06:002013-05-27T17:27:47.891-06:00SuperMom to SuperModel!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I met beautiful Karma a few years ago, when our sons bonded over dinosaurs in kindergarten, and it wasn't long before we were friends too! It was also fun to discover that her husband and I attended school together...such a small world!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Karma is mom to four active kids who range in age from nearly three to 17...with an <u>always</u> clean house, fresh baking and cooking on hand for her family and friends (she showed up to her shoot with a family portion of homemade spaghetti for us!), and seemingly endless energy, Karma definitely epitomizes the term 'Super Mom'!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Over the past few years Karma has pondered the idea of a shoot with me...I was beyond thrilled when she bit the proverbial bullet and booked her session. As you can see, Karma is beautiful without a stitch of makeup; but being a girly-girl meant that a morning of getting her hair and makeup done and then playing model was right up her alley! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I loved how excited and engaged Karma was in planning her shoot. We had a pre-session consultation a few weeks before her shoot to discuss details (something I always schedule) and she also had compiled shots she loved on a Pinterest board as inspiration for us both. In fact there was one shot, which I believe was taken by a Russian photographer Litvak Oleg (the Pinterest file didn't have the artist's name; however, a fellow photographer helped me locate the information), that she and I both LOVED and she asked me to recreate. Here is that shot...</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO6mcKApXgHeL5Rp-k8IpGwMfGkght8iwjxHLxdsgfk4cG3SMg8VbUNpm6bUrP2GjkukL-WikViXGS8p8Aa8ClukP6o1XYuxmzlAucdJtI37eBlVxMFqeRdA3LNthW0B0t01E2xrNJvW8/s1600/_MG_0856+600x850+@+72+with+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO6mcKApXgHeL5Rp-k8IpGwMfGkght8iwjxHLxdsgfk4cG3SMg8VbUNpm6bUrP2GjkukL-WikViXGS8p8Aa8ClukP6o1XYuxmzlAucdJtI37eBlVxMFqeRdA3LNthW0B0t01E2xrNJvW8/s640/_MG_0856+600x850+@+72+with+logo.jpg" width="449" /></a></div>
<br />
Other ideas for the shoot included a new pair of boots she had; some french netting I wanted to try out; and some sassier shots for her husband...all I can say is that I have been hard pressed to pick my faves as there are just too many! Alas, here are a couple more from our shoot that I LOVE!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwOkhuAX6-yn_4LC-VwChdzD7vnU6g_XyRhx6rUDFdI_R6lt7s14l3GJTI1PKQ5usekpACVsdK8Mh9vebUGjzV1bcSo0I3UkoI87XzlUATuPE2b7hkqcSCq2QGDDow-xvKQ5Ch3TWEgMM/s1600/_MG_0905+8x12+with+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwOkhuAX6-yn_4LC-VwChdzD7vnU6g_XyRhx6rUDFdI_R6lt7s14l3GJTI1PKQ5usekpACVsdK8Mh9vebUGjzV1bcSo0I3UkoI87XzlUATuPE2b7hkqcSCq2QGDDow-xvKQ5Ch3TWEgMM/s640/_MG_0905+8x12+with+logo.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqKA9fIHq9roSqacBnfllKui08Ckf00KQ3dtTamPYKrOpjjCI-MUmd-1m6AGb9I8FlCjUPV3oYWc2uECE7mMRHhUv1v-TH6_ocFtjb2CVoBE6kpqxohEkR-wItyA6rsN4f6n9bBAYSQ0/s1600/_MG_0994+12+sq+at+72+with+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqKA9fIHq9roSqacBnfllKui08Ckf00KQ3dtTamPYKrOpjjCI-MUmd-1m6AGb9I8FlCjUPV3oYWc2uECE7mMRHhUv1v-TH6_ocFtjb2CVoBE6kpqxohEkR-wItyA6rsN4f6n9bBAYSQ0/s400/_MG_0994+12+sq+at+72+with+logo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0fhUN-bxftrqdvq6zR6xC3MfBpWZHpu4Km7T9r7vKz7x49FVoaJ62DXNyQb1rlIaR1ryDhB1QjlLIsaYEK96B15IoFYhWEm2ZOZ3N3ipBE4rl77KNL48mQaCnmjwAddTcHWXTMLyBO4/s1600/_MG_0938+8%22+at+72+with+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0fhUN-bxftrqdvq6zR6xC3MfBpWZHpu4Km7T9r7vKz7x49FVoaJ62DXNyQb1rlIaR1ryDhB1QjlLIsaYEK96B15IoFYhWEm2ZOZ3N3ipBE4rl77KNL48mQaCnmjwAddTcHWXTMLyBO4/s640/_MG_0938+8%22+at+72+with+logo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Karma told me that she walked up the front steps with a bit of a gulp in her throat! Flash forward to this afternoon (the day after her shoot) when she texted me saying it was the experience of a lifetime! Show her some love as she is simply beautiful, inside and out!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Karma, your infectious laugh, easy going demeanour, and fun loving attitude are all reasons I enjoy being around you in general, and you brought all that AND pro modelling moves to your session! Thank you for your trust in me; having the opportunity to photograph you was so much fun and I hope we'll do it again ;)! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Life - and moms you meet at school - are beautiful!</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">xo</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lori</span></i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985966586862131710noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325221706396582476.post-65051489661772212012013-05-03T12:52:00.002-06:002013-05-03T12:55:02.426-06:00'You Are Here'...and 'Here' Is Beautiful!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was recently at a museum with the kids when I noticed a "You Are Here" sign on the floor in front of the museum's map...and it struck me as profound. I took this photo on my iPhone and have been mulling over the seemingly simple statement ever since.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zaaP7yP6Me1hmZDEbLSG44yaaQkq1h9rtcqrE5G6zOrv_V07Bs0aUoTQfLq1Z7Xf241wxsXJP-v8uqIUDbFBiTgcafv9Frj5Mapu9SvLwmThXsYHtpNvvb_9mOwrg1lwkXBo-Monvzk/s1600/IMG_8199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zaaP7yP6Me1hmZDEbLSG44yaaQkq1h9rtcqrE5G6zOrv_V07Bs0aUoTQfLq1Z7Xf241wxsXJP-v8uqIUDbFBiTgcafv9Frj5Mapu9SvLwmThXsYHtpNvvb_9mOwrg1lwkXBo-Monvzk/s320/IMG_8199.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My blog and Facebook posts are a mix of business and personal, and this one is no different. The fact is that life is busy, which I know does not come as a shocker to any of you! I try hard each day to find some semblance of balance between my health (why does fitting in a workout seem so challenging?!), cleaning the house, having groceries at the ready, chauffeuring two kids to myriad activities, supporting a husband who has a demanding job, seeing friends & family, playing with the dogs, AND running Bella Faccia (and now Bella Forza as well)! Now, I don't claim to be as busy as many; however, aren't we all trying to find our own 'best balance'? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There have been many days over this past year when I felt overwhelmed and found myself subconsciously wishing things were different somehow - more time, more energy, more help (I do daydream of a housecleaner nearly daily :) ); but then, I thought, "no, I don't wish things were different...I'm loving my life...I'm loving 'here'"! So, 'here', in this moment, I am letting go of what I <i>think</i> I <i>should</i> be doing, accomplishing, etc....I am letting go of any self <i>perceived</i> guilt...and I am going to step back from work (with one exception) for a few months to allow me time to be a (nearly!) FULL TIME MOM to two pretty awesome kids. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That one work exception mentioned above is Bella Forza! My commitment to the women whom Bella Forza can be of service to have my commitment and I will not turn any Bella Forza client away. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you are wondering what Bella Forza is all about please visit the FB page at</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/BellaForzaPortraits">www.facebook.com/BellaForzaPortraits</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and the blog at </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://bellaforzaportraits.wordpress.com/">bellaforzaportraits.wordpress.com</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">). I'd love to have you click 'like' or leave a comment if you are so inclined; it not only helps get the word out about Bella Forza but it also buoys the women who come to us!</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, during the summer months, from June 1 to September 15, I will only be taking clients for Bella Forza. I will still be on-line and will happily be taking session bookings throughout the summer for dates after 09/15!</span></i></div>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Life - and loving your 'here' - are beautiful!</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">xo</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lori</span></i></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985966586862131710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325221706396582476.post-34018876281214456862013-03-23T18:16:00.001-06:002013-03-24T12:42:59.656-06:00She Was Warrior<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In early January the fabulous Sarah Byrne and I were having coffee, chit-chatting about life, astrology, and books when, out of the blue, she said, "We should plan a creative! What have you always wanted to do?" Truth is that I tend to be a specific-purpose type of person and I'd never actually done nor pursued a true creative shoot (my collaborative shoot with Sarah, Doug Pruden, and Katie Hunt came close mind you ;) ). All that said, I knew exactly what I've thought about doing for the past few years, "I want to do a body paint shoot." </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And so the idea was born...but we needed to find a model and decide on details.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I've worked with the lovely Jeanette a number of times now - she started out as a client and quickly became my friend and model (some might say muse given how many times we have now worked together - she graces the top of this blog!). I emailed to see if she'd be interested and she seemed as excited about it as Sarah and I were!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Next we needed a theme...there were so many back and forths between myself and Sarah that I'm not sure who first came across a shot with a headdress; regardless we were both convinced that it would be awesome and we set out to design the rest of the shoot around a headdress. Sarah went in search and found an extraordinary headdress for us...man, you have to see this thing in person! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">During our planning, and mere weeks before our mid-March shoot; Sarah visited a friend and they painted together. She posted a shot of her canvas on Facebook and I asked her to bring it over so that I could shoot it; thinking the texture and colours would be beautiful with our Warrior! I haven't done much in the way of composites but I love the capabilities of Photoshop and, as this was intended to be a truly creative pursuit, I thought it would be a great time to play and learn. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The below image is the result of three women who all invested time, thought, and heart into this shoot! </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhftiTLEKT5-nsg8hI0KcUxuU1_c3Ob0PGK36V6B3sX56podj-sDcH6u73GDra1pIdBFvswEryh1J8sX-6N-yZyRsw3QT61-tT6ZHgxpjPg5lngZcsHvPKcFCrvNgOhQae40YvZr1Q1qjU/s1600/_MG_0416+PART+2+16x24+at+100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhftiTLEKT5-nsg8hI0KcUxuU1_c3Ob0PGK36V6B3sX56podj-sDcH6u73GDra1pIdBFvswEryh1J8sX-6N-yZyRsw3QT61-tT6ZHgxpjPg5lngZcsHvPKcFCrvNgOhQae40YvZr1Q1qjU/s640/_MG_0416+PART+2+16x24+at+100.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">© Bella Faccia/Lori Maloney<br />
HMUA and Background Art by Sarah Byrne<br />
Styling by Sarah Byrne and Lori Maloney<br />
Model: Jeanette</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I hope to post a few more from our session and they will likely be edited quite differently (trying to learn as much Photoshop as I can on this!).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My sincere thanks to Sarah and Jeanette for all of their efforts in making this shoot not only a success but a really fun day too! (PS we're still finding beads from the bracelet I broke while readying JB!)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Life - and creative endeavours - are beautiful!</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Lori</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985966586862131710noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325221706396582476.post-50576599105489441252013-03-17T20:27:00.000-06:002013-03-17T20:28:41.865-06:00Some Winter Shooting with OOPOOMOO & duChemin<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am going to blog about my full experience from this weekend, at the Persistent Vision seminar, very soon (it was ahhhhmazing!) but for now I wanted to simply share a few images from today's shoot.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The morning started with a carpool from Calgary to Vermillion Lakes, just outside of Banff...the snow and early morning darkness made the drive less than easy, but we made it! We met up with 15 other photogs, including Samantha Chrysanthou, Darwin Wiggett, and David duChemin. With a little instruction from David together with his thoughts about approaching a creative process; we all set about finding 'our shot' amidst the winter morning scene. It was very cold, with a biting wind and blowing snow...any of you who know me will know that those conditions usually have me heading for a Baileys and coffee indoors, but I stuck it out with the help of my new friend, Cynthia Haynes (nothing like having girl chat & laughs to keep your mind off of how cold your fingers and toes are!).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As I grow as a photographer I find myself becoming freer and less concerned about my own expectations, or others, of what I "should" capture on a workshop shoot. Opportunities like this today's, even if the conditions are less than ideal (at least for this fair weather shooter ;)!), really help concrete my belief that experimentation is fun and that shooting just for yourself is liberating (insert pep talk on this subject from Dave Brosha here!).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I so appreciate the teaching styles of Sam, Darwin, and David and if you EVER have the chance to learn from them - MAKE IT HAPPEN! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I love the variety in my fave four below...also need to say thanks to Cynthia for reminding me how much fun motion shots are!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJBl6zGG8YPzqWrBoAygnnLPNBsT1_KfAW2RaqgR_SBctKI0lBOe_OB5t7xSloeRyAJ-BB7i_DmBBfx7HOTm3g8t4PyKAG8hUklm3ZxI1Lag6Yd99bCOjlADmsuL2ajCLs2jk4DC8KNM/s1600/_MG_0537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJBl6zGG8YPzqWrBoAygnnLPNBsT1_KfAW2RaqgR_SBctKI0lBOe_OB5t7xSloeRyAJ-BB7i_DmBBfx7HOTm3g8t4PyKAG8hUklm3ZxI1Lag6Yd99bCOjlADmsuL2ajCLs2jk4DC8KNM/s400/_MG_0537.jpg" width="266" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtSSL3ok05dVTHrGcNwxbP1o2zBBz3uRBiDeyuoRervF4KJDNkFElrA_wq0bRg4a6VlJCXSN6yUGZgGK6jygp4cLsZ3YP2m6QRdkApLbsp6bgknKfWKPPuLLhhs1mELhaR0_exwCVuiq4/s1600/_MG_0554-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtSSL3ok05dVTHrGcNwxbP1o2zBBz3uRBiDeyuoRervF4KJDNkFElrA_wq0bRg4a6VlJCXSN6yUGZgGK6jygp4cLsZ3YP2m6QRdkApLbsp6bgknKfWKPPuLLhhs1mELhaR0_exwCVuiq4/s400/_MG_0554-Edit.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg236yYFLen7s0uABlHnq3Ngssj3TE0YYxCsBSCNFx-PKy_oDeEgpkB89T0n9n7MKTbkiJBFVNhT78-VTtIp4oeWVDgd4F-jOYQJ1ly6gI6zLmdca1hkFbRr1tpNl3mJUSh5O4gcNjIvws/s1600/_MG_0540-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg236yYFLen7s0uABlHnq3Ngssj3TE0YYxCsBSCNFx-PKy_oDeEgpkB89T0n9n7MKTbkiJBFVNhT78-VTtIp4oeWVDgd4F-jOYQJ1ly6gI6zLmdca1hkFbRr1tpNl3mJUSh5O4gcNjIvws/s400/_MG_0540-Edit.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHVGhahkYzmnNLVY4tC9NDuK5YmFA-5rqfrW7iOStVllN2WLMjgAwy0ncCuts8hT7pXJ2vpRXkzpEtT53PTNlzOXOUnaV7Dckx7PU_LUge1SGPHjIum9J0uIxn3b5qajtftNRx96mHf4/s1600/_MG_0535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHVGhahkYzmnNLVY4tC9NDuK5YmFA-5rqfrW7iOStVllN2WLMjgAwy0ncCuts8hT7pXJ2vpRXkzpEtT53PTNlzOXOUnaV7Dckx7PU_LUge1SGPHjIum9J0uIxn3b5qajtftNRx96mHf4/s400/_MG_0535.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Life - and spending time learning with passionate & kind people - is beautiful!</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lori</span></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985966586862131710noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325221706396582476.post-7389443182218817802013-03-08T09:33:00.002-07:002013-03-08T09:33:44.706-07:00<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For International Women's Day I am sharing an image of a woman I found to be extraordinary...during a road trip in New Mexico we met Fabiola, who marked our trip and my heart; this is what I wrote about her, and that afternoon, in a blog post in June 2012... </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKPVAV1JDETXxpcY49yT9QqfmdaRO6uj61W2tgUGcpMEcxjFuQAU9KtKoAB71pFa65cDHsXXDF0rOsZaOgwQgKXlQI3Z0UC-hWAfnrb6lngPVhHJ-bW19b2e5USuBBOnkLC_grGVsD78/s1600/IMG_5414+Intl+Womens+Day+Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKPVAV1JDETXxpcY49yT9QqfmdaRO6uj61W2tgUGcpMEcxjFuQAU9KtKoAB71pFa65cDHsXXDF0rOsZaOgwQgKXlQI3Z0UC-hWAfnrb6lngPVhHJ-bW19b2e5USuBBOnkLC_grGVsD78/s400/IMG_5414+Intl+Womens+Day+Poster.jpg" title="© 2012 Bella Faccia Photography" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"We were stopped roadside so that I could photograph the ruins of what we would discover was a Christian settlement. There was a sign asking that you not proceed past the fence, and I was respectful of their wishes (albeit sad). I was just about done when a beat up truck pulled up and Fabiola emerged. She was sweet, well spoken, and happy to see people interested in the history of the place. In a past life Fabiola was an archaeologist who lived in all corners of the globe, eventually marrying a professor and settling in her home state of New Mexico. Fabiola gave us an 'inside the fence' tour of the ruins and, reluctantly, allowed me to take only two photos. She told us the best place nearby to eat, directed us to the Three Crosses in Abiquiu made famous by Georgia O'Keefe, and, without question, added something magical to our road trip. I will never forget our friend or the unexpected adventure of that afternoon."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What most impressed me with Fabiola was her absolute joy for life, for learning, and for teaching. She had lived an amazing life in exotic locales, and now is living a contented life making masks to sell at a local market in her birthplace.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">May we all endeavour to dream, to reach, to be open to all that is available to us...may we be courageous.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Life - and women who inspire - are beautiful!</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lori</span></i><br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985966586862131710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325221706396582476.post-5331437941683307982013-02-21T18:30:00.001-07:002013-02-21T18:30:24.076-07:00When opportunity comes knocking...
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>529</o:Words>
<o:Characters>3018</o:Characters>
<o:Company>PictaVita Inc.</o:Company>
<o:Lines>25</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>6</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>3706</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">About a month ago I received an email from the folks over at
oopoomoo.com, Sam Chrysanthou and Darwin Wiggett, asking if I would be
interested in participating in a panel discussion at their
upcoming Persistent Vision seminar and if I would also consider providing portfolio critique(s).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upon reading
the email, I first swore out loud – out of glee and fear – and then quickly
wrote them back to say, ‘YES…before you change your mind!’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I first met Sam and Darwin a few years back when I attended a Scott Kelby WorldWide Photo Walk that they led.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Over the past few years we’ve come to know each other a little and I
consider them friends, and I consider myself lucky to call them friends!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve shot together, we’ve had beers
and coffees, on an evening walk/landscape shoot I participated in their
oopoomoo launch video (a shot from that same night accompanies this post), we’ve shared struggles and successes with each other
(mostly me & Sam over lengthy latte dates!), and I simply think that they
are wonderful people & photogs who also happen to provide tremendous
resources to the photographic community (their work, workshops, eBooks, life
views, and sidewalk banter are all terrific!).</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdjnEAvZ8l4AokbLn2ROGUFfmAxlDdHVbZcOmoHP-sERekpXuppYUMvZ8mG8HiNmYDz4pQI9Amc6QD_N35eJXWvTRp5mOIfCa-xD-xZ3eOpOnYvxIiZ-HgsMP7VST3VU2imvhNuzZdJc/s1600/NMP12433+Darwin's+shot+of+me+as+landscape+photog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdjnEAvZ8l4AokbLn2ROGUFfmAxlDdHVbZcOmoHP-sERekpXuppYUMvZ8mG8HiNmYDz4pQI9Amc6QD_N35eJXWvTRp5mOIfCa-xD-xZ3eOpOnYvxIiZ-HgsMP7VST3VU2imvhNuzZdJc/s400/NMP12433+Darwin's+shot+of+me+as+landscape+photog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After telling Sam & Darwin that I didn't think I was a 'landscape photographer'; Darwin took this shot, unbeknownst to me, to prove I could be...here I am using filters and everything! :) (Note: if you know that you are going to be photographed as a silhouette, do yourself a favour and ditch the warm hoodie and pocketed filter case!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When oopoomoo.com announced in March 2012 that they were
hosting a seminar with guest speaker David duChemin I immediately (after
checking with the bank/husband!) signed up…which was quickly followed with a post to my Facebook wall saying that this seminar would be an ‘un-missable’ opportunity
if you were interested in photography!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I knew that being in the same room as Sam, Darwin, and David, would be of
great value toward my goal of continually bettering myself, both individually and
as a photographer.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Flash-forward a year and you find me beyond thrilled by
their recent invitation; however, I was also concerned (read: intimidated!) about being
a live-and-in-person-example of ‘<i>which of these things is not like the other</i>’, given that the
panelists consist of photographers whose lengthy bios include multiple awards
and publications!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That said, maybe
the fact that I am so different, at least in experience and my chosen
photography path, is a worthwhile addition to the panel?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so, as happens often, I find myself
contemplating all the psychology and philosophy that I have come to believe in...I choose to remind myself of the
encouragement that I would offer a friend if she were in a similar situation…something
along the lines of: “Stop asking yourself, ‘why you?’ and instead ask, ‘why not you?!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why is it that we treat ourselves differently than we treat our loved ones?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In reflecting upon this opportunity I recalled
a quote of Albert Einstein’s, “All that is valuable in human society depends
upon the opportunity for development accorded the individual.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Indeed, reaching and dreaming toward
being our most robust selves serves our own life purpose and, in turn, our
families, communities, countries, and, ultimately, humanity.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My friend Bruce Kirkby, accomplished adventurer, author, photographer, and, speaker, has been encouraging people to push past their fears
and perceived limitations for years…this is absolutely an occasion when I have
heard his encouraging whispers as I step outside of my comfort zone and wait
for the ‘magic to happen’!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And so it is, with utter humility and gratitude, that I will
lend my voice to this discussion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am honoured to have the trust and respect of people whom I trust and respect,
and I look forward to this incredible opportunity being gifted to me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Life is beautiful!</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Lori</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://oopoomoo.com/">http://oopoomoo.com</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://davidduchemin.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">http://davidduchemin.com/</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.brucekirkby.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">http://www.brucekirkby.com/</span></a></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985966586862131710noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325221706396582476.post-80639582501378119402013-02-17T21:26:00.001-07:002013-02-17T21:29:14.787-07:00“Quick, we need a headshot!”<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>677</o:Words>
<o:Characters>3863</o:Characters>
<o:Company>PictaVita Inc.</o:Company>
<o:Lines>32</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>7</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>4744</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Last December I was thrilled to participate as a guest
‘expert’ at an accessories boutique’s 'Get Glam for the Holidays’ event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The opportunity presented itself
without a tonne of notice, which happens often, and they needed a headshot from
me for their marketing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although I
take seflies on my iPhone somewhat frequently I didn’t have a professional
looking headshot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I only had two
hours (they could have extended the deadline but I was happy to try and make
their lives as easy as possible) and so I sent them a headshot that I’d done
for our family Christmas card the year before (the card had been 'Brady Bunch’ style with separate headshots of our entire gang, furry kids and all!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The headshot I sent worked out fine and, in fact, suited
the opportunity in that I’m wearing a fabulous accessory in the shot!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That said, I swore, that day, to not be
caught again without a professional headshot.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Well, that was in early December, and we were en route to
Mexico for a friend’s wedding...then came Christmas...then it was early January
after WAY too many delicious meals...and then it was early February when I needed to
have minor surgery to remove Basal Cell Skin Cancer on my cheek (I blogged
about this and encourage you to read that post to learn more about what type of
sunscreen you should be using!)...and then, recently, I was approached for an
upcoming opportunity and they needed a headshot, and I STILL didn’t have one!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, this past Wednesday (knowing I needed to send my
headshot to someone on Wednesday!) I set up some lights, readied my assistant
(mannequin), and was LUCKY to have my truly lovely friend and talented HMUA,
Sarah Byrne, do my hair and makeup (I had intended to do my own but she, being the
generous soul that she is, insisted on helping me!).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In approaching this self portrait shoot I waffled a little
with how to light it. I knew that I couldn’t, or maybe shouldn’t, try to do
anything too moody/technical for two reasons: I don’t think the average
headshot is moody (and I wanted to portray my happy self!) AND it’s tough
enough when you are shooting alone to get things right and so fiddling with the
light hitting me was going to make the process that much harder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I opted for clamshell lighting (which
is flattering (I'm not 21!) and I knew it would be easy to make sure I was in the
light), with a boomed hair/rim, and a tall piece of Styrofoam.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I used Principessa, my assistant, to stand in for me
whenever I changed lenses or camera orientation, so that I could get a crisp
focus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite being a lover of
shooting wide open I knew that it wasn’t really necessary given that I had a
plain, black backdrop, nor could I risk the focus; I shot, on my Canon 5DMII, at f/11, 1/125
second, at ISO 100. I started the shoot using a Sigma 85 f/1.4 but found that I liked the ease of a zoom in this scenario; therefore, majority of the images with a 70-200 f/4.0.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After focusing on Principessa with the studio lights on,
moving her out of frame and the stool into position; I turned off the primary
studio lights (to avoid any colour contamination) and used my camera’s, which was on a tripod and aimed at subject in the small space in between the two umbrellas, 10
second self timer to fire the shutter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was using Pocket Wizards to fire my Canon 580 EXII flash, which was
modified with a large umbrella in front of subject and angled up; the flash
then triggered two strobes: one situated in front of subject angled down and
modified by the same size umbrella as on the flash, and another strobe that was
behind subject, camera right, situated on a boom facing the subject’s
back/hair, with a 40 degree grid in the reflector.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I used the Styrofoam on camera left to help reflect back
some of the hair/rim light from the boomed strobe to help add some separation
on the subject’s right side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
noteworthy that there are some shots that I could absolutely see the difference
that the rim light provided and others that I couldn’t; inevitably I know that
I moved a little when moving the stool to position Principessa for focus and
then moving her back out of frame, together with the fact that I was moving in and out of frame for each shot...this was a somewhat tedious process and I
only had an hour and a half until I had to do my afternoon school run!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Qnv5Tjk0bnY85xHkh1eU4c3w5pZhZ180mpKpnpAuxxc3MQ3D3fdXxIsyo0eFZjKQWhCEJM-vQDG-0kfnlSPma8uQs5NCxFOOIaUblyFPjmHNWAlYJtzncxE1YHyDJx805mG1Hw8bfGY/s1600/lighting-diagram+for+self+bio+pic+-+Feb+2013.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Qnv5Tjk0bnY85xHkh1eU4c3w5pZhZ180mpKpnpAuxxc3MQ3D3fdXxIsyo0eFZjKQWhCEJM-vQDG-0kfnlSPma8uQs5NCxFOOIaUblyFPjmHNWAlYJtzncxE1YHyDJx805mG1Hw8bfGY/s320/lighting-diagram+for+self+bio+pic+-+Feb+2013.png" width="291" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I situated the two umbrellas so that you can see them in the diagram, they were actually in line with each other, with the camera in between them and directly in front of subject.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I knew that I wanted a really clean shot and had hoped for a
headshot that was simple and without fancy clothes…after all, what I most love
when shooting women are those shots that really show THE WOMAN as opposed to
the fancy clothes!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The following are a few of my
favourites from this adventure. I really enjoyed the process (although I did
swear a few times <span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">:) )</span>,
and would encourage any photographer to tackle their own self portrait!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7cxLCbmiONI-NKW19GUh3nLuh2o9WYNEpP1-3XL6GAoEs5kRXLM-RMKjTiM7bO2oX3IsHg9IgKp9zI5Rglpk17vsIXUm61N2_a8xNCTZ8uVt9KAj5vFu057MhRqVEQ9ASGxQbgxblV8/s1600/_MG_9749+4x5+@+100+with+copyright.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7cxLCbmiONI-NKW19GUh3nLuh2o9WYNEpP1-3XL6GAoEs5kRXLM-RMKjTiM7bO2oX3IsHg9IgKp9zI5Rglpk17vsIXUm61N2_a8xNCTZ8uVt9KAj5vFu057MhRqVEQ9ASGxQbgxblV8/s400/_MG_9749+4x5+@+100+with+copyright.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlPYIGQaDo1JGEaE_9279GA7JVzrhULQ6hyphenhyphen5VYmxB3pSgF03GdBu9bg_BbKdH49DWWFim3aV2XKTXXQUmcp7yA_SdrvOou5xb86QL_LHc5_uUegllr0K0gYzyCEFSbxQaGoG2-Ij5x2n0/s1600/_MG_9794+8x12+@+100+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlPYIGQaDo1JGEaE_9279GA7JVzrhULQ6hyphenhyphen5VYmxB3pSgF03GdBu9bg_BbKdH49DWWFim3aV2XKTXXQUmcp7yA_SdrvOou5xb86QL_LHc5_uUegllr0K0gYzyCEFSbxQaGoG2-Ij5x2n0/s400/_MG_9794+8x12+@+100+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnVO4RA61bTT-S94Dd_o9ocbu_68Hj3VOr-1V1KOt4UPufUsTjnpBi7QiVI1CuyA9pq96n4_Ignd6rDvYToqaEgHZQ9eAcTV1c4i7tYYuiLhlN7d28LZ35CAAfDhCRDEH_4ii5TsOdOrk/s1600/_MG_9787+8x12+at+100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnVO4RA61bTT-S94Dd_o9ocbu_68Hj3VOr-1V1KOt4UPufUsTjnpBi7QiVI1CuyA9pq96n4_Ignd6rDvYToqaEgHZQ9eAcTV1c4i7tYYuiLhlN7d28LZ35CAAfDhCRDEH_4ii5TsOdOrk/s400/_MG_9787+8x12+at+100.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Life is beautiful!</i></span><!--EndFragment-->
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lori</span></i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985966586862131710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325221706396582476.post-10794418723917177272013-02-07T13:56:00.002-07:002013-02-07T14:18:37.243-07:00Zero Regrets, Infinite Gratitude & a Dash of Knowledge<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>753</o:Words>
<o:Characters>4296</o:Characters>
<o:Company>PictaVita Inc.</o:Company>
<o:Lines>35</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>8</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>5275</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I would first like to acknowledge that this is not
a photography related post. My
work is derived consciously and subconsciously from my perspectives,
experiences, values, and life; bear with me as I sometimes feel the desire to
write about those influences. I
also believe in posting words that are optimistic, sincere and that, hopefully,
make at least one person’s life better in some way. So…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This week I had surgery to rid my cheek of the
dreaded 'C' word! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I had what I knew wasn’t a pimple on my cheek for a few years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would sometimes be more inflamed and
look almost infected (like a zit) and other times it was just a little bump.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My dermatologist had looked at it
before and was not concerned; she said that it could stay or she could remove
it for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I finally became tired
of the damned thing (this is where vanity can be your friend!) and booked an
appointment for my doctor to remove it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was at that appointment that she thought it looked suspicious and
proceeded to take a biopsy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a
diagnosis of Basal Cell Carcinoma, (which is a common, slow growing,
non-aggressive, and non-fatal form of the disease) she referred me to Mohs
(pronounced Moze) surgeon Dr. Jeffrey Dawes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mohs sugery, named after Dr. Frederic Mohs who developed the procedure in 1938, is actually pretty incredible...they
first gave me a local anesthetic and then proceeded to make the first incision,
taking only the area they were confident was cancerous. I was then
escorted back to the waiting room while the doc put my ‘offering’ under the
microscope to see if the perimeter was clear or if they needed to take more
tissue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This process was repeated
until the doctor was satisfied that the perimeter was Cancer and inflammation
free, with a 2mm-3mm margin of healthy tissue around the lesion. I had to
have three sessions under the scalpel before they were satisfied they’d gotten
every last offending cell and with a safe margin taboot!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This careful and methodical process
ensures that they take the least amount of tissue possible – I love modern
medicine! Once they had removed all of the cancerous and inflamed area they
patched me up (Dr. Dawes described it much more eloquently than that ;)!). The
nurses commented that I was lucky that my lesion was quite small (didn’t seem
super small to me!) and it was in an area that is relatively easy to repair,
versus other areas where perhaps a skin graft would have been required.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbzpHyg2yUR5tiYO16LjK3uAEQmA954SHPg5pPsLemNJHqnjALPCRbctz9zlNAuv54JOir5hu4iPVbYD1ykkL-3q_smYPpKQoYWHZIRpaFQXRnmvnElUk7h4EfepnC75eNwLOBBB5uJRA/s1600/Incision+B&W+for+blog+Feb+6+(day+2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbzpHyg2yUR5tiYO16LjK3uAEQmA954SHPg5pPsLemNJHqnjALPCRbctz9zlNAuv54JOir5hu4iPVbYD1ykkL-3q_smYPpKQoYWHZIRpaFQXRnmvnElUk7h4EfepnC75eNwLOBBB5uJRA/s400/Incision+B&W+for+blog+Feb+6+(day+2).JPG" width="381" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taken with the iPhone 4S the day after my surgery.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Clearly I knew, during my youth and beyond, that sunscreen was important
and that even sun tanning was likely not the best idea; please know that I am
not now standing on any soap box, I’m not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have ZERO regrets about my past, including the wonderful
time I spent on the beaches of Brazil or diving off the boat in Fiji and I have every intention of playing in the pool for many summers to come!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That said, my surgeon taught me
something that I didn’t know about sunscreen which I want to share with each of
you…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have long relied on a high SPF thinking that I was doing right by my
skin; however, I never understood that the high SPF didn’t necessarily mean
that I was protected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turns out
that, for example, a “broad spectrum, SPF 100” sunscreen may prevent a sunburn
from UVB rays but it may be ineffective against the UVA rays (which cause the quiet,
cumulative, and aging damage and which were likely most to blame for my skin
cancer).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is because many
sunscreens rely primarily on “chemical filters that can break down light,
rather than more effective mineral (physical barrier) ingredients”*.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They suggest, for the most effective
protection, that we use a mineral based sunscreen that contains a concentration
of 5% or greater of zinc oxide and/or titanium oxide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This mineral based sunscreen should be reapplied every three
to four hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These types of
sunscreen are more expensive and so the recommendation is that we apply them to
the most vulnerable areas of the body: face, tops of ears, chest, heads
(gents!), and potentially arms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You’d better believe that my kids and I will be switching!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have infinite gratitude that my experience was only an inconvenience
and that life has already returned to normal (save the giant white bandage that
I’ll need to fashion for a few more days!). I remain forever grateful for the
medical help I’ve received, that I live in a time of knowledge and non-invasive
treatments, that the cancer I had was nonmelanoma (melanoma is VERY DANGEROUS
and if you have any concerns about changes on your skin please get in ASAP to
your doctor – don’t waste one second), and that I am surrounded by people who
made this experience reasonably painless – primarily my awesome husband who, as
he promised to do, stands beside me no matter what.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I wondered if I should share any of this but I have decided that
knowledge is power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I can
inspire one person to switch sunscreens or to make an appointment for a patch
of skin that has changed or just doesn’t look ‘right’ I will be a very happy woman.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Life –
and mineral-based sunscreens – are beautiful!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lori</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*Excerpt from the handout given to me by the office of Dr. Jeffrey C.
Dawes MD, FRCSC<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The skin protection that Dr. Dawes office sells and recommends is called
Solar Protection Formula TIZO2, SPF 40 and is available by calling his office
(near Westhills) at 403-571-3141.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985966586862131710noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325221706396582476.post-34140936348295268562013-02-01T18:51:00.001-07:002013-02-01T19:39:25.080-07:00Dragonfly WingsLast summer I found a dragonfly on our deck while we were having a bbq. He was beautiful, serene, colourful, and a direct link to the past...my family enjoyed talking about our little visitor, who was chillin' in and around our feet, as we ate. The next day I found his body in the same place. <br />
<br />
With the most care and respect I could provide, I gently scooped him up on a piece of paper and carried his body inside to our front foyer (great evening light). I spent a few minutes trying to capture some of the details of his amazing little body (this is big for me as I am quite squeamish, but this was different, this felt spiritual somehow). <br />
<br />
This is a favourite shot. Look at how perfect nature is. Look at how delicate that wing is. Look at the beauty.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0EaEsINxviE0FZc0B701RxgvBkBZKswPwcYW8zfWoGKqVJvjCxObxuXCVzod1xSAemm2dSZX0FW7Z8xxYN9khvQHDD5ggtfqHzP07lYvMsrh4XjRZfDlBxX-FTFbbgKZzU-TXteXtlg/s1600/IMG_3837+dragonfly+wings+for+blog+Feb+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0EaEsINxviE0FZc0B701RxgvBkBZKswPwcYW8zfWoGKqVJvjCxObxuXCVzod1xSAemm2dSZX0FW7Z8xxYN9khvQHDD5ggtfqHzP07lYvMsrh4XjRZfDlBxX-FTFbbgKZzU-TXteXtlg/s400/IMG_3837+dragonfly+wings+for+blog+Feb+2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
We are like dragonfly wings...unique, beautiful, fragile, and able to touch people in myriad ways.<br />
<br />
Last Fall I was diagnosed with Basal Cell Carcinoma (skin cancer), after my dermatologist thought the 'annoying bump' on my cheek looked 'suspicious'. She took a biopsy and called the following week with the news (while I was enjoying a beer-garita with a best friend in NYC - needless to say it was a bit of a shock to the system!). Basal Cell is a nonmelanoma cancer, which is really lucky as it is the golden child of skin cancers, and with a small procedure this coming week I will be totally fine. <br />
<br />
A few weeks ago a close friend visited her dermatologist because she was concerned at how the appearance of the skin on her ear had changed. She was diagnosed with atypical cells and the doc told her it would have progressed into Melanoma - the scariest kind of skin cancer. She will have surgery in a few weeks.<br />
<br />
Last week another close friend wrote me to say that she had been diagnosed with early stage Breast Cancer. She is currently attending to the MRI's, biopsies, ultrasounds, etc. that her doctor orders and is expected to have a lumpectomy and further treatment so that she may be Cancer free.<br />
<br />
In 1995 my mom was diagnosed with fourth stage Breast Cancer (for those lucky enough to not be 'in the know' with Cancer: 4 is bad!) and, with a grim prognosis, she fought. We were blessed with her presence for two and a half years more before she said goodbye. She was diagnosed late, due to a lack of luck, a lack of her medical practitioners asking the right questions on routine visits, AND - <i>now this is the one that matters most</i> - because, I believe, she knew something was very wrong and was too scared to pursue an answer.<br />
<br />
So, in the next three weeks, three people I love (counting myself here!) will have Cancer related surgeries. We are all married, we all work, we all contribute to the lives of those around us, we matter...just like EVERY LIVING BEING ON PLANET EARTH MATTERS.<br />
<br />
Treasure yourself, pay attention to changes in your body and on your skin, know that you are loved and your presence in our world matters. It is imperative to visit your doctor, to speak openly, and to be your own advocate. Don't ever fear knowledge for knowledge is power. <br />
<br />
Remember that your life is as delicate as a dragonfly's wings and you must honour and respect it, there are countless people who want you to be okay! Know that, just as our little friend's wings inspired me without his knowledge, so too do you inspire others.<br />
<br />
<i>Life - and health - are beautiful!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Lori</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985966586862131710noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325221706396582476.post-7329327519524690692013-01-03T11:44:00.001-07:002013-01-03T18:04:51.983-07:00I don't accept your definition of "beautiful"!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I must forewarn you that this first post of 2013 is a bit of a rant, but I am so disheartened that I felt compelled to write...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was (mindlessly) flipping through a magazine yesterday, and left it laying open on the kitchen table (it had been keeping me company while my daughter was in a time-out as I have learned it's best not to stray too far as she is quick to notice any opportunities for get aways ;)!) Once her time-out had ended and we'd had our 'talk', I carried on with the rest of my day and the magazine, <i>Harper's Bazaar Jan '13</i>, just laid there, untouched.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When my husband arrived home, hours later, he wandered over to it (it was the only thing on the table) and, with obvious disbelief, said 'that isn't toned and taut!' I was curious as I hadn't even looked at that page, never mind read the small print on the photo, and so I went to where he stood to see for myself. This photo, credited to Sean Cunningham, on page 264, has the caption "Toned and taut backstage at Michael Kors" and in large, bold print beside it is the caption, "Better Body." </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHh8AAG-Ian8yZ8nhdjKaDsl6BRBpeOr-Dj3M9rOZMrZfCValOkmGLCMvhohLEDZ09Uw1cdLZ1zFAN9rxh84Yiz-jUTq4JguD-BQy2_jFHJD6eU8CgEb75u2N_WpsZ2-LpQEKxQ8Kn0P8/s1600/HB+Jan+2013+-+portrait.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHh8AAG-Ian8yZ8nhdjKaDsl6BRBpeOr-Dj3M9rOZMrZfCValOkmGLCMvhohLEDZ09Uw1cdLZ1zFAN9rxh84Yiz-jUTq4JguD-BQy2_jFHJD6eU8CgEb75u2N_WpsZ2-LpQEKxQ8Kn0P8/s640/HB+Jan+2013+-+portrait.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49MCSp158zudMudgFh6p6LRkte6NofXBenfEwSrsPH1lxEfS9pXe-Oaf__Ex_Cn-5L0dWgG4cMazjSX-x55x_pEClAHZEj_VH_EAjqhu9GhPjMtw6P3oqaKIxdkWpO8gQn0C2PZbevAI/s1600/HB+Jan+2013+-+Cover.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqifOScpp-uVMf-HD3P86YItuVMm0O4GFqshicUjkUdBNkAV7PdGSXdueSRY1A1SIy6gnGlC6jmOD_BdwjBr9b8O1UwZgTqlCi3YlghQ0gJepBAWAWigWNpNXqPiX0LAz7AKL86s7NVu8/s400/HB+-+Jan+2013+-+Closeup.JPG" width="400" /></span></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Let me make one thing very clear upfront, I am not criticizing the model nor the photographer. I AM criticizing Harper's Bazaar and Michael Kors. This beautiful girl looks unhealthy and Harper's Bazaar is using her image to 'inspire' women to get in shape?! Michael Kors likely had zero input into his runway model's picture being used for this article; however, in my mind, he is complicit by having hired a model for his show whom appears to have an eating disorder. This layout is part of an entire series entitled, "</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>New Year, New You</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">", and sub-titled, "</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Give yourself a head-to-toe makeover in nine days with these expert hair, skin, and body tips.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">" by Jessica Prince. I am here to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strike>propose</strike></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> vehemently argue that looking gaunt and unwell is NOT the body image that women should be aspiring to!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I should admit that I have been complaining about the scale recently...just before Christmas my family attended a wedding in Mexico where I indulged in sugary drinks and bigger-than-necessary meals, returning home just in time to participate in a multitude of social gatherings complete with appies, drinks, and mashed potatoes! I knew that I had made unhealthy choices (albeit fun ones!) and it was time to get back on track, which, for me, means portion control and more exercise. I will also admit that I'm not lovin' the reflection staring back at me at the moment BUT that isn't because I want to look like I'm starving myself, rather because I know what my body looks and feels like when I am healthy, when I am eating well, drinking water, and exercising. I accept (and am learning to be more accepting) of my body and the only time I feel unhappy with it, with myself, is when I haven't respected it enough to make healthy choices. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I DO NOT ACCEPT the "beautiful" that magazines are pushing down our throats...if you are naturally a size 2 or naturally a size 12, be happy, be healthy - we all have our own, innate figures - celebrate who you are whilst striving for health. Know that healthy for me may look very different from healthy for you, and that's okay! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I will write the Editor in Chief at Harper's Bazaar outlining what I've said here and I will also be much more prudent in what I leave laying around - our kids are bombarded enough with unrealistic imagery out in the world, I certainly don't need to leave it on the table for them.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, let 2013 be about your HEALTH, about FEELING GREAT, and about recognition that what we see in magazines is not real and is quite often not healthy. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Here's to a happy and healthy 2013, beautifuls!</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Life is beautiful!</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Lori</i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985966586862131710noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325221706396582476.post-5012306329754461872012-09-11T14:48:00.000-06:002013-01-03T18:05:59.345-07:00What are you waiting for?
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>520</o:Words>
<o:Characters>2966</o:Characters>
<o:Company>PictaVita Inc.</o:Company>
<o:Lines>24</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>5</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>3642</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There’s a recurring theme when I speak with women about booking
a session (be it family or glamour) and it is, “oh, I’d love to have photos but
I’d like to {fill in the blank} first’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The most common hesitation is with regard to weight and I am here to
tell you that you are beautiful, right now, today!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In a few days it will be 15 years since my mom’s death and
not a day goes by that I don’t think of her and miss her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mom was BEAUTIFUL…her smile and the
sparkle in her eyes brightened any room she was in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was generous beyond measure and stubborn and kind and
loyal and an honest-to-goodness poster child for her Zodiac sign of
Cancer!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also struggled with
her weight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe that because
of her insecurity about her weight she never pursued us having family portraits
and, in large part, the only images that exist of her are snapshots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t tell you how much I wish we had
professional portraits done before she was ill, before she was gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9NqzDx8yCHUt_VSVFd2P_bchxfEXsVbyHHJ9heEGSi_8gYNrQ3l3Q1dOQp2hXNsyoAlkeJXCT67cXGiYXLfIdX7zjIyOYdj5rbZHGoySVdoxE1UbCLiEnsZEgFLfgc1WIsBQl_W9YLM/s1600/Mom's+Collage+Sept+11,+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9NqzDx8yCHUt_VSVFd2P_bchxfEXsVbyHHJ9heEGSi_8gYNrQ3l3Q1dOQp2hXNsyoAlkeJXCT67cXGiYXLfIdX7zjIyOYdj5rbZHGoySVdoxE1UbCLiEnsZEgFLfgc1WIsBQl_W9YLM/s400/Mom's+Collage+Sept+11,+2012.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A photographer ‘friend’ (we’ve never met in person but I
think he’s the coolest!), Edward Verosky, published an article last year (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.edverosky.net/blog/2011/03/an-important-time-to-be-a-photographer/">http://www.edverosky.net/blog/2011/03/an-important-time-to-be-a-photographer/</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">)
in which he wrote about a conversation he’d had with a salesman at a large
photography store in NYC.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Their
conversation centred around the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and
its impact with regard to photography.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The salesman said this, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">More people wanted cameras, and I think it had
something to do with the fact that they started thinking about how things
around you might not always be there.”</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And, man, was he right… the people we love, the legs we have today, and
the city skyline we grew up with are all transient and we cannot know how long
we will have them for.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I recently saw a greeting card that read, “All I want for my
40<sup>th</sup> is my 25 year old body”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Isn’t it true that we are so critical of ourselves, on a daily basis,
that we don’t spend enough time (if any) relishing in how great we look, how
wonderful we feel, how our hair is softer now that we’ve discovered Moroccan
Oil :), how
much energy we have, how grateful we are for our health, and the list of today’s
blessings goes on and on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why do we wait for comparisons to the
past in order to realize today’s fortunes?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I know firsthand that a woman wants to get ‘prepared’ for a
photo session, especially a glamour or boudoir session, and it makes
sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also think that the
preparations for a beauty shoot can do wonders for us…it made me more conscious
of what I was eating, it motivated me to drink more water, I have never been as
disciplined with my workouts as I was leading up to my own boudoir shoot, and I
felt like I was demonstrating a wonderful example to my children about finding
balance in life and not always putting ourselves, as moms/wives/employees, at
the bottom of the list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are important, and we need to value our own health, wellbeing, and
happiness and, in so doing, we better the lives of everyone around us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I don’t believe in is setting
unrealistic goals (for instance, "I will do a portrait sitting as soon as I have Elle McPherson's body!") that you feel must be achieved before gifting yourself, and
your loved ones, with images of the beautiful woman you are today.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, for every woman reading this…don’t put off recording
your life’s story because of how you think you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">should</i> look; hire a professional photographer, who knows what
equipment, lighting, and posing to employ in accentuating your unique and innate beauty,
and celebrate who you are TODAY…trust me, the experience and resulting images
will be treasured!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Life is beautiful!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lori</span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985966586862131710noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325221706396582476.post-26888646193961614952012-08-23T11:15:00.003-06:002012-08-23T11:15:27.569-06:00A Session in the Park<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I had the absolute pleasure of photographing a family session in the park this week...I first met this family when the dad coached the t-ball team that my kids were on this past spring and we then quickly discovered that our kids attend the same school! They are kind, warm hearted, fun, generous people and their son is an absolute character! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am thrilled with the images we captured...these are all unedited images that I think are just perfect - beautiful people, beautiful light, and beautiful setting! The following are a few of my favourites from the evening...</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9xedAYJd4LU2NW1IdjyT_g_w_TtS-Y6TG_ptK4YBU10Z23ze84f6FUfuY4c5oj3gEaSsIOrImKumLIrN_xfGS8n6AwWzjaW0yfl9EcDO34ypHs40X2rc4HMXv_czMvW3k-YfESAbb68/s1600/_MG_7046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9xedAYJd4LU2NW1IdjyT_g_w_TtS-Y6TG_ptK4YBU10Z23ze84f6FUfuY4c5oj3gEaSsIOrImKumLIrN_xfGS8n6AwWzjaW0yfl9EcDO34ypHs40X2rc4HMXv_czMvW3k-YfESAbb68/s640/_MG_7046.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">© Bella Faccia Inc.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5pAM-VhWbd1x7cLxRaBO1AgUOO6VHRG935GaJgDNmzmTYih-4deppPh8VxYGahwiDUKcI-_BMGy95TvDOXMIqscNY6kOEo7IEFlL0O03Fee81R2SaI-xaABjCxgaTHaUviOQ8FFK_XM/s1600/_MG_7065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5pAM-VhWbd1x7cLxRaBO1AgUOO6VHRG935GaJgDNmzmTYih-4deppPh8VxYGahwiDUKcI-_BMGy95TvDOXMIqscNY6kOEo7IEFlL0O03Fee81R2SaI-xaABjCxgaTHaUviOQ8FFK_XM/s400/_MG_7065.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">© Bella Faccia Inc.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVepqyTgHwyf0hpEuAArI8LK4ylXvTno4917bPxSt98GUFeTLRGAgO5xM4OAwUmqmb_tbczhpcvlo89wPydG4SaDktgVUQDNtwMaNsCYnpYMH-qDF2g-xmy640UFqYMy8WzVpcyuae9Fk/s1600/_MG_7093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVepqyTgHwyf0hpEuAArI8LK4ylXvTno4917bPxSt98GUFeTLRGAgO5xM4OAwUmqmb_tbczhpcvlo89wPydG4SaDktgVUQDNtwMaNsCYnpYMH-qDF2g-xmy640UFqYMy8WzVpcyuae9Fk/s400/_MG_7093.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">© Bella Faccia Inc.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqLW_MWgsdxvSPvWuYe5uH6HjGbMu9DFtawSClfWKzyt-RHVyVJW95Jk0ZtM3cG1Kyn7scBIGDlLQWfNj-A30vQkfvwHG9ui6x4_Fkkirmed-GfHgC4Ib_yW35lbZC2jZJQ7nRkJaa-w/s1600/_MG_7102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqLW_MWgsdxvSPvWuYe5uH6HjGbMu9DFtawSClfWKzyt-RHVyVJW95Jk0ZtM3cG1Kyn7scBIGDlLQWfNj-A30vQkfvwHG9ui6x4_Fkkirmed-GfHgC4Ib_yW35lbZC2jZJQ7nRkJaa-w/s400/_MG_7102.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">© Bella Faccia Inc.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDWamE9LSDQtC1SChlsCupyFD6SB8oELukEuf0Koriq8iX84gzuk4jLSxoh0-XgSM0RdzxeXC94l0Dh0-A3gTkHxpylN6L24EadWvWwvAcIoZf-AlUwf741gJjM75G7OOrx6K-eRjL7XA/s1600/_MG_7117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDWamE9LSDQtC1SChlsCupyFD6SB8oELukEuf0Koriq8iX84gzuk4jLSxoh0-XgSM0RdzxeXC94l0Dh0-A3gTkHxpylN6L24EadWvWwvAcIoZf-AlUwf741gJjM75G7OOrx6K-eRjL7XA/s400/_MG_7117.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">© Bella Faccia Inc.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlNk9YwD9IUmp7NQtTNH85cizCKEDUoCcHqAa0E16G6b2J5QlOtRKPYdyFLfiwFvkWH_46Cj7ssWfjZmsNh77dQuABWxCQ4tACfC3hDqD_myUlh89Nvp3917sfAGp3sekY-2tYEQfRCg/s1600/_MG_7143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlNk9YwD9IUmp7NQtTNH85cizCKEDUoCcHqAa0E16G6b2J5QlOtRKPYdyFLfiwFvkWH_46Cj7ssWfjZmsNh77dQuABWxCQ4tACfC3hDqD_myUlh89Nvp3917sfAGp3sekY-2tYEQfRCg/s400/_MG_7143.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">© Bella Faccia Inc.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It was fun to step out of the studio for this...variety in business (and life) is wonderful!</span><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Life is beautiful!</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lori</span></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985966586862131710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325221706396582476.post-23754767229844844962012-07-29T21:07:00.001-06:002012-07-29T21:07:44.251-06:00Land of Enchantment<div style="text-align: justify;">
In May 2001 my then-boyfriend and I travelled from White Sands National Monument in southern New Mexico up to the Four Corners with many stops along the way. We fell in love with the culture, art, diverse landscape, adobe architecture, history, and the phenomenally blue skies!</div>
<br />
Flash forward to May 2012 when my now-husband and I re-visited our favourite state to celebrate our tenth anniversary. There were things that had changed but, in large part, the Land of Enchantment remained, to us, as captivating as ever.<br />
<br />
This first image is a portrait of Fabiola...we were stopped roadside so that I could photograph the ruins of what we would discover was a Christian settlement. There was a sign asking that you not proceed past the fence, and I was respectful of their wishes (albeit sad). I was just about done when a beat up truck pulled up and Fabiola emerged. She was sweet, well spoken, and happy to see people interested in the history of the place. In a past life Fabiola was an archaeologist who lived in all corners of the globe, eventually marrying a professor and settling in her home state of New Mexico. Fabiola gave us an 'inside the fence' tour of the ruins and, reluctantly, allowed me to take only two photos. She told us the best place nearby to eat, directed us to the Three Crosses in Abiquiu made famous by Georgia O'Keefe, and, without question, added something magical to our road trip. I will never forget our friend or the unexpected adventure of that afternoon.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNI4BRsAfgTZyaApOdN9qT6Fi9ItHNfgP3OZy8XNWa9uySoC6jED-qTqGwNu6P6jioXOIsrgPoREn17Dg2SNa7x4wkGojnH55hmKXLzl5WrakxLgxUzTPtgqyD-n7MqlRI9RkRKjEN1I/s1600/IMG_5414+Jay+Terry+method+8x12+at+72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNI4BRsAfgTZyaApOdN9qT6Fi9ItHNfgP3OZy8XNWa9uySoC6jED-qTqGwNu6P6jioXOIsrgPoREn17Dg2SNa7x4wkGojnH55hmKXLzl5WrakxLgxUzTPtgqyD-n7MqlRI9RkRKjEN1I/s400/IMG_5414+Jay+Terry+method+8x12+at+72.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">© Bella Faccia Inc All Rights Reserved<br />Fabiola, near Abiquiu, NM</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Our son is an avid dinosaur fanatic (his hero, since before he was three, has been Dr. Jack Horner!) and so when he discovered we were headed to NM he asked if we could visit Ghost Ranch, made famous in the paleontological world due to a number of significant discoveries. Many of Georgia O'Keefe's works were inspired in and around Ghost Ranch, where she lived during 1934. It was our pleasure to take the 'scenic route' between Santa Fe and Taos so that we could say, for our son, 'we were there!'<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVxeDJX8_54ayPBu9bGzirUwVO57hqRcPMD2sRQqC7YLdPs6CC_lQ1aUJjlGTTnXE3LcZA3rizsNAsnXtVjLA7KMEqPtZb__o2tPNaXZ7utMuP4QPpfFzMelMLVPHetxNka6CKd-X_lQ/s1600/IMG_5440+8x12+@+72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVxeDJX8_54ayPBu9bGzirUwVO57hqRcPMD2sRQqC7YLdPs6CC_lQ1aUJjlGTTnXE3LcZA3rizsNAsnXtVjLA7KMEqPtZb__o2tPNaXZ7utMuP4QPpfFzMelMLVPHetxNka6CKd-X_lQ/s400/IMG_5440+8x12+@+72.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">© Bella Faccia Inc All Rights Reserved<br />Ghost Ranch, NM<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On our first trip we spent a night at Ranchos de Taos and enjoyed a sunny afternoon at the San Francisco de Asis Mission Church. This church has been photographed from all angles by photographers of all abilities, including the exceedingly talented Ansel Adams. It is a magical place and we planned our trip so that I could be there to photograph the church and it's surroundings in the evening and again in the early morning light. This image was taken very late in the evening and I was getting ready to leave (we were hungry and my husband was getting bored!) when I noticed that a slice of late-day sun was illuminating this beautiful statue. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12CxPWowhVNjgCnxCx-jE3qPZpBmM1IxMtFMxfn9Dx-s5bYS34Dzdqg1bSzCbBqn0g-ZBpEzQew5LwIOsuUGFm89hwyI7q97WQ967_Dy09wVKjD7oujx55bDmDYUuXcb41ziiAythnpc/s1600/IMG_5494+8x12+@+72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12CxPWowhVNjgCnxCx-jE3qPZpBmM1IxMtFMxfn9Dx-s5bYS34Dzdqg1bSzCbBqn0g-ZBpEzQew5LwIOsuUGFm89hwyI7q97WQ967_Dy09wVKjD7oujx55bDmDYUuXcb41ziiAythnpc/s400/IMG_5494+8x12+@+72.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">© Bella Faccia Inc All Rights Reserved<br />San Francisco de Asis Mission Church at Ranchos de Taos, NM</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
The next morning I got up before dawn to beat the light (and the people) at this little church. It was so serene and, although not a religious person, I couldn't help but feel the love emanating from years of the faithful worshippers. I feel so grateful to have had the unique opportunity to revisit this place that I have dreamt of since that first trip 11 years ago.</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPg75NXwRKM2ytCrkbUHyJEOxu8_RYuMI7yzk6nV5aVILxkSiqHqNaaXHqvLlQQ4Rqo7qZ0rGWzHO-5mzrv39gapi8i6mW1aSPO4zPT3pvCN6yefhm5nLAmpHecU-XUKM9lXBKNHkZuOI/s1600/IMG_5570+8x12@72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPg75NXwRKM2ytCrkbUHyJEOxu8_RYuMI7yzk6nV5aVILxkSiqHqNaaXHqvLlQQ4Rqo7qZ0rGWzHO-5mzrv39gapi8i6mW1aSPO4zPT3pvCN6yefhm5nLAmpHecU-XUKM9lXBKNHkZuOI/s400/IMG_5570+8x12@72.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">© Bella Faccia Inc All Rights Reserved<br />San Francisco de Asis Mission Church at Ranchos de Taos, NM<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
New Mexico...I am sure I will see you again and in the meantime I will remember you fondly through my images and memories.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>Life - and New Mexico - are beautiful!</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>Lori</i></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985966586862131710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325221706396582476.post-77649108341760057962012-06-21T20:46:00.000-06:002012-06-21T20:57:05.846-06:00Namaste, Room to Read!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Today I volunteered in my daughter’s kindergarten
class…during the three hours we were there she participated in reading, played
educational games, practiced math, spent time outside, socialized, was aided in
problem solving, and spoke in both her native English and in her new language
of Spanish.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My kids, like their parents, are blessed to live in a place
that not only values education, but values education for all kids – boys AND
GIRLS!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On June 16, 2012, my son, daughter, and I attended ‘Namaste
India’. ‘Namaste India’ was a
global fundraising initiative by and for Room to Read. The goal was to raise enough money to
fund at least 150 young girls in the Room to Read Girls’ Education Program; by
early estimates they have exceeded their goal - an awesome outcome regardless and especially considering this was the first time for the event!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjakTNfAYBPVMf7lszNAff3bbkWTVQ5Odiywp0wtoV3w5ZAqYT26OZ7GCKjov0i7e9smSzoneJP5O85Q1kaQyLDH12YxbPJeF2XE-oNn89ZlHXU2j4ZAMVemtipKzeVHdj7og8RcduqaL8/s1600/_MG_6609+Calgary+Namaste+India+@+72+ppi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img alt="" border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjakTNfAYBPVMf7lszNAff3bbkWTVQ5Odiywp0wtoV3w5ZAqYT26OZ7GCKjov0i7e9smSzoneJP5O85Q1kaQyLDH12YxbPJeF2XE-oNn89ZlHXU2j4ZAMVemtipKzeVHdj7og8RcduqaL8/s400/_MG_6609+Calgary+Namaste+India+@+72+ppi.jpg" title="Namaste India, Room to Read, by Bella Faccia Inc., Calgary, AB" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPDY4oMDt02C_M8WiiRXRv9oWumS0a4_XIJvl4q4Pm74hWwlHJOYt49p1-7U07BBZQWZoVuCTPcdoFk2FZwaRGhU8O0DuFRdxe-p-Dv2cVJFWJgonwaQwZm0id83V1mH5hNN3Jt4tDPk/s1600/_MG_6626+Calgary+Namaste+India+@+72+ppi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPDY4oMDt02C_M8WiiRXRv9oWumS0a4_XIJvl4q4Pm74hWwlHJOYt49p1-7U07BBZQWZoVuCTPcdoFk2FZwaRGhU8O0DuFRdxe-p-Dv2cVJFWJgonwaQwZm0id83V1mH5hNN3Jt4tDPk/s320/_MG_6626+Calgary+Namaste+India+@+72+ppi.jpg" width="212" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Namaste India Global Yoga Day included, across 5 continents,
108 participating yoga studios, individual teachers, and yogis who pulled up a
mat in honour of the initiative!
Here, in Calgary, Cori Everett, of Soul Health, graciously and
generously donated a yoga class to which everyone - men, women, and children,
the practiced and the not so practiced - were welcomed. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My sister, Lisa Amonson, is Calgary Chapter Leader for Room
to Read and, while we were wrapping up our yoga session, she spoke to us, and in
particular to the many kids present, about what it means to walk into a library
and HAVE BOOKS, what it means to know that you may attend school each day
regardless of your genes, and also how it feels to help those who are in much
different and harder circumstances than we are. It was very moving and I will take a brief moment now to say
that I think my sister is awesome and I applaud her generous spirit, her
intelligent mind, and her willingness to go far beyond what most of us do in
the name of another...Lisa inspires me and my family in countless ways.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Calgary Chapter raised, at last count, $1,285!! WOW! It is so inspiring when people can come together to
consciously change another’s life.
It is also very rewarding to give to a charity that has meaningful accolades,
beyond the idealism of what they are trying to do…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmQkdS2OAH_fhQKgHNrHnXfnvNHZ8qAEVKCqeRR-SRTdZt3jCkCz-cq3U7ANZ0RIUKKipXiA4gHW8ndBCTxBHgWMJvgrHEnF0dKLJTRvzUKphDZOqP7vXbfAcc_72MbjQ3d0kderrcN4/s1600/_MG_6634+Calgary+Namaste+India+@+72+ppi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmQkdS2OAH_fhQKgHNrHnXfnvNHZ8qAEVKCqeRR-SRTdZt3jCkCz-cq3U7ANZ0RIUKKipXiA4gHW8ndBCTxBHgWMJvgrHEnF0dKLJTRvzUKphDZOqP7vXbfAcc_72MbjQ3d0kderrcN4/s400/_MG_6634+Calgary+Namaste+India+@+72+ppi.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Room to Read has, in Africa and Asia:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span>Provided access to education for more than 6
million children since 2000</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span>Established 1,592 schools and 13,170 libraries</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span>Published 700+ books in 27 local languages
(representing 7.2 million books!)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span>Distributed more than 10 million books including
original Room to Read titles, donated English and local-language books</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span>Supported 13,160 girls through the Girls’
Education Program</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">AND:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span>Room to Read was recognized in <i>Barron’s</i> magazine
“25 Best Givers” list (2009 and 2010) and the <i>Global Journal</i>’s “Top 100 NGOs in
the World (2012)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span>They were awarded <i>Charity Navigator</i>’s highest
4-star rating for sound fiscal management five years in a row – a
recognition that only 6% of their rated charities can claim!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span>And more….!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On a Room to Read ‘Quick Fact Sheet’, they say:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“ Room to Read focuses on girls
transitioning to secondary school because that is where the biggest – and most
permanent – gaps in gender equality in education take place. We do this primarily through supporting
girls to attend school, providing female mentoring, and creating more
girl-friendly school environments.
We have recently added more emphasis on teaching life skills to girls so
they will finish school ready to make informed life decisions.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIDOeoKGbfEWEn2P22miSY4MLqTZCYi7HiPkxDb1a0w5Mc_z-LMy9b_sYkHc5UuUzKIWIpYqpzrlveUPDg6JCfypwiKw7w4tA6srQnyjjOzw1RgFft8GpxSs3oYktdcbHoHIP8sSRZsE/s1600/_MG_6616+Calgary+Namaste+India+@+72+ppi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIDOeoKGbfEWEn2P22miSY4MLqTZCYi7HiPkxDb1a0w5Mc_z-LMy9b_sYkHc5UuUzKIWIpYqpzrlveUPDg6JCfypwiKw7w4tA6srQnyjjOzw1RgFft8GpxSs3oYktdcbHoHIP8sSRZsE/s400/_MG_6616+Calgary+Namaste+India+@+72+ppi.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know this post has absolutely nothing to do with
photography (outside of my pictures from the event), but: it was written by a gal who has had all the chances in the
world; someone who has happily travelled to a great many places on the planet; an individual who gets to follow her dreams BECAUSE of an upbringing that endowed her
with education, support, and encouragement; and finally, by a person who wants
our world to be more understanding, with greater equality, and in which the girls
of Asia and Africa are able to provide their intelligence and skills to their
own families first, then their communities, and ultimately to our world. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am of the absolute belief that educating the world’s
children and, in particular, giving an extra hand to girls is critical to our
future. I encourage you to look
into Room to Read and hopefully you too will consider it a charity worthy of
your hard earned dollars.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Room to Read</b> links:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4aoe2Oah6CnnS9wGO_NnnFqwnf_2TP-1jDGLnwxwdJkucvsinuuN6D3tsNBybSuRnV7IqP4_RmXGJfRXrS19-wcZd4Mp6sXTPdKq-9102GIf6MBYm9y9gRIz42lZJJY7l8-7Lt0kg3vw/s1600/IMG_3299+Calgary+Namaste+India+@+72+ppi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4aoe2Oah6CnnS9wGO_NnnFqwnf_2TP-1jDGLnwxwdJkucvsinuuN6D3tsNBybSuRnV7IqP4_RmXGJfRXrS19-wcZd4Mp6sXTPdKq-9102GIf6MBYm9y9gRIz42lZJJY7l8-7Lt0kg3vw/s200/IMG_3299+Calgary+Namaste+India+@+72+ppi.jpg" width="200" /></a>To find out more, please email: <a href="mailto:info@roomtoread.org">info@roomtoread.org</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.leavingmicrosoftbook.com/roomtoread.html">http://www.leavingmicrosoftbook.com/roomtoread.html</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.roomtoread.org/">www.roomtoread.org</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/roomtoread">www.twitter.com/roomtoread</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/roomtoread">www.facebook.com/roomtoread</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJY3mFrtNtA3q9K24cnTPI85h_4gP23_ldHQ85qgq-WQBmTkYrKh6QLILQV_kMuq59xRIIsgITJIibe2nZc0_wicd1YbQogHIzLNkwIjyhLhXm4KImHT6Y5mSGTspx-HyS8NIKYEnaZ60/s1600/_MG_6628+Calgary+Namaste+India+@+72+ppi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJY3mFrtNtA3q9K24cnTPI85h_4gP23_ldHQ85qgq-WQBmTkYrKh6QLILQV_kMuq59xRIIsgITJIibe2nZc0_wicd1YbQogHIzLNkwIjyhLhXm4KImHT6Y5mSGTspx-HyS8NIKYEnaZ60/s200/_MG_6628+Calgary+Namaste+India+@+72+ppi.jpg" width="133" /></a><b></b><br />
<b><b><br /></b></b><br />
<b>Soul Health</b> Yoga Studio - Cori Everett:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.soulhealth.ca/">www.soulhealth.ca</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
* Cori is in the midst of a website rehaul (and any small
business owner knows that website updates are tough and time consuming!);
please know that she is ‘one of the good guys’…a terrific yoga instructor and a
wonderful human being!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>Life – and education – are beautiful!</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Namaste,</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Lori</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985966586862131710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325221706396582476.post-45918403715130726102012-06-05T14:22:00.001-06:002012-06-05T14:39:45.929-06:00Switching things up...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This past weekend I had the pleasure of working with Candace M.; a successful fitness model/competitor. I first met Candace last January on a charitable project we were both involved with and I was thrilled when she called to book a session with Bella Faccia.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In discussing the shoot, we decided to experiment with her look a little - unlike most of my clientele, Candace is in front of the camera pretty often as part of her modelling and competing and so switching things up was an easy decision for her! We thought it would be good to add some softer images to her portfolio and we were both excited to have her don a wig! She's naturally beautiful, is in amazing shape, and I love the images we made together. Here are a few from the shoot...</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilK932NwGOEbMgieAoYw_vjCjc_Ie882DpDXKky3hVywUqZrbR-l1u-ypP5NYkvgXr-YWREhn_c24S95WKsBab5BdzadKpmo0JyJMKxTo9GgwbVnKwKqe_TfIOzsL8bd3hPdMjuqYcU3k/s1600/_MG_6396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilK932NwGOEbMgieAoYw_vjCjc_Ie882DpDXKky3hVywUqZrbR-l1u-ypP5NYkvgXr-YWREhn_c24S95WKsBab5BdzadKpmo0JyJMKxTo9GgwbVnKwKqe_TfIOzsL8bd3hPdMjuqYcU3k/s400/_MG_6396.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Copyright Bella Faccia Inc. 2012 All Rights Reserved<br />HMUA: Blush Hair and Makeup</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVeigPt3AwXZ-NpbAC4d82-czwQ38yIeuABIbdJramdBjpV93iAHM1ODPZgV3O_Ruo2ErCGUZVMTr2FOXktEQMKjr6x5JnLfvTB6ZQap-FQcA7BGtbJM50d3saZHMg03FZdYB-sLL9prM/s1600/_MG_6494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVeigPt3AwXZ-NpbAC4d82-czwQ38yIeuABIbdJramdBjpV93iAHM1ODPZgV3O_Ruo2ErCGUZVMTr2FOXktEQMKjr6x5JnLfvTB6ZQap-FQcA7BGtbJM50d3saZHMg03FZdYB-sLL9prM/s400/_MG_6494.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Copyright Bella Faccia Inc. 2012 All Rights Reserved<br />HMUA: Blush Hair and Makeup</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Life is beautiful!</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Lori</i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985966586862131710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325221706396582476.post-26314892081483197732012-04-26T13:51:00.003-06:002012-04-26T14:02:29.310-06:00Working Woman to Glamour Goddess!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I recently attended a photography seminar in which the photographer told
us that she has a Before & After gallery…and I immediately thought,
‘amazing idea!’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You may wonder why I think this is such a great idea…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One of the reasons I find myself so drawn to working with
women is because I personally know how incredibly empowering the experience of
a glamour/boudoir/fine art nude shoot can and should be. Most of us live our lives at a
relatively quick pace: rushing from work to home, squeezing in getting
groceries, remembering that it’s pajama day at ballet (comes to mind because I
forgot this year :( ), keeping the
kids/dogs/husbands fed and in clean clothes, staying in touch with friends and
family, and the list goes on and on.
Many of my friends are able to fit in a trip to the salon once in a
while and maybe even a workout or two a week, but most are busy enough that the time
they spend on themselves is very limited.
<<i>Enter Bella Faccia!</i>>
Imagine showing up for your session, in your jeans and tee, un-styled
hair, no makeup…and then being pampered as the hair and makeup artist helps accentuate
your inherent beauty followed by a session of us capturing you at your most glamorous! This experience, in my opinion, has
very little to do with ego (although, being honest, what woman doesn't secretly want a shot where she looks smokin' hot!) and everything to do with re-establishing your
belief that you are important, beautiful, valued, and worth time and effort
toward feeling healthy and strong on a daily basis.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiavcL26Rz-w-Myp_1rDxcsj2jqop8ibiJJtllTJ5t94dOALNPuV2HLUxyyDNHKv_0t60LLf12JVpeREgVpSPTsiVlPqkh_A713A25Vag6Hc9EF8VzLrgqEN5QuQSvHba6SOycxTZI7_xU/s1600/_MG_4161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiavcL26Rz-w-Myp_1rDxcsj2jqop8ibiJJtllTJ5t94dOALNPuV2HLUxyyDNHKv_0t60LLf12JVpeREgVpSPTsiVlPqkh_A713A25Vag6Hc9EF8VzLrgqEN5QuQSvHba6SOycxTZI7_xU/s400/_MG_4161.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bella Faccia Studio...chilled champagne and fresh strawberries awaiting my client's arrival</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The other reason I believe this gallery is important is
because I think many of you may look at images on my site, and others', and think: ‘that is an unattainable goal’, or ‘they must be models’, or ‘I live in Lulu
Lemon, I don’t ‘fit’ the part’…enter the Before & After gallery in which you
will see women who could be your neighbour, your co-worker, your best friend, your sister, your
mother, your xyz!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Before &
After gallery is where you will see women who are just like you!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It is my intention, with the ‘Before & After’ gallery,
to show my clients, who arrive in their daily uniform and from their hectic
lives, and who then leave as the sexy, strong, independent, and empowered women
they always were but may have neglected or forgotten amidst all of life’s other commitments. This experience should be fun and
relaxing; and, I hope, it also provides a deeper sense of self-worth and a
reminder that we must stop putting ourselves at the bottom of the list.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60YD1aaKYiVq8fVC9c1KZncJ9EiCZ7MYxl8RrqRxu_8cW9_ARcrBOrH1ACF9XQkFqhfu04EVKOoc0wVuf-O-66hmQeAQnZtMV3FCaJGetPYgXCwJmpML6XPdp3a5FpUrQpLtY3KCUEHg/s1600/B&A+Shanley+Owen+April+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60YD1aaKYiVq8fVC9c1KZncJ9EiCZ7MYxl8RrqRxu_8cW9_ARcrBOrH1ACF9XQkFqhfu04EVKOoc0wVuf-O-66hmQeAQnZtMV3FCaJGetPYgXCwJmpML6XPdp3a5FpUrQpLtY3KCUEHg/s400/B&A+Shanley+Owen+April+2012.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Note: participation in the Before & After gallery is
something I request; it is not obligatory in any way!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That said, most of my clients are pretty thrilled with their
transformations and are happy to share so that other women will see how amazing
the experience will be!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Life is beautiful!</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Lori</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985966586862131710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325221706396582476.post-77106948726029153762012-04-18T19:54:00.000-06:002012-04-18T20:30:00.699-06:00Opportunities<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When I was 15 I had the opportunity to participate in an
exchange program to Natal, Brazil.
It was the beginning of what has been a lifelong love affair…with the
country, its culture, and, ESPECIALLY, its people!</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have now had the absolute privilege of travelling to
Brazil three times, with a cumulative time spent there of about a year and a
half. Even though it has been
years since my last adventure to this colorful, vivacious, and welcoming land; the
memories and my friendships made on all three trips continue to be as cherished
today as they were 20 odd years ago (no need for detailed math here I figure!
;) !).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That first trip, before I’d even turned 16, planted a seed
for me: that worldly experiences benefit young people in ways that are hard to quantify
or qualify, but that undoubtedly have lifelong impacts on how we view the world and its
inhabitants; regardless of colour, religion, or culture. I believe that if every young person were given the opportunity to live, learn, and love in another
country, our global society would be much healthier, more forgiving, and more accepting resulting in an even more wonderful world. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Tomorrow my family will welcome Joao Paulo Gil Cavalcanti
to our home for the coming few months.
Joao Paulo is my Brazilian nephew, by way of being grandson of the
wonderful couple who hosted me for nearly all my time in Brazil, and he is now 19 (gasp, time flies!). JP will be attending an intensive English course while here, amidst having the adventure of being an international traveler, as he prepares to begin his University career.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVnzLAcWJ5JwsqToF6gHs80SgSowY1SotIurojoA9czw0IvDQNDcqsC5AYdGqUTGrdbRYKgO5f-BxazRGW3RuhzTbFCKdzYHcUwK6uvASTR-65iDb_bMRnW8JE94nsU5twDFrjFu9QTLo/s1600/IMG_1768+JP+and+Vovo+Teca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVnzLAcWJ5JwsqToF6gHs80SgSowY1SotIurojoA9czw0IvDQNDcqsC5AYdGqUTGrdbRYKgO5f-BxazRGW3RuhzTbFCKdzYHcUwK6uvASTR-65iDb_bMRnW8JE94nsU5twDFrjFu9QTLo/s400/IMG_1768+JP+and+Vovo+Teca.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Photos 1 & 2: Me & JP at my farewell party in 1994<br />Photo 3: JP & Vovo Teca (his Great Grandma & a woman who<br />showed me consistent kindness)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">While this post isn’t photography related; it does speak to
what I hope for Bella Faccia to represent: admiration of beauty in its myriad forms, love of life, fun, music, memories, commitment, trust, family, and friendship. Brazil will always be an important part of who I am and I sincerely hope to provide a similar learning/growing </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">opportunity to Joao Paulo.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Life is beautiful!</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lori</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985966586862131710noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325221706396582476.post-70711316158109689282012-04-02T14:04:00.001-06:002012-04-02T17:51:28.494-06:00TomAto / Tom-ah-to<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Over the past few months, as I’ve contemplated Bella Faccia’s
move to specialize in women, I have been a little overwhelmed with what
terminology to use. For some the
word ‘<i>boudoir</i>’ has significant connotations (not all good!), for others ‘<i>glamour</i>’
spurs thoughts of the’80s, and then there is ‘<i>contemporary portraiture</i>’, which I
love but seems to leave people perplexed with what it actually means.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Whatever words you or I choose; I hope that you will see
Bella Faccia’s portraits of women and girls as: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>beautiful</b></span>, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>strong</b></span>, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>elegant</b></span>, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>alluring</b></span>, <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">fun</span></b>, <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">sweet</span></b>, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>sexy</b></span> (when appropriate!), and a visual testament to how <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">amazing</span></b> my
subjects truly are. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My absolute goal is to provide stunning images from a wonderful, empowering, and memorable shoot with Bella Faccia – no matter
what ya’ call it!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Life is beautiful!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lori</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRordJPxBFPY8t4oVyyqBSVvfzXqUlORTppBwWy_s0Zw9E4Lzr10DnR0e_nVXRMz2UXU4hkkCCyNPwHdpAu0Qyq4XCB5OXeqdNZ0GAwjZbSgYhutUUVR5qTCiVvSB2YnZuWLum9dO2yvA/s1600/_MG_4434+Talyn+Stone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRordJPxBFPY8t4oVyyqBSVvfzXqUlORTppBwWy_s0Zw9E4Lzr10DnR0e_nVXRMz2UXU4hkkCCyNPwHdpAu0Qyq4XCB5OXeqdNZ0GAwjZbSgYhutUUVR5qTCiVvSB2YnZuWLum9dO2yvA/s640/_MG_4434+Talyn+Stone.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HMUA & Modelling: Talyn Stone</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985966586862131710noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325221706396582476.post-86951259888372109372012-03-31T09:04:00.001-06:002012-03-31T09:04:45.400-06:00My Girly Favourites: Old & New<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>335</o:Words>
<o:Characters>1910</o:Characters>
<o:Company>PictaVita Inc.</o:Company>
<o:Lines>15</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>3</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>2345</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One of the things I most enjoy about being a girl is the multitude
of great products on the market; however, the sheer volume of choices is a little daunting…that’s where girlfriends
come in!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are a few favourites
of mine that help me feel a little more beautiful, a little more
‘put-together’, and even a little sexier!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcDMgJJ3IEQqgD7AKDsmD5FAm2mJz5LttAEecmnvPNE_hhDIYnjwjAJOZhA4wvr-oK3vLGumSZxjk_dKaaIFT5AaVSHanmAsNcuHTP68h-GkGpRwsy_R1RH5BqQTDqJPA5-tJVdwWLG4E/s1600/_MG_4502+web+ready.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcDMgJJ3IEQqgD7AKDsmD5FAm2mJz5LttAEecmnvPNE_hhDIYnjwjAJOZhA4wvr-oK3vLGumSZxjk_dKaaIFT5AaVSHanmAsNcuHTP68h-GkGpRwsy_R1RH5BqQTDqJPA5-tJVdwWLG4E/s320/_MG_4502+web+ready.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>Hanky Panky</i></b>…my girlfriend introduced me to this line of
intimates about 6 years ago and I’ve never looked back!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are pricey, but SO WORTH IT!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No panty lines, heck, it doesn’t even
feel like you have underwear on at all!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is my all time fave girly product, no question!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion</i></b>…in fairness I haven’t
given many others a try, but why would I when this primer is amazing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your eye shadows will be more vibrant
and will have better staying power…your eyes will still look picture perfect
long after your day (or shoot!) is done! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b>St Tropez Bronzing Mousse</b></i>…love, love, love this self-tanning
mousse!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's easy to
apply - no streaks and no mess (just make sure to exfoliate well first and do
buy the application glove, it really helps and washes well for use again
& again).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This product will
leave you looking that beautiful golden-brown that we crave without the risks
associated with lying in the sun (and us gals in the colder climates can have a
subtle glow ALL YEAR LONG – hooray!) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>BB Cream</i></b>…my newest find and I’m pretty impressed so
far!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will say that, although
it’s on this list, it isn’t a fave yet as it is still too new to me; however, I
am really likin’ it and wanted to let you know about this huge trend that is
just now arriving in North America.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Depending on the source, BB either means Blemish Balm or Beauty Balm;
the trend started in Asia, where they are widely referred to as Blemish Balms
but it would seem that the European & N.A. marketing agencies have
creatively changed that first "B" to “Beauty”!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Wikipedia has this to say, “...<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">and some newer ones are advertised as
having functions of primer, foundation, moisturizer, sun block, pore
minimization and skin refining together, making them an economic skin care
solution”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve never worn
foundation as an everyday product, but BB cream gives you that terrific base while
being really light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Life is beautiful! </i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Lori</i></span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985966586862131710noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325221706396582476.post-72002510194945156022012-03-21T18:24:00.002-06:002012-04-02T17:31:16.889-06:00What do you 'Major' in?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Do you remember when you were finishing high school and the
whole world seemed open to you? I
remember feeling such power and excitement with the tremendous opportunities
that I knew were out there waiting for me! I also remember feeling utter fear and anxiety knowing how
many opportunities were out there, waiting for me. How does a person know what the right path is? How can you know, deep in your soul,
that you have a calling to do one, very specific thing? Truth is I think the majority can
relate to my experience and a very lucky few know exactly what they want.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I’ve always known that I wanted to be in a service oriented
role…that is the schooling I pursued, and every job I’ve ever had has centered
around it. I’ve enjoyed every
employ I’ve had, but they’ve never felt like ‘me’. I never was passionate about admin, or HR, or sound
masking. I liked my roles but they
didn’t fulfill me on a deeper level.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Photography has been a love of mine for nearly my entire
life; it was such an early interest that my pop, whom also loved taking
pictures, gifted me with an Ansco Kadet camera when I was 6 or 7. I’ve always been drawn to photography
but I lacked the confidence, in myself and in my creativity, to truly pursue
it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After I’d had my two children, I slowly started to care less
about failing and more about pursuing my interests and dreams. My husband surprised me with my first
digital SLR in October of 2007, and I knew it was time to get serious about
learning the art and technical aspects of good photography. I had cute babies to practice on and a
yearning to find something of my own, amidst the chaos of motherhood and
homemaking.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In 2009 I started Bella Faccia Photography (‘Bella Faccia’
is ‘Beautiful Face’ in Italian) and, with my stomach in knots, I told people
that I was going to pursue photography professionally. GULP. Over the past four years I have completed my Certificate of
Photography at SAIT, I’ve attended multiple workshops, seminars, lectures, and
I’ve shot almost every type of portraiture job you can imagine. It has been an amazing three years and
I feel utterly blessed! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As amazing as the past few years have been; I did feel a
little lost. Each client and job
presented new challenges, which is great, but I tended to feel a little behind
the eight ball. I spent hours
(days probably) agonizing over where to shoot the engagement pics, how to light
the newborn, or how to eliminate the specular highlights on a ceramic apple…it’s
been fun and I’ve learned A LOT, but I also felt like I was becoming a jack of
all trades and master of none.
This isn’t to say that a person can’t be good at multiple genres, of
course there are people who blow me away…but I have come to realize that I like
feeling really well prepared. I couldn’t
put my finger on it but, in hindsight, I was ready to get out of General
Studies and start Majoring in something.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In October of 2010, I shot a job that I then referred to as
a ‘form shoot’ – it wasn’t boudoir, but I wasn’t sure exactly what it should be
called. I really enjoyed the
process of working with one person, a woman, with whom I could direct,
collaborate, laugh, joke, encourage…it was an amazing experience and what
really solidified things for me was how happy my client was. She ended up purchasing a 30x40 acrylic-mounted piece for her home…AWESOME!
I went on to shoot a few nude/nearly nude maternity sessions and was
even more drawn to this genre, and this clientele.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In the fall of 2011 I began the process of building a home
studio. I wanted to have my own
space: to shoot in, to practice in, to have a little gallery in, etc. During this same time I really started
to think seriously about shooting more women and then, recently, it dawned on
me: I don’t have to be a generalist, I can pursue what I feel the most
connected to. I love every aspect
of working one on one with women.
I love collaborating and I love the excitement in the room. I love that there is music playing. I
love that my client is feeling her most glamorous with her hair and makeup
done. I love that she is as committed
as I am to getting GREAT shots. I
love that she has invested in herself for that day – no laundry, no fighting
kids, just HER looking beautiful, playing 'cover girl' for the day! I just love
the whole thing! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I’ve blogged about my own experience posing for a nude shoot
and how incredibly empowering the experience was – not just that day, but in a
profound, life altering way. I
simply can’t imagine a better, more uplifting experience for a woman than to invest
in herself…to beautify (spray tans are a pain in the ass but MAN do they make
you feel like a million bucks), to feel encouraged to drink a little more
water, to treat her skin a little better, to hold her shoulders back a little
more and her head a little higher, to recognize that it’s a good thing to
celebrate the ‘here and now’, and to know that the day, the experience, and the
result are all about her innate beauty and strength. Ladies, I am speaking to you and it ain’t about my own
marketing…this is a tremendous gift to yourself and, whether it’s with me or
another, you should do this for yourself, right now.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUaJVo3U65_pch3mlNH7Efw0vcvTvoGERQu1qi4bWgKDMVRKJwABtrbeuUIoJx2WYWbCDioqvNjIuc2kRZTHTw4a-ifbegwNk6HH0sA5-695uCp9iT8UHYC8d-4oSmo1AyvvL_NJGdFwg/s1600/_MG_4261+(23+4+x+14+5)+at+100+ppi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUaJVo3U65_pch3mlNH7Efw0vcvTvoGERQu1qi4bWgKDMVRKJwABtrbeuUIoJx2WYWbCDioqvNjIuc2kRZTHTw4a-ifbegwNk6HH0sA5-695uCp9iT8UHYC8d-4oSmo1AyvvL_NJGdFwg/s400/_MG_4261+(23+4+x+14+5)+at+100+ppi.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"> HMUA: Jyoti Purba, BLUSH Copyright Bella Faccia Inc. 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This past Friday was my inaugural shoot in the studio. It was a thrill for me on so many
levels but this blog post is already long enough! Sufficed to say that I was elated, this morning, to receive
this text from my studio’s inaugural client after she’d viewed her private,
on-line gallery:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">…Who is that girl?
Those pictures are awesome!!!
Thank you for making me look ‘hot’. There are so many that shocked me (in a good way!). I’ll have a hard time picking. The poses were awesome, the lighting
was perfect and the fan had high impact.
You are very talented. I’m
so thankful you were there with me during the entire process from idea
inception to the shoot. I’m so
glad I did it!</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, here we are…I have officially announced my ‘Major’ and I
couldn’t feel any more delighted.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Life is beautiful!</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Lori</span> </i> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985966586862131710noreply@blogger.com5