Jen Wrecks the Dress

I had so so much fun with this photo shoot. The minute she emailed me and asked me to photograph her and what she wanted to do, I was completely ecstatic! I immediately went to Google and researched Wreck the Dress photography. I could hardly wait! We went out in the evening so we could catch some awesome sun action as is was starting to set, but not set so much that it was already behind the mountains. The results were amazing, and made it so difficult to deside which ones to use as her preview. I loved them all! Catching her "proud of herself" expressions, and as she laughed as she and her daughter joked, really brought out who this gorgeous woman is! Shes fun and carefree, and just really enjoys life and her family.

For her "Wreck the Dress" was her way of saying "Goodbye" to Fort Irwin. Her husband has been deployed for the past year. So it really became a perfect statement of "We made it through one more crazy deployment strong as ever." Plus I mean seriously, how many of us can fit back into our wedding gowns years after our special day to give it one more dance in the sun.

As Jen sees it, "This is its last hoorah, it already has a big ole chocolate stain on it, so I mean, what else am I supposed to do with it, I want to go have some fun with it before I literally throw it away. It just ends up as an extra box on the moving truck during a PCS"

We brought 5 gallons of water, lets face it, we're in the desert literally in the middle of no where, there is not body of water for miles, and I mean MILES. Heck the nearest real town is 35 miles away down a two lane road. Plus doing these in the desert was very important to the statement and memory that she wanted to make. This has been their lives for the last 2.5 years.

So she brought some spray paint, an old trunk, a pair of her hubbies combat boots, an American Flag, and a bottle of her husbands favorite Bud Light. The amount of people that honked at her while we were on Fort Irwin Rd was crazy! I dont think we stopped laughing during the entire shoot. Once we got to the dried lake bed; as a good friend says, izzz onnnnn" Her daughter and a friend dumped 2 gallons on water on her and the ground. We wanted to make sure the ground got nice and muddy. So she knelt down right in the puddle we created and as she lifted the front of her dress, she was very please with herself. I mean it was like thick clay had stuck to her dress. We went to town, she rolled around on her stomack just having a blast.. We poured more water on it, which really actually helped to spread the clay and make it look dirtier. She sat down; poured beer on it; and then; oh yes we spray painted the words "Adios Irwin" on the bottom on her train. "Peace Out" kinda became her staple for the shoot, so her daughter sprayed a big peace sign on the front of her dress and went crazy with the back.. They were so completely happy with what they did to this dress. She said "It feel liberating!" I would do another one of these shoots in a heart beat!

This last photo really became one of the favorites. Perfect in black and white. It really brought out just how dirty we got this thing. You can see all the details from the dress just perfectly. From the embroidery, to the lace and tulle. Her pearly bracelet and bare feet in the muddy cracked floor added the perfect touch.

Jen, I can't thank you enough for the opportunity to help you create this memory. I had such a blast with you! Have an amazing time at your new duty location, I know you'll have fun where ever you !

xoxo,

Ro

"We Are No Longer the Knights Of Ni"

The Foster Family

Words can not describe how honored and humbled I am to have gotten the privilege to photograph this family. Most especially because this is not only just a customer, she is a friend and a fellow photographer. Not to mention, she is one that I look up to so so much. So for her to come to me and ask me to photograph her family is quite an honor. She is also the photographer that photographed my family at the train station in my last blog entry.

I've known her family pretty much since we got to Fort Irwin. She has 3 beautiful daughters, Rhiannon, Shaelynn, and Rowan. No I didn't accidentally type my own name. This is the first time I have ever met someone with the same name as me. Pretty cool. This family is a mountain of fun. They are intelligent, love the theater and being in theatrical performances, love to create art, and you will often find the girls putting on their own plays in their home. They totally let my nerdy side out. I too was once a drama/choir geek, and in many ways I still am, and I LOVE it!

We ventured out at about 5:30 PM so we could get the pretty sun as it was starting to set. Got some really gorgeous sun flares and warm light. I also got to learn a few new tricks from my favorite photographer. We started at the school, so we could get the fun architectural lines and include their pup. The oldest wasn't really interested in getting her picture taken, but we really got some really wonderful images. Anna thank you for allowing me to capture these memories for you.

xoxo

Rowan

Now its Our Turn

The last few months I have been so lucky to be able to step onto the other side of the lense twice with my family. My kids and husband are all over this blog, so I am so excited to actually get into the picture with them. So two photo sessions by two awesome photog friends, Kelly Gagnard and Anna Foster. I love both styles, each gave me something completely different. Anna also did my maternity and newborn shots of our little Lucas. So it was just right to also have her do more a year later. Ladies thank you both so much for spending the time with my family to capture such wonderful images.

So here is a small glimpse at my wonderful family.

(The first set is done by the amazing Kelly Gagnard)

My rambunctious kiddos all piled up on the couch. They were ready to jump up and run wild, it was hilarious, and Kelly was great about getting them to finally hop up there with us to get a family photo.

This one is one of my favorites from the session, I love how much Lucas is cracking up in the picture, like they were playing "lets see how long until I can escape from Aiden and Chloe." Not very long, haha.

This is my all time favorite from the entire session. Chloe and Aiden are always hugging each other and posing for the camera, so I never have to worry about what they are doing. Lucas, is just hilarious. He got so mad every time we leaned in for a kiss and at one point actually started hitting Doug. "Don't kiss my Mommy!" I think the majority of the ones that I absolutely love from this session are in Black and White. I think black and white has such a wonderful way of really freezing the moment. Every time I look at these I will smile and laugh. One because my dear friend got to really see my kids in rare form that day, they were running every where like they'd never been allowed out of the house in their lives.

I absolutely LOVE this picture of Chloe and I. Probably my favorite one of the two of us since she was a baby. She is definitely my cuddle bug, well she and Lucas. I wish I could freeze her at this age for just a little longer. She is perfectly sweet with the perfect touch of Sassiness. Her smile sends me over the moon. I think every Mom needs a daughter. She loves to be affectionate and help. She loves to be in the kitchen and help make whatever I am making. She even takes it upon herself to take her own clothes up to her room, and "put them away" They end up in whatever drawer she can stuff them into, but I will definitely not complain.

Now onto our latest session, by the ever so talented Anna Foster.

I've know Anna, pretty much since we got to Fort Irwin. She's is one of those photographers that inspires me to be better. My families true nature came out in this set. From Chloe's "need for the spot light" Aiden's sweetness, and Lucas's well he's just adorable, to mine and my husbands funniness. These pictures were done at The Harvey House/Barstow Train Station where I often take MY clients to be photographed. I felt that in part that these needed to reflect how I spend my time as well.

One thing about me, is that I am absolutely afraid of heights. More so as an adult. Even with a rail between me and the edge, haha, it doesn't matter. So this picture, as adorable as it is, completely freaked me out. I was maybe 3 feet away from him and up on the train with him, but never less. Doug was trying not to die laughing because I was being such a baby about it.

Oh, there are those silly kids again, all three of them in on the act.

Every single time I see this, it just makes me happy. They had been blowing bubbles and he was just sitting there absolutely cracking up. I'm so grateful that she captures this.

Haha! Oh, our true nature as a couple comes out. A photo session wouldn't be complete without a crazy picture of Doug and I together. He makes me laugh every single day, and you can pretty much bet, that even on a bad day, he knows exactly what to do to make my laugh.

This is us, we're loud, rambunctious and love life and love being together. We love each other with everything we have. We love to let the kids be little. They are only this little once, I mean look at Aiden, he's already 8 and Lucas is already walking and trying to make words.

I am so grateful for the life that I have. So grateful for the everyday adventure on being their mom and the wife to an amazing US Soldier. I love the life that he has given me, it has brought me more richness than money could ever buy. And yes, even though this base is far away from everything I have met some of the most amazing women I have ever met in my life. Amazing friends, and colleges like Anna and Kelly. Ladies thank you again so much. I hope that one day I can return the favor.

xoxo

Rowan

Location Hunting with my Favorite Models

Always say "I Love You"

Let them be Little

Spring Break

I feel so bad, still being sick during the kids spring break. We really haven't gone to do anything fun. I do really love having them home though. I'm not looking forward to sending them back to school. Chloe doesn't want to back at all. But they only have two months left and then summer break starts. I think I've decided to do home schooling for Chloe for Pre-K next year. I wanna soak up as much of her little kid-ness as I can, because its going wayyy to fast for this momma. I can't believe in one more year she'll be starting Kindergarten. Seriously where have the years gone.



Dougs parents will be here on Friday. Not sure what time, but I still have so much I need to do. I need to clean my house, vacuum the upstairs and steam the upstairs carpets. Needless to say, I haven't felt very motivated since all these allergy issues have been giving me so many issues. I think it might be time to take a trip to the PX to find some more over the counter allergy meds.



I have a photo shoot on Saturday, so that should be super fun. Then I'm not sure what the rest of the weekend holds in store for us. Monday, ugh, MONDAY, starts the Spring Book Fair at Aidens school, which I stepped up and took over because half of our PTA board either quit or PCSed. We have plenty of help, and I'm hoping that Friday is extremely slow since OPS Group is having their ball. I'm pretty sure its going to go smoothly, myself and my co-chair are just ready for it to be done. My co-chair came on right as we were starting to plan it. I don't know what I would do without her. She has definitely been a blessing, she gets things done before I even get the chance to ask her to do it. Juli Paulin you are awesome, and when this thing is over I'm taking you out for lunch!

I received my new advertisement postcards today. I ordered them as 5x5s and they couldn't look better. I'm planning on putting some in the vet clinic and at the commissary. Either way, I'm excited!

Ok, well, I'm off to order more client orders! Have a beautiful rest of the day!
~R