I had my own photoshoot experience and I was blown away. I have always talked about how important it is to have a portrait session for yourself. I talk about how important it is to exist in photographs for yourself and your loved ones. I knew it was important, or at least I thought that I did.

When I sat and had my hair and makeup done and put on these glamorous dresses, I actually felt it. This experience is like nothing else.

And then, to make it even better, on the day that my folio came, I got to experience it all over again. I got to show my husband and son; my son was transfixed. I loved watching his little face light up when he looked at me and said, “Mommy, you look so pretty and happy.”

“Happy” That is why it is important. That is what he will remember from these photos. He won’t remember that I had wanted to loose weight before the shoot or that I was nervous about my arms or acne. He will remember that I looked happy. And, now, so will I.

When I booked my trip to the The Portrait Masters, I knew that I wanted to make the most of the trip. I stayed a few extra days, I booked a mentoring session and I booked my very own portrait photoshoot with a professional photographer that I had followed for years. Ashleigh of Ashleigh Taylor Portraits is just as wonderful in person as I thought she would be. She made the experience so fun, despite us all having to be up before the sun for the desert shoot. The images that she took are so beautiful and will be art pieces in my home for years to come.

The Arizona desert at sunrise…

I also made a parachute dress!

I had seen these amazing photo shoots using dresses made from silk parachutes and I became obsessed with having my own. I searched and searched and ended up finding this one that was a British parachute from the 60’s and it was PINK! It came out so beautiful and I am thrilled to have my own parachute dress portrait to hang on my wall.