What an amazing day it has been. I was greeted with my best friends, my husband and Jack Grisham this morning as we gathered at 6:45 am this morning. We celebrated, we laughed, we shared our experience, strength and hope. I know that my mom was looking down at me with the most beautiful smile.


I am full of gratitude today.





A Christmas present from Veronika to me.




Slumdog Millionaire. I have to say that this is the best movie I've seen all year. The cinematography was amazing! This is a MUST SEE!





Lukie gets his nails done.

Digging through storage




I spent the day digging through my storage unit and came across these old shots. They were taken by Eric Gfeller in OKC. Not sure what happened to him, but I treasure these shots of Al and I when she was a baby girl.

My little god daughter JULIA







We did a quick shoot this morning. Here's a sneak peek.

Tricia Joyce

www.triciajoyce.com


Tricia just launched her new site. Check it out.

Heading to NY... again!

It's freezing in LA today! We're off to NY again the first week of January to shoot. I'm not sure I'm ever going to escape the cold  weather. I've been popping 10,000 milligrams of Vitamin C each day hoping to keep the cold bug from biting me! It's super exciting stuff... Here's to 2009!

This makes me laugh!


We definitely have fun on our shoots!

Back in lala land!


We made it back! It was amazing trip with great people. I can't wait to see the final product! Be sure to check out 77 kids by American Eagle soon or now for that matter. They have fantastic clothes for the kiddo's. Yuki will be posting some snaps from the trip after she gets some much needed R&R. 


Just want to send out a shout to my crew. Yuki, Yurick, Jen an Cecil.... You guys rocked it! Thank you!!!!

I also want to thank the amazing team at AE along with LEW - you guys are AMAZING!

Hello MIAMI!

Well we made it in New York and had a fantastic time. The client is amazing to work with along with the producer. We had a pre-light on Monday and then shot Tuesday and Wednesday at the Space studio. Lucky me... I got to meet Martin Schoeller. What an experience. Paul from the Space brought him over to meet me while I was stuck up on the scaffolding. Believe me... I came down for this one! 


We flew into MIA today and I quickly ran to the hotel for the casting. I'm now hanging out in my room after editing that the last 2 days of images. We are off to scout the location tomorrow and then we shoot on Saturday. 

I cannot express enough how grateful I feel for having the opportunity to shoot this line. There's some great stuff. It comes out on 1/22.... I can't wait!!!!

Amazing Day!

We just shot a ton of kiddos and also met Martin Schoeller! Freaking amazing!!! More to come.

It's freaking cold here!

I must have been sleeping....

When did this happened??? I can't believe for 9 bucks I can be on the internet while flying the friendly skies! Love it!!!!

Leaving on a Jet Plane


As the song goes... My bags are packed and I'm ready to go... Well...that's not 100% true, but at least I'm ready. The gang leaves bright and early Sunday for NY for a few days and then we're off to Miami. Two extremes... gotta love it!


Check out this latest issue of Marie Claire. See what happens when you tell someone what you did to get a job.... They run with it! Thanks T - I love you girl!

Nothing like a last minute shoot!

Got a call this morning for a shoot.... It has to be shot today. Proofs  by 8am tomorrow morning. Yikes! We're scrambling... but a little pressure makes the creative juices flow like no other. 


Off and running! 




I absolutely adore this woman!

The creases in his face shall never go unnoticed



Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thought nor measure words, but pouring them all right out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keeping what is worth keeping, and with a breath of kindness, blow the rest away.

Quick peek from today's shoot



The models were a family that had moved to Oklahoma after Katrina. 

Heading to Oklahoma


A little bit of inspiration never hurt anyone. I have a shoot scheduled in Oklahoma using all Cha Belle clothes. They are all vintage one of kind pieces. 


Koto Bolofo is one of my all time favorite photographers. Check out his work at www.jedroot.com.

Happy holidays!


My god daughty Julia - Julia Putnam "reconnecting".


The song from Priscilla Ahn fits this shoot so perfectly. Below is a few of the lyrics.

I was a little girl alone in my little world who dreamed of a little home for me.
I played pretend between the trees, and fed my house guests bark and leaves, and laughed in my pretty bed of green.

HAPPY... HAPPY... HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just got confirmed on 2 jobs that I've been on hold for. EXCITING!!!!!!!!


Plus I'm shooting a Teen Editorial today. 

Amazing stuff in the works


Funny how things come full circle.

What a day....

It's been quite the Monday. 

Little girls at Longfellow

kids + sugar




The party turned out fabulous. 

Celebration for Lindsay and Zuri Models


Gearing up for the big party. We thought we would have about 75 people and it's turned into over 200. Shows how much everyone adores Linds.


It's going to be a blast! I can't wait to see everyone.

UPDATE: Wow... it's tomorrow! All the tables have arrived and it's coming together. It's going to be nice to see everyone. Pictures will soon follow. I went out and purchased a new camera that's smaller and lightweight. Lugging the Mark III is just not conducive to the type of shooting a party needs. I have Teri from Mattel taking some shots as well. 

I'll also be posting a few pics from Lindsay's wedding soon. It was such a beautiful celebration! Lots of love around Linds right now.

Where's this going?

A friend is someone that will keep their eyes open when all you want to do is close them.




My little Luke knows when I need love!


This photo was taken on November 6, 1959. The day my adopted parents got married. She looks so happy. It's so sad that no one would have imagined that 43 years later she would die. She died on their 43rd wedding anniversary... The very day 11-6-02.


I will never forget it and I treasure the time that she gave to me. The two of them took in foster children all of their lives. I was one of the blessed ones to be adopted by them along with a boy name Jamie. They raised us to be humble and to treasure each and everything that life brought us whether it was bad or good. She would tell me that there were lessons to learn in each thing if you just look for them.

I miss her terribly....

Tonight my daughter, her grandchild, and I will celebrate this amazing woman and the gifts she gave to the world.





More cuteness of the Cha Belle Shoot.



I don't think I've sweated that much in a while!


I had a microphone taped to me in NY and that was crazy, but something about being on a podium with 100 people staring at you is a little intimidating! The good news is that the message was heard and the majority of the room came up and shook my hand when it was all said and done. So, I must not have been that bad.

Exciting stuff is in the air. More to come.

Peace!



I'm speaking tonight to over 100 people... Yikes!




It's been a beautiful day in Hermosa. I found myself reflecting...


I've made plans to visit my pops in Oklahoma over Thanksgiving and so looking forward to it. He turns 81 soon and has such an amazing spirit about him. November is always a tough time for us as on November 6th my father and I took my mother off life support. It was a gentle passing and became a new beginning for all us. As I held her in my arms she crossed over with such ease and elegance as she had my entire life. I still miss her body, but her spirit still resides.

My pops always told me "that if I sling enough mud, that something was bound to stick" and my moms favorite saying was "babygirl, beauty need only be a whisper."

Those two people gave so much and asked for so little. They gave so much love and had such compassion for us "twice-born" kids. I thank my HP each and everyday that he picked them just for me.








WORK STATEMENT
Beguile, befuddle, bemuse. Wary looks belie the naked truth trapped within these innocent souls perhaps forgiving, but never forgetting. Who are we? How did we get here? Why do you even care? Look into my eyes and tell me, am I acting my age? Innocence lost, attitudes formed, ambivalence towards the world around you. Once upon a time, I was your little girl. But who believes in fairy tales?

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What a nice surprise! I opened my email this morning to a notification that my "Mini Supermodel" shoot has won 2nd place in the Fashion category. This was a national competition and my little 5 year old girls and a 10 year old girl kicked some bootie in the fashion world!

Way to go Bella, Jordan and Gigi! Thank you girls!

www.apanationalcontest.com



Tricia Joyce - I finally decided on a rep to go with and couldn't be happier. She's amazing and totally gets me!!!


I'll be among amazing talent! She has Todd Burris, Angela Cappetta, Robert Diadul, Alec Hemer, Squire Fox, John Rensten, Paul Warchol and Franz Walderdorff as photographers. She also reps Craig Matthews for hair/makeup, Marisa Crawford Indri and Nan Whitney for styling. Backdrops and Set Design she has Deborah Freedman. I feel honored to be among this talent!