This styled shoot is a dream I have been holding onto for months now, we are going to make it a two-post series so be sure to come back tomorrow for more. Today, color!  This shoot is a perfect way to kick off my favorite season, Fall!  And the lovely ladies at the Southern Weddings Blog found their warm fuzzies in it too.  Enough to share a snippet from the shoot as their first day of Fall post too!  So grab your warm apple cider and blanket and enjoy.

In early 2010, I was really challenged by many mentors to search for inspiration and create shoots & styles for me.  I love styling and making every part of a shoot mesh. I have been working really hard at putting time into non traditional inspiration searches. From heading up to barnes and noble, design websites, & vintage stores.  You name it, I have been spending time there.

One day I came across this image and my mind started to spin. (Gina’s Brain here) What if I used this same type of treatment on Polaroids in the ashes instead of paper…….. the Polaroids could be of a couple that had a bonfire below…..a beachy, bohemian bonfire….not like the So Cal look though.  Keep it closer to home: a Midwestern feel…plaids. Lots of red….and definitely at sunset on a lake. I threw it together in an inspiration board and pulled warm, Fall colors to focus on.

Then the prop searching starts. I peruse etsy and craigslist first for unique looks.  Then I throw on my favorite dress/ legging combo and head out to local antique and vintage stores to ad lib. My mind immediately goes to my past client and model, Lacey, to be the subject of this shoot.  A quick phone call her way see if she and her cute husband and her would be up for modeling gets a green light and makes my heart flutter. Renee, my go-to makeup artist says she is on board, we secure a location and I score some monster marshmallows and we are set. Along the way my assistant, Leah, picks up an awesome find: Our plaid couch!  And how much? Only $25. It was perfect.

Part II coming tomorrow… hope this finds you feeling Fall-y.

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A piece of me really felt that when I quit my job I would feel happy. satisfied. whole.

I really believed all I would need to do is free up that piece of my life that was holding me back. That is taking up my time. Then I will have time to work out, eat healthy, and be a better wife. I even mentioned those things here. I truly felt like a switch would turn on and then a hallelujah noise would ring and my life would instantly become awesome.

The interesting thing about it is: I haven’t arrived. I am barely getting into working out. I have made mini baby steps at taking care of this house and eating healthy but nothing has hit a state of completion. There are definitely weeks where I am on top of my game, but I never will never get to the finish line under these circumstances, not until I get to the core of my struggles.

As most of you know, music is a big part of my life and I feel like the lyrics of this song are exactly what I need to hear sometimes. I usually have such a black & white feeling about everything. Either I am perfect and totally put together or the complete opposite. I need to let go of the guilt and realize there is beauty in the breakdown. To enjoy life in it’s moments. The ups and downs, it’s all part of living life.

So raise your pumpkin’ spice latte or chai to seeing the beauty in life’s imperfections.

FROU FROU LYRICS

So, let go,
Jump in
Oh well, what you waiting for?
It’s alright
‘Cause there’s beauty in the breakdown
So, let go, yeah let go
Just get in
Oh, it’s so amazing here
It’s all right
‘Cause there’s beauty in the breakdown

In the breakdown
‘Cause there’s beauty in the breakdown
The breakdown

So amazing here
‘Cause there’s beauty in the breakdown

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