Day: March 11, 2007

I left for the photo shoot yesterday with feelings of trepidation. I was nervous for reasons I couldn’t quite identify. It was only after I picked up Janci (raisinfish) and began the hour-long drive that I figured out why. The last time I did a big photo shoot with changes of clothing it was at a glamor shots studio. In that case, there were hours of hair and make-up preparation, followed by a long photo shoot. During the whole process both Howard and the photographer were enthusiastic. I had fun until the moment came to view the pictures. They were aesthetically beautiful and totally wrong. I am not a glamorous person. I am not a formal person.

Logically I knew this photo shoot would be different. I was fortunate enough to find Kristyan, a photographer who shares many of my views on life. I was even more fortunate that she was willing to barter a portrait session for some advertising. I would do my own make up and clothes. We used books and flowers as props.

I knew it would be different, but I still felt cautious as Kristyan took pictures and showed them to Janci. They kept looking at the previews and saying they were turning out well. I couldn’t see the previews since I had to hold still. The whole photo shoot was fun and creative. We all got input into how the pictures should go. I enjoyed it and was relaxed and happy during the shoot. It was hard to be anything else with two fun people to talk to. But as we sat down to view all the pictures, I was again afraid. I worried that I would not like any of them. I worried that I wouldn’t be able to like any picture that had me as the focal point.

My fears were needless. The pictures were beautiful and they were right. There were several hundred pictures. Some were goofy, some had closed eyes or props in weird places, some had the wrong lighting, but the rest were beautiful. Kristyan captured me as I want to be. I walked away with 30 pictures that I have permission to used however I wish as long as I give photo credit to Kristyan Williams Photography. I feel extremely fortunate because that level of print release usually costs lots of money.

By the time I got home, I was doubting again. Surely it was not possible that I’d like photos of me. I must have been mistaken. I looked at the photos again. They were still beautiful and right. I did the same thing again this morning. Apparently adjusting my attitude toward photgraphs of me is going to take some time. Fortunately I have 30 beautiful pictures to help with the process.

Here are a few of the results of yesterday’s photo session.  This is nowhere near all of them.  Many thanks to Kristyan of Kristyan Williams Photography.  She is amazing.  You should all go see her other beautiful pictures.  Some of them are even for sale.

	Portrait of Sandra This is the basic portrait that will probably end up on the wall with our family photos. It is also likely to be the one that I use when I need a photo to go with an author’s bio.
	Flowers! I did not bring too many flowers. The smell of those daffodils was heavenly.
	Hair and Flowers This was my idea and we all really liked it. Unfortunately it really needed a forest and som less modern clothing to make it really work.
	Casual portrait pose It was fun to sit there while Kirstyan pretened to be a tree and drop all the leaves.
	Doesn’t everyone sit reading among scattered roses?
	Roses on white Patches saw this one and said “Oh! Pretty!” I have to agree.