Have a Professional Photoshoot
This adventure was multi-layered. I wasn’t just in this to get some new photos, I invested in this experience to lean into the beginning of the re/launch of Regina Retreats.
I’d had my son take some photos of me - and he did a really good job - but I think I wasn’t sure what my mission and purpose was so the photos really didn’t “work”. After some time, I had kind of let the idea go - of having a website, having photos I would really enjoy - and then I had a hair appointment.
At that appointment, my hair stylist (LaShawn of Beauty by LaShawn), was sharing results from a stunning photoshoot for herself and I couldn’t pick my bottom lip up from the floor. She looked even more stunning than on the daily and it looked like she’d had fun doing it. It wasn’t just that she had success, but that she supported another Black owned business and so I wanted to get in on that.
I started following Erica (@emazingphotography) and saw that she was celebrating 10 years in the business and that she had done a couple of other shoots that were simply beautiful. After she shared a promotion, I went ahead and booked my own photoshoot.
But, the challenge was that I was late to get to her. I was supposed to be there at 1:45 for an hour shoot and didn’t arrive until 2:15ish because of traffic/accidents. Only in looking back at it do I realize the attack that the delays had been and the distractions they were intended to cause. Instead of cancelling my appointments and turning around, I sang praise + worship music and pushed forward staying prayerful (and grateful) hoping to get this part completed so that the next steps of the website could be finalized.
The service was great and I’m incredibly grateful I got to do it. I’m also glad I’m done. I don’t think I could have ever been a model; trying to laugh genuinely in a contrived setting is so much harder than one might think.
I get to choose my most favorite 20 photos and then Erica will edit and send those to me for my use.
I’m excited and a little nervous. I think that learning to accept how I look - with my flaws - is very much a part of this process and so I’m going to trust God and know that being able to stand in front of a camera with a mission in mind is a gift. And a huge step forward in my promise to my Mister to continue the Regina Retreats business.
New photos coming soon.
