Category Archives: Style

What makes us individuals.

Safe with Me: Angela’s Edwardian-inspired photo shoot

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In July, I had the distinct pleasure of photographing someone whose work I’ve admired for many years. Angela Ryan is an international model; but her work doesn’t stop there. Along with a modeling career that spans from fetish to pinup, she is a performer, creative director and stylist. I’ve been familiar with her work through social media for years. So it was an absolute honor to work with her and create some photo magic!

Angela and I conversed before she made her trip to Nashville. We decided on an Edwardian-era theme to my delight. After we decided on the theme, I went to work to find the perfect Edwardian blouse. The vintage gods were in my favor as I found one quickly and she was a beauty. These articles of clothing are like pieces of art so I enjoy photographing anyone in them. I recruited my side-kick and personal muse, Lashon, to help with set design. Between the time I scheduled Angela’s photo shoot and when it took place, I brainstormed the direction we would take. I was feeling a little inspired by the green fairy so decided to have a bit of a darker element to the look.

Tarryn Feldman, a talented hair and makeup artist, completed Angela’s look. The set was designed by Lashon who is a master at making anything come together.

~ Credits ~
Model: Angela Ryan
Makeup/hair stylist: Tarryn Feldman
Set designer and assistant: Lashon Miller
Edwardian blouse: The One I Love Vintage
Corset from Angela’s personal wardrobe
Gloved cape: from Angela’s personal wardrobe; designer Louise Black

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“The world was to me a secret which I desired to devine.”

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“Nothing contributes so much to tranquilize the mind as a steady purpose- a point on which the soul can focus its intellectual eye”

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“How many things are we upon the brink of discovering if cowardice or carelessness did not restrain our inquiries”

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“But her’s was the misery of innocence, which, like a cloud that passes over the fair moon, for a while hides, but cannot tarnish its brightness.”

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“I desire the company of a man who could sympathize with me, whose eyes would reply to mine…”

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“I’m a creature of fine sensations”

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“I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely imagine and rage the likes of which you would not believe. If I cannot satisfy the one, I will indulge the other.”

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The devil that dances in my head
Is never, is never dressed in red!

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A Summer Siren

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One may think of summer and only think about the sweltering heat. But let’s not forget the fun things summertime brings. Summer hangouts, warm evenings, dips in pools of water, fireflies, and vacations or sometimes just “staycations” from work or school. This summer has brought new acquaintances for me. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting some new folks and photographing them.

Early in the summer I had the pleasure of meeting a lovely lady named Haley. Haley goes to school with my gal pal, lovely photo assistant and main muse, Lashon. Lashon made the connection for Haley and me and we scheduled a photo shoot. Haley does modeling as well. It was a delight to photograph her and the three of us had so much fun! We shot for a long time and actually ended up doing about five portrait sessions in one with so many location and wardrobe changes. So I’ll kick off Haley’s photo series with one that made Haley look like a siren coming out of a beautiful pond. We even joked it reminded us of the sirens from the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou?

So get yourself mesmerized by these enchanting photos from part one of Haley’s photo series.
Model: Haley Weathers
MUAH: Georgia Myrick
Assistant: Lashon Miller

“The lunatic, the lover, and the poet, are of imagination all compact.”

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 “I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,
Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows,
Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine,
With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine.”

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“Love’s stories written in love’s richest books.
To fan the moonbeams from his sleeping eyes.”

 

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“Shall we their fond pageant see?
Lord, what fools these mortals be!”

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“Four days will quickly steep themselves in nights; Four nights will quickly dream away the time;
And then the moon, like to a silver bow new bent in heaven, shall behold the night of our solemnities.”

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“Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind,
And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.”

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The Gypsy

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Muse: a woman, or a force personified as a woman, who is the source of inspiration for a creative artist. Every creative artist needs a muse. Someone that captivates them and inspires them to create. Muses have been the fuel to artists’ engines for centuries.

If you’ve read previous posts from my blog, you’ve become acquainted with the fact I’m delving into photography. Taking classes, soaking up all the knowledge I can and practicing, practicing, practicing! I LOVE learning every piece of it.

It also tremendously helps that I have one of the most creative people on the planet on my team. My muse happens to be my BFF from the high school days, Lashon. I’ve pretty much christened her my Creative Director. 🙂

Our last portrait session was inspired by some vintage photos we’ve collected and had a bit of a darker vibe. All it took was just a spark of inspiration and we took it and ran with it. I recruited our friend, Rachel, for hair and makeup and she turned Lashon into a beautiful vamp. Rachel also assisted during the photo shoot by keeping an eagle eye out for any flaws and also keeping us in stitches from her wise cracks!

Ladies & gentlemen, I’m pleased to introduce to you the recent photo shoot with Lashon, The Gypsy.

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In a quaint caravan, there’s a lady they call The Gypsy.
She can look in the future and drive away all your fears.

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Everything will come right, if you only believe The Gypsy.

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She could tell at a glance, that my heart was so full of tears.

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She looked at my hand and told me, my lover was always true.
And yet in my heart I knew, dear, somebody else was kissing you.

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But I’ll go there again, ’cause I want to believe The Gypsy.

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That my lover is true and will come back to me some day.

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After the Party: Photo shoot with Lashon

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This set of portraits were done along with another set on the same day with my model, Lashon. We couldn’t decided on dresses, so you know what you do to solve that? Capture photos in both!

These photos were taken around historic downtown Murfreesboro, Tenn. I love historic downtowns and think they are great places to take photographs. So much character and nostalgia. Of course we also got to stop in our favorite boutique on the square in Murfreesboro, Sugaree’s. Lashon and I are both devoted customers of this fine little shop. The dress Lashon wore in this set and the one in the blog prior to this are both from Sugaree’s.

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“Have I gone mad? I’m afraid so, but let me tell you something, the best people usually are.”

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“Alice:How long is forever? White Rabbit:Sometimes, just one second.”

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“It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.”

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“Little Alice fell
d
o
w
n
the hole,
bumped her head
and bruised her soul”

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Black No. 1: Photo shoot with Lashon

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I am really enjoying the world of photography so far. Photography was something, sadly, I always put on the back burner. I thought about majoring it when I started thinking about college after high school. But I was discouraged and being 17, listened to the person. Over the years it kept coming up, but I kept putting it aside. When I decided to stop doing that, it was like a love that was always meant to be.

Right now, I’m relying on my girlfriends to be my models for me. It’s a win-win because I get to practice and I get to hang out with one of my pals! The lovely lady of this shoot is one that is near and dear to me. My very best friend since 9th grade, Lashon. Another plus is that she herself has always had her hand in photography. She is the person that taught me ALL about composition and pointing out any irrelevant negative space. We even signed up for a photography and Photoshop class together years ago just to learn together and really just to enjoy taking the class together.

So without further ado, I present to you Lashon’s photo shoot. This blog will be a two-part one as we took photos in different outfits. Here is our “black” series:

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“No man knows till he has suffered from the night how sweet and dear to his heart and eye the morning can be.”

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“For the dead travel fast.”

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“No one but a woman can help a man when he is in trouble of the heart.”

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“Bleeding hearts, and dry bones of the churchyard, and tears that burn as they fall, all dance together to the music that he make with that smileless mouth of him.”

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“The last I saw of Count Dracula was his kissing his hand to me, with a red light of triumph in his eyes, and with a smile that Judas in hell might be proud of.”