Rachel

May 25, 2013

Photo Story // PINI

May 20, 2013

Last month I had the pleasure of collaborating with designer Nick Pini. He is one of my favorite local designers in Rhode Island. He is so incredibly talented and on top of that, a really sweet guy. We got to use some jewelry pieces from House of Cach, who are my favorite local jewelry brand. Jennie Gail Ross and Tori Kent were our models for the day and Julie Blanchet was on makeup duty.

This was such a fun shoot to be on but truly the best part of it was having dinner with Nick's family afterward. His mother and aunt made homemade pizza and I have to say was ridiculously delicious.

We love how these photos came out and I'm happy to finally get to share them with you.

Mixtape // 1

May 14, 2013

I had to enable private sessions on Spotify because I keep listening to the same songs over and over and it gets kind of embarrassing. Lately I've been with obsessed with the new Thirty Seconds To Mars single, Up In The Air, along with its music video. Also Fall Out Boy has made a comeback and I'm now listening to My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em Up) on repeat. Following those two tracks are a bunch of other songs I've found over the past few weeks that I can't stop listening to. If you have any recommendations for me, leave them for me in a comment!

♫ Spotify

1: Fall Out Boy // My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em Up)

2: Thirty Seconds To Mars // Up In The Air

3: James Blake // CMYK

4: Modest Mouse // Missed The Boat

5: The Smiths // I Know It's Over

6: Kassidy // La Revenge

7: James Black Featuring RZA // Take A Fall For Me

8: Daft Punk Featuring Pharrell // Get Lucky

9: Lana Del Rey // Young and B eautiful

10: Kendrick Lamar Featuring Drake // Poetic Justice

11: Robert Glasper // Smells Like Teen Spirit

Photo Story // Mike & Vayna - Engaged!

May 13, 2013

I had the pleasure of shooting couple Mike and Vanya last month. I've known Mike for maybe over three years now. He is a very talented saxophonist who I have photographed play before.

It was one of his shows in which he met his soon to be wife, Vanya. From listening to their story, it sounds like love at first site.

"Love must be as much a light, as it is a flame." -Henry David Thoreau

"Love is like a friendship caught on fire." - Jeremy Taylor

The love they have for each other is apparent. The way Mike looks at Vanya is beautiful. They laugh with abundance and smile at each other like no one else is around. They are a beautiful couple and I wish them all the best.

Not My Art // Lead The Way

March 3, 2013

Instagrammer Murad Osmann has a great series on his account of his girlfriend leading him by the arm in beautiful locations all around the world. Normally I'm not a fan of HDR but I love how he uses it in these photos. It is such a creative way of thinking about travel photography, rather than taking the standard Instagram snapshot.

Behind the Scenes // My First New York Fashion Week

February 25, 2013

I had the opportunity to go to New York Fashion Week as a photographer for Uptempo Magazine. It was one of the best experiences of my life and I am so thankfully that I was asked to be a part of it. I took a bunch of photos on my phone (which you probably have already seen if you follow me elsewhere in social media land), but in case you haven't, here they are!

Not My Art // Worst Client Comments Turned Into Posters

February 10, 2013

I came across this last week and I died over some of these posters. Being in the creative industry, sometimes I get requests that are, well a little odd. Clients From Hell makes me laugh, and then after a few pages in I feel like crying. I loved that someone took some pretty terrible client comments and put them in poster form. Check out the rest over on Bored Panda.

Photo Story // Ella

February 7, 2013

Shooting Ella was so much fun! It was breath of fresh air to shoot some fashion along with all the beauty work I've been doing in studio. It's been bitterly cold here in New York so shooting indoors has been a blessing. Ella brought over some cool clothing and we just had fun with it. Lauren O'Jea did three looks on Ella. I love how everything turned out.

Photo Story // Jessamine

February 4, 2013

The new year means new work to be added to my portfolio. If you have followed my work over the years, you have noticed that I love to shoot on location. It's my favorite thing to shoot but I know as a photographer, I need to step up my studio work. Thankfully I live with the amazing makeup artist, Lauren O'Jea, and when the beautiful Jessamine from APM Models showed up at our door, I knew we would make some gorgeous photographs.

Not My Art // Irina Werning

February 3, 2013

Yesterday I came across the work of photographer Irina Werning. I've seen people recreate their old family snapshots before but I love the accuracy in Werning's photographs. She writes on her website:

"I love old photos. I admit being a nosey photographer. As soon as I step into someone else’s house, I start sniffing for them. Most of us are fascinated by their retro look but to me, it’s imagining how people would feel and look like if they were to reenact them today… Two years ago, I decided to actually do this. So, with my camera, I started inviting people to go back to their future"

She is currently taking "Back To The Future" to Asia and I can't wait to see more from this amazing project. Check out more on her website, part one and part two.

Behind the Scenes // New Year, New Work

January 31, 2013

January has been a fun month for me. I went into the new year wanting to redo my portfolio and I had the chance to work with a number of New York agency models. In the span of nine days I shot 12 models and made some great connections. Blog posts will be coming of my new work but first here are behind the scenes photos of my shoots!

Looking through comp cards from APM Models New York.

Shooting with Christina from APM.

Lots of time spent in from of the computer.

Hair and makeup room at KB1111 Model Agency.

Jessica and Michael from KB1111.

The models love Benji.

Two looks with ReAnn from APM.

Loved shooting this fashion shoot with Ella from APM.

A Photographic Look Back at 2012

December 31, 2012

2012 has been quite a year. If you told me I would be living in New York City at the end of the year I wouldn't have believed you. Big life changes have happened but I am excited for the new year. 2012 has had it's highs and lows but I have learned so much about myself and there is still so much more growth to go through. Here is a look back at some of my favorite photos from 2012.

Models: Drea and Tori | Makeup: Lauren O'Jea | Hair: Sarah Harvey | Styling: Collaborative

Model: Stacie | Shoes: Mallory Musante Shoes | Styling: Mallory Musante | Makeup: Kristen Marrah of Gloss & Glamour | Hair: Anna Dunn of Gloss & Glamour

Musician: Ben Franklin

Model: Tori | Makeup: Lauren O'Jea | Head Wrap: Maria Del Carmen Mercado

Model: Briahna (The Beauty Within) | Makeup: Lauren O'Jea | Hair: Kelly Thomas

Model: Lindsey (The Beauty Within) | Makeup: Lauren O'Jea

Model: Drea

Model: Jason | Lighting and Grooming: Lauren O'Jea

DJ: Mr Morris

Musicians: Timeflies | Styling: Heather C. White for PLNDR, Amanda Holt, and Danielle Bernstein

Musician: Silver Medallion | Styling: Heather C. White for PLNDR | Photographer's Assistant: Tori Kent | Special Thanks: Marni Eth | Location: Coney Island

Model: Amy | Makeup & Hair: Katie Bouchard

Model: Tori | Makeup: Lauren O'Jea | Styling: Heather C. White for PLNDR

Model: Sabrina | Makeup: Lauren O'Jea | Hair: Torie Bliss

Model: Tori | Makeup: Katie Bouchard | Hair: Kelly Thomas | Styling: Fran Collazo | Designer: PINI

Model: Annelise Adams | Makeup: Lauren O'Jea | Hair: Amanda Pichardo

Behind the Scenes // Seven Girl Photo Shoot!

November 7, 2012

I haven't updated my blog in almost a month! A lot has changed since my last post. I've moved to New York! It was time to take on the city and I'm so excited! Lauren O'Jea and are moving together to take on the makeup and photography world respectively.

Lauren and I wanted to do a photo shoot with our favorite girls before we left. So on October 21st we shot Mandy, Haley, Drea, Tori, Sabrina, Cassie, and Emilia with Lauren and Katie Bouchard on makeup, Kelly Thomas on hair, and Fran Collazo on wardrobe styling. It was such a big shoot and it was so much fun. I can't show the photos just yet but here are some Instagram shots taken by Lauren, Sabrina, Caity Sherlock, and myself while the girls were getting ready and at our super secret location.

I was so happy that this was my last shoot before the move. I love these girls so much and some of them have been with me since the beginning of my photography career. They mean the world to me and I will miss them so much.

Photo Story // Baby Hipster Dreams with Tori

October 10, 2012

This past July I had a shoot with some of my faves, model Tori, stylist Heather, and Lauren on makeup. We managed to bang out five looks in an hour, which is pretty awesome feat. Heather pulled a bunch of great clothing from PLNDR and styled together some great outfits. Tori said we turned her into a baby hipster. I agree.

Milan Fashion Week SS2013 Favorites // DSquared2

September 26, 2012

Dean and Dan Caten served some Nineties supermodel slash S&M Barbie realness at Milan Fashion Week. Once I saw the first look, I died. I loved every little thing about this collection. It was so much fun. Hot pants, leather, page boy caps, and chains: everything about it was awesome and I would loveeee to wear it. [photos via wwd.com]

London Fashion Week SS2013 // Willow

September 25, 2012

This is my first time seeing Kit Willow's work. I really like how she took the lingerie as outerwear notion and reworked it using silk, leather, and organza. I love the cutouts and the biker chic elements and the overall attention to detail. Kit Willow is someone I definitely will continue to watch in the future. I would love to see what she does for autumn. [photos via wwd.com]

Photo Story // Amy

September 19, 2012

I had some short term goals I wanted to accomplish before the end of the year. I wanted to work with a new makeup artist so asked Katie Bouchard if she would like to shoot. Model Amy was interested in working with me so we all came together and shot this past weekend. I love the hazy look to these photos. It's a different look from my usual style.

New York Fashion Week SS2013 Favorites // Alexander Wang

September 16, 2012

The reformed goth in me is very, very happy with Alexander Wang's latest collection. The textures ranging from croc to snakeskin to zebra and giraffe print were incredible. It looked literally like futurist sports uniforms. It was really cool to see his designs and especially awesome when the nine models stopped at the end of the show, stood there when the lights went down to show that the clothing were glow in the dark. It was such a cool collection and I really enjoyed it. [photos via wwd.com]

New York Fashion Week SS2013 Favorites // Prabal Gurung

September 12, 2012

Prabal Gurung collection was filled with red, silver, and black, in which Indian artist Anish Kapoor inspired him to use and think about how that translates to how Eastern women dress. The collection was slightly sinister with a mix of violent red and pure white. Prabal had a mix dark edginess with girly layers. My favorite part of the show were the tees with bird wings. This was an interesting collection. I really didn't really know what drew me to the collection but I liked it. It's good thing it's my job to take photos of clothing and not review it.

New York Fashion Week SS2013 Favorites // Zac Posen

September 11, 2012

If you know me, you know I like the colors black and gray a lot. "A lot" may actually be an understatement. If I could afford to wear Rick Owens and Gareth Pugh all day I would. Reformed Goth is what I call it (mind you, I was never a goth in high school. I was more preppy/ trendy). So what does this have to do with Zac Posen's latest collection at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week? Well, it is the exact opposite of that dark and structural design that I love but I am drawn to the flowy beauty of this collection. I don't know, maybe somewhere deep down in me I want to wear pretty, floral dresses. [Photos via wwd.com]