Jena {Stylized}

I love meeting and working with new models. I love how they are willing to learn and just go with the flow...find their own style just as us photographers do.  And just as much as I love working with new models I LOVE working alongside fellow photogs.  The energy that you feed from each other is like no other. I also think helps make a photo shoot that much more fun. I was invited to second shoot along side Stacey from Stacey Moua Photography.  I was more than honored as I haven't shot with Stacey yet.  She built the concept for this shoot herself and used an up and coming model as her subject.  Jena isn't new to island, however, she is new to this industry. I absolutely adored working with both women and found the shoot to be effortless.  Jena's look was classic and reminded me of Mary Jane from Spiderman (Yes, I told her that about 10 times during the shoot LOL).  She was defiantly one I couldn't wait to work with again (be on the lookout for future blogs).  Stacey did a wonderful job setting everything up and even working her magic on the hair and makeup and Jena did amazing taking direction and just being her beautiful self.

A Beautiful You {Personal}

'To Love Oneself is the Beginning of a Lifelong Romance' ~ Oscar Wilde

This post is going to be a little different. Still photography related. Still beautiful work to show off. However, it's not my work that will be posted rather it's me in the actual images. Raw, un-photoshoped, stretch marks, no makeup (I rarely wear makeup anyways), and tummy bearing me.  Let me start off by giving you a little background on myself. I am a typical curvy girl. Always have been and don't really see much change in my body type for the future. I have always been told I was beautiful by both friends and family, however, I never believed it. I picked apart my body for the longest time...finding every little flaw.  I finally see the beauty others have seen in me but after years and years of self hate it still gets the best of me at times.  As women we all have our 'skinny' days and our 'fat' days and I am finding myself to have more skinny days than fat.  With age has come a certain confidence that I have never had which brings me to Ashley of Ai Photography project A Beautiful You.
There was a kickstarter project, A Beautiful Body by Jade Beall, floating around the different photography Facebook pages I am apart of. I found it very motivating and empowering. Ashley got ahold of the project and took it upon herself to spread the love and use her photography skills here in Okinawa by creating a spin off called A Beautiful You. When Ashley started photographing women it really showed me that behind the scares and imperfections there is a beautiful woman in each of us.  Ashley has a way with her photography that she makes you feel completely relaxed.  It took me a while to finally convince myself to do these photos for her because one I am a fairly modest girl. Yes, I sport the two pieces at the beach but I am hardly photographed in them. And two, I was afraid to just let it all out...show the world the real me.  I had two conditions for doing these photos: one, I was to be covered....I give the women who show it all major props but I just couldn't do it. Two, I wanted to pose with my husband. Ashley was thrilled when I suggested my husband be there. She has already photographed several women with their children but had yet to have a husband involved.  When I presented this to my husband he without hesitation was supportive and willing. That right there made me so happy. It showed me that he not only supports me and still finds me beautiful after 10 years but he also supports Ashley and her passion for this project.
A Beautiful You has brought 17 women thus far to Ashley to bare all and share their stories including hers. I will continue to support Ashley in this journey of hers and I really can't wait to see what comes of this. I am beyond blessed to have met her during our stay in Okinawa. She has taught me that you don't need to be magazine perfect to be beautiful.  She truly is one of the most beautiful people I have met both inside and out. And these photos Ashley took has shown me the beauty that others see in me and will cherish them forever. If you are in Okinawa I encourage you to contact Ai Photography and if you are stateside please look up Jade Beall and please allow either one of these amazing women show that you are amazing and beautiful too!

*All photo credits go to Ashley of Ai Photography 

Reiko {Stylized}

What girl doesn't like the combo of tule and leather? 

I was so excited for this shoot as it was so free flowing, no pressure, and just a bunch of girls chatting it up, having fun. Reiko is a popular model amongst the local photographers here on island which I clearly can understand why. She has a very exotic look, has the most petite frame and is just as kind. One thing that made this shoot different from the others when it comes to Reiko is that she was going to be fully clothed. Yes, fully clothed. Because of her small frame she is generally in nothing more than a tiny swimsuit, which she rocks but it was quite refreshing to see her in clothes. Reiko was also very pleased and happy with the wardrobe she would be sporting for this photo shoot as well.  The wardrobe was very simple: a long tule skirt hand crafted by myself and fellow photog, Ashley of Ai Photography, a cream dress to use as her top and then we threw in the leather jacket at the end for my own personal touch. All in all this was defiantly one of my favorite 'personal' sessions. I am glad I had the opportunity to use Reiko as one of my models here on island and it is always fun shooting alongside other photographers that share the same passion. Thank you Ashley, Caylen, Audriana for the amazing hair and make, and of course Reiko :)

The Walpoles {Family}

One of the hardest parts of living the military life is saying good bye. Not only good bye to great people but good bye to the place you have called home for the past few years. Brooke was a former Marine along side her husband so she really never got to explore the island for all it has to offer. About a month before leaving she got out and was able to enjoy what little time she had on island with her two little ones. With this little time left she grew to love the island and kept telling me that she can't wait to just be able to enjoy life with her kids and not be stuck at work while her little ones were in day care or school. Although she plans to work when she gets back home no job will require the amount of dedication that the Marine Corps had asked of her for the past 7 years. Brooke came to me asking if I could take pictures of her family before they PCSed off island. When I asked her about location she was fair game because like I said she really hasn't seen too much. I knew Mori-no-kawa park would be perfect for them because it has the views and defiantly an Okinawa vibe. Once I showed her the place she was all about it :) Despite the heat creeping up on us the Walpole family was a joy to work with! I hope that these last moments on Okinawa sticks with them and they leave island with some great memories.