Though The Weather Outside Is Still Frightful... Don't Let It Stop You From Getting Amazing Portraits!

I wanted to showcase a few recent brave souls who mastered the weather and got some beautiful images as a result. Here is a behind the scenes look at outdoor photo shoots in Manitoba winter!

First up is Josh & JoAnna. They were ready and eager to brave the frigid temperatures in their backyard for an amazing romantic sunset kiss. But when we made our way around the side of the house, we were faced with a huge obstacle, almost four feet of snow drifted across their property all the way to the scenic location we had eyed earlier.

Josh & I had winter boots and thick pants, but poor JoAnna had nearly bare legs under her gorgeous gown. After asking a million times, if she would rather not or if she would rather retreat to add leggings, she refused and headed for the foot prints her husband had made as he forged ahead.

Shoes and extra props were discarded along the path as we made it our only goal to reach the edge of their property line. I was loaded with all my photography gear, which I was careful not to get wet, and the precious bouquet that Wendy Heier had crafted for dear JoAnna's Wedding Glam shoot. JoAnna finally stumbling in the deep snow fell into her husband's arms. He dipped her in absolute romantic form as the sun set behind them having conquered winter itself with a magical kiss.

Well, maybe they had to take off their coats first, but you get the idea.

Next up is Courtney who was doing a Model Folio shoot. Courtney has been in beauty pageants before and loves being in front of the camera, so it only seemed natural for her to create some gorgeous beauty shots in her pageant gowns for her portfolio.

In this image, Courtney is changing into sparkly silver sandals with the help of her mother for her awesome snow queen shoot.

The wind was cold and blustery, biting at the finger tips and nose. Bravely, she removed the blanket and began posing like a super model as she cat walked toward me.

The sun lit her up like the star she is. This model has mind over matter mastered; she refused warm up breaks with the blanket and kept up the pace for the rest of the shoot! I would highly recommend this bubbly professional young lady for anyone in need of a model.

And here's a bonus for winter shoots.

Bonus: Snow is an awesome reflector, which means light from the sun is bouncing back at your face. Say good bye to dark shadows under the eyes!

A big thanks and kudos to you gorgeous people for braving the cold! It was a pleasure photographing you!
Stay warm and don't let the weather stop you!

Hair that is a Crown of Splendor

I've recently been thinking about gray hair. I know that may be weird because I'll only be 25 in a few days, but the thought of being half way to fifty and life speeding up has a way of doing that to me. 

"You'll be a quarter century old," my husband commented. Now usually this would warrant a jab in the ribs, but my thoughts lately have changed on how I think about gray hair.

Our culture seems to pursue 'youthful vibrance' at no expense spared. Just on covering gray hair alone, if you spend $50 in a salon once a month that's $600 a year! For how many years? 30? 40+? But why? Why can't gray be beautiful too?

Now the best selling book in the world actually has something to say about gray hair! Isn't that wonderful!

Proverbs 16:31 ~ Gray hair is a crown of splendor...

Somewhere around 700 BC when Proverbs was written, gray hair was a bragging right and everyone wanted it. So what changed? Haha, artificial hair color was invented. I knew that, but what I'm getting at is an attitude change. Gray hair in North American culture says 'old', but does it really or is it just our perception of the culture? Gray hair should show maturity and wisdom! And that's a good thing! So why cover it up?

I've been mulling on the idea for a few days now and researching other sites and dare I say that I've come to the conclusion that gray hair is even a gift. Wisdom is beautiful. You as a woman are beautiful. Your hair is just an accent to your beauty; it is a crown of splendor!

Some sites I visited that you may find interesting:
Gray Revolution
7 Tricks for Growing Out Gray
Pinterest - Silver Haired Beauties

I'm interested in your thoughts on this. If you don't have gray hair, would you change it if you did? If you do have gray hair and don't love it, how come? If you have gray hair and love it, share your thoughts!

And for fun, how many celebrities with gray hair can you name without googling it? :)

Beauty Exposé - The LIE Preview

Recently, my husband and I were in need of a second vehicle. We planned to make the purchase after the work day, which I took off from bookings and made it a 'research and prop finding' day, aka I was stuck browsing the mall for the day. (Not complaining!)

As a photographer, I frequently take notice of posters, billboards, advertisements, and especially obvious Photoshop work. I find it intriguing and it feels like a game. I'll even take a pen to a magazine and draw lines where I believe it's been 'airbrushed'.

I feel bad for the shoppers who thought I was crazy yesterday as I scribbled all over Rhianna in the latest Vogue magazine while sipping my latte. Sorry.

So I was quite taken aback when I saw this poster at Walmart.

This game I'd found so intriguing has recently become an aggravating one as I begin to realize that so many women compare themselves to magazine spreads and advertisement images. BUY THIS to help you LOOK LIKE THIS and it's a LIE.

The above photograph at first glance may have even slipped through my filter... then I realized who on earth looks like a Barbie doll in a white t-shirt, I mean, come on, cotton is for comfort! It upset me that someone may believe this image. So I put it on Instagram and Facebook to make my friends and followers aware.

Then I realized that it wasn't enough. It's one thing to say, 'don't compare yourself to this model.' But it brings a whole other reality to see what the model actually looked like and what was all done to her body. Very subtle changes add up to a huge "improvement" in the end image, and some changes are not humanly possible. Like having a head that is bigger than your hips!!

So I decided to recreate the image on my own. The image below shows you my before and after, and below that is a list of changes.

[Photog Note: I used a video instead of a trigger for speed sake. Just a tidbit for anyone who's tried to capture a Selfie in focus with hair moving!! Not the greatest quality, but conveys my thought sufficiently.]

First, I started with the arm and back, because I figured that would be the trickiest part, but it was actually quite simple. Then a tummy tuck and chest pop. For kicks, I slimmed down my hips, trying to get my head bigger than my hips, but it just looked so fake I couldn't show it. So hips slimmed down, but not Barbie size. Lastly, quick jaw surgery (so many images have it) and a tilt to the head to make it more upright.

These changes took less than an hour folks!!!

It is truly amazing what can be accomplished in retouching. Squinty eyes can be opened, 20 lbs can disappear, tan lines erased, Barbie sized hips achieved, ect. So in today's modern age, where is the line? How far is too far? What is beauty then? Is it attainable? And who or what decides who is beautiful?

These are questions I hope to investigate over the next month, and I'd love for some brave ladies to journey with me. Courageous women willing to show their magazine beauty and their natural beauty! I want to photograph you, show you the retouching that would be done to your photo for a magazine spread, and then show you your two looks. If that sounds like you, comment, email, Facebook, CONTACT ME in some way and let's chat!

I would love to know your thoughts on this! Please leave a comment on where you think the line is and what beauty is to you!

DIY Boho Floral Crown {Winnipeg Glamour Photographer}

Perfect for a Bohemian wedding, this Floral Crown DIY is quick and easy to assemble. And, if Boho-chic is not what you're after, the crown works well as a photography prop or flower girl crown.

Here's how I made a flower crown for a beautiful bridal couture shoot last Saturday.

The Portrait Experience VIDEO {Winnipeg Glamour Photographer}

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for more cool videos and tips for your glamour portrait session!