Janie and Emma: A Mother/Daughter revelation

Hair and Makeup by Kada Issa from Bombay Beauty Loft

Mother/daughter quality time can go a long way. Having fun together create memories for a lifetime. For Janie and Emma, a Reveal Your True Beauty Session together was a great plan. An opportunity to inspire each other, discovering and revealing together the beauty they see in each other and themselves.

Little Emma is an aspiring actress. Janie her mom encourages her and together (with Bunny, of course!) they make a fun team to be with. They both are actually in a bunch of cinematography projects right now but are good at not revealing much about it. 

Emma was thrilled about having a special time with mommy. For her it was like playing dress up; their hair done, makeup for mom, a soft blush for her with a bit of gloss... and mommy all to her self to cuddle and play with.

I was impressed at how easily it was to guide Emma through the session despite her age. The talent is definitely there!

This Mother's Day, as we live in a modern busy, busy world, give the most valuable gift a mother can have; QUALITY TIME. Why not use an opportunity to inspire each other, discovering and revealing together the beauty you see in her? 

They are both confident, smart, funny, talented and beautiful. I could go deeper into that but I prefer to share what they say about each other:

Janie about Emma: 
"Emma is a sweet girl who loves to sing and dance. She is very active and loves everything!"

Emma and Victor about Janie:
E: "Mommy is pretty and she is my favourite mom and I love her"
V: "I love mommy because we play together and she is funny" 

Janie has done a wonderful job building confidence and self worth in her children. Emma's description about herself pretty much sums it up:

"I am pretty, and mommy loves me, and I like to play and my favourite toy is Bunny".

Mother and Daughter True Beauty Sessions are available as GIFT CERTIFICATES and IMMEDIATE BOOKINGS. 

Why not use an opportunity to inspire each other, discovering and revealing together the beauty you see in her? 

What's Beauty Photography?

Hair and Makeup by Kada Issa (Bombay Beauty Loft)

"Beauty Photography can be best described as a hybrid cross between very good portraiture and fashion photography" 
- Paul Kerins, photographer

I couldn't have said it better myself. Beauty photography is known mostly as and advertising media for makeup; though it is indeed used mostly for this purpose, there's another use that hits way closer to home and oh how close it is!

So what's the "closer to home" version? The one that focuses in real beauty. YOUR beauty. Your REAL beauty. The one sometimes we hide inside, keeping it safe from danger and criticism. Ironically, that criticism comes mostly from ourselves. We live in it's denial because we were thought different. I'll prove you wrong.

"Beauty is not on the outside, it's something that shines out from inside you"

- Sue Bryce, Photographer

I've been in your shoes and I did for quite a long time; years actually. To better understand where I'm coming from check the post Ugly Betty And Why I Want To Show Your True Beauty,  where I share my personal experience and how it prepared me for helping you to discover and reveal your true inner beauty. After all, I believe everything happens for a reason.

How do these beauty sessions work?

It's actually more simpler than you might think. As an overall, you get hair and makeup done by a professional artist that knows her way through preparing you for photography. The photographer, being an artist, gets inspired by you, your personality and beauty. Then, the creativity and fun begin.

In order for the beauty session to be successful, you need to trust who you are to the photographer. This is, of course, not a one sided deal. A beauty photographer knows well his/her art and will treat you with respect, professionalism but mostly with kindness. This will help you feel comfortable and in a trusted environment. After all, we want to bring out that beauty you are hiding and what better way than to make you feel relaxed?

It is an intimate experience and it will be treated with all the respect it deserves. 

Here's something one the ladies wrote about her experience. Her words are what motivate me everyday to give my best and bring your best:

"Most people dislike getting photos of themselves and would find it hard to get excited about a photoshoot. 

But then came along Fela of Fela Photography. Working with Fela from start to finish was something of a different experience that every person should be lucky enough to partake in. There wasn't any pressure to look a certain way or need to be camera shy simply because Fela can put anyone at ease. 

As people we often spend all our time putting our energy into our families or spend too much time working -that we don't get the opportunity to spend a selfless hour on ourselves to create a beautiful product. 

The photos of myself are a reminder of how beautiful I think I am but forget quickly. 

They are a reminder of what other people see everyday, but I don't. 

I hope everyone can take the time to invest in an experience of such as this. Because then you too will be reminded of how truly amazing you always where". - Katie

After your session is done, I always recommend to treat yourself, either with your partner or on your own, to an amazing evening. After all, you have had your hair and makeup done. Why not take advantage of it? In fact, plan ahead of time what you want to treat yourself to: a romantic dinner? Theater? Ballet? Go out to dance? A girls' night? Be creative and make it special! You deserve a day of pampering, don't you? Of course you do. We all do!

Revealing Katie

As usual, my partner in crime aka HMUA (for hair and makeup artist) is Kada Issa from Bombay Beauty Loft. She knows exactly what I'm looking for and has the ability to enhance the beauty that's already there without over doing it. I love working with her so much!

But today's story is not about Kada but about Katie. As some of you know, each lady has to fill a form prior to their session on which they describe themselves and someone else (friend or relative) has to fill the other half. The purpose of it is to introduce me to who YOU are because if I don't know you, how can I bring your beauty out? The other reason is a healthy exercise to get an insight to what beauty others (friends, family) see inside of us. 

The day of our session Katie expressed how great the exercise had been, to the point that between her friend (who filled the other half of the form) and Katie, created a little chain were they would encourage other friends too by answering the same question. 

Styling by Studio Intent Boutique

I want to share what Katie's friend said about her because I believe it to be true from getting to know Katie:

"If I was to pick a color to describe Katie it would be yellow, the warm yellow of the sun. Not only is this color bright and cheery, but being the color of the sun it symbolizes so much more. Katie is bright like the sun, she is intelligent and has an amazing sense of humour. Even when it is cloudy, she is like that ray of sunshine beaming through the clouds, with her determination, drive and enthusiasm. She has an eye for beauty, not just in what she wears but with her knack for catching those moments of greatness through film. This woman has always been a force, a force of happiness, pride, beauty, intelligence and support in my own but also in many other people’s lives. Not only is she a beautiful person on the outside, but she has an incredibly beautiful soul and shines from within".

And who better than Katie to talk about her experience with the Reveal Your True Beauty Session:

Katie was simply wonderful. We laughed a lot that day and definitely felt the sunshine yellow warmth of her heart.