photo stylist

I am currently dabbling in a new hobby. Photo styling.
Did you know there are professional photo stylist that work with photographers and their clients? They stylize for food, fashion and product shoots. I don't profess to be a photographer per se... but I do spend an inordinate amount of time setting up my photo shoots. And I love every thing about it. I feel like an artist... like I am painting a canvas... capturing a moment, creating a feeling.

Well, it wasn't till a couple years ago that I found out that people are actually doing that for a living.

I was first made aware through this amazing website ~ Found Vintage Rentals.

Found is an event decor and prop resource supplying brides, event planners, designers and photographers with unique vintage items to give their weddings, photo shoots and events style and originality. 

And I remember thinking, I want to do that! I want to win the lottery and fill an old barn with vintage props... along with lush acreage for creative photo shoots. Imagine if you will... an old vintage turquoise truck to haul old vintage couches out in green grassy fields... a tea party set up under an old crystal chandelier hanging from an oak tree... trunks filled with clothes and accessories to choose from... my cozy cottage on wheels would actually become my cozy cottage in the woods.
I know ~ in your dreams Linda.

I dream of owning property like the Tenba Ridge Winery in Wisconsin

Then I starting hearing about photographers stylizing shoots for their clients. Check out THIS photo shoot that Maggie stylized and shot as a gift for our mutual friends Amy & husband Andrew. Amy is also an amazing photographer and stylized THIS photo shoot that Jamie Delaine shot. Are these gals creative or what!

But this photographer/ stylist/ wife &mother of seven (with another on the way), really inspired me the most. You will find a few of my favorites HERE, HERE and HERE.

So Saturday when plans for my granddaughter's birthday party were canceled because Emolyn & Elsie are both sick (poor babies)... and then our plans to drive up north for the day were canceled due to a major snow storm, I went thrift shopping for my very first photo styling gig. And it is coming together beautifully.

I asked my daughter-in-law if I could stylize a Mommy & daughter photo shoot and she said yes. So Saturday I found Emolyn & Elsie's dresses for $1.75 each. And they were exactly what I had pictured in my mind. Exactly. I have a few fashion ideas for Nicole to choose from. And then accessories & props galore. Basically, as a stylist, I call the shots, pardon the pun... what they wear, how they fix their hair, accessories, props, location. I can hardly wait.

I haven't nailed down a location yet, but I am not even planning for this photo shoot till April. Elsie will be older... and I'm thinking closer to the perfect Mother's Day gift.

And yes, I plan to snap a few shots myself, but I also have a couple friends that would love a reason to break in their fancy new cameras... or add to their porfolio... or simply to play around with various camera settings.

Anyway, thanks for letting me go on and on about my latest passion. Passion is my word for 2011. Discovering my passion. Rediscovering my passions from the past. And being passionate about the moments of today.