Throwback Thursday – Isis.

Hey guys!

It’s been a WHILE since I’ve actually updated the site. Due to some of my recent shoots being surprises for family, I haven’t been able to blog them. However, on Social Media, today serves as…..THROWBACK THURSDAY! 🙂

During the summer, my dear friend Isis and I went to the beach and did an impromptu photo shoot. Since I didn’t have the blog set up at the time, I thought that it’d be appropriate to only upload a few images to my personal Facebook page. After the beach we went back to her home and took some more candid shots.

The photo’s below are a mixture of us experimenting and Isis being her natural silly self.

It was so much fun spending time with her and my dear Faith (my camera). She’s always such a joy to be around and will have you laughing at everything. I can’t wait until our next photo shoot!

I also officially have my own Facebook business page! You can click the link here (https://www.facebook.com/CapturingBellaPhotography) and like it to see other updated photo shoots as they come!

🙂

-Kay.

Lakeesia & Andre – Promise to Love….

Lakeesia and I have sat in our work office numerous times talking about life and love. Love was always a topic that we wondered off to when boredom seemed to come around. What would her future husband look like? What kind of man would he be? How would he show his love for her? I like to believe that Andre came around at the right time. He proved to be everything that she ever dreamed of plus more.

This photo shoot was very dear to me because I’ve been there since the beginning stages. I watched from the sidelines as the two of them entered into a harmless friendship that blossomed into true love. So when Andre popped the BIG question eight months into their relationship and I was asked to take engagement photos, I danced at the idea! Ecstatic and filled with joy are just a couple expressions that I’ve had throughout this process.

We spent the evening in Suffolk, VA at a beautiful park that was surrounded with water.

I adored watching the way that they looked at each other and would sometimes gaze into each others eyes. You could literally feel the love that they have for each other. It also wasn’t hard posing them at all. One would’ve thought that they’ve done several photo shoots together.

The ring. Isn’t it gorgeous? 🙂

Lakeesia and Andre’s photo shoot was definitely one of my all time favorites! There was never a dull moment! Instead, it was filled with constant jokes and giggling going around as if they were high school sweet hearts.

I’m so honored that they both thought enough of me to capture such an amazing time in their lives. I can’t wait until the wedding! 🙂

-Kay.

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Flashback Friday – My First Photo Shoot….EVER!

Today, last year, I did my first “professional” photo shoot….ever. Mikia wanted to surprise her husband with a surprise shoot for his birthday. After the shoot it was my duty rush over to the restaurant where she had set up a surprise dinner for him with family and friends. If I can be completely honest for a second, I was nervous. Terrified. Unsure. Why would I feel such terrible feelings? Well, no one had ever entrusted me to do something that I had NEVER done before for them. This was HUGE! In my mind, anything and everything could go wrong. I felt so unprepared and all I could think was what if they didn’t like the photo’s and never wanted to hire me again?

The night before, I pulled up Youtube (University) and studied all that I could. I also made a Pinterest board inspired by photography and figured out cool shots to take. My best friend sent me text messages the day of encouraging me by telling me that everything would go fine and just to lean on Christ. Her words really helped to calm me down drastically.

Our shoot was set for 6:30 but I got there a little bit earlier to scope out the park and to see what I would be working with. Something I had learned via one of the YouTube videos lol. Jose’s face was filled with utter shock and excitement when he saw me walking towards him once they arrived at the park. It was honestly at that moment that I had peace in whatever way the photo-shoot went. If it went bad, then I needed to improve my craft. If it went good…I still needed to find ways to improve my craft lol.

Jose and Mikia were extremely patient with me as I figured out what to do and what not to do. Mikia was happy because I was killing time while I was happy that they were understanding. I shot the ENTIRE photo-shoot in automatic mode. I didn’t understand why I had to use my flash in some area’s of the park but not other area’s. I didn’t understand why I wasn’t able to blur my background but keep them focused. Through it all I refused to let my frustration show. It was at that moment that I realized that the art of photography is so much more than pressing a button.

Here are a few of my favorite photos from the park.

After the photo-shoot I took the quick way to the restaurant while Jose and Mikia took the long way to stall for time. I got there about 10 minutes before they did and we were able to get everyone seated so that he wouldn’t see anyone as he walked in. This portion of the shoot was my FAVORITE! In so many words, I felt as if the pressure was off and that I could relax and do the easy work. It was more relaxing to just follow him around getting photo’s of him and friends [with my flash in automatic mode :)] than it was posing them and making sure every shot I took came out great.

Once Jose arrived and Mikia walked him towards us, he was SUPER surprised! Even more so once he had found out that Mikia had flown his mother in from New York to take part in his special day.

The dinner was filled with games, laughter, yummy food and Mikia doing a happy dance during the singing of the Happy Birthday song.

The night ended with them taking photo’s with all of their guest as well as a couple photo’s outside of the restaurant.

This post is just an insight on the beginning of my journey. I can say that in no way have I become a master photographer since my first shoot, but I will say that through the help of Christ and other photographer friends, my work has improved. I still get nervous prior to photo-shoots and honestly I’m grateful that I do. Sounds crazy, right? I’m sure. However, I see it as a moment for me to be humble. It’s a time where I have to lean completely on God’s guidance. Also, knowing that I don’t know it all and am still learning has been a test within itself haha. But I’m so grateful for the journey and wouldn’t trade any of it.

I really appreciate the Troche’s going out on a limb last year and trusting me to fulfill such an amazing task. I had so much fun that night and I’m grateful to know such wonderful people outside of photography.

Happy Birthday, Jose! 🙂

Tia Joy – The Harlem Belle.

Labor Day weekend, my dear friend and sister Tia, flew into the Hampton Roads area to spend the holiday with her family. Before her arrival, she asked if I would mind taking photos of her. Of course I hopped at this opportunity! Who wouldn’t want to take photos of such a radiant person featuring her award winning smile? Haha.

Her shoot was one of my favorites! It was filled with laughter, jokes, deep questions on life, and Christ. Here are just a few of my favorite photo’s from our time together!

Word can’t describe how thankful I am to know such a beautiful person inside and out! Thank you so much, Tia! 🙂

 

Jada – 10th Glamour/Pool Party.

A few weekends ago I was asked to take photo’s for a super glamorous 10th birthday party. It was a party that I’m sure EVERY girl has once dreamt of having when they were younger! I walked into the room amazed at how beautifully it was decorated. The tables were adorned with beautiful glasses that contained pink beads with nail polish inside. Each girl had sun-shades sitting beside their cups with customized name tags. Jada’s mother and grandmother made curtains to hang on the windows out of pink and black streamers. Talk about creative! The party started inside with music, games, crafts, food and a super cute photo-booth area.

 

Instead of having a cake, Jada’s friends and family indulged in lots of goodies! There were Cupcakes, Brownie Kabobs, Marshmallows and Tootsie Rolls that looked like nail polish, and creative names for the candy dishes. 

Jada and her friends customized their own hand bags before heading over to the photo-booth area to take pictures. The inside part of the party ended with a friendly game of “Pin the Lips On Jada!”

The forecast for the evening said that there would be a chance of rain but thanks to many prayers, the rain never showed up. We all went outside to enjoy the beautiful sunshine and the pool. There also was an outdoor game of “Guess the Age of Jada” going on between the parents while Jada and her friends had fun swimming.

Jada’s 10th Glamour/Pool party ended with all of us back inside to sing happy birthday to the birthday girl and to watch her blow out her candles. 

 

I was there to capture the moment for Jada and her family but I had so much fun myself! If I could, I’d go back in time and attend her party all over again. Watching everyone laugh and smile all while enjoying each others company made my heart smile. 

-Kay.

 

P.s. Thanks Mikia for pushing me from behind the camera and capturing this sweet moment with Ashleigh and I!