As a photographer, my goal is simple: I want my clients to feel comfortable and relaxed enough to be themselves around me so that I can capture their true personalities. For women, a lot of feeling relaxed actually stems from feeling confident, and many times, we feel confident when we look good. 

I encourage moms, engaged women, and brides to get their hair and makeup done professionally before a photo session, but I get that sometimes that isn't always feasible. So, I asked my good friend and professional makeup artist Sev Gedra for a little help.

I know it's a little late to be talking about the Super Bowl and Super Bowl commercials, but when it comes to Ella (the girl in the pictures you see here) I just can't help myself. During this year's Super Bowl, one of the most talked about advertisements was Always' #LikeAGirl commercial. 

Most people associate professional photography with major life events: engagements, weddings, and the birth of children. It's important to remember, though, that all families deserve high-quality, professional portraits.

Cliff and I are the perfect example. We've been together a really long time (today is actually the 11th anniversary of our first date!) but we're not married and don't have kids. As a result, we've never had professional photos taken of ourselves. (Those pictures you see at the top of this post? Yup. Those are it. All taken in a hurry while on vacation, some taken by random people who were kind enough to hit the shutter).

To be honest, even though I photograph families, I didn't make the realization about our own photos until we moved into our condo. Our walls are so bare. We filled them with some of my own art, but it was clear something was missing -- us!

On one hand, this is all a little embarrassing to admit. On the other, I think this situation is something a lot of couples like us experience -- and that's really sad. Just because we don't have children and aren't married doesn't mean our life  isn't worth documenting. I always tell my clients that a family photo session isn't just about getting pictures taken -- it's about making memories. Now, Cliff and I are going to do just that!

As a way to set the record straight and be an example to other couples like us, we're working with one of my favorite photographers, Katie Nesbitt, to schedule a family photo session! I can't think of a better way to celebrate our 11th anniversary! 

I strongly encourage other unmarried, but committed couples to follow our lead. I promise you wont regret it! (Hint Hint: If you want to hire me to take your photos, click here to get started!)

A quick update: You can see photos from our photoshoot here. Aren't they great? I just love them!

One thing I love about being a photographer is all of the unique experiences the art allows me to have. I get to meet some really amazing people and see some really cool stuff. Enyo Jewelry is definitely on that list! Owner/operator Isabel makes--by hand--African-inspired jewelry that is simply stunning! 

I first met Isabel through Twitter. She entered a contest I held in collaboration with Chocolate City Creatives and won! 

I spent the afternoon with Isabel in her home studio getting to know her and her work. Her style is bright, bold and sophisticated, and reflects the European and African cultural influences in her life. I love it! 

In addition to doing some product photos, I took some styled shots of Isabel modeling one of her favorite pieces. We then moved onto the good stuff: the process of creating jewelry. Using a few different tools, Isabel carefully turned a few beads, some pieces of wire and two pendants into gorgeous earrings! Scroll down to see Isabel in action!

Are you a small business owner? Need help getting your name out there? Chocolate City Creatives and I are here to help! Contact Amina for help with social media management and website/Etsy shop development and me for product and brand photos, head-shots and artist-in-action photos! 

My my my! What an exciting and busy weekend it was! I had three -- THREE -- shoots this weekend and I'm so excited to share these previews of each!

Late last year I partnered with Chocolate City Creatives in a marketing give-away. The lucky winner of that give-away was Isabel with Enyo Jewelry. I spent Saturday afternoon with Isabel in her home photographing her doing what she does best: making gorgeous, African-inspired jewelry. It was awesome seeing Isabel in action, and I can't wait to show you more of her beautiful work!

For those who don't already know, I belong to a halau, or Hawaiian cultural school. There, along with my hula 'ohana (hula family), I learn the language, dance, history, and culture of Hawaii. My kumu (teacher) asked for a few photos and I was happy to oblige. Here he is teaching 'ukulele to keiki (kiddos)! Stay tuned for more photos from Halau Nohona Hawaii!

My first family photo session of the year was amazing! I got to spend the afternoon with Ella and her mom Ilana. Ella loves sports and is a huge Maryland fan, so the session took place inside the Xfinity Center on the University of Maryland's campus! This was definitely one of the most unique family photo sessions I've ever done and I can't wait to show you more!