Ahhh! I'm so excited to share this blog post! I love celebrating the amazing work of people in my community and Jill is no exception. 

I met Jill a few years ago while working in Dupont Circle and have been continually amazed by her zest for life and uncanny abilities to use the internet to bring people together. Jill is a digital strategist extraordinaire who has made a career out of online organizing. She recently started her own business training others how to do the same, and needed some headshots.  

I spent the day with her and her adorable pup Zilly (short for Godzilla) chatting strategy, photography, life, love and -- of course -- food. In addition to everything else she does, Jill is an amazing cook, and she whipped up some dy-no-mite lentil soup! She also helped me do a little internet strategizing of my own. (More on that coming soon!) 

What I love about Jill's approach to web strategy -- be it one-on-one consulting or through her start up, Practice Makes Progress -- is the fact that fun is automatically included. The internet is a great tool, but learning new technologies and platforms can sometimes be scary. Jill understands this and addresses it head on. Seriously. When 10-second dance parties are part of your business plan, fear is not an option. 

So, here's to Jill, the internet, and fun times ahead!

Spring is just around the corner and for me, that means thinking about and planning vacations! Cliff and I love traveling and want to do more of it. In fact, one of my resolutions for 2015 is to take more weekend getaways!

In no particular order, we have our minds set on:

One of the best parts about being a photographer is the ability to support other local, small businesses. I love photographing hand-made products and promoting them here, on my blog. About two weeks ago, I got to take that passion to a new level, thanks to a partnership with The Shine Collection.

Owner Dianne designs beautiful, one-of-a-kind lounge-wear pieces and needed photos for her website. So, she did what any fashionista would do: She got together with a group of friends and hosted a style session. 

I had so much fun at this shoot! Working with models was an incredible experience, but what made it so special was the fact that each model was a close friend to Dianne. I had the best time getting to know Meredith, Jill and Jenny, and working with them to produce fun, fashion-forward images.

The best part? I was able to match my photography style to Dianne's design style. By using only natural light, each photo has its own unique look and feel, similar to the collection Dianne has created. Each piece in The Shine Collection is made from block printed fabric imported from India. Because the prints are done by hand, no two pieces are exactly the same.

Makeup: Faces by Nish, LLC

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! 

I had the best time last Saturday with Ebise of Mare Naturals at her home in D.C. Ebise is a law professional by day and maker of natural beauty products by weekend. Using Ethiopian bees wax, she's created a line of deliciously delightful merchandise that's healthy for your skin and your wallet! 

What I love most about Ebise's work is her total commitment to her brand. During our initial consultation, Ebise told me she wants to "live" her brand by shopping local and incorporating more natural ingredients into all aspects of her life. What's more, the bees wax she uses reflects her Ethiopian heritage. She travels to the country regularly and personally knows the farmers who supply the wax. Does it get any better? 

I usually try to keep these preview blog posts short and sweet, but not this time. Guys, I gotta get serious -- and a little philosophical -- just this once. I enjoy photography because I love creating beautiful images. There are times, though, when photography goes beyond something I enjoy and becomes something I need. This weekend was one of those times.