Stylin' Daddy

I'm in the stage where all of my friends are havin' babies left and right. Even though I'm not there yet, it's pretty cool to watch friends settle into their new roles as parents, especially guys. The best is seeing their hearts melt with every smile, giggle and coo. So, with Father's Day just around the corner, this post is for them! Here are some awesome summer menswear styles that I'm lovin'!

Unabashedly Prep, unknown, Glitter Guide, Glitter Guide, That Kind of Woman, unknown, Image Spark,  Zara, Another Fashion Book, Men With Style, The Style Blogger

All-American Love

This past weekend a team of dear friends joined together to create an engagement shoot centered around nautical inspiration. Now, if you don't know...I live in the desert of Phoenix, AZ. I've always loved New England since that's where my extended family lives, and I consider my style to reflect that of a preppy Bostonian. So, obviously, this shoot was definitely fun to style!

Hannah and Steve Wright are an amazing couple that attend my church. They also happen to be down right gorgeous together!

Gina Meola is a good friend of mine, and a FANtastic photographer. We're practically neighbors in downtown Phoenix, and we've definitely done some great bonding since meeting at Melissa Jill's doggie birthday part (yes, we go to doggie bday parties!).

Sarah Hubbell did Hannah's hair for the shoot. Sarah has already had her turn in front for the camera for sequin shoot with Michelle Herrick. Sarah recommended her friend Jessica Mangieri for makeup, and she sure did rock it!

Okay, so down the nitty gritty of the clothes...Obviously, we focused on a patriotic color scheme of red, white and blue. We created two looks for Hannah and Steve. The first look was casual and playful - perfect for their pedal boat ride at Tempe Town Lake (BEST date night place).  The second look was a bit more dressy, and was photographed in a picnic setting. I incorporated little details of a boat rope headband, a bandana scarf and floppy hats. Details always bring a photo shoot to life!!!

I think this is SUCH a fun concept for couples and families that are planning to get their pictures taken this summer. If you love the water, the all-American spirit and look great in red, white and blue...This is for YOU! It's really easy to recreate. Heck, if we can do it in a desert, you can do it ANYWHERE!

Summer Lovin'

Summer is in full swing! In Arizona that's not something we really celebrate because it means 100 degree weather is a regular occurrence, BUT it also means new fashion trends and wardrobe additions to my closet. =) There are three main summer trends that I'm implementing in my wardrobe, and I think you guys might love them too...

1. DRESSY SHORTS - I love shorts! They are comfortable, easy to wear and they show off your legs. I especially like to wear them with blazers and cardigans. If your outfit looks this cute with a blazer or cardi, it's worth battling the sweat. You can find great shorts at Urban Outfitters, H&M and Ann Taylor Loft.

2. BOLD COLOR - Last winter I wrote about how much I love my bright red pants. Well, now I want skirts and pants in  every color of the rainbow. Don't you?! You can find this green skirt at Zara or splurge on these yellow pants at Tory Burch.

3. FLIRTY SKIRTS & DRESSES - Light and flirty skirts come back every year, and I never tire of them. They're feminine, cool and comfortable. Anthropologie has the best selection!

Alice in Wonderland Family Portraits

Yes, you read the title of this post correctly...I got to help a family create a lifestyle family portrait session photographed by good friends, Session Nine Photography, centered around this family's favorite story, Alice in Wonderland. SOOOOOOOOOO FUN!!!

You may recognize Christine Valero from a disco styled shoot I did a while back. I mean, how can you forget her awesome red hair?! Christine is a hoot! This girl is a fireball of energy and joy. I LOVE being around her. Her family is just as awesome, even their ridiculously strong, fluffy dog Delilah.

The Valero family drove all of the way up to the Westfork Trail in Sedona, Arizona to have their magical dreams come alive. I would definitely say it was WELL worth the drive. We got to use a run down apple orchard that had old stone and brick. Of course, the green ferns and grass were just as perfect to create the setting.

Christine didn't want the clothing to be the exact costumes of Alice in Wonderland, so we took what we could find in closets and created the Queen of Hearts (Christine), the Mad Hatter (Steve), Alice (Paris), Tweedle Dee (Valen) and the White Rabbit (Delilah the dog).

Christine also had great props such as vintage chairs, glass apothecary bottles, keys, mushrooms and the story of Alice In Wonderland, of course.

I mentioned this in the 40's style engagement shoot I posted about yesterday, but I LOVE working with clients that aren't afraid to think outside of the box and express what they enjoy. This shoot was not only fun to create, but the family REALLY enjoyed themselves. It was awesome to watch them bond during something that can often times be wild and nuts. Sure, there were some crazy moments - most can be attributed to Delilah the strongest dog in the world - but I don't think many families get to be creative in mall photo studios.

If you could have a creative family portrait session, what theme would you center it around?

I think Ryan and I would do something about being nerds. We both consider ourselves to be nerdy. We have glasses and geek out on our computers every night.

Make sure to check out more photos from the family portrait session on Session Nine Photography's blog!

40's Vintage Engagement Shoot

Last week I had the opportunity to style Annee and Scott for their engagement shoot with Stephanie Fay. Talk about some DREAM clients, Annee is a HUGE fan of the 1940's vintage style. ME TOO!!! So, naturally, Annee wanted to portray that in her engagement photos.

Once I arrived, she shared that the photography location was going to be in an airplane hangar with old airplanes. Is that perfect or what!?! She was already prepared with about 20 different outfit choices, and really just needed some help figuring out which dresses would be the best for the camera and location. Scott and Annee had even done some vintage shopping in NYC way before the shoot, and scored some perfect old man trousers for Scott.

I chose three different looks for Annee and two looks for Scott with a variation of a leather jacket.

I think this engagement shoot is a great example of walking a fine line between costume and reality. This couple appreciates the 40's era - it's a part of who they are as a couple, and I think that's very important to think about when preparing for a photography session. If you're going to invest in professional photos, make the most of it. Show your personality!!!

Even take your pets along with you!

Don't worry about what's cool, in style or if it's "cheesy". If you're creating something that YOU love, it's going to come through in the photos.

Of course, it always helps to hire an amazing photographer. Stephanie Fay is AWESOME!!! Seriously, check out her work and check out more photos from this amazing engagement shoot!