Sunsets

Fun fact about me: I'm a sky junkie. I love sunsets, clouds, and all of God's amazing artwork 

Suit & Tie: The Gentleman Experience

Today was a learning experience!

1) I LOVE the look of a Suit and Tie
2) Men don't like to smile, although they have beautiful teeth
3) Men will NEVER say they like a picture, unlike a woman who will LOVE a picture LOL
4) Men work faster than woman
5) Watching a man's facial expression is NO HELP if they like a picture
6) Men will give you "THE LOOK" if the pose looks questionable. :)


I can't wait to finish this series.

Good Night Tears

As I close my day, I remember the days when I was younger and having a lot of teary nights. Nights when my pillow absorbed the pain, hurt, and troubles of the day. Tears from problems with boyfriends, best friends, mean friends, parents, life, and school. There were also tears of joy and happiness. I guess you can call me a cry baby, but tears are the words we cant say. My pillows has been there through a lot of life's good and bad moments. 

As I write this, a tear rolls down my cheek and I look back over my life. I'm blessed. Sometimes we just need to stop and appreciate the things we do have. 

Keep smiling. Keep dreaming. Keep living. Keep loving. 

XOXO 

Racism: Does Color Matter?

After seeing this picture on IG I had to post about this. 

We honestly aren't born racist, it's something society has taught us. 

This is a touchy subject for me, because I would date someone of another race although my parents wouldn't approve. I have never seen color. I was the child that played with everyone. I have always had a white best friend. You probably could have caught me carrying a rebel with my friends. Not even thinking of the separation, just another flag. 

My defense has always been "It doesn't matter what color you are as long as your blood was red!" I love that song because of that line. Color just isn't something that I see. I remember on the playground at Herndon on day, we were like do you taste like vanilla and I taste like chocolate. That didn't stop us from making friends.

 

My mother often says that I don't understand why they still have an issue with something. I can stay that I don't understand. My grandparents are the ones that had to sit on the back of the bus, go into building through the back door, drink out of the blacks only water fountain, or deal with segregation. They fought so that I didn't have too. I appreciate them for that. 

I'm simply appreciating what they did for me. I will continue to love my friends of another race and I pray that they will return the love. 

Love sees no color! 

XOXO 

My Story

Sixteen years ago this year, my world changed. I begged Daddy to let me ride the bus home from school because I didn't want to stay for basketball practice. He told me no, but I kept asking, and he finally said yes. Who knew that less than ten minutes later, my bus would wreck. The AMAZING Herndon Magnet School family showed up and supported me. I will never forget the love that I was shown. That same morning, Dad told me to get my glasses and I forgot. I knew he was going to fuss at me, but thank God I didn't have them on that day. With the cuts on my face already close to my eye, I don't want to think about what could have happened if I had my glasses on. Surgery after surgery, I wanted mom to cover the bathroom mirrors so that I didn't have to see myself. I didn't like what I saw in the mirror but the looks that I would get from adult when I went out made it even worst.
But fast forward to now, I have an amazing story to tell. I know that God is able to do what He says He will do. Thank God I made it.

Beauty is not Defined by the Number on the Scale

This picture pulled something in my heart. I have so many of my youth at church who believe that the number on the scale matters for than anything. It's about the heart and your character. Yes, we want healthy lives, but it kills me when my girls compare themselves to people in a magazine or the girl with all the guys.

Healthy and happy are more important than the number on the scale. This is another reason why my Beautiful As I Am Project is special to me. From my weight to scars, I never felt beautiful, until now, and I refuse to let the girls in my life feel like that. We have to change the people closest to us in order to start changing the world.

One girl at a time.

XOXOXO

The Beautiful Side of Business

With an industry, like photography, there are so many people in the area that is working to perfect their craft. So many people come into photography saying "Hey, it's its easy, quick, and you can make quick money." I wish that was true, but just like everything else, you have to put money in to get money out.

With that being said, I have some of the best clients a photographer could ask for. With the number of photographers around town, anybody could try every photographer and still have a few left over. So I appreciate when my clients return and pass my cards on.

Another beautiful moment is when a child knows you. I was shooting on the 4th of July, and my little McKenna said "Brittany." It just made my heart melt.  The simple things make me happy!

Through the ups and downs of a business, the support of family, friends, and clients are greatly needed and appreciated.

Young Mothers

I was in a debate with some seasoned women about my generation and raising kids. They felt like my generation is a generation who aborts children, because we don't accept the consequences of our actions. So I brought up the issue of struggling to raise a child. Would they prefer that they put the child up for adoption? I can't quote statics on the abortion rate, adoptions, or struggling single mothers. I wish that my generation did take responsibly for their actions. I believe that my generations is quick to pass their child(ren) on to their mother or grandmothers. It's time to stay home and raise your child(ren). 

This lead to the following question.

If you were pregnant and had no way to support the unborn child, would you abort the child, place the child up for adoption, or struggle to provide for the child?

Beautiful As I Am

After talking to a few young ladies, I realized I wasn't the only one dealing with finding beauty within themselves. Although mine came from outward scars, many of the young ladies I spoke with had inner scars. This is what started my Beautiful As I Am Photography Project. I'm sure how big this project will become, but I'm praying that it will be a blessing to some amazing young ladies.