I have always been fascinated by photography. I have spent countless hours studying photographs of people, while considering the angles, the lighting, and the editing the photographer used. I love the fact that photography has the amazing ability to transport us to a different time, or place with one single shot.
It was not until I started blogging that I decided to take photography more seriously. With camera in hand, I started experimenting with photographs of my apartment, of friends, and family. It was after experimenting in this way that I realized my passion for photography. I have no formal training or background in this field, but I realize that passion can open your eyes to the impossible, so not only did I invest in the proper equipment I also spent the necessary time to learn everything I could to enhance the skill it takes to be proficient with this passion.
I enjoy, and appreciate the opportunity to photograph bloggers, couples, influencers who make an impact in their profession, families, and also lifestyle type setting. I take an individual approach to each person I photograph. I make every effort to embrace and highlight the focus of what they are trying to convey to their audience with each session.
I look forward to working together and capturing the potential magnificence of your moments through my eyes and the lens of my camera.
Morning! Surprise Saturday post! I hope you are enjoying all of the Maison du Soir photos. I have a new set coming next week which I am really excited to share! They are out of this world. 🙂 For now, I will share with you my last day in Geneva. I woke up early to enjoy a hot cup of coffee and the musings of an early morning. It is always hard to wake-up early on vacation but the reward is worth the effort. The stillness and beauty of a quiet morning are captivating. Since we rotate holiday’s with the in-laws I won’t be back to Geneva for a while, so taking the morning slow and enjoying it from start to finish was absolutely mandatory. I can still picture the beautiful flowers and the birds chirping in the garden. The perfect scene for a last day. And the perfect backdrop for my last day of wearing the beautiful Sophia and Jaclyn p.j.’s. Stay tuned on the next beautiful set! I can not wait to share them!
One of my favorite things to do on vacation is to have a relaxed morning. One of my favorite places to do this? My in-laws garden in Geneva, Switzerland. The air is always extremely fresh, the flowers are gorgeous, and the energy is calm. I love to have a cup of coffee and enjoy my surroundings. The best part of vacation is to unwind and re-center – something I think people forget. It is so hard to balance all of your expectations of a trip – with site-seeing, reservations, and so on – I think people forget to just stand in one place, take a deep breath, and just “be.” I had the opportunity on my last trip to enjoy a few mornings and enjoy the moment and it was so necessary. So, I challenge you on your next trip to take three minutes to stand in one place, take deep breathes, and capture mental pictures of where you are!
Okay, so I got that off my chest, lets chat these p.j.’s. You may remember last week I did a Maison du Soir in Rio! This week I am bringing you Geneva. Sweet, sweet Geneva! The pearl button-down and shorts are one of the most beautiful sets I have ever seen. They are classic, chic, and versatile. Yes, I wore the top to a day of shopping! I have always loved the classic relationship between a cream and black. Growing-up I made my mom re-do my room so I could have it only black and white. It had to be more Audrey Hepburn I told her. Though I may love a good trendy piece every now-and-again my heart will always belong to the classics. The Sophia and Jaclyn fulfill this classic love and were also a total hit among those who saw them. They really are that spectacular in person. I know spending $200 on a pair of pajamas seems excessive but you spend more time in them than any other item in your closet. AND trust me – I used to be like that until I took the plunge and I can’t tell you how great it feels to wear beautiful pajamas. I honestly think it is a revelation. I go to bed feeling great and very chic and wake-up the same way! I am sticking to this purchase and calling it my MUST HAVE ITEM OF THE YEAR! I believe this so much that I wanted those I care about to feel the same way and purchased my mom a set, who now swears by them! I.speak.the.truth.
Need more convincing or just want to see more beautiful pieces from MDS? I am excited to bring you another round of Maison du Soir in Geneva and then in Paris, Normandy, and London! Stay tuned…
In the mean time I will leave you with more on Geneva:
Geneva is an incredible city and one I have loved getting to know over the past few years. Whether you want to go boating, site-seeing, to a park, hiking, museums, or shopping, Geneva has it all! My personal favorite thing to do is to go out on Lake Geneva. It has absolutely stunning waters and being surrounded by the alps is breath-taking.
It has dual citizenship in two countries – about 60% lies in Switzerland and 40% lies in France
It is deep – because it is an Alpine lake, it mimics the Alps, in the inverse. The average depth of Lake Geneva is 507 feet
It has contributed to science- in 1827, Lake Geneva was the first place for the speed of sound to be tested in fresh water
Expensive bottled water likes to call it home- Evian comes from several springs near Evian-les-Bains, France, which rests on the shores of Lake Geneva
Driving around it can add time to your European road trip- the Mt Blanc tunnel costs around 75 USD to travel through one-way and only takes about 20 min. The other option is driving around Lake Geneva, which could add 3 hours to your trip
Just a little fun facts for your Tuesday afternoon reading! I am excited to bring you a city guide of Geneva, if you ever find yourself in the beautiful city!
Growing up I used to bask in the sun. Soaking in every ray – feeling the warmth and the tan set in. The lake was my backyard and I fully utilized every activity that entailed. Most of the days I would wake-up, eat, and run outside to go boating all day. The last thing on my mind was skincare or sunscreen. I just wanted to get on the water. My mother would harp on us time and time again about sunscreen and the importance of skincare but her words fell on deaf ears. The older I get the more I realize how I should have listened to my mom. Mother did always, “know best.” After years of enjoying every ounce of Vitamin D that fell my way, my skin has taken a beating. The tan, sun-kissed look I was accustomed to growing up is now riddled with sun spots, fine lines, and dryness. I am forever on the search for skincare products that are both nurishing and natural. I have turned to every moisturizer under the sun (no pun intended). Feeling defeated and waving the white flag to bad skin I read about Face Oil. I first heard about them from Bradley (Face Oil) and then again from Kathy (Fantastic Face Oil). Both wrote great posts on the benefits from face oils (I recommend you read). This is what I learned from reading: Oils prevent skin damage by acting as a liquid barrier protecting from outside forces or over-cleansing, they are full of necessary hydration, + they are one of the best anti-agers. They had me fully convinced to give them a go.
I now don’t go a day without using at least one oil for my skin. I always feel so moisturized and accomplished – like I did something really excellent for my skin. My most used oil would be the Caudalie Divine Oil – given to my by one of my clients, Laura! I use it not only on my body and face, but also on the ends of my hair when I feel like it could use a pick me up! I am not trying to guilt you in to throwing away every moisturizer you have to go out and buy face oil but I did want you to be informed! If all of these women swear by it, there must be something to it! Trust me – I am now a believer! Need more convincing? Check out these articles – 9 Best Oils For A Perfect Complexion and Why You Should Be Using Face Oil – Even On Oily Skin. Excerpt – “face oil products contain the essential fatty acids your skin requires to stay properly hydrated, but your body can’t produce them on its own. Cream moisturizers are usually water based, or a mix of oil and water. They’re great for keeping problem-free skin balanced and moisturized. Face oils, however, contain a more powerful, purer, and often more expensive form of nutrients that are the perfect solution for skin in distress. And that lipid barrier we mentioned helps skin heal and repair itself much more quickly. They also lock in hydration better than water-based creams.”
