portraiture

Congratulations Leah Weatherford

February 27th, 2010

This evening was the Miss WACO pageant and I was so excited to hear that Leah Weatherford was named Miss Photogenic. I always love when girls are called up for Miss Photogenic and winning it is even better. Anyway, Leah competed in the Miss WACO Teen and she did really well and when I heard she won with the photo that we did of her, I could not have been happier.

The funny thing is that a few years ago, I photographed her sister Lacie before she went on to Miss Texas USA and she won a Miss Photogenic with one of my photos as well. Ha ha. I told her mom “wow, you make pretty photogenic babies..” True statement.

Anyway, here is the photo that won Miss Leah Miss Photogenic tonight

Also, I want to congratulate the winners. Arden Harkreader for Miss WACO Teen 2010 and Christina Entsminger for Miss WACO 2010. Both of these young ladies will go to Houston to compete for Miss Texas teen and Miss Texas 2010. I look forward to photographing you both!

Tags: miss teen waco, miss texas usa, miss waco, pageant portraits, photogenic
Posted in portraiture | No Comments »

Introducing Matthew Ian

February 26th, 2010

Been a while since I have blogged. I have been ill and getting better every day. With that said, everyone knows I have a softspot for artists. I love artists. Musicians, painters, singers…. I love artists. I know the struggles they have when starting out, I know the struggles they have as they continue their journey and I can relate – much of the time. Anyway, I think that people who are musical are totally cool.

This week, I want to introduce a new artist. His name is Matthew Ian. He is a singer, songwriter and he plays guitar. Ok, I have ALWAYS wanted to learn how to play the guitar. I can’t play it and I guarantee if you ask Matthew he will tell you I cannot. I showed him what I can do on a guitar and..it was not good. ha ha. So, Matthew came in and this was his first time ever having professional photos done and I think he did really well. He was fun to work with, he played the guitar while I shot for some of the shoot and it was a fun afternoon.

He has some cool tunes: www.matthewian.com, check him out.

Here is one of his photos from today.

Tags: cd cover, guitar player, matthew ian, men portraiture, musician portraits, songwriter
Posted in portraiture | No Comments »

Artist: June Julian

February 22nd, 2010

Okay-I know it is has been a while since I have blogged because I got a few of those emails satating…”where is your latest blog???”. Sorry y’all. Well, this is a fun blog for me. I would like to introduce June Julian. She came into my studio because she wanted some different portraiture. She wanted several things, some darker, moodier photos and then some fun stuff. And I have to tell you…she was fun!!!

She came in to get pampered, hair and makeup, she had Edie for her wardrobe styling. (for those of you that do not know, Edie is a new member of our team and she is a wardrobe stylist!! Not just for models and shoots but for all clients and she is awesome). Anyway…June is an opera singer. June is an awesome opera singer. I didn’t even know that much voice could come out of such a little. sweet person. Holy crap. I say that I sing opera which…I can but NOT LIKE THAT.

Anyway, I had so much fun and I really liked the photos that we did for her and I wanted you all to get a chance to hear her sing (by going to her website) and if you know anyone in need of an opera singer, I know one here in town!

June, thanks for coming in-I had a blast and we sure laughed a lot…

Tags: female portraiture, june julian, opera singer portraits, studio portraiture
Posted in portraiture | 1 Comment »

Mothers and Daughters….

January 19th, 2010

I am an only child and I am a girl. They say that girls tend to be Daddy’s girls. You know what? That is true in many cases but there is a bond that is between mom and daughter that is so strong and it seems in so many cases that it develops later in life. I find that many daughters are so much like their mothers and the funny thing is that we don’t really appreciate it until we are older! I love my mom and I know she loves me. The other thing that I love is being able to look back on old photos of her and I and it is truly a blessing. Does it matter that you are 4 years old or does it matter if you are 50 years old-No. Your mom is always your mom and your kid is always your kid, no matter what age that kid is. Yes, I admit it. I still call my mom “mommy” and I don’t care who hears it

I just did a session for a mom and her daughter and I was so inspired by them and their relationship that I had to write this blog. Tammie and Mia were so special and I enjoyed EVERY MINUTE of being with them and photographing them with their special relationship. They flew in from Colorado and had their portraits done here and I just really loved working with them. Cannot wait to see them next year! I hope you enjoy their photo.

Any minute, you will blink and mothers day will be here. If you are a mom, bring your daughter in for a photo. She might be excited about it and she might not but when she is older, WOW…she will think it is the best thing that she has and she will cherish it forever. If you are a daughter, bring your mom in for a photo because I think that one day, you will hold on to that photo like it is the biggest treasure.

As part of this blog, here is one of my biggest treasures of all times. I could tell you exactly where we were, the year, the way she smelled…and the funny thing, I didn’t even want to be there. In a rare occurrence of me showing a photo of me, here is a photo of “me and my mommy”

Regards,

Maria

Tags: child portraits, daughter photos, family portraiture, mom photos, mother and daughter photos
Posted in portraiture | No Comments »

Photography can be therapeutic

August 28th, 2009

Sassy. Funny. A joy to be around. All those things describe Pat. I haven’t blogged in a while (yes, my blogging is at times a little inconsistent) but I had to blog about her. Pat’s daughter brought her into the studio as a birthday present and at the same time to ensure that their family will have some fun photos of her. What a great gift! Maris did her makeup and she brought a huge wardrobe to choose from and then we hit the studio..

She cracked me up the whole time, she was hamming it up and she had a great time! “I have never done anything like this before in my life! and with 7 children, I wouldn’t have had the time !”-Pat. Her daughters came with her and one said that I brought out a side of her mom that she had not seen in a long time. Pat felt so good after leaving the studio that she talked about it all the way home. How cool is that? Hanging out with me made her day!

Sometimes we forget that our elders want to feel pretty and want to have a great time too. What a great gift to get a portrait session for a grandparent or a parent. Give them a cool experience and give yourself a lasting memory.

I love this series. She was laughing so hard! Yes, she was laughing at me-that is my job, to get the emotions that I can.

8x24-composite

Miss Sassafrass!

Posted in portraiture | No Comments »

Personal Blog: Introducing "HUSH", a portrait collection

June 24th, 2009

Hi everyone!

I am introducing my new portrait collection today. Here are the first few women in the collection, there are more to come. I call this collection “HUSH”. I wanted a new collection that actually reflected my true innerself. I really felt like having something quiet, non fashion, non traditional portrait-something that would make me feel happy and at peace when I looked at them. This collection is about the inner peace that we all have and the connection to the earth that I think we should have. I know, I know…how can this be? Maria, quiet and reserved and at peace-with her attitude and schedule?? Yes, actually, these images represent what I am and what I feel when the lights are gone and no one is around.

Anyway.. I hope you like these and if you want to see more of the collection–they will be coming to my new fine art site which I will be launching in a month or so. Thank you to Caitline, Jamie, Lindsey, Taylor, and Maris for being the first five in this collection and the first five for my launch. The ladies are all beautiful to me for many reasons, I love them all for who they are.

I love that each lady is holding an item. Each item represents something-a type of charcter strength or weakness.. what do think they mean? caitlin