How fkn cool is this?!!!
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| Me, ca 1990 & 2017 |
the legacy of your life in print, honeyshot photography, photography by k. hernandez, modern portraiture, glamour photography
They danced.
Their arms and hands wrapped around each other. Rubber bands that were wound together into a mass of limbs and love. nude bodies are tight at the seams like brand new magnets. Her arms wrapped around his neck as he enveloped her in his. A 6'3 frame but he didn't bend for her. He likes when she tippy toes as they sway, eye contact only breaking when they kiss or when his head tucked in the nook at the base of her neck, where small pecks gather.
This anonymous shoot represents their closeness. The only thing they wanted to share with the world were the bits of their bond by way of caress and how they communicate when no one is watching. Their identities don't exist in these silent special moments, Moments we may take for granted, but not today. They relish in these moment as often as they can and, tomorrow they may again.....
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I will never forget the day I met Shane. I was at a local exhibition and was introduced to her by a mutual friend, but I definitely noticed her beforehand. Her light shown from yards away and her honest smile was the draw. We exchanged Instas, all the while I am already planning our shoot even before asking. Fkn #girlcrush to the MAX, okayyyy! Lol
We met for lunch and, right from the start, it wasn't an ordinary Presession consult. The ideas flowed and the passion for our ideas was palpable. Let me just say that a collaboration like this has always been a goal of mine; to work with a fellow artist who is open to explore all the creative possibilities. Lunch turned into wine and dessert and I learned so many things, about myself and more importantly about my new Muse, who buzzes with this intense positive energy. What I didn't know is that Shane has trained herself for this wonderful openness and acceptance of herself and that she also is training and working with people, helping them achieve the same. She went from Pre-school teacher to Behaviorist, working with special needs children. Utilizing her background, education and life experiences led her to the path of wanting to help people achieve their full potential. Once she graduated the School of Womanly Arts, she made it her mission to share her skills and knowledge with those seeking encouragement and utter support by way of dance sessions, retreats and one-on-one mentoring though her business, Enchanted Embodiment. What started as a chat about the shoot turned into a deep discussion of self-empowerment, self-awareness, acceptance, of being a woman, owning everything about ourselves-good and bad and all the nitty-gritty inbetweens. Loving ourselves. Sharing that love with others; the heart and soul of my business is the heart and soul of hers and I was just floored by the end of our meet. The Enchantress is a Life Coach. She is also a Burlesque Dance Instructor. She is also a writer. She is also an artist in her own right. She is a sister and a friend. She is beautiful inside out. She is very much an Enchantress...Please visit her website and explore all the wonderful information and coaching she has to offer. Just sitting and chatting with her made me feel content, real, satisfied, and damn happy to be a woman! She embodies her message and it seeps from her pores!! Yes, its real....
click here --> Enchanted Embodiment
click here --> Enchanted Embodiment
The day of the shoot is here and I am still reeling from our hand waving, laughter filled powwow. My daughter-Professional Hair and Makeup Artist, lent me her talent for the day and the wheels were in motion. Shane arrived right on time and brought in her bag of goodies; long, silky slips, jewelry, furs, crowns....all a girl can ask for squeezed in a standard size tote, like the trick where the magician pulls out an elephant from a his top hat! She sat for hair and makeup as I played with all the frilly goods, pretending to organize and arrange. I zinged with excitement when I saw that bronze crown. After filming some behind the scenes, we went right to work, starting with a fur vest, for some casual headshots to warm up. The sun was teasing in and out, but the light in the room was perfect. She beamed even while I knew that posey posey was not her thing. We changed looks and that's when the actual magic began, incorporating mirrors, pearls, and ....well.....just letting go!! And as she moved and swayed and danced and we even shot a moving portrait. I wondered if my camera could actually capture all this soul! The dreamy effect of tulle in front of the lens was exactly fitting for this session, which went as planned in a very natural flow that is setting a new precedent for my future collaborations. It took me some time to go through the images. The range of poses, the freedom, the creative liberties we took in tandem...this suddenly became the hardest shoot I ever culled, ever!! I could not pick a favorite cuz they are all my favorite. Shane allowed me to explore creatively with her and for that, I will always cherish this session.... suffice it say, I was enchanted! Happy Viewing!
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At first sight, Akina is shy-or should I say reserved...pensive but ever present. When she opens up about herself, she lights up. We talk about school and her career goals in Journalism; she's been writing creatively since her early teens, contributing and being published in internet-based writing groups. A student at UMass, with plans to travel and study abroad, she plans to immerse herself in other cultures as part of her writing journey.
Looking back, I am astonished at the ease with which she prepares for her shoot. No nervous pacing, no flipping through outfits, no fidgeting with mascara. She was ready in less than half an hour, while I was fidgeting with equipment, batteries, and the rest of my gear. We venture out to the beach. The sun comes out and the test shots turn into full on shoot in a matter of minutes. She sat, she walked, she ran lol, with barely any direction from me, her poise amazed me!! Heres a look at this beautiful soul...
Looking back, I am astonished at the ease with which she prepares for her shoot. No nervous pacing, no flipping through outfits, no fidgeting with mascara. She was ready in less than half an hour, while I was fidgeting with equipment, batteries, and the rest of my gear. We venture out to the beach. The sun comes out and the test shots turn into full on shoot in a matter of minutes. She sat, she walked, she ran lol, with barely any direction from me, her poise amazed me!! Heres a look at this beautiful soul...
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| © 2018 K. HERNANDEZ | HONEYSHOT PHOTOGRAPHY |
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Pain. Debilitating pain. Not easy to control, may affect your relationships, your marriage type of pain. The kind that may render you bed-ridden for a couple days, affecting your job, and your emotional stability. Endless tests, office visits, examinations, procedures, medication; as if getting our periods weren't enough!! Some women go through endometriosis pain and bleeding for days sometimes weeks at a time. The unbearable discomfort is hard to hear about, let alone-suffer from. Johanna has suffered from this pain since she started menstruating. She wants anyone and everyone to know that they are not alone and they should always seek medical attention, no matter how exhausting it may be....
- "...Endometriosis affects an estimated 1 in 10 women during their reproductive years (ie. usually between the ages of 15 to 49), which is approximately 176 million women in the world" ref. Endometriosis.org
Johanna is a mom. A tough cookie. A boisterous personality with a great sense of humor and a keen sense of self. She is strong, a fighter. When she came in quiet, I sensed she was nervous. Her makeup and wheelie suitcase in tow, we started right away on what to wear for her shoot. She unpacked all her goodies, then her makeup. Rows of brushes and liners, lip colors, sponges, creams and powders; she is a professional, after all. A self-taught cosmetologist, and very talented hair stylist. She's been doing it since she was 12 and everyone went to her when they wanted a sleek style before an event.
We started with a soft look, and her husbands white tee. We cut the collar and stretch it out, ala FLASHDANCE. I'd like to believe that wearing her hubbys tee brings her some comfort. And, as I observe, she slowly opens up. I see her shy beauty begin to unfold. The more comfortable she gets, the more I see what she's been hiding. The mimosas helped, but she barely had a glass. We talk about life, our kids, our families, work...we both work in the medical field and pursue our creative passions on the side. Almost two hours flies by and we are down to the second look; red lips and black dress for my hand-painted backdrop in charcoal, placed so that we have backlighting coming in strong from the window behind it. It highlights her hair like a halo.
Finally, we end the session with a hug and she breaks down. I panic, immediately retracing our conversation for any slip ups or if I was too demanding! She THANKS me and hugs me again, "I haven't felt like this in so long, I feel like a woman, I feel beautiful, thank you!" I was in shock and confused. She hasn't even seen what I saw from behind the lens, aside from the few shots I showed her on the back of the camera-explaining away the "wahoos" and "ohyeas". But as she expresses all that she's been through throughout the years; the pain, the struggles, the procedures-all while taking care of her family-I was in awe of her supergirl powers! I have heard about the symptoms but never did I imagine how much it affects ones daily life. At this point, we are both in tears.
I ask her for the privilege of telling her story and she agreed. Her smile says it all; she GOT THIS! If one woman resonates from this share, even for the sake of knowing that she is not alone, then the honor is all mine! Please click the link above for any information on Endometriosis. In the meantime, here is the courageous and gorgeous Johanna!!!
Happy viewing....
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| © 2018 K. HERNANDEZ | HONEYSHOT PHOTOGRAPHY |
