Photoshoot.Three.2010

Photoshoot.Two.2010

Photoshoot.One.2010

Refocusing...

The new decade has come and already the days are flying off the calendar. And as many have noticed or can tell, I haven't been shooting much of lately. My most busiest times were between December 2007 through August 2009. No, I haven't given up on my art. No, I don't plan on doing that anytime soon.

I am re-organizing my focus and niche. 2009 was a long, arduous, and the most painful year personally but I have overcome that to become a stronger person. I am realizing that I still have a purpose to serve. That purpose is becoming more and more clear each day. As the light shines on that purpose, the closer it is to be revealed to the world. I have some major things underway that I have kept tuck away for the right time. In the meanwhile, you know where to find me, reach me, book me, talk to me, etc. I hope this year is going well for all as it has for me. Be you, do you and always try something new.

Ciao,

CoCo.

Vendor of Choice - Belle Butters

Belle Butters
So as many know, I'm a huge fan and supporter of local artists and talent. I've known Miss Tasha B. for about 6 years now and she has recently decided to venture into her own line of hair/skin care products called Belle Butters. Belle Butters is a composite of essential oils to help protect, repair and strengthen your hair and nails. Belle Butters has a lite citrus scent and is very light on the skin and hair. I purchased some from her Monday and have been using it everyday on my face and skin. I was a little nervous at first as I do have the skin disease eczema and sensitive skin. One of my main concerns was an allergic reaction or a skin breakout. Neither of which happened so I am thankful for her use of natural ingredients that are safe to use on sensitive skin. And I would like to add that I really like how Belle Butters restores my inner "buttah" *tee hee*. My skin is GLOWING!

If you would like to purchase Belle Butters, an 8 oz jar is $10! Belle Butters is handmade by Tasha herself so a lot of pride and dedication goes into this lovely jar of goodness! And her pricing is very affordable considering the natural ingredients used and the time and effort she places into making Belle Butters. Here are the ingredients:

100% Unrefined Shea Butter
Coconut Oil - Conditions and repairs damaged hair. Leaves it shiny and soft.
Sweet Almond Oil - Prevents breakage, leaves hair shiny and stronger.
Jojoba Oil - It is anti-bacterial, moisturizes and conditions hair.
Calendula Oil - Soothes an irritated scalp.
Hemp Oil - Strengthens and softens the hair.
Neem Oil - Relieves an irritated scalp, removes dandruff and thickens hair.
Brahmi Oil - Prevents split ends and breakage.
Rosemary Oil - Stimulates hair growth.
Chamomile Flower Extract - Improves the health of your scalp. Keeps it free from infections, bugs and lice.
Lemon - Stronger, shinier hair and removes dandruff.

If you would like to make a purchase, it can be made at her Belle Butters Etsy Shop!

Here are some photos of the results of Belle Butters on my hands!


Before Belle Butters

After Belle Butters

KFP Photoshoot 12.26.09

Come out and see KFP perform LIVE tonight at Escalade's Bar and Grill located at 7828 Olive. All ages are welcomed! Ladies are free before 10pm and then $3 after 10pm. Males, $5 all night. This is open mic night so come through and show some support for my clients!






Come out and see KFP perform LIVE tonight at Escalade's Bar and Grill located at 7828 Olive. All ages are welcomed! Ladies are free before 10pm and then $3 after 10pm. Males, $5 all night. This is open mic night so come through and show some support to my clients!

Keisa Photoshoot 11.21.09

At the end of September, I was contacted by Keisa to do a photoshoot for her birthday. She really liked my work and wanted to inquire about a shoot. After many emails back and forth, we finally set the date. I had scoped out this cool location downtown St. Louis back in the middle of September while shooting another client of mines so once I got to talking to Keisa, I knew I wanted to shoot her there. I had EVERYTHING in my camera bag ready to go except for....MY MEMORY CARDS! Embarrassed, I had to explain to her what happened AND I tried to see if there were any camera shops downtown that I could run to and just buy a brand new one. Thank goodness for Blackberries and the Internet. I browsed the web and City Photo came up but the number was disconnected. I even went so far as to call Steve Garnett to see if he knew of any shops downtown. No luck! So the next nearest place would be Best Buy in Brentwood. If I was to go there, I might as well go home and grab the cards! So that's what I did! Me and Keisa rolled in my car to go all the way back to my apartment to grab my cards. What an adventure! So we got back to the location and was ready to rock and roll. I consider downtown STL like a sundial with all the tall buildings and all. The sun sets and casts shadows or brightness at certain parts of the day. Before we left, the sun was shining pretty bright on our "set". When we came back, there were a lot of shadows and spots of light. I had my flash so I wasn't too worried. As soon as we get out the car and set up for the second set of photos on the balcony, we hear this loud, I mean LOUD man screaming, "HEY GIRL!!! CAN I GET IN THE PICTURE WITH YOU???!?!?" I being accustomed to this, tried to seek out where he was at since it was just us two and men tend to try take advantage of these shoots I do by coming near us jeering or being a nuisance. I could not see him but he yelled so loud and said the exact same thing over and over again. One of the city workers told us what he was saying (like we're deaf) and we kindly told him "No". So we are moving through the shoot racing against the sun and the evaporation of the warm winds as they lulled into a cool breeze. We successfully wrapped the shoot up and parted ways. It didn't take that much time at all for me to look through her photos and pick out 10 great shots. She is tall, beautiful, had on a bold purple dress and some super cool gold leaf earrings on. She was like a goddess! And in talking to her we shared a lot in common as far as upbringing. I love shooting with clients I've never met before or with ones who came across me as a photographer. That makes me feel great and I hope to work with her again soon!

CoCo.

Vendor of Choice - Jennifer Neal Clothing

It was a little over 16 years ago when I met Jennifer Neal at Shenandoah Elementary School. She was tall, athletic, and very humble in everything that she did. I reminisce on the days when we had kickball in gym class and how she would kick the ball so high and far up in the sky that folks would have to run practically forever as she sprinted to each base to an easy homerun. I remember sharing a cabin with her in 6th grade camp, skipping a class in high school for Valentine's Day while having breakfast at First Watch and lastly, her knocking my peanuts and jelly beans out of my hands on our trip to Toronto for our orchestra competition.

In between the years, Jenny went through her "formative years" to become the rising fashion designer she is today. She would stroll the hallways in high school with wide leg jeans on way cooler than J'NCOs. They were so cool, I HAD to ask her where she got them. One day, she left me the "recipe" to wide leg jeans hand written on wide rule paper tucked away in a pastel blue envelope that had "TOP SECRET" written all over it. To this day I still have Jenny's first recipe to wide leg jeans and I have long held it a secret showing no one but myself this wonderful design in all its simplicity.

One day, two years ago, I told Jenny that I was going to apply for an internship with ALIVE Magazine and that I think she should as well. On that Saturday, both of us were sprinting to ALIVE Magazine's office trying to make the 11am start time for the open house and we ended up strolling in at 11:07am barely taking a seat in the jam-packed board room. It was hot that day and many hopefuls had to stand against the wall as the process of selection was explained and as we introduced ourselves. I remember Jenny stating that she WILL be a fashion intern for ALIVE Magazine with the utmost confidence. From that day forward, her fire began to burn strongly as she made her way up through the ranks. Working side by side with Jill Manoff and renowned photographers such as Tuan Lee, she has had her work published on billboards, ALIVE Magazine (see October Issue fashion spread), catalogs for Weissman's Dancewear and recently at the annual event Artopia. However, her most proud moment was getting her designs on the runway this previous March for Project Design! (segment of Saint Louis Fashion Week) for the first time. I had the honor of producing the images which ran for competition for her slot on Project Design! as well as the honor of shooting images on the runway for Saint Louis Fashion Week. Most of her models I knew from working with on my own photography projects so it made me so proud to see her and my models come alive on the runway.

Jenny has recently completed another successful run for St. Louis Fashion Week’s Project:Design! which premiered October 12, 2009. However, Jenny did make time for me and my model Erin (who was featured on the runway for Project:Design!) to showcase one of her most recent designs from Artopia. I call it the binary cuffs as the theme for Artopia was computers and the future. Erin was featured in my shoot on September 19, 2009 wearing Jenny’s binary cuffs, a grey off the shoulder tee with pocket, black leggings, a belted tutu with accent leather strings and some black rugged boots for edge. Jenny’s designs are mostly unisex with emphasis on individuality immersed in black and greys. While shooting, Erin and I brought up the need for plus size couture wear. Jenny has made two couture pieces for me in the past and I adore those pieces. She designed a long sleeve brown bell bottom sleeve top alongside a tan fitted pleated skirt. Knowing my girl, I know she will come up with a line for us thick girls and only time will tell when that happens. Until then, I am proud of what my best friend has become and I know that no matter how busy she is, we will always be connected through the industry….

Fashion Week : Project Design! 10.14.09

Well folks, tomorrow marks Project Design in which my best friend and up and coming fashion designer Jennifer Neal will grace her designs on the runway again!! This time, I won't be working and snapping pictures but instead supporting my girl from the "stands"! LOL I am SO very proud of my girl and I have watched her blossomed over the years. She is indeed a talented and humble young lady with a very bright future ahead of her. I just want the world to know I am happy for my girl and I know that wherever life takes her, the road will lead to success!

Here is one of my favorite photos I snapped recently of her work which is featured on model Erin who will be strolling the runway tomorrow evening!

"Tender Love" + Force MDs

Some songs just bring on so much emotion. This song is a classically beautiful song with the high range resounding piano chords. It brings chills to my body and ONE tear drop from my eye every time I hear this song. Call me weird but I LOVE this song. It was on my mind tonight so I'm sharing it with my audience....