Shout Out! | Nelly Hernandez Photography

I have been saving this shout out for today ... the one and only, amazing and awe-inspiring Miss Nelly, of Nelly Hernandez Photography. Nelly moved to North Dakota last year, and quickly has become one of my photographer idols and luckily for me - a good friend. Minot is lucky, because she is who I recommend all of my clients call for their photography needs!

Nelly Hernandez Photography

Nelly believes she is "one very lucky and blessed human being." She married her high school sweetheart., Jose, who "is an absolute A-M-A-Z-I-N-G husband who always puts others needs before his own." Jose and Nelly have three beautiful children, Marianela (AKA "Nenis"), 12; Jose (AKA "JR"), 7; and baby Isaiah, 3.

Nelly has been a photographer "since [her] past life ... However, it's only been almost two years since I found out I was a photographer in this life." Talking to her about photography, there's always this unwavering enthusiasm that I just love.

Nelly Hernandez Photography

Nelly says, "I have always loved taking photos. I remember taking photos with my 110mm film camera as a kid. It was actually my mom's, I just always found a way of borrowing it without her noticing it, lol. As a teenager my mom had a really cool kodak 35mm film camera, just your regular point and shoot and I always loved taking pics with that. Once I began to have children, my love for taking pics with my point and shoot grew. It wasn't until I had my third and youngest child that I finally got my first DSLR (nice expensive camera, lol). I wanted to be able to take really nice pics of my children and that is why I decided to learn more in depth photography."

Nelly's a girl after my own heart - she shoots with Nikon, just like me! She started off using the D90 and D60, but she is now shooting with a D700 - but her eye is on the D3X sometime in the near future. She also dreams of getting stationed in her home state of Texas, and opening up her own studio. To do so would be, in her own words, "a dream come true."

Nelly Hernandez Photography

No matter the equipment or location, Nelly's creative vision and talent shows. When I asked her what her favorite type of session was, her first reaction was "Yikes!" because she loves to do all kinds of sessions. But, if she had to pick just one - she'd choose boudoir. Why is that? Nelly says, "I love to be able to help a woman see how beautiful she is. Sometimes with the many demands of the world, us women tend to forget and overlook our inner as well as our outter beauty."

And that's the truth, right there.

Nelly Hernandez Photography

I always like to ask people what their favorite quote is. Not sure why, but I feel sometimes the words of others can have such a deep and profound influence on us as people ... so when I asked Nelly what her favorite quote was, I wasn't surprised that her choice were words spoken by Nelson Mandela:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of the Universe. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing so enlightening about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are born to make manifest the glory of God which is within us. It is not in just some of us, it is in all of us. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fears, our presence automatically liberates others."

I'm gonna tuck that quote away in my mental filing system. Absolutely beautiful, and words to live by.

 

Nelly Hernandez Photography

 

My last question for Nelly was about her best photography experience:

The best photography experience ever was one back in summer 2009. At the time little did I know that it would be one of the best experiences ever. It was the last summer I spent with my grandfather before he passed in November '09. I was visiting Texas, but I was living in Germany at the time. We went to the beach and my grandfather sat in this beach chair with this umbrella looking at the ocean. He had his pants rolled up with a coke in his hand. I took do many pics of him as he gazed out into the ocean, relaxing. He kept laughing at all of the kids running around and being silly and as he watched the kids bury the adults in the sand. I took many photos that day, most were of my family running around, they were action shots. But after returning home, I saw my favorite photos were those of my grandfather. To this day, it was one of the best experience ever and I am so happy and so very glad I did that. When I learned he had passed, before flying over to Texas from Germany I ordered some of those photos and that is what we used at the funeral home. Everyone was just so amazed at how happy and peaceful he looked in those photos.

And there you have it, Minot folks. If you're interested in booking a session or learning more about Nelly, I encourage you to check out her Facebook fan page, website and blog. She can be reached via email (nelly@nellyhernandezphotography.com) or by phone (956.346.5495).

Tic Toc, Ramble Ramble, Sigh.

My time in Minot is coming to a close ... and I can hardly believe it.

In the last 11 months, since offiically opening my business ... I have done 131 sessions and parties, taken thousands of pictures and captured so many precious memories - homecomings, deployments, births, celebrations, birthdays, engagements, holidays, weddings ... you name it, I've pretty much been asked to have been part of it.

And I am so grateful. So, so grateful.

I am feeling a bit bummed today, realizing this will be my last weekend ever in North Dakota. Luckily, the amazingly talented Nelly Hernandez Photography will be doing our family photos for us this weekend - just you guys wait! Tomorrow I'll be posting a Shout Out! just for her - I love her to pieces, she's not only a fabulous photographer but a genuinely nice person. So YAY - keep your eyes peeled for that.

I am also going to get started on organizing some kiddie mini sessions likely in September, and also going to start planning for Christmas card mini sessions to be done in October and early November (can you believe it's already time to start planning for that? Daaang).

I am also going to be showcasing my new business cards in the next couple of weeks, once we're settled into the new house in Colorado Springs. I am SO excited to show these off! :) AHH!

Enjoy your weekend, folks!

Meet Knolan James (He's 6 days old!) | Newborn

I was seriously in baby-cuteness-overload when I got to spend the afternoon with Knolan & Tasha's little man, baby Knolan James. He was only 6 days old when I met him, and he smelled better than sunshine! Knolan made his way into the world on June 16th, weighing in at 6 lb 10 oz, 19 inches tall - absolutely perfect!

His daddy is a big Chicago fan, so we definitely incorporated some Cubs stuff into baby Knolan's shoot. I always like to ask clients to bring stuff that is important to them - and they did! YAY!

The Sparks Family | Maternity

Jackie & Dre are such a sweet, loving couple. Their daughters, Ava (2) and Alanah (6) are about to become big sisters to baby girl #3, who is due pretty soon! They are anxiously awaiting their little sisters' arrival and are "really, really excited!" - and so am I!

Here are quite a few shots from their session with me in June!

Jackie's hair and makeup was done by Glamorous by Jutone Rene - check out her website or become a fan on Facebook!

Photography by JS | Shout Out!

Jessica Stone, the owner/photographer, of Photography by JS, is one of my favorite people in the world. We've been buddies for a few years, and aside from Kristi, she is one of the handful of photographers who really gave me a shove through the door into this business.

Jessica's primarily a boudoir photographer - in fact, I'd never even thought of doing boudoir until I saw some of her work and was totally inspired to start doing boudoir (hint, hint: The Secret Pin-Up). She showed me that womanlyness (that's a word, right?) can be classy, beautiful and that no matter the size, race, shape or age of the woman - we're all pretty smokin' once we're in front of the camera.

Located in Stansbury Park, Utah (which isn't too far from Salt Lake City), Jessica is first and foremost a mom to two of the cutest kids ever, 7-year-old Kaylie and 4-year-old Caleb. She started started studying photography late in 2008 with the Academy of Art University. In late 2010 she started working towards being a professional. My own personal opinion? She's been amazing for a long time - well before her early days at AAU.

Ashley: How did you get started?

Jessica: Some friends started asking me to take portraits for them, it peaked my curiosity so I researched and invested in an education because I am not one to learn technical things freely on my own.

Ashley: What are you shooting with nowadays?

Jessica: For now, and for the past 3 or so years I’ve shot with a Canon Rebel XTI. My lenses include a 24-70 F2.8L , and cheap nifty fifty that I haven’t seen in ages. (I keep my L lens on at all times basically). I’d like to acquire a Canon 7D, hope to see one of them in my future soon.

Ashley: What is your favorite kind of session?

Jessica: Boudoir hands down. Next to boudoir fashion/pin up and trash the dress. I prefer working with adults, so I tend to focus on sessions revolving around adults.

Ashley: Tell me a funny experience.

Jessica: A group of my friends and I were out on the town in Cambridge [England] one night, we were enjoying some shopping and fine dining at a local sushi restaurant. The service ended up being beyond terrible. Took an hour for them to bring drinks, another additional hour to bring us our food, after having to re-order what we’d waited on prior. The table they sat us on, had this really fancy metal reserved sign. By the end of the meal, it just happened to follow us home. The reserved sign has ended up as a prop in many boudoir sessions, symbolizing the women’s status for their loved one they are doing the session for. It has brought laughter each time it’s brought out, and reminds me of people I will never forget, people that have been some of my most wonderful friends.

Ashley: What are your future plans?

Jessica: I’d like to end up as a fashion photographer one day, but I am also very content with the Boudoir work. It has been amazing to see women’s reactions when they receive their images, they see just how beautiful they are regardless of their size, shape, or color. It has been an inspirational journey to help other women feel as beautiful as they should always feel. You don’t have to be “model thin” to have a boudoir session, and when women see that they look better than your stereotype in todays media, it is really uplifting and inspiring to continue forward with that work.

Ashley: I could NOT agree more. It's definitely something that has been fulfilling in my own career dealing with boudoir. I love getting the "Oh my God, is that really me??" response!

What's your favorite quote ever?

Jessica: Like the people you shoot and let them know it. - Robert Capa

Ashley: Tell me about your best photography experiences.

Jessica: Having lived in England for over a year gave me a great opportunity to photograph amazing architecture, and have location shoots unique to the country. It was a time I wish I could have back photographically speaking, because of the sheer numbers of variety in locations and attributes you don’t always get in my area here in the states. However, Utah is full of vast glorious nature and its own uniqueness in its own right, so rest assured I don’t feel as though I’ve “down graded” with re-locating back to the US, to my home state of Utah. I absolutely love it here, and I am gaining more experiences as life progresses here.



Interested in seeing more of Jessica's work or booking a session? Check out her Facebook fan page: Photography by JS.

Checking out our new home ...

Patriotic Pride at the July 4th celebration at the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO

As you all know, my family and I are relocating to Colorado Springs this month (ahh!), and we took a trip down there last weekend just for fun. We were able to get a beautiful house with a perfect studio space (yay!) and got to scope out the area.

Astin Martin Car Show, July 4th celebration at the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs CO

Oh. Em. Gee. I am in LOVE with Colorado!! The Springs is absolutely gorgeous and I can NOT wait to start shooting there ... definitely a ton of opportunities in and around the city. I am trying to steer away from studio shoots (except sessions like newborns, of course) ... for those who don't know, I love being outdoors come rain or shine. I can't wait to do some fun sessions at the Garden of the Gods, Pike's Peak, even the local parks and downtown have beautiful, natural sets.

Local wildflowers, Colorado Springs, CO

I think once I get there, I'll start highlighting local places, people and businesses as I get to know Colorado Springs. In fact, I think I know the perfect person/business to start with ... hmmm!

My Kid Rocks - a Contest!

Does your kid rock??

Every kid is pretty awesome - tell me why your kid (or kids) is pretty awesome, and you may win a free chidlren's photoshoot worth $75! Included in your prize? $25 in print credit as well as a CD of web-formatted images from the session, perfect for sharing on Facebook and email!

So, how do you win?

First ... Go like the Ashley Durham Photography Facebook Fan Page and leave a comment on the wall that you're a new fan (or already one!) entering into the "My Kid Rocks" contest.

Then ... Shoot me an email at AshleyDurhamPhotography@gmail.com with 50-100 words about why your kid(s) rocks, their name(s) and age(s), and a photo of them! Entries can be submitted until July 15th at midnight.

Finally ... Once the entry period has ended, on July 16th I will upload the contest entries to the ADP blog and everyone will vote for the winner! Voting will end July 23rd at midnight.

Good luck!!!

* To enter, you must live in Colorado Springs and surrounding communities. Session to be held in August.