Makeup and Hair by Kat Tinney
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Image by Heartbox Photography
Hair & makeup by Kathleen Tinney
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Images | Heartbox Photography
There is an unmistakable and genuine joy in her eyes that you that very obviously comes from somewhere beyond the surface. She is engaging, always quick to offer a word of encouragement to those who need it, and is a woman unashamed to share the testimony of her life story and the healing that came from some of her deepest hurts.
Phoebe is a wife, a mother, a friend, a sister, a daughter...and one of the most beautiful women I know both inside and out.
I am proud to share with you all the images below, even more proud to share with you all some words from Phoebe herself. The details of our stories as women vastly differ, yet interestingly enough the struggles of self-worth and misplaced identity seem to be the all-too common thread that connects us, making our stories actually more similar than we thought.
As with all stories shared here, I hope Phoebe's words reach deep and awaken you to the unchanging truth that you are a woman eternally loved, deeply forgiven, and unbelievably valued by a God that is closer to you know.
Enjoy!
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"I struggled with getting my approval, value, and worth in all the wrong places and in all the wrong ways. In my teen years, it got me into a lot of trouble, leading to traumatic experiences. These painful experiences caused me to fill voids in the wrong ways; I hurt myself and others often.
The scars followed me for so long to the point where I did not want to get healthy [despite] all the health issues I have. I was afraid if I was thinner again, all the things that happened to me then would happen all over again. I was afraid I would make the same poor decisions, too. I had to really confront these fears and lies head on. That was hard and extremely painful. "
"But I needed to believe God was GREATER than my fear, GREATER than those lies and GREATER than my past. Because He is. I knew that in my head, but I really needed to believe it in my heart. And when I did, I realized grace means that all my mistakes, all my pain, and my past now serve a purpose instead of serving shame."
"Our world is so obsessed with outward appearance. Don't fall into that obsession. We are only going to be here in this world for a short period of time. Don't spend it on pleasing or trying to impress people who don't even matter. It is a tiresome hamster wheel that gets you no where but feeling exhausted. Focus on how God sees you so beautiful and whole, despite what you look like on the outside or feel on the inside."
"Beautiful to me is facing fears and challenges even when it is hard or painful. Beautiful is seeing the amazing outcome of gold, pearls, butterflies, and so many other things in life that have to go through turmoil, fire or hell before it can become what it is."
"[Beautiful] is getting back up 1001 times when you have fallen 1000. It's finishing the race because you now believe your worth and value."
"I feel most beautiful when I am spending my quiet time with God. He reminds me who I am in Him, not by anyone's view of me, including myself. He reminds me in beautiful ways how precious I am, how loved I am, and how beautiful I am - despite what I do or don't do. He gives me the ultimate confidence and constant reminders that I don't have to live in fear, in lies, or my past, and [life] is one crazy, yet beautiful adventure!"
Many thanks to Kat Tinney for her work on Phoebe's hair and makeup!
"Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak." - Rachel Zoe
She is a wife, mother of two, a daughter, friend - not to mention a woman well-skilled at leading others through her work at Facebook, Groupon, and e-Bay. I recently had the opportunity to photograph and get to know this wonderful lady named Elissa and I am so honored to share not only a bit about her, but also some of my favorite images from her photo shoot with Heartbox Photography!
Elissa, thank you for trusting me to capture you in these photographs and to celebrate who you are as a beautiful woman, influencing others greatly both at home and work. Your youth and vibrancy, your essence as a woman, simply shined through with each smile you shared in these images.
May you be reminded, for years to come, that you are valuable and beautiful, with a unique style that is all your own.
Many thanks to Kat Tinney of A List Makeup for her work on Elissa's hair and makeup!
What is one thing you wish you could tell yourself back when you were 18 years old?
"I [would] tell my younger self to have more confidence in myself and my abilities and not to compare myself to others. Be me."
What would you tell young girls with regards to beauty and self-confidence?
"Don't rush it - you will grow up. Enjoy your life as it is today. Make time for your family and friends. Enjoy the moment."
"I try to manage family and work life but not always well -- but enjoy the fun and challenges of both parts."
What do you appreciate most about your life now?
"I appreciate my family and friends. I am grateful for the support and friendship they give me."
"I believe true beauty comes from within. A self-confident person who cares about herself, is happy, and brings joy to others is truly beautiful."
I couldn't agree more, Elissa.
My own sisters and I like to joke that we all share one brain. A little weird to picture, but I think that joke originated from the fact that we simply shared our lives together, that there was this special bond between us that only sisters could understand.
When I met Julie, Kristina, and Amy, I could immediately tell I would just love working with these awesome ladies. There are four sisters altogether, but only the three of them live in California, with their fourth sister living in Florida. Their closeness and love for one another was obvious in the abundance of laughter, smiles, and jokes shared during their photo shoot with me on a Saturday morning.
To be a part of helping celebrate these beautiful ladies and their sisterhood was a great honor and I am so excited to share with you all a few images as well as a full slideshow/video of their day with Heartbox Photography, so be sure to check it out below!
Kristina, Julie, and Amy -
Thank you for allowing me the privilege to not only capture the essence of who each of you are as beautiful individuals, but also what you are together as sisters and women who support and love one another. May these images and experience forever be a treasured reminder of how beautiful it is to be a woman - and what a blessing it is to be a part of this gift of sisterhood.
"We are extremely close. We grew up going to school together, shared a room, as well as shared all of our clothes - yes, we all wore the same size! Kristina and I were only a year apart in school so we had the same friends, shared the same first car, attended the same college, and were even college roommates."
"We all listen to the same types of music, all enjoy shopping and love to eat the same types of food. You could say that we have A LOT in common. We still share our clothes and talk to each other on a daily basis." - Amy
What is something you wish you could tell yourself back when you were 18 years old?
"Happiness comes from experiencing things you love surrounded by people you love. Don't worry so much about what others would say or think of you because in the end, time will continue to move and you don't want to waste your lifetime living for others. Use your lifetime to create memories experiences that you want to look back on and fall in love with the story of your life." - Amy
"Your body is beautiful, embrace yourself. Education is beautiful, because no one can take that away from you. You and only you, control your destiny." - Kristina
What do you appreciate most about your life now?
"I appreciate the fact that I have a relationship with God. Through this relationship, I have found the true meaning of love and happiness. I realize how blessed I am with my family, the memories that we get to create together, and every single day is embraced in our household." - Amy
"I appreciate my family more than anything. I appreciate our health, our time together, and our love for one another." -Kristina
"I am the youngest of the 5 siblings. I just moved to California two months ago because my husband Robby accepted a job opportunity in Silicon Valley. I am 39 years old, married to my best friend, whom I have known since I was 14 years old, though we did not date until after I graduated college. We have 3 precious girls - Chloe, Audrey, and Leia. Yes, our daughter was named after Princess Leia in Star Wars. They are the center of our world! We love to spend time outside as a family hiking, beaching, and exploring new places." - Amy
"Beauty is definitely more on the inside for me. It is the beauty of someone's heart and soul. Her genuine character. The love that she shares with others." - Amy
"I have three young girls (4,6, and 8) and I tell them they are beautiful everyday. I tell them that God placed them here on this earth for a reason and each one is blessed with special gifts. Embrace the gifts you are given and use it to show love to others. That is how we can grow the love here on this earth and beyond. So if someone was mean to them, we talk about about we think they would act that way, pray for the individual, forgive him/her and move on."
"I want them to know that people's actions and words reflects who that individual is and should not affect us. So they understand that everyone is supposed to be different with different looks of beauty, talents, gifts, and qualities." -Amy
Julie and her husband, Bobby, met in high school. It was truly a match made in heaven, as they were inseparable after that. Julie moved to California with her husband and first son, Christian when she was in her late 20's. They had their daughter, Hayley, here in California.
She has a career as a loan officer and her family is very much into fitness, food, and fashion. Julie loves to shop...for everyone, according to her sister, Amy. They enjoy going out to eat as a family and loves the beach/warm weather so they spend their vacations either on the beaches of Hawaii or Florida.
Kristina moved to California after graduating college in her early 20's. She met her prince charming in San Francisco and married him. Kristina and her husband, Howard, have two beautiful children, Lauren and Lance. Her family loves to travel around the world and experience new foods, culture, and scenery. They are also very involved in the community and what is best for their kids.
"I believe nothing makes a woman more beautiful than the belief that she IS beautiful." - Kristina
"Your body is not everything that defines you. Don't take everything so seriously - enjoy life! Most of the stuff that makes you anxious doesn't really matter when you're older." - Kristina
"We are truly blessed to have this sister bond and we all know it. I could go on and on about all the things we share. We've created so many memories together and now all of our kids are growing up together as loving cousins. What more could we ask for in life?" - Amy
I couldn't agree more. :)
I had the recent honor of photographing and getting to know a lovely woman named Beatrice ....or, as she's more known to her nearest and dearest, "Bea". This beautiful woman is not only a mommy, wife, daughter, sister, and friend but a yoga instructor, speech and language pathologist, home health therapist and Netflix marathoner.
And when I found out that she loves avocados as well, let's just say I knew we were going to get along just fine. =)
Her smile and sense of humor was an absolute joy to be around, making the hours just fly by during the fun we had during her makeover and photoshoot. Below are a few of my favorites that I am proud to share with you all along with a full on video of our time together with the lovely Bea.
Bea, it was an honor getting to know you and to have you become a part of the message that all women are indeed beautiful as they are today. May you look back at your own smile in each of these photographs and continue to remember that for yourself as well.
Many thanks to the talented Kat Tinney for Bea's hair/makeup!
"A beautiful woman is comfortable in her own skin and in her perfect imperfection. She does not take herself too seriously and knows how to enjoy life to its fullest. Someone who, despite what life hands them, is overflowing with joie de vivre."
"A beautiful woman doesn't rely on what's in her make-up bag."
What do you wish you could tell yourself back when you were 18 years old?
"Wear your SPF! Hahaha! Wise words from my mom. I would tell myself "Babyguuurl, accept yourself as God made you because he does not make mistakes!"
"Look up (from your screen), life is going on around you! Explore the world around you, go for a hike, hydrate!"
"Speak up for yourself, and do not be afraid to make decisions because nobody really knows where they are trying to reach. Breathe, really BREATHE, and enjoy just being because you will be ok."
It is always so much fun to meet the friends of past clients. I recently had the privilege of having the beautiful Elissa come in for a photoshoot and am thrilled to share a little preview shot with you all!
I absolutely love everything about this photograph - the natural light, the perfect tone of blue that compliments her style, the way this picture captures the loveliness, the fun, the sweetness of her smile...the essence of Elissa as a woman, wife, and mother.
There is more to share so be sure to stay tuned!
Many thanks to Kat Tinney of A-List Makeup for her styling of Elissa's look!
I recently had the wonderful opportunity to photograph the lovely and talented Erin Nolan. Not only is Erin is a professional actress and model here in the Bay Area, but she's a woman with a lot of great insight on the impact women have made in the entertainment industry as well as the challenges they still face today.
For someone like me who sometimes buys into the common misconception that models and actresses have it wonderfully easy, a conversation with Erin helped correct that perspective. Actresses and models face some of the same challenges that everyday women face, perhaps even more so due to the industry they work in. But despite these challenges, there are also more women today influencing change in the film industry, sharing powerful stories that beckons an audience to listen like never before.
Erin, thank you for allowing me to capture you in these photographs. But even more than that, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to hear about the hopes and aspirations you have for all women, not just those in the entertainment industry. Here's to inspiring change for women in film - and beyond.
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What do you think makes a woman truly beautiful?
"For me, a woman's beauty is based on the things that make her who she is - not what society thinks she is or should be. For me, the answer then becomes the same things that makes any human being beautiful.
Be it their inspiring compassion. Their bold creativity. Their contagious positivity. Feminine beauty of all too often evokes images of unattainable physical form or superficiality - and can lead a woman to suddenly fear, "if I have none of those things, am I not beautiful?"
Why must feminine beauty be based off of something purely physical and ever-changing, when women do SO much more their whole lives? They are mothers, best friends, CEOs, teachers - they are the brave pioneers of a new path of women every day. They are bringers of love, of hope, bearers of life - and isn't life the most beautiful thing?"
"To me, there is nothing more beautiful than a woman being all that she is, and all she ever wanted to be, living a kind, honest and beautiful life, far too free to allow any suppressive standard stand in her way."
What do you appreciate most about your life now?
"That I have freedom live in an evolving world that is becoming more and more accepting and encouraging of a woman to takes charge of her own life and not define herself as others seek to define her."
"And of course, to be so blessed to have the incredible support of friends and family to live this life on my own terms."
As an actress, what would you like to see changed about the industry and how women are portrayed and perceived in the media?
"I would like to see the microphone passed to women, to truly be given an honest and steady voice for their stories in film. Issues that we face each day have a way of being reinforced by stereotypes perpetuated through film."
"A huge problem is the overwhelming majority of stories center around a male protagonist, where the female character is there often for little more than to "embellish" his story.
They are the cute love interest. The seductive femme fatale. The captive princess. The murdered wife. The kidnapped daughter. The motivator for the male to begin his journey, to tell his story. But their identity is forever lost within that role, eternally valuable within the plot only for how they add to his story. "
"Women have so much more to offer.
In fact, the more that Hollywood has allowed and created female characters who stepped outside of the real or imagined society of their cinematic reality, we have been rewarded with incredibly captivating and iconic characters."
"When we cease to base a female character's value on their appearance and sex appeal, or as an accessory to the male protagonist and re-shift the focus to the female character's actual experiences: her journey, her struggles, contributions, and triumphs, we get Ripley, Katniss, Daenerys, Sarah Connor, Liz Lemon, Aibileen, Lisbeth, Elsa, Aowyn, Hermione, Rey, and Furiosa!
Is it any coincidence that these characters are all a part of some of the most beloved, critically acclaimed and prestigious award winning films/shows of our lifetime? Certainly not, for these are accomplishments that would never have happened without them had they instead taken a quiet backseat to the story.
Every woman has got an incredible story to tell. Now is the time for us to listen, and to be inspired to live as bravely as they do."
I couldn't have said it better myself.
Be sure to check out the slideshow below showcasing Erin's photo session!
I absolutely love when my craft goes beyond me and makes someone smile, makes them feel inspired, and helps remind a woman that she is stunning simply because she is herself.
Photographing the lovely Van felt like it was an afternoon spent with a beautiful friend who absolutely rocked that inner model. Van is not only one of the nicest, most down-to-earth women around, but she's also a wife, the proud mother of 2, and a driven and passionate entrepreneur, serving as founder of Tempo Bicycles.
I'm so excited to share a sneak peak into Van's photo session below - there are definitely more lovely images to come, so stay tuned!
Many thanks to Kat Tinney for the styling of Van's hair and makeup!
