Monique, 2019 | San Jose, CA | Glamour & Contemporary Portrait

“To be a woman is to unapologetically resilient despite everything.”

-h.h.

There is a sweet and calm demeanor that I immediately liked when I first approached Monique for the possibility of doing a photo shoot with Heartbox Photography.

As most of you know by now, I am a firm believer in finding ways to connect with other women who run local businesses and organizations simply for the fact that women who support women is nothing short of impactful and great. The best part is that I get to know them even beyond the work they do and learn about them as wives, mothers, daughters, and grandmothers - as the unique and beautiful person they are.

Being allowed to share in their world and learn about what inspires them, their family history, even their dreams for the future is a privilege that makes the story of each woman I photograph so fun and beautifully unique.

Monique is the founder and proud owner of Innate Sense. She is a wife, a loving mother, a daughter, and a big sister. (I even got to meet her little sister during the Image Reveal appointment and absolutely loved the sweet, sisterly dynamic of their relationship as she helped her choose her images!) During our photo session, I learned more about Monique’s Portugese ancestry and how having a desire to help people be whole and healthy are one of the factors that inspired her work.

One of my favorite things about her photo session is her love for color, beautiful patterns, and accessories in the outfits she thoughtfully selected for her day - this probably explains why we definitely took a little longer wanting to capture the gorgeous look and feel of each outfit combined with the natural surroundings at a local park!

The sunlight was bright, the skies were clear, beautiful, and perfect for the afternoon and needless to say, I am so proud to be able to share with you all the final images and behind the scenes video from this lovely woman’s photo session with Heartbox Photography.

Here’s to celebrating the phenomenal women everywhere around us!

Many thanks to Kalani Brown for Monique’s hair/makeup styling!

“I see beauty when a woman knows

her worth and shares her

gifts with the world.”

What are you most proud of as the woman you are today and why?

“I am most proud of taking the path that my heart led me towards for my career and to live out my soul’s purpose.

Growing up, many members of my family had jobs that they didn’t like, but tolerated them because they needed financial stability. I knew from a young age that I wanted to work in a way that I enjoyed, that allowed me freedom, and to help others.

I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do, but my heart guided me and here I am with a business where I have all those things and life that I love.”

What would you tell your 18-year-old self?

“I would tell her to surround herself with a close circle of good friends and fully enjoy the season of her life with little responsibilities. I would tell her to travel more to gain a broader perspective of the world and people as a whole.

I would let her know that “success” is not a destination that she needs to TRY to get to…she will forever be evolving and becoming who she is meant to be in the world. To enjoy the journey, it all ultimately works out for her highest good.”

What advice would you give your own daughter as she grows up?

“Well, I am sure my advice would vary depending on the stage of her life she is in…but I would always tell her - you are here for a purpose, you are love,d and to always be true to herself.”

What do you believe makes a woman beautiful?

“I believe inner peace, confidence, and self-love

makes a woman glow and shine her beauty from the inside out.”

Melba | 2017 | Glamour & Contemporary Portraits | Santa Clara, CA

I just want them to know
That I gave my all, did my best
Brought someone some happiness
Left this world a little better just because, I was here

I was here, I lived, I loved, I was here

-Beyoncé

Sometimes, when pulling together the final story to share on the blog, I close my eyes to feel and get caught up in the lyrics of a song, allowing the music permission to carry me away even for just a few minutes. It not only awakens a deep-seated creativity, but interestingly enough, it also often takes me back to actually remember the expression of the woman I currently photographed, the person I am writing about. It reminds me of her story, who she is as a woman, the richness of her who she is a person. How she looked as she arrived at the studio, how she shared small bits of who she is, who she is becoming, what and who matters to her, and even more importantly, why.

From her favorite color, to the details of this season of life she finds herself in, to what she likes or dislikes about herself, to how she feels about her family, her friends, this life.

How she feels about being photographed.

Her excitement and nervousness, the look on her face when she sees her heart show up in these images.

When she sees that her smile is her best feature.

Melba's life is rich. Rich in many, many ways. And yes, in reflecting upon that, the lyrics to Beyonce's song "I Was Here" seemed more than fitting for this beautiful woman, this wife, this mother, this grandmother, this friend, this sister, this human being.

You can immediately see the passion Melba has for life, the deep love she has for her family, the joy that radiates from inside her heart when speaking about her husband, her children, her grandchildren, her friends and the overall colorful tapestry of experiences and memories that make up her life thus far, from a young girl, to a grown woman today. 

Her life is a beautiful testament to what shaping a legacy of family, life, and love look like - a legacy of love given freely, deeply, and without boundaries. And it is my privilege and honor to share a piece of who Melba is with you all here.

 

 

 

 

 

"There are so many more countries I want to see! I was blessed to travel with a longtime friend during 2015 [to Europe].

She made the arrangements since she had lived in Europe and the MIddle East. We visited Paris, took a train adventure through Austria and Switzerland."

 

 

 

 

 

Who makes you laugh the most?

"My hubby, Tino - we make each other laugh everyday.

Even when bad things happen we find a reason to laugh."

 

"Since I [entered] my 50's five years ago, I've been trying new things. I took my husband, my youngest daughter, Ariane and her then-boyfriend, Quinn, tandem skydiving over Hollister. [I] could see Monterey Bay from 15,000 feet. A few weeks after that, I went scuba diving in Monterey Bay.

Still have more I'd like to try. Honestly, the most recent was this photo shoot.

I was very nervous and had no expectations - just knew I didn't feel comfortable having my picture taken. But it was amazing and I'm so grateful."

What do you think makes a woman beautiful? 

"Her laughter, her honesty, her caring actions."

What is one piece of advice you would give your 18-year-old self?

"Concentrate on finishing school, full time work can come later."

What do you  most appreciate about your life now?

"Grateful for my husband, our family,

and the opportunities to share new experiences."

If you could meet anyone in history, who would that be and why?

 

"I've always liked math and science - [so] Albert Einstein!

"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." - Albert Einstein

Photography: Heartbox Photography

Hair/makeup: Kalani Brown

Rainia | 2017 | Glamour & Contemporary Portraits | Oakland, CA

"I have SO many amazing SHEROES...

my mom, aunts, and grandmother inspire me."

- Rainia

I absolutely LOVE Rainia's passion for world and local travel, for rich culture and music, for education, for treasured moments with friends and family - whether that means globe-trotting with them to Europe or sharing some time together over an award-winning movie and dinner.

Born and raised in Bay Area and as a graduate of both San Francisco State and Golden Gate University, Rainia's care for the people in her life extends well-beyond her family and friends and into her life's work. She currently works heavily with troubled youth all while also working towards completing her licensing as a marriage and family therapist. 

This daughter, friend, sister, counselor, world-traveler, and beautiful woman comes from a long line of other strong and and beautiful women (her Sheros!) who have helped her become who she is - and I am extremely proud that she chose to step in front of my camera, inspire other women through a glimpse into who she is, and celebrate her life in this way. 

If you could live in any country, which would it be and why?  

"I'd like to split my time between the Bay Area and a country in the Caribbean or South America."

If you could meet anyone in history, who would it be and why?

"Nelson Mandela and Frida Pablo! I like to mix art and social justice."

"Embrace everything about yourself -

there's no one else in the world like you and that makes you special."

What do you think makes a woman beautiful?

"Our passion."

What do you appreciate most about your life now?

"That I REALLY like myself and [have] learned to embrace myself."

Photography by Heartbox Photography

Hair/makeup: Beauty by Keziah

Meatloaf Mondays and Musicians

Every person is made up of stuff. A mix of stuff that make you, well, you. On the Heartbox Photography website, this “stuff” is referred to as “heartprints.” (I made that term up, but isn’t it cool?) Like finger prints, but funner! It took a while for me to come up with a philosophy, vision, and name for my photography business. Something reflective of my voice, me as a person, and my love for photography. And that’s when I realized that the only way I can come up with a name was to look at what exactly made up my own heartprints and share that with the world.

What or who makes up some of my own heartprints? Lots and lots of people and experiences…so much to name. I’ll talk about them throughout my blog in many future posts, but for now, I’ll start with my husband, Justin.

He is part of my own heartprint as a person, in life, and of course, in photography. He has seen me through and supported me through a lot since we have been together. He’s seen me hiccup and cry (yes, the ugly cry) my way through a lot of challenges. He joins me in the nerdiness of laughing a little too loudly at things in public. He’ll do the dorky dance in the kitchen with me when our favorite songs blast through Pandora. He has the uncanny ability to say exactly what I’m thinking right when I’m thinking it. (it’s THE FORCE people!)

He loves me through morning breath, bad hair days, and becoming emotionally unglued (hello, PMS!). He prays with me, for me, and for us. He gave me my very first Canon SLR camera, knows all about my dreams to become a full-time photographer, and supports me every step of the way. He’s very a talented musician himself and he “gets it” when I talk and talk and talk about all things artsy and creative. Even if it involves me wearing hula hoop-sized earrings and wearing 5 different colors all at once. In public.

This past Monday was just another example of my husband’s thoughtfulness. As I fought my way through traffic to get home, he was making a yummy meatloaf dinner and simultaneously working to wrap things up with work.

I’m thankful to have my husband be a part of my own “heartprint”.

Let’s hear it for Meatloaf Mondays and the loving musicians who make them.