Can I just say what a cool feeling it is to feel optimistic and look forward to possibilities? 😊
That's all.
Happy Wednesday, everyone!
Image by Heartbox Photography
Hair & makeup by Vlada Fomenko-Haggerty
Just Because
in photography
Vlada Fomenko-Haggerty
Marie | June Birthday Rewards | Portraits by Heartbox Photography | Bay Area, CA
Awhile back, I had the honor of photographing the lovely Marie as part of the Fifty and Fabulous series. Her constant smile and upbeat personality are nothing less than a joy to be around and it is my pleasure to announce her as the winner for June's Birthday Rewards drawing!
Cheers to you, Marie! Here's to many more years of life, joy, and hula dancing like there's no tomorrow - happy birthday!
Marie. 2014 | Fifty and Fabulous | Contemporary Portraits by Heartbox Photography | Santa Clara, CA
If there is one fast way to determine just how tough you are physically, how graceful you are as a dancer, I highly, HIGHLY recommend you take a Hot Hula class with Marie. I have two left feet, survived and it was still fun. =)
I had met the lovely Marie awhile back when I signed up for a Hot Hula class taught at a local community center - she was the instructor and I quickly learned how fun (and challenging!) it could be to take a beautiful Hawaiian traditional dance and turn it into a fabulous way for folks to have a great cardio workout. (My legs just about fell off after the workout and I have renewed respect for those who can dance hula for hours!)
Before the shoot, I got a chance to talk with Marie a few times and learned that she is not only a go-getter career woman, talented dancer, beloved daughter and friend, but a mother and grandmother as well. Chatting with Marie is like chatting it up with your best friend or sister - her genuine smile, cheery spirit, and sense of humor make it obvious to me why she is a great instructor and why many of her students enjoy her classes.
I have always believed that a woman should celebrate every season of her life and am proud to share Marie's photo shoot as part of the Fifty and Fabulous series offered by Heartbox Photography.
Marie, thank you for being so open and genuine from our very first conversation. It was an honor to photograph you, to learn more about you and your family, and just to be able to connect with such a lovely person. Here's to celebrating beauty that never goes out of style....
Happy Thursday!
I had met the lovely Marie awhile back when I signed up for a Hot Hula class taught at a local community center - she was the instructor and I quickly learned how fun (and challenging!) it could be to take a beautiful Hawaiian traditional dance and turn it into a fabulous way for folks to have a great cardio workout. (My legs just about fell off after the workout and I have renewed respect for those who can dance hula for hours!)
Before the shoot, I got a chance to talk with Marie a few times and learned that she is not only a go-getter career woman, talented dancer, beloved daughter and friend, but a mother and grandmother as well. Chatting with Marie is like chatting it up with your best friend or sister - her genuine smile, cheery spirit, and sense of humor make it obvious to me why she is a great instructor and why many of her students enjoy her classes.
I have always believed that a woman should celebrate every season of her life and am proud to share Marie's photo shoot as part of the Fifty and Fabulous series offered by Heartbox Photography.
Marie, thank you for being so open and genuine from our very first conversation. It was an honor to photograph you, to learn more about you and your family, and just to be able to connect with such a lovely person. Here's to celebrating beauty that never goes out of style....
Happy Thursday!
Many thanks to the talented Vlada Fomenko-Haggerty for Marie's beautiful hair and makeup!
Krystal, 2014. San Jose City Hall, CA. Headshot Photo Session
I always find something so fun about outdoor photo sessions, especially because I love the endless possibilities the Bay Area has to offer. Combine that with the perfect balance of late afternoon light and it's a recipe for every photographer's dream.
I met Krystal for a late afternoon shoot and got the chance to chat with her during her make up and hair preparation by the talented Vlada Fomenko-Haggerty. I love being able to make my client's laugh and relax in front of my camera -with Krystal's friendly smile and wicked sense of humor, I immediately discovered that photographing her would be more like having fun spending the afternoon hanging out with an old friend.
Krystal is a user experience designer in the tech field as well as a talented artist. While her hair and makeup were being prepared, my eyes grazed the walls of her home and saw a beautiful collection of her work. My own painting skills never saw itself past 1st grade so to meet another artist who uses paintbrushes to create beautiful art is a real privilege.
Krystal, it was honor to meet and learn more about you, to share a sunny afternoon of laughing and photographs. Thank you for trusting me to capture your smile with my camera! I truly hope these photographs serve as a reminder to you of your own unique brand of girl-power fierceness for years to come. You rock!
Happy Tuesday!
Many thanks to the talented Vlada Fomonko-Haggerty for Krystal's beautiful hair and makeup!
Kari, 2014. Los Gatos, CA. Headshot Photo Session
Meet the lovely Kari.
We were originally scheduled to have her photo shoot take place at a nearby park, but the beautiful surroundings of her own backyard with the afternoon sunlight peaking through the abundance of trees proved to be the far better location. As Kari's hair and make up was being prepared by the talented Vlada Fomenko-Haggerty we chatted about everything from work, to career goals (Kari is currently working towards building her own business), to outfits for the photo shoot and the fun of being a gal who loves trying new beauty products.
Kari is refreshingly down to earth, a true go-getter. The love she has for her family is palpable as you get to know her. I couldn't help but smile every time she mentioned something she loved about her husband's personality, the way he treats her, as well as how much she loved her kids.
Kari, it was truly an honor to have you in front of my camera. I look at these photos and can see in your eyes that you not only smile and shine brightly from the outside, but from the inside as well - and that is the mark of a truly beautiful woman.
Happy Tuesday!
We were originally scheduled to have her photo shoot take place at a nearby park, but the beautiful surroundings of her own backyard with the afternoon sunlight peaking through the abundance of trees proved to be the far better location. As Kari's hair and make up was being prepared by the talented Vlada Fomenko-Haggerty we chatted about everything from work, to career goals (Kari is currently working towards building her own business), to outfits for the photo shoot and the fun of being a gal who loves trying new beauty products.
Kari is refreshingly down to earth, a true go-getter. The love she has for her family is palpable as you get to know her. I couldn't help but smile every time she mentioned something she loved about her husband's personality, the way he treats her, as well as how much she loved her kids.
Kari, it was truly an honor to have you in front of my camera. I look at these photos and can see in your eyes that you not only smile and shine brightly from the outside, but from the inside as well - and that is the mark of a truly beautiful woman.
Happy Tuesday!
Fifty and Fabulous: Preview | Marie, 2014. Portraits by Heartbox Photography, Santa Clara, CA
As an artist, sometimes the new ideas can fill every crevice in my mind in crazy abundance that it almost becomes hard to pick one and run with it, grow it, try it out without being trapped to my perfectionist ways.
A special thanks to the talented Vlada Fomenko-Haggerty for Marie's beautiful hair and make up!
I'm basically saying that I can be very crazy, slightly A.D.D. when it comes to the world of creative possibilities that photography can offer.
One of the ideas that I'd been wanting to try out for a while was portrait sessions that celebrated women who had reached that remarkable milestone of being 50 years old. Fifty and fabulous, as I once heard it phrased.
That life stage where her beauty is timeless more now than ever because in addition to her outward beauty, she also carries internally a unique element of depth that only comes from a full life of a woman who has lived, laughed, loved, cried, triumphed, and grown.
Marie is a beautiful mother and a grandmother. A graceful dancer who invests her time teaching the art of hula to other women for them to enjoy. A woman who celebrates 50 years of life with joy, gratitude, and laughter. Lots of laughter.
There is more to come, but for now, here's a little sneak peak into Marie's Fifty and Fabulous photo session with Heartbox Photography - stay tuned!
A special thanks to the talented Vlada Fomenko-Haggerty for Marie's beautiful hair and make up!
Noel, 2014. Santa Clara, CA. Portrait Photo Session
I have known Noel since before I was old enough to drive, back when junk food was our best friend and after school homework and talking on the phone with friends was what filled our days on weekday afternoons.
It was a time of fun and innocence and though there are moments presently where waves of nostalgia overcome me, I also can't deny the even more beautiful moments where I see how life has come around full circle in ways sweeter than the long summers of our days as teenagers.
Noel is a wife and now a mother to the cutest little kid named Dominic. During the photo session, the undeniable joy that Dominic brings Noel was apparent with each giggle and mischievous smile that graced this little one's face. I half expected to Dominic to start throwing his toys at me before the shoot was over, but this kid's a champ and actually survived the entire time in front of my camera - he must get his camera charm and patience from his momma! ;)
Noel, it was honor to capture you and Dominic in these photographs. It's so sweet to see that the kind smile I knew from when were kids has only gotten more joy-filled with the presence of Dominic in your world. I am thankful that we are back in touch even after all this time and hope that in years to come, you will always be reminded of how beautiful you are as a wife, a mom but even more so, as a woman.
A special thanks to the talented Vlada Fomenko-Haggerty for Noel's beautiful hair and make up!
"People that treat themselves and others with respect tend to give off a certain light. That light is what makes someone beautiful."
"I surround myself with kind, good-hearted people...and they are are a reflection of me."
What are you confident or proud of now that maybe you weren't so proud or confident about when you were younger?
"Understanding what I want, finding strength to reach goals. I am more confident in expressing my emotions and have learned that I don't always HAVE to be happy."
"We need to accept the fact that every woman is different and no one woman is perfect."
"Take care of your health, emotionally and physically - you only have one shot in life."
"Laugh often and love deep."
It was a time of fun and innocence and though there are moments presently where waves of nostalgia overcome me, I also can't deny the even more beautiful moments where I see how life has come around full circle in ways sweeter than the long summers of our days as teenagers.
Noel is a wife and now a mother to the cutest little kid named Dominic. During the photo session, the undeniable joy that Dominic brings Noel was apparent with each giggle and mischievous smile that graced this little one's face. I half expected to Dominic to start throwing his toys at me before the shoot was over, but this kid's a champ and actually survived the entire time in front of my camera - he must get his camera charm and patience from his momma! ;)
A special thanks to the talented Vlada Fomenko-Haggerty for Noel's beautiful hair and make up!
"People who are confident in themselves and lead their life by treating peoples as they want to be
treated are beautiful to me."
"People that treat themselves and others with respect tend to give off a certain light. That light is what makes someone beautiful."
"I surround myself with kind, good-hearted people...and they are are a reflection of me."
What are you confident or proud of now that maybe you weren't so proud or confident about when you were younger?
"Understanding what I want, finding strength to reach goals. I am more confident in expressing my emotions and have learned that I don't always HAVE to be happy."
"We need to accept the fact that every woman is different and no one woman is perfect."
"Take care of your health, emotionally and physically - you only have one shot in life."
"Laugh often and love deep."
Ramya, 2014. Santa Clara, Portrait and Makeover Photo Session
She possesses a quiet nature, a sweet face that will break into a smile throughout your conversations with her.
Meet Ramya.
Throughout her photo session with me one sunny, Saturday afternoon, I learned that she was a wife and a mother and loved being a model. She was patient with my inability to tell a good joke and flowed through the entire session like an absolute pro.
Ramya, it was an honor to to get to know you, to work with you, and to capture your beautiful smile on camera. Thank you for being a part of the Heartbox Photography movement that encourages every woman that she is not only beautiful, both inside and out, but is also worth celebrating today.
Many thanks to the talented Vlada Fomenko for her beautiful styling of Ramya's hair and make up!
Happy Monday!
Meet Ramya.
Throughout her photo session with me one sunny, Saturday afternoon, I learned that she was a wife and a mother and loved being a model. She was patient with my inability to tell a good joke and flowed through the entire session like an absolute pro.
Ramya, it was an honor to to get to know you, to work with you, and to capture your beautiful smile on camera. Thank you for being a part of the Heartbox Photography movement that encourages every woman that she is not only beautiful, both inside and out, but is also worth celebrating today.
Many thanks to the talented Vlada Fomenko for her beautiful styling of Ramya's hair and make up!
Happy Monday!
PREVIEW: Noel, 2014. Santa Clara Portrait Photo Session
There's something that radiates nothing but happiness and warmth when you see an old friend of yours from junior high grow into a lovely woman who eventually becomes a beloved wife and mother.
I've known Noel since we were teenagers, back when pagers were considered as cool as iPhones and the only major worries centered around what to wear to our after-school dances and English homework due dates. A couple of years ago, we got reconnected and I was privileged to photograph her and her husband, Jorge in this shoot.
Noel has recently become a mother to the cutest little boy named Dominic. Needless to say, I was more than excited to not only meet her baby boy for the first time but to also photograph them for a special mother and son shoot.
Here is a little sneak peak into Noel's photo session - more to come, so be sure to stay tuned!
A special thanks to the talented Vlada Fomenko-Haggerty for Noel's beautiful hair and make up!
