Leslie Karotkin: Client Spotlight { Denver Portrait Photographer }

Personal branding portraits are one of my favorites things to do. In a world relaying heavily on visuals, helping an entrepreneur portray who they are and what they're all about is important work. When Leslie told me that she was working on getting her business up and running I was thrilled. She is a bright light in the world and you can feel her kindness and love for life just talking with her for five minutes. We went out for coffee, looked at fabulous pictures of her trip to Asia, and talked about her business.

I sent her to the fabulous Bernie Rausseo to get her hair and makeup done and met at my studio. We did a little bit of everything, different outfits, outdoor and studio shots, and even caught a rainbow!

Here's a little bit more about Leslie in her own words. 

What do you do?

I am a consultant for foundations and organizations wanting to build their philanthropic efforts.  I want to help promote philanthropy and guide people to engaging with their communities.

Give me 5 words to describe you.

Enthusiastic, straightforward, witty, appreciative, adaptable

What inspired you to start this career?

I started in the nonprofit field in my late 20s and was drawn to fundraising through event planning,  Then as my career grew in fundraising and through various leadership roles with nonprofit organizations and foundations, the underlying factor that kept me energized and motivated was knowing the work was making a difference or having an impact in the community.  This has kept me excited and engaged in philanthropy and propelled to use my knowledge and abilities to help connect companies, foundations, individuals and families with the causes that speak to them.   

How do you keep inspired?

I am inspired by the people who want to share their time and money to help make a difference in the lives of others.  I love hearing the stories and knowing that lives were transformed because of people helping people.  Because of community and honor.  

What are you most excited about right now?

I’m excited that fall cooler weather is coming.  I’m excited because at the time of this interview, the Olympics are on and the competition and team sportsmanship is fun to watch and a great reminder how the Olympics really do bring all countries together on a level playing field.  

What’s your favorite book or movie?

I have so many favorite books and not sure I can name one. I can say that my short list of favorite movies includes:  Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, Auntie Mame, The Way We Were, Shawshank Redemption, and The American President. All movies I’ve watched over and over and will continue to watch for years to come.

Favorite quote?

There are a wide variety of quotes that speak to me, but what comes to mind first is actually a poem by Maya Angelou.  The Human Family, which is currently being used in a commercial and it has been on my mind a lot.  I’ve read it every day since hearing it.  The sentiment of the poem so accurately addresses the lack of acceptance and human decency that seems to be permeating our culture right now. This poem is so moving and ends with the truest of words: 

“I note the obvious differences between each sort and type, but we are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.  We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.”   

Favorite object in your home?

Well she’s not an object, but the favorite and most important force in my home is my dog, Scarlet.  She brings life, energy and sunshine to my world every day.

Favorite hangout?

I can narrow down to… anywhere in the mountains on a hike.  Or anywhere I can enjoy a good craft cocktail!

Favorite product?

This may seem frivolous, but I love the invention of gel nail polish.  Now I can keep my nails looking nice and like a grown up.

Favorite can’t-live-without item?

Chocolate!

What’s your #1 tip for fellow entrepreneurs?

If you don’t try to reach out of your comfort zone and take risks, you will never know if you can succeed.  It’s scary to be an entrepreneur and I doubt myself often.  Know there will be bumps in the road and setbacks, but I find a lot of satisfaction in the fact that I’m giving it my all and will hopefully ultimately find success.

Sand Dunes Sunrise { Denver Fashion Photographer }

Sunrise is definitely the best time to photograph. It is for this very reason I had been dreaming of a creative photoshoot with the first morning light up at the Sand Dunes. Bernie Rausseo, the hair and makeup artist behind the grand majority of the shoots I put together, had a model set up for this shoot, we discussed the ideas and the date and time, and on the date of the shoot, she said she wouldn't do it. We freaked out of course, I had been working on the concept, had paid for the hotel room, and Bernie, who has a toddler, had arranged for her mother in law to stay with the baby. Needless to say we were sorely dissapointed and were very close to cancelling everything, but when something is meant to happen, everything falls into place. You see, Bernie was working when we found out about the model backing out, and told her client how the model canceled last minute, and her client said that she had a friend who was a model and that was probably available. Well, I called and left a voicemail, she called me within 30 minutes and said that she would do it! Enter Belén, thanks to her  we were back on!

I called Bernie and told her the good news. Now we just needed to wait for her to finished with all of her clients and leave at 7pm, yes, that's right, we started driving to the Sand Dunes at 7:30pm and my GPS gave me the panoramic route...at night, it took us 5 hours to get there and the hotel we booked was an HOUR away from the park...

By the time we got there, which was already 1am when we got to the room, we sat our heads down to sleep and woke up an hour later because our amazing and fabulous model Belén arrived and we needed to start with the hair and makeup. Before we left I decided that I wanted to add a flower crown to the shoot, I bought the stuff and took it with me to make it at the hotel and while Bernie worked on Belén I was making the crown.

And people, it was daaark and cooold when we got there...Which we then decided to take advantage of the lights we brought and do a some shots with that light. 

 

After that we started walking so we could be in the dunes by the time the sun was out...

 And Belén, had to get undressed/dressed in 30 degrees, total champion!

We shot for about 3 hours, and have 4 wardrobe changes. I also love so many images that to avoid overwhelm you with images, I decided to share these in three posts.

Here are our favorites of the yellow and gold outfit.

 

Stay tuned for more outfits in my next blog post.

www.florblakephoto.com

Faith Aeryn's Portraits [ Denver Portrait Photographer ]

 

Earlier this year I went to New York City for about 3 days. I asked around within my photographer friends if they knew somebody who would be willing and available to do a creative photoshoot with me in the limited time I had. Shout out to Meghan Block-Brewer for connecting me with the gorgeous and talented artist+ Faith Aeryn.

It was meant to be to collaborate with Faith, I told her about a unicorn mask I had and she immediately got excited and shared ideas with me. Finding people who are in your same channel of creativity is rare, so we schedule a time to meet and made magic happened.

These were taken at freaking noon, noon people!! See how it was meant to happened?! The Sun was strong enough to go through the clouds and provide perfectly diffused light for this shoot. I'm so happy.

Faith is hilarious and organized, I mean, I usually work with an assistant, not a luxury I had for her shoot, and she kept us on task the whole time. When she saw some of the photos that I posted on Facebook and Instagram, she used the hashtag #togetherweslay ain't that the truth! I am now adopting this hashtag for all my posts!

I am excited to be doing interviews with people I photograph, I just think is so cool to know what motivates people to do what they do, and I always end up learning something from them. Here are Faith's interview and pictures. Enjoy!

What do you do?

I'm a bit of a renaissance woman: I'm an actress, the COO of a company here in NYC, a podcast host, artist, copy editor, and general lover of all things language, wine, whiskey and food related. Haha!

Give me 5 words to describe you.

Warm, optimistic, irreverent, funny, inquisitive.

What inspired you to start this career?

I've been enamored with film since I was little, but I was a super shy kid. It wasn't until college that I took my first acting class and fell madly in love with the craft.

How do you keep inspired?

Truthfully, by surrounding myself with supportive people whom I admire and staying connected with my family and friends. When I'm feeling down or tired, I'll often reach for one of my favorite books or will re-watch a favorite movie, and that inevitably recharges me. :)

Can you tell us a favorite story of a job you've done. 

Before Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice had zombies, an amazing playwright whom I went to school with, Claire Rice, wrote "Pride and Succubus," and I've never wanted a role so badly in my life because it was HILARIOUS, so well written, AND full of stage combat. I got the part, got to work with an amazing cast and crew (go Thunderbirds!), and we all enjoyed a glorious rehearsal period and run. I may or may not have barely gotten my voice back in time for opening night, but we made it, and I literally got to swashbuckle away the entire second act of the play. So, so awesome. 

What are you most excited about right now?

I'm so excited to see the photos from our shoot!!!!!!!! I had such a blast working with you.

What’s your favorite book or movie?

Two books that really blew me away with their writing were "Lit" by Mary Karr and "Homicide" by David Simon.

Favorite quote?

"We cannot cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy." ~ Joseph Campbell

Favorite object in your home?

A picture of my grandfather and me on the Jersey shore when I was a wee little thing.

Favorite hangout?

There's an amazing coffee shop called Little Collins on Lex near 55th. The people are so awesome there and the food and coffee are soooo good.

Favorite product?

Chocolate.

Favorite can’t-live-without item?

Sunglasses!

What’s your #1 tip for fellow creative people?

You can do anything you set your mind to. Get clear on what you want, ask for it, then work your ass off to get it.

 

 

 

 

 

Want to learn more about Faith's work, visit her website: www.faithaeryn.com

Want beautiful, creative, and unique photograph's that represent you? Contact me, we'll slay together!

www.florblakephoto.com