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

Michelle - A vision in white lace [ Denver Portrait Photographer ]

Back in January I had the pleasure to spend 3.5 days with another 12 photographers. We went up to Breckenridge to plan our year, get to know each other, and as it was expected, photograph.

Michelle is one of the 3 shoots I'll be blogging that involve the same lace dress. It was so cool to see how the dress fit the different women and the variety that each personality provided for the shoots.

Michelle's fearless, ( I mean, it was cold) and gorgeous inside and out.

Here are my favorite images from our fun time together.

Renea Rios: Client Spotlight [ Denver Portrait Photographer ]

Renea is such an amazing overall human. Every time I talk to her I can't help but smile because of her truly beautiful spirit. She is excellent at what she does and super passionate about making people look their absolute best. She is also very persistent and she knows what she wants, which will only serve her for well in this adventure of entrepreneurship she's embarked.

As soon as she knew she was going to open her business she knew she needed Personal Branding Portraits for her marketing, that represented who she is and what she's all about. She called me to make it happen, and I am so proud of her for knowing she needed to have great images. We met at 7am, had some coffee, laughed a lot, and made gorgeous portraits.

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

What do you do?

  

I am an eyebrow artist. I shape eyebrows.  

Give me 5 words that describe you? 

Committed, happy, soulful, kind, grateful.

What are you most excited about right now?

I am currently in permanent make up school and will have the tools and training soon to permanently design and execute beautiful eyebrows for my clients. I am so excited to be learning something new that is going to greatly benefit my clients and make getting ready in the morning so much easier!

What's your favorite book or movie?  

Okay this is a tough one! There are too many to pick just one, but the one that comes to mind  immediately is the "Color Purple."

Favorite Quote

"I used to think I was the strangest person in the world but then I thought there are so many people in the world there must be someone just  like me who feels bizarre and flawed in the same ways i do.  I would imagine her, and imagine that she must be out there thinking of me too.  Well, I hope that if you are out there and read this and know that, yes it's true I'm here and I'm just as strange as you."  Frida Kahlo 

Favorite object in your home?

My mother's Buddha statue that she used to burn incense in. I love it and always reminds me of her!

Favorite hangout?

Honestly??? My own kitchen.  

Favorite product?

My Anastasia eye brow pencil. It makes getting ready and filling my brows in every morning so much easier.

Favorite can't live without item?

Ugghhh I hate to be that person, but my cell phone.   I do everything with it.  Run my business, Facebook, look at photos of brows, Instagram,  music,  take pictures.   But I do draw the line and put it away so I can have real interaction with the world around me.  

What's your #1 tip for fellow entrepreneurs?

Don't be your worst enemy and get bogged down in self doubt.  We are often our worst critic. No one will work harder than you will to make your dreams come true and your business a success. Do what you love with passion and the bonuses will show up!!! 

 

 

 

Want fabulous eyebrows? Get in touch with this magical woman: http://www.hautebrow.com/ 

Do you want more than a head-shot? Do you want images that actually say something about you and your business? Then call me, we can create photography awesomeness together!

www.florblakephoto.com

Portrait of Lt. Governor Joe Garcia

Several weeks ago I went to film the Lt. Governor Joe Garcia for an event he couldn't attend because he was going to be out of town.

As it turns out, the Lt. Governor is really cool, I told him that I probably had met him before in another event and he said that he doubt it because he would never forget to meet me because of my name, he really likes the main actress in the movie Spanglish, and there's a whole scene where they talk about how to pronounce "Flor" in it. I laughed and told him that that's how I get people to pronounce my name, I asked them if they've seen the movie Spanglish and then I tell them, "well, remember that whole scene? You get to practice now!

In case you are wondering, here's the link, it's actually really funny, just jump to minute 3:34 for it.

Anyway, I digress, when the interview was over, I asked him if I could have two minutes before his next appointment to do a portrait, and he said yes! In the next 20 seconds, I went on to find the simplest background in his office and snapped about 20 frames.

 

Until next time. 

www.florblakephoto.com

Blair Griffith - Miss Colorado 2011

I met Blair at the Close to Home campaign launch Event where she was one of the speakers. Close to Home is a campaign to help increase understanding and move Coloradans to speak up and ultimately take actions that make a meaningful difference in addressing homelessness.

Blair, became homeless a month after she won the title of Miss Colorado USA back in 2011. Her father died when she was fourteen years old of prostate cancer. Her mother had a sudden heart attack, and major surgery led to the family's economic situation and bankruptcy Griffith's mother also lost her insurance when her insurer declared that the heart attack was the result of a pre-existing condition. That meant that she had to pay her medical expenses, including $800 a month for medications, on her own.

Now Blair is an advocate for homelessness issues and a motivational speaker. She is absolutely amazing and an inspiration. After the event, I had about 10 minutes to do a portrait, and she is so gorgeous I could not just choose one.

 

 

Spring Goddess Shoot { Denver Portrait Photographer }

The latest collaboration with my hair and makeup artist Bernie Rausseo, was just the bomb. I am so in love with these pictures I can't even put it into words. Bernie had this idea of a simple dress, a beautiful girl, and Cherry Blossoms; thing is, we couldn't find them anywhere. One day a couple of months ago, we were driving around and saw these trees, at closed inspection we didn't think they were Cherry Blossoms, but they were blooming with gorgeous pink flowers everywhere, so we decided that would do. It also had been raining a lot in Colorado, so when we saw the trees and the sun was out, we called up a few girls, and Kati was available (THANK YOU KATI!), and it was just meant to be. Special thanks to our amazing assistants Myriam and Magnolia who rocked with behind the scene shots, holding reflectors, and much more!

Here are our favorite pictures of the shoot.

 

 

 

 

 

Check out some behind the scenes shots:

 

Flor Blake is a Portrait, Editorial and Commercial Photographer based in Denver, CO.