hocus outta focus : the hocus focus blog

It's August and I Haven't Blogged Yet!

I'll just start by saying that summer is KICKING MY ASS!  And I'm afraid if I don't blog something soon a few of you might track me down and do the same thing (Monica).  Oh!  Ummmm, did I just blog that outloud? 

The August issue of Her Life Magazine is here.  I saw this issue in print for the first time at our pediatrician's office the other day.  That was kind of a trip!

Our GORGEOUS cover girl Jennifer Vannatta-Fisher is someone I'm lucky enough to call a client and a friend.  I've shot her family twice before and just adore them all.  Not only is Jennifer beautiful (and rockin' that teeny tiny little baby bump of hers), but she's an incredibly inspiration gal.  She and two of her brothers own VANBROS and Associates.  They run the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants in five states.  Jen is a former Miss Kansas herself and has made a career out of inspiring and motivating young women do to great things.  We had such a blast shooting this whole series.  Click to see it bigger.  I still haven't figured out what the heck is up with Typepad...


Seriously!  Who looks this good when they're preggers?  Three words for ya.  SO.  NOT.  FAIR.  Love ya, Jen!

Also shot for the August issue are clothes from the fabulous Girl Boutique, in Hawthorne Plaza.   I had the pleasure of meeting owner Megan Albers at a Her Life party this week.  She's such a doll and has an amazing sense of style.

 

Some of these images were shot at Shine Spa, which is so beautifully decorated I could almost move in!  (Or just open a studio there.)  I think I may have posted a few of these before so forgive me for any repeats. Not only were the clothes and the location gorgeous, but so was our model, Cassie of Exposure, Inc.  Cassie is probably one of my all time favorite models.  She's just so naturally beautiful.   Thanks for an amazing shoot, Cassie.  I hope to work with you again soon!

Stay tuned...a few portrait sessions are coming up next.  (SIGH - I'm so behind on blogging!) 

Have a great weekend, everyone!
H

Hey, Mamacita!

Oh, to be pregnant with TWINS and look this good!  Oh, to look this good PERIOD!  This gorgeous mama to be was referred to me by another photographer (thanks, Julie!) and I'm so glad I got the chance to meet and work with her.  She was on modified bed rest at the time of our shoot but she was such a trooper!





I just found out she's been scheduled for a c-section next week.  Best of luck, Mamacita.  I'll be anxiously awaiting the news of their arrival!

Hugs,
H

I LOVE MATERNITY SESSIONS!

I've said it before and I'll say it again.  I LOVE MATERNITY SESSIONS!  This session was especially fun because of the amount of creative freedom I was given.  I feel like I produce my best work when I'm allowed to work this way.  Nick and Christina put a lot of faith in me and I was delighted to hear that she was thrilled with the outcome.  We worked together to create these images and I'm so excited to share them with all of you. 

While Christina could totally work it super model style, Nick had his GQ game on, too!

Probably my favorite shot from the whole session.  Love that hair blowing in the wind and how it frames her eye just so.  And how awesome is Christina still working it even with a mass of hair in her face!!

She's got less than four weeks to go now.  Hang in there, Christina!  I can't wait to meet the baby!

Risks and Rewards

I've shown a few of Christen already, but I've got more to share with you now that she's actually seen them all.  One of the things I love about Christen is the amount of faith she has in me as her photographer.  She knows I've got wacky ideas and that sometimes they work and sometimes they don't, but she's always on board.  You have to take risks to reap the rewards and Christen knows that.  I'm always trying to push the envelope and step outside my comfort zone to keep my work from getting stale.

Here are a few more from our recent maternity session.

 




Thank you, Christen, for your continued trust in me.  Working with your family over the past two years has been such a joy.  Hang in there for these last eleven days!  She'll be here before you know it and I can't wait to meet her. 

Much love,
H

That Glow

She's got it, doesn't she? 




I absolutely love maternity sessions and this mom-to-be was one of my all-time favorites.  She was so comfortable in front of the camera that my job was a piece of cake!  Her sense of style, her amazing self confidence and that sparkling connection she shares with her husband are all part of what makes her such a true beauty. 

Nick and Christina, thank you for spending such a lovely afternoon with me - braving that bright, blazing sun and all.  I really enjoyed getting to know you.  The two of you will be wonderful parents - no doubt about it! 

Anxiously awaiting the arrival of your little one,
H

(Oh, and speaking of cake....because you know with me it always comes back to cake - Christina, if you think of the name of that cupcake place we talked about, please let me know!)

Now Back to Regularly Scheduled Programming...

Radiant.  That's the first word that comes to mind when I think of this fabulous mom.  This is her second pregnancy and the second time I've done a maternity session with her.  We shot indoors for the last one and we really wanted a different look this time so just before sunset we headed out to the farm.

Christen is gorgeous.  She's hilarious.  She's adventurous.  She's married to a fantastic man who loves her more than life itself and she's an amazing mother to their beautiful daughter Norah, who you've all seen on the blog before.  Over the last two years that I've been photographing her family we've developed a wonderful friendship and I always look forward to spending time with them.  And now I'm just counting down the days until I finally meet the newest member of the family. 

Told you she was radiant. 


Not much longer, Christen.  She'll be here before you know it! 

Until next time,
H

Before and After

I absolutely love when clients come to me BEFORE they've had a baby.  Maternity sessions are so fun for me and this was no exception.

BEFORE...

 

and AFTER...

Congratulations, George and Melanie!  He's a perfect little bundle.  I'm so glad you're part of the Oh! Baby Plan and I can't wait to keep telling your story.   

Eleven days and counting

I think I may be almost as anxious as this mama to be.  I will be photographing her birth any day now.  This is one type of photography I absolutely can't get enough of!  To witness the miracle of child birth is an amazing thing.  To be able to document it so that the parents and the child will have vivid memories that last a lifetime is even more amazing.  I'm so excited for Beth and Kevin and can't wait to meet their son.  In the meantime, here are a few of my favorite images from their maternity shoot.  It was one of my favorite sessions of all time.  It was different in every sense of the word and to me, different is good.  Beth gets me and I get her which is probably why I enjoyed this session so much.  Not only is she truly an original, she's a beautiful woman inside and out.  Best of luck for an easy delivery of a happy, healthy baby and don't forget to call me when you're headed to the hospital! 

To find out more about birth photography visit our website.  Two new slideshows are coming soon!