In true Sunday FashionDay style, I had a totally awesome shoot with an amazing team of stylists, models and mommas! Now, before I catch a ton of grief from all of them – I only grabbed a quick selection of my favorites for this blog post – and will be digging through the over 500 shots to edit the entire session for everyone in the next couple days (when I can get caught up on a couple other shoots). It was my first time working with the talented and fabulous, Melanie Pace! Jillian and I go way back… and I loved getting to know Lacey and Victoria (both are awesome models!). Lacey just made her debut appearance on Jake Owen’s new music video “Eight Second Ride” (uh, which may be the third country music video I’ve ever seen), and Victoria is an amazing International model who has been blessing the images of some fabulous photographers across the world!

Models: Lacey Buchanan and Victoria Berard
Wardrobe Stylist: Melanie Pace
Makeup and Hair: Jillian Caro

If you missed the teasers from last Sunday’s shoot with this incredible team, you’ll want to check out all the great final edits that came from an awesome collaboration of stylists! One of my favorite things about shooting fashion is that I can play in the editing process (which is my favorite!). I loved trying out some blue and vintage shifts on these photos and seeing how they turned out.

Makeup: Jillian Caro
Hair: Nicole Beth
Wardrobe: Kendall Rowsey
Model: Melissa Ziegler

This dress is an awesome peacock-inspired design, created by Kendall!

On Saturday, I had a fantastic maternity session with an old college sorority sister, Emma, and her husband, Scottie. I probably have hundreds of pictures of Emma from college… in fact, maybe I’ll share some (like the Cake-Batter Wrestling match she participated in, or our Greek Week ball…) if I can get enough persuasion…

Emma and Scottie may have come from 2 totally different places; Emma, the Class President, and Scottie, who once picked campus fruit in his underwear – but these 2 share the most fabulous thing that I can imagine for new parents, a love for life, laughter and good friends.

It was an honor to work with them at this special time in their lives. I can’t wait to meet baby Isaac. Emma and Scottie will be the most fantastic parents – they have so much to share with their new son

This one was all Scottie’s idea!

Even 8 months pregnant she can still beat Scottie in a good old fashioned foot race.

This one is for Emma…. because what Organist doesn’t need a random pencil sharpener?

In hindsight, maybe not such a great idea to wear letters while 8 months pregnant… that’s bad PR. 

Don’t mess with a woman who’s 8 months pregnant…

Check this one closely…

“Hey Em, you wanna ride the lion to the caf?”

It was so cute when they just kicked off their shoes… very them. I also think it’s precious the way Scottie is so attentive to Emma. So cute

The final shot of the day… this is fake joy you see here… they wanted to keep shooting!

Here it is! My long anticipated project that I started to bring together a collection of photographers from across the country – why? I sat down a couple weeks ago, looking for a new opportunity. Doing a little soul searching, if you will. I’m finally given the opportunity to do what I want to do – not what makes the most money, or meets the most people – but what’s in my heart.

From that, I’ve developed Images for a Cure. This project is a fundraising event where I’ve partnered with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation to donate all session fees from all participating photographers from one day. That’s it. Simple. To the point. I’m not asking for a month of session fees, or a percentage of everything  -  this is simple. We’re talented, and blessed to pursue our passions. It’s time we gave back.

100% of all session fees from all participating photographers (booking shoots on October 11, 2009) will be donated to the BCRF.

So this blog is 2-fold.

First of all, I wanted to explain my vision.

Secondly, I wanted to promote the website and the talented group of individuals who have already signed on to participate – including La Dolce Vita Studio and Scarlett Lillian, both from Jacksonville, and Sarah Sandel in Sebring. I’m hoping the list will continue to grow. So if you know any photographers that would be interested in participating, please pass along my email (kristen@kristenweaver.com) so they can contact me. They can also go through the website: http://www.imagesforacure.com. You can help spread the word by using Twitter and the #imagesforacure tag. All posts with that tag will be pulled on to the live Twitter feed on the ImagesforaCure.com home page.

There’s a blog on the website where I talk about the plan, and share the personal story of my first session Jessica and Tim. Participating photographers will also get the opportunity to blog about their sessions, post their teasers and talk about all the reasons why they chose to become involved in such a life-changing project.

We’re looking for all types and skill levels to participate – it doesn’t matter if you shoot children, weddings or models – this brings us all together.

If you’d like to book a shoot with me, now is your chance. I’m opening up 5 sessions on October 11, 2009 at the one-day-only discount rate of $100 – and the entire session fee will be donated to the BCRF.

Spread the word. Participate. Give back with Images for a Cure.

PS: Thank you, Anthony, for working your behind off on the website. You never cease to amaze me, and your support is everything I need and so much more. All my love.

Things I learned from today’s shoot in downtown Oviedo.

1. Hollie is quite possibly as silly as me, and she may be more beautiful as a person than she is on the outside (hard to believe, I know). Also, she’s pocket-size.
2. Lance has a small obsession with the Oviedo chickens, and saved us from several growling chicken attacks
3. You may recognize Hollie from ‘Beauty and the Geek’, but she’s not nearly as ditzy as she acted…. or is she?
4. The Town House restaurant has a great BELTCH sandwich (can’t remember what’s in it, ask Lance)
5. Random Oviedo goers hurt Lance’s ego by asking how he got such a pretty girl. (really, who SAYS stuff like that to strangers? So weird. He’s such a trooper!)
6. Secretly, I knew the whistles were for me, not Hollie. My hot knee-shorts totally rock.

And now, some shots from their couples session! Helloooo hotness. (and to eliminate any confusion, these 2 are not engaged…. just having fun together!)

We decided to end the shoot after THIS happened….