Amanda's Trash the Dress Session

Before I can even think about getting started I have to give a huge insane THANK YOU shout out to Jake for allowing us to use his shop for this session.  He was generous enough to open his doors to us and give up several hours of his time while we were there.  He was beyond amazing with his willingness to accommodate any and every request that we had!  If you want to check out Jake's work, you can find Mouse's Kustom Fab on Facebook and Instagram.

As you probably know, I usually post a sneak peek from each session that I shoot, along with a bit of commentary about the photos, but I'm going to change it up a bit today.  I've decided to post this session (almost) in its entirety and I'm going to let the photos tell their own story.  Much of the awesomeness you are about to see is Amanda's doing, as many of these ideas were 100% hers.  I am incredibly proud of these images and doing this session made me feel alive in a way I haven't felt in a really long time.  I hope you love them as much as I do.

So, please allow me to introduce you to Amanda.  I hope you will settle in and enjoy her photos!

Amanda, I cannot thank you enough for volunteering to help me with this session.  I am so happy and excited that I was finally able to make my dream of photographing a trash the dress session a reality. You were amazing to photograph and it was so much fun getting to hang out with you for a few hours.  I hope I have the opportunity to photograph you again in the future. :)

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer serving Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area.
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© 2014 Michele Whitacre Photography LLC

Self-Portrait | April 2014

Mid-month I finished working the insane schedule that I mentioned last month, and I finally had some time to rejoin the world again.  So, I've been spending a lot of time focusing on reducing my stress, improving my diet, and increasing my exercise the past few weeks.  I bought myself a fitbit one activity tracker to help me out and so far I'm loving it!

One of the things that I am doing to get more exercise is hiking every Sunday morning, and it's quickly turning into my favorite time of the week.  It's so nice to get outside and enjoy nature while moving my muscles that have been inactive for way too long.

Before my parents left to head back home, we took a trip to Sedona where we did a little hiking.  While not technically a self-portrait, I decided to use a photo that Kevin took of me during our hike as this month's photo since it does a great job of showing where my focus has been this month.  Plus who can turn town a peek at Sedona's gorgeous red rocks?

Did you miss some of my past self-portraits?  Clicking here will take you to all of my self-portrait blog posts. Clicking here will take you to my self-portrait Facebook album.

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer serving Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area.
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© 2014 Michele Whitacre Photography LLC

BBL 2013-2014 | Find an Awesome Sangria Recipe

#16 FIND AN AWESOME SANGRIA RECIPE

Why did I include this on my Bucket List?

I love Sangria, so I thought it would be great if I found a recipe that I can make at home any time I want.

Was the experience what I had hoped it would be?

Better! I ended up combining two different recipes in an attempt to reduce the sugar as much as possible and include more of my favorite fruits.  I was expecting to have to make some adjustments or try a few different recipes, but I got lucky and loved the very first recipe that I tried!

The details...

If you like Sangria, give this recipe a try!

• 1 Bottle of your favorite white wine
• 1 Lemon cut into wedges
• 1 Orange cut into wedges
• 1 Lime cut into wedges
• 1/2 cup limeade
• 2 shots of apricot flavored brandy
• 2/3 cups Agave nectar
• 1 cup sliced strawberries 
• 3/4 cup raspberries (fresh or frozen)
• 2 cups club soda

Pour wine into a pitcher and squeeze the juice wedges from the lemon, orange and lime into the wine. Toss in the fruit wedges (leaving out seeds if possible) then add the agave nectar, limeade, and brandy. Chill overnight. Add club soda, strawberries, raspberries and ice just before serving.  Yum!

Do you want to see my entire 2013-2014 Birthday Bucket List?  You can find it here. Did you miss my 2012-2013 List? You can find it here.  Or my 2011-2012 List? You can find it here.

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer serving Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area.
Visit Michele's Website | Like Michele on Facebook | Follow Michele on Instagram | Follow Michele on Twitter

© 2014 Michele Whitacre Photography LLC

Breanna's Sneak Peek

Breanna contacted me a few weeks ago to schedule a session in honor of her college graduation, and I couldn't have asked for a more awesome client!  She said she wanted a rural location, and after looking through different options settled on one of my favorite places to shoot.  I just love it when clients want their photos taken in places that show off the gorgeous Arizona landscape that I am so in love with!

I couldn't wait to share some of Breanna's stunning photos on the blog.  She was a dream to photograph and made my job incredibly easy.  She has a gorgeous, natural smile and was so comfortable in front of the camera.  She rocked her session from start to finish.  I needed to take notes for the next time I get my photos taken (which I really need to do!).

This first one is one of my favorites...

Breanna brought her husband along to her session to help make her laugh and smile for the camera, but he also got put on snake watch duty.  For these next photos Breanna was standing right over a few holes in the ground, and we didn't want her to have any unwelcome surprises while she was posing.  So her husband kept a lookout to make sure that didn't happen...

This location is awesome for catching some sun flare through the trees, and this photo is another favorite, especially in black and white...

How gorgeous is this!?...

This is another favorite!  Doesn't she have the most gorgeous smile?...

I just love this series of photos in black and white! It took everything I had to include some of them in color, but I know not everyone adores black and white like I do...

LOVE!!...

Breanna, you are gorgeous!...

Breanna, Thank you for allowing me to take these photos for you. It was such a pleasure meeting you and Cody. Congratulations on your upcoming graduation and your big move. I'm exited for you!

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer serving Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area.
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© 2014 Michele Whitacre Photography LLC

BBL 2013-2014 | Make a List of 50 Places I Want to Visit

#18 MAKE A LIST OF 50 PLACES I WANT TO VISIT

Why did I include this on my Bucket List?

Travel is one of those big ticket items that just about everyone has on their bucket list.  While I do keep a global 'some day' bucket list, my life is such right now that most of my focus is on my Birthday Bucket Lists full of less grandiose (not to mention less expensive) items.  So, travel destinations have been a bit neglected in my dreams for what I want to experience in the future.  I decided to rectify that with this list.

Was the experience what I had hoped it would be?

I don't know that I had any hopes for making this list, but I am happy that I now have a list of places I want to visit complied and saved for future reference.

The details...

Of course, I had a few places I want to visit jotted down but most of them were still floating around in my mind.  It took me a while to get them all out of my head, and I had to do a lot of googling to jog my memory.  While I was searching I was stunned to see how many top U.S. travel destinations I've already seen!  I have been very fortunate in my life with the amount of travel I have been able to do within the United States.  As you will see, the majority of the places on my list are also in the U.S. as there are still many places here that I would like to see in my lifetime.  So, perhaps some of these will show up as future Birthday Bucket List items.

Here is my list:

1. Statue of Liberty (New York)
2. Central Park (New York)
3. Times Square (New York)
4. The Bean (Illinois)
5. Willis Tower Skydeck (Illinois)
6. Grand Canyon SkyWalk  (Arizona)
7. Horseshoe Bend (Arizona)
8. Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming/Montana/Idaho)
9. Yosemite National Park (California)
10. Lake Tahoe (California/Nevada)
11. Four Corners (Colorado/New Mexico/Arizona/Utah)
12. Boston, Massachusetts
13. New York City, New York
14. Ellis Island, New Jersey
15. Nantucket, Massachusetts
16. Cape Cod, Massachusetts
17. Jackson Hole, Wyoming
18. Hilton Head, South Carolina
19. Branson, Missouri
20. Savannah, Georgia
21. New Orleans, Lousiana
22. Austin, Texas
23. South Padre Island, Texas
24. Salt Lake City, Utah
25. Denver, Colorado
26. Boulder, Colorado
27. Aspen, Colorado
28. Portland, Oregon
29. Seattle, Washington
30. Maine
31. New Hampshire
32. Vermont
33. Massachusetts
34. Rhode Island
35. Connecticut
36. New Jersey
37. Delaware
38. Washington D.C.
39. Washington
40. Oregon
41. U.S. Virgin Islands
42. Puerto Rico
43. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
44. St. Lucia
45. Tahiti
46. Bermuda
47. Aruba
48. Australia
49. England
50. Ireland

And now I am challenging you to come up with your own list! Where do you want to go?

Do you want to see my entire 2013-2014 Birthday Bucket List?  You can find it here. Did you miss my 2012-2013 List? You can find it here.  Or my 2011-2012 List? You can find it here.

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer serving Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area.
Visit Michele's Website | Like Michele on Facebook | Follow Michele on Instagram | Follow Michele on Twitter

© 2014 Michele Whitacre Photography LLC

Neeyaz + April's Sneak Peek

Neeyaz and April met when they started law school together three years ago, and with graduation right around the corner they asked me to take some photos of them to celebrate their friendship.  I know that they've been dying to see their photos, so I'm going to keep my words to a minimum in order to get them posted ASAP!

Neeyaz and April...

I just love these next two of them cracking up...

Love...

I think they need to start a law firm together!...

Neeyaz and April,  Thank you for spending your afternoon with me and letting me take these photos for you.  Congratulations on your up coming graduation and good luck with the next steps in your law careers.  I'm so excited for you both!

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer serving Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area.
Visit Michele's Website | Like Michele on Facebook | Follow Michele on Instagram | Follow Michele on Twitter

© 2014 Michele Whitacre Photography LLC

Arizona Summit Law School | Student Head Shots

I was recently back at Arizona Summit Law School (Formerly Phoenix School of Law) to photograph more students. I just love doing these head shots for them. It's such a great experience talking with each student during their session and hearing their stories. Each one has such a different path that lead them to law school, and each one has such great hopes and dreams for their future careers.

This visit was rather bitter sweet, as most of the students who started school with Kevin are about to graduate so this was probably my last round of photos where I know many of the students I was photographing.  I'm so happy and excited for all of them, but also sad that the end of school means that many of them will be returning to their home states or relocating for new jobs.

One of the up coming graduates who I am sad to see leave Phoenix is Neeyaz!...

April is graduating, too, but luckily she's staying in the area.  Yay!...

I also had the honor of photographing Chanelle, who I just met during her session.  She's just wrapping up her first year, but I'm sure her graduation will be here in the blink of an eye...

Michele Whitacre is a portrait photographer serving Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area.
Visit Michele's Website | Like Michele on Facebook | Follow Michele on Instagram | Follow Michele on Twitter

© 2014 Michele Whitacre Photography LLC