Archive for the ‘personal projects’ Category
oh hello polaroid.
September 11, 2011Route 66 – just one.
July 27, 2011
Just one from my route 66 series coming up on the blog. We’re trying to dig ourselves out of email, deadlines, editing and designing albums before the august wedding season, but i had to just share at least one. so so so much more to come, so much i’m excited about, so much i cant wait to share with you all that i’ve been holding in for a long time. 
Pierson is 1!
June 2, 2011
Driving home from dinner one night i noticed this field right by our house that has been there for…. well… forever. it’s surrounded by busy streets, and so i had never really thought much of it. but, feeling sentimental and in love with my little fam i asked Dustin to pull over and we let the boys run around while we each snapped some photographs. i feel up to my ears in photography lately, trying to get caught up from my wisconsin and cincinatti trip, but shoots like these are so important to me to keep up my love of photography and creativity level. sometimes i wonder, would i get burned out of photography if i didn’t have my boys? constantly doing photography of other people’s loved ones is very inspiring, but it’s a whole new level when it is your own babies you’re photographing.
Thanks D, for taking some shots of me with the boys. these photos mean a lot to me, i want to pause this time and hold on to it so badly.
Fine Art Nude {tampa fine art nude photographer}
May 27, 2011
While i was in Cincinnati I had the opportunity to work with Lindsay Adler and work on this incredible fine art nude shoot super late at night (we’re talking past midnight). I love how it just seems that other creatives always seem to come up with the best work super late at night; i dont think we got to bed any earlier than 3:30 or 4 am any night i was there.
Over this next year I’m going to be focusing heavily on building my own fine art portfolio up, concentrating a lot on fine art nudes. this will be something completely separate from boudoir photography. Boudoir’s emphasis is on the sensuality and seduction of a woman, whereas in fine art nude photography the concept can be related to just the study of the form of the body, or another concept entirely- not related to sexuality at all. a lot of times it can be just a study of light and shape, of an abstract concept, or a narrative message. If you haven’t ‘liked’ SugarLeaf Photography on facebook, now is the time to do so, because throughout the year I will be making calls for subjects to be photographed. I will be looking for professional ballerinas ( i have an amazing concept for this!) and real and honest shapped bodies (stretch marks, cellulite, wrinkles, etc). stay tuned for more updates!
A Decent Cause…
April 26, 2011
I was sitting here at my computer editing photos… who’s i don’t remember. but i do remember my phone buzzing with a text message from one of my best friends, Julie. it went a little something like this:
“hey there, just keeping you in the loop. They’ve found a tumor in Jason’s brain. he’s going in for surgery right now. ”
Jason Decent is Julie’s long term boyfriend. the boy she dated all through college and law school. a boy who faithfully attended almost all dance team events (julie and i were on the team together, as well as roommates). Even then they were more committed to each other in college than some married couples i know now; i sometimes forget that they haven’t had an official ‘ceremony’ yet. i thought maybe it was a cruel joke; when you think about someone you love finding a brain tumor you dont think you’ll hear about it via text. and then that’s when i realized that’s exactly how you’d find out… you want your close friends to know, but when it’s an emergency situation, you dont have time to call. you need love and support right then, without having to breakdown. Love and strength were sent via text back to her and to jason and their families. it wasn’t until a day later that i got the chance to talk to her on the phone.
Jason had just moved to L.A. to be closer to Julie after their long distance relationship while he was in Law School in Milwaukee. He had just taken and successfully completed the bar exam (remarkably), but had been experiencing dizziness and trouble with balance. The doctors had attributed it to Vertigo, but two days after Christmas the headaches had gotten so bad they went to the hospital, and there they were given the stunning diagnosis. Jason is only 27 years old.
Jason’s surgery had gone well, but they needed to go back in within 24 hours to remove more of the tumor which was the size of a lemon pressing on his cerebellum. The surgeries were successful, but julie and jason later found out that the tumor was stage 3 cancer, and he would need chemotherapy and radiation treatments as well as lots of physical therapy. Because of such an invasive brain surgery and tumor, Jason needed to re-learn how to do basic functions like swallow, walk, and speak. The mere thought of having to re-learn these tasks while trying to wrap your mind around ‘cancer’ is something i can not even begin to comprehend. he is truly the bravest and strongest man i know. Recently, he has received good news that the therapy has been working, but he has a very long road ahead of him.
Julie, meanwhile has been steadfast, helping mentally, physically, and financially support Jason and their struggle. When i received the news, after the initial shock i began to think about some of the more practical worries. Julie and Jason were out there in California alone, with no family. Would the hospital respect Julie’s relationship with him even though they weren’t married? how would they be able to manage with Julie’s salary as a dancer, and Jason’s student loans from law school and undergrad? would he be able to return to work? Recently, a fundraiser was held to help them offset the cost of medical and living expenses, and we want to do our part too. We know that there are more expenses associated with this battle than just hospital stays and medication, one entire income has been lost, there are student loans to be repaid, and there are times that Julie has been taken away from her career as a professional dancer and instructor to selflessly help nurse Jason back to health.
So, on Friday May 6, join SugarLeaf Photography at the historic (and AMAZINGLY AWESOME) Iron Horse Hotel in Milwaukee, WI for a photography fundraiser with all proceeds going to Jason and Julie for their fight against brain cancer. I’ll be scheduling 30 minute mini-sessions with a suggested donation of 100.00, and will photograph any genre! portraits, pets, bridal, maternity, engagements, product photography, you name it! Even if you dont need photographs, i can schedule 30 minute photography lessons for that DSLR that you own but can’t quite figure out! OR maybe you do have your DSLR figured out, but you just want to take your photography to the next level. or, if you just want to come hang out with us and bring us coffee and donate money just to donate, then that is welcome too!
To reserve your spot email
lexia@sugarleafphotography.com subject line: DECENT
and do be sure to state what type of photography you’d like, and if you’d like to reserve more than one block of time.
Supermoon
March 20, 2011
Tonight the Moon is the closest to the Earth that it has been in eighteen years. People are calling it a Supermoon. Although i’m really not into photography of celestial bodies (mostly because i just dont have the type of gear and telephoto lenses that would warrant that kind of work) i couldn’t resist. My dad was always big into astronomy and even though it’s past midnight i remembered about the Supermoon, looked lovingly at my Dad’s old lenses, and threw one on my camera, grabbed a tripod and ventured outside to get a quick shot. I guess i just figured, if not now, when? If he were around he would have for sure called me up and said “hey Lex. you know there’s a Supermoon out tonight, you need to go take a look. right now. go take a look.” and then he would have gone on and on about astronomy and i would have happily listened because that is one of my most fond memories of him- talking about astronomy and black holes. explaining them over and over to me… the difficult concept of black holes.
We once had a lawn party at my house for a meteor shower; we lived out in the country where the light pollution was minimal. I remember there being quite a few people on our lawn with their telescopes and cameras, but i cant for the life of me think of who they would have been? how did my dad make all these quirky friends who were into astronomy or ham radio or medicine or kite flying?
Someday i’d like to have a meteor shower lawn party…
and until then, i think he’d probably think that this post was the best post i’ve ever made.
here’s to you dad, thanks for your lenses and your film camera… your inspiration and your knowledge.
on love and hope… {cabo san lucas}
March 6, 2011
I was 19 when i bought a ticket to Europe to travel on my own for 2.5 months. i didn’t tell anyone until plans were already solidified, tickets were bought, rail passes purchased; i thought for sure someone would tell me that i couldn’t do it, that i wasn’t allowed to, that i wasn’t savvy enough to get around in foreign countries alone.
i had 3,000.00…. and that included my airline ticket, my railpass, my loging, my backpack… everything. i was left to about 30 Euros a day, which was roughly 60.00 american dollars. that would have probably been pretty managable, except for the fact that the 60 Euros was to include lodging as well. I had no money for anything else except food. if i wanted to call home at a payphone, that would cost me my dinner. if i wanted to do laundry… lunch trade-off. if i wanted to find an internet cafe and email home… dinner.
I got creative, sometimes not staying in a hostel (and sleeping outside) or cutting costs by finding a campground. i illegally hopped on subways by jumping the turn-stations where you are supposed to pay so i didn’t waste money on transportation. in France i would buy a large baguette, brie cheese, and an apple, and save half the baguette for lunch. i still can’t eat brie cheese to this day…
In Italy, i found that renting a small closet with a window apartment was less expensive than a hostel or hotel. it was furnished with one army cot, one shelf, and one window, but that window overlooked the main street right on the coast of the mediterranean. I had my own key, and it also sported a miniature stove and sink- and i saved further money by buying my own farm eggs at the market and eating 3 eggs everyday for meals. in Genova, Italy, a family took me in that spoke no English. they were so incredibly poor, but they delivered amazing spreads of food for lunch everyday- it was incredible. I couldn’t afford to go out to eat at restaurants and i know i missed out on a lot of the culture by not trying the traditional epicurean fare, but i learned to find the culture in other ways.
Although i’m not particularly religious, i went to a church service in every country and i also found myself visiting graveyards. there is no better way to experience the history than by doing these two things (that also happen to be free, which, conveniently, fit right into my budget). It has sort of become a tradition, to visit a service and a graveyard. maybe not one of the first things on a normal person’s list of must-see things at a tropical location, but im alright with being a little avant garde.
In San Jose Del Cabo- the small town that i stayed in while shooting the wedding last weekend- i stumbled upon this little graveyard while out on a walk one night into the city. i decided that before i left Mexico i would return there and do some personal photography. i’ve never been to a graveyard with so much love, so much vibrance, where i could actually feel the presence of not only the people who had passed, but the people who had lovingly adorned the places of rest. i imagined the heartbroken mothers trying to make their dead children’s final resting place a space of love and happiness. the poor man’s wife’s unmarked grave, with only a small bouquet of flowers in half a cut-off plastic bottle.
it felt like love, and hope.
State Fair
February 22, 2011Tata everyone! I’m leaving for Cabo San Lucas in just a few hours, but thought I’d leave you some treats before I go. We went to the state fair this weekend and couldn’t wait to post some pictures. I have the best memories of my parents taking me to the Colorado State Fair when I was little… I remember my dad always telling me stories of how he used to sneak in when he was a little boy. I want to create that magic for my kids too- we ate corn dogs, carmel apples, cotton candy, lemonade, played tons of games and rides. This morning when Tavish crawled in our bed at quarter to 7am he whispered in my ear: “mama, it was so much fun…” he must have dreamed all night about it.
post meltdown...
Tavish's very first ride ever. i've got my holga camera... of course.
we watched this little fella be born. not more than 5 minutes old here...
apple
Taken with either a fish-eye lens, a 50mm prime, or a tilt shift. Also, dont forget to head over to Slice of Lemon on tuesday to see some tutorials on how i make these images, and learn how to create a cohesive body of your own photographs. Have a great week! I can’t wait to post teasers of Cabo once I get back next week, hope the hubs can hold down the fort while I’m gone.
tour dates announced! 2011
January 17, 2011
alright everyone! the tour dates for 2011 have been listed! this is preliminary, of course, since we’re only just halfway into January so far! dates are subject to change, so even if it looks like i will not be in your area on a certain date don’t hesitate to contact me anyway!
i repeat… don’t hesitate to contact me! things change, travel schedules change, etc. but, if it looks like i AM going to be in your area at some point, give me a ring (or an email, you know) and we may be able to set up a shoot. if there is enough interest i may be able to extend my travel dates beyond what i have listed here to do a workshop for photographers, hold classes, do a boudoir marathon, engagement marathon, etc. i’m always up for possibilities!
ps- i’m dying to go to NY (i’ve never been! can you believe that?) or anywhere out of the continental US as well, as i’m feeling a bit itchy for some good culture. if you know of anyone getting married or needing a photo-shoot in any of these areas, by all means, contact me!
pps- are there really only three months out of the year that i’m going to be home? in.sane. go 2011!
’tis the season!
September 3, 2010happy holidays! Even though it is still a steamy 90 degrees here in Tampa, it is definitely getting time for the holiday season. I had a small panic attack when i realized i was booked for all of October, and then what comes after October but… NOVEMBER. and then… DECEMBER. which, is great if you’re in Elementary school and learning the order of the months, but for me, it struck fear into my heart. i WILL hand knit those stockings that i’ve promised myself for the past three years i was going to do, SO HELP ME. and in the spirit of getting things done early, we are running a wonderful photography special! normally, i am against running “specials” because, well, frankly i feel like a promo ad, and i hate those. so these “specials” are very few and far between. but i do want to motivate my clients to be on the ball this year and be done with that holiday rush early! how amazing is it going to feel to have your photography DONE and your holiday cards DONE before November even rolls around? just think… you could be that person who has their cards sent out by thanksgiving. and by golly…. i am going to be that person this year!
50% off all holiday sessions before October 1st! my entire October is full already, so if you want to do a portrait session, now is definitely the time! and, not only that…. but it seriously gets better. 50% off the set up and design of your holiday cards! normally a $50.00 set up and customization is now just $25.00 to make these beautiful cards personalized to your family. and, these are by far my most favorite holiday cards that i’ve ever seen…. our Headlines Collection:
This year we’re also featuring our most innovative christmas card ever… our round ornaments series! imagine your family and friends opening up their 5×5 translucent square envelope to pull out a little round christmas card that they can hang on their tree or mantle. I personally, am not only going to send these out this year, but i’m also going to use them as decorative gift tags on gifts! that bottle of wine i’m bringing to the holiday dinner party? you bet this is going to be on it. so.many.ideas!
here are some detail shots of the front and back of each circle card:
And i’m not forgetting our multi-purpose cards! these cards can be totally customizable for anything you can imagine. save the dates? christmas? baby announcements? thinking of you? dream it up, and i’ll make it happen.
And for my new mama’s out there right now (there are so many of you! that makes me so happy!) check out our brand new baby announcements for this year! classy, a touch of whimsy, a touch of sweetness like cotton candy. and that’s what we’re calling this series! our Cotton Candy baby announcement series.
Lastly, if you are looking for something a little more modern for your baby announcements, check out what i custom designed for our son Pierson when he was born just three months ago. the front was just his picture, and the back was the typography. We also printed the typography side poster size to hang in his nursery:
I hope you love the designs as much as we do! take hold of this photography special because it will only last until October 1st, and these “specials” only happen once in a blue moon.