What’s up, Hive? It’s almost 3:00a.m. here in the Twin Cities so I’m thinking more of you will read this in the morning than will before retiring for the night. This is one of those days that just went by in the blink of an eye. I’m still recovering from that tough cold and the first two nights of it really disrupted my sleep schedule. 
One of my strengths, in my opinion, is that as a photographer, I am very good at directing. It’s a skill I’ve learned over 20 years of shooting with a majority of clients that are first time models. Recently, I was hired by a referral for a friend for a client that had never done a shoot. This would be her first, and I always look forward to bringing a comfortable and empowering experience to those I’m lucky enough to collaborate with in this way. My friend Farah offered her beautiful home and that would be the backdrop for the images we created this night.
The shoot began, like many do with new models, a little stiff. It does feel weird, even as a photographer, when I have to have my photo taken for an interview or magazine. That initial moment that a lifeless lens is staring directly at you. After some coaching with the poses and encouragement, she loosened up and relaxed. Because I don’t use lighting equipment and there’s no one else on set, it doesn’t really feel like a shoot. She had brought several outfits and as the evening progressed, the images turned out better and better.
This is just the first set of edits from this session. I’m sure I’ll be sharing more in the days and weeks to come. I’ll be leaving for Los Angeles next Tuesday. I’m looking forward to seeing friends and finally meeting 
