An Emotional Spa Day . . .

Yesterday was a VERY emotional day at the spa.  Before my wedding last October, I had my manicurist give me acrylic nails for the first time in my life!  I'm not gonna lie . . . kinda hurt. They use sharp tools and motorized nail files! It's a JUNGLE in there!  After going a few times for a monthly fill-in, however, I got used to the drilling and it became a lot more relaxing to get my nails done.   

Since wedding season has started and I am shooting more frequently, I have to keep my nails short so I can readily switch my camera's controls.  This last month, however, my nails grew almost double what they normally grow.  I always get the pink and white set for my nails so that it looks like I have a french manicure.  When I went to the spa yesterday and told my manicurist how much I needed cut off, she said, "I will give you a full new set because the white tips will be gone if I cut them any shorter."  Well, I was due for a new set anyway so I agreed.   

Instantly, my manicurist starts digging through her drawer, pulling out a SHARP tool.  "Oh boy . . . here we go," I thought.  As she clicks and peels, clicks and peels, she could tell I was getting a little squeamish.  Suddenly, she stops and says, "I'm afraid I'm going to hurt you.  Maybe you should soak your nails first."  Thinking that a nice little bubble bath for my nails was in order, I smiled and exclaimed, "Ok!"  

Sitting in such delight, I watch my manicurist make her way to the sink.  Strangely, she stops short of the faucet and pulls out a big bottle of ACETONE from the cabinet.  "What? What is going on?!" I think.  I phonically sound out 'acetone' in my head. "Ass-eh-tone, ACID-tone . . . I'm gonna DIE!" I silently freak out.  

Before I could mumble a word, my hands were being drowned into a cold bowl of chemicals! My fingers became numb and I began to lose skin sensitivity.  I was filling my body with chemicals . . . WITH CANCER!  I had to take a deep breath.  I had to think clearly and positive! "I cannot get cancer from removing my acrylic nails" I thought.  In my mind, however, I had to repeat this several times.  "Surely there would have been a swat team invasion on nail salons if this were illegal or dangerous to one's health," I reasoned.  I was suddenly feeling more calm about the situation.  

As I looked down into the cold bowl of chemicals, I could see my last remnant of bridal beauty dissolving away.  My heart began to break.  "Show's over, folks," I thought.  It's just me now.  No tan, no acrylic nails, no updo . . . I was me in my purest form.  As I lifted my hands out from the bowl, I could see my real nails peering through the acrylic.  It was like seeing an old friend. And then, suddenly, a feeling of exhilaration and freedom washed over me.  For the first time, I was seeing my wedding band on a hand that was completely mine . . . the one God made me.  I felt different.  I felt REALLY married.  I felt excited and happy!

As my manicurist sat down again to place on a new set of acrylic nails, I blurted out, "No, I think I like my hands the way they are." GASP!  Did I really just say that?  I could hear the earth cracking.  "I like myself the way I am??" I thought.  Looking at my nails again, I said, "Look at 'em.  They are kinda cute."  She smiled and agreed.   

As I left the salon, I couldn't stop looking at my hands.  You would think that I had just gotten engaged or something.  When my husband Nathan arrived home from work that night, I jumped out of my seat to show him my nails.  I told him all about the spa drama and that he wouldn't have to pay for my monthly manicure anymore.  He smiled and exclaimed, "Good!" Don't tell him I said this but his delicate flower plans on getting a monthly massage instead :) 

Ladies and gentleman, I unveil to you my real hand:

(cricket . . . cricket, cricket . . . )

I know . . . it's quite moving.

April's Bridal Shoot - Chattanooga Wedding Photographer

I am so glad that April and Chip finally got married this past weekend!  I have been dying to post some of her bridal pictures!  I kept telling April to hurry up and get married so I can blog about her bridal beauty.  When April told me about her bridal shoot location, I had no idea that she was about to make all my dreams come true as a photographer.  

It was a gorgeous Spring afternoon when I met April getting her make-up done at the mac counter at Belk before the bridal shoot.  My mom and I were going to follow April, her mom, and friend to a family friend's estate.  

Upon arriving at the estate, the wrought-iron gates majestically opened.  As we drove up the driveway lined on both sides with Bradford Pear trees to the gorgeous white-columned home, mom and I simultaneously broke into the Sound of Music's "The Hills are Alive."  haha!  Great minds think alike I suppose.  It really did feel like we were driving up to the Van Trapp family estate though!

The inside of the house was just as ornate and took us back to another time period.  The location was absolutely perfect, fitting in with April's Cinderella, happily ever-after themed wedding.  Yes, her bridesmaids wore Cinderella blue gowns!  April and Chip even had a horse drawn carriage for their wedding. April, of course, looked stunning in her gown from Ever After in Cleveland. Here are a few pics from our shoot:

Love this picture at the window!

So Titanic!

Old world classic!

I loved this bedroom! It had a crystal chandelier and fireplace! My kind of room!

April . . . such the model! I would hang this picture in my bathroom as a claim to my domain!

Mirror, mirror on the wall . . . :)

I love this picture of April coming down the stairs!

Simply beautiful!  Thank you so much for allowing me to be part of such a special time for you, April!

McWorkshop: Shooting at the Biltmore!

Earlier this month I took part in a 5-day workshop in Asheville, NC under photographers Corey McNabb and Amber Holritz! Corey has been listed as one of the top photographers in the world by the Wedding Photojournalist Association; and Amber is nationally recognized for her unique lifestyle baby photography.  I had so much fun learning and working aside these two photographers because quite frankly . . . they're HILARIOUS!  Actually, the entire group of photographers participating in the workshop was fabulous.  I miss their company already!  I hope we can all meet up at the WPPI Convention in Las Vegas!  For as many thunderstorms as we had during our time at the workshop, the clouds parted, allowing the sun to shine brightly when we needed it the most for our photo shoots. Here are a few shots taken at the Biltmore Estate with our models Shelby, Morgan, and Michael.  Big thanks to Liz from the Purple Iris for providing the bouquets! Absolutely beautiful! 

Shelby was absolutely beautiful!

Michael and Morgan . . . still feelin' that newlywed love!  They actually got married a few weeks prior.  They were good sports to get all dressed up again!

This BW image was a winner in the contest we had at the end of the week!

I love capturing laughter! Cute!

Tunes 4 the Troops: Operation Red Carpet! - Cleveland Event Photographer

Earlier this month I received the pleasure of photographing a fundraising event for Tunes 4 the Troops at Cleveland's Museum Center at 5ive Points.  The organization's goal was to raise enough money to ship all its donated CDs and DVDs to our troops overseas.  Sports and music memorabilia, along with some local business goodies were auctioned off.  I could not believe all the great items that were donated and all the wonderful people that came out to support the cause.  It makes me proud to have grown up in such a charitable town!  Huge thanks to Tarver Distributing for providing some of the evening's beverages and to the Collins Brothers Band for the music.  There are so many people to thank for contributing to making this event come together that I need another blog to thank them all! Several celebrities came out as well, which drove the ticket sales for the event.  Here are a few images from the evening.  To view and/or purchase photos from this event, click here.  All profits made from the sale of these photos will be given back to Tunes 4 the Troops! Buy, buy, buy!

Left: Jimmy Logan doing some double-fist phone action for the auction

Right: Browsing the silent auction items

Official Heisman Trophy Football with 22 winner's signatures

A Neil McCoy autographed acoustic guitar

UT Vols helmet signed by Peyton Manning

Randy and Teresa Ward with Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers and NBA star Darryl Dawkins

My friends Anna and Tyler Carden

Mark Slaughter jamming with the Collins Brothers Band

Love the lights!

The room!

Lauren Ledford, Sarah Cantrell, and Michelle Ledford

The beautiful hostess Kaylee Radzyminski being auctioned off by Crye-Leike

Lauren Ledford singing with the band! Awesome voice!

Dancing the night away!

Let's be honest.  It's not a party until Jonathan busts out a few dance moves!  LOL! 

Do you have a PC?

While I was in Asheville for a photography workshop, I looked at my blog over an old PC the hotel had in the lobby.  YIKES!!! Lots of my pictures looked rather pixelated.  Since my family and I are all mac users, clarity is perfect on our screens.  I tried a different method for posting the picture under my last entry . . . the Sex and the City entry.  If you use a PC and read my blog, could you please send me some feedback so I know what is working and what is not.  Honestly, who really wants to read a blog where the pictures look like a jumbled mess.  

Sex and the City Shoot - Slideshow!

I can't believe that we're half way through May!  Moreover, I can't believe I'm just getting around to posting this slideshow.  When I get busy I have to move my "just for fun" projects to the bottom of my to-do list.  Boo . . .  Anyway, in March I gave away a free "Friends and Fashion" photo shoot based off the hit show "Sex and the City."  Although I already gave a sneak peak in an earlier post, I wanted to show these ladies off again with a slideshow! 

Tunes 4 the Troops Fundraiser! - Cleveland Event Photographer

For all those interested in viewing the pictures from this event, please send me your email address at info@lorilinephotography.com.  If you gave me your name and email address at the event's sign-in table, you are good to go.  Everyone will be receiving an email from Pictage, your online proofing gallery, within the next 2 weeks.  All profits made from the purchase of your pictures will be given back to Tunes 4 the Troops.  Also, do check back for a sneak peek at the event next week, as I will be out of town all this week on assignment.  There are some really great and a few HILARIOUS pictures from the event! Some of ya'll know how to get down on the dance floor!