Jackie took some pictures of me for my LOLA (Ladies of Liberty Alliance) calendar page last year and I told her then, if she ever wanted me to take some shots of her, I was all hers. So this week she finally took me up on my offer and we headed out to downtown Austin’s Four Seasons hotel. The day was absolutely beautiful, as was Jackie. It was so much fun working with her because one of her true strengths is her creativity and spirit of play. She kicks butt at posing people and so when it’s her turn in front of the camera, she knows exactly how to pose herself.

What was really funny (and endearing) was to see her share all the same anxieties and insecurities every client has about how they look on camera. Even when we were planning her shoot, it was almost like she was “warning” me that she just doesn’t take good pictures! I told her to just chillax, try to have fun, and let me be the one to worry about making her look good.

As I was doing her shoot, and hearing her tell me how her lips didn’t look right, or her face was weird, or whatever, I was honestly sort of heartbroken. But not because she was being critical of me… but because she was being critical of herself! I see Jackie as downright gorgeous. Beautiful eyes, great face, fantastic hair, and a supermodel body. I was heartbroken because I wished so badly she saw herself the way I saw her.

When I delivered the pictures to her, she laughed and said how she actually did like them. I could hear the slight surprise in her voice when she told me “Wow! You did a really good job!” I identified something right then and there that makes me love photography: I want to make everyone, and I mean everyone, SEE their true beauty. I take great pride and pleasure in having my camera capture a person’s true essence. Sure, we’re not all “models” but to me, we are all beautiful. And that’s my job. To show you that.

Love you tons, miss JJ Photography!!

Rita Quinn

For more information about Jackie Jackson’s photography work, you can visit www.jjphotographyaustin.com

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We did the bulk of her shoot around the Austin University of Texas area and the nature trail by Barton Springs Pool. I love wandering those grungy back alleyways and playing in the grassy fields! We wanted to do three different looks so she brought the outfits and I brought some props. I explained to her that the last thing I wanted was for her senior portraits to be the same ol’ stale ones other photographers deliver. I wanted hers to be fresh, non-traditional, and most importantly an expression of herself at this time in her life. No cap, no gown, and no cheesy smiles.

After discussing ideas, we were off and running, and I was thrilled to see Giovanna having fun trying out different poses, playing around with the props, and contributing cool ideas. We laughed, we ooh’d and aah’d, and basically had a blast! With a big hug goodbye, we ended our time together, leaving me so thankful to now have this amazing friend in my life, and my typical desire to rush home and look at the pictures. And I have to say, I’m really happy with the way her final shots came out.

Giovanna shared with me that she is studying broadcast journalism and has dreams of being both a model and a TV host one day. To that I say, any camera would be graced by her smile and wish her much luck and success.

Love ya cutie!
Rita

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Since the first time I met Erin about a year ago, I had always secretly thought how cool it would be to photograph her. She has the most beautiful blue eyes and an incredibly unique look that is just stunning. Then out of the blue a few weeks ago, I get this text message from her saying how she was thinking about getting into modeling and wanted, you guessed it, little ol’ me to help her get some shots for her portfolio! I instantly said “of course” and, after waiting for the cold weather to take a break here in Austin, we finally were able to get together today to play!

Yes, you read that right, we did the shoot today and I’m already bloggin’ about it. That should tell you just how excited I was to review the images. And reviewing turned to editing which turned to “OMG! I have to share some of these with the world RIGHT NOW.”

Can I just say how fantastic Erin was to work with? Being the “aspiring” fashion photographer I am, I keep a nerdy notebook filled with my collection of ripped out pages from magazines to inspire me. Well, Erin and I reviewed them and the next thing you know, she was bustin’ out the poses like nobody’s business. I was so impressed! We pretty much just trekked around the UT (University of Texas) area, roaming the gritty back alleyways and hallways of the campus itself allowing ourselves to just get inspired by all the different backgrounds.

Anyway, below are some of the photographs from the shoot that I love. I want to wish Erin all the best of luck in her new modeling career. You’re beautiful, Erin, especially inside where it really counts. :)

xoxo
Rita

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I met Tracey Harmon in the summer of 2009 at the annual FreedomFest convention held in Las Vegas. I was asked to go there to photograph some of the female activists who were selected to be in the Ladies of Liberty Alliance (LOLA) calendar. For years, Tracey has been very active with the Iraq Veterans Against the War organization and officially left the army as a conscientious objector. So it made perfect sense that her calendar page had an anti-war theme.

The day of her photo session, we got up at 5am to drive to the Vegas red rocks to catch the morning light. Anyone who knows me knows that without question, I am not a morning person. Tracey was a blast to work with and I was especially thankful for my friends Bekah and Brad who generously volunteered to be my assistants. Despite the early morning, everyone was pretty enthusiastic and I was really excited (and nervous) to be able to stretch my creative muscles with the shoot. Her original goal was to communicate a sense of surrender, and my goal was to do that while also capturing her inner strength, self-determination, and innate femininity.

When I got back to my hotel room to review the shots later that morning, I was seriously blown away. Not only was Tracey gorgeous, but the location and light were absolutely perfect and worth every ounce of effort it took to pull myself out of bed.

Below are some of the previously unreleased shots taken from our session. As you’ll see, Tracey’s eyes truly are the window to her soul. I am now, just as I was then, filled with a deep sense of honor to have been invited to peer into such a sensitive place. Tracey is beautiful, both inside and out. I genuinely admire her carefree spirit, strong sense of self, and heart filled with deep love and compassion. And I’m very proud to call her a friend. :)

Love you Tracey! <3
Rita

PS: Please help send Tracey to Iraq on a peace-keeping mission! Tracey will be documenting human rights violations against civilian populations and meeting with various relief groups and Iraqi civilians. She will also be conducting local radio interviews and blogging with live footage and reports from the ground.

From Tracey: “I will be taking letters from veterans in Iraq Veterans Against the War – letters of remorse, grief, and apology for losses. I will accept personal responsibility for the damage due to my participation, as a former soldier, and work towards alleviating human suffering in any capacity I can.”

To donate to her trip, visit iamlola.org or contact 559-IAMLOLA

And this was her final calendar image… Just stunning!

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Within a week, Kasper and Val were meeting and planing a schedule to work together. And I, of course, noticed immediately the cool “look” Kasper had with his crazy curly hair, amazing blue eyes, and hip fashion sense. I asked him if he’d want to do a photoshoot with me one day and he says that another photographer wanted to do something with him too. I find out that the other photographer was actually my friend Jackie Jackson. So her and I got together and decided to do the shoot together. (btw: I can’t say enough about Jackie. She’s fantastically fun and has been wonderfully supportive of me trying to get my business off the ground. I LOVE her!)

So, Jackie and I headed over with Kasper to the Cedar Park historical trains, and then to downtown Round Rock, to play. I’ve said before how I really want to incorporate a more fashion-like style to my work and Kasper was the perfect model for that. He was super patient and light-hearted as Jackie and I experimented with poses and backgrounds, which we both genuinely appreciated.

And my heart just leapt when he saw the final shots and was so happy with them. He was like a little kid, literally bouncing in his seat as he reviewed them! And I gotta say, seeing him so happy really helped give me the confidence to believe that maybe I can do this… follow my dream.

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A few months after that first meeting, I was on my way to Washington, DC to take Nena’s photos. Since all the shots were to express some kind of freedom and liberty theme, she decided to sport the Gadsden flag with the words “Don’t Tread on Me” proudly sprawled over her bikini on the front grass of the Capitol. I LOVED the idea and applauded her boldness. With camera in hand (and a deep breath) we headed out to do her photos. The shoot went off without a hitch, despite our slight fears that we might be asked to leave. Oddly enough, we were never stopped by any security, only gawked by them through their binoculars from the steps, which of course had us rolling with laughter.

Nena is such a sweetheart. During the trip, she just opened up her adorable home to me and, since I’d never been to DC, toured me around like an old pro. We even went to the national archives where we saw the Bill of Rights and US Constitution. Very fitting considering the whole theme of the trip. I really want to thank Nena for her genuine kindness and fun-loving spirit. I had such a good time working with her and am happy to have made such an awesome new friend.

XOXO
Rita Q

PS: This is the first of a bunch of posts I’ll be making from the LOLA calendar shoots, so stay tuned. And if you want to get your own printed copy of the final calendar, visit www.iamlola.org.

Here’s the shot that was selected for the calendar. Isn’t she just beautiful?!

And here’s a small sample of some of the other shots we took. Just look at those baby blues!

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