Serena Nicole Studios » Studio Journal

This may still be one of my favorite shots ever taken. It is a classic, that often reminds me  to stay true to my style. Not the style seen from the hearts of other photographers, but the style that comes from my own heart. It is also an award winner, voted on by some of the leading photographers in the world…now for the story.

As some of you may know I was a preschool teacher before turning a long time passion into what is now Serena Nicole Studios. In the last preschool class that I taught there was a very special little girl. I approached her Mom to see if I could play one morning, and she quickly agreed. The day came and it was a raining off and on outside and super windy. But we decided to just go for it. When we walked around the corner to see the beach it was low tide and breathtaking. There were tidal pools everywhere and I instantly imagined all the possiblilites playing with the reflections could bring. I have several shots from the day of her reflection all over the reef…but there was one. When I was taking it, it literally gave me goosebumps. Everything had fallen into the perfect moment.

She gracefully pulled her hair back as the wild wind was blowing it into her face, and then ever so gently reached to touch the water. It still gives me goosebumps!

That moment taught me so much about myself as a photographer. Every session has that moment in it. Sometimes it is almost like torture to myself because it will come in the last minutes of a session, and I realize I have almost been holding my breath waiting for it.  Then it rushes over me and it is a high like no other. I am a ‘ the moment’  junkie.

The most interesting part of this story to my own heart, is that I used this location weekly for almost two years. So much so that this location and I were like old friends. I knew the tides, the spots…it was comforting. The interesting part – this exact tide pool – never was left full again. That my friend, is truly a moment captured.

Thanks again for coming along with me…are you enjoying the stories?

Until Soon,

SN

I love looking back at old photos and remembering the stories that go along with them. I often do this with my own family, a glimpse around the house and I feel like I am right there living in that moment again.

Today while I was out driving on this beautiful spring day, I found my mind drifting back to some of my favorite photos of clients. Just like with my own family, I instantly recalled the stories and feelings that I felt so long ago. Then I thought how neat it would be to go back with you, to where it all began.  This time sharing the stories of what I was thinking or felt while shooting the portraits.

So take a walk with me if you will…down memory lane.

Shall we go all the way back to the beginning? I think it would only be right. Follow me to May 2005, to my very first session in Okinawa. I was at Torri Beach one day with my own family and saw this adorable family playing along the beach. I was just starting my business and so I too a deep breath, and I approached the Mom and asked her if I could ‘borrow’ their family for some portraits. To my delight, she happily agreed. So we met for our session on Mother’s Day and it was amazing. This family was so natural and played along with all of my ideas. I loved the dynamics of the siblings and during the entire session I kept brainstorming on how I could SHOW what I was feeling.  Then right before it was time to go, it came to me…and this is the shot that I saw in my mind.

This little guy and all of his sisters, HE was the rock star of the family! And this to me captured just that.  We had to do some pretty amazing tricks on the other side of the fence to keep these girls interested. If I remember correctly Dad was making the most funny faces and Mom was singing songs and clapping her hands! One of the girls would step down, and we would run put her back up and try again! It took a few minutes but we got it!

I have to say this picture made this white picket fence the MOST photographed fence in Okinawa!

More stories to come…

Until soon,

SN