Lifestyle | Done Brilliantly

Sports: Maple Grove Crimson Hockey

17 May Filed Under: Featured, Features, Lifestyle, Natalia, Sport

This shoot is a true testament to what a great photographer can do even in unexpected circumstances! This sports shoot by Maris Ehlers Photography is of four Senior High School boys who all play hockey and attend Maple Grove Senior High in Maple Grove, Minnesota. Three of the clients are also captains of the varsity hockey team, who were in the Minnesota Hockey High School Championships last year! Maris Ehlers had agreed to photograph them at the rink as part of their senior sessions, but when they got there on the day they had chosen, the janitor was not there and there were no lights on in the rink! Maris was disappointed and wasn’t really sure how they could pull this off. They took photos in the locker room first, and then went out on the ice.

It was about 90 degrees outside on that summer day, and the heat and humidity created a layer of fog above the ice about 5 feet tall. Maris Ehlers decided to take some risks with her off camera flash, and boy did it pay off! She told us, “To this day, I still get emails from high school boys across the state asking me if I can “do those shots” at their high school rinks. These images were chosen for the front cover of the Maple Grove Hockey Books, and have been a great way to capture new clients in the area.” Even in unplanned circumstances, Maris Ehlers did a fantastic job with this shoot!Thanks to Maris Ehlers Photography for submitting this superb sports shoot via Two Bright Lights!

Location: Maple Grove Community Center

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Filed Under: Featured, Features, Lifestyle, Natalia, Sport

Senior Shoot: Trinity Park, Texas

15 May Filed Under: Featured, Features, Lifestyle, Natalia

This Senior shoot in Fort Worth, Texas was inspired by high school student Dani’s clothing choices. The session took place in Trinity Park, which Ashley Mauldin Photography said is a client favorite because it offers so many possibilities for different looks! Ashley told us “Dani was such a fun Senior to work with. She was extremely comfortable in front of the camera, which made my job very easy. Her friend Tomi helped get some laughs out of her and once she loosened up, we all started being silly. I felt like a kid again! I wanted to showcase her beauty, so I chose to go with less contemporary posing, and leaned more toward an editorial type shoot, but wanted to keep it fun so I brought out my goofy side. I loved the combination of expressions and felt that the session was a way for her to show everyone that she’s grown up now. I loved that she let loose, and let me capture her in action.” A great photographer knows how to make their client look great and feel comfortable while doing so, and we can tell Ashley Mauldin Photography does just that!

The girl in the pictures with Dani is her brother’s girlfriend, Tomi, and they have become really close friends. Ashley chose to incorporate the cameras and “picnic” to complement the vintage dress. She also went with a gold chair to go with the purple dress because she liked the jewel tones, and wanted bold colors to make her stand out against the earthy background. Plus you can’t go wrong with a chair; it provides so many opportunities, and people get really comfortable when they have a prop to interact with!

Thanks to Ashley Mauldin Photography for submitting this creative senior shoot!

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Filed Under: Featured, Features, Lifestyle, Natalia

Lifestyle & Kids: Smash the Cake Session

9 May Filed Under: Featured, Features, Lifestyle, Natalia

We always loving seeing adorable birthday party shoots, but we also know that the best part of any birthday is tearing into a yummy treat! The “Smash the Cake” shoot is a fun session designed for one, two, or three year old kids. Simply provide a special little birthday cake, and let the child’s natural curiosity take over. The parents end up with a selection of images portraying wonder, surprise, and sticky, messy delight! This feature represents all of Greg Howard Photography‘s favorite smash the cake photos over the years. We just love the expressions of pure glee on all these kids’ faces!

Thanks to Greg Howard Photography for submitting these hilarious “Smash the Cake” photos!

Event Planner: Bella Dia

Cake Designer: Coastal Cake Company

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Filed Under: Featured, Features, Lifestyle, Natalia

Lifestyle: Family Fun Rain or Shine

4 May Filed Under: Featured, Features, Lifestyle, Shalyn

Summertime is quickly approaching, and it’s easy to think we can only have fun in the sun. But not so for the MacDougall family! This family proves they really can have fun together rain or shine! Renee of Renee Bowen Photography captured some adorable moments of the MacDougall family as they had fun together outside and inside at their California home. The facial expressions of these vivacious little ones are simply priceless!

Thanks again to Renee for sharing her beautiful images with us!

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Filed Under: Featured, Features, Lifestyle, Shalyn

Lifestyle & Family: Dad’s Sweet Lullaby

2 May Filed Under: Features, Lifestyle, Sophia

As a photographer, capturing people’s everyday, natural selves is key. All those sincere, bellyaching laughs and smiles exchanged in an offhand, second nature manner are the truly golden moments that every family wants to remember. For Kate Borgelt Photography, the photographer’s keen sense of observation paid off with such a memorable photo shoot!

The photographer caught a glimpse of a guitar in another room and asked, “Who plays guitar?” It belonged to Drew, dad to a one-month-old newborn, Halloran. Then came the obvious next question: had he played for his new baby girl yet? “Not yet,” Drew answered. So he pulled out the guitar and played a sweet lullaby for a sweet daughter. This unplanned portion of the photo shoot resulted in making, and capturing, a very special memory for the new family. So always remember to keep the camera ready for such spur of the moment, spontaneous instants!

Thanks to Kate Borgelt Photography for showing us that even the little moments, like singing a lullaby to a baby, are worth cherishing.

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Filed Under: Features, Lifestyle, Sophia

Fashion: Old Trains and Vintage Cars

1 May Filed Under: Fashion, Featured, Lauren, Lifestyle

What’s more fun than a 1940′s vintage fashion shoot? TWO vintage fashion shoots, of course! Revival Photography and RobinsonPortraits each captured the era of the forties and fifties with their themed photoshoots, complete with old fashioned cars, trains, and plenty of vintage flair. Our first feature from Revival Photography of Newton, North Carolina was styled to show off and promote the studio’s new vintage styled shoot! Stylist Shady Lady Vintage and hairstylist Salon Beyond transported their lovely model back seventy years with big curls and chic clothes, and a classic car is the perfect setting for this sassy shoot!

RobinsonPortraits opted for the train instead in their shoot! Model Krista and photographer Deandre had wanted to do a black and white vintage photoshoot for some time, and took advantage of a sunny day to head down to Old Sacramento for a shoot. The old rail road depot proved to be the perfect location for “something old, something new!”

Thanks to Revival Photography andRobinsonPortraits for sharing these fun shoots with us!

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Filed Under: Fashion, Featured, Lauren, Lifestyle

Lifestyle: Cozy Family at a Grand Castle

1 May Filed Under: Features, Lifestyle, Sophia

From the cozy archways to grand flying buttresses, the Mission Inn in this photo shoot from Brittanee Taylor Photography clearly earned its title as a National Historic Landmark . The Mission Inn, chosen by the photographer for its beautiful colors and architecture, transported the Perez family to a more romantic time of enchanted castles. It was easy to see the family of four had a blast as they explored every inch of the landmark. The classic Rotunda and Amistad Dome are just a few of the gems that await another creative mind to put its dazzling façade to use!

The Mission Inn, great for its breathtaking architecture, was also instrumental in bringing out the two little girls’ bright personalities in its surrounding downtown area. Filled with boutique shops, galleries, and theaters, the family enjoyed a break at an ice cream parlor. What a great way to show off the family’s natural happy dynamic!

Thanks to Brittanee Taylor Photography for sharing with us this cozy family’s big day at a grand castle!

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Filed Under: Features, Lifestyle, Sophia

Kids & Family: Baby Cole

30 Apr Filed Under: Featured, Lauren, Lifestyle

Baby Cole has to be one of the most handsome newborns we’ve seen on Done Brilliantly, but this fine young man is no camera hog! When Belkis of B. Hull Photography came to shoot portraits of Cole in his New York home, she couldn’t help but let family dog Earl sneak into a few shots. Have you ever seen such serious faces?? As if Cole’s cuteness weren’t enough, the photos’ soft textures, bright whites, and fun props (like that tie!) make this shoot even more memorable. Not only does Cole look extra comfortable, but the photos have just the right mix of modern style and baby sweetness.

Belkis credits Etsy designer EcoStreet with providing the adorable props that add character and interest to this shoot. EcoStreet makes everything from newborn hats and headbands to fur blankets and knit wraps, all of which work perfectly for photographing little ones! Details like these make closeups extra special and add the right amount of personality. Of course, Cole can pull off any look his photographer throws at him!

Thanks to B. Hull Photographyfor sharing adorable baby Cole with us (and Earl, of course!)!

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Filed Under: Featured, Lauren, Lifestyle

Lifestyle and Family: Bringing Home Baby

24 Apr Filed Under: Featured, Lauren, Lifestyle

Megan Small Photography helped this mom-to-be capture all of the anticipation of waiting for her new baby with these adorable baby shower and newborn photos! A few of Colleen’s closest friends threw her a pink and green baby shower, filled with pretty paper details, yummy baked goods, and plenty of gifts for the new baby. I especially love the photo garland above the gift table– what a great way to showcase these photos! After Liv’s arrival, Megan came back to shoot some darling photos of the nursery and the newborn. The resulting photos are just a perfect way for Colleen to remember all of the excitement of being a new mom!

Thanks to Megan Small Photographyfor capturing these special moments and sharing them with us via Two Bright Lights!

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Filed Under: Featured, Lauren, Lifestyle

Senior Portrait: California Girl

23 Apr Filed Under: Featured, Features, Lifestyle, Sophia

Summer is around the corner, and there’s no better place to celebrate it than Santa Monica, California. In this invigorating photo shoot, Megan Hayes Photography brought the fresh, clean feel of a California summer to Alejandra’s senior portrait. Not only did they choose the boardwalk and white beach used as backdrops, but they added pops of summer color in the dress, the roses, and more. The bright blues are especially brilliant, and we can’t help but be reminded of the crystal-clear ocean and the all the adventures that await!