Senior Mentoring Session! {Senior Photography, Louisville KY}

Tricia and I have been friends since high school. In the archives there is even a faded photograph of us rockin our velvet prom dresses. And through the wonderful world of Facebook we reunited several years ago. Tricia is an amazing photographer. So when I was beginning this photography journey, I would longingly gaze at her work and secretly wish she would teach me all she knows. So I asked her!

I asked her to be my mentor, to guide me, answer my questions, critique my work - help me become a better photographer. And she actually said YES! ;) She tells me the only reason she did is because she saw potential and that made my heart race. Someone who I think is so completely talented sees potential in me. So our journey began.

It started with simple technical questions and morphed into these "aha!" moments where I learned these photography secrets that send you over the edge of good to great. She has become again one of my greatest friends and I am forever indebted to her for the instruction and encouragement she's given me over the last two years.

I have had the honor of being assistant to her on several of her shoots in Evansville, IN. And by the way, if you are reading this and you live in Evansville and will soon be graduating high school in 2014 - you HAVE to check out www.haydenburnsphotography.com She is the absolute BEST.

So imagine my excitement when I asked if she'd come to Louisville for the day and teach me and she said, HECK YEAH! I found us a model, we coordinated outfits, we scouted our locations... we ate our Tumbleweed salads then we were off on our photography mission.

She taught me lighting tricks, camera tricks and again I have several of those "AHA!" moments where my response to her everytime would be, "SHUT THE FRONT DOOR." We laughed, we got chased out of a private party's room, we froze to death by the river downtown, but MAN did we have some fun.

So with senior season upon us, I got to go to "school" and be taught a premier senior photographer - and THE RESULTS ARE OBVIOUS.

So you 2014 Louisville Seniors... I AM READY! Let's do this!!!

Mia Bella Photography & DIY Louisville

I was given the opportunity a year ago at the beginning of my business journey to photograph two beautiful ladies from the local Louisville crafting group D.I.Y. Louisville. With their ecclectic style and contagious laughs, it was by far still one of my favorite shoots.

Now, a whole year later, I have collaborated again with these lovely ladies for a fashion inspired shoot in preparation for their daytime television debut!! D.I.Y. Louisville has developed quite the following and one of their post popular weekly posts is their "What We Wore" Wednesdays.

These girls have a beautiful, fun and interesting style. Focusing more on the look than the price. And in my opinion {and pocketbook} that is a definite plus! Finding hidden treasures of vintage pieces at thrift stores, handmade jewlery and accessories from friends, heirloom pieces from family and shopping the sales racks at our beloved bulleye store Tar-jay {Target}. ;)

So for the next few weeks you need to check into www.DIYLouisville.blogspot.com and see what styles Julee has put together!! The first one was this past week and with beloved artsy Bardstown Road as her backdrop, her first outfit looks straight out of Urban Outfitters, but in the list of where she purchased her pieces - you will not see one high dollar store!!

Here is the post from last Wednesday: http://diylouisville.blogspot.com/2012/10/what-we-wore-with-mia-bella-photography.html#comment-form

And as a sneak peek, here are the pics - but you'll have to check out the site to see that great list!!!