Beckoning : Bridgette

Bridgette. Bridgette. Bridgette.

Where to begin? I could take this onto a million different directions. 

I could start out telling you how beautiful she is, but you see that.

  I could start by giving you a run down of our hilarious yet genuine friendship, but you've probably assumed that. 

 I could start by describing how she is my grandest cheerleader & has pushed me to believe in myself,

but that will probably get a little soggy.

Regardless of my ramblings, Bridgette is one of those people- that you simply don't know where to begin.

(Those are the best kind!)

Before I start detailing this shoot out I want to let you guys know how talented this girl is. 

I have a fear. That fear is going to the salon! I've never, ever had an expected experience. 

I've had a trim turn into 7 inches, a side bang suddenly morph into a 1 inch second grade picture, & 5 updos I had to REDO.  Honestly, I had lost complete hope with professional hair care! Until now!

If I didn't believe what I am about to tell you- I wouldn't bother in saying this.

This girl truly is a gem in the beauty industry. She esteems glamour & detail. 

She captures a vision & executes it perfectly! I don't know how many times I've gawked at her Picasso worthy eye makeup, or dragged her to my computer to recreate a hairstyle for me. 

I believe in this girl & am beyond blessed to have her as a part of my brand.

Brides: If you book Audra Dawn Photography, she is my girl! She offers an incredible discount for my clients & the best thing is- she comes to you! Hair + makeup. It's safe to say she is equally gifted in both.

This shoot came out better than I had expected taking into consideration it was a cold, dark, stormy day just before sunset! I was worried we had waited too long but I think we were able to work it out!

Bridgette will be no stranger to this blog- she's always up for my experiments! 

I've blabbered long enough.

 Enjoy!!!! 

CLICK "Read More"!

Spring Mini Sesh!!

I’m so excited to announce Spring Mini-Sessions!  I’ll be hosting Spring Mini-Sessions April 16th from 10-6!   Please email me if you are interested in booking a Spring Mini-Session with Audra Dawn Photography or if you would like more information.  

Why?

 Easter pictures, those dresses are way too cute to not remember!

 Mother’s Day gift

Get your best friends together before graduation! Friendship pictures are the new friendship bracelets! ;)

Your newborn's first Spring

Update your family photo- pups encouraged! 
Show off your adorable baby bump!

Want a few more Senior pictures to choose from? Or something that is more "you"?

Perfect excuse to put that wedding dress BACK ON!

or get a few engagement style pictures you were never able to have.

Grab your boyfriend, best friend, or just your favorite outfit! You really don't have to have a reason to book a slot, isn't being YOU enough? 

E-mail AudraDowning@Gmail.com

or

use AudraDawn.com

or

comment on this post

or

www.Facebook.com/AudraDawnPhotography

to claim your slot, ask questions, etc.

I can't wait to hear from you!

Dream Room

My husband & I have a dream room. It's in the basement of our house & it is where we both go to dwell, pray, contemplate, reflect, seek, cry, laugh, & mostly....dream.

maps make incredible wallpaper ;)

So far my theme for 2011 has been anticipation & expectation. This is no exception!

I can't believe that it's only March & I've already seen a major breakthrough in 2 areas of my life, & a 3rd is on it's way! I felt like this year was going to make up for lost time & at 10 fold.... it already has.

I spent the beginning of my young adulthood focusing on love, so many people spend their whole lives searching for that one great love & I have been so blessed to have found him.

Recent collage from our 15 minute spontaneous snow shoot! :)

Even though it's a bit out of order- now that the dust has settled in my life I can actually see glimpses of my future. I was a fearless teenager- it seems the moment I turned 20 I unknowingly gave into fear after fear, I was completely crippled in pursuing anything that I may have felt inclined towards.  I just knew this year was different & now that I am starting to see the puzzle pieces slowly come together- I am doing everything within myself to shut fear out at the door & live as though fear was never there.  I am in awe at the details of this freedom- I had a word spoken over my life 9 years ago- & for the very first time- it's been revealed to me.

This word was purposed for this time. I had almost lost hope. almost.

I haven't even braised the surface of seeing the manifestations & feeling the revolution within me, but the fact that the PROMISE is there, is mind boggling to say the least!

Now, my challenge is to LIVE my life on this promise- fears & all.... & see what happens. 

With all of this being said I want to clarify something.  This isn't easy, it's actually extremely challenging & it's not glamorous, it's not fun- it doesn't feel good- but if the benefit is anything like what I've already experienced- 

the freedom really will justify the pain it's taking to get there.

"The future belongs to the few of us still willing to get our hands dirty" 

Love, Audra

Styled Shoot : Modern Day Alice

"If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense.

Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't.

And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be.

And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?”

These girls! Phew! Ok. Let me clarify- my sister & her best friends. As exhausting as this day was- it was well worth it.  We started our day 3 hours late & a dollar short. Can you imagine styling 5 different girls, not just diverse style wise- but personality! I have never met such a different group of girls- they all brought an incredibly special take to a modern day Alice.  

My bedroom had sparkles flying, feathers falling, dresses, tights, & over sized hair flowers everywhere. It was a sight to see. I know Heath appreciated it. ;) By the way, Heath totally rocked this day out! Not only is he the best husband a girl can ask for but he is an outrageous photo assistant! I don't know how many miles he ended up carrying that stout, gold couch around the forest! 

Once the girls saw the "set" make believe suddenly became reality & you could feel the excitement in each girl- waiting for their moment to be beautiful. 

 (Another reason why I LOVE styled shoots)

P.S. Word to the wise- if you want teenage girls to focus- don't put them around a table of whimsical pastries, cakes, cookies, & parfaits... they were infatuated.. & hungry, to say the least!

We have Hannah, Jazzy, Siera, Karina, & Nadia... strikingly unique yet equally stunning. 

Click READ MORE! :)

Styled Shoot: Katie

This shoot was a purposely styled shoot- part of the "Styled Shoots" portion I am working on- not necessarily clients-I seek out the types I need for these shoots. I had dreamt this up a few years ago, scouted a location, styled the overall look, & asked my beyond perfect, gorgeous, & stunning friend to pose. I am in LOVE with the results. Couldn't be closer to my vision.

For those of you who aren't familiar with what a styled shoot means to me- you can click THIS to find out!

Katie is not only one of the best mothers I know but she is a stunning person inside & out. 

She is probably one of the only girls I know who can pull off just about any look & do it with such sophistication.  Though the weather was a bit chilly the atmosphere was far from it.  Katie & I found some inner bravery as we explored through this nostalgic, abandoned property. Between our rat paranoia & constant battle to NOT fall through the floor- I think the pictures turned out beautifully. 

I wanted to give Katie a big THANK YOU for agreeing to my ridiculous venture & literally bringing life to the images.

Click READ MORE! :)

Tirzah Take 2!

Photo Shoot #2. 

I loved everything about this day.  It was so inspiring- this girl lights up in front of the camera.  Her eyes are mesmerizing & her smile is contagious.  There are so many personal touches & hidden meanings behind every picture.  From her father's college sweater to a stage with a dream. Enjoy!

Lovely:Laura

Driven.  Desired.  Dedicated.

Faithful. Stunning. Lovable. True.

A drop in the character bucket when it comes to little Miss Laura Jean. 

The day of our photo shoot was like any other Audra & Laura day. Just another phase & adventure to add to our 11 year tried yet so true friendship.  Downtown Lawrence is such a photography staple but it seems to never shine the same way. Each person brings something beautiful to the surface-even if I shot there a million times.

We started our day jamming out to Taylor Swift which completely inspired this whimsical shoot. Laura & I have always played make believe & this certainly was no exception.  Carrying way too many props & can cans (mysteriously found in the trunk of my car) we bravely trotted down a forest path where we discovered a perfect, circle, opening... as if it were prepared by God just for us. That's our theory anyways. :) Here are some of my favorites from the day & a video montage! Enjoy!