A Woman 2.0?

A small addition...(Rocker version video)
http://animoto.com/play/pSI3bWZMSRRn3HmwNc90jw

Thank you everyone for hitting this blog HARD guys!!!  Thank you!!  Check out the 'rocker' version of Donna Devlin on the link above.

Thumbnails in Aperture

A Woman

There is definitely something special about Donna Devlin. Not only do daisies sprout from her very toes as she walks, she's seems to have her engine finely tuned for just about anything. And she makes it all look effortless.

She's 42, lives in PSL, Florida and has a very full life.  One of the things I like about Donna is her 100% presence. When she's with you, she's with you. Yet, she's got 15 things going on at any given moment.

She joined us for the first time last month for our Petal shoot with Sami.  She did a great job as our HMUA and she fell into the shoot like a veteran. Instinctively she knew when to grab a reflector or eyeliner and keep running, equally she knew when to pause the shoot to fix a flaw that would mean hours later in post.

So when she told me she's never been photographed I couldn't help but invite her for a simple 'character' shoot. Its a shoot designed to show the person's personality. We get them to warm up to the cameras and show their personality. Easier said that done.  So, she packed her trunk for the shoot, as instructed with all kinds of stuff, and like Mary Poppins' she presented a 'billowy skirt', a 'cool pair of cowboy boots', a 'cozy sweater', an 'interesting piece of jewelry' all on command. Good job!

I'll risk making a tall statement and say that she is what most women want to be when they grow up.  She can juggle a full house with kids and school and sports and soccer games and a rocker husband, her own business or and even those P90X Workouts! (good grief woman!)

She's got the right mix of ambition, mischief, delivery, fairness, sensousness, strength, playfulness and curiousity all mixed together.  She's, she's...for lack of a better term, a woman, aged to perfection.

She delighted and charmed us with her energy and being so wonderfully comfortable in her own skin. Its refreshing to see someone happy to be who they are.

Later when I got home and went through the images I marveled at the ease with which she let us in.
We get a strong sense of who she is, we can see it written all over her. Yet, we don't have her all figured out.

Nope, not this woman. You'll never figure her out. Women will aspire to be more like her (have you seen her arms?) and men? Well, they'll aspire too.  :)

I'll paraphrase from 'Women who run with wolves'... you are just you for today, tomorrow and all it's tomorrowness is another day. You don't know where you'll be or who you'll be. But for today dance in the moment, revel in the pleasure of being you.  There is only one you.  No other creature has ever walked on this earth like you. No other woman walks like you, smells like you or smiles like you.  It would seem Donna wrote the book. :)

Be sure to check out the video.  :)

Please note Linifotto is going to be officially changing the name to Pretty Muse. Website and Facebook links are currently under construction.  So don't forget "Pretty Muse".  It's a better fit, right?


Links:
Linifotto on Facebook  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pretty-Muse-Photography/248423378531826?sk=wall
Pretty Muse on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pretty-Muse-Photography/248423378531826?sk=wall

Donna Devlin Facebook  http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000944132998

Donna Devlin Hair and Makeup website  http://www.donnadevlinhairandmakeup.com/

keywords:  linifotto, linifotto photography, beauty and the beach photography, pretty muse, pretty muse photography, be the muse, model mayhem, stuart florida photography blogger, stuart florida, stuart, florida, treasure coast, treasure coast florida, martin country, martin county florida, stuart blogger, stuart blog, stuart florida blogger, stuart florida blog, treasure coast blogs, new blogs, fresh photography, girlie photography, new portraiture, stuart photographer, stuart photography blog, sami roth, samantha roth, mediary, kiss & makeup, port st. lucie makeup artists, MUA, HMUA, jensen beach, donna devlin, donna devlin hair and makeup

When a woman is a Woman

Some people are effervescent. Some just prance around life with an extra amount of zing. This one, Ms. Donna Devlin, yes the very same Donna who did that amazing makeup job on the Petal Look, got in front of our cameras to feel what it's like being the subject of all that attention.  She tells us she's never done this before.

Reeee-ally?!

She was looking extra fabulous, full of energy and it was all we could do to keep her feet from, well, er....you'll see.

The big video reveal on Wed, followed by a blog post of what its like working with this special woman. Yes, Donna you are definitely a rock star. 

The Petal Look Post

Part 1 

The Goal:  Branding photographs for Linifotto 

The Look:  Vivid colors, strong, impactful, energy, cheeky, whimsey and always girlie

Words that describe our brand:  Feminine, intimate, slightly moody and complicated, muse worthy

CREDITS: (See their links below)

Model:  Sami Roth

HMUA:  Donna Devlin

Styling:  Linifotto and Sami Roth and Donna Devlin

Winner!!!  This is everything I wanted in a promo picture. Strong, Feminine, Cheeky, Energy, Vivid.  Right on the money!  I can envision a banner across my blog with this image.  Sami, you make this look so easy. 

I have to comment on the makeup. It truly merits attention. Even though Sami is a professional MUA, (Makeup Artist) we brought in another professional, Donna Devlin, HMUA (Hair and Makeup Artist) from Port St. Lucie, to make a crazy day better for Sami.  

Donna certainly had a big job on her hands, this was NOT an easy first assignment. Makeup for this kind of shoot has got to be impeccable. This was the SUPER tight shooting. This girl came to rock this shoot and she totally nailed it. Amazing work!

Donna doing her artistry on Sami.

Doing makeup for commercial professional photoshoots and the private sector (like weddings) are part of Donna's regular work schedule and she sailed through our shoot like what I'd imagine a NYC runway HMUA would! I actually kinda fell in love with her. Totally.  Find Donna Devlin by clicking her links below. (And tell her what you think about orange eyeshadow.)

Tiny commentary (That was weird, it's my blog. It's all my commentary. No eye rolling!)  So could  orange eyeshadow be the new black?  Like, why wear black or brown on your eyes when you can wear orange, right?  Work with me, so just go ahead and shave off one of those silk flowers in your kitchen and be-petal yourself.

You know the line, "that a butterfly can flap her wings in South Africa and end up causing a mud slide in California", so you can imagine what effect those petalled eyes might have on the course of mankind. Your batting lashes might save the world in 2012.  Yes, I think I'm on to something here.

OM-gee, ok?  I friggen love this album art feel in the finishing.  I'm so glad I get to do this all the time, there is absolutely nothing I'd rather do.  I've waited most of a life time to do it. 

Ode to Mariah:  Girl, this is a killer mask you made.  Sooo wish you could have been here for this.  And while I'm ode-ing; ode to Manny Librodo and Hilde Marie Johansen, favorite photographer and stylist. Find links to their work below.

 

Note: Stealing makes me sad. 

All photography herein is the sole property of Linifotto and may not be copied or used without my permission. But ask me! :) (c) copyright 2011

This shoot was a total success! I'm very happy, I got exactly what I wanted. It was awesome to work with Sami again, you never cease to amaze, you are definitely muse material!  Donna Devlin, where have you been all my life?  Love, love your artistry. You paid such careful attention to my slightest direction and concern. You are a professional par none!

I've saved this green one for last.  

LJ Masty Facebook  http://www.facebook.com/lj.masty
Linifotto Facebook  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Linifotto/150738844987356
Donna Devlin Facebook  http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000944132998
Donna Devlin Hair and Makeup website  http://www.donnadevlinhairandmakeup.com/
Samantha Roth Facebook  http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1012745442
Samantha Roth Kiss & Makeup Facebook  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kiss-Make-Up/119752024747190
Manny L. Librodo, extraordinary photographer, Facebook Link  http://www.facebook.com/manny.librodo
Manny Librodo, (huge library of work here)  http://www.pbase.com/manny_librodo
Hilde Marie Johansen, who styled the image that inspired this shoot and so much conversation, Facebook  http://www.facebook.com/hilde.m.johansen
Mariah Janbou  http://www.facebook.com/mariahjanbou



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Sneak Peek on the Petal Shoot

You swooned when you saw this face, didn't you?
It's ok. 
You TOE-TELLY swooned!

I saw you.

Full post coming up!

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I'm the thing that warps time long enough...

It was 1970, I had been sitting on the bottom shelf of the magazine section in the dime store for at least an hour. Thankfully they hadn't asked me to leave. They never did. I was 13 and showed up every Friday after school with my allowance and did the same thing. Bought a chick magazine. I stood up switched magazines and curled up again on the bottom shelf to get transported into Vogue's version of never-never land. Dreamy. Yes, and it took a lot of time valuing the pages to finally decide which magazine should be brought home and later completely disected.

All that prettiness and shine and glossy hair and sleekness was going to manifest itself in me. Somehow.  My teenage flat-chested body was convinced I'd learn how to get my boobs to grow and my feet to stop. Heck, I was running out of time and very worried my body had things backwards. At 13 this was just about the most important thing in my life. At least until I thought about the store owner's son coming down the isle.

(Ha, no I didn't photograph Anna Nicole Smith for this Guess ad, but it WAS memorable, and unfortunately I don't know who did). 

It's complicated and I can't remember whether I was hopelessly attracted or revolted. but I do remember, clearly, the crackle from his arm brushing across the top of my head as he walked too close down my isle. My hair had been singed, it was electric. I was certain of it. He may have been flirting but I was mortified. Or maybe it was livid. Exact feelings were too difficult to decipher at that age. But, what had just happened?  Could he see the girl I was caught deep inside my own head?  I felt vulnerable and transparent and self-conscious. Surely he saw the desperation I felt studying the models in the pictures. I was so busy wanting to be the pretty girl who was flirting with the boy on the glossy pages that I didn't notice I already was.  And...

The proof was still tingling on my head.

Yet, like any proper teenager I was horrified especially after I quickly looked away and then down.  And there it was.  Neatly aligned.  My unbreastesses and then my feet right below them. I needed to go home immediately and look in the mirror quick to see if I could see what he saw, surely he didn't notice my, well, feet? 

(This is Morgan, adorable, young and full of laughter.) 

Funny how often this pattern of wanting what I already had would be repeated through my life and how often I couldn't see it.  Looking back at how often I missed myself trying to catch up to who I wanted to be and who I was and then later find out that it already happened and I missed the fullness of the moment. How many women miss the fullness of their moment?

Today, I can show a woman her beauty by photographing her.  Later, when she's stammering amazed at herself. Proud. The promise in her heart, that she is beautiful. Her visible confusion whether it's ok to be giddy loving herself or be ashamed is all the confirmation I need. That's when I'm content. I'm the thing that warps time long enough to let the girl catch up with herself. I let her look back over time and reveal the amazing beauty she has right NOW. I distract her long enough during the shoot to let her magical self emerge and then capture her.

Once those photos are taken home and studied she senses the preciousness and rapidly changing life she lives. She knows instinctively that no matter what tomorrow brings she relished today and has proof of it. Promises are made to be more self-aware and in her moment.


P.S.  Yes, my feet stopped growing.  And that other thing?  Yeah, that happened, they grew. The boy? I don't recall but I bet I wasn't the only fire he set.

20 days and now look

This little blog grew. Quickly!  Thanks!!

In 3 weeks this blog went from being a private project with just a few hits to over 650 hits.

Surprisingly enough people from 11 countries have visited. (cough cough...makes me a tad nervous, I liked it when I just wrote posts and didn't think anybody was reading it.)  Here you'll find photography.  Lots and lots of pictures. Mostly photos of people. I consider it photography that makes women (of all ages) look super fabulous.  It's also about Stuart, Florida.

This model is Kay.  She's incredible and incredibly 50.

The look and feel for this shoot was a fashiony portrait session. Energy and vitality.

This was at the House of Refuge on Hutchinson Island off Stuart, Florida. Its a favorite spot for professional photographers.

Happy Labor Day Weekend.

Keywords:  Kay, kay morgan, stuart, stuart florida, martin county, treasure coast, jensen beach, photography, portraiture, new style of photography, barter, small local business, stuart blogger, blogger in stuart, photographer blogger, beauty blogger, being over 50, linifotto, beauty & the beach photography,