When JoAnn contacted me about having photos taken for her anniversary, she mentioned bringing her dog. I’m more of a cat person, so all I could picture was the couple showing up with their ferocious animal and having to mask my fear as it bared it’s teeth to show me it was in charge. Well, when they showed up with the cutest, softest powder puff of a puppy, I knew we were in for a fun time.

This was one of those perfect shoots that almost didn’t happen. We had to reschedule our shoot a bajillion times due to the weather. In fact, it rained the day of our shoot, and I even called to see if they wanted to throw in the towel, but they were game. (I seem to get great, easygoing clients like that!) I actually prefer to shoot when it’s overcast, so it ended up being fantastic.

You read it right, I took my family to a place called Mt. Trashmore for photos. It’s not as bad as you think. It doesn’t smell and there are no piles of trash anywhere.

When I was a little girl in Virginia Beach, it never occurred to me that out-of-towners would find the park’s name funny. It was and still is an awesome park with a huge hill that will tire out any kid. Next time we go, we will have a kite flying contest; the top of the hill is the best place on earth to go fly a kite.

Anyway, here are some photos of my gorgeous family. I can’t believe how my nieces and nephews are growing up and having their own families. Who knows how they keep getting older and older, while I grow younger and more beautiful each year.

Enjoy!

My niece Ciani, Donte and Jourdan Noelle

If you can resist this face, then your heart is made of stone!!!

Jourdan, Nina, Alana, Ashley (on the phone calling her hubby, my nephew, who is late for the shoot!) Anthony and Ciani.

My niece Alana, who tweets all day and night!

Alana and her friend from college, Lesley.

Cutie Patootie Nina Boo!

Anthony, Ashley and Kris

The guys! Drazey, Anthony, Jontre’, Kris, Donte

My great niece Tiniya could only stop by for a few minutes. Kris is her daddy.

I love how they’re making the exact same face!

Meet Imani Rose, my gorgeous friend who doesn’t look a day over twenty-five. In fact, she will  celebrate her fortieth birthday next month! We had a fantastic session in Sherwood Gardens, a cute little park in the middle of the city. She’s an adventurous lady who was up for anything, including climbing trees in 6 inch heels and repeatedly spinning around in circles. (I loved seeing her long locs in motion). Here’s one of my favorites from the session. I’ll post more soon!

Many people know me as a wedding and portrait photographer, but not many people know about my obsession with tattoos and other forms of body art. The human body is is incredible and beautiful and I love to learn about how different cultures adorn their bodies.

As a grad student finishing my last semester at the University of Baltimore, my class were given one word to design an entire project around-Language.

Deciding to do a photography project called “Body Language” was my natural instinct. During the semester, I photographed and interviewed several tattooed folks and began learning the unique stories behind their art. I’ve been re-exploring the project recently and I’ve begun to include other forms of body art, including body paint, henna, piercings, traditional body jewelry and brands. I got inspired to add body paint to the collection after attending the Tuaca Body Art Ball on assignment for Baltimore.Metromix.com. The show was absolutely amazing and so well choreographed. Each “canvas” was painted to match the performance piece they were involved in. I wrote about it last year and you can read it here. The link to my photos are gone, but you can see them on my flickr page.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get a press pass to this year’s ball, but I still attended and had a great time. I even got to meet some of the artists and performers, thanks to Amy Walker, who’s been painting bodies for more than 10 years. Shortly before this year’s ball, I began contacting body painters to collaborate on a project involving models painted to look like animals. In case you were wondering, I got newly inspired watching marathons of America’s Next Top Model.

I put out the call for painters and Sophy Tuttle, a fantastic artist and face painter enthusiastically got back to me. I also found some great models on Model Mayhem and we are now working on expanding the project.

Here is one of the photos from a recent shoot.

Maurissa at The Living Well is allowing me to host an art show and I’m planning to unveil part 1 of the Body Language Project then. The project is ongoing & to get involved, email me at lakayem@gmail.com.

Kelly is one of my closest friends. You might see her appear on my blog from time to time because she allows me to practice new photo techniques whenever the mood strikes.

She’s an awesome model and now that she’s a yoga instructor, I can have her do all kinds of twists and turns and she’ll hold the pose until I get my lighting right.

You can find out about her yoga sessions on her blog Kelly Blue Yoga.

“A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are.” I think this applies to us. Thanks Miss Kelly for your continued support!

Here’s a photo from one of our sessions.

We had so much fun last weekend at The Living Well. It was wonderful to meet new people and reconnect with dear friends. We took a lot of great photos, but here are a few highlights.

Enjoy!

It’s amazing how many Virgo’s are around me. My mom and plenty others have graced my life and attempted to organize my hectic and crazed world. (Much to their dismay I revert back to the craziness as soon as they leave.) I’ve learned a lot from them and most recently have learned from Makeda, who turned 21 and was organized enough to have a very grown up and sophisticated day planned for herself and her best friends. She’s a proud Morgan State student and was my first official photography student.

Without our weekly meetings I don’t think I would have been as prepared for my first photography class I taught this summer. Thanks Makeda!

I was very excited and honored that she asked me to document her milestone birthday.

High school drama, job promotions, career set-backs, demanding husbands & kids… These ladies have been through a lot together and they’re still hanging tough. Make-up artist, Wendy Tucker brought her crew together for a day of beauty and photography at the beautiful Living Well Yoga Studio in Charles Village. The model-friends (frodels? miends?) spent the day laughing and catching up, Wendy spent the day creating art on their faces and I did my best to capture it all.

Here’s a peak into their intimate sister circle.

Comments are welcome!