I have BIG, extravagant, sometimes crazy ideas.
And... there is nothing sweeter or more gratifying then having a big extravagant idea and an incredible group of people who believe in you that help you pull it off. I'm constantly amazed at the people in my life who love and support my crazy dreams and who hold me up as I run after what seems a little over the top {example: spray painting 47 chairs teal.. because it's cuter}. Truly, that has been the past few months for me with FLY. I've had beautiful conversations with friends, loving and supportive and encouraging conversations with Fabio and some of my other family members... and it has all come to this incredible season with the c/o 2014 Model Experience. God has blessed me. Greatly. And I couldn't be more excited for what is yet to come this year with FLY...
I am seriously SO excited for this year's FLY Model experience, but especially my c/o 2014 FLY model team. My dream was to create an experience for Seniors that is more then just a Senior photo shoot, but a year-long photographic extravaganza of modeling. I've been dreaming of ways to build up my girls on more then one occasion, to show them how amazing they are throughout the year, to create an absolutely one-of-a-kind Senior year for them, and to build relationships with them and their families. And so, the FLY Model experience was birthed a few months ago, and miraculously, I had quite a fantastic turn out. I am so blessed to have the model team completely filled with twenty-eight incredible, funny, smart, and gorgeous girls!! And while I certainly have my work cut out for me this summer with so many shoots, there is just nothing like getting to know each of these young woman and having the privilege of capturing their beauty and personalities through my lens. I'm thrilled! And so excited that I get to see them every few months for future shoots and fun!
So, to kick off the start of the 2014 Senior Model Experience, I had my model team gather at the house for a mustache themed BBQ, complete with custom photo booth and a build your own gourmet slider bar {I'm nuts! This was so much work, lol}. We hung out getting to know one another, played games and discussed our upcoming model shoot with Roadkill Ranch Boutique. Then all of the girls chose their Senior session dates for the summer and I had them fill out some fun questionnaires to help me with shoot design.. and after reading through them, I am seriously stoked for each and every photo shoot that is coming up in these next few months. They will all be so different and original! YAY, fun!!!
I felt that a photo booth was an essential part of the BBQ, and I'm so glad we did it because it was a total hit. We all made goofy faces, and held silly mustaches and props and had a ball, while my insanely adorable and supportive husband grilled mini-sliders on the BBQ and on occasion jumped in to the fun. Fabio's parents came over earlier in the day to help us set up, and honestly, I am SO thankful for Anna and Eliseo's help. We for sure wouldn't have been ready in time without them!! Truth=it takes a village.
I need to say a very special thanks to my dear friend and the insanely talented photographer, Jen Disney, for sharing her brilliant talent and capturing our afternoon with her camera. All of these images belong to her.. Girl, you are incredible! Thank you SO MUCH!! Also, BIG thanks to Katie Johnson, my intern, for her help, you rock! I cannot say enough about how thankful I am to have such a incredible team of people in my life.. thank you friends for helping me with these big, crazy, extravagant ideas!
Here's to a lovely 2014 Model Experience!!!!
By Jess Spinella