What Makes One Beautiful: A Heart Covered in Red…
Red…hooked on red...a modern jumpsuit – or even a dress. We both knew how great she would look with her long, dark hair and beautiful skin contrasting with a true red with blue undertones. But - there was a problem. Allison had looked high and low for something red that she could feel great in during the photo shoot. She couldn’t find it. I knew she was disappointed. All was not lost, however. I had sent two things in preparation for the session. One was the Moments Portrait Style Guide magazine, and the other was an inspiration idea that I had for a twirling shot. Both focused on an ultra-feminine look, and she found the perfect combination of lace and subtle ruffles in ivory that would photograph beautifully on the beach with Hunter’s dark jeans and white shirt. One look she wanted…check…Just no red dress…
The day of the photo shoot…again…red…probably the color of Hunter’s throat. Allison texted me and said that he was sick. She hoped they would not have to postpone the session. I really wanted us to be able to get it in, because I knew what her pretty, ivory dress was like. Although the dress was beautiful, it offered no protection from the cold. It would be terrible if we rescheduled to a day in November when it was freezing! By the afternoon, she let me know he was feeling a little better. So, we decided to take advantage of the beautiful day and the “golden hour”, as we had planned.
Allison, her best friend, Rebecca, and Hunter, arrived for the session. They were all so sweet and polite as we were strategizing…all of them with precious personalities. It was the first time I had met Hunter or seen him with Allison, but it was clear, right from the start, how much they cared for one another. She was helping him with his pristine, white shirt so it would not wrinkle. She was trying to shield him from the wind as long as possible, since he had been sick. We headed out to start the session, and I felt so bad that I was asking them to hike up the beach, but he was very gracious as I assured them that it would be worth it. My nerves melted away as I saw how he warmed and looked like he had never felt better when she flashed that beautiful smile his way (…red…) as I started clicking the shutter on the secret path in the dunes. When I asked him to twirl her, and their eyes locked every time he rotated her to him, it was like they were the only two on that hidden, curving passage surrounded by sea oats. I instantly loved them as a couple and knew the shoot was going to be great…and I knew why.
Allison didn’t need to wear red, externally. Her testimony is that her heart is covered in red and inhabited by the Holy Spirit. I have heard her play her guitar and sing about it in songs like “O The Blood” and in others she has written like “Spiritual Battle”. Their hearts are covered in red. Their loving relationship is built on a foundation of serving the Lord together, traveling to different churches, playing and singing songs like “Thank You, Lord, For Your Blessings On Me” and “I Need You More Today”. So…the red was there all along, and it helped make the moments captured so special, and I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart for trusting me.
I’ll let you in on a secret.…It won’t hurt my feelings, though, if we get to do a session one day with that red dress….
Blessings ~
Lisa