I don't like admitting when I'm nervous.

Mainly because if I pretend to have it all together I can fool myself (and everyone else) into believing it...most of the time! But when I was prepping for this shoot, I realized I was pretty nervous about it. Excited, but nervous. I've never worked with a band before, and I wasn't sure how my "style" would translate into band pictures. I wondered if I should I change things up with darker images and textures even though that's not really what I do. In the end I decided to stick with my style. I've worked with these guys before, and they hired me knowing what my work looks like. I was still nervous though, so Anderson came with me to help set up shots and tell me if I was shooting crappy images. He's honest like that. :) It ended up being a really cool shoot. The guys are super-nice, easy to work with and have a strong sense of style. They brought reinforcements too-Ryan's wife, Marie, is a killer stylist and made sure the guys looked GOOD even when it started raining on us! I'd like to take her with me on every shoot.

The guys are working on an album-I'll have to keep you updated when they release it! For now, here's a little preview:

All of my OPAM projects start out the same way. "It seemed like a simple project..."

I wanted to add some spunk to my master bathroom this month, but a sad little bookshelf in the garage kept calling my name and distracting me from the bathroom. Every time I got out of my car it said in the most pitiful voice, "Lyndsay please rescue me from this messy garage and get Anderson's smelly soccer cleats off of me." I ignored it until I got a vision of how cute it could look in the kitchen then rushed to Hobby Lobby to buy supplies.
**Side note:** Last month I got several emails asking me to please be more descriptive and provide instructions for my OPAM projects. I'll try! I've never been good at giving instructions/directions. I can show you a lot easier than I can tell you. Maybe I need to make a video-ha! And thanks for telling me about your own projects through facebook and email. I love hearing about them and seeing your before and after pictures too!

Before.

The dusty shelf desperately needed to either be thrown out with the garbage or given a big makeover. So I decided if the makeover didn't work I'd just go with the first option.

Here's the step-by-step:

-Cleaned and lightly sanded the bookshelf (just enough to rough up the finish a little).
-Removed the shelves and detached the piece of wood from the back.
-Started spray painting with Krylon paint in Pumpkin Spice. This is where the simple project became not-so-simple.
-Realized I should have primed the bookshelf, because I was going from dark brown to orange.
-Went to Lowe's and bought a quart of Pumpkin Spice paint and a small roller. It worked great!
-While the paint was drying I used spray adhesive to glue six sheets of scrapbook paper to the wood piece that goes on the back of the bookcase.
-Rolled another coat of paint and let it dry. Actually I went out of town and forgot it was in the backyard-oops!
-Reattached the back piece with small nails and replaced the shelves.
-Placed the bookshelf in it's new home-the kitchen. :)

After.

I love it! Fun and bright and just a little bit over the top! It's already cluttered with some of my favorite goodies.
Top shelf: Pink vase I've had forever, little white owl from a thrift store, vintage juicer that belonged to my Grandma.
Second shelf: Cook books- I use them all the time-ha!, thrift store mug that says, "Those who indulge BULGE!", Capri Blue candle from Anthropologie.
Third shelf: Decorative paper thingy, skunk from the thrift store.
Bottom shelf: "Good Times Always" sign from my Mom and more cook books.

Speaking of thrift stores...last week I spent a whole day going from one to another. I never do that, but it was so much fun! Everything in this picture was around $40. I wish I could "tag" it like on facebook or flickr to tell you about all the little treasures! The cow head is definitely my favorite purchase of the day. I have no idea what it is or what you're supposed to do with it, but I do have a plan for the little guy!

And this is completely unrelated to the post, but I think he's so cute with his mohawk. :)

...with this guy!

Next stop: South Florida.
Okay, actually our next stop is the Hilton breakfast buffet. :)

*ADDED*
A few pictures of our little trip from the point and shoot camera.

Jupiter Beach, Florida.

It was a rough few days. :)

Anderson pretending to sleep.

Me, really sleeping.


Jupiter Beach Resort and Spa. We loved this place. They put us in the Penthouse!

Best-part-about-vacation: eating.

Dessert? Um, yes please.

He'll have some too!

Recognize these faces?

You might have seen them here, here, here, here, here and here. Wow! I've worked with these beautiful girls A LOT this year and have enjoyed every minute of it. What a funny group of girls. :) They told me earlier this summer that they wanted to book a photoshoot with "the whole group" as well as their individual sessions. So we all met in St. Augustine one Saturday and explored the city together.

Megan, Kirstin, Taylor, Alicia and Ashley: Thank you for the laughs!

"2-0-1-0-!"

One of the girls mentioned that this was their very last senior photoshoot. I asked if they needed to have "a moment".
This is them having their moment of sadness. Hahahaha!

Last month I attended the Jacksonville Shoot Club's first event. What a fun night! As usual when I participate in a group shoot like this, I did more talking with the other photographers than I did actually shooting the models. I just can't help it! It was great meeting other photographers who keep up with my blog. Thank you so much for coming up and introducing yourselves. It's always fun making new friends and catching up with old ones. :)

The Jax Shoot Club is open to any photographer in J-ville, and it's headed up by two couples: Melanie & Bradford Watson of La Dolce Vita Studioand Kara and Jeremy Pennington of Kara Pennington Photography. They've done such a great job with the group already. For the first "shoot out" they provided us with some killer models and organized everything so that the evening went really smooth. This was one of the best group shoots I've ever been a part of.

We also had some wonderful vendors:
Makeup and Hair: Faythe Mesic
Bridal Bouquets: Anything with Plants & Flowers
Lauren's (the funky bride) Dress: Solutions Bridal of Gainesville. Her dress was by designer Alvina Valenta and her veil was by Lori London.

Our first models were:
Kelly & Chris

I like to shoot the shooters!

Shain and Kara

Candice and Ezra

Halfway through the shoot I noticed a familiar face in the crowd. A famous, familiar face! I nudged my friend Gingerand asked, "Is that Candice Cunningham? Like, THE Candice Cunningham?" It was! She was doing a tour and stopped in Jacksonville for the night. I met her earlier this year at WPPI and absolutely love her work. She graciously pretended to remember me-nice girl!

Ginger, Candice and Me


Next, we worked with Lauren:

And finally, Julianne and Greg:
I was disappointed that I didn't have more time with these two, but I'm working with them again later this fall!

Mel, Brad, Kara and Jeremy, Thanks for all your hard work! I can't wait to see what you come up with next!