I arrived about 40 minutes early. Better early than on time, and better on time than late I thought.

Plus, they didn’t know Norfolk. They had no idea how parking would be.

I walked through the group of die hard hipsters sitting on the porch sipping their lattes and petting the dog under the table. I surely stood out in my curled hair, skinny jeans and wedges. I grabbed a spot that already had three chairs and sat. Too nervous to order food what if I finished before they even got here? and not hungry anyways I’m about to lay it all out so eating should be skipped. 

I actually was so nervous I didn’t know if I was going to be sick or laugh uncontrollably or cry. THAT nervous. In they walked, Justin and Mary Marantz. Now I am not a girl to idolize or even really get fan girl moments, but I was so surprised they were HERE to meet ME that I blurted out ” Hey Mary!” like we are BFF’s from college days

If you haven’t had the pleasure to meet Justin & Mary, let alone hear them speak or even know their work, you are truly missing out. They are incredible speakers but more so GIVERS but I digress.

Over the next 2.5 hours we poured over my work and questions. Mary just kinda came out of the gate with questions and although I thought I was prepared, I assure you I wasn’t. At one point I just said “I don’t know. I just don’t have an answer.” They both reassured me that was OK! I don’t have to have all the answers. I told them my struggles, what I just knew wasn’t working but couldn’t determine WHY it wasn’t working, and then I told them my DREAM. I just really can’t profess enough my admiration and straight up LOVE for these two. I’ve been a fan of their incredible work for awhile but sitting and chatting with them, just really sealed the deal for me. They’re helped my get the ball rolling on some major shake ups in this business, changes for the better so I am serving my clients the BEST possible way. It is so important to me that anyone who finds my work, loves my WORK and then me. That my work isn’t just accepted because someone likes my hair, my clothes, my kids or my eyebrows 😉 I really do have eyebrow fans ya’ll 

Oh and then we went down to the water for portraits of ME. First, let me just say…Justin used my camera to shoot..so yep there’s that good juju that is now on there. Second, it is so terrifying to me to be in front of the camera. Everything I despise about myself just ready to be brought to light. Yet, in front of their cameras I didn’t feel self conscious at all! They are both so incredible at what they do, how they vibe off each other, move in sync with one another but don’t override each other. It was pretty amazing to watch. We finished the day up with a 3 hour dinner at Bodega’s tapas restaurant with my girlfriend Amanda. Dinner was great, the company was better and the conversation was the perfect nightcap.

I struggle with how much to give out, how much to conceal, how to do this or do that and really it boils down to this:

My goal for any client is to create sincere and pure portraits.

To serve my clients and provide them the most organic experience ever. In doing that, I can never be unhappy with my work.

I want MY picture to be the first image on your wall of life. To be the image that surpasses the trends and props. To be the image that when you move, it’s the first thing you put up because then you know you are HOME.

Mary and Justin: thank you’s just don’t seem to do in situations like this. I am so incredibly grateful and BLESSED that our paths crossed. I feel like I just can’t let you down. The knowledge and tough love you gave to me will not be wasted. Thank you for believing in the girl who just can’t quite have an answer for every question, who doesn’t cry over her passion she WORKS for it, and who may have just converted to a fangirl. 😉 xx