End of Zoe Says Photo

This is the formal notification that 

ZOE SAYS PHOTOGRAPHY

will be coming to an end as of May 1st.

I will be rebuilding my business from the ground up, the right way. I want to better serve my clients and make the most of every day!

Thank you to everyone who has supported me and I hope and pray you follow me into my next adventure. 

Cheers to new Beginnings!

And be sure to come check out my new look!

www.pacileoandco.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/pacileoandcompany 

xoxo! 

Personal: Little Assistant 

So by now most of you have seen my latest family session that I posted here last week.. (and if you havent, you can check it out HERE).. but what you didnt see in those photos is what was going on behind the scenes. 

Who sets up and does all the real manual labor? The lifting and the rearranging, you know, the hard stuff? Well, it definitely isnt me! That just sounds terrible. So instead, I hired a 2 ft tall assistant. And you know what? She has been my best one yet! Yes, she gets a little cranky and can give a little attitude. And yes, sometimes she sleeps on the job. But all in all, she gets the job done. 

Happy Wednesday! 

Please know I do not endorse child labor in any way. 

Unless its the occasional foot massage. 

XOXO! 

High Desert Portrait Photographer

Family: Ruddell

Last week I was able to hang out with the teeniest little woman ever! Compared to my own daughter, she seemed so dainty and fragile in my hands. Its not hard to forget whats its like to hold something so small and perfect..

Meet the Ruddell Family! Ive known April, since Jr High but I never thought of what a fitting mom she would make one day. Though I haven't talked to her in years, I love getting the chance to play catch up with old friends. I was also able to meet her husband, Troy, who just beamed with that new dad love. Every spare second, he was holding and cuddling little Paetyn and you could genuinely see the love radiating off of him. During the session my own little monkey was playing close by, and then during a little break she made her appearance by running through the room in her crazy toddler way.  April looked at Troy and asked him "Aren't you excited for Paetyn to be that age?".. He answered with a simple, "No, I would be happy if she stayed this small forever.." 

That is the daddy glow. 

Usually I shoot outside but with the weather so unpredictable lately, we decided an indoor lifestyle shoot was fitting.. Heres just a little of the sweetness that was going on last week.. 

xoxo!

Personal: One Step at a Time

As of lately my blog has been pretty quiet, way too quiet. 

In January I had more going on than I ever imagined. My husband came home for 2 weeks from Afghanistan in which I took two weeks off from everything! Those 14 days were consumed by everything family and little trips together with our daughter. But now its almost March and I still cant figure out where February went! 
The countdown is on until my husband comes home and I CANNOT wait! 
Until then I just keep adding things onto my ever growing plate.. I am now a student in a Phlebotomy course, and an extreme Pinterester... not sure if thats word, but its a real sport..(or addiction, whatevs!)  


But if youre like me, and already have a full plate but decide to just spoon a little more on.. I know how easily you can be overwhelmed. Just remember to take it little by little, day by day. 
And pray with all of your might! You WILL feel him blessing you.

(Again, I cannot believe it's almost MARCH! )

xoxo!

High Desert Boudoir Photographer

Boudoir: Ashley

So this session was a little out of my norm. Ive never shoot a boudoir session myself but Im gone through millions of images from other photographers and just drool over the gorgeousness! I love the idea of  encouraging someone to feel absolutely flawless in their own skin. 100% confident. And every woman should feel this way. 

Ive gone back and forth on whether or not to share this one tiny bit of info, but I decided why not?! This model is more than just any gorgeous woman, its my big sister. The one that has been my arch nemesis and my best friend. We fight, we cried, we laugh and we love. There is no one that can compare to her. And now that we are both moms, our bond has been able to grow that much stonger. I now understand the beauty of a nap time! She has been supportive of my photography venture since day one and I couldnt imagine anyone else that I would rather have a fun test shoot on! Plus she is absolutely gorgeous. Her and her bright blue eyes! And yes, to answer the notorious question, she is in fact my sister. I know, I know.. We look absolutely nothing alike. Like night and day. But nonetheless, she is gorgeous and I love her more than anything.. which is a hard thing to say after you lived in the same room as someone for most of your life! Im just glad we both made it out alive... 

So for any of you ladies wondering if a boudoir shoot is for you, I have one word of advice. DO IT! Dont wait until you loose just a little more weight, or until you ______ (fill in the blank) Your gorgeous now! Just the way you are. 

xoxo!

Redlands Senior Photographer

Seniors: Nadine

Im so happy to say this girl kicked off 2012 the right way as far as senior shoots! 

Senior sessions should really show your personality and your passions. Wether its sports, books, or photography. What ever it is, I want to show case that in my photos. But more important than your hobbies, is you. 

 Not only is Nadine is absolutely gorgeous. She was also a dream to work. We trucked from 3 different locations and she laughed all the way through. She is beyond easy going and posed so naturally. 

I cant wait to work more with the class of 2012 and future classes!

xoxo!

Personal: A Look Back

This blog is to all the people who 'liked' my photography page last year. I don't know if I could of made it this far without the continued support of those around me. I wish I can say I started out amazing, but seriously, who ever starts something new without a few mistakes? Although, its my fans and my few photographer friends that were there when my images got a little bit cray! Or more specifically, when they got a little.... orange.. 

**hangs head**

Unfortunately.... or maybe fortunately, all my early photo shoots are somewhere in Afghanistan on my husbands laptop.  When I started out, I did all my editing there and never really looked at the long haul. But what Im about to show is one of the images I was able to dig up. I remember the exact day of this shoot, and when I blogged them. When I found a few of these photos my instincts were to bury it! Bury them deeeeep deep inside of my blog so no one ever sees them again!  But another part is pretty dang proud. I see how far I've come and it amazes me. Im not saying Im perfect. I will make mistakes, but I will learn something new on every single photo shoot. And I can promise you that. Little things like this reassure me Im going somewhere with my photography. 

No matter where you're going, or how far you come, its so incredibly humbling to look back. 

On a side note: it is NEVER okay to make someone look THAT orange

xoxo!