If you haven’t checked out part 1 of this fun session with four best friends and roommates, please do so now!   I think all creatives should push themselves outside of their comfort zone, try new things and seek inspiration continually – whether it’s in books, magazines, movies or just spending time with God and your family and friends.  The second part of this session was so much fun and definitely pushed me a bit outside of my comfort zone. I haven’t photographed props, details, etc. since my wedding photography days. I forgot how much fun it is to capture all that eye candy. Collaboration is something I’d love to do more of and I also believe it pushes an artist to learn and grow. What’s the fun in always doing your own thing and not seeking ideas and inspiration from others? Collaboration brings a new perspective, new relationships and maybe even a new love for your craft that might have been hiding for a bit.

I met Vanessa just under a year ago (although I feel like I’ve known her forever!) and have really admired her work with other photographers. Please check out her work at ButterflySparks.com.  In addition to being a savvy graphic designer, she has a keen eye for detail and making whimsical, artistic photo sets and I just knew I wanted to collaborate with her for this session.  Becca, Melanie, Lauren and Adriana love to bake together. Knowing this, Vanessa created a beautiful “cupcake party” complete with a handmade cupcake liner garland.  Swoon.

This shoot also gave me the chance to work with a talented makeup artist – Sabrina Hull of Sambri Salon.  One thing I’ve learned in photographing seniors is that makeup is pretty essential to the shoot.  It makes a huge difference in the outcome of the photographs giving the subject a fresh, not overdone, look.  Sabrina did just that with each girl, creating custom colors for their skin tones and they were so excited about the results. We kept them age-appropriate and pretty natural looking.  I notice that teens and women seem to feel better, therefore photographing a little better with that extra confidence professional makeup can give.  And it doesn’t have to cost a fortune!  Stay tuned for an-depth article I’m working on regarding makeup and your photo shoot. I’m pretty passionate about it.

And now, a cupcake party for four….(don’t you wish you’d been invited?) 

And what’s a cupcake party post without a fabulous recipe?  The girls have shared one of their favorite desserts with you.  Enjoy! I can’t wait to!

Sopapilla Cheesecake

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon Mexican vanilla extract
2 (8 ounce) cans refrigerated crescent rolls
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup butter, room temperature

Directions
Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
Beat the cream cheese with 1 cup of sugar and the vanilla extract in a bowl until smooth.
Unroll the cans of crescent roll dough, and use a rolling pin to shape each piece into 9×13 inch rectangles. Press one piece into the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish. Evenly spread the cream cheese mixture into the baking dish, then cover with the remaining piece of crescent dough. Stir together 3/4 cup of sugar, cinnamon, and butter. Dot the mixture over the top of the cheesecake.
Bake in the preheated oven until the crescent dough has puffed and turned golden brown, about 30 minutes. Cool completely in the pan before cutting into 12 squares.