BELOVED - Golden Edition

Meet Lyndon and Louise. They met when they were 9 and 7. They began walking to school along the railroad tracks, both of them barefoot! Louise let Lyndon walk on the rails so he didn't hurt his feet on the rocks and splinters of the ties - he knew right then that she was the girl he would marry. Years later, they did indeed marry. And the stories they have to tell are hilarious and will warm your heart at the same time. Fast forward 60 years and many children and grandchildren later - what a beautiful story of love and loyalty that many will have to cherish.

It was a bit difficult to hold the camera still while we did this session, between the tears and laughter it was quite a feat. But, the entire time I kept saying to myself...this is what it's all about!! What a gift this would be not only to the BELOVED couples in the session, but to their children and grandchildren and even future generations. Every one of Lyndon and Louise's descendants should own this video. Lyndon and Louise are a true case of happily ever after. They are beautiful, their love is beautiful and anyone who watches this video will be moved by their deep rooted love and faith in God.

This BELOVED session would be such a treasured gift to give to anyone this Mother's Day -particularly the Golden Edition series that we have begun, I honestly can't imagine a more perfect gift for everyone to give to our Grandmothers this season. Don't pass up this opportunity to give the gift of a true love story, their own.

-Misty Dameron, Bakersfield photographer-

Surfer Wedding

Stephen and Jen's wedding this weekend in San Clemente was almost a photography brain overload. They thought of every detail and every detail happened to be the best photo op ever! First, these surfers took their entire bridal party for a paddle out prayer circle that morning, with matching rash guards announcing their pending nuptuals - of course to complete the morning pictures, Jen wore a garter in her surf gear and Stephen a red bow tie. Could they be any more fun??

The rest of the day was spent in San Clemente style checking out all the local hot spots and posing here and there for a quick pic. It made for such a fast paced, fun day. My husband got to tag along for this wedding and that made it more fun since that doesn't happen very often. Jen actually played on my husband's Bakersfield College soccer team 10 years ago! So, it was a personal event as well as a work day and it just so happened to be our 15 year anniversary weekend...all in all, pretty perfect!

I have great hopes for this couple who share so many of the same passions in life. Thanks for letting us be a part of your special day, we were honored to be there as your photographer and as your friend!

Misty Dameron Photography, Biggest Loser Style!

Got to spend Sunday afternoon with Shay Sorrels from the Biggest Loser Season 8 and we had such a great time. We actually burned quite a few calories as well! Our photoshoot took place at Back Bay Natural Reserve in Newport Beach and we walked a good two miles together. Fortunately I had nice sensible shoes for walking, but Shay broke some cute three inch heels on our walk! She's such a trooper though, finished the walk broken shoes and all! But it was worth it, we saw some great wildflowers and fun scenery there. Shay is one of the most inspiring people you could ever meet, she just shines from the inside out. And from a photography standpoint, she is so naturally photogenic, it's really hard to take a bad picture of her...then you get her laughing and it's a done deal! Love that girl and I am so proud of her. Can't wait to see her at the end of Season 9. Keep an eye out for more images from our fun session together.

my BELOVED Continued (the longer version)

These BELOVED sessions are so on my heart right now, I just feel the need to dialogue a bit more about them. I think THIS IS THE PROJECT I've been searching for in my years as a photographer.

Most of the portraits or even candid photographs that are taken, in everyone's family, happen at key moments in our life (as they should)...our wedding day, our birthdays, the birth of our children and their birthdays and so on. This is what we document and look back on as "our life." At our funeral someday, these will be the images that will linger in a slideshow or in frames around the house of future generations long after we're gone.

But, to me, it seems that the majority of our life was really lived in between these monumental events in the everyday relationships that took place. If you've been with me long, you're saying, yeah, heard it before Misty...and that's true -- I've always been more interested in photography of the everyday. BUT, have we chronicled our love story throughout the years as well? Don't we want our grandchildren and great grandchildren in the future to know where it all started? Don't we want our love to be chronicled as well? And not just on our wedding day.

I am always intrigued at the differences in people's relationships that I have the pleasure of photographing. The camera does not lie (photoshop does though! - a little photographic humor), but the rawness of relationships really comes out when I'm doing any kind of shoot where relationships are in the mix. It frequently brings me to tears to photograph a couple who has been together 5, 10, 50 years and has seen it all - the good, bad and ugly. But that's where the unconditional love lies. Yes, wedding days are priceless and the wide eyes of wonder are exhilarating, but to photograph two souls who have been together for years and years and connect on so many levels is deep. To capture that authentic, nothin' but real moments that two people share is awesome and yet humbling.

So, that's what BELOVED is all about. Really telling the story that exists...not posing. It's not actually a photoshoot, it's an EXPERIENCE. It's actually an invitation for you to connect or perhaps reconnect with each other. It's an invitation to experience joy in each others presence, not to smile and look at the camera for a beautifully lit portrait. In fact, where this session takes place would hardly matter. The scenery is not even noticeable, coordinating clothes are not necessary. All that's required is that you bring yourself and your beloved and be willing to accept whatever experience it may bring...and that's enough.

I realize this may seem too intimate, too vulnerable (especially for you testosterone folk) - but I promise within 5 minutes of the session, you will relax and enjoy the session. In the end, you will walk away feeling more in love, more in awe of that person, more aware of the relationship that exists, more in touch with what God has given you than you were before the session. And as a bonus, you will have unique and amazing images that you and your family will cherish for a lifetime.

I really feel that God has placed this on my heart for this time in my life. I hope that THESE are the images that are at our funerals, the ones that show the true love stories that we have.

my BELOVED

What if I asked you not to "look like you're happy", but instead invited you to FEEL HAPPINESS? What if instead of asking you to "act joyful" I asked you to FIND THE JOY that you truly feel inside of you. What if a simple photoshoot helped you celebrate your commitment long after the rings were exchanged? What if your "for better or worse" actually meant celebrating the best that comes after the inevitable worst?

A new genre of storytelling photography is now available to you...BELOVED. The missing piece to your photographic story. Call me to schedule your BELOVED session today!

We're back...

We just got back from WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International) in Las Vegas and as always, I am overwhelmed, exhausted, hugely inspired and so ready to begin again. I have so many new ideas to implement, I don't even know where to begin. We got to listen and learn from brilliant, studied, successful and encouraging photographers from around the world. Jesh DeRox, Kevin Kubota, Lori Nordstrom to name a few. So, where do I begin? Right here...ready to change the world...