Hawaii trip day 7 / underwater photo shoot

Mark, Ashley and I went to the beach with Dolly's kayak. The plan was for me to video the shoot while Mark and Ashley swam around getting great pictures. Yeah right! If I didn't have to keep the kayak in just the right spot at the same time. The waves were a little on the fierce side for me to manage such a task, but here's a peek at what they got...

my personal favorite

How scared would you be to have gone this far under not knowing what lied beneath?

This picture looks like she's going to sink to the bottom.

I have to say, modeling isn't for wimps. While it might appear easy to be made up and have your picture taken, that certainly isn't the case. Can you imagine trying to take a beautiful picture while your underwater? Then add some salty water to that mix. Oh and you also have your photographer telling you to go as far underwater as you possibly can in the OCEAN with your eyes open! And then do it over and over again for about an hour and a half straight. She even had to change clothes in the water so we could get in as much as we could before she got too tired. Rowing back to shore would have been a waste of time and energy.

Oh, and then add your dumb mother singing the Jaws theme as you are getting into the water. (I felt really bad about that btw) It wasn't funny at all. She was pretty freaked out, but you wouldn't have known it. She worked like a pro. Didn't complain at all. I didn't even know she was scared until after we were done.

Ashley worked hard!  I worked hard trying to keep the kayak in place. My arms felt like they were going to fall right off by the time we were done. But I know my job wasn't near as hard as hers.

Mark was a pro and did manage to make a cute little video of the shoot. You can watch it here:


Underwater Fashion Photography Hawaii from Mark Lee on Vimeo.


Mark Lee actually specializes in underwater photography so this wasn't his first rodeo. And thank goodness for us! :) If you like these pictures you should check out his blog at http://holladayweddings.com/blog/

So, what did you think? Leave a comment to let me know ;)

Hawaii trip day 6/ Egg farm photo shoot

I know it's been awhile since I've blogged about my Hawaii trip / Ashley's photo shoots. Sorry about that.

But I'm happy to be back. Hope you like these next pictures. They were taken at an old egg farm on the north shore of Oahu, Hawaii.

She's new at the whole modeling thing but I think she'll do well enough :)

Ashley was a good sport up on this wall. It was really narrow and there were a couple of scary old rusty nails sticking up that she had to keep stepping over as she walked back and forth trying to deliver the perfect shot, but she never complained. 

And this last picture was my FAVORITE of the day. Seriously, I cannot get over it!

It was so fun for me as her mom on that trip to watch her learn so fast. I think she's a natural. She would tell you I think that because I'm her mom. And while I am bias, I'm not delusional about it. She's just still kind of quite about the whole thing. I on the other hand like to talk about it all the time cause that's what moms do ;)

* Next post is the underwater photo shoot

CJ - In our hearts forever

This post isn't about home or runway fashion but about someone very special who did have a knack with his own personal style.

On April 25th my beautiful son CJ left this world to go live in another. We have recommitted ourselves to living the rest of our lives in a way that will honor him and his memory. I know I will see him again but death still has it's sting.

I have my moments when I can't help but think about all the grand-babies he would have given us. He would have been such a great dad. He was so handsome. Physically he was the epitome of health but emotionally his struggles were deep. He kept them to himself more often than not.

CJ tried so hard to bring people together. He was so full of life and love. He forgave everyone but himself. I never understood why, but he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders.

We are a blended family but a couple of years ago CJ wrote me a letter telling me he loved all his brothers and sisters the same. He thanked me for loving his dad and being there for him. He told me he loved me and that he was proud to call me mom. I read that letter all the time now. I'm so glad he took the time to write it. I would never have known he felt that way. CJ was more comfortable writing down his feelings than showing them.

Our last family picture taken in 2008

I love this one because CJ's in the middle

He had the biggest heart and was so full of compliments for everyone but couldn't accept any given to him.

He wanted us all to be happy and was all about family fun. The thing is, that when he came around, it was fun, just because he was here.

We miss you CJ! You left us with a hole in our hearts but we're honored to have been your family here on earth and to have so many beautiful memories of our time with you.

While we know that we will never get over the loss of him, we know our prayers to get through it are being answered. And we feel the many prayers that have been offered in our behalf.

Thank you for that!

Here's to his beautiful life...

illy and CJ

 He loved this dog and treated her like his baby.

CJ was on a run with illy but always made time for strays too. I told you he had a big heart. Everyone was important to him.

CJ struggled with depression starting around the age 15. About a week after his death a friend of his found me on facebook and shared a dream she had about him with his father and I. It's helped give us so much comfort that I thought I would share it with you.

Hi lisa, i dont know if you know me or not but cj and i were great friends growing up, and jordan and my little brother were friends as well. anyway, i cant get cj out of my head after i heard what happened, i just want to share a dream i had of him last night, i dont know if it meant anything but it had me emotional all morning. In this dream i was the age i am now, and cj was a little boy in elementary, just like in corbys profile pic. I walked into his elementary classroom and he was in the corner doing something, he ran up to me and held me by the leg and hugged me. I said "buddy, what are you doin?" he said "im making stuff!!" i look over and there is a wall of hemp bracelets with bead lettering, all over the wall, hanging on hooks. I start sorting through them and he is just grinning. some of them read "i am proud" "i am healthy" "i am brave" etc etc etc, there were hundreds. He said "do you want one?" i said sure, so he hands me one that says "i am not sad" and he puts it on my arm and tells me it is his favorite one, but that i can have it. then he hugs me again and says "you better go or your gonna be late!!!" i said "late for what?" and at that second i woke up. When i woke up from my dream, it was 6:35. i set my alarm for 6:30 and it was accidentally on silent so it wouldnt have gone off and i would have missed work today, if he wouldnt have woke me up in my dream. like i said, i have no idea where this is coming from, but i have never had a dream so strong, in my life. i just wanted to share it with you. i hope your family is doing great, and know im thinking about you all. whitney.

I wanted to frame "I am not sad" so that I would have a daily reminder of CJ's life now. I'm so grateful for that dream.

The above picture is of CJ as a boy being held by his Grandpa Morris who died a year and a half ago of cancer. They really loved each other.

Until we meet again...


To see more about CJ's beautiful life go to http://corbyjohnmorrisjr.blogspot.com