Cierra and Tyson.

An image from the shoot I did with Cierra and Tyson was featured on Awesome Photographs today.  How exciting!

...that inspires you, moves you?

In the next couple of days I'll be posting a really wonderful session that I was blessed to get to be part of and that I will continue to follow over the coming months.  When I saw the work that Carla did on her See Real Women: Really See Women and Millie's work with Dana I was reminded of documentary work I did a few years ago and knew I wanted to return to it.  I wanted to be part of the discovery of art and humanity again, not just in the joy of weddings but also to explore the turmoil and struggle that makes us real, makes us human, makes us more than we thought we were.  It moves me.  It fills me up...and it's amazing to be with people who give their lives for something or someone else.

If you know someone with a story that moves you, please send me an email and their story, through your eyes. 

davina@davinafear.com

real. LOVE.

Holiday.

We wanted to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and let you know that the studio will be closed for the holidays from November 21 thru the 26th. 

Have a wonderful holiday!

family.  LIFE.

Crazy day.

On the same day that Mike was presenting his paper at the University we also had the Gateway Wedding Show to rush back to. 

Thankfully, Shalise, was there to talk to all of the brides that came by our booth.  I'm so grateful to her for being there!  I know that she had to make some sacrifices and move her schedule and plans around in order to go to the show and be an amazing advocate for me.  As I was racing to the show I called Shalise for an update as to how the show was progressing.  When I heard how well things were going and what a fabulous job Shalise was doing for all of the brides that were stopping by I was extremely impressed. 

I'm so grateful to have Shalise as part of my business.  Her personality, warmth, kindness, and graciousness in managing the studio have been an absolute godsend this past year.  Her loyalty and optimistic outlook have been a gift to me and to my family, to the studio and our clients. 

Thank you Shalise and thank you everyone who came out to the show.  It was especially fun seeing friends/clients who have weddings coming up.  I love chatting and getting to hear about all the milestones that happen all of the time.  I am so blessed....I know I keep saying that in my posts...but I AM!!

Oh!  So this could be a game...can you find the five things that are different between the picture above and the picture below? 

great. LIFE.

**So sorry this is a bit later than I had planned getting out to you.  Halloween is a hectic and very fun and exciting day when you have four kids!  I just got home and got them all to bed and I 've finally had a chance to sit down.

Krista Guenin.

I'm excited to announce that Krista Guenin will receive the Davina $500 Scholarship for the workshop education of her choice.  I was so moved by the efforts that she has already made in her life to give to others of her time and energy.  It's obvious that her life influences others in a very positive way.  She is ambitious yet gentle and full of heartfelt passion yet knowledgeable about the importance of business skills. I found out that she is currently in Zimbabwe and so I don't think she'll even know that she is the recipient until November 7th when she returns to the states.  

Congratulations, Krista!

**As I read through all of the applicants' stories I really wanted to reach out to each of you and tell you that there are wonderful albeit difficult experiences ahead of you.  I also really felt that I wanted to give more and so I'm doing something that I didn't originally plan to do.  I'm also awarding a $500 scholarship to someone attending Love Affair and I'm also giving  a mentoring session to another person.

All of these decisions were so difficult to make.  People from around the world applied as well as 17-year old girls, grandmas, single moms, moms raising 5 kids, talented and amazing men, 19 year old men with, women who are down on their luck, and so much more.  Everyone of you told me how much you need this scholarship and I absolutely believe you.  I hope that you'll keep plugging along and working toward your dream.  You have all made sacrifices and dreamed big.  Thank you for sharing them with me. 

$500 Love Affair Scholarship.

Dinea Norrell.  This woman has been through so much and has done it all as a single mom.  Her life is a testament to living strong and pursuing your dreams.  I'm excited that she is receiving the $500 Love Affair Scholarship. 

Congratulations, Dinea!

Mentoring Session with Davina.

Mandy Hank.  She sounds way too much like me a few years ago...from being passionate to being burnt out to loving photography-eating, drinking, and sleeping it to feeling like a failure mom.  I just wanted to be able to reach out and hug her and tell her that everything is going to work out.  It really is possible to find a life and be the creative person that she is.

Scholarship recipients please contact me as soon as possible to get details for your scholarship information.

Congratulations to all of you and thank you so much to every one who shared yourselves with me.  I'm so grateful.

Happiness,

Davina

new. LIFE.