Dress her up real nice

My yard doesn't give many options for new shooting locations.  It is big but flat as can be with two sad lonely baby trees that must have literally been planted as seeds when the house was built (not a new house).  So sand near a tree or stand with flat tan/brown grass in the background.  All the same it doesn't matter for the picture isn't being taken of the background.  My issue comes in when, much like the shot below, I can't open my eyes from the sun... But alas you lovely bloggers get to enjoy my eyelids.

They are some lovely eyelids aren't they? : D

By Rachel Abi

A love that won't die

So I've said it before and I'll say it again: I LOVE hats.  I am undiscriminating in my hat love: even ones that make me look like a cross between a Muppet and a transvestite, there is a person for that lost hat somewhere... maybe a Muppet transvestite!

This hat is no difference.  I have mentioned before my process in getting dressed starts with one thing.  Doesn't really matter what that one thing is.  This outfit my one thing was the hat.  I got given this hat but it is so bold and bright I had yet to find a way to wear it.  You can't quite tell in this shot but it has a white almost checkered pattern on it.  So I started with trying to find a way to keep the hat from being the only pop of color on my outfit but still keep it from looking like a material sample rack.

About 90% of my wardrobe has been given to me.  My friends and I have a train of bags that we pass on to each other and I am WAY tight (feel guilty about buying Oreos and it has nothing to do with Calories: they are $4 for one container!) so I can never get myself to buy much of anything to add to my clothing so with that comes challenges.  

Let's face it clothes from the 90's... well leaving a whole lot aside most the shirts are really short.  They stop before my pants start or right where they start.  This is not okay with me so I have to do a lot of layering... 

Got to love the trials of a silly chick who refuses to spend money?

What are your fashion trials?

By Rachel Abi

Photos taken by Rachel Abi Photography

By North Carolina Wedding Photographer

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Why yes it is me, Donald Trump.

I love sporting a comb over?

Okay time to wine.  My sister just got back from her honeymoon.  Not just any honeymoon but her two week honeymoon.  Her two week honeymoon that included a cruise Island hopping the coast of Hawaii.  Yes, I give you all permission to hate her... it's merited.  

I mean I thought I was lucky to have an 8 day honeymoon, and I was/am, but really 2 weeks and one is in Hawaii???  I kind of want to be their kid.  "Take me with you..."

By Rachel Abi

By North Carolina Wedding Photographer

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The British are... here?

Got to love a good foggy morning.  The last week it is like England descended upon NC.  It's fantastic.  Cold, foggy, slightly rainy: I'm loving it (this is not sarcasm... I really do).  Out breaks all my ultra winter sweaters, hats and scarves!

To those of you who think I'm crazy:

What other season can you literally wear 14 pieces of clothes, look fabulous even with a cookie gut: winter that's when.

Reason 4056 of why Winter is awesome: no one can blame you for eating a freshly baked sheet of cookies: you need the extra weight to keep warm!

By Rachel Abi

By Durham Wedding Photographer

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Blinding sun or frigid shadow?

So often when I can get a chance to take photos is not in the "prime time".  More often then not Golden hour is not a time that I have free, at least not in the winter.  So often I see successful bloggers say that the biggest thing about getting a great/popular blog is great photos from a great camera.  Beneficially because of my wedding photography business I have a good one but I am here to tell you that your point and shoot camera can take great photos.  I'm a huge proponent of start where you are and move up from there.  If you can't work what you have what makes you think that you'll be able to work something larger?  Every point and shoot camera has menu settings.  Play with them.  Actually read the manual.  You can mess with your white balance (the color base for the photo, like when you take pictures in cloudy weather and it turns out bluish, white balance is what you need to change), you can change your ISO, higher numbers allow you to take photos in less light without a flash but can turn the picture grainy).  There is so much stuff that is customizable on the camera you already have: play with it!  Even if you don't have the best lighting, the best equipment it is YOU in the shot that makes the difference.  There are thousands of ladies, and gents who have "look at my clothes" blogs: sell "you".

By Rachel Abi

Got the tights from Khols with khols bucks: free.  Have had the shoes and scarf: gift (from my loving mother in law), Got the dress and shirt from a give away bag from my sister: free

So total cost for this outfit: gas to go to khols.  Got to love it!

By Durham Wedding Photographer

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Crazy adventuresome

So I am pretty sure the cardigans are the best thing ever.  I have a friend who is the master of all things layering.  I mean she talk me, by wearing it, that you can totally layer sweaters over sweaters and still look cute.  This is not a concept that I have completely come to heart cause she is tiny and so all things look great on her.  But I am treading carefully into that arena, I like the idea: adds a whole new "layer" to a look (yes the pun was necessary!).  

So what about you: have you heard or seen an "new" style/look you want to try out?  Be adventure some with me (cause you know it is crazy to wear two sweaters, right?)

By Rachel Abi

 

Monday, Monday (Aah, aaaah...)

I love hats... a bit too much depending on who you ask.  Pretty sure one of the first gifts I gave my husband was a hat.  People say they are not hat people but what that means is two fold: 

You haven't found a hat that you like enough

You don't like people looking at you/confidence

Generally it is true that wearing a hat brings/marks some attention but not as much as you would think.  The best way to wear a hat is confidently.  No matter how silly the hat, if you wear it like you're owning it no one will look twice but if you look like someone placed a dunce cap on your head, unsure expression and wrinkles of worry...

So I challenge you go out and find a hat, any hat and try it.  There is so much about an outfit that can be forgiven if there is a hat.  Pretty sure that you could wear the same outfit two days in a row and not many will notice.  All attention is drawn to the hat, because it is unique.  Not many people don hats, to be honest makes me a little sad.  

Do you take the challenge?  I'd love to see it if you do!

By Rachel Abi

By Durham Wedding Photographer

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Buttoned up tight

I love winter, it always weirds me out that I live some place that it is barely cold for 3 months out of the year when I love winter so much.  Don't get me wrong NC, I love your four season just but fall and spring... well they could be a bit colder, work on that?

By Rachel Abi

By Durham Wedding Photographer

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Ladies. . . Man?

Sometimes when I put on work attire I feel. . . manly.  Not always a bad feeling.  All the sudden people don't get nervous when I want to go someplace alone.  Why is it that?  Statistically speaking men are attacked more then women are... this could very well be to the severe actions to protect women.  Don't get me wrong I don't want to be attacked nor am I making fun of being careful.  

Here's an example:  There was a young man in his early 20's who went off to travel in Europe for 6 months, alone.  His parents thought nothing of it.  The young man got pick pocketed and mugged while he was there and it was brushed aside with an "ah shucks". 

If it had been a girl, not only would most parents not let her go on the trip at all but if she had gotten mugged and pick pocketed it would have been a federal case.

My question is not really a matter of why is there concern for women but why is there not any concern for men?  "More of a man if they are on the receiving end of some random violence?"

All the same and all very different I know.

By Durham Wedding Photographer

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One leg in the wind?

So you have seen it before and I will say it again: I love this skirt.  No matter what I pair it with and no matter how silly it might actually look I feel adorable... or better yet striking in it.  So today I stand like a flamingo to say, "Own you and all you awkwardly awesomeness"... you can add something about flying.  Why is it that in every post, quote or speech about being brave, owning yourself, or self confidence a bird always comes up?  I don't particularly thing they embody all those things yet it is almost like they are the spokes people... 

By Durham Wedding Photographer

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Common ride that train

So certain clothing is made for certain body types... most of which I feel like aren't my body type.  This used to make me sad then I decided I would kick "supposed to" to the side.  I wear whatever I want and I may look ridiculous but I'm having fun.

Like this dress,  it is made for Kerra Knightley.  And I'll face it I am jealous of her fragile thin silhouette but no matter what I do I will not be her nor have her body type.  I have to change my expectations on myself and the poor dress.  When I put it on instead of looking for perfection it is time I look for fun and wacky!

By Durham Wedding Photographer

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Light up my life

At the time I wore this I really like it, and don't get me wrong I still really like it but each time I see the picture I am a bit more shocked as to how bright it really is.  "Why yes, I am wearing the surface of the sun.  How did you know?"

By Durham Wedding Photographer

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Say word

Apparently I am a "Honkie" in the club?

Don't ask for I do not know.  It is like I said before sometimes when I put on clothes I behave differently though I am pretty sure this "pose" was not what I indended... but it's pretty awesome-ly awkward

By Durham Wedding Photographer

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