And the light glowed around it and within it, and I sought to capture it for Katelyn Ann Mazurkiewicz and Aaron Ray Horton, wedded on June 20th at the Mildred B. Cooper memorial Chapel.

 Glass, greenery, light, and natural wood.  These were the decorations in the lush Ozark forest in honor of the bride and groom. Inside and outside, both  sun and shadow celebrated summer with the wedding party.

And Laughter and Love were as brilliant and beautiful as the bright light.

Light. Moments. Magic. And Making Memories!

My Angel Mother

 For MaMa 1921-2010

Today I dedicate the sunshine to you. Today I give you the beauty of birdsong and the bustle of NYC traffic.

Today I cherish you with every one of my smiles. 

 And I anoint you with every one of my tears.

Today I applaud you in the voice of thunder before spring rain.

And and in the crash of  winter waves on your beach.

Today I kiss you with the breezes that rustle the roses you planted. 

And I  bless you with the aroma of fresh pie-crust and the flavor of your bitter-sweet coffee.

I wrap you in the satin gold of sunrise and the lavender velvet of twilight.

Today I dedicate to you my heartbeat and remember you with each breath,

for today I celebrate your beautiful soul! 

                                                                        by CharMaine Beleele, Grateful Daughter

"Sassy!"

Angel Kissed Studio is offering this creative treatment to all 2010 brides who may choose an image from their wedding and have it created as an addition to their wedding album package. Recently we have been offering this artwork on your images as well as our own! Do you have a photograph we could transform into a piece of art? With photography by Manuel Meszarovits and Art By CharMaine Beleele, check out the TNT of the image below!  Call us and we will visit with you about the creative possibilities for  your  treasured memories!

"Checkmate!"

 This savvy bride has submitted her personal collection of destination wedding photos created by International Photojournalist, Manuel Meszarovits,as well as photos from guests and family, and Angel Kissed is creating the ultimate designer book for her! So if you marry in a faraway place, you can still have an album of graphic elegance from  CharMaine’s heart-felt art at Angel Kissed Studio!

Bonjour Mes Amis!

Cover Girl!

The Photography 2 class of the University of Arkansas were guests at Angel Kissed Studio!  That is because, the photographer who owns Angel Kissed is also their teacher–that’s me! The lessons were in beauty lighting and model posing and the class was breathless fun for three straight hours! The pretty girl in the photo above, our class model, shot right back at us! Bling!  In the course of learning to photograph and pretending we worked for Vogue magazine, we discovered our own unique beauty!   The energy and creativity of the class taught a deeper lesson:  Self Confidence in front of the Camera.  Wow, we could all use that!  True Confession:  I have caught myself recently, as I avoided cameras at special events! (My excuse? Extra pounds!) Last March I did my first real session with a photographer, other than myself and my husband, in 15 years!  Check out the wonderful work of my photographer, Judy Host at www.judyhost.com and see some of the photos she created of me, at my facebook!   Also, take a look at my new page of educational hints, “Unmask Your Inner Beauty.”  I have created it for “People-Who-Want-To-Look-Their-Best,” not just models or photographers or Angel Kissed clients!

That's me under that mask! Spring is coming! Celebrate!

If you love photography, visit Rick Ferro’s photography highly educational site and look at all the free information. I was fortunate to attend his fabulous posing and lighting lessons. Look at the elegance in this classroom shot of him posing a bride and groom. (Yes, he let me take photographs of his teaching!) Our models were gorgeous and Rick taught me new posing and lighting techniques  with clarity and intensity.

A Touch of the Master's Hand!

I have studied hard with Rick Ferro and other world class photographers, and brought these lessons home for you, my clients! So, watch for the upcoming April mini-session specials! In honor of the upcoming Mardis Gras, I appear above  in “mask,” but my feel-good photography sessions are guaranteed to unmask the beauty that hides within every person!

GOOD NEWS!  This week I also  found a new group for all of you  photo enthusiasts! You can visit them on the web for some of the great tips, easy photo tricks and FREE Photography Lessons .  Also new for 2010 is our blog PAGE with the Angel Kissed Photography  monthly package specials!  These are only available to our blog readers, so check them out and don’t miss the opportunity to save on a glorious photographic experience!

Mr. and Mrs Nick Peluso pose in a Midsummer Night's Dream!

The last two months of watching all the photographers who  photograph events just for personal enjoyment have inspired me to blog about a few hints and lessons in photographic art.  The word amateur comes from the Latin word, “amo,” which means love, so amateurs are people who do their art for the love and passion of making memories! Many such photographers ask me for hints and advice. This summer’s advice is for photographing in low light situations. CAUTION:  if you do not have a tripod, brace that little (or big) camera on a wall, tree or table. The more steadily you hold the camera, the clearer your focus will be! For more hints, lessons  and tips, visit to a photo-education website. There are many reputable sites and blogs that will provide free information about photography. the Photography Schoolhouse at Photography Schoolhouse is one of the spots well loved by my private photostudents.

                         WPPI Convention 2009:  Chicken Soup Cure 

                                                   For an Ailing Economy!

                                                   By CharMaine Beleele 

The stories in Jack Canfield’s book, “Chicken Soup for the Unsinkable soul” include teachings to “motivate you to pursue your goals, comfort you to know you’re not alone in the struggle, encourage you to reach out for support, and empower you to remember you can make your dreams become a reality.” For the last nine years, I have searched WPPI Convention, for just such teachings, which I call “Chicken Soup,” for the photographer’s soul.  This year, due to the economic crisis, I thought perhaps my approach to the conference should be more analytical. I wondered if I should apply my commentary to financial gloom like so many of my associates in the media.  A little bit dispirited by the prospect, I began my pilgrimage through the elegant hallways of the MGM Grand.

0ver 11,000 photographers lined up here!

This is an image of the calm before the storm; the registration booth served thousands of attendees under its ornate golden roof at the MGM Feb. 14-19, 2009

 I fully expected to meet downhearted teachers, distressed speakers, and 12,000 dejected members. Much to the contrary, I found the speakers, teachers, and members of the WPPI organization, full of passion, positivity and pumped up with practicality! Skip Cohen, president and Steve Sheanin, Founder/CEO created a menu of 130 different programs from which to choose. The Canon mock wedding, the Nikon Big Night and Miller’s Town Hall brought unique flavors to the soul soup recipe of this conference.

(Figure 2 ) CAPTION: Was the on stage champagne delicious? Ask the bridesmaids from the Mock Wedding!

Therefore, just as in previous years, my ninth convention wrap-up article is a recipe for “chicken soup” for the photographer’s soul. For 2009, it comes in the creative, WPPI Economic Stimulus Package!

Photographer and speaker in the Spanish program, David Taylor put the financial condition into perspective for me. He said, “Some people are challenged because they are listening to media and spreading too much negative talk…Instead, they should spend that time marketing and self-promoting! Where there is motivation, education and will-power, you’ll find money!”  

Later in his lighting class, Frank Dispensa explained the magic of the WPPI education. “The Science of photography is the journey; the art of photography is a gift.”

 Caption:  Frank Dispensa’s model strikes a pose as he demonstrates perfect lighting.)

Strike A Pose In Perfect Light!

Frank Dispensa enjoined us to serve our shooting “uncooked! RAW is your best friend; 35 % of the information is thrown away when you shoot Jpegs.”

 
The tradeshow floor held a rare type of magic this year. With room to spread out the exhibits, there seemed to be so much more to see and do, even if you were on a budget.

Like America's Top Models, Living Beauties Adorned the Show!

 49 sponsors and 400 exhibitors brought beauty to the showroom floor.Teachers, famous and new, taught within the mini-classroom settings of the extravagant exhibits. Super heroes, pretty girls, and fun freebies brought a lighthearted giddiness to us all.  For more education in beautiful photography at the convention, view and read Best of Times, the big article to be found in the archives of www.rangefindermag.com