Baker the Baker

I am very self conscious about my smile because I feel my teeth are so big. When I see photos of me smiling I think "that is not how I was feeling inside!". I always look up to those people with radiant, perfect smiles who don't even have to try. One time my adviser in grad school took 37 photos of me trying to make me smile for our research group page. He chose a hideous one to post: the only one in which I was smiling.

So, needles to say, if I am thinking about it, I don't smile a lot. Yet, when I am in the presence of this woman, I smile away, laugh out loud, and then remember I am supposed to be staying still and pressing the button. Franchesca Baker is her name. And she posed for me a couple of weeks ago to help me with some posing and make-up tests I have been working on.

Franchesca Baker is a Baker. A mom. Ex military. And a firecracker. Full of energy and wit, she rocked her curves and let me try and pose and click and click again and the images we made together are some of my favorites I have made in a long time. She is confident and beautiful, and I was so fortunate to be able to create some photos of her that show her just like I see her: radiant, powerful, and full of light.

 

Make-up by Katie Smith for Visions
Hair by Robin McIntyre

She: The Inspiration

She is a pop-up gallery that will take place September 18th & 19th in Downtown Laramie. In it, Lightfolly Portraits will feature 10-15 women that inspire and help shape the Laramie community. We are inviting YOU to nominate a woman that you look up to, by sending us her name, age, a photo and one paragraph describing why you want to nominate her (contact@lightfolly.com).

Here is the story of how I found the inspiration for this project:

Protasis: Audrey, marketer at Sweets Cakes & Pastry, reached out to Lightfolly in search of a photographer to make portraits of the staff at this local custom bakery. I had talked to her and the bakery's owner, Jessica Romero, a couple of times before, mostly in a business capacity. After some back and forth communication, we arranged a pre-consultation at their shop. I sat at their out-of-this-world massive work table on a hot afternoon and got to find out more details about how Jessica jumped into this endeavor just 2 years ago when she was just 23 years old, and how Audrey joined as an intern in marketing. My inspiration to photograph the women of downtown businesses had began to take shape.

Epitasis: I welcomed Audrey and Jessica at the studio, thrilled to see that they had brought more than just business attire. Our session was as playful as they are, tulle, plaid, and chef coat included. It was the first session where Lightfolly got to use props: a whisk, a fake cake and a rolling pin made it in and out of frames, sometimes intentionally and other by mere accident. I was pleased with them as clients, happy with the images we made, and excited to have made new friends. My inspiration grew beyond the Laramie Downtown businesses owners; these women are what Laramie is about: driven, fun, loving their community. And they had welcomed me in it.

Catastrophe: Contrary to the hideous literary name given to "ends", there was nothing catastrophic about wrapping up this experience with Audrey and Jessica. On the contrary; it was the beginning of many more things. We had a Premiere at the bakery and they chose their favorites for their personal branding. I was delighted to see their beautiful selves on the "about" page of the bakery's website. Jessica baked the treats at my children's birthday party. Audrey is working as a marketing consultant for Lightfolly. I want to celebrate women that, like these, are such a vital part of this city's heart.

 

Hair and Make up: Katie Smith for Visions