Unveiling...

"Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself." ~Coco Chanel

Greetings Readers!

Writing this blog post sent me on a pretty heavy and unexpected soul searching journey. One that required me to really take a long hard look at my life, how and for whom I was living. As women, we exist in a world that is full of unjust criticisms, double standards, and stereotypes that keep us from living in our authentic truth. We limit our thoughts, our words and our ways and as a result we rob ourselves of some of life’s most memorable experiences. We do this to avoid standing in the judgement of men and other women who are equally imperfect beings, but who seem to feel it is their right to give an account on that which does not concern them. So why do we sometimes place more value on the thoughts and opinions of others rather than our own? Why would we deem someone else’s perception of us as more important? Now as a disclaimer this will not apply to every woman, so if it does not, continue to walk in your truth Queen. However, if you can relate, my prayer is that these words stir something up in your spirit and that your harvest is plentiful from the seeds that are sown.

We are entering an era where there is a call for us to return to the divine feminine principle. The principle which encompasses our strength, our compassion, our peace and our essence. Often we hide elements of our unique feminine essence for fear of how others will see us. Others meaning the critics. We never want to appear weak or vulnerable or overly alluring to those who seem to be intrigued by our every move. We don’t even stop and give a second thought to why we have so much of their undivided attention. Could it be misguided admiration, because they too long to be free of the shackles society has placed on their decisions and mindset? Well whatever the case, I just believe it is finally time to release ourselves from this prison of public opinion and indulge in the freedom to be... to be soft, to be classy, to be sensual, to be ALLURING, to be divine healing forces and above all else, to be true to ourselves as amazing beings. Our feminine energy is necessary to help restore order and balance. Women are the embodiment of sacred creative energies that transmute, transcend and transform. It is what makes us so powerful. When we decide to live in that truth, we lift the veil off of traditional beliefs and walk away from that which does not allow our divine nature to flow freely and effortlessly. It is time to be FREE!

So the “Unveiling” Concept led us to do only our second boudoir shoot ever. I wanted to express the idea of how critical it is to uncover and reveal the true beauty and essence of our feminine power. The power not to “DO” because we do enough. The focus was on our power to just “BE”. It’s time to live life like no one is watching and guess what? Who cares if they do? Let them watch, they may learn a thing or two. We have allowed perception to control our movements for far too long, so returning to a place where we are comfortable with who we are is such a beautifully human experience. 

This post introduces Joi, one of my besties of almost three decades, who agreed to join me in this deeply personal journey to lift the veil. She trusted my vision and that in itself speaks volumes. Enjoy images from the “Unveiling” Concept below. 

Behind the Scenes Footage

“Preparing for the Shoot”

MUA: 

Tynita Lee

Booking Info:

MakeUpbyTynita@gmail.com

Makeup by Tynita on Schedulicity.com

Instagram: @makeup_by_tynita

Concept Creator & Stylist: 

Angela Ponder

As always, thank you SO much for visiting our blog. Keep up with the Team at Photography by Sean Ponder by visiting our website at PhotographybySeanPonder.com or on FaceBook at Facebook.com/PhotographybySeanPonder (Like our page!). You can also follow us on InstaGram at Instagram.com/PhotographybySeanPonder.

Until next time, Peace, Love and Light!

Angela

The Creative Director

Full Moon

Greetings Readers!

I honestly believe that I have become obsessed with full moons. Each and every time I get the chance to see that amazing, hypnotic glow, I am absolutely elated. My only thought is that I just want to absorb every ounce of its power. I marvel in it! As much as I enjoy a beautiful sunrise or a breath-taking sunset, there is nothing quite as awe-inspiring for me as the peaceful and majestic moon. Such a strong energetic force, the manificent moon pulls and tugs on the ocean waves as the ebb and flow movement it creates caresses the sand on the shore. Can you imagine that kind of control?

The energy of the full moon with it's luminous light, influences every aspect of our existence and induces physiological changes within us. It can help enhance our creativity and provide the perfect atmosphere for setting intentions and experiencing divine manifestations. Lunar energy also heightens our physical and emotional activities as well. It stimulates feelings of sadness (be really mindful of this one because depression is real), it stirs feelings of intense love and euphoria, and it increases feelings of sensuality and passion. It is believed that the moon has mood-altering capability and I am of the mindset to believe it.

So this concept was an idea of mine long before we knew there would be a full moon in the sky on the night of the shoot. I really didn't know where we would go with the final work, I just knew I was in search of something very alluring, very sexy, very sensual, and very passionate as the end result. It just so happens, on the way to our destination that night, I looked up in the sky and saw a stunning full moon. I decided at that moment, this concept was more than just a notion. I suddenly became fully engaged with bringing every aspect of this amorous session to life. Once again, we had the awesome opportunity to work with Ryan and Asia, who are always brave enough to trust my vision. I'm a little out there ya'll... it takes a special kind. Presenting our concept, "Full Moon." We hope you enjoy our work!

The "Full Moon" Concept 

Behind the Scenes

MUA: 

Tynita Lee
Booking Info:
MakeUpbyTynita@gmail.com
Makeup by Tynita on Schedulicity.com
Instagram: @makeup_by_tynita

Concept Creator & Stylist: 
Angela Ponder

As always, thank you SO much for visiting our blog. Keep up with the Team at Photography by Sean Ponder by visiting our website at PhotographybySeanPonder.com or on FaceBook at Facebook.com/PhotographybySeanPonder (Like our page!). You can also follow us on InstaGram at Instagram.com/PhotographybySeanPonder.


Until next time, Peace, Love and Light!

Angela
The Creative Director

High Maintenance

Greetings Readers!


Let's get into a controversial topic about women. Women come in all different flavors... there are those who keep it all the way natural with their hair, face, nails, etc. You have those who have a modified natural look, maybe with just natural hair OR a natural face OR natural nails OR some combination. Then there are those some would consider "High Maintenance." They stay with their hair laid, make-up beat, nails on point and wardrobe fly. When a woman is seen as high maintenance, to some, she may immediately be seen as difficult, needy, and a woman of extravagant tastes and unreasonably high expectations. This is a negative perspective and for those of us who live the life, this assessment could not be further from the truth. It's true that a high maintenance woman likes to maintain... her hair, her nails, her wardrobe, her skin care and cosmetics, her social activities and her freedom to be exactly who she wants to be. What it does not mean is that she is a diva who expects anyone else to provide the financing to support her habits, nor does it mean that she has nothing more to offer. 

There is always an exception to the rule, but you miss out on getting to know a really cool chick having those predetermined assumptions. A woman like this cannot be lumped into one category. She is too versatile for that. She is classy and well-groomed at ALL times, yes. She stays at the salon and rarely is anything about her out of place. She is also confident and commands attention the moment she walks into a room. She is intentional in the way she moves and everything about her is effortless and undeniable. She is ambitious, intelligent and decisive. She is both admired and resented for being so.

A high maintenance woman can make other women feel uncomfortable in her presence, simply because she will cause them to reflect and realize they need to step their game up. She can even be a little intimidating for men who do not have their own ish together. One thing is for certain and two things for sure, before you approach a woman you deem as "high maintenance" (and TRUST, you have already figured it out long before the thought came to mind), you better come correct with goals and great conversation. She will not let you waste her time and she is emotionally stable enough to walk away if what you are offering does not serve a productive purpose. It just is what it is, but isn't the goal to be successful in your life anyway? 


Introducing Brandi B, our model for the "High Maintenance Concept Shoot".  Brandi was perfect for our first concept of 2019, because she is not only beautiful, but she exhibits a cool confidence and she was just a great match for the vibe we were trying to create. Brandi has also helped us officially announce our "Alter-Ego' sessions NOW AVAILABLE for booking!

Announcing "Alter-Ego" Sessions NOW AVAILABLE for booking!

Special acknowledgement to Keith Jordan, owner and operator of Sambukka's Barber and Styling Studio in Antioch, TN for allowing us the opportunity to stage our concept at his location. 


MUA: 
Tynita Lee
Booking Info:

MakeUpbyTynita@gmail.com
Makeup by Tynita on Schedulicity.com
Instagram: @makeup_by_tynita

Concept Creator & Stylist: 
Angela Ponder


As always, thank you SO much for visiting our blog. Keep up with the Team at Photography by Sean Ponder by visiting our website at PhotographybySeanPonder.com or on FaceBook at Facebook.com/PhotographybySeanPonder (Like our page!). You can also follow us on InstaGram at Instagram.com/PhotographybySeanPonder.


Until next time, Peace, Love and Light!
Angela
The Creative Director

Captivating

Greetings Readers!


Here is a little known fact about me... I have been writing since the age of 7. So my creative mindset takes me all the way back to elementary school. I have been guarded about my writing since that time, as well. However, I guess about 12 years ago, I took a great leap of faith and began to share my thoughts, my words and my ways publicly. The way I see it, we are all individuals with our own minds and ways of thinking, and we all have a right to our opinion, as long as their is no disrespect or intent to offend. So with that, here goes a quick trip through my mind... 

Back in the day, I was hooked on reading romance novels. Being a hopeless romantic myself, I have always found characteristics like compassion, femininity, playfulness and radiance very endearing qualities when it comes to being a woman. Let's pause here and take a quick look at those qualities:

• Compassion - a woman who expresses deep, authentic compassion can be like a sanctuary of peace for those who have been hurt in the past. There is no comfort like that of someone who can empathize and understand, without judgment. 

• Femininity - there is something very sensual about the womanliness and femininity of a woman, from her style selections, to her choice in perfume, her grooming and the way she wears her hair, she is undeniable. 

• Playfulness - a great sense of humor and hint of playfulness in a woman is not only attractive, but can literally make her irresistible. You would be surprised how a nice friendly smile can turn someone's day around and cause them to be drawn to you.

• Radiance - a woman's radiance is captivating. The energy she emits... her light, her glow, the way she moves, she simply illuminates and captures the eye like no other!

Now back to my thoughts... when I received the inspiration for this concept, I reminisced on memories of the late Friday nights I stayed up until 2:00 a.m. reading books I probably shouldn't have been reading. I recall those moments when I would imagine how the main characters must have felt in the stories upon meeting their "Prince Charming or Knight in Shining Armor" if you will. This concept captures the essence of those memories and the amazing spirit of femininity that I absolutely LOVE! So here is Shay, our feature model in our concept, Captivating. 

MUA: Tynita Lee
Booking Info:

MakeUpbyTynita@gmail.com
Makeup by Tynita on Schedulicity.com
Instagram: @makeup_by_tynita

Concept Creator & Stylist: Angela Ponder


As always, thank you SO much for visiting our blog. Keep up with the Team at Photography by Sean Ponder by visiting our website at PhotographybySeanPonder.com or on FaceBook at Facebook.com/PhotographybySeanPonder (Like our page!). You can also follow us on InstaGram at Instagram.com/PhotographybySeanPonder.

Until next time, Peace, Love and Light!
Angela
The Creative Director

Love, Life and Sunsets...

Greetings Readers!

We are back with yet another fun concept shoot, and as always, the storyteller RETURNS!

We recently had the pleasure of working with our friend Asia and her boo, Ryan for a concept shoot that had not yet been named. For the FIRST TIME EVER, I had scheduled a session and had it completely developed in my head, but on the day of shooting, had no idea what I would call it. I began to panic and try to think creatively on the fly, but nothing came to mind. I was having a mental block, something that rarely happens to me. I knew that if I focused on it too much it would distract me and stress me out, so I let it go. We will revisit the title later...

Anyhow, so it was a very warm summer day. Did I say it was warm? Just in case, let me reiterate that it was a WARM summer day! It was just before sunset, but still early enough to capture some of the sun's rays in our shots. Our location takes us out to the lake... now if you know the TEAM you know we LOVE to shoot near water, so we were totally in our element! Now just a bit of background, we have worked with Asia on several projects before, but this was our first time ever working with Ryan. Then we found out that this was his VERY FIRST photo shoot! Understanding how nervous he may be, I wanted to make sure he was comfortable and good to go when we began. We are a pretty laid back pair and most of our clients usually settle their nerves once we get started. Ryan was no different. He actually seemed really chill and easy going the entire time. 

The concept centered around just a few of the sweetest things we enjoy as human beings: love, life, serenity, peace and beautiful sunsets. They made this session SO easy and the vibe was amazing! They came out looking like they were fresh from a magazine cover shoot! Please check out a few sample images from the shoot appropriately titled, "Love, Life and Sunsets... "

MUA: Tynita Lee
Booking Info:

MakeUpbyTynita@gmail.com
Makeup by Tynita on Schedulicity.com
Instagram: @makeup_by_tynita


As always, thank you SO much for visiting our blog. Keep up with the Team at Photography by Sean Ponder by visiting our website at PhotographybySeanPonder.com or on FaceBook at Facebook.com/PhotographybySeanPonder (Like our page!). You can also follow us on InstaGram at Instagram.com/PhotographybySeanPonder.

Until next time, Peace, Love and Light!
Angela
The Creative Director

Southern Girl

Greetings Readers!

Being born and raised in the south, there is nothing like celebrating traditions and reflecting on fond memories at family gatherings. These are the times you can always find someone in the kitchen serving up some southern hospitality and good ol' soul food, with a glass of sweet tea to wash it all down. The sounds of rhythm and blues can be heard throughout the house and even out in the yard where the children play. I especially recall those visits to the country... the long scenic drive down, the dusty white picket fence, the gravel driveway, the old dog that was too tired to bark just lying in the shade, and the chickens running around in the front yard (no lie, just keeping it real). I also remember not ever wanting to get out of the car when we arrived. 

Well, the "Southern Girl" concept was born out of my own personal experiences, because after all, I am a Southern Girl. Early on I knew this shoot would require energy and personality that matched mine. I met our model, De'Jah, several months ago during a chance meeting to discuss the vision for her upcoming senior shoot. We connected almost immediately, and I knew that she was the one with the right energy for my vision. Since I ALWAYS take full advantage of every opportunity to tell people what we do, I mentioned our passion for concepts and what we had coming down the pike, and she was excited to be a part! 

Now, the whole idea for the shoot was for it to have a really simple southern theme, sprinkled with a sassy urban vibe. She definitely accomplished the goal! It was SO easy and SO much fun working with her! From our chats about hair, wardrobe, accessories, and the little nuances needed to complete the look, De'Jah was super easy going. It was an absolutely beautiful summer day, but hey ANY day is a great day for a photo shoot right? Check out a few images from the "Southern Girl" concept below... 

Stay tuned... I believe there will be more to come from the TEAM and De'Jah VERY SOON! 

Thank you SO much for visiting our blog. Keep up with the Team at Photography by Sean Ponder by visiting our website at PhotographybySeanPonder.com or on FaceBook at Facebook.com/PhotographybySeanPonder (Like our page!). You can also follow us on InstaGram at Instagram.com/PhotographybySeanPonder.


Until next time, Peace, Love and Light!
Angela
The Creative Director

Boudoir 101... Classy, Elegant & Tastefully Sexy!

Greetings Readers!

First, we would like to thank each and every one of you for helping us to surpass the 15,000 viewership mark! We are so excited to share our work on a global scale and are even more excited for what is to come in this New Year. One thing is for certain, we will continue to bring you more great stories and more beautiful images!

The TEAM returns with a session that COMPLETELY pushed us outside of the box. We have been asked about Boudoir Photography many times in the past, but it was a topic we were previously not even considering as part of our brand. Well, I guess you can say we were asked enough times, that we finally decided to expand and give it a try. I reached out to model, Asia to see if she wanted to step outside of the box with us and she was ALL IN. The planning for our very first Boudoir shoot was underway!

As with all of our other concept shoots, and probably even more so with this one, we were very strategic in planning for how we wanted to present it. Ultimately, we wanted it to be classy, sophisticated and tasteful, treading the line, but never crossing it. Of course, we had to call on our favorite Nashville make-up artist, Tynita Lee, to come and provide a transformative experience for Asia. In addition, I made my debut as not just a style consultant, but as the OFFICIAL stylist for the entire shoot. Pulling together pieces to match the mood of each pose change during the session (special shout to Tena Bingham for her wardrobe assistance!) Check out a sneak peek from our shoot below!

We truly love what we do and it is SO MUCH FUN to see our creative ideas come to life! Stay tuned... the TEAM is just getting started for 2018! For more information on our make-up artist, we have provided her links below.


MUA: Tynita Lee
Booking Info:

MakeUpbyTynita@gmail.com
Makeup by Tynita on Schedulicity.com
Instagram: @makeup_by_tynita


HAIRSTYLIST: Ebonee Shelton
Booking Info:

Instagram: @naturallyyousalon
Contact: (615) 485-6936

Thank you SO much for visiting our blog. Keep up with the Team at Photography by Sean Ponder by visiting our website at PhotographybySeanPonder.com or on FaceBook at Facebook.com/PhotographybySeanPonder (Like our page!). You can also follow us on InstaGram at Instagram.com/PhotographybySeanPonder.

Until next time, Peace, Love and Light!
Angela
The Creative Director