Showing posts with label confidence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label confidence. Show all posts

Sunday, April 19, 2020

Ambition

"And one day she discovered that she was fierce, and strong, and full of fire, and that not even she could hold herself back because her passion burned brighter than her fears." ~Mark Anthony


Greetings Readers!

When you are a woman of color, and more specifically, a black woman, you grow up knowing that circumstances that are not within your control may or may not work in your favor. You realize your experiences will be much more challenging and getting ahead will be more difficult. You will be expected to be more educated, more hardworking, will be paid a lot less than your counterparts, and will still be overlooked for well-deserved promotions. This is a disparaging condition of our reality. What is even more defeating is when we do FINALLY get ahead, we sometimes get amnesia and forget to reach back and grab a hand. This is probably the part I LEAST understand. Well despite everything we have to go through as a group, we are incredibly gifted, highly ambitious, strong beyond our wildest imaginations, more cabable than we will ever receive credit for and have the most powerful entrepreneurial spirit of them all. 

A black woman's ambition is energetic and unmatched. When we have to deal with the day-to-day excuses for why we can't receive more pay, but can continue to be assigned more work, more projects and more responsibility day after day, month after month, year after year while continuing to watch others climb the ladder, we eventually activate our natural creative ingenuity. We first start thinking of ways to improve our skill sets so that we can be better prepared for opportunities that may come down the road. Next, we start brainstorming on our interests and ways we can use our gifts and talents to start our own businesses and begin to create our own possibilities. Our backs are rarely against the wall without options and a back-up plan. It is at that moment we begin to cultivate the necessary habits that will bring us success on our own terms. 

As women of ambition, we are convinced there is nothing that can stop us from achieving our next level goals. We become fearless in our achievement and relentless in the pursuit of those things that set our soul on fire. Black women we are sacred warriors! We know how to turn pain into power and allow our ambition and drive to take us to places where ambivalence and doubt never will. We know how to believe in ourselves, connect with our energy source, move in silence and applaud our own efforts rather than wait on the hand claps of people who are not invested in our advancement. We're willing to get our hands dirty for the sake of succeeding and we remain passionate and committed, all while knowing others are watching, but will never admit it. Keep working your goals, Queen and putting action and implementation behind those plans. We are redefining excellence in business ownership, academia, media, politics and yes, even in a corporate culture dominated by everyone BUT us. We have a commanding presence and are an invaluable source of knowledge and expertise. Don't let anyone speak anything less over your life. 

The "Ambition" Concept introduces model, Divinity, an independant and ambitious young woman who is also an unstoppable rising entrepreneur. Everything about her speaks FIERCE! Please enjoy these images from our "Ambition" Concept and may the flames of your heart's desires always be unquenchable.











   "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



Sunday, September 8, 2019

The Art of Sophistication

Greetings Readers!



This blog post is all about The Art of Sophistication or should I say, the LOST art. Over the past almost 20 years, social media and the growing desire to outshine and impress followers has, led to the diminishing of class and maturity. In the grand scheme of things, self-respect seems to have lost it's value, modesty is out of trend and many that fall into the now 40-plus year old crowd is in constant competition for likes and attention with the 20-year olds. You can't tell the difference between the two age groups anymore. I can recall a time when 40-year olds thought it was important to teach life lessons to 20-year olds. They were a resource for sound advice, because they had "been there and done that". Now instead, the elder is taking tips from their younger counterparts and making every effort to do what they see the youngsters do. What happened to transcending the behaviors and actions of youth and becoming solid examples of real goals? Anyhow, I digress.

So what does it really mean to be "sophisticated"? 

Sophistication embodies an uncompromising level of elegance, grace and style, drizzled in endless cool confidence. Sophistication encompasses a relaxed state of mind. It is refinement. It is fulfillment. It is simplicity. It is intuition and perception. It is compassion. It is polite and charming. It is effortless, it is an entire mood. Sophistication at it's core is just a beautifully human experience.

Sophistication is mastered when you become keenly aware of your speech and conversation, your presentation, your perception and your interests. The sophisticated find it necessary to be elusive, always minding their business and their manners. They naturally shift the vibe of every room they walk into... they are intelligent, intimidating and inspiring. They come of age on schedule and they are accepting of a more tastefully sexy approach to life. 

This blog post features one of our FAVS, Asia! She is beautiful, super classy and enjoys the arts and all things glam. She has a crazy-sexy-cool vibe and she is just sophistication personified. Please enjoy these images from our concept shoot with her entitled, "The Art of Sophistication."









   
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



Monday, July 24, 2017

Hollywood Glam Shoot

We believe all birthdays should be celebrated in grand fashion, but a milestone birthday should be taken up several notches more! You have entered a new era, one of wisdom, growth, revelation and resurgence, so the celebration should exemplify all that comes with your transition. Well, our recent photo session with Nakia was no exception!

Nakia contacted our creative TEAM with a photo shoot idea to commemorate her 30th birthday, and we quickly began to put our heads together to come up with a concept that would bring her vision of a glamorous shoot to life! The theme for her session was "Hollywood Glam", so we created a set that would be the perfect compliment for her look and provide just the right backdrop to produce memorable images. Although a little nervous at first, she soon warmed up and brought lots of energy to the session. She definitely was not afraid to work the camera! It was truly a great day of shooting and we look forward to working with her in the future!

So when YOU are ready to book your own birthday session, contact us and let's get to work! We would love to hear from you!












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









Saturday, April 2, 2016

The Sexy at ANY Age Photo Shoot!

In celebration of Women's History Month, the TEAM recently hosted a photo session to spotlight some beautiful ladies representing several age groups: Asia and Kristin (20-somethings), Angelyse (30-something) and Nicole (40-something). These ladies are not only alluring and attractive, but they are clearly comfortable in their own skin and they exude an energy that is completely undeniable, while STILL fully clothed. These wives, mothers, business women and leaders radiate with an abundance of sex appeal all wrapped up in class and effervescence found only in mature womanhood. 




Merriam Webster says to be sexy is to be "appealing, attractive, or exciting"; but I say that sex appeal is so much more than just how you look. Sex appeal is a state of mind AND a behavior. It is confidence. It is authenticity. It is a great sense of humor. It is an infectious smile. It is lightheartedness and it is peace (YES, to have all of these qualities AND peace is VERY sexy!). Now, I am not saying that looks do not count in the equation, but what I am saying is that you can be pretty or handsome, and still not have the fire that makes you a sexy beast. 

I asked our ladies to share what it meant to them to be sexy. Their poignant responses are below.

 
 "Spotlight on the 20-Somethings"
KRISTIN & ASIA
 

 "Sexy is being confident, classy and ambitious. A woman who puts value in her appearance and herself is sexy. Sexiness can be seen in a purposeful walk, a driven spirit and a caring attitude." 



 
 "Spotlight on the 30-Something"
ANGELYSE (ANGEL)


 "Sexiness is having the confidence to be comfortable in your own skin. The idea that women are beautiful in their own right, regardless of nationality, age, size or skin tone. Sexiness is loving yourself without regard to the opinions of society or others. Sexiness is owning YOU."




  "Spotlight on the 40-Something"
NICOLE
 

 "Being sexy to me means having a certain charisma and aura about yourself, that's attractive to others that surround you. Sexy is also a way you may feel on the inside that shines through to your exterior...the way you talk, walk and carry yourself. Sexy can be exhibited in many forms: exotic, sexual or just simply beautiful, and in our case, Simply Sexy!"


  


"The Sexy-Somethings"

 


This was yet again another amazing photo shoot! We had so much fun spending the day with these ladies enjoying fellowship, and I am certain this is not the last time you will see of them. These dynamic, vivacious and determined women prove without a shadow of doubt that sex appeal does not end after you reach a certain age.  Remember, you can be sexy at ANY age if you have the right attitude, a kind and loving heart and you prove to be sincere and authentic in all that you do.

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