Pinch me, PLEASE. | Welcome to the new office space

Short & sweet. That was my journey in finding the right office space. For about 6 months, I peeked my head in a few different buildings, called a few different owners, jotted down a few different budget goals, and spent a few hours here and there on Zillow & Craigslist. Thankfully, the beauty unfolded when a client and friend of mine shared her new exciting space she created in the heart of Santa Rosa Beach, which just so happened to have one area left for a local business... Ummmmm, pinch me?! 

Here it is, just a tiny portion of the space! The other side is great too, with a sweet, custom "boyfriend-built" white wooden desk with industrial piping legs and a DIY vintage inspired teal and gold painted lamp. Keep an eye out for better photos on the blog coming soon! Why the wait? Well, let's be honest here... My printer is currently homeless & living on the floor. He needs to upgrade soon to a small table, which I have yet to find the perfect one. *Yes, it does have to be perfect.* 

Patterns, anything funky, light & chic is the vibe of the space over here... Check out the recently designed stationary! 

In case I don't say this enough, THANK YOU, to anyone and everyone who has wished me well in business & life, supported my work, taught me something, given me advice, shared their passion with me, trusted me to create something for them, welcomed me into their family, and given me a reason to CREATE something new every day. Lots of love! 

www.LittleMissCreativeStudio.com

Vanessa&Brittany | Block Party Fashion Shoot

Something different... 

Wow, where do I start with this session... First of all, I met Vanessa Jay (blonde) a few months ago at a bridal shower for one of my very best friends. The theme of the bridal shower was to dress "pinup" for the night. I'm being honest when I say, we all knocked it out of the park with our pinup styles... but one girl in particular, Vanessa, stood out to me with her confident nature and her exquisitely bold pinup style. She fit the look to a tee, hands down! Naturally, I begged Vanessa to model with me for fun sometime to showcase her zany style and beauty. Thankfully, she was all about it and introduced me to one of her best friends and style soul sisters, Brittany Wade who matched up perfectly with Vanessa with her beauty, confidence, and dark contrasting wavy locks. Our shoot was soley for the purpose of creating something beautiful with our talents and to share our creative outlets in a free spirited, open minded way. We just went with it and trusted our ideas all along the way. 

The location: For months, I've been driving by these teal apartments reminiscent of an old vintage motel in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida. The colorful walls & old school 70's block party feel to the place has been calling my name. Vanessa&Brittany's looks were perfect for something old school and edgy to fit the scene. Side note: The girls fit so well together, I have now combined their names semi-permanently ;) 

Before checking out the images, I beg you view our "behind the scenes" footage shot by my darling friend, Ashley Ferrell, with some of the final images included to show start to finish! The footage will give you a very unique perspective to see just how the scene looked and what we turned it into. So very grateful for all of these ladies and our team effort & not to mention the finished product that everyone helped to create. Enjoy! 

And for the results... Well, they were smashingly gorgeous, as expected! 

Models: Vanessa Jay & Brittany Wade 

Styling: Vanessa Jay & Brittany Wade & some Fantasia here and there ;) 

Photographer: Fantasia McDaniel with www.LittleMissCreativeStudio.com

BTS Videographer/Photographer/Cooler Coordinator/Sweat Rag Maintenance: Ashley Ferrell

Let's shake on it! { SIMPLE } Banana Smoothie Recipe

^ this ^ mmmm, just mmmm! 

Bananas & milk have always been 2 of my favorite things. Just in case you were wondering... ;) 

Here's a quick recipe I'm oozing to share with you that just so happens to be 1) healthy, 2) delicious,  & 3) nutritious. Yeah, I pretty much consume this concoction two, maybe three, sometimes four times a week (Don't judge me!) HAHA :D

For one rad simple smoothie, follow these directions below: (but you should personalize it and change it at least 10% to make it more "YOU") 

Ingredients: 

- 1 banana 

- 1 scoop of Sunwarrior Warrior Blend Vanilla Raw Protein

- 6 leaves of spinach

- 1 cup coconut milk

- 3-5 pieces of ice

- 1 teaspoon honey

- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

- 1/2 teaspoon wheatgerm just because it's good for you

- additional fruit (i.e. strawberries, blueberries, etc) optional to taste

Drink & Enjoy <3 

Spontaneous friends >> & Welcoming them to the coast!

This family and I became friends because of a very unique happening... 

One gorgeous August Sunday evening on Henderson Beach, a young man was waiting with his mother to be baptized in the emerald blue ocean with a group from Destiny Worship Center. This was one of the greatest experiences & special moments to him and his mother. They were wishing and hoping a photographer was near to capture this moment of them together. Within seconds of their conversation, I walked passed them, said hello and began chatting with them about the baptism event. While we were chatting, they noticed the camera in my hand and were both overjoyed with laughter telling me how happy they were had crossed paths with them. They asked me to please take a photograph and send it to them in remembrance of this day and without a thought, I did. 

Within a week, Mrs. Camille (the mother) called me to request a family beach session for the kids at Todd's (the young man) beachside condo. 

So very thankful for these opportunities to bless others... In return, these little acts of kindness have a way of working their way back to you. 

Today, I'm grateful for new spontaneous friends, the opportunity to create memories for them, & get to know their families ESPECIALLY on their very first vacation to the beach. 

Bella Bridal | Pensacola Feature

Okay, okay, so this MIGHT just be the highlight of my week... 

Here's how it all started. Disclaimer: Prepare for a run on sentence. Run ons happen when I get VERY anxiously excitable or excitably anxious. 

A few weeks back, I received word from Darrin Land of Legacy Event Design that  Bella Magazine (Pensacola, Fl) would be interviewing him based on his expertise in wedding planning for their up and coming article in Bella Bride about how to create a glam wedding on a not so glamourous budget. (takes breath)

He contacted me to send over a photograph featuring his set up from the gorgeous Blalock wedding with Michelle and Shane. Remember this post back in July? Their wedding was nothing short of stunning. Legacy Event Design teamed up with Supposey Florals to create this amazing, colorful, whimsical dream reception. 

(magazine cover -- not my photo below)

The next day, Bella Magazine called requesting a little backstory about the photograph. This turned into a fantastic opportunity -- The writer, Alice Crann Good, wanted to find out if from a photographers perspective, I had any insight on how to make a wedding look even more glamorous through images. Absolutely... Those who know me KNOW, I'm never short on words ;) 

Check out the side article HERE with the 5 tips for brides *which by the way, came from the bottom of my photographer's heart...* and the original article HERE with LOTS of info from Darrin Land and Chloe Winchester with Supposey Florals. 

Thanks for the awesome opportunity to share some insight, imagery, and be a part of an incredibly talented team on the Gulf Coast! Already looking forward to the next big team up <3 

- XOXO - 

Fantasia McDaniel Little Miss Creative Studio