Bring out Your Beautiful Best

Are you a make-up artist or hair stylist that is interested in bringing out the beautiful best in every woman? Please drop us a note or give us a call - we would love to partner with you in styling and photographing women of every body shape and color.

Check out our new Bombshell Beauties postcards - let us know if you represent a salon or are a freelance artist that would like to partner with us and we will drop some by.

We hope you are seeing the beauty in your day!

Jennifer, Bombshell Beauties + Horizon Photography

The Most Precious Anniversary Gift

If you are desperately trying to figure out what to give your husband for your anniversary this year, how about the most precious gift of all - YOU! Take a look at the montage we created for Keziah to give her husband Vince...she is indeed "more precious than rubies".

Warm Hearted Gina

Hey Ladies - in case you have not yet met our fabulous wardrobe Stylist, Gina Clark, here are a few pictures of her. Her warm heart and glistening spirit are truly cherished! And just wait until your photo session - she is a miracle worker with all body types. Her great talent is making all women look and feel gorgeous! Even a long-legged gal like me!

I love you Gina!! Jen

You must see this Boudoir Beach session!

Our Passions and Our Beauty

Lately I have been devoting more time to my art. I sew and make clothing, jewelry, and bags. When I was in high school I stayed up all night working on my outfit for the next day. I wore some very creative outfits back then. I would get to bed around 2 am then wake up around 5 or 6 to get started on hair and make-up. I believed then as I do now that an outfit is not complete without the perfect hair and make-up. Unfortunately, as a busy stay at home mom of two with several creative projects in the air I do not have the luxury of devoting all my time to looking picture perfect. I do my best though (as I'm sure you do as well) but here is something I am learning as I allow myself the time to have fun with the gifts that God has given me.

God has made me an artist and if I do not feed and nurture that part of me then I am not wholly connected to God. When I am not wholly connected to God then I find that I am not as happy with myself. You probably already knew that but it took me a long time to make that connection. I wake up every morning to pray and study the Bible. I am active in my church and mentor young women. I get to work with Jen and other talented women through our business, Bombshell Beauties. I have the most incredible husband on the planet and my kids, when they are not driving me crazy, are actually quite awesome. With all of that I still had a hard time feeling happy with myself and all that I have accomplished. I would obsess over my skin and my body. Pouring money into creams and over thinking my diet. Looking into my over stuffed closet and feeling dissatisfied with what was there. I have spent years feeling like life is passing me by and blaming myself and the bad choices I have made in my past and then feeling distressed because time is running out and I'm only getting older. Does any of this sound familiar? If it does then read on-it actually gets better!

In September I decided to buy myself a work table. Something I have always wanted but have never invested in because my family of four lives in a shoe box. After that I enrolled myself in a silk screening class. Another thing I have always wanted to do but there were always more important things to spend the money on. Those two decisions opened something up in me. For my class I decided to print on a t-shirt and from there I decided that I wanted to make the t-shirt. Now I have decided that I want to make most of my wardrobe which will take me years with all I've got going on! I try to be patient and give a little bit of time daily. Every piece I complete fills me with so much satisfaction. I have made jewelry and bags and even a jacket with a lining. I love that jacket and wear it everyday! OK, so here's the best part-since I have started I am happier with myself. I don't stress about flawless skin and appreciate my body more. I have never felt more beautiful. I think I should say that again-I have never felt more beautiful. It never occurred to me that my own unhappiness could be the result of my not using and completely ignoring my God given gifts.

So here are some questions to think about. What gifts has God given you that you are ignoring or setting aside? Do you have passions that have been thrown out because of lack of money or space or because they don't "fit" with your current schedule or lifestyle? Are you feeling dissatisfied with your life? Have you believed the lie that you are not special and that you have nothing of value to contribute to this world?

Take some time to pray and talk to God about these things. As you enter into that conversation I just want to tell you that you are special. That God created you to do some wonderful things in this world that only you can do. I also want to remind you that you are beautiful and if you don't believe me then ask Jen, she thinks you're beautiful too!

The Beauty of a Woman

My aim through portrait photography is to show women how truly BEAUTIFUL they are. Whether your are in your twenties or sixties, any age or size you are created to thrive in your loveliness. But how can we define beauty? Mr. Webster says:

beau·ty

  [byoo-tee] –noun, plural -ties.

1.

the quality present in a thing or person

that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind,

whether arisingfrom sensory manifestations

(as shape, color, sound, etc.),a meaningful design or pattern,

or something else (as apersonality in which high spiritual qualities are manifest).

Is it the senses alone that are delighted by such a wonder as Beauty?

I have to agree with the author of 'The Beauty of a Woman' when I think of

what truly defines the desire to posess Beauty and be our lovely, loving,

grace-filled best - this will certainly take a lifetime to achieve!

The Beauty Of A Woman

The beauty of a woman

isn't in the clothes she wears,

The figure that she carries,

or the way she combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman

must be seen from in her eyes;

Because that's the doorway to her heart,

the place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman

isn't in a facial mole;

But true beauty in a woman,

is reflected by her soul.

It's the caring that she cares to give,

the passion that she shows;

And the beauty of a woman

with passing years only grows.

Authorship is variously attributed to the following authors:

Maya Angelou, Ralph Fenger, Audrey Hepburn & Sam Levenson

Here is an attempt at capturing a little sense of that beautiful feeling during a recent Pin-Up Party with my sisters. Looking at this photograph I recall how delighted I was to spend the afternoon photographing my lovely sisters, all in their 40s and 50s. What a thrill to laugh and take joy in one another - what a gift to feel beautiful with my wonderful sisters!! (I will post their photos soon!)

Enthralled with Your Beauty

"The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your Lord." Psalm 45:11

It's Friday - THANK GOD! I can barley believe I made it through the week, and wonder if I look as bad as I feel? To be honest, what I am truly feeling is grateful that I have had a week filled with high times: a wonderful bridal session with Kalen (who is getting married tomorrow!), teaching children in various classes, meeting with women friends to encourage their livelihood, and coaching my courageous friend Julie in the birth of her daughter Eliza. I am exhausted but wouldn't change a thing!

Thankfully I can rely on the fact that no matter how tired I may be, both my husband and the Lord are "enthralled with my beauty!" No matter your weight, marital status, hair color or skin color, know that you can define yourself through God's eyes. If you are looking for some words of encouragement today as you muster energy to do you work, complete homework or raise your children, read this wonderfully encouraging note that Shari Braedel had written for Proverbs 31 Ministries in September:

One word. Flabbergasted.

That was the emotion I had coursing through my body as I sat at the coffee shop discussing my weight issues with a friend.

I told her I had recently cut out certain foods from my diet, but was continuing to maintain my "happy weight," that number the scale just seems extremely happy to faithfully report whether I have eaten healthy and exercised that week or not. We had a good laugh as she described how sometimes she locks her scale away so she's not tempted to jump on it every day just to find out if she's still her same "happy" self.

As a result of this conversation I realized that if I am not careful I can easily allow the scale, or the mirror, to become a compass that shifts my focus and points me in the wrong direction. It seems illogical, yet at times I look to this digital device, or this earthly reflection to gauge my emotional status and essentially define me.

The Bible tells us that the God of the universe is enthralled with our beauty. Seriously? Yes, indeed! He thinks we are amazing and wonderful. Unfortunately, more often than not, we look in the mirror and only see our flaws; hair that's just a mite too frizzy; a tummy that's a bit too fluffy; and thighs that have a few too many dimples on them. My friend Renee likes to call her cellulite "the fingerprints of God." One time I shared that with a group of women, and one of them said, "Well then He must have REALLY big hands!"

So, what would life look like if we accepted God workmanship? Can you imagine how different we would feel about ourselves if we glanced in the mirror and told God "thank You for making me so wonderfully"? If you listen closely, I bet you would hear Him respond, "All beautiful, you are, my darling; there is no flaw in you" (Song of Solomon 4:7, NIV).

No matter your size or shape, the number on your clothes tag or your scale, you are beautiful! Let's embrace that we are fine just the way we are because if God says so, then it's true!

Dear God, thank You for making me the way I am. Please help me to have more confidence. I will practice defining myself through Your eyes and not my own. I am grateful, and humbled to be Your beautiful daughter, and I can feel Your approving gaze upon me. In Jesus' name, Amen.