Project SMILE: Part Two

This time it was a little different, but no less amazing!

Last Saturday was our second day shooting with the Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence organization. Their HomeSafe transitional housing is amazing - it allows those women and children who've escaped abusers to rebuild their lives in a supportive group environment.

At our HomeSafe complex were two incredible stylists - Monina and Tia. Last time we shot, it was just two photographers for both complexes, with three stylists at each complex. Jeanne and I were exhausted at the end of that day! We barely had time to drink water and sit. This time, it was four photographers at EACH complex, with Monina and Tia at our complex and the incredible Maria Chang of Professional Makeup Artistry and Sarah Hyde at the other. We really got to know each of the woman, play with the kids, and have a great time doing the very think we all loved doing.

Soroptimist International was out in full supportive force. There was one "in charge" volunteer at each complex, with several of their teen S Club volunteers to rock babies, read to toddlers and play Battleship and badmitton with the kids.

Jeanne & I were back, but this time we were joined by one of my favorite people in the universe, Tanja Lippert. Karen, her associate, came too, the first time I'd met her and I'm so glad she did. Tia, too, is part of Tanja's crew, so I was having a great time watching all of them do their thing.

And then, there was the second complex. Kim of Mill Cottage Photography and Angela of AGB Photographics are two wonderful and talented women I've known now for 4 years and have been so blessed to have shot with many times. They were joined by Chyna of Chyna D. Photography and Shannon Montez, two photographers I'm just now getting to know and already think very highly of. I think Chyna turned the camera over to Soroptomist Carolyn to get this shot of the four of them!

I wish wish wish we could show you some of the amazing photos we captured. And the smiles on these women's faces when they saw themselves after Monina or Maria gave them a mirror when they set that last curl or brushed that last powder. Wow.

Some of the women we met last time came back to thank us, and one little girl made sure to find Jeanne to give her a big hug and show off her new manicure. And one woman brought all six of her kids and after we were finished shooting, gave me a great compliment. She liked how much fun I was having and wanted to take a photography class and try it for herself.

But the ultimate compliment? "Wow. That's me?"

Please learn more about Soroptimists International and Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence at www.nextdoor.org and www.soroptimistinternational.org.

More soon!