Elle Effect

Sloane & Ivy

Lauren Stonestreet — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 04:34:43 +0000

I’m privileged to nanny these two beautiful girls. I love spending time with them.
These were taken one afternoon we spent together a few weeks ago.

Open Arms: Medellin, Colombia Pt. 2

Lauren Stonestreet — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 23:20:45 +0000

Processing through another batch of photos from my time with the Open Arms Foundation in Medellin.

Zach & Candice, 11/1/09

Lauren Stonestreet — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:36:08 +0000

{click on double images to view larger}

rehearsal: october 31st, 2009

the wedding day: november 1st, 2009

Moravia, Colombia

Lauren Stonestreet — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:19:47 +0000

We gathered in a two-story brick and cement building in the middle of Moravia. Climbing stairs slowly as little feet ran past me, laughing. The stench didn’t matter. The language barrier didn’t quite matter, either. We were meeting to rehearse for the big concert. They had been rehearsing for months, and this was their time to show me what they had learned. I doubt I could be glowing more than when I watched them move.

They motioned for me to join in on the movement. I danced, they danced, we danced — back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. Laughter being our melody continually those two hours of time.

We watched the sun go down together. No flashes with me – just natural light and a high ISO at sundown and then, altogether, no more camera. No more snapshots. Just us.

I’m a little more confident in my skill of salsa thanks to these young ones who could do the steps in their sleep. They shrieked and their eyes widened when I would lift a girl onto my back and walk across the room, spinning her, and placing her back on her feet. Potentially a bad idea, because every little girl in the room now had to do the very same thing. Then, they caught on to the movement and copied… lifting friends and laughing, walking across the room with me.

Movement allowed me to communicate what my tongue could not, and I am thankful.

There are currently very difficult, finanical situations occurring with Open Arms Foundation.
I will be posting a letter from the Founder, Bill Perrow, and express the need to
continue to be aware of in helping these street children in Colombia find a home again.

I will be selling photographs from my time in Colombia to help keep the Foundation doors open.
More information to come this week.

Stonestreet Family

Lauren Stonestreet — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:01:24 +0000

Yes, indeed, this is my beloved family. Late in the evening we had our first family photo shoot since 2001. Thanks to my self-timer, darling Grandma and friend Brittany, we got photos in before it was too dark : ) Christmas family cards, here we come!

Also note that most of these are outtakes… because we simply can’t take a serious photo together. And that’s okay by me.

(click for larger view below)

_________________________________________________

It is also my parents 30th wedding anniversary this month. So, as my gift, they received photos from me. By taking their portraits, I learned more about myself and about who they were, how they mesh perfectly… how seasoned they are. What a gift. I’ve taken so many portraits of new couples — and that fresh, beautiful romance is captured on film. This, this was different. Seasoned, selfless, beautiful… love.

Liz – Senior 2010

Lauren Stonestreet — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:25:03 +0000

Liz and I had so much fun for our 2-hr session together. I have done shoots up at the old Sunrise Museum area before, but this time, the spaces we photographed in were very dear to her. She told me memory after memory from her childhood — both of us laughing the entire time. My brother, Stephen, assisted me that day and Liz’s friend came along, too. I first heard of Liz at Symphony Sunday downtown Charleston this past summer. She was one of the honored vocalists to sing with the West Virginia Symphony, and boy, did she deserve it!

I’ll be back in town (Charleston, WV) for more Senior Portrait sessions November 25-29 (Wed-Sun). Email me if you’re interested!

A few of my favorites from our session together:

Stephen

Lauren Stonestreet — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:52:31 +0000

My brother.
Charleston, WV
October 2009

Dance Shoot: Lauren Dittebrand

Lauren Stonestreet — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 05:15:06 +0000

Lauren is a company member with the River City Youth Ballet in Charleston, WV. She is also a senior, and is an aspiring contemporary dancer. Really excited to see where her talent will take her.

Such a moody, Friday evening. These were taken at what is becoming one of my favorite places to shoot. It had rained all day, but the sky graciously cleared into a deep blue mess for hour 2-hr shoot.

Definitely difficult to pick favorites.

Best of luck to you, Lauren. : )

Note from Here in West Virginia:

Lauren Stonestreet — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:04:40 +0000

So many new photos to post here shortly!
Cannot wait to share them with you.

The weather has, thankfully, cooperated this weekend thus far here in West Virginia.
It’s good to be in the mountains, and at peak!

My house smells of cinnamon, burning candles and apples.
My family loves all things apple.

These albums have been calming and inspiring me the most lately:
Fionn Regan – The End of History
Nick Drake – Pink Moon

Deep breaths, deep breaths.

And, thanks to dear friend, Amos Lanka, this photo of mine is hanging in my home back in Cleveland:

Pfunanane Exhibit @ Quills Coffee

Lauren Stonestreet — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:54:27 +0000

My good friend, Bradley Speaks, contacted me to hang my work in the new Quills Coffee location in Louisville, KY. They recently relocated and had a grand opening in August. Feel honored to have my work from Pfunanane Academy in South Africa displaying until the end of this month. I wasn’t able to see it myself, so I vicariously lived through Andrew in these few photos he snapped on his iphone for me!