I ran into this girl on the Sonoma Plaza last summer. I really liked her face and energy and thought that on my next trip back to San Francisco to photograph models for my Bridal Fashion Shoot I would do some personal work with her. When I was employed at city model management as an agent and scout I was 22. If I approached young girls to model they, or their mothers would give me a distrusting look. I was 22 and looked 16. Freckles skinny, fat cheeks I would think it odd as well. Now, as a mom and in my 40s I usually get to shoot 9 out of the 10 people I want. A luxury of age. I work really well with people new to the camera. It could be all the years in front and behind of the camera. Maybe the really uncomfortable modeling helped so I can now set them at ease.

I showed up to her house at 3:30 a little late. With 2 big make-up boxes in tow. I said hello and we headed for her closet. After I finished her makeup we grabbed a few of her things, matched it with my own portable closet in my FJ and ran for the hills. We spent two hours up in the Mission Highlands area and it was really cold.  I usually get the same thing from first shooters…I never knew modeling was so hard and I never knew I could look so good. Not to be a know it all, I did. That’s why I shoot and that’s why I picked you. I was a scout before a photographer. I know what you are going to look like on my film the first time I see you.

If I ask you to model for me you can bet you will be pleasantly surprised by what your bones are going to photograph like. I know,  I am know it all! I can’t help it.

When I met her mother, Gea, I was 23 and Gea was still in High School. I felt and instant repour with Gea and her mother Betsy. I became friends of the family; I became Gea’s mother agent. Gea modeled for city model management for years. I came to know and love Betsy and got to know Gea’s grandmother Joanie and got to hear the story of Gea’s great-grandmother Cookie. I visited their wonderful old home in old town San Jose. I always thought if I were to write an Epic novel this line of women would make a phenomenal slice of an American story. There is a very special story inside the generations of women that live and have lived in that house in San Jose.

One morning Gea called me at home to inform me that she had had a prophetic dream about me and her.  She said,” Kimmie, I had a dream about us last night. I dreamt we were both pregnant with girls”. Me, just having had given birth not 9 months previous, was like NOT!!! Some months later we both gave birth to girls. This is her girl!

My dear friend Edgar pulled the dress from a designer friend of his Mark Zunino, who if I could afford it, designs would fill my closet. He is a genius. We shot it in Edgar’s Twin Peaks apartment. 

10 feet tall and stunning

Her red shoes

waiting on a ride

Soft

Growing up

Her First Test

Edgar's wall

There she is

Brian Todd aka B-tee is a Bay Area rapper and a son of a friend. A few years ago he contacted me to photograph his first CD cover. We established a repour and since then I have photographed him and now his accosociates.  

At the Saramonte shopping mall in 1970 there was a toy store, I can’t remember the name, it was situated in the Southern Wing of the mall on the western wall. The first time I saw them I must have been 6. There was a wall full of dolls. Collector’s editions as I know it today. Then all I desired was to hold one. To dress her put jewelry on her. I love the ball gowns all indicative of the confederate south. It’s no coincidence why I love, Gone with the Wind, Hello Dolly, My Fair Lady and many more. I am mad about beautiful clothes. Costumes if you will.  I spent many hours of my early childhood standing in front of that glass staring at those dolls. The one I wanted was a doll in a huge wedding ball gown. There were many reasons I didn’t have a doll collection, the first being I didn’t know how to take care of it. Somehow I have satisfied my need to play dress up with myself, my daughters and the brave girls that model for me for the sake of making a pretty picture. I have wondered for sometime my attraction to the fashionably feminine and beautiful. I am not gay; sometimes I wish I were, husbands are hard. I remember my mom telling me once the males of all species were more beautiful than the females, that was at an age when I was apt to believe anything she said. I knew that her statement was false. That was just impossible. I wanted to remind her of the fat bald smelly 50 year old man we walked past. I was also most grateful to my creator for making me a girl. I recall feeling like my creator got my costume just right, I felt so lucky to be a girl.

I caught a picture while I was gone. I didn’t plan it. It was a moment. Mia seeing for the first time what was inside her grandmother’s class case. Then it all came together. My attraction is a simple as hers. PRETTY. I like pretty things, among other things.

Her First Look

Let me in

 I also have a knack for making people feel prettier than they have ever felt. A letter from a recent shoot.

Hey Kim! Just wanted to say thanks for EVERYTHING. I absolutely love my pictures. I’ve never seen myself in that kind of picture before..its weird. But you made me feel so pretty and confident. The pictures are perfect- love the processing! It was fun chatting with you bout your life as a model..I gotta hand it to you..you’re a strong woman. Gosh I have a new respect for models..they go through a lot. But anyways, thanks for taking the time out of your crazy schedule, not to mention being a mom of five kids, and make my senior pics an amazing experience. Oh and thanks for the make up tips. Well, hopefully I’ll see you sometime soon!
          Kelsey

And now, some of the pictures I took of  the amazing beautiful young woman that were gracious enough to let me photograph them.

Sarah and Grace

All there

A FriesianRush Ranch

Last Light

Top of the Bay