BEHIND THE SCENES

This past weekend, the boys & I had our first family shoot. My good friend Rosebeth, a Houston native photographer asked if she could capture my family. I knew beforehand it would be a disaster taking professional photos with an 18 month old. Luckily, she has been my friend since college and has tons of experience with kids. A few years ago, when Troy and I were living in California she drove all 3 of us to Joshua Tree and took shots we used as our anniversary pictures. Her vision is a gift to the black community. I am excited to get the images back and add them to LADYFOX, but until then, here are some behind the scenes shots.

If you want to check out more of her work :

www.isirose.com

IG : isi.rose_

Photos taken at The West Studios in the Heights Houston 12/23/2018

2018.

2018 was an overall dramatic year for me. The last four months of it have been surprisingly blissful. This year was my first FULL YEAR of motherhood, and I am still a rookie. This was my first year growing and cultivating with my own family through this world. I have learned how to run a household effectively. I think I am now submerged in what people call “adulthood”. Although I do feel like an adult, I still feel the warmth of youth. This year we traveled a lot, so we were low on money this summer from our travels (worth it). We took a couple of “out of state” trips and then at least 7 road-trips home (Houston). As a couple, we began to focus more on each other and whats best for all three of us as a unit. Troy and I have established our expectations for the New Year and years to come. I feel prepared for 2019. I can feel my style re-emerging after being pregnant/having Phoenix. I am starting to feel more creative and more connected to my vision. I usually am desperate for the year to end, but I will miss 2018. This year made me stronger all the way around and introduced me to the best parts of who I am.

Photos taken at The Jones Assembly in Oklahoma City 12/2/18

MAMA FRIENDS

Here are a few intimate moments from a lovely meet up with Baby Zula (I call her Zula Boo) and her mama Ayaba. Although I had seen Ayaba around Houston a couple times, I never knew how significant she would be years later to my life. Ayaba is an aspiring midwife, she does birth-work AND is an organic hairstylist in Houston.

We began to chat back and forth via Instagram DM early 2017 when we both had announced our pregnancies. Endless hours were spent talking about all the hopes and wonders of motherhood. We had a lot in common. We are the same age, both Pisces women and our babies are just shy of two months a part. And, how cute is it that we showed up with the same shoes on ? When I finally saw her and talked to her in person, it felt just as it did during our many conversations, except we were running after our toddlers the entire time. We talked almost everyday when we were pregnant and still frequently giving each other advice along the way. I think its important to have other moms as friends or communicative support. This was my favorite part about my last visit home to Houston.

Images shot in Third Ward at Doshi House. 11/24/2018

To follow Zula & Ayabas journey :

IG - @iyaearth

Ayabas blog : ileiya.wordpress.com