If you remember from my very first post where I shared 5 facts about me, today is my BIRTHDAY - February 29! Leap day only comes around every 4 years because (read Wikipedia article here). Since I finally get a real birthday this year, I wanted to do something special for myself to celebrate my 9th birthday… my last real birthday before I hit double-digits and enter the next decade of my life - the big 4-0! Enter Nadine of Sachiko Studios!
I met Nadine for the first time at her client appreciation event back in fall of 2015. She was pregnant with her fourth daughter and I was pregnant with my second! I won the grand prize raffle for a holiday mini-session with her and she shot some amazing holiday photos of us to announce our second pregnancy.
Lo Family 2015 Holiday/Maternity Shoot with Sachiko Studios
Three months after our photoshoot, Nadine gave birth to her daughter, Callista, on February 29, 2016! I feel such a kinship to other leap day babies because I’ve always felt it is such a special day to be born on. I knew Nadine, as a mama to a Leap Day baby, would feel the same so I met with her over lunch to see if I could do a fun birthday photoshoot with her and I was thrilled when she said yes!
Photoshoots and taking photos in general is so out of my comfort zone, but it’s something that I’m trying to get more comfortable with. On the day of the shoot, Nadine scheduled for me to get my hair done by Tee at Beauty & Bloom, a beautiful hair, makeup & flower studio that is just two doors down from Sachiko Studio. I did my own makeup and I also brought a few items from my own closet that Nadine helped me style with pieces from her studio. We chose three different outfits for three different looks and it was game on to get in as many photos as we could before the sun went down.
Nadine & Tee were the perfect team to make me feel beautiful and confident throughout the entire photoshoot. I joked that I wanted a mini-Nadine on my shoulders all day just whispering uplifting and empowering things to me. “You look so amazing! You’re such a natural! Yes! You’re doing such a great job!” Nadine is a pro at making her clients feel at ease and comfortable. I never thought I would have so much fun at a photoshoot and it was just the experience I wanted for my birthday.
Thank you so much Nadine for an amazing afternoon. I’m so happy we have this Leap Day connection and I love these photos so so much. The photos captured a moment in time where I stepped outside of my comfort zone and felt empowered, confident, and beautiful - which is exactly where I want to be this year. Happy 1st real birthday to your baby girl! ♥️
P.S. Here are some amazing Leap Day Freebies that only come once every four years, so you’re welcome! https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/food/2020/02/28/2020-leap-day-deals-freebies-specials-saturday/4882835002/