Good morning and Happy PRIDE from the Twin Cities! Chilly for most, I’m sure, but I was so pleased to walk outside to a 65º degree day. As a kid, all I did was play outside. I was in Boy Scouts for ten years and was always camping, fishing and hiking. Fast forward to present day and I’ve become an acclimated freelance coffee shop hermit. Anything over 80º makes me crabby.
Speaking of Minnesota and PRIDE, a local friend and ally of the LGBT community is featured here today. She is a blossoming burlesque entertainer and her name is Magnolia Lace. She came to me through the annual NOIR event I hold in Minneapolis, LA and NYC. Magnolia booked her session last fall for what would be five consecutive years of sold out NOIR sessions.
NOIR has taken on a life of it’s own since it began in 2013. The event is the only all inclusive session I offer that includes hair, make-up, location, photography, wardrobe and styling. I’ve been extremely fortunate to have incredible lingerie sponsors co-host NOIR including What Katie Did and Kiss Me Deadly. It’s become a massive undertaking demanding at least four months of my year.
NOIR I LA and NYC are always incredible affairs, but I have a special place in my heart for the Minneapolis dates as it’s my hometown and where the event began. The feeling of spending two months shooting production material to advertise the event and quality assurance of the website form scripts, it’s so amazing when bookings begin to come through our email. One of those bookings was Magnolia.
She was pleasant and conversational when we arrived. 
Magnolia was extraordinary in front of the camera! She’s an experienced model, as is the case with most burlesque dancers. We still had the opportunity to capture photos unique to my style with available light and shadows. The Kiss Me Deadly lingerie complimented her figure so well and the dark esthetic of the NOIR set design gave this sweet Midwestern girl the presence of a dangerous, seductive woman. All photographed using 35mm and 50mm lens, the photos of Magnolia have the same timeless, Old Hollywood look NOIR has become known for.
NOIR is a very specific event that is intentionally themed around black and white, cinematic photography. As such that is the photos I release on all social media, but, I love Steemit and this is sort of like my art playground so here’s a look at the dark colors with Magnolia Lace. Enjoy.
For more photography, art, illustration and thoughts on life in general, follow my blog at 