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Home sweet home.

In the past five years, I've lived in at least one different house every year. I've lived a relatively vagabond-esque lifestyle that I used to be quite proud of. I would pack a bag and go here or there as I pleased. A traveler. A wanderer telling myself I wasn't lost, but never quite able to call one place home. 


                          

Since Derich and I have moved in together and turned our house into a home, I know now what the term "home" feels like. Our house is not a permananent house, nor is it filled with children and cookies. Instead it is filled with chihuahua puppies, a clean dishwasher and photographs of our travels. 

                            


I have spent most of my 24 years on a plane or bus or wishing I was somewhere else and now, for the first time, I can't wait to walk in the front door. It may not smell like fresh cookies or look like a page ripped out of a magazine, but it's our home and anywhere feels like home with him.

We've created a safe place to explore who we are, who we were and who we want to be.
Who we are together. 
Our home is a place where he pretends not to see me bite my nails and I pretend not to see him pick his nose. A home where we can be free to be whoever, flaws out and all. 

Although we haven't sewn our roots into the ground, we've sewn our roots into each other to create the base for a long, happy life. He is the mortar to my bricks, the McCartney to my Lennon, and the love of my life.

      

My grandfather built his house with my grandmother in 1972. The home they built together hosted generations of family dinners, holiday festivities, a safe place to land, hundreds of firsts and memories that are the roots of our entire family tree. 

January seventeenth of this year, he was taken from this earth. He lived a long, healthy life but when these things happen it never feels like you had enough time. This post is dedicated to him, for helping me put my wings away and realizing that a home is not a cage if your home is with the right person. 

And to you Derich, I can't wait to build a home with you, whether it's with our hands or our hearts.

"I love you sugar. Welcome home."


Xoxo,
B


Throw back Thursday

Remember when you were a kid and you had a favorite doll? I don't know about you, but I always felt guilty if I played with one doll more than the others because I was afraid the others wouldn't feel as loved. To outsiders I probably looked like a crazy person but I dressed them, I developed their personalities, their hopes, their dreams. 
                                 To me these dolls were an extension of myself, of who I was.

                                            

In art it's known as personal expression.
I created art.
And I have a favorite. 

Jamie and Shanna truly captured the look and feel I had imagined. I remember looking at my team and then up at the sky to thank the universe for sending me such wonderful people. 
I'm truly blessed.
This was a shoot aimed to help me identify with my brand, and I finally pinpointed it after looking at these images for over a year. Bazinga!

Xoxo,
B


The world in which we live.


Inspiration is an incredible thing. It can be found in nature, in music, a cup of coffee, a conversation. In vitually anything! I have recently been inspired during my recent travels, experiences, and I would like to share some of my inspiration with you. 


Driving anywhere always inspires me. The fresh smells on the highway, playlists in the car, and the change of scenery always spark my heart. 


The combination of coffee, Twyla Tharp, and journaling is invigorating. In this photo, I was jotting down 20 observations of a man and a woman interacting. I then attempted to jot down twenty more meaningful observations of a different couple. The point of the excercise was to help determine the importance of meaningful details. Although, they are harder to come up with they are worth it in the long run. 


Conversation! Some of my best styling, designing, or blogging comes from conversations I have on a day to day basis. 


The final inspiration I share with you today, is self discovery. Digging deep inside yourself can pull lots of incredible ideas to the surface. 




As always, I hope this finds you well.
xoxo,
B

 


Amelia


It's amazing how many shoots you can work on in the same week and they all turn out entirely different. Meet Amelia! She works with my hubby at Urban Outfitters and is one of our dear friends here in Louisville. All clothes have come from her own wardrobe and are an eclectic mix from Nasty Gal, Urban Outfitters, and random thrift stores. I merely assisted on this shoot, which was a nice change of pace. 

It's amazing how this shoot was taken the day after Quinn's, but it looks and feels entirely different. This particular set was shot on a Saturday morning around 7:30am and was a brisk 39 degrees! 


Fun fact: her shoe broke, which is why it's hidden in this photograph! 

We safety pinned the side of the shoe to help keep it in place. For anyone that is familiar working on sets, you know that movement helps keep the photos from looking stagnant and dull. This girl was full of action on her own, no fake breeze necessary! 


And last but not least, this lovely shot. Her body is so comfortable and at ease. It's tough to relax that much with an entire team standing in front of her staring and having bare legs and midriff in 39 degrees! 


Again, I am always so grateful to have such wonderful women work with me on my portfolio adventure. If you think it's something you'd be interested I'm, please email me at: bryndarling@gmail.com


Until next time! 
Xoxo,
B


An autumn post in March


I haven't updated in quite a while, but it has been a rough few months for this Floridian. When I moved north to Kentucky, I never expected the winter I received- nearly 5 months of freezing temperatures. It's almost April and I'm optimistic it will only continue to get warmer from here, which means more shoots! 
Here are a few shots from the last shoot I did in November, when the temperatures were only mildly freezing. This girl was such a trooper and I look forward to working with her in the future. 

A lovely head shot of hair and makeup by me! (My first time!) I also thrifter this chair and it couldn't have worked out more perfect! I love the texture from this scene. 
       


This outfit combo was pulled from a trip I took to Anthropologie. Again, I loved the textures and the layers that we're going on here.
                                 

Isn't that bag to die for??? It actually belongs to Quinn, and her change of clothes and shoes are stuffed in there to make it look more full. :)
                                
This wall is right outside my apartment. I'd walked past it for months and I couldn't wait to photograph someone in front of it. 
                                

                                

I was afraid Quinn's red hair would look too matchy-matchy with the red brick, but I'm so pleased with the results!
                                




As always, I'd like to thank Shanna for her amazing eye and photography skills. Hope you're all out enjoying the sunshine! 

Xoxo, 
B