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I have a theory: If there was an awesome tree that grew awesome apples, my kid Paige would be the awesomest of the bunch. Yes, awesomest. Look it up. You won’t find it. Unless you’re checking the Mandyland dictionary, in which case it’s just a few pages away from the word ‘frackalackin’, which I also made up, and happens to be yet another word for the word awesome. And that takes us right back to the only whippersnapper I would ever share room and board with: my beloved donkey.
Paige Richardson (a.k.a. Donkey) is the epitome of all the things I want to be when I grow up: smart, talented, beautiful, well–rounded and part of the most kickass family on the planet. I might be biased, but at least I’m right, and although she is only 15 years young, this gifted photographer has already created a body of work that fellow professionals admire. Her photography is incredible, to say the least, and her ability to capture the essence of her subject is unparalleled.
Growing up, Paige set up her own shoots using self timers, clothes from my closet that she transformed into her own, makeup techniques that she gathered online and hair styles that graced many magazine covers. She studied fashion the way a mathematician studies numbers, and her passion for images naturally led her to create her own.
As I began to post Paige’s work on my Facebook page, others began to take notice and request shoots with her, all of which she declined at first, because she was not yet interested in turning her hobby into a paid gig.
In March of this year however, she offered to do a paid shoot for me, which was her first professional one apart from the countless shoots she had done on her own. The results were amazing and she has been booking shoots ever since. I just had my fifth shoot with her and the look and style of each one is always different than the last. You can check out her work on my blog, Her Happy Highness, or by joining the Mandy Richardson page on Facebook until she finally agrees to let me build her a website.
Paige does all of her shoots outdoors, usually in our backyard where the grass grows freely and the massive pine tree provides the umbrella for more intimate shots. She likes to keep things simple, and oftentimes I am told to remove my jewellery, and leave my hair naturally wavy instead of prepping myself as I usually do for most photo shoots. Paige steers away from conventional poses and styles, opting for more candid shots that draw you in merely because they are real. She also likes to keep the clothing simple and refined so that it is the person who is highlighted, not the externals.
That’s not to say that she doesn’t dabble in fashion photography, because she certainly does. It’s her favourite style. My last shoot with her included dark and dramatic eyes, muted lips, wild hair, a ton of bling and colourful threads which made me look like an ‘80s rock star. It was frackackin’!
Paige excels in portrait photography, so if you are looking for a photographer who makes you feel comfortable, beautiful and has the ability to bring out and capture the real you, Paige is your answer.
Her shoots last about an hour, include hair and makeup for those who want it, as well as 10 to 15 edited photos on disk. She releases all rights to her photos so you are free to print off as many as you’d like and use them as you wish.
Paige can be booked through me at herhappyhighness@gmail.com. Please note that all shoots are outdoors and are therefore weather dependent. If you have a favourite outdoor spot that you would like to be shot in (not as bad as it sounds), then by all means, let us know.
If you too are an independent artist and/or business owner and would like to be featured in Mandyland, make yourself known by emailing herhappyhighness@gmail.com.
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