I first saw Sarah about 5 years ago.  I was in the tattoo parlor and one of the artist in the same room as mine had a photo of himself with a platinum blond girl that had a smile to kill.  I asked him who it was, and I later found her online through a few mutual friend’s networking profiles.  I added her and we started talking and I saw instantly that she had done some modeling as well as acting.  She lived in Wilmington, NC at the time, but we kept in touch.

Over the past 5 years, we chatted quite a few times online, and I commented on her photos, the updates in her life and vice-verso.  She was always a doll to talk to and I felt as though we had a lot in common, especially when it came to film and music.

We FINALLY got the chance to meet up yesterday and I cannot believe it took us this long.  Sarah just moved to Winston Salem for help manage a makeup business and we met for an evening of shooting.

Let me just say that from the moment the girl stepped out of the car, I knew I’d adore her.  She RAN to me in heels, and hugged me like she meant it.  A genuine hug seems so hard to come by anymore, and I never realized it until that moment.  She had a smile, that smile, that killed.  She was this huge pearl of energy and was so excited for what the day held.  Sarah beamed through her whole shoot, despite one thing that made her stand out from my (and most) other models.  You’ll probably pick up on it in the photos, but from a childhood incident, she received 2nd and 3rd degree burns all over her body.  These burns that would forever change a part of her, but only a part of her that she knew was least important to who she was as a person.  Her laugh, genuine personality, never wagering confidence and talent was who she really was, and those scars?  Those scars were her road map of where she came from and how far she can go.  She didn’t think twice about them, and they altered her appearance none.

Sarah Belle, you are a true inspiration both to me, other women and young girls all over the world.  Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for the opportunity to meet you.  Your spirit is out of this world, a heart of gold, yet a pearl I want to keep close and all to myself.  But unlike you, that would be the selfish thing to do.  I adored meeting you, learning from you and taking the next step in what I hope to be a true friendship.  You have been through a few hard times in life and there is no doubt many more will come your way.  There is also no doubt you will get through them – because this world is your oyster, and you, you are it’s pearl.

First we started out in the gardens in Winston Salem, NC

Are you convinced about her beauty yet?

What about now?  This is The Smile That Kills.  LOVE it!

So classy and elegant!

What do you do in North Carolina on a hot summer day?  You eat ice-cream, of course!

And if you’re Sarah, you look good while doing it.

Mmm, lovely evening light!

Next we moved on to Rural Hall, NC to the railroad yard.

We both fell in love with this little red caboose sitting out front.

An evening storm threatened our shoot, but we were not fazed at all!

Just a prime example of why I love shooting with natural lighting.  It’s too perfect not to!

I loved the vintage feel of this one.

Working it!  Probably one of my favorite shots of the evening.