Eastern Beauty | A California Girl’s Central Asian Inspiration

gold bangles

Following an almost year-long volunteer experience in Central Asia, my friend Megan came home to Livermore/Pleasanton laden down with beautiful fabrics, accessories, and mementos she had collected during her travels.  As she transitioned back into life in the west, I suggested collaborating on a photo shoot that would enable her to blend eastern and western aesthetics in the warm light of a Northern Californian evening.  Often when one returns from extensive travels, there is a sense of loss having left behind a life of immersion in a foreign culture, and the desire to share newfound inspirations with others as well as integrate them into one’s current life can be a satisfying way of navigating ‘reentry’.  This photo shoot is a celebration of who Megan is here in the west, and what has inspired her in the east.  We hope you enjoy the blending of cultural asethetics photographed at in Livermore at Sycamore Grove.

walnuts and textiles turquoise dress at sunset portrait with hijab portrait with head covering turquoise dress with bow Fine art portrait at sunset Lifestyle photography girl in turquoise dress portrait of a woman in hijab lifestyle photography turquoise dress and bangles lifestyle headshot turquoise dress with ethnic belt gold bangles and sunset portrait in turquoise dress blue and white pitcher and gold bangles Central Asian textiles wooden basket with dates blue and white pitcher fine art photography Portrait of a woman in Central Asian fabric

And speaking of travel, tomorrow marks one month until our big adventure!  I’m a bit overwhelmed by how much needs to get done: visas for India and Tanzania, vaccinations finished up, our home put in order, and more itinerary details to figure out…not to mention a bit more shopping and tech stuff to figure out.  Yikes!  In the meantime, I’m really looking forward to spending time with some of my closest friends in Livermore…I’m really going to miss them while we’re gone!

Hope these images are a great beginning of the week inspiration for you!

Jaime

PS I’ve been in Manitoba for four days now and not ONE mosquito bite!  Typically I look like I have the chicken pox when I come out here in the summer, but sweet blessed they have either been non-existant or have left me alone!

PPS I’ve added a Pin It button for all you Pinterest fans…ENJOY!