Down the Aisle with Angelina Arreola

This photo shoot, although one of my favorites, was definitely the most nerve racking. Not because I was at a loss for ideas, or I didn't have a good model, or because I was scared of getting my camera stolen, but because of all the "grown ups" watching us. As a photographer, I'm used to people looking, but at least at a park they won't be too curious, because everyone takes pictures there. As if I wasn't worried enough, I found out that my model, Angelina, didn't fit ANY of the dresses I had picked out, so I had to rummage for a dress that fit. The boots I had especially wanted to show-off still worked, so I was still happy about that.

When we first got to Albertson's, my deepest fears were confirmed. Not only was everyone staring, but we had come exactly at rush hour. Parents looking for a quick and easy dinner came rushing through the aisles; they didn’t have time for “little girls playing dress up”. However once we started, I knew it was all going to work out.

Even after just her first photo shoot, I could tell Angelina Arreola is a natural model. Her Disney-Princess like eyes look straight through the camera, giving you the feeling she knows more about you than you do. They are perfectly complemented by cinnamon hair that seems to just fall perfectly into place. Aside from perfect hair and "rapunzel-esque" eyes, she has an air of fearlessness to her. I was terrified of this photo shoot, and as I explained everything I wanted to do, and how it would work she simply nodded and said "OK, got it." Climb into a shopping cart in heeled boots? Sure thing. Pose in the middle of a busy aisle? No problem.

I had figured "Well if I'm nervous, she's got to be nervous, because I'm just snapping a picture. She's posing and doing the hard part." But when I asked if she felt nervous, all she had to say was "Not really. I only felt a little self-conscious when people were looking but mainly I didn't feel nervous at all!" In her free time our grocery gal likes to binge watch Netflix shows and experiment with makeup. "My favorite thing to do when I have free time," she says while posing, flipping through a magazine," is put on every single makeup I own on my face," she laughs. "I look pretty hilarious when I'm done"

When I first started putting together outfits for Angelina, they were all different but had one thing in common. The white go go boots. They just had this attention grabbing quality, and they really stood out against all the colorful labels on the shelves, beating them at their own game. Arreola agreed, " My favorite part was the heels. I was nice to be a bit taller."

Lastly I asked our girl boss if she had a motto that inspired her and affected the way she lives. She replied, "Never stop fighting." What a stud.