Grace in Your Heart and Flowers in Your Hair – My Most Meaningful Giveaway, EVER (EXTENDED DEADLINE)

The essence of a woman, is by far, the most bafflingly beautiful thing to me. There is a particular strength, dignity, and grace interwoven in the soul of a woman that is just breathtaking.  Lately, this particular subject has really moved me.  I’ve been driven by stories, inspired by silent battles, and just moved by the women around me who have endured or are currently enduring with a level of grace, dignity, and preserverance that just simply deserves a little light.

Perhaps this is why I have such a deep love and devotion for photographing women. I feel that a photograph of a woman smiling, truly a joyful smile is one of the most breathtakingly powerful sights. I feel that the intimate moment captured between a mother and her newborn is a breath of love that no one in the world can understand but her. I feel that the bold beauty of a high school senior trying to find her place in this great big world is more than just a pretty photograph, but rather, a message that tells her that she is good enough, beautiful enough, smart enough–that she has something all her own to offer to the world. I believe that a woman has more power at her fingertips by the grace, dignity, and levels of love she can offer to the world than any other creature on this Earth.

I truly believe that what we as women need even is uplifting from other women. I like to think that we are like reflectors, and by being uplifting, we set the bar for others to do the same. With that being said, I’ve decided this year to put on the biggest contest I’ve ever held to celebrate the strength and beauty of the women we call our mothers, our friends, our sisters, daughters, companions–the ones who’ve fought battles, silently or with support of loved ones–the ones who need a little light in their lives.

WHAT WILL THEY WIN, YOU ASK?

The winner, chosen by me based on all nominated submissions, will be gifted an ENTIRE Lifestyle Collection Session (including styling direction, session, gallery of edited images, blog feature with a write-up on the specific beauty and grace behind the woman in the photographs) valued at over $500.

Sessions will be gifted for use in the Hammond/Ponchatoula area, HOWEVER, this should NOT discourage readers from ANYWHERE to enter. Should the winner want a session somewhere other than where I am located, they can still be awarded the same $500 valued collection and would simply have to provide my travel costs. Still a phenomenal win, if you ask me. Plus, I’d LOVE to hear stories from ANY and EVERYWHERE.

ALSO, if the nominated winner chosen is from out of state, they will be contacted with a choice to accept. If they decline, the next winner will be chosen. All of that being said to not sway ANYONE from nominating deserving contenders.

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HERE’S HOW IT WILL WORK:

I’m looking for nominations for any woman, of any age, you know who’s fought or is currently fighting some sort of battle OR striving to reach some sort of goal for self-improvement with an awe-inspiring grace and dignity.

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WHAT YOU NEED TO INCLUDE IN AN ENTRY:

Her name.

A photograph of her, link to her Facebook, OR link to her Instagram.

Her story and what about her story makes her inspiring to you or others. Give me as much information as possible as to what makes her beautiful, strong, and dignified. (NO personal information about any contestants will be published without my first contacting them for approval once all submissions have been entered).

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HOW LONG DO YOU HAVE TO SUBMIT ENTRIES?

Nomination submission deadline is EXTENDED THROUGH MARCH. Deadline is April 1, 2014 at Midnight CST.

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WHERE DO YOU SUBMIT NOMINATIONS?

All nominations should be emailed to kali(at)kalinorton.com or via my website contact page with the subject line “2014 Nomination.”

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I absolutely cannot wait to be moved by the powerful women we are surrounded by. I truly believe in documentation through photographs to affirm life’s charm and serve as a delicate reminder that, somewhere in the muddle, there is radiance.

P.S. – Fabulous quote above credit goes to Mumford & Sons, from their song “After the Storm.”