Palm Springs with Lotus Den Hair at CasaDeVito

I was approached back in summer about a photoshoot trip to Palm Springs by Bethany Catalfamo (@stylistbethany) at her new Airbnb CasaDeVito (@casadevito) in Palm Springs for her salon Lotus Den Hair Studio (@lotusdenhair). Typically, I myself pay to go on these trips so it sounded like a super fun opportunity for me to be able to plan the trip.

Over the next month or two I reached out to models, makeup artists, brands, other photographers, etc. to try and put together a team for Palm Springs to join myself and the Lotus Den Hair stylists. It was quite a process and actually took a significant amount of time to plan and organize (Google spreadsheets was so helpful!), but we had a fabulous shoot and I have content to last me months!

It was 3 days and 2 nights, however some girls couldn’t come the whole time. For me, it was another 2-3 days after the trip to just sort and edit all the images but I was able to narrow it down to a feebly 646 images (lol). I had met some of these girls previously, but others I met on the trip, but we all got close and it was so nice getting to know them. Hope you enjoy some of the magic we created!

Models: Sade Katarina (@sadekatarina), Peyton Lake (@peytonlake), Miranda Dos Santos (@mirandatwosaints), Heather Wrixon (@heatherwrixon), Carly Rey Yaeger (@charly.reyy), Mary Simmons (@marygoldofficial)

Photographer/Stylist: myself (@allisoncarolcreatives / @allisonsherman4)

Photographers: Taylor Krause (@taylorkrausecreative), Stephanie Klotz (@stephanieklotzphoto)

Makeup: Nancy Z (@msnancyz)

Hair: Lotus Den Hair Studio (@lotusdenhair), Bethany Catalfamo (@stylistbethany), Tabitha Skantz (@the_blonde_whisperer), Sierra Badillo (@sierradoeshair), Emily Stebbings (@emilystebbingshair), Sheri Giusti (@shergiusti)

Brands: Brixton (@brixtonwomens), Hannah Frost Jewelry (@hannahfrostjewelry), Vibe Apparel (@vibeapparel_co), The Fox and the Mermaid (@thefoxandthemermaid), Swim Like A Mermaid (@swimlikeamermaid), Lucy Paris (@lucyparislabel), Boom Boom Brazil (@boomboombrazil), Royalie (@shoproyalie)

TGS Unplugged Dazey Desert House

I had the opportunity to go on TGS Collective’s “Unplugged” weekend to the Dazey Desert House in Palm Springs. Their “Unplugged” weekends are trips offered for creatives a part of the collective to unplug from social media and the hustle and bustle of their daily life to wind down, get inspired, shoot, edit, learn from other creatives, and have a motivational course taught by the founder, Alex Morehouse.

This was my second Unplugged trip with TGS. I like to go on short trips with other creatives not necessarily to get away and unplug from my busy life, but to connect with other likeminded people in my field and get amazing content, although it is nice for a social media break every once in a while.

The Dazey Desert House is a pretty special Airbnb owned by the same woman that founded Dazey LA (@dazey_la), an LA-based clothing brand with rad funky designs and graphics. There isn’t a boring spot in the house and it’s all very colorful and retro looking, (just like the clothing brand) – a photographer’s dream! My work is generally more outdoorsy but I still had a great time shooting all the trendy insta-worthy spots in and around the house. We also went to a cute tiki-themed hotel and shot around in the desert too.

This Unplugged trip was pretty special because it was a small team of all girls, so we got deep and really connected. I had known three of the girls previously, Alex (@chiefwolfblood), Larissa (@larissaraquelphoto), and Hannah (@hannahrosesesser), but it was my first time meeting Julianne (@julianneglass) and Sydney (@sydswing) and we got pretty close for just a 3 day/2 night trip. Had so much fun with these ladies and I can’t wait to do something like this again!

TGS Unplugged - Palm Springs

This trip was one for the books! TGS Collective (@tgscollective) put together a rad weekend at an AirBnb in Palm Springs for us creatives to UNPLUG from social media. We all can get so caught up in social media, we can get lost in the present.

Unfortunately though, in this generation in order to have a successful and lucrative career in the creative world -  whether you're modeling, photographing, filming, styling, designing, etc. -  you have to have be hustling and working hard online. It can be overwhelming at times for sure. This weekend was a time to unwind, set goals, and get inspired!

This weekend brought together such an awesome crew; TGS' leading lady - CEO and founder,  Alex Morehouse (@chiefwolfblood), photographer and TGS Collective Manager, Daniel Woods (@deer_dann), and fellow photographers Erikson Erise (@eriksonerise), and David Ardill (@d_ardill). Models included Kalista De Hart (@listyyloo), Tiana Ingram (@rosetiana_), and Andrelina Perazzo (@andrelinaa_). Not everyone knew or had met one another before the trip, but by the end of it we were all super close!

Before the trip, I had gone to Goodwill to find some interesting pieces to shoot with. Sometimes the crazier the clothing, the cooler the shot. Or it could turnout weird.. but that's up to you - the photographer and creative visionary! Many of the pieces in the photos below ya girl thrifted up a storm to find, and I'm so glad that I did because they turned out bomb! I'm a strong believer in that if your outfit is no bueno, the photo will likely be no bueno as well.

This is part of the reason I love to style my own models - if they're on point, you're on point. I got the pearly beaded blazer, white lace cover-up dress, red oriental top (Tiana bought it from me after the session!), sheer fringe kimono, floral romper, navy blue floral dress, and black sheer embellished dress - all between $5-$9 apiece. Recycled fashion KILLIN' the game! WHAT WHAT?!

We spent the weekend creating, laughing, relaxing, editing, sharing Photoshop and Lightroom tips and tricks, styling looks, eating, bonding, and overall just loving our lives away with the freedom from social pressures and the outside world. We encouraged each other, helped one another, and we left feeling motivated and ready to conquer our business goals. We all had our own stories and our own obstacles, but together we all had one thing in common - we love creating and we're ready to work our butts off to get where we want to be. 

THANK YOU GUYS FOR INSPIRING ME! And for a killer weekend.. And for killer pics. Much love.

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