Cassandra Jones is the brilliant artist behind Noelle Mirabella Photography.
If you have ever heard this woman speak, she will connect with your soul like no other human. She is like a human fairy, sprinkling a little bit of magic, love, and hope into existence wherever she goes. To listen to her stories is to be transported into her experience, something that she transmits into every single images she takes. After being in her presence, you walk away feeling sure that you are a better human and can carry that into both your personal life, and professional life as an artist.
I’ve been following Cass for a very long time, and if you’re familiar with her work, you would see that it is instantly recognizable. Not only do you not forget her work, but there is always a beautiful, loving, often tear-inducing story attached to the image. One you can immediately see and feel in the image, and one that you can’t forget. I almost feel like I know her subjects personally, as with any subsequent update on them or their families in new images, I immediately remember the original story from a previous post. The faces and images are unforgettable. Every time I think of Thelma (you’ll see her in her posts), I get teary-eyed every time I think of my own mother with my grandmother, before she passed.
Cass has the power to transcend barriers, and expectations in her images. The portraits with the firefighter father, the mom with the weight of the world on her back, the older gentleman with a baby cuddling his beard, the sweeping image of an old man and the news articles on the wall, the mom cradled lovingly and weeping into her mother’s lap. To view these images is powerful in and of itself, to know the stories and motivation behind them is exquisite. To be present in watching the magic unfold, and be able to learn from her, is a privilege.
My workshop experience with Noelle Mirabella Photography
I had been wanting to take part in an in-person workshop with Cass for a while, but I was pregnant the last time she was in my area. In the meantime, there was an opportunity to be part of a two week online workshop with her. It involved technical aspects of photography, theory, a look into her inner workings, and of course, her magical editing process. There were personal assignments and evaluations too. It was a great experience, but nothing like seeing it first hand in person. The next time the opportunity presented itself, I made sure to book in quickly. Her workshops are incredibly popular, and as they are limited to small groups, sell out quickly. That she dedicates some of her time and talent to teach others, is amazing.
To say the two days of the workshop were great, would be to sell it short. The experience was just plain magical. Cass is able to see and find magic in just about any place. The workshop was intense, with 12-13 hour days on each day. She covered everything from the theory behind her work, how she styles her clients, color theory, how to handle children, and portfolio reviews among other things. But the point she drove home the most was challenging us as to how WE could tell our own stories, our clients’ stories, and make them unique.
Of course, no workshop would be complete without putting all the theory into practice. We were fortunate to be blessed with beautiful weather, and adorable models on both days. Two stunning autumn displays in different locations served as our backdrops. We could have asked for nothing better.
If you are looking into a workshop with Cass, don’t hesitate. It is worth every penny. As a matter of fact, you may become addicted. I’ll be visiting her in Canada next year for another workshop in Victoria to make some more magic with her! I am looking forward to continuing to evolve my work and provide even more to my clients!
These images were all taken at the Noelle Mirabella workshop.
You can find Noelle Mirabella on her website, Instagram, and Facebook.
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Sofia Ribeiro is a New Jersey newborn, maternity, and family photographer specializing in fine art printed portraits. Serving the North and Central New Jersey areas, New York City, Staten Island, and beyond.
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