Lovely Expectations

When I was only 5 days away from my due date, I was cranky, bloated, and less than photogenic.  There is no way I would have conceded to a maternity portrait session!  Thankfully, this mommy-to-be was a fantastic sport!!  Doesn't she look amazing?  I can't believe that in only 5 days she will be holding her new baby boy in her arms.  Shawna you are beautiful and I can't wait to meet your handsome little guy.  I am believing that God will provide you with a smooth delivery and recovery and that you and your family will enjoy this special time!  Thanks again for all the fun.   Stay tuned for newborn images!!

Refreshed and Refocused

Refreshed and Refocused....

I've been playing with photography since I was a little girl. I've always been fascinated with the concept of creating an image. Looking back, I remember that even when I was very young, I would see events in my mind as 4x6 pictures. When writing fictional stories, or creating plays with my neighborhood friends, I would see the entire story in a picture book format and then create the dialog to go with it.

I started to become a student of photography when I was in high school. That's when it clicked that I could control my tool, my camera, and manipulate the light around me. In doing so, I could capture the image exactly as I'd already seen it in my mind.


I started out with a fully manual Canon slr that was as old as I was and a couple of fixed focal length lenses. It didn't even have automatic focus, so I was manually focusing everything. I'd make my friends sit very still while I'd pick my angle, meter my light, compose my image, CLICK, then write down my settings to match my frame, and wait to see what developed. I'd take the time to really soak in my subject, get to know them from every angle, practice patience and wait for the time to get it right. My how technology has made my passion so much easier. Now I can be much more random about the way I do things, more spontaneous. Yet, recently I've found myself not feeling more creative, but feeling more pressure to just grab what's happening however I can. I've felt like my gift to see the image before I take it has been swept over by taking the image everyone else wants to see.


This weekend when I was spending time with family friends at the beach, I simply forgot that the lens that I'd brought for knock-about didn't function in anything but full manual with the camera body I had packed! It was something that I knew but forgot in my rush to pack the family for a long weekend. It was a bit of a disappointment at first, but then it become the breath of fresh air that I needed. I was forced to be purposeful in the way that I captured my images. There wasn't any auto focus, there wasn't any exposure lock, or focus lock. If I changed my perspective, I had to refocus. If I changed my perspective without refocusing, my image was fuzzy.


Hmmmm....I think that my Abba Father took a minor disappointment and used it to teach me a significant lesson. As my perspective on my life, my priorities and, my work have changed, I haven't stepped back to refocus and that might be why my direction is so fuzzy. CLICK I think I've got it!


Stay tuned......as a take a step back and work on refocusing and recomposing the image of Alicia Horst Photography.

Vintage LOVE

The sky was perfect and her dress was so cute....so outside we went!!!  I have lots of colorful, bright images and I love them all, but I couldn't resist a little vintage love on some of my favorites!!

Newborn Model Search!!

love newborn photography, it's really one of my favorite things!  I've acquired lots of new props and backgrounds in the recent months but I haven't had much in the way of newborns:(  Sooo...I'm putting out a model search.  I'm looking for babies who are less than 2 weeks old.  If you're expecting, or if someone you know is expecting in the next two months, and you're interested in a newborn session, please give me a call! I would love to get my lens on some fresh and new cuteness really soon:)

Guitar Hero!

This guy has some rock star in his blood:) 

Ballerina Beauty

All she REALLY wanted for her 5th birthday was to go to dance class.  She was so happy when that is exactly what she got.  Of course we couldn't take pictures without our favorite dolly stealing the show for a few too!

Varsity Volleyball

When your dad is the coach, you start practice at a pretty young age!  This little guy already has skills, plus you could argue, he's the cutest guy on the court:) 
Not only does he love his sports, he loves his doggy too.  Misty was the real champ of the day.  She was so cooperative!