It is an honor and a privilege  to photograph the 2011 “Beyond Boobs” calendar for Mary Beth Gibson and René Bowditch.  These two amazing women are the founders of “Beyond Boobs” a non-profit organization that assists women in dealing with breast cancer.  The two women met at a retreat for breast cancer survivors in September of 2006. Mary Beth was in the midst of treatment, having been diagnosed just four months earlier, and René, five years out, was making an appearance as her alter ego, the Good Health Fairy.  An instructor at the William and Mary Law School by day, René becomes the Good Health Fairy when a different kind of assistance is needed. This beautiful and dignified woman dons an elegant evening gown and tiara, ties her pink high top tennis shoes, grabs her wand, and with a sprinkling of fairy dust becomes the most glamorous clown ever. A breast cancer retreat was the perfect venue for this breast cancer survivor and her special brand of love, humor, and compassion.  A conversation ensued between the two about the unique challenges facing young women with breast cancer and the limited resources available to address their needs and concerns. This fact was particularly evident at the retreat as only three of the 20 cancer survivors in attendance were in their 40s or younger. René took this conversation to heart and with a wave of her wand, invited those three and two other young women she knew through her role as an ACS Reach to Recovery volunteer to her home for “Tea and Talk.” The first gathering occurred just one month following the retreat, and by the summer, this informal network they created to love, nurture, comfort, strengthen, and help one another had grown to almost twenty members!
The group named themselves “Beyond Boobs” because they didn’t want to be defined by their status as breast cancer survivors. Rather, they wanted to convey their power to get beyond the disease that originated in their breasts and get on with living life to the fullest. They also wanted to express that contrary to what our culture may proclaim, the essence of a woman is not contained in her breasts, and that a woman’s femininity and worth extend far beyond her outward appearance. The name is also a way of approaching a very serious, heavy subject with healing humor, and allowing people to laugh as well as cry.
These dynamic women sought each other out because they are a unique subset of their generation, with concerns, fears, and needs foreign to most of their other friends. They share jaunty hats, babysitting services, healthy recipes, much laughter and many tears. With their paradigms not just shifted but fractured and re-set, they have come together to cherish and support one another. They are also passionate advocates for early detection and diagnosis for everyone, whatever their age. All are freshly aware that our tomorrows are not a given and are determined to maximize today and improve the future, both for themselves and for others.

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Here are a few photos from the Hampton Roads Magazine Gala at the Half Moone in Norfolk. It was truly on “amazing” party. I am soooo honored and blessed to be a part of this awesome team!!!!!  Special thanks to Dave, Melissa, Randy and Pam for allowing me to be creative.

PS Here are a few covers that I photographed for Hampton Roads Magazine.

A few covers photographed by Keith Cephus

Keith posing with Art Director David Uhrin

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When Jennifer Lalonde-Schumacher asked me to capture her husband Chad’s homecoming from a deployment, I was overjoyed!!   The “Sunliners” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 81 returned to NAS Oceana, April 12, after a three-month deployment around South America.  Chad, and the entire  Sunliner family, thank you all for making the ultimate sacrifice to keep America free from harms way….

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Here are a few photos I took at the fabulous ” I Do” production by Michelle Kilgore of Weddings by Michelle.  The fab event took place at the Renaissance Hotel in Portsmouth and featured some of the most sought after wedding professionals in the business.  Michelle, I just want to take the time to thank you for putting on the tremendous gala.  Mad love to all of the vendors who contributed their resourses and time to make this event so very special….

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Ramon, David, Yervant, Keith and Charlie.

Jen & Steve Bebb

Keith & Yervant 

Keith posing with celebrity wedding photographer Bob Davis and his lovely wife Dawn

Keith chilling with award-winning photographer Jerry Ghionis and Jesh De Rox.

This week, I spend training with some of the world’s best photographers at the WPPI Convention in Las Vegas.  WPPI is the largest wedding photography convention in the world.  This year was special because I hung out with my cool Hampton Roads buddies as well as networked with some of the “movers and shakers”  in the game.  While I was there, I had the opportunity to meet celebrity photographer Bob Davis and his lovely wife Dawn, who photographed Eva Longoria and Tony Parker’s celebrity wedding in Paris.  I also spend some valuable time with Bob on a photoshoot in the streets of Vegas.  In addition, I had the honor of photographing Jen & Steve Bebb, voted “Top Ten Photographers in the World”.  It was truly an amazing experience shooting this dynamic couple.  It was truly a magical four days and the shot in the arm I needed to springboard my wedding season!!

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I’m headed to Washington D.C. to document the Presidential Inauguration.   I will be back to share my experience with you all.

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