To all of our followers...

Please don't try to read this post from your email address, too much eye strain!  Please go to

http://mysticwomenofsalem.blogspot.com/p/our-team_16.html  to check out the latest post at

link and read directly from the blog itself.  Believe me it will be a much easier read.   :}


The MWS welcomes our new PR gal - Dawn Dorgan!!!

The Project Manager and I are thrilled to welcome aboard our new "all things PR gal"  Dawn Dorgan.

Dawn will be "the face" of the MWS in various PR materials and a variety of diverse advertisements and media.  Not only is Dawn a natural beauty and extremely photogenic, she has also demonstrated an extraordinary level of dedication to the project over the last year and a half.   This includes hours and hours of posing for very difficult and high level studio shoots to assisting in MWS shoots and the consistent promotion of the project to a wide range of people.  Being from the Salem area has enabled Dawn to be quite knowledgable in many areas of the city itself, businesses, local and long distance contacts that will (or have) behooved the efforts of myself and the Project Manager.  She has become a valuable asset to the development and success of MWS and we are so grateful that Dawn has agreed to join our Team.

You will be seeing a number of shoots and images of Dawn in various themes, costumes, and locations.  These shots will be used in all forms of media and promotional materials.  Not only will she be modeling, she will literally be our representative in a promotional capacity throughout the area and the world wide web, with particular emphasis on social media and web sites.

Check out Dawn's vision and photo at:

http://mysticwomenofsalem.blogspot.com/p/our-team_16.html  

Welcome, welcome, welcome D!

Rebecca  :}

A Healer in Both Worlds

MWS Team is Honored to present Karen Watson, a healer in both the Mundane World and the Earth World!

On Saturday, May 18, 2013 Karen arrived to the studio for briefing and signing of paperwork at exactly the right time.  As all of you know who have been photographed for the MWS project, I am pretty "rattled" by the time the featured woman arrives for her shoot.  However with Karen,  her energy transmitted onto a "level plane" accompanied by a very calming nature, put this "rattled" photog at ease almost immediately.  
I remember feeling the same way when I interviewed her at Jaho's one brisk New England afternoon.

When we made it up to the studio Karen and I began setting up the props and her seating area.  As is customary, Mystic Women bring the most incredible props and personal items to accompany them on their shoots...and this Mystic Woman did not disappoint.  The first crystal she handed me was the most perfect/clear crystal I have ever seen.  It was virtually absent from ANY inclusions whatsoever!  Karen informed me that she had bought it in Sedona Arizona...ha, no wonder.  We all know what a mystical place Sedona is!  I was so moved by this stone that I isolated it and photographed it.  I have already used it in PR!

Karen has been in the medical field for decades and has a fascinating story...but, you'll have to wait for the release of the book to read about it!  What I can tell you is that for years while working at hospitals, she would secretly work with patient's energy levels...as well as utilizing her scientific training to heal.  This was done many years prior to the acceptance of alternative healing methods in the staunch, conservative world of mainstream medicine.   Karen as always "known."

One of the interesting things is that in each one of her portraits she has a look of,"I know something...do you?"  I thought it was just me, but the professor brought it up during critique as well.  His view was that this "look" added a huge element to her portraits, especially when you find out that she is in medicine and when you know her story.  

We had an enjoyable afternoon and of course the magic happened with the amethyst.  All of the crystals were supplied with their own solitary lighting source...in effort to make them "pop."  However, when we began working with the amethyst (which was at the very end of the shoot) no lighting was necessary.  The lighting that you see of the amethyst is it's own...there was no additional lights set up to enhance it's appearance.  

The amethyst is from Sedona as well.

Thanks Karen for a great shoot!  One of the more "calm" shoots that I've done during MWS project.  Certainly a testament to a very powerful, and wise healer...known in the Mundane World as Ms. Karen Watson, truly a Mystic Woman.

R :}

I am thrilled to announce that Professor Lewis, Photography Concentration, of the Art Department at Salem State University has agreed to continue participating in the Mystic Women of Salem series/project  as advisor and critiques under the Directed Study program at the University.  My final portrait critique went extremely well to say the least.  

" These recent shoots are the best and most consistent that you have done in the entire MWS series, you are producing and working at a very high level of photography."  

OMGoddess, OMGoddess you guys!  I cannot tell you what these words mean.  You have to be at the University and in this program to fully understand just how hard it is to get high marks and to receive comments such as the above, is EXTREMELY  difficult!

So...all the pain, the endless hours of work, the fatigue, the frustration and not to mention the fear, is proving to be worth it.  With people like you ladies', your families, friends, the University educators, our PR Girl Dawn Dorgan and not to mention the Project Manager's guidance, expertise and constant support...is most certainly giving me the strength to continue on!  POWER TO MWS!!!!!  YES!

Elaine and Nicol, our Reiki Masters shoot will be scheduled for launch tomorrow and if it is too late in day I will re-launch it at 10 am Friday as well.  Just FYI - the Professor said that the lighting, was excellent and the photograph I took of Nicol sitting on the floor is the best photograph I have taken in the MWS series (due to the complexity of the lighting design).  CONGRATS and THANKS NICOL!!!!  

So VERY HAPPY!!!!  :} R