#goldylocks

There are some people who walk into the studio and you immediately know you’re not going to make “normal” pictures together. 😂 And Vanessa Dunlap was absolutely one of those people.

Vanessa is beautiful, wildly funny, has the BEST dry sense of humor, and showed up for her 40 Over 40 Women's Portrait Experience with incredible clothes, an open mind, and a willingness to CREATE. As the day unfolded, some of what we were making started to feel almost haunting… like we had stepped into another era for a few hours. Different characters, different moods, different worlds. THAT is my favorite kind of day.

I love when someone comes in without a million rules and simply says, “Let’s make art.” We kept creating, laughing, experimenting and somehow even ended up singing show tunes. 😂 It was an absolute delight.

And the coolest part? It was Vanessa’s BIRTHDAY.

I actually love doing something different on important dates. Even on special occasions that might carry complicated memories for me, I’ll sometimes deliberately put something on the calendar that makes me get dressed, leave the house, push myself outside my comfort zone or create a brand-new memory. Sometimes changing what a day normally looks like can change how that day FEELS.

I hope this birthday became one of those days for Vanessa. Something completely different from the usual birthday routine. A day to play, dress up, laugh, be photographed, make art and see herself through somebody else’s eyes.

I was genuinely honored that she trusted me with that experience.

Vanessa, thank you for trusting The Factory Photography with your big day, your portraits and a little piece of your life, girl. These photographs turned out absolutely perfect… just like YOU.

Happy Birthday, beautiful. Thank you for letting me time-travel with you for a day.

💄 MUA Amanda Barnett @mandy_burnett_beauty

Do you like true crime?

It's all I heard about my entire life! 😭🤣

Mvrders, r@pists, predators and p3dophiles...

It's all we talked about at the dinner table.

I learned a lot.

Episode 33 Daddy Knows The Devil it's about the

K!!ling of JonBenét Ramsey.

There's new evidence. My dad was a parole officer for over 30 years and he's got so much knowledge. Every week we make you think. We remind you about being safe and things to look out for all while reviewing famous cases or talking about ones he worked on.

So let it stream golden peeps because this is my plan to get my dad to Tennessee. He's retired and this gives him a chance to use his brain and educate us all.

Book market, save it and hell if you've listened to it please leave us a review on Spotify or wherever you can would you please? 🖤😈👹

GOLDEN SHOUTOUT: CROOKED EYE TOMMY

There are shows you go to… and then there are shows that remind you WHY THE HELL WE DO THIS. Got to catch **Crooked Eye Tommy** and his absolutely killer band at 3rd & Lindsley this week, and what a freaking night. A packed room, incredible players, and that kind of music you don't just hear — you FEEL. So here are a few photos to hopefully make you feel like you were standing right there with us. ❤️

Music is powerful as hell, and BLUES MATTERS. The blues tell people's stories. The ugly ones. The beautiful ones. The heartbreak, the struggle, the bad decisions, the survival, the humor and all the shit in between. Long before we were turning our lives into 30-second videos, people were putting their lives into SONGS. That's something worth protecting.

And Tommy is the real deal. Beyond being ridiculously talented, he's also just a damn good human. He's always been kind to me and supportive of The Goldy lockS Band. He likes our posts, shares the love, pays attention to what other artists are doing, and actually acts like we're all on the SAME TEAM instead of competing for the last piece of pie. I notice that stuff. There is room for ALL OF US.

And holy crap, the musicians surrounding Tommy can PLAY. No passengers on that stage. Every single person up there brought something to the show, and watching musicians who genuinely listen to each other and play WITH each other is one of my favorite things in the world.

**SPECIAL GOLDEN SHOUTOUT to Gina at The Galaxy Agency** for putting this together and, even more importantly, for genuinely taking care of ARTISTS. She believes in live music, books the rooms, makes the calls, solves the problems, and give a damn about the humans standing on that stage… without her one of this happens.

Support live music. Support the blues. Support the venues. Support the agents. BUY THE DAMN MUSIC. And support artists who support OTHER ARTISTS. Tommy, you and the boys absolutely killed it. Until next time… Stay Golden. 🤘

Do you ever have those eerie moments where you're walking down the street or wandering through a store and, out of nowhere, you're overcome with that strange feeling of déjà vu? Not just that you've been there before... but that maybe you were there in another lifetime. Another era. Another story.

Maybe I'm the oddball. Maybe I'm an alien. 😂 But as an artist, I've learned to trust those feelings when they come. Sometimes a place, a person, or even an object can stop me in my tracks, and for just a second, I swear I've lived that moment before.

That's one of the reasons I love my 40 Over 40 Portrait Experience so much. It's one of my favorite days on the calendar because there are no rules. It's your day, vision & story. I bring ideas and inspiration, but at the end of the day, you're the creator. We simply build the world you've imagined.

Before Vanessa arrived, we talked on the phone, and I knew immediately she was different. She had this wonderfully dry sense of humor and an energy that told me she'd lived a life full of stories. I couldn't wait to meet her.

While she was in hair and makeup, I unpacked the wardrobe she'd brought from her car. Piece after piece came out, and I found myself completely captivated. Nothing was frightening... but it was haunting in the most beautiful way. Nostalgic. Timeless. As if every garment had lived another life before finding its way into this room.

Many of you know The Factory is inside a former hospital that's said to be haunted. I've experienced enough strange things here that very little surprises me anymore. This wasn't spooky. It was something else entirely... an atmosphere that felt borrowed from another time.

I'll share more from Vanessa's session soon, but these first images perfectly capture why I think we were kindred spirits. We both seem drawn to stories that feel like echoes from another era.

Whatever you're dreaming up... whimsical, dramatic, vintage, mysterious, glamorous, or beautifully strange... I'm all in. As long as it doesn't hurt an animal or a child, you've got a creative partner here. There are no rushed sessions at The Factory. We take the time to let you settle in, relax, and find your rhythm. Ironically, it usually takes about 45 minutes before people truly hit their stride... and then suddenly it's, "Wait... we're done already?"

So if you've been carrying around an idea, a mood, a memory, a little magic or what ever spell you'd like to bring to life, come see me.

Let's create something that feels like it belongs to another era.

Here's an INCREDIBLE article talking about what needs to change if you like music, want to see it continue and care about what young girls are being exposed to in the world. Read it. You'll learn something.

https://livingstonmagazine.com/the-goldy-locks-band/

Rod Saylor, thanks for having the balls to do this. I'm so appreciative to have a BFF like you who gets it. XO Love G

Need a new friend? Or maybe just someone to laugh with for a little while?

Come hang out with us tonight in our Patreon Discord! It's one of my favorite parts of this community. Golden Peeps from all over the world get together to relax, unwind after a long day, swap stories, celebrate wins, vent about life's little frustrations, and usually end up laughing a lot along the way.

It's a place where friendships are made, everyone is welcome, and we keep things positive, fun, and light. No drama. No pressure. Just genuinely good people who enjoy each other's company.

Whether you've been with us for years or you're thinking about joining for the first time, every Patreon membership tier gets access. So if you've been looking for a place to belong, or just want to spend an hour with some pretty awesome people, we'd love to meet you.

Come say hello tonight. Your new favorite group of friends might be waiting for you.

Patreon dot com slash Goldy Locks

❤️ Stay Golden!

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THIS WEEK on #GoldysCloset! @realaprilhunter21

She broke barriers in professional wrestling. She reinvented herself time and time again. And she's never been afraid to tell the truth.

This week, the one and only April Hunter joins me for a conversation that goes way beyond the ring. We talk wrestling, social media, authenticity, health, reinvention, and why it's never too late to become the person you're meant to be.

No filters. No fluff. Just real talk.

Watch now... and as always... Stay Golden. 🤘💛

#GoldyLocks

#aprilhunter

That's exactly what happened with Joni Werthan.

Joni is the owner and president of Warioto Farm in Franklin, Tennessee, and for more than three decades has dedicated her life to breeding exceptional horses for the American Hunter industry. Her philosophy has always been simple: to breed horses with correct conformation, kind dispositions, and outstanding athletic ability. Those same qualities, kindness, integrity, and grace, shine through in the way she lives her own life.

Over the years, Joni has served on numerous boards and supported organizations like Alive Hospice, Colby's Army, Nashville CARES, Family & Children's Services, and many other nonprofits. Whether she's advocating for horses or helping people in need, serving others isn't something she talks about, it's simply who she is.

Joni and Warioto Farm were even honored by the Tennessee House of Representatives for their extraordinary contributions to the Hunter/Jumper industry. It's an incredible accomplishment, but it's still not the first thing I think about when I think of her.

I think about her heart.

She inspires me to be better. Joni reminds me that if we say we care, we should live like we care. She quietly walks the walk every single day.

One of my favorite moments during her portrait session was watching her step outside of everyone's expectations. We pulled out a legendary leather-studded jacket once worn by a famous punk rock band from Goldy's Closet, and she absolutely owned it. She embraced the attitude, made it her own, and reminded me that confidence isn't about what you wear, it's about how you wear it.

One of the unexpected gifts of photography is discovering that sometimes clients become friends... and every once in a while, they become friends for life. That's Joni. She celebrates everyone else's victories, cheers you on when you need it most, and has become one of those lifelong friends I'm incredibly grateful for.

People like Joni make the world softer, kinder, and more hopeful simply because they're in it.

That's what I hope every person discovers during a portrait experience with me. It's never just about taking pictures. It's about celebrating who you are, telling your story, and creating images that feel authentically you.

If you've been waiting for a sign to do something for yourself, let this be it. Book the photo shoot. Celebrate your journey. Try something unexpected, and let yourself be seen. You don't need a special occasion, you already are the occasion.

I can't wait to welcome you into the studio. And who knows? You just might leave with beautiful portraits... and a friend for life. ❤️

www.TheFactoryPhotography.com