Sweet Pleasures, Mother & Daughter

Hi Everybody! Hey guess what? I'm almost all the way caught up on blogging...I've got some '09 seniors to show you, two more weddings from the past TWO WEEKS I'm finishing up, but for now, I'd love to show you the lovely, the talented, mother and daughter duo, Shannon & Taylee.


Taylee struck me with her poise. I love her soft smile in this one...

Ohhh...the stuff of life. We've brushed hair/been brushed a thousand times as girls and women...we've said "Ouch!" and we've said "Sorry, I'll try to be gentle but you've got a knot." We've whined hoping it'd get over with, and we've left the braid not QUITE even 'cause we know we've got to pick our battles...okay so maybe when I say "we" I really mean "me", but chances are 50% percent of the population has been on one end or another of this process. That's why it's so fun to get shots of these "ordinary" moments...because so many memories are brought back when you see them...because you've never really seen yourselves from this perspective...kudos to all you mom's out there! You too, Shannon. You are one heck of a mom.

So, after I grabbed that, I looked down. It was just too perfect:

Here's some more favorites:

Next, we ran over to my studio in Edgewood to get a few more formal, black on black portraits...

I just love how their mother-daughter bond shows through...

I always have a great time on my shoots, but mother/daughter shoots are close to my heart!! My daughter is 6...about time for ME to get a shoot done like this with MY daughter, don't you think?

Live in the Question

Hey There People!

In the spirit of catching up on blogging, I bring you these studio shots of professional bellydancer/instructor, Malia, one of my favorite clients ever 'cause we always have so much fun and try to go somewhere different creatively with each shoot we do together. She performs regularly around the Sound and her website is here. Yes of course those are my images on the website, even the sillouette one with the sword!!

The studio itself is a completely different environment than shooting on location. You have control and responsibility for choosing lighting, the setting, etc. It uses a totally different part of my brain than when I'm doing say, a senior shoot outdoors and the responsibility is on identifying where the great little spots are and making creative decisions quickly based on the light Mother Nature set up for me. In the studio, it's quiet.... time stops....I have to plan. I need inspiration and one person that always inspires me is Malia.

What I like most about repeat clients is that we really get into a GROOVE! Now we totally know each other and it's a perfect environment to experiment and goof off. Sometimes in life, I feel like there's too much pressure to KNOW everything. My business coaches, Karen Buckley & Fay Freed, have introduced me to so many awesome ideas, but the one I love right now is the idea of "living in the question." Instead of going on auto-pilot and worrying about a decision to make, I can choose to relax and be comfortable "living in the question" and letting the answer rise to the surface of my thoughts instead of trying to force it.

So even though I didn't know it at the time, that's what I was doing with Malia last fall. Living in the Question. "Why don't we try this?"

"Okay, now, what would happen if we did that?"

"What if we changed this?"

"What if we did that?"

I really get a lot out of collaborating with existing clients on photo projects, especially when it's a concept shoot like with Nicole & Dan's studio Engagement session, all crazy and whatnot. It really gives my brain somewhere foreign and new to explore and discover. And I LOVE that.

Aliya & Billy's Canal Wedding

Hi Everybody! I'm so excited to show you Aliya & Billy's wedding images. I'm also excited to figure out how to get my Twitter posts on the blog since I've just started a fun summer goal; unicycling! But I digress...let's check out this rad wedding...

Aliya, such a graceful bride...Billy, such an upbeat force to be reckoned with!

Nothings much cuter than chilly bridesmaids huddling while the guys get their photo-op.

Aliya showing a peek of her lipstick red peekaboo toe pumps! LOVE that.

Billy's captivating bride....

The vintage flare.

The sunlight flare.

What a great wedding party to photograph!

Best friends......together

Sometimes a guy needs a hand...or two...or...ha ha

I love the lucky horseshoe ring, Chris J.

Waiting men...

Sometimes images just GET you, and you could look at one a thousand times and never get tired of it. This one does it for me. Aliya's graceful strut and head-turn just kill me. Her girls. Her groom. And her mom in the background with folded hands watching her baby-turned-bride. Sigh...I think I need this on my wall in my office so I get to look at it all the time.




Chris J, shown here next to Billy, is a CUSTOM MADE THE SUITS! You simply have to check out his ultracool website, www.likearockstar.com . You WON'T be disappointed, and you just might leave with an order for your own custom-made clothing. You've been warned.

Aliya's wedding ceremony entrance...glorious The Canal in Ballard is a fantastic venue with some of the most SCRUMPTIOUS food I've ever eaten.

Emotions rolled through the room during their ceremony. But they started with Billy. :)

I'm sure it's the surest thing she ever did......loving him.

The Mr. & The Mrs.

Among the family shots, this one with dad and bro...

Spontaneous Dual Parental Affection.

The Ethereal Bride

Tender kiss for grandma

These little darlings rocked the dance floor like nobody's business. Twirls, knee slides, and general booty shakin'...just adorable.

This one cracks me up, too...love the juxtaposition of emotions!

Aliya & Billy, it was such a privilege to be a part of your wedding day! There entire wedding day slideshow is here.