Senior Photoshoot---Katie!

As I continue on my quest to catch up with blogging, we arrive now with the lovely and captivating, Katie...

And BF Colton came too and was incredibly sweet and helpful. . .

When we were talking on the phone planning the shoot, I remember Katie saying that she didn't think Enumclaw would be the ideal photoshoot location. I hadn't shot there yet though, and she was agreeable to giving it a shot. Can you believe this wall we found? Enumclaw, you Rock!!

A more few faves...

Katie & Colton, I had a great time shooting with you guys and generally messing around with ideas. I appreciate your reflector folding skills (Colton is the only person to ever fold the extra large one correctly on the FIRST try). Have an amazing senior year Katie!!!

Vienna 5 and 6 months!! Studio Vs. Location

This is a good opportunity to compare studio versus outdoor (or "location") shooting. Here we have Vienna's 5 month images from the studio!

The Watermelon Pucker...

When you can't beat 'em, Dad joins 'em!!!

Whoa Mom, what is THAT?!

High Key studio portraiture, basically, is shooting white on white, or at the very least it's lightly toned. This would be an example of a high key shot.

With studio portraiture, everything in the shoot needs to be preplanned. The lighting, backdrops, props, etc. The sky is the limit in terms of what your possibilities are, but it takes much more space for shooting, but more for storage of studio stuff. Also, studio shooting gives you ultimate control. By nature I'm not very high-maintenance, and my studio shooting reflects that. I keep it Simple. . .even if it's like this shot below, it's simple. This only took one light and one backdrop...

I have realized over the last few years that I am the type of person that functions really well in uncertain or uncontrolled conditions. I love the variety and uniqueness of shooting on location. I love the unpredictability of a wedding day. The whole world can be your studio, if you are willing to give up some control and think on your feet. It just depends on what you want the outcome to be.

I think like most photographers, I started shooting outdoors, around the house, etc. I can imagine that when a photographer eventually tries the studio, there are some of us who hear angels sing and realize that they truly love aspects of studio shooting. For me however, I just have to laugh at how truly shocked I felt the first time I stood in front of a white backdrop. It was just..so....white. And foreign. There weren't the usual conditions I was so comfortable working with. After the shock wore off, it turned into amusement. It was like discovering photography again for the first time, and it was an opportunity to play and make mistakes and search for answers. I will never be done learning about studio shooting...which means I'll never get bored!

Ahhh, but on location, that's where I feel the most at home. Speaking of home, I love it when clients take a chance and let me shoot at their home even though "There aren't any good spots here." There's ALWAYS good spots, and I think it's especially helpful to have a professional photographer show you where they are so that you can appreciate aspects of your home in a whole new way!

Okay so last week, we took advantage of the backyard maples at our place!!

It's hard to believe you are already six months, Vienna! See you next month!

Tracy & Ryan! Pickering Barn!!

Tracy & Ryan were married on August 31 this year! I especially loved this shot below from the Bellevue Gene Juarez because of the motion and expressions on everyone's face as they see Tracy's transformation into a bride. I can hear the gasps as I look at it. . .

Tracy chose The Pickering Barn in Issaquah as her wedding venue. The history is amazing. The Pickering Barn was part of a dairy/farmlands and built in the 1890s! Eventually the barn and farmland was donated to the city in 1997 and the barn was restored/remodeled. It's so cool to have been there, and then to see the images of it from a century ago... I posted one below. It has Pickering Place retail center to one side across the street, but acres of undeveloped wetlands to the other. If you are looking for a venue for your wedding, you have to check this place out!!



The Pickering Barn Today.......

The Pickering Barn 100 years ago (from the other side). . .


Ryan didn't get a glimpse of Tracy until she walked down the aisle...and both had waited a LONG time for that moment! They have been a couple for EIGHT years!! Just wait until you see his reaction below...

But first, a cool fisheye shot of the hall. . . .

and I loved Tracy's details-- elegant, simple, gorgeous.

Okay here we are; Tracy's Grandpa walking her down the aisle. . .

And Ryan seeing her. . .

OH it just makes my heart split in half, do a spin, and stick back together when I see a moment like this. . . sigh. . .

Lots of laughs during the ceremony though!

A couple of my very favorite shots....

Congratulations Tracy & Ryan! I wish you all the BEST in your life together! Thank you SO much for asking me to be a part of it!! See Tracy & Ryan's wedding slideshow here!

Our Anniversary!!

Here you are seeing a photograph from our wedding, taken 10 years ago today! We were pretty young, 21, but this also signifies the experience that led me to become a wedding photographer. Technically, my photographer had some cool ideas, but was very much old school and didn't get emotional, feminine, and stylish shots. And this one above is just plain weird...lol! I got my first digital camera a year later and the rest is history!

So Happy Anniversary to us! It's been an amazing ride...we hope to have an engagement shoot this season and I'll post those when we do!

Nominated!

I am so excited! I was nominated for King5's Evening Magazine "Best of Western Washington"! How cool is that? You can still go HERE to leave a comment about me and my photography, and I would LOVE it if you did!


Consider yourself "hugged" for leaving a comment, just like Tracy is hugging her new Mother-In-Law right here! Haven't seen Tracy & Ryan's wedding yet?? It's coming soon!

Vienna--4 Month Portraits!

Here are a few shots from Vienna's 4 Month old portraits. Big during the forth month are things like playing with your toes and sucking on your fingers, wearing tutus and generally loving life and learning something new every minute. . . .

Vendor Spotlight! DJ Tony!

I worked with DJ Tony at Eldri & Jerry's wedding this past summer and I wanted to let you all know that I highly recommend him.



Number one, vendors don't have to be nice to other vendors when you are working at the same event...lots of vendors just worry about the client and that's it. But Tony was really friendly and easy to work with. What really made an impression on me was his respect for what photographers' duties are, and how he can help make our job easier. In turn, we photographers can make the DJs duties easier by staying in contact with them throughout the event so that the DJ never has to wait to "find the photographer" before he/she announces the bouquet throw or other reception event. When the DJ and photographer work as a team, it's the coolest. I love looking across the room at a DJ, and then giving "the nod" and knowing that the DJ and I are on the same page and ready to make the reception FUN and keeping the pace up throughout the evening. Plus, DJ Tony has this really cool huge inflatable, portable screen for viewing slideshows! It was a huge success at Eldri & Jerry's wedding, and everyone had a great view (something hard to pull off with a smaller screen). How awesome is that?!

My Recycling Achievement!!

So I just had to share this, even though I have many great clients and images to blog about right now.

My recycling achievement.

Okay, so we've got the standard 13 gallon trash can under the sink, and then outside the door around the corner is a big outside recycling can. Recycling is addictive, just to let you know. There is a certain satisfaction I get when I squash a cereal box or rinse out a plastic tub. Anyway, garbage day is Thursday and that is soo hard for me to remember. So last Thursday morning I scramble out of bed half-asleep to try to get the garbage can out to the road before the truck comes. I go outside and check the garbage can on the side of the house. Hmmm. No garbage. I check the other one. That's empty, too. I run inside and when I check the kitchen, I realize that OUR FAMILY OF 4 CREATED ONLY ONE 13 GALLON CAN FULL OF GARBAGE IN AN ENTIRE WEEK! Our recycling cans, however, were overflowing, which is cool because in our area, you get a credit on your bill for the amount of stuff you recycle.

So if you aren't recycling now, go ahead, give it a try. I know some neighborhoods make it easier than others; in ours, you can put paper, cans, AND glass all in the same can. But do what you can (lol no pun intended).

I also got some of those reinforced shopping bags, and they hold a lot more than the plastic bags which flop over and pour out on your drive home. My next personal challenge will be, "Can I go an entire week without using plastic bags from stores?" Now, I totally understand using them if you've got a bazillion groceries, but for runs to the drug store or speciality shop, I'd venture to say that you could make your life easier by just putting your stuff in your shopper bag and grabbing the receipt. It's really rewarding to not take what I don't REALLY need. If somebody else has a great tip or tries the Weeklong Bag Challenge, let me know!!