Rebecca Douglas Photography

Busy Bee

2010-03-22T16:04:00.001-07:00

Wow, I have been a busy little bee! Weddings in January, studio portraits in Feb, lots of head shots in March. What will April bring? How about 10% off all outdoor portrait sessions for the entire month? It's time to enjoy the great outdoors again. I'm feeling cooped up and wanting to stretch my creative soul in the warm sunshine.
Who wants to join me?

6 month old's first portrait

2010-01-31T10:35:00.000-08:00

Angela called me a few weeks ago and stated "My daughter is growing up too fast! I need you to take some pictures." Angela's daughter is about 6 months old and at the perfect age for her 1st professional portrait. In fact, it's my favorite age to photograph because they aren't crawling yet,(captive audience!) they sit up by themselves, their personality is blossoming and they love it when I get silly. This little girl was a bit more serious and preferred to observe than bust out laughing...fine with me, it gave me a chance to focus on her beautiful soulful eyes.

Tough and Tender

2010-01-24T23:17:00.000-08:00

I found this image as I was going though some old files.

Golden Garden's Portrait Session

2010-01-24T16:06:00.000-08:00

The Douglas family came to me after winning one of my Gift Certificates at a recent NARAL fund-raising auction. They had never had a portrait created and were a little nervous. Not formal people, they didn't want to be portrayed as such. They chose Seattle's Golden Garden Park to do the portrait and we were blessed with a beautiful, dry overcast day. The variety of landscape opened us to many options for backdrops as they laughed and played with one another.

Holiday portraits

2009-11-12T14:37:00.000-08:00

Tis the season for last those last minute portrait sessions for the holidays!
Here's a sample of a couple of kids I photographed this week.

Halloween night

2009-11-02T19:59:00.000-08:00

It was a crazy night...167 portraits in 3 hours! This was the 5th year I offered my free 30 second portraits for the the Vashon Isl. community. People ask me what I get out of this. I don't get paid, all expenses come out of my own pocket, but I've got a fantastic collection of images and it's a lot of fun to do something for my community.
As an artist, I love how each image becomes a story that can stand on it's own. Just look into the eyes of a child staring back at you. They are so proud of their costume!

Some day these images will be published into a coffee table book to help benefit a childrens charity.

Fall Maternity

2009-10-28T14:37:00.000-07:00

I just couldn't pass up the fall colors this week in my front yard. I asked 4 brave women it they would pose for me in all their beautiful, pregnant glory, just so that I could satisfy a creative urge.
This "creative urge" that I get (pretty often) is almost as bad as my sweet tooth!
Here's a sampling of the portraits we created.
Become a fan of Rebecca Douglas Photography to stay updated with all my events and "creative urges"! You will also receive $25 off your next portrait session when you join the fan club! Just go to facebook.com, log in, and search for Rebecca Douglas Photography.

Fall Leaves are here!

2009-10-21T15:01:00.000-07:00

My 2 big Maple trees are at their Fall peak right now. So, I thought it would be fun to have a spontaneous portrait day for anyone wanting to show up.
Tomorrow, the 22nd, 1-3 & 4-6
This will be a good test to see how many people are truly spontaneous on Vashon Island.
Plus, this is a great way to get that perfect image for your holiday cards, or start your holiday shopping.

Halloween 2009

2009-10-07T00:10:00.000-07:00

Halloween is coming up soon and that means get ready for my annual Community Halloween Portraits at Cafe Luna.
Wear your costume and come get a free 30 sec portrait at Cafe Luna on Vashon Island. We start at 4pm and will be going until 7pm.
Yes, there will be a line, but don't let that scare you off. It goes quickly, I promise!
This ongoing project will eventually turn into a CoffeeTable book to benefit a childrens charity.
If you have been a part of the last 4 years of Halloween portraits and haven't signed a model release, but want to be a part of the book, please contact me. I can't use your image if I don't get your release.
I can't wait to see all the costumes. They get better every year!

Vashon Dreamboats Calendar

2009-10-06T23:43:00.000-07:00

The Vashon Dreamboats are presenting a big fat check to the school board this week! We've raised more than half of our $20,000 goal.
With the holidays coming up, these puppies are going to start going faster. If you don't want to miss out on your very own copy of the Dreamboats calendar go to Amazon.com
Funny thing....These calendars are huge sellers with the over 60 women crowd.
Great gift for mom!

Senior series

2009-10-06T23:02:00.000-07:00

I've been doing a lot of fun senior portraits lately. Gone are the days of stuffy studio poses. These kids are bringing the energy, thinking outside the box, even bringing their friends.

Customer comments

2009-09-02T16:23:00.001-07:00

Every once in a while I get some great feed back from my clients. I had to share two from this week.
"You brought tears to my eyes...you are amazing, Rebecca; simply amazing!!
Thank you SOOOOO much. I'll get the check out tomorrow (and I haven't even
looked at the invoice...i know whatever you charged, it's well worth it)!"

"I cannot describe the overwhelming emotion that your photos gave me...the tears were flowin' sister! THEY ARE FANTASTIC!!!!! "

Vashon Couch Day

2009-09-02T16:08:00.000-07:00

The summer is coming to an end.
Let's celebrate with beautiful portraits on my victorian couch.
Sept 6th on Vashon Island
Sept 13th at Seattle's Lincoln Park.
$75 for a 30 minute session
Call or email me to get your appointment.

Vashon Dreamboats Calendar

2009-09-02T16:03:00.000-07:00

The Vashon Dreamboats Calendar release party is Thursday night.

Sept 3rd, 6pm @ Cafe Luna

The Dreamboats will be there to sign your calendars, large prints will be for sale and we'll be doing some fun raffle games. Buy a game card for $1, answer some questions about the Dreamboats and win some local wine or a gift certificate to The Hardware Store Restaurant.

All proceeds go to the Vashon Island School District.

You can find the answers to all the questions on the Vashon Dreamboats Facebook page.

Just look at the profiles of the men.

Our story keeps popping up on various news programs. We've been on KOMO 4 news, Inside Edition, the morning news in Cincinnati, Oh and now on the examiner.com!

This calendar is so much more than just a calendar. The story is really about the state of our educational system. Parents shouldn't have to hold bake sales, car washes or make a calendar to raise money to keep good teachers.

Senior session

2009-09-02T14:39:00.000-07:00

Had a great Senior Session on Bainbridge Island recently. Mitch, my senior, wanted a couple of long time friends involved with the pictures. We had a great time together creating a whole series of images that capture not only Mitch's senior year, but also his friendships.
This inspires me to do more "friendship" series with my seniors. How fun!

Vashon Dreamboats Calendar

2009-08-19T22:13:00.000-07:00

I spent the day today with the Vashon Dreamboats and the Inside Edition film crew. (the NBC entertainment news program)

What started as a small island fundraiser, the Vashon Dreamboats calendar has gone national! Check out the blog for more information about the fund raising project I've been a part of this summer.

The Inside Edition show will air in early Sept. Stay tuned for the date!

Our original goal of raising $10,000 for the Vashon Island School District now has the potential of going much higher! If you want to help with the cause ( and get a fun calendar) come to Cafe Luna on Sept 3rd for the release party and be the first to grab one! If you can't make it, don't worry, they will be for sale on Amazon.com either after the release party on after Inside Edition airs...Which ever comes first. Details to follow.

To become a Dreamboats fan, click here.
To become a fan of Rebecca Douglas Photography, click here.
Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/rbekad

Sailing Away

2009-08-15T22:38:00.001-07:00

I spent the afternoon today with a wonderful family with whom I've worked with in the past. Last year we concentrated on some simple and beautiful outdoor portraits of their daughter.

This year they wanted to create some family portraits that really showed who they are.

They are boaters and spend a lot of time on the water, so creating a portrait with the water seemed fitting.

Seattle beach days

2009-08-06T06:19:00.000-07:00

For the last time this summer, I am offering abbreviated portrait sessions at Lincoln Park in W.Seattle.
The where and when"
Sat. Aug 8th
Lincoln Park on the beach in W. Seattle
Session openings-9am-11.30am
20 min sessions
$75

Bring the kids, the dog, roll up your jeans and come celebrate the last days of summer!

Babes and Broads

2009-08-06T06:05:00.000-07:00

Last month at the Vashon Isl Strawberry Festival, I was a co-sponsor of the Babes and Broads photo contest. It was a huge success! We raised over $900 for Learn to Earn, a foundation that teaches middle school/HS kids the value of a good education and how it can equate to success in life.
Lilly was voted as our cutes Babe and Lynanne was our best Babe.

Vashon Men Bare it All

2009-07-22T19:56:00.000-07:00

For the last 2 months I've been involved with an interesting fundraiser...Photographing naked men in the name of helping the Vashon school district.

A group of Vashon commuters came up with the idea of creating the Vashon equivalent of a "beefcake" calendar to help raise money for our much troubled school district.

Amidst much controversy (naked men raising money for schools...Oh my!) we created a humourous, tasteful and fun collection of images that have exceeded all of our expectations.
Thank you to the many who have donated their time and talents to make this project happen
Twist Design
Vashon Print and Design
Panda Photographic Lab
And of course the men who bared it all.

Last night, KOMO 4 news got wind of the project and by this morning I had an interview lined up. Here's the link to see the story.
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/51424747.html

To purchase your very own calendar you can contact me, or come get one from one of the Vashon stores that will be carrying them. Release date is Sept 3, 2009

Vashon Beach Days

2009-07-06T20:14:00.000-07:00

This coming Sunday, July 12th, I am hosting a Vashon Island Beach portrait day. I have 8 appointments available for a discounted session fee of $75. We'll spend 20 minutes together creating a relaxed, fun and casual portrait of you and your children.
You don't have to plan 6 months in advance or spend loads of money to get a beautiful portrait. Be spontaneous! Bring the kids, the dog, roll up your jeans and kick off your shoes...Join me on the beach this Sunday.

New couch, New ideas

2009-06-14T21:09:00.000-07:00

I've come to the conclusion that I am terrible at blogging. I can't believe it's been 2 months since my last update! Rest assured I have been very busy.
Here's a quick recap:
In March I closed the Seattle studio and am now concentrating on building my business on Vashon Island where my home and family are. In no way am I leaving my Seattle clients in the dust. On the contrary, my Seattle clients are still a priority. The only difference is now my time is split between Seattle and Vashon. I chose this so that I may spend more time with my family, work on our little farm and be more involved with my community.

Part of my Vashon transition is to slowly turn our property into a small outdoor portrait park. I'm thinking about a field of daisys in the summer, an alder grove (after the goats clear it) for the beautiful lines and light, a hammock under the large Maples surrounded by the fall leaves, an outdoor portrait wall customized for each client, and a couple of metal sculptures for the high school seniors.
It will take a year or more, but the first thing on my to do list was to find a cool couch to use for family and children portraits. I had no idea when I was going to find the "right" couch. I had this vision in my head (as most visual artists get from time to time). It had to be just right.

So, yesterday I was wondering around Vashon and stopped in a little vintage shop to poke around. Before I left, I asked the owner if she ever gets Vistorian styled couches. "As a matter of fact," she says, "I have one in storage." She took me to see it that afternoon and it was exactly what I had envisioned in my head!
Needless to say I bought it on the spot. It's amazing what happens when you let the universe know what you need.
I have to give my wonderful husband coodos for not freaking out when I brought it home. I haven't figured out where it's going to go in the rainy season. But like I told him, "It will all work out. All that matters is that it's the perfect prop for creating amazing images! Nothing else matters, right?"

This morning my daughter wakes up and comes out of her room wearing a pink tutu. I just HAD to take her picture on the new couch. The sweater and pink high tops were my added touch.

So...Who wants to be the first to be photographed on the couch?!

Senior Time

2009-03-25T21:44:00.001-07:00

This is the time of year when High School Juniors start thinking ahead to their Senior Year. As part of my new Vashon venture I created a series of ads for the Vashon H.S. newspaper. All the kids in the ads are Vashon teens.
Wanted to share.

Survey

2009-03-25T21:32:00.000-07:00

I am starting a new business venture this spring. Still shooting and meeting with my clients in Seattle, I am shifting some of my business energies to Vashon Island, where I live.

My first step is publishing a survey to find out the community's needs, wants and opinions concerning a Vashon portrait and wedding photographer. If you would like to take part in the survey please click here. Everyone who participates will be entered in a drawing for a complimentary portrait session and gift print package.

Valentines Day Treats

2009-02-11T18:19:00.000-08:00

Wednesdays are usually the day I watch my daughter, Nora and 3 of her friends. We have lunch together and spend the afternoon playing.
Today, since it's almost Valentines Day, I thought it would be fun to make my mom's traditional Valentine's treat. They don't have an official name, we just called them mom's Valentine treats. This was something we always looked forward to every year as kids. Now I make them for my daughter.
They are chocolaty, pepperminty and full of love. Here's the recipe. You just have to try it. Let me know how you like them!

Mom's Valentine Treat:
Chocolate Layers- You need 3 cups of chocolate chips, 4 TBS of butter.
Peppermint Fondant-5TBS of butter, 1/2c of corn syrup, about 2 c of powdered sugar, 1tsp of peppermint, red food coloring.
Step 1-melt chocolate and butter, spread 1/2 on alum. foil and cool.
Step2-The fondant-combine butter, corn syrup and 1c of powdered sugar. Bring to boil, stirring constantly, add the remaining sugar, peppermint and coloring. Stir 3 min, then remove from heat. spread on a greased cookie sheet and let cool slightly, then pour over cooled chocolate.
Step3-pour remaining chocolate on top of peppermint layer.
Step 4-When cooled completely, cut into to fun shapes.

Enjoy!

New Mama

2009-02-10T16:18:00.001-08:00

I just photographed a beautiful lady who is about to have her first baby. I photographed Kelly and her husband Maneesh a few years ago for their wedding and I was thrilled that they called me to be a part of this next phase in their life.
Actually, Kelly called me and asked if I would do her maternity photos as a surprise for Maneesh. Of course, I said Yes! After a little secret planning and lots of hoping that the little bundle wouldn't show up before our session, we finally got it done.
Well, After Kelly saw the photos online, she loved them all and couldn't wait to give Maneesh the artist print she picked out for him and just had to show him the images online.
It was a great surprise for me to open my studio door to see Maneesh standing there with Kelly when they came by to pick up his special gift print. They were so appreciative and grateful for what I could do for them.
Truly...two of my favorite people!
Here's a small sampling.

Family day

2009-02-08T23:16:00.000-08:00

I spent part of the day today with my good friends, Jed and Ellen, on Vashon. After many years of living in the great northwest, they are moving to Maine. I've photographed Jed and Ellen throughout the years as they marked the special events in their life...the two of them as a couple, Ellen's pregnancy, the birth of their son, their new family, new puppy and now at our last photo session together, Jed's mom and husband.
I wish them well as they embark on this new adventure. Thank you guys for letting me and my family be a part of yours. You will be missed!

Halloween on Vashon-the show

2009-02-06T22:37:00.000-08:00

Tonight was my artist opening for my "Halloween on Vashon" show at Cafe Luna for the 4th year in a row.
This project started as something personal many years ago that has turned into an annual tradition on Vashon Island. Free Halloween portraits for anyone in costume, then an exhibit of the best 25 images the following February at Cafe Luna.

Dogs

2009-02-04T22:51:00.000-08:00

Dogs...They are our best friends, our 1st kids, sometimes our only kid. Oscar is our dog of 3 years. A little quirky at times, goofy, but a great dog.

The Light

2009-02-03T21:08:00.000-08:00

OK, So I missed day two of my 28 days of pictures. Here's what I saw yesterday as I was leaving the house. The light was gorgeous as it shone on the remnants of our snowman. The hat and home made scarf were the last things standing when the snow melted last month.

Another 30 (more like 28) day challenge

2009-02-01T22:07:00.000-08:00

So after almost 2 months of not writing anything, I'm finally feeling the urge to start up again and I want to challenge myself...again.
Last year I blogged every day for the month of September. Starting today, I will be posting a new image every day through February.
If may be an image I took that day from a job, it may be an image from my archives, or it might be something I saw as I was going about my day with my family. It will be organic, no rhyme or reason, just because I want to find out what I see on a daily basis when I carry my camera everywhere I go.
I've called today's photo "I'm having a bad day".

Elf Photos

2008-12-11T21:32:00.000-08:00

Dec 5th was the arrival of Santa on Vashon Isl and I was doing Elf photos for the community as a toy drive for Toys for Tots.
Being the first year doing this, we got about only 30 kids, and a nice box of toys for donation. A couple of images will be a part of a larger show coupled with my Halloween portraits later in February.

Elf Photos

2008-12-03T10:00:00.001-08:00

Happy Holidays to Everyone!

As most of you know I live on Vashon Island, Wa. About this time every year,

Santa Claus arrives on Vashon with a parade, a tree lighting ceremony and lots of

Holiday festivities.

Santa arrives December 5th this year and as a new treat for the community

Rebecca Douglas Photography

will be offering Free Elf Photos at Cafe Luna. Bring a new, unwrapped toy for

TOYS FOR TOTS

and receive a 4x6 print of your child with our Elf.

When: Dec. 5th 6-9pm

Where: Cafe Luna 9924 Bank Rd Vashon Isl. Wa.

Why: Toys for Tots toy drive

Sponsored by Rebecca Douglas Photography, Cafe Luna and Toys for Tots

Don't forget to join me on Facebook!

http://www.facebook.com (look up Rebecca Douglas)

Family Story

2008-11-29T23:42:00.000-08:00

This November has been so mild...lots of warmer and drier than usual weather. It's been great for outdoor portraits! So today I took advantage a beautiful day and photographed my friend Aristy and her family on Vashon Island. Aristy owns La Petite Etoile, a fantastic French Immersion pre- school on Vashon where my daughter attends.
We spent an hour walking in the woods and playing on the beach. It was the perfect environment to capture their family story. Much more than just a portrait, these images are about their family, the kids and who they are as a couple.

Frida Kahlo, elfs, & angels, Oh My!

2008-11-18T12:38:00.000-08:00

It's been a crazy, busy couple of weeks. I can't believe that Halloween is over and Thanksgiving is breathing down my neck!
On Halloween every year I offer free 30 sec portraits to the Vashon Island community. It started out as a personal art project 4 years ago and is quickly becoming a local tradition. I had one family tell me that they look forward to this every year as this is the only Family Portrait they do. I am thrilled to be a part of their tradition!

That same week I had the pleasure to photograph an aspiring young model named Cory Kennedy. He came to me last month on the recommendation of one of his customers when she told him (and his brother) that they could be models. So, Cory thought he would give it a try.
You tell me...Would you buy jeans, underwear, or hair products from this guy?

Stories

2008-10-13T16:19:00.000-07:00

Recently, I photographed Sara and Kevin at the Washington State Arboretum. They were celebrating an important wedding anniversary and wanted to commemorate the event (and their new Hawaiian tans) with a portrait.
After working with them for a while, Sara commented on my easy and relaxed style of shooting and this lead into a discussion about how a portrait isn't always about the faces. A good portrait can tell a story even if it only shows a portion of the subject.
They totally "got me"! I love telling stories with my photography and even though the traditional sense of a portrait is sitting for the camera and smiling, I truly believe that the real story of my subjects isn't always in the face.
Here's Sara and Kevin's story.

Holiday Deadlines

2008-10-09T19:39:00.000-07:00

To all you procrastinators and planners alike, It's time to talk about those looming Holiday Deadlines.
Yes, I know. It's not even Halloween yet, (I don't want to see anything Christmasy until the day after Thanksgiving), but if you are thinking about giving something a bit more personal than a cell phone or a new tie this year, then these things take some planning.
I'm talking about giving a beautiful, Heirloom Portrait of yourself, your family or your children. This is no ordinary snapshot or cheesy portrait from one of those chain stores. This is a custom designed, fine art portrait that tells the story of your family. A gift that will definitely have more heart and soul than a new tie. It's the gift of You. How perfect is that?

DEADLINES:

November 15th Last day to order framing and storybooks for gifts

November 29th Last day for portraits (if you want them for holiday gifts)

November 29th Last day to order Holiday Cards

December 13th Last day to place print order for gifts (rush charge may apply)

Happy Halloween

2008-10-08T22:25:00.000-07:00

Halloween is quickly approaching! (Where did the summer go?)

If you find yourself on Vashon Island on the 31st, make sure to stop by Cafe Luna in the heart of town. This is the 4th year running that I'll be offering free (yes free!) portraits at the cafe.
This ongoing personal photography project has been a huge success and I'm thrilled to offer it to the Vashon Community. People ask me what the catch is...why I'm not charging for the session. I'm in it for the Art, nothing else. A showing of images will be hanging at the Cafe for the month of February 2009.

Halloween Night @ Cafe Luna, Vashon Isl. 4-7pm Free Portraits!

Hope to see you there! This is a popular event, so come early, then stay to Trick or Treat in town.

Oh yeah...there is one catch...You have to be in costume.

Day numero 30

2008-09-30T21:14:00.000-07:00

This is it! The 30th day of my self-imposed 30 blog challenge. And a challenge it was. I am not a natural born writer, I prefer to tell my stories with pictures. Perhaps next, I'll challenge myself to a picture a day and see what type of story develops. The first of the year would be a good time for that.
Until next blog...(tomorrow, next week, who knows.) For now, I leave you with a pretty spring flower.

Fall Harvest

2008-09-29T20:51:00.000-07:00

Today was the perfect Fall day with the warm sun and a breeze with a hint of fall's brisk temperatures. Yeah! Sweater and boots season is here! (I'm trying to feel optimistic about the state of our country, economy, the bailout. Take your pick!).
Fall makes me feel like getting back to basics, hunkering down for the winter and settling in for long cozy nights with a bowl of homemade soup fresh from the garden. Our garden didn't do so well this summer, but we were able to eek out enough produce to keep us busy. Tonight was one of our last harvests before we plant a cover crop and winter vegetables.
I just had to share some of what we picked for dinner. Fresh, homegrown food is so pretty.

The Proposal

2008-09-28T21:46:00.000-07:00

Most of my business is Wedding and Portraiture and for a while now I've been looking for couples who want to "pop the question" and have it photographed to fulfill my Photographic Trilogy...Proposal, Engagement, Wedding.
After some time looking, I was contacted by a great couple, Maria and Serge. Serge wanted to ask Maria to marry him in a special place that they would remember forever. He picked Snoqualmie Falls, just east of Seattle in the Cascade Foothills.

The weather was foggy and cool and I wasn't sure if it would be condusive to a romantic proposal. Luckily, the sun started coming out just as they got started. I stayed out of their way and Volia! It was a perfect scene! He asked, she said Yes.

Siblings

2008-09-27T22:59:00.000-07:00

Love 'em or hate 'em, Most of us have them.
Today was Sibling Day. I had the pleasure of photographing 10 year old twins, brother and sister on the beach in Edmonds this morning and later this afternoon, another sibling set at the Arboretum.
I remember when I was young and my mom wanted me and my siblings to be photographed. It was all I could do to not gag at the thought of having to be close to my brother. Brother "cooties" and the thought of having to cozy up with him was a real obstacle to a great picture. I'm sure we made it tough on the photographer as well as Mom. Sorry Mom!

So I could totally relate to these kids today and having me saying for the 10th time, "come on, get closer, have some fun...!" Well, after some goofing around and general fun, we finally got some great brother/sister images today. Even the dog looks good.

Tis the Season for Seniors!

2008-09-26T22:13:00.001-07:00

Mid October is usually the deadline for submitting High School Senior portraits to your yearbook.

I've been inundated with calls from frantic MoHSS (moms of high school seniors). They realized the deadline is right around the corner and their son/daughter decided at the last minute that maybe it would be cool to have a Senior Portrait done. After all, a Senior Portrait now-a-days, is so much more than a stuffy, stiff studio portrait.

It's all about showing off who they are, what their interest are and where they are going. The sky's the limit with these images.

Babes in Toyland

2008-09-25T22:35:00.000-07:00

Investing in professional photography to capture the 1st year of your baby's life is one of the most important things you can do.
Whether you have 1 child or 5, that 1st year is so amazing...it's when they are at their smallest and most vunerable, when they will laugh at the drop of a hat at the silliest things, and when you and them are discovering a great new world together.
The Newborn stage is always so magical. They literally fit in the palm of your hand.
The 6month old is sitting up but not yet moving. It's a perfect time to capture their imerging personalities.
The 1year old is on the cusp of walking. This is a great time to take them on an outside photography adventure...maybe a day at the beach or a walk through the fall leaves.

Whether you are thinking about doing just one session or taking advantage of my "1st Year Series", make sure you do something. They are only this small for such a short amount of time.

Woman-Owned businesses

2008-09-24T22:28:00.000-07:00

Recent reports say women are starting new businesses at 1.5 times the rate of men. Perhaps it's our innate ability to juggle multiple tasks, think on our feet or lack of fear. Whatever the reasons, women should support woman-owned business when possible. If you are wanting to find a woman-owned business, try this web site BlueSuitMom.com.
Some of my favorites as I've mentioned in past posts are Tatjana Alvegaard (alvegaard.com/) a terrific photographer, Ellen Parker and her amazing bags (web site to come), Jennifer Foege (thejoyfulkitchen.net) with her sage advice on nutrition.

Well, last week I met yet another great Vashon/Tacoma Woman-owned business that I wanted to pass on.
To say that Habitsforming.com (owned and operated by Rochelle Gravance) is another Personal Training company is not even close. I've recently started working with Rochelle and in the first 30 minutes of talking with her, she blew me away. She actually said that I don't have to do Cardio until I'm blue in the face to see results. I was hooked! After looking at her website and blog, I understand now that Habitsforming.com is more about combining exercise methodology, psychology, philosophy, spirituality, (this is not about God), and nutrition to achieve total body and mind wellness.
It's worth the look!

The true meaning of a "Time Honored Portrait".

2008-09-23T22:35:00.001-07:00

My friend Jennifer and I have talked a lot about "what is a portrait" and the type of portraiture I offer to my clients and when she asked me yesterday if I would create an Heirloom Portrait of her and her daughter, I was thrilled. But her request sparked yet more thoughts about what I "do".

I've been really struggling with the right way to explain the type of portraiture that I strive for on a daily basis. As a visual artist, I expect that my work will be enough explanation. But I am constantly reminded that it is not.
While reading one of my favorite photography trade magazines tonight, I came across an article about rediscovering the lost art of portrait photography. This article seemed to have put into words what I have been trying to do for so long. I'm risking plagiarism here, but I feel this is so important to everyone to hear.

"...if you look at a portrait, and there isn’t that “something more” then the naysayers are right, it’s just a manufactured scene with contrived lighting…but if you ever find yourself staring into the character of a given photograph, rooting out a certain mystique in the shapes that envelop the scene, astounded by the eloquence and multidimensionality of the subject looking back at you, then most likely you are staring into a portrait…" written by Tara Propper

It is so important in this digital age to be reminded that the Art of Portraiture is something to be valued and treasured. Great photographers are highly trained in both technical aspects of creating a portrait as well as posses a natural instinct for when to capture the essence of the subject.
We must not get so caught up in "digital files and snapshots" that we lose sight of our visual legacy.

Hello Fall, Goodbye Summer

2008-09-22T20:13:00.000-07:00

So, I missed the last 2 days, but I have a good excuse! My family and I decided to take advantage of a free weekend, low tides on the coast and the last few days of summer.
We went backpacking on the coast out by La Push, Wa. It's a trip we try to do every year. This was our daughter, Nora's first backpacking trip, so we didn't make her carry anything (she's only 3).

It was a great way to say goodbye to Summer and Hello! to Fall.

Thinking of Fall...Don't forget to schedule your family portrait before the Holidays sneak up on us. The fall colors and gray days on the beach make a beautiful backdrop for a stunning family portrait.

Mamapreneurs Inc.

2008-09-19T23:08:00.000-07:00

I've mentioned in past posts, a few of my favorites sites online that are geared towards working moms, as well as featured a couple of my working mom friends. Well, I have a couple more fabulous mentions for you.
First is my friend Jennifer Foege. She is a nutritionist based on Vashon Isl. who's concentration is "Sustainable Health" She does one on one counseling, group classes, cooking classes, and she just started a new program called Organic School Lunch Program, where she will deliver wholesome, yummy foods for your kid to their school. How cool is that! Check her out at www.thejoyfulkitchen.net

My other "find" is Mamapreneurs inc. It's a web site based out of Portland, Or and geared toward moms who run their own business. They have advise, workshops, a blog, and a great tag line..."helping moms find harmony while rockin' the biz world". It's worth a look!

I"ll be offline for the weekend, so no blog tomorrow. (I know I'm breaking my 30 day of blogs commitment, but the call of the ocean beckons me, and my husband and I promised our daughter at least one night in a tent before the weather turns bad.)

Little Books, Big Impact

2008-09-18T19:47:00.000-07:00

I love designing books for all occasions. I'm not a "scrapbooker", but I do love to take a series of images, whether it's from a year's worth of baby portrait sessions from my 1st-Yea r-Series, a collection of essay-style images from a family session, or something I pull from my own life and put together a classic, simple hard-bound book that tells a story. I find them so much more interesting than a photo album full of snapshots. My husband and I make one each year of our daughter. It's so much better than the traditional Baby Books.

This year we have become quite the little farmers. In addition to our large gardens, we have been raising our own cow, pig, turkey and chicken with our neighbor, Loreen, who owns E-I-E-I-OM Farm on Vashon. (A great place to rent for a week in the country. Just a little plug for Loreen!)

Vegetarian Alert...Although my family and I are meet eaters, we believe in happy and healthy animals as well as a diet largely based on plants.

Early this year we had our first experience butchering chickens. My husband grew up on a farm and was very comfortable with this. I, on the other hand, was not so comfortable. I like my meat in the freezer wrapped in plastic. This was going to be a learning experience!
My husband built a chicken plucker, called The Whiz Bang.
and I thought it would be fun to document the event with some pictures and ultimately a book.

Another Vegetarian Alert...No animals were tortured, all were humanely treated. If you are squeamish, do not look at the following pictures. Although, I did not include any really gruesome images.

Kids

2008-09-17T21:14:00.000-07:00

You gotta love them...the big eyes, the chubby legs, the innocent looks. I can't get enough of them! They may not be famous, but they are sure are just as cute as some of those Hollywood kids.

It's been a busy week. Here's a couple of kids from this week.

News Media and Trash TV

2008-09-16T20:56:00.000-07:00

All this bad news about Merrill Lynch, Leaman Bros., AIG, and Washington Mutual has been bringing me down. It is so depressing to watch our economy take such a drastic downhill turn, and with little certainty for the future.

I don't know about you, but there are some days (or even weeks) where I just need to step away from the news and tune into some good trash T.V. My favorite trashy show has just started it's 11th season, America's Next Top Model. Wanna-be models who bitch at each other, whine about being a size 2 and generally have no idea what the real world is all about. It's my once a week guilty pleasure. (I watch it for the photo shoots) Tomorrow is make-over night!

This summer, I've been doing a lot of sessions for models who have needed new or first time head shots and updated portfolios. My friend and hair/makeup artist, Eli did the hair and make for these girls. She works out of Helio Hair Salon in the Fremont area of Seattle.

Heirlooms

2008-09-15T21:11:00.000-07:00

Do you remember those old B/W photographs of your Grandparents and Great-Grandparents? The images of a wedding day, Grandma and Grandpa standing next to each other looking serious, or an entire family sitting around a small table and chair in a studio all dressed in their best clothes, or perhaps a young debutante looking proud and getting ready to make her entrance onto the world. Those images had a quiet, timelessness about them, as well as a beautiful and simple artfulness.

I have a whole collection of them from my family's history and love looking at them. These pictures are our family heirlooms that we treasure and keep safe. Having a photograph taken was a big deal back in the day. It cost a lot and was an event that was done infrequently, but they were highly valued as part of a family's history. Most were hung very prominently in their homes. They were proud to show off their family.

With the advent of the digital age, photographs have become a dime-a-dozen. The family heirloom photograph has disappeared and been replaced with the family snapshots. Snapshots are a great way to document daily life, vacations, and family gatherings. But what about the images you want to pass down to the next generations?

As a family and wedding photographer, I have been disturbed by this growing trend. At Rebecca Douglas Photography, it is my goal to create your family's heirloom. Yes, it may cost a bit more than the box chain stores or even the photographer next door, but you will receive a one-of-a-kind piece of art work that represents the love you share with your family and loved ones.
It is important to me, as your family photographer to make sure the family heirloom stays alive...for the sake of future generations.

Bollywood

2008-09-14T21:31:00.000-07:00

My husband and I had a date night tonight and decided to try out the new All Indian Cafe on Vashon Isl. They were showing a Bollywood movie with dinner. Bollywood movies are made in India and have lots of costumes, music, cultural dancing, sometimes some cheesy dialogue (but that might be just the translations) and don't alway have the best production, but man they are fun! The music is fantastic, the people are beautiful, the dancing is to die for.

Anyway, this reminded me of a terrific couple who's wedding I photographed last summer. Kelly and Maneesh...they and their families are the nicest folks you would ever want to meet. They had a small Indian wedding at a private home on Mercer Island last Labor Day.
Kelly's dress was a gorgeous blue, Maneesh wore traditional garb, the food was mouth watering, the setting beautiful, everyone was so gracious, and the music and dancing got into your soul. I loved these guys! Here are a few pages from their wedding album.

Holiday Cards

2008-09-13T22:12:00.000-07:00

I just finished up a great job with a new client. They have two adorable boys and their mom wanted some fun pictures for their 2008 Holiday cards. We figured, 2 rambunctious little boys need some room to run around, so we decided to shoot at Golden Gardens Park on the north west side of Seattle. It has everything a couple of kids would want...beach, sand dunes, tall grasses.
Mom loved the images and decided to get a couple of large art prints as well as the Holiday Cards. She was expecting to have to pick out one image, but when it became clear that she liked too many of them, I suggested we do a custom designed square card. It might cost more to mail it, but it will certainly Wow! the grandparents.
This is what we came up with.

Hurricane Ike

2008-09-12T22:54:00.000-07:00

So, After the kiddo went to bed and the babysitter was sent home tonight, I've been glued to the internet watching the updates about Hurricane Ike. This is a bad one. It's as big as Texas! Whether you pray, chant or just think good thoughts, do lots of it tonight and tomorrow. 20,000 people decided to stay in Galvaston. Those people will need it all!

Favorite places (con't)

2008-09-11T20:58:00.000-07:00

Here are more of my favorite places in Seattle and beyond to get married.

Snoqualmie Ridge
Sun Mountain Lodge
The Villa Acadamy
The Sorento Hotel
Cabo
The Space Needle
Argosy Cruises

Some of my favorites wedding places

2008-09-10T21:30:00.000-07:00

With the 2008 summer wedding season coming to an end, I thought I would share a few of the fabulous places Seattle has to offer to get married.

The Seattle Art Museum, Olympic Sculpture Park.

The Fairmont Olympic Hotel
The Market
St. James Catherdral
The Waterfront
Vashon Island

Family Matters

2008-09-09T21:04:00.000-07:00

In these months of political debates I can't help but listen to Barack Obama, John McCain and all their rhetoric about family.
We all have families and whether we like it or not, they help mold us into the people we become. I'm lucky...I have several families; The one I was born into, the one I married into and the one I found and continue finding as I get older...my friends.
It doesn't matter if your family is of the traditional sort or maybe a bit more eclectic, as long as you have the unconditional support and love from someone. That is family.

"Families are the compass that guide us. They are the inspiration to reach great heights, and our comfort when we occasionally falter." -Brad Henry-

Here are a few families I've gotten to know over the years.

Elevator Speech

2008-09-08T20:18:00.000-07:00

I am always asked about what I do for a living. And every time, I am challenged to come up with the perfect 30 second "Elevator Speech". To say I'm a photographer just doesn't give the right impression of what I really do.
Needles to say, I've been working of this quite a bit lately. Here's what I've come up with...

Stranger/Potential Client-"So, What do you do?"

Me-"I'm a wedding and portrait photographer based in the Seattle area."

Stranger-"Oh, interesting." (Blank Stare)

Me-"Actually it is kind of interesting. I made a promise to myself when I started this business 15 years ago that I would give my clients beautiful, fine art images of their loved ones. So, over the years, I've developed a style of imagery that has real heart & soul. I stay away from the cookie-cutter look you get from the box chain-store, ensuring that my clients get a piece of art work that is about them and only them.
It's been really successful so far!
Most of my work ends up being a timeless and cherished wall portrait or a gorgeous custom album. I've been really fortunate to have forged the type of relationship with my clients that lets me watch newborns grow into toddlers, teenagers and young adults. I couldn't ask for a better job!"

Stranger/New Client-"Wow, Do you have a card!?"

Card reads-"Through the simple art of Rebecca Douglas Photography you will fall in love with a child, feel the softness of a kiss and experience the joy of a special day.
Enjoy the Fine Art of Life.
Thank you for your interest."

These images are were done last week in the studio. I swear...he looks just like a young, blond Tom Cruise. The feet shot is my new favorite image! Enjoy!

Vintage Motorcycle Enthusiasts

2008-09-07T22:09:00.000-07:00

I live on Vashon Isl, and we get lots of fun and eclectic people, groups and events on the island. Every year around this time the VME, or Vintage Motorcycle Enthusiasts, come to the island in swarms of 100s of vintage motorcycles to spend the day motering around. I've been out here for about 10 years and have never been able to find out when they will be here...until today.

The club keeps their Vashon Visit top secret (to keep other non-vintage riders from crashing the party), but I finally managed to find someone who knew the date they were coming which turned out to be today, so I decided to try and get some portraits. There was every bike you could think of, plenty of cool biker chicks, and lots of rough, bearded men who look like they have been on a bike their entire lives. Of course there was the occasional dreamy guy perfect for full-filling any girl's fantasy!
Enjoy the pics!

All the newborn babies!

2008-09-06T21:57:00.000-07:00

As promised, I wanted to share some of the cuties that have come through the studio this summer. Talk about a baby boom! I've never seen so many newborns in one season. Here's a sample of a few.

Baby Boom

2008-09-05T21:28:00.000-07:00

There has been a huge baby boom this summer at Rebecca Douglas Photography. I have seen so many adorable newborns and beautiful pregnant women in the studio and I just had to share my latest maternity session.
Amy and Charlie are the proud parents-to-be. We did the photo shoot on Vashon Island at their home. Amy is a horse lover and owner of 2, so I just had to put her on one...much to Charlie's dismay! But all worked out beautifully. Now I'm just waiting to meet the new little one!

Tomorrow I'll share some of my favorite newborns from this summer.

2008-09-04T21:58:00.000-07:00

I'm a big shopper of all things used, pre-owned, funky, and eclectic. Every year I seem to gravitate towards one item in particular. A couple of years ago it was hats, last year I couldn't get enough cute little jackets, and this year I'm loving bags. Tote bags, purces, messenger and computer bags. I've found some great ones at my favorite consignment shops, Funky Janes and Lables, but for well designed, eclectic, throw-everything-in-and-go bags, I have to give a shout out to my good friend Ellen and her incredible talents. She has been been making great bags for years and is a true artist when is comes to mixing colors, patterns and fabrics.

I commissioned her to make me a computer bag this summer and what she came up with was pure art. Dark pink, faux alligator skin with a large, black and white polka dot print on the inside. Her attention to the littlest details made it all come together. The comments and inquires I keep getting on it are incredible! I love having a new cute "something" that no one has yet. It's so posh!

Ellen is sure to have some new creations that will make you drool and make your friends a little jealous.
Her new web site is coming soon. I'll post it as soon as it's ready.

Working moms

2008-09-03T12:55:00.000-07:00

As a working mom I am always on the look out for friends, blogs, magazines, etc...to offer me some emotional support and advice. Don't get me wrong...I love my life as a mother, wife and photographer. But it's a lot to juggle everyday.

A client of mine sent me to this blog http://www.soulemama.com.
It's a fun and cute blog site that I've been enjoying lately. This mom (not a photographer) has just embarked on her own self-imposed challenge...take one photo everyday. Hummm, I like this idea!

Another blog you might enjoy is Dooce.com. My friend Christine told me about it and it is so funny! It's written by a working mom and her husband, re-hashing their daily lives with a 4 year old and a couple of dogs. The videos they post are laugh out loud hysterical! I can totally relate!
I hope you will find them useful, inspiring and maybe a bit of a comic relief, (that's not related to you).

R

My Proposal for your Proposal

2008-09-02T20:36:00.000-07:00

This is the time of year when those in love start thinking about taking it to the next level, looking at rings, planning the perfect moment.

As most of you know, I shoot engagement portraits and weddings, but I'm missing the beginning piece to the perfect Trilogy...the Proposal. In order to offer a Proposal Session, I need images to show case. For sample images, I need people.

Here is my Proposal for your Proposal:

I am looking for couples who would like to have their wedding proposal photographed (we can also re-stage the proposal). Imagine this scene...Boy brings girl to park on beautiful, sunny day. Photographer secretly sits in waiting on park bench or in bushes at pre-determined spot. Boy gets down on one knee, the question is popped, girl screams with excitement, jumps into boy's arms and screams YES!! All the while photographer in bushes is capturing every moment from afar, and gradually comes in closer to get the tears, kisses and hugs. Meanwhile girl notices photographers, gets a little nervous, asks boy who this stranger is, boy says "Oh yeah, I hired a photographer just in case you said Yes". More tears, more kisses, more hugs, and Presto! boy becomes hero. (This works for girls as well)

If you are getting engaged, or know someone who is, please pass this on to them. I would like to photograph 10 couples and in exchange they will receive a complimentary engagement session with a matted 8x10 fine art print.

This could be really fun!

My Self-Imposed Challenge

2008-09-01T07:53:00.000-07:00

Starting on Sept 1st (today), I am challenging myself to post a blog everyday for the entire month. Why you ask? Because I have too much time on my hands? Not!
I thought it would be interesting to see what I would come up with. So here it goes!

First of all...Happy Labor Day! As we say "Adios" to summer and let's honor all those who work for a living, including ourselves.

In an effort to be a part of the great world of technology,
social networking, and some shameless self-promotion,
I am now a part of http://www.facebook.com/,
http://www.linkedin.com/, http://www.merchantcircle.com.
Please join me on one or all of these sites for your own networking and shameless self-promotion. The more the merrier!
I'll keep you posted on that venture.
Until, tomorrow...

Love, Kids, and Summer

2008-08-15T22:03:00.000-07:00

I just returned to Seattle after a couple of weeks in St. Louis and wanted to share a couple of pictures of my daughter enjoying her summer vacation. Someone told me the other day that she resembles Suri Cruise. All I care about is that she is one of the happiest, content little kids I know (and she is finally starting to look like me!)

summer time!

2008-07-25T19:36:00.000-07:00

With all the crazy headlines in the news today (Obama and McCain at each other, high gas prices, bad Mexican Jalapenos) it's enough to make anyone a little nutty. Did anyone see the headline today "Angry man shoots lawn mower for not starting"?
I've spent the last week and a half with 4 amazing little girls, my daughter and her 3 cousins. Sure they get a bit rambunctious and rowdy when together, but if I've learned anything these last few days it is to enjoy every moment, even the crazy headlines.
I hope all of you are relaxing and enjoying your summer!

Shelly Burch

2008-07-25T19:06:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of photographing a terrific actress, Shelly Burch. Located now in Seattle, she has lived and performed from New York to L.A., with roles in TV and Broadway shows such as One Life to Live and Annie.
We had some fun in the studio and got some beautiful images to update her web site (http://shellyburch.org/) and head shots. I say "beautiful images", but really the beauty and talent is in Shelly.

Twins Twins and more Twins

2008-07-13T19:22:00.000-07:00

Something must be in the air. This week has been baby week at the studio...I had a maternity session, a newborn session, my friend Sara had her baby and of course (if you are keeping up with celebrity news) another set of Hollywood twins have arrived.
Yes, that's right Angelina and Brad's twins were born in Nice, France yesterday. So we sit and wait with baited breath for the first pictures (let's admit it...we are a bit curious).
This picture is of the Sullivan Twins. "Are they famous?" you ask. Famously cute and good natured. What more could the parents of twins need?

Pool side!

2008-07-03T11:33:00.000-07:00

I love being my own boss. It was so nice and sunny the other day and I was working from home with my daughter Nora. We decided to invite her little friend Olya over to swim. This was the life... giggly little girls, my feet in the pool, laptop open and cranking away, some warm sunshine (finally!). Now this was no Hollywood, our pool is one you blow up, and the lawn needs to be mowed, but as I was sitting there (trying to keep my pretty little MacBook dry)I just kept thinking... What more could a working mom want?!

California Fires on Vashon Island?

2008-07-02T20:59:00.000-07:00

June 21st marked the celebrations of the summer Solstice with bonfires and long sunny days. It is also the wedding anniversary for Paul and Christy who married on Vashon Island, Wa. at the Point Robinson Light House. It may not be the California Fires but these two were Hot, Hot, Hot! Really guys! It is so obvious how much you love each other. Congratulations...May you celebrate many more Solstices!

Cherish your family

2008-06-25T12:51:00.000-07:00

Whether your family is near or far, they are the most important people in your life. You don't have to be rich, dress fancy or live in a mansion to want beautiful pictures of your family and children. Everyone deserves to be cherished and shown off.
This Family Series was
taken last weekend on
Vashon Island, Wa.

Wedding Equality for All

2008-06-17T16:04:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a great day for the San Francisco Gay and Lesbian community as City Hall married Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon in the first same-sex wedding to take place since gay marriage was legalized in California.
Del and Phyllis, gay-rights activists and co-founders of the first lesbian rights organization, Daughters of Bilitis, helped pave the way for Gay and Lesbians from San Francisco to Seattle and beyond to gain the coveted Marriage License and more importantly, the equal rights every committed partnership, gay or straight, is allowed.

In the the heart of Wedding Season 2008 a la Seattle, Rebecca Douglas Photography would like to say Congratulations to all you newlyweds in San Francisco!

May the rest of the country follow your lead.
photo by bobster1985
http://search.creativecommons.org/?q=phyllis+lyon&sourceid=Mozilla-search

Don't Forget the Pets!

2008-06-11T21:12:00.000-07:00

Our pets may not be as well groomed as Jessica Alba's Pugs, Hillary Duff's Chihuahua, or Jake Gyllenhaall's German Shepard, but they are ours...Bad behaviors, smelly breath and all! We certainly don't want to forget about them when we are considering our next photography project.

My hound dog, Skylar was my like my first kid and treated as such. She was always included in road trips, grocery store runs, even the family portrait. Our pets are as much a part of our family story as our kids. (Sometimes they are our only family) Don't forget to bring them along on your next photo shoot. You never know what we might capture!

Maternity

2008-06-02T21:40:00.000-07:00

When I was pregnant with my daughter 4 years ago, I was excited, but I had no idea how deeply the Grace, Beauty and Art of a woman's body during pregnancy would effect me.
Whether it's a first or fourth pregnancy, my wish for every pregnant woman is for them to find someone to document this amazing journey.

A Baby's Life

2008-05-20T22:55:00.000-07:00

Something I've talked about in a previous post is my "1st Year Series" program that has been really popular.
This program is designed to follow a year in the life of a new baby, starting with a Maternity portrait with mom and dad to be, followed by a newborn, 6 month, and 1 year session. We top it off with a gorgeous set of 4 mini albums or 1 larger album designed to tell the story of your amazing journey.
I've just finished my most current series with Havana. It has been so much fun watching her grow this last year. I hope you enjoy them.

Mother's Day

2008-05-14T13:06:00.000-07:00

I missed Mother's Day.
I was "camping" in our backyard with my husband and daughter. We are trying to get her ready for some real camping later this summer.
Anyhoo...Hope all you mother's out there had a fantastic day and were worshiped greatly!
This picture is my current Mother/Daughter self portrait.

Senior Portraits

2008-05-14T12:06:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again when high school seniors start getting that far away, dreamy look in their eyes. Summer is coming, collage applications are done, and just a few more finals to go!

Seniors start handing out wallets of their senior portrait to friends, or maybe they are passing around these new, way cool mini storybooks of their senior sessions. A portrait session for most Seniors now-a-days is so much more than a stiff, formal, studio session.
Sorry Mom and Dad!
They want to move around, show off their personalities, go to their favorite "hang out" spots. I don't blame them...this is a big moment in their lives. They are standing on the edge of the rest of their lives. It's scary, exciting, and liberating. A story book or collection of images that illustrate who they are right now is the perfect thing for them (and Mom) to carry with them as they embark on the future.

All you Juniors out there....Don't waste any time! Summer is the perfect time to get your Senior portraits done. It'll be fun. I promise!

Giving back

2008-04-28T13:27:00.000-07:00

Spring is a busy time for auctions, fund raising, and giving of yourself. Rebecca Douglas Photography has been involved with "Giving Back" to the community for several years through many local and national charities.

For a long time, it has been important to me to work with my community, hand in hand.

I do this in the form of donated Portrait Sessions and prints to each Charity fund raiser that I'm involved with. I believe that everyone is entitled to a beautiful, fine art portrait of themselves, their families and loved ones.
The goal is to share my passion for photography and show people that there is so much more beauty in an customized portrait session than you would get from a box chain studio.

If I can do that everyday...Great! If I can do that and help a great cause...Even Better!
See the link section to the left for some of the causes I support.

New Family Portrait

2008-04-24T11:16:00.000-07:00

Hi all,
As a lot of you know, I've recently moved into a new studio. I'm loving it! It's bigger than my last space, in a funky old building near downtown Seattle, with lots of daylight. I just finished a great family portrait session today using the daylight in the studio. I wanted to share some of the images with you.
Enjoy!

Earth Day

2008-04-22T15:16:00.000-07:00

Hi All,
Just a reminder that we all have but one this beautiful Earth. Let's take a moment this week to pick up a piece of trash, breath the fresh air, and run through the grass.
Happy Earth Day

Treat her well

Spring Wedding

2008-04-16T22:29:00.000-07:00

Bigger is not always better. Shannon and Josh got married last week in Seattle with 30 of their closest friends and family members. It was such a sweet celebration and I was excited to have been a part of it. They proved that you don't have to spend huge amounts of money to have a beautiful wedding celebration.

1 Year Series

2008-04-09T19:34:00.000-07:00

So, Last year I launched a new portrait series called "1st Year Series". It's been a huge hit! New parents are loving the idea of documenting their amazing journey of pregnancy and baby's first year of life. Here's a few images of Havana. What a sweet little girl! We are in the middle her first year and it is so much fun to watch her grow. I can't wait for her 1st Birthday session. Chocolate Cake...Here we come!

The series includes 4 photo sessions; the most popular are maternity, newborn, 6 months, and 1st Birthday. 10 images from each session are put into its own cute 5x5 leather bound album for you to share and treasure.

From Belly to Baby (and some cute books to boot!) How cool is that!

Cherry blossoms

2008-04-01T15:26:00.000-07:00

It may be snowing outside, but the calendar says it's Spring! The Cherry Blossoms are gorgeous right now and they make a great background for some fun, springtime portraits.

Jenan and Joe had a great time playing in them. These guys were one of my favorite wedding clients from 2007. I did their engagement session at the peak of Cherry Blossom season last year. It was so pretty! They were lots fun to work with and just really sweet people.

Here's a sample from their wedding.

Head Shot Day!

2007-05-14T05:11:00.000-07:00

Headshot Day-June 4th, 2007

I am offering FREE outdoor portrait sessions w/hair & makeup to all models/actors in exchange for a signed model release. You do not have to be a model or an actor to take part in this offer!
I am looking for people who can stand out in a crowd, who might have a unique perspective on life and have lots of personal style! Age and race don't matter...I'm looking for personality.
This is a great way to add to your portfolio. You will recieve one (1) 8x10 print OR digital file in exchange for your signed release. All images will be uploaded to a private weblink for you to view and order.

ONE DAY ONLY THIS MONTH. JUNE 4TH
CALL THE STUDIO FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT
206.390.6074

Do What You Love, Love What You Do"

2007-05-10T09:45:00.000-07:00

"Do what you love, Love what you do". We hear it all the time and I truly believe it.
As career artists, we must love what we do to compete in the business world. Clients want to see our passion in our work, they want to know that we believe in ourselves and our talents.
When working with clients, I must know where I'm coming from and who I am, before I can expect my clients to trust me with their photography needs. Being photographed is a very intimate process. Whether it's a 30 minute portrait session, a day long lifestyle session, or a full weekend wedding celebration, you are inviting me to witness a part of your life.
Without trust between me as your photographer and you, the client, the images become nothing more than mere documentation. I BELIEVE YOU DESERVE MORE.

TIPS AND BELIEFS FOR A BEAUTIFUL PHOTOGRAPHIC EXPERIENCE:
*I believe in essay style images that tell a story, not just document what you look like.
*Do what you love and all things work out in the end.
*Life is too short to not have fun everyday.
*When you focus on your loves ones, even the most un-photogenic person becomes beautiful.
*Being photographed is a team effort between you and your photographer.
*If you let go of the picture-taking process, the process becomes easy.
*Everyone deserves amazing images of their newborn baby, their family, and their life celebrations.
*Remember..."You get what you pay for".
*A crying baby is just as picture perfect as a smiling one.
*I believe an image of a child's hand in another's can be more powerful than seeing their faces.