I found this blog post about why it’s wise to not skimp on wedding photography. Thank you, Gwyneth, for posting such wise words.

Hi everyone,

Spring is here. Phew, sweet relief! Wedding season is gearing up and I’m really looking forward to all of the wonderful weddings I’ll be photographing this year. I’m almost completely booked through October, but do still have a few dates still open open so please contact me for availability if you’re looking for a photography for your wedding day.

We had a great Easter weekend. We were supposed to go to Portland to visit family, but the kids have been sick so that trip feel through. We ended up staying home and relaxing instead. By Sunday morning, everyone was feeling a bit better so we decided to go out for lunch at 26 Brix in Walla Walla. Hands down the best brunch I’ve ever had…seriously. I wish I had brought along my camera! After our delicious meal, we came back home to do an egg hunt with the family. It was a cold, early Easter full of sniffles, but we enjoyed ourselves just the same.

I’ve got a blog post in the work geared towards photography specifics (the technical stuff), including processing, gear, and so on. It’s on-hold for a bit while my blog migrates to a new location, which will hopefully be complete by next week. Stay tuned–I’ll be back soon with an update and a link to my new blog home!

I love working with kids. My photography career was spurred by my love of capturing my own two small children. This past summer I had the opportunity to attend a workshop with Chicago-based photographer Audrey Woulard, one of the premier children’s photographers in the country. I learned so much at that workshop and I can’t say enough wonderful things about Audrey.

So working with kids–I love it! I try to ease into the shoot. I’ll never ask them to smile or say, “Cheese!”
Generally, when I show up to a shoot, kids are usually a little camera shy. See?

(This image was processed with a bit of a film-like texture and the black and white conversion was on the moody side. It’s a bit dramatic, and sometimes this can really suit an image!)

Then I talk to them. Play peek-a-boo or ask them about their favorite toys or foods or friends. And they start to warm up…just a little bit at first.

(Again, a bit of texture here, but a less moody-feeling black and white.)

Then, with a bit more talking and playing, I can usually get a happy face. (Hint to parents: it’s a great idea with little ones to schedule morning shoots so that kids aren’t cranky and ready for a nap!)

And there we go! My schedule is filling up quickly as wedding season approaches, but I do have room on my schedule for a few portrait sessions each month.

(For photographers or anyone interested in photography, I’m going to start a series soon about my tools and post-processing of images, so stay tuned!)

Ah, this little girl of mine is a spitfire and I’m afraid it makes for lots of bumps and bruises. Last week she fell into a rose bush, fell down a short flight of stairs outside, and fell at a store and seriously dislodged her front right tooth. After this last incident, we rushed her to the pediatric dentist who managed to put the tooth back in place (it wasn’t quite the same, but we thought it might take) and she managed to dislodge it again this week. After the second bump, the dentist isn’t as confident that the tooth will make it, so we’re playing a waiting game. Thank goodness she doesn’t seem to be in much pain…in the meantime, I’m plotting a way to construct a bubble that will keep her safe.

In other news, this blog will soon have a new home. Check back for an update!