Before & After

Okay, so it's been a long while since my last post here.  Frankly, I just forget to update since FB makes it easy to simply do there.  However, once again I'm reminded of just how much FB uploads are crap.  So I'm posting a little something here because I'm dissatified with FB.

Also, I wanted to do a before and after.  I've never done one before, because frankly it scares me... I'm not a fan of showing anyone anything but my best, my intended vision.  However, in this case it's to prove that what I do for your photos by no means ends when we're done with our session.  Yes, I do my best to shoot technically clean photos, and sometimes SOOC (straight out of camera) shots work, and I take but a min to adjust a few things, maybe remove a blemish, etc.  This tends to be shoots that involve an indoor setting where I have controlled the scene and most importantly the light.  Studio shoots are typically quick edit shoots for me.

But this is rare, the main reason being I like to turn my work into not only the best it can be on a techincal scale, but also I like to edit to enhance the vibe of a photo.  This one I shot of Jude the other day is a perfect example.  The scene as was is spooky and cool, and Jude is damn near perfect anyway, however, I wanted to really make it stand out, to capture what it felt like being out there in that pea-soup fog, all the dead leaves, barren trees.  Now the original did get a few adjustments as a RAW file because I didn't know I was going to do this before/after thing when I started and frankly I don't feel like restoring all the way to the beginning, but it was merely some exposure adjustment, nothing more, so meh.

So yes, this is in large what you pay me for.  I am an artist, a portrait artist, and from beginning to end it's a process.  Like a sculptor feels out a piece of wood or rock to find the form hidden within, I do the same with my SOOC shots.

Introducing; Miss Molly Mae

I can now say that I have officially photographed the birth of a child.  I can also now say that it is not something I am prepared to offer as a service at this time, except for my very close friends and family.  First, the fees that it would require to make it fair to me as a professional are not something I think most people are prepared to pay for.  Second, being "on-call" puts restraints on the rest of my life I'm not prepared to pay on a regular basis.

That said, it was an experience that I am very glad to have had.  It was crazy intense, it was highly informative, and it was an intimate and special moment with some dear friends/family.  And now there is this perfect little person in the world that I saw enter it.  It's crazy cool.

So here is a little glimpse, but only a little, since most of the images are personal and reserved for the mother and father (and whomever they choose to share them with).

And now that beautiful little girl is two weeks old!

And seriously, click on that face, because it's too darn cute to view just as a thumbnail.

Happy 1st Birthday Kalaya!

I must take a moment to wish this little princess a very Happy Birthday!  This little girl has some of the best facial expressions, I ♥ her.

Days Gone By

So, with all the babies making their way into the lives of many of my friends, family, and clients, it has me all reminiscent about my pregnancy.  I look back at photos and wish I knew then what I know now.  It's been five years (I would have been 5 months along in May of 2008), it seems like forever ago, but I thought I'd share some of my belly pictures.  These were taken by me in a very tiny space in our apt at the time, with a makeshift lighting system given to me by a dear friend, a tripod and a remote.

Respect Your Photographer

There is no gentle way to say this, so I'll post this handy little image someone else produced.

 Family and friends need to be specifically aware of this.  My portfolio has plenty of wonderful examples to choose from, my experience, while I'm always learning, is great enough that I do not need models for TFP, and my time is very full right now so while I love you, I simply can no longer afford to offer you free sessions.  Please be aware of this when you inquire about shooting with me, I will expect payment for my services unless I have very specifically, very clearly, stated that a shoot is my gift to you.  A girl still has to pay her bills.

Kalaya is Turning 1!

This little cutie is about to turn the big 01, so naturally documentation had to occur.  She had so much fun playing peek-a-boo in the basket and I love how it shows in this picture!  Click HERE to view the full view!

The Perks of Being a Photographer & Mom

So, being a mother who happens to also be a photographer has it's serious perks.  This is an example of one of them.  Since my husband and son often accompany me on shoots (sometimes as helpers, sometimes they go off and do their own things while I'm actually shooting) the times just before or just after often offer some opportunities for some great just spur of the moment shots... that don't really look like spur of the moment shots.  Case in point, Jude helping bring the balloons from the shoot back to the car, just a moment, imperfect in some ways, but I love it nonetheless.  I'd view it big, the thumbnail isn't as much fun :)

Introducing; Baby Zac

I'm pretty sure I don't need to say anything.  You're already "awwwwwing" all on your own.

Please take the time to click the image to view the larger file, it really is worth it :)

My Oh My; Contest Update

I haven't received a single entry for the photo contest yet!  Oh my, this has never happened before.

What does this mean?  You may well ask.  It means one of two things is going to happen.

First, I'm going to postpone the deadline until this Friday, the 19th.

If I receive enough entries I'll go ahead with the contest and just alter the judging a bit to suit.  If I receive too few I will comp the entries I do receive a 20% discount on a full session.

For current prices (please be mindful these do change from time to time), please send me a private e-mail so we can address any concerns you may have directly.

I'm not completely sure what the appropriate number of entries is at this moment, so I'm not going to paint myself into a corner by setting that until I see the response.  I do promise to be fair though.

If I don't receive any entries I'll just cancel the contest and try again in a couple of months!

So, tell me, what have you go to lose?!?

Click the flower for full contest details!

Easter Sunday

A quick shot of Jude from Easter.  We're pretty casual about the whole dressing up thing, but I feel he still rocked it.

Spring Photo Contest

It's been a while since I've hosted a contest.  With Spring beginning to show her lovely, lovely face all over the PNW I think it's time to show me your best seasonal photos.

That's right, this time around it's not about a cute baby, or an attractive couple, it's simply about the photos and the season.  It can be any photo you feel captures the feeling of Spring.  This can include people, by all means, it just doesn't have to.

Judging of this contest will be two fold.  The first will be the usual round of having your friends and family come vote by "Liking" your photo.  From there I will take the top 3-5 (depending on the final number of participants) and those will be judged by a panel of judges.

Judges:

Jackie Casella, local writer for publications such as the Weekly Volcano and City Arts Magazine.

Dana Kehr, PNW photographer and teacher of the photographic arts (TCC).

Kent Ward, photographer and graphic artist currently out of North ID.

And Mark Williams of Centerstage Photography, Tacoma.

These fine individuals have graciously agreed to assist me so that I can offer a contest that is well rounded and fair.  Photos will be judged on composition, originality and theme guidelines.

The contest will run from April 15th through 29th.  The next two weeks will be for submission acceptance.  This gives everyone some time to go out and shoot!

Send 1 image to poeticspectre@yahoo.com that you feel best represents Spring.  Then when the album goes live on the 15th, share PSI and ask your friends to "Like" the page (this is not required to vote, it is however, a nice gesture and greatly appreciated), then "Like" your photo to vote.

The winners will receive a free mini session with PSI and bragging rights.

Rules/Fine print:
~Please "Like" my FB page before you submit a photo.
~Only 1 (one) image will be accepted per household.  Image must be taken by the individual submitting.  Must be 18 years of age or older to submit.
~Images submitted will not be used for anything other than this contest and PSI claims no rights to them outside this one time allowance of use.
~Previous winners of PSI contests are not subject to entry.
~Mini session includes 3 (three) fully edited images on a CD in two sizes; for printing and web use.
~Free mini session is for any portrait type desired although it's recommended it be used for child, couple, or small group up to 4 to get the most out of the shoot.
~Session must be booked within one week of notification of winning the contest, session itself can be scheduled for any time/date that is convenient for both parties. 
~Once booked only one re-schedule will be permitted with a min of 24 hour notice (weather interference doesn't count).
~Session is for submitting individual (or their child/ren),  can not be transferred to friends or extended family.
~Session must take place within the Gig Harbor/Tacoma, WA area.
~All comments will be deleted from photos, so please don't be offended.  This is too keep negative language out of the equation.
~Savings of free session is aprox $40 but has no transferable or cash value. 
~You can extend the session to a full shoot for difference of the cost.  Winner can inquire with PSI personally if interested in doing so.

 

Bump Ahead

It's funny, I've spent much of my photography career, and the years preceding it with these ideas of what I might do with my talent.  Some people dream these big dreams of traveling the world as a photojournalist, or  shooting high fashion in Milan and Paris, or doing intense social issue pieces fit for table top books (do they even make those anymore?), and while those are all noble feats, and the travel part of the first two appeals to me greatly (I've got to get out more), it's just not where my heart is.  And while I'm being honest, it's not where my strength lies.  My strength lies is helping families create images that they will love and cherish and, dare I say, pass on.  Photos for mounting on the living room wall or above an babies crib.  How I do this is two fold.  First off, I simply just keep honing the skills I was born with.  I will never stop learning and growing, or feeling like I need to.  Second, I put people at ease.  I make stiffs shoulders relax, I coax out natural smiles, I am fantastic at working with stubborn or feisty children (yup, I'm tooting my own horn) and somewhere in all of that I capture some truth, and it's beautiful.  And I feel fully satisfied as a photographer getting to do this type of work.

With that lengthy introduction, here's what I did this weekend.  I'm especially proud of this shoot.  I ♥ this family.

Such a Lovely Couple

They're just so pretty.

Introducing Baby Stookey!

This lovely couple was the first to sit for me with my new camera body in hand.  Can I just say how much I LOVE it and them?!  So lovely.

Babies and More Babies

I'm going to post these two together since they were shot the same weekend and are about the same topic; new life.  The first is a maternity session for a lovely little family that welcomed their little girl into their lives on the side of SR 512 in Lakewood WA.  This little go-getter wasn't happy with waiting for her mother and father to make it to the hospital, she had her own agenda.  You can read the whole story here: Baby Girl Born on the Side of the Freeway.  Anyway, here is a shot from their session prior to the spunky wee's arrival.

The second shoot was of a slightly different nature, although same general theme.  This family is expecting a little one that was a complete surprise and fairly miraculous.  The parents decided to surprise their two older children with the news of their new sibling during a family shoot and then to use those photos to announce the news to everyone else.  It was a very fun event to be a part of.  I hope to do more pregnancy announcement shoots in the future, they really are a fun way to let the cat out of the bag!

I Am Not a Wedding Photographer.

Let me preface this by stating that I am NOT a wedding photographer.  I am a portrait photographer that has occasionally shot a wedding.  Weddings on a regular basis, dealing with tons of unknown variables, changing conditions, large groups of people, events that you only get one shot at, and those events being attached to someone else's very special memories is a pressure I'm not fond of.  On top of all that you can have weeks and weeks of editing hundreds of photos, making people look their very best.  It's hard.  It's very hard, which is why I have great respect for those that do it for a living and why I understand the large fees they charge.  I have only shot a handful of weddings and only for friends (or relatives of friends) that understand my limits and reservations.  BUT, I will say that I do love being a part of someone's special day.  That part of things I enjoy, I get to vicariously experiences their happiness through my cameras lens.  It's beautiful.  So despite my not being a wedding photographer I am proud of the work that has come from the few I've been a part of.

Location, Location, Location

Two posts in one day :)  AND I still have a few other sessions to post samples of this week (the sessions are from weeks ago, I just haven't had time to update the blog).  This is just a shot I enjoyed, taken from a location scouting for a maternity session I'll be shooting this next Saturday.  There's something a little old worldy about it that I just dig.

I ♥ Maternity Sessions

I love, love, LOVE this shot.  There are so many things about it that work.  It was not a planned shot, it sort of came about during Daddy's attempt to occupy the little man while I shot singles of Mama's belly... they wandered behind the shot and we ran with it.  I love the light, I love the composition, the crop, the angle, and the subjects.  Not to mention that this shot was nearly SOOC!  I tweeked the levels a tad and that was it.  Took me less than three mins.  THIS is where I'm heading with my work.  THIS is what you can begin to expect more of :)

Gearing Up

I recently suffered a re-injury of my right knee and that combined with all the changes for my family (including a relocation over the Narrows bridge, which sometimes feels like a world away) I have only been shooting sporadically and typically only things that have specific time lines, i.e. pregnancy (babies wait for no photographer).  This all has me feeling a little angsty, a little hobbled.  It's hard to see the sun come shinning through the mini forest outside in my back yard and want to pick up my camera and just go shoot!  Only to realize I must restrain myself.  Bummer x 10.

In light of all of that super bummerness happening (yes, I'm aware that's not an actual word), things are finally starting to look up!  My range of movement is returning, the weather is staying mild, and I will have some new gear to test out within the month (so super excited about that).  I can't even begin to explain how happy this makes me.  I have missed shooting so much, and while I love my little mister, I'm looking forward to a broader range of subjects to put before my lens.

And I'll leave you with a few personal shots Jude and I did a week ago.  He really is a good little helper in regards to my photography so I can't complain.

On a side note, the last image is a SOOC (straight out of camera) shot.  The universe was in perfect harmony that day.

Through Jude's Eyes

Okay, I'm going to take a moment to shed some light on my super awesome son.  Don't be worried, I promise this post IS about photography, and it's not photos of Jude (which are common enough).  No, this is a post to tell you that my little man appears to have an affinity for the photographic arts just like his mama.

He started taking photos with his fathers i-Phone about two years ago.  Every once in a while he'd get lucky and something would like kind of cool but you could tell it was mostly just hit or miss.  We let him continue anyway, getting a feel for capturing moments.  He leaned toward up close, abstract images, bordering on macro (if the camera would allow it).  Next he was upgraded to using his Tutu's (grandmothers) point and shoot while we were in HI last Feb.  It became clear that the little man was, in fact, honing what seems to be a natural skill.  So we kept letting him use point and shoots and the i-Touch/i-Phones and I think we're finally at a place where his photos are really worth sharing with more than friends and family.

Last night I was talking with a dear friend and the conversation led to the idea of starting an Instagram account on behalf of Jude.  I would manage, obviously, but all the photos would be taken by Jude and then edited according to his wishes.  We tested it today and the photo that came from it is so awesome I was a little jealous, lol.  So here we go.  I've opened the account for him: Through Jude's Eyes.  I posted his first image, the one from today.  Again, taken BY him and he chose the editing techniques (meaning the filters on the ap) and the final product is his vision, I only assisted in the using of the technology.  The only prompting I gave him while he was taking shots consisted of "go for it buddy, whatever you want to take pictures of."  To which he replies, "I want to take pictures of everything!"  Have at it little man, it's all you.