Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Visiting Family in Port Townsend

These two handsome brothers, Jake and Nick were here in Port Townsend to help celebrate their Grandmother's birthday.  I photographed the entire family at Fort Worden State Park on Friday and the boys came to the studio for their portraits the next day. I was struck by what a nice relationship they have with each other and I hope I captured that in this image. Everyone should have a big brother like Jake.

Family Portrait at Fort Worden State Park

Last month I had the opportunity to photograph Jennifer and her family when they visited her sister here in Port Townsend. I wasn't sure if the weather would cooperate, it rained twice before we met to walk the beach and take photos. The sun finally came out for a couple shots and then we walk down towards North Beach and found lovely shade underneath the bluffs.

Every time I get out to Fort Worden I'm reminded what a beautiful spot it is and how lucky we are to have this gem of a park here in Port Townsend. It is a destination for many people to meet and hold their yearly family get-together. Often the rentals at the Fort are booked a year in advance. Thanksgiving is a very busy time at the park with families coming to Port Townsend to celebrate the holidays.

If you and your family are coming to Port Townsend and would like to have a family portrait done to celebrate the occasion please give me a call to set up a portrait session.

Cory Available for Adoption at JC Animal Shelter 385-3292

I'm really excited about this new little video camera I bought called the Ultra Flip Video. I took it to the Animal Shelter on Sunday and video taped a couple of the animals, including Cory the cat. I don't have the editing tools down yet but I wanted to post this one of Cory, one of our many cats available for adoption.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Picking Out Favorite Baby Photos

Yesterday I met with baby Isabella's Mom to go over the photos I had taken during the two session she came to the studio. While this wasn't one of the ones Mom picked it is one of my favorites with her new dress and matching hat crawling amongst the colorful blocks. I had just bought several new rolls of brightly colored paper for either photographing children or high school seniors. I also just purchased the new blocks from Abracadabra. I tried to get the I and B for Bella to face forward but wasn't always successful.

Great Time to Schedule Senior Portrait Session

The weather is great and a perfect time to book your Senior High School Portrait Session. Last year several of my Seniors waited until after Christmas to book their session, booking now makes for the best options for an outdoor session before the weather changes.

Give me a call today to set up an appointment. Call Deja at (360) 385-2662.


 

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Sunday Morning in Port Townsend

After taking photos at the Animal Shelter on Sunday I went down to Lehani's for a hot mocha and a ginger raspberry scone. I sat there and enoyed watching people walking by and listening to 103.7 on the cafe's radio. The Seattle station plays the best music on Sunday mornings.  After finishing my coffee I walked around with my new Nikon D700 and my 50 mm lens and snapped some fun photos.

This note was posted on plywood that was put in to replace the broken glass windows on one of the businesses in downtown Port Townsend.
The Summer House is this neat shop downtown with a great assortment of unique gifts. They always have the nicest window displays and this week it appears to be built around the theme of the upcoming Wooden Boat Festival.
These shoes where for sale as part of Labor Day sidewalk sales.  As I looked more closely at the inside of these shoes I wondered what story they might tell us of the life of the women who once owned them.
Great view from one of the restrooms in the Mount Baker Building.  Didn't have my telephoto lens with me. Taken through old window pane. The large building is our Post Office or the old Custom House.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Updated Bio Image. Being on the Other End of the Camera.

My friend and fellow photographer Kay Harper came by my studio last week and photographed me for an updated image for on my Blog profile and website. Posing for this photo reminded me what it feels like to be the subject photographed and not the photographer. So not being behind the camera was a good experience for me.

I think all of us, especially women, are critical of our features when we see our photo. Kay and I have taken taken lots of photos of each other as we worked on learning to use the Westcott Spiders lights in my studio. In reviewing lots of images of myself on my large monitor I have become more aware of specific features of my face. The bump on my nose, those darn smile lines, the shape of my eyes and knowing which is my smaller eye and how important it is to place that eye closer to the camera in a portrait. Almost 15 years ago my ophthalmologist, Doctor O'Morchoe found a tumor on my lower eye. After having the tumor successfully removed it altered the shape of my left eye.

I'm also very aware that as my hair has turned from brown with white streaks to all gray I find colors I once could wear no longer look good on me. Now wearing colors like purple and red really make me feel better about myself and the way I look. I like to remind my clients when coming for a session to wear something they feel comfortable in and to bring a couple different outfits for their session. I also need to remember to ask my clients what they think are their best features.

I try to put all my clients at ease when photographing them. I love it when a client who was hesitant to have a portrait taken finds after their session they ended up having a great time and are thrilled with their final images.

Monday, September 6, 2010

Deja View Image on Display at Port Townsend Northwest Maritime Center

Update 9-13 I received a lovely email from the couple that bought my print at the Northwest Maritime Show. It read:
Greetings from your fans in California! We purchased that lovely and beautifully framed photo at the reception. It was nice to see it on your blog. Since we did not want to cram it into a suitcase, we left it at my sister's in Port Angeles until our next visit. Have enjoyed your website and blog with so many great photos--feels like you are right there with the subject. As dog and cat lovers, we also appreciate your warm reflections of those adorable dogs and cats waiting for a home. Your work has heart and makes a special connection with the viewer. ( We wanted to post these comments on your blog, but did not want to set up an account to do so. Wishing you continued success, Becky

One of my images from a past Wooden Boat Festival is part of the On the Water Exhibit now on display at the Port Townsend Northwest Maritime Center. The exhibit is located on the 2nd floor of the NWMC's  Resource Building which is the yellow building located on Water Street just before you enter the Point Hudson Marina. During Wooden Boat Festival the display will be open on Friday from 9-7 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 9-5 p.m. It is a wonderful show and if  you are in town for the PTWB festival you should check it out. The exhibit will be up until September 22nd.

An artist's reception was held last month for those of us that are part of the show. I was so excited when a couple visiting from California approached me about buying my framed photograph of Katie right off the wall.  I sold that copy to them that night and last week returned to the Maritime Center with another copy to be on display and available for purchase during the Wooden Boat Festival.

Animals Available for Adoption at Jefferson County Animal Shelter 9-6


Here is this week's poster of animals I photographed at the Jefferson County Aninmal Shelter on Sunday. I had accidently forgot to post a photo last week of the lovely cat named Sasha so here she is this week.  We are fortunate to have only a couple dogs this weeks and both are young. Jasper is a 5 month old rat terrier and Shiloh is a 10 month old Lab/Retriever/Hound mix. He has the biggest hound dog eyes and seems to be all legs with lots of energy.

Please give the shelter a call for more information on any of these lovely cats and dogs. (360) 385-3292.

Rambo Family Portrait at Point Hudson Beach in Port Townsend

These photos are from a recent photography session on the beach near Point Hudson here in Port Townsend. I met Forrest, Kate, Bosun and Ninja, the cat, at their favorite spot on the beach for a late afternoon session. The beach has been a special spot for Bosun to play on since he was a puppy and the whole family lived on their boat at Point Hudson.

I loved the clothes Kate and Forrest wore to the session and the way the setting sun added back lighting to this image. This was my first time to photograph a cat outdoors and Ninja and Bosun were both great to work with. Forrest always brings Bosun by my vendor's booth whenever they are at the Saturday Port Townsend Market. Forrest owns Stuff Away , a Port Townsend business that offers mini moves, hauling and organizing plus home and office rearranging.

After Kate and Forrest had picked their favorite images from this session I delivered the printed images to them one evening at their lovely home here in Port Townsend. It was fun to visit with them over a glass of wine and get a chance to play with Ninja and Bosun.