FABULOUS day at Edgefield!

Many thanks to my Senior Super Model, Deisy, and her boyfriend, Hugo, for their patience and forbearance as myself and two other photographer friends, Daron and Julian, walked them all over McMenamin's Edgefield property and exercised our off-camera flash techniques! Here's a few photos from the day: me talking (I'm ALWAYS talking, sheesh!) to Julian about different poses for couples and one of my favorite couples' pose - followed by yet another stunning portrait of the gorgeous Deisy - then there's Daron setting up his version of the shot. All in all, a most enjoyable way to spend a couple hours...

Shout out to Louise McCulloch!

Just wanted to let you all know how much I love working with realtor Louise McCulloch! Louise was my agent when we bought our home here in Hood River four (FOUR! OMG, where does the time go?!) summers ago and not only do I enjoy her friendship, but we've also developed a wonderful working relationship - one day she asked me if I could/would photograph a house she was about to list, I said "sure!" and the rest, as they say, is history...

I gotta admit that I thoroughly enjoy being Louise's "secret weapon" in the awesome arsenal of techniques and tools she utilizes in selling her clients homes! She's currently revamping her website (I am too! stay tuned...) and asked me to create a page illustrating our work together - THAT'S what you see up at the top of this entry, some of her and my favorites images from the many homes I've photographed for her clients.

So next time YOU'RE looking to upgrade or you know someone who is moving to the area, make Louise the first call on your list of things to do - she's a first class professional who will treat you right, work her tail off for you and always be there when you need her! Oh yeah, check it out at LouiseMcCulloch.com - and tell her Denise sent you...

Lady in Red

It's raining seniors - and I LOVES it! The Class of 2010 is getting a head start on their senior portraits and it seems alot of you are digging what I do - thanks for the privilege of working with such fabulous teens!

Here's a couple of images from Wednesday afternoon's studio session with Angela of HRVHS - she was so bubbly and upbeat and just plain FUN to work with! Thanks for a great time, Angela - I'm really looking forward to your autumn outdoor session...

Sweet AND Fierce!

Just HAD to share a couple of images from this morning's senior session with HRVHS senior Carla - she was totally at ease in front of the camera, a real joy to work with! I like how these images showcase the two different sides of her personality - warm and sweet, someone you want for your best friend, and then pow! she is a fierce fashionista! Thanks, Carla, for a wonderful time this morning...can't wait for you to come back and choose your senior portraits!

Let Your Love Light Shine!

I'll admit it, I'm a Deadhead, a tie-dyed in the wool fan of the good ol' Grateful Dead. I was enjoying a leisurely Sunday morning, playing one of my favorite concert tapes as I checked my email, FaceBook, Twitter, etc. (social media is taking over my life, oh my!) and found the following quote from Nelson Mandela in an email sent to me by a Very Good Friend. As I was reading it, the Dead were singing, "...turn on your love light, let it shine!" and I relished the very serendipitous moment.

Enjoy your Sunday and may it be the start of a fabulous week of letting your love light shine!

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be - brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you NOT to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." - Nelson Mandela

Twilight Time...

Joel was one of my first seniors of the summer and I wanted to do something special just for him. I learned that he is a bigtime "Twilight" fan, so first we shot in some cool locations - then I came up with this special image processing to give some of his portraits an other-worldly feel to them...he loved it!

August is shaping up to be prime time for the Class of 2010 to have their senior portraits created! If you've been thinking about it, do yourself a favor and call to make YOUR appointment as soon as possible - available time is filling up fast! As hard as it may seem to believe right now, that yearbook deadline will be here before you know it!

On Location Senior Portraits Are Great Fun!

Oh my goodness, I had SO MUCH FUN working with 2010 Senior Super Model Ely this Monday just passed! I've been wanting to photograph a gal in a long dress in the water at Horsetail Falls for like EVAH and Ely is helping me make my dream come true...while it was too cold that morning (hard to believe we were roasting in 100+ heat not all that long ago!) for her to actually lay down in the waterfall's pool, she did bravely wade in and splash around in the icy water - what a pro! We create WONDERFUL images that I cannot wait to finish working up - here's a couple of my favorites of Ely in her simple yet elegant white gown...

BTW, if you're reading this and you are a member of the Class of 2010, let me ask you: have YOU booked your senion portrait session yet? Might be a good idea to get on that right away, while you still have a choice of photographer - otherwise you might just have to settle for much less than you deserve! If you're interested, MY phone number is 541-436-2755...

"GQ" Julian

I'm doing a bit of computer "house cleaning" this Sunday, working on non-client images, archiving older files...this is actually a LOT more fun than it sounds 'cuz every once in awhile I come across a real gem I missed in my inital review! Like this grab shot of my friend (and Hood River photographer) Julian Hamilton - the man has style, don't you agree?!!