96 Days Until Christmas!

Ha, scared ya, didn't I?!! I know, I know, summer hasn't officially ended yet and here I am yapping about Christmas...but I'm just so excited about some of the new products I'm offering for the holidays, I just couldn't keep it to myself any longer! For starters, I've got some unique and beautiful photo cards this year - here's the first offering, created by a Very Talented Artist of my acquaintance...I've got more to share, so check back and see what else is going to be available! (and if you're starting to contemplate a family photo session for YOUR holiday cards, NOW is an excellent time to call and make those arrangements - no sense in waiting until the last minute now, is there?!)

All portraits shown in holiday card samples © Denise Rehse Watson / Photosensitive Portraits 2008.

HRVHS Class of 2009 ROCKS!

Thank you, HRVHS Class of 2009, for choosing Photosensitive Portraits as your premiere Senior Photographer! Here's just a few of the wonderful seniors I've had the pleasure of working with over the past couple of weeks...

Harvest Celebration

Autumn is in the air! The leaves on the maple in my side yard are turning a glorious crimson and as the evenings cool down, I'm rummaging for a sweater to wear on my nightly walks. Autumn has always been my favorite season - I find it invigorating and refreshing after the heat of summer. Then there's the whole Autumn Harvest thing, what with pears and apples coming into market...

Speaking of fall fruit, I've partnered with a Very Talented graphic designer who has created these fabulous old-fashioned fruit labels for me - they are available in apple, pear, cherries, apricots...so far! If they prove as popular as I think, we're got more fruit labels in the wings! If there's something you think I simple MUST have, let me know and we'll get working on it! Where was I? Oh yeah, these fab Harvest Portraits would be amazing gifts for Grandma, look terrific in a country kitchen or even a family room - can't you just see YOUR child's face smiling out from one of these?! They look truly special when framed out in either rustic barnwood or distressed antique wood - did I mention I can frame them for you as well, in an assortment of designer colors and finishes?!

I'm so excited about these beautful graphics that I am offering them at a Very Special Price for a limited time - you've got from now until the end of October to book a session for your child (or children) and order these Harvest Portraits, then they're gone again until next Spring! Call me at 541-436-2755 for more details about this Special Offer. (Did I mention that I'm in the middle of a wonderful high school senior portrait season and that my available time is also very limited?! If you want these beautiful Harvest Portraits for YOUR kids, call today!)

A Great Night of Theatre!

I'm very excited to tell you about the upcoming production, Three One Act Plays, at CAST scheduled to open October 10th and run through October 25 - talk about an entertainment bargain! You can enjoy three wonderful one-act plays in a single evening - each play tugs at a different emotional cord...one to make you laugh, one to make you cry, and one to make you think. Find out more about the individual plays by checking out the theatre page on the Columbia Gorge Center for the Arts website.

I was privileged to be commissioned to create portraits for the actors, directors and production manager - I enjoy contributing to the local theatre this way and it keeps me from doing something drastic, like auditioning!

The directors are Judie Hanel, Richard Parker and Tom Penchoen. The actors working with them are Steve Daniels, David Fox, Marti Kontola, Jessica Metta, John Metta, Jack Trumbull and Gary Young. Keeping it all organized and running smoothly is Judith Poage, production manager.

Don't you deserve a night out? Call the babysitter and reserve your tickets for Three One Act Plays - and prepare for a great night of theatre!

Just for fun!

At the end of a recent Senior Super Model session, Cecy's friends, Elizabeth (my other Senior Super Model) and Laura (all three BFFs), dropped in and pandemonium ensued! One at a time, each of these gals is a bundle of energy and vibrancy, but put all three in a studio together and it equals BIG TIME FUN! I, of course, felt compelled to document the silliness and we had a blast...which is what portrait photography is for me, a rollicking good time! Anytime I have a camera in my hands, I KNOW I'm gonna have a great time - and so will whoever I am working with...it's just how I roll.

You want to have FUN with your senior portraits, don't you? If you do, I know a photographer who would LOVE to play along! (That would be ME, btw!) Give me a call at 541-436-2755 and we'll set a playdate!

It's Raining Seniors in Hood River!

Oh. My. Gawd! My two Senior Super Models (that's them up there in the blog header, Cecy to your left and Elizabeth to your right) have been getting the word out that Photosensitive Portraits is THE place to go for the BEST senior portraits and it seems that the class of 2009 is listening! The response in the first week of school alone has been tremendous - my September is nearly booked up and the phone just keeps ringing! Thank you SO MUCH, Cecy and Elizabeth - and thank you to all the other seniors who I've been working with who are also spreading the word...here's a a few of my favorite images of my hard-working Senior Super Models!

(What are you waiting for? Call NOW to make sure you don't have to settle for less than EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT! 436-2755...)

Tutu Much of a Good Thing!

This is Katie from this morning's session - this image touched my heart so, I HAD to share it with you all! Katie was here with her older sister, McKenna, and I will be posting more portraits later this week...

This morning's session was a real break from what I've been doing the last few weeks: SENIORS! Let me just say that the class of 2009 has got a lot of sizzle going for it! This year I've got two fabulous Senior Super Models working for me, Elizabeth and Cecy. We've been all over Hood River as well as shooting in my studio and have created some rockin' senior portraits! I promise to share some this week as well - including some of the fun I had photographing Cecy this Tuesday past when we spent an afternoon in the Pearl District of downtown Portland!

Okay, gotta get back to work - soooooo many images to edit and work up, sooooo many more masterpieces to create!

Tutu Too Much!

Had a lovely visit the other day with Julie, a new friend who's just getting into portrait photography - she was accompanied by her beautiful 11 month old daughter who we just HAD to have as a model, don't ya know?! I've had this tutu for a little while now and have been dying to photograph some little girl in it and darling Jenna here was a perfect fit! We created some very nice portraits (many thanks to the baby photographer's "secret weapon," the Grandmother! thanks for coming along with Julie, Joan! you were an invaluable assistant!), got to know each other a little better and had alot of fun in the process...

If YOU'VE got a daughter who you think would look cute in a tutu, give me a call and let's create an adorable portrait for YOU!

August is all about the Class of 2009!

EVERYONE wants outdoor portraits for their senior picture - August is picture-perfect with its warm weather and dozens of beautiful outdoor locations to choose from!

Photosensitive Portraits is NOT your parents' senior photographer - YOUR senior portraits commemorate a unique time in your life and are meant to celebrate who you are right now as you move towards your future! 2009 is YOUR TIME TO SHINE!

Book your senior portrait session for the month of August and receive up to 5 web-ready images for your MySpace or Facebook pages FREE! That's a $50 value yours absolutely FREE just for booking your session in August - what are you waiting for?

Don't wait until the crush of school starting back up and run the risk of having to settle for less than what you really want - call today and book your Senior Portrait Session for August and get the images you want for your MySpace or Facebook pages!

Fundraiser for Helping Hands Against Violence

Stacey Shaw and Swirl Wine Club present the compelling documentary “I Know I’m Not Alone” on Saturday, August 9th at 7:30 p.m. at the Columbia Center for the Arts. Proceeds from the viewing benefit Helping Hands Against Violence, Inc.

Two years ago world-renowned musician Michael Franti decided to ‘walk his talk’ and traveled to the war zones of Iraq, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. This wasn’t a USO green zone sponsored visit – Franti and his team organized a trip that would take him to the core of the red-zoned, war torn neighborhoods of Baghdad, the West Bank and Gaza Strip with his guitar, video cameras and the intent to experience first hand the human cost of war. Out of this journey, Franti has created a compelling documentary film titled "I Know I’m Not Alone."

In addition to his groundbreaking music, Franti is a renowned speaker for social justice and human rights. He has lectured at many of the country’s top universities, including Yale, Georgetown and Stanford, and shared the stage with the likes of Mohammad Ali, Bill Clinton, Michael Moore, Ralph Nader, and Gloria Steinem.

A true armchair travel film, "I Know I'm Not Alone" pulls the audience into these war zones in the company of Michael's guitar, eloquence and wit – you feel the humanity, artistic resilience and sometimes horrific experience of what it's like to live under the bombs and military occupation.

Admission : $5 • Wine : $6 / glass
7 pm – 7:25pm Social/wine • 7:30 pm Film begins