Last of the Class of 2010...Every year there's always a few "last minute seniors" - to my surprise, only one this year! But since he's such a sterling fellow and alot of fun to be around besides, I can easily forgive his last minute request...here's Miguel, one of my photography interns from the Class of 2010 at Columbia High School - looking good, boy-o!
Trash the (Prom) Dress!"Trash the Dress" sessions have become very popular with some brides - an artistic free-for-all portrait session for the bride in her wedding gown taken days AFTER the wedding. (Don't believe me?! Just Google "trash the dress" and prepared to be amazed at some of the wonderfully creative images you will see!) I've always thought it would be fun to do something similar for young women and their prom dresses - breathe easy, no dresses were harmed during the production of this session, lol! (well, nothing a little dry cleaning won't fix...)
Once again Lily and Nancy got in front of my camera, this time out at Horsetail Falls - both were fabulous and fearless in the face of freezing cold water, blowing mist and the eyes of countless tourists (who no doubt wondered why the heck that crazy photographer was making those gorgeous girls pose in the water!)...thank you SO MUCH, gals, for playing along with me with such fearlessness and sense of FUN! A special thank you to Julie, an exchange student at HRVHS from Milan, Italy, for filling in as my photo assistant - so sorry I froze your toes off!
4th Semi-Annual Frugal Fashionista!Calling all women and teen girls to Hood River's largest clothing swap! This is a LADIES ONLY EVENT - sorry, no men or children.
ALL ITEMS ONLY $1.00!!! Your cash will go to support Gutsy Girls, a self esteem & empowerment program for elementary school girls.
When and where you ask? Friday, May 14th, from 6pm to 9pm, at the Alliance Youth Center, 2650 Montello in Hood River!
HOW IT WORKS: Clean out your closet and bring your no longer needed, gently used clothing and accessories (jewelry, purses, scarves, shoes, hats and belts) to the Alliance Church OR May Street Elementary School between May 10th and May 14th - all seasons, styles and sizes are welcome! We will set up the donations "store style" and yes, all the items are ONLY $1.00! All leftover goods will be donated to charity.
Enjoy a Girls' Night Out and discover new-to-you treasures! Treat yourself and sample the wares and services of the Spa Vendors! Be good. Be green. Be Glam!
Questions? Contact Mary@HoodRiverReDesign.com - see you there!
HRVHS Prom Night!
One of my interns, Lily, and one of my Marketing Associates, Nancy, stopped by the studio on their way to the Prom last Saturday night and OF COURSE I was happy to create portraits for them! (see, you don't have to settle for boring, same old-same old Prom photos...) Nancy also brought along her friend, Lupita, so I had my hands full of gorgeous young women in beautiful dresses and handsome young men in tuxes - lots of nervous giggles, much checking of hair and makeup, alot of re-pinning of the guys' boutonieres...we still got some smokin' hot images! Here's a few...
A Sunny Day in May
This is a first for me - TWO blog postings in one day! I'm just having so much fun working on images today, I HAVE to share some of them, especially when they are as delightful as the darling Mariela here...tell me true, isn't she the sweetest little flower/bee you've ever laid eyes on?!!
Got a sweet flower of your own? You're invited to come on over to the studio for some play/portrait time! You don't need a special occasion, just give me a call and let's make plans to get together...541-435-2755 - operators (that would be me) are standing by!
Sharing the love...I was recently approached by an enterprising member of the HRVHS Class of 2011 and asked if I would be willing to school her in photography skills, specifically portraiture - well you KNOW I said yes - sharing my passion for photography and especially great portraiture is the most fun I can think of! Once a week Claudia visits my studio for instruction and a critique of her work - she is an amazingly quick study and well on her way, creating true portraits and not mere snapshots.
Last week our session was held in the studio rather than outdoors and Claudia brought along her friend and favorite model, Bryce - who was easily the most patient guy I've ever met as he allowed us to turn him this way and that, chin up, chin down, no no no, more this way, thanks and hold it! I couldn't resist creating a portrait myself - as you can see he's a very photogenic fellow - as well as grabbing a shot of my fabulous student and her model together...thanks for being the highlight of my day, you two! It was a blast - I'm going to be sorry when school ends for the summer 'cuz I'm really going to miss our weekly get-togethers!
May Flowers...
Been shooting alot of real estate lately, some truly beautiful properties (you can see them at www.LouiseMcCulloch.com) - and in the process I do alot of walking around some gorgeous acreage...when the sun is shining and I'm surrounded by the beauty that is the Gorge, I simply cannot resist yielding to the siren call of the beautiful wildflowers blooming everywhere right now! I just wanted to share this image with you (all 6 of you who read this blog, lol!) - I don't even know what these vibrant daisies are called, but they are glorious, bringing the sunshine right down into the grass!
NEW LOOK FOR THE STUDIO!Every 3-4 years I like to shake things up by redecorating and I'm feeling it's definitely time for the studio to have a New Look! (maybe it's got something to do with Spring and the whole "renewal" thing...) I have a MAJOR redecorating scheme in mind which means that Photosensitive Portraits will be CLOSED for the first two weeks of May - this is a Big Change and I am Very Excited about it! Above is my inspiration for the look I'm working towards - dramatic, right?!! Once the dust has settled, the paint has dried and the furniture and drapes moved in, I'll be announcing a big ol' Grand Re-Opening party to christen the newly revisioned space - so be sure to check back for YOUR invitation to the shindig!
(oh, and anyone who's handy with a paint brush and would like to exchange a little labor for some session time, please feel free to give me a holler at drehse@gorge.net!!!)
Happy Anniversary, Earth Day!Margaret Mead said, "EARTH DAY uses one of humanity’s great discoveries, the discovery of anniversaries by which, throughout time, human beings have kept their sorrows and their joys, their victories, their revelations and their obligations alive, for re-celebration and re-dedication another year, another decade, another century another eon. EARTH DAY reminds the people of the world of the need for continuing care which is vital to Earth’s safety. …"
(read more about Earth Day here)
Today let us renew our commitment to a better planet for all of us!
Teddy Bears Picnic
starts this Monday!
This theme will delight your little girl - a picnic in the woods with lots and lots of teddy bears! We've even got a couple of sweet dollies who'd love to join in. Dress your daughter (or grand-daughter!) in her favorite outfit or choose one of our custom-made dresses created just for the occasion. Don't forget to invite her own beloved teddy bear and/or dolly to the picnic as well! In addition to having a alot of fun, we'll also create wonderful portraits that you'll treasure long after your little girl has grown.
These mini sessions are affordably priced at only $55 and INCLUDE a mounted 8"x10" Art Print of your favorite pose!
Teddy Bears Picnic mini sessions are ONLY available from Monday, April 19th through Friday, April 30th. Book YOUR child's session ONLINE by going to:
http://PhotosensitivePortraits.brownbookit.com/schedules/TeddyBear
Please note: These mini sessions are designed for ONE CHILD per session; however, with advance notice, a sibling or best friend may be added for
$20 per child.
Feel free to call me at 541-436-2755 if you have any questions!
Earth Day Sessions Selling Out!Wow, what a great response! Sunday, April 18th is completely sold out - there are still sessions available for Saturday, April 17th, so get yours while the getting's good!Don't forget, instead of a session fee, bring in 5 cans of food or 5 bags/boxes of beans or pasta. (Please be sure your donations are not past their freshness date.) All donations will go to Hood River's FISH Food Bank !
Book YOUR child's session ONLINE by going to:
http://PhotosensitivePortraits.brownbookit.com/schedules/EarthDay
Earth Day Studio Special - Love your Mother!Earth Day celebrates its' 40th Anniversary on April 22nd, 2010. In honor of this wonderful event, Photosensitive Portraits is offering a Very Special "Special"!
On Saturday, April 17th and Sunday, April 18th ONLY, bring your child in for a special "Love your Mother" portrait commemorating Earth Day 2010.
Here's the "special" part: instead of a session fee, bring in 5 cans of food or 5 bags/boxes of beans or pasta. (Please be sure your donations are not past their freshness date.) All donations will go to Hood River's FISH Food Bank - what better way to celebrate the Earth than by nurturing and caring for the people who live on it?!!
Book YOUR child's session ONLINE by going to:
http://PhotosensitivePortraits.brownbookit.com/schedules/EarthDay
Please note: These mini sessions are designed for ONE CHILD per session; however, with advance notice, a sibling or best friend may be added for two cans of food per child.
Feel free to call me at 541-436-2755 if you have any questions!
Another Adorable Mini Session!This theme will delight your little girl - a picnic in the woods with lots and lots of teddy bears! We've even got a couple of sweet dollies who'd love to join in. Dress your daughter (or grand-daughter!) in her favorite outfit or choose one of our custom-made dresses created just for the occasion. Don't forget to invite her own beloved teddy bear and/or dolly to the picnic as well! In addition to having a alot of fun, we'll also create wonderful portraits that you'll treasure long after your little girl has grown.
These mini sessions are affordably priced at only $55 and INCLUDE a mounted 8"x10" Art Print of your favorite pose!
Teddy Bears Picnic mini sessions are ONLY available from Monday, April 19th through Friday, April 30th. Book YOUR child's session ONLINE by going to:
http://PhotosensitivePortraits.brownbookit.com/schedules/TeddyBear
Please note: These mini sessions are designed for ONE CHILD per session; however, with advance notice, a sibling or best friend may be added for
$20 per child.
Feel free to call me at 541-436-2755 if you have any questions!
Preserving MemoriesI recently had the opportunity to work with a lovely gal who has been tracking her family's genealogy - while digging into the past, she has uncovered a wealth of old family photos. Unfortunately, many images have suffered damage due to being improperly stored so she came to me for help in repairing them. While this kind of work isn't something I advertise, it IS something I really enjoy doing. I get a real thrill out of helping to bring the past back to life!
Here's just one sample: her own father's portrait from his days in the Navy - still a work in process (will eventually create an image without the handwritten note that she will then print and frame), but I'm proud of the work and so very happy to give her back this wonderful portrait of her father as a young man!
If you have priceless family photos that have been damaged, consider bringing them back to life through professional photo restoration. Our family photos are the touchstones of our personal history - your children and your children's children will be glad you did!
Soup Glorious Soup!Have been having a great time the last week and a half with my dear friend, Maia, who is visiting from the San Francisco Bay Area! She is training to be a personal chef and wants to specialize in gluten-free and raw food preparations. This involves ALOT more than cutting up fruits and veggies, let me tell you! Maia was diagnosed with celiac disease 6 years ago and as a result had to make MAJOR changes in not only WHAT she ate, but HOW she thought about food. She has since committed herself to raising awareness of this very serious auto immune disease and creating a cuisine that is both healthy and delicious.
Maia has shared recipes with friends via hand-written cards, but wanted to step her presentation up a notch and came up with the idea of printed cards that included a photo of the prepared dish. Lucky for her she knows a photographer who just happened to have a little time on her hands! At the end of the day, we had photographed 13 different raw soups (AND had all the fixins' for a yummy meal!)...
The two images up top are Minty Cucumber and Coconut Squash - if you want the recipes or more information about raw food cuisine, contact Maia at delightfullyraw@gmail.com (tell her you saw it here on my blog).
I WANNA BE A ROCK STAR!This is a Special Edition Theme and will NOT be repeated for at least another 6-9 months! So take advantage of this limited time offer and book a session for YOUR child today!
I Wanna Be A Rock Star! Mini Sessions are ONLY available from Sunday, March 21st through Wedneday, March 30th. Book YOUR Rock Star's session online by going to: http://PhotosensitivePortraits.brownbookit.com/schedules/RockStar
PLEASE NOTE: These mini sessions are designed for ONE CHILD per session, BUT a sibling or best friend may be added for $20 per child.
Mini sessions are only 30 minutes, so please respect others and be on time.
(pssssst! If you have a little Rock 'n Roll Diva, these mini sessions are open to girls as well - I just wanted to put the emphasis on the guys for a change!)
Marketing Associates Wanted!Photosensitive Portraits has openings for 8 Marketing Associates; applicants must be a member of the Class of 2011.
(Edited to say I only have room for FOUR more Marketing Associates as of 3/12/10!)
Marketing Associates will participate in an upcoming Survey and Focus Group Meeting to be held at Photosensitive Portraits studio in Hood River. Chosen applicants will receive a $75 gift certificate and free pizza and beverages at the meeting.
APPLY ONLINE at http://photosensitive.wufoo.com/forms/photosensitive-portraits/ The deadline to submit your application is MARCH 17th! Tell your friends!
(That's one of my favorite images of Liz, a Class of 2010 Senior Model, at the top of this post - just because I wanted to give you a great photo to look at while you read this...)
March Madness Sale!The theme of this first annual March Madness sale is "Go Big!" A well-designed portrait, when properly sized, creates a decorative focal point that can add both drama and personality to any room in your home. What better way to demonstrate how you feel about your family/children than to proudly display their portraits?
To make it easier to properly display your portraits at a size that's both appropriate and deserving , I will refund your sitting fee if you purchase a wall portrait 16"x 20" or larger! (Depending on the type of session, this could save you up to $150!)
This outstanding offer applies to new sessions only; to take advantage of this sale, you MUST book your portrait session during the month of March.
I Wanna Be A ROCK STAR!Face it, there are lots and lots of good portrait "themes" designed especially for girls - there's plenty to choose from for the Mom wanting photos of her little princess. I think the GUYS are getting short-changed - every Mom with a little boy wants darling photos of her child as well, right?!! So I put on my thinking cap and have come up with a whole series of themes designed JUST for the little man in your life!
This first theme is all about FUN! Dress your fella up in a t-shirt and jeans and come prepared to ROCK OUT! Doesn't matter whether you're a little bit Country or a little bit Rock 'n Roll - I'll create fabulous and fun portraits of your star performer that you'll be thrilled to share with your friends and family. These mini sessions are afforably priced at only $55 and INCLUDE an 8x12 custom print of your favorite pose!
I Wanna Be A Rock Star! Mini Sessions are ONLY available from Sunday, March 21st through Wedneday, March 30th. Book YOUR Rock Star's session online by going to:
http://PhotosensitivePortraits.brownbookit.com/schedules/RockStar
PLEASE NOTE: These mini sessions are designed for ONE CHILD per session, BUT a sibling or best friend may be added for $20 per child.
Mini sessions are only 30 minutes, so please respect others and be on time.
(pssssst! If you have a little Rock 'n Roll Diva, these mini sessions are open to girls as well - I just wanted to put the emphasis on the guys for a change!)
