Meowy Christmas!

Have a 'meowy' Christmas everyone! Enjoy this time with your friends and family. It is truly a blessed time of year. (and, yes, I do let my kids dress their cats up in Christmas festive wear...)

Waiting for Santa!

He's almost here! Have a wonderful Christmas Eve everyone.

Sunny Snow

Just a few days ago we had the most beautiful snow and sunny day.

Lately it's just been dark clouds, slushy melting snow and now I'm hearing a chance for more! Is this really Puget Sound or did we all secretly move to Nebraska?

View from my deckl

Can you believe all the snow? We have over 5 inches and can only get up our road using chains. I have a few more packages to ship off for folks- hopefully I will be able to get out tomorrow. Until then- have fun in the snow!

Thanks for being patient!

I won!!!!

I fell in love with this image of Kate in downtown Tacoma and decided I had to make a studio sample of it. I ended up going with a 20x24 gallery wrapped canvas and it is gorgeous! The texture and richness of it is amazing.

A couple of days after I ordered it I got a surprising call from my canvas company. This image had won Best Canvas of the day and my prize was a Garmin gps system! Very cool since I don't already have a gps. My husband was just as excited as I was!

Urban family

I am adding a new option for family photos sessions in 2009. The Urban Family session. Everything will be in color and the shoots will take place in fun urban locations. A very different look and feel than the classic black and white sessions I have previously offered families.

This great family was very excited to be given the option for an Urban Family session. How fun do they look! I was so thrilled at how easy they all were to photograph- what a wonderful family! Lucky they were so great because we lost light quickly on this very foggy afternoon!

Italy in November

I'm back!

Italy was amazing- words can't even describe what a wonderful time I had. My fabulous husband stayed home with our kids so I could take this once in a lifetime trip with my mom and dad.

We did a Rick Steves tour of Venice, Florence and Rome. I wouldn't go any other way. It was SO easy!

"We're going to the Vatican today. Here's your metro ticket. Follow me. Meet your extremely knowledgeable local Roman guide to tour you through. We're done with the Vatican- the rest of the day is yours. Here are some great restaurants near by- these are my favorites. The best gelato is here. What do you want to do the rest of the day? Give me your map and I'll highlight a route for you"

Seriously- what could be easier!

And this is Ben- our guide who planned every last detail of or trip and stayed with us from city to city. What a patient guy he was with all of our crazy questions!



I also included a fun slideshow from the entire trip- Enjoy!

Italy here I come!!!!

Yep- you heard right! I'm off to Italy today!

Many wonderful things fell into place to allow me to take this once in a life time trip to Italy with my mom and dad.

Venice. Florence. Rome.

I'll be back right before Thanksgiving. ! can't wait to share my pictures with everyone!!!

Audrey- Bellarmine Model

Audrey- don't you just love your images with this song? We had so much fun the day of your session. It still makes me smile thinking about the rolling suitcase your mom brought down to the beach! I wish I had gotten a picture of her with it....

Gig Harbor senior Kelsey

Kelsey- I hope you enjoy this video! It is so fun to see all of your fantastic images put to music like this. You were such a trooper in the water. Your trash the dress portraits are perfect!

Fun video of Sarah

Sarah- I love these! Thought I'd share some favorites.

Jax- BerryLane's preferred Salon

I wanted to let everyone know about a great special that is going on at our preferred salon- Jax Salon & Spa. Here's the email they sent me:

NOVEMBER SPECIALS

Mention our November Specials while booking your next 60-minute Elemental Nature MASSAGE and/or FACIAL and receive them for only $45.00 each.

These services can be combined for a couple hours of pampering and relaxation. Don't forget to add a wash and style to your services for $20.00.

GIFT CERTIFICATES make great gifts and stocking stuffers. Buy a gift certificate in November and receive a Holiday Hand Relief complimentary for yourself!

Super cool! I can't say enough about this great salon in Gig Harbor. It has been such a pleasure having their stylists attend our senior sessions to do our client's make-up and touch up their hair.

I'm off to book a facial now.....

Lauren #2- hair model

We had another Lauren as a hair model for Jax Salon & Spa. She started in early with her new style so I was not able to get a before shot.

But, wow! Look at the afters! What a glamorous look. And, I have to say- she is SO photogenic! Great expressions and easy to work with! Thank you Lauren!

Beach Boys

These two boys have a special beach. Over the years they have spent many hours here. It is a favorite with their family so I was very happy to have a great (non-foggy, non-rainy) day to take their portraits there.

These two boys also have a very special mom. Take one look at them together and you can see how much she loves them. How many moms out there would do 'squishy feet' on a chilly, late October morning? She really wanted to capture her two guys just being themselves and doing that thing they do at the beach. Fabulous!

My sales manager Kristine

Kristine is SO lucky! Not only does she have the best boss in the whole world, she also gets a complimentary session every year.

Here she is with her super cute (and very willing) family. Aren't they just perfect? Look at how well they listened to my wardrobe suggestions! What more could a photographer ask for? I can't wait to see what they choose for their Christmas card. Gorgeous family Kristine!

Hair model Lauren

Before

After!


When Jack (from Jax salon & spa) saw Lauren for her consultation the first thing he said was 'she's a red-head'. Really? It never occurred to me, but my goodness- he was right!

They were going for a soft, romantic look to perfectly match her porcelain skin. Fabulous! When Lauren left she said she didn't think she'd ever go back to her natural blond!

Victoria- hair model for Jax

Before

After!

Victoria- These images are stunning! What a fun and dramatic look you have. Quite a difference from the before image! Being a model is kind of wild- both boring (lots of sitting around!) and exciting all at the same time. Jack came up with a great unique and edgy look for you.

I look forward to working with you more next year as a Senior Model. Enjoy homecoming- sounds like fun!

Kate

Kate- wasn't that the most perfect location in downtown Tacoma for your senior pictures? It was an especially amazing background for that gorgeous dress you made (I'm still in awe of your talent!!!!).

Your posing and knowing just how and when to move made photographing you so easy! What a pleasure. Enjoy these images. There are so many great ones (especially of your dress- but I wanted to show a variety!) it was hard to choose!

Jax model Jori

Here we have Jori! She got swooped up before I could take her out for some before shots, but it's fun because you can see Jack (of Jax Salon & Spa) at work, and Kristine in the background. I guess it's a good thing Jori went first because she had so many different layers of colors- it seemed like she was in that chair forever. So worth it though, look at the final results!

Lots of great layers to her new cut- look at all the movement!


Jori texted us today- she LOVES her new cut and color and has gotten so many compliments from all her friends!

Jax hair model Emily

Whew- what a crazy day! The hair modeling sessions were fabulous. We had several models come in to Jax Salon & Spa for fabulous make-overs. What's great is how brave these models are! Really- going into an amazing, high end boutique salon and giving then complete control over your hair, while completely cool, is not as easy as it seems!

I had to show our model Emily first because she had the most dramatic change, and the BEST attitude! Once her new hair was revealed, Emily could not stop smiling! What a fun, dramatic change. Love it Emily!

And I have to give a special thanks to Jack, Austin, Natalie and Michaela- you guys worked hard all day long to give our models wonderful, updated looks. Amazing!



Here is Emily 'before':
And Emily 'after'!

Congrats to Alex!!!

Ok, Alex I had no idea you were even up for homecoming court until a little bird told me that you were crowned KING! How cool is that!!!!! Congratulations- well deserved!

Hair model practice images!

I am so excited for tomorrow! But, probably not as excited as the five models I have lined up to work with our new preferred salon Jax Salon & Spa. Jax is located in the downtown Gig Harbor waterfront area. Though they are not new to Gig Harbor by any means, Jax is in a new location which is just amazing. You walk in and just feel the relaxation come over you. The styling and attention to detail owner Jack Call has put into this studio is unbelievable.

But back to tomorrow.... our five models are coming in to Jax for a complimentary cut and color. Jack and his staff will evaluate their current hair style and give them a new, updated look for the fall season. How fun is that! Their new style will be topped off by a full facial make-over by one of Jack's professional make-up artists.

Then, this is where I come in and take some super fabulous images that Jax will be using in their portfolio, website and marketing materials.

Cool! Don't you want to be a hair model too????

If you are interested let me know- especially if you are a gal who is willing to go short with your hair (a bit hard to come by in these parts!). We will have upcoming modeling dates soon.

Oh, guys- this is for you too!!!!

Here are a few practice shots with a funky background we are using for our hair models. (And thank you to two of my most favorite little miss's! that were so kind to pose for me!)

Homecoming Court

Congratulations Amanda on being nominated to the Homecoming Court! I'm very excited for you. Hope you and your date have a wonderful night.

Meg

Meg- I had so much fun at your senior photo session. Downtown Tacoma was perfect for all the great outfits you brought. I love having my stylist along to quickly give you new twists on your hairstyle. The pin up she did for your trash the dress images was perfect!


This picture above is the 'before' shot. As in- before the GIANT wave came and almost swamped you! I thought it would look so great to have waves gently lapping up against you... I had no idea that boat would make them so gigantic! And down below we have the 'after' shot. As in, after you were swamped up to your neck by the water!
We had fun! Can't wait for you to see the rest!