Viewing entries tagged
photography

LISA+TAYLOR | when life hands you big fat purple wildflowers

August 6, 2018

"OLDIE GOODIE" is my father-in-law's expression that means "vintage" or "retro". I don't know when that started or why, but I sure do like it. These pictures here are a bit of an OLDIE GOODIE of mine - they are from 2014!!! I rediscovered them the other day and they made me go, "Ugh! THOSE FLOWERS!!!!"

Big, fat, radiant, purple wildflowers! I didn't say "Ugh!" because of any negative feelings towards those majestic blossoms. I said it because for literally years (YEARS!) following this shoot, I returned to this spot and tried to find this meadow again. And I never. ever. did.

I would look back at my files to see the exact date of Lisa and Taylor's shoot, estimate in my head "Is this a warmer or cooler summer?" to consider if they'd blossom earlier or later, plan accordingly, show up, and...... nada. I never found them again! But luckily my efforts did have their reward. If I hadn't have gone looking for these purple flowers, I never would have found these OTHER wildflowers up on the mountaintop or these yellow ones just a little bit further down the road.

So there you go. When life hands you wildflowers and then takes them away, life might just hand you.. some.. other, different wildflowers. And that's just beautiful.

SEE ALSO
DEIRDRE+JASON | when the wildflower mountaintop gives you decision paralysis
ALLISON+TIM | good light great horses but one snake

Comment

ALLISON+TIM | good light great horses but one snake

January 22, 2018

"I have become a better person being with Tim. He has shown me patience, loyalty, and has helped me laugh in situations where I probably would have cried instead. He has helped me to slow down and enjoy the moment, and to have more of a grateful attitude." - Allison

You know that phrase "in your own backyard"? Like, "Wow, who would have guessed that world famous egg tossing champion would be born right in your own backyard" or "I never thought a live alligator would be thrown through a Wendy's drive thru window right in my own backyard". The phrase isn't a literal backyard, but merely implying a position close to home. For the case of that second example, close to home would have been Palm Beach, Florida.

Here's another one. "Often the best photo locations are right in your own backyard" and I'm speaking literally here because we took these photos right on the property of Tim's old childhood house in his tiny home town. By the end of the shoot I was basically ready to form a business plan for Tim's mom to rent out the property hourly to photographers - they would be all over it! The meadows, tall grasses (yes, okay, with one snake), weathered picket fences, barn cats (NOT PICTURES BUT EXCELLENT COMPANIONS), mature trees, fuzzy dandelions, and oh yeah HORSES(!) were almost too good to be true... all in Tim's own backyard!

In all seriousness, what a special place to capture in pictures. As we walked and talked, I heard about the sweet memories Tim has from growing up in this little green oasis on the outskirt of town. Now, he and his darling wife Allison have pictures from their one year wedding anniversary to add to those all those other special memories.

SEE ALSO
ABBIE+JORDAN | abandoned mansion in the forest, in a good way
LANEY+BRIGHAM | the day I stopped shooting at golden hour

Comment

KAYLEY+JAKE | if the Von Trapps really went to Switzerland

January 10, 2018

At the end of the movie, the Von Trapps are hiking across the Alps to Switzerland in adorable parkas and felt hats. I refuse to acknowledge the fact that the actual Von Trapp family simply took a train.. to Italy. That scene never actually happened - but I don't want to hear it!! Plz, let me believe they crossed the Alps, sang more songs together, and settled in a cute Swiss cottage in the mountains. Maybe like... this place?

WHEN I HAD A LOCATION I REALLY WANTED TO SHOOT AT BUT NO CLIENTS REALLY LIKED IT...

I have LOVED this locations for many years but never had a client interested in shooting there. I suggested it whenever I felt it "fit" with the couple and they didn't already have a specific location style in mind. Yes, I can see how the Swiss inspired architecture, the green window boxes and shutters, wood paneling, painted details and pines around might not be everybody's cup of tea but it is 1000% MY cup of tea and I don't even like tea.

So you know what I did? Totally honest? I reached out to Kayley and said, "Hey! You wanna join me for pictures? We can call them.. six month anniversary pictures." It's kinda fun, right? Maybe your engagement pictures were with fall foliage and your wedding had spring blossoms - so wouldn't it be fun to shoot in a different season just for a change?

Here's the takeaway. If I only ever shot when I got paid to do so, I'd be missing out on some of the most fun, adventurous, creative, no-fear-of-failing shoots that I've had! Shooting for me has just as much value as the dollar. Especially in any location that I can correlate to one of my all time favorite movies.