Tag Archives: seattle photographer

Congratulations, Nicole!

Occasionally, I get a chance to shoot a different kind of senior. Congratulations, Nicole! A recent graduate of Central Washington University, Nicole contacted me to commemorate her college career with a small photo session. Nicole was unable to walk with her classmates, and consequently, had no photo recognition. This is where I came into the picture (no pun intended). I was happy to help her out, and because she was now back at home and had an available schedule, Nicole thought this would be the perfect time to document this exciting time in her life. Thank you, Nicole, for being such a fun and willing participant:)

I wish you all the best in your career plans, Nicole. Stay in touch:)

~Lynette

 

Posted in Portraits, Senior Portraits Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , |

Monica and Tim – Seattle Wedding Photography

Our congratulations go out to Monica & Tim, who were married a few weeks back in a beautiful ceremony at New Hope Baptist Church in Seattle, Wa.

We feel so blessed to have been honored with the task of photographing the weddings of so many great couples, and Monica and Tim were no exception. We have been looking forward to their wedding for such a long time and we weren’t disappointed in how wonderful their ceremony was, their reception, and their friends and family.

And a great big kudos to Events in the City for all they did to make this day in success. We look forward to working with you again.

Blessings,

Chris.

Posted in Wedding Photography Also tagged , , , |

Thank you for 2009

As we say goodbye to 2009, we would like to offer our thanks to all our clients this past year for your trust and support. And a special thank you to all our brides and grooms this past year for the honor of capturing your special day.

  • Kristine and Andrew Bicking
  • Jessica & Shyenne Feist
  • Jason & Jennifer Radach
  • Mary & Byron Eagle
  • Ashley & Jason Bishop
  • Kara & Josh Gillanders
  • Stacy & Shaun Moody
  • Dee & Zac Bishop
  • Kim & Reese Andy
  • Jodi & Alden Erickson
  • We are looking forward to a great 2010 and we hope that your new year is full of incredible blessings. Live life, be charitable, smile a lot and be happy! 🙂

    Chris.

    Posted in Wedding Photography Also tagged , , , , , |

    Kim and Reese: Loving You Forever

    We have been real busy the last couple of months and have somewhat neglected getting some photos and video online for you to view, and now we’re trying to catch up…

    Attached are just a few photographs that we shot at Kim and Reese’s wedding, which occurred on a very rainy and blustery October 17 at the Edgewater Hotel in Seattle, WA (you know-the same one that the Beatles stayed in during their visit to Seattle). We were asked to only photograph some formal family pictures and the ceremony. Nonetheless, we shot some great photographs and wanted to share them with you.

    Our congratulations go out to Kim and Reese, and we wish then many happy years together.

    Chris.

    Posted in Wedding Photography Also tagged , , , |

    Tips for a Great Christmas Photo Card

    With summer well past us, I figured it was time to provide you some tips on how to take a great family photo to use for your Christmas Cards this year.

    1) Prepare:

    Everyone know that getting the entire family together for a formal photograph can be a daunting task. Family must come from all over the place, some have short attention spans, babies crying, making sure make-up is correct, other wanting to go out shopping, eating, and visiting others. So, giving the photo subjects plenty of time is key. And not planning the day, but also the time. to ensure that everyone is on the same page. Make sure that your location is scouted out, that everyone knows where it is, and that lighting is sufficient for that locale.

    Having everyone dressing in similar colors that complement the background will also help in getting that winning shot. Not that everyone has to dress in the same outfit, but outfits that are similar in appearance so the tones complement the location (lighter shirts for a dark background, etc.).

    Make sure that you know who is taking your photographs. Do they know how to operate your camera or will they use their own? Will you be using a self-timer and trying to “run into” the photo? Either way, make sure that equipment “issues” don’t prevent you from getting the photo.

    2) Arrange your subjects:

    When you get to the location, make sure you pay attention to the arrangement of your subjects. Don’t line everyone up like tin soldiers. Make sure that you don’t arrange so people are standing directly in front or behind others. Find unique arrangements and experiment. Start with an “anchor” person (maybe someone that needs extra help) and fill in the others around them. Try arranging in a triangle, perhaps. Bring in any ground cover for people to sit or kneel on, if needed.

    Place children last–that way they are not complaining about having to stand around so long while you prepare everyone else.

    And above all else, on sunny days arrange so the sun is behind people and use a flash. Having the sun directly in front of people creates “squinty eyes”, but having the sun behind will add depth to the shot.

    3) Take the shots:

    When the time has come and everyone has been placed, go ahead and start shooting. Like previously mentioned, use your flash even though your camera might be telling you it is not needed.

    Vary your shots. Try taking some from slightly different angles. Try arranging your subject differently. Get all the formal shots out of the way first, and then try some fun shots. Let everyone relax but keep shooting. Try an arms raised or a group hug shot. And with digital photos, don’t be afraid to take 50 or more photos. If you’re experimenting with different things, you’ll want to make sure that you have some good shot in case the “experimentals” don’t turn out as expected.

    4) Print and share!

    Finally, don’t keep the photos to yourself. Print them out at your favorite photo printer and get everyone a copy. They’ll appreciate much more than if you were to just email it. And most printers offer templates for those special Holiday Cards–go ahead and get some printed with your great family photo. Or do something crazy and get that photo printed out on a sweater and wear it around. It will definitely show your holiday spirit!

    God’s blessings to you and your family this Christmas,

    Chris

    Posted in Photography Tips & Techniques Also tagged , , , |

    Jodi and Alden: Let’s Be Together

    This is a short photo montage video that we put together for Jodi and Alden, who are going to be married next month.

    I took the photographs contained within this montage at a local park, here in Puyallup, not too far from our studio. It was a great shoot, despite the rain, and we enjoyed our time with this great couple.

    Congratulations, Jodi and Alden, on your engagement and we are looking forward to your wedding.

    Blessings,
    Chris
    Posted in Engagement Photography, Portraits Also tagged , , , , , |

    Tips for Taking Great Halloween Photographs

    halloweenHalloween is a great time for photography! Halloween parties, carved pumpkins, costumes and trick-or-treaters are just part of the fun that you will want to capture for posterity. So here are few tips to make sure that you get great Halloween photographs.

    1.  Fall leaves make great backgrounds for Halloween photographs. If the weather is cooperative, make sure to capture the full array of colors in those photographs;

    2.  Make sure to vary your shooting angles. Something unique may give your photo that extra something to make it fantastic;

    3.  Get down to their level. If you are trying to take photos of small children, take the photograph at their eye-level;

    4.  Taking photographs of people in costumes? Make sure you take them early when makeup is still fresh;

    5.  Take a variety of photographs: some posed, some candids, some groups, and some individual. Make sure the background is appropriate for the subject (i.e., not putting the pretty princess in the “graveyard”);

    6.  Play around with the “night mode” on your camera. Many pictures are ruined by harsh flash, try to turn off the flash (if area is appropriately lit), raise your ISO to 400 or 800, turn down your shutter speed, and put your camera on a tripod.

    And above all else stay safe!!!

    Happy Halloween.

    Chris

    Posted in Photography Tips & Techniques Also tagged , , , , , |

    Dee & Zac: Our Life Begins Together

    All our best to Dee and Zac Bishop, who were married just a few short weeks ago at Laurel Creek Manor, in Sumner, WA.

    We were honored to be chosen as the photographers for their incredible wedding. The day started out with a terrible rainstorm, and we were all concerned that with the rain the wedding might have to shift to plan B, but with a few prayers the rain lifted and their beautiful ceremony was allowed to proceed.

    This video is a short montage of some of the photographs we took of their day.

    Congratulations, Dee and Zac, and enjoy the video.

    God’s blessings,

    Chris

    Posted in Wedding Photography Also tagged , , , , , , , , |

    Stacy and Shawn: A Love to Live For

    Its been a few weeks since I posted, but that doesn’t mean that we haven’t been busy. 🙂

    Today, I am posting a video of some of the engagement photographs that I took Stacy and Shawn, who will be married later this month (I am really looking forward to photographing their wedding). These photographs were taken at Tumwater Falls, in Tumwater, WA in the early to mid-morning. It was a spectacular day and we captured some awesome photos. The last couple of photographs in this montage were shot down on the waterfront in Olympia, WA. next to the statue of the Kissing Couple (it is very popular to replicate the statue pose and have your photo taken next to it).

    Congratulations, Stacy and Shawn, on your engagement and we’ll see you at the church later this month.

    Blessings,

    Chris

    Posted in Engagement Photography, Portraits Also tagged , , , |

    Tips for better vacation photographs

    You plan for months, you pack your luggage, pile the kids into the car and you’re off on that family vacation. And like most people, you probably want to capture (i.e., photograph) all the fun times you are about to have so to be able to relive those memories over and over and over again. Great! Nothing wrong with that-I do it too.

    But maybe, perhaps maybe, you want this round of photographs to be better than the last one. Sure, you want to get that photo of the family standing in front of that monument, but you also want something unique, something cool, something better.

    Here are a few tips to help.

    1. Make sure you pack a good camera. Forgetting a camera is never a good thing, but brining a camera that is not up to snuff is almost as bad. Sure, I have family and vacation photographs that were taken using something less than a decent camera and when I look as some of those photos today I am reminded that I want to continually kick myself for not having better equipment with me at that time.
    2. Don’t forget to actually take a photo of the family. Like I previously mentioned, you want to take that photograph of the family in front of the monument, but when you take it, make sure that you can actually see and indentify the family. Many times, the family is nothing more than some distant object in the frame of the picture. Move in close and take that photo with the family identified; take a separate photo of the landmark if you wish.
    3. Not all photos need to be posed shot, so be sure to get lots of candid’s of your family doing what they do.
    4. Take detail shots of your subject. A lot of interesting pictures come in the form of detail so don’t be afraid to get in close, but always remember safety first! (Your camera/lense combination may have some limitations on how close you can get so pay attention to the focus)
    5. Don’t always take your photographs standing perpendicular to the subject. Vary your perspective and create angles. Framing and lighting might be better as well as visual pleasure by just moving yourself a few feet this way or that.
    6. Take a lot of photographs. With the advent of digital photography comes a very low cost per picture (no film, no developing) and if you don’t like how the photograph looks you can always delete it.

    Happy shooting and have a great vacation.

    Posted in Photography Tips & Techniques Also tagged , , , , |