Nicole + Marc

Somehow I coaxed our good friends, Nicole and Marc, into being guinea pigs for me to photograph. Jordan came with us, and we all went to Knapp's Farm up on Green Bluff for the mini photo shoot and then went and got pumpkin donuts afterwards, which I highly recommend. :)

Going to Green Bluff was such a great way to kick off the fall season!

I'm not trying to toot my own horn, but I was SO excited with how the pics turned out. First of all, let me say that it was pretty easy to photograph Nicole and Marc because, quite frankly, they are HOT. Smokin' hot, actually. Rock stars. Seriously, I was editing the pictures and almost backflipped out of my chair when seeing a couple of them because they looked like sexy Lucky ads in a magazine or something. Or maybe Levi's. Or Diesel. Take your pick. :)

Here are all my personal favorites... and just so you know, you can click on any of the pictures to make them bigger if you want.

I just have to comment... I'm pretty sure this one of them on the truck below is my FAVE.

Okay, but I really like this one below too. :)

Thank you Nicole and Marc for being such great sports!! You guys are the best.

Don't you all think these pictures will be great as engagement picture samples for my business?! :) It was so great for me to experiment, learn, and get some great ideas with Nicole and Marc. And it was SO FUN!

So I'm curious, does anyone have a favorite? Let me know, I'd love some feedback. :) Or, if you have any fun picture locations I would love any suggestions!!

Exciting News! You're Invited...

I entered some of the photos I took in Europe in a local art show called Terrain, although I really, honestly did not think they would be selected. I secretly kind of hoped they wouldn't get selected because I didn't want to pay to have them professionally printed and framed. :)

Well, I found out about a week ago that four out of the ten photos I was allowed to submit were selected to be displayed at the show!!! I am SO EXCITED about it! The best part is, Terrain is free to the public so YOU can come. :) My sister went last year, and she said it was really fun.

So mark your calendars -- the show is Friday, October 2nd from 5:00PM to 1:30AM (obviously you can come and go as you please.) It is downtown at the Music City Building, 1011 West 1st Avenue. I should probably back up and explain what Terrain actually is...

As taken from Terrain's Facebook page:

"No one was sure how Terrain would resonate with audiences in Spokane, least of all us, the organizers. We had a vision, though — for an event that would combine a juried art show of rising artistic talent, exhibitions of non-traditional art forms and performances by the area's top bands.

The dream was to put young artists and experienced industry professionals in the same room — to connect them, and to start the conversation. Terrain, then, would be an art exhibition and a networking function — a debutante ball at a rock concert.

Since nothing like Terrain had ever happened in Spokane before, we felt compelled to give it a shot. We felt it was vital to not only shatter the barriers between long-standing arts patrons and the younger generation of artists, but to shatter the barriers between “high art” and so-called “low art.” Graffiti would exist alongside sculpture, interpretive dance alongside dance punk.

It worked.

The event was a bigger success than any of us could have reasonably expected. In a single evening, five organizers with a tiny budget (cobbled together from businesses who had little to give) and a huge hope for the cultural future of Spokane had introduced more than 2000 people of all ages to the young creative undercurrent of our vibrant community."

Doesn't that sound like a fun, cheap date night? :) I would LOVE to see you there if you're interested and can make it. Even if I hadn't been selected for the show, I think I would still love to go to see some great art, hear some great live music, and do something DIFFERENT in Spokane!

Anyway, I thought I'd post the six pictures that did NOT get selected for the show. That way you'll have to come on the 2nd to see the four pictures that were chosen. I'm sure the suspense is killing you... :)

Hope to see you at Terrain! Feel free to invite everyone you know. :)

Fun and Not So Fun Purchases...

Jordan surprised me on Saturday with something that most people probably wouldn't be excited about, but that I was peeing-my-pants-excited about...

We pulled into the parking lot of Best Buy, and he looked at me and said, "Well, let's go start your photography business!" I got to pick out a new zoom lens for my camera and a new flash!!! SO excited!! Jordan has been my biggest supporter since I decided to go down this new path with photography, and I feel so lucky to have a husband who is probably more excited for me than I am for myself. :)

I was under the impression that zoom lenses started around $1000, but I actually found a great one for WAY cheaper. Believe me, there are lenses that are worth more than most things I own. Combined.

And thankfully, Best Buy has an "18 Month, No Interest" program going on right now. :)

Now I just need to figure out how to use these bad boys...

We also made a not-so-fun big purchase over the weekend, although it was a tad bit more practical. When we bought the Xterra we knew we'd need to get new tires for it as well, but we were trying to put it off as long as possible. Well, we finally broke down and bought some. Not literally broke down, thank God. :)

No one prepares you for these "hidden costs" that go along with adulthood. Seriously??! TIRES??!!?!!!? Ugh. There are 84,759 things we probably would have rather spent that amount of money on, but oh well.

I have been so overwhelmed (in a good way) with all of the responses, comments, emails, etc. that I have received from everyone after my last post. THANK YOU. It was so encouraging and confirming for me!

I have been up until midnight or later every single night the last week checking out photography websites, researching techniques, emailing people about getting a website, etc., etc. Please keep sending any great photography websites my way, as well as any contacts you might have who do Flash websites!

In the meantime, here are some fun pictures from a mini family session I did for my cousin, Megan, her husband, Chris, and their adorable dog, Charlie. We did the pics up at our lake cabin this summer, and I love how fun and candid they turned out...

Thanks for letting me post these, Meg!

Stay tuned for some more exciting news, as well as my business name and logo... :)

Big news!

No, I'm not pregnant. :)

I had a big life epiphany this weekend...

I officially decided I am not going to go back to school for my Masters in Teaching. [Insert big sigh of relief here.] At least not any time soon. So, in lieu of that, I am going to start my own photography business. 

Okay, you might be thinking I'm nuts, and to be honest, I might agree with you. But honestly, I really, truly feel like this is what I'm supposed to be doing. For the first time in a long time, I am making a big decision based on what I'm passionate and excited about rather than what I think is practical. This is a huge leap of faith for me.

I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. And I know I can always go back to school if I decide that's a better option down the road. 

I know starting my own photography business is going to be a long building process and I won't be able to just do photography for a few years, but I'm okay with that. I'm excited about that! I have already started building my portfolio, researching how to start a business, and... I even have a name. :)

Stay tuned for the big name reveal! I have a few things to work out before I tell everyone. But I promise I will soon!

With all that said, I am going to primarily focus on taking pictures of families, babies, seniors, pregnancy, engagements, weddings, and pretty much anything else people want. So... if you're needing any of those types of pictures taken or know someone who does, PLEASE LET ME KNOW or give them my contact information! I need all the practice I can get at this point. :)

I recently did some family photos for Jordan's brother, Joel, his wife, Julie, and their adorable little boy (my nephew), Beau. Here is a sneak peek of some of my favorites...

I will probably be posting more samples on the blog until I get my own photography website going. I would LOVE any feedback, ideas, and/or advice you might have! Also, if you have any links to great photographer's websites or any great online wedding albums of your friends, I would absolutely love it if you could email them to me! I am convinced that this is the best way to get creative ideas. :) My email address is: WhitJM10@yahoo.com.

Here's to a big new chapter in my life! Woohooo!!

P.S. Does anyone know someone who knows how to make Flash websites and doesn't charge more than my house is worth?! ;)