Light Reading

2012-01-09T10:29:00.000-08:00

A Star is Born

In the midst of a senior studio session last year, I noticed Christina's little sister was mimicking her big sister's moves and poses - so I asked her to get in front of the camera for a shot and it was just too cute! (first photo) At the end of the session, I asked Christina's mom if she would consider bringing little sister back to the studio for a short modeling session and was thrilled when she readily agreed...

The modeling session was a huge success and so much fun! Little "Yoshi" was on fire, donning wigs (brought by big sister) and rocking out to the music blasting on the stereo! (We also managed a few calmer moments producing equally wonderful images.) After posting a couple of the images on Facebook, little "Yoshi" has been compared to Lady Gaga and dubbed a "mini Nicki Minaj", lol!

2012-01-03T09:04:00.000-08:00

Class of 2012

I had a WONDERFUL "senior season" last year - got to work with some truly terrific young men and women, so thrilled that they choose me to create memories of their senior year!

I think this work is my favorite thing to do, photographically speaking - it's so much fun to collaborate with a client, sharing ideas, learning about them, working together to create a true reflection of who they are at this pivotal time in their lives. I guess for me the process is so much more than just "senior pictures." Clients give me a window into their world and it's a privilege to share it, even for a little while.

Whoa, didn't mean to get all philosophical on you! Here's just a few of my favorite Senior images from the Class of 2012 (starting with my uber fabulous Senior Models: Maggie, Elizabeth, Addie, Brandyn, and Wendy!)

2012-01-01T14:19:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! (and some catching up...)

As promised, I'm starting 2012 off by getting back to this blog - and oh boy, have I got some catching up to do, lol!

I'll start off by saying how much I LOVE working with Linda Dallman - she directed "To Kill A Mockingbird" last year and contacted me to create Character Studies of each actor in the show. (Go here to see those portraits.)

We had such a great time working together, I was thrilled to take on a similar project for her a few months later - CAST's first production of a Shakespeare play, "Twelfth Night"! The production was FABulous and kicked off my Christmas season most splendidly!

(pssst, Linda - ANY TIME you need a photographer, please think of me - just putting it out there...)

2011-12-31T17:35:00.000-08:00

Bye bye 2011!

Whoa, end of 2011 and I haven't paid any attention to this blog since AUGUST?!! I knew it had been awhile since I posted, but Jiminey Cricket, 6 whole months?!!! wow...

I blame Crackbook, I mean, Facebook.
I guess that makes my New Year's Resolution pretty obvious, huh? To post more often (THAT shouldn't be too difficult!) so that rumors of my demise won't start back up again - really, I PROMISE.

It was a FABulous year filled with great experiences and wonderful clients - many thanks! I'm looking forward to a splendid new year overflowing with possibilities and creative adventures!

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year filled with love, laughter, enlightenment and prosperity!

2011-08-28T11:01:00.000-07:00

Studio Senior Portrait Sessions

I confess: I LOVE shooting in the studio! Yeah, yeah, I know we live in one of the most beautiful places in the country, and I DO love shooting location sessions, but a studio session really gets my creative juices flowing in a special way, lol! I've been studying lighting for (*ahem*) decades, always examining stunning fashion images to decipher how they created that amazing ambiance, that spectacular "look" to the final photo. I've accumulated quite the aresenal of studio lighting and LOVE to play with my "toys"!

If you choose a Designer Studio Session for your Senior Portraits, you won't lack variety, that's for sure - plus, since I'm having a good time, I guarantee YOU will be having a great time as well! I insist that you bring ALL your favorite clothing (don't forget those important accessories like jewelry and fabulous shoes!) AND your own ideas - I get excited when Seniors bring in pages from magazines they want to recreate or want the same "feel" for their portraits! (I love a challenge! Bring it on!)

Another advantage of a Studio Session is that you are not at the mercy of the weather - it doesn't matter if it's too hot or too windy! It's always pleasant in the studio, the light is always perfect AND we can play your tunes as loud as you want to! (What's a party without music?!)

2011-08-21T17:48:00.000-07:00

Senior Model ADDIE


Senior Model ELIZABETH


Senior Model MAGGIE


Senior Model WENDY

CLASS OF 2012 SENIOR MODELS

You've probably been seeing them on Facebook, but I'd like to Officially introduce Photosensitive Portraits' Senior Models for the Class of 2012 (all 4 from HRVHS): Addie, Elizabeth, Maggie and Wendy!

I've been working with these lovely young women all summer, shooting both in the studio and on location, to create fabulous images and not so coincidentally, have alot of fun doing it! Don't take my word for it - ask any of these women how they enjoyed their photo session. I bet the first thing they do is smile!

2011-08-14T12:03:00.000-07:00

EVERYONE deserves GREAT Senior portraits!

Just a heads up, Class of 2012! You don't have to make do with a snapshot as your image for your yearbook. Really, is that the way you want to be remembered?! You CAN afford a professionally crafted, beautifully rendered portrait that showcases your personality and unique style! Contact me to arrange a visit and find out exactly what's possible and how much fun we can have creating it just for YOU!

2011-08-11T10:50:00.000-07:00

Seniors 2012!

NOW is the time to book your Senior Portraits - the weather is Gorge-ous in August and September for location shooting, plus you're still sporting your summer tan! (Of course, you can choose a studio session as well - it's ALWAYS a good day for shooting at Photosensitive Portraits' studio.)

Need more enticement? What if I told you that anyone booking their Senior Portrait Session between NOW and August 31st will get a $50 Print Credit? Yep, 50 bucks extra to spend!

Contact me via email, Facebook or be old-fashioned and call me at 541-490-7132! Don't forget to share this great deal with your friends - who couldn't use an extra 50 bucks?!!

2011-08-05T11:04:00.000-07:00

A Chance Encounter

I was sitting on my deck with a friend, enjoying the after-glow of a long hike when she remarked how colorful the sunset sky was becoming. I know a photo cue when I hear one, so I went inside the house, grabbed my camera and walked to the corner for an unobstructed view of Mt. Hood and the sunset. There we met up with fellow sunset chasers, Christina and her young daughter.

Now landscape photography is not my usual thing and I greatly admire those who do it well - I do not include myself in that category! But with such a scene before us, it was not difficult to capture some of Nature's glory. Since I'm first and foremost a people photographer, I naturally gravitated to Christina's charming daughter - I honestly like my quickie portrait of her far more than my shot of Mt. Hood, lol!

2011-08-03T13:17:00.000-07:00

Plays For Non-Profits - To Kill A Mockingbird

August 4th at 8pm is opening night for To Kill A Mockingbird at the Columbia Center for the Arts in Hood River; the show will run Thursday through Saturday for two weeks, closing on August 13th. It's a compelling story with a terrific cast - and if that weren't enough to get you into a seat, Plays For Non-Profits is donating all proceeds to Hood River County Libraries. Enjoy a night of great theatre AND help keep a beloved institution up and running!

I had the good fortune to be put in touch with Mockingbird's director, Lynda Dallman, and collaborate with her on creating portraits of her actors. What drew me to the project was that Lynda didn't want your everyday, run-of-the-mill headshots - she wanted to create images of the actors IN CHARACTER and invoke the more dramatic, high contrast, black & white portraits of the 30s and 40s. Just my cup of tea! Over the course of a week I worked with the actors, both at the theatre (setting up on location) and in my studio - everyone was so wonderful to work with, taking care to project their character's essence at my camera. Above are the final portraits - you can also see them on display in the theatre lobby when you attend this fine show!

(A special thanks to Jean Marie Davis and Kate Dougherty - without you two, this project would never have happened!)

2011-07-23T19:40:00.000-07:00

Modelicious Mia!

Creating portraits of small children is an exercise in patience and creativity - I sometimes think you need to be part Gandhi and part Bozo the Clown, with the lightening reflexes of a gunslinger, lol! Little Mia here put me through my paces and you know what? I'm happy and excited and thrilled about it! There's nothing I like better than playing in my studio, being silly and goofy, all in the name of great portraits...have I mentioned this is my dream job?!!

Mia will be back again at the end of August for her 1st Birthday Cake Smash portrait session - forecast is for a Major Silly Front, Covered by Frosting and Cake Crumbs!

2011-07-21T12:22:00.000-07:00

Finally SUMMER!

Even though today is a bit cool and overcast, I am delighted to report that SUMMER has finally made an appearance in Hood River! I have only to stroll through my garden - made oh so gorgeous by the constant efforts of my green-thumbed husband - to see the evidence. Not only are so many flowers in bloom (daisies, day lilies, echinacea, primroses, lobelia, hostas...), but our vegetable garden is pumping out tomatoes, eggplants and peppers like there's no tomorrow! (why YES, I love to eat/cook Mediterranean!) We've been enjoying tomatoes for quite some time now, but not until today did I feel the Japanese eggplants were large enough to begin harvesting. My first cull yielded a lovely basket full - I see an eggplant stir-fry for today's lunch and a big ol' batch of caponata for later, yummy!

Gonna use Mario Batali's recipe from the Food Network website - I'll let ya know how well it turns out!

2011-07-12T11:18:00.000-07:00

TWINS!

What's my absolutely favorite job perk being a portrait photographer? It's got to be cradling a young baby in my arms, watching their eyes explore the amazing new world that surrounds them, snuffling that powdery baby smell and just losing myself in the optimism that a child represents...what's better than that? TWINS, lol!

Presenting Jordan and Derek, 2 months old fraternal twin boys; I had the pleasure of working with their mom several years ago, creating her senior portraits. Needless to say, I was pleased and humbled that she thought to bring her precious boys to me for their first formal portraits. Since she's planning on bringing them back for 6 months and one year sessions, you will be seeing more of these handsome little men!

2011-07-11T14:27:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Women Run in This Family!

Mary is a friend through Soroptimist International of Hood River, and I was thrilled when she asked me to create portraits of her and her three lovely daughters. The occasion was that her oldest had just had her first baby (first grandchild, yah!) AND was visiting from Papau, New Guinea, where she and her husband are currently working (and will be for the next two years at least)! Talk about making my job EASY - all three daughters are beautiful, graceful and photogenic women!( They most definitely take after their gorgeous mother.) I also had a chance to create portraits of the new parents with THEIR daughter - I'm quite excited about having the baby back in the studio come the holidays, when the young family will visit again!) Mary wanted simple, black and white portraits and I was pleased to help her make her wishes come true...

2011-07-06T13:57:00.000-07:00

Last 2011 Senior!

Ericka is a graduate of Columbia High School in White Salmon, WA - apparently they have a MUCH later yearbook photo due date than HRVHS, lol! (I guess it didn't hurt that she was on the yearbook staff, huh?!) Anyhoodle, she came to my studio a couple months ago (yes, I am still playing catch up on my blog postings, I'm pathetic, I know!) and we had a blast! Rarely do I meet a teen so over- flowing with laughter and good humor - Ericka is brimming with both!

I wish her - and all the current graduating classes - the very best of summers and a fabulous future ahead!

2011-07-02T10:43:00.000-07:00

Huzzah for the Class of 2011!!!

(Yah, I am soooo far behind on blog posts it's not funny anymore...I confess to spending far too much of my time on that giant attention-sucking monster than is FaceBook, lol! Beautiful summer weather is FINALLY here, so I am more likely to spend less time sitting in front of the computer, thus cutting down the time available for playing around on FB...so, in an effort to better manage my online time, I vow to create and post more timely blog entries - wish me luck!)

Where was I? Oh right, giving 3 cheers to and offering thanks for the graduating Class of 2011! Wishing you the very best of summers and all good fortune as you make your way out into the world! Many thanks to those of you who chose Photosensitive Portraits to create your Senior Portraits - it was a privilege and a delight to work with you and create memories for your senior year!

2011-05-14T16:15:00.000-07:00

It's Tea Time!

Ladies and Gentlemen, Children of All Ages, come one, come all! Enjoy afternoon tea and cakes in the Columbia Gorge Hotel's Wonderland Garden! Wear your Maddest hats and come frolic in this fairytale event! Live music will enhance your experience of the flower and plant demonstrations, silent auction and Maddest Hat Contest! Get your picture taken having tea with the Mad Hatter himself - or Alice or the March Hare if you prefer!

The Tea Party runs from 2pm to 4pm, this Sunday, May 15th - tickets are $20 and are available at Waucoma Bookstore in Hood River or Klindt's bookstore in The Dalles.

It's all going to be jolly good fun and all for a Very Good Cause. The Tea Party is a fundraiser for Opportunity Connections, a local organization with more than 40 years of experience in maximizing potential for people with developmental disabilities. Learn more about their history and beneficial progams at their website, www.OpportunityConnections.org - you'll be glad you did!

Photosensitive Portraits is proud to partner with Opportunity Connections in this fabulous and fun event! You can choose to have your portrait created with Alice herself, the Mad Hatter (NOT Johnny Depp, I checked!), or the March Hare; you will receive a 5x7 custom print in exchange for $20. (Just think of how much fun future generations will have pondering such a family heirloom?!!) Proceeds from print sales will be donated to the programs of Opportunity Connections.

So c'mon down and get yer Tea Party on! See you there!

2011-05-06T10:23:00.000-07:00

Hood River Valley High School PROM = OPEN STUDIO at Photosensitive Portraits!

Just because I received so many requests from seniors asking me to take Prom photos, I've decided to hold an Open Studio event from 4pm to 8pm this Saturday. (yah, I'm a little bit of a pushover...) No appointment necessary, walk on in and let's create something fabulous for you as a memento of this special night!

2011-04-29T17:54:00.000-07:00

A Sparkling Jewel of a Young Woman

While recuperating from my knee surgery (what, I didn't tell you? nothing major, a little arthroscopic clean up of some loose cartilage in my left knee - I'm getting better every day, thanks for asking!), I've had the chance to catch up on some work. My current endeavors are all about the gorgeous, sparkling Ruby! Soooooo many wonderful images from her senior sessions (yep, did studio AND location sessions and she rocked them both!), I gave her Mom quite a challenge when it came time to narrow down her favorites, lol! (sorry, Mom.) Thought I'd share a couple with you here, just as the Class of 2011 is about to say farewell and the Class of 2012 assumes the mantle of SENIOR class...

2011-04-17T13:05:00.000-07:00

Squirrel!

I HAD to snap a few pictures when I spotted this squirrel hanging by a few toes on our bird feeder this morning, lol! I was laughing too hard to take a photo as I watched him try to climb back UP the bird feeder, which obviously wasn't going to happen. The strong wind swirling the feeder around wasn't helping his cause any! Finally I saw him tense, look down and then go for it! He made a mad dash for the other side of the yard, but was back again on the bird feeder within minutes - determined little bugger! Guess it's time for a new, more squirrel-proof feeder!

2011-04-15T16:37:00.000-07:00

Musing on models...

I just happened to see one of my past Senior Models a little while ago, the lovely Karina...as we chatted, I realized that she would be PERFECT for a little personal project I was putting together. Her response to "What would you think about doing some more modeling for me?" was a resounding YES, lol! Sooooo you may be seeing more of the gorgeous, enigmatic Karina sometime in the future on this here blog - in the meantime, here's a couple of Karina's favorites from her senior portrait session...

2011-04-07T12:31:00.000-07:00

Attention Class of 2012 and 2013 -
TOP MODELS WANTED!

Do you have a PASSION for great photography? Do you have a PERSONALITY that sets you apart from the rest? Are you PLAYFUL and fun to be with? Then perhaps YOU could be a Top Model for Photosensitive Portraits! Want to know if you have what it takes? Call or email me for more information:

541-490-7132 or drehsewatson@gmail.com

2011-02-27T17:11:00.000-08:00

My, how time flies!

Thoroughly enjoyed seeing my friend and favorite model, Cecy, the other other day - ESPECIALLY since she had her baby girl, Lali, with her! We caught up over coffee and made plans for Lali's upcoming 9 month old portrait session (this coming weekend, wheeeee!).

After they had left, I got to thinking about how quickly life changes - maybe it's because I just had a birthday, or maybe because I was recalling Cecy's maternity session and Lali's first session. Babies grow and change so quickly, especially that very first year, and every year of our life holds any number of milestones worth commemorating. Portraits are a wonderful way to relive those moments and savor their joy all over again!

The images accompanying this post are from Cecy's maternity sessions and Lali's 1 month old session...enjoy!

2011-02-06T09:56:00.000-08:00

Wear Red, Get a Fabulous Portrait AND Help in the Fight Against Heart Disease!

2011-02-06T09:40:00.003-08:00

February is Go Red For Women Month!

Heart disease is still the No. 1 killer of women, taking the life of 1 in 3 women each year. This means women just like you - mothers, sisters, friends - are dying at the rate of one per minute because they don’t know what you know: heart disease kills. Heart disease has already touched you or someone you love, so help us save a woman’s life today. Make It Your Mission to stop the No. 1 killer.

WHY TAKE ACTION?

• Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women age 20 and over, killing approximately one woman every minute.
• More women die of heart disease than the next four causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer.
• 1 in 3 American women die of heart disease, compared to 1 in 30 women that die of breast cancer.
• Ninety percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease.
• Eighty percent of cardiac events in women may be prevented if they make the right choices for their hearts, involving diet, exercise and abstinence from smoking.

WHY GO RED?

Research shows that women who Go Red are more likely to make healthy choices.
• More than one-third have lost weight.
• Nearly fifty percent have increased their exercise.
• Six out of ten have changed their diets.
• More than forty percent have checked their cholesterol levels.
• One-third have talked with their doctors about developing heart health plans.

HOW YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
This year, Go Red For Women invites women across the country to Make It Their Mission to fight heart disease.
• TELL 5: Go Red For Women asks you to bring your network into our network. Tell 5 women you want them to live, and we can help stop heart disease in our lifetime. Give 5 women you care about the power to save their lives at GoRedForWomen.org.
• VOLUNTEER: Contact your local American Heart Association office to see how you can get involved with Go Red For Women.
• GIVE: Donate to help fund life-saving research and educational programs that are needed so that our daughters, sisters and mothers have a chance to fight the No.1 killer of women.
• SHOP GO RED: Go to ShopGoRed.org to support education and awareness programs by purchasing Go Red For Women apparel, accessories and other heart-healthy products.
• VISIT US AT GoRedForWomen.org: A premier source of information and education, GoRedForWomen.org is the No. 1 online destination where women can Make It Their Mission to fight heart disease.
– Go Red BetterU: Explore Go Red BetterU, the FREE 12-week online makeover that can change your life.
– Go Red Heart CheckUp: Check out Go Red’s online tool that provides a 10-year, personal heart disease risk assessment.
– Go to GoRedPorTuCorazon.org: Access information in Spanish and to learn about Go Red efforts in the Hispanic community.

For more information about Go Red For Women, visit GoRedForWomen.org or call 1-888-MY-HEART.

2011-02-06T09:35:00.000-08:00

WOW, what happened?!!

I'll tell ya what happened - the hard drive on my laptop went pau (Hawaiian for done/finished/kaput!) 4 days into my vacation, that's what! Leaving me pretty much unplugged (the horror!)...after the initial withdrawal, I adapted pretty darn well, lol! I did continue to take photos and will share a few of them here once I've waded through all of them - but I've been back a week now and am finally no longer surprised not to see palm trees out my windows...time to get back into the rhythm of life in da Hood!

2011-01-08T15:36:00.000-08:00

ALOOOOOOOOHA!

I am "chillaxing" (a word borrowed from my good friend, Keeley, age 8) in Hilo, Hawaii for the next couple of weeks and enjoying myself thoroughly so far! Have already visited Pu'uhonua o Honaunau (City of Refuge) and snorkeled the adjacent shoreline, oogling hundreds of different, fantastically-colored fish. I could stay in the water for hours (and often do!) - one of these days I should just take a diving class/certification so I can truly indulge my fascination for all things underwater.

This morning we went to the Hilo Farmer's Market to pick up some veggies and soak up more local flavor - of course I brought my trusty little point 'n shoot camera, which I used to create the images attached to this post. Next visit I will definitely purchase plenty of flowers - the antheriums, orchids, ginger blossoms, protea, et al are so very inexpensive (by mainland standards) and will be alot of fun to photograph more closely!

2011-01-01T15:40:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

Let me kick off the New Year with one of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite authors:

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bow lines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." — Mark Twain

2010-12-31T09:37:00.000-08:00

Going out with a BANG!

I'll end this year's blog posting with images from my favorite location session of the year: working with HRVHS senior Liseth in downtown The Dalles! Liseth was up for anything, really wanted to go for "something different" and enjoyed the funky, historic feel of the locations we found wandering the back alleys of The Dalles.

A BIG thank you to all my wonderful clients this year - it is my greatest pleasure to share my gift with you and help you create and preserve special moments and memories...best wishes for a fabulous, happy and healthy New Year!

2010-12-30T16:52:00.000-08:00

My Favorite Color is Leopard Print!

And if someone shows up for their portrait session with any article of clothing that features leopard print, I will most definitely include it in the session! So imagine my delight when both these lovely young women showed up wearing it! All I can think of to say is, "Rowwwwrrrrrrr!"

2010-12-29T12:50:00.000-08:00

HRVHS Homecoming 2010

Had an Open Studio the night of HRVHS's Homecoming this past October and enjoyed the students who dropped in to say hi and have their portraits created... a great night full of glitz and glam!

2010-12-28T10:52:00.000-08:00

Man of 1,001 Faces

(Ok, you only see 7 of them here, but there's only so much you can showcase in a blog posting, lol...) Brian was a BLAST to work with - it didn't hurt that we both have the same twisted sense of humor, lol! I imagined that it was alot like working with actor Jim Carrey - lightening fast facial and posture changes, mood shifting through the gamut of emotions, all coupled with an outrageous sense of FUN...

2010-12-27T11:04:00.000-08:00

Class of 2011

Over the next couple of days, I'll post some of my favorite images from the Class of 2011 sessions this past year - many thanks to all the guys and gals who chose Photosensitive Portraits as their senior photographer!

2010-12-26T11:21:00.000-08:00

A Rainbow in the studio

I had the distinct pleasure of working with a young woman recently who radiates confidence and sparkles with intelligence - you would barely suspect she is just entering her teens. Not to worry, we also captured the energy and silliness that are the hallmarks of her youth - and had so much fun doing it!

2010-12-24T15:57:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidaze!!!

Has it REALLY been since September since I posted on this here blog?!! My, my...I hadn't realized my FaceBook addiction had gotten so far out of hand, lol! Well, the holidays are upon us (hello, Denise, it's freakin' Christmas EVE?!!) so I figured I should at least post a Happy Holidays message to all my clients and fans out there (all 6 of you)...I may even get a few posts in before the New Year - a couple of catch-up posts are certainly in order, doncha think?!

In the meantime, please accept my very best wishes for a Holiday filled with family and friends, love and laughter!

2010-09-12T09:26:00.000-07:00

HRVHS Class of 2011!

Wow, been so busy I have forgotten all about my blog! It's raining seniors and let me tell you, the HRVHS Class of 2011 has some pretty AMAZING young women and men! Here is just a little taste of what we've been up to...(btw, if you haven't already taken your senior portraits, there's still plenty of time to do so - call me at 541-436-2755 and find out what your options are! Remember, this is the time to celebrate YOU - no need to settle for less than what YOU want!)

2010-08-03T10:33:00.000-07:00

Top Models in the "Beauty Box"!

When I was an apprentice photographer back in San Francisco (way back in the olden days of film!), I was exposed to ALOT of different styles of shooting and had the opportunity to learn many different lighting techniques. One of my favorites is the "Beauty Box," a technique used by fashion photographers specializing in close up faces to be used in ads for various beauty products (think Cover Girl makeup, L'Oreal, etc.). It's just SO doggone flattering to every woman, regardless of age or shape!

Here's one image each from Top Models Nancy's and Yessi's "Beauty Box" sessions - I think they look amazing! (You too can look amazing, you know - just call for YOUR senior portrait consultation and find out more!)

2010-07-28T20:40:00.000-07:00

Top Models for HRVHS Class of 2011!

Announcing the debut of Photosensitive Portraits' 2011 Top Models: the Lovely Yessi Guzman and the Vivacious Nancy Lopez!

Remember, if you see these gals, be sure to ask them where to go for the BEST Senior Portraits - not only will they tell you where the best place to go is, they will give you a card that you can redeem for a FREE GIFT from Photosensitive Portraits!

So remember these beautiful faces and be on the look out for them this summer - it could save you some cash AND get you FABULOUS senior portraits at the same time!

2010-07-15T15:24:00.000-07:00

Summer Is Finally Here!

I can't believe I've been soooo negligent of this blog the past month! Quite alot has been going on - STILL working on the studio re-design, making plans for the big Grand Re-Opening party (now pushed into August, ack!), creating portraits for fabulous clients, finding my Top Models for the HRVHS Class of 2011 (congrats to Nancy and Yessi!), a trip to Ashland for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival over the 4th of July holiday, whew! There's more, but I'm getting tired just thinking about it all...

I promise to be more diligent from now on - let me start out small by sharing with you my Very Favoritest Image from a recent session with the amazingly talented young singer, Hood River's own Makenzie Rose...

2010-06-11T12:29:00.000-07:00

Tiny Dancer

Amongst the whirlwind of graduation ceremonies and parties last weekend, I had the chance to attend the dress rehearsal for the Columbia Gorge Dance Academy's Intermediate and Junior dancers. My good friend Kate's daughter and my Favorite Model, Keeley, was performing so I just HAD to be at the rehearsal!

Since I was on my way to a graduation ceremony, I had my camera gear with me and grabbed a few snapshots. Okay, here's where I 'fess up - I inadvertently had the camera settings all wrong for the venue and ended up with less than sharp images. (I'd like to blame the fact that I was seriously under-caffienated for 9 a.m., but that's a pretty lame excuse!) However, upon reviewing my less-than-sharp results, I was still struck by Keeley's poise and attitude in the images I managed to capture. Next thing you know, out comes the digital toolbox and voila, a sow's ear has been turned into a silk purse through the magic of technology! (aka digital painting...)

I've watched Keeley grow up before my eyes and can see the lovely young woman she will become when I look at this image. I'm quite in love with it and though there's still some refining to do, I'm looking forward to printing it as a 16x20 watercolor art print for my studio. Kate loves it too, so will be getting one as well - what better art could you want on your walls than your own fabulous kids?!

2010-06-09T12:51:00.001-07:00

The Never Ending Studio Remodel...

I should have expected this. After all, I've seen every single remodeling/decorating show on HGTV for the last 5 years! *sigh* Any remodel ALWAYS takes longer (and costs more) than you think it will. *another sigh* I am an impatient type - after living with the vision in my head for some time now, I want, no EXPECT it to just happen, as in "Poof! It's all done!" Ha. Welcome to reality, my dear...

Okay, now that I've whined about it a little (ok, ALOT), let me just say that things ARE coming together finally and you can expect some kind of grand reveal in a week (or so, lol)! Back ordered bits are on their way, found a source for the electrical thingie I needed, additional paint purchased, etcetera...I promise, you're gonna LOVE IT when it's finished!

I would be remiss BIG TIME if I neglected to thank everyone who has helped me make this transformation a reality: first in line is my darling husband, Steve, for without his practical mind and technical expertise nothing would have happened! Second is my UBER-FABULOUS intern, Claudia (HRVHS Class of 2011!), who not only volunteers HER time, but brings along helpful friends! Many many thanks to Bryce, Johanna and Johnny for helping out! (that's them you see in the photo, giddy from paint fumes and Domino's pizza - don't you just LOVE the wall color behind them?! Also pictured is my chandelier which arrived the other day!) Third but certainly not last or least, is my dear friend, Tammy Kravitz, a woman of impeccable taste (and a fab photographer!) who has helped me in the myriad of choices I have had to make - you are PRICELESS, dahling!

2010-06-06T10:18:00.000-07:00

Graduation Party Fun!

Boy, did I eat ALOT of really tasty food yesterday, lol! I attended my intern Miguel's graduation ceremony at Columbia High School in White Salmon at the morning and the grad party in the early afternoon. Then I skipped on down to Mt. Hood Town Hall for a grad party celebrating several fabulous HRVHS grads, Ely, Tania, Lorena, Nubia and a couple more whose names I missed, I'm so sorry! (it seems like all the gals were wearing the most outrageous, gorgeous SHOES!) Being "off duty," I only had my little point and shoot with me AND my newest toy, a Flip HD video camera...here's some snaps and vid for your amusement!

Many many thanks to the parents who hosted these events - I thoroughly enjoyed myself (and went home stuffed to my eyeballs with good food, yummy!)...plus it was sheer delight to watch the giddy joy of the new graduates one more time - best wishes for a fantastic summer!

2010-06-02T10:44:00.000-07:00

2010-05-21T15:52:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-05-16T10:06:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-05-12T14:55:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-05-11T17:02:00.000-07:00

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...

2010-05-08T15:11:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-05-08T11:11:00.000-07:00

The Artists of B. Beautiful Salon

I recently had the pleasure of working with the lovely Angie Shelton, owner of B. Beautiful Salon, and the talented Mary Bokovoy of Hood River ReDesign, on B. Beautiful Salon's marketing "face lift." Mary is creating a whole new look for the salon's promotional material, plus the salon will soon be advertising on the big screen in the local Rosauer's grocery store.

I was commissioned to create a group portrait for the primary brochure, an individual portrait of each woman who works at B. Beautiful, as well as incidental images of these artists (and artists they are!) at work in the salon. I had a blast - hey, working with beautiful women who love what they do is a great gig, let me tell you!

So check out the big screen at Rosauer's for THESE gorgeous faces to appear there soon...

2010-05-05T11:44:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-05-01T21:05:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-04-27T11:22:00.000-07:00

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!!!)

2010-04-22T10:22:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-04-17T16:29:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-04-12T11:49:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-05T13:59:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-04-01T14:30:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-03-30T11:03:00.001-07:00

Preserving Memories

I 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!

2010-03-22T11:25:00.000-07:00

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).

2010-03-13T14:00:00.001-08:00

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!)

2010-03-07T05:15:00.001-08:00

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...)

2010-03-02T10:05:00.001-08:00

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.

2010-02-28T12:42:00.000-08:00

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!)

2010-02-23T16:47:00.001-08:00

Go Red for Women!

Heart disease is the Number 1 killer of women in America. Take care of your health, because the people in your heart need you at their side. Join women across the nation who are wearing red and speaking with their hearts to make heart-healthy changes for themselves and their families!

Saturday, February 27th is Wear Red Day at Photosensitive Portraits! Bring a friend, bring your kids, WEAR SOMETHING RED!

Wear Red Mini-Sessions are only $40 and INCLUDE a 5x7 custom print of your favorite pose! Not only will you get a wonderful portrait at an amazing value, but you will also be helping to support the life-saving work of the American Heart Association - $30 from every session fee will be donated to the American Heart Association!

Call today to reserve YOUR spot or just visit the studio any time between 10am and 6pm! Come join the party - the GO RED FOR WOMEN party at Photosensitive Portraits this Saturday, February 27th!

Learn more about healthy choices that will benefit you and your loved ones at www.GoRedForWomen.org

2010-02-23T11:22:00.000-08:00

LUNAFEST - February 23 & 25!

LUNAFEST is a national traveling festival of award-winning short films by, for and about women. The films are filled with stories of reflection and whimsy, hope and humor, grace and perseverance. LUNAFEST films are renowned for celebrating the talents and stories of women. The films shown include many off the traditional "festival circuit". Collectively, LUNAFEST films captivate audiences, compel dialogue and arm those who participate with both the knowledge and motivation to make a difference in their communities.

This year LUNAFEST will be showing on February 24 and 25 at 6pm and again at 8:15pm at the Columbia Center for the Arts. There will be a pre-show event with wine and appetizers at 5:30pm. Tickets are available at the Waucoma Bookstore in Hood River: $12 for general admission and $10 for students and seniors.

LUNAFEST films have won industry awards and audience accolades; the films selected for the 2010 LUNAFEST share this brilliance. From quirky animation to touching documentaries, the 9 selected films are incredibly divers in both style and subject matter, united by a common thread of exceptional storytelling by, for and about women.

With a vision of uniting women through film, LUNAFEST was estatblished in 2000 by LUNA, the makers of the Whole Nutrition Bar for Women, to simultaneously promote women filmmakers, raise awareness for women's issues, and support worthy women's nonprofit organizations throughout the U.S. and Canada.

When Soroptimist of Hood River heard about this annual film festival, we felt it was a perfect fit with our mission. Soroptimist International of Hood River and Mount Adams are part of a worldwide organization for women in management and the professions that is a global voice for women through awareness, advocacy and action. Soroptimist International of Hood Rive r and Mount Adams work towards these goals by raising funds to assist organizations like Helping Hands, Next Door, Gorge high school programs for girls and also provide scholarships for women going back to school.

85% of the funds raised at this film festival will go towards community service projects of Soroptimist of Hood River and Mount Adams and the other 15% will go towards the Breast Cancer Fund.

2010-02-22T13:55:00.000-08:00

Sunshine! Flowers! Can it really be...SPRING?!!

I don't care what the calendar says - it FEELS like Spring has sprung! Allow me to share my exuberance for this fabulous and unseasonable weather with a couple of snaps of the first flowers to come up in my garden. I'm enjoying it while I can as the weatherman insists that gray clouds and rain are in our immediate future...

2010-02-18T10:33:00.001-08:00

Columbia Gorge Artists

Presenting work by fiber artist AND jewelry designer, Heather Marlow - tapestry by fiber artist Joyce Marlow - fiber/multimedia piece by artist Melody Robinshaud...

I have recently had the privilege of working with these talented and amazing local artists - I just love getting a "sneak peek" on new work to be displayed in upcoming exhibits and open studio tours! With the artists' permission, I'm sharing my favorite pieces with you here. Look for all of them soon at the Columbia Gorge Art Center's Art Gallery and the Gorge Artists' Open Studios on May 2nd and 3rd, 2010.

Photographing an artist's work is more than mere documentation - I consider it a collaboration with the artist to portray that particular piece as they themselves see it. (Hope that doesn't sound too "artsy-fartsy", but it's the truth! lol...) Artists, if you're reading this, you don't have to go to Portland to have your work professionally photographed or settle for mere snapshots of your art! Please give me a call at 541-436-2755 for more information.

2010-02-15T11:13:00.000-08:00

Pretty in Pink!

Still have a few spots available for this coming weekend's Pretty in Pink! sessions - call 541-436-2755 right away to take advantage of this fabulous offer! (Plus, "It's really, really, really FUN!" according to Keeley, age 7!)

2010-02-14T11:10:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

I had a wonderful session the other day, maternity sessions being one of my very favorite type of session to shoot - it seems very appropriate to post these images on the day we celebrate LOVE!

Cecy is due in May and I can hardly wait for her to bring her brand new daughter to the studio for newborn portraits! Yes, they know it's going to be a girl - and they are naming her after the Aztec Goddess of Beauty, how cool is that?! (don't ask me to spell it just yet - I need more practice...)

2010-02-08T11:08:00.000-08:00

Back home...

Well, SYNC was AMAZING! Fabulous speakers, knowledgeable and entertaining to boot - I learned TONS and was inspired to the MAX! (can't you tell by all the capital letters, lol?!!) Can't wait to put what I've learned into action - so watch this space!

Back to work this week with a bit of real estate photography for primo realtor, Louise McCulloch - here's a shot of the house she will be listing soon, as well as a grab shot of the beautiful flowers that were sitting on the kitchen island that afternoon...the light was just perfect and I couldn't resist snapping away!

added on 2/10: here's a link to the virtual tour of the property...

2010-01-26T14:15:00.000-08:00

Florida here I come!

In less than 36 hours I'll be on my way to SYNC 2010! The Senior and Youth National Conference is happening January 29 through February 1, 2010 in St. Pete’s Beach, FL - it's the professional portrait photographer’s leading educational conference in High School Senior portrait photography. SYNC provides professional photographers a venue to learn from talented, experienced industry leaders that are willing to share their expertise on senior and youth photography and business tips. Each evening has unique events planned that will provide even more education, networking and fun. SYNC welcomes the industries top vendors to the trade show pavilion throughout the conference to share the latest and greatest products and services used to help run a successful business.

This is my first ever SYNC and I am really jazzed to be attending! I'm signed up for so many GREAT classes and will be coming home with my head filled to bursting with wonderful new ideas and techniques in service of all my clients. I can't stop smiling just thinking about it!

Every minute will be jam-packed with learning, so I don't anticipate having time to return phone or email messages between January 28th and February 2nd. Thank you for your understanding - I promise to return calls promptly and do a full report when I get back!

2010-01-25T11:19:00.000-08:00

Announcing Pretty in Pink Limited Edition Mini Sessions!

Pretty in Pink sessions are ONLY available on the following dates:

• Saturday, February 13
• Sunday, February 14
• Monday, February 15
• Friday, February 19
• Saturday, February 20
• Sunday, February 21

Dress your princess in pink and let her choose fun accessories from our Dress Up Box to complete her outfit! Choose a fun and funky look or something more formal and dressy!

The $95 session fee INCLUDES a mounted 11x14 print with a custom metallic finish and silver beveled edge AND a display easel. Available reservations are limited, so don't miss out - call me at 541-436-2755 today!

2010-01-06T09:13:00.000-08:00

Wardrobe 911!

Are you as addicted to TLC's What Not To Wear as I am? Have you ever fantasized about Stacy and Clinton coming to YOUR home and redoing YOUR wardrobe - minus the humiliation of appearing on national TV, of course?!! If that's the case, then come to class this Thursday and learn about proper fit, stylish alternatives to fleece and how to best flatter your shape. You will get to see several before and after makeovers and deconstruct the surprisingly simple steps to achieve your best look for the tiny price of $10! Taught by wardrobe reDesigner Mary Bokovoy from Hood River reDesign - you will not want to miss this class! Mark your calendar for this Thursday, 7 to 8pm, at the Hood River Middle School, 1602 May Street.

Follow this link to register or simply show up with your check - What Not To Wear!

Learn more about Hood River reDesign and the fabulous Mary Bokovoy at www.HoodRiverreDesign.com and www.HoodRiverreDesign.blogspot.com . (Oh yeah, that's Mary looking fabulous at the top of this post...portrait created by yours truly, of course!)

2009-12-23T16:49:00.000-08:00

"It's that time of year...

when the world falls in love! Every song you hear seems to say...Merry Christmas!" Holiday music on the stereo, the smell of cookies baking, the crinkle of wrapping paper in the other room as my husband wraps my Christmas gift (or maybe my puppy has gotten into the gift wrap!)...I love this time of year!

I also love my clients and making my clients happy! This has been a great week for it - yep, I'm definitely bragging, but you can't blame me! Not when you receive glowing emails like THIS:

"Thanks Denise, you are a star. Thanks for all your amazing work with the portraits. They came out beautifully and I am so happy with them. You can be sure that I will toot your horn to everyone who sees them!!!!"

That email made my day today! It's a privilege to work with such wonderful folks as Ellen, her husband Ben and her lovely daughter, Marilee - that's them right there at the top of this post. Thank YOU, Ellen, for your kind words, for letting me share them and for giving me the opportunity to work with you!

2009-12-21T10:09:00.000-08:00

Happy Clients are the Very Best Clients!

Just wanted to share a couple of MY favorites from a recent one year old birthday session - yep, that's the adorable Stella again, looking absolutely gorgeous in a whole lotta pink! I showed off a couple "sneak peeks" of Stella's one year old session a little while back...well, her Mom (Cari of the fabulous Jewelry by Cari!) was finally able to winnow her favorites down to 20 images (a Very Difficult Thing to Do since Stella is soooo photogenic and we got sooooo many great images at that that session!) for a custom bound album to commemorate Stella's first birthday. I was very pleased with how the album turned out and I just have to share with you Cari's reaction to it:

"Hi Denise! I took the book back to the party and people were super impressed and checking it out! They were raving about it...the pictures are awesome and I just keep flipping through over and over. Thank you sooooo much!!!"

Thank YOU, dear Cari, for your kind words and the privilege of working with you and your beautiful family!

2009-12-18T10:21:00.000-08:00

It's all about FAMILY!

You've seen this sweet face before (the little redhead, not that gnarly-looking fella, lol! love ya, Larry...), but I didn't think you'd mind seeing just a little bit more of her!

This month I'm celebrating FAMILY, 'cuz that's what the Holidays means to me: a time to reconnect, reminisce and build new memories with those we love, those we grew up with and those we've chosen to hold close in our lives...This is my buddy Larry and his darling grand-daughter - I love her obvious delight in being with him and hugging him tight! (and Larry looks every inch the Proud Grandpa!) THIS is why I love to photograph families - it's such a privilege to be able to capture that bond, that loving connection in an image that people will cherish every time they look at it...

Wishing you all a Joyous Holiday Season surrounded by those you love!

2009-12-17T11:08:00.000-08:00

Glamour Knows No Age

Here's proof that you're never too old for a little glamour! This is Ruth, who was the other half of a fun-filled Best Friends portrait session last week. When she arrived in her fur coat (it belonged to HER mother!), I knew immediately that I had to create this image of her, something reminiscent of old school Hollywood style...Ruth is 88 years young and filled with a contagious love for life - it was a privilege to get to know her!

2009-12-14T03:19:00.000-08:00

Tween Beauty

In the midst of a portrait session filled with giggles and wiggles, this serene little smile made my day...(have I mentioned lately how much I LOVE what I do?!)

2009-12-12T10:13:00.000-08:00

"All I Want for Christmas..."

"...is my two front teeth!" I couldn't resist creating this image at the end of a family portrait session this week - isn't she adorable?!

Wishing everyone a warm, safe, joyous holiday surrounded by family and friends, filled with love and laughter!

2009-12-01T10:17:00.000-08:00

Holiday Gift Giving

Just created these storyboards as 12x18 canvas thin wraps for a friend's Christmas gift - no worries, he never reads my blog, lol! I'm so pleased with them, I just HAD to share...

If YOU need a Christmas gift for family and you had a session within the last year, give me a call and let's put our heads together to create something wonderful from YOUR family or child's portrait session for the holidays!

(Sorry, but NO new Portrait Commissions are being accepted for December 2009. Please consider a Family Portrait to celebrate the New Year, however! Call me at 541-490-7132 for more information.)

2009-11-25T09:30:00.000-08:00

Sneak Peek at January's Promo!

The day before I ended up in the hospital, I enjoyed a wonderful day in the studio with 2 photographer friends from Portland, Daron Gildow of Laughing Coyote Photography and Steve Hunt of NorthWest Rebel Photography, and a couple of my favorite models, Cecy and Keeley. I remember thinking the whole week I lay around that hospital, "Dang, I haven't even gotten to review those images! I just KNOW there is some good stuff in there!" Well, it took a little while before I felt comfortable sitting up at my computer, but I've finally gotten the chance to look over those images and by george, I was right, there IS some gold to be mined there! I'm reserving the images of Cecy for another website (to be announced soon!), but happily share my top three favorites of Keeley here with you...look for these images (and others) promoting my upcoming January Special, Pretty in Pink!!!

2009-11-23T13:42:00.000-08:00

Didja Miss Me?!

Just in case, dear reader (all 5 of you), you wondered where I disappeared to for awhile, I have a Very Good Excuse: I was in the hospital from November 8th through the 13th. Woke in the wee hours of Sunday, Nov. 8 with ALOT of abdominal pain - ER at Providence Hospital (what good and kindly folks work there! can't say enough good things about 'em...) admitted me with a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis and acute infected gall bladder, ugh! After several days waiting for the pancreas to settle down, surgery was performed that Tuesday evening to removed the nasty, offending gall bladder; I remained under observation until Friday afternoon whereupon I breathed the sweetest fresh air I've inhaled in a Very Long Time! ahhhhh.......

Recuperation has been Slow and Steady - I am constantly amazed at the amount of sleep my body has been demanding. The upside is I'm starting to feel more rested than ever before in my life - so THIS is what 10-12 hours of sleep feels like, wow!

To all of you who have been waiting to pick up prints or had to reschedule portrait appointments due to my illness, I offer my apologies and promise to pick business up again just as soon as I am able. And to all of you who have conveyed your well wishes and support during this stressful time, you have my gratitude BIG TIME!

On display is my first get-well card, drawn by one of my Very Favorite Models, Keeley; also shown is the drawing my admitting surgeon made for me the morning I came into the ER - I even had him and the operating surgeon sign it for me!

Giving thanks...

I am thankful today (and every day) for the love and support of my wonderful husband, the caring and competent folks at Providence Memorial Hospital, and for my continued recovery and good health! May you all enjoy a blessed and grateful Thanksgiving holiday...

2009-11-03T11:10:00.000-08:00

THANK YOU HRVHS CLASS OF 2010!

We enjoy a remarkable depth of creativity here in the Columbia River Gorge - it seems like almost every week I meet a new and remarkably talented photographer! So I am very aware that a high school senior has many wonderful choices when it comes to choosing the photographer who will create their senior portraits. This makes me extra grateful and doubly honored when a senior chooses ME to commemorate this special turning point in their lives...

Many thanks to all the AMAZING, GORGEOUS/HANDSOME, INTRIGUING, INTELLIGENT seniors I have had the pleasure of working with these past few months!!!

2009-10-27T11:27:00.001-07:00

Head Shot!

WTD (What the Duck) is my FAVORITE online comic strip! Maybe only other photographers (or anyone who's been in front of MY lens!) will find this funny, but it made ME laugh out loud! Enjoy...

(This cartoon is reproduced here with permission of the creator.)

2009-10-06T21:04:00.000-07:00

HRVHS Seniors - Your Deadline Draws Near!

But don't panic - yet...I've still got some appointments available, especially if you are looking for a studio portrait! Yeah yeah, I know - we live in a GORGE-ous place so OF COURSE everyone wants their senior portraits done outside...but the weather doesn't always cooperate, especially if you find yourself hemmed in by a looming deadline! Or maybe you think all studio photos are boring and old-fashioned - THINK AGAIN!

I love it when a senior brings in a magazine, shows me an ad and asks, "Can we do something like THIS?" To which I enthusiastically reply, "You bet we can!" I am a studio lighting specialist with years of experience working with models in the San Francisco Bay Area and well, requests like that are just music to my ears.

Your senior photos shouldn't look like everyone else's - you deserve images that are as unique, as expressive as you are! Just because the yearbook deadline is fast approaching doesn't mean you have to settle for anything less than the BEST senior portrait you can imagine...give me a call at 541-436-2755 and let's talk about what YOU want and how we can make it happen!

(oh yeah, that's the modelicious HRVHS senior, Lily, decorating the top of this post. She asked me to recreate a couple of looks from ads in the latest Vogue magazine - we had a blast making it happen for her!)

2009-10-03T18:50:00.001-07:00

PIE OH MY!

Picture-perfect weather, delicious desserts made from fruit grown right here in the Gorge, an old-fashion pie eating contest and music by Chigwaya, a local youth marimba ensemble...it was an event to remember! Here's a list of the winners and a handful of images to remember a wonderful day by...

• Kathy Hannen-Smith won $500 for Best Apple Pie - award sponsored by Shortt Supply and Providence Health & Services
• Stephanie Haliei won $500 for Best Pear Pie - award sponsored by the Columbia Gorge Fruit Growers
• Linda Mills won $500 for Best Baked Fruit Dessert - award sponsored by the Hood River Heights Business Association
• Monica Haliei won $500 for Best Professional Fruit Dessert - award sponsored by D'lish Delivered

Congratulations to the winners and a big THANK YOU to everyone who came out to help set up, perform as judges, and eat wonderful desserts! All funds raised at today's event will go to Helping Hands against Violence - thanks again for helping SIHR help the community!

2009-09-09T11:26:00.000-07:00

2009-09-08T12:09:00.000-07:00

Not-so-basic "Basic Senior Session"!

Presenting Monica G., the latest HRVHS senior to have her portraits created at Photosensitive Portraits' studio! These are two of her favorite images from her senior portrait session - though she said it was a difficult choice because she loved so many of them!

Just a reminder to the Class of 2010 that you don't have to spend a fortune for a FABULOUS senior portrait in your yearbook - just because you THINK you don't have the funds, don't use that gosh-awful school ID photo!

This year Photosensitive Portraits has added "Basic Sessions" to the list of Senior Portrait Session offered: Basic Studio ($75) and Basic Location ($95). Either Basic Session gets you 40 minutes of camera time AND your yearbook portrait delivered to the school as a digital file. If you bring in a card or wallet from one of Photosensitive Portraits' Senior Super Models, you will also receive 24 FREE WALLETS! That's a really great deal for less than a hundred bucks!

Of course you can choose one of the more elaborate sessions - the Designer, Combo and Ultimate Sessions are designed to give you as much variety as possible and feature unlimited clothing, background and location changes. These sessions are a great value and also include your yearbook image delivered to the school.

So once you've got your classes in order and things have settled down a little, call Photosensitive Portraits for YOUR senior portrait session! Get what you WANT - get what you DESERVE - get the VERY BEST! (Get Photosensitive Portraits to create YOUR senior photos...)

2009-09-04T13:09:00.000-07:00

2009-09-02T15:31:00.000-07:00

A WINDY Afternoon Session!

Da Gorge lived up to its' reputation yesterday and blew like gangbusters through one of my favorite shooting locations! HRVHS senior Elizabeth O. was a trouper, insisting that all that hair whipping around her face wasn't bothering her at all, no ma'am, let's just take some great photos...which of course we proceeded to do! Just like windsurfing, it's all about making the wind work FOR you instead of trying to work against it (which never works!)...so here's Elizabeth, self-described "country girl" looking fresh, beautiful and serene despite the gale blowing around her!

2009-09-01T16:54:00.001-07:00

More Seniors, yah!

I am having so much fun with seniors this past month that it ought to be illegal! I wake up with a smile on my face 'cuz I know I'm going to be working with someone new and fascinating, together creating something truly special just for them - and I go to bed at night KNOWING that's exactly what happened! I am blessed to be able to share my love for photography with so many incredible young people - MUCHOS GRACIAS to the Class of 2010!!!

And now, heeeeeeerrrrreeeee'sss NANCI and SILVIA, who both visited the studio last week for their senior portrait session...

2009-08-31T11:17:00.001-07:00

FABULOUS day at Edgefield!

Many thanks to my Senior Super Model, Deisy, and her boyfriend, Hugo, for their patience and forbearance as myself and two other photographer friends, Daron and Julian, walked them all over McMenamin's Edgefield property and exercised our off-camera flash techniques! Here's a few photos from the day: me talking (I'm ALWAYS talking, sheesh!) to Julian about different poses for couples and one of my favorite couples' pose - followed by yet another stunning portrait of the gorgeous Deisy - then there's Daron setting up his version of the shot. All in all, a most enjoyable way to spend a couple hours...

2009-08-28T15:57:00.000-07:00

Shout out to Louise McCulloch!

Just wanted to let you all know how much I love working with realtor Louise McCulloch! Louise was my agent when we bought our home here in Hood River four (FOUR! OMG, where does the time go?!) summers ago and not only do I enjoy her friendship, but we've also developed a wonderful working relationship - one day she asked me if I could/would photograph a house she was about to list, I said "sure!" and the rest, as they say, is history...

I gotta admit that I thoroughly enjoy being Louise's "secret weapon" in the awesome arsenal of techniques and tools she utilizes in selling her clients homes! She's currently revamping her website (I am too! stay tuned...) and asked me to create a page illustrating our work together - THAT'S what you see up at the top of this entry, some of her and my favorites images from the many homes I've photographed for her clients.

So next time YOU'RE looking to upgrade or you know someone who is moving to the area, make Louise the first call on your list of things to do - she's a first class professional who will treat you right, work her tail off for you and always be there when you need her! Oh yeah, check it out at LouiseMcCulloch.com - and tell her Denise sent you...

2009-08-21T17:14:00.000-07:00

Lady in Red

It's raining seniors - and I LOVES it! The Class of 2010 is getting a head start on their senior portraits and it seems alot of you are digging what I do - thanks for the privilege of working with such fabulous teens!

Here's a couple of images from Wednesday afternoon's studio session with Angela of HRVHS - she was so bubbly and upbeat and just plain FUN to work with! Thanks for a great time, Angela - I'm really looking forward to your autumn outdoor session...

2009-08-20T14:31:00.001-07:00

Sweet AND Fierce!

Just HAD to share a couple of images from this morning's senior session with HRVHS senior Carla - she was totally at ease in front of the camera, a real joy to work with! I like how these images showcase the two different sides of her personality - warm and sweet, someone you want for your best friend, and then pow! she is a fierce fashionista! Thanks, Carla, for a wonderful time this morning...can't wait for you to come back and choose your senior portraits!

2009-08-16T11:24:00.000-07:00

Let Your Love Light Shine!

I'll admit it, I'm a Deadhead, a tie-dyed in the wool fan of the good ol' Grateful Dead. I was enjoying a leisurely Sunday morning, playing one of my favorite concert tapes as I checked my email, FaceBook, Twitter, etc. (social media is taking over my life, oh my!) and found the following quote from Nelson Mandela in an email sent to me by a Very Good Friend. As I was reading it, the Dead were singing, "...turn on your love light, let it shine!" and I relished the very serendipitous moment.

Enjoy your Sunday and may it be the start of a fabulous week of letting your love light shine!

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be - brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you NOT to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." - Nelson Mandela

2009-08-14T09:42:00.000-07:00

Twilight Time...

Joel was one of my first seniors of the summer and I wanted to do something special just for him. I learned that he is a bigtime "Twilight" fan, so first we shot in some cool locations - then I came up with this special image processing to give some of his portraits an other-worldly feel to them...he loved it!

August is shaping up to be prime time for the Class of 2010 to have their senior portraits created! If you've been thinking about it, do yourself a favor and call to make YOUR appointment as soon as possible - available time is filling up fast! As hard as it may seem to believe right now, that yearbook deadline will be here before you know it!

2009-08-11T21:21:00.000-07:00

On Location Senior Portraits Are Great Fun!

Oh my goodness, I had SO MUCH FUN working with 2010 Senior Super Model Ely this Monday just passed! I've been wanting to photograph a gal in a long dress in the water at Horsetail Falls for like EVAH and Ely is helping me make my dream come true...while it was too cold that morning (hard to believe we were roasting in 100+ heat not all that long ago!) for her to actually lay down in the waterfall's pool, she did bravely wade in and splash around in the icy water - what a pro! We create WONDERFUL images that I cannot wait to finish working up - here's a couple of my favorites of Ely in her simple yet elegant white gown...

BTW, if you're reading this and you are a member of the Class of 2010, let me ask you: have YOU booked your senion portrait session yet? Might be a good idea to get on that right away, while you still have a choice of photographer - otherwise you might just have to settle for much less than you deserve! If you're interested, MY phone number is 541-436-2755...

2009-08-09T11:19:00.000-07:00

"GQ" Julian

I'm doing a bit of computer "house cleaning" this Sunday, working on non-client images, archiving older files...this is actually a LOT more fun than it sounds 'cuz every once in awhile I come across a real gem I missed in my inital review! Like this grab shot of my friend (and Hood River photographer) Julian Hamilton - the man has style, don't you agree?!!

2009-07-31T15:13:00.000-07:00

Summer Delight...

One of my husband's buddies came over to commiserate about the over-abundance of heat and underwhelming amount of wind - and to my delight he brought his grand-daughter with him. Her eyes got big when she came into my home studio and spied my "dress up box" sitting out - next thing I knew she was in it up to her elbows and well, who am I not to take advantage of the opportunity to photograph such a sweet strawberry blonde?!!