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The Year I Jumped

Americanvirus — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 21:43:29 +0000

I read an interview with a producer at Pixar. He said at the outset of every movie they make, it feels as if everyone involved is jumping out of an airplane while promising each other they can build a parachute before they hit the ground. That pretty much sums up last year for me.

The year I jumped.

I went from having a steady ‘real’ job and playing at photography part time to being a full time professional photographer.

I am so grateful that last year actually happened to me. I got to be a story teller, photo-documentarian, landscape photographer, still-life photographer, architectural photographer, and portrait photographer all in one day… in one extremely relevant day! The day my clients made their own personal leap.

‘Clients’ sounds funny, because even though we’ve only met just a couple of times, I feel I know you.

I can’t begin to describe how grateful I am for you.

Thank you for trusting in me. Thank you for choosing me.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Without you, I could have never started building this parachute.

****

It would be impossible for me to compile a ‘best of’ collection. I don’t think I’m capable of making decisions like that. Below are 150 images that for some reason or another resonated with me this year. A few of them I haven’t posted to the blog until now.

Soundtrack: Your Hand In Mine by Explosions In The Sky (on iTunes)

Thank you 2011!

I’m so excited for 2012! I’ve already got bookings for weddings in California, New York, Montana, Utah, and Washington!! Openings still available. Contact me for booking here. Connect with me on my new Facebook page here.

Also, special thanks to Ariel & Megan at Offbeat Bride and the all the girls of the Offbeat Empire for pimping me out so hard in 2010 you literally booked 99% of my 2011. Thanks to Kat at Rock N’ Roll Bride, Jen at Green Wedding Shoes, Ashley at Hi-Fi Weddings, and Seattle Bride Magazine for featuring my work last year. Also, Kathryn at Snippet & Ink and Meg & Maddie at A Practical Wedding for the upcoming stuff in the works for 2012. Thanks Catherine Abegg, Alyssa Wilcox, and Jeff Marsh for pitching in and lending tons of talent and experience to second shoot with me. Finally, thank you to Mary who took a three months leave of absence from work to travel around assisting and shooting with me last year.

Now, Let’s see what we can do for year two!

Lena Simon in Tom Tom Magazine

Americanvirus — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 20:04:57 +0000

My photo of Lena Simon of the band Tomten is in the current issue of Tom Tom Magazine. Now try saying that 5 times fast.

Lena Simon at Experience Music Project. Seattle, WA.

Tera & Mike’s Save The Date

Americanvirus — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:21:23 +0000

This just came in the mail today.

Tera & Mike’s Save The Date

I’m so looking forward to Tera & Mike’s wedding day! I’m the only vendor they’ve decided to hire! The entire wedding is being put together by Tera, Mike, family, and friends. In fact my services as a photographer will probably be the only non-DIY element of the whole event. The marriage will be taking place outdoors in the Cascade Mountains; the ceremony in Tera & Mike’s backyard. The food will be home made. They are actually hoping to grow a lot of the food themselves. They will be picking the berries which will be made into a wedding cake. Tera’s Uncle Dan will be doing the cooking and there’s even talk of a family fishing expedition in order to catch the main dish. They will be either growing their own flowers or buying from a local farm and arranging them themselves with the help of the mamas and grandmas. They not only designed these awesome Save The Date buttons, but they will be designing their own invites as well. And Tera? She’ll be making her own dress.

I’m In Seattle Bride!

Americanvirus — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 20:48:43 +0000

Spring/Summer 2011 Issue of Seattle Bride Magazine

I’ve been totally thrilled these last few weeks having the wedding I shot for Susanne & Scott featured in the weddings of note section of the latest Seattle Bride Magazine. You can see a mini online version of the print story here on Seattle Bride’s website.

Paths Of Glory CD Release

Americanvirus — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 18:02:54 +0000

Yes! Yes! Paths Of Glory has finally released their first CD which features the photography of yours truly. If you can’t make it down to the CD release party this Saturday (Dec. 4th) at the Tiger Lounge to see them live (9pm – $5), you can download the CD right now on iTunes. Just close your eyes and pretend to be there. After that, you’ll cancel whatever other plans you’d made and we’ll see you at the party.

If you wanna see more photos from my shoot with the band you can check them out here and here. Also, you can check out my photos of drummer Norman Scott Rockwell’s wedding to Susanne which will be featured in the January 2011 issue of Seattle Bride Magazine.

Paths Of Glory. 2010

My First Three Photos Licensed To Getty

Americanvirus — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 03:43:14 +0000

Yesterday afternoon I submitted 4 photos to Getty. I would have submitted more but almost all of the photos they asked me to submit had people in them. This means they must be uploaded with signed model releases before they can be considered for licensing. Luckily almost all of the people I photograph are the people I love, my friends and family. In fact right after submitting my photos I was off to my Mom’s place to celebrate her 72nd birthday with her and the rest of the clan. They’ve been so supportive of me. I came in with a handful of model releases for them to put their signature on. It was so funny and strange to be handing members of my family these rather official looking papers for them to fill out. When I got home I noticed that 3 of the 4 photos I had submitted were already for sale on the Getty Website.

How Cool is that?

My first three photos licensed to Getty

Yay! My Getty Invite

Americanvirus — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 01:11:55 +0000

I got this cool email the other day

The Gasteig Cultural Center In Germany Has Requested To Display More Of My Work In 2010

Americanvirus — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 01:21:52 +0000

The same day I received the email from Niklas Frisk in Sweden (previous post), I also received an email from Andreas Merz, a curator for the Gasteig Cultural Center in Munich Germany (see May 22nd, 2009 & Dec 12th, 2008). In January of 2010 they will be doing an art instillation of pieces from around the world projected onto two large movie screens. They’ve asked me to contribute work for the instillation. At the moment I have nothing new, so they may just be showing some more of my older stuff. Then again, there’s still a few months ahead of us to be creative.

It’s really wonderful to be getting such positive feedback from other parts of the world!!

My Photo Used For Niklas Frisk’s Ad And Poster

Americanvirus — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 01:00:33 +0000

I was very happy to get an email a few days ago from Swedish musician Niclas Frisk of Atomic Swing and A Camp. As you may remember, my friend Louise in Denmark got me in to see her friend Nina Persson (of The Cardigans) sing for A Camp at the Crocodile a few months ago. I took a few pictures at the show and posted them here to the blog. Well Niclas, A Camp’s guitarist, is doing some solo shows in Sweden and has asked to use one of my images for the show’s ad and poster.

Here’s the photo he’ll be using to advertise his show.

~Niklas Frisk~

Niklas Frisk at the Crocodile in Seattle, Washington (2009)

My 1 Year Anniversary On Flickr

Americanvirus — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:06:34 +0000

A year ago today I joined Flickr in order to upload drawings and pictures to the internet. I thought I’d start playing around with art & photography as well as get input on my images from others online. Over this past year I’ve had so much fun learning and communicating with the Flickr Community. Everybody has been extremely supportive, encouraging me to grow. Because of exposure on Flickr my photos this year have been published in a magazine, have been featured on blogs from all over the world, and have also been used for an ad campaign. Some people have even asked if they could incorporate some of my images as a part of their creation and credit me in their work. It’s been very gratifying to know that I’ve inspired others on Flickr, especially since I’ve found so much of my inspiration there as well. Thank you all for your support in making this interest of mine such an amazing experience!!

~ballerina with balloon~