i heart faces :: props

iheartfaces.com is an online community for photographers, of all levels with a focus on faces.  Each week, there are themed challenges and this week's theme is Props!  This gives me the opportunity to post a photo I just edited yesterday from my Summer Whimsy Mini-Shoot event that took place this last weekend.

The photo below utilizes a tent I made from tree branches, bailing twine, and a cute sheer fabric that provided the loveliest diffused light.

Other fantastic submissions can be found here:

i heart faces {props}

Summer Whimsy Mini-Shoot Extravaganza! A Portland, Oregon Photography Event

Simply Splendid Images is excited to present the "Summer Whimsy Mini-Shoot Extravaganza!"

I have been planning this event for well over a month, each little detail meticulously thought out and decided upon and I am so thrilled.  The full details are listed below here:

Details, Details, Details....

WHEN:  July 15 & 16, 2011.  That's a Friday and Saturday.

WHAT:  My Mini-Shoot Extravaganza is an awesome photo experience opportunity!  Participants will be given 30 minutes of time in a highly styled photo shoot venue.  This event is themed "Summer Whimsy."  My inspiration board below will give you an idea of how the event will be styled.

WHAT cont. :  There will be 3 specific vignettes that will be a great mix of cute and whimsical meets modern.  Think Anthropologie meets West Elm.  Additionally, there will be lots of unique, kid-friendly props.

WHO:  Due to the nature of the styling, this is a special event targeted towards families with children aged 6 months to about 11 years old.

WHERE:  The Mini-Shoot Extravaganza will be in a very safe, private residential back yard in NW Portland.  I have chosen this venue due to it's centralized location; variety of landscape, and it's privacy.  No one will be watching, walking by, or adding to potential distractions.  Location address and details will be given to those who book for the event.

HOW MUCH:  An $85 fee covers the session time for up to 3 people (each additional person adds $20).  Each mini-session will have a guarantee of 10 gorgeous images to choose and will be gifted an 11x14 print of choice.  Of course, all sessions will have the opportunity to order additional print products as desired.

*Session fees must be collected prior to event to secure appointment time.

HOW WILL IT WORK:  To ensure the efficiency of the day, all families must arrive 5-10 minutes prior to their scheduled appointment time.  After introductions and becoming situated, we will have 30 minutes to take as many beautiful, fun images as possible.  Each session is guaranteed at least 10 images to choose from, but perhaps more. The turn around time for editing will be 3-4 weeks; however, sessions will be edited in the order in which the sessions are booked prior to the event.  Meaning, that the first family to book a mini-session will have their images edited first.

HOW DO I SCHEDULE:  Contact Marla at 503.984.1823.

WHAT IF:

• What if I need to cancel?  Is my session fee refundable?

Please try to give as much notice as possible so that another family will have the opportunity to secure your appointment time.  Session fees are non-refundable; however, they are transferable.  If for some reason, you need to cancel your session, I will apply your session fee towards a session scheduled for another date.  A minimum of 24 hours notice must be given for all cancellations for session fees to remain transferable.

• What if I am late?

Sessions are being scheduled in blocks.  If you are late, we will have less shooting time together.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS:  Contact Marla at 503.984.1823 or by email at marla@simply-splendid.com.  I am happy to answer any questions you might have.

As an additional note, I can't wait to share this experience with you!  If by chance the response is greater than my capacity for the 2 dates, I will schedule another mini-shoot event for August.

K Maternity Session

Whew!  This is a session from months ago!  Krissi is my best friend from college.  Here she is:

Fiercely stunning, this lady.  This is her while we are relaxing by the pool.

As a gift, she asked if I would take maternity pictures for her and coincide it with her shower so that I could attend.  The catch was that it was at the beginning of August in Phoenix, Arizona. But I love her, so I endured.  I had an idea to use the harsh desert landscape as a backdrop paradox to her photos and the results were amazing!  We were dripping sweat and she wore heeled wedges (she's all kinds of fabulous), but we made it out alive. =)

Lastly, a photo of Krissi with her amazing husband Mike.

Senior Session :: Kaleb

When my friend Arica got married several years ago, she married an amazing man who already had two teenage boys.  In fact, his eldest son was a student of Arica's and thought they should meet. =)  This year, the younger of the two boys is graduating high school and I was graciously asked to shoot his senior photos.

Kaleb, the subject before you, hates having his picture taken.  She told me and he told me several times I think.  Even with that challenge in place, we were able to pull off some fantastic shots.  This first image is Kaleb with his new baby brother, Micah.

On a Personal Note...

Last year, a friend of mine who is also a photographer, took shots of my daughter Eva and I for the Christmas season.  She did an amazing job, but this year I thought I would see if I could manage it by myself first.  Luckily, with the help of a human tripod (in the grouped images) I was able to get the most beautiful pictures of my darling daughter and me.  It was a funny feeling though, running back and forth between my shot and the camera to adjust the settings every so many seconds.

It was a dark, gloomy sort of day; which created the best autumnal ambiance ever.  And thankfully there was no rain in sight!