“The monotony and solitude of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind.”

- Albert Einstein

I know there has been quite a “lull” in new work being posted on the blog lately. I am a strong believer in taking the time to refresh, refuel and renew…to just be still.  It’s in the midst of the quiet that I am allowed to dream and be inspired.  I have taken the month of February off of shooting.

I sincerely appreciate ALL the love and support that is left on this BLOG and my FACEBOOK PAGE every day…it fuels me. I look forward to sharing with you soon! 2012 is the year of the weddings!

XO

Here is another one of my favorites from my personal project that didn’t make the original “cut”.

Happy LEAP DAY!

Zach & Allegra

Engaged

Portland, Oregon

HUGE thank you to Winderlea Vineyard and Winery for allowing us to shoot on location!

This amazing couple will be tying the knot in May 2012!!   Congratulations!!

“Love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking together in the same direction.”

Antoine de Saint-Exupery

 ”When subject matter is forced to fit into preconceived patterns, there can

be no freshness of vision.” -Edward Weston-

Last week, a reader left a comment on one of my engagement session posts.  It read, “In a sea of sameness, your work definitely stands out.”.   I must have read that comment 20 times.  I honestly didn’t feel worthy of that kind comment;  however, it validated my vision and my intuition as to what changes I need to make as an artist.

As photographers, we are constantly being influenced by what is being featured.  Whether it’s wedding blogs, Pinterest, magazines, and Facebook.  Back in the day, the Master photographers did not have anything influencing their vision…they were able to create what was in their minds eye.  I have found myself feeling insecure and deflated more times than not throughout these past few years, comparing.  We ALL do it.  Comparing our work or our style to everyone else is will for sure extinguish that flame of confidence and creativity.

 I know my work isn’t anything new or groundbreaking by ANY means, and I think it’s important to be inspired by those we admire.  But I am challenging myself to step back more…to take a break from the constant visual influences and taking those unmerited compliments for what they are worth.  I challenge you to do the same.  You have no idea what lies within you when you go out and just shoot what YOU SEE, not what you have already SEEN.

Part two of this session (in case you missed part 1) is exactly what I envisioned in my head on that long drive home.  Actually, it’s better than I hoped for.  All the elements came together for this shoot.  The light, the location, the model, the crew, and the wardrobe. I feel so blessed.

I am so grateful to Danielle of Simple Marie Styling for going above and beyond on this project. This session would NOT be what it became without your talent and vision. Can you believe she MADE this black wedding dress with TWO weeks notice??

Thank you Taylor Darby for being my willing and beautiful model.  I look forward to photographing you when you are a real bride someday!

HUGE thank you to Laura Nelson of Laura Nelson Photography for being my assistant for this shoot.  I look forward to the many adventures we have in store this year!

Thank you Amanda Messing for your amazing hair skills and for being such a willing participant in helping with props!!!

XO

“Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last you create what you will.”

-George Bernard Shaw

I am a girl of few words.  Anyone who follows my work knows that about me.  I want my images to speak for me.

So, please bear with me as I attempt to put my feelings and thoughts into words.

When I started this journey into the world of photography 8 years ago, I was constantly shooting creatively…for me.  Photography was like oxygen in the midst of life’s trials.  The camera truly was an instrument of healing that God gave me.  I lived and breathed everything photography.  I would take my often unwilling daughters out into a field and quench my thirst.  I was selfish like that. LOL  My girls were my muse…and I miss those days.  I am SO very grateful for where photography has brought me today, and I have been submerged into the building of my brand and my business for 6 years.  It is still a work in progress.

This past year has been by far my most rewarding and most challenging.  I started to feel the “burn”.   I felt like a juice box, where everyone had a straw placed and was literally sucking the creativity out of me.  I knew I needed to re-fuel, or I would never grow as an artist.

On my way home from shooting in Portland this past December, I had an epiphany.  Well, it was a “duh” moment really.  I needed a session where I would have complete creative control and allow myself to be reflected in the scene. My mind was racing, and my creative juices were flowing.  I literally pulled off the hwy into a rest area ,(I avoid those places like the plague..pretty sure that is where serial killers hang. LOL) , and sent a text to my creative director and stylist Danielle of Simple Marie.  Now, knowing she was 36 weeks pregnant, I only asked to borrow a piece that she made a couple years back for the shoot.  Danielle listened, and saw my vision.  She went 110% full steam ahead on this project.  She and I fuel each other creatively…and I don’t know how I got so blessed to be able to work with her.  Danielle sent me a plethora of dress ideas the next morning, and she BLEW MY MIND with what she made in TWO short weeks.   She hears my ideas, expands on them, and over delivers.  Danielle is going to be famous someday…I just know it.

My original vision was an ethereal bridal session with winter tones…in the snow..if I could find some.  I have ALWAYS loved the drama behind a black wedding dress..and well, lets be honest, the odds of my getting to photograph a “real” bride in a black wedding dress are slim to none.  I wanted the contrast of the black against the white.  I wanted to challenge myself with a difficult exposure situation as well…this was supposed to stretch me.

We were having a very mild winter, and there was no precipitation most of December and early January.  Therefore, I was giving up on the idea that we would have any snow to shoot in, and I couldn’t drag Danielle up to the top of mountain at 38 weeks!  The date for the shoot arrived, and when we woke up that morning, I couldn’t believe it.  Huge soft snowflakes were falling.  SCORE.  It was SO cold, but my model reassured me she could handle it!  We all bundled up, and headed to the first location.  The clouds had broken up, and we had little bouts of sun breaking through.  The first look was this amazing taupe and creme tulle dress, a feather bouquet, and a lace crown that Danielle made.  The flower adorned chandelier was also designed by Danielle.  She pretty much rocked my socks.

Just as we were finishing up this set, it started snowing these little tiny snow pellets.  Poor Taylor was fuh-reezing!! However, she was still able to look life-like and warm in the midst of the polar temperatures.  We had two assistants with us holding huge umbrellas to keep my gear dry..THANK YOU Laura Nelson and Amanda Messing!!!  We could not have done it without you!!!

The second set (part 2 feature coming on Monday) was shot after we warmed ourselves by the fire at Callahans lodge.  THANK YOU to the staff for allowing us to use your facility for wardrobe change!  The temperature dropped to around 17 degrees farenheit , and I have to say I have never been so cold in my life.  I seriously thought my trigger finger was going to fall off from frost bite. Not to mention miss Taylor, our model, was in a strapless dress!

Once the shoot was over, and I thawed out enough to look through the images, I let out a huge sigh of satisfaction.  I felt complete and utter contentment.  Not because the dresses were amazing. Not because I had this gorgeous model to work with. Not because of the images.  No…it was because I re-discovered myself as an artist.  I felt that spark again.  It fueled my desire to continue to create and to shoot for myself.  It gave me the confidence to try new things and to encourage other photographers to do the same.

In this over saturated market, it’s easy to be influenced by what you think everyone wants.  Find your voice.  Get out and create. You will be glad you did.

XO

Marlo & Bob

Engaged

Portland, Oregon

This amazing couple will be saying “I Do” in October 2012!!  Congratulations!!

“laugh your heart out..dance in the rain..” – unknown