Another Shot In The Dark

I browse other photographer's blogs and websites constantly for inspiration and to see what kind of fresh and fabulous things my peers are doing. One night, I was searching for a blog geared towards photographers like myself, who work in a range of portraiture work, that showcases all types of really rad photo sets. Frustrated I couldn't find one, I decided to make it myself. And thus, Another Shot In The Dark was born.


Check out this new blog for beautiful sets from specific shoots or series of photography works by a wide variety of fabulous artists around the world! There is no shortage of incredible talent out there, so I look forward to keeping up with this fun new project of mine! Let's all keep on shooting! *high five*

Check it out for youself here at AnotherShotInTheDark.com and be sure to join up with us on Facebook to stay in touch Facebook.com/AnotherShotInTheDark

WPJA, BABY!

Since the first time I visited the WPJA website, years and years ago, I quickly understood what it was: a career goal. If I was going to dedicate myself to being a wedding photographer, this is where I needed to be.


"The Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA), an International, membership-based organization, represents professional photographers skilled in the documentation of weddings and events in a candid, unobtrusive style. The WPJA was founded to uphold excellence in the area of wedding photojournalism."

I would peruse the site every wedding season, checking out the latest award-winning photographs from the site's quarterly competitions. I would get inspired. I would find the most talented wedding photographers in the country and enjoy their websites all night long.

And finally, after 5 years of developing my craft, I applied, despite the strict membership guidelines. And... I GOT ACCEPTED!
I am now a member of both the WPJA, and the Artistic Guild as well!
(This is the equivalent of being promoted when you're self-employed.)



I couldn't be more excited to enter my own photos in to the contests and continue to further my craft in this field. I love this job and the challenges of this industry. To check out loads of ridiculously amazing wedding photographers from around the world, please visit: WPJA and AG|WPJA

Metallic Paper

There are a few question I'm asked time and time again, so this has encouraged me to create a new F.A.Q. page on my website. Here is one of my favorites to talk about:


What is the metallic paper you offer for the albums?

One of the newest papers on the market, Kodak's 'metallic paper' is absolutely gorgeous to print on. It boasts beautiful vibrant colors, crisp contrast, and a really interesting... sort of etherial metallic quality. Certain prints in certain light are more obvious then others that it's any different from classic glossy, but it's over-all beautiful quality sets it apart when compared side by side. We previously offered this as an upgrade options for our albums, as it is more expensive to print with. However, we now provide all So Many Moment's clients with nothing but the best, so it now comes standard on anything we print for you.

Read more about the nitty gritty specs, straight from the horse's mouth here: Kodak


For more of my F.A.Q. Q&A's visit http://www.SoManyMoments.com!

ALBUMS ALBUMS ALBUMS!

I have finally posted ALBUMS! You will now find a gallery in my website's portfolio dedicated entirely to showcasing individual weddings and So Many Moment's wedding albums. I think it's important to see a photographer's work from single weddings, rather then just a showcase of favorite photographs from a large body of work. The albums also feature Matt's photographs, so it's great to finally represent him on my website as well.


Our leather flush-mounted albums feature thick, stiff pages and every spread opens flat. I do not use pre-made templates, but instead create each layout as a custom art piece to tell the visual story of the wedding celebration.


Creating each one, from the planning stages, to taking the photographs, and then bringing them to life in a cohesive visual story is such a fantastic journey. It's an honor to create a unique and special keepsake. That sounds terribly cheesy, but I just get so wildly attached to each one of my weddings! My brides and grooms flippin' ROCK. *high fives* to you all!

Hipstamatic!

While it'd be great if I always had a digital SLR or a fun film camera with me wherever I went, the reality is one of the ONLY things I'm truly sure to have with me is my iPhone. The 3Gs and new iPhone 4 take far better photos then my old 3G, but the Hipstamatic camera app makes it fun regardless of quality! Here are 10 photos from my phone :)

1.) Flying.


2.) Timbers Game


3.) Seattle


4.) Amanda


5.) Columia River Gorge


6.) Laura at the craft store


7.) the sunshine state


8.) Oregon Brewfest


9.) airport in Texas


10.) Hollywood Bowl

Nina & Johnny

whimsical
Originally uploaded by SYeakle

Take one adorable couple, add the perfect cityscape, sprinkle with perfect weather, and a dash of vintage with an old electric piano. The result? A lovely engagement shoot!
It was a whimsical evening at the eastbank esplanade, perfect for another fall engagement shoot in good 'ol Portland, Oregon. Nina and Johnny were wonderful to shoot. I love that they chose to bring the piano too, to reflect a bit about them as a couple; I think Johnny is in about a dozen bands! All in all, a romantic set of fall photos!

Jess & Billy

photo BOMB
Originally uploaded by SYeakle

I had to choose the photo bomber for the main picture. I couldn't help it. What fond memories of a funny shoot. Jess and Billy met me out by the Rose Quarter to stroll beneath the steel bridge and create some engagement shoot magic. And magic is was when this guy DEMANDED he be in a photo for "the magazine". I don't know what gave him the idea that if I took his photo, it would be sure to be published, but here I am, publishing it online. I hope he sees in one day. In the mean time, I'm looking forward to taking MORE photos of this light-hearted couple on their wedding day next summer.

Molly & Kevin

MARRIED!
Originally uploaded by SYeakle

The mother of the bride was giving the most heartfelt speech at this wedding and I realized my view finder was getting blurry, yes, because I WAS TEARING UP! I'm thinking to myself "I don't even really KNOW these people, but I'm just SO HAPPY for them!" And I wasn't the only one! Matt and I both got a variety of tearful joyous photos, as well as just delightful candid photos, from this celebration. A DELIGHTFUL couple and thus a DELIGHTFUL summer wedding.

Speaking of Matt, I'm so proud of him! His photos just ROCK this summer! Sometimes I can't believe I'm so lucky to have found such a wonderful man to be my partner, and to top it off he's SO STINKIN' talented. I'm going to be posting loads of his photos with mine for Molly and Kevin on http://www.Facebook.com/SoManyMoments

Aaron & Kassi

shoes
Originally uploaded by SYeakle

Our first wedding at Bridal Veil Lakes! Although, this wedding was held at a private household right above Bridal Veil, it still gave us a taste of what photographing a wedding in the Columbia Gorge is like, and we are savoring the flavour!

Aaron and Kassi are a darling couple. Their personalities were expressed in such creative ways and some serious attention to detail! I particularly loved the old type-writer as the guest book, the variety of delicious looking cakes, & the photobooth (can never go wrong with MORE photos!) What a wonderfully thought out celebration in such an incredible setting!

10 Lovely Summery Things

I've come to expect and accept an ebb and flow of the universe, so while there is bad, there is always also good. Today, I'm focusing on the positive that the summer has brought me. Here are a few photos of small, delightful things I really like, all thanks to the summer of 2010!

1.) Seeing up Matt's nose when he takes my photograph with his Hassleblad


2.) Tie-dye colored peppers


3.) The random photographs in our building's lobby of the Rat Pack and the Godfather.


4.) Watching friends fall in love


5.) The streetcar stop RIGHT outside our new apartment with Matt's new store just behind it across the street


6.) Wine tastings in the Willamette Valley


7.) Shopping at the farmer's markets


8.) Big fancy dinners with friends for hours and hours of eating


9.) Winning lots of CA$H money at Boiler Room's pictionary night


10.) Drawing in dust

Abigail & Peter.

towering over the night
Originally uploaded by SYeakle

McMenamin's Edgefield is quickly becoming one of our Portland favorites. What a neat place! Boasting a brewery, winery, distillery, restaurants, par 3 golf course, movies, and more it makes for a beautiful, & character driven, wedding destination!

Abbie and Peter had a beautiful wedding here, complete with friends, family, dancing, wines that had been made right on site, and lots of love to go around! It was so neat to see the photos I had taken for their engagement session printed and framed all around the reception site! It was a wonderful summer wedding and I'm so glad they chose us to photograph it! :)

3 things I'm pretty wildly excited about!

1.) Matt is opening his new iPhone Repair shop in Portland! It's called Wired iRepair, and it's right off the streetcar line in NW! We will be announcing the grand opening soon, so stop by if you're in PDX! Also, check out the new website blog WirediRepair.com and watch us do to the store's build-out on FB: Facebook.com/WirediRepair



2.) It's SO difficult to describe the quality of the wedding albums I offer via e-mail, so I made this quick video of my latest one! I use the absolute highest quality products and custom design each and every layout to create these unique and beautiful keepsakes. After the amount of work that goes into them, I grow a bit attached, so this was a lovely way to say good bye to Brian and Tanya's album before shipping it off. :)



3.) Last night, at craft night, I painted some cheap kicks to remind myself of my FL roots. I even featured my favorite sea creatures in glitter! A shark and a seahorse, but of course! :)

Wedding Talk: The Group Shots

As much as your wedding is about you two love birds officially coming together as a couple, it's also a union of (and often reunion for) your two families. It's important to document their presence, as it plays a big role in your big day.

Formal group photos have been the preferred route to accomplish this for who-knows-how-long. The breakdown is simple: everyone lines up, girls hold their flowers at their belly buttons while the men fold their hands neatly. Then, everyone plasters on a big grin and waits for the photographer to count to three. But, it really doesn't HAVE to be this way anymore. Or at least not if you hire So Many Moments!

My goal with every wedding is to take the best possible photos for each unique couple's celebration. I strive to capture their style. And being that I'm so lucky, I keep getting fabulous clients with loads of style! (*knock on wood*) But, they don't always seem to know what they're "allowed to do". Is it ok to NOT do formal photos all together? Are there other options for group photos? YES and YES. You can do whatever you want! It's your day!

But really, why I'm bringing all this up in the first place, is to talk about how much time these photos take. Time that is inevitably keeping us from shooting the fantastic things happening that we can't always catch if our cameras and lights are positioned to take a formal shot. I try to encourage my couples to skim down their formal lists, in hopes that they will realize there is so much more magic in the actual interaction between their families and guests when they aren't lined up classic formation. I've also found that the playful moments in between the formal poses can be a really fun way to grab photos that tell a story with a bit more flavor.

A classic debate between Matt and I is the future and necessity of the formal shots all together. I believe they are important, but should be done in a fresh way. He thinks they'll fade out all together. What do you think?

I'm going to close with my favorite of Matt's group shots from our last wedding; only because this little girl that was NOT into group shots and it made for a wonderful one!



If you've hired So Many Moments for your upcoming wedding, and have some fun ideas for a less traditional approach for your group shots, shoot me a message and let's chat!

Have You Seen My Face?

First of all, thank you SO much to my friends who keep in touch with me via Facebook! I love that I can keep in contact with friends from around the world, especially past clients I've had the pleasure to work with! If we aren't connected yet, PLEASE join my page here: Facebook.com/SoManyMoments


And while we're on the topic... perhaps you have friends that are getting engaged? Or REALLY like their new puppy? Or perhaps you have a friend who is expecting a baby... or maybe they have always secretly wanted to have nude photographs taken? ;) I can take care of all that! It would be the absolute biggest compliment and my facebook dream come true if you could do one quick thing for me! Suggest my photography page to your friends!

1.) Visit Facebook.com/SoManyMoments

2.) Click the "Suggest To Friends" button right below the main photo

3.) Click your photo-friendly buddies (remember, I love to work ALL OVER the place, Florida, Oregon, and BEYOND!)

AND TA-DAA!!! You've magically made me the happiest photographer ever! Be sure to let me know if you do this for me so I can be forever indebted to your ridiculously awesome kindness. :)

Thanks friends!

Meet My 2nd Shooter: Matt Moore

For more then 4 years, the talented Matt Moore has been my other half on wedding days. As both my boyfriend and my favorite 2nd shooter, if you've booked a wedding with So Many Moments, he'll likely be snapping your portrait soon. I figured you should get a chance to know him, so I gave him a quick interview to share with you. I'm also going to post a few of my favorite photographs of his.


Do you know many weddings we have photographed together?
I have had the pleasure of photographing 43 weddings with you so far, with another coming up this weekend!

Our style of wedding photography is very centered around fleeting moments. Is there a moment in history you wish you could have been there to photograph?
The moon landings, of course!

How do you feel about film vs digital and the changes that have come about in our lifetimes thus far?
It is incredible. My parents were wedding photographers, so I have seen the change firsthand. Digital allows people to take chances that the average photographer couldn't afford to take shooting film. This has brought about the elevation of wedding photography to a critically-respected art-form. This is so exciting because it pushes photographers to take better photos, instead of taking the same posed pictures at every wedding.

What is your favorite lens?
The 24mm f/1.4

Wait, we don't have that.... Yet.
And once I get one, I'm sure there will be another one I will want more.

What do you like best about your job photographing weddings with So Many Moments?
The unpredictability and the challenge of a dynamic shooting environment. Oh yeah, weddings are REALLY FUN too!!


With my best James Lipton impression, what is your favorite word?
With my best Arnold Schwarzenegger impression, Analog.

What is your least favorite word?
Conventional.

What sound or noise do you love?
The sound of snow falling in the woods while skiing.

What sound or noise do you hate?
Early-morning: construction; pressure-washing; lawn-mowing; and rock-breaking.


What profession, other then yours, would you like to attempt?
Crew on a sailing vessel. I really love the ocean, and if I'm not near the mountains, I love to be on the water.

What does El Strobisto mean?
It's spanish for The Strobisto.

Brian & Tanya

miami vice
Originally uploaded by SYeakle

I met Brian more then a decade ago, in a friend's room that smelled of cigarette smoke. We were probably listening to Pearl Jam. A lot has changed since then, most notably that Brian just got MARRIED! His beautiful bride Tanya took his hand on the beach in North Palm this summer to tie the knot. Their reception followed at Lost Tree, my new favorite wedding location in South Florida. It was absolutely beautiful. The photos are fun too! Enjoy a few here, and as always, tons more on http://Facebook.com/SoManyMoments

Abigail & Peter.

cute shoes!
Originally uploaded by SYeakle

I had a truly lovely early morning engagement shoot this weekend with Abigail and Peter. They were so fun to shoot because Abigail seems to laugh at just about anything and everything. Her constant giggling and playful attitude kept the shoot fresh, fun, and easy breezy!
For sharing on Flickr, I tried something a bit different, and started the section with a "title photo" of sorts! Just playing with different ideas. Let me know what you think! :)

Smile!

I finally got my old d70s shutter repaired! And to celebrate I took these photos yesterday of the 10 things I did, and saw, that made me smile. :)

1.) LOTS of sunlight pouring in through my windows


2.) Finding a building as blue as the sky


3.) Getting my dad's old Nikonos in the mail


4.) Seeing the city skyline


5.) Not killing the plant I'm watching for a friend


6.) Taking free photobooth photos


7.) Seeing how other photographers shoot and what gear they use


8.) Public Transit


9.) Free drinks with friends (who doesn't smile when they hear FREE?) :)


10.) Japanese-style karaoke