Monthly Archives: March 2008

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Trash The Dress: “Leavin’ Las Vegas” style!

March 22, 2008 – 8:16 pm

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I looooove the desert. If you know me well enough, you know that it reminds me of where I grew up. So when I heard about this Leavin’ Las Vegas shoot the last day of the WPPI conference, I was so in.

The folks that put a name to the Trash the Dress trend (you know, the fun day after sessions that we can have after your wedding, where we can do stuff and try things that we normally wouldn’t on the wedding day??) and people from Don’t Box Us In planned a day of fashion models and real brides in Nevada’s Red Rocks Canyon. We got to shoot alongside photographers such as Mark Eric, Jason Domingues, Tana Huffman, Sofie Louca from Amorphia Photography, John Michael Cooper, Mike Fulton from Tri Coast Photography, David Beckstead, and Anne Ruthmann.

Here is a video documenting the Leavin’ Las Vegas Shootout from Patrick Moreau and our cinematography friends at Still Motion.

We had such a great time (me and at least nine others from Seattle). Not only did we take home some awesome images, but we also got some fancy sunburn patterns, scratches from the cactuses (Gerald wins that contest, he sat on it just like in the old Warner Bros. cartoons!), lil miss hottie Jenna from JFK Photography modeled among the pros, and more fun memories from Vegas!

So… you current and former brides of mine, give me a jingle and we can plan some Day After shoots of our own in and around Seattle! Or heck, I’m up for a road trip to the desert if you are!!

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By Laurel | Posted in new products, travel, wedding planning | Tagged , , , , | Comments (1)

WPPI 2008: Vegas, Baby, Vegas!!!

March 22, 2008 – 6:07 pm

Wow. I never imagined that I would have this much fun.

Last week 10,000 photographers set out for the largest convention and trade show in our industry- WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International for all you non photo folks).  Speakers from all over the globe came to talk about their passions, strengths, and recount stories of past failures.  Share new ideas, push the bar in the industry to keep us all shooting better, faster, more artistic.  Me Ra Koh made me laugh, Yervant inspired me to watch old movies for cinematic inspiration, and Joe Buissink’s passion for what he loves made me cry (and about half the rest of the audience! Check out his new book documenting the lives of autistic families.  It is so touching, raw, and unprompted).  I got to have dinner with 20 fabulous photographers- fellow Seattle friends as well as celeb photographers like Matthew Jordan Smith and Robert Evans, swapped ideas with Santa Barbara boutique photogs Katie Moos and The Halbergs, and ordered breakfast in bed (after a night of realizing that I AM NOT supposed to gamble…) with my pal and sometimes assistant Victoria P. (why, oh why did two omelets cost $60?!?!!?)

Here are some of my favorite highlights:

-uber swanky suite that Dia Rao hooked us up with at the Paris Hotel (we had a bidet.  Not sure how to use it, but we had it!! Yuriy demo’ed it for us.)

-the late night parties sponsored by our vendors at super swank mansions and hotel suites (especially Blu Domain’s party at the famous guy’s mansion.  there were fake tattoos, monopoly money gambling, a hypnotist, and at 2 am the bouncers called the police on the party because they wanted to go home!!! Talk about party poopers! Michael Fort saved the day by thinking ahead and planning for a bus to pick up his closest friends!).  Erwin, where are the photobooth pictures?!?!?

-the fun night shoot that Ray & Andy (Fancy Fin Photography), Yuriy Manchik, and I did in front of the Bellagio and the Million Mile Mall

-one of my images being displayed in my canvas printer’s booth for EVERYONE too see

-the organized fashion shoot in the Red Rock Canyon with the folks from Trash The Dress and Don’t Box Us In with Erwin Wijanto, Bill Cawley, Victoria P, Jenna and John Karwoski, Steve Smith and Larry, and my pals Gerald and Airika Pope

I cannot wait until next year.  Fellow friends mark your calendars- Feb 14-19 at the MGM.  Let’s go earlier, stay longer, shoot more, and make some more awesome awesome memories. 

By Laurel | Posted in stuff in general, travel | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

The Jenkins Family

March 8, 2008 – 6:50 pm

Over the last few months, I’ve had the joy of going to the Jenkins home to photograph their family. With four boys, each day must be a conglomeration of insanity, hilariousness, and spontaneity. I can’t even imagine being the only girl in the household- kudos to you Laura! We had two fun sessions- one was in the late summer months, and I got to chase the boys around while they played in the yard and jumped on the trampoline. This fall we had a quick session out on the front lawn- the fall leaves and afternoon light made an ideal backdrop for classical American portraiture (which I really don’t do much of, but it’s fun to get outside your box every now and then!). I first met the Jenkins boys a few years ago at another client of mine’s wedding- she had something like 14 flower girls and ring bearers!! The three oldest boys were among the sea of nieces and nephews creeping up the aisle- I’ll never forget the mass confusion and giggles as each kid tried to find his parents! So so cute! Now they’re a little more grown up, but still up to the same old antics!jenkins.jpg

By Laurel | Posted in portraits | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Arica & Eddie

March 4, 2008 – 5:38 pm

Arica and Eddie’s wedding anniversary was just around the corner when Arica called me about doing a super fun photo shoot. We didn’t want it to be stuffy or super formal, but fun and dynamic, and decided to call our shoot “The Swanky Shoot” (because I have to name EVERYTHING a silly name…). After hair and makeup by Tiara’s On Location, we headed downtown to the Fairmont Olympic Hotel and the Westlake Center for some fun Christmastime city exploration (see, told you I was behind on the blogging!!). They were married last year in December at the luxurious Fairmont, so they rented a room there tohave a mini-getaway for the rest of the weekend (plus some fantastic downtown holiday shopping!). We walked around the city streets, rode on the carousel, took a horse and carriage ride, and ended up back at the hotel for some dressy pics before they headed off to an anniversary dinner.

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By Laurel | Posted in portraits | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)