How it Happens

January, 2015, has come and is almost gone and so much has already happened in this short time. Minutes turn to hours, hours to days and before you know it, another month will have flown by.

What are your plans this year? Did you make a few New Years resolutions? Are they still intact? It's good to have goals and to watch some of those goals come to fruition. Many things will happen, and we set off to make them happen, but most times, they happen in ways that we couldn't have predicted. Life is that way, and it would be rather boring if it was so predictable.

As I was thinking about this last year and what I wanted to change or improve, I thought about the people—friends, family, co-workers—everyone who may be part of that change or affected by it. So it's no wonder that in order to get from A to B, the path may be as straight as Lombard Street.

I hope for you this year that you may do that thing you've always wanted to do, start that thing you've always wanted to start or be that person you've always wanted to be. How you get there and the experiences you have will be the best part of the journey.

 

High School Senior Portraits

Labor Day is upon us and what follows is the beginning of a new school year. If you're lucking enough to be a Senior this year, that also means that Senior Portraits may also be in your near future.

Many schools, both public and private, request Senior photos earlier in the year so now is the time to schedule your shoot.
You'll get better weather (if done outside), a better selection of times/dates and also be the first to show off your new Senior photos to friends and family.

Speaking of family, why not include a friend and/or family members with you as well. There's no extra charge and it will be a memory that you'll have forever!

Contact us today to schedule your Senior shoot and look forward to the rest of your 2014-15 Senior Year.

You Oughta be in Pictures

Remember all those trips you took and someone was always missing from the photos? It's time for you to be get back in the picture and enjoy your family and friends. School's out, vacations are in full force and we have a way for you to truly enjoy your next vacation, retreat or special occasion, whether this year or beyond.

A little background. As a professional photographer, I take a lot of photos...it goes without saying right? When I get a break and take a vacation, I usually leave all the equipment behind, grab my little point and shoot, and even with that, take it out only for a few "we were here" type of shots. I want to enjoy and actually experience my vacation and not photograph it and experience it later. Does this sound familiar? Do you spend half your time taking pics which end up blurry or never leave your cell phone? Is the family tired of mom/dad taking their photo for the 100th time? "Selfies" anyone? If you're the type who likes to photograph every moment of your vacation then read no further.

If you'd like to leave all the gadgets behind but still have those moments to remember, then this may be just the ticket for you.

Imagine taking a wonderful vacation or going on a retreat with your family, loved ones or friends, and enjoying each moment, camera/gadget-free. A few days later after arriving home, you're sent a link to all your photos of all those great memories you just had. But wait, who took those photos? That's where we come in!

What we're offering:

  • We meet you on your vacation, retreat or other special occasion and tag along with you to capture all your best memories.
  • You get to enjoy your vacation and have professional photos of it without the hassle. You cover the travel expenses plus a fee for the service and I provide all your memories.
  • Every outing is different and we will work with you to find the right balance, but generally, our shoot fee will be around $800-2,500 for the entire trip. All the photos (low/high resolution) we take are included in the package.

This isn't for everyone, but having professional photos of a family retreat, reunion or other outing without missing any of the action may be the perfect way to go. Contact us today to discuss your next camera-free vacation or retreat and find out what you've been missing.

Weather or Not

A few weeks ago, we planned a photo shoot down on Lake Washington and the forecast called for rain, but our client was hopeful that the showers would hold off. The morning of the shoot, there were some clouds around, but no rain, so it was a go for the outside shoot. It turned out great, we had plenty of sun and great weather, and our clients were happy with the experience and their photos.

When we plan an outside shoot, we usually incorporate contingency plans in case the weather doesn't cooperate. We can still shoot inside the studio or reschedule it for another day that that includes better weather.

The best time of day for shooting outside is early in the morning or later in the evening with an hour or two after sunrise or before sunset. We also use portable lighting to enhance and improve the scene of your choice. Sometimes, you may only have a certain time-frame to schedule in. We are flexible and will find a solution that is right for you. No matter what you're goals are for your photos, we can accommodate them. Whether it's outside, inside or even both during the same day, we have you covered.

Taking Great Photographs

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A friend asked me the other day, "How do I take great photographs?" She wasn't speaking of taking the photos herself, but being on the receiving end of great photos. She had worked with other photographers with mixed results and had asked all of them the same question and didn't receive a good answer, and in some cases, an "I don't know". Wow!

Part of getting great photos is the experience. You will get great photos from us, but you won't be thinking about that as we go through your session. In fact, you may at some point get so immersed in our shoot that you may forget about it altogether.

We also provide helpful direction in our shoots. I mentioned some of the things to my friend that are helpful, even crucial, to getting great shots (connection, expressions, angles, lighting, environment, etc.). Since we are all individuals in our looks, personality and build, we tailor our direction to each individual which provides the best photos of YOU. Most clients aren't trained models, but you may feel and look like one by the time were finished. We have fun, share a few stories and leave with you some great memories...and photographs.

Stop by and visit our studio to find out more or give us a call. There's a never a consulting fee and we'd love to chat about what we can create for you.

Customized Photography

In world where everything comes in small, medium or large, is there still a need for custom fit? We say yes! Whether it's jeans, shoes, a bike or even a new car, we want something that says, "me". We're surrounded by a mass-produced culture and all the products that go with it, but craftsmanship is still alive and well…especially at Chasing Light Studios.

Sometimes "custom" comes with a custom price-tag or a hard-to-produce, slow-to-ship product or service. At Chasing Light Studios, each client and shoot is an original and we consult with you to design a session that works for your needs. Our sessions are purposeful and enjoyable…as a client was leaving from a her shoot, she mentioned, “that was a lot of fun!”. We have a flat fee for most portrait shoots and clear and simple pricing for photographic products.

Finally, shooting outdoors is currently a popular option and we are experts at on-location shoots, but a studio shoot can be just as good and we get creative here. We have access to multiple backgrounds and setups all during one shoot that offer a variety of styles. We give you many options during and following the shoot including how you want your photos processed.

Let us know what we can create for you.