We're off to Belize!

There is nothing like the thrill of stashing the passports in the backpack, taking out a wad of cash that is to get us through the next 10 days come hell or high water, and getting dropped off at the aiport at 1am by a loving sister for a red-eye flight! I am a destination wedding photographer heading out with my faithful husband/assistant to shoot the wedding of Krystal & Chris among coastal Mayan ruins...so romantic and exciting!

As always, we're taking the opportunity to travel. And by travel I do NOT mean parking it at a local resort, but actually getting into the country. "But can you afford that?" our parents ask. Of course not. Have we ever been able to afford it? Not really. Therein lies the adventure. Is it possible to do a trip to Belize with less than $1,000? (Assuming photographer's airfaire has been covered by the elopees?) Yes it is! And we're going to do it in the next 10 days! Half of that budget is allocated for the car rental, which I deemed necessary due to the dollar amount and weight of equipment we'll have with us. That leaves$500 for food, lodging and entertainment. A great adventure! Stay tuned...this Recessionista will break down the whole trip for you! (if we can get online... but for sure as soon as we have internet access!!)

Boulder Engagement Photo Session at Chautauqua: Amy & Heath

When I drove out to Chautauqua to meet Amy & Heath who had just flown in from Virginia for a weekend of wedding planning, I thought it was going to be way too sunny to shoot out in the open hillside and was already thinking of alternative locations. But I should have known better after all these years of shooting outside and my love of sun flare! We hung out right there and shot the whole session on the open space and I'm not sure they really ever noticed I was there. I may be making a quick trip out to their home in Virginia to do portraits of their four horses and three dogs and some documentary work for them. Their dream is a ranch where they can rehabilitate horses and train dogs. It is my dream to document lives like that! But, I'll be photographing their wedding up at Devil's Thumb Ranch this summer and that will be dreamy, too!!

Loved One Portrait of a Grandmother & Grandson

When Aimee called me to say she wanted to schedule a session as a gift for her mother to have photos with her favorite person, Aimee's son Callum, I was thrilled! And, honestly, a bit nervous. I guess I'm always nervous before I shoot, but somehow grandmother and grandson felt unfamiliar for me. I'm not very good at posing- Would she be stoic? Would it be awkward? Would Callum feel comfortable with me without his parents around? Would Judy be happy about this session or agitated? Maybe.

And maybe all those things were a little true.

But as a photographer I need to just jump on in there and not mind about the awkward, to embrace it, to lighten the mood while not letting it get completely out of hand! Such a delicate balance...in the end I guess it all comes down to my personality and just enjoying every single person I work with.

And this pair were easy to enjoy. Judy has such a gracious way about her, so engaged with Callum but at the same time so easily engaged with me. An intelligent childish elegance. Callum was definitely shy to start, but the idea of funny faces with Grandma was just what our session needed!Butterfly kisses...

And my favorite of all time... an Eskimo kiss...

As they were leaving Judy casually mentioned that she has hated every single photograph ever taken of herself. Ugh. Kind of like a punch in the gut. Slight panic. Should I have taken more time? Different angles? Different lenses? What would I have done differently had I known that before she came in??

I shoot very instinctively and nothing is rehearsed, so honestly, I probably would have done just the same but with more anxiety. While I was editing these images I wondered if the photos we have taken of ourselves really about us at all? I may not succeed in being the only photographer on the planet to ever take an image of Judy that she likes. I'm optimistic, but realistic. In the end, I think these images are for Callum to treasure when he is older as a window back to when life was safe and soft. And for all of Judy's family and friends that know and love her keen intelligence and beauty. I hope she can see in these images what the rest of us see the minute we meet her. I hope you love these, Aimee! It was my pleasure to meet and photograph them for you!!

(And I really need to take my own advice and stop deleting almost every single picture ever taken of me!)

I'm a Recessionista!

I was at a marketing seminar the other day when I first heard the term "Recessionista." The speaker said, "are you someone that thinks that a recession is a good thing? Do you think it is great to be thrifty? Would you prefer to barter or borrow items instead of accumulating and disposing? Do you take pride in finding a good deal?" Everyone else in the room was staring blankly at her while I was nodding emphatically (this is very common at seminars I attend). Lori looked right at me and said, "then you are a Recessionista!"

Ah, to be labeled. To fit into a category. To have a name for the embarrassing excitement I experience over our economic collapse. Perhaps that's a bit too dramatic, but I will admit that I think it is high time we get this ball rolling. We have been due for a hit like this for some time and I'd just prefer to get on with it. What a huge mess this is going to be.

Here's what excites me: things getting real. People feeling real emotion. Dealing with real numbers. Looking at real people. Asking for (and giving) real help. Taking stock of our lives and deciding what is truly important to us. What makes the cut and what doesn't? What are the luxury items and what has true value?

Scary? Yes! Especially when in the midst of all the assessment the question I have to ask is, "Does what I DO have true value...or am I just a luxury item?" For an artist, it's a very fine line to walk.

Everyone assigns value in different places...thats what makes the world an interesting and dynamic place. So while many people will choose to cut photography from the budget, I still choose to believe that the images I create are more than just a pretty picture- they are a sort of glue that holds the good things of our world together. Somehow, photography (a certain kind of photography) can take an emotion, a relationship, an experience, a fleeting moment and make it REAL. Something tangible, evident and permanent.

I pray every time I shoot that God will show me a glimpse of who He created my subject to be, show me the person He loves and revels in. Is there such a thing that is truer than the obvious? I believe so. And I believe that I was created to be a photographer, a truth-teller...the kind of person who points to something beyond the conspicuous and uncovers a deeper layer.

We all know a grandmother loves her grandson. But I'll tell you, when I shot those images of Callum holding his grandmother's face to give her an Eskimo kiss, something took shape. That pure, unconditional, unquestioning love between a grandmother and grandson was no longer just a vague assumption, but a plausible reason for having a child, for sacrificing certain comforts to make space for that kind of love and relationship in the world.


I'll stick to my craft, but will take the time to continually assess...I'll probably make some pretty big sacrifices along the way.


Are photos required for every one of a photographer's blog entries? If so, I'll add a recent photo that Caroline Colvin just shot of me! She did such a wonderful job, and I'm so excited to have a picture I really like of myself!! She's just started shadowing me this winter/spring and I think it will be a great experience for both of us!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!!

Recherche Studio-Gallery

Today I snapped some shots of the Recherche Studio now that all the Christmas magic is officially stored away until next year. I thought it would be nice for all my blog readers (who haven't been in to the studio) to see where I spend most of my time! When I'm not shooting on location, I'm tucked back in my office editing, shooting in the natural-light studio, or meeting with clients in the Viewing Room.

This shot is just as you walk in the front doors:

The first room you walk into is the Gallery. You probably all know I'm a bit of a vintage fanatic. Below is the official natural light studio. (The umbrellas are really just kind of for show- so people understand that this room is different than the Gallery.) This is where my studio portrait sessions take place, although we're often scooting furniture every which way in almost all the rooms depending on light and inspiration!

That big bright south-facing window is the backdrop for all my super grainy backlit photos! And you probably recognize the bench by now- a signature prop in my images which is actually on loan from my friend Beth Sanders. She just dropped by one day right after I opened the studio and said she had something in the back of her truck that would be perfect for my studio and my style. She couldn't have been more right...I am forever indebted!! (If anyone has furniture or other vintage props of a similar nature that you'd like to share, bring it on by...I'm sure we can work out a trade!!)

Below is the Viewing Room, where I show all my clients the results of the portrait session in a slideshow set to music on the big screen. It is my favorite part of my job.

And here is yet another side to the business: my fine art botanicals! I've piled them all into the front little room off of the Gallery. Yummy!

Back behind the red curtain (where most people think I live) is actually were most of the work gets done. I've retro-fitted the kitchen to be a work space! We took all the cupboard doors off the cabinets for easy access and pretty displays. And instead of a full-size refrigerator I opted for a mailing station! We bought the tables, slat board + accessories for pennies from a pet store going out of business the month I opened the studio. Then we tucked a mini fridge in the hall closet, which you can see in this image.If you're talking to me on my studio phone or receiving an email from me (and it's NOT from my iPhone), I'm at my desk pictured below! (Although I am a serious pacer when on the phone!!) There are 3 tables in my office all set up with computer workstations (thanks to Jay, of course). We crammed a lot into this little cottage from the 1800s! It really is my dream come true. And if you're curious about the origins of this space, check out this blog entry from 2 years ago: http://recherchephotography.blogspot.com/2007/02/new-studio-space.html

Keep in mind that I love to share my studio with other wedding professionals (or otherwise) who are in need of a professional but artistic place to conduct consultations/meetings! Less expensive than renting/buying your own space, classier than a coffee shop, more professional than your home, super accessible location, amenities for serving coffee, tea, etc. It is perfect for makeup artists (lots of natural light), event planners, graphic designer, artists, networking groups, etc. If this appeals to you let me know and if you think of anyone that is in need of such a space pass this along! We like lots of warm, artsy and romantic energy around here!

Recherche Rewind: Costa Rica Fine Art Wedding Photography

I am busy gearing up for both a trip to Belize at the end of this month to photograph Krystal & Chris's private wedding ceremony, but also a trip to LA to document the one-year-old twins of this wedding couple, Rachel & Alex! Preparations for both trips have brought their wedding in Costa Rica to the front of my mind and I have been eager to revisit and share these images. I have such a passion for shooting intimate destination weddings- often times the smaller the better. If you know anyone planning such an event please share with them my work in case they are inspired!

Ironically, the wedding coordinator, Aimee Monihan, who is the founder and president of Tropical Occasions and coordinated Rachel & Alex's wedding, has moved down the street to Lafayette and started Mountain Occasions. She now splits her time between events in Colorado and Costa Rica. I'm looking forward to working with her on another wedding this May! Without further ado, vintage Recherche images: