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Apocalyptic Wedding

We had a wedding several years ago that occurred in the early spring. It was set in downtown Seattle at the Chinese Room – on top of the Smith Tower. A lovely venue and it was an absolutely exquisite wedding. Everything was so beautiful, like a fairy tale. The bride wore a rhinestone studded gown that floated around down to the floor, the groom wore his uniform, and there was even a Cinderella shoe on top of the wedding cake. It was so lovely. The bride and groom opted to release butterflies as a symbol of their new life together. However, it was not quite warm enough outside for these 10,000 butterflies to fly, so…they fell. Down on the street below, and in my imagination, to the horror of people walking below.

The Intoxicated Mother of the Groom

Let me set the stage for this story. This was one of my very first weddings. So many many years ago *grin*, white church on a hillside, beautiful setting. Can you imagine this scene. We arrived early to the wedding to get set up to shoot the formals prior to the ceremony and the mother of the groom can hardly stand up. She kept swaying during the shots and I continually had to remind her to look into my lens… "Hello…. Mom? Look over here…. " Finally broke down and used some tried and true methods used on toddlers to get their attention during a shoot. The famous phrase by Sam Puc "Ut – Oh!" Works everytime… even on the tanked ones.

The unplanned nude

I received a call in 2006 for a gentleman to have head shots taken as he wished to become a model for a local University’s art department. We agreed upon a price and a date.

At this time my studio was located in an apartment over the garage on our property and I did most of my shooting during school hours and therefore was alone much of the time. So, in many ways this is a cautionary tale, as this particular situation did not pose a threat but in many ways was a dangerous situation. My client arrived that day as all my other clients do, he was an older man in his fifties and normal looking. I had set up that day for headshots; however, when my client arrived he also indicated he would like some full length shots. My wider lens was over at the house, and he stated that he would change while I went to get it. When I got back to the studio, I had a gentleman without attire waiting patiently for me to return. Nothing….not a stitch.

I (calling on every ounce of professionalism I could muster), kept a straight face and asked him if there was a mistake? Because… he hadn’t mentioned wanting to do a nude session and those are…well (whats 5 times….), yes… more money …. He agreed to pay the difference. I pulled myself together, focused on lights, and posing – keeping to the classical lighting techniques taught by Clay Blackmore, full face, 2/3^rd’s, profile, ect. All the time keeping a straight face and doing a good job.

After he left, I slowing sat down on the floor, wiping the tears from my eyes, laughed myself silly. And for years after this I have often been asked how I could ignore the ‘elephant in the room’, I reply…. “it was NO elephant.”

Lesson Learned – We developed a portrait session contract much like our wedding contract to be certain we have covered all bases with our clients as far as the session expectations. This has helped so much!

Life as a Photographer

I am returning to the original purpose of my blog. When I first started blogging my goal was to share with people what it was light to be a self-taught, fledgling photographer. Somewhere I got off track with that goal, so I want to return to that original purpose.

I want to share with everyone some of the funny and stranger things that happen to me in the course of me photography gigs. I am not a natural writer so maybe this will help me improve that as well. No names will be mentioned so as to protect the 'innocent'. So stay tuned for some funny stories ..... coming soon.

Ending Relationship with Graphistudio

Effective January 6, 2009; Hope Haven Photography will no longer be doing business with Graphistudio from Italy. We have endured horrific customer service and have become convinced that Graphistudio will not be making any positive changes any day soon. Therefore we will be looking elsewhere for an album vendor.

We have begun a search for an excellent album vendor offering good customer service and an excellent product. We are committed to offering our clients the very best in service and products and ask for your patience as we research these companies in full.

We will make an announcement soon as to who our new vendor will be and hope to enjoy a long and productive relationship with them.

Letter from a Client

Dear Denise,

At the time I called to inquire about the possibility of a Christmas photograph that would include my new service dog, little did I know that I was about to connect with an extraordinary woman. The moment your gentle voice told me that you had several rescued dogs, horses, and goodness knows what else at your home, I knew that this inquiry had led me to something - and someone - very special.

But now, I must talk about the photographs you and Sam took. Over the years, I have had a professional photograph taken of our family. Going in for one of these things was generally an awkward, even unpleasant, experience ("smile!", "turn to your right," "turn to your left...") and the results of these uncomfortable and false poses were always apparent in the results. But with you and Sam, it was fun, and the smiles that came through in the end were genuine.

The real test of your exceptional skills, however, came through in the photographs you took of my dog, Morgan. Taking photographs of animals is, I believe, a test of the highest skills any photographer can achieve. Due to the eye reflectors of animals, their constant motion, inability to follow those basic photography instructions ("look this way..."), it is no wonder that we stare in awe at the photos sometimes come to us over the internet or appear in National Geographic showing the beautiful creatures that share our earth in a stilled moment. That is the beauty you captured in my dog.

I had mentioned that this particular animal had big paws to fill since my last service dog had been with me ten years, knew almost without my asking what I needed and was a source of comfort to me as I struggled through illness and chemotherapy. Getting a new service dog meant starting all over again and my heart simply wasn't ready to let go of the past and my feelings for the last one. Yet, within the photos you took of all of us, then him alone, I saw what everyone else was trying to tell me: that he was an exceptional animal, just as loving and beautiful as my last dog and that we were going to be a fine team.

I will treasure forever the photos you took and will always be in your debt for the kindness you showed to me, my husband and, of course, Morgan.

Kindest regards,

P.B.