We Heart Sharlane

I just received an invitation to attend a fund-raising event for a local photographer. How heart-warming it is to see the Seattle photo community come together to give help and hope to someone. I've reposted the information here for anyone who would like to contribute.


This year began like a fairy tale; complete with a magical proposal from the man she loves. Like too many fairy tales, this one turned dark as Sharlane was diagnosed with Cancer even before the wedding planning could begin. The diagnosis itself is scary enough, but so are the crushing costs associated. This is an attempt to help our friend, who has helped so many others herself.

This benefit is all about love, life, laughter and Art. We are so excited about the donated items, and know that even if you don't know Sharlane you can find something amazing to spend your money on for a Valentine's day gift. In addition to buying something über cool and impressing your friends, you will also receive that warm fuzzy feeling from helping an amazing person.

You can help Sharlene in four (4) easy ways:

· Donate money (it's PayPal -- too easy!): http://weheartsharlane.showitsite.com/#/help/

· Donate an item (great way to gain exposure and showcase your work for an amazing cause): helpsharlane@gmail.com

· Bid on a silent auction item on Feb 4th (Check out the list of amazing goods): http://weheartsharlane.showitsite.com/#/what-to-expect/

· Spread the word! Please pass this invitation along on facebook, twitter and email!

Thanks for the support! Any questions, call Ashley 206-353-2992 or email at helpsharlane@gmail.com

The "official" start of the season

This weekend is the big Seattle Wedding Show at the Washington State Convention Center. While I don't care to have a booth there, it is a wonderful opportunity for me to cruise the room and catchup with my favorite colleagues and meet potential clients.

Seattle Bride Magazine and I have had a long-standing relationship and this year they have started something new in their annual "Bride Guide" -- an online link.


As I tell my potential clients, hiring the right photographer is VERY important. Experience and personal style make a huge difference between just taking pictures and really capturing the visual story of your important day. So if you are going to the wedding show, take a good look around, then give me a call or drop me an email.

Autumn

As the wedding season slows down this time of year I have more time to "play" outdoors. Actually, I'm supposed to be working in the yard, but I always have a little pocket camera with me.


A wet leaf in our back yard on our rock wall.


A spider under our porch light after dark.

10 years later

I had a pleasant surprise yesterday when I received an email from a bride whose wedding I photographed 10 years ago. She and her husband now live and work in Africa and she was looking for permission to use an image from their wedding on her blog to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary.


I love hearing from previous clients. When I photograph someone's wedding I am sharing in one of the most emotional and important days in their life. And while I maintain my "professional" appearance on the outside, I am a hopeless romantic on the inside and always walk away feeling like I've made new friends. When I hear from a former client it brings back all those feelings for me.

In this particular case, their wedding produced one of my favorite images that I have used in my portfolio presentation ever since.

CONGRATULATIONS Anne and Todd!!

Carmen & Dan

Ray's Boat House was the picture perfect location for Carmen and Dan's wedding last weekend. Blustery skies made for dramatic light and a strong sense of families coming together made wonderful memories for this great couple. Click on any of the images below to see them larger.

Mr and Mrs Venkatachalapathy !!

Meg and Vinay Venkatachalapathy celebrated their wedding at the beautiful Lake Union Grill this past weekend. It was a fun evening that saw the uniting of two different cultures and Meg absolutely glowed all night. Click on any image to see it larger:

The unexpected

I have two friends who are both photographers. One is a professional and the other one is a very good enthusiast with a nice eye for composition. My friend who is the professional ALWAYS has a camera with him. My other friend only carries one occasionally.

This week as I was driving home from Redmond I came upon this scene. Obviously I'm in the camp of ALWAYS keeping a camera with me because you never know when life is going to surprise you with a visual opportunity.


Years ago when I was a newspaper photographer, I pulled up to a traffic light and saw this poignant moment happening across the street. In those days I not only carried a camera with me all the time, I kept one on the front seat of the car within quick reach.


As I've gotten older, this picture has only grown stronger for me. The contrast between the couple in love and the forlorn looking woman speaks to me of the frailty of emotions that exists for many people. That is the power of photography. It can capture the tranquil beauty of a scene or reveal our deepest feelings.

This is also the mission of my wedding photography: to preserve those feelings and emotions that will become more important to each of us as the years pass.