[Ross James Photography] [Senior and Family Portraits]

Make sure you still see Weddings and High School senior pictures

2009-06-08T23:27:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who is a loyal follower and subscriber to our photo blog. Your support means so much to us! We wanted to let you know that we have been working on two new blogs: one for High School seniors and one for weddings/engagements. This current blog will continue to post family sessions only.

Real Weddings website - continue your subscription now!

Senior Photo Shoots website - continue your subscription now!

(Current blog subscribers will also receive an email invitation to
subscribe to these new blogs, if you'd rather subscribe later).

If you only want to receive updates about our family sessions and you are reading this in your inbox, then no need to do anything, because you are already subscribed to this blog :)

Real Weddings website - continue your subscription now!
Senior Photo Shoots website - continue your subscription now!

Ricardo and Chrissa

2009-02-26T12:55:00.000-08:00

We had so much fun filming and photographing Monica that we thought we'd try it again, but this time in the Tri-Cities. So we re-connected with our long time friends, Ricardo and Chrissa, and asked them if they'd be willing to go through the filming process with us. They agreed, and we ended up having a blast at Columbia Basin College in Pasco. Thank you both for all of your patience while we were filming!!! Here are some of the results---

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Monica: Fashion Shoot

2009-02-25T17:20:00.000-08:00

We are currently working on a Photography kit about how to take better pictures. And while working on the video portion, we needed a model to help us out. We'd enjoyed hanging out with Monica at her engagement session and wedding (see her August wedding here) so we called her up and asked her if she'd like to work with us again. She said "Sure!" so we hopped in the car and drove out to Spokane, WA to shoot our video. Monica braved freezing weather and withstood all of the tedious breaks for equipment set-up. She's truly a pro! Here are a few of the pictures Ross took while shooting the video. We'll keep you posted about the status of our photography kit.

And here is Jeff rockin the video camera!

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Josh & Courtenay's Engagement Session: Pasco, WA

2009-01-07T13:20:00.000-08:00

Josh & Courtenay are getting married next August in Portland, OR. They got engaged at Disney Land on Main street! That being said, we had to keep up with their already fun and quirky love story, so we worked together to find interesting spots for engagement pictures in the Tri-Cities, where they live. The perfect place to start ended up being right at their house. They've converted one of their rooms into a sweet music studio, complete with old records and a DJ area. It was hard to not be inspired while Josh's mixes blared through the speakers. We want to take him along on every session! And of course we had to get a picture of Courtenay with her Mac and Josh with his PC. :)

Next, we headed to some train cars in Pasco, then finished up in Downtown Richland. Just before we finished, Ross wanted to get some pictures of her engagement ring. It was already dark, so Ross opened up the car trunk and was able to get some pictures of the ring using the trunk light.

We had so much fun and we can't wait to take this creative couple's wedding pictures next year! :)

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Nick: Selah HS senior pictures

2009-01-06T13:20:00.000-08:00

Nick goes to Selah High School, but he chose to do his senior pictures in Ellensburg. We started in some alley ways behind D&M Coffee. His Nike shoes were pretty cool, so we made a point to feature those a bit :). Next, we headed to the old train station near the edge of town. With just a little time left, we drove to a local art display called "Dick & Jane's Spot". This "spot" is a residential home that Dick & Jane have created into an art site, complete with many art pieces attached to their home and the area surrounding it. We were planning on shooting from the sidewalk, since the rest of it is private property, but Jane was very nice to allow us to come in and use her backyard as well. Throughout the session, Nick was a lot of fun, and he had some great ideas. He didn't mind if his pictures were unconventional, so we tried some different poses and angles throughout. Nick said it the best when he wrote in an email: [The session was] "By far the most fun I've had with complete strangers!"

Article related links:
Dick & Jane's spot- Ellensburg, WA

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Tyler & Katie: Engagement Pictures

2009-01-06T13:19:00.000-08:00

We are going to have the honor of telling Katie & Tyler's wedding story next July, and it was great getting to know the two of them before the big day. Their love story is so cute...prepare to smile! Katie & Tyler's parents were family friends long before the two were even born. And it just so happened that both of their mothers were pregnant at the same time. The two mothers were having breakfast one morning, and one of them went into labor. The other followed just a few hours later. So Katie & Tyler were born on the same day, and were buddies growing up. How cute! They got together a few years ago and the rest is history. How cute is that?

On our photo shoot, our first stop was the Suncadia Resort and Lodge near Roslyn and Cle Elum, WA. We chose the Lodge because of its elegance and breathtaking views. The staff at Suncadia was very helpful and allowed to use the lobby and hallways as our backdrop.

Next, we headed to a spot on Lake Cle Elum that Ross had been wanting to take pictures at for quite some time. By the looks of Katie & Tyler's gorgeous pictures, you would never guess that the wind was howling and it was raining sporadically. They were quick to smile, and we all had a lot of fun.

At the end of the session, they asked to re-create a childhood picture they have of themselves laughing and holding hands. They used this picture on their "Save the Date" cards and wanted an updated one to go alongside it. We were happy to create this moment again.

You guys were awesome and we can't wait until next July!!!

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Jennifer Senior pictures: Redmond, WA

2009-01-06T13:18:00.000-08:00

We recently had the privilege of taking Jennifer's senior pictures. She is from Redmond, WA but really enjoys the scenic, country atmosphere of Ellensburg, and wanted to take her pictures here. While planning her session, she mentioned possibly taking pictures with an old car. So Ross and I did some research, and found an old, abandoned VW van that's been parked by the side of the road for quite some time. After we got some cute shots with the van, we headed to a field to get some pictures of Jennifer and her new puppy. Have you ever seen such a cute dog? Next, we ended up on a residential street by CWU for some pictures with fall leaves. To end the session, we headed to Olmstead Park for some more country shots. Jennifer was so easy to work with, and we had a lot of fun. Thank you, Jennifer, for crossing the Cascade Mountains and trusting us with your senior memories!

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Kristin & Jared: Cave B Wedding

2009-01-06T13:15:00.000-08:00

Kristin & Jared's late August wedding was the perfect season for an outdoor event at Cave B winery. We started the day with getting ready shots of Jared and his guys preparing for the day in one of Cave B's Cliffehouses, overlooking the Gorge. And by "preparing for the day" we mean a few shots of them getting into their tuxes, but mostly shots of the guys laughing, joking, toasting, and hanging out with Jared's dog, Trace.
Next, we headed to Kristin's Cliffehouse to catch up on her getting ready moments. Of course there was laughing and joking on the girls' side, but moments of seriousness and emotion as Kristin put on her dress, adjusted her veil, and got ready to see Jared for the first time.

The next few hours were full of pictures of the couple, their bridal party, and their families.

Up next: the ceremony. Kristin's entry to the ceremony was unforgettable! As the crowd waited in anticipation, Kristin and her dad drove up in his logging truck. It was awesome!

Their dog, Trace, was in the wedding :)

We followed the happy couple around throughout their reception as they listened to toasts, ate some cake, and enjoyed their first dance. Throughout the whole day, there was a mood of happiness and love, and we know Kristin and Jared will enjoy a lifetime of joy together. Congrats!

Definately don't miss the slideshow! If you don't see it below then try clicking here. It features 58 of our favorites from the day.

Click play above!

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Becky: Quincy Senior Pictures

2009-01-05T13:00:00.000-08:00

Becky is a senior at the High School in Quincy, WA. She decided to do her pictures at her house. This was probably one of the first sessions where we stayed at one location the whole time, so we had plenty of time to get creative. Although Becky was mainly thinking we'd do the pictures outside, we liked her house so much that we set up a little studio area in her living room. :) After that, Becky wanted to get some pictures with her really cool dog, Daisy, who is a rottweiler/Great Dane mix. For the last part of the session, she took a ride on her horse and we got some great shots of that too. Overall, it was a great day for a senior shoot and we had a lot of fun in Quincy.

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Savannah: Senior Session in Seattle

2009-01-05T12:00:00.000-08:00

When we first talked with Savannah about her ideas for senior pictures, she let us know that she wanted an urban, "Un-Ellensburg-like" setting. After we traded ideas back and forth, we all decided on downtown Seattle, specifically Pike Place and the Public Library on 4th Ave. Recently, Ross and I had taken Christy and Carlos' Trash the Dress pictures at the downtown library, (see that post here) but we had only shot on the outside of the library. For Savannah's pictures, we headed inside the library and soon realized that the eccentric fourth floor was the perfect setting for her pictures.

Just as we were leaving the fourth floor, Ross turned to Savannah and asked, "Why don't you hold a Nikon speedlight in each hand and I'll take a picture?" (I was thinking, What kind of crazy idea is this?) Looking at the results, I see that Ross' "crazy idea" produced some very cool and original shots. We hope Savannah likes them as much as we do!

We finished our time at Pike Place and the surrounding area. She also wanted to add her boyfriend to some of her pictures, so we did that too. Overall, it was a great session and we had a lot of fun thinking of creative ideas. To top it off, the session ended with a beautiful sunset overlooking the water.

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Caleb & Quinn: Fashion Photography

2009-01-05T02:00:00.000-08:00

Caleb and Quinn are twin brother and sister who are both interested in the modeling and entertainment business. They contacted us about fashion headshots for their portfolio and we set up a joint-session. Caleb and Quinn's upbeat personality and fashion style made them super easy to photograph, and we were all pleased with the results. Best of luck in your future careers! Look us up when you're famous!

Monica & Brian: Mountain River Lodge- Easton, WA

2009-01-04T16:10:00.000-08:00

After a rewarding week as camp counselors at Royal Family Kid's Camp, Ross and I were ready to document another love story. And what better story to tell than Brian and Monica's wedding day! They had family flying in from all over the country, and the lodge atmosphere was full of excitement and fun.

Mountain River Lodge is 10 miles east of Snoqualmie Summit, just off of I-90.

We spent extra time photographing her gorgeous dress because Monica's mother designed and created it. Monica looked all over and couldn't quite find what she wanted, so her mother decided to take on a new challenge and make it herself. She did a fabulous job, and all of the hard work was worth it when Monica put it on. It was an emotional moment for everyone. (You can see more of the moment on the slideshow below).

We had so much fun with the 20-person bridal party. They were a great group of people!

Once the romance of the ceremony was over, and the food and toasts had passed, everyone was ready to kick back and have a good time. Everyone danced well into the night, and we were glad to be there to capture it. At one point, Ross jumped in the middle of the circle and did a little dance while he took pictures. Who doesn't love a crazy photographer?

Thank you, Monica and Brian for an amazing day. We know you're going to have a blessed (and fun) life together. :)

Monica & Brian's slideshow

If you don't see a slideshow above then click here to load it in a separate window

For those of you patiently waiting to see all the photos from a recent wedding, you can pre-register for the viewing website by starting at Event Login.

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Kylie: Quincy, WA

2009-01-04T14:00:00.000-08:00

Kylie lives in Quincy, WA and found us through an internet search for high school senior photography. When we arrived at her house, we saw that Kylie and her mom had the whole session planned, complete with a sofa chair already in the alfalfa, and a family tractor already set up in a nearby wheat field. Awesome!

Click small photos for full view:

Click small photos for full view:

Kylie was willing to try out some new things, including taking pictures in the Columbia River in her homecoming dress! Who says that only brides can "trash the dress?" We're excited to "trash the prom dress" too! We headed down to a boat launch area where we found calm water and a great sunset. The results were amazing! Thanks for thinking outside the box, Kylie, and we had a great time!

Click small photos for full view:

Click small photos for full view:

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Kaleigh: Senior Pictures

2009-01-04T12:00:00.000-08:00

Kaleigh is our Ellensburg High School Team Member for the month of September. Team Members help advertise about senior photography at their school and in exchange they receive cash and credit for every senior who reserves a session from their school during the month of the sale. All of the Team Member positions are filled for this year, but if you're a soon to be Junior from the following list of schools, you can apply next spring!

Participating Team Member Schools:
Ellensburg HS, Cle Elum HS, Kittitas HS, West Valley HS, Eisenhower HS, Davis HS, Selah HS, or East Valley HS

You can check our myspace for Team Member info. and to see more senior pictures.

Anyway, Kaleigh wanted her senior pictures to look different so we decided to leave Ellensburg and head over to the Seattle area. We ended up in Fremont, a bohemian neighborhood of Seattle. Together with Kaleigh, we had some great ideas and got some amazing portraits.

After the artsy look of Fremont, Kaleigh wanted a "woodsy" setting, so we headed to Robinswood Community Park in Bellevue, WA. We had some rain, but the pond with baby ducks and the tree-lined trails made up for it! Thanks for a great session Kaleigh!

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Lucia & Alfredo's wedding day- Pasco, WA

2009-01-03T16:10:00.000-08:00

Lucia and Alfredo are such a cute couple! To start I want to say to the two of you that we feel honored that you chose to involve us in your wedding day and we wish you the best! :)

July 5 was a perfect day for a Pasco, WA wedding: breezy, sunshine, and most importantly, not too hot. (We’re well aware that Tri-Cities, my home town, can get very very warm in the summer. ) We started at the Hot Spot Salon then I (Melissa) went with Lucia to her house to get ready, and Ross and Jeff went to Alfredo’s house. After Lucia was ready, her mother gave an emotional blessing over Lucia and Alfredo’s marriage. We were all moved to tears.

I headed to St. Pat’s church with Lucia and her girls, and I met up with Ross back at the ceremony. It was a beautiful, reverent ceremony.

After the ceremony, we had a chance to take some portraits by the Columbia River.

Lucia and Alfredo had shown interest in displaying some Wall Portraits of their wedding

in their home, so we knew we had to capture some breathtaking moments! As we got to

know them better, we found out we had a lot in common. Just like Ross and I, Lucia and

Alfredo met when they were kids, and started dating their senior year of high school.

(And our high schools were only 6 miles apart!)

Back at the reception, we thought Lucia and Alfredo had a very cute and unexpected first dance.

Instead of the traditional slow song, they chose “The Way I Are” by Timbaland.

We found this silly marching band arrangement of "The Way I Are" for the slideshow (halfway through)... take a look :)

YouTube link

Article related links:
Ceremony: St. Pat's Catholic Church, Pasco WA
Reception: The Trac Center, Pasco WA
Salon: Hot Spot Salon, Pasco WA
Dress: Purple Parasol, Kennewick WA

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Krystal: Cle Elum Senior Pictures

2009-01-03T14:00:00.000-08:00

Krystal goes to Cle Elum/Roslyn High School and wanted pictures in a woodsy, outdoor area. We all headed to Lake Cle Elum to get started. Our PT Cruiser couldn't get down to the area we wanted to go, so we grabbed our equipment and hopped in the back of Krystal's truck. That was fun! While down at the shore, Krystal took some pictures with her mom for awhile, and then decided to kneel down in the water and get a little wet. After that, we headed to Salmon La Sac park. The sun was quickly fading behind the mountains, we stopped just inside the park at a camping area. We started with some pictures of Krystal and her cousin, then ended with some in her cheer uniform. Krystal: you were great to work with and we hope you love your pictures!!!

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Brooke: EHS senior pictures

2009-01-03T12:05:00.000-08:00

Brooke is a senior at EHS and wanted her pictures outdoors. We chose an area of the Yakima River just off of Canyon Road. The lighting was perfect and Brooke was doing great. But then... we started to hear little buzzing sounds and before we knew what was coming, we all got attacked by mosquitoes. Literally, in 30 seconds or less, Brooke's whole back was covered with little mosquito bites. She mustered up all of her will power and did not scratch any of them, while smiling the whole time. After the river, we headed to her house so we could get some pictures of Brooke and her horse. The sun was now at eye level and created a golden, soft light in the field. Brooke's horse did great, and we were able to get some awesome shots. Thanks for a great session, Brooke!

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Sam: senior session in Ellensburg, WA

2009-01-02T14:10:00.000-08:00

Before Sam's session, she mentioned that she liked the idea of getting in water for some of her pictures so we knew to plan on some fun pictures! Sam wanted to start with portraits in downtown Ellensburg. Ross and I have done many sessions in downtown Ellensburg, so we chose 2 streets and alleys that we'd never shot before (including an apartment building lobby) so that we could find new creative ideas.

After the "city" part of the session, we all drove to a local area near the Yakima Canyon. Sam's parents and sister met us there and brought the family's German Shepard. He did great!

Every time Ross suggests that someone gets in water for pictures, I know that also means me, because he'll want me to hold a light stand next to the subject. So both Sam and I had to brave the cold water and get in. But I shouldn't complain, because I only had my ankles in, and Sam ended up laying in the water completely!

Even though she was extremely cold when it was over, we all agreed it was worth it. They look awesome!

Sam's mom sent us a very nice email:

"I can't tell you how much we have enjoyed you and Ross. Sam has been telling everyone about you guys, and how much fun she had taking her pics. You made this experience so enjoyable for us all. We will encourage everyone we know to go to you! Thanks again for everything. We appreciate you and your work more than you will ever know!"

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Nevada's Senior Photos: Suncadia & Salmon La Sac

2009-01-02T12:10:00.000-08:00

Nevada goes to Ellensburg High School and is a member of the EHS girls' Golf team. So it was fitting that we started at the Suncadia Prospecter Golf Course in Roslyn, WA. This is an absolutely beautiful course with breathtaking views.

Next we headed to Salmon La Sac to take some more portraits, and to include Nevada's dog. Her dog did amazing! His ears perked up and he flashed a "dog grin" every time Ross performed his classic bark from behind the camera. Nevada: you did awesome and we hope you love your senior pictures as much as we do!

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Dan & Melissa: Engagement Session

2009-01-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

Dan & Melissa live in Texas and are planning a June wedding. We scheduled their engagement session while they were back in Washington state visiting family. They wanted their session to take place in Ellensburg, because they met while attending Central Washington University. In discussing the session, we decided to "re-live" their first couple of dates in Ellensburg. We started at the CWU campus, since that's where they met. Next, we headed to Winegars, a local ice cream shop that they enjoyed going to. We all got a good laugh watching their son, Hayden, play with the icecream spoons. After we were stuffed from icecream, we headed to the Tav, another local place they both enjoyed going to while living in Ellensburg. They played a round of pool, then we headed to the Ellensburg Bowling Alley where they had their very first date. Talk about memories! We finished the session at Pasta Company Restaurant, a place they love to eat at, and also where they had their second date. Dan, Melissa, and Hayden: you were a joy to work with and we are looking forward to your wedding in June!

Ali - class of 2009 Ellensburg team member

2009-01-01T14:10:00.000-08:00

Here's our first class of '09 senior session. Her name is Ali and she is our team member at Ellensburg High School. Using our Senior Myspace Website [check it out here if you haven't already] we made available an application for soon-to-be seniors to apply for the team member position at their school and get a free session. We just designed this Sale Card with pictures from Ali's session...

FRONT:

BACK:

So Ali will help us spread the word about the sale which is $42 off the senior session price until June 13th. A student, or their parents, can reserve their senior photography session for anytime this summer or early fall.

But back to Ali... as you can see her photos came out super great! She had some really great ideas and brought lots different clothes. And she was willing to do whatever it took to get creative... like laying on an old mustang, standing in a window barefoot with broken glass around, and modeling for us inside the downtown D&M coffee shop. Yeah, it was a lot of fun!

And it felt good to be photographing in our home-turf of downtown Ellensburg once again =P

What did Class of 2008 seniors say about Ross James Photography?
I enjoyed every minute of working with you!
- Emily, Thorp HS

You made my senior year so much more amazing than I could've ever asked for in pictures!
- Ali O, Cle Elum HS

You were so creative & entertaining at the same time!
-Laurie, Ellensburg HS

I have gotten so many compliments and couldn't have made a better choice when it came to my senior portraits.
- Shelby, Ellensburg HS

READ more & SEE more about our Senior Photography [HERE]

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Sarah: KHS Senior Pictures

2008-12-16T11:44:00.000-08:00

Sarah was our last senior of the class of 2009, and we wanted to make sure it was a great session, even though it was freezing outside! Sarah had 3 requests for her senior pictures: a timeless look that she'll still like in 50 years, no pictures with trees, and in downtown Ellensburg without looking like downtown Ellensburg. As we were walking around downtown looking for places to shoot, I noticed a regular looking alley way on the side of the post office. Nothing special. But something about the red wall and the run down parking curbs caught my eye. Ross was a little skeptical, but he went with it anyway, and the results were fantastic! By now it was getting a little cold, so we spotted an old brick building on 4th Ave. and entered the lobby. This old building had gorgeous crown molding and a vintage old couch. The local businesses whose offices were inside gave us permission to shoot inside and the pictures turned out very cool and "un-downtown-like." Next, our wandering led to a back hallway at D&M Coffee Downtown, with Sarah sitting on a stool. Sarah, we know your pictures will be treasured for the rest of your life, and we thank you for such a fun session!

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Don and Rachel's slideshow

2008-12-10T19:28:00.000-08:00

click here to open slide show in it's own window

Don & Rachel: Winter wedding

2008-12-09T14:04:00.000-08:00

Don & Rachel got married on a winter day in early December. Ross, Jeff, and I were looking forward to this day, because we haven't gotten the chance to photograph a wedding in over a month! Ross started the day with the guys at Canyon Lakes Golf Course in Kennewick, WA, while I met Rachel and her bridesmaids at their family owned Cosmetology School. After an eventful limo ride with lots of waving arms outside the windows, we met up with the guys at the church. From there, the wedding day began in full swing. The whole rest of the day was a whirlwind of laughter and celebration. Everyone on both sides of the family was cheerful and excited for Rachel and Don. We had a great time capturing this day with all of its emotions and memories. Rachel & Don: we know you will enjoy a very happy life together...enjoy every moment!

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Dana: EHS Senior Pictures

2008-12-05T15:25:00.000-08:00

Dana had decided to start her session at her house. When we got there, an old beat up truck caught our eye, so we decided to start there. Dana's cute little dog decided to join us for some of them as well. :) And of course, we couldn't leave without getting some pictures with her gorgeous black horse. We were running out of sunlight so we headed over to the Kittitas County Fair Grounds. Dana's family has always been involved in the Rodeo, so it was only fitting that we do some pictures in the arena. It had been raining in Ellensburg the past few days, which had turned the arena's dirt into a mud pit. I stood on my tip-toes and didn't go out too far, but Ross went in the arena with Dana (anything for a good picture). He sunk so far into the mud that his jeans were also caked with mud. (Did I forget to mention that this was an arena that horses regularly ride on? It wasn't just mud...) Anyway, the end results were well worth it, and the "mud" came off just fine afterwards. We hope you LOVE your senior pictures, Dana!

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