Blink Photography Blog

Your Photos as Art . by walla walla family photographer

admin — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:00:32 +0000

One of my favorite parts about being a photographer is having clients that look at their family pictures as artwork for their home! I’m not talking about an 8×10 here, a 5×7 there, and maybe an 11×14 above the fireplace. I’m talking about huge prints displayed on your walls. Those types of prints that when someone walks into your house, “WOW” is the first thing that comes out of their mouth! Those prints that melt your heart every time you walk past them in the hallway because they are images of your precious family. Those are my favorite! I absolutely can’t wait to have our house built because the first form of decoration that is going in it is a huge wall display of our family pictures! I’m talking…20×30′s and 30×40′s! I can “picture” it now!! Until then…I’ll be happy with getting to create gorgeous wall art for my clients! Here’s a recent one…

This display is (3) 16×24′s and (4) 11×14′s.

Happy 2012! . walla walla children photographer

admin — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 02:56:16 +0000

Hello, dearest friends!

I pray this finds you all having had an amazing Christmas and New Years…and looking forward to a new year that will bring new joys as well as challenges! After a beautiful and love-filled Christmas at home with my little family, my parents and my sisters, we enjoyed a whirlwind of a week after Christmas! We traveled to Eugene to watch a close friend marry the love of her life then spent the New Years with Jason’s family. It was wonderful hanging out with family and being able to visit some college friends!

Now that we are ending the week after all of the festivities, I can’t help but be excited to see what the coming year will bring! I feel like there is so much stuff on the docket for 2012. One of our biggest projects will be building our house here in Milton-Freewater on a little piece of land tucked into my parents’ apple orchard. After months and months of submitting application after application, we are finally down to the last few days of waiting for our house plan to be approved by the county so that we can start building!!!! Yay! I am so excited to see this patch of dirt turn into our little dream home with 1 dog, 1 cat, 2 miniature donkeys, and a handful and chickens! (I’m still convincing my husband that we NEED all of these animals!) hehe So, breaking ground for the foundation is on the schedule for this Saturday. I’ll try my hardest to keep you updated with pictures as things come along…for now…here is a few snaps of what it looked like this summer.

Also, in 2012, we are looking forward to some exciting changes within Blink Photography! You’ll have to wait to find out what is coming, but let’s just say that I am more than giddy just thinking about them all! (ok ok…I’ll give you a little hint at one of them…Blink Photography may just not be called “Blink Photography” by the end of 2012!) That’s all the hints for now, so you’ll just have to trust me all the fun is yet to come!

As all of these exciting changes are in the schedule to happen, I am trying to keep foremost in my mind that even though I have all of this planned out, it is ultimately the Lord’s will and plans that I want for 2012. Whether it be for our family, my business, or our house, I am constantly trying to surrender these dreams in my heart to the Lord because He says in His Word in Proverbs, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps…” He also tells us in Isaiah 30 that “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’” I truly long to seek the Lord in all that I do . I don’t want to seek happiness, fame, fortune, popularity, or anything else this world has to offer. However, I must say that I fail in this every single day…multiple times a day. I don’t want to, but I do. I think I’m going to write down Jeremiah 29:13 and stick it here in front of me by my computer and have it for this year’s moto… “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with ALL your heart.” What a glorious thing to know that when we truly seek the Lord with all of our hearts, we will find Him! My prayer is that for all of you this year…that you will seek Him with your whole heart! I know we won’t be disappointed if we do!

And lastly, I just have to share my last session of 2011 of my little men which produced this years Christmas card! It was freezing cold, but they were troopers…ok, maybe just Ivan was a trooper! Breck wasn’t so patient, but then again, he’s almost 2 and I’m not sure patience is a 2 year old’s best quality! Enjoy, and I’ll be praying for you, my friends!

A Jose Villa Workshop . by walla walla and bend wedding photographer

admin — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 00:18:11 +0000

This past summer, I had the pleasure of attending one of Jose Villa’s AMAZING wedding workshops in Santa Ynez, California! I can’t even begin to explain how this experience has completely changed the way I look at photography. We were able to see everything from the way he runs his business to how he shoots and what he shoots with. We then got to photograph a “wedding” for the whole afternoon. One of the biggest lessons that I took away from this photography workshop was the importance of being true to myself and my style and to stick with what I love to do. We don’t need to be the photographer for everyone, but if we do what we love, then others will love it too. I truly believe that if we have a passion and inspiration for what we photograph, then that will come out in our pictures. It was an experience of a lifetime that also reaffirmed my passion and love for film photography. In my opinion, the beauty and look that film photography creates cannot be matched. What can I say…I’m in love!

And I’m also sooooo excited to start photographing more weddings here in Walla Walla and Milton-Freewater, and also back in the Central Oregon / Bend area! If you are interested in hiring us for your upcoming wedding, just give us a call or shoot us an email for more info!

Here are just a few of the photos that I took while there…ok, maybe a few more than a few! Enjoy!

A huge thanks to the following vendors who made this amazing day possible!

Figueroa Farm House: http://www.figueroamountainfarmhouse.com/

Jose Villa Workshops - http://josevillaworkshops.com/

Jill La Fleur - http://www.lafleurweddings.com/

Mar of TEAM Hair and Makeup - http://www.teamhairandmakeupservice.com/

Joel Serrato - http://joelserratofilms.com/

Kate of Flower Wild Design - http://www.flowerwild.com/index2.php

Found Rental - http://vintage-rentals.com/index2.php#/home/

James Cagle – Accountant

Cypress Albums - http://www.cypressalbums.com/

Fuji Film: - http://www.fujifilm.com/

Richard Photo Lab - http://www.richardphotolab.com/

Invitation Suite: Ceci New York www.cecinewyork.com

Hair Pieces: Mignonne Handmade http://www.etsy.com/shop/mignonnehandmade

Dresses: BHLDN www.bhldn.com

Cake: Maggie Austin www.maggieaustincake.com

Napkins: La Tavola Linens www.latavolalinen.com

Calligraphy – Chelsea Petaja - http://ohmydeerhandmades.blogspot.com/

The Dobson Family :: bend, oregon family photographer

admin — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 10:30:20 +0000

On our last trip to Bend, I had the opportunity to do a few photo shoots in the evenings while we were there! I miss being a full-time photographer in Central Oregon, however, I think it’s even more fun to be able to come back and do some family, newborn or engagement portraits while I’m there! That way, I’m not tired of the same old locations, and always get to try something new and fun! As a side note…I’ll be back in Bend in April to photograph a wedding at Brasada Ranch. Spring is a gorgeous time to get your family pictures taken, especially out at Brasada. Let me know if you’d like to book with us as our schedule there will fill up very quickly. And check out this gorgeous family that I photographed out there last fall!

So, one of my family sessions this time just happened to be of this gorgeous little girl! I first met her mommy right after my Ivan was born and I desperately needed a hair cut! I was referred to her, and as I sat in the salon chair, we started a friendship that I have been so blessed by! Over the years, our families became the best of friends and I was honored to be able to take their engagement pictures and photograph their Bend, Oregon wedding! Now, it is my pleasure to introduce to you Miss Eva with the most beautiful big blue eyes that you’ve ever seen!

All photos taken with my Contax 645 on Fuji 400H film.

Harvest Party Time!

admin — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 23:18:21 +0000

This year marked our first annual fall harvest party! We had so much fun! We brought out my Grandpa’s vintage cider press, made carmel apples and homemade caramels, drank our fill of eggnog chai, and had milk in glass milk bottles for the kiddos! Everyone brought scrumptious food which made me eat waaaaayyyyy too much that weekend! We couldn’t have asked for better friends to share the day with! Oh, and don’t forget about the wreath…compliments of Martha Stewart! Gotta love that lady!

Miss Annie Brooks :: talented music artist and professional photographer

admin — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 00:57:57 +0000

If you’ve happened to notice the super fun and amazing music on our site and blog, then I must introduce you to the one and only, extremely talented Annie Brooks! I first met her at the Jose Villa Workshop in Santa Barbara this past summer, and we became fast friends! At the end of the workshop, she handed me her two CD’s and mentioned that she’s not only a photographer in Durango, Colorado for Brumley and Wells, but also a musician! Wow, this girl is crazy talented! Seriously, go check out her music…and then stop by and look at her and her husband’s amazing photography! You will be amazed – I promise!

She’s the cute, curly-haired one!

Bob+Shannon+Parker+Laney :: Family Portrait Photographer in Walla Walla

admin — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 22:54:54 +0000

Have I told you lately that I LOVE living here in the Walla Walla Valley? If not, I’m telling you now! And I more than LOVE being a photographer here in Walla Walla! Seriously, the light is so gorgeous and there are a plethora of apple orchards, fields, farms…you name it! There is a back road that we always take when we go to church, the post office, Ivan’s t-ball games…it takes you about anywhere you want to go in the little town of Milton-Freewater. Aa a photographer, everywhere I look I notice the scenery and how the lighting is coming through. Well, I’ve driven on this particular back road and for the past few years have notice there is one spot in a certain apple orchard that at the right time of day, the light filters through the trees at just the right angel and creates the most beautiful scene you can imagine! Needless to say, I knew I had to use it for pictures, so recently I went to ask to use the location and at the same time noticed that they don’t pick the apples on these trees!!!! Yippee! What does that mean for me? Ahhhhh…gorgeous field, amazing light, and apples for the kids to pick! Seriously, it can’t get much better than this! I get giddy just thinking about it! I’m the type that when I see beautiful light, I just itch to be out shooting in it! Call me crazy, but I love it!

Anyhow, this family followed me out to our special apple orchard with amazing light, and we spent a few hours on a beautiful October evening playing in the grass, picking and eating apples, snuggling with mom and dad, and of course, eating suckers at the end! And I can’t tell you how much of a blessing this family is in my life! When we first moved over here, I had a hard time leaving our Bend friends and was so afraid that finding friends here would be a bit more difficult. I must say that even after a year and two weeks (yep, been here that long already!), I still continually miss our friends in Bend, but the Lord had blessed us beyond all we could ask or imagine! This family is just one of those blessings! Shannon and I met in stroller class at the gym where I also got to know and love her two little beauties, Parker and Laney. Ahhhh…and blessing #2…Shannon is also a 2nd grade teacher in Walla Walla who is so graciously going to let me come and teach an art lesson to her class this week! I can’t wait to get into my “teacher mode” and put together a fun, fall craft and make their fall bulletin board! Maybe, just maybe, she’ll let me be a guest teacher once a month! I’ll let ya’ll know how it goes!

Have fun browsing through the pictures and “spending time” with this beautiful family in the sunlit apple orchard!

All photographs shot with film on my Contax 645. Have I mentioned yet that I’m completely smitten with shooting film? Bye Bye digital!

Kai & Mason :: a brother photo shoot in Portland, OR

admin — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 02:40:12 +0000

When their mother first contacted me, she wanted to book a photo session for her two boys. She said she lived in Portland, but would be willing to travel to me over here in the Walla Walla Valley to get the beautiful grass and huge trees that we have over here. I immediately knew this would be a fun photo shoot with her 9 and 12 year old boys, so we just had to make it work! Well, after chatting on the phone a few times, we decided that Wilsonville would be the perfect spot to meet up and photograph those beautiful boys of hers! So, a few weeks ago, I got the privilege of meeting the most amazing super mom and the sweetest two boys I’ve ever met! Seriously, I pray that my boys end up with the manners and loving personalities that these brothers had! They volunteered to carry my gear, were up for any shot that I wanted to get of them, and were still happy at the end of an hour and a half shoot! They were amazing! My goal was to not only capture the beauty of the boys and the amazing landscape, but to also capture who these boys are at this very time in their life…their personalities, their joy, their love, and their “all boy” antics! I also have to say that I fell in love with this family! Their Dad was hilarious and their mom so incredibly sweet with the cutest Australian accent ever! Seriously, she has inspired me to start saying “ring me” instead of “call me”! Ok…enough words…now for the good stuff…

I hope you fall in love with these boys as much as I did!

Beautiful “C” Family Pictures in the Apple Orchard :: Walla Walla, WA

admin — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 07:49:20 +0000

I’m not sure how many times I’ve done family pictures for this gorgeous family of 6, but I think I started with their youngest’s baby pictures. They are definitely friends who are most dear to our hearts…ya know, those friends who are guaranteed to be there through thick and thin and all the way to the end? Well, we’ve got them right here, and it’s always my pleasure to be their annual family photographer! However, we got to mix it up this year when they drove a long 5 hours to come have their pictures taken over here in Milton-Freewater in the apple orchard! This specific apple orchard has quickly become my favorite place to take pictures. It has gorgeous natural sunlight that filters through the trees at just the right angel, creating the most beautiful lighting! I’m sure the “C” Family is laughing right now since they didn’t get to experience any of this fabulous lighting! That’s right, it was raining, terribly cloudy, freezing cold and just plain yucky! But what do ya do when that was the longest break from the rain that we had all weekend? Hey, at least we got up at 5:30am to make the girls’ hair gorgeous for the clouds and rain!!! I must say that I had a blast blow drying, curling and styling the girls’ hair! Mmmmmm…I think I might need a little girl of my own someday! Anyways, here is this gorgeous family…freezing cold and all!

Where have I been?

admin — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 07:52:13 +0000

Great question!! I gave up long ago trying to make excuses for why I haven’t blogged in eons. The truth is, I haven’t really known what to blog about! Ok, I think maybe that sounds like an excuse too, but we’ll go with it! It’s been 2 days short of a year since we moved out here to Milton-Freewater and Walla Walla, and so much has happened in this year that I don’t have a clue where to even start. Basically, I have to say that the over-arching theme of the year has been watching the Lord dish out blessing after blessing in our lives. Just calling them “blessings” doesn’t even seem like a big enough word for all the Lord has done. I can’t share them all tonight or even in the next week, but rest assured that I will share as this next year in our “new” Eastern Oregon home progresses. What I do need to share though is a few recent pictures of the most precious blessings that our good God has so graciously given me. These were all taken a few weeks ago by the incredibly talented and beautiful, Meg Borders. Thank you, Meg, for giving us the most perfect family pictures anyone could ever have!! I am forever grateful!

Ok, I have to say that I love this first one because this is our Breck! I don’t want to say that he’s the ornery one…but, well…he is! This is his “Mom, let me down or I’ll bite” look!