My mother hauled me out of school one rainy day in November of my senior year to drive her to Lynchburg, Virginia. She had been hired to shoot the small, seminary campus for an upcoming brochure. She had never gotten her driver’s license… mostly walking or biking to work all the years I knew her. On this particular Friday, she had decided that I would drive and that I would also shoot with her. Fine by me.

I remember sitting on the cold floor of the men’s dorm quietly watching the two guys studying at the end of the hall. I took three frames and in one of them the pipe completed the composition… I am not sure if they knew I was there.

Later, Mom studied these, smiling, and said they weren’t necessary for the brochure… she gave me one of the most important photographs of my life.

I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to take a little extra time to play with your photographer. If you have followed my work for a while you may recognize this wonderful couple. I figure we spent an hour for just the two of them on their wedding day… but we did it in 3 twenty minute chunks so they weren’t out of the guest loop for very long at any given time.

Maybe you think that’s too much time but can you imagine not having the really special portraits? I didn’t think so.

Work with me. ;0)

Tyson’s cadre of young men took the time to work with the camera… the space dictated the mood and they ran with it. Sometimes the groomsmen get the short straw in the group photos but these guys made sure they got their share and that pleases me.

The short one had some pretty darn sharp patent leather boots of her own going on but she had traveling ideas about Nancy’s fancy shoes. The last I saw of her that afternoon, she was walking slowly towards the front door in her white anklets and those red, red shoes.

In our corner of paradise we get to work in soft vineyard light and magical beach light… all of those weddings have a really fine chance to shine. However, you can also count on just the right light in our downtown streets… it’s just a matter of experience and persuasion. I say it that way because I can see the light when it is ready but I have to make my couples understand that the time is now…. the window is limited.

I have a couple shopping me right now who have this dynamic day planned. The only problem I can see is that they haven’t planned any time for really good photographs. They see it in my portfolio and it excites them but they don’t have the time to do anything like it. Wouldn’t you want to have a little input from your wedding professional? Keep us in the loop as much as you can. Just saying.

If you are shopping for for a real wedding photographer, come talk to me… a good fit is worth a lot.

Erin and Rob were almost on their toes in anticipation… the first sight of each other was on one of the balconies at the Jupiter Hotel… up out of the friendly crowd. They had a chance to really connect before the aisle walk and before all of those other people needed any part of them.

True love is a rare find… it’s nice to see it go by.

What a lovely day for a trolley ride! Brooke and John had a wonderful and well attended celebration high on a hill in Carlton… the private vineyard was decked out with every convenience except parking. The answer to that was to have their guests park on the road below and take the trolley up the steep dirt road. Based out of McMinnville, The Trolley is a local company staffed by really nice people… just the kind of folks you’d hire for a wine tour or a wedding in the middle of our lush wine country.

This portrait of driver Dick Oviat was taken with my Lensbaby Tilt Transformer… I love the mood I get from one of my favorite toys!

Today is one of those fine, bright days and it makes me feel like going somewhere. Since I can’t just walk away from my chores, I can travel a little in my head. My chores involve updating my blog and client galleries and adding a mobile site… none will be finished today but since I am office-bound, I should make a start on it.

The blog update starts with this larger image… too bad it doesn’t make the previous images bigger but by the time a few posts go by, maybe it won’t be so noticeable. ;0)

Meanwhile, hop the ferry on a sunny afternoon and feel the breezes in your face…

Stacey and Darrell hired us for three days in October… a halloween party on Friday, a sunny recreational Saturday at Crater Lake followed by a Sunday wedding on the rim. It was the last open day of the season… the lodge was about to shut and the roads would close as soon as people were out. Sunday morning found us with much lower skies and rapidly dropping temperatures… enough that the bridal party wore long underwear and hiking boots under their beautiful dresses. On the rim, the cold wind was close to unbearable… guests wrapped in plastic parkas braving the sleet and the freezing fog. The flowers popped in that stark light. Stacey braved it somehow in her spaghetti strap dress.

The party was down the hill in a little grange hall in Fort Klamath… homemade pies and fine BBQ. As the rain subsided, I asked them to come across the street with me to play in the high grass.

Up on the rim, the roads were closing for a long white winter.