Tag Archives: Family Portraits

Candle light

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This week’s lighting challenge was not as technically difficult as some, just meant to get us thinking outside the box. Candle light photos of course would be great for WEDDINGS, ENGAGEMENTS, BIRTHDAY PARTIES…since none of those was on my radar for March, I thought I would do a project with my boy, who got a new set of Legos from his Auntie Jessi this week. They are Avengers – Captain America on the motorcycle, Ironman in midair, Loki launching missives from the boat, Redface in the vehicle, and some other ugly dudes (I thought I was doing well to have paid that much attention). We had some fun!

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Kitsap County Photographer, Lifestyle Family Photographer, Mary Eklund, Four Foot Photography, Kids and Families, Photography Awesomesauce Winter Lighting Challenge, Candle light, Kitsap Wedding Photographer, Pet Photographer, Real Estate Photos, 2014

Winter Lighting Challenge – Catchlights

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Usually a willing poser, the wingnut was rather subdued.
Literally one shot of the boy before he was off. Meh.
Gladys was full of beans, and pushed her fur brother off the ottoman.
Grandma Kitty can still smolder the camera.
What happens when I tell her to look right into the lens…sigh.
Catchlights on a fish? If you look closely…
Oh, this one is trouble…
PCS – Photographer’s Child Syndrome.

Catchlights are the little reflection of light in the eye that give spirit to a photograph, bringing it to life. This is especially true for pet photography. Animals have such dark eyes, it is very important to capture the light and avoid the dreaded “shark” or “dead” eye. For this week’s challenge (easy peasy, right?), I thought I would photograph the kids and the dogs together – yeah, no. Not gonna happen. So then I thought I would do each of my babies – two footed, four footed and finned (ok, I don’t really think of the fish as one of my babies, but I have managed to keep him alive for 14 months now!). Well it seems NO ONE was in a cooperative mood, so what I got was kind of silly, but I love them all the same.

I think perhaps Batfish was the most cooperative…

Port Orchard Photographer, Mary Eklund, Kitsap County Photographer, Kids and Pets, Winter Lighting Challenge, Cat Photos, Dog Photos, Lifestyle Photography, Gig Harbor Family Photographer, 2014

Evan is One! Kitsap County Photographer ~ Four Foot Photography

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So very cool to be invited to Evan’s first birthday! I first photographed Evan when he was just a tiny, invisible nugget, just along for the ride while I did a buddy session with his furry four-footed brothers, Bear and Barley. Click here to see Bear and Barley. I was so excited to be asked to do a maternity session for Rob and Pattie, who are just the nicest people (and funny, two of my favorite things, nice and funny) you would ever want to meet. It was quite an honor to get to visit Evan in the hospital, before he had a name, and then to have his name be Evan (one of my all time favorites!), is perfect. We did a newborn session, then 6 months, and they even came to the Prison Pet Partnership Photos with Santa event I did. Yay, EVAN!

Lifestyle Photography, Kitsap County Photographer, Mary Eklund, Port Orchard Photographer, Keyport, First Birthday Photos, Cake Smash, 2014

Fun with the kiddos Kitsap County Photographer ~ Four Foot Photography

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My models work cheap – the two foots for pretzels and the four foots for Zukes! Once again, here they are helping me with this week’s lighting challenge, which was Off Camera Flash Daytime Portrait. I had a hard time choosing just one for posting in the group – luckily, no such constraints here, I can post my top 5 (or so…). Because I appreciate their cooperation and want them to have fun, they have a lot of input into what we do. Today, we started with a stick horse and it went all Lone Ranger from there.

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I have never been a huge fan of flash, but am digging it off camera with the triggers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Four Foot Photography, Kitsap County Photographer, Lifestyle Photographer, Port Orchard, Kids and Families, Mary Eklund, Photography Awesomesauce Winter Lighting Challenge, Week 13 Off Camera Flash Daytime Portrait

Reflector Light – Winter Lighting Challenge

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The challenge this week was to use a reflector in a portrait, something I rarely attempt when photographing animals (something about the giant, floppy, shiny thing can really freak them out!), and decided it would be preferable to have an assistant or at least a human subject! This week, however, I was helping my friend prepare to put her house on the market – I was running out of light today and neither of us wanted to pause long enough to get presentable, so I took some liberties with the “portrait” part of the assignment. I found these cuties to be willing and cheerful models, and will definitely be breaking out the reflector for future sessions!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kitsap County Photographer, Mary Eklund, 2014, Port Orchard Photographer, Portrait Photography, Gig Harbor to Bainbridge Island, Child and Family Photographer, Real Estate Photography, Pet Photographer, Reflector Light, Winter Lighting Challenge

Evolution Kitsap County Photographer ~ Four Foot Photography

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I really, REALLY hate to say goodbye – but that seems to have been a big theme for 2013. Family, friends, neighbors – it seems like everyone is moving. It is no surprise that April and Markus Franz are moving, as he serves in the US Navy, but I am devastated nonetheless! I first met April and Markus and Dobby in Lisa Ridens’ {Affordable Dog & Puppy Training} puppy class, held at Woodside Animal Hospital, after bringing home a particularly difficult youngish used dog. Dobby was only 4 months old, but ridiculously attentive and obedient, while my wingnut was, well, being himself! I was juuuust starting my business at the time, and got up the nerve to ask Lisa if I could solicit the class for volunteer models to build my portfolio (thank you, Lisa!). It was a class full of beautiful puppies, but April was the only one who took me up on my {free} offer. From that first little puppy shoot, the Franz family grew and evolved along with my fledgling business. It has been fun to go back through the sessions and see their family and my photography evolve and change. We did the last shoot less than two weeks ago. April’s mom was really looking forward to a maternity shoot, but since baby Franz isn’t scheduled to make an appearance for 4 more months, you have to use your imagination a little bit! I have truly appreciated their friendship. So, happy trails Markus, April, Snuggles, Phil, Dobby and Quint!

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Here is a little trip down memory lane – from the first puppy shoot for Dobby, to a Nebraska homecoming, Dobby’s first birthday, Quint’s arrival, promotional shots for April’s business, Shooting Star Services, graduation pictures from her first training class, April’s new truck, Christmas card pictures, real estate shots for renting their Port Orchard home, Halloween, New Years and Baby Shower parties, pregnancy announcement…Thanks for watching my goonies, and loaning me your boys, for long conversations and good meals and …This photographer is going to miss you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Port Orchard Pet Photographer, Mary Eklund, Four Foot Photography, Shooting Star Services, Affordable Dog and Puppy Training, Pet Town, Woodside Animal Hospital, Family Photos, Sheltie, Belgian Malanois, Cat Photos, Kitsap County Photographer

Golden Hour – Gorgeous Light

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If you have booked a photography session with me, most likely we have talked about the Golden Hour – the yummy, warm, golden light that occurs the hour or so before the sun sets. I usually spend more time obsessing about this perfect window during the summer, when we have actual sun to set here in the somewhat grey Northwest (!). However, the Winter Lighting Challenge I have been participating in brought the Golden Hour to the forefront this week, with a Golden Hour Portrait as the assignment. I had a fantastic idea for a styled shoot, which… I will have to complete in the future. Today is the final day to post my submission, so it needed to happen on the family trip to Zoolights, which was tonight, the last night – oooh, a procrastination trend! I am literally down to the final hour, so I will be adding the Zoolights images to the post as I get through them.

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Kitsap County Photographer, Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, Zoolights, 2014, Photography Awesomesauce Winter Challenge, Mary Eklund, Portrait Photographer, Pet Photographer, Child Photographer, Gig Harbor, Port Orchard, Bremerton, Silverdale, Poulsbo, Kingston, Bainbridge Island, Senior Photos, 2014

Merry Christmas! Winter Lighting Challenge – Bokeh Shapes

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This week’s challenge had to do with creating shapes by manipulating the aperture. I bought this teeny Nativity set made of beans on Etsy a few weeks ago, “Holy Frijoles!” I knew I wanted to photograph it because, c’mon, it is so stinkin’ cute! I thought it would be neat to put stars in the sky, and am fairly pleased with the result. I am learning so much by doing! Great to get outside the old comfort zone. I have another blog post planned for before Christmas, so don’t mind an early holiday greeting!

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Four Foot Photography, Kitsap County Photographer, Gig Harbor to Bainbridge Island, Kids and Families, Port Orchard Photographer, Lifestyle Photography, 2013

Pictures with Santa! Kitsap County Photographer ~ Four Foot Photography

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I was fortunate to meet Beth Rivard at the Mason County Humane Society‘s Pets in the Park event this summer, and then again at Gig Harbor Midday Rotary Club’s Harbor Hounds in September. Beth works with the Prison Pet Partnership, and wondered if I would be interested in photographing their Pets & Santa fundraiser…WOULD I?! Yes!

Saturday, December 7th was the date chosen, and what a great time I had! The pavillion at Sehmel Homestead Park was a great, HEATED venue {hint, hint…I would L-O-V-E to photograph a wedding there!}, and there was terrific volunteer and board member support, Santa was at his best! Thanks so much to Prison Pet Partnership, their grooming and boarding clients, and some special Four Foot Photography clients, it was a successful first for the Prison Pet Partnership and Four Foot Photography. ALL proceeds benefit the Prison Pet Partnership. My supportive friends at Mud Bay Gig Harbor provided $5 coupons for participants, and print product pickup will be at their amazing retail location, 4816 Point Fosdick Drive NW Suite 102, Gig Harbor. Already I am looking forward to next year!

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Gig Harbor Pet Photographer, Kitsap County Photographer, Child and Family Photographer, Pet Photography, Santa Pictures, Pierce County, Sehmel Homestead Park, 2013, Four Foot Photography

Backlighting at night

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This was not what I had planned for “backlighting at night”, but we lost our power not one, but two nights this week, so this was the perfect opportunity! Kiddos and I built a fort and luckily one of the lanterns held up – we are apparently without much in the way of flashlights (which may be largely due to having a six and an eight year old in the house). While the shots aren’t technically good, I love the emotion. Hopefully I will get a chance to create the image that came to mind with the assignment!

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Kitsap County Photographer, Kids and Families, Pet Photographer, Port Orchard, Gig Harbor, Bremerton, Silverdale, Poulsbo, Kingston, Bainbridge Island, Winter Lighting Challenge