Tag Archives: Lifestyle Photography

Holman Family Reunion – Kitsap County Photographer ~ Four Foot Photography

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This was one of my all time favorite family sessions, such a fun, vibrant, loving group, about to embark on a family reunion vacation. The session was booked by one of my favorite people,  Claire Kingsbury, and introduced me to her family of origin, EACH OF WHOM, individually, is filled to overflowing with life and love – put them all together in the same backyard, and the hilarity and affection explode in waves of joy. Think I am laying it on thick? Meet them, and you will know this is a great understatement! Three of the children married, two about to embark on their LDS missions, one still at home and two grandchildren. They were so real and connected, it was a dream to photograph them – I felt I could have stood in the middle of the yard and just spun around clicking wildly, and the images would have been amazing (I did put more into it than that, and the results I hope speak for themselves).

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 The Holmans had a  “Four Foot Photography Christmas,” so each household has their choice of artwork or photobook memory, we did Christmas cards, accordian books, layflat albums, float wraps, playing cards, prints and canvases.

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Feedback from the fabulous Mrs. Holman (This message made me so happy!):

“I just wanted to let you know that we got our package with our stuff and oh my goodness, we are over the top thrilled! Thank you so much, especially for the little extras you tucked in there, that was awfully kind of you. I have to say, those accordion books are my absolute favorite, they are so perfect for each of those kids, it is like you grew up with them (she is being overly kind, I am old enough to be their mother). They are going to love them and I can’t wait for the kids to see them. Have a Merry Christmas and we’ll be talking to you again.”

 

This is an excerpt from Connor’s letter home to his sister (with permission), telling how he uses his accordion book in his ministry in Africa. I love this so much, I am changing my name to Megan.

Connor letter

 

If you are planning a family reunion, I highly recommend planning a reunion photo session, I will be adding it to my session options for sure. Whether you hire a photographer at your destination, or appoint Uncle Bob, not only is it important to document your family, the process is emotive in and of itself (I have talked about this before – I feel strongly that creating the images is as important as having the images, from rats to dogs and their people to weddings to extended families!). The Holmans will always have these images to recollect and validate their relationships and remind them of the fabulous memories they made on the vacation they left for when we wrapped the session.

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I have officially applied for weird aunty status, I love these people so much!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Family Reunion Photography, Kitsap County Photographer, Mary Eklund, Four Foot Photography, Kingston, Family Photographer, 2013, Extended Family Photo, Family Portraits, Kingston Photographer, Poulsbo Photographer, Port Orchard Photographer, Family Love

Confidence given, confidence returned…Kitsap County Photographer ~ Four Foot Photography

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I attended MeRa Koh and husband Brian Tausend’s Confidence Workshop at the Hotel Murano in 2011, in the midst of the biggest ice storm2014-03-17_0007

 (not my favorite picture, but it had been two very long, emotional days!)

 we’ve had in the PNW in 15 years, and believe wholeheartedly they will achieve whatever they set out to accomplish! MeRa moved seemingly insurmountable airline mountains to get back to Tacoma in time for the workshop, which had women coming from all around the country. She started a fantastically successful wedding photography business, then moved into teaching photography skills to other women (hence the “Confidence” workshops were born!), and was featured on the Nate Berkus show among others. You may have seen MeRa at a photography trade show, on Disney or Nate Berkus, and she is a local Tacoma girl! She and Brian and their children have a dream to create a family travel show (read more about it here) and they have 6 more days to reach their fundraising goal – help out a little or a lot if you can, and watch for their new TV show, and you will see me sporting my headbands this fall (in lieu of a haircut or two, but I’m all about pursuing your dream!)…I still need to work on my confidence in some areas, but not so much in shooting, and I feel this workshop was a huge jumping off point for me. I will forever be grateful for the friendships made, technical skills learned, confidence gained and ideas gathered in this two day period. It was also the beginning of my love of lifestyle photography, which I now emphasize more than strict portrait photography. Here are a few of my favorite images from that Confidence workshop, the ones of my kids are some of my all-time favorites, and are canvases on my own walls:

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MeRa and Brian, thank you for the confidence you have given me, I give you back the same – I know your dreams will come true, and become new, brighter, bigger dreams. Bon voyage!!

Mary

 

 

 

 

 

 

MeRa Koh, Confidence Workshop, Kitsap County Photographer, Lifestyle Photographer, Mary Eklund, Four Foot Photography, Kids and Families, Kickstarter Campaign, Nate Berkus, Disney Channel

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

SKWLL Vandals – Port Orchard Child and Family Photographer

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I feel like my son won the coach lottery this year – his basketball team just finished up their season, and it was a great one!

The lighting challenge this week was dragging the shutter – using a slow shutter speed and second curtain sync on the flash to show motion. This is often used at a wedding reception, but since I didn’t have one of those handy, I thought it would be fun to try at a basketball game.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kitsap County Photographer, Sports Photography, Child and Family Photographer, Port Orchard Photographer, Photography Awesomesauce Winter Lighting Challenge

McNeill’s Brogan Boy – Kitsap County Pet Photographer Four Foot Photography

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I never know what will come of an inquiry – sometimes nothing, and sometimes I meet someone I feel like I have known, or want to know, forever. I had a call in October that led to me meeting the fabulous Alicia Harck (I rarely use last names on my blog, but you really need to know that this angel woman is among us). Alicia is co-founder of The Big Dog Rescue Project, and coordinates for Seattle dogs coming in from high kill Texas shelters. She screens applications, picks up, fosters, places and delivers the dogs to their new families. It is an amazing, intensive constant, in addition to caring for her own sweet husband, dogs and horses. Alicia has since done some fostering for Pony Up Equine Rescue (in her spare time?). As much as I would go on and on about this fantastic giver of a woman, this post is not about her, but about sweet Brogan, her 11 year old yellow lab.  Alicia had seen my work at the annual Kitsap Humane Society Animal Krackers Auction, and was calling to set up a pet photography session. 2013 was a hard year for the Harcks, as they lost multiple four footed family members, horses, dogs and the cat. Darling Brogan had been treated at WSU College of Veterinary Medicine for a rare nasal cancer. Brogan fought hard and went into remission, but Alicia was calling me as the cancer was back. She wanted his session to be a surprise for her husband for Christmas, and we planned a lifestyle session featuring this darling boy on his (gorgeous!) home turf, being Brogan, while he was feeling healthy and happy. He certainly lived up to his billing as Chief Heartthrob, although Alicia’s friend Michelle tells me Brogan is HER boyfriend, so I had to take a number. The Harcks are making sure Brogan enjoys every day, and while cancer and treatment have taken their toll, you can clearly see his sweet, beautiful spirit, and the absolute love and devotion he has for his people.

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We made some beautiful custom Christmas cards, a gorgeous canvas, wood print, photographic prints and metal prints, in addition to their custom layflat session album. It is my fervent wish that their vibrant, personal artwork makes them happy every single time they look at it. I love these people and everything they stand for, I am truly blessed to meet such amazing people and animals through my business.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kitsap County Pet Photographer, Four Foot Photography, Mary Eklund, Port Orchard Pet Photographer, Gig Harbor Pet Photographer, Yellow Lab, Pet Photographer, Kitsap County Photographer, Professional Photographers of America

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

Winter Photo Challenge – Week 1: Natural Light Backlighting

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I try to focus {bad photographer pun intended} on one aspect of my business to improve upon each year – my subject for 2014 is lighting, most specifically artificial light, as I have primary used natural light for my photography, with some fill flash as necessary.  Really ALL of photography is about light, and precisely how much is let in to the camera via shutter speed, aperture and ISO.  Light affects not only how we see the image, but how we feel when we see the image. ANYHOO, the Photography Awesomesauce Winter Challenge came across my desk at just the right time, and I decided to jump in, so for the next 22 weeks there will be posts of images taken in conjunction with the weekly challenge.  This week was about backlighting with natural light, and it was, well, kinda dark in my part of the world yesterday and today, so the images I had in mind didn’t quite work out, but this is a Lego robot built by my son, and he wanted a picture of it, so here it is!

Lego Robot

Lego Robot

 

It is a very cool robot, and there is a mini-figure inside with “controls”. I love that boy.

Six Months Old – Already? Port Orchard Photographer

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Time does fly – especially that first year – and this little guy is already blasting through his milestones. I can hardly believe that Evan is six months old – and already on his first cruise. Livin’ the life, Little Dude! Rob and Pattie made time to appease the paparazzi (yours truly) the night before they left on vacation – yikes – for Evan’s 6 month pictures. He is just the yummiest little baby, I love those bright eyes and his interaction with his parents. It has been my unwavering pleasure to be their family photographer (and self-appointed weird auntie).

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Kitsap County Photographer, Mary Eklund, Lifestyle Photography, Family Portraits, Baby Pictures, Milestones, Silverdale, Gig Harbor Photographer, Key Peninsula, Pierce County Photographer

Squishy, Shiny and New

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Look who came to see me?! How great is it to have repeat clients? Great, great, GREAT! Especially when they produce such magnificent subject matter. EVAN could not be a more perfect baby, AND his parents brought me coffee. Jus’ sayin’.

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Just look at those sparkly eyes, squishy toes, fuzzy hair. Argh. So. Stinkin. Cute.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baby Pictures, Lifestyle Photography, Four Foot Photography, Kitsap County Photographer, Mary Eklund, Pierce County Photographer, Family Photos, Newborn, Port Orchard Photographer, Key Peninsula, Gig Harbor Photographer, 2013