Photography by Carina

Happy Endings

2010-09-23T12:52:00.001-07:00

Cute little boy Owens’ mom contacted me to do some family pictures for them…But not just any family pictures! Nope… these were going to be used in an adoption portfolio to be presented to a birth mom. These would play a role in persuading that birth mom to choose Owens’s family to provide a future for her child. Essentially these pictures would partly determine whether little Owen gets a baby sibling or not…

NO pressure on me or anything, right?!!

Turns out I need not have worried. Mom and dad are super nurturing --and it shows. Any child would be blessed to be treasured and loved by them- as Owen is. It was an easy capture.

My trusty, psychedelic orange sofa was a part of the shoot too! (I was so glad when mom requested it). In a unique way it helped this family express a little more of who they are: different, FUN for sure….a little brave maybe, ultimately just happy.

And so, barely two months after our shoot little Owens’ baby brother was brought home to live with them forever. I choose to believe that my pictures played a small part in making this happen; it makes me smile just thinking about it.

OH…how I LOVE happy endings!

A Big THANK YOU!

2010-09-03T12:49:00.001-07:00

It’s time to say it out loud: Thank you thank you…. THANK YOU to everyone in my little foothills neighborhood of Hidden Springs! It is quite amazing how the people out here support each other.

Exhibit A: Me.

In the four years that I have done professional photography I never had to advertise to keep my schedule filled. (And believe me, it’s NOT because I am such a good photographer. Heck no! I have made way too many… many mess ups in my day for that to be the reason!)

The truth is that ever since I first started, I’ve had the loyal support of the people that live in my community. It has been unwavering over the years; almost all my clients are from--- or can traced back to a recommendation from someone in--- my own four-square-miles ‘backyard’. It actually has become a little amusement for me every time I meet brand new people for a shoot: I have to figure out how they are linked back to Hidden Springs. They always are!

This week’s shoot is no exception: Hidden Springs residents. And they are a wonderful addition to my treasure trove of local family acquaintances. Great shoot guys! Thank you!

Who calls the shots?

2010-07-31T14:19:00.001-07:00

Almost every time I work with a family there is one particular person in the group who ‘calls the shots’. This is the person who essentially sets the pace, the flow, the energy and the length of a shoot. Oftentimes it is the youngest one in the group (work fast and bride with ice cream); sometimes the shyest one (watch out for those ‘fake’ smiles); it could be the dad or the teenager (they’d much rather be somewhere else and it shows). Or the dog (heavens help me when the dog comes along!)…In this week’s shoot it was the liveliest one of the group, a sweet little three year old boy named Jonathan.

Never have I met two siblings more opposite than Jonathan and his sister Gracie. Jonathan is a live wire…really! This little guy has energy bubbling through his every cell. Life is too interesting for him to linger in one spot. And Gracie is, exactly like her name says, graceful. This little girl seems serene and content wherever she finds herself, no need to move around too much, lingering’s good.

Opposites they are ..to mom’s relieve!

For our shoot we immersed ourselves in a flowery garden in Eagle. Where Jonathan went, we all went…all over the garden. Where Jonathan stopped we all stopped… (but that did not happen much). Luckily we encountered no snakes – although Jonathan may have liked it. It was colorful, fast and fun!

My Wonderful Victims

2010-07-14T12:45:00.001-07:00

I should probably not tell you this but I call my clients “my victims”. It’s true: I get to practice my ‘shooting’ skills on these poor, unsuspecting people. And they pay me…?!

I LOVE photography and I have ever since I was a little girl. But instead of studying it at college, I did the ‘sensible’ thing and got myself some awfully boring science degree (which I have not used since). Having never really been one to read the manuals either, my knowledge of photography is basically self taught. I took the long, bumpy road: I did it the learn-as-you-go way.

There are a few photographers whose work I adore and whom I’ve learned so much from. My own mistakes taught me a lot too. But most definitely I gained most through the tens of thousands of “victim”-pictures I’ve taken over the years. Practice makes perfect -- I’ve been practicing okay!

At this point I think it is time to quit the “victim”-thing though. From now on I will appreciate my clients as..well.. “my clients”. But I’ll keep practicing, that part will never change; still got much to learn!

This weeks victims…err Clients… were Ally’s family. They showed up with a picnic basket of treats for the kids and some wine for the adults. Now how could that turn out any other way than fun? Thank you guys! LOVED meeting you this year! (Ally, I will see you in the store…soon).

A very big “THANKS!” to THE SHABBY HOUSE store on State Street for letting me use their grounds for this shoot. LOVE the little nooks and crannies there, the little surprises at every turn. Be sure to visit!

“What’s up with this?”

2010-06-18T11:22:00.001-07:00

I deliver 100+ pictures on every shoot these days? That, while it states right here on my website to expect around 65…”What’s up with this?” wonders my husband out loud.

The answer is all around. Have you seen Idaho lately? I mean, have you? It is BEAUFITUL ! It looks like England-minus-the-stone-walls: pretty and greeeeen (my favorite!)…There are long, wavy grasses and colorful flowers everywhere; playful, puffy clouds too… In fact this place looks quite UN-Idaho-like right now. And I’m loving it!

With nature so beautiful and bursting at the seams, I can’t stop taking pictures. I find myself merrily clicking away in every direction. Problem is, all these pictures still has to be edited which has led to too many late nights in front of the computer. I need some time away from the little screen to get out there! I’m gonna have to trim the picture count back to normal…SOON.

So if you receive the normal 65 instead of 100 pictures, don’t feel bad…it’s not you, it’s me. And if you received hundreds- consider yourself spoiled!

LOVED seeing you all again this year, Matt’s- family-of-6 ! I enjoyed our little adventure of a photo shoot. It was 90 minutes of discovering-nature-through-kids-eyes. Great choice on the outfits too !

Promises made are Promises kept

2010-06-16T12:09:00.001-07:00

About a month ago I wrote a blog about how I needed to take more pictures of my own kids; I kind of made a promise to myself that I’ll do a shoot with them once a month.

Just as well I took those pictures last month because since then -- in fact the day after the shoot!--- my youngest laid into her own hair with a pair of scissors. She gave herself a nice mullet which we then modified into a brush cut. Now she’s my little boy-girl; pretty darn proud of it too.

Promises made are promises kept. It was photo time again! So, I rounded the two of them up and carted them off into the foothills---under loud protest from my oldest off course, what’s new? I love how my kids don’t mind fences, wires, thorns, sticks, brush, bush, molehills, clingy seeds, holes or critters-in –holes. They got right into that field like there were no obstacles at all. (I’d like to believe it is because they are so tough. But more likely it was the promise of ice cream at the end… )

So far so good: delivering on my promise to myself! And it was easier than the first time. Hopefully there will be no ‘makeovers’ after this shoot!

Trading Mother Nature

2010-06-15T10:40:00.001-07:00

I have my own style of photography- as does most photographers. I like natural, non pretentious pictures. I like innocence in photography. And I like to use Mother Nature as a backdrop.

Unfortunately having a certain ‘style’ has its downside: it can easily become predictable. And even, heaven forbid…boring.

So I was all for it when Andi suggested going urban for our shoot. I was ready to trade Mother Nature in for an Alley Way. Hey, even better: How about shooting in front of a dumpster? Yes! Family pictures in front of a green dumpster! And while I’m at it, why not add a trash can and the ugliest orange sofa in human memory to the scene? Now we’re talking….

So if you’re thinking of booking a shoot with me…BEWARE! I may have a wild impulse and as a result you may find yourself, an ugly orange sofa and a green dumpster in the same frame…

THANK YOU Andi! Getting inspired by your was a joy from AtoZ.

Family Get-Togethers

2010-06-14T10:30:00.001-07:00

As far as Family Get-Togethers go, the members of this family are experts. They need very little excuse, if any, to plan one. And with Family Get-Togethers I mean 40 plus people. Everyone comes! These days some even fly in from France after someone went and got herself married to a handsome Frenchman (-: Sometimes I get invited too…Well, my cameras get invited and I go along for the ride.

So, when a new baby girl is born in the family you can bet your bottom dollar there will be…-yep, you guessed it-- a Family Get-Together! With lots of trimmings like gifts and advice and cooing and picture taking (that’s me!) added to it.

Thanks everyone, for having me at your gatherings from time to time. I’m working really hard at remembering all the names…

Bundu Bash

2010-06-14T09:28:00.001-07:00

I like to choose a new setting for almost every shoot - keeps things interesting. Photo shoots add up pretty fast so I’m constantly scouting. While I’m on my run, I’m scouting. While I’m driving, I’m scouting (so watch out when you see me come, I’ve probably only got one eye on the road!) I find myself trespassing on private property quite a bit, checking things out. If I like it, I ask if I can use it. For the most part owners are quite taken by the idea, and very accommodating.

This was also the case with the sweet 85 year old lady that allowed us to use her farm for baby Mia’s family pictures. Nobody lives on the grounds anymore and the property has been untended for years which off course, made it all the more ‘scenic’ to me. Nature and wildlife basically has the run of the place and we had some interesting distractions during our shoot. There was a small critter (unidentified to date) hissing at me from the insides of an irrigation pipe in one spot and two Ospreys circling us, wildly protesting our intrusion underneath their nest, in another. This farmyard is a-little-bubble-from-the-past surviving amidst enclosing development. I hope it will never be discovered.

My young family had to bundu bash (Google it!) a bit, but they were good sports about it. And now they have a disc full of pictures to take with them when they move to Montana soon. Good luck guys! And thank you…

Zelly and Zara’s shoot

2010-05-24T19:15:00.001-07:00

I learned a few things about myself during this shoot :

I learned that I can crawl underneath a low fence faster than a 3 year old.

I learned that I can run down a slope covered in brush and riddled with rabbit and badger holes —backwards.

I learned that I can do both of the above while taking pictures, and without damaging my camera.

Pretty cool huh! (OK, OK, I did fall in a badger hole)

SO, I always wanted to shoot on this hill with the pretty yellow flowers, but light almost never allows for it. Today it did though, and I love the pictures! (Cute outfits girls!)

Good Enough to Eat

2010-05-24T14:15:00.001-07:00

My session with baby Remy and her family was the sweetest little dessert of a photo shoot ever! I love it when mother nature blends all the ingredients together perfectly to create a delightful space for photography-- like she did here today.

Her recipe? Here it is:

Start with good light-this is essential!-- Add a generous amount of wavy grasses and a leisurely stream, a pinch of dandelion flowers to taste. Sprinkle handfuls of dainty purple blooms everywhere. Combine with one cute blue-eyed baby and mix for one hour.

Enjoy lovely pictures.

Senior Shoot on Steroids

2010-05-22T14:18:00.001-07:00

As much as I love photographing young children, sometimes it is refreshing to do a shoot during which I don’t have to sing toddler songs, make monkey sounds (don’t ask!), find fictitious animals in trees or discuss Dora. This shoot was made to order.

Shea approached me to take entertainment industry headshots for her and some friends, all of them seniors at the College of Idaho and majoring in Theatre. A vibrant group of young people, actors who would certainly not need much directing from me…Easy!

The catch: there were thirteen of them! And we only had two hours! This is how long a senior shoot normally takes me – with ONE Senior. Not THIRTEEN! Oh well, nothing like a good old challenge to spice up my life.

During our shoot everybody worked together fast and well --(exactly how well I only realized afterwards: apparently quite a bit of clothes swapping went on behind my back…) We easily got it done in the time and each person had a good variety of pictures which to select six favorites from.

Good luck with your showcase everyone! And best wishes for a bright future.

An Indoor Shoot

2010-05-04T15:04:00.001-07:00

I have to confess: indoor family shoots freak me out a little. There is random light bouncing off of interior surfaces, limited space and background ‘noise’. I’m forced to use a harsh wide angle lens and oftentimes flash, the poses are formal…. For many reasons I’m just not a fan. So I decided to try and avoid them this year.

And then I found myself in a situation where the shoot was set in stone and could not be postponed. It had to happen stat! All the while the wind was bending trees in my garden and blowing over pots on my front porch. Using an outdoor setting was simply impossible. What to do?

Well, I had not other option but to head over to the nearest hotel and…(gulp!)…. do an Indoor Family Shoot!

Despite my reluctance re. the location, I had fun with Allyson’s extended family. If you have to shoot indoors, this is the family you want to do it with. They are wonderful; a tight knight, easy going group.

And, as before, the Eagle Hilton graciously allowed me to use their lobby—with only 15 minutes notice. Thank You Eagle Hilton!

“The shoemakers children…”

2010-05-01T21:02:00.001-07:00

The saying “the shoemaker’s children always go without shoes” definitely applies to me! I take thousands of pictures of other people’s kids every year- and not nearly enough of my own children. (My son could not be happier with the current state of affairs; he does not enjoy picture taking!)

In light of my empty photo albums, I have decided to make a concerted effort to change things around this season. These kids are getting photographed every month, starting right now (sorry Justin!). Filling those albums up before Christmas…

Baby Sedona and family

2010-04-28T08:30:00.001-07:00

With her head of thick, dark hair baby Sedona looks much older than her real age: only three months! And what a tiny little thing she is too…. a real live baby doll for me to play with (-:

Baby shoots- or family shoots with babies in them- are some of the longest shoots I do. We allow extra time for fussing, feeding, hugging and all other things baby related. And that’s what I did this time too: allowed LOTS of time…

Well, not this little one! There was no crying, no fussing, no need for feeding... NADA! She just rolled with it beautifully and when we were all done quietly fell asleep on her baby blanket in the grass. This has never happened to me before! But I am not complaining: as a result we got many many MANY cute pictures to choose from!

Excellent job baby Sedona and big brother Shae!

A Darling little shop called ‘Darlene’s’

2010-04-21T11:55:00.001-07:00

I am constantly scouting for, and buying… props! But when the wall of props in my garage started leaning over dangerously, threatening to fall on my children, I knew it was time to find a solution other than hoarding them. So I started borrowing and renting from stores. I use these things only once anyways!.

One store that I often turn to before a shoot, is a little treasure trove on State Street (across from the Idaho Athletic Club) called ‘Darlene’s’. There is always something fresh and new there- and Darlene herself is and absolute angel. Go check it out!

Ally and Brandon’s Wedding

2010-04-21T09:57:00.001-07:00

Before I accept an invitation to shoot a wedding, I make sure that the couple’s style is in sync with my own by getting to know them a little better. So I asked Ally to tell me more about her fiancé and herself. Her response ”...we are easy going, not afraid to be a little weird…and pretty much just act ourselves all the time…” was music to my ears. I decided there and then to do it. There is nothing that this photographer wishes for more (other than good light off course!) than spontaneity in front of my lens.

And sure enough, these two were great, up for anything (gotta love those cowboy boots!), and had some great picture suggestions themselves. It was precious how they were stealing little kisses all day long, gloriously happy and giddy.... Because of them photographing this wedding was a breeze!

Oh, and could any husband wish for a more spectacular bride?!

Old time favorites

2010-04-04T22:05:00.001-07:00

I have a certain fondness for every family I ever photographed. How can I help it? I spent so many hours with them…. editing….

There are however, a few families that are extra special to me. These are the ones I have been photographing year after year ever since I first started. These are the ones I know best.

Every year I can see how the kids have grown and changed. The kids remember me too- gone is the shyness… “C’mon camera lady, let’s go take some pictures!” I know the expectations, the personalities, the energy…There is a level of familiarity that is comforting to everyone.

This week’s shoot was with one such family: I photographed their youngest boy as a newborn- and today he was wearing a suit! We’ve come a long way together…I adore them!

Simply Senior

2010-03-23T22:59:00.001-07:00

Photo shoots take planning: settings, props, timing, outfits, light, assistants, backdrops, everything. And senior shoots take even more than the average…

That was then… no more! After today, I am changing my “modus operandi” when it comes to seniors.

We finalized the date for this shoot yesterday!! Not much time left for planning that’s for sure. But it made the shoot much more spontaneous. Not a thousand settings I had to cover, only a few. Not much time to stress about light and props, I worked with what I had…And I loved it. The flow was very comfortable and natural.

I am thinking less planning may be the way to go with senior shoots. After all, they got it made… well almost. They know what they’re doing.

Thanks Darcy for being so easy to work with (and so pretty!)

Double the sweetness

2010-03-22T12:16:00.001-07:00

Back from my trip and I definitely hit the ground running! There was hardly a moment to spare before the first shoot.

Luckily it was a fun start. This pair of 4 year olds brought with them double-the-sweetness and double-the-busyness. There was literally not a second at ease for the three adults around… We were constantly trying just to keep them dry! (Did not succeed, by the way)

Hey, bring it on. The more energy the better…

Cuba and Belize

2010-03-22T11:00:00.001-07:00

Just returned from a trip to Belize and Cuba (I’m South African so it’s OK).

I loved Cuba for its people! They are resilient as can be…genuine, accommodating, mellow (in a good way!). And no matter where you turn- there’s always someone working on his car (can you blame them?)

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Oh, and then there’s the music! It tumbles out of open windows, draws you in to bars and restaurants or just surprises you on a street corner. It’s everywhere! Very enchanting.

Belize ….Now this is a country of jaw dropping natural beauty! And then off course, there’s the mesmerizing ancient Mayan cities! You can literally loose yourself around these parts for months without ever having a dull moment. We had 5 weeks….

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My journey

2010-03-22T08:46:00.001-07:00

A travel bug as big as mine will put a dent in anybody's budget -and my husband was not all too pleased with the expense of my little habit. A few years ago I realized something had to be done if I was going to hang on to my adventures around the world. So I started my own photography business. I can honestly say it's the hardest I've ever worked in my life. But I am hardly noticing because I am having too much fun.

And now I travel guilt free. Perfect!

Trinidad (Cuba)

This is me….

2010-03-21T18:24:00.001-07:00

I love photography! And I really like to travel. Always have, always will... it’s just me.