Here a blog, there a blog, everywhere a blog, blog....

I will be guest blogging this week at http://www.mcpactions.com/blog/ so be on the look out. I'll be addressing the trouble some people have properly exposing when the subject is wearing white. After writing a rough draft I decided I needed some specific photos for this post. Then I remembered its time to update my facebook and twitter profile, and I have a super cute white shirt. So one thing led to the other and it became a portrait session for Terice and I. Mind you I take photos of Terice all the time, (she's my muse/assistant).

Additionally if you are following this blog and haven't checked out my studio's blog now is a great time! Until April 10 you can buy a gift certificate for a future session and 100% of the proceeds will go to support the American Red Cross. This is an extension of the Helping Haiti Through Photography Event we held on March 27th. And if you are tried of hearing about the event know that I WILL NOT stop talking about it until enough money has been raised to meet the goal I set for donations. So donate now even if its for no other reason then to make me shut my big trap.

Speaking of our charity event, here's some favorites. All of these shots used the same lighting pattern, as shown in the diagram below. I love the soft diffused quality of light, don't you?

.All shots are at 200 ISO with 1/200 shutter speed and f4-f8 aperture depending on the subject. 

When an architect marries a lawyer...

Congratulations to Megan Sheets and Steven McKay married Feb. 20, 2010. Here is one of my favorite photos of them from their portrait sessions.

We photographed their portraits at the Sculpture Gardens downtown Seattle. It was an amazingly beautiful day for February. Thanks El Nino! While the Eastcoast drowns in snow, I'm watching my flowers in my front yard bloom and laughing in spite of myself.
Because it was so bright it was important to use the shade side of the red sculptures to subtract the overpowering sunlight and keep the subjects comfortable. No one likes to look directly in the sun!
The next step was to suspend a translucent medium in front of two sb-800 flash units to create a large soft light source.
The exposure was then balance between the flash and daylight to keep the city blue sky visible in the background.

The shapes of the art as well as the shadows they created add a lot to the image.

More of Megan and Steven's photos will be online in two weeks at Irene Jones Photography Online.

Please search for Megan and Steven and use password 21366 to log in.

Website Update complete!

Caleb pulled a few all nighters but it's done! Our website's update for 2010 is complete. New packages, portfolios, and a more interactive layout have been added. I'd love to know what you think. And please, let me know if find typos or have any issues with navigation. Your comments will help us improve our client's experience. Thanks for checking it out!

http://www.ijphoto.net

Help! I need to narrow down my wedding portfolio!

This week Caleb and I are working on version 3.1 of Irene Jones Photography Online. The update will streamline the flow of the site and direct customers to different sections based on their needs: weddings, portraits, or High School Senior Portraits. It's about this time every year that I update my portfolios anyways, but the new site is a little different and while there will be more images in total, the portfolio section will actually be smaller. This comes from the "less is more" rants given by my department head in college. I'm trying to condense it to no more then 30 AMAZING images. The problem? I'm too close to the images and can't decide. It's like trying to choose a favorite child (currently Alex but don't let the others know). So I want your help. I've posted my favorites below. Please comment on which images should stay. Also feel free to leave comments about what ones you think should go. When you're done voting please ask others to do the same! I need as many voices to help me out as possible. And please try to be descriptive so I have a clue what photo you are talking about!

I am attending the Northwest Bridal Showcase this weekend Jan. 9-10. So I'm concentrating on the wedding portfolio first. I'll do the other two later this month. When the update is complete, I'll let you know so you can check out the sleek new feel.

Oh... and I should probably should include some of Terice's work....

Can you see why I need help? How do you sum up 10 years of photography (these images are mainly from the last 2 years only) in 30 perfect shots? Don't let me down blogosphere!