I had the pleasure of meeting Paola and her family at the studio recently for a family shoot.

Aren’t these the most gorgeous pair of kiddos?

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And what a year it’s been.

This year was the first year I got myself a studio, which turned out to be one of the best decisions I’d made to grow my business. While it’s been a scary milestone, I am so proud of this space that has come to represent my “style”, if there ever was one. When someone looks at a picture I’ve taken and is able to recognise it as my work, it is because of this space. It has allowed me to develop this “brand”, if you will and for that, I am truly grateful.

This was also the year I invested in my journey back to film. In that, I made so many new friends through Film is Not Dead. This was a pivotal point in my career as a professional photographer, the decision to incorporate this beautiful medium into what I truly believe now represents the soul of what my work has become. While I won’t ever give up on digital, I am arriving at a happy fusion of the two that not only is magical but makes me happy. And that has become essential to keep my going for art is a passion that burns fierce and too hot sometimes for me, so much so that I am easily burnt out (forgive the deluge of metaphors!). It is hard to stay genuinely inspired in a market saturated with the same ideas. However, each time I get a scan back, each time I commune with my fellow film shooters, this passion is reignited. For that, I thank my dear friend Catherine. Thank you for introducing me to your world, without which I would forever been content wandering idiotically through a wasteland of tacky mediocrity. And thank you, Jon, for being so REAL about it all.

Thank you to my family for enduring another year of half-assed being-there but always backing me 100% without fail because for SOME reason, you still believe I am capable of so much more because I AM.

Most of all, thank YOU, JTPA friends, new and old. I must also apologize for having sometimes been overzealous in my desire to please and to be perfect, and in that, succeeded miserably in achieving neither. I’m afraid the passion is also the poison.

Auld lang syne, 2011 and hola 2012.

Surprise me

The motherload of all SOOCs today since I got my scans back! Tried my hand at manual focusing.

All shot using the Contax 645 on 220 film. Most were the 400vc but I think the last one of the Seattle skyline is on the 160nc. 80mm f2. Zeiss lens.

The benefits of shooting film: SOOC always looks great. This was taken Fall 2010. I’d just gotten the roll back (one of the hard lessons of learning to shoot film – delayed gratification). This is Ellery and his son at Volunteer Park.

Don’t remember the exact settings but this is most probably f2 on the Kodak Portra 400VC on my Contax 645.

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What is SOOC? Straight Out Of Camera. No editing, just shrinking so it doesn’t take forever to upload.

My new project for the year, just one SOOC pic a day to keep those creative juices and technical skills and light-hunting skills honed.

For more SOOC pics, go to SOOC in Categories.

This little girl was born seven days late after being induced. Such a strong little one. Here she is, 8 days old. Welcome baby girl!

Congratulations Duncan family!

This little girl is perhaps the happiest baby I’ve seen in a long time, because she smiled for one hour solid, I kid you not.

She woke up with the biggest smile, just happy to be awake. The best kind of happy, don’t you think? Just to wake up feeling sooooooo good.

That’s Milly, reading a Pooh book. And there’s A, just smilin’ away.

Mom made that! So cute, but not as cute as this smiling baby!

She rested a while…

And went right back to it.

A quick change of the cutest outfits a girl could ask for, and then, even bigger smiles! Believe it or not, she smiled right through her changing, which is not something that happens very often if you have any experience with babies.

Outside for a few. We were actually sitting by the sidewalk, if you can imagine it. The sun had suddenly shown up without warning. Which is always a nice surprise.

And one with grandma.

See you again in six months, baby girl!

Josie and Derek are expecting their little girl in a little over a month.

Firstborns are always exciting, looking at the earnest anticipation in Josie and Derek’s eyes. The enthusiasm is contagious!

Josie is one of those long-torsoed expectant mommies who carry so elegantly.

It was a rainy afternoon. My pretty see-through brolly came out to play once more.

THanks Josie and Derek! I’ll see you guys in a month!

My second Baby A for the day, this time a boy!

Baby push-ups!

Such a smiley chap.

Very drooly too

Ticklish!

A picture with dad.

Fun family pic. Thanks Charltons!

Linda and her family are some of my closest friends. A very talented lady who quilts and cooks, Linda is a photographer too and inspires me all the time with her kindness of heart and generosity.

I’m glad to have met you, my dear friend!

The challenge with creative photography, is how to remain creative with each shoot.

While many photographers are perfectly happy to use the same location, same setup, the same props since the couples ARE different, I like to mix it up every single time – which is a heckuva lot more work and time for me for each shoot, but that’s me. I just can’t do the exact same thing twice.

After all, many of my clients are referrals and know each other. I know I won’t like my photos to be the same as my best friend’s or a colleague’s.

In this aspect, it’s easier to shoot a wedding differently because so many of the details differ. When you’re the one setting up the details – the clothes, the props, creative as well as the general direction of the shoot – keeping it fresh is not an easy task.

I guess this is why the great photographers get paid big bucks (and I’m not one of them!)

Anyway, I present to you the lovely Christy+Jonas+1, the couple with the best looking bump at 37 weeks, hands down. I mean, just look at her. No swollen feet, no swollen face. Just a nice round bump for a baby girl who kicked her momma quite a few times during the shoot!