kate | film {oregon portrait photography}

these are film scans from late summer (i think. it's been awhile). no editing except for a few changes to black and white. photographed in independence, oregon with a hasselblad 501cm using expired kodak/fujicolor film. i think next time i'll keep better notes on what film i used. ;)

[caption id="attachment_1138" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="i am so squinty in this one that kate took! but ella looks cute, so who cares."][/caption]

texas | film {personal}

these belong with a previous post. but since i'm bad about labeling my film and having it processed with any sort of regularity, i just found them recently. 2 frames from texas this summer. photographed with seagull twin-lens. [caption id="attachment_1143" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="no editing but i did change this one to black and white. guilty."][/caption]

dark come soon {oregon portrait photography}

a few more from a very short shoot with my friend brie - not only was it raining but it was also sundown. but underexposures, although difficult to work with, convey a specific mood that works for me in this instance. teaches me not to be slavish to perfection. photograph anyway, even if the conditions aren't ideal. this graveyard is one that we will have to revisit on a more picture-taking-y type day. and there will *hopefully* be some film from this day as well.

holiday in bellingham {personal}

i spent thanksgiving and the first part of chanukah in bellingham with my family. as chaotic as it is to have all of us together, i wouldn't have missed this trip for the world. it took us 9 hours to drive there from corvallis because of the weather - reason #1,000,000,000 why i am not a snow person. but at least we had a day to play in it before it melted away like it had never been there at all!

i was the lame one who took pictures while my sisters and the pups raced about. they tried to get me to have a snowball fight and i ran away squealing like the grinch i truly am.

i have some beautiful sisters!

[caption id="attachment_812" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="my parents"][/caption]

one of the nicest parts of the trip were the walks my little sister and i would take with our dogs.

i'll end the post with a cute chalk drawing from a bookstore in fairhaven - it pretty much sums up what the holidays are about for me. even if you've got family drama (show me someone who has a perfect drama-free holiday - i don't believe it exists!), move past it. spend time with the ones you love. don't get too hung up on what things are "supposed" to be like - just remember what matters.

i hope everyone has a wonderful, wonderful holiday and many blessings in the new year.

i <3 cupcakes {cooking}

let me preface this by saying i am by no means a baking expert. i love unique cupcakes, and i love cooking, so i wanted to try a few recipes and see how i did! my friend kate and i made 4 different kinds of cupcakes, and even though they aren't as good as my favorite (rocket queen - if you are in the corvallis/albany area, try them immediately, they are addictive), they'll make nice chanukah presents for my dear family. [caption id="attachment_780" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption=""red" velvet with buttercream frosting // flourless chocolate with cream cheese frosting"][/caption]

the first recipe was for red velvet cupcakes with buttercream frosting (modified from ming makes cupcakes). My dad hates red food coloring, so I used beet juice, which turned the cupcakes into "purple velvet". still pretty!

the flourless chocolate cupcakes (recipe from ming makes cupcakes) were amazing! the batter was so good that i barely even wanted to bake them. if i use this recipe again, i will fill the cups more - they are a bit flat. the recipe calls for fresh whipped cream to serve - but i'm waiting to try that until i get them to my parents' house in bellingham on wednesday.

[caption id="attachment_781" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="pumpkin's pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting"][/caption]

i can't remember where i found the pumpkin cupcakes recipe - but it sure is delicious. i would add a lot less honey, however - they are almost too sweet for me. the frosting also calls for powdered cactus honey (which i have never heard of, and decided not to bother with). i also used rice flour for this recipe instead of wheat flour.

i used the same cream cheese frosting recipe for the pumpkin cakes as for the carrot cupcake recipe (also from ming makes cupcakes, and might i add, the very best cream cheese frosting ever). i am shamelessly plugging ming's site because a) the recipes are delicious and b) there are very few ingredients, which i always appreciate.

[caption id="attachment_782" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="carrot cupcakes, unfrosted"][/caption]

i used rice flour instead of regular flour for the carrot cupcakes as well.

[caption id="attachment_783" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="carrot cupcakes with cream cheese frosting"][/caption]

i am a big fan of homemade presents. fun to make, fun to give, and from the heart. i'm heading to my parents' house on wednesday for a much-anticipated mini-vacation during thanksgiving and the first night of chanukah. happy holidays, everyone! <3

Sarah & Guy {Oregon Wedding Photography}

I was lucky enough to play 2nd shooter for Jay Eads for two weddings in one weekend in August. Sarah and Guy's wedding was one of them. The ceremony and reception were held at Mt. Pisgah Arboretum, which is a gorgeous venue. It was really nice to meet Sarah and Guy and their families and friends. And I must say, their dance party was one of the most exuberant I've ever seen. Fun!

Oh, and Jay is awesome to work with.

Here are some of my favorite images from the day.

Sarah has flawless porcelain skin. Love these ones of her before she's all dressed up.

Katie & Ryan {Oregon Wedding Photography}

I was the second for Jay Eads at Katie and Ryan's wedding, held at the Country Inn. It was a truly beautiful day, albeit scorching hot. I felt really honored to witness the very obvious love and devotion these two have for each other. Thanks for letting me tag along, Jay! :) Here are some of my favorite images from the day.

Katie was so elegant. 100 degree weather? She might as well have been in her own air-conditioned bubble for how perfect she looked.

[Sigh]