Prequel: Kennewick Art Walk
Come join me at my first gallery show at Essence Photography, Thursday May 6th, 5-9pm.
fotoNovelettes: Mother’s Day at Westwinds Nursery
A novella is a short novel, which makes a novelette a short novella. I love a great novel, but I also enjoy an insightful magazine article, or blog post, or essay to carry me over in between my big books. So if you’re looking for an in between to carry you over to your next fotoNovella custom session, I have the perfect invitation for you! If I haven’t had the opportunity to capture your story yet, think of this as like downloading the first chapter of a novel, before reading the rest on your Kindle or like peeking at the first few pages of a book in the corner of a bookstore. On Friday and Saturday before Mother’s Day, Westwinds Nursery & I are offering fotoNovelette sessions to anyone who would like their picture taken. Yes, the flyer says ‘moms and their kids’, but it’s actually open to anyone!
I’m here at the nursery today & we’re busy sketching out the designs for the photo park. We’re blocking off a driveway and my dad, Jari is landscaping a park with all kinds of cool nooks to photograph. So, call Westwinds Nursery to schedule your fotoNovelette. See you at the park!
fotoNovella: Shae & Matt
“I’m not going to tell them about the fotoshoot. I want it to be a surprise!” Tess told me. I questioned her judgement because I wouldn’t want to have my picture taken without proper primping. “No, I want you to capture them just the way they are. I don’t want them to get all dolled-up; I want to see my children in their everyday clothes.” Shae’s session was the first of what will be a few sessions to capture all six of Tess’ children. As I looked back through Shae & her husband Matt’s session, I saw Tess’ wisdom.
We captured Shae & Matt just how they are: earthy-urban Seattleites who have a gentle love & quiet respect for each other. As you can imagine I loved their uniquely-worn sneakers. I imagine the pair of sneakers have stories to tell–stories of a couple who have decided to walk parallel lives. What would they say? How cool is it when you just ‘fit’ with the one you’ve chosen to love for life!? How cool is it to slip into a relationship each day that might be worn, but definitely not out & more than that, just so dang comfortable!? Very cool.
I also appreciated the love & care that Shae & Matt have for these two special boys in their life. Shae & Matt were long time friends with the boys’ parents & so now the boys pretty much consider them an aunt & uncle. Very very cool, see:
fotoNovella: Rebekah
She sang like no one was listening. But I was listening. She sang with that youthful innocence that doesn’t quite know what all the verses mean, but she knows the spirit with which to sing the hymn. She sang in that volume that says she is so happy to be singing right now, and in the safety of our bible study it was okay her voice rang above the rest of ours. She sang with an excitement that had never been shushed by the harsh judgement of an adult or peer who doesn’t appreciate a voice, any voice that sings with zeal. & she reminded me of myself at her age, before the shushes. & that made me smile.
Rebekah’s not the same girl who I was listening to in my bible study, but she sang hymns with the same confidence. A confidence that was legitimized by maturity in tone & a few more years of practice. Rebekah’s strains were strong & correct & oh-so-pretty on the ear. They honestly seemed to mix on the breeze with the blossoms & land ever so gently on my listening ears. I might sound like I’m speaking from the clouds with my exaggeration…but I think you’ll be with me when you see these dreamy flowering fotos. Rebekah was one of my photography students at a recent 4-H photography clinic. We took the opportunity on the last day to turn the camera on her & her guitar.
Thank you for seranading me, Rebekah & I can’t wait to see your photography entry at county fair! Keep singing & Keep shooting!
fotoNovella: Taylor & Frankie
We met up and started out with a typical fotoNovella engagement session: chatting it up on the way to where we were going to shoot. Taylor & Frankie cuddled in a patch of spring grass while I climbed on a picnic table to take their picture, then I climbed under it, then next to it. We shot a few more minutes in the alley before we headed to the next spot. What Taylor & Frankie didn’t know was that I had scouted these beautiful flowering trees exploding with blossoms. The plan was to head there to finish the session. But as soon as I saw Taylor & Frankie’s fun outfits…the flowers were nixed.
Taylor & Frankie brought-up how they have made it a ritual as a couple to go to the Panaderia. As you might know, I have an affinity for panaderias that is only serpassed by my love of taco trucks, so I was excited! “Let’s go to the Panaderia, then!” I’m sure they thought I was crazy, but Taylor & Frankie obliged and we made our way to their favorite panaderia in Hermiston for jalapeno cheese bread and a few pictures. See…my kind of couple!
Thanks Taylor & Frankie for taking me along to the Panaderia, for hanging out in back alleys and ghetto basketball courts, and for wearing bright orange (go beavs!). Enjoy each other in your new engagement. And good luck as you start to dream about a 2011 wedding 
Suerte!
Now…I’m off to the taco truck for lunch. Provecho!
fotoNovella: Oregon FFA 2010-11 State Officer Team
Meet the six incoming State Officers whom the Oregon FFA Association elected in Corvallis at their annual State Convention in March. They are great at their job already, ya know: being rock stars!
President- Alex Morrissey
Vice President- Brittney Alves
Secretary- Briana Tanaka
Treasurer- Reva West
Reporter- Jake Erceg
Sentinel- Bailey Field
Team: make moments like these the moments you remember! Being a state officer is both harder than you ever imagined & better than you ever imagined. But with that: it should be your best year yet! Enjoy! Laugh! Hug! Share this year with your fabulous team mates…because you are, fabulous! Thanks for letting me hang-out with you guys & oh, Alex, thanks for being a great sport about being the brunt of all my poor humor
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