Some of my husband’s family lives in the central valley, and his Dad and step-mom were in town visiting their ridiculously adorable grandaughters. The whole gang came out for family portraits while I was in town, and it was great to see and visit with them if even for just an hour. These two little cutie pies are so photogenic, the shoot went by in a flash! Thanks for coming out, and it was wonderful to see you all!
Well, I had been dreading my big three-oh for weeks. And yet it kept creeping right on up. But thanks to my husband, neighbors, and very dear friends, I had a wonderful birthday. I felt special, loved, and truly blessed. My best friend hosted so that I wouldn’t have to clean before or after (so thoughtful) and she and her husband decorated so beautifully I couldn’t believe it. Gorgeous orchids, and paper lanterns everywhere. My hubby cooked for four hours straight, and sweet Dan did dishes for just as long. The food was amazing, the decor so gorgeous, and the laughter plentiful. The night was capped off with my good buddy Nick and his roommate John’s rendition of Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours”, followed by some other covers and originals. We ate, laughed, sang and had the best birthday yet! Thank you to everyone who attended, and worked so hard. Now, I see myself as 30 and fabulous!!
I am so very proud to announce a partnership with Matt’s Rotisserie and Oyster Lounge (http://www.mattsrotisserie.com/ ) . You may or may not know that in addition to photography, I have been in the restaurant industry for most of my life. It is second nature for me, and I am an employee of Matts’ part-time. Matts’ has an absolutely beautiful Private Dining Room, that is the perfect place for hosting a rehearsal dinner. There is NO ROOM FEE, which in your search for the perfect casual fine-dining restaurant, you won’t find elsewhere. Summer Dawn Photography and Matts’ is offering a double 10% discount!! For couples who book both Matts’ Rotisserie and Summer Dawn Photography, they will receive a 10% discount on their rehearsal dinner at Matts’, as well as a 10% discount on all album orders from me! This can easily add up to hundreds of dollars, and who doesn’t like to save a little??
Please contact Summer Hopkins www.summerdawnphotography.com or Marie Ferris www.mattsrotisserie.com for more information
A. Pictage is the on-line hosting service I use for all of my wedding and portrait clients. For my portrait clients, it offers on-line proofs, that my clients can view in the comfort of their own homes at their own pace. By simply clicking on the star at the bottom of the image, it is added to their favorites folder. Once they are happy with all of their selections, I use that folder to create their album, and CD. Friends and family can register to view the images as well, and I even offer a small gift certificate towards prints if they register BEFORE the images are ready for review!
For wedding clients, Pictage is even better. Again, friends and family can register to view the images. They also get a small gift certificate if they pre-register. And one of the coolest features is that Pictage will send an e-mail with a direct link right to every pre-registered guest so that they know the exact moment the images are available! Each guest can create their own favorites folder, and they can purchase directly from the site. They can even change things like borders, cropping, and tint. Plus, Pictage serves as an off-site storage center. So even if my home office (God forbid) goes up in flames, your images are protected.
Pictage is simple to use, and my brides have enjoyed the freedom it brings them. No more collecting print orders and money, those days are LONG gone. Simply let me, and Pictage do the work for you!
Times are tough. Period. And it looks as though they aren’t going to get better any time soon. Doing a weekly gratitude journal has really helped me to keep things in perspective. Now, I admit that this doesn’t mean that I am blissfully happy every minute of every day, but I am forced on a weekly basis to re-center myself on a positive note. I am thankful in particular today for life’s simple pleasures like: napping, reading a good book, having dinner with close friends, sipping on a fabulous glass of red wine, getting massages (haven’t had one of those in WAY too long), going for walks around the lake, a clean house, a hot bath.
It will only take a few minutes for you to make a quick list of five simple pleasures. I guarantee it will brighten your day!
Also: I have decided to offer interest free financingg via credit card processing on Pictage.com! Payments are pre-set, and once your account is created, the payments simply go on your card of choice without you having to do a thing! So for my 2009 brides you can begin making payments now, and have your photography costs covered by your wedding date. This can also be used for portrait sessions. Please contact me for more information: 425.281.1438
…and I was there to celebrate with them! It was a wonderful event held at the Artic Club Hotel ballroom. It is the first Seattle Bride Magazine event I have attended, and it was a really nice reception. I had to giggle to myself when I received the invitation, and it had “my” colors: chocolate brown and Tiffany blue. There were great tall tables draped in fabric, with really beautiful square center pieces with brown and ivory orchids. An environmentally concscious DJ called Bamboo Beats (I think) supplied some really great background music. I had the great pleasure of meeting the publisher/owner, the editor, and three of the founding membors of the artistic board. I also met the new owners of a place in La Conner called The Quarry, sounds absolutely amazing! It was a fun way for me to meet others in the wedding industry. Everyone from catering directors of big (and little) hotels to fellow photographers. The Artic Club Hotel is newly remodeled and absolutely fabulous. I had a night-cap at the bar downstairs, and the whole place has a really great feel to it. A fun night I am really glad I got to be a part of. Congrats Seattle Bride Mag, and cheers to ten more wonderful years!!
Just wanted to give an easy way to get to my photography website:
Here you will find a portfolio, price lists, and testimonials from past clients. Enjoy!
I had the opportunity to photograph a very dear friend while home for my cousin’s graduation last month. Sue and I have been friends since grade school, and many years ago, she and her husband Brian were my very first engagement session clients. Well, they are expecting their first child, and I spent an hour or so with them in their home in Reedley, Ca. We got some very sweet, intimate shots of the two of them and her very beautiful pregnant belly. It is always a joy for me to do a pregnancy session, but an extra perk when it is such an old friend.
Sue and Brian will be bringing me back to California in August for the baby’s birth. I am thrilled and honored that I get to share in this with them. I also will get to spend some quality time with their baby… when I’m not taking his/her picture, I will be holding, feeding, or changing. A little practice goes a long way they say.
Congrats you two, and best wishes for a safe, healthy and fast delivery! 
I just have to say how happy I am that summer appears to have arrived here in the Seattle area. Sunny days makes for sunny dispositions, and let me say I have been looking forward to mine! Sunny days also means the ideal situations for outdoor photography. I am looking forward to two weddings in August, one at the Hollywood School House in Woodinville, and the other at the MeadowBrook Farm in Snoqualmie. They are going to be very different from eachother, which makes my job so fun and exciting.
My husband and I have been anxiously awaiting the time when we can go spend a small fortune at the garden department at Home Depot. We carved out and filled three new flowerbeds, and countless flower pots. I love having fresh flowers throughout the house, and being able to head out to my own yard to find them is so fulfilling. Enjoy the sun everyone!
I met with Erinn & Heath’s family for the first time at the end of May. They had just added a beautiful baby girl to their family, and I headed out to their home for a lifestyle portrait session. Big sister Emma filled me in on all of the details of having a new baby sister while I got all of my equipment together. She also introduced me to her best bud: Bun ( a sweet stuffed bunny ). The whole family did a great job, and they have some amazing black and whites to show for it. The light in the nursery was particularly soft and perfect for mom and baby. Thank you for allowing me to capture such an important time in your lives!
