Dinea de Photo Blog

Dinea de Photo voted Best of Olympia Photographer 2012

2012-02-16T16:22:00.000-08:00

I would like to thank everyone who voted me "Best Photographer" in the Weekly Volcano's Best of Olympia 2012!!! What an awesome phone message to get earlier this week on Valentine's Day!!!
Thank you to all of you who voted I appreciate it so much!!!
Can't wait to celebrate with all the "Best of Olympia" tonight and so happy to see so many of my favorites who won as well.

*Photo from the Weekly Volcano Website

Beauty and the Beach Wedding Photography at Seabrook, WA

2012-01-09T14:18:00.000-08:00

The beach is magnificent, and one of my favorite places to go!!! This October wedding at Seabrook in Pacific, WA was an incredible location to behold. Cristy & Jason were so fantastic to work with, they rented out a few house on the bluff overlooking the ocean. Wait did I say house, oh no I meant THE HOUSE the Ultimate Beach House which was featured in Coastal Living magazine.

The best part was the family and the sweet puppy Cristie had so so cute.

You can see their slideshow here

Cristy was such a fantastic bride not only to photograph, but to work with as well. HEr elegant and laid back attitude made for an incredible set of photographs.

Tiffany necklaces with each bridemaids initial were gifts from the bride &

Jason gave his groomsmen pretty awesome knives, but the real story was the keyring used as his mock wedding ring since his ring did not arrive in time...

Her reception dress was very beautiful and was a great idea for after beach wedding photos as her wedding dress had a bit of sand on it from the trek on the beach.

Jason & Cristy I wish you the very best on your lives together!!!

{Tatiana + Paul} Married at Alderbrook Resort Labor Day weekend

2011-09-22T10:08:00.000-07:00

Tatiana and Paul got married Labor Day weekend at the beautiful Alderbrook Resort on Hood Canal.
It was an incredibly beautiful day to be on the water at an outside wedding in Washington and I truly loved the entire day with them.

See their slideshow Here

One of the most beautiful things about their union was the blending of their families and seeing them with their new baby, Paul's daughter, and all of their extended family and friends there to cheer them on.

A quiet moment for the bride while she is being bustled and feeding and her new baby...so so sweet!!!

I could not get over how beautiful the emeralds were in Tatiana's ring and with the sparkle...wow!!!

A wave and a smile and she walks down the aisle to see her love.

Food and fun for all!!! Alderbrook is a warm and inviting place to be and the food was amazing!!!

A handsome groom

A stunning bride

Together unstoppable!!! Tatiana and Paul I wish you both the best on your journey together

Photographer: Dinea de Photo
Dress: Yuly Lang
Venue: Alderbrook Resort

{Cherie + Kevin} Home estate Wedding, Olympia, WA

2011-09-15T13:49:00.000-07:00

Kevin and Cherie

8.27.11

SEE THE SLIDESHOW

HERE

Love happens at all stages of life and I am so grateful to have gotten to photograph Cherie for some portraits of just her which hang now in her new home and of her family who I have gotten to also do portraits of with her...it was so neat to know the kids and get to be a part of Cherie's new adventures with Kevin and especially amazing to be there for their special day together!!!

Kevin and Cherie were married at their Shelton home estate which is incredibly beautiful and so meaningful to them as well...Such a lovely venue to get married and celebrate!!!

Of course her granddaughters were adorable...flower girl and a ring bearer...and what
rings to behold at this wedding!!!

One of the neatest parts about their wedding is that they had Cherie's good friend and jewelry designer Helen Ficalora designed their wedding rings, but it was a surprise until the moment they did their vows. Such exquisite work and elegance...I just love Helen's designs anyhow, but seeing these rings was just amazing!!!
Little ring bearer with the cutest umbrella...love this one!!!

Cherie wore an amazing Green silk vintage gown with Thistles embroidered into it. She absolutely beamed!!!

Kevin and Cherie are so in love...so so inspiring!!!

K and C charms from Helen Ficalora

The swimming pool was a hit for all ages as it was hot hot hot that day, but the pool was inviting!!! Cherie's granddaughter was the first one in the pool...followed closely by her good friend.

Originally the Harley was going to be a part of the Groom's entrance, but with some delays it just got to come out for a few photo ops.

The vintage car was also a great addition to our pics!!!

Of course the beautiful Vera Wang shoes didn't hurt to look at...but apparently were quite uncomfortable to wear, good thing she had a different pair of shoes for later!

Kevin and Cherie congratulations to you and I wish you the best on your adventures together!!!

We have been nominated for King 5 Evening Magazine's Best of Western Washington 2011 Best Portrait Photographer

2011-08-30T12:54:00.000-07:00

So this year I have been nominated for Evening Magazine's Best of Western WA 2011 Best Portrait Photographer!
This is super exciting news for me. I was nominated in 2009 and was in the top 10. I just really loved all the comments I received from my clients and friends. Last year I was nominated, but it was so busy this time of year I opted to not participate, and although I am super busy right now with Seniors and Weddings, I want to give it a go this year!!! I would love it if you would vote for me this year, it is super easy to do and fun! I have seen a number of my friends achieve a "Best of" award and it would be a lot of fun to have one this year!!! Just click the link below and vote, then check out the other categories while you are there. You may just see some people you know as well.

VOTE ON THE LINK BELOW!!!

{Althea + Eli} Grand Holiday Ballroom Wedding Olympia WA Wedding Photography

2011-07-14T20:42:00.000-07:00

Althea & Eli are perfect clients with a love of Vintage & Modern...

Married on June 26, 2011 at the Grand Holiday Ballroom

Check out their slideshow here

What I loved especially about their wedding day was the fact that they wanted a full hour of photos together. I love getting some one on one time with my brides & grooms, and find these are the most fun if time allows.

First stop was the Japanese Gardens, but then the call of the City Hall got to me and we went over there for some fun photos...

The table settings in the were elegant and made for a cozy environment

Guests and staff were given flower pins to wear and it made for a really fun splash of color...Althea the crafty bride she is made these for the guests and had them awaiting them as they arrived.

Dress- Balsie Birdwell

Makeup- Premiere Salon & Spa

Venue- Grand Holiday Ballroom

Photo Safari- Japanese Gardens & Olympia City Hall

Rings- Precious Metalsmith

Photography- Dinea de Photo

April Showers of Love!

2011-04-22T12:13:00.001-07:00

Kristi & Chris Married 4.16.11

A day of dramatic fine dining & celebration of Love

Kristi & Chris Married at the Tumwater Valley Lodge in some of the best spring weather. Cherry blossoms, Sunshine, with great food and friends!!! I feel so grateful to have been there to capture their special day together and to help them celebrate their love!

See their Wedding Slideshow

HERE

Makeup by Premiere Salon

Chris bought her tulips for their room at the Phoenix Inn from the Olympia Farmers Market. What a nice surprise after a long morning of getting all glammed up at Premiere Salon

Right before Chris saw his beloved Kristi

FLOWERS by Perpetual Posies

Food & Drink by Paprika Catering

Special flaming drink creation by Paprika

There is so much more I loved about their wedding and much too much to post.

Thank you Krist & Chris for having me be your photographer!!!

Engaged LOVE!!!

2011-04-03T18:32:00.000-07:00

Kristi & Chris

LOVE LAUGH

Kristi & Chris are getting married in a couple weeks and I am so lucky to be their wedding photographer! I am really looking forward to seeing them celebrate their love for one another and document it. I have known Kristi for about 5 years and she is a good friend, a fellow wedding & event provider, & owner of Paprika Catering. Depsite knowing Kristi for so long, I had not spent much time with Chris so it was a lot of fun getting to know him better and to see them together by doing an engagement photo session.

We did an engagement session in downtown Olympia mid March and had a blast despite the cool spring weather. They have a sweetness & sparkle between them that is really special & I loved getting to know them more thru this session. Engagement sessions are really a nice way to get to know each other & for me as a photographer to get to know my clients likes & dislikes.

Her engagement ring is a family heirloom diamond and so pretty! Heirloom diamonds have a cut and color that is incredible!!! I can't wait to post pics of her with her wedding band!

Valentine Photo event

2011-01-11T13:41:00.000-08:00

Wine is Fine but Love is Divine!!!

2011-01-03T20:09:00.000-08:00

GWEN & CHRIS

"THE BEST IS YET TO COME..."

Click here for Slideshow!!!

I just had the privilege of photographing a wonderful December wedding @ Medicine Creek Winery in Nisqually Valley. This couple was amazing, the wedding took place in a winery owned by a family friend, and they are Swing dancers. Good ones at that...add to that their great details and vintage style & you have a recipe for awesome!!!

A twist on something blue, Gwen wore her shoes from Yolli Shoes in Olympia but added blue ribbons to them to customize them & match her custom made blue satin dress with antique style lace over layed. Atop her head was a simple, but elegant crown.

The cake was made by Celebrity Cake Studio & catering was done by Occasions Catering.

But the "Best is Yet to Come" as Chris sang it as a surprise song for her and of course the great soundings of the Jessica Blinn Quartet made for great swing dancing. Gwen's Maid of Honor teaches Swing dancing on Tuesdays at 7 pm at the Eagles Ballroom in Olympia, so it was fun to see many of the guests Swing dancing to great music!!!

You can see their slideshow here.

Best of wishes to you both on your new adventures together!!!

-D

Nifty 50's Holiday special

2010-11-27T14:18:00.000-08:00

ALSO 16x 24 Canvases are $50 off for the Holidays!!!

Gift Certificates are $50 off

High School Photos in Fall are fab!!!

2010-10-22T15:54:00.000-07:00

High School Seniors photo sessions are some of my favorites because they are a mix of fashion, personality, & they love a little vibrant edge. This is one of my favorite pictures from a session this October. Just a great pop of fuschia to make her blue eyes pop!!!

Or how a familiar location takes on a dreamy memory or inspiration!!!

You can see more from this session Slideshow here

Reading is Sexy!!!

2010-08-25T13:23:00.000-07:00

A Boudoir Session is such a great gift to give your sweetie or do for yourself. I love love love when my clients bring something they LOVE to their session. In Tierra's case she LOVES reading!!! Harry Potter is her favorite book series so of course we had to get some of this in there. I bet Matt her sweetheart wishes she would wear these outfits for reading. (of course there are many more but they are for her Sweethearts eyes only)

What can I say but WOW!!! Tierra Rocked this session!!! A Bridal Boudoir session for her sweetie in the new Dinea de Photo Studio space. She has these amazing eyes and I am so glad I have gotten to photograph her engagement session & her Bridal boudoir, & look forward to her upcoming October wedding with a "Tim Burton" Flair.

Sibling Love

2010-08-25T12:59:00.000-07:00

Sweet Baby Love!!!

I got to photograph the sweetest twins the other day. The boys were so different, introverted & extroverted...a perfect match for their mom Debora! :)

I have known Debora for some time now, & finally got the honor to photograph her growing boys! I also love how they love their sticks, dirt, & baby dolls! So strong & so nurturing!!!

I find with kids that taking time to let them be kids is the best way to get great photos...my favorite image of the session was this one of them together playing with sticks. They had absolutely no idea I took this picture, they were just happy as clams to be playing in the dirt with sticks!!!

and of their sweet faces too...& of course their soulful eyes!!!

Ladies in Red

2010-07-13T20:41:00.000-07:00

Sisters can be the best of friends & rivals, but it is an amazing thing to see the bond they share. Greta & Maj-Brit are probably some of the most movie star like sisters I have met. They totally rocked their glamourous photo shoot!!!

The other amazing thing is that they had these videographers from Sweden come along as part of their movie on Greta's life. What a fun time! These ladies were great and I cannot wait to see what they put together.

Love thru the ages

2010-07-12T01:04:00.000-07:00

They say loves grows & when you see it in a couple that has been together for a while it is so apparent!!!

It has been a while since I posted. I have been in Facebook world and really have missed blogging. There has been so much photographically lately that it is almost impossible to know which to post first, but here goes.

I had the opportunity to photograph a family session recently that was pretty inspiring, I mean wow when you have more than 4 people and generations it gets well, interesting and pretty fun. I especially love when I get to see great grandparents!!! The joy in their faces when they are enjoying watching their great grandkids run around!!!

All ages and stages are precious and I am constantly amazed at the stages of life and the joy in photographing the young & the old!

Andrea & Adam

2009-11-30T14:42:00.000-08:00

Umbrellas Blazing & Temples Rising-

Andrea & Adam's Wedding

I have been behind on blog posts, because the new blog is in process and am looking forward to sharing it with you all soon.

Andrea & Adam were married Nov 10th 2009 at the breathtaking LDS Temple in Portland with a reception the next day in Olympia at the Heritage Room.

Since I am not Mormon, pictures were not allowed inside the Temple we did pictures outside. The Temple in Portland, OR is amazing!

Here is Andrea peeking out of the Temple doors, she was so excited to share the joy of being married with all of the people waiting.
& of course it was a joyful welcome to all.
It rained only after pictures on Tuesday...but the red umbrellas were a great accessory. Andrea gave each bridesmaid their own umbrella to keep, just in case. In fact right as me and the videographer got into the car, it poured buckets of rain. I guess Andrea & Adam were lucky!
Since many people could not attend the ceremony in Portland, the next day was their reception in Olympia, WA at the Heritage Room.

What an elegant reception it was, but my favorite part was doing the bridal party and family pictures outside by Capitol Lake. The autumn color, the stormy skies, who could ask for a more beautiful November wedding?

Fun Puppy! Photos

2009-11-05T23:29:00.000-08:00

So our new Chihuahua puppy "Mouse" is inspiring me to get out there and take more pet photos and of course them with their people. This one of A Royal Frenchel (a mix between a Royal Spaniel and a French Bulldog) named Sunshine is so cute I had to get it made into a canvas. So cute. You can see some more of them at www.royalfrenchel.com

I have been MIA while I have been working on a new surprise and venture so stay tuned for more posts soon. I will be also getting a brand spanking new blog up soon too. Busy busy busy...

Nominated for Best of Western WA Portrait Photographer

2009-09-23T21:18:00.000-07:00

Vote!

I have been nominated for King 5 Best of Western WA. Voting ends soon and only takes a minute or two.

It would be so awesome to be in the top 5 and I would love your vote!

You can vote here

Also if you want to share the link

http://best.king5.com/dinea-de-photo/biz/490706

with others that would be great too. You can blog it, facebook it, or tell your friends.

Sarah & Jay

2009-08-28T11:56:00.000-07:00

Meet Sarah & Jay married 8.22.09

To see their slideshow click here

The music is by the incredibly talented songstress Greta Jane who also sings amazing Jazz for weddings!

Sarah & Jay live in Germany, but their families live in the states, so instead of having everyone fly out to see them, they opted to have their wedding at her parents home in Eatonville, WA.

She chose a great color combination, oranges, reds popped. Making it happy and bright. I loved the cake because it was so happy and the way it was displayed after it was cute made it another aspect of art.

They also had these really fun red fans at the sign in table, so we played with them...

Sarah & Jay, I really enjoyed photographing your wedding and hope you are having a great time in Germany.

Vintage Wedding in Leavenworth

2009-08-16T15:19:00.000-07:00

Meet Kimberly & Jonathan- Married 8-8-09 at Pine River Ranch in Leavenworth, WA

Click here to see their SLIDESHOW

I have been looking forward to Kimberly & Jonathan's wedding for months and finally last weekend it came. They got married at the Pine River Ranch in Leavenworth, WA and apparently their setup was one of the most elaborate and glamorous they have had. I totally would get married there, it is a beautiful all inclusive destination wedding location. This was such a fun wedding to photograph because the details were flawless and so well thought out. Kimberly had a wedding planner, Julia Hanson who executed things perfectly.

Here is a shot of the reception room, the loft of a barn, can you believe it? So pretty.

All the tables had different things that went with their theme, from lace and pearls, to vintage Hollywood style glasses and photos of their engagement session which her sister Heidi photographed wonderfully. This hat arrangement was one of my favorite ones, so simple and so classic.

The bouquet was beautiful, elegant and surrounded by lace fabric and pearls. The fabric was from her grandmothers wedding veil from 1947 in honor of Kimberly's grandma who could not be there. Her grandmother actually made it.

They had the most AMAZING cake made by Busy Bea's Cakes

It was two cake shaped suitcases on top of a vintage suitcase, with pearls, and cameras, and according to all the guests tasted incredible. I love that it is totally out of the box.

The cakes even had little keys that went inside them, absolutely exquisite!

The attention to detail with all aspects to the wedding was so on par.

In true Hollywood Glamour fashion, the ladies spent most of the afternoon in the bridal suite getting ready. Kimberly had long finger waves in her hair and her sister Heidi patiently made her hair flawless all the while smiling her incredible smile. I loved seeing how close the two of them are. What a gift.

What would Hollywood Glamour be without mirrors? And sultry looks in them.

And Gorgeous Veils...this is a picture of Kimberly and her sister in the mirror adjusting her veil

Kimberly's dad met her down the ramp to drive her in his 1979 Chevy truck to the ceremony for her grand entrance, both of them were overjoyed to see each other. I totally love seeing the moment between a father and daughter before going down the aisle.

Kimberly is an incredible singer, check out her myspace page, so it seemed only fitting that she would sing a surprise song she for Jonathan before her dad walked her down the isle.

Vintage style disposable cameras were on all the tables for the reception and I just could not resist putting their rings in one. Their family has a number of photographers within it so it was totally fitting.

The bridesmaids were in black, each with their own vintage flair and had gloves, hats, and flowers, not matching, but coordinating beautifully.

After they signed their certificate of Marriage at the altar, I caught this sweet moment of sheer comfort and happiness.

I love this shot of Kimberly & Jonathan starting their journey together.

Thank you both for having me capture your special day, it was amazing, and your families were so gracious and welcoming.

Melissa & Jerad

2009-07-26T01:04:00.001-07:00

Melissa & Jerad married July 18, 2009

Click to see their Slideshow

Melissa & Jerad have a totally fun style and their wedding was like a mix of Retro Vintage with a dash of Carnivale and Rustic. It was only fitting to make their wedding slideshow a little more lively. The wedding and reception took place at the Thurston County Fairgrounds in Olympia. The groomsmen smoked pipes, the best man was a woman, and the shoes, vintage Christian Louboutin shoes for the bride and her sister/maid of honor.

There is something about Luxury red soled shoes from Paris... especially for a wedding!

Their first look was on the porch and there was a lot of tears of joy and happiness.

The rings...

The Groomsmen in the pens

We took advantage of the cool barns and the fun old "No Smoking" sign. Of course Jerad had his groom's pipe and Melissa was smoking hot as a bride.

Melissa had her grandmother's pearls and her mother helped her put them on. What a moment while getting ready. Such a mix of emotion, but Melissa exuded calmness and grace and looked so beautiful.

Melissa & Jerad I loved working with you and your families and I wish you much happiness together.

Stephanie & Tyler Engagement Session

2009-06-11T22:21:00.000-07:00

Stephanie & Tyler are one of the sweetest couples, they have known each other since they were kids growing up in Olympia, so it was only fitting to photograph them at the State Capitol in Oly. To see their slideshow click here

And then seeing them dancing...so fun.

I love how sweetly Tyler looks at Stephanie it almost melts my heart and the way the sun is back lighting them.

I have so much more to post...it has been a busy month and I will be trying to post more of the sessions and some fun news too...

Jamala & Craig Wedding Sneak Peak

2009-05-29T01:27:00.000-07:00

Jamala & Craig were married on May 23rd at the Burien Country Club. I had such an amazing time photographing them. Here is a sneak peak of one of my favorite images from their wedding from the golf course overlooking the Seattle skyline. I will post more as soon as they are done being edited.

I think the weather was incredible too. Who says May is iffy weather wise?

Prom Photos!

2009-05-27T17:34:00.001-07:00

Love Affair

2009-05-08T11:10:00.000-07:00

Photography workshops are so important, and I have taken quite a few, but the Love Affair Workshop looks like it will take the cake! It is a women's only photography workshop on having a love affair with all aspects of life and business. I am hoping to go to this year's Atlanta workshop at the W Hotel.

April showers bring May weddings

2009-05-06T14:36:00.000-07:00

Jamala & Craig are getting married towards the end of May and I am so excited for them. A few weeks ago we photographed their engagement session at Jamala's old home, and at Seahurst Park in Burien. It was a typical spring day in WA, rainy with breaks of sunshine and mist. They are totally in Love... and it was neat to finally meet them and get to know them better.

An umbrella can be fun...

And so can the beach...

Engagement sessions are really fun to do and I love getting to know my clients a little better before the wedding day.

New Beginnings

2009-03-16T23:34:00.000-07:00

I think that newborn babies are just incredible! So tiny and soft and so innocent.

The other day I had the pleasure of photographing Brynn & Eric and their new addition to their family. They are such a fun family to photograph anyhow, but with a new addition, well it was truly an honor.

They loved their photos from their last session so much that Eric built this AMAZING wall of their photographs mounted on wood in a grid pattern. I have a picture of it somewhere and will post it when I find it. Anyhow I got to photograph Brynn literally the day before she gave birth almost 2 weeks early.

She was so radiant and gorgeous. She is an amazing esthetician and makeup artist with this incredible spa that she operates out of a wing of her home.

I love slideshows so for this post I linked TWO of them.

Click here to see the slideshow

Then of course after the birth, I got to come back and photograph their newborn son with his sister, mom, and dad. He had the cutest little hands, and his expressions were so distinct. You can see his emerging personality, and his little wrinkled forehead, just priceless.

His sister has a really strong bond with him, you can see he is totally enamored by her.

You can see the slideshow here

So a few tips for those sweet newborn shoots... nurse, get a lot of rest both mom & baby, nurse (I meant to say it two or three times) and don't worry if the baby is fussy, I don't rush these kinds of sessions.

Spring is here! Baby it's cold outside!

2009-03-09T10:29:00.000-07:00

The cold winds of March...brrr baby it is cold outside and yet with the sunshine it is glorious. I love the crocus peeking out of the snow. The rainbows and sunshine in the midst of the rain, and that March is my birthday month.

It is amazing that snow can fall in March...absolutely amazing! I haven't posted for a while and have so much to write about. The beautiful thing about spring is it is unpredictable. I got to photograph a couple of sweet girls at the waterfront the other day, it was sunny, but very cold. Good thing the girls had warm fuzzy coats to keep them warm.

So many things are happening for the spring... and summer. So stay tuned! I still have a few openings for 2009 summer weddings, so if you are wanting photography call or email to see if I still have your date available.

Silent Snowfall

2008-12-21T18:41:00.000-08:00

Snowed in!

Wow the amount of snow that has fallen here has been crazy. I decided to enter a contest that had mommy kissing santa claus in his boxers. Needless to say my dad went along with it. I have to share though because it is silly and because I am going snow crazy being stuck inside.

Such a trooper!

The Bride Wore Cowgirl Boots at Albees

2008-09-29T11:15:00.000-07:00

Meet Megan & Bobby

Married 9.7.08 at Albees Garden Party in Olympia

Megan & Bobby live in Wyoming and got married in Olympia at Albee's Garden Parties which is one of the best kept secret locations for unique outdoor weddings and events. They don't have a website, but you can call them at 360.266.4683. I love that there are a number of different kinds of locations there to photograph as well. One of my favs is the barn doors and the bathrooms. Cute and sweet. But the best part is that the bride wore white cowgirl boots!

Aren't they cute!!!!!!!!

Megan & Bobby are geologists and had candy rocks on the tables for the guests. I had to grab a few shots of their rings with them... so fun.

I think one of my favorite moments though was seeing Megan and her dad dancing. It was so heartwarming, I shed a tear behind the camera after I saw this moment between them.

To see the slideshow from their wedding go here

Why I do what I do

2008-08-28T01:54:00.000-07:00

I think of this sometimes, why document, why take a photo, what is it I do when I pick up my camera? I love photographing things, but there is more than the click of the button, composition, and lighting. There is soul!

My mom died a couple weeks ago and I am moved to share the real reason I photograph and feel it is not only my passion but my calling. In July my mom insisted I photograph her and my dad, her last photo which ironically enough was glowing with the light of the sun.

The immense shock and grief from the loss of a loved one is difficult. I had a mother-daughter photo session two days after this loss. I almost cancelled, but after talking with my client and thinking about it more I went ahead with it. Describing the immense healing that took place for me with this session will take some time, but I will try to describe it. We went to this magical place in Olympia called Woodard Bay where over a hundred seals have their babies, and make these incredible mammalian grunting noises while sitting on old log pilings. The daughter and the mother a beautiful testament of how our relationship with our mothers is a primal one with many layers. You can see the slideshow here

How many times have we had a moment where we made a memory, like the way our mom holds our hands when we are little or grown up, the struggle to get along, the deep well of love we have. I miss her! I miss her hands her eyes, her voice. The things she did that I found annoying. What is it about the relationship with our mother's that can be so complex and yet so simple? So this is why I do what I do, I preserve memories that are fleeting and the legacy for future generations as well as the treasure for the ones who miss and love those who have gone before us.

Wedding at Port Ludlow and Tiffany Blue Ribbons

2008-08-07T14:45:00.000-07:00

It is the beginning of August and summer is flying by. Last weekend was the Thurston County Fair and I submitted one of my favorite photos named "Sisters". It is the essence of how I experienced my sister when I was a little girl. I won a blue ribbon (not Tiffany blue though), this is the first time I have ever entered my photographs into a competition and I am honored to have been awarded a ribbon.

Here is the image...

So, last weekend I photographed a wedding at the Inn at Port Ludlow and the colors were Tiffany blue, yellow, and white. What an incredible location and color combination! I loved the choice of colors in the wedding and the attention to detail that the bride and the wedding planner Melissa Ryan from Lush Parties and Events in Seattle created. A wedding planner makes a huge difference in the flow of events and it relieves the stress of the day for the bride. I loved the group shots too, over 25 people- a family reunion portrait!!!!! And with a wedding planner there to round people up, it made photographing the must have important shots that much easier on everybody.

The colors of the bridesmaid dresses were Tiffany blue, such a fantastic combination!
These umbrellas were on the top of the outside tent, there were also these paper lanterns that were glowing as the day went on.
Inside each bag was a party favor containing Swedish cookies with whipped creme in the cookie and a fluffy cream inside in yellow and blue. The colors actually are Swedish colors, the colors of the flag.
Check out the cake, it was so fresh, and the glass boats on top were a keepsake from the wedding and part of the theme.

This weekend I am pretty busy, a Photography workshop in Portland, and a Eco chic and Fair Trade wedding in Olympia at Capitol Lake. The groom is actually kayaking to meet the bride. I will post this wedding for sure as it will be a lot of fun.

Have a great weekend!

Vintage Pin up! The GJP!

2008-07-20T23:13:00.001-07:00

Do you ever have a glimpse into how a vintage style is so cutting edge? With Greta Jane that is definitely the case. Greta is the lead vocalist of Romanteek and is part of the Great Jane Quartet playing on Mondays at the Royal in Olympia. I had the great privilege to photograph Greta, The GJP and her persona Ruby. What a great time we had. Here are a few of the pictures, and if you want to see the slideshow, click here

She is singing in the song, definitely check out their music, it is fantastic and a great pick me up.

Also, feel free to leave comments, I love to hear from ya'll. Also, coming up, a contest!!!!!!! So stay tuned, and sign up for the upcoming newsletter.

-Dinea

Radiance

2008-07-01T22:57:00.001-07:00

I just got back from Eastern WA and had such a radiant time. I feel incredibly blessed and am so excited to share a few of my photos from my time there. I have such joy in the fullness of summer and the radiant sunlight that is permeating my heart and my photos.

Summertime Summertime Sum Sum Summertime

2008-06-25T00:08:00.000-07:00

Busy summertime!!!!!!!! It is amazing how it is so so cold for over 7 months of the year and then the flirting begins and summer finally arrives. I am loving that it has too. It has been a long and wet winter this year. I have been photographing a lot, but alas not blogging enough. I plan to do more of this in the months to come so stay tuned and leave a comment, I love to know who was hear and to hear your feedback.

So I have so much to share, but my newest fun news is that I photographed the cover of South Sound Woman Magazine! It was really fun and I got to work with this incredible woman Cheryl Selby who owns this cute shop in town called Vivala, they carry the most fashionable activewear I have seen. Here is a copy of the cover, to see it up close and personal go to the South Sound Woman website.

I have also been busy working on a fun maternity shoot, a UW graduation, and much more so stay tuned and enjoy the fullness of the summertime.

High Fashion Bridal Sessions

2008-05-29T19:28:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite kinds of sessions is a High Fashion Bridal Session. It can be as wild or tame as wanted, before the wedding or after. It can be a lot of fun to dress up again in your dress and get a little dirty or a lot. It is pretty easy to dry clean your wedding dress afterwards unless you decide to get wet or muddy.

A before session is a like a test drive for your hair, makeup, and dress and a guarantee you will have beautiful bridals if your wedding day does not allow the time for them.

Cherry Blossoms in the Springtime!

2008-05-15T11:22:00.000-07:00

I love spring and the cherry blossoms are glorious, but almost gone. Now it is almost wild rose time. .. so I will be getting some fun shots of those when they come out. I was playing with my 50 1.4 lens and came up with these two portraits which I LOVE! These girls were so awesome with the camera and gorgeous to boot.

ARTSWALK and the Procession of the Species

2008-04-20T17:26:00.000-07:00

It is that time of year when the slowness of winter is chased away by the loud music and decorative costumes of the Procession of the Species . After the weekend of April snow I am ready for some sun. Hopefully there will be some this upcoming weekend, for the Procession and Olympia Artswalk. Artswalk is a true blast to see all the different artists in Olympia. Such diversity and talent in our community.

This Artswalk April 25th & 26th , I am exhibiting in the main window of Wind Up Here which is not only one of the best toy stores in the South Sound, but a great place to find almost anything pertaining to play. We spend a lot of time and $ there which is so worth it, they have game nights, Breyerfests, and many more family oriented activities which is such an asset to the community.

I hope you will come and check out my show and see some of my favorite work from this winter and a few of my classics. Let me know if you saw it by posting here in the comments section. I would love your feedback.

Also, check out the Olympia Film Society's Arts & Hearts Craft Fair Sat. April 26th 11-4 pm at the Capitol Theatre.

Radio Ad and SPRING Mini Photo Sessions

2008-04-06T23:11:00.001-07:00

Wow! It has been amazing planning the Bridal Tea and we are sooooooo excited that it is turning into such an exquisite event. I just got a email with the radio spot from the Eagle and it is so fun. You can listen to it here

If you are planning to come to the Tea you can still RSVP to brideolympia@yahoo.com and let us know how many people you will be bringing with you. We are excited to see you there.

Also, I have a few more spaces for MINI PHOTO SESSIONS! They are $150 for a 1/2 hour including the CD, which normally is $250 on its own. It is my No-April Foolin' gift to you. If you want to schedule a photo session, email me thru the website or call the studio 253.227.8074. Now that the CHERRY Blossoms are out, it is a perfect time to get some spring photos.

Entrepreneur of the Month

2008-03-30T23:47:00.000-07:00

Wow! I am featured as Entrepreneur of the month of April with a non-profit organization called Enterprise for Equity. I took their business planning classes and learned so much about the nuts and bolts of business. You can see the article about me and Dinea de Photo here www.enterpriseforequity.org

This leads me to write about Business planning and the workings of a plan. It is a crucial plan to plan. Failure to plan is a plan to fail" and so... I totally recommend writing a business plan whether you are in a small business or working or planning one. In my non-profit work as a fundraiser and in organizational development I learned mostly what can make or break any non-profit or business is poorly laid plans and not putting a 1 year, 2 year, 3 year, 5 year planning into a living and breathing document called a business plan. I have been learning lately how to make it truly a working document not something that sits on the shelf collecting dust bunnies. Learn to love planning and you can move mountains and rocks.
A business plan is one of those BIG rocks that we love to ignore, but once we get one in place we can fill in the empty spaces with the other things integral to our lives and businesses.

Anyhow check out the article and look at their business planning offerings because they ROCK!

Spring Portrait Mini Sessions

2008-03-23T23:54:00.000-07:00

In the celebration of SPRING, my birthday this week, and to have some fun I am having Spring Portrait Mini Sessions. They are $150 for a 1/2 hour session which includes a CD of the images. I have two dates left for this special April 12th and May 10th. If you are interested in scheduling a session, feel free to call the studio 253.227.8074 or email me thru the website

Here are a few from a Mini Session on the beautiful non-rainy Saturday we had before the REALLY cold and rainy Easter where the rain literally went sideways and upside down. You have got to love March and the beginning of Spring.

Bridal Tea #2 in Olympia

2008-03-20T00:04:00.001-07:00

Wow, our last Bridal Tea was a blast. We had incredible music, great food, and AMAZING vendors to meet. We are excited to have another. It is going to be bigger and better for sure. Feel free to call or email and come by to check it out. It is a lot of fun. To quote one of our last bridal attendees " I think this is the best event I have ever been to, I feel so relaxed and pamered" Wow we were so excited to hear that.

The next Bridal Tea is April 13th from 1-4 pm. Come and meet people that can help make your wedding unique. This tea is going to be AMAZING as we will have some fantastic vendors, pampering, and great prizes to give away, and even Horse and Carriage Rides. There will be many wonderful things to do and try so come and check out the tea, it is FREE, so bring your family and friends to help you in planning your wedding and enjoy a fun and beautiful event. This event is sponsored by Dinea de Photo, The Best of Budapest, and the Tumwater Masonic Center which is located at 455 North St. SE in Tumwater.

Spring Flirting

2008-03-16T22:35:00.000-07:00

Spring is really my favorite time of year, awakening from a long slumber to the sweet smell of fragrant flowers and flirty sunshine and rain. It is really delightful to see rainbows and sunshine in the midst of clouds and rain. It is the time to come that inspires me because I know more flowers and warmth will follow.

I just had a great photoshoot with a wonderful woman named Joy, she was absolutely incredible with the camera and I had to include a few of my favorites here. I loved how the sun was flirting with the camera and the sweet patterns that came out of the shoot.

The infamous Miss Jane

Music, Art, and Community

2008-03-03T16:36:00.000-08:00

Wow, I am so excited the Bridal Tea that my friend Kristi and I put on was a blast. We had such a fun time with all the vendors, people that attended, and the food was fantastic. My absolute favorite violinist, Geoffrey Castle came and played his soulful and inspiring music that literally made the event exquisite. We had some great people involved such as Sylphide Designs, my favorite couture dress shop, Fair Portia, Aspasia Day spa who has the most amazing skin healing techniques, and many more. I will post more about this later. I just wanted to say how great it is to have people work together for a common goal. It is something that is not that common these days, but it is super important. I have such immense respect and love for community and am grateful for the inspiration and beauty that comes from supporting small business and local economy.

This bouquet made by Potpourri Floral is full of spring flowers and I found it to be such a beautiful reminder that spring weddings are such a delight to experience because of the sheer bounty of spring fragrant flowers. I love spring a lot, partly b/c my birthday is in spring and partly b/c it is when we wake up from the slowness of winter to more sunshine.

I am so grateful to have had such a fun time with all of you that attended, and hopefully if you didn't get to attend or want to come to the next one you will stay tuned. The next Bridal Tea is on April 13th. So if you are interested in attending or exhibiting, let me know. This one is sure to be even more fun, with great prizes and more things to see and do.

Bridal Tea

2008-02-19T00:37:00.000-08:00

Check out the upcoming Bridal Tea March 2nd, 2008 Sponsored by The Best of Budapest, Dinea de Photo, and Huber's Gasthaus. Attached is your invitation to experience an intimate event of exquisite proportion.

The many faces of Life

2008-02-15T23:31:00.000-08:00

I am truly amazed by this video. It features so many of my favorite kinds of art, but what is really remarkable is that it is like the many faces and moods and changes we have thru our lives. As a woman, I feel there is a constant reinvention of myself, with a true thread that stays the same and constant throughout.

Purse Love- "A cute bag is a girls best friend"

2008-02-01T21:46:00.000-08:00

I love great purses, it is amazing what a good handbag can do to an outfit and to every day organization. I just read this article on how a cute bag is a girl's best friend and it was all about the next "it" bag.

I am hard on my bags and I have found that having a bag that lasts a long time with a guarantee is key. Enter in the Persnickity Designs Bags. I found these bags on a trip to Bellingham last spring and was totally blown away enough to sign up as a rep for their company. They are made to last forever, have many style possibilities, and support local economy as they are handmade in WA. I have been so busy getting my photography business going this year I have yet to have a party, but thought I would post some about them. The bag I love the most is the small hobo, plus it has a place where I can put a scarf which I can change with my outfits and stuff. They also have these great wallets that can fit business cards and postcards in that are really fun and great for men and women.
If you go to the website www.pdsashbags.com you can find the bag of your dreams and play around with customizing it to make it you. So fun. If you decide to order, tell them in the comments section you heard about them from me.

I will have some photography posts up soon so stay tuned.

Vintage Spontaneity

2008-01-21T21:38:00.000-08:00

So my daughter and I have been talking about me doing a full on photo shoot of her. Well today she decided that we should do it although she had dirty hair and wanted to wear this sweet dress in the freezing cold. The ground was crunchy even though it was sunny out. I was surprised by her enthusiasm since she usually lets me get a few pictures but then refuses if I suggest we do something longer. She is always so creative and she had her own ideas for the shoot. First she want to be by the columns, then she wanted to go to the ledge, etc. We only shot pics for about a half hour before her legs were bright pink and we had to stop.

Passion Love and Life

2008-01-14T19:37:00.000-08:00

"First find something that you love to do so much that you would gladly do it for nothing. Then learn to do it so well that people are happy to pay you for it."
~Walt Disney

I just received this quote in an email and thought it was so fabulous and true. It is amazing how much I love photography and connecting with my clients. It is such an honor and a gift each time I get to see people in this way. I am really excited about 2008 and have some really fun things to share in the next few weeks, so stay tuned and stay PASSIONATE!

Seattle Wedding Show Fashion

2008-01-06T21:57:00.000-08:00

This weekend I went to the Seattle Wedding Show and saw great vendors from around the NW. It was great, with many kinds of cakes and dresses and venues it is almost mind boggling. The dresses and flowers were absolutely GORGEOUS, and I enjoyed the variety of models they had in all shapes, ages, and sizes. My sister is getting married in May of 09 and it is never too early to start planning.

There were some amazing things to see there, especially cakes that defied gravity like Mikes Amazing Cakes with tea cups and saucers. I saw this really sweet cake from Creme de la Creme. They actually made it as a DONATION to the Woodland Park Zoo for their booth. I thought it was exceptionally sweet because they printed the Zoo's logo on the edible paper around the cake with food coloring. I had to check out their booth and was really impressed with their stuff and with the owners, very nice people. I think the zoo sounds like a unique place to get married and a great way to support animal and environmental education. Woodland Park Zoo has the AMAZING butterfly garden which would be a fabulous place for pictures. I spoke with the people at the booth and they were super excited about this cake because of how fast Creme de la Creme was and how sweet it was for them to donate to the Zoo.
My daughter went along as well and had to taste all the cakes at the show. She even brought her digital camera to take pictures of her favorite things, mostly cakes. She said that although all the cakes were beautiful at the show her favorite tasting cake was the Raspberry- Lemon from the Celebrity Cake Studio in Tacoma. I love the Pink Champagne though, it is wonderful, and I usually don't like to eat cake.

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T23:44:00.000-08:00

(Photo courtesy by my daughter and her new Samsung point and shoot camera from Christmas)

It is amazing that 2008 is already here. I am so excited. Today my daughter and I walked around the lake and enjoyed a day of reflection and of planning. I am busy writing my personal and business goals for 2008 and super excited for the New Year. I will be launching some fun new things so stay tuned. I would love to hear what your goals are for 2008.
Here are a couple of mine:

1. Get in shape, by shape I mean going to the gym more than 2-3x a week and stepping it up to 4-5x a week and walking around the lake at least 1-2x a week as well.
2. Begin yoga again. I love yoga, and have not been making time for it. It is so good for mind and body.
3. Finish paperwork for Artist applications.
4. Write article for local paper.
5. Edit my personal pictures and finish albums for these.
6. Start my daughter in horseback riding lessons. She loves horses, so horse crazy she is that she needs to ride.
So many more....

I hope you all have a great New Year, it is such a blessing to have a shiny new year to dream and plan and envision. I wish you all a blessed year.
Dinea

Nutcracker Production

2007-12-15T21:24:00.000-08:00

So, for the past few weeks I have been driving my daughter to Nutcracker Dress rehearsals and to performances and it has been exhausting, yet so inspirational. I am consistently impressed by the incredible work that Ballet Northwest does to put on this annual production. It is BEAUTIFUL and so worth seeing. I also love that BNW includes so many of the community in the cast. It is a great opportunity for people to learn self confidence and how a show like this is put together. Check out their website for more information www.balletnorthwest.org
We are so fortunate to have a Ballet of this caliber in Olympia, if you haven't seen it go. This year's is SOLD OUT, but next year, save a trip North and go to Ballet Northwest's Nutcracker, you will be soooooooooooo glad you did.

Here are a few pictures of my daughter as a soldier. She was so cute and just really enjoyed being part of the battle between the Mouse King and the Nutcracker.

Photo Animation for Fun!

2007-11-26T22:49:00.000-08:00

So, this isn't really photography related, and I have a bunch of new photos to post in the next couple of days, but I just had to share. I just found this really fun animation website where I could create a photography avatar. I had way too much fun doing it and was really excited they had a photographer animation. You can go there and create your own as well at www.meez.com

Check me out!

Vintage Style

2007-11-05T16:56:00.001-08:00

I just had the most amazing time photographing a young woman, Juliane in Olympia who has major "Vintage Style". We had a blast and went to the State Capital to grab pics of the marble grandeur and timelessness. Of course Juliane has such a timelessness to her and she just seemed to be at home there amongst the marble and stone columns.

I am posting some of my favorites and made a slideshow which you can see here

Gratitude WOW!

2007-11-01T17:19:00.000-07:00

WOW!
This morning I received an email from Davina Fear (www.davinafear.com), a Photographer who is absolutely amazing. She told me to check her blog and I did and found out I have been awarded a Davina Scholarship toward the tution of Love Affair (www.loveaffairworkshop.com), the Women's Photography Workshop in NC.

I am so thrilled, stunned, and honored to have received this. I am now working on raising the rest of the funds to go there. It is such an amazing gift to have people I admire believe in me and my work. I am so honored and deeply touched by this!

So Halloween was a BLAST! We went to the Governor's house and my daughter received a book and a chocolate bar, we saw the house of 100 pumpkins, and then trick or treated for a little while as well. The Halloween Fairy decided to come this year too. A child at school told my daughter that if you put all the candy out for the Halloween Fairy she will leave a present, well she did. Almost ALL of the candy got put into a bag and in the morning ***POOF*** there in its place were 2 one dollar bills. My daughter was so excited that she plans on doing this again next year. Apparantly the tooth fairy and the Halloween fairy are friends.

Here are a few cute pics of my daughter as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz.

My Website is LIVE!!!!!

2007-10-30T12:25:00.000-07:00

My website is finally live! The address is www.dineaphoto.com and I can hardly believe it is now up and running. I will be adding to it in the next few weeks as well. I had a friend tell me to just do it and put it up even if I don't think it is perfect. I took his advice and am really happy I did. I see it as an evolving work in progress and am really happy to have my work up there for people to enjoy.

I would love to hear what you think about it in the comments section of this post. It is really fun to hear from all of you.

Photography Workshops

2007-10-28T16:36:00.000-07:00

This weekend I went to an Advanced Photography Workshop with Me Ra Koh. Her and Brian are such amazing people and so genuine in helping photographers advance in their businesses but especially be ourselves as photographers and people. Here are a few images I took this weekend. I love the one where the light is framing her face in the window light.

Autumn Family Portraits

2007-10-11T20:56:00.000-07:00

I am so happy for the beautiful fall weather. After all the rain last week I thought winter had set in for good! Thank goodness it still is fall and so unpredictable. Like they say, wait 10 minutes and the weather will change.

We had a great sunbreak over the week and I got a chance to go out and take photos of this great family!!!!!! We had so much fun and I really enjoyed getting to discover a new park called Seven Oars near the Friendship bridge in Olympia. Their daughter had such a blast and you could really tell that she was a natural with the camera. By the end of our day together, she even started to find cool compositions and places to have her photo taken. It was so sweet! I also took this amazing shot of her dad holding her with such love and compassion, it brought tears to my eyes when I saw it. It is definitely a moment that she will look back on and remember how much is is loved!

Enjoy the pics and let me know what you think in the comments section! I love to know who is reading this blog so say hello.

Holiday Time and Deadlines

2007-10-04T01:40:00.000-07:00

I can hardly believe that October is here! Wow and the weather has been wild here in the NW, golden sun one moment and thunder and hailing the next. It definitely makes for interesting and dynamic pictures.

Soon the holidays will be here and the crazy rush begins. I have found over the years that I try to give more meaningful gifts each year. The "stuff" comes and goes, but what remains are the beautiful memories from a photo or giving an experience. I love giving gifts with true heartfelt meaning that bring up the true reason we come together as family and friends to celebrate this time of year.

So in the season of fall and the begining of the holiday portrait season, I wanted to let you know the deadline for ordering prints for Holidays. Dec. 7th is the absolute latest to receive prints at regular shipping costs from my prolab, and Dec. 14th is the latest for RUSH delivery.

For past, present, and future clients,
This fall My prolab is offering some really great deals on prints, DVD's, cards, and more for the months of October and November so if you book for these months or have had an event this year you will be eligible for these AMAZING deals!!!!!
Seriously, there is even a buy one DVD and get one free. The DVD's are a compilation of images from the event and set to music, really high quality and in the most amazing packaging with a photo of the event on the cover.

I am now offering wonderful 7x7 and larger hardcover books which are perfect for gifts and holding all the memories in one place. They are really a great quick alternative to a hardcover leather album and take very little time to receive.

Holiday cards are available as well, but sessions must be booked soon to ensure timely delivery of cards for mailing.

I am also really excited to start offering Canvas prints. They are absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!! I can hardly believe the quality and beauty of a canvas wrapped print to hang on the wall. So great to hang in that blank space on the wall for even the most discerning home designer.

Email me at dineanature@juno.com for details for the Holiday special that includes a 3 hour portrait session, a 7x7 book , print credit, and a canvas wrapped print.

Fashion forward

2007-09-24T12:31:00.001-07:00

I shot some photos for recently for a local importer www.profoundia.com . She has amazing clothes and bindis and this shoot was so fun. I had a blast, plus the model was from a previous Sweet sixteen shoot and such a natural with the camera we had a great time. Let me know what you think in the comments section.

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Fun Birthday Party and a Pirate ship

2007-09-12T02:06:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since I last blogged. I have so many images that I will try and put them up in the next couple of days. This is my friend Fanny who is a Glamorous eclectic Goddess! It is her birthday here and she is surrounded by admirers.

I got to go on a "pirate" ship. Actually it was one of the merchant ships from Pirates of the Carribean, but none the less it was fabulous! We rode on the Lady Washington, and had a mock canon battle with the ship Hawaiian. We won of course and it was so fun, black powder, fun sailors, and a beautiful day of sun. It was Labor Day weekend and my dad insisted my daughter and I go with him. He is such a mariner lover, he actually did a little jig after we won the battle and the captain put on celebration music.

Sweet Sixteen

2007-08-05T01:04:00.000-07:00

Sixteen candles. I loved that movie when I was a teen. These images are from a "Sweet 16" photo shoot I did for a friend yesterday, the day before her birthday. What a blast** I love the dynamic of emerging into the next cycle of maturity and inner growth. What a Rite of Passage for her. I love photography and how the soul of each person emerges thru their photos and give a glimpse into the window of their soul.

Cob Oven Pizza and Fertile Ground

2007-07-29T17:06:00.001-07:00

I love Cob oven Pizza. It is amazing and traditionally a cob oven was used in communities to come together and to share this resource for baking bread as not every family had their own oven.
So there is a great Bed and Breakfast in Olympia, WA called Fertile Ground that has Cob Oven Pizza Parties.

Fertile Ground hosts almost weekly pizza parties as fund raisers for local non profits. It is such a great resource for the community and really fun. Plus different
businesses donate the ingredients such as pizza dough, ice cream, etc. It is such a great place to go on a Saturday in the summer. Outside in a beautiful organic garden at a location that promotes environmental responsibility and stewardship. Fertile ground is an Eco friendly Bed and Breakfast and quite a popular place to stay and play at in Olympia. Check out their website
http://fertileground.org/

Here is some of the yummy pizza that is made in the cob oven. First the dough is rolled out and then put into the cob oven to brown. Then it is taken out and the pizza toppings are put on and it is put into the oven again to bake. Yummy!

Photo Albums

2007-07-19T00:32:00.000-07:00

Image Copyright 2007 Dinea Norrell

I have added some links to my blog so you can see some of the stories I have been documenting. Just cut and paste them as the blog is not letting me link them. One is a compilation of my daughters Ballet Recital and the other is of my friends before they had their 2nd baby. It was so fun to capture them as a threesome.

http://www.pictage.com/xml/photoalbum/album.xml?album_id=44061&event_id=EVV1:319883

http://www.pictage.com/xml/photoalbum/album.xml?album_id=40278&event_id=EVV1:312070

Mermaid Soul

2007-07-18T11:34:00.000-07:00

I have been making these needle felted mermaid dolls for a while now and had a friend of mine
who is a mermaid soul herself walk around with them. They actually are solid wool without any wires. They take a considerable amount of time to make, but are almost alive when you hold them. I am working on a class to teach people how to make these soulful dolls. If you are interested contact me.

Transforming dreams into reality! The magic formula

2007-07-16T14:52:00.000-07:00

"The only thing that stops you from getting what you want is the story
you tell yourself about why you can't have it." Tony Robbins

I got this quotes from an email earlier today, and wow it is so true. For a while now I have told myself the story of why I can't do this or that, but since this spring I have been pushing past that. I attended this incredible workshop called Inner Boundaries led by Joan Casey. It was life transforming and is one of the catalysts that has moved me to pursue my passion and dreams.

So to manifest one of my dreams, I am in the process of getting a website made with this fabulous web design company Bludomain. They specialize in web templates and amazing styles. I am so excited to get one.

The Buddha said “When you come upon a life path that brings benefit
and happiness to all, follow this course as the moon journeys through
the stars” c563 c483 BC (India)

So celebrate with me as we overcome the hurdles in our lives and turn them into the stuff that stars and dreams are made of.

I just had to include this picture of my daughter who has turned the entire backyard into a horse jumping course. We have an entire stable of "real" horses of the stick and cardboard breeds.

Newborn babies and the magic of childhood

2007-07-14T21:09:00.000-07:00

So last Monday I had the great honor to take photos of my friends Ellen and Lucas and their newborn Robin. Welcome to the world sweet Robin. It is so hot this July, I feel for the little ones at this time. I am trying to not complain about the weather because Washington has so much rain and dreary gray days in the fall and winter that I am grateful for the sunshine. Here he is, isn't he cute.

Happy Belated Fourth of July

2007-07-14T15:18:00.000-07:00

I wanted to include this image of the fireworks display put on by the City of Tumwater. Absolutely stunning show of fireworks. It was also neat because they had about 10-15 blow up bouncers and rock walls for climbing before the show started. My daughter and I had a great conversation about how we are celebrating our independence as a country. She loves American Girl stories so we used the story of Felicity to discuss the loyalists and the patriots. If you haven't checked out the American Girl books and you have a girl, check them out. I am consistently impressed with the encouragement and empowerment for young girls that the stories contain. What amazing things women have done in the past 100 years and we are so blessed to have freedom.

Tibetan statues and Whidbey Island

2007-07-14T14:24:00.000-07:00

I went to Whidbey Island, WA right before the fourth of July. I visited a friend's house who collects Tibetan Statues on her travels to the Tibetan Monastaries, she is an incredible person and is an extensive lecturer and teacher. The golden face buddha was particularly interesting. It was amazing to look at the incredible art she collects and the architecture of her home. There were so many cool statues and things were so beautifully put together. One sculpture was part animal and part human. I had such a wonderful time overlooking the water and spending time in such a beautiful, healing and sacred place.

It is a short ferry ride away from Seattle and really a great little cluster of small towns. I loved all the little shops too. One in particular The Cottage was absolutely amazing. All these great clothes right out of a European cottage. I loved it, too bad it was so hot that trying on clothes was out of the question. I will definitely have to go back when it is cooler.

There was also a teepee on her land.

What a beautiful island life.

Hello and Welcome

2007-07-13T15:28:00.000-07:00

Hello.
I am a photographer a fiber artist and specialize in creative and unique shots of people, places, and things. Photography found me in college as a way to document things I was drawing. When I picked up my old Pentax K 1000 I was in love at first shot. I now shoot Canon digital and LOVE it! I am thrilled when I capture the look on people's faces in a moment that conjures up the emotion of the day. It is those moments that inspire me. Welcome to my blog, I look forward to sharing more as time goes on. Also, feel free to crosslink with me as I love to network.