Ummmm….ya missed a spot babe!  Gezzzz that first image on the left just makes me pee in my pants every time I look at it.  Were always saying how fast that dang ice cream melts out here.  We think the crew @ DQ sabotages our cones every time by adding milk inside the outer-cased butterscotch.  What’s your favorite must have?

 

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So recently purple nickel studio joined forces with Mark Eric creator of MODERN PHOTOGRAPHERS…and we’re so happy to be part of the site. Finally an online resource specifically designed for the freshly-hip client looking for a stylish ‘professional’ photographer with over-the-top creative flair! Aww yeeah!  This site is going to connect so many families with well qualified working artists instead of ‘joe-smo’ with a pocket camera down the road. Can’t ya tell I’m bitter about that subject?. We can’t voice our opinion enough on how important it is to invest in a ‘true’ artist & photographic artwork. Times are a changing people & everywhere…especially when it comes to capturing your memories.  modernphotographers.com is a place to find talented individuals who want to share their visions with such amazing people.  With that said we’re delighted to have 3 MOD images showcased on the home page from 3 of our uniquely fabulous clients who took a chance on us crazy rascals. So click on the images below to be taken to the site.  Explore, wonder, drool, and most importantly connect with the talent that’s apparent within this group of artists.  

 

First up Lauren, Ryan, and little Starla.  The couple who will let us do anything we want!  And of course they never disappoint us when they bring they’re game!  Cause they always do!

 

 

Second, the Bowen Family!  OMG Eric just loves this image.  It expresses everything about our company. Architectural materials, the raw-ness, and of course utter randomness.  And who wouldn’t love our funky twist on the so-called ‘mug shot’!  MMMMM….yumminess.

 

 

Last but not least…Miss super fly Julie…aka ‘buglet’.  So I don’t want all this exposure to go to her head…wait it already has! Opppps.  Well she is quite gorgeous.  Though I think every sis says that about one another.  I hope?.

 

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So I have to say this is the coolest thing ever.  While a group of us were up in Phoenix attending classes Dave was wondering around with his 25lb bag of camera gadgets.  Now I know why he was lugging it around so much.  So worth it.  And to think I kept harassing him about his what looked like a ’sniper bag’.  Well it did.  If we weren’t at a photo convention people might have thought otherwise.  Anyhow as Erin & I were walking across the sky walk for the like the millionth time…we saw Dave at it again.  That’s when we became the guineas.  And to think he captured this in like several seconds. Holy MOLY!  I’m so having him do shots of our house once it’s in recognizable stages as we finish the remodel.  How cool would that be to have artwork like this in your home!  I wanna learn!  To check out more of his stinkin-ly bitchin panos click on the image!

 

‘Dave I’m so glad you captured the true essence of my physique….LOL’.  I hope I’m not that short and squatty!  Ha.  I think I’m in denial! 

 

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We had about an hour of light left on New Year’s day before we headed out for a mini shoot with my shinny new toy. Canon 5D mark II.  I was looking to capture that buttery light and golden hour to a tee. And since it was a miracle for both of us to have the day off together we knew we had to play around.  This was my only focus and what ever else we got would be the cherry on top. Through the hour she kept asking me ‘what do you want me to do?…how do you want me to stand?’  I said ‘just stare at my lens and I’ll do the rest.’  When I said this I think she thought ‘these are not gonna be so hot!’…LOL.  I guess what most people don’t think of when it comes to a shoot is…as little direction as possible seems to let their pure essence roam free.  There’s no stuffy awkwardness.  Just simple exploration around a subject and the environment which holds them.  I pretty much just said ‘look out this way’, ‘look down’, look out of the corner of your eye’, ‘LAUGH’.  The laughing one always comes off CHEESY but totally works.  You almost have to be over the top to make it believable in the lens.  So I just chuckle like a big bellied man! Ha. Or I do something silly which always catches them off guard.  It’s these moments that get the so-called $$$ shot!  I totally *heart* these.  Julie has had lots of experience in front of the camera ever since our days as kids with a simple camera and needing a subject to photograph.  She’s my little sister and is always always always up for anything.  I can think back to every shoot we’ve done together and every time I’m always amazed by her inner beauty.  I’m so lucky to have my little buglet!  Or in this case my guinea.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love you always & forever.  I couldn’t imagine my life without you.  And those little text messages we send each other just rock my world.  Even if they’re about you being on the crapper

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So I’m finally back from Phoenix!  I was there for the past 5 days.  At times it just flew by.  Especially on the days of mini classes.  I attended seminars from ‘organic packaging’ to ‘photoshop tricks’!  I definitely was overwhelmed at times by all the endless information.  Not to mention the hundreds upon hundreds of vendors at the 3 day trade show.  I plan on uploading some images of my favorite items I picked up while there.  So stay tuned for that.  Here’s just some simple images I was able to capture with my pocket camera. The first night we tried to eat at Pizzeria Bianco.  We arrived at 5ish and asked how long the wait was.  To our mouth dropping surprise they could get us in at 8:15!!!  With our tummies growling & our feet throbbing we decided to pass.  Dang it.  So instead we decided to take a picture of us at the restaurant we DIDN’T eat at.  But I am so going back there with Eric soon.  Right across from the adorably cozy spot was a pub that was just as yummy.  I had my first bowl of ’shepherds pie’!!!  I actually liked it.  I didn’t think I would since it would all be mashed together.  Maybe this was a more modernized version with simple layering.  But I wouldn’t have the slightest clue since I don’t know what a typical version even looks like or tastes.  Oh well I was happy just to eat.

 

 

Our group shot of the restaurant we sooooooo wanted to eat at.  That’s me on the left *wink*, Erin Durband in the middle, and Michelle Rasmussen on the right.  In the background you can see what limited space they have to work with.  There was literally more seating outside than there was inside.  The inside had a really cool bar & behind that is where they tossed the pizza dough.  Way neat.  Then I took this classic shot of Dave…Mr. Harvey. Ha.  While we road the Phoenix ‘Light Rail’.  He hates getting his picture taken even though he’s a photog.  Silly don’t ya think?.  That’s why I think this image sums up everything about his pure delight with the concept. Ha. Gotcha.  His nickname automatically became ‘Dundee’…due to bringing along his new hat.  So whenever we were lost from each other we would just yell it out.  Seemed to work in a crowd of several ‘Dave’s’ I’m sure?. Or we could have yelled ‘Mic’.

 

 

This was a secret find.  A tiny quaint court yard filled with numerous palm trees all spiraled with blue lights.  As we wrapped up dinner one night from our what seemed to be usual hot spot ‘Uno’.  A little Italian joint that served flat-bread pizzas in any flavor & was easy to access on our walk to the light rail.  My choice was the chicken BBQ.  I should have done a 360 video to get a more realistic feel of the glowing spot.  Dave started a 360 set up but then the batteries ran out of juice from all his explorations earlier.  I can’t wait to see what he posts.  I’ll make a link when he does. Amazing panoramic, fish eye, 360 shots of the downtown Phoenix area during the daytime.

 

 

Last but not least…dun dun dunnnnnn.  Anne Geddes.  Yes she gets her very own sentence.  We had the amazing privilege to see her Monday night for 2 whole hours.  I couldn’t believe how most of her what seemed to be very challenging concepts were basically well thought out, very accurately timed, and successfully accomplished due to her mega patience.  It’s mind blowing.  One word to describe it. Meticulous.  She planned shoots for days, months, and even years.  Holy cow. Talk about determination.  It was so inspirational to also see that she first and foremost photographed always for herself.  Every shoot was her vision.  Even when it came down to ads like Target.  She had sole ownership.  And they let her. Talk about taking a leap of trust with an artist.  I love a gal that can stick to her instincts and guns.  Speaks BOLDNESS.

 

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