This is the Rasmussen’s second time around with Purple Nickel Studio and we couldn’t be more HAPPY. I can remember the first day that Michelle and I were introduced by our good friend Dave Harvey (another fabulous photog who is CrAzY good with architectural shots). The two of them planned a ‘just for fun’ shoot with a few model/friends and Dave invited me to tag along. I accepted of course. DUH! But I would have never ever met these two artists without having attended a PHX children’s workshop back in 2007. I <3 WORKSHOPS…they’re the bestest!!! Michelle forced…yes forced Dave (her business partner at the time) to attend so he could broaden his photography horizons. Once him and I both started chattin’ it up we soon realized we were the only photographers there from Tucson. We clicked (no pun intended)! From that point on our friendships strenghtened, our photography knowledge exploded and weekly advice was accepted graciously. LOVE IT!!!

So when Michelle asked us to photograph her family again we of course said YES! Their first session took place almost a year and a half ago and her boys sure have changed. It’s Ah-mazing how they have grown. Now they asked us quirky questions, set up their own poses, and eagierly wanting to hold our hands as we crossed the streets. Awwwwwwww. It’s was incredible.  Since Michelle knows first hand how important it is to give an artist creative freedom…she did just that.  I think her exact words were ‘we want our session purple nickel style!’.  Sounds kinda naughty doesn’t it?. MEOW*  Ha!!!  We LOVE you guys so much and are so honored to have you in our lives! Thanks for such an awesome session and so glad the weather gods had our backs…it stormed I mean STOOORMED just hours before our morning session.



















































“Casia and Eric…Thank you SO much for doing such an awesome job on our me2 session- we had so much fun getting all decked out 80’s-Purple Nickel style for our shoot! Being a professional photographer myself, I am SO grateful to be on the other side of the camera with my family each year- being able to enjoy the experience together is priceless and we look forward to enjoying these images and memories of our time together. So awesome that we were able to do it while Farmor (grandma) was here again too from Sweden! Thanks again- you guys rock! And roll! YaY!.”

-The R Fam

*Here’s some behind the scenes goodness…plus I believe my brown plaid ‘rocketdog’ shoes have retired. I’ve done every shoot in them since purple nickel was born. They have brought me AMAZING LUCK! Now I just need to find some funky new bold hip comfortable cute fashionable non-squeaky puddle-stompin sidewalkin urban chic jean-lovin SHOES! Help…

Yay…these are finally up! Phew…it’s been a little crazy around here and I want to THANK Liora for being soooooo patient. We met Liora back in October (I know I know this post is well over-due) and she couldn’t be more sweeter.  See more about our introduction…HERE!  I can truly say I really enjoyed working on her images along with all the COOL architecture shots Eric photographed. It’s so easy to get consumed by such Ah-mazing details when they involve modern textures and elements.  It’s not everyone’s cup of tea but it sure the heck is ours!!! We’re going to have to create a ‘BEST OF THE BEST’ blog post from 2009’s random objects and details.  FOR REAL!  And Liora’s shoot has lots of them…it was hard for me not to combine them all in her flipside portrait session.  It just added to the character of the shoot and we LOVE that.  Not to mention how easy it was to photograph her.  Photographing photographers or artists in general lends it self to an experience filled with tons of creativity. Everyone gets involved.  The shared ideas and visions make the concept much more powerful.  We can’t wait to collaborate with many more artists in the future.  Hint…hint…we have something up our sleeves for 2010…but you’ll just have to wait and see!












































We are now booking flipside and me2 portrait sessions for January & Febuary in the Tucson and Phoenix area. Please contact us to inquire more information on booking your HIP photographic experience!  You know you wanna.  If you know anyone who’s attracted and inspired by the type of photography we create…we would LOVE for you to pass along our website and blog links. NETWORKING & REFERRALS ARE THE BESTEST!!!

I LURVVVVE this flipside session Eric & I photographed with my sister Julie and her two dogs for her Birthday!!! Click…HERE to read more about our concept in our previous sneak peek. This post is quite a long one so just pace yourself. It’s always so hard to decide which images to showcase on here…I’m thinking that’s a good thing. OH YES! These two pooches are beyond cutie-patooties. Bella the ‘mommy’ of the two just likes to be loved and loves EVERYONE (she’s the black & white one). Whereas Rylie is the mischievous adventurous type. And they complete each other. A perfect sister-ship x 4.

I’m so glad we did the session when we did because I just found out early this morning by text message…5 am to be exact that Bella had a siezure. Rylie frantically paced the house and kept whining trying to wake Julie. At first my sister thought an intruder was in her house! Scary. But then she figured out what all the commotion was about. She found Bella in the hallway all curled up. The attack lasted for around 40 seconds which always seems longer when it’s happening. She finally relaxed after Julie cuddled with her. UGH…how nerve-racking. Bella was checked out immediately this morning by her vet and was given a good bill of health…Phew! No valley fever like Rylie. So at this point we still don’t know what caused the episode and now it’s Rylie’s job to look after her while Julie is at work. I just know she’ll play her part.

Ok no more sad talk…on to the FABULOUS photographs! I promise you’ll like them…

We’ve been M.I.A. in the blog world lately…lots and lots of projects going on. Eric and I can’t wait to share all the goodie designs with you. He’s been designing MOD cards for our clients like a mad man and YUMMY canvas galleries for their lonely walls. I’ll be posting some concepts in the next few weeks…stay tuned. In the meantime here is one of our FABULOUS me2 family portrait sessions we did in October of the Yousey family. We simply adore them. Not only do they live across the street from us but the dad is also an architect and runs his own firm. They are currently remodeling their home so we BOTH get to share our funny and frustrating stories, plans, and cool fixtures we find. LOVE IT!!!

Some of you might know but this is the Yousey’s third me2 family session with Purple Nickel Studio…and we can’t wait to photograph many many more! Maybe our next session will be a maternity one???!!! Hey…I’m just sayin’. You can check out their sneak peek I posted a few weeks ago…HERE. Again I can’t tell you how much we enjoy hanging out with this family.  Two seconds with their daughter Mia and you’re ready to eat her up.  She has the cutest laugh, most GORGEOUS eyes (as if you couldn’t tell) and is soooo silly.  Ummmmm…can I order one just like her? Pllllleeease?!  Ok ok ok…so on to the photographs cause I know you’re just dying to see em’.

Wha-what!!! Yep another fun shoot with my sister Julie and her doggies. Only this time we ventured out further beyond Tucson and found some delicious pale yellow fields of grass. Yes Arizona does have fields. I know crazy huh?! It’s nice to have a change from the urban look that we always enjoy. So we packed up the car with lots of water and cozy blankets for the dogs and headed out for the afternoon to grab some killer photographs. Eric and I surprised my sister with the concept on her birthday back in mid October. Everytime we visit her home we notice how empty and lonely the walls are. So we decided to plan a flipside shoot and create some AH-mazing artwork for her to display. We’re going to hang some of our larger scale MOD canvas wraps which will make a BOLD statement in her place. I can’t wait to show you the layout. In the meantime here’s a little peek at what we had up our sleeves. Can you say….’way CUTE!!!’ LOVE IT!!!  Meet Bella. She was the * of our last shoot (click HERE to see it) and soon you’ll be introduced to her other roommate Riley. Riley isn’t as photogenic as Bella but we sure did trick her into getting some great shots!