Friday, April 30, 2010, 09:20 AM
Erin and Jason are deep wells. They are close to the earth and so deeply connected to one another. Capturing their love was a true honor. This is a couple who really invited me into their space and allowed me to see beautiful parts of their love for one another during their session. That takes a great deal of trust on their part. I feel so honored to know these two and be invited to share in their infectious love for one another. I walked away from my time with Erin and Jason with a more expansive heart and an even deeper affection for them.

Trust is such a crucial element to a successful photo shoot for us. Without it, photos feel lifeless. But with trust, images are filled with authenticity, sincere emotion, honesty and vision. The final goal for us as visual artists is that each of our images emanate with life, artistry and authenticity. To capture those beautiful moments requires a great deal of trust. It requires that our clients open up parts of themselves that they may not be used to sharing with others.... trust us enough to get those intimate and beautiful moments. It requires trusting the creative vision even if it requires doing something unique or odd. Trust goes both ways and it is something that is earned. We feel so grateful to have clients like Erin and Jason who trust us fully and completely.  



Thoughts
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Rosaura Sandoval says: Friday, May 14, 2010, 10:14 AM

Wow! I can really feel their connection and love so strongly. Thank you for sharing this love.

wrecklessgirl says: Friday, May 7, 2010, 10:21 AM

this might be one of my favorite sessions of yours ever, and i think you know why. :) oh, boy. fantastically, wondrously naturale.

Oswald says: Wednesday, May 5, 2010, 11:29 PM

Love it!

Oswald says: Wednesday, May 5, 2010, 11:28 PM

Love it!

Anda says: Monday, May 3, 2010, 07:29 AM

They look so in tune with each other. Great job uncovering and capturing that, Sarah.

Patrick says: Sunday, May 2, 2010, 11:18 PM

I love how emotional these photographs exude. I read a few posts ago that you attended and spoke at Jesh's Beloved Workshop. Must've been mind-blasting eh? :)

galaxie says: Sunday, May 2, 2010, 07:48 PM

ok. my all time favorite. so emotionally charge, and that connection they have... this series is simple and so beautiful. it shows how stripping down to the basics can be more powerful than anything else.

Amma says: Sunday, May 2, 2010, 05:54 AM

You have a new blog stalker! This is stunning...

Lisa says: Sunday, May 2, 2010, 02:49 AM

The second last shot takes my breath away. There's something very 'fairytale' about it. She looks like sleeping beauty : )These photos are so full of genuine emotion. Love them!

Simon says: Friday, April 30, 2010, 11:27 PM

Kudos on keeping up with the regular blog posts. Definitely makes my net time way more enjoyable. Always gorgeous always inspiring.

Diana Peters says: Friday, April 30, 2010, 12:02 PM

I absolutely LOVE the emotion in all of these images! Just beautiful.

Stephanie says: Friday, April 30, 2010, 09:05 AM

Hi Sarah, I've been following for a while.. first time to comment. Your work is amazing, and so inspiring. Each session you post becomes my new favorite!

Amy says: Friday, April 30, 2010, 08:42 AM

I agree with the previous commenter. The first and last images are so powerful. Gave me chills.

Kristine Neeley says: Friday, April 30, 2010, 08:31 AM

This is lovely. I can't decide whether it's because Erin looks so familiar to me for just because of this series that I feel like I know them. But really, I wish that I could place why she looks like someone I should know.

Melissa Brandman says: Friday, April 30, 2010, 08:20 AM

I especially love the first and last images - so beautiful!

Thursday, April 29, 2010, 08:30 AM
Meet little Miss Kara Mercer. She is a southern bell from Texas and I think I could listen to her darling little swangy accent all day. It. is. adorable. Kara is a photographer who came to Seattle for the Jesh workshop a couple of weeks ago and hired us to do a little lifestyle shoot of her prior to the workshop. We had a blast taking her around all kinds of obscure little Seattle locations and I loved seeing how big her eyes got when we walked out to where the boats were docked. I don't think that Texas has anything quite like that ;)

Kara is one of those people that puts others before herself, she laughs often and doesn't take life too seriously. These are all very endearing qualities, but what I love most about Kara is her ability to encourage others. She truly has a gift for seeing the goodness in each person she encounters. It was such a joy to watch her interact with everyone at the workshop for three days, she had something lovely to say to each and every person she encountered. 

The ability to speak life into others is such a beautiful gift. Kara is someone who recognizes the power in her affirmations and words to truly change the lives of others. I would not be where I am today had it not been for the people in my life that spoke life into me and told me truths about the great things they see in my future. I can still close my eyes and hear the powerful words of the people that have been vessels of growth for me; a dad who said he was "always proud," a sister who said she "looks up to me," a mentor who told me I have "a gift for loving others," a husband who believes I will "do a great many things." Sincere words are powerful things. When we can find ways to use our words for good- the course of people's lives can be changed. 


Thoughts
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Alex Rubin says: Saturday, May 1, 2010, 12:27 PM

I love the shoe shot!

Kara Mercer says: Friday, April 30, 2010, 05:44 PM

I love them!!! It was a great pick me up to see them yesterday since I have been going 90 to nothing and getting sick! Thanks Sarah!! You are a blessing to me!!

Lezlie Andrew says: Friday, April 30, 2010, 08:58 AM

Aww, I LOVE Kara! She is such a sweet heart! She's 2nd shot a couple of weddings with me and she always makes it a little more fun. :) She definitely knows how to put a smile on your face. I adore that girl!

Jason Williams says: Thursday, April 29, 2010, 02:46 PM

Loving the split-tinted image in the middle of the group Sarah...super cool idea. Great work as always!

chelsea donoho says: Thursday, April 29, 2010, 02:17 PM

cuuuute! love the last one a looot

lesley says: Thursday, April 29, 2010, 11:20 AM

Love her lashes and her overall look! Just cute! :)

anda says: Thursday, April 29, 2010, 10:32 AM

it's the dear kara!! aw this post so puts a smile on my face.

Alexandra says: Thursday, April 29, 2010, 07:59 AM

wowwww i love these photos! so so so beautiful!

David Lee says: Thursday, April 29, 2010, 07:51 AM

These are outstanding photos, and her style is awesome, I LOVE that first shot, her make up is incredible!! Great shoot guys, you really captured who fun personality!!

amberle says: Thursday, April 29, 2010, 06:47 AM

your work truly inspires me!! every single post i am in love with and makes me want to become a better portrait photographer! please continue to be amazing so that i can strive to be a photographer like you some day!!!

Paula says: Thursday, April 29, 2010, 06:37 AM

Oh, how awesome! Kara you look gorgeous darling! And Sarah, you always amaze me :) Love and miss you both! Paula (from the workshop)

Christina LeMarr says: Thursday, April 29, 2010, 06:29 AM

LOVE this!

Wednesday, April 28, 2010, 04:45 AM
A couple weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending and helping host Jesh de Rox, Life as an Artform workshop here in my backyard. It was such a rich experience on a variety of levels. Anything that has the ability to shift a perspective, challenge a previous thought, ask a question in a way that I have never heard it asked is something I am a huge fan of. That is why I love my dear friend Jesh and that's why this workshop is so dear to my heart. It's the type of experience that causes a creative mind-shift.

During my time at Life as an Artform, each of us had three minutes to capture my friends Gabe and Ashley. I think these two are beautiful. They radiate such a natural joy and life. I'm also pretty razed about Gabe's full chin strap. It's pretty gnarly. My guess is that is what swung him such a pretty gal like Ashley... she saw the chin strap and she was sold ;) 

We leave for Oklahoma today and I'm a bridesmaid in one of my best friends weddings, I'm really looking forward to being able to enjoy and celebrate Sarah and Jeff from a different perspective than I'm used to. It's been a long long time since I've been to a wedding without my camera and I'm excited to sit back and enjoy the show this Friday.

Thoughts
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kirsten says: Friday, April 30, 2010, 03:22 PM

this couple has an awesome style and you captured them brilliantly. you can't stage those smiles. absolutely beautiful.

Curtis Wiklund says: Friday, April 30, 2010, 08:51 AM

Hey Chris and Sarah, just love these pictures. My wife and I have been following your work for a while now. Funny we've never met you or even spoken! We feel like we know you! My wife describes your pictures as "SO HAPPY!" Very inspiring.

Cynthia @ My Bridal Bids says: Friday, April 30, 2010, 08:42 AM

Uhm, you rock? Quite obvious. :)

gabe says: Thursday, April 29, 2010, 11:53 AM

Thanks for having us Sarah and for capturing these moments with my smoking hot wife ;)

Lara Beck says: Thursday, April 29, 2010, 01:48 AM

I Love Jesh.....I was very fortunate to attend his workshop in Perth, Australia 18mths ago!! It was definitely was an Experience.....never to forget! :-)
Great shots again! :-)

Michele DeVries says: Wednesday, April 28, 2010, 09:08 PM

Such great energy. Love it!

Christine says: Wednesday, April 28, 2010, 06:04 PM

beautiful. i can totally feel jesh in these shots... the couple is STUNNING. xoxo

Alex Rubin says: Wednesday, April 28, 2010, 01:58 PM

You Rock!

ALexandra says: Wednesday, April 28, 2010, 11:59 AM

Wow I love these images! Great work :)

Darby says: Wednesday, April 28, 2010, 07:57 AM

That first shot is absolutely beautiful!

Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 08:32 AM
Welcome to a series that I like to call "Underwater Jai," this is where we have sweet Jai cannon-ball into a really cold pool on an overcast day and freeze her buns off! haha. She was such a trooper and even though I know she was freezing she didn't show it for a second. 

Chris has been scuba diving since he was a a kid. He is one certification away from having his master diver so he has the amazing ability to breathe underwater... ;)... not really, but it sure seems like it, the boy can hold his breath underwater for an upwards of three minutes making him the ruling champion on this part of the shoot. Since the underwater portion of this shoot was kind of a last minute decision, we decided to simplify things and not get full on scuba gear. So my husbands' under-water breathing superpower to came in quite handy. 

Although Chris has shot underwater before, it was my first time. I always love experimenting, getting out of my comfort zone and trying new things. One of my goals for myself this year was to rent underwater housing and explore shooting underwater. It is an entirely different experience than shooting on land. I have to say, as I put my camera into the pool in the housing I closed my eyes, held my breath for a good long second and just held onto the hope that the enclosure was fully sealed. It was a bit of a panic because if you miss one step in putting your camera in the housing correctly the entire thing can leak out and then it is buh-bye camera and lens which would be no bueno. Luckily we had a good set up and everything worked as planned. 

This part of the shoot was purely experimental for me. I'm a huge advocate of forcing myself to try new things that scare me. Shooting underwater scared me initially because it was the land of "un-knowns." I am so glad that I did this and faced my fear. This time the underwater shoot was in a cold pool in Palm Springs, but next time hopefully it will be in an ocean in Maui somewhere :)




Thoughts
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Kayla says: Wednesday, April 28, 2010, 09:42 AM

Awesome! I want to shoot underwater SO bad!!!

Kelsey Johnson says: Wednesday, April 28, 2010, 07:12 AM

Amazing! Simply Amazing

Lia Vellardita says: Wednesday, April 28, 2010, 05:59 AM

These are just gorgeous! I love to hear how you faced your fear and challenged yourself... look what came from that.

Jason Williams says: Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 11:11 PM

Ummm...these images make me REALLY want to try this.

HannahTaylor says: Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 08:19 PM

Definitely love the huge bubble shot and the ones with the lights?! Yes, lights? I love that one of your goals this year was to shoot underwater and you have accomplished that goal! yea! There is so much about this business that takes away from shooting, that sometimes I feel (and this is probably bad to say) that it takes away from me thinking in photography. The better and fuller an artist knows their medium the more they just start thinking and creating. All the business and nitty gritty just takes that time away from being able to aspire. So I definitely am cheering for you!

Kat Speyer says: Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 08:10 PM

Sssssweeeeeet!

arenda says: Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 07:07 PM

love the ethereal look to the underwater photos!
and the makeup underwater! :)

zimtsternin says: Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 03:40 PM

I love your photos.
They are so creative and inspiring. Thanks for sharing.

julie h says: Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 12:58 PM

luuuurve them!! I think the waters off Kona are always welcoming for an underwater shoot too! ;) My favorite is the third from last where she's just about to surface.

ashley Parsons says: Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 12:50 PM

beautiful job, friends.

Nancy says: Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 12:48 PM

This is just beautiful, love your kindred spirit to experiment.

I've been wanting to go to Palm Springs, it's such a nice relaxing town, hope you enjoyed your stay. ;)

Lydia says: Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 12:23 PM

Sarah, these are awesome! Way to try something new!

Patricia E says: Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 11:55 AM

Lovely photos! My favorite so far!!

sarahrhoads says: Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 11:41 AM

@mary these are a combo of Jai's clothes and my clothing :) don't over-think it. Most times what you need is right in front of you.

mary says: Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 11:36 AM

the color in the last one is to die for... love that blue :) i do have a question... when you're styling these sessions yourselves, does that mean you're purchasing the goods (clothes, shoes, accessories, etc.) or borrowing? or returning? ;) would love to do some "shoot for me" shoots, but the styling part stumps me...

Jessica says: Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 11:22 AM

These are awesome! Some of my favorite photos ever!

Laura Elle says: Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 10:54 AM

Wow. What an inspiring post, and not just becuase of the images, but the admission of doing something outside of the world of comfort. You are truly a teacher. Awesome shoot! LOVE the last shot. There is something beautifully serene about it :) Happy Tuesday!

Nikki says: Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 10:49 AM

I love these! My favourite is the 3rd from the end. It makes my heart happy.

Alex Rubin says: Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 09:57 AM

Rad, Rad, Rad, RAD!

paula Player says: Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 09:43 AM

omg......amazing, amazing, amazing! Sarah...you are so incredibly genuine about your work, your values and the person that you are! I truly admire you!

Anda says: Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 09:29 AM

Ummm...Holy *%$#W#$IP#OJKLMRP#I)%I#)$U390&%()#&!!!! I'm typeless.

paula Leme says: Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 09:23 AM

awesome!!!!!!

Joe Anna says: Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 09:11 AM

I absolutely love these. Awesome and yay you for you pushing your limits. I'd be a little freaked out tossing my camera into the water as well!

shannon sewell says: Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 09:09 AM

dangit.. I'm literally days away from moving to a place with a pool, already bought the under water camera & there you go ;P
the last one is the money shot. fun stuff :)
-S

Alexandra says: Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 09:07 AM

Okay seriously you are one of the coolest photographers around. I admire you so much, your work is extraordinary. You are so inspiring and I just love everything you do. Great work!!!!

Alexandra says: Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 09:06 AM

Okay seriously you are one of the coolest photographers around. I admire you so much, your work is extraordinary. You are so inspiring and I just love everything you do. Great work!!!!

Patricia E says: Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 08:55 AM

These are some of my favorites of your work. I'd be super afraid that I'd ruin my camera! This is lovely.

Mikkel says: Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 08:55 AM

I would be totally freaked out to dunk my camera too! I've heard it's good to sink the actual housing unit without anything in it prior to putting the camera in and dunking to make sure the actual unit isn't faulty first.

So glad you were able to try this! The photos are great and getting out of your comfort zone totally makes you grow as a person...and photographer!

Patricia E says: Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 08:55 AM

These are some of my favorites of your work. I'd be super afraid that I'd ruin my camera! This is lovely.

Calie says: Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 08:50 AM

SOOOO Awesome!!! You have done it again - I am STUNNED!!! GORGEOUS!!!