Monday, December 6, 2010, 04:16 PM
We were so thrilled to shoot one of our favorite families in the world a second year in a row! This family just blows us away. The Odette's are simply beautiful people inside and out. Patrina & Bruce are amazing parents and friends. I honestly don't know how they juggle it all with four kids at all different stages of life. I think they are part super-human.

Last year we photographed their family in the middle of a thunderstorm and tornadoes in Colorado, and this year Patrina asked Chris and I to photograph the family at their vacation home in Maui, Hawaii. It was a totally different experience from last year! We had such a blast! Maui is a very special place to the Odettes so it was very fun to peek into that world and capture them in an entirely different aesthetic. So we spent the day ridding cruiser bikes, getting shave ice and ending with sandcastles and dusk at the beach. It was such an incredible afternoon. 

Our wonderful stylist and friend Tiffany Lowry styled the outfits that the Odette's wore. She did such an incredible job working with Patrina over email to coordinate everything before we all arrived to Maui. I think it's pretty safe to say Tiffany made everyone feel exceptionally beautiful so I have to give her a huge shout out. 

This was such an incredible experience. We love you Odette's!!
Styling/Hair & Make-up: Tiffany Lowry

Thoughts
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Gemma says: Saturday, December 11, 2010, 04:20 AM

Can I please have my socks back now, you've knocked them off!
Love.

Patrina says: Thursday, December 9, 2010, 09:28 AM

Sarah & Chris - from the bottom of my heart, I love you forever. You are so easy to work with, and such gifted artists. You see things most don't. I'm so thankful for these memories, thank you for capturing us. Each image brings me right back to that moment in time. We will have these treasures for generations to come.
And Tiffany, my favorite pen pal on the entire planet, thank you. You are a wonderful artist who knew exactly what each of us needed. You are a gem. I'm so grateful for your help on this shoot. Any person wanting a stress free experience - enlist the help of Tiffany Lowry.
This was one of the best days of my life -- thank you, Sarah, Chris and Tiffany.

Rachel Peters Photography says: Wednesday, December 8, 2010, 09:19 AM

OMG this is the cutest family session ever! So much life and color to it!!! Your the besT!

anda says: Tuesday, December 7, 2010, 07:31 PM

when i have a family, i'm bringing you to us. love these, as always.

anda says: Tuesday, December 7, 2010, 07:31 PM

whenever i have a family, i'm bringing you to us. love these, as always.

Marryam Lum says: Tuesday, December 7, 2010, 01:44 PM

Love all the emotions...so beautiful. makes me want to go hug my kids!

Caitlin says: Tuesday, December 7, 2010, 10:32 AM

Love!

Rich Park says: Tuesday, December 7, 2010, 07:51 AM

so much fun and so much love filled into one session! great pictures!!!

Erika says: Monday, December 6, 2010, 09:53 PM

oooooh these are filled with so much emotion! I just love them, so many gorgeous warm images. you are such an inspiration Sarah. what a beautiful family!

Hannah says: Monday, December 6, 2010, 09:39 PM

*sigh...what a lovely family and what a lovely session.

Sarah Danaher says: Monday, December 6, 2010, 06:18 PM

sooooooo very lovely!

Erika says: Monday, December 6, 2010, 06:18 PM

The Odettes are the best! Lovely work, Sarah and Chris! Every shot took my breath away. I love the final photo so much...your black and whites are amazing.

Sean Lowry says: Monday, December 6, 2010, 05:39 PM

Nice work Sarah and Tif! Really beautiful shoot! What a pleasure to meet this fam!

Kathryn Bradley says: Monday, December 6, 2010, 05:17 PM

Wow...Sarah and Chris, these are amazing. So honest and real. Simply wonderful!

Annie says: Monday, December 6, 2010, 05:06 PM

What an amazingly beautiful family. This is so special. I love it :)

Kristi wright says: Monday, December 6, 2010, 04:55 PM

Love this session!! Especially the one of kids running near the waves.

Chelsea Patricia says: Monday, December 6, 2010, 04:43 PM

I don't think I have ever seen such GOR-GEOUS family portraits.

Cass Mooney says: Monday, December 6, 2010, 04:43 PM

Just lovely Sarah! The light, the moments...perfection!

Alex says: Monday, December 6, 2010, 04:36 PM

This family is so beautiful and you captured them fantastically!!!! Amazing!

Eric says: Monday, December 6, 2010, 04:34 PM

What an awesome looking family! Looks like you had a blast with them in Hawaii!

Tuesday, November 23, 2010, 10:00 PM
She said we could just 'jump the fence and climb up the cliff' like it was no big deal. The adult in me was freaking out.... I haven't jumped a fence since I was maybe seventeen..and even then I think my pants got caught on the fence because I'm a giant klutz. But I had to keep my cool, after all, I was hanging out with a couple of really cool high schoolers and the child in me was screaming... 'do it, do it!' So despite all of the many "No climbing on Rocks" signs, we went for it. There were moments I could picture myself falling off the 40 foot cliff and meeting my death with a tiger shark at the bottom. But as I saw the girls blaze by me with zero fear, I was reminded that that used to be me, completely fearless and fiery in my youth. And then I had to smile because I know that me is still there, it's just a little more inhibited... but I can access it at any time.  It was such a beautiful reminder that those parts of us only cease to exist if we allow them to.

I took this frame of Bela a couple days ago in Maui when we climbed up a big rock & she went cliff jumping while I tried to balance on a tiny rock & take this frame. This moment will forever serve as a reminder of how incredible it feels to tap into that fearless youth that resides within all of us. The antithesis of fear is freedom, and to me that is what this moment is all about. Freedom is one of those beautiful qualities I love to dig for in the heart of people and pull out in my imagery. Freedom is such a radiant energy and it is absolutely exhilarating to capture in people. The amazing thing is that freedom is accessible to us at all times, after all, (in the words of the band, Elizabeth & The Catapult) "we're all just taller children." 



Thoughts
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Allison says: Monday, November 29, 2010, 09:50 AM

I love love love this photo and can totally relate to the you "now" saying what happened to the fearless me of then... She's still in there and waiting to jump off a cliff...

Marryam Lum says: Thursday, November 25, 2010, 07:10 PM

Love this shot sarah :) and your inspiring words as always!

Patrina says: Thursday, November 25, 2010, 01:13 PM

Wow, spectacular!

Tiffany Lowry says: Wednesday, November 24, 2010, 01:55 PM

awwww:) sooo great!

Alex says: Wednesday, November 24, 2010, 01:20 PM

Awesome post, I love the message and I love the photo.

Alex says: Wednesday, November 24, 2010, 01:20 PM

Awesome post, I love the message and I love the photo.

Celine says: Wednesday, November 24, 2010, 08:33 AM

amazing shot! I would be quite scared!
there are children taller than me! I can blend right in...

Rich Park says: Wednesday, November 24, 2010, 07:05 AM

it's a great feeling when i can let go of the fear and just go for it. - reflected perfectly in this picture. great shot!

millie holloman says: Wednesday, November 24, 2010, 04:48 AM

AMAZING! Love it and love what you wrote, a great reminder to constantly live in the moment and truly LIVE!

Brian Crofts says: Tuesday, November 23, 2010, 11:35 PM

I'm right behind her! Great shot. Love your work.

Annie says: Tuesday, November 23, 2010, 10:59 PM

Amazing... wish I could access my inner child again :)

todd hunter mcgaw says: Tuesday, November 23, 2010, 10:23 PM

great frame and wise words Sarah.. I totally dig your skills..

Kevin Wrenn Photography says: Tuesday, November 23, 2010, 10:15 PM

So did you jump...off the cliff that is? Great frame BTW!

Sunday, November 7, 2010, 10:13 AM
Chris and I are hoping on a big plane today to head to Australia for our VOICE workshop that will be held in Canberra on Wednesday. It's hard to believe that we get on a plane Sunday and don't actually arrive in Australia until Tuesday!! It's like we will be sucked into a serious time warp and for the couple weeks we are over there we will be living in the future... one day ahead of our American friends. We are super excited about the adventure ahead. After our workshop we will be heading to Sydney for a couple days and then off to explore Melbourne and then we are jaunting over to New Zealand's south island for a handful of days. eek!! So for those of you who may be trying to get in touch, please keep in mind we will NOT have our phones on, but will be responding to e mail periodically through the trip. 

But before I hop on this big plane today I wanted to post a bit of goodness from our time in Mykonos, Greece with Kayko & Doug! The day before we shot their wedding we went out for a short lifestyle session together in little Venice. Little Venice is characterized by it's lovely little cobblestone streets, sleeping kitties, funny little doorways, white buildings with splashes of color on the windows and doors & it's beautiful sea view. It's absolutely charming. It feels like you are walking around in a dream. Shooting here was unlike any other place we had shot. It was like looking at the world with new eyes and new inspiration. This is going to be the week of Kayko & Doug :) They had an incredible three day destination wedding on this perfect little island in Greece. So I thought I would share some highlights of the experience over the next week on the blog. Next up is their fabulous wedding that will be published in Destination Weddings Magazine and on stands this March, stay tuned! 

Thoughts
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arenda says: Thursday, November 18, 2010, 03:26 AM

love that last black and white shot. it's gorgeous.

Jordan Lye says: Saturday, November 13, 2010, 08:29 AM

I love this place, I miss it, is a good place for photography. U did a great job

Alex says: Wednesday, November 10, 2010, 06:09 AM

Amazing!

kay* at from india. with love. says: Tuesday, November 9, 2010, 08:12 PM

i love the one with all of the paintings hung in the background...your work continuously inspires me & your writing always makes me think. it's always a joy to stop by your blog.

jen kessler says: Tuesday, November 9, 2010, 02:17 PM

i love that you are going into the future - that rocks!

Mary says: Tuesday, November 9, 2010, 02:02 PM

I wish you were workshopping in New Zealand too! Have an amazing time on your travels here though- it's awesome :)

stephanie says: Monday, November 8, 2010, 03:33 PM

I hope you love Australia, I love living here, Melbourne weather is a bit strange at the moment just be ready to potentially experience all 4 seasons in one day :)

Katie Vossman says: Monday, November 8, 2010, 12:54 PM

Love the colors! Your photos evoke such feeling! Very inspirational.

lesley says: Monday, November 8, 2010, 11:46 AM

I just came back from Syndey, Melbourne, and Auckland, I think you're going to luve Melbourne, their style is awesome!

Enjoy the time warp, I couldn't get over the fact that I'll never experience September 30th! :)

Renee says: Monday, November 8, 2010, 11:45 AM

ack kitties are too cute! can't wait for the rest of the photos!! these are beautiful.

Rich Park says: Monday, November 8, 2010, 07:34 AM

great shoot! this couple seems to have such a warm love for one another and you captured that perfectly!

Annie says: Sunday, November 7, 2010, 02:56 PM

Thank you for constantly raising the bar with every shoot :) Have an AMAZING time in Australia, so wish I could see you! :) :) :) Can't WAIT to see your pictures when you get back!

Rhendy Amador says: Sunday, November 7, 2010, 11:34 AM

Simply brilliant. So inspirational. I'm sure the couple is in love with these images and memories.

Friday, November 5, 2010, 09:31 AM
Meet our fabulous intern, Dorothy
She is simply amazing. Dorothy has been with us a little over two months now, but it feels like she has been here all along. Dorothy just fits right into our little "Rhoads Family." We feel so lucky to have found such an incredible and talented lady to come on board with us for the year. Dorothy is extremely gifted. 
Her super powers include, but are not limited to: 
- Seeing something complicated one time and being able to do it flawlessly
- Being a totally talented photographer herself
- Making us all laugh
- Having a fantastic eye for color
- Her loyalty and gentle spirit
- Drive, motivation and hard work ethic
- Juggling a lot of "life" all at one time
- Great music taste
- An encourager
- One of the most beautiful hearts I have seen...

Dorothy is the total package. She has become a great friend and a trusted "family member" through this process and we just adore her.




Thoughts
Add a Comment View Comments (14)
Sarah-Jane says: Thursday, November 25, 2010, 06:43 PM

I love you guys! Your such an inspiration!

Alex says: Sunday, November 7, 2010, 05:02 AM

What a lucky girl to get to work alongside you guys! Love it, she seems wonderful.

Tracy Wallace says: Friday, November 5, 2010, 03:33 PM

Hi Dorothy :)

Annie says: Friday, November 5, 2010, 02:47 PM

I checked out Dorothy's site - she really is talented! :)

Marissa Maharaj says: Friday, November 5, 2010, 11:59 AM

this girl rocks. these photos rock. just a solid win all around. ;)

(slash my fave is the 7th one in where she's clutching her scarf. SO CUTE.)
xo

Karen Obrist says: Friday, November 5, 2010, 11:41 AM

Dorothy... you are amazing. I have always loved your positive spirit and genuine heart. Sarah these pictures are amazing and capture Dorothy perfectly!

P.S. I LOVE your outfit Dorothy! So cute! :)

Asharae says: Friday, November 5, 2010, 11:19 AM

Aw Dorothy! Can't wait to get to know you better girl :)

Rich Park says: Friday, November 5, 2010, 11:17 AM

great pictures! yay for the intern!

Jackie says: Friday, November 5, 2010, 11:15 AM

AH! Love Dorothy! This just makes me smile.... love a good afternoon smile :)

Stephanie says: Friday, November 5, 2010, 11:01 AM

YAY DORFY!! :)

kimiko says: Friday, November 5, 2010, 10:25 AM

love this last photo!! love all the paper, love the scarf, love the smile...just kind of love it:)

jamie delaine says: Friday, November 5, 2010, 09:57 AM

yay! dorothy's on the blog. you know how much i love this girl. :)

lonniewebb says: Friday, November 5, 2010, 09:49 AM

i really enjoyed having my coffee this morning and seeing this post. Its brilliant and fun!

Amanda VanVels says: Friday, November 5, 2010, 09:43 AM

eeeeeeee!!! what a cutie :) haha