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Jessica & Matt
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Monday, March 1, 2010, 07:17 AM
Jessica & Matt are a husband and wife photo team out of Sacramento, CA. Chris and I had the pleasure of spending a day with them last week on an all day mentor session here in Seattle! I think these two brought the sun up with them from California the day of their session... it was a gem of a day! We also discovered that it was Jessica's Birthday and it meant so much to know that that is how she chose to spend her special day. :)

These two asked lots of great questions and wanted to focus on how we work with our couples on a shoot, managing expectations, building a powerful brand experience, getting published and pushing their business overall to the next level. The shoot we arranged for Jess and Matt will be in a post to follow and it was SOOO much fun! We are so excited because these two are in the process of finessing and refreshing their overall brand experience and launching an updated site so their visit to us was timely. We really wanted to encourage Matt and Jessica to leverage their strengths as individuals and as a husband wife shooting team. I am a firm believer that you should exhaust more effort working on making your strengths even stronger than trying to fight with your weaknesses. And our experience has been that as a hubby wife team each of us should be empowered to do jobs that play to our strengths. That way each of us feels empowered, used and needed. 

We wish these two all the best in their journey together as photographers. They are such beautiful people.

Thoughts
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Feuza says: Tuesday, March 2, 2010, 08:38 PM

I heart blue skies
Napa and Sonoma Wedding Photographer Shannon Stellmacher says: Tuesday, March 2, 2010, 12:07 PM

The last image is just mind blowing.
Lesley says: Monday, March 1, 2010, 05:12 PM

That last photo is just stellar! Thanks for sharing! :)
Jessica says: Monday, March 1, 2010, 02:35 PM

Sarah!! You and Chris are amazing and I know our time spent with you is a significant turning point in our journey. We are super excited and thank you so much for your guidance and for inspiring us! Oh, and the pics, are of course amazing. Ya'll ROCK!
Jessica says: Monday, March 1, 2010, 02:35 PM

Sarah!! You and Chris are amazing and I know our time spent with you is a significant turning point in our journey. We are super excited and thank you so much for your guidance and for inspiring us! Oh, and the pics, are of course amazing. Ya'll ROCK!
Kisha of Sahara Blue says: Monday, March 1, 2010, 02:12 PM

love her red hair (especially combined with that yellow shirt). LOVE the last image. insanity! awesome work as always.
Tracy Carolyn says: Monday, March 1, 2010, 12:14 PM

The last shot is amazing!
Lydia says: Monday, March 1, 2010, 11:59 AM

I met Jessica back in June. She's such a nice person with great photography skills! Love these pictures of her and her hubby!
Aaron Shintaku says: Monday, March 1, 2010, 11:02 AM

that last shot is BANANAS!!!
sebastian says: Monday, March 1, 2010, 08:44 AM

wonderful last image marvelous
AmyPunky Photography says: Monday, March 1, 2010, 08:13 AM

The last pic is just WOW!!

eadwine says: Monday, March 1, 2010, 08:12 AM

the last shot is spectacular!
Melina Wallisch says: Monday, March 1, 2010, 07:58 AM

again, i sOOoo LOVE your style, gets me excited :-)
Millie says: Monday, March 1, 2010, 07:51 AM

I love all of these, but that last shot just blew me away.
I instantly put myself in their shoes and imagined having that art piece hanging as a HUGE canvas in my home.
Well done Rhoads, well done.

Jane Hasty says: Monday, March 1, 2010, 07:43 AM

Just gorgeous!
wrecklessgirl says: Monday, March 1, 2010, 07:38 AM

that last one. GASP.

Jennifer V. says: Monday, March 1, 2010, 07:33 AM

The last one is brilliant!
Lisa Gilbert says: Monday, March 1, 2010, 07:30 AM

I love these Sarah! The last one, in particular, is so lovely. I dig the B&W toning. So cool!
erika verginelli says: Monday, March 1, 2010, 07:22 AM

love the last one!
216
Chatti & Matt
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Monday, February 1, 2010, 08:15 AM
"Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions." - Albert Einstein

Chatti and Matt are a photography team out of Colorado. They go by Savady Photography, so any of your Colorado Photographers out there who want to connect with a rad couple, drop them a line.. they rock. They came out to visit us in Seattle for an all day consultation. It was an absolutely PERFECT Seattle day. The sun peeking at us through the clouds, just warm enough to forget your jacket at home and enjoy a nice pot of tea. 

This day was packed full of learning and growth. In most instances, we start out our 6 or 8 hour mentor sessions with a mini shoot (30 minutes) of the photographer(s) we are working with, that is what you see here :). After our shoot with Matt and Chatti we headed to a coffee shop to chat about the dynamics of their team... what it is like to work with someone you love, work/life balance, and playing on each others strengths and leveraging those strengths for good. From there we talked about their brand and really dug into the different parts of their business that they wanted guidance in. Most notably, workflow, to help with the work/life balance piece. Mid afternoon we went out on a shoot with an awesome couple (Rose and Matt) I'll post their shoot tomorrow.  The shoots are a great way that we can all work together on a shoot, chat through lighting techniques, posing, working with our subjects and honing in on and defining each persons individual style. 

The biggest thing Chris and I wanted for Matt and Chatti was for them to have a mindshift about who they are and the things they are capable of. It was so absolutely encouraging to see Chatti's tweet later in the evening saying that during their mentor session they had (and I quote) a mind-shift explosion! ;) There is no greater feeling than to know that we played a small part in empowering someone to take the next step.... to trust their gut... to make them aware of the greatness within them.







Thoughts
Add a Comment View Comments (11)
Kayleen T. says: Thursday, February 11, 2010, 10:42 AM

Love the pix of Chatty and Matt! They are good people, so talented and really genuine!

Christine Pobke says: Tuesday, February 2, 2010, 04:20 AM

Stunning couple. Beautiful work. As always. :)

Christine Pobke says: Tuesday, February 2, 2010, 04:19 AM

Stunning couple. Beautiful work. As always. :)

sarahrhoads says: Monday, February 1, 2010, 01:38 PM

@melina thanks so much... That means more than you know to know you leave this blog encouraged and inspired :) Thank you for the encouragement YOU offer ME!
Chatti + Matt says: Monday, February 1, 2010, 01:10 PM

Sarah and Chris,

You two are one of the most amazing people we have met. We are so happy that we invested in you and in turn invested in us. You have given us the confidence to proceed in our business. We won't forget the power of positive thinking and the rule of attraction. = )
Melina Wallisch says: Monday, February 1, 2010, 11:57 AM

thank you for being you...so inspiring and encouraging to others. I have definately grown because of you. thank you.
Hannah Taylor says: Monday, February 1, 2010, 11:25 AM

I also love those trees! I really like the first photo too. Isn't it cold outside?
Hannah Taylor says: Monday, February 1, 2010, 11:24 AM

I also love those trees! I really like the first photo too. Isn't it cold outside?
Ruthie P. says: Monday, February 1, 2010, 10:08 AM

Cute couple! I love those tall trees! Great job, Sarah :)
Marissa Rodriguez says: Monday, February 1, 2010, 08:43 AM

Gorgeous! Her hairpiece is beautiful!

Alexandra says: Monday, February 1, 2010, 08:19 AM

Loooove.

209
Jill Carmel
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Wednesday, January 20, 2010, 11:01 AM
"Whatever the mind can conceive it can achieve." - W. Clement Stone

Jill Carmel is an extremely talented photographer out of Sacramento, CA who came up to Seattle to see Chris and me for a mentor session. Jill is a rockstar when it comes to shooting newborns, kido's, maternity's and families. When Jill called to ask about booking a mentor session with us I said, "Jill you know our bread and butter is couples right?" to which she responded that she wanted a new perspective on things. I thought that was pretty awesome. 

During Jill's full day consult we really focused on pushing Jill to think outside the realm of what she believes could even be possible. We challenged her to think audaciously. We are what we think about, and I believe that our thoughts shape our reality. We see big things in store for Jill. Jill has a unique ability to pull out the beautiful parts in people and has a passion for making people happy, and as a photographer both of these passions are true gifts.

We talked a lot about building a personal brand that is authentic and honest. We talked about the power that rests within that. When we build a personal brand that is authentic to who we are, there is no one in the world that can replicate it. The bottom line is nobody can be YOU. People sure can try, but at the end of the day we own our own business' because we are seeking a certain level of fulfillment and satisfaction.  Those that merely copy-cat will never access the satisfaction that comes from being authentically you and building a personal brand around you and your personal passion. And they will ultimately be cheating themselves. Jill is just beginning her journey of going through a full identity re-brand and I cannot wait to see all the great things that are in store for her! We are so excited for Jill and the big things she will go on to do! 




Thoughts
Add a Comment View Comments (8)
sarahrhoads says: Monday, January 25, 2010, 11:13 PM

@Maureen I just adore you. my most thoughtful encouraging sweet friend :)
Maureen Nikonov says: Sunday, January 24, 2010, 09:06 PM

I really love this set. You didn't even need many backgrounds or locations to get these shots, but the simplicity and the beauty still made me stop and stare.

But most of all, I really love you! :)
Robyn Steward says: Friday, January 22, 2010, 02:59 AM

Jill is beautiful from the inside - out. a calm beauty. You captured that perfectly!
Alexandra says: Thursday, January 21, 2010, 01:50 PM

I always love your work. That's all I can say.

Rachel Absher says: Wednesday, January 20, 2010, 02:43 PM

Sarah, have I told you lately that I love your work?! Maybe not, but I do and I say it every time I visit your blog.

anda says: Wednesday, January 20, 2010, 12:42 PM

a really great post. again! just love reading your words -- the icing on top of a beautiful photo cake. that sounds gross -- butyouknowwhatimean.
Ruthie says: Wednesday, January 20, 2010, 11:14 AM

Great session! I love the pink house! I like their work as photographers as well, very cool :)
Jessica Moores says: Wednesday, January 20, 2010, 11:05 AM

I thought I recognized her! How cool!
206
Shari & Mike
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Thursday, January 14, 2010, 09:15 AM
Shari and Mike Vallely are an awesome husband and wife photography team that came down to Seattle from Vancouver, B.C. to see us for a six hour mentor session yesterday. It was like the four of us were destined to be friends. Mike and Shari are visionaries who see the "bigger picture" in things, and to us, that is where EVERYTHING should start. 

Vision is everything. The quote that describes it best is, "Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others." An artist without vision is worthless. As artists, people hire us for our unique vision. They hire us because we see things and think of things that they never would. Every successful artist and business person I know shares one very attractive quality... a clear and compelling vision. They know where they are going and they always think BIG. People with vision have the heart, the guts, and the drive to take them to where they want to be. Vision is the defining quality that sets apart the leaders from the followers; those that make their dreams a reality and those who merely wish.

What was so personally empowering about working with Mike and Shari was helping these two get in touch with their own aspirations in order to help them forge those aspirations into a personal vision, and then giving them tangible steps to help them get to where they want to be.

These two have so much going for them. This world better watch out because these two have one thing that most people never grasp in this life, and that is Vision.

p.s. Mike is a killer break-dancer and is B-boy'ing it up in the closing ceremony's of the Olympics this year :) hence his killer moves in a couple of the following photos.




Thoughts
Add a Comment View Comments (17)
stevie Trischmann says: Wednesday, January 20, 2010, 03:16 PM

somehow my comment keeps going on the wrong post so just know that my previous comment was meant for your post on why you became a photographer. It was a lovely post!
Stacey says: Monday, January 18, 2010, 05:51 PM

What a stunning and fun looking couple. I love how you captured them! :)
renata Marques says: Friday, January 15, 2010, 01:33 PM

perfect! your work is lovely!

;)
Emilie says: Friday, January 15, 2010, 08:36 AM

Gorgeous photos!! What a cute couple!!

appleM00N says: Thursday, January 14, 2010, 10:11 PM

thank you guys for sharing YOUR vision
Kayleen T. says: Thursday, January 14, 2010, 02:08 PM

I love them! The mentoring sessions seem awesome, getting to learn from you guys, plus being shot by you is such a bonus!
Chrissy Austring says: Thursday, January 14, 2010, 01:44 PM

Amazing job on these shots as always! I am a huge fan of your work and feel so inspired!

Mike and Shari: It’s been ages! You both look fab :) xoxo
Chrissy Austring says: Thursday, January 14, 2010, 01:44 PM

Amazing job on these shots as always! I am a huge fan of your work and feel so inspired!

Mike and Shari: It’s been ages! You both look fab :) xoxo
Katie Neal Photo says: Thursday, January 14, 2010, 12:47 PM

Love these shots! This is like THE perfect couple to take photos of! Gorgeous and fun!
kirsten says: Thursday, January 14, 2010, 10:54 AM

this is too cute! what a rockin couple :)

Marissa Rodriguez says: Thursday, January 14, 2010, 10:40 AM

I wish I could break dance! :) LOVIN' this couple!
jamie delaine says: Thursday, January 14, 2010, 10:13 AM

Oh my goshhhhh. This couple is RAD. Rad rad RAD. :) Sarah Rhoads, only you turn me into a little fangirl when I comment. only you!
sarahrhoads says: Thursday, January 14, 2010, 09:54 AM

@Brianna I think we should go on a covert "bike stashing" mission. ;)
Harmony Loves says: Thursday, January 14, 2010, 09:44 AM

your work always pulls me in. I find myself with a big fat smile across my face while looking at your site. :)
They look so happy and serene, I lOVE it!
Alexandra says: Thursday, January 14, 2010, 09:30 AM

I love these!
Krista Leigh Hurst says: Thursday, January 14, 2010, 09:23 AM

I love how you captured the breaking dancing. I can see his personality through that photo. Nice Job :)
briana says: Thursday, January 14, 2010, 09:19 AM

i must say, i just want to go stash bikes at random places amongst my city so i can shoot through them on my esessions, so much loving. ...