My Friends in Louisiana

My thoughts and prayers are with everyone I met while in Louisiana this past April.

This morning I spoke with the family I bonded with while in Louisiana. They evacuated out of Arabi, a city about 45 minutes out of New Orleans, an area that was hit hardest by the flooding in 2005. They arrived in Mississippi Friday evening and are praying and hoping for the best. Ms. Joycelyn, I'm thankful you are in a safe place!

The St. Bernard Project was featured on CNN this weekend and I hope all the volunteers and staff have made their way to safety as well.

To read about one of the families I photographed and met CLICK HERE

Monday Inspiration: Imogen Cunningham

When I discovered Imogen Cunningham in college, I felt a bolt of light hit me. At first I couldn't believe some of her images were made when they were, early 1900's. She lived a great life, passing on in the mid 70's, but the breadth of her work represented a woman who simply created and supplied a body of photographs to inspire for decades.

Her family and friends became her models, while always searching for people to sit for her: Frida Kahlo, Ansel Adams, Martha Graham to name a few. With her trusty Rolleiflex camera, she created images with great intensity in black and whites.

This is the first image I saw of hers.
Self-Portrait on Geary Street, 1958


A Double exposure of the great Martha Graham:
Martha Graham, 1931


and finally,
Three Dancers, Mills College, 1929


Someday I'll get to buy one of her prints! Someday.

Early Monday Inspiration Post

The Bride and the Groom

Today I watched one of my new favorite shows, Iconoclasts on the Sundance channel. They juxtapose two influential, icons in the world living today and do a documentary on their lives. Today I watched Paul Simon and Lorne Michaels (from Saturday Night Live). They showed how the two became friends through Paul playing on Saturday Night Live, being a New Yorker and Lorne directing and running Saturday Night Live.

The interviewer asked Paul what gives him inspiration when he's sung a song he's been singing for over 30 years. I love Paul Simon, so it was great getting to see him laid back and talking about where his songs come from. His inspiration is New York. He grew up there, his children all born at the same hospital, goes to the same Italian restaurant with Lorne...and when he's dry on music, creating a song, he turns to his city, New York for inspiration.

I call myself a "Life" photographer. Sure, I shoot weddings, I could say I'm a wedding photographer, but I'm a photographer. I shoot life, I just so happen to shoot more weddings than anything else. I had a bride ask me, how I shoot weddings over and over and over and keep getting new and fresh images, it's the bride and groom.

Together, they give me something different every time. Sometimes, it's an outgoing couple who don't mind me photographing them all day, sometimes it's a shy couple that's more reserved and to themselves. Each one different and equally beautiful.

Over a month ago now, I shot a bride and groom in South Dakota. The day was hectic. A huge storm rolled through and their outdoor wedding went indoors at the last minute. Everyone in the family pulled together to give them a beautiful day. But you could tell, it was a stressful day for both of them. When it came time to their portraits, getting their photograph taken was the last thing on their mind. Relaxing, getting a drink of champagne, talking to guests, etc. I grabbed them for about 15 minutes and we gave it our all.

So, to all the brides and grooms, you all inspire me to give you the best! Show you how remarkable you are today! How completely in love you are at this moment! How you inspire me to constantly create new and insightful imagery to give you as a reminder of your wonderful, loving wedding day. Thank you for inspiring me!!!

Wendy & Rick, married 7-26-2008

Wendy & Rick were married July 26th. The wedding ceremony was at Westminister Church in downtown Minneapolis, Reception at the Solera Restaurant also downtown. Rick proposed under the iconic Minneapolis "Cherry and the Spoon" sculpture at the Walker Art Sculpture Garden, so it was only fitting that we would take a few moments by the sculpture.

Thank you Wendy and Rick for including me on your wedding day!

Click any image to see it larger:

The flower girl getting in a few drawings before the ceremony.

The Groom relaxing with a game of pool.

New Gallery is HERE!

I'm so excited about my new online gallery proofing site!! It's been since APRIL that I've been getting this set up and for any computer people out there, I've ventured into the land of SSL and FTP and understanding web features. If anything comes out of a challenge, it's that you learn so much you never knew about.

Over the next month I'll slowly be migrating all the online galleries I currently have to the new site. In the interim, most everyone won't notice the difference of "where to click". You can still access your online gallery by going into my website, clicking "Proofing", which I will be renaming "CLIENT AREA". If you have a password protected web gallery, the password you have will still work in the new gallery system.

The additional greatness of the new gallery is the ability to pay for your photography using the secure online payment system. You can still pay with a check, but now the additional option of a credit card payment will be available.

So, as I transition to the new gallery, if you have questions or need help, please don't hesitate to email me anytime at studio188photography@gmail.com!


Thanks!
Erica