A Storm on the Horizon

Tell me if this is something you have ever experienced; you are in a comfortable routine, following your patterns every day and watching as everything runs smoothly. You think to yourself, "hey, self...we have it pretty good."

It's just then that life throws you a curve ball. It could come in any form, really. You find out you or your partner are pregnant, you lost your job, your car gets stolen, you GOT the job you always dreamed about but never thought you would actually get, you meet a stranger who has connections that open up doors you thought not only locked but far out of your reach, you are forced to move far away, etc...

After the storm has passed, you realize that the winds of change have shaken loose and blown away everything that wasn't strong enough to withstand the storm. You stand there wide eyed and shocked and totally disillusioned.

While you feel a pang of sadness for the loss of that comforting routine, you realize that being merely content was actually holding you back from achieving greater things than you ever thought possible. That your comforting routine was really just you telling yourself, "this is ALL I deserve, so I will be content with it."

Sometimes, it takes a storm to make you realize that there is more world, more possibilities, more growing to do than your comforting routine would have had you believe.

For a long time now, I have been comfortable just to create images. Creation is where my passion lies, whether it is writing a book, painting, drawing, sewing, baking, photography, crafts, and the list is endless. So, because photography allows me to create, I was content just to photograph whatever anyone would let me take pictures of.
I got to exercise my creative vision, people got images they loved, and everything was good.
Until I realized that there could be more for me out there.

I want to be completely transparent with you, here.

I priced my services at what I thought people would pay, not what I honestly believed they were worth.
I created packages that were similar to other photographers in my area because I thought that no one would pay what I would need to charge in order to make a profit. Because the truth is that right now, I can't even pay myself.

That's right.

I run a business but I don't even get paid.

Where did I ever get the idea that way okay? What made me think that I didn't deserve to earn a wage from my job?

So I offered the minimum service at the minimum price.

I will not be doing that anymore.

I don't want to simply mail someone a disc, or send them a link to their gallery. I want to sit down with my clients, and present them with incredible prints so that I can see the look on their faces when they see the amazing moments I've  captured for them. I want to watch women's eyes light up when they see, through MY eyes, how beautiful they are. I want to give my clients the absolute best service, the highest quality products, and ALL my attention.

Finally, I want to photograph the things that I am passionate about.

What does this mean for my business and my clients?

This means that there are some genres of photography that I will no longer be shooting. Not because I don't enjoy the images, but because if I am going to offer clients my best, I cannot devote my time to things I am only mildly interested in photographing while there are other photographers out there who specialize in those genres and shoot them beautifully.

I will not be accepting as many clients. This is because I want to devote my time and attention to each client I work with as if they were the ONLY client I am working with.

My prices are also going to rise. This is because I do not want to be a conveyer-belt business. In order to make ANY profit and still continue to learn, grow and expand both as an artist and as a business person who wants to give her clients the absolute BEST, I have to earn what my services are WORTH.

This wasn't as easy decision for me, because change is uncomfortable, and changes like this are scary as hell!
But the storm has blown through and shaken up my way of thinking drastically. I want to give the people who trust me with their images the best of my time and the best product I am capable of creating.
So as I sweep up the wreckage, I am keeping in mind what I am going to build, and how splendid it will be.
I hope you will stay with me through this change, because what is coming out on the other side is going to be amazing!

Mini-pre announcement announcement

Big things are happening over here and I will be announcing them soon! I know that is a bit cryptic BUT I can tell you this for now: the changes mean that I will be able to offer my clients MORE specialized service and higher quality products!

That deserves a great big WOOP!



In the mean time...

feel free to leave me a comment and let me know what YOU would like to see from NYP!

Couture Boudoir

It is that time of year again! No, not football season, although, GO HAWKS!

No no, it is Boudoir Marathon time, baby!

I LOVE boudoir photography. Honestly. I truly enjoy watching women reconnect with themselves. It doesn't seem like it should be such a big deal, until you start to think about what it really means.

As a mom, I know what it feels like to STOP feeling like a woman. I am a chauffeur, a cook, a nanny, a handkerchief (yes, it's gross, I know) a wife, a scrubber of toilets and a wiper of poopy-oh-god-someone-gag-me baby butts. As a photographer, I am a customer service rep, a gofer, a research assistant, a student, a technical consultant, and accountant...and the list goes on.

By the end of the day, it is hard to remember that somewhere underneath it all, I am still a WOMAN. Hard to remember that I am still feminine, still sensual, still sexy (beneath the snot on my shirt...thanks, toddler) still beautiful and worthy of being celebrated simply for being the amazing creature that is woman.

Boudoir photography is a way to remind woman that while we are complex creatures, multifaceted and multidimensional, we ARE sexy, sensual, feminine, and lovely. All one has to do is look at the proof in the images.

SENSUAL

COY

MYSTERIOUS

ENTICING

The next boudoir shoot, Couture Boudoir, is happening October 11th in the historic Theater District of Downtown Tacoma.

We are really going all out for this one with fantastic sets, swag bags full of goodies, gourmet refreshments, leather bound albums, silk robes to lounge in, the whole nine yards. The celebrity treatment isn't too good for MY ladies!

You can contact me for booking information at nicoleyorkphotography@rocketmail.com, or message me on Facebook.

If you would like to see more examples of my boudoir work, let me know. I only share images with the permission of the client, so they are all in a password protected online gallery.

Senior Representative Program for the Class of 2015!

A Senior Spokesmodel Representative is someone who will represent Nicole York Photography to their Junior and Senior Classmates. I'm looking for someone who is positive, friendly, outgoing, creative, active, and bright, who can let their friends see their amazing photos and tell them about their experience working with me!

Only 2 representatives will be chosen from each High School

*I will stop taking applications on August 30. Selected Senior Reps will be notified by email or phone on September 1st!

What you get:

• Free deluxe Senior Portrait session (a $250 value!)
• Makeup done by a professional makeup artist
• An online gallery with password protection where you and your family can order prints
• 40 rep cards with 3 of your favorite shots and my contact info to hand out to your friends
• 5 low-res, watermarked photos, perfect for Facebook and other social networking sites
• Featured spots in advertisements for Nicole York Photography
• Be featured in a blog post all about YOU and our session
• Any referrals who bring your rep cards in and book a shoot earns you credit towards swag bags, gift cards, and other cool stuff!

What you have to do:

• Have parental consent and sign a model release so I can use your photo in advertisements
• Live within 25 miles of Yelm, WA or being able to travel
• Be part of the Junior or Senior class of  2015
• Share your rep cards with friends at school
• Use your low-res images online in social media to show them off to friends and family
• Agree to represent only Nicole York Photography as a spokesmodel

Interested!? Sounds like a pretty good deal, right?  Here's what you have to do to apply:

Nicole York Photography Senior Rep Application
Full Name *
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Street Address *
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In 200 words or less, tell me why you should be selected to represent Nicole York Photography to the Senior Class of 2015. *
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Conceptual Family Portraits...Super Powers

Everyone knows that super moms have to be in 5 places at once. Little boys run around with their hair on fire, climbing walls, and jumping fences in single bounds. Teenage girls have a super-human ability to ignore everything outside their own little world.

That was the theme for this round of conceptual family portraits.

I wanted to showcase individual characteristics of each family member, and celebrate a little bit of what makes them unique inside the family unit. While I was talking to mom, she and I discussed each family member, what they love and the things they did that made them distinctive. One son was constantly climbing, the other loved soccer, the little guy was in constant motion, the baby rode his little four-wheeler like a speed demon, and the teenage daughter seemed to be able to ignore anything while she was on her phone.

I brainstormed and story boarded, trying to figure out how I would visualize each person and their distinct super power. I had to decide how to light them, how to shoot so that the powers were believable AND so that the editing could be seamless, and what my editing techniques would be.

Images like this require shooting on a tripod, because compositing several images from the same point of view needs to be seamless.

The photos were all composites of at least two and up to 5 or more photos. That was just the beginning.




Here are a few untouched examples of what was happening behind the scenes...

 Mom is here holding a piece of plexiglass so that we could get the right effect for the "privacy force field"

This is the close up photo after I had taken 6 images of the room in order to make a clean composite

Even Super Dads get overwhelmed sometimes...

It's so true to life that no matter how well we plan, life will throw curve balls...like sick, crabby babies who don't care that it's time for family photos, and diffusion panels that don't cover quite as much area as you expected them to. At the end of the day, you've got to be able to roll with the punches, and that is just what we did.

After much compositing, masking, and other assorted editing techniques that I won't bore you with...here are the finished images :)

These were great fun, and the end result says so much about each member of the family. What would YOUR super power be?

Benefit for the Tischer/Stornetta Family

Home is where the heart is. There is no place like home.

That is why losing your home is so devastating.

Imagine all your possessions, those little things that make life more comfortable and to which you have attached precious memories...gone in an instant; to have no place, nowhere to go back to, to lay your children down at night, to call your own. Pictures, stuffed animals, heirlooms, treasured keepsakes...gone.

That is what Darcy Tischer, her boyfriend Tayler Stornetta and their two precious children are experiencing this very moment. Their Cathlamet, Wa  home was destroyed by fire in the early morning of July 24th. Thankfully, the family was able to escape the flames safely, but the home was utterly destroyed. They are now left to pick up the pieces and try to rebuild their lives.

When terrible things happen, it is our duty to do what we can to lift each other up. Darcy's sister, Tiffany has created a "Go Fund Me" page to benefit Darcy and her family. You can find more information, as well as photos of the home, here.

In order to do my part to help, I will selling art prints from my gallery and donating 100% of the net proceeds to the family until August 1st, 2014. Prints can be ordered on my website and will be shipped directly to your home. This way, you can help a family get back on their feet after a disaster, and have a beautiful piece of art to hang on your wall.

If you would like to order a print to benefit the Tischer/Stornetta family, follow the link below.

http://nicoleyorkphotography.zenfolio.com/artprints

Thank you for doing what you can to help a family in need.

Conceptual Family Portraiture: Neverland

I have done it. SQUEE!
For a long time I've known that I wanted to move away from traditional family portraits and toward something more creative, and more indicative of the spirit of the family that I'm working with.
Don't get me wrong, I love traditional family portraits because they are classic and stand the test of time. But they don't move me. They don't tell a story. There is no magic in them, and all my life I feel as if I've been chasing magic.
I had all kinds of ideas to make this happen, but no families willing to take a risk and step off into Neverland with me.

Until now.

A project like this took quite a bit of planning. I story boarded ideas (I wont embarrass myself with those sketches) and brainstormed with the Mom about what angle to take. At first, we thought that we might have the family play the roles of Peter, Wendy and the lost boys...what could be more perfect for a family with 3 wild little boys? But something didn't sit right.
The whole purpose of portraits like these was to say something about the family and who they are together. If they are playing parts, then they aren't being themselves. It struck me that it would be much better if the family were taken off to Neverland themselves. INSPIRATION struck.
I immediately knew what I wanted to do.

Each photo is a composite of several photos.
The background had to be photographed separately, with the camera on a tripod. Then the family members were photographed in the scene so that I could remove the tools we used in order to make them appear to be flying, such as stools, ladders and a couple of times even Mom and Dad's feet!

The pieces were all composited together in Photoshop, where Tinkerbell and Peter himself made an appearance, and the final product is what you see below.

It sounds awfully technical, right? Let me tell you, we had SO much fun. There was a lot of silliness, a lot of laughing, and quite a bit of jumping around. Mom and Dad told me that their boys had NEVER begged to have their photos taken before. That was quite an accomplishment by itself!

I feel like the results speak for themselves.

I look at these images, and I see a family that loves to be together, that is warm, adventurous, and a bit silly.

What do YOU see? I would love to hear from you, and even more, I would love to take an amazing journey like this with YOUR family. Oh what wonderful worlds we could see!

"In Black" Published in Obscurae Magazine

"Breathe Me"

Sia

Help, I have done it again
I have been here many times before
Hurt myself again today
And the worst part is there's no one else to blame

Be my friend
Hold me, wrap me up
Unfold me
I am small and needy
Warm me up
And breathe me

Ouch I have lost myself again
Lost myself and I am nowhere to be found,
Yeah I think that I might break
I've lost myself again and I feel unsafe

Be my friend
Hold me, wrap me up
Unfold me
I am small and needy
Warm me up
And breathe me

Be my friend
Hold me, wrap me up
Unfold me
I am small and needy
Warm me up
And breathe me 

Why I Fed My Ego

I'm usually pretty honest with myself.
I'm willing to admit that, on occasion, I've got a bit of an ego...it's my pet, in a way.
It's furry, comforting, and makes me happy sometimes; until it get's too unruly and needs to be punished...taken down a peg, if you will. Egos are funny that way. Kind of like a gremlin. It begins life as a cute little mogwai, but feed it too late and strange things start to happen.

An ego out of control is nasty business.

Usually, I take care not to give my ego too much freedom. I'm not as fond of it when it grows too big. It ceases to be comforting and cuddly but starts to take up too much space, and snaps at my fingers, which is NOT cool.

You have to starve an ego to bend it to  your will. Starve it of affection, starve it of praise, just DONT feed that bugger. A well cared for ego will keep you warm on cold nights, keep you company when you're lonely, and remind you that, despite that little voice inside your head, you are NOT a crap artist. You're pretty good.

Well, today, I am not going to bother trying to corral my ego.

For just this one day, I'm going to give the little sucker free range and let him (why I should think of it as a him, I don't know. It just seems to fit) run wild and free!

Because today, my photographs have been published. My work is featured in a magazine.

I know there are plenty of people out there who make a living through their published work, but this is a first step for ME, and one I am so proud of.

Maybe someday I will look back at this moment and think to myself, "aww, how cute. I was so simple. So naive to be so happy over such a small thing."
But I hope not.
I hope I never stop being grateful that other people found my work worthy of praise.

Run free, little ego! Get drunk on praise and enjoy the bacchanalian abandon!

Because tomorrow, you'll have to be cut back down to size.

But not today.

Why I Was Surprised; Emotion on Both Sides

I had an interesting experience this week.

I set up a photo shoot with Seattle based model and actor Hans Iverson and, of course, my dream team; Serena Cook and Laura Klem.
We planned to shoot an editorial for Obscurae Magazine's "All Men" issue. I prepped like I always do, with brainstorming and story boarding, throwing ideas around and trying to put together a cohesive idea and lighting plan.
There were a few hiccups in the road (yes, I know that is an odd metaphor...but you still got the idea)
*ahem* someone missed the bus...you know who you are...but despite all of that, we gathered in my studio with tasty donuts and all our gear.

I've worked with models in the past. Each had their own distinct way of moving, of inhabiting space. Each one unique in their expression. I've always appreciated the singularity of every one of them, and enjoyed what set them apart from the others. I didn't expect anything different during this shoot, so I did what I always do.
I played some music.
I always play music during a shoot. It helps everyone relax, gives common ground, and sets the mood for the shoot. Sometimes it's Celtic folk music, sometimes its pop, sometimes it's the Rolling Stones. THIS time, though, it was the incomparable Sia.

I wanted the weight, the depth, the emotion of her voice and music to color the shoot. I wasn't prepared for what would happen, though.

Have you ever set about a task and had a plan in mind, only to see everything change in an instant and find yourself running to catch up? You realize that, in the words of the great Robert Burns, "The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men Gang aft agley," or, to paraphrase for those not versed in 18th century Scots dialect, "the best-laid plans of mice and men / Often go awry."

When Hans started to move, to give expression to the song "Breathe Me," all my plans for the rest of the shoot went right out the window.
The emotion he was able to express was honest, raw, and cutting. I found myself pressing the shutter over and over, oblivious to everything going on around me. I heard the music, I watched the man, I pressed the shutter. I didn't even try to give any direction, I didn't need to. I was removed from all the plans I had made, not thinking about my next shot, just simply reacting in the moment to the man in front of my lens. I have never felt so much that any subject, model or client, was looking through the lens and at ME.

The song ended, Hans looked up at me, and I pressed the shutter one last time.
Serena and I both let out breaths I'm sure we didn't realize we had been holding and looked at each other with wide eyes.We had just been party to a singular moment, an impressive talent that moved beyond modeling and into something else; a hybrid of modeling and acting, some kind of truth neither of us had expected to see. It left my stomach in knots.

Even now, days later, when I look at the images I am still taken unaware at what was created there. While I love every photo I am able to take, from smiling families to fairy magic, it's moments like that one that awaken my creative mind, touch my soul, and make me grateful to be on the shooting end of a camera.

I hope it's not the last time I am privileged to experience it.

Since our editorial will be published in Obscurae Magazine, I can't share the photos with you YET, and believe me I would LOVE to, but as soon as the issue publishes I will plaster those suckers all over the place!

If you want to see some of Hans' work, head over to his website, http://hansiverson.com

As always, leave me a comment and let me know what you think. What is one of YOUR most poignant moments behind the lens? In front of it?

Finding Fairies

Ever since I was a little girl, I've been enamored with all things magical.
I'm pretty sure I was influenced by movies like Legend, and The Labyrinth as I grew up, not to mention anything Disney.

Yes, I am an unrepentant Disney geek.

If fact, and this is no lie, if I am in any body of water larger than a hot tub, I will have pretended I was a mermaid at least once. I'm 31 years old. No, I am not ashamed of myself.
All I know is, anything that holds the slightest bit of fairytale magic will indubitably grab my attention and refuse to let go...kind of like those product testers at the mall.

I've mentioned my love of conceptual work before, and now I am following and pursuing that with a passion. My first big effort will be happening this July, when a crew of ridiculously talented people will be joining me to create a Fairy Wedding. There will be fairies, dryads, elves, brownies, and who knows what other magical creatures will join in the fesitivies!? It's like all my childhood fantasies are coming true at once and every time I think about it I almost burst with excitement.

It's a big undertaking, though. There is a whole lot of planning, casting, creating, and money that goes into making things like this happen. What is important, though, are the people who are making this possible.
Without their time and talent, I'd be sitting in the forest by myself; a sad little photographer dreaming of magics.

We have got some stellar talent on board for this project. If you've ever read the blog before, you've been introduced to Serena Cook of Esoteric Makeup, and Laura Klem of The Best Little Hair House. They're my dream team, and I know they are capable of creating any look that I can dream up. If you've stuck around for a while, you've also seen some of the gorgeous creations of Elizabeth Ritter, the Swift Stitcher. She's going to be creating one of a kind ensembles for our cast of characters.
Of equal importance are the models who will be giving these characters life. As a first for me, we will also have uber talented Jennifer Jensen on board, who is going to use her mad body painting skills to create real life dryads!

I can't pass up the opportunity to plug these artists because more people need to know about the talented artists that are out there pursuing their dreams and fighting to make a living doing what they love. Hans Iverson, Ronda Olshefski,  Jeff Marlatt, and Oryx Leucoryx will be principle models for the shoot, and I cannot WAIT to get them in front of my lens!

The crew and I have been planning and scheming for months now, and I can honestly say that I have never been more keyed up for a project than I am for this one. Here are a few examples from test shoots that will give you a good idea of where we are going with this project.

This first model is the gorgeous Kayla Altman, who came out to shoot for fun and absolutely ROCKED it.

This next model is the lovely Ronda Olshefski, who will be our fairy Queen, Titania.

Hair and makeup by Laura Klem and Serena Cook, costumes pieced together by myself (thanks Goodwill!) and Serena Cook, wings from the peerless Fancy Fairy Wings and Things, and ears by Aradani Studios.

I'm already more than excited about the images we've created so far. Once the final photos are in my computer, I may just pee on myself in pure ecstasy.

Mommy Makeover Nominee: Anita

This amazing mom has been nominated by her daughter, Jessica.

"My mother Anita is for sure in need of a day all about her. She has been there through every trial and tribulation that not only I have caused, but also those that have come upon me. She uprooted her life to move with me when I needed her to look after my kids for an Army assignment, she stood by my side and looked after my babies while I had to undergo 3 c-sections and 3 brain surgeries. She is always there for me whenever I need her and never says no even though she has a full time job on her feet all day and is suffering from massive pain from fibromyalgia. She truly is my hero and I love her unconditionally and honestly feel she deserves a day to be all about her. Please vote for my very well deserving MOM!"

Jessica

Let's celebrate this amazing momma!

Good luck, Anita!

Baby G

All of the tired cliches about spring are true. It's a time of new life, beginnings, and starting fresh as the world wakes up. The trees are just beginning to bloom and flowers are opening bright petals to the waiting world. Spring is also a messy time, but all birth is messy. It's a fitting metaphor, then, that the maternity photos for "baby G" should take place during a spring morning surrounded by blooms and new life.

I had such good time photographing these two, and was so enchanted by the scenery of Cochrane Park here in Yelm, that I kept making ridiculous noises (that can best be described as a "squee") every time I caught a shot that I KNEW was going to be enchanting. Here are a few of my favorites from the session...

 

Of course, they had to take some time out to be silly! Can't you just see them aboard the Titanic!?

Um...romantic, much!? They are so sweet together.

I am so in love with this photo! She's so lovely, and with the leaves of the blossoms falling... it just makes me happy. I'm pretty sure this photo was worthy of a good squee.

And my favorite simply for the gorgeous scenery...

Congratulations Mom and Dad-to-be! Baby G is going to be one lucky and much loved little fella!