Still Tweaking...

Now that I'm back from the amazing 'I Shoot People Tour',... I am still finalizing all my wedding packages.

Please hang in there if you've contacted me recently as I want to make them perfect.

Now when I say perfect I mean what works for Purple Nickel Studio and my clients.

I want them simple, creative, and very unique... something you can't get from 'Bob' down the street... lol.

Purple Nickel Studio is going to offer the most amazingly unique high end custom products for it's hip & modern couples.

Just think urban warehouse chic... I only want to offer what I would want to display as artwork.

Please be patient as I will forward all of you my packages as soon as I feel they represent my studio & talent at its finest.

Stay tuned...

Photography Workshop

So I'm off today to Phoenix with a bunch of other photographers... we're heading up to 'The I Shoot People Tour' !!! I'm hoping to gain more insight on my wedding business & am eager to learn how to simplify my wedding packages, contracts, and just the whole wedding day. Can't wait to meet new people & kick start amazing inspiration!

Meet The Fletchers

If we were characters on South Park this is what we'd look like! I had so much fun making these little guys. It's endless to what you can create. I thought it was fitting that I had my cute pixie hair do & camera and my husband had his beer & light saber. Create yours at... SP-STUDIO

The Brown's Flipside

So when I heard that 'Starla', the new addition to the Brown family was tagging along... the ideas just started pouring out! I haven't had the opportunity to do many portrait sessions with 4 legged friends but I knew this flipside was going to be amazing and full of wonderful inspiration & surprises. So as our session began we all realized that this Tucson heat is somewhat annoying. But that's probably an understatement. Really it is! I don't know how us Tucson photographers can bare the summers and do sessions let alone document weddings all day long. And not even a breeze in sight.

Anyhow we brought lots of H2O especially for Starla and headed out on our adventure. It probably would have been more enjoyable if not for the weather... but spirits were high and we kept trekking on. Our journey took place at the University of Arizona which has been a pleasant surprise to photograph at. Only recently have I discovered that the educational place I got my degree at is quite the HOT spot for my last few sessions. I could go down there hundreds of times and it would never turn out the same. Ok so on with the sneak peek... I must say this shot I tried about 3 different set ups at different locations and this was the shot that won me over. I love the texture, color, and YES little Starla's expression! Couldn't have asked for a better shot!

Enjoy...

Thorny Artwork

Thought I'd share these images I took one day while at our friend Brad's house. That day we were helping him with a new patio out of stained pavers... and well sometimes I get bored and have to wonder around to see what interesting objects I can find to photograph. So that day I found all his amazing little succulents that are full of life and amazing color. Here's some of my specimens or should I say victims?

Enjoy...

Little Miss Sunshine

This Sunday I had the pleasure to photograph 'little miss sunshine' the ever so emotional Gabriela!   Her 'me2' children's portrait session was filled with many many sides to her personality.  I am amazed with all the different expressions I was able to capture from her.   She was very opinionated about what type of posing she wanted to do and in which locations... and she's only 5 years old!!! Yes people I said 5!  I did take most of her ideas & rolled with them... but put my spin on it as well.  I can't wait to show the rest but here's one of my favorites I came across while editing... hence the title!

Enjoy...

[mohd]

mode [mohd]

a manner, way or method of doing

a form or manner of expression

a manifestation, form, or arrangement of being

the current style philosophy

appearance, form, or disposition taken by a thing, 

or by one of its essential properties or attributes.

I haven't posted about SQ11 in awhile... they're doing such amazing things over there. Check out the new blog [mode]... a cleaver production created by my husband & his business partner Brad.  They blog about all sorts of exciting interests and inspirations (not all of it is about food and beer)!  I also don't want to forget to mention all the cool new graphics they've created for their company!  Here's a little peek at what they've been up to!

Enjoy...

Totally Rad: The Revenge

So the amazingly super talented 'BOUTWELLS' are doing it again... I mean creating kick ass actions of course. Most of you might know but for those of you who don't... the 'totally rad actions' have become a staple to my post production. Doug is a genius for creating a sleek, clean, and ohh so fun workflow. And now he's doing it again! Introducing... dun dun dah... 

'THE REVENGE'!!!

If you haven't checked them out already you must not walk or jog you must run NOW!!!...to their site that is. This next set of actions just totally blows my mind and is what I've been longing for. The first set is a 'must have' but this set is just the icing on the cake or that twinkle in your eye... or whatever ya want to call it! The super rustic tones and vintage feels are marvelous & spankin cool not to mention the attention to detail with the highlights and shadows on the B.A.M.F. (B&W).  All I can say is that I have many many many favorites and can't wait to experiment. I love their site and how you can see each before & after set of actions.  I will be posting some of my own too so stay tuned!

Enjoy...

'The Show'

My new favorite wine to have with a casual dinner 'The Show'. This 2006 cabernet sauvignon only goes for under $12 but I found it on clearance at Target for $8. Sometimes you can find the best wine when you least expect it. I also usually am the type to like a stronger wine but this little baby's so smooth and light... before ya know it your glass is almost empty. Here's some detail shots I was playing around with the other night just before dinner! Paired best with pizza!

Enjoy...

Photography Workshop

Last night 5 of us Tucson photogs went up to Phx to the Bellies & Babies workshop hosted by Sandy Puc.  If anyone hasn't heard Sandy speak then they're missing out.  Her inspirational stories and marketing plans are full of laughter, exploration, and experimentation.  It's mind blowing to also see how fast & effective she works with her newborns & moms. Wowie.  So when a group of us all decided to attend we were very thankful when Dave Harvey decided to taxi us up there in his van. What an amazingly nice person.  Anyhow before we were able to check in I wanted to get some shots of us as a group. Well those of us who know Dave we all know how he LOVES to get his picture taken... not! So he was the one behind the camera & got these super silly and down right goofy shots of us with my mini pocket camera. We had a really good time and learned valuable information not only to make us more creative with our photography and to use our time wisely but with our business too. This years workshop catered to mainly studio portrait photographers specializing in maternity & newborns. 2009 workshop concentrates on 'Working With Children' & 2010 'Working With Family'.

Enjoy...

Left to right...
the super eager to create and dream 'mama d' Erin Durband
little ol' me also known as lil' C
the crazy wonderful mother of two and cleverly witty Michelle Rasmussen
the quietly soulful amazing writer and creator Dawn Durfey

Dave's Angels... lol! Gosh I know!

me2 Session

What an amazing little girl!!! Last week Sadie had her very first newborn session. Only 6 days old! She is going to be soooooo loved. She already has a very special bond with her mom and automatically knows when she's around. Still to this day I am just in awe of how this instinct is even possible. They know your smell, your voice, and your touch. It's just one of those things that only a parent can explain. One day I can't wait to experience it... though I did get a little glimpse of somethings most don't look forward to. First off as our session progressed we had lots of little breaks. I'm not used to doing these types of sessions and it really is exhausting.  I can't believe how much one little being can eat, poop, and pee!!!  But who's counting... it was only about 3 times she did all of these on mom & dad. Crazy! It's like she knows the camera is around. We thought she would be the perfect little angel since her mommy is a photographer too... but no. You name it she did it. We joked that she was going to give us a hard time with every shoot just because.  Well I'm so delighted to share with all of you Sadie's first baby pictures & the amazing shots that I was able to capture... it's called 'PATIENCE'.

Enjoy...

Rasmussen Flipside Con't...

Ok so this post is long over due! Back in April a group of us went out to just have fun and photographed
Michelle Rasmussen's family (the lucky models). Let me tell you that I am sooooo happy with the outcome! Michelle's family was so awesome to work with especially her kids who are pros by now. Well anyhow... my main goal for the shoot was to capture images mainly for me. Where I could express the ideas that have been bouncing all around in this crazy mind of mine! A lot of times though it seems we ( I mean us photographers) try to please everyone especially the client and in the end we leave ourselves out as the artist. As I'm realizing more and more with every shoot I do... that I'm spending more time and creativity on what I want to capture. Those quirky moments where no one thinks they're being watched or when someone thinks we're just 'testing the lighting' and they began to relax or just laugh. Those are the moments and expressions I've been looking for. So here is my attempt to gather up some thoughts & visions I've been dying to document!

Enjoy...

Love it love it! I was just hanging out above on this grassy hill and looked down to see mom fixing his tie! SNAP! The pattern the concrete tiles make is just amazing!


So after discovering how cool the pattern was... I set this shot up! I really like how you just see a glimpse of mom's hand fixing her shirt! Just one of those little details. Ohh and the little one's ears getting smooched between her legs!


Michelle said it had been a long time since just the two of them had a shot together! I tried a different crop on this one. Really has you focusing on their eyes & Michelle's gorgeous skin.


The little one looked back right as I took the shot! Can't get any better then that!


Tried out some more textures. Love the back ground.







One word... 'Dimples'


Ok so we tried this one about 3 times. Chasing back and forth. This was the expression I was looking for where they didn't even think I was there.








Michelle is so cute and not to mention photogenic. But I can totally relate when she says it's difficult being the one in front of the camera.


Love it! Everything about this image makes me happy. From the super cool concrete wall to the 'laid back' expression on her face. I also tried some textures with this one too!