These kids were the nicest kids! Both moms swear that they've never seen them behave so well, but I bet they get along like this on more than one occasion. Maybe it was the lovely sunny afternoon or maybe they were just on good behavior. Either way, the whole family made for a fun, and relaxing portrait session. Thanks Holly & Selena!
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What a great kid and what a great family! Thanks for letting us in to watch Eli grow!
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Here he is at 3 weeks, 1 year, and 2 years old. Today we'll be having a great time in Grandma's yard seeing what Eli gets up to at 3 years.
Stay tuned!
]]>Your other choice is to go later, which is what we did. The buses and the many people on the buses are gone, but lines are still long and the flower beds and borders are crowded with families. But it's so beautiful, you have patience with all the selfies and family shots and video recording in order to take your shot. And then you get this:
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The Coburn family is an easy-going family of four. Mom, Dad and two boys: Clyde and Beau. We met the family when Allen took Clyde's picture on a whim one day, long before Beau was in the picture:
Clyde looks the same to me, I think. A big boy now, but still just a little shy of the camera. No, not really shy, slow to warm up I'd say. But then, what a kid! Clyde found all kinds of weathered pieces of wood and sea-washed stones and then set to collecting them all up together. I wonder how Shane and Rachel managed to leave it all at the beach?
And Beau is always smiling. I mean always. He took a face-plant into the sand that left an impression of his face and he came up smiling, mouth full of sand!
A real loving family. It was a pleasure to capture them on a sunny afternoon.
]]>We went to visit with some very good friends who just happen to be very good clients as well. And a favorite muse of ours too.
That's where Allen's technique comes into play. He's never demanding nor provoking people into uncomfortable poses. He just waits for the right moment, when you're relaxed and comfortable, and then...Click!
Beautiful!
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Set your ISO on your camera to a higher setting. This will result in a "noisier" photo but it will increase your odds of getting a sharp photo.
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Get close enough so your subject fills the frame.
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If your camera has a night mode select it.
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Start early, to get the last of the daylight. Photographers call this time the golden hour, because the low angle of the light is very forgiving.
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Capture the preparation, especially if your kiddos created the costume themselves.
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Bend down or kneel so you’re at the child’s level.
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Remember this is a time for the kids so don’t go for perfection.
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Take a lot of shots.
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Go for actions shots, kids ringing the door bell, holding out their bucket, checking out their loot etc.
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Using your camera flash doesn’t provide the most flattering lighting, so try to be creative. You can use street lights, porch lights or for a dramatic scene, shine a flashlight on them.
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Group shots, show the kids interacting with each other.
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After, use your phone's fun filters to make pictures look even spookier.
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Have fun!
Allen's first car was a sky blue '72 Mustang with a 302 v8. He was 17 and it meant freedom. Suzanne's first car was a butter yellow '74 Chevy Nova named Baby. And she didn't know how to drive it!
James and Zach have this pretty cool '83 Mustang kitted out for drag racing.
Tell us in the comments below what was your first car and what did it mean to you?
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Zach is taking photography at school, and confessed that he is more comfortable behind the camera that in front of it. Maybe, but Allen is terrific at bringing out the best in people. Suzanne think's it's because Allen was once a HS boy more comfortable behind the camera than in front if it as well.
What do you think?
]]>- Good: Get your images printed. Honestly, even Walgreens will at least give you an envelope of prints that you can toss in a drawer so future generations can wonder who the heck those people were.
- Better: Organize your images and send them to an online printer for an archival-quality book. We like MyPublisher.com but there are others out there - do a search on Google to find one you like.
- Best: You know what I'm going to say is best! Yes, hire a professional photographer, but there's a caveat. Hire one who offers professional prints and products. If you go cheap, and just get the digital files you'll be back at square one.
Here's my neat segue to our Fall/Winter mini session special!
We love to do greeting cards, and we're not limited to the traditional holiday themes either. But if you don't send cards, you can use your print credit to get prints and products. See what I did here? We are indeed a photography business that does professional prints and products. Want to see some of them?
Okay, now here's your chance to do something good, better, or best. Let us know what you decide!
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Mom, Bette writes a blog chronicling her family's daily life called Adventures of the House Wolf; check it out if you want the details of Lina's unexpected arrival.
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So what are Allen's top ten animal portraits?
10. Sheep
9. Goats
8. Cattle
7. Chickens
6. Turkeys
5. Parrots
4. Ducks
3. Tigers
2. Cats
and of course...
1. Dogs!
We have long thought about offering a premium album to our clients. The problem was, we couldn't find a quality product around the price point at which we felt our clients would be comfortable spending. Actually, we were sick to our stomachs at the thought of some of the WHOLESALE prices of the selection available.
We’re particularly proud of our Photo Books and think they’re an incredible value for your money. We wanted to offer the same value in a premium album. We’re pleased to say we’ve found the quality product for you!
Our Signature Albums are a gorgeous keepsake and have:
- Flush Mounted Pages
- Panoramic Spreads
- Professional printing on Kodak Professional Lustre photo paper
- 6 Genuine Italian Leather cover Options (Black, Midnight Blue, Sterling Gray, Cardinal Red, White, Mocha, Distressed) or
- photo wrapped in canvas or lustre photo page
- Front Cover Foil Stamping on Leather Covers or
- Blind Embossing on Leather Covers
- Up to 15 pages (add pages in groups of 5 for $30 each group)
- Up to 12x12 inches
The regular price for this top-quality album will be $300, but we want you to have this beauty in your hands to see for yourself what a brilliant keepsake it is, so for a limited time only our Signature Album can be yours for $195!
Parkson's parents tried really hard to get him to sleep. He had been awake most of the morning, so we though he'd stay asleep after Lan (mom) and Daniel (dad) cuddled and rocked and hushed him. We got a few sleepy baby shots, but then the excitement was too much and Parkson stayed awake for the rest of the session. No crying until the very end though, even though the ratio of 6 adults to 1 baby (Gramma and Grandpa came to watch) could have spelled disaster. Not to mention big "brother" Tanner. The best behaved German Rottweiler I have ever seen. He stayed behind this ridiculously small gate and could have jumped it or even walked around it at any moment. I think he just knows he's got a new playmate and is patiently waiting for Parkson to grow a little.
Who's a good dog? Yes you are!
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We'll show you more of Parkson's newborn session tomorrow. Just couldn't wait with this one, though. Enjoy!
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It was a lovely evening and Ronald Bog Park is a quiet and pleasant space to photograph a busy 3-year old. Bette was feeling a few contractions, but was certain Lina was still days away from making her appearance. Little did we know how impatient Lina actually was. A little bit more than 24 hours later, Bette and Erich were racing down I-5 to the hospital! I'll let Bette tell it in her own words:
"...we pulled in to the valet parking in front of the hospital. I couldn't get out of the car, needing to sit there and scream a little more. Mike, the super awesome security guard who happened to be out front, ran to get a wheel chair and a doctor. I tumbled out of the car, and felt Lina crowning. I swear I wasn't even pushing. Erich came just in time to catch her head, then her shoulders, then the rest of her. The hospital staff showed up about two minutes later. And since that point, things have gone pretty well according to plan! Everybody's healthy, happy, and tired.
Fantastic!
Allen Welsch Photography would like to welcome to this earth Paulina Averill Wolf (Lina) - may you be blessed with health, joyous adventure, and abundant happiness.
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Dear Readers,
Today's post isn’t about us. It’s about YOU.
Branding expert and leading authority on the science of fascination, Sally Hogshead, published her new book How the World Sees You on July 1.
To celebrate the insights gained from a decade of research, she is launching Project Fascination with the goal of showing 100,000 people how their personalities add value.
As a part of this project, she’s given us a special code (BL-AWPhotos) to share with to you. The first 100 people who use it to take her Fascination Advantage® assessment will receive the assessment for free! This has never been done before, and will only last until August 31.
The best part is, you will trigger a chain reaction—a pay it forward situation. When you take the assessment using BL_AWPhotos, you will receive 100 assessments to share with your circle for free, too!
That’s $3700 of free market research at your fingertips!
So how do you take the assessment? Simple.
1. Go to How The World Sees You .com/you and use code BL-AWPhotos .
2. Once you’ve taken the assessment, Sally’s team will load 100 assessments into your new account. Rinse and repeat.
That’s it. Now you’re ready to discover how your personality is custom built for certain situations, and which situations you should learn to avoid. And it only takes 5 minutes (you can even do it on your phone!)
28 questions. 5 minutes. A whole new way to communicate your value.
Your Fascination Advantage® Report is the first big step towards knowing how your personality can be heard and remembered in an overcrowded market. Sharing the assessment will help others do the same. Find everything you need to put this knowledge
into practice with your co-workers, close friends and significant other in Sally’s new book, How the World Sees You.
Remember that your code will expire August 31. Don’t let this $3700 value go to waste!
Take the Assessment today and encourage your friends and followers to do the same.
What a tongue! We like to get high engery dogs running around right away, so after a bit they're ready to sit and take pretty pictures.
Atlas makes friends so easily. We met Calvin at the park, and believe it or not, they're both the same breed - Australian Cattle Dogs.
Calvin's the more traditional Cattle Dog, smaller and the beautiful blue coat. Atlas is still young and growing out his white coat, and will end up with a more red and tan coat.
One more of Atlas for today:
Oh! That tongue!! ♥
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A few weeks ago we visited Quinn and his family to deliver the photo books they ordered. I brought along a Canon rangefinder that I thought Quinn would find interesting.
He was, so I showed him how to look through the viewfinder and click the shutter. Pretty soon he was enjoying himself, but after a while, he realized that I was holding the “special” camera.
While hold the bottom of the heavy camera, I showed Quinn where to put his finger on shutter release and how to look through the view finder. In a flash, we were off taking photos of everything that caught his eye - mom and dad, a basket of books, a basketball hoop, his train set.
I think in a few short years, Quinn’s curiosity may be kindled into a budding career or at least a satisfying hobby. Who knows, I may have some competition!
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You’re sitting on the grass waiting for the sun to set and the fireworks show to start.
Before you pull your camera phone out of your bag, here are a few tips to help you capture better fireworks photos.
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Begin by turning off the flash. It will only illuminate the 10 feet in front of you, spotlighting the crowd in front of you (and likely annoying them) and making the explosive night sky seem even darker. Just turn it off.
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The key to great fireworks photos is a long exposure time and a steady hand so your camera doesn't move during that longer exposure time. A tripod is best, and if you're like most camera phones users you don't have one. But have no fear; there are ways to steady your camera. Look for a hard surface to rest you camera on. This can be a bench or table. It can be a light post or tree or simply rest the camera on the ground. If you’re lying on the ground rest the camera on your chest. The goal is for the camera to be a steady as possible.
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Shoot most of your shots at the beginning of the show. As it progresses there will be more smoke in the air and the sky won’t look as clear. And shoot in both landscape and portrait mode.
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If your phone has a night shooting mode, turn it on. Some newer phones have a fireworks setting. This will set up the camera for shooting in low light. If not there are several camera apps that will help with low light situations.
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If you have an Android try Night Camera or Fast Burst Camera.
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Here are several options for iOS.
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If you have a Windows phone try ProShot.
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Some of these apps also allow you to manually control the exposure but for now stick with the auto settings.
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Your camera has a zoom but this is not the time to use it.
- Remember to enjoy the show (watch with your own eyes, not through your camera lens), and post your best shots!
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One of the privileges that we enjoy in our photography business is we get to peak into people's happiest life events. So capturing two people in love and so ready to face their future together makes us giddy!
FYI, today is our anniversary, so Kirk and Sklyer's session is particularly sentimental for us. We are excited for their future together, and if they have only half the happiness we have, then they will be rich indeed.
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From a technical standpoint, the light was good, Skyler and Kirk were relaxed, the location was beautiful, and the weather cooperated. But if you ask this romantic, I'd say doesn't this make you want to be young and in love forever?
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It's Father's Day today and that can be a touchy subject. Not everyone is or wants to be a father and not everyone had a great father experience growing up.
If you happen to be a father, how do you do it? What's your style? And if you're not a father, what's your opinion of Dads? Did you have a dad that seemed to do it right? Or how about a dad that did his best at the time and is trying to do it better now?
One thing we've discovered in the years we've been photographing families professionally: there are a myriad of ways to 'dad', and there is no one single way to do it best.
Here's just a few of the dads(and granddads) we've captured recently. They look like they're doing it well, don't you think?
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Take my hand
Life is what happens to you
While you're busy making other plans
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
- John Lennon - Beautiful Boy Lyrics
We always feel honored when families ask us to come back and photograph them again. We've watching Quinn grow for over 2 years now. His family likes the value of our photobooks, because they don't have to chose just a few poses, and then decide which ones to frame, which to send to grandparents, and which to keep.
Quinn likes to look at pictures of himself! (Shh, we do too.)
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I kid you not. And there's a saying in Irish dancing: if it were easy, they'd call it football.
We spent an exciting Sunday afternoon trying to capture the essence of Brendan's flying feet. I know, you don't see his feet here. But you do see the results of his hard work (MASSIVE trophy), and the elegant poise and confidence he exhibits.
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One of the many advantages of Google Glass is that you can photograph from your point of view, in the moment, without interrupting the subject in his natural environment. Allen's natural environment being behind the camera, of course.
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There’s a lovely walking trail around the Jackson Golf course in North Seattle: Thornton Creek runs through the gulf course. You can access the creek at a few spots around the southern end of the trail and explore. Much of the creek has been paved over and it runs through culverts, but here the creek is exposed and you can enjoy the beauty of this little urban oasis. Surrounded by trees and plant life you might forget you’re in the city. The sounds from I-5, less than a quarter mile away are filtered out by nature. All you can hear are bird and the flowing water.]]>
Eli is 2 Years Old Today!
We've been honored to photography Eli from just a few days old, through his first and second years and have watched him grow to such a wonderful little boy. Want to see him tiny?
We love to watch kids grow and they grow so fast! It's just a wonderful gift to be able to capture them mid-growth. Thanks Mom and Grandma for letting us be part of Eli's journey!
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K*I*S*S*I*N*GK*I*S*S*I*N*G
This was actually a family portrait session for holiday cards. Yeah, we took lots of family shots as well. But this couple has two grown sons and I just love seeing parents on the other side of parenting still in love and still willing to express that love for our camera. I think part of the secret is they are both creative, independent-minded people. I see they encourage that in their kids and in other people.
What do you think their secret is?
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Quinn and DadQuinn and his dad
Sometimes it's hard being a location photographer. It's a little awkward explaining to new clients that, no we don't have a studio; we come to you. It's not that we wouldn't love to have a studio but it's a big step and we're still starting out. Plus our style is really to capture families being themselves. Not impossible in a studio, but much easier in clients' "home territory."
This family, though makes it easy. They are comfortable with each other and with Allen snapping away. In addition, we had multi-generational family members at this session, so we brought along our second shooter (daughter Kelley). You'd think it would be hap hazardous or perhaps the photographer would have to get bossy and organize everyone, but it wasn't and he didn't. It was just wonderful to sit back and watch magic happen.
You may think I'm a little bit crazy, but I got a little bit giddy doing the final edit on these pictures. I'm thinking, "we've captured an amazing family that loves being with each other!"
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At this point our roles changed and she seamlessly transitioned into the role of photographer. I watched as she found her shooting position and directed Brendan into a pose that worked for that scene.
As this was taking place though I wasn’t thinking inspiration, I was just intent on getting the lighting right for her. I didn’t have to direct Kelley on where to place the reflector but was free to work with the lighting as she worked the camera. As the shoot progressed we swapped roles back and forth. I watched as Kelley scouted locations, pointed out different backgrounds to use, and in general thought and acted like a photographer. It was only afterwards did I realize that she had taken a very big step; she was now the photographer. She IS a photographer. She's got lot to learn about the trade, but what she lacks in technical knowledge is trumped by an artistic eye that I can only dream of obtaining.
Here's another one of her gorgeous shots from a family portrait session with Quinn:
I think my role has changed as well. I now see myself in the role of mentor and I’m very excited.
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The lovely lady in the lower right is Victoria who came over from Bremerton for the event, which took place in the Alaska Building. The cool guy above her is Jay, although he feels less cool without Google Glass.]]>
I really love the gift of portraiture and I always have, both giving and receiving. When our daughter was little, each year we'd get her dressed up and off to the portrait studio (Sears or J C Penney I'm afraid to admit). We included a wallet-size photo or two in our Christmas cards and always made sure to have a little photo jewelery made for the grandmas. A portrait for our walls was usually ordered as well.
It's so wonderful to look at those portraits now and see how she grew and changed over the years. Now that she's an adult, and a pretty good photographer, she takes OUR holiday portrait! So when you get Allen Welsch Photography's holiday card you'll see that talent runs in the family.
This year, our mini sessions include a set of 24 holiday greeting cards. I had a great time choosing and designing your choices:
Last week, we posted pictures from Suzanne's Google Glass. Now you can compare them to the real photographer.
Loulu lives to chase and catch the ball. When we were at the park with her last week, it was a warm (very warm for Seattle) day. Didn't matter to Loulu. She demanded in a very loud, piercing bark that we throw the ball, throw it far, and throw it NOW! If Allen decided to play "tease the dog" (you know, pretend to throw and then laugh at hapless dog), we were subjected to non-stop barking until the ball was in the air.
We could hear her panting from across the field and tried to get her to stop and drink her water, but she was having none of that nonsense. Loulu had a job to do and that job was Retrieve The Ball! Allen was able to get some shots only when she decided to rest, the ball never far from her.
Tell us your dog stories. Do you know of a dog mad for the ball? Or could s/he care less? It would be great to hear from you!
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It's not easy to surreptitiously take photos with Glass. You have to speak out loud, "Ok Glass...take a picture", or you have to reach up to the frame to push a button. All the while looking at whatever you want to capture. Still, it's good at catching candid moments.
We're figuring out how to incorporate Glass into our portrait sessions, possibly sharing some candids here on the blog. Clients can have a sneak peek at what to expect while waiting for their finished portraits. And Glass can also do short videos. So it might be fun to stream parts of a session right to a laptop so you can see what 's going on when it's happening.
If you're wondering how Suzanne got the opportunity to be one of the few to own and play with a Google Glass prototype, she had to answer the question, "If I had Glass..." Her answer?
#ifihadglass I would take the shots that my photog husband misses, lol!
— Suzanne Winter (@painlesspix) February 20, 2013
Surprisingly, they took her seriously and a month later responded:
@painlesspix You’re invited to join our #glassexplorers program. Woohoo! Make sure to follow us - we’ll DM in the coming weeks.
— Google Glass (@googleglass) March 27, 2013
Your turn!
What would you do if you had Glass?
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Here's a slide show of our quick in and out visit to Vancouver, BC. Seriously, we spent less than 24 hours there and 3 of them were spent running a half marathon.
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You will never find this park empty of people, even on the coldest, rainiest day in Seattle. And when it's warm and sunny, you will never find a parking space. Walkers, runners, bikers, swimmers, rowers, roller skaters, jugglers, drummers, tight rope walkers, Canada geese - they all flock to Green Lake. For people (and dog) watching there is very little to compare in Seattle.
To see each photo larger, click on the thumbnails below:
In order to become a world-class level competitive Irish Dancer, Ivy had to win First Place twice. That's after working her way up five previous levels. Now she gets to compete at the National and World level.
Ivy's dance school holds classes for beginners on up starting around age 6 up to and including adults. Want to know more? Check out their web site: Tara Academy of Irish Dance.
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At least that's Wikipedia's definition of a cloud.
Percy Bysshe Shelley used the cloud as a metaphor for the unending cycle of life. A cloud forms and reforms. What do you think?
In Seattle it seems we only notice the clouds when they cover the sky. If it goes on for too long, we grumble about never seeing the sun. I like the think the sun is still out, just above the clouds, and anyone who happens to be flying into Seattle thinks it's a sunny day. Then they come down through the clouds to reality.
What do you see in the clouds?
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And then again around 6 months old:
And now Eli is a big one-year-old!
Happy Birthday, Eli!
I was thinking that Mother's Day might be a good time to talk about neutering and spaying our fur babies. Hopefully, I don't need to convince many of our readers the importance of this. Neutering your pet not only keeps them healthier for longer it also decreases the number of unwanted and abandoned pets.
A neutered male pet has less risk of testicular and prostate cancer and has much less aggression, making him easier to train. When you spay your female pet she has a reduced risk for breast cancer and virtually no risk of ovarian or uterine cancer.
Kittens and puppies are cute, but on any given day about 70,000 of them are born. I don't think there are 70,000 families everyday willing to adopt them and given them the care they need and deserve.
Want more resources? Start here: The American Humane Association for more information about spaying and neutering.
Do you have room in your heart for a(nother) fur baby? PetFinder.com is a one-stop pet adoption site for over 13,000 shelters nation-wide.
And of course, if your fur-baby is in the Seattle area (or you're willing to pay travel costs) let us come and take portraits of your lovies!
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Seriously. It's been sitting here in the draft blog waiting for me to sing it's praises and all I can do is think, 'Wow.'
So you can stare at it for a while and let us know if any words come to mind, 'kay?
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Don't you just love daffodils? They have a cheery face and I'm always reminded of the flowers singing in Disney's Alice In Wonderland. You can also call them narcissus, or jonquils and they come in all sorts of shades from pale white to pink to orange as well as the stand-by yellow. Want to see one close up?
Wow!
What's your favorite flower? Let us know in the comments and we'll do a future blog post on the answers we get.
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Yes, it's a fire hydrant. A brief foray into Wikipedia informs me that fire hydrants in the US are commonly painted yellow for quick identification. You may have heard of hydrants being called fire plugs. Interesting story, that. Again, Wikipedia says that originally, fire fighters would dig down to the wooden water mains and quickly bore a hole to access the water. Then they would plug it back up to use for future fires.
Fire hydrants have been use artistically as well. Do an image search and you'll come up with dogs, Winnie-the-Pooh, Eyore, Mario, gumball machines, American flags, Huckleberry Hound (I sense a dog theme). What unusual fire hydrants have you seen?
]]>Hermione had a little surgery that requires she wear the "cone of shame."
We thought the occasion needed a little Haiku to lighten the mood, so here is our first call for submissions. Write a little poem to brighten her day and feel free to share this with your friends. The more poetry the better!
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And she's sittin' in your basket!
If you have pets, tell us where you've found them cozied up. And how about a caption contest? Just what is Hermione thinking?
]]>This kind of news is never easy to deliver, but we wanted to let you know that in February, our professional lab unexpectedly informed us of a price increase that took effect March 6, 2013. We decided it wouldn't be fair to pass a sudden price increase along without warning or softening the blow.
Our Session Fees, custom cards, and photo books remain unchanged, and we've decided to honor our 2012 pricing structure for prints and framing until April 30, 2013.
And any sessions that are booked before April 30, 2013 will receive the 2012 pricing along with your session. See our Spring Portrait Session Special below:
Quinn is really interested in Allen's camera!
When Allen showed him his picture on the LCD monitor, Quinn jabbed his chubby fingers at the controls. He just knew they should do something.
Perhaps Quinn's parents have a future photographer in the family!
]]>For Seattle that is.
Hurry though. They melt quickly once the sun comes out and warms the ground. And soon, we're back to the regular drizzle that is Seattle's winter.
]]>My ear has grown familiar with your song;
I hear it in the opening year,
I listen, and it cheers me long.
~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
We could tell you a lot about Grace; we've watched her grow from a baby to the marvelous young lady you see today. But don't you think her green boots tell you more about her than we can say here?
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- Have your camera ready before the kids start opening their stockings. Charge the battery the night before and make sure you have enough room on your memory card. Have another memory card handy for when you fill the first up.
- Set your camera's white balance to match the lighting in the room. For most people this will be tungsten or incandescent. If you have compact fluorescent blubs then select fluorescent.
- When photographing small children, get down on their level by sitting on the floor. Look for natural reactions as they open their presents and interactions with family members.
- Look for natural reactions and position yourself so you can capture their first glimpse of the box. Then continue shooting as they open presents. Action shots are great as kids (and adults) tear open presents with paper flying all about.
- If you want any posed shots, do it at a time when everyone is relaxed. Seat your family in comfortable positions and never, ever tell them to say cheese. Natural expression are much more pleasing, if little Timmy doesn't want to smile don't force him.
- Don't forget to enjoy the moment yourself. Set the camera down occasionally or hand it off to someone else, that way you can be in the photos as well.
- The night before take a few shots of the tree with all the presents arranged underneath. Then after all the presents are opened take an "after" shot.
- If you have presents from people who aren't there, make sure to get reaction shots then email (or Facebook) them to let them know their gift was appreciated.
Well, his little feet actually.
Welcome Søren!
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I've had enough Christmas. Can I be done now?
The single, most important thing to remember is baby's level of tolerance and comfort. It sounds logical, but sometimes even the best parents forget logic when it comes "once in a lifetime" pictures. He doesn't know it's a "once in a lifetime moment", he's just doing his best to cope with all the incoming stimuli.
What a great opportune time to hire a professional photographer who will come to your home. That keeps at least one element constant and familiar.
If Santa pictures are a must, you have a fair chance of good photos with a well-rested, well-fed baby. Yes, I know. That's logical, but we do forget even the simple things when we're in this busy time of year.
One thing is certain, when the tears start, it's all over. You could certainly try again another day, but crying baby on Santa's lap does have its charms and of course, Facebook memes.
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A heartfelt thanks to all our friends and family who have supported us in our photography business journey.
Are you looking for ways to participate in holiday gift-giving that supports local businesses, reflects simple-living values, yet expresses your individuality? We would love to be the answer to your search! If you've already had portraits with us, we have a selection of photo gifts from ornaments, key rings, photo books, small pocket "grandma" books, image cubes, to magnets, calendars, mugs, t-shirts; almost anything you'd think of to put a photo on or in we can do. We offer framing too, in all price ranges. Your beautiful portraits deserve attractive frames. Another way to support our local business and gift simply, are Allen Welsch Photography gift certificates.We can create gift certificates in any amount, redeemable for either prints or portrait sittings. You tell us the amount and we'll provide a customized gift certificate for you to give.
Packaging speaks volumes about a business and beautiful packaging says beautiful portraits.
When you order any of our custom-designed products (albums, photobooks, greeting cards, framed portraits are just a few) we hand-deliver them to you in enticing cocoa and lavender-accented packaging.
Our packaging also reflects our commitment to local, sustainable business practices. We chose Rice Studio Supply for our packaging, not only because they are pretty close to being local (Seattle to Beaverton, OR is a 3 hour drive), but they make a serious effort to offer sustainable, recycled, and eco-minded products. And it's gorgeous to boot!
Keeping your portrait investment in optimal condition is very important, so we custom-design care cards to help you take the best care of your memories.
In the future, you can look forward to your shipped-direct orders given the same care and thought as our custom-designed products. We're hoping to set that up soon because we value all our clients and want you to say "Wow!" even before you see your portraits.
]]>Arlene takes jazz vocal lessons and has even showcased at a local club called Tula's.
I think this is a perfect example of how being relaxed in front of the camera really brings out your personality. Easier to say "relax" than be relaxed, though. That's why we never rush people when we're shooting portrait sessions, and rarely "pose" anyone. That way, eventually you forget about the camera being there and the natural you starts to come out.
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So far this autumn has been wonderful for late afternoon location photography, and yesterday did not disappoint. We went up north of Seattle to visit Cash, Pixie and their parents.
Both dogs really like chasing balls and are exceptionally good at catching on the fly. I set up my position to where I could frame Cash, and then had Kelley (acting as Photographer's Assistant in this shoot) toss the ball straight on. I could see his eyes on the ball and just hoped I could click the shutter at the right moment.
How did I do?
Please vote for this entry in the BorrowLenses Fan Photography Challenge: Pet, on the BorrowLenses.com Facebook page! Click here to see it: http://bit.ly/SWFauO
]]>On the surface, it seems that black and white is a simple concept. Just two choices: Black. White.
But in photography, black and white is a continuum. Believe this: black and white is still composed of all the shades of color; you adjust the colors to get the mood of the picture.
So here's James in two different black and white portraits. What mood does each evoke for you? Which do you prefer?
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They certainly do look like they can get along with each other. At least for a photo or two.
Actually, both boys have an easy-going attitude and once they warmed up we got some great shots. We anticipate mom and dad having the wonderful predicament of having to pick and chose from the finished portraits.
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Time has a way of moving on and now Joey is on the cusp of manhood. I love the easy affection he has for his mom. This shot was taken between set ups and both were unaware that Allen had his camera focused on them.
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In January, we wrote about a dear and inspirational friend who along with his wife was struck by a truck and killed while in a crosswalk. Robert was the founder of DisneyRunning.com, an unparalleled source of information concerning walking and running Disney.
Members were encouraged to wear their Disney Running gear at other races as well as Disney ones, and then post photos in the forum. It was cool to discover that there are people the world over who love running at Disney, and sometimes you discovered Disney runners in your own backyard.
Robert was also a strong proponent of kilt wearing at his races. And drinking beer after the race. With that combination, The Great Kilted Run seemed to be a race designed specifically for him. After all, the beer garden opens half an hour before the race! We had invited Robert up to run this race in the past, but he never was able to make the timing.
So, this past Sunday we ran the Great Kilted Run as "Team Disney Running" in memory of Robert.
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What would you caption this photo?
Should we give a prize for the best caption? How about a photo keychain with any non-human photo from Allen Welsch Photography? (If you've had a photo shoot with us, you can choose one of your photos.)
Ready? Steady?...Go!
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We start harvesting in mid- late July and let the bulbs dry and cure in the garage for about 3 weeks. Then we order more planting stock and start over again.
Where does garlic rate on your flavor scale?
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Bagheera, the Bengal Tiger on the right, followed (on his side of the fence, of course!) a visitor who had a wrapped turkey sandwich in his hand. Reminded us perfectly of our kitties meowing for a bit of turkey lunchmeat!
Want to see more tigers and other creatures from Cougar Mountain Zoo? Check out the gallery on Allen Welsch Photography.
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Have you ever seen anything so adorable in your life?
I had a hard time choosing which ones to show you. They're so fluffy!
It's rather difficult to get photos of ducklings swimming. They skim across the water, almost faster than the shutter can click.
Momma's not too far away.
And apparently, Papa's nearby, too.
OK, one last pic and it's a sweet one:
Did any of these inspire your thoughts? Look for a caption contest soon on our Facebook page!
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This is Violet, a 7 year old budding entrepreneur.
I stopped by last Sunday afternoon to take advantage of her latest business endeavor, a car wash. She has expanded her summer base of lemonade stands into spring car washes. While this is primarily due to the weather (it’s not quite lemonade season yet) she's demontrating strong skills in rethinking the market's needs.
She also earns high marks for customer service: She had a waiting area set up with a supply of magazines, but to be honest she worked so fast I didn’t have time to relax, or read anything. Could be because I was busy taking photos, though.
What did you do as a kid to earn money?
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What do you think is inside this egg?
Modern-day egg hunts. I hear stories of over-zealous parents, but I've never seen it personally.
This egg hunt had 17 kids under middle school age hunting for eggs and the older kids and parents helping the wee ones get their fair share.
So if you had your own personal egg to crack open, what would you find? Feel free to be as silly or conceptional as you wish.
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Doesn't this shot leave you breathless?
Malcolm Gladwell puts forth the theory of the 10,000 hour rule, which states that to master a task you need to spend at least 10,000 hours in focused practice.
I was reminded of this last Monday when I spent the day with 20 other photographers at Clay Blackmore’s Master Class on portrait photography. Clay demonstrated every bit of his 34 years of experience as he easily and rather gracefully set up shot after shot. On top of that, he explained everything he was doing and why he was doing it.
I got a head full of information, a huge splash of inspiration, and a reminder that you cannot afford to become stagnant.
What are you in the process of mastering?
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The Easter Bunny?
You do know that in a household of 3 cats, the possiblity of a rabbit sneaking in and hanging about long enough to fill a basket with goodies is remote at best?
Just thought I'd remind you.
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Some people are creeped out by a cat's stare.
I'm more in the camp that you can see unknown depths in a cat's eyes. This particular cat is a total sweetheart, but she's not a snuggley cat. Sometimes, if you're very still (and happen to be sitting in her favorite corner of the couch) she'll jump up on your lap and settle in.
What do you see in her eyes?
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Well, maybe you wouldn't want to.
It looks like a yoga pose of some sort. Sometimes I think cats are the embodiment of yoga gurus.
What would you name this pose?
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Yes, you read that right. It did not rain on this year's parade.
We walk every year in Seattle's St Patrick's Day parade with a local dance school, Tara Academy of Irish Dance. There's a big difference between watching a parade and shooting it, and actually being in the parade and still trying to get good shots. The paraders are on the move in both situations, but add in your movement and it can get tricky to set up a favorable photo.
The grey overcast day didn't help matters much. Yeah, just because it didn't rain doesn't mean it wasn't regular Seattle grey skies. To compensate for that, Allen shoots with a wide aperture to allow for a faster shutter speed.
What was the last parade you watched?
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I think it's rained on more St Patrick's Day parades than it hasn't in Seattle.
Even though spring has been butting it's head against winter for over 2 weeks now, in Seattle spring is really more of a concept.
Chris Burke, a Seattle meteorologist puts it succinctly: There's no such thing as spring. March through June is just "disappointment."
So the forecast for Saturday is rain. Doesn't stop us though. We just hunker down, put on another layer of Gore-Tex and walk on.
What do you do when it rains?
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Hello humans! Didja know I"m a big brother now?
I am! His name is Quinn and my parents love him a lot. I mean A LOT. They spend all sorts of time taking care of him, but I don't mind too much. He needs lots of taking care of. Not like me. I can feed myself and take myself out with just a little bit of help from mom.
I behave myself around my little brother. He looks like he could get hurt really easy if I play too rough, so I just sniff him a lot.
Someday, I suspect Quinn will be more fun to play with, but for now I'm content with just mom and dad playing with me. And my big sister, Jessica.
That's all from me.
Signing off,
Porter the Sheltie
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It's spring in Seattle and that means the weather is more dependable for location photography.
We don't have a studio (yet), so when we do your photo session it will be at your home or at one of the multitude of beautiful locations in and around Seattle.
Location photography has many advantages for capturing your child's portrait. When kids have room to move they're more comfortable and can be themselves. This makes a much more natural portrait that lets your child's personality shine through.
And of course a happy kid makes a happy portrait session and you get photographic proof of happy memories.
Contact us today!
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A baby always gives me hope.
Someone (in this case a group of someones) decided the world is worth it enough to care for another human being. Yes, I know the world is overpopulated and yes, I agree that most of the world lives in poverty and I suspect that adding to this planet is probably not in the planet's best interests.
But still. One tiny part of the world lives in hope right here, right now. And I like that.
Welcome baby Quinn.
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I got a lovely box!
Once my persons took out the useless packing material (a "DVD") I tried it out immediately. It fits just perfectly! I just need to turn around a few times, scratch a bit in the corners and settle in for a nap.
Nighty-night!
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...once it's been squeezed out. That's my feeling about Spring. It's here. I don't care that it's still February and they're predicting snow mixed with rain for this weekend. Spring is here and I have proof:
Tell us below: what signs of Spring have you seen?
And for our below the equator friends, what signs do you see that summer is winding down?
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Allen's pet photography has been on the walls at Bark! Espresso for over 6 months and we've really enjoyed the comments and compliments.It's time for another artist to occupy the walls, so we moved our photos out.
Don't despair if you haven't been over to see them though! They're not moving far - just next door to the Hound Hang Out Room. This is the room next door with a window into the cafe so you can order your drinks and nosh. Your pooch doesn't have to wait outside, and you don't have to sit outside while you enjoy your coffee.
Even if you don't have a dog with you, stop by, peek in, and then let us know what you think.
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Happy Valentine's Day.
It's a day that seems to celebrate couple-dom and all that is associated with having a partner. I think we can get past all the media hype and the corporations that seem to need us to believe that we are nothing without a relationship.
Celebrate love today! Turn off the radio, TV, Internet (after you finish reading this of course) and find some love in your life to celebrate. Could be another person, or a pet, maybe just the day we've been given. Or best of all, celebrate you.
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Allen is featured in the Artist Spotlight on The Emancipate Artist this week!
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How do you photograph a cat? They're definitely not dogs, and it's a rare cat that you can get to perform or sit still on demand. But there are some tricks to getting a good cat portrait.
Of course the easiest (if you can time it) is to photograph her while she's sleeping:
Distracting a cat away from you can result in a very adorable portrait:
Conversely, drawing attention to the camera can also get the money shot:
Bottom line, there's no one, single way to get a good feline portrait. But, patience, treats, a quick eye, and a bit of luck can get you a beautiful portrait.
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He's just so photogenic!
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Snow!
After living 30 years in the Northeast, land of Lake Effect, we are quite happy living in Seattle, land of Weather Wimps. In Seattle, even the threat of snow has us closing schools, canceling bus routes, and the caution to stay home if at all possible.
We hunker down and wait for the rain, which is usually just a day away. In the meantime, we snap photos, place them on Facebook, and compare the inches: We've had 4 inches of snow accumulated since Sunday, which is quite a bit for Seattle. That's because we live a Convergence Zone. A little microclimate influenced by our unique geography.
But that's enough science for this winter's day. Tell us your brave winter weather tales!
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Sharga!
Would you believe this is a 12-week old kitten! A very well adjusted kitten with lots of energy and no stranger anxiety.
This feather on a bit of string might look harmless to you but Sharga knows better. All prey must be immobilized, destroyed, and then consumed. Which is exactly what Sharga did! Good thing kitties are designed to eat feathers, but they will attack and most likely eat anything. So, If you've got a kitty, make sure his or her toys are safe for cat consumption.
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Well, this was going to be a bragging post about how mild the winters are in Seattle. This is an Azalea blossom, a sort of miniature Rhododendron. They usually bloom in spring when they live in more temperate climates, but this is Seattle, where we can have spring-like weather 8 months of the year (i.e. mild temperatures and damp).
But I see that the east coast of the United States is having very unseasonably warm weather so alas, I cannot brag about our mild January weather. I can, however post a lovely picture.
Is anything blooming in your neck of the woods?
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This was going to be a post about welcoming the new year, but the old year had to intervene a little bit more.
We heard news today of the death of Robert Mathis, race director and Disney Running Guru, on December 30, 2011. He and his wife were killed while crossing the street. Senseless.
Robert was really dedicated to running, walking, and all things Disney. And dedicated to following through. When he could no longer run marathons, he walked them. He encouraged so many others to run, walk, and follow their dreams and desires.
Robert and Linda lived their lives the fullest they knew how. I don't think it was a coincidence that their full lives included giving so much to others.
We can't go through life untouched by death. It's part of life. We don't want to become calloused, though. So, we remember those who went before us, hope we'll be remembered at least as fondly, and continue on with life.
What are your thoughts? - on life, death, the new year, continuing on, following through...saying goodbye.
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Merry Christmas from Allen Welsch Photography!
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I do not like the dark, cold weather that will be with us for the next few months, but I do like the festivals that brighten this time of year. Whether you celebrate Christmas, the Winter Solstice, Yule, Hanukkah, Festivus, Kwanzaa, or a lovely jumble of all of them, they all break up the monotony of cold, dark days.
What do you celebrate?
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