Loverrs

I've been struggling to get through this portraiture class this session.

Only two more weeks and I'll be frolicking through the streets of Portland, bubble tea in one hand, camera in the other. I hang this image in front of my mind every day - it helps me to keep going forward.

Here is an assignment I shot with my favorite model Danielle, at my favorite place in Santa Barbara. (It's getting bad how many times I've used her and the place - so this will probably be the last. Time to start with something new and different.)

The first is supposed to emulate a painters style, and the painter I chose was Renoir. He did portraits that depicted people (usually women) just being... My favorites were outside, and had very flat bright lighting. I put a small fashion-esque twist on it, because I wanted to make it mine.

The second is still in it's rough stages - but it's for a "pictoral" assignment. I pretty much said eff, and did what I wanted. There will be more to come in that series!

Now, off to the Bay area for the weekend.

I Won't Forget You

I was digging around through my photo files, trying to find good stuff to put on my new up and coming website. Low and behold I ran across these two, that were taken 4 years ago with my little film camera! I love them because there's just something extra in them for me. I can't explain what... but when I look at these I feel really distinct emotions. Just so raw and made from pure love. Who doesn't appreciate that?

Drops of Jupiter

I had to do a really basic traditional shoot the other day - that had to include rim light in one image, and hands in the other. The gorgeous Danielle Sepanik was amazing and helped me out - mostly keeping me sane through a really boring set up. The first two are what I turned in - and the last one I edited for myself! Meanwhile, all my fashion inspiration and ideas are starting to collect again, making me eager for next session. I have a lot to look forward to in these upcoming months!

Lurve

So after my small hiatus from Blogging - I'm happy to report that I am in fact a married woman now! Everything worked out better than I could have imagined it to - and I owe my family and friends the biggest thank you in the world for turning my dream into a reality! It was the most monumental day of my life to date, and it will be hard to top.

Now, I'm back in school (no honeymoon...) and even though I feel like I'm taking the most ridiculous, worthless classes right now - it has forced me to take a step back, and realize that I need to start making every negative I feel into a positive. So I'm trying to put my own creative twist on our mundane assignments - and so far it's made me feel a sense of calm.

My friend and fellow photographer Justin Miller used Brooks and I for a faux engagement session the other day - which was really fun, and the pictures turned out fantastic! Our first photoshoot post wedding. :) Here are two of my favorites, but you can check them all out at http://jcharlesphoto.blogspot.com/

I Won't Be Left

So I ordered my Sarah Seven dress in March, anticipating it's arrival every single day. It was supposed to be in my arms at the end of May, and when that time came and went - and I heard absolutely nothing from the dress maker herself, I began to worry.

I wrote many many emails, with only silence to return making my worried mind grow with furvent anxiety. Finally, I heard something. She told me she was a week behind. And I pushed my disappointment down into my chest because hey, it was still on its way. And it was going to be perfect.

Two weeks went by, and I heard nothing, received nothing. Now, I was pissed. with a month to go until my wedding - and I didn't even know what my dress was really like. I wrote and I wrote, but no response. Finally - I heard something. Her assistant said there had been an "emergency" and Sarah had been gone for an entire week. Really? I don't mean to be insensitive at all, but even if it was a huge emergency, like a death, you still are back to your business within a few days. This is when those feelings of disappointment and yuck came to surface and refused to be kept down longer.

I told her I NEEDED my dress. She had my money - was this going to be one of those awful life lessons that teaches you not to trust anyone? No response, same story. I just became more and more angry. Who does this to a bride? Who runs a business with absolutely no customer service skills...? It doesn't take genius... Finally, I heard something. She told me she had sent it that day, and I'd have it a week later. Wait... a week for Fed Ex to get from Portland to Santa Barbara? Ok suspicious...

ONE WEEK LATER - NOTHING. I write. And write. And she says "oh hey yeah, I just talked to fed-ex and they said there was some sort of delay... you'll have it wednesday."

So now I know she's lying. I'm not dumb, and to treat me like I am? Oh, you are going down...

Wednesday rolls around, and low and behold - my dress arrives! WITH a date that said it was overnighted from the day before! Guess she thought I couldn't read... But it was fine, I had my dress! Opened the box faster than any child on christmas morning. It looked beautiful sitting there. I put it on, looked a little closer - and the tears fell.

It didn't fit. NOT EVEN CLOSE. The top had been sewn onto an already made bodice - which wasn't my size. Way too big... It hung off me, and went way past my knees... when it was meant to be above. And she had taken all the excess fabric from the top layer and folded it where the butt was underneath, and sewn it there - not even in a pattern. Which made me look like I was smuggling a marshmallow factory where my butt was... and I was big and puffy enough to be their marshmallow queen. SERIOUSLY? strings hanging off, not even sewn together in the right places. I waited for this? I paid lots of my own money for THIS?

So with two weeks left - I sent my dress back.

My fault for trusting her to be a good dressmaker/businesswoman/human being...

My fault for wanting something different and unique.

Her fault for being stupid... And I could write so many hateful things - but I fully believe that you get what you give in this life. And if thats how she treats people, she won't go far.

SO I ordered a dress off Jcrew. (image below) And it's simple and my second choice - but I will try to make it my own. And what else can I do right? C'est la vie!!