{Portland Portrait Photographer} Happy Accidents

When I’m photographing out and about I really enjoy street-style photography. Some of my favorite images that I captured while traveling around the UK and living in London were these “happy accident” unplanned shots. I really enjoy capturing the unplanned moments that naturally evolve in front of my lens. This past weekend was my brother-in-law Sven’s birthday, so he and his wife (Rachel), my husband (Lars) and myself all went down to Portland to my in-laws new home to connect, eat tasty food, and explore the city together. We were standing outside one of the many vintage shops that Portland boasts and I snapped this photograph of Rachel just as she was turning, and it’s my favorite from the weekend, and was a happy accident.

Are you in Portland and interested in booking a session? I’d love to come and photograph you! See the info about booking a Portland session/wedding HERE and get in touch by phone at 425-220-5252 or email kendall@kendalllauren.com to set up a phone/skype/email consult and your session today!

{Just for Clicks} A Very Portland Weekend

Brace yourselves, this is a long one! This past weekend after photographing Amanda’s and Lisa‘s super fun wedding the husband and I took off for Portland, OR. His parent’s recently relocated to the “City of Bridges” and I had yet to make it down there for a visit. I love Portland, it reminds me of Olympia-meets-London-meets-Seattle. The Saturday market, the plethora of independently owned coffee shops with mustachioed baristas, garden shops with chickens out back, rescue bunnies in pet shops, bicyclists zooming around expertly were all on the menu for the weekend. After too much eating out, far too much coffee and a lot of walking around we headed home.

On the drive back I really thought about how close Portland is to Seattle, and how lucky we are to have a place to stay when we go to visit. This thought lead to how photogenic the city is, and how much I would love to shoot down there more! So, why not? As of now I am available to shoot in Portland for both weddings and portrait sessions! There will be a travel fee of $100 for sessions/weddings in Portland, and no one has to cover the usual expense of a hotel stay! If you are booking a portrait session and convince two of your  friends that they need photos as well on the same day/weekend I will waive the travel fee! So all you Portland dwelling folks, tell your friends, get engaged, and lets make some art! See the portrait investment pricing or the wedding investment pricing to get started.

Bonus discount: Since my birthday is tomorrow, I’m giving you all 20% off portrait sessions, but only if you book this week, so get on it!

{Urban Shoot} Seattle

A few weeks ago a received a Facebook invitation I could hardly refuse! A group of enthusiastic amateur and professional photographers were getting together to talk shop, learn from each other and walk around Seattle practicing our shared craft. This event was put on by Matthew Fairfax and Laurie Ascanio who have been batting the idea around for some time now. One of my business resolutions for the new year was to photograph more often for myself, rather than only pulling out my camera when I had a shoot for clients. We started on Union & 14th and made our way towards Cal Anderson Park. Being that my favorite subject of photography is people I took the opportunity to photograph mostly those with me on the walk. I challenged myself to use only my 50mm f/1.4 lens without knowing in advance exactly where, who or what I would be photographing as we set out. Our group was comprised of individuals who have been photographing on and off as a hobby for over 30 years, a few who have been actively pursuing photography for 5+ years, and even those who have just recently acquired their first DSLR! A big thank you to Matthew and Laurie for putting on this event, I had a wonderful time and hope we can all get together and do another photo adventure in the near future!

{Just for Clicks} Lars

This guy. After taking two weeks off from business and photographing (really from doing anything) I was so ready to get out with my camera and photograph someone- ANYONE. Lucky for me all I had to do was bribe my husband with a snazzy new cardigan sweater and he gave me an hour out in the freezing, albeit sunny, Seattle weather on a Sunday afternoon. We hit up a spot I’ve had my eye on under I-5 near the U-District and then headed to the beach Golden Garden’s park. Technical Info: shot with the Canon 5D mii, 50mm f/1.4 & 70-200 f/2.8, edited with LR3 and VSCO film pack 1.

{Exploring India} Social Documentary Photography

In 2007 I traveled abroad with 30 of my classmates to India. We visited Delhi, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and Bhubaneswar. It was a life changing experience to say the least, and reenforced that I want my work to tell stories, to speak for those that can’t, to help change people’s lives for the better.

I recently entered 20 of the images from my trip to India to the Artist’s Wanted: One Life competition in hopes of receiving the Story Award. I have the opportunity to travel to Cambodia and work with a non-profit early next year, and the prize money will help fund my trip as well as help me realize the goal of publishing my work and using the profits to help women survivors of the sex trafficking industry in Cambodia.

I’m asking that you please take a moment to follow the link below and “collect” my work as a vote to help me win the Story Award, it would mean the world to me.

Click “Collect Me” to help me win the One Life Photography Competition

via Kendall Shea.

Love,

Kendall

{Business Showcase} Pacific Brides

Shyn's work for an on location vintage engagement session with Kendall Lauren Photography!Name of owner: Shyn Midili

 

 

 

Business Name: Pacific Brides

Though Pacific Brides was established in 2012 Shyn has been a professional makeup artist in the film and print industry for 7+ years. Located in Everett Wa, Shyn travels all over the United States from California to New York and beyond. As an independent makeup artist who specializes in on location for weddings she is available just about any time and anywhere! Available not just for your wedding day, but your engagement photos, as well as any hair and makeup needs for the events surrounding your wedding and even that saucy boudoir session you’re planning for your beau!

“At Pacific Brides we treat each bride with individual attention and tailor a look for their special day that suits not only their own personal style, but their personality as well.”

Shyn was inspired to follow an entrepreneurial path as she finds that “it’s amazing choosing when you work on what projects you work on. The people you meet, everything is just such an amazing adventure with my job.” It’s rewarding because ” I can set my own hours (most of the time) and spend so much more time at home with my son.  I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to do that.”

We asked her what is the most challenging aspect of owning your business?

“Finding work and getting started. Staying consistently busy is also very difficult; it’s stressful when you see an empty calender!”

In the next five years she hopes to continue to travel for her clients, and be on location for many more weddings and events.

Find her online at:  www.pacificbrides.com or her sister company: www.freakishlybeautiful.com, in person she can be found in Everett, Wa (contact her to set up a consultation.)

Want to know more about Shyn? We asked some fun questions to so you can see the person behind Pacific Brides!

Shyn of Pacific Brides with her son Jake

What are three products you would buy as a customer? (money is not a factor)

1. A hybrid SUV

2. A Canon 5d mark ii

3. The worlds most perfect, useful, organized, and easy to move and lift makeup case!

What is your favorite drink from Starbucks?

Double chocolate chip Frappuccino

What was your favorite cartoon as a child?

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Jem, Animainiacs, The Muppets

What’s your favorite color? Pet? Place you’ve visited?
Pink

All my dogs are my favorite

NY

Did you go to school for your profession or are you self-taught? I went to school but was taught out of date techniques.  So I would say self taught. What else would you like to tell our readers about yourself or your business? I’m a professional free lance makeup artist.  What sets me apart from other Makeup artists is I was not trained by a retail company.  I’m not a sales person.  My makeup kit is filled with products that benefit each and every skin tone, texture, and skin type.

I have spent 7 years working on film and print so I have extensive knowledge on makeup and how it translates to film under all types of lighting, so weather you’re having a day time or evening wedding, I can adjust your makeup to look amazing no matter what.  My skin tone correcting technique cuts down on the makeup clumping and “cakeiness” as I correct skin tone flaws, not just cake makeup on it to conceal it.

This or that:

• Camping or hotels? Camping
• Color or black & white? Both depending on the feel
• Coffee or tea? BOTH, but different times of day
• Stay up late or get up early? Early to rise
• Walking or biking? Both, unless it’s uphill, then walking 😛
• Cats or dogs? Dogs
• TV or movies? Neither, go build something!
• Stay in or go out? Depends
• Home-cooked or take-out? Home cooked!!!!

A big thank you to Shyn for being our first business showcase participant on the blog! Please, leave her some love & let us know what you think of the new blog feature. We’ll have many more coming up for you include Nicole (owner and massage therapist of Herban Therapies in Bellevue,) Marin (past bride and owner of “I Make Cake,”) April (of Everett WellHealing Massage,) and more!

Love,

Kendall