Fun with 85mm | Puyallup Women's Portraits

I recently purchased a new lens and asked my friend Tonia F to come model and play with me while I got used to it being a prime lens with a narrow field of view.  We toted our kids (two of hers, one of mine) to a park I know is VERY green and has lots of shade.  Tonia was getting ready for a date night pretty soon anyway and had dolled herself up in a beautiful vintage style dress, sweater and done her own hair! 
So let's see how silly to mom-photographers can be when there's no pressure, no client, just us an cameras!
First up - I had to decide which direction I wanted to go with it.  The Vintage edit seemed too soft and I love the pop of colors in the Clean edit.  So clean it is...

I love this one so much it's the cover on my FB page. :)

And if you know Tonia - she laughs a lot!

Boy do you love her hair or what???  Plus this lens' low aperture (2.8 here) allows for lots of detail in the subject but a beautiful smooth "blurred" bokeh background.

Thanks for playing with me Tonia! 

For more information on women's portraits, family portraits or wedding photography please email me at info@ndrobbs.com. 

WINNER! 2012 Fresh Faces | Puyallup Family and Women's Portraits

Wow, what a whirlwind week!
Thank you so much to all of you who were involved in this year's Fresh Faces contest.  I was looking for some new blood, as it were, someone I haven't worked with either in a while or maybe ever, and you guys came through!  I'm so proud of the ladies who nominated themselves, that takes guts!   I'm so glad for the huge outpouring of support from their family and friends that voted for them.  They each did a fantstic job!  Way to go ladies!!

Yes, I am looking specifically for ladies.  But these ladies may choose to use their portrait session with their children, a mother, a girlfriend, their parents or their spouse.  But as the contest states, they do have to be in the picture. It's all about relationships!

So with no further mumbo jumbo...


I'm very pleased to announce the 2nd place winners of the 2012 Fresh Faces Contest with ND Robbs Photography of Graham, WA....


Kristin and Christine!!

(enter deep announcer voice here)
"These beautiful ladies have each won a mini-portrait-session, a mini-album and a $30 print credit!  The total value of the 2nd Place prize package is...  $100!!"

And now, the nail biting and heart stopping finale...

The winner of the 2012 Fresh Faces contest is.....

RORI!

 (continue deep announcer voice)
"RORI is a super active suburban mom who gives and gives and gives some more!  It's time for her to get in front of the camera and let that giving nature shine for all to see!  RORI wins a one hour portrait session, a mini album and five digital images!  The total value of the 1st Place prize package is...  $200!!!"
(end deep announcer voice)

AND THE CROWD GOES WILD AND RUSHES THE STAGE!

(sorry, I guess I slipped into game-show mode for a minute!  But it was fun!)

So ladies, I look forward to talking with you soon and planning out your sessions! 

For all you who voted - THANK YOU!!  And if you are interested in some kind of portrait session please email me at info@ndrobbs.com.  As always, the website will give you a feel as to my favorite work - http://www.ndrobbs.com/  AND, if you have a session scheduled and CAN'T THINK OF WHAT TO WEAR... please follow me on Pinterest!  www.pinterest.com/ndrobbs 

Thank you all and have a beautiful day!

Fresh Faces, time to vote! |Graham Puyallup Women's Portraits

The time has arrived! 

I received so many wonderful questions and submissions for the Fresh Faces Contest. 
Let me clarify one point before we begin voting.

YES, we are voting for women. The winner must be in the portrait session.  HOWEVER, we may have time to include the family, children, spouse, siblings or girlfriend in the session, particularly if it makes the winner more comfortable.  But this is about a FRESH face, a new face for publicity, and maybe a new and fresh start for someone not completely comfortable with being in front of the camera.

These ladies have decided to put themselves out there and let the public decide.  I hope that the blog post right below this one (Real Moms, Real Women) helped put some at ease.  I'm not looking for a model.  I truly want real women in real life situations.  And now it is up to you, their friends and family, to help them out.

TO VOTE:

1) leave a comment here on the blog with your name and which picture number you are voting for.  You may vote here once a day until May 19th.

2) LIKE the ND Robbs Facebook page, LIKE this picture and leave a comment about which picture you are voting for.  You may vote there once a day until May 19th. 

VOTING IS OPEN UNTIL 9 PM ON MAY 19TH.  I will total the votes and notify the winner. 
There are some pretty great second places prizes if the ladies choose to be included!

So share this with your friends, family, anyone who will help bring in some FRESHNESS!

Here we go....

And again, here are the terms and conditions

Now go!  To the polls!  :)

Real Moms, Real Women | Puyallup Tacoma Womens Portraits

What is beauty?
Thanks to the amazing and wonderful Sue Bryce on Creative Live, I got to explore this question beyond just my personal thoughts and explore it as a business person.

What is it?
Is it a personal quality?
The turn of a nose?
A range of dress sizes?
Is it a sense of humor?
And then..
How do I capture that?
How do my clients feel when viewing their images alone in their home?
Do they say "wow what a great picture"?
Or do they say "nice picture, but I'm glad the kids are in front of me"?
I KNOW my clients are beautiful.  I want to make sure they see what I see!

So I asked a few friends to model for me.  Size is not an issue.  Skin perfection is not an issue.  I told them to just be comfortable and wear something simple.  These are all taken in their home, usually in the living room.

These are real women, real moms, and they deserve more token images in the once a year family portrait.

I'd really like to expand this project.  I sincerely want to photograph every age, every stage in life, every range of woman.  If you'd like to be a part of it please contact me or comment here on the blog.

Remember, I'm also looking for Fresh Faces for this year's advertising.  If you, your mother, your daughter or your friend are interested in joining the contest I'll take pictures until 9 pm May 12th!