Archive for January, 2007

January 15th, 2007

Good Times!

For the last three days, Brian and I have pulled the kids on their sled all over town. Why? We’re in search of the BIGGEST hill we can find to sled down! :)

For those of you who aren’t from the Pacific Northwest, the news is saying this is the biggest and longest snow fall in fifty years! And to top it off, there has been sun and blue skies! I feel like we live in Sun Valley right now (or something close to it!). We thought you might want see it for yourselves! :) Turn up your volume and check it out!

You just saw our FIRST video!! :) I surprised Brian this Christmas with a special gift! We take the kids swimming a lot, and we’re always talking about how great it would be to film them swimming under water. When Canon released their G7 model, and I saw how great the video component was I had to get it for Brian. Not just because of how cool the camera body is, but because Canon also put out an Waterproof Housing Unit for this little camera that isn’t the normal $2300. You guessed it, I earned some BIG points with my hubby this Christmas.

We’ve had a blast filming the kids swimming…and the last few days sledding! The Waterproof Housing Unit is AWESOME! If you don’t have one, it’s worth checking out!

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January 11th, 2007

Beautiful Light and a Beautiful Bride!

I’ve just been dying over this wedding we’re working on! Not only were Angela and Mark the sweetest couple, but we had such a blast working with them on their wedding day! The whole wedding isn’t ready yet to post, but since we’ve been talking about breaking rules with light and shifting our point of view, I had to share these two images with you. (And give Angela and Mark a sneak peek at what’s coming! :) )

They were married right before Christmas. The air was crisp, and the sun decided to make an appearance for them. Bright sun! The kind we’ve been talking about this week. So of course, I went crazy!

The story behind how we ended up in Pike Place Market and what happened while we were there is hilarious. I promise to share it when their wedding is done, but for now I had to show you these two shots. Look at the sun just pouring through the Public Market Center sign. Winter sun light just leaves me speechless!

As the two talked and laughed, I grabbed the zoom and decided to change the point of view.

Instead of letting the sun come through the middle of the lense, I decided to let it peak in to the top left corner to cast a golden light on Angela. Could she be glowing any more?

Angela and Mark are the greatest! Last February I got to fly down to San Fransisco with Ginger and shoot their engagement photos. Their chemistry was beautiful, and I knew their wedding would be amazing! Mark was an especially good sport for getting in the waves in the middle of February! How can you not love a guy like that! :)

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January 9th, 2007

Point of View!

Here’s a double bonus for all you moms! Not only is this post about photography tips, but it also comes with a hands-on project for making a Mid-Winter Tree! But before I get to the project, here’s the photography part. It’s all about point of view!

I first fell in love with the idea of point of view when I was writing. I’d do warm up writing exercises by taking a particular scenario and how a character would respond. Then I’d write the same story from a different character’s point of view and then from a third character and so on.

With a camera, I find myself having a blast with point of view in how Brian and I move around our subjects. This is especially great with your kids when they’re busy doing a project. Let them focus on the project while you move around them taking different shots from different angles, aka points of view!

This is my barefoot-tutu princess with Superman. After a few of these shots I moved around to the front and shot down on the kids by standing on a chair.

I love shooting down on little ones because it emphasizes that much more their age and precious size.

Blaze tried this craft for about two minutes, and then he decided it was way more fun to eat the peanut butter. So I came off the chair and shot up at him.

And like all projects go with little ones under five, they weren’t interested after ten minutes (two for Blaze), so guess who ended up finishing the Mid-Winter Tree? :)

Any moms relate? :)

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Exercise for “Point of View” while making a Mid-Winter Tree (project from our Waldorf school!)

1. Be prepared for a mess! :)

2. Instead of throwing out your Christmas tree right away, set it in a pot outside and make a mid-winter feast tree for your birds and squirrels. All you need is pine cones, string, lots of peanut butter, birdseed, pumpkin seeds, and apples or oranges.

3. Give each child their own bowl of peanut butter and let them roll their pine cones through it, stuffing the peanut butter in every little pine cone nook. Then sprinkle bird seed or pumpkin seeds over the top. (It’s a great project for pre-school age because they can just get messy or like Blaze, opt to eat the peanut butter. :) )

4. After you have a few peanut butter pine cones, start stringing them up on your tree (we used our little Christmas tree that was in the play room, but any tree would do).

5. Then slice up your apples and oranges and string those too! If you’re really going for it, you can always string popcorn, but I hear cranberries aren’t really tasty to little animals. :)

6. And don’t forget to shoot some shots those first five minutes of the project. Work on your point of view. Get up on a chair, move down to the floor, shoot straight on, keep mixing it up without the kids having to move for you.

7. Lighting tip, if you’re photos are to dark you may want to bump up your ISO to 800 or 1600. For these above images, my ISO had to be at 800, and I opened up to a 2.8 to 3.2 f-stop. The higher ISO makes them a bit grainy, but I don’t mind it for what I was trying to capture. Have fun!!

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To learn more about me visit About Me Ra.

For information on Me Ra’s popular sold-out photography workshops, visit “Documenting a Child’s Life.” We are taking names on our Waiting List for upcoming 2007 speaking workshops and conferences! Let us know if you’d like to be added!

To see our day job, visit our website. :)

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January 8th, 2007

You Inspire Me!

I can’t say it enough! You all inspire me!

Last week a mom emailed me and said; “Your “tips for moms” already has me experimenting with aperture and shutter speed on my point-n-shoot. For the four years I had that camera, I never ventured into “manual” mode. I’m not so intimidated by it now.”

I read her words, and I’m totally inspired! Photography can be such a “technical” art, but it’s really not as bad as they make it out to be. I think of Brian and how I’ll be trying to figure some new technique with lighting or a new software we’ve received. Sometimes I’ll get so overwhelmed and intimidated, and every time he’ll say, “You can do this Me Ra. It’s not as bad as their making it sound. You can totally figure this out!”

If I could come to each of your homes as you try to shoot your children, I’d say the same thing! “You can do this moms! Photography is not as technical as they make it sound. You can totally figure this out!”

I know it’s scary to try Manuel mode or even AV mode when you’re used to being in Program or Automatic all the time. It’s crazy to think that 4 1/2 years ago, I was afraid to switch my lense because I had no idea how to get it off or put a different one on. :) “Red Button to Red Button,” I’d tell myself. “Just remember red button to red button.” I was afraid that if I screwed the lense on wrong I’d break all the glass inside. It’s silly, but how do you know when something is new and unfamiliar?

Now I laugh to myself when Brian and I get up to speak to photographers b/c if they only knew how beginner-beginner I was not so long ago (and we make sure to tell them! :) ). I have to pinch myself when we win an award or shoot a wedding for $15K in a gorgeous location because at one time it seemed impossible. But ladies, you can do this! You all see the beauty of your children, and I know with a little instruction and tips along the way you can do it and just get better and better!

Some of you are sending me your images, and I just LOVE it! Below is a beautiful shot of one mom’s little boy!

I love how Jessica filled the frame with Ross’s face. And the orange leaves in the back are amazing with his little green Halloween costume. Sometimes we can get caught up into saying “Cheese!”, and I’m so glad Jessica refused to say cheese on this because look at Ross’s perfect, pensive look!

Jen Stewart is a great portrait photographer and momma of two boys! She tried the exercise from Look Deep into the Lense with her boys, and check out what she got! You’ve got to love it! Read her whole story and see more of her photos on her blog.

Thanks to all the moms (and dads) who email me with your images and give these exercises a try! Our kids grow up so fast. Isn’t it awesome to be documenting who they are instead of just grabbing snapshots here and there!

Stay tuned for more upcoming photography tips for moms this week! :)

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To learn more about me visit About Me Ra.

For information on Me Ra’s popular sold-out photography workshops, visit “Documenting a Child’s Life.” We are taking names on our Waiting List for upcoming 2007 speaking workshops and conferences! Let us know if you’d like to be added!

To see our day job, visit our website. :)

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January 5th, 2007

Breaking the Rules with Light!

One of the main subjects I found myself reflecting on while away on my little escape was Light. Natural light, the reflection of light, what light exposes, what it hides, and so many other variations. It was awesome! I found myself almost enraptured with the subject and wrote page after page while tucked in a coffee shop’s back corner. So I thought it would be fun to make today’s Tip for Moms on light, specifically breaking the rules! :)

The image above is one of my favorite “breaking the rules” shots. The kids were playing in our bedroom, climbing all over Brian, and the sun had just started to set. You know when the sun has that intense glow after a rain fall? I grabbed the camera and decided to shoot right into the light. I could hardly see the kids through the view finder, and my camera was freaking out at how overexposed I was, but I knew that for this shot I just wanted to ignore the camera and see what happened. The result was so fun! And I even like the cool sun spots and rings that came through.

Photographers often say one of the first rules of thumb is to have your back to the light. You want the light to be hitting your subject’s face. And while this is often true, you don’t want to miss out on the other types of shots when you shoot directly into the light.

After the kid’s shot, I was hooked and wanted to make it happen on our weddings! This image is from a winter wedding we’re working on right now. The bride was so precious as she waited for her groom to get ready to see her for the first time.

Brian was shooting her from the other side of the limo, getting these great shots of her peeking out the window. I loved the winter light coming through the car and wanted to see if I could get a shot where I let the sun shine right into the lense and hopefully illuminate her veil and dress. I was so excited with what happened! You can even see the little green sun spots in the image.

Did I get it right the first time I tried? No. But that’s the glory of digital! I can look at what I’m shooting, adjust my settings and try again. And if it doesn’t work (and I’ve still got time), I try one more time! :)

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Exercise for “Breaking the Rules with Light!”

1. You’re probably wondering why this exercise when our days are so gloomy, especially in the Pacific Northwest for all my native friends. Even though it’s been raining a lot, we’ve had these crazy sun breaks. And because of the rain fall the light seems to shine even brighter. So the next time you see a sun break, take the kids outside or put them in front of the window!

2. Put your camera setting on Manuel. Bring your aperture up to a F 5.6 for starters. Put your shutter speed at 200 to start. Let the sun shine right into your lense.

3. Look at your shot, and if the image is to dark then lower your shutter speed to keep the lense open longer and let more light in. You could even lower your F stop too if you wanted!

4. Play around with the settings. No one’s looking, so it’s okay if you don’t get it right the first handful of times. What’s important is you’re getting to know your camera and how it reacts to bright sun when you shoot right into it. Believe me, you’ll walk away with so many “ah-ha’s” from this, you’d be surprised.

5. Send me what you get if you want some input! I love what you’ve all been sending me! It’s awesome to see your results and hear how much fun you’re having!

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To learn more about me visit About Me Ra.

To find out more information on our photography workshops, visit “Documenting a Child’s Life.” We are taking names for our Waiting List of upcoming 2007 speaking workshops and conferences! Let us know if you’d like to be added!

To see our day job, visit our website. :)

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January 3rd, 2007

Our Christmas Card to You!

There are so many of you that I don’t have addresses for! So I thought I’d not only post the Christmas photo that beat the others, but I’d also share our 2006 letter with you! The spacing is a bit weird from I copied and pasted it. And since Christmas is here and gone, I’m just going to leave it that way. :) Enjoy!

The inside of the card says, “Some friends say we’re a high energy family. Don’t know why?” :)

Living the Dream in a Tausend, High Energy, Very Rough Around the!

“Momma,” said Pascaline. “I think it’s time you start looking for a new place to live.” Her statement is so point-blank I have to pause from making breakfast because I can tell she’s got more to add. “Dad and I are getting married sooner than we thought. So you’ll have to start looking this week even.”

“Don’t you think you might miss me if I moved?”

Without skipping a beat, she looks right at me, “Don’t worry mom. You’ll find another husband that makes you laugh. And then me and dad can have you, your new husband, and Blaze over for dinner!”

Once again I’m in this (almost too) familiar place where I have no idea what to say. Would you?

Blaze, on the other hand, has been referring to me as his “Hot Girl.” You’d think I had a school girl crush on my 2 ½ year old son. But then Pascaline was kind enough to point out how Blaze is really saying, “Hawk Girl.” She is a fellow superhero and has a hawk’s face and wings. The more sissy explains the more excited Blaze gets. In Blaze’s world this is still a big compliment. He himself is Superman, and Hawk Girl often flies around with Superman. The crush is still going for me. J

With daily dialogues evolving around flying capabilities of Superman and Hawk Girl, Choo-Choo’s, Cosette and Fantine’s turmoil in Les Miserables (yes, Pascaline is still addicted to the soundtrack J), Pascaline’s constant weighing of the pros and cons between a destination wedding vs. a church wedding (we know we’re in trouble!), and Brian and I having fun brainstorming new ideas for our business over all the chatter; I’m thinking we’re living the dream in a Tausend, High Energy, Very Rough Around the Edges Way.

In the last year, Me Ra Koh Photography has done weddings, photo shoots and speaking engagements in Maui, San Francisco, the Hamptons, LA, Las Vegas, Sonoma Wine Country, back to NY and then back to LA two more times. Phew!

Brian and I have dreamed of shooting in beautiful places where we could go as a family, teaching our children about different places and cultures.

Well, when airport security in Maui asked Brian to unpack, for the THIRD time, our four large suitcases, four camera bags, 2 laptop briefcases, the portable crib, the stroller and two car seats…he sort of flipped out. I held the kids close as we watched dad literally hurl the suitcases onto the conveyor belt while yelling four letter words, sweating through his shirt and being surrounded by more and more security. It’s in moment like this that I remember we are living our dream, we just didn’t realize it came with so much damn luggage! Needless to say, we did a few trips in 2006 without the kids, crib, stroller and car seats. J

But for those of you, like my husband, who enjoy the list more then the anecdotes, here they are!

Our 2006 Highlights:

1. Pascaline starting kindergarten at a wonderful Waldorf school.

2. Blaze speaking full sentences!

3. Seeing our family in Vegas over Thanksgiving, and being literally mesmerized by their performances in Le Reve at the Wynn.

4. My little brother getting married to an incredible woman!

5. My other little brother selling his first screenplay to


!

6. New “cup of sugar” neighbors! (hands down we’ve got the BEST!)

7. Filming several times with VH1 for their Fabulous Weddings show (check the blog for airing updates)

8. Speaking nationwide, launching our new website, and having our articles and images published in a handful of magazines.

9. Awesome new friends through our PUG group and Pictage!

10. Bleu and Ginger (our wedding photography associates) shooting over 25 weddings their first year with us. Bleu recently being invited to join the Nordstrom corporate photo studios. (Our associates are awesome!!)

11. Just this week, a small write up on our studio in New York Magazine! Check it out!

Top Ten Upcoming Highlights for 2007!

1. Pascaline turning 6, and Blaze turning 3!!!

2. Seeing Bill Cosby live in February!

3. 10 year anniversary trip to

!

4. Brian launching Blue Steel Archives, LLC!

5. Nine Speaking Engagements and Weddings booked in LA, NY, CO, ID and Seattle!

6. Workshops for Moms and Photographers!

7. Production of a new DVD series for moms!!! (super excited about this!)

8. Book in the works! And blogging daily! Check it out!!

9. 2nd year with our associates, Bleu and Ginger and Gina Sook!

10. 2nd year of being invited as one of fourteen worldwide photographers in Grace Ormonde’s Wedding Style magazine!

Things that have stayed the same and constant;

1. Prince Phillip, our very LARGE cat, sleeping 17 plus hours a day.

2. Brian’s 2am cravings for sweets and things that crunch.

3. Blazey’s chubby cheeks.

4. Pascaline’s confidence. J

5. Me Ra’s juggling routine!

Where did we start last year? In January 2006, I wrote a lot about fear. The doctors had found a 3rd growth on one of my ovaries. It required a 3rd surgery (in less than 2 ½ years). Five days prior to surgery, we did another MRI and the doctors found no evidence of a growth. It was documented as a miracle. You can imagine the stress and mixed relief of it all.

When you’ve been forced to face deep loss and such uncertainties multiple times, I find myself not being able to do any thing but “go for it.” Whether it’s “going for it” or high energy, one thing is for sure…your love and constant support inspires us!

We wish you many laughs and crazy stories in 2007!

Brian, Me Ra, Pascaline and Blazey

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January 1st, 2007

The New and the Old

This isn’t a typical blog for me, but I feel a need to write it here–to start 2007 with this. Thanks for bearing with me.

I woke up feeling disoriented this morning. For the last three days I’ve been in bed or on the couch with the worst head cold. But that’s not why I felt disoriented.

Since I was a little girl, New Year’s Day has been about bowing to Halmoni (my Korean grandmother). All the extended family gathers together, the women make big pots of dumpling soup, and then after we eat, we begin a tradition of bowing to our elders. My oldest uncle and aunt start, and after each one bows, Halmoni speaks a blessing over them for the year to come. Every one bows to Halmoni from the oldest adult to the youngest child as a way of paying respect. As little kids, we would opt for the money instead of the blessing, and as an adult I found myself wanting, valuing her blessing.

But Halmoni’s been gone for over three years, and our family hasn’t gathered together since. We’ve just done our own thing on New Years, and I think that for some this is the way of grief. So after much crying today, I decided to go to her grave site and bow again. Brian offered to take the kids swimming, and to my surprise, at the last minute, Pascaline jumped out of the car because she wanted to come with me.

My dad met me and Pascaline at Halmoni’s grave site, and as the rain fell the three of us unfolded a bamboo mat and layed it on the wet grass. I showed Pascaline how a Korean woman bows, and when she was ready the three of us, three generations, side by side, bowed to Halmoni’s grave site on the rain soaked bamboo mat. I then turned and asked Pascaline if she wanted to bow with me to my dad.

My dad sat up proud, not noticing the heavy rain, and my daughter and I bowed together. We must have been a site for any other visitor at the cemetery today. A woman and her child, bowing on a bamboo mat, to an older man sitting on the wet grass next to his mother’s headstone. What a site indeed.

As I heard my dad speak a blessing over us, I could see the piles of shoes at the front door, I could almost smell the dumpling soup, and hear the screams and giggles from all the cousins running wild, and I could feel Halmoni’s warm hand on my head as she spoke a blessing over me while I listened to my dad interpret her words. It all felt alive again as if nothing had ever changed, and the disorientation I’d been feeling all day slipped away.

I am only half Korean. My daughter is only a quarter Korean. And it’s hard to fight off the fear that someday these traditions will be forever lost. And yet, in the end I guess it’s not as much about being Korean, or even about losing the one who seemed to bring us all together. It’s about remembering and holding on to what we treasure even if it looks different than the way it did before. New is okay.

This is not how I had pictured starting the New Year. And yet I can’t imagine starting the New Year any other way.

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