Archive for June, 2007

June 14th, 2007

Jennelle & Lee!

Brian and I had the pleasure of shooting another beautiful wedding. Out of all our weddings, we only have two in state this year and both these couples are so special. Meet the first couple, Jennelle and Lee!

There were many unexpected moments throughout their day that made things romantic. The weather started out overcast, but it created beautiful light in her suite! Jennelle looks so romantic to me in this shot.

Even her bathroom was perfect! Particularly her shower!

For the bride and groom shoot, we headed to Pike Place and a couple of the local street singers gave them their best. It was AWESOME! What a great memory for their wedding day! People singing to you–Seattle style, a crowd gathering round and clapping, and a gorgeous bride and groom!

Here’s a classic Brian shot. He’s so good at capturing these timeless images!

Jennelle and Lee are both incredible dancers! I asked if they’d taken lessons, and Lee said that his mom has been dancing with him in the kitchen since he was a little boy. Isn’t that incredible!

To see their wedding day, **click here** for their slideshow!

Jennelle and Lee, thank you for giving us the honor of shooting your wedding day! You are both wonderful and magic seems to follow you!

Much love, Me Ra and Brian

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June 12th, 2007

No Book, No Window, and No Complications

A quick update from Brian, Me Ra’s

I just got home with Blaze from visiting Me Ra at the Hospital.

I forgot to bring her a book to read. She has no windows in her room. She has to share a bathroom down the hall.

She’s ready to come home.

The Doctor said everything went well in the surgery yesterday. So if we’re going to have problems at the hospital, these are definitely the problems I’d pick for my wife.

Thank you all for your prayers, hopes, and loving concerns. I can’t believe how many people emailed and commented on this Blog. We really felt our community’s support. Me Ra commented several times yesterday and today about feeling so many people’s love and support for her and our family’s well-being for the surgery and recovery.

On a side note, since I started writing this Blog, Blaze came over and sat on my lap as we looked for a funny picture or video of Me Ra to show you today. We found a lot of pictures and video clips that made Blaze and I laugh, like one with her looking cross-eyed, but I’m too afraid of getting into too much trouble with Me Ra, especially while she’s recovering.

So here’s one I found taken at Pascaline’s friend Eva’s house on Pascaline’s 6th Birthday in March. Eva’s Mom took this picture of the Princesses at the Princess Tea Party.

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June 11th, 2007

Prayer Request

Today is here, and I would love your prayers.

A couple weeks ago, I went in for a check up on my ovaries. For the last four years, I’ve had a combination of growths, tumors, and cysts growing on them. So frustrating because I feel totally fine, exercise regularly, eat well, but these things keep growing. We’ve had to do two emergency surgeries and been through the scare of ovarian cancer. I’m so thankful it has not come to that.

I went in for another check up, feeling great and healthy. But to our dismay I have another growth. It’s mainly my right ovary that is always acting up, so we’ve decided to remove it all together. Surgery is at 2pm today. There is no guarantee that this will help, but rather be a preventive step.

I would love your prayers. I’ve been feeling pretty good overall, but my first emergency surgery was also tied to when Aidan, our second baby, who died while I was pregnant. And even though that was four years ago, the surgeries tend to press on those places of grief.

Yesterday, I went for a 17 mile bike ride by myself. It was a divine ride. The wind was stronger than I’m comfortable riding in, and I felt tempted to call Brian and have him pick me up. But then I had to smile because I thought this is a perfect description of my heart these last couple weeks. I feel like the wind is stronger than I’d prefer, but it’s as if the wind is God and if I could just lean into Him I’d see I’m not falling but being held up. It was so real while riding because I was terrified to lean into the wind with cars going by! The ride was just what my heart needed. I cried on the bike, laughed and yelled (and no one could hear because the wind was howling so loud! :) ).

I feel so blessed to have your prayers and our friends and family. My neighbors have already planned a weeks worth of meals and even had us over for dinner and lemon drops last night! :) I’ve also waited 2 years to see this particular surgeon, and it’s good to feel like I’m in such great hands.

In the midst of my processing, I’ve found myself in our new garden a lot–meditating on a favorite quote, “Every flower has to push through dirt.” Could it be worded any better?

Thanks for praying this week as I push through my dirt. Much love, Me Ra

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June 8th, 2007

A Texas Wedding!

Isn’t there a saying that every thing is bigger in Texas? :) Wait till you see Stephen and Erika’s slideshow! Their wedding will prove the saying is true!

Stephen and Erika have big hearts, big smiles and their family had big, beautiful vision for their wedding!

They had over a dozen flower girls!

Each one had spunk! :)

Stephen’s parents, Pastor Mike and Kathy Hayes, are the senior pastors at Covenant Church. When Pastor Kathy told me she invited the whole church, I thought, “all 10,000 people!” I love the Hayes!

The biggest surprise (and a first for us) is they had three cake cuttings. That’s right, three different cakes! A church reception cake, then a his cake and her cake for the private reception. All beautiful, all multi layers and all yummy! Yes, we tried each one! ;) Wouldn’t you?!

And I only wish the band had a CD because their singing was AMAZING!

Brian and I love shooting weddings. But it’s especially wonderful when we get to document a family that means so much to us. There aren’t words to describe how wonderful the Hayes family is, and we were so honored to celebrate this big day with them!

Congrats Stephen and Erika!

The tenderness you two share is beautiful. It was amazing to be your photographers and capture all the beauty and love that oozes out of you two and your families.

We can’t wait to see you all again!

To see Stephen and Erika’s wedding slideshow **click here**!!

Much love, Me Ra and Brian

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June 7th, 2007

Great Day with Best Buy and Blue Pixel!

I had the best day with Best Buy and Blue Pixel in Seattle this week! I had no idea what to expect. When Kevin, the CEO of Blue Pixel, called to invite me to join his team he said it was going to be a blast! I had no idea!

Listen to this! About 360 Best Buy employees won this Seattle adventure. They flew in from all over the country. Toshiba gave them all free laptops!

They all got Nikon D 40′s. Zune players, t-shirts, sweatshirts, laptop bags, and don’t forget tripods! It was insane! Blue Pixel’s job was to come in with their team of professional photographers and teach photography 101 for the day.

Kevin and Reed (Blue Pixel founder) did a great morning session about how to use the basics on the camera. Then we had 8 buses come to the Marriott. Each professional photographer was given a bus of 45 people to take to the Seattle Center for this insane Scavenger Hunt with Jimmy Hendrix look alikes, Seahawk and Sonic Cheerleaders, even a Geisha!

I was assigned the pagoda with the Geisha model. For three hours I helped different groups learn how to use their portrait feature on the Nikon D40. Taught a little on ISO, aperture priority and then they’d move on to the next station to learn something different, like Shutter Speed priority on carnival rides with Seattle Times photographer, Ken Lambert! (an AWESOME guy and incredible editorial photographer by the way!)

Best Buy rolled out the red carpet, and Blue Pixel took it to the next level! It was so fun to see the day unfold! After dinner we took a 100 people on a Seattle walking tour and practiced shooting different things in Pike Place, like macro shots…recognize the famous Gum Wall? I had to take them there! :)

Or slowing down your shutter speed for fun freeway shots. :) . It was so fun! How often do you get to hang out with a team of AMAZING photographers (7 Pulitzer Prize winners!) and just teach people how to shoot cars from above a freeway at night!

Kevin had told me how Blue Pixel is a small, close knit group. I was a little nervous to join them, but they instantly made me feel at home and invited Brian and I to join their team for future events. Every one was so nice and such fun to be with. This picture below is some of us, and it shows how fun these guys are!

Brian and I are so bummed because they wanted us to shoot with them in Colorado Springs in July, but we have two out of state weddings back to back. Best Buy is having them teach workshops, put on a rodeo (just so Best Buy employees can shoot action shots!), do a hot air balloon release at sunrise! (just for photo practice!–I’m dying!), and everyone will get a free Canon 30D (now you’re talking :) ), laptops, MP3′s and more!

I’m thinking one, Best Buy seems like a cool place to work! :) And two, we can’t wait to see what future adventures wait with Blue Pixel since these guys seriously know how to have a good time!

Thanks to all you guys at Blue Pixel for making me feel so welcome! It was a honor to be with you and teach alongside you! And especially, thanks for the drinks last night and the six tripods! :)

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June 5th, 2007

Best Buy, Nikon, and Scavenger Hunts!

Today is going to be a fun, photography adventure!

A couple weeks ago, Blue Pixel called and introduced themselves. They’re a small company of professional photographers who provide training to consumers and corporations. Their team of photographers are amazing! One has won the Pulitzer Prize, another is a photographer for the White House, as well as the shows Survivor and the Apprentice, and they’re finishing up two National Geographic documentaries as I type. As you can see, the team of photographers is rich in experience and creativity!

They got my name from Microsoft and asked if I would join their team for a Best Buy event in Seattle today. About 300 plus Best Buy employees are going to go on a scavenger photography hunt with their Nikon cameras and in the process learn more about photography, while being wined and dined and mentored by their team of photographers. Doesn’t that sound like a blast! How could I refuse! I’m totally excited and honored to meet their team and spend the day teaching others about photography!

But I told them I shoot Canon, and they said, no problem! They overnighted me a Nikon camera so I can play with it and I get to keep it! My friend, Mike Colon, would get a kick out of me finally shooting with a Nikon! :)

Not sure what to expect, but I’m sure it’s going to be a blast! I’ll share more after today! For inspiration in your photography, check out Blue Pixel’s Inspiration page when you get a chance. It’s awesome!

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June 4th, 2007

Moms Like You!

We just shot a beautiful wedding in LA yesterday, and we’re headed home! In the midst of wedding season, I’ve received a handful of amazing emails from you moms! You’re doing the photography exercises, and you’re so AWESOME to send me what your capturing! I just love it! Not to mention, I’m totally inspired by you going for it!

One mom is from Alaska. Her name is Nickie, and she tried these shots after reading the post “Unexpected Moments.” She said, “My boys 6 and 3 were playing ride the horse so I grabbed my camera and shot away. I only had a few minutes but their expressions are priceless and I never had to say cheese once!”

Way to go Nickie! You can tell these boys are so in the moment of laughing and wrestling that they don’t even notice the camera! There’s no way a “cheese” shot could be better than these two!

Jessica, is another AMAZING mom from Seattle. She sent me a couple of her latest shots, and I’m so blown away! Jessica is just getting better and better. In the winter she attended one of our workshops, and I can’t believe what an improvement I’m seeing in her shots from color, sharpness and beautiful background blur! Check these out!

Isn’t that laughter shot to die for!!! You go Jessica! :)

With all of you sending me photos, I have to let you in on a fun, developing idea. I’m having someone build us a forum for just moms. Wouldn’t it be great if you could show other moms what photos you’re getting when you do the blog exercises? What better way than a forum! So file that away, and I’ll be sure to keep you updated! We also have workshops in the works too for this coming winter. Lots of good stuff!

A quick DVD update! We’re sending, yes finally! (YIPPEE!!!), the final DVD 1, Refuse to Say Cheese, version to have them start replicating and shipping. So we hope to have your copy of the first DVD in the mail within the next two weeks! YEAH!!! It’s really going to happen! :) Thank you a million times for all your patience, and if any of you have any questions please feel free to email me anytime. mera@merakoh.com.

Keep refusing to say cheese! And keep the photos coming! I love, love, love to see what you’re capturing!!

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To learn more about me visit About Me Ra.

For information on Me Ra’s popular photography workshops and DVD series for parents, visit DVD series and “Documenting a Child’s Life.”

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

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