Aviva Photography Blog

Is anyone else alarmed at the speed of 2008? I mean really… it was JUST New Year’s, wasn’t it? Time is flying. It’s part of the reason I do what I do – to try to slow it down. It isn’t working.

But I’m the type who looks forward after reminiscing about the past. There’s a new year upon us, and I will be here for all of it. Perhaps two and a half more years if the Hubby’s job move is approved. So we’ll potentially be here until June of 2011! Lots of time for graduating senior photos for two more graduation classes, baby photos (there ARE 120 of them born per year at Lester!), family photos, all that good stuff.

First of all, thank you again, my amazing clients of 2008. Without you and your business, I wouldn’t be where I am. I will never forget that!

Here are some NEW things I look forward to doing/offering in 2009 with respect to Aviva Photography.

• More product offerings – books, photo collection boxes, and more.
• New packages – I know it’s tough to choose, and I hear you! I’ll have more comprehensive photo packages and an inspiration guide to help you decide what you want your portrait displays to look like when you order.
• There will be no price increase for sitting fees, and there will be a new Bump & Baby package (to include a maternity shoot plus a newborn shoot).
• Goodbye Green Mode University (GGMU) – Do you own a digital SLR? Want to get off that automatic mode and learn how to use it? DSLR photography classes are coming soon! Stay tuned. Maybe there will be t-shirts….
• Aviva Art Gallery – I’ll be uploading some personal art photos to an online gallery for those who want something for their walls that is uniquely Okinawa.

I think that about covers it for now…. but please, if you have ideas, suggestions, requests – email me or comment here on the blog!

It would be unfair to post without a photo, so here are a few from a trip to the pottery village in Yomitan. A blue sake set (I might have to invest in), a cool cactus, and Seikichi Inamine, a Living Legend artist (glass blower).

I’ve been busy with a few shoots during my “break” – ha ha – but hey, this is when family comes into town to visit, right? I hope your holiday season was great and I wish you & yours a happy and healthy new year!

My mother sent me a link to ABC News and asked me to find the video for “Portrait Power”. I’m glad she did, it was totally worth watching – click here and see if you can watch it. If not, just go to the ABC News site and search for that title. It’s about an amateur photographer who decided to take family portraits for people who are homeless or live in shelters, for free, as holiday gifts.

In a similar vein, Kristen, at Essential Imagery, also found a way for portrait photographers to give back using her photography. She started Giving Is Awesome. The idea is to have folks nominate someone they know who doesn’t have the means to afford a family portrait session or photographs to get free services and products.

These are amazing ideas, aren’t they? Though we live in Okinawa where, thankfully, most of the Americans that live here make enough to put food on their tables and have family photos in their home, there are many needy people here. Okinawan people. I feel that as a guest in this country, and as someone who has time and money to give (not just in December, but year-round), I should find a way to help.

Some of you know that I’ve been a member of the organization OIWC, the Okinawa International Women’s Club. It’s something I found out about in 2007 and quickly joined. As you can read on their website, the OIWC is an organization made up of women from all over the world (but mainly American and Okinawan), who gather at monthly events to promote cultural exchange and friendship while raising awareness and funds for local charities. The OIWC is non-profit, and has been in existence for 55 years – in which time it’s donated food, clothing, money, and many other items to those in need.

Last year I was asked to be the historian on the Board of Directors for the OIWC. I obliged, and am happy to say it’s a very small way in which I feel I’m giving back to the community. I was lucky enough to attend a Christmas Party for the Friends House in Okinawa City, which was funded by OIWC, and staffed by OIWC board members and other members. Friends House is a community center for handicapped people, and the holiday party was for the members of Friends House and their families. There was music, dancing (LOTS of dancing), pizza and other food, and baked goods galore. Later in the festivities, Santa came to visit.

It’s one thing to fundraise and to donate money or time for this organization, but to actually have worked this event and met these people was so rewarding. The language barrier didn’t affect my ability to understand their appreciation and happiness, and it certainly didn’t stop me from feeling very happy to be a part of it. My position on the board allows me to understand even more about what they do and how much in need these organizations are that we help, and to make decisions on how the money is distributed. I’m truly honored to be a part of it, and I encourage any locals to join if you see fit. I’m happy to say that at the December luncheon, a bake sale and craft bazaar was held and over $8,000 was raised. But we can do better. We can make more.

If you would like more information, please do visit the OIWC website and find out how you can join. You may join at any time. The dues for the year (through June) are ¥3000. The monthly luncheons usually cost ¥2500-¥2800 (which includes great entertainment and food). You also get to attend culture group meetings and learn things about Okinawan culture and food and teach things about American culture and food! And if you’re looking to donate money to a local organization, this would really be a great one.

Happy holidays, everyone. Thanks for indulging me on a more personal post, and if you know of other ways to give back here on Okinawa, feel free to post them in the comments. Here are a few photos from the Friends House event.

Many times it’s the father of the family that has to warm up to the idea of doing portraits. It’s not uncommon, the wife/mom drags the husband along and is making him spend the money on the portraits AND show up in decent looking clothes, usually on a weekend morning when there are other way more fun things to be doing. So usually the thing that makes me feel happiest after a shoot is hearing that it was actually FUN for the man of the house. That he enjoyed it, or even that it wasn’t as bad as he thought it was going to be. (I know the women reading this are nodding their heads about the first part – so if you can somehow try to get past it with him, and if you can get your husband in front of my camera, I will be happy to take care of the rest.)

This family was a completely different story. Margo and I met at the pool last summer, we had kids in swim lessons. She’s so sweet, and her husband works with Jenn’s husband (once again, teeny tiny island and word travels fast), and she arranged for a date and we picked a location.

Then I got a follow-up email from Margo: “…and I apologize in advance for any questions Jay asks on Saturday about your lenses or other technical things related to photography of which I do not completely understand… it’s just the geek in him!  Try as I might, it rears its little head every now and then.” I did another happy dance. GUARANTEED this will not be a shoot where I will have to win Dad over!! I told Margo not to give it a second thought – she just gave me the key to a great morning. But you know what? I didn’t even need it – you couldn’t find a nicer family. And yep – again, totally gorgeous.

So yes, Jay asked questions about lenses and cameras. He shoots with a Nikon, so I had to translate a little, but the basics are the same. Now when shooting a shutterbug, it can be bad. You can end up with someone super critical that wants to hover over your camera and make sure everything is just so. Not Jay; this family hired me because they trust my judgment, bless their hearts. But they also came to have fun because they wanted me to capture their family; oh boy did I.

Margo and Jay have two girls. The younger one, K, is a firecracker. She’s beautiful (looks just like her mama) and she did not stop. The weather was chilly, and one half of the sky was purple with clouds – the other half was clear. So we ended up with some amazing beach shots because the light was delicious. Somehow I think Jay has something to do with K’s love of heights and being airborne!

K’s left boot was coming off in that shot, and after getting thrown she took off her boots. It was really too cold for barefoot on the beach, but since K had left her boots I got down in the sand for at least one signature shot… (that’s K’s big sister D in the background, checking out shells)

As I’m looking through my viewfinder and getting this shot, something happens that I wasn’t expecting. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed this hard while looking through my viewfinder – I mean who expects for a kid’s head to come down from above??

Thanks, Jay! These are favorites.

Again – the LIGHT! Wow. Another gorgeous couple!

Their older daughter, D, is smart as a whip. She’s artistic and has a vocabulary and a way about her that’s beyond her 10 years. These girls are so different, but K LOVES her big sis. Jay and Margo are such great parents – they ended up with Daddy’s girls AND Mama’s girls!

Grabbed this on our way up from the beach… another favorite!

Sigh… beautiful.

Are there enough positive expletives? I asked D if she’d take off her glasses – I’m so glad she obliged; not because she looks better without them (I love those frames, D!), but because we got an even better look at those stunning eyes!

These two are awesome together. Another Hubba Hubby. I keep saying it – I even emailed it to Margo after the shoot. I LOVE what I do!

Margo warned me that K rarely stands still. You know I love a challenge. And when I saw this photo, I did one of my “wow” gasps – an all time favorite!

I could post here all day. I have to show you Jay & K doing their “No hitting, no punching no kicking” get-psyched bit that they do before she goes to school. It’s hysterical. You have to see it to appreciate it fully, but here you go. You get the idea.

I can’t thank you enough for a wonderful day. And I can’t wait to show you the rest. Jay, I’d love to have you along on a shoot – we’ll make it happen. (Maybe for a personal tour of the CH-46…I do love to fly.)

On an unrelated note – do you Facebook? I do. I’m not quite as addicted as some, but I’m definitely on there – it’s fun! I don’t really participate in the gaming and poking and whatever. But I love to keep track of birthdays, what people are up to, and look at photos from friends both here and back in the states. If you’d like, search for me, Aviva Bowman, and be my friend! Or if you don’t really care what I’m up to on a daily basis (and really, why would you…) I started a page for Aviva Photography. If you’re into Facebook, and you want to show me your support (come out of the woodwork, blog stalkers!), you can find it HERE – become a fan! Starting in 2009 I just might put offers up there first for the fans. You all rock, thanks for watching!

Haley emailed me a while ago. She’s leaving this month, she’s moving back to the States. And she is a senior in high school and really wants some photos with her two best friends. That sounds like a very fun morning for Aviva. No surprise – it was SOOOOOOO fun.

Haley (to the left), Akanee (middle), and Alley (right) were up and ready for some fun. Bonus – it was a weekday and they missed just a teeny tiny bit of school. (SHH, don’t tell anyone. They’re seniors, it’s ok… really.) They brought their senses of humor, adorable shoes, and then filled my suitcase with another outfit for later. Off we went to see what kind of trouble we could get into.

Admittedly my idea. BUT, thanks to a remake, they knew what I was talking about when I said “Angels”. Apparently the 80’s are kind of back too – here come suede boots, stirrup pants and tapered jeans… they even knew the song “Take on Me” by A-Ha! I was floored. Thank heavens there’s still some taste out there – I think that might count as an oldie these days. Sigh.

Alley is the class clown for SURE. I told her how much she reminded me of me as a high school senior (she totally did). Anything to get the laugh, and she’s FUNNY (unlike me, I think I was just a dork). She’s obviously also a knockout.

Case in point. LOVE THIS GIRL!

The mix of these three totally worked, they were having fun and I was along for the ride. I swear, seniors make me feel young again! (I know I’m not, just let me have my happy dream for a minute, ok?)

Akanee has an Okinawan mother and she’s the quieter one of the bunch – but by no means shy. She’s got a great head on her shoulders, and she’s gorgeous too!

And last but not least, Haley. The Samoan beauty – she seemed to be the glue that held this bunch together – she planned the shoot, she yapped with me the whole time. And sadly – she’s the one leaving.

I told you they brought another outfit! I love the blues in this shot – it’s so cool and relaxed.

Well you know we had to get silly…..

JUMPING SHOT!!

YAY! Haley, good luck back in Texas – I hope the rest of the year is easy and that it goes quickly for you. And Akanee & Alley I loved meeting you. I’ll see you all soon to show off the rest of your photos, I had a blast with you!

Hi, everyone! Long time no blog, I know – bad Aviva. But here we go. I’m going to have some GOOD stuff for you in the coming week. Right now it’s Sunday and I’m baking, so while things are in the oven – you benefit from a sneak peek of another beautiful family.

Bobbie saw Suz’s photos and got in touch to do a family shoot. I responded, we set a date – but I didn’t send her the deposit request right away, and she told Suzi she thought it was because four kids scared me off. NEVER! I accept your challenge, and let’s go forth and capture.

As for the title of my post…. exhibit A: Hot Mama Bobbie

Exhibit B: Hubba Hubby Jonathan. I know, seriously.

Exhibit C: Where did those green eyes come from??, “B”

Exhibit D: Oh my goodness the girls will be falling down in his path, “H”:

Exhibit E: It took my Cartman impression to make this 13-year-old SMIRK (But I still think he’s very handsome), “BoBo”

And last but certainly not least, another all-time-favorite portrait – Exhibit F: Camera-lovin “S”

Lots of photos here… what do you expect? I mean there were SIX of them! And do you think that gorgeous kids come from these two? Well of course… look at them.

The kids were funny. Four completely different personalities. And you can see it in every photo they’re in together – goofball, serious sarcastic hard rock fan, the girl, and the cerebral lady killer. Think you can pick who’s what? (Well besides the girl, that’s obvious.)

Lesson for Aviva – it’s hard to get all six to look at you. (Which I actually learned with Kat’s family.)

But there can be success nonetheless. Especially in a personality-revealing JUMPING SHOT!!

Haha – definitely the most jumpers in any shot I’ve taken so far. Last but not least, one more of Mom & Dad There’s that smile. Gorgeous.

We had fun with you all, and I loved how B & H were setting up shots with me at the end – I am always happy to indulge budding photographers with great ideas. They’re the future – and they’re usually very creative too, I love that. See you soon to reveal the rest, everyone!

Hi, everyone! I hope you had a fantastic Thankgsgiving, my family definitely did. I always miss home at this time of year, but feel so very lucky to have the friends and local family that I do in Okinawa. And they’re great COOKS too, which is quite helpful at Thanksgiving!
Anyway, back to the topic. Which is LOVE today. These two are just so amazingly sweet and they’re so very in love. Brittney got in touch with me earlier this fall and asked for an engagement photo session AND a bridal portrait session. I  jumped up and down and did a happy dance, “silent screamed”, and then emailed her back to say, “I’d LOVE TO!” The three of us met for coffee so we could talk things over, and so I could learn a little about them.

Brian is in the Navy and works with the P3 pilots on Kadena. Brittany works for Kadena marketing. But they didn’t meet here… they met in Colorado. Brittany was Brian’s cousin’s roommate. Gotta love that luck! They are such a great-looking couple and they are SO IN LOVE. It will ooze out of every single one of these photos, you watch…

When they went out together, they were at a bar and Brittney told Brian she had a tab at the bar and offered him a drink. As she sent him over to get them both something, she thought, “If he buys the drinks, this is the guy for me. But if he uses my tab – then it’s over.” Apparently she didn’t have a single drink on her tab at the end of the night, he’d paid for them all. And he didn’t even hear this story until much later.

Brittany wanted me to know that Brian has a “Chandler smile”. (as in, fake smile – like Chandler from Friends) And yeah – I saw it. But part of what I love about what I do is figuring out what brings the REAL smiles out. Brian is so easygoing, it really wasn’t hard. A lot of times it just took making fun of him or of myself – and we had good laughs together. (It’s certainly easy for me to make fun of myself, that’s for sure!)

I think my favorite part of their story is the part about their wedding location. They’ll be married in January at a resort in Hawaii. Apparently when Brittney was 16 years old, her family took a vacation to Hawaii, and while walking around at this resort she looked up at her father and said to him, “This would be a great place to have my wedding one day.” Wouldn’t you know that after they were engaged, Brittney’s father called her and said, “The location is available if that’s still where you’d like to be married.” GO DAD, what a fantastic romantic thing to do!!

(Do you have a cavity yet from the sweetness? Well maybe it’s time for a burn from the hotness…. I’m so corny, I know.)

GORGEOUS! Wow.

Oh – by the way – these two are my neighbors too. I realized I’d met Brittney a while back when she was walking their puppy, Yoshi at a nearby park. (Named after Yoshihachi’s, they’re favorite restaurant!) So of course, that was a nice coincidence because I just love hanging out with these two! You know their baby had to make it into a couple of photos too.

He was SO wild, and very excited to play. But look how adorable he is!

Yep – photo posting madness today – but I’m so sorry – I did try – I just could NOT take a bad photo of these two! And when we’re all having fun, it’s even easier.

Right after I snapped this next shot, a little Japanese girl came up and handed a plumeria flower to Brittney! It was precious.

Feeling happy about these – more great light. And pretty darned great subjects. Is there smoke coming out of your monitor?

Brittney & Brian – I am SO glad you picked me, it was like a morning of play for me and it just zoomed by. I can’t wait to show you all of them! Soon, promise. And folks – obviously there will be some bridal photos to come – but I just won’t post those until after the wedding. We wouldn’t want Brian to see the dress!

Ok – to make up for it, two more – individual hottie hotness….

I almost always start by saying that the client in my post is a friend. Well – how do you think I got my first clients? Thank goodness, when you have friends who are happy, they tell more friends. This island is so small. We all seem to know each other for one reason or another, and it’s something I really appreciate and love about this place.

Anyway, these clients are friends and also neighbors. They moved in this past summer and I’m really happy because they’ve turned out to be great friends!

Pete & Melissa have two sons, “P” here is their youngest. He’s a very athletic kid – swimmer, runner, skater, jumper, climber…. NO FEAR. Typical I suppose. And Melissa is so pretty, doesn’t she have a gorgeous smile?

They all have a sense of humor (ahem)….

…so I decided to try some fun things with them. Here they’re looking down at me while I’m lying on the ground.

Did I mention that P was a jumper?

Look out girls… and he’s smart too.

Had to sneak in a signature shot of course.

Oh wait, doesn’t that dog look familiar?

Well, little Todd is bigger now!

Loving the grass… this one is romantic, I think.

Thanks so much, you three! I can’t wait to meet the 4th in December and have family photos with all four of you! (Hope you got what you wanted at the BX this morning, Melissa!)

Since I’ve been in business (not quite 3 months), I have taken several high school seniors’ photos. It’s probably my favorite type of shoot, though I do love them all. But last weekend – I got to take senior photos of a MALE senior for the first time. (Not ever, but since I’ve launched.)

Justin is actually the son of a friend of mine. A woman I met not long after I arrived here on Okinawa. She’s an amazing mother, and I’m here to tell you – I did not believe she had a 17-year-old son! I distinctly remember going to her house to play bunco back in May. Angel played the song that Justin recorded for her (and played all the instruments on, it was a multi-track recording) for all of us and I was floored. It was the sweetest thing, and it made me cry! I didn’t even KNOW this kid!

Point being, I knew he was an amazing kid, and then I got even more excited when Angel told me he was a senior and together they decided they wanted me to take his senior photos. She made me cry again when she told me she was extra proud because he’ll be the first on her side of the family to graduate high school. I was and am truly honored, Angel – and I am also thrilled because we had SO MUCH FUN!!

I present, Justin…

Early in the shoot, I asked what he did besides go to class, and he said, “I play baseball.” He was telling me he was hoping to get a scholarship to play at UNC Wilmington or Wisconsin (I believe it was, correct me if I’m wrong, Justin & Angel), and also study sports medicine.

Justin brought his friend Alisha along and as I was taking the above shot, again – not 10 minutes into the shoot, she said, “Baseball team.”

Huh? I turned around, and she pointed. There was a Japanese baseball team running in the neighborhood JUST as we were doing Justin’s shoot! If you know me – you know I will do anything for the interesting or unique shot. You know I had to grab THIS opportunity!

I’m really glad they were into it! Another favorite!

I mentioned Justin’s friend Alisha that he brought along – amazing gorgeous girl who is getting her degree and dancing professionally with a Japanese group here – she is just a powerhouse.

Stunning, right?

Justin brought along some favortie clothes and shoes of course.

Including 3 pairs of sneakers – but you know these were my favorite.

Now it might’ve been early in the morning, but his sense of humor eventually came out. And apparently my laugh made him smile. Lucky for me because his smile is pretty amazing.

It was easy to laugh because I LOVED his sense of humor! (And Alisha’s of course.)

Another hat change…

Last but not least… I asked Justin if there was any particular shot he really wanted. He told me that he wanted one of his tattoo for his Grandma Fern. I said, “Absolutely,” and quickly lifted the camera to my face because I was tearing up (what IS it with this family making me weepy?). I was lucky enough to hear from Justin about his Grandma after taking these, and I am certain she’s beaming with pride for her grandson.

It was such a pleasure spending the morning with you, Alisha & Justin, thanks for waking up early. And Justin, keep me posted on your scholarship. I’ll see you soon!

On a COMPLETELY unrelated note – HAPPY THANKSGIVING! I hope you all enjoy some time with loved ones tomorrow, and enjoy the food too! I know I will.

Lastly – here on Okinawa the Kadena Services Venture Magazine 2009 Calendar will be available at the Kadena Post office and the BX on Friday – and  four images from yours truly have been included in the calendar, I’m excited to report. Head on over and grab one while they last (because they’re free)! (Don’t worry, Mom – I got a few copies and will be mailing them out to our family.)

More photos to come on Friday – see you then!

Emily and I met at a mutual friend’s house. She got in touch with me about taking photos of her family, which they’d never done before. You see – Emily and her hubby are newlyweds! They met on the Internet a while back, and got married earlier this year. (You may not know this, but back in 1998 before it was the in thing to do, my hubby and I met on the Internet.)

I think they make a lovely family.

The kids had great personalities, I was happy that they were willing to play for the camera together.

It’s amazing what happens when you put down the iPods and cell phones for a few minutes… I think they even got a little exercise!

We got together later in the afternoon – so the light was amazing, though rather low.

And I did have a little fun with the newlyweds…

As a family of five, I feel I have to post one of each of the kids – they are photogenic for sure.

Thanks so much, M Family! After all that rain, we ended up with a glorious evening. I hope it was worth the wait for you too!