Aviva Photography Blog

Aubree used to live in my building! Well…before I lived here. So I met Aubree and her sweet mom, Kim, at Maggie & Chuck’s going away party. Funny how you hand out that card, and talk about the future, and then POW. Here it is! Well Aubree is a senior this year, and in the chilly cloudy weather we had, she was a total ROCK STAR! (A stunning one, at that.)

(Can you say INSANELY photogenic? I love my job. Seriously.)

Aubree’s nicknames: Bree, Aubreezy, Panda, Yuriko
Aubree’s favorite class(es): AP Lit, Human Anatomy, Culinary II, Drawing (yeah, neurosurgeon/chef on the way!)

Best thing about Aubree’s senior year: “I feel like I’m learning SO much more than any other year.”
What keeps Aubree busy after school: NHS, FBLA, Chinese Club, hanging out with friends, homework!

I have too many favorites to even BLOG from this session – but this is definitely a top 5. Ok, maybe 10…ACK!

What Aubree is looking forward to most after graduation: The chance to learn more about the world, new experiences, and more independence.
Written on Aubree’s favorite t-shirt: Any t-shirt from davidandgoliathtees.com! Especially their sushi collection! So CUTE! (Oooh…off to check THAT out right now….)

Who does Aubrey admire most?: “My parents who are my biggest supporters and raised me to be strong, independent, moral and humble. They are what every parent should be. Also, Ghandi and Audrey Hepburn for being incredibly influential and inspiring people and humanitarians.” (SO well put, Aubree.)

At some point during the shoot Kim (who sort of took off to read her book instead of joining us…) said, “You girls just sound like you’re having so much FUN out there!” We totally WERE. Aubree is all about a cold climate place and didn’t even flinch to put on these sleeveless dresses in the chilly weather. Ya know how I love it when people suffer for my art!

Definitely my favorite from the session. FANTASTIC hair!

Aubree brought the cutest clothes and …SHOES!!

What does Aubree want to be when she grows up?: “A surgeon! And a humanitarian…but I need money for that first. Haha!” With the right intentions, the money will come.

What Aubree will remember most about her photo shoot: “I will remember your bubbly sunshine-like attitude! It made me feel completely comfortable in front of the camera as I talked to you. You made waking up at 5:30am SO worth it! Thanks, Aviva! You’re amazing!” Oh you are SO welcome and I’m thrilled to hear that. Waking up early should be for a great reason like senior photos, right?

I could post all day – but I must keep editing. Thank YOU both, Aubree & Kim, for a ridiculously fun day – and for my Hawaiian TREATS you were so sweet to bring me! I have the best job AND the best clients.

ETA: Thanks to Bambi, Alexis, Anna, Hillary, Melissa, and Rebecca for FILLING Saturday’s shoot benefiting Thirst Relief International’s Haiti Water Project! I can’t wait to post a total. Yay!

When a session (with friends) starts with Amy saying, “So when we moved here, it was my mission to make Rob like coffee. And he never did. So now he likes the white coffee and I like the black one. So we brought our coffee cans for the photos!” – you know it’s going to be a fun day. Well THESE two? They’re naturals.

Rob was less than a week away from a 6-month deployment, and when we literally SQUEEZED in this shoot it was during a rainy week. It turned out to be the ONE day that week that it didn’t rain. Think someone up there knew they needed this day? I do! And with these amazing blue eyes, the clouds were a serious blessing – no squinting here!

What a fantastic spot! (It was their idea, not mine!)

As it turns out, they ARE veterans; they’d done a shoot together once before. Now that’s not always a good thing – but for these two (who honestly would’ve been fun & comfortable even if they hadn’t) – they had good taste and got all the pointers from their last photographer. That lucky person photographed them with their PLANE after they both had their pilots’ licenses! How cool is that? (Amy, you’ll have to send me some of those!)

So we just wandered around, finding good spots – and having such amazing conversations. It was going great.

Amy – those eyes are to die for..(yours AND his!!)

Sigh..I know I’m a bit late for Valentine’s Day – but oh my GAWSH this makes me all mushy!

So we headed up the hill to get some shots with the great view…

And you’d THINK that if the rogue wave thing was going to happen, it would’ve happened up there in that rocky shot when the water was right there next to them.

But no.

After that last shot (which was quite a ways up there I might add) I turned to change lenses…and heard, “ka-SPLOOSH!” I turned around (sadly, I missed the exact moment) and saw…the soaked people.

Well, they were troopers about it. Amy really didn’t even care that much – Rob was cold. We went back so that he could change shirts…and though with another couple, it might’ve ended there – they went on with it. And I LOVED that about them!

Amy didn’t even brush her hair – low maintenance = my kind of gal! BEAUTIFUL and natural!

Last but not least (long post, I know – but I’m behind and a good peek is necessary here!) – a shot that was totally Rob’s idea. He stepped back, saw the palm tree – and said, “There!” You got it, Rob…and it’s a definite favorite!

I just can’t thank you two enough for a wonderfully fun morning and for being about as easygoing as anyone could ever be! Not quite done – but soon. Promise.

Come on folks! Who’s in for a mini-session on the 27th? Contact me…If we’re lucky, some cherry blossoms will still be in bloom!

You just might recognize this good-lookin’ bunch from the cover of November’s Venture Magazine. Yeah. They’re famous. I mean really – tell me you wouldn’t hang THIS on your wall!? LOVE IT!

We went out to play together at a local castle ruins site, and as always, we had a fantastic time together. Melissa wanted me to concentrate on young P for this one, so I did as I was told. We bonded. He’s a handsome young devil. It was fun…

Of course Todd was in on the action too. (Is it just me, or does this look like something out of a catalog?)

We walked around enjoying a cool morning and the views from the castle walls. Melissa & Pete are used to this (it’s shoot #4!) and she noticed this perfect spot for the two of them to snuggle up. This is one of my faves that I’ve taken of you two!

I love father and son photos…

Melissa has a great eye – at one point she pointed and said, “OOH – this background would be great!” You’re darn tootin’ it was!

A couple more of P that tickled my fancy. (there were many to choose from!)

I love photographing kids, you know this. But I also love when they have ideas because it’s fun to indulge them and get something TOTALLY “out of the box”. P said, “Hey – if I leap off this step and you’re back here, it’ll look like I’m jumping from really high up, won’t it?”

As a matter of fact it would. Favorite shot of the day!

Thanks again, you all! It was as fun as always – I’ll be done soon – I promise!

Everyone else – TWO SLOTS LEFT for the Haiti Benefit Mini-Session day! EMAIL ME if you’re interested….I hope to see you there!

I’m SO excited to announce a mini portrait session day to benefit Thirst Relief International’s Haiti Water Project. I was so saddened by the devastation caused during the earthquake in Haiti. Like so many, I wanted to do something besides just donate, but wasn’t sure what that something could be! Then I read about the efforts of Photographers for Haiti. This amazing effort was pioneered by photographers Kelsey Bigelow and Kristi Crosson to unite photographers nation-wide in their efforts to donate proceeds from a mini-session day to benefit aid organizations targeting Haiti. I emailed Kelsey to ask about joining in – I thought, “I probably know some families who’d like a mini-shoot to benefit Haiti.” I even know another PHOTOGRAPHER that might want to help!

So…Aviva Photography is teaming up with Alexis of Red Stone Photography to offer a total of 12 mini-sessions on Saturday afternoon, February 27th. Here’s the skinny!

Who: Aviva of Aviva Photography and Alexis of Red Stone Photography, along with some fabulous volunteers to help our day go smoothly and provide you with at LEAST 10-15 edited fantastic family portraits to choose from!

When: February 27th, 2010. Each photographer has six 20-minute slots on the half-hour: first slot is at 3:30pm, last slot is at 6pm. RAIN DATE is Sunday, February 28th. If it rains both days, the photographers will work with the families individually to reschedule.

Why: In order to benefit Thirst Relief International, an organization that will help provide the suffering people in Haiti with the clean water they desperately need.

How Much: Sitting fee is $100+. (I say plus because clients will make out the sitting fee check DIRECTLY to Thirst Relief’s Haiti Water Project. This is tax-deductible and if you feel you’d like to give more, you can donate whatever you’d like to above and beyond $100 – that’s just the minimum.) Within 14 days of the shoot, your edited photos will be made available in an online gallery for order. 50% – FIFTY PERCENT – of the print proceeds will also be donated to Thirst Relief International by Alexis and Aviva! There are three collections available for you to choose from.

• Collection 1: $250 inlcludes (5) 4×6 prints, (2) 5×7 prints and (1) 8×10 print plus a 10% discount off any additional a-la-carte print purchases.
• Collection 2: $350 includes 1 copy of all (minimum 10-15) 4×6 prints, (2) 5×7 prints, (2) 8×10 prints, (2) sets of 8 wallet photos, and a 15% discount off any additional a-la-carte print purchases.
• Collection 3: $450 includes all (minimum 10-15) edited full-resolution files from your session on CD, plus a 20% discount on any additional a-la-carte print purchases.

Important information to know. If you’d like to book a session, email me. In that email, specify:

• Which photographer you’d like to schedule with (Aviva or Alexis)
• The size of your family (i.e. two parents + 2 children 8 and 12)
• A time preference if you have one (first-come, first served) – choices are 3:30, 4, 4:30, 5, 5:30, 6 (all 20 minutes long) – if you do NOT have a time preference, then say so

Then you will be required to mail or deliver a check to Aviva or Alexis (whomever’s closer is fine if you want to deliver it) made out to “Thirst Relief International Haiti Water Project”. If we do not receive your check within a reasonable amount of time after requesting the session, it will be given away. I promise to make every effort to get the check from you as soon as possible!

After booking, I will email you a copy of the release/collection order form. On this form, you will be asked to designate which collection you will be purchasing. You MUST purchase a collection. This will be the minimum order you will place. (for example, if you’d like to commit to the $250 collection on shoot day but love the photos when you see them and want them all on CD, you may upgrade – however you must commit to at LEAST the $250 minimum.)

ON SESSION DAY: You will be asked to bring the signed release form (or we’ll also have one there for you to sign) and to have selected a print collection for minimum purchase.

Where – this is being determined as I type this – we hope to nail down a great location for this mini-session day and want it to be as unobtrusive as possible. Therefore we are being careful in our selection. Rest assured it will be well-planned and organized!

Is your hubby deployed? It’s a mini-session! Why not take photos of you or the kids or BOTH as a surprise for him? You only want photos of your kids? Perfect! We can do that.

Want to make a donation to this cause even though you aren’t in Okinawa (**WAVING at past clients and friends and blog stalkers! YES I mean YOU!**) or even though you don’t want do do photos at this time? I’d be delighted to include you in this fundraiser! Please contact me if that’s the case.

I can’t wait for a day of FUN with all of you, and I know that if we fill all 12 slots we’ll make a minimum of $2700 for Thirst Relief international. That right there is what it’s all about. Questions? Email me or leave them in the comments! Thanks everyone.GH