Valerie and Gabe's Wedding Preview
May 13, 2008

There is so much to show and talk about, but here are just a few quick favorites from the day. More details and a slide show coming soon!

Posted by raya 7:49 AM 5 comments Links to this post    

Labels: rayaphotography

Jena + Ryan's Rehearsal
May 1, 2008

Posted by raya 10:12 AM 3 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Family Life, rayaphotography

Diana+ Shooting Tips
April 17, 2008

I've had a few questions in the comments of my last Diana+ post so I thought I'd throw out a few tips for shooting with this camera. It can be intimidating to use medium format film and it definitely takes a little trial-and-error to figure out what works best, but here is a bit of info that will hopefully be of help:

• This camera uses 120 (or medium format) film. Depending on which frame you use inside the camera it will either take 12 or 16 exposures.
• Because this camera does not have an on/off switch it is very easy for the shutter to be released accidentally (like if it's in your purse and hits something - happens to me all the time). For this reason always leave the lens cap on when you are not using it. That way nothing will be exposed if the shutter gets released because no light is coming in.
• I always advance my film after a shot even if I'm not going to take another one right away. That way I don't forget and accidentally make a double exposure. Though that can be a "happy accident" sometimes!
• I usually use negative film because I think it's a bit less expensive to develop than slide film.
• My favorite film right now is Kodak NC 160. This a good OUTDOOR film, but does not work well inside.
• If you want to shoot inside with this camera I recommend using at least 400 speed film and making sure you still have good natural light.
• I've found the best photos I've made are in bright sunlight with the sun behind me to get a rich blue sky.
• To save money I never have prints made right away. Instead I just have the film processed and ask for low res scans on a CD. These scans are suitable for printing 4x4 prints, but if I want a larger print of a particular image I can always have an enlargement made later.
• I use a local professional lab because I get so excited to see my photos that I want them back as soon as possible, but there are some good labs you can mail your film to if there is not a lab that processes medium format film in your area.

Tips for loading film:
• See if you can get an expired foll from your local photo supply store, then practice loading with that roll until you get comfortable to use a new, unexposed roll.
• Always load film in subdued light, or better yet -
• If you have a room in your house that is very dark (closet, laundry room, etc..) preferably with no windows it is sometimes a good idea to load your film in there to avoid light leaks. It's also helpful in case you are having issues and have to try a couple times to get the film loaded correctly. It's hard to do it without being able to see, but it can save wasting money since film is not cheap these days.
• When you have the film loaded it should be tight across the back so it will wind correctly. If it's loose you could end up exposing your film when you take it out of your camera, thus ruining all your pretty pictures.

Diana+ cameras are sold in a few places:
Lomography.com
Amazon.com
Samys.com

You can also get inspired here:
Diana+ photos on flickr

Hope this helps get your cameras out of their pretty boxes and into the world. Don't be discouraged if your first few rolls are nothing to post on your blog about. It might take some practice, but the feeling I get when I use this camera and see what comes from it is magical. Yes magical. It's like these photos come with built-in nostalgia. I can already see myself looking at them in 20 years and feeling a rush of warm memories from the days when we were young and just starting our family. Film just does that, I think.

Have fun!

Posted by raya 9:12 AM 8 comments Links to this post    

Labels: rayaphotography

Saturday with Diana+
April 16, 2008

Posted by raya 10:16 PM 10 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Family Life, places, rayaphotography

Diana+
March 28, 2008

A photo from my first experimental roll with the Diana+ camera I received for Christmas. Dreamy...

Posted by raya 2:25 PM 6 comments Links to this post    

Labels: rayaphotography, She's Artsy

Meet me over at sfgirlbybay
March 26, 2008

I'm very excited to say I'm an Unexpected Guest over at sfgirlbybay today!

This is one of my favorite segments of Victoria's blog and I was so honored she asked me. She usually features fancy artists who actually have you know, work to show so I wasn't quite sure what she would do with me. But thanks to Flickr she found enough interestingness and I just love the diptics she put together. A photo can become so much more when placed next to another.

Thanks Victoria! I have a mojito chilling and a lounge chair with your name on it any time : )

Posted by raya 9:04 AM 10 comments Links to this post    

Labels: My Home, Nice to Meet You, rayaphotography

Vote for Emily and Brian!
March 21, 2008

Well, hullo. I have not blogged in a week - whats up with that? Babies, that's what's up. We are visiting my parents for the weekend and I brought my flash card which is full of good stuff intended for this blog. So if I find some time tomorrow I am going to try and catch up. Catch up - that's my mantra right now.

Posted by raya 7:04 PM 3 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Link Love, rayaphotography

Valerie and Gabe
November 6, 2007

I met this sweet couple at Jessica & Jason's wedding in August. Valerie was a bridesmaid and is also getting married in May of '08. I'm so excited to now shoot her wedding and reunite with Jessica and some other girls from the wedding - it will be a fun day I'm sure.

I met up with Valerie and Gabe in Malibu to do some engagement photos - just in time, as all the fires erupted the next day and closed the Pacific Coast Highway.

We traipsed all over Point Dume, and the couple even hiked to the top of the cliff for me - which was nice considering exercise was probably not in their plan when they got dressed. But they were totally up for it and we got some beautiful shots with the setting sun and ocean in the background.

Here's a slide show of my favorites or you can click through the gallery one by one. Thanks Valerie & Gabe - looking forward to seeing you again in May!

Posted by raya 7:09 AM 5 comments Links to this post    

Labels: rayaphotography

Emily and Brian's Wedding
November 5, 2007

Posted by raya 9:56 AM 5 comments Links to this post    

Labels: rayaphotography

The Nordin Family
November 2, 2007

My first photo shoot during my visit to Santa Cruz was with one of my favorite families in the whole world - the Nordins. My conversations with Meg are responsible for many many cell phone minutes and overcharges. Somehow we always end up talking for over an hour no matter what - and the boys are just precious, all of them. Yes, you too Dan! You're precious : )

Here's a slide show of my favorites from our day at Roaring Camp in Felton, CA or you can just click through the gallery one by one.

Posted by raya 8:37 AM 5 comments Links to this post    

Labels: rayaphotography

Rollei
October 24, 2007

Photos from our weekend in Yosemite. Taken with our very old Rollei flex medium format camera.

Posted by raya 12:00 PM 6 comments Links to this post    

Labels: places, rayaphotography

Crazy Week
October 16, 2007

I am still recovering from last week and so posting might be light this week. Even though I was working up in Santa Cruz I still have a bunch of stuff to catch up on and about 4 albums to finish in the next two days. Yikes.

I shot Emily & Brian's wedding on Saturday - it was GORGEOUS, as was to be expected. If I can get to the images this week I'll show you some of my favorites. I must say that shooting with a 5 mo. belly is a lot harder than I imagined. I woke up the next morning feeling like I just ran a half marathon. I know some women shoot right up until their due date, but I must be a wuss. Glad this is my last wedding until next season.

I got to see so many people I haven't seen in ages - I wish I would have chatted with more of you, but I'm all over the place when I'm shooting - trying not to miss any photo worthy moments. I did get out on the dance floor for a few songs though. Teaching Baker how to get down - it's never too early.

This is unrelated, but here's a photo my dear friend Meris sent me of shelves in her house. I love the colors and the collage I made her looks great up there. And the family photos are all ones I did in August. It makes me happy to see what people do with the photos I take.

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Labels: Family Life, rayaphotography

Imagining
October 9, 2007

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Labels: rayaphotography

Conferencing Today and Tomorrow
September 12, 2007

I'll be down in LA at a Pictage photographer's conference today and tomorrow and probably won't be blogging again until Friday.

I look forward to these twice-yearly conferences - two days of great speakers and meeting photographers from all over the country. Plus I usually learn a thing or two and it gets me excited about being a photographer again. I need a pep talk every once and a while.

Have a great mid week. Be back Friday!

Posted by raya 8:13 AM 1 comments Links to this post    

Labels: rayaphotography

Life Imitating Art
September 7, 2007

Posted by raya 8:21 AM 1 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Family Life, rayaphotography

Jessica & Jason's Wedding
September 5, 2007

Posted by raya 12:09 PM 2 comments Links to this post    

Labels: rayaphotography

The Schwager Family
August 24, 2007

Going to the Schwagers' house is always fun when I'm visiting my home town. I have known both Markus, or Koozee as he is better known...that's not how you spell it, but that's how it sounds. He's Swiss and it's some sort of Swiss formula nickname. Something about the last part of your name, so marKUS = Kusie. ANYWAY, taaaanngent. I have known Kusie and Meris for a long time, but in different ways.

I used to drive around in Kusie's light blue BMW when I was in high school and hang out with him and his skater friends. He had long greasy hair and like to yell things out of his car at passers by to embarrass me. I would usually end up on the floor of the passenger seat because I was a shy little 15 year old and cared a lot about what strangers on the street thought about me.

I met Meris later in life through our church community, but we really bonded on a two week service trip to Turkey of all places. Faith, Meris and I endured many trials such as:
- Being solicited for "favors" by our hotel room neighbors in "Hotel Fatih". Think business card shoved under your door at 3am with INAPPROPRIATE suggestions written in broken English.
- Faith lost her contact in the dirt by our construction site one day and of course she is blind as a bat and did not have spares. We searched in the dust under a bus while local men stood by and laughed.
- Then there was having to clean and "sweep" a piece of plastic the size of half a football field because it had been rained on while covering the still wet foundation of the building we were there to construct. Apparently the construction team did not want to buy a new piece, but we couldn't use this one again if it was this dirty. We had to roll it out little by little in this empty DIRT lot next to where we were working and try to keep more dirt from getting on it as we were sweeping the old dirt off.

Needless to say, we became fast friends. Sometime after this trip Meris and Kusie got married and now they have three beautiful children. We did a family photo shoot while I was there and these are some of my favorites. Meris is America's Next Top Model, as Faith says, and I agree. She could do runway.

Posted by raya 9:05 AM 4 comments Links to this post    

Labels: rayaphotography

Lock Down
August 22, 2007

I'm locking myself to my desk today because I have GOT to get some photo editing and designing done. It's been on the list since Monday, but somehow I have managed to put it off two whole days so far.

This is a photo that happened during my shoot with Emily & Brian. I like all the textures and am thinking of putting up somewhere in the house. Most of the art I pick is so girly - I am starting to feel like I need to "man" up the house a bit. Next week we're gonna hang a bunch of art, so I'll post some photos of what we come up with.

Posted by raya 12:19 PM 1 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Family Life, My Home, rayaphotography

Weekend Sneak-away
August 15, 2007

Hello! I've been MIA for a few days due to our annual camping trip at Plaskett Creek in Big Sur. About 60 or so friends from Santa Cruz meet there once a year for a few days. This year the people I didn't know out numbered the ones I did, but my friends who plan the trip are always there and they are the ones I look forward to seeing most. I think this is my 6th trip, and my 3rd with Forest.

What was also different this year is that we had a beach! Usually we go earlier in the Summer before the sand builds up, but this year it was gorgeous and the 30 kids (I'm not exaggerating - we counted) had a blast in the water. I didn't take as many photos as last year, but I did bring it out for one beach day..here are some of my favorites:

Posted by raya 9:09 AM 0 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Family Life, rayaphotography

Emily + Brian
August 10, 2007

I had such a blast shooting Emily and Brian's engagement photos! We spent about three hours together Tuesday evening covering a lot of ground - Capitola to Pleasure Point to Downtown. I don't have tons to say about the photos except that Brian & Emily are really stunning and interact so well together. Watch the slide show or browse through the gallery to see what I mean.

You can also click here to see their sweet wedding website..be sure to check out the proposal - it's quite a story.

My favorites are the lens flare shots - those kind of photos always evoke a mood that speaks to me and I love doing them. Thanks again you two and can't wait for the wedding in October!

Posted by raya 12:02 AM 9 comments Links to this post    

Labels: rayaphotography