inspired by this on pinterest,
i made this pot a couple weeks ago. and shot this photo of sky yesterday. the photo isn't quite as i envisioned so i'll be trying again another day, but i'm excited how the pot turned out and wanted to share -- especially since i have such a ridiculously magenta thumb.
we’re looking for a couple families to be photographed at our wallflower friends retreat -- the afternoon of saturday, april 28th.
casting call details: - will receive complimentary photo session - will take place at half moon bay, CA (exact location TBD) - families will be photographed by either myself or leah - must be willing to sign a model release - will be geared towards demonstrating client shooting to workshop participants - participating familes will receive approximately 20-30 5x7 prints (with the opportunity to order discounted enlargements)
if interested, please email us a recent photograph of your family -- be sure to include the ages of your child(ren) and the date the photo was taken.
some photos from our past wallflower friends retreats...
to see more photos from our past retreats, be sure to check out leah's photos too.
leah and i are thrilled to be raffling off the last seat at our upcoming, april 27th - 29th 2012, wallflower friends retreat [a $1900 value] -- to benefit the children of tanzania and the foundation for tomorrow (TFFT). see retreat details below and on the wallflower friends website. PLEASE FOLLOW THESE QUICK STEPS TO ENTER THE RAFFLE: donate $10 HERE be sure to submit your first and last name when donating for every $10 donation, you will receive one raffle entry you can enter as many times as you wish
note: if you are already signed up for this retreat, you are still eligible to enter. if randomly selected, your tuition will be refunded.
the winner will be randomly selected and announced here on monday, march 26th wednesday, march 28th.
WALLFLOWER FRIENDS RETREAT
WHEN april 27th - 29th, 2012 limited to 13 photographers
WHERE located near half moon bay, california, wallflower friends has reserved the entire seal cove inn for this retreat. set amongst a meadow of wildlflowers and towering cypress trees, this serene hideaway offers a unique and unforgettable retreat setting.
WHAT wallflower friends 2-1/2 day retreat is not your standard teaching workshop; this is a unique retreat for sharing, growing and learning -- through the discussion of photography's creative process and exploration of your unique voice and vision as an artist. some of the topics that will be covered are: being inspired finding your unique style being true to yourself in your art shooting and light workflow and processing being and staying passionate exploring your portfolio
INCLUDES two nights shared-room lodging at the spectacular 14-room seal cove inn instruction by both deb and leah a wallflower friends inspiration photo book welcome appetizers and drinks daily complimentary breakfast and lunch a few fabulous surprises and giveaways
for more information, please visit the wallflower friends website.
it was a crazy week last week, with the kids on spring break and all. lots of playing. too much eating. too much drinking. and now it's time to regroup and get focused again. and i can't think of a more better way to start the week than this... i'm a long time fan of mark tucker's. and it's posts like this one that inspire me so much. the portraits he takes. the stories he shares. i love the way he really gets to know the people he photographs. he captures more than just a simple portrait; he captures their character...their soul.
and watching this video he linked to in his post, has tears strolling down my cheeks. i'd like to blame it on PMS, but that's not it. maybe lack of sleep. who knows? maybe it's the simple power of inspiration and sharing your gift with others. indeed, a great and beautiful way to start the week...
Matthew Sherrill and Julie Lee from Mark Tucker on Vimeo.
thank you mark tucker! for being you and sharing your incredible gift with all of us.
it's spring break. kiele is with her dad. steve is in afghanistan. life is a bit crazy [but all so, so good]. we've... shared lots of amazing time with the most incredible friends. built sand castles. and leprechaun traps. been marked by an angry leprechaun for stealing his gold. had lots of beach time. and pool time. made tie-dye shirts. and ate out way too much. [healthy eating starts on monday].
here's a few photos that i've captured over the past few days... while on spring break.
so much fun.
and yes, i apparently am in a VERY black and white mood lately.
a few others can be found here.
i'm super excited to share another raffle in conjunction with my fundraising for the foundation for tomorrow (TFFT). RAFFLE [a $995.00 value]: a seat in stacy larsen's next LAUNCH photography workshop held april 21st and 22nd in tampa, florida
HOW TO ENTER: donate $10 HERE submit your first and last name when donating email stacy that you donated and would like to be entered into the LAUNCH raffle for every $10 donation, you will receive one raffle entry you can enter as many times as you wish
the winner will be announced on stacy's blog on monday, april 9th. GOOD LUCK!
can't wait to get one of these for my desk. although i can't decide between the owl and the crazy super hero person.
what we think of as failures is an essential part of life and success.
looking forward to reading this book, after having read this one a few years ago.
one of these days, i will have a cactus like this in my home. maybe when we stop moving every 2-3 years.
saw the lorax movie this week. while a bit bored in the middle, couldn't help but love it by the end, which included this quote.
yes, shit could sure be worse. remind myself often that i have nothing to bitch about.
my MIL and i have been talking for years about doing a little family book that includes family recipes, drawings, favorite quotes, etc. what a special thing to pass down the generations. maybe we'll work on that tho summer, when i'm visiting.
must make soon. jalapeño popper grilled cheese.
saw this and couldn't stop thinking about our april 2013 british virgin islands sailing trip. four couples on a 40-50 foot catamaran. steve lived on a sailboat when i met him and he's been dreaming of a sailing trip for a long time now. thanks heather for coordinating. so can't wait!!
i usually give books as birthday gifts. what a great idea to also give books as party favors, for any party.
such a cool photograph of grand central station.
hope he wins.
lastly, if you haven't seen this, you MUST WATCH. it's 30-minutes, but you'll be glued to the screen and so happy you took the time to watch. it's everywhere right now. it's so darn important. it's "awareness turned into action"!!
i'm super excited to share a raffle that i've launched in conjunction with my fundraising for the foundation for tomorrow (TFFT). RAFFLE [a $3,450.00 value]: a one-hour photo session in the tampa bay area one 11x14 print 30 high-resolution digital files on CD
HOW TO ENTER: donate $20 HERE for every $20 donation, you will receive one raffle entry you can enter as many times as you wish submit your first and last name when donating email me that you would like to be entered into the raffle
PLEASE NOTE: eligible for raffle if you live in the tampa area or are willing to drive / fly to the tampa area session must take place september 1st through november 15th, 2012 session location is limited to 30-miles of 33629 tampa zip code session is for immediate family members only [parents & children]
if you're in the the tampa area, please spread the word. you can read more about my upcoming trip to tanzania here.
+++
PHOTOGRAPHERS --
if you would like to join this effort by offering a similar raffle to your clients, email me for more details. also, i have some exciting raffles for photographers coming SOON!
closing with some photos from my family session this past saturday...
wow! 20 weeks of fav finds. :-) ha!
such a brilliant project.
love the boots and the skirt.
such a gorgeous portrait.
what goes around comes around.
one of the best sessions i've ever seen.
love this so much.
would like this for my mantle.
yes please. thank you.
all dresses under $30. i bought two.
melt. couldn't get more perfect.
i just finished looking through the foundation for tomorrow's 400 miles -- the book from their 2010 400-mile fund- and awareness raising bike ride in tanzania. it pretty much took my breath away. seriously, my eyes welled with tears. a-mazing! if you get a chance, take a look through the book -- you won't be sorry.
i still can't believe that i'm going to be photographing this 11-day event in june. how did this happen? to ME? OMG! this truly is a most-amazing gift in my life. a dream come true really!
with the event just a few months away now, i'm beginning to move forward with things [immunizations, visa AND fundraising].
if you'd like to help this foundation...help these children [PLEASE!], you can donate HERE. MY GOAL is to raise $5000 for the foundation. and every little bit will help!!
if you'd like more information on RIDETZ 2012 [400-mile bike ride from kilimanjaro to the indian ocean, to raise funds and awareness], you can view the brochure here.
you can also follow TFFT on their blog here.
here's a few of the children that TFFT is currently sponsoring [providing tuition, housing, foster care, health care, food, clothes, shoes and school supplies]...
and the riders from RIDETZ 2010...
registration is NOW OPEN for the upcoming breaking the mold online mini-workshop with me and leah zawadzki -- march 12th - 26th. see workshop and registration details below...
some topics that will be discussed: inspiration creativity thinking outside the box finding your style creating great images shooting with a lensbaby editing simplified building a strong portfolio
participants will receive the following: an honest and intimate look at both deb and leah's photography styles three assignments followed by feedback an inspirational e-book lensbaby and lilyblue actions discount codes and a a few special giveaways
registration details:
1. this workshop is for bloom forum members only. if interested in registering for this mini-workshop, but not a yet a member -- you can join the forum (for 3, 6 or 12 months), by clicking the bloom logo below...
2. once a bloom member, you can then register for the workshop in the 'mini-workshops information' section found --> HERE.
3. the workshop will run from monday, march 12th – monday, march 26th, with posts and interaction daily.
4. active seats are $200.00 per seat.
5. silent/read-a-long seats are $150.00 per seat.
6. the private mini-workshop information will be available for one month after the workshop ends.
7. there is also a private forum section for all past breaking the mold participants, to continue interacting and sharing with one another.
8. registration is NOW OPEN!
here's what a couple participants had to say about the last breaking the mold online workshop:
I don't feel like I can properly put into words how powerful this workshop has been for me, but I'm going to try. Truly, it has changed me as a photographer and as a person. Throughout our weeks together I have shifted my mindset. I no longer resist calling myself a photographer or an artist. That's what I am and will always be from this point forward. Your guidance and thought provoking questions have made me truly reflect on myself as a person and how that influences my photographic style. I've realized that they are one and the same. Our discussions have made me reach within and trust. Trust that I have vision. Trust that I have skills. And trust that I can bring these two things together to make photographic art. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. – Jen
I just wanted to write and thank you again for the journey that was Breaking the Mold. I'm not sure I will ever be able to fully explain what a difference this workshop has made, not only with my art, but with everything I put out into the world. I came into the workshop expecting to be inspired to shoot more and be more authentic, but I left with so much more...the inspiration and confidence to not only shoot from the heart, but to live from the heart and to be truly authentic in all aspects of my life and work. I am so grateful to you and the other workshop participants for sharing so freely and for making such an experience possible. I would highly recommend this workshop to everyone regardless of where they are in their photographic/artistic journey. – Jodie
all photographs copyright deb schwedhelm and leah zawadzki
where has february gone? it seems to have just flown by. but i guess, really, every month seems to feel that way. here's a bit of what our everyday-kind-of-days in february looks looked like...
as with every month, four trips to the horse farm / petting zoo. always a new friend or two. and many old friends.
the new barn kitten had an eye infection, but my kids loved all over him anyways. and a rat got loose but didn't go far from his hairless friend.
fighting for attention.
falling off the new horse.
and bravely getting right back on.
barn windows.
the reptile room -- one of his favorites.
tire swing at the farm.
his new walking path.
feeding.
the aviary.
my boy.
dirty feet -- more often than not.
boat ride with friends.
seeing dolphin along the way.
our almost-private island.
heading home.
hands off!
a visit with jen.
and shooting with jen.
one minute up | the next minute upside-down.
sky and ryder with my camera.
twisted.
few quick photos during our shoot.
balancing act.
trip to the state fair.
building the snail a home of shells.
which ended with the boy yelling in the girl's ear and the girl giving a throat punch.
after gymnastics.
portraits with my new lens.
chicken, for the school 'moosical'.
his first speaking line -- "but others are boiled and made into chicken soup...buccbuuuuuuk."
the gift she made her best friend, using the separation of cool and warm colors.
peace.
there’s a circle of 12 photographers participating in this what ____ looks like monthly project. i hope you’ll check them all out [clicking link to link]. next up… chubby cheek photography | child photographer.
i'm super excited to share that i'll be teaching a breaking the mold online mini-workshop with my best friend and incredibly talented photographer, leah zawadzki -- march 12th - 26th. registration opens this monday! see below for all the details...
some topics that will be discussed:
inspiration creativity thinking outside the box finding your style creating great images shooting with a lensbaby editing simplified building a strong portfolio
participants will receive the following: an honest and intimate look at both deb and leah's photography styles three assignments followed by feedback an inspirational e-book lensbaby and lilyblue actions discount codes and a a few special giveaways
registration details:
1. this workshop is for bloom forum members only. if interested in registering for this mini-workshop, but not a yet a member -- you can join the forum (for 3, 6 or 12 months), by clicking the bloom logo below...
2. once a bloom member, you can then register for the workshop in the 'mini-workshops information' section, found here. registration will open this monday morning.
3. the workshop will run from monday, march 12th – monday, march 26th, with posts and interaction daily.
4. active seats are $200.00 per seat.
5. silent/read-a-long seats are $150.00 per seat.
6. the private mini-workshop information will be available for one month after the workshop ends.
7. there is also a private forum section for all past breaking the mold participants, to continue interacting and sharing with one another.
8. registration opens this monday -- february 27th. seats are limited!
we hope to see you there!
photos copyright deb schwedhelm & leah zawadzki
i would love to have this hanging next to my computer.
determined to find the perfect & timeless button down blue shirt.
pretty stacking rings.
so love the idea of sequins shorts or skirt and plain t-shirt.
i've loved rice pudding since i was a kid. interested to try this.
shared her work before but feeling the need to share again. adore what she creates.
would love to make something like this with my family -- everyone brainstorm 'the best feelings in the world' and then put them all together.
i love you to the moon and back & much more.
i wonder what the future holds with all these digital photographs that never make it off the hard drive. :-(
goat cheese and avocado in the same recipe? ummmm...YUM!!.
just bought this print for my new bathroom. have a water theme and plan to hang it right next to the mirror.
such an awesome idea.
love -- minus the scarf as i'm not a scarf girl.
THANK YOU patriot guard riders -- for all that you do.
huge kick-ass print. someday i will have one in my home [maybe when we're in one place for more than three years]!
i love this photo so much, i can barely stand it. the whole series is A-MAZING.
need to make an IKEA run. it's been a while.
so cool.
this capture couldn't be more perfect.
embroidery hoop + pillow case = hanging laundry bag.
here's your sign. now run with it.
we don't stop laughing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop laughing. [michael prichard]
i think there is nothing better than a great laugh. and to be honest, i wish i had a better sense of humor, was funnier and laughed more than i do. don't ever ask me to tell a joke because it would be rather painful. maybe that's why i'm so drawn to capturing a true, honest great laugh so much -- which is often a tough thing to do for someone who is not funny.
inevitably, we WILL grow old, but may we never stop laughing as we do...
i feel so incredibly honored to have been able to photograph a military hero's homecoming yesterday... twenty-two year old marine CPL nicholson returned home yesterday, for the first time, after being wounded last july. CPL nicholson lost both his legs and his left arm in a hidden improvised explosive device [IED] blast, while on foot patrol in afghanistan. through his ongoing recovery over the past eight months, CPL nicholson has endured 23 surgeries. in october, he walked for the first time with prosthetic legs. CPL nicholson will be home on leave, for the next month and then return back to bethesda, MD for continued rehabilitation. his family is hopeful that he will be home for good by the end of the year.
the community support for CPL nicholson was nothing short of beautiful, inspiring and very emotional. hundreds greeted CPL nicholson at the airport...
friends, family and strangers lined the streets of tampa as the patriot guard riders and patrol cars escorted CPL nicholson from the airport to the welcome home ceremony location...
hundreds more attended the ceremony...
being relatively new to tampa last year, i had not heard of CPL nicholson's injuries. it was driving by this sign [the nicholson family lives almost directly behind us] a few months ago, that i first learned of CPL nicholson. i immediately emailed the family, sharing that i'd love to help in absolutely any way that i could. i'm hopeful that i will be able to photograph the nicholson family more over the year or two, while stationed here in tampa.
a special thanks to carmen for second shooting with me and making sure i got to each location on time. and to cliff of the patriot guard riders, for asking me if i'd like to ride on the back of his motorcycle to the church [so i didn't have to keep running there].
and here's a tampa bay times' video of CPL nicholson's return...
what remains: the life and work of sally mann, i highly recommend that you should. i rented the documentary via netflix quite a while ago, but happened upon this series, available on youtube a few weeks ago. it all makes perfect sense.
she's been such an inspiration to me, from the very beginning. i hope that you enjoy it as much as i did.
shadows [harpers bazaar | 1962].
love these sweatshirts.
awesome underwater light and capture.
my kind of outfit[s].
can't get enough of images of dads with their babies.
love this perspective.
no reason for a bad attitude. [original source unknown]
i 'm not a big cauliflower fan, but these intrigue me.
LOVE the women in this video.
oh the light [imogen cunningham | 1911].
embracing these words. thinking about making my own version of this with a water image and vintage label maker.
compliments your kids need to hear. photo courtesy of jen wright.
important --> link with love.
being a navy family and all, i really want to make something like this with the kids [maybe a collage with magazine or fabric bits].
i think i've re-written this post 10 times now. i'm not sure i could ever express my complete gratitude to jen, for capturing my own family's photos. these are a few of my absolute favorites. i hope that one day my children will look back on these and see our family's absolute love and joy for one another. we are so very blessed!!
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you can see more of our photos here. thank you jen. deeply and truly, i thank you!! i hope that one day i can return this most amazing gift you have given my family.
a few months ago, i had the awesome opportunity to photograph for babiekins magazine. i had such a blast coming up with the shoot concepts and the girls were amazing to work with. they were such troopers too -- as it was so cold AND windy on the day of the shoot. it pained me not to share the photos right after i edited them, but that's the agreement -- no sharing until the issue is released. so i patiently waited...and waited!
so without further ado, here's a few of my favorites...
a super special thanks to all the models and their parents. along with andie sleeman [for makeup] and darlina contto [for hair].
the entire spring issue can be viewed here [my spread starts on page 262].
and a few behind-the-scenes photos that one of the model's parents shared with me...
